[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 9-10]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

  Mr. McCONNELL. I thank my friend the acting minority leader. We are 
anxious to get to work here. In that regard, I ask unanimous consent 
that it be in order for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to 
meet on January 7, tomorrow, for the purpose of hearing testimony on 
the Keystone Pipeline; that the meeting be chaired by Senator 
Murkowski, with Senator Cantwell as ranking member; that the following 
Senators not currently serving on the committee be considered Members 
of the committee for the purpose of this meeting: Senators Daines, 
Cassidy, Gardner, Capito, Hirono, King, and Warren; I further ask that 
the meeting be considered to comport with all Senate rules relating to 
the conduct of committees and that customary and authorized expenses be 
permitted.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object. Under the 
traditions and rules of the Senate, all of the Senate committees are 
organized in a resolution, which we anticipate will be offered tomorrow 
for the organization of the committee structure of the U.S. Senate.
  I say to the majority leader, we will continue this conversation in a 
positive manner in an effort to come up with a mutually agreeable 
approach to consider this legislation and others, but for that reason I 
must object.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard.

[[Page 10]]


  Mr. McCONNELL. If I may, let me just say again, nobody's rights would 
have been in any way impaired by going forward a day earlier. We are 
going to pass the committee resolution tomorrow. We all know that one 
of the things the Senate is best at is not doing much. I hope we can 
work this out so we can get started. Everyone knows the first measure 
that is going to be up is going to come out of the energy committee. I 
would say to my friends on the minority side, it is open for amendment. 
Why don't we get started? Hopefully Senator Murkowski and Senator 
Cantwell can work through this and we can get going and do the people's 
business. We are anxious to get started.

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