Congressional Record UNUM

E PLURIBUS

United States

of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111th

 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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S181 

Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009 No. 3 

Senate 

The Senate met at 10:30 a.m. and was 

called to order by the Honorable MARK

L. PRYOR, a Senator from the State of 

Arkansas. 

PRAYER

The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer: 

Let us pray. 

Almighty God, before whom the generations rise and pass away, give our 

Senators today the provisions of Your 

grace. Provide them with the grace of 

Your comfort to cheer, Your wisdom to 

teach, Your hand to guide, Your counsel to instruct, and Your presence to 

inspire. Prosper the works of their 

hands, as You direct their steps. Lord, 

show them what needs to be changed 

and give them the courage and wisdom 

to do. In all their labors, help them to 

strive to fulfill Your purposes for our 

Nation and world. 

We pray in Your great Name. Amen. 

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The Honorable MARK L. PRYOR led 

the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under 

God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for 

all. 

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APPOINTMENT OF ACTING 

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 

clerk will please read a communication 

to the Senate from the President pro 

tempore (Mr. BYRD). 

The legislative clerk read the following letter: 

U.S. SENATE, 

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, 

Washington, DC, January 8, 2009. 

To the Senate: 

Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, 

of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby 

appoint the Honorable MARK L. PRYOR, a 

Senator from the State of Arkansas, to perform the duties of the Chair. 

ROBERT C. BYRD, 

President pro tempore. 

Mr. PRYOR thereupon assumed the 

chair as Acting President pro tempore. 

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RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY 

LEADER 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized. 

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SCHEDULE 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, following 

leader remarks, there will be a period 

of morning business with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes 

each. All Senators are invited to gather in the Senate Chamber at 12:45 p.m. 

to proceed to the Hall of the House for 

the counting of electoral ballots. The 

joint session will commence at 1 p.m. 

The Senate will recess from 3:30 until 

4:45 to allow for a special Democratic 

caucus meeting. If none have been to 

the counting of the electoral ballots, it 

is quite historic and interesting, and 

people should consider going to that. 

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MEASURE PLACED ON THE 

CALENDAR—S. 22 

Mr. REID. It is my belief that S. 22 is 

at the desk and due for its second reading. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the bill for 

the second time. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A bill (S. 22) to designate certain land as 

components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of 

the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I object to 

any further proceedings with regard to 

this legislation. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bill will 

be placed on the calendar. 

Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a 

quorum. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll. 

The legislative clerk proceeded to 

call the roll. 

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent 

that the order for the quorum call be 

rescinded. 

The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

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SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL IN ITS BATTLE WITH HAMAS AND THE 

ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE 

PROCESS 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise to 

voice my strong support for a resolution in support of Israel that Senator 

MCCONNELL and I introduced with a bipartisan, overwhelming number of Senators. When we pass this resolution, 

the U.S. Senate will strengthen its historic bond with the State of Israel, by 

reaffirming Israel’s inalienable right to 

defend against attacks from Gaza as 

well as our support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

I spoke last week with Prime Minister Olmert and again expressed my 

understanding of and appreciation for 

the terrible situation that Israel has 

faced. Hamas has been firing rockets 

and mortars into Israel, killing, maiming innocent Israeli citizens for more 

than 8 years. I ask any of my colleagues to imagine that happening here 

in the United States, rockets and mortars coming from Toronto and Canada 

into Buffalo, NY. How would we as a 

country react? We would react, and we 

would react swiftly and quickly. Israel 

has been very patient. 

Gaza was controlled by Israel since 

1967. They, in an effort of extending an 

olive branch to the Palestinians, gave 

that territory up willingly. What have 

they gotten in return for it? Mortars 

and rockets fired, by now into the 

thousands. So we would have to react 


rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with SENATE