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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S401 

Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2009 No. 9 

Senate 

The Senate met at 10 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, who at creation 

brought order out of chaos and light 

out of darkness, bring order and illumination to our world. As our lawmakers labor, illuminate the darkness 

of pessimism and doubt, as You give 

them the wisdom to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and 

evil, better and best. Lord, renew their 

spirits and lift their vision so that they 

can see possibilities that are now hidden from them. Keep them from embracing the second best, and let their 

ordered lives confess the beauty of 

Your peace. 

We pray in the Name of him who is 

the light of the world. 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 15, 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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SENATOR BIDEN’S FAREWELL 

SPEECH TO THE SENATE 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, Senator 

BIDEN is here to give his farewell address to the U.S. Senate. Over the 

many decades he has served in the Senate, he has given many speeches in the 

Senate. We all look forward to his final 

remarks, recognizing the loss of his 

service in the Senate is significant. 

However, being Vice President, he will 

still be President of the Senate. 

I will always remember Senator 

BIDEN telling me, after the time he had 

been selected to be Vice President: I 

am a Senate guy. I will always be a 

Senate guy. 

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SCHEDULE 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Senate 

will be in a period of morning business. 

We will start that after the distinguished Republican leader and I have 

finished our remarks. Following Senator BIDEN’s statement, which he will 

give as soon as we finish our remarks, 

Senator CLINTON will come and give 

her farewell address. In addition, Senator SALAZAR intends to give his farewell speech sometime, as soon as there 

is clearance on the calendar. But it will 

be today. 

At noon, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 22, the public lands bill. 

There will be up to 10 minutes for debate equality divided between Senators 

BINGAMAN and COBURN. Upon the use or 

yielding back of time, the Senate will 

consider any managers’ amendments 

cleared by both leaders, and we will 

proceed to a rollcall vote on passage of 

the bill. Upon disposition of the lands 

bill, the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to 

S. 181, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay 

Act. Therefore, Senators should expect 

two rollcall votes beginning at approximately 12:10 p.m. today. 

Also, at 2 p.m. today, Senator-appointee BURRIS will take the oath of office to be a U.S. Senator. At 11 a.m. tomorrow, Senator-appointee KAUFMAN

will be sworn in to replace Senator 

BIDEN of Delaware. 

With respect to the resolution of disapproval regarding the Emergency 

Economic Stabilization Act, the TARP 

legislation, yesterday we proposed a 

unanimous-consent request to our Republican colleagues for a limited 

amount of debate and a vote on the 

joint resolution at around 4 o’clock 

today. We hope to be able to lock that 

agreement in shortly. 

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WORKING TOGETHER 

Mr. REID. Mr. President, just a couple of brief remarks. 

With all the challenges our country 

faces, I think we all agree on the importance of this Congress getting off to 

a fast and effective start. In many 

ways, I believe we are on that track. 

Today, we will likely pass a major 

wilderness bill that will preserve our 

environment for the enjoyment of generations to come. The press reports it 

is the most significant environmental 

bill that will be passed in more than a 

quarter century. 

We are making progress on confirmation hearings so President Obama will 

have his team hit the ground running 

on January 20. We have seated new 

Members and announced new committee assignments for the 111th Congress. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with SENATE