Senate Opening

The Senate is Convened.

Senators Sworn In

Today --

·         Vice President Cheney administered the oath of office for newly elected Senators.

·         A Quorum has been established.

Morning Business

Today --

·         Senator Reid propounded a UC to proceed to a period of Morning Business. Senators will be allowed to speak up to 10 minutes each.

 
Senator Reid: (1:13 PM)

·         Spoke on the new 111th Congress.

o    SUMMARY "Today, nine new senators join what many have said is the greatest deliberative body the world has ever known. Certainly the greatest legislative body. So I extend my warmest welcome and congratulations to Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska, Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Senator Mark Begich of Alaska."

·         Spoke on the status of Roland Burris and Senator Coleman.

o    SUMMARY "First, the Illinois seat left vacant by President-Elect Barack Obama, although I don't know Mr. Burris personally, he has served the state of Illinois in elective office over many years. Mr. Burris and his advisors were welcomed to the Capitol this morning by the Sergeant at Arms Terry Gainer, who was chief of police in Chicago. They had a gracious meeting with the Secretary of the Senate, Nancy Erickson and Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin who informed them that Mr. Burris is not in possession of the necessary credentials from the state of Illinois. A court case in Illinois is pending to determine if Secretary of State Jesse White is obligated to sign the certification. We're waiting that court decision."

o    SUMMARY "The senate race in Minnesota was very close; very, very close; one of the closest in history. Minnesota election officials have done an exemplary job in handling the recount. No allegations of partisanship and unfairness from either side that I'm aware of, and I've followed it every day for six weeks. Even close elections, though, have winners, and I can testify to that. After all votes have been fairly counted, Al Franken has been declared the winner. Democrats will not seek to seat Senator Al Franken today."

o    SUMMARY "I hope that former Senator Coleman and all our Republican colleagues will choose to respect the will of the people of Minnesota. They have chosen a new senator, Al Franken, and his term must begin and will begin soon."

Morning Business

 
Senator Lieberman: (1:33 PM)

·         Spoke on legislation providing representation for citizens of the District of Columbia.

o    SUMMARY "I'm honored to have the opportunity today, obviously early on this first day of this new session of Congress, together with my colleague from Utah, Senator Hatch, to introduce bipartisan legislation which would finally grant citizens of our nation's capital, the District of Columbia voting representation. The proper representation to which they are entitled as citizens would be in the United States House of Representatives."

o    SUMMARY "The people of the District have been the target directly of a terrorist attack, but they have no vote on how the federal government provides for their homeland security. Men and women, citizens of the District have fought bravely in our wars, in defense of our security and freedom over the years, many giving their lives in defense of our country, yet, citizens of the District have no voting representation in Congress on the serious questions of war and peace, veterans' benefits, and the like. And, of course, the citizens of the District of Columbia per capita pay federal income taxes at the second highest rate in the nation, yet, they have absolutely no voice, no voting representation in setting tax rates or in determining how the revenues raised by those taxes will be spent the. This is just plain wrong."

 
Senator Alexander: (2:30 PM)

·         Spoke on former Senator Claiborne Pell and the Pell Grant Program.

o    SUMMARY "On January 1st, Claiborne Pell died. He was a United States Senator for 36 years from Rhode Island, the longest serving senator from that state. And a Senator whose name is known by most college students and by most people who care about education in America, because he was largely responsible for helping to create in 1973 what we call the Pell Grant, a federal scholarship that follows students to the college of their choice."

o    SUMMARY "Senator Pell by his leadership and work as Chairman of the Education Subcommittee of our Health, Education, and Labor Committee, helped add to the legacy of the G.I. Bill for veterans and helped make it possible for so many Americans to go to college."

o    SUMMARY "I would like to conclude my remarks in honor of Senator Pell with a thought of our future. I've always wondered why, if the Pell Grant was such a good idea for colleges, why don't we try it for kindergarten through the 12th grade?"

Morning Business

 
Senator Byrd: (2:50 PM)

·         Spoke on the History of the U.S. Senate.

o    SUMMARY "For five decades I have seen this Senate weather their storms of adversity, withstand the barbs of cynics and the attacks of critics as it provided continuous stability and strength for our great country during periods of strife and uncertainty. The United States Senate has served our country so well because great and courageous Senators have always been willing to stay the course through thick and thin and to keep the faith. The Senate will continue to do so as long as there are members of the Senate who understand the Senate's constitutional role and who zealously guard the Senate's powers."

 
Senator McConnell: (3:15 PM)

·         Spoke on the Minnesota Senate Race

o    SUMMARY "The winner of this contest deserves the legitimacy that would come with a court's politically independent finding that he got more votes than his opponent. The bottom line, Mr. President, is this: The Senate race in Minnesota will be determined by Minnesotans, not here in the Senate."

·         Spoke on the new Congress and the proposed Economic Stimulus Package.

o    SUMMARY "As we meet here in January of 2009, America faces many serious challenges. And none is more urgent than our troubled economy. President-Elect Obama was one of those who recognized the gravity of the current troubles early on. He reassured many by fielding a solid team of economic advisors. He agrees with Republicans that we should put more money in the pockets of middle-class American families by cutting their taxes. And he's proposed working with Republicans to create jobs and to encourage long-term economic stability for the most stiff domestic spending bill, the details of which the Members of Congress and the American people are increasingly eager to see."

o    SUMMARY "Now Democrats in Congress are proposing a stimulus that would cost taxpayers more than 50 times what President Clinton’s would have cost. This potentially $1 trillion bill would be one of the largest spending bills in U.S. history. It would increase the deficit by half a trillion dollars overnight and deepen an already enormous national debt. Before we all agree to it, the American people need to see the details. They need to be able to see for themselves whether this is money well spent. And if lawmakers think that it is, then they need to make a convincing case to the people who are paying for it."

Morning Business

 
Senator Reed: (5:32)

·         Spoke regarding the passing of former Senator Claiborne Pell.

o    SUMMARY "I had the rare privilege and opportunity yesterday to say on behalf of the people of Rhode Island something that all of my fellow citizens wanted to say as soon as they heard the news, as soon as they realized that the great light of Claiborne Pell has dimmed. Those are two simple words, thank you, Senator Pell."

 
Senator Whitehouse: (5:43 PM)

·         Spoke regarding the passing of former Senator Claiborne Pell.

o    SUMMARY "I remember in Rhode Island a few years ago I was at an event with a number of senators and the distinguished Senator from Colorado, now our Interior Secretary designee, was present. And Senator Pell came to the event. He was very disabled. He came in a wheelchair. I went over to greet him, and Senator Salazar also came over to greet him and took his hand and he told him, "Senator, my brother and I went to college because of the Pell Grant program. Now, here I am standing in front of you as a United States Senator. Thanks to the vision and foresight you showed, that every American should have the dream of higher education at their disposal." It was an unforgettable moment, Senator. It happened because Senator Pell understood the difference that higher education could make in the lives of America's young people."

 
Senator Kyl: (5:49 PM)

·         Spoke on the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

o    SUMMARY "Mr. President, I hope and I'm joined here by Senator Lieberman, that the Senate will have an opportunity to consider before this week is out a resolution that we believe has been drafted by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader that deals with the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip and that we believe needs to express the will of the Senate, and we believe that a similar resolution would be voted on in the House of Representatives to express the will of the House so that the whole world and certainly the Administration would know of this body's strong support for the state of Israel and our support for the actions that Israel is taking right now."

o    SUMMARY "The path to halt the violence is clear. A cease-fire is appropriate if and when it is durable and sustainable. A cease-fire, on the other hand, that would allow Hamas to rearm and rebuild and support its support in Gaza is not acceptable. Hamas cannot be given a cease-fire that only serves to provide it breathing room to regroup and then a month or two months or three months from now start firing its rockets and missiles again. The United States must resist the temptation that it all too often falls into. That is, that of moral equivalency."

 
Senator Lieberman: (6:10 PM)

·         Spoke on the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

o    SUMMARY "A defeat for Hamas, which is in reach if we allow Israeli action to continue, is a defeat for Iran and a victory for the United States and for the forces of democracy as against terrorism. And for the forces of moderation and the rule of law in the Islamic world as against fanaticism and violence. This is all that's being played out here, and this is why I'm so encouraged that this resolution is coming forward. It is, yes, a statement of support for our ally, Israel, but it is also a statement of policy from the Members of Senate across party lines and I hope with an overwhelming positive vote that says the security of the United States is on the line in how this conflict ends. We cannot let it end in a way that strengthens Hamas and Iran."

Morning Business

 
Senator Coburn: (6:56 PM)

·         Spoke on the upcoming business before the Senate.

o    SUMMARY "So far, Congress has signaled little desire for a long-term commitment to change. And some would ask, "Why would I say that?" And I'd say that, because here in a little while this evening we're going to reintroduce a bill...that is going to be the first order of business of this Congress that allocates $10 billion, some to some worthy projects, but tons of that money to projects that don't have a priority anywhere close to what we ought to be doing. This is an omnibus bill that indulges the worst habits of a parochial Congress, a holdover from the last conditioning including such things as a $3 million road to nowhere; three wildlife refuges; a $1 billion water project designed to assure that 500 salmon will be repopulated. It doesn't take long to divide 500 salmon into $1 billion to see what we have is $2 million per salmon. They're worth more than gold."

o    SUMMARY "So, I'll end my conversation only to be continued in a more thorough manner as the bill actually comes to the floor by asking the American public, what would they hope that we would do in terms of trying to change? In trying to meet what they see are the problems in front of us? Would it be passing things that are small but make us look good that we can't pay for? Or would it be that we could attend and address the pressing and also long-term needs of this country?"

·         Performed wrap up.

The Senate stands adjourned until 11:30 AM tomorrow.