[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 156 (Thursday, December 2, 2010)] [Senate] [Pages S8391-S8392] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EXTENSION ACT OF 2010 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House with respect to H.R. 4853. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate a message from the House as follows: H.R. 4853 Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 4853) entitled ``An Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, and for other purposes.'', with a house amendment to the Senate amendment. Motion to Concur with Amendment No. 4727 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I move to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4853 with an amendment which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with an amendment numbered 4727. (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'') Mr. REID. On that I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Cloture Motion Mr. REID. I have a cloture motion which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to rule XXII, the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. The legislative clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to concur in the House amendment to H.R. 4853, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, with an amendment No. 4727. Harry Reid, Charles E. Schumer, Benjamin L. Cardin, Barbara Boxer, Al Franken, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark R. Warner, Debbie Stabenow, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mark Udall, Tom Udall, Byron L. Dorgan, Patty Murray, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Patrick J. Leahy, Tom Harkin, Jeff Merkley. Amendment No. 4728 to Amendment No. 4727 Mr. REID. I have a second degree amendment at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. Schumer, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Menendez, proposes an amendment numbered 4728 to amendment No. 4727. Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'') Cloture Motion Mr. REID. I have a cloture motion at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to rule XXII, the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. The legislative clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, hereby move to bring to a close debate on the second-degree amendment No. 4728. Harry Reid, Charles E. Schumer, Benjamin L. Cardin, Barbara Boxer, Al Franken, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark R. Warner, Debbie Stabenow, Sheldon Whitehouse, Mark Udall, Tom Udall, Robert P. Casey, Jr., Frank R. Lautenberg, Dianne Feinstein, Mark L. Pryor, Richard J. Durbin. Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorums required under rule XXII be waived. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Motion to Refer with Amendment No. 4729 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a motion to refer with instructions at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to refer the House message to the Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith, with the following amendment: At the end, add the following: The Senate Finance Committee is requested to study the impact of any delay in extending tax cuts to middle income Americans with incomes up to $250,000. Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 4730 to Amendment No. 4729 Mr. REID. I have an amendment to my instructions at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 4730 to amendment No. 4729. Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: At the end, insert the following: ``including specific information on the impact of the delay in extending the tax cuts.'' Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. Amendment No. 4731 to Amendment No. 4730 Mr. REID. Mr. President, there is a second-degree amendment at the desk that I ask be reported. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment numbered 4731 to amendment No. 4730. Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: At the end, insert the following: ``and include statistics which reflect regional differences'' Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. REID. Mr. President, we have worked hard today trying to be at a point where we could be further down the road than we are. I know the Republican leader has worked hard to try to get to a point where we could have the four amendments that people are talking about all around this city. We were not able to do that because of at least one Republican who held that up. Senator McConnell has given this a valiant try and I have been in the position he is in and I understand that. I certainly do not criticize him. I would hope everyone understands we are going to have to have some votes Saturday. We are going to wind up having, right now, two cloture votes. We may not have any more. We [[Page S8392]] may not be able to work out anything with the minority. But everyone should be aware that could happen. We are satisfied, if the minority does not want those other two amendments, then we will just go ahead as we are scheduled now under the rules of the Senate. We are going to have to be here on Saturday. We have so many things to do, as everyone knows, and we have been trying to work through some of that this week and have not gotten through nearly as much as we wanted. I am, however, disappointed we have not been able to do more. I received a letter from all the Republicans yesterday saying: We are not going to allow you to do anything legislative until we get the tax cuts resolved and funding the government. Well, we are not only not getting legislative things done now, now they are not letting us do the tax cuts and funding the government. So we are going to try to work our way through this. We have a lot to do. We have to work together, and I intend to be as cooperative as I can. My caucus, even though we have very strong feelings, recognized we are trying to do what is good for this country, but we cannot do them alone. I apologize for not having more definition early on, but we did the best we could. So tomorrow we are going to be in session and there will be time for people to give some speeches and do the things they need to do. Be prepared for Saturday. As to what time Saturday, we do not know. Under the rule, it is 1 hour after we come in. If we can work out something different than that, we will do it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The assistant majority leader is recognized. ____________________