CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
SENATE
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
(Legislative day of Monday, July 14, 2008)[1]
The Senate met at 9:30 a.m., on the expiration of the recess, and was called to order by the Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse, a Senator from the State of Rhode Island.
[Above line to be used only when Senate had been in recess.]
The Senate met at 9:30 a.m., and was called to order by the Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin, a Senator from the State of Maryland.
[Note.—Entire prayer set in 8 point.]
prayer
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer:
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven, we thank You for the beautiful differences in the human family, for its varied shapes and sizes, its features and colors, its abilities and talents. Deliver us from the forces that would destroy our unity by eliminating our diversity.
Bless the Members of this body. Help them in their debates to distinguish between substance and semantics, between rhetoric and reality. Free them from personal and partisan preoccupations that would defeat their aspirations and deprive Americans of just and equitable solutions. May our lawmakers avoid the works of darkness and put on Your armor of light.
We pray in Your holy Name. Amen.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin 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.
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, June 11, 2008.To the Senate:
Under the provisions of rule I, section3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby appoint the Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin, a Senator from the State of Maryland, to perform the duties of the Chair.
Robert C. Byrd,
President pro tempore.Mr. CARDIN thereupon assumed the chair as Acting President pro tempore.
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.
SCHEDULE
Mr. REID. Mr. President, following my remarks and those of Senator McConnell, there will be a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The majority will control the first 30 minutes;
- ↑ To be used only when the Senate had been In recess.
