Quorum call mr. Mcconnell mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations, executive calendar number 461, 462, 464, 478, 479, 480, 488, and 490. The presiding officer without objection. The clerk will report the nominations. The clerk nominations, department of defense, goas of kernan of florida to be under secretary of defense for intelligence. Guy b. Roberts of virginia to be an assistant secretary of. Robert l. Wilkie of North Carolina for under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Robert baylor of pennsylvania to be director of operational tests and evaluation. Thomas b. Modly of maryland to be under secretary of the navy. James f. Geurts of pennsylvania to be an assistant secretary of navy. Robert h. Mcmay hadnt of georgia to be an assistant secretary of the shon j. Manaskco of texas to be an stant secretary of the air force. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent that the senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening actions or debate. If confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senates action, that no further motions be in order and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Question is on the nominations en bloc. All in favor say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nominations are confirmed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the 2308ing nominations, calendar number 491, 492, 439, 494, and all nominations on the secretarys desk. The presiding officer without objection. The clerk will report the nominations. The clerk nominations, department of state, Rebecca Eliza Gonzales of texas to be ambassador to the kingdom of lesotho, lisa a. Johnson of washington to be ambassador to the republic of nam bia. Irwin Steven Goldstein of new york to be under secretary of state for public diplomacy. Sean p. Lawler of maryland to be chief of protocol. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that the senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate, if confidence, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senates action, that no further motions be in order, that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Question is on the approval of the nominations en bloc. All those in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nominations are confirmed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations calendar number 475, 476, 477. The presiding officer without objection, the clerk will report the nominations. The clerk nominations, federal Labor Relations authority. James Thomas Abbott of virginia to be a member. Colleen kiko of north dakota for a member. Ernest dubester of the virginia to be a member. Mr. Mcconnell i ask that the senate vote on the noxes with no intervening action or debate, if confidence, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc, the president be immediately notified of the senates, a that further motions be in order, and that any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Question occurs on the nominations en bloc. All those in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nominations are confirmed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to consideration of the following nomination, executive calendar 292. The presiding officer without objection, the clerk will report the nomination. The clerk nomination, department of interior, Brenda Burman of arizona to be commissioner of reclamation. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that the senate vote on the nomination with no intervening action or debate, if confidence, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senates action, no further motions be in order, and that any statements relating to the nomination be printed in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Question is on the nomination. All those in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nomination is confirmed. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that the senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business with senatorsment permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of calendar number 257, s. Res. 279. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk calendar number 257, s. Res. 279, reaffirming the commitment of the United States to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in cambodia. The presiding officer are there objections to proceeding to the measure . Without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the committeereported substitute be agreed to, the resolution as amended be agreed to, the committeereported amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the mccain amendment at the desk be agreed to, the preamble, as amend, be agreed and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today s. Res. 337, 338, 339, and 340. The presiding officer is there objection . Without objection, the senate will proceed to the measures en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent the resolutions be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell now, mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene pro forma sessions only with no business being conducted on the following dates and times and that following each pro forma session, the Senate Adjourn until the next pro forma session. Friday, november 17, at 11 00 a. M. Tuesday, november 21, at 11 00 a. M. , friday, november 24, at 11 00 amendment. I further ask that when the Senate Adjourns on friday, november 24, it next convene at 4 00 p. M. Monday, november 27. Following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. Further, following leader remarks, the senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the friedrich nomination, with the time until 5 30 equally divided between got leaders or their designees. Finally, notwithstanding utah provisions of rule 22, the cloture motion filed on the katsas nomination ripen following disposition of the friedrich nomination. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell if there is no further business to come before the senate i ask it stand adjourned under the previous order. And things to for their cause to friendship and their faith in our innocence and i wish my dear friend success in his continuing search for justice. I want to thank my a defense team as well as the attorneys as well as the premier defense attorney who tore apart the governments case and his partner was a former prosecutor turned advocate for justice and mr. Brown whose insights were invaluable and his associates who gave their total commitment to our cause. And also to the defense team for their valuable roles. Also to the jury the most well from new jersey who saw through the false claims to use common sense and reject the appreciate their service and sacrifice and their time away a lot to think my colleague cory booker supporter from day one and was here on the first day of trial who came in testified was a profile in courage. Many urged him not to testify period but not only using his personal reputation to take a rest to see justice done but is the Public Servant of unlimited potential and the highest office of all of the land will never forget it and you have my gratitude also senator Lindsey Graham red friends and colleagues for coming to testify with my character and while he came as a friend to testify on behalf of a democratic colleague that is rare with todays politics also thinking the clergy of different denominations who stood and strengthen and prayed with me i am thing for your spiritual comfort and support also was a leader in the Autistic Community of all for being character witnesses and all of those in new jersey over the last 10 weeks who overwhelmingly expressed their support and my staff for their loyalty and dedication to the people of new jersey especially my a chief staff and my political director and especially assistant let me say a few things. The way this case started was wrong in the way it was investigated was wrong and the way it was prosecuted was wrong. The way it was tried was wrong as well. Certain elements of the fbi cannot understand or accept that that latino kids king drove to the United States senator and i cannot even begin to tell you how many people have come to told me the fbi went to them and ask them what can you give us on menendez . That is not what the fbi or department of justice is supposed to be doing. Theyre not supposed to be leaking to the press during the early stages of their investigation which violated my rights to a fair process. I have made my sheriff mistakes but there were never a crime. Thinking about the system of justice in this earliest system of justice you can afford. I understand where some may feel it is elusive but for supporters across the country who believed in me me, and knew who i am an artist and for i never could have afforded the millions of dollars this case cost so my gratitude to all of those new jerseyians and americans across the country who believed in me and dont my Legal Defense by the overwhelming weight to the federal government. I have also learned the power of the federal government and how we can pressure with the once to. There is a greater resolve to check that awesome power. So what they get back so what they sought to encourage the reputation so to those who leave me and a bit and in the darkest moment i forgive you. To those who embraced me and my darkest moment to the new jerseyians and gave me the benefit of the doubt, think youll and if not i will work harder than ever before so there is no doubt. To those in the press to do their job with professionalism and even some of you who were actually kind. [laughter] you show what professional trust is all about and by the freedom is important. To those who were digging my political grave to jump into my seat, i know who you are and i will not forget you. And those that i could not answer why didnt i testify . Theres nothing more i want to do then tell my story for those who have helped in new jersey and across the country to reunite families and bringing people who were denied i am proud of my work to have one image of scanning and i have been a champion of and believe as a vital security interest to stop the flow of drugs. With hundreds of millions of dollars fighting for medicare we cannot afford to throw good medicine when we can carefully if minister to the patients but the trial is not a debate it is a legal proceeding. My testimony on direct crossexamination would likely have taken days and put at risk one of the jurors would be lost to was told she would be excused to go on the preplanned vacation and we collectively felt by the way she reacted to different parts of the prosecution presentation that she believed in our innocence and we did not want to lose our. We were right but we still lost her. And the prosecution would have used me to review their entire case all over again including having me read emails and other materials that were not mine would have put my voice and name for their purpose to give them additional summation. That was just a small window into my thinking. Anyone who knows me know that i never seek a fight or shy away from one. This was not a fair fight for gore spent 43 years, my entire adult life and Public Service to the people of new jersey in the nation it has been one of my greatest privilege is serving with honesty and integrity every day. I am proud to have unable to accomplish for the people of new jersey or those from the Hispanic Community think it is possible to grope for and go to Public Schools and be the first and your family to go to college and a rise to be one of 100 senators and the country of 310 Million People her gore look forward to going back to washington and those of new jersey to help those realize their hopes and dreams and aspirations. Today i want to thank god once again for loving me to stand before you mr. Walked into the poorhouse an innocent man [inaudible conversations] i called to order preventing Sexual Harassment in the workplace. The hearing record will remain open five legislative days so members can submit materials they wish to be included a quorum is present so we may proceed. At the outset i ask for unanimous consent from the ethics chairwoman to be afforded the opportunity to