The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. Todays opening prayer will be offered by rear admiral brent w. Scott, deputy chief of chaplains for the United States navy and chaplain of the marine corps in washington, d. C. The guest chaplain please join me in prayer. Heavenly father, we begin this day in the privilege of prayer, thanking you for this great nation, a people gathered from every tongue and tribe, bound together through the more noble ideals of liberty and justice and equality, formed and favored as one nation under god. We ask your help as you continue to make us as one. We pray for our senate in this session, and ask you to bless them with wisdom and discernment to lead our people toward reconciliation, to rebuild our nations confidence in justice, to restore our sense of equality. Free each one from the divisive distractions of any lesser ideals that they may more powerfully serve the people as a body of, by, and for the people, making every effort to keep an
The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President , i said yesterday that committees and members from both sides were making important progress in the appropriations and tax relief negotiations. As colleagues now know, last night the committees and members reached agreement and filed legislation over in the house. I just participated in a productive meeting where the committees walked our conference through details of this legislation. I know our colleagues across the aisle are discussing the matter as well. Ill obviously have more to say on this soon. Now is the time for members to review the legislation for themselves. I would encourage them to do so, and i would also encourage members to debate it. Mr. Reid mr. President . The presiding officer the democratic leader. Mr. Reid mr. President , as the republican leader mentioned, last night the senate and house leaders finalized a bipartisan compromise. I said last night according to how you define last night the l