Rear Adm. Barry Black:eastern, live coverage on c-span3 and c-span.org and our coverage here on c-span2, of course the u.s. senate about to gavel in to start their day. they'll work on highway and transit programs, the

Rear Adm. Barry Black:safety bill on the floor. live coverage now on c-span2. us pray. holy god, how excellent is your name in all the earth. our praise can never match your glory and majesty. your grace gives worth even

Rear Adm. Barry Black:to the least of our efforts, so use us to fulfill your purposes. give the members of this body a new vision of your glory. help them to see that no obstacle is so difficult, no challenge so great,

Rear Adm. Barry Black:no setback so irreversible that your purposes will not prevail. free them to depend on you more deeply, as they wait patiently for you to replenish their spirits. speak to our senators so that their

Rear Adm. Barry Black:words may reflect the tenor of your truth and the tone of your grace. father, let your name be magnified for the kingdom, the power, and the glory belong to you. amen. the presiding officer: please join

Rear Adm. Barry Black:me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. 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

Rear Adm. Barry Black:and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington, d.c, april 16, 2008. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph

Rear Adm. Barry Black:3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable benjamin cardin, a senator from the state of maryland, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: robert c. byrd, president pro tempore.

Rear Adm. Barry Black:mr. reid: mr. president, following my remarks and those of senator mcconnell, if he chooses to make any this morning, there will be a period of morning business for an hour. with senators permitted

Harry Reid:to speak for up to ten minutes each. the time is equally divided and controlled between the two leaders on their designees. the majority will control the first half, the republicans the second half. following