Although the committee recommended confirmation, floor consideration sparked a filibuster.

Republicans hoped to have a leaner measure ready for floor consideration by Friday.

They moved it to the second stage of floor consideration without allowing opportunity for amendment.

A clean bill may expedite Senate action by avoiding separate floor consideration of each committee amendment.

"I will urge my Senate colleagues to support his confirmation during the floor consideration."

After they turned back two cloture votes, the bill was withdrawn from floor consideration.

To make a special rule providing that a reported measure that was never called for floor consideration be considered.

This parliamentary technique was used 12 times in the 99th Congress to delay floor consideration of pending legislation.

Business is placed on the legislative or executive calendar, and becomes available for floor consideration, if the committee reports it.

The Senate is scheduled to begin floor consideration of the arms pact on May 9.