Robert Bennett

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction be authorized to meet on Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at 3 p.m., on Review of the Prediction of Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 20 at 10 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony regarding the current state of climate change scientific research and the economics of strategies to manage climate change. Issues to be discussed include: the relationship between energy consumption and climate change, and the potential effects on the U.S. economy of climate change and strategies to control greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to proceed as in morning business.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask that the vote be reconsidered and that reconsideration be laid upon the table.

Mr. BENNETT. I yield.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I have been asked throughout the vote whether that is the last vote of the evening. That obviously is not my call. It is the responsibility of the leader to make that decision. At the moment, I don't know of any amendment that would require a vote. I would hope that our colleagues who have amendments would be aggressive in coming to the floor now and offering them. We could offer an amendment now, lay it down for a vote in the morning.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BENNETT. The Senator from Kansas satisfies our request instantly. I am happy to yield the floor. Amendment No. 1742

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I share the concern and frustration of the Senator from Missouri with the proposal. We have had some of that same concern and frustration in Utah. Charitably, I will say that the efforts to close these offices have been handled a little less wisely than might otherwise have been the case. I hope that between now and the conference we can learn more about this proposal. I think the Senator's comments about getting information and input from those directly affected is very wise. I pledge to work with all the Senators concerned on this issue between now and the time we get to conference. So knowing that this will be the vehicle whereby we can get to conference, I am willing to proceed now to a voice vote and urge Senators to support it. I understand it has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. BENNETT. This is the managers' amendment that Senator Kohl and I introduced last Thursday. It makes some technical corrections in the bill regarding conservation technical assistance for DuPage County, IL. It also makes some technical corrections in the Rural Electrification Act of 1936. It has the approval of the authorizing committee, as well as the support of USDA, and there is no additional cost to the bill. Senator Kohl and I have taken the position that we will not offer any authorizing legislation on this bill that does not have the approval of the authorizing committee. And this one falls within that scope. So it has been cleared on both sides of the aisle, and I believe we are now prepared to pass it on a voice vote.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Ensign amendment No. 1753 be modified to be drafted as a first-degree amendment, provided further that the vote in relation to the Ensign amendment No. 1753 occur at 4:45 today with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote. I also ask for the yeas and nays on this amendment.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and ask that that be laid upon the table.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask for a voice vote.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I understand the Senator from Hawaii has some amendments to the Agriculture appropriations bill.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, as near as I can tell, there is support for these amendments on both sides of the aisle. I ask they be considered en bloc by a voice vote.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask for a voice vote.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, unless the Senator has an additional amendment----

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote in relation to the Allard amendment No. 1738, to be followed by a vote in relation to the Nelson amendment No. 1732, occur at 11:20 a.m. today, with no amendment in order to either amendment prior to that time, and that the two votes occur in that order. I further ask that there be 2 minutes between the two votes for explanation.

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceeding.

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

Mr. BENNETT

Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.