Jeff Bingaman

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, under the previous order, I call up amendments Nos. 938 and 936.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I also wish to propound a unanimous consent request. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of S. 761 on Wednesday, there be 30 minutes of debate with respect to the Sununu amendment No. 938, with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Sununu and Kennedy or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendment, with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for his question and his great work on this legislation. The plan for tomorrow, as I understand it, is we will go ahead with this Sununu amendment at around 10:45 and hopefully vote shortly after 11 o'clock on that amendment. We have talked to Senator Coburn from Oklahoma about considering three amendments he still has that he is committed to offering at some time in the 2 o'clock period. We urge other Senators who have amendments they wish to have votes on to bring those to the floor for consideration after disposing of Senator Sununu's amendment shortly after 11 o'clock. Now, obviously, the Senator's amendment is still pending, as we have indicated, and we still have to get agreement as to how to proceed on that. We are working on that at the present time. But I agree, we have made good progress today. I hope we can complete the remaining amendments tomorrow and proceed to final action on the bill.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry be authorized to conduct a hearing during the session of the Senate on April 24, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in SD-106. The title of this committee hearing is, ``Challenges and Opportunities Facing American Agriculture Producers Today, Part II.''

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in open session to receive testimony on United States Pacific Command, United States Forces Korea, and United States Special Operations Command in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years defense program.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 24 2007, at 10 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The hearing will examine the state of U.S. broadband deployment and penetration. In addition, it will provide a forum for considering the state of U.S. telecommunications research and development and the consequences for competitiveness in the global economy.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 9:45 a.m. in Room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The agenda to be considered: Hearing on the Implications of the Supreme Court's Decision Regarding EPA's Authorities with Respect to Greenhouse Gases under the Clean Air Act.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to hold a hearing on the No Child Left Behind Reauthorization during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 10 a.m. in SD-628.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``The Insurrection Act Rider and State Control of the National Guard'' on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. The Honorable Michael F. Easley, Governor, State of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC. Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, USA, Chief, National Guard Bureau, Alexandria, VA. Major General Timothy Lowenberg, USAF, The Adjutant General, State of Washington, Tacoma, WA. Sheriff Ted G. Kamatchus, Sheriff, Marshall County Iowa, President, National Sheriffs' Association, Marshalltown, IA.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 24, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery be authorized to meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing titled ``Beyond Trailers, Part I: Creating a More Flexible, Efficient, and Cost Effective Federal Disaster Housing Program.''

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations be authorized to meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 2:30 p.m., for a hearing entitled ``Transit Benefits: How Some Federal Employees Are Taking Uncle Sam for a Ride.''

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law be authorized to meet on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on ``A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier'' in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Witness List Ishmael Beah, author, ``A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier,'' New York, NY; Kenneth Roth, executive director, Human Rights Watch, New York, NY; Anwen Hughes, senior counsel, Refugee Protection Program, Human Rights First, New York, NY; Joseph Mettimano, director, Public Policy and Advocacy, World Vision, Washington, DC.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 3 p.m., to receive testimony on the readiness of U.S. ground forces in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years defense program.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 167 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements related thereto be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 169, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 168, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I understand my colleague from Tennessee, Senator Alexander, wishes to make some final comments tonight. If there is no further business today, I ask unanimous consent that following the remarks of Senator Alexander, the Senate stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 25; that on Wednesday, following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that there then be a period of morning business for 60 minutes, with Senators permitted to speak therein, with the first 30 minutes under the control of the majority and final 30 minutes under the control of the Republicans; that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 761.

Mr. BINGAMAN

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

Mr. BINGAMAN

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of myself and Senator Alexander.