Robert Byrd

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. I yield.

Mr. BYRD. Let me first yield to the distinguished Senator from Virginia for a question, without losing my right to the floor.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I share that feeling, and in due time we will get that explanation. At this moment I appeal, I appeal to the Members of the Senate to find a way to give unanimous consent to put aside this vote on tomorrow and delay it so as to give this Senate more time to debate and to act upon this resolution, which is so weighty, involving, as it does, the most serious, the most solemn question that can ever face this Senate, the question of peace or war. We are being hurried by the rules of the Senate, we are being hurried into reaching a decision that is premature. I appeal to my colleagues. I appeal to my colleagues. The people out there in the country deserve better than this. They deserve a decision taken after due time, due consideration, ample consideration, ample opportunities to offer amendments and to have them decided. As it is under the rules of the Senate, we will be forced tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. to vote on cloture. If enough Senators voted against cloture, that would be one thing. If 41 Senators opposed it--or put it this way: If those who support this resolution cannot get 60 votes tomorrow, then we would automatically have additional time. I am concerned the way this Senate is being stampeded, stampeded. I don't blame any Senator in particular. Every Senator here is acting in accordance with the rules. I am asking that in this peculiar, unique situation involving so much of the country's treasury, in blood and in dollars, I am asking the Senators join with me in putting off this decision. It can be done. It can be done by unanimous consent. That is not asking too much. That is not asking too much. We are talking about people who are in the military of this country who may have to go to war in a foreign country, depending on this vote tomorrow.

Mr. BYRD. Then I will be glad to yield.

Mr. BYRD. Absolutely correct. Absolutely correct.

Mr. BYRD. Exactly.

Mr. BYRD. Yes.

Mr. BYRD. The Senator is correct.

Mr. BYRD. That includes Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I yield to the Senator for such a parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. BYRD. Yes, I yield.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I take the floor at this time to urge the joint leadership of the Senate to delay the vote on cloture which is set this moment for 10:15 tomorrow morning. I urge the leadership of this body to consider and to help bring about an order that will vitiate that vote on cloture tomorrow morning at 10:15. I make my plea on behalf of the mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers of this country, the fate of whose sons, daughters and grandchildren hinges upon the outcome of the vote on cloture; shutting off the debate of this Senate, shutting it down to 30 hours, with each Senator to have only 1 hour unless other Senators can be prevailed upon to seek unanimous consent to yield that Senator additional time, with the exception of the managers, the majority leader, and the minority leader, who have an additional 2 hours automatically. What is involved is the fate of the service men and women in this country who may have to go to Iraq, the fate of the reserves, the fate of our National Guardsmen and Guardswomen in this country who may have to go to Iraq. This decision is going to be made no later than 10:15 tomorrow morning unless it is changed. This is a fateful decision. It involves the treasure of this country. It involves the blood of our fighting men and women. It is too momentous and too far reaching a decision to be signed, sealed, and delivered by 10:15 tomorrow morning. I know it is in accordance with the rules of the Senate. Nobody knows the rules of the Senate more than I do, and nobody has used the rules of the Senate more than I have in past years. But I say that this rule, which is perfectly within order, should be set aside because of the fateful, momentous, and far-reaching implications and ramifications of this vote. If we go through with this vote, Senators are going to have 1 hour each, up to 30 hours, and only amendments which are germane can be offered. This is too much, and I appeal to the sense of justice, the sense of right, and the sense of our duties to our people. I appeal to all Senators and to the leadership that we seek to get unanimous consent to put off that vote, to delay it.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I yield an additional minute to the Senator, under the same conditions.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may yield to the distinguished Senator from Utah, Mr. Hatch, for not to exceed 5 minutes--I hope this will be the last request--not to exceed 5 minutes, and that I retain my right to the floor.

Mr. BYRD. Not to exceed 7 minutes. I make that request.

Mr. BYRD. How much time does the Senator need?

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may yield to my senior colleague, Mr. Thurmond, for not to exceed 5 minutes, without losing my right to the floor.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, shortly I will yield to my distinguished senior colleague, Mr. Thurmond, for not to exceed--what time does he want?

Mr. BYRD. I thank the distinguished Senator from Wisconsin for his kindness and courtesy.

Mr. BYRD. I wonder if Senators would yield consent to allow Senators to file first-degree amendments until a later point today. For example, my own situation is such, I have so many things going on, including a conference on the Defense appropriations. I also have other problems that would impinge upon my ability to offer an amendment by 1 p.m. Could all Senators have a little longer than that today?

Mr. BYRD. If I might ask, until what time today are Senators in a position to offer amendments in the first degree to the cloture motion on the Lieberman amendment?

Mr. BYRD. I thank the distinguished Senator for yielding for the inquiry. Is there a motion to invoke cloture before the Senate?

Mr. BYRD. I would like to make a parliamentary inquiry of the Chair.

Mr. BYRD. I have an engagement downtown. I had hoped to speak immediately following Mr. Feingold. I would have to say to my friend from Arizona my remarks are on the general subject. They are not precisely on the point with respect to the Graham amendment. May I make a parliamentary inquiry? I ask if the Senator will yield for that purpose?

Mr. BYRD. I was about to say, I was hoping I might be considered on the list and be able to follow the statement by Mr. Feingold.