Robert Byrd

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Why don't Senators help me get this bill to conference? That is what I am asking. Why don't Senators help me get this bill to conference?

Mr. BYRD. I hope so.

Mr. BYRD. Madam President, how much time remains?

Mr. BYRD. I am trying to salvage a bill.

Mr. BYRD. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. BYRD. Why won't Senators vote for cloture? There are many other needs being addressed by this bill. I have said I will support the Senator on another bill later.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed for 2 minutes.

Mr. BYRD. I yield 2 minutes to the ranking member and I will yield 5 minutes to the distinguished Senator. I am always very accommodating, most always, to Senators from the other side of the aisle. Then will I have any more time left?

Mr. BYRD. How much of that time--

Mr. BYRD. Why vote down cloture on this amendment? What is wrong with it?

Mr. BYRD. I thank the Chair. I won't need it.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank both Senators.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I also need to get home. My wife is recuperating from an appendectomy and doing very well. I think I need to go home. I thank both Senators for their understanding and consideration.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I would rather not do it tonight.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. I ask unanimous consent that I may yield to the distinguished Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Domenici, for not to exceed 5 minutes, without losing my right to the floor.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, do I have the floor?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, what is the situation with respect to time?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may hold the floor beyond the 10 minutes for a reasonably short period of time. I would say perhaps another 10 minutes.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Madam President, I give the distinguished majority leader my power of attorney to sign this for me. Everybody in the country knows about my trembling hands. So I hope the majority will sign this for me.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, let me thank again our very dedicated staff and the officers of the Senate, the security personnel, the committee staff people, and in particular those Senators who have presided this afternoon. And I should not forget the pages. I thank them too. Let me also thank the people who work here at these desks. Many times they have to come to Senators to tell them what the situation is. It may not be a situation that the Senator likes. That is not because of the person who carries the message to the Senator. People who convey the message are told to carry the message. If I have said anything today that would offend any person in the Senate family, I certainly want to apologize. I don't see any other Senators seeking recognition. I again thank the Senator from Minnesota for presiding at this hour, at 4:15 p.m.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. 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.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I overlooked a request of the lady. I thank the fine lady who serves the Senate so well for calling this to my attention. And, for the Record, her name is Lula. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent that Members have until 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 17, to file first-degree amendments, notwithstanding a recess of the Senate during that time, and that second-degree amendments be filed until 4:15 p.m.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, by the way, that was the day in 1787 that the Constitutional Convention completed its work--September 17, 1787. What a day. What a great day for free peoples, for people who have the liberty and freedom to speak. It devised a system of government, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people--a government of separation of powers and checks and balances. I thank those Framers for what they did on July 16, 1787, when they decided under a great compromise which provided for a Senate--a Senate where Members would represent the States with two Senators from each State so that a small State, or a large State, or medium-size State would have an equal voice in this Senate. Let us remember that as we go along. Again, I say that day on September 17, 1787, there were 39 signers who put their names on this Constitution, including John Milton Niles, a Senator from Connecticut. And his relative sits in the chair today, Senator Dayton from Minnesota. Let me begin again so that the Record will show it as read in its completeness and without interruption. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 17; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business until 10:30 a.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each, with the first half of the time under the control of the majority leader, or his designee, and the second half of the time under the control of the Republican leader, or his designee; that at 10:30 a.m. the Senator resume consideration of H.R. 5093, the Interior Appropriations Act; that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly conferences; that at 2:15 p.m. the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 5005, homeland security; that at 4:15 p.m. the Senate resume consideration of the Interior Appropriations Act with 60 minutes of debate, equally divided between the chairman and the ranking member of the subcommittee, or their designees, prior to the vote on cloture on the Byrd amendment; further, that the live quorum with respect to the cloture motion filed today be waived; and that the cloture vote occur at 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, September 17, without further intervening action or debate. Before the Chair puts the question, let me consider what I just said. Mr. President, I add this request, which is my own request: That when the Senate resumes consideration of H.R. 5005, the homeland security bill, I be recognized at that point.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 17.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record, without further intervening action or debate.