Robert Byrd

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. I thank the Senator. Mr. President, Scriptures say: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings. . . . These two Senators are diligent in their business. They are experienced legislative craftsmen, and they have studied this subject for many years. In defense of our country, they have traveled all over the globe searching for answers to questions, searching for solutions to problems, and coming back to the Senate and applying their experience, their knowledge to the problems at hand. The Senate is in their debt. I personally thank them for the good work they have done on this bill, the good work they always do. The Nation is in their debt. I thank them both.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, will the Senator yield me a minute?

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I yield to the distinguished Senator for 7 minutes.

Mr. BYRD. Right.

Mr. BYRD. But don't we need this trade promotion authority? Don't we need this trade promotion authority to wipe out those deficits so we can start moving our goods, other than farm products and along with them, too, don't we need this trade promotion authority, I say to the Senator? ``Trade promotion authority,'' that tells me it promotes trade.

Mr. BYRD. Madam President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. BYRD. Very well. Mr. President, I have the floor, do I not?

Mr. BYRD. Yes. (Mrs. CARNAHAN assumed the Chair.)

Mr. BYRD. We didn't give it, did we?

Mr. BYRD. That is not what the President has been saying, is it?

Mr. BYRD. What I have been hearing the administration say is that this is trade promotion authority. Does the Senator mean to tell me here in front of the eyes of the Nation, the ears of the people, that the President doesn't need fast-track in order to negotiate trade agreements for the United States? Is that what the Senator is saying?

Mr. BYRD. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. BYRD. Is he telling me that trade agreements can be negotiated without this fast-track mechanism?

Mr. BYRD. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. BYRD. There is not a vote at that point?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, ordinarily I would suggest that the Senator take his 7 minutes now. My speech is probably going to be 45 minutes or longer, and I understand there is a vote scheduled for 2 o'clock; is that correct?

Mr. BYRD. I thank the Senator. He would need 7 minutes?

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I see a Senator on the other side who is prepared to speak. Does he wish to speak immediately? What is his situation?

Mr. BYRD. Is that what he is saying?

Mr. BYRD. Yes.

Mr. BYRD. Yes, I yield.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. I agree with what Senator Leahy has said about section 2015 of the Supplemental Appropriations bill. The House strongly resisted efforts to incorporate the Dodd-Warner amendment in the bill, and receded only in exchange for the Senate agreeing to drop a provision on UNFPA.

Mr. BYRD

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that this legislation would increase the deficit by $7,006,000,000 from fiscal year 2002-2007 and by $12,302,000,000 from fiscal year 2002- 2012. This deficit spending results from both increases in mandatory spending and reductions in revenues. The additional mandatory spending and reductions in revenue contained in this Conference Report are not provided for under the budget resolution approved last year. Therefore, Mr. President, I make a point of order that the pending conference report violates section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I make a point of order.

Mr. BYRD. Requesting what?