John Chafee

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. I thank the Senator from New York for that description. Because it is interesting. So, now, there is underway an appeal, seeking a court determination.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I had a question----

Mr. CHAFEE. I had a couple questions for the Senator from New York whenever the proper time is.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I listened carefully to the remarks by the Senator from New York. I am on the other side on this issue. But nonetheless, it was very edifying to hear the comments that the Senator from New York had to make. Several times the Senator from New York said, if I understood correctly, that this measure, this line-item veto, is unconstitutional. My question is, has it been so tested? Or is there anything underway to so test it? In other words, is there a case working its way up through the system to challenge the constitutionality of the line-item veto--which I guess we passed, was it last year? Was it in 1996?

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I want to thank the distinguished Senator from Ohio very much for the work he has done on this legislation, the support he has given it, the kind things he has had to say about my part in it. I think it is very important to stress that the Senator from Ohio has long been active in children's matters, particularly this area that we are involved with, namely, adoption and foster care. He knows the existing problems in this system and has been very, very helpful in the meetings we have had in putting this legislation together. So I thank the Senator from Ohio very much for his work. And I share his enthusiasm and his desire to see this legislation come up this year, before we leave hopefully. So certainly both of us will do everything we can. We have had some fine meetings with the majority leader on it. Next week, we will be meeting with the chairman of the Finance Committee. Hopefully this legislation can come before us before we leave. If there is nobody else desiring to speak, Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CHAFEE

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I am authorized to say that there will be no further votes today. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. CHAFEE

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

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Now, Mr. President, I just want to say one other thing to the Senator from West Virginia. He said some kind things about me being up front and so forth. I want to thank him very much for being so candid with us. There are no tricks, there are no games here. We are each proceeding and doing everything we can, as was mentioned, to keep everything aboveboard so there are no unfair surprises. I thank the Senator very much for that. I greatly appreciate it.

Mr. CHAFEE. It was filed this morning before 10 a.m. was my clear understanding.

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I'm informed it is amendment No. 1522.

Mr. CHAFEE. I think we will certainly get the Senator a copy of it, and we can do that this evening.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, tomorrow morning, the Senate will conduct a cloture vote on the committee amendment to the ISTEA legislation. If cloture is invoked, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of the ISTEA legislation. In addition, the Senate may turn to any available appropriations conference reports--possibly the Interior conference report. As earlier announced, the Senate is expected to vote on the nomination of Algenon Marbley to be U.S. District Judge on Monday, October 27 at 5 p.m. As a reminder to all Members, the next rollcall vote will occur at 9:45 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until the hour of 9:45 a.m. on Friday, October 24. I further ask that on Friday, immediately following the prayer, the routine requests through the morning hour be granted. I also ask that the cloture vote occur on the modified committee amendment to S. 1173, the ISTEA reauthorization bill, at the hour of 9:45 a.m.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Yes, certainly.

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

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I believe that the order provides for speaking, I presume it was in morning business, for me to speak and I was to be followed by Senator Byrd.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. It is my understanding that the distinguished Senator from West Virginia is going to make some comments and no motions or anything are involved. It is strictly some remarks in connection with the legislation.

Mr. CHAFEE. So I have no objection.

Mr. CHAFEE

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

Mr. CHAFEE

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

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I see the distinguished senior Senator from West Virginia still here. Previously, I had said that I wanted to go ahead of the Senator on some discussion in connection with the bill that is before us, the ISTEA bill. Does the Senator want to go ahead now on that to discuss something? I understand he is not going to present any motions or anything but discuss it.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. As manager, normally I would be the first, the one who would be recognized first, under that. I don't want to waive that.

Mr. CHAFEE

Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I want to say that when one receives complimentary remarks, the merit and the weight of those remarks depend a great deal who they come from. When I receive such generous comments as I have just received from the distinguished Senator from West Virginia, whom he knows I long have had not only great admiration for but great affection for, and we have been in harness here together on many issues on the same side--on some issues we have been on the other side. To the Senator from West Virginia, I just want to say thank you very much for those very, very kind remarks. As he knows, one of the great pleasures I have had in this Chamber in serving in the U.S. Senate is the relationship I have had with Robert Byrd. I count myself very, very lucky. So I will treasure the kind comments he made. I further will say I think I'll believe them all, and if my children have any doubts about their father, I will tell them, ``Here is what Robert Byrd said about him.'' I will make sure they all get copies of it. I want to thank him very, very much.