Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. COCHRAN. Has all time been used or yielded back?

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, as I understand it, the order is the Senator from Arizona will offer an amendment at this point. My purpose for rising is to confirm that and also to ask if we can get an agreement to limit time for debate on the McCain amendment.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, has all time been yielded or used?

Mr. COCHRAN. I thought the chair had announced that all time had expired.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. COCHRAN. I move to reconsider the vote by which the Ashcroft amendment was agreed to.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. COCHRAN. I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. COCHRAN. Madam President, I send a modification of my amendment to the desk and ask that it be reported.

Mr. COCHRAN. I apologize to the distinguished Senator.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, may I inquire how much time is available?

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today the Senate resumes consideration of the Agriculture appropriations bill and, by previous order, will begin 40 minutes of debate on the dairy amendment, to be followed by a cloture vote at 9:45 a.m. Following the vote, the Senate will resume consideration of the pending Ashcroft amendment. Further amendments and votes are expected throughout today's session of the Senate with the anticipation of completing action on the bill. For the remainder of the week, the majority leader has asked it be announced that he hopes the Senate can complete action on the tax reconciliation conference report and the Interior appropriations bill. Therefore, Senators should expect votes throughout the day and into the evenings prior to adjourning for the August recess.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that at 9:30 tomorrow morning the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar Nos. 135 and 140, en bloc. I further ask consent that there be 30 minutes equally divided in the usual form for debate. I also ask consent that following the expiration or the yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on the nominations en bloc. I further ask consent that immediately following that vote, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. COCHRAN. I now ask for the yeas and nays

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. I further ask that following the disposition of the Holbrooke nomination, the Senate resume consideration of the Interior appropriations bill.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed en bloc to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 173 and S. Res. 174, submitted earlier by Senators Lott and Daschle.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be granted permission to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, August 4, for purposes of conducting a subcommittee hearing which is scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. The purpose of this oversight hearing is to review the performance management process under the requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act by the National Park Service.