Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 10 a.m. for a business meeting to consider pending committee business. Agenda Committee Reports: Report of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs titled, ``Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared.'' Legislation: S. 2459, GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act; H.R. 2066, General Services Administration Modernization Act. Nominations: Uttam Dhillon to be Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Mark Acton to be Commissioner, Postal Rate Commission.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I was going to ask the Senator if he knows of any objection. I was advised that there is one Senator who has indicated opposition to the amendment. I am a member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian. I have a high regard for the work that is done there. Listening to the description of the Senator from North Carolina, I am inclined to support the amendment. But in view of the fact that there is at least one Senator with a contrary view, I think we ought not go forward without giving him an opportunity to come and express his concerns, if he would like to have an opportunity to do so. My hope would be that we could put in a quorum and see if there is a need to discuss it further; otherwise, I suggest that we accept it on a voice vote.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator, my colleague from Mississippi, for his contribution to this discussion. I think he made a very compelling argument for the fact that we need to provide funds in this bill with direction to proceed to work on a new facility for these veterans. That is the point. That is why included in this bill is a committee recommendation of $176 million. The language specifically suggests that this be used to construct a new, multibuilding, campus-style facility on the site occupied by the former Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS. I think that is the key, and that was brought out by my good friend and colleague from Mississippi. That is the point. It is the sense of our committee and those familiar with this facility that it should remain in the Gulfport, MS, area. The mayor of Gulfport came up to see me to talk about his concerns, his interests, and his ideas. I know he talked with Senator Lott and probably other members of our delegation. I want to help him achieve his goal for having the facility rebuilt, using the best measures that we can to be sure we get a good result for the dollars that we invest, and we don't waste money. We don't want to do that. We don't want to just throw a lot of money out there and let the home spend it without any guidance or restraint. I am very committed, though, to the notion that we ought to have a provision with some money and these directions in the bill. I don't think the House has included anything like this. We are going to have to negotiate with the House when we get to conference. I don't know what their ideas would be, but I want to be able to have at least the commitment of the Senate behind our effort to do what is said in this report. It could be $176 million. If the Senator wants to change it to $166 million or $120 million--I don't know what the right number is. But it shows a commitment to proceed with funds available to hire some people to get the work done. This is what Senator Lott's point is. Nothing has been done. We have to get somebody moving, get an architect selected, come together with a plan, and then we will see whether we can fund it. But at least we have enough money in here to show we are serious about rebuilding it, that we are making this investment, and we will monitor the use of the money and try our best to be sure that every dollar is well spent. That is my goal. The Armed Services Committee has oversight responsibility. That is the legislative committee. So they can help monitor and follow the progress as well. But I hope we won't strike the money and just say this is a bad idea and we are not going to do anything else. That is unacceptable. That is totally unacceptable.

Mr. COCHRAN. The Senator is correct. It will not result in a double payment, in effect, to the shipbuilder, of course. And any insurance proceeds that offset the Government's costs are excluded specifically from this provision.

Mr. COCHRAN. Because of some question as to whether this is cleared on the Democratic side, 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. Reserving the right to object, No. 3626 is listed on one list of amendments I have as having been passed. It is pending. It is a community disaster loan limits amendment.

Mr. COCHRAN. 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. COCHRAN. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I hope that the Senate could accept this on a voice vote. I don't know that we need to have a rollcall vote. It seems to me to be an amendment that should be accepted by the Senate. It calls for the use of--my piece of paper says $50 million, and I heard the Senator say $30 million, or did I hear him wrong?

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I commend the distinguished Senator from Oregon for his comments and his leadership on these issues that are so important to our forestry owners and people throughout the States who depend on incomes from those jobs. I ask unanimous consent I be permitted to call up amendments at this point.

Mr. COCHRAN

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

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony regarding the economic and environmental issues associated with coal gasification technology and on implementation of the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 addressing coal gasification.

Mr. COCHRAN

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

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I send a modification to the desk.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I send a modification to the desk.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3661 on behalf of Senator Leahy regarding notification requirements.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3644, on behalf of Mr. Salazar, regarding an IED training report.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3702, on behalf of Mr. Chambliss, regarding a review of Department of Defense mortuary affairs.

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

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3711, on behalf of Mr. Nelson of Florida, regarding Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3774, on behalf of Mrs. Hutchison, regarding a clarification of funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. 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.