Thad Cochran

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate vote on the motion to waive the Budget Act with respect to the Murray amendment at 3:30 p.m. today, with debate until the vote equally divided in the usual form and no amendments in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

Mr. COCHRAN. I thank the Chair and thank the Senator.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, it is my intention to make a point of order in connection with the amendment that has been offered by Senators Murray and Akaka. But I do not want to do that if they are not here on the floor. I will wait to give them an opportunity to make any statements or motions they may deem appropriate. So I do not want to foreclose anyone from having an opportunity to express themselves on that issue. But I do make that announcement just for the information of all Senators, that we have pending before us an amendment that purports to add as a matter of emergency appropriations $1.9 billion to the Veterans' Administration accounts. The administration has not asked for these funds. Testimony before the relevant committees of jurisdiction, the Veterans Affairs' Committee and the Appropriations subcommittee that funds or recommends funding for veterans programs, has not led Senators to request funds for inclusion in the committee mark. So there is a disparity between the proponents of the amendment and what they are urging the Senate to approve and what is being requested as a matter of emergency appropriations. In addition, the language of the amendment actually has a provision that the moneys appropriated under the amendment would be available until expended, which means the funding would carry over into the next fiscal year. We are, right now, having committees consider the funding levels that are needed in the next fiscal year, beginning October 1. So with no requests for funds, with the administration saying they have enough funds to run the VA health programs and hospital programs between now and the end of this fiscal year, we are going to suggest that this is subject to a point of order. It is my intention to make that point of order. Seeing that the Senators are on the floor now, Mr. President, pursuant to section 402 of S. Con. Res. 95 of the 108th Congress, I make a point of order that the amendment contains an emergency designation.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, a vote now occurs on the motion to waive, right?

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, there is a question about how much time is going to be----

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, there is some confusion on my part. I thought the Senators were going to debate this, but there was a suggestion that we could agree on a time for a vote on the motion to waive the Budget Act. So I inquire of Senators whether that is the feeling on the other side. We would be willing to enter into an agreement for a vote to occur at a time certain that might suit the convenience of all Senators.

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

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I make the point of order that the amendment violates section 302 of the Budget Act.

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

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet in a closed briefing on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at 11:30 a.m., in S-407, the Capitol.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 12, 2005, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., to hold hearings.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet Tuesday, April 12, 2005, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., in Dirksen 106, for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m. to review management and planning issues for the National Mall, including the history of development, security projects and other planned constructions, and future development plans.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Seapower be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 12 at 2:30 p.m. to receive testimony on Navy shipbuilding and industrial base status in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on the nominations of Dr. Michael Griffin to be Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Mr. Joseph Boardman to be Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, Ms. Nancy Nord to be Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and The Honorable William W. Cobey, Jr. to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at 10:15 a.m., in SR-253.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 12, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., in closed session to receive testimony on the assessment of Iraqi security forces.

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 Tuesday, April 12, at 10 a.m. in room SD- 366. The purpose of the hearing is to discuss opportunities to advance technology that will facilitate environmentally friendly development of oil shale and oil sands resources. The hearing will address legislative and administrative actions necessary to provide incentives for industry investment, as well as explore concerns and experiences of other governments and organizations and the interests of industry.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, April 12, 2005, at 9:30 a.m., to hold a nomination hearing.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. I ask unanimous consent we stand in recess under the previous order.

Mr. COCHRAN

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

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, April 11, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. to hold a Nomination hearing.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 11, 2005, at 2 p.m., in open session to receive testimony on the Chemical Demilitarization Program of the Department of Defense in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2006.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on the S. 241--to exempt the Universal Service Fund from sections of the Anti-deficiency Act, on Monday, April 11, 2005, at 2 p.m.

Mr. COCHRAN

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Les Spivey, Mr. B.G. Wright, and Mr. Chad Schulken of the Appropriations Committee staff be granted full floor access during the consideration of H.R. 1268, the fiscal year 2005 emergency supplemental appropriations bill.

Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Harry Christie, a detailee to the committee from the U.S. Secret Service, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the debate on H.R. 1268.