Larry Craig

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, while we are working out the time situation to see if anyone else wants to debate, the time under the quorum call be charged equally to both sides.

Mr. CRAIG. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, it is my understanding that we are ready to vote on the Kohl amendment. So I ask unanimous consent that all time be yielded back on both sides.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Modifications to Amendments Nos. 1605 and 1606

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, for those who are interested and watching, at this moment we are attempting to look at all the amendments that have been offered, and we are close to proceeding on another meeting. We are requesting unanimous consent now which will allow Members to debate that between 2 and 3, with votes, and then we will attempt in all sincerity to move forward on the process that takes us through to a cloture vote at some time late afternoon, evening, or early tomorrow morning on this important issue. There is progress being made as we move through this process. With that, until the unanimous consent is ready, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I think the floor leader has seen the UC, has he not? Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2 o'clock today, the pending amendments be temporarily set aside and Senator Levin be recognized in order to offer amendment No. 1623; provided further that there then be 1 hour for debate equally divided in the usual form, with no amendments in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I thank Senator Reed. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, under a previously proffered unanimous consent agreement, we will spend 1 hour, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., on the Levin amendment, with the time equally divided. We anticipate a vote at or around 3 o'clock. I see the Senator from Michigan is now on the floor and ready to offer his amendment.

Mr. CRAIG. How much time remains for the proponents?

Mr. CRAIG. The Senator from Idaho has how much time remaining?

Mr. CRAIG. I thank the Chair. I thank the Senator from Arizona for his statement. I yield 10 minutes to the Senator from South Carolina.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, we have heard some of the most fascinating arguments in relation to the Levin amendment on both sides. I think it is clear if the Levin amendment were to become part of this legislation and this legislation were to become law, it would be relatively meaningless as to where we are in relation to the kind of junk or dilatory lawsuits that are currently being filed against gun manufacturers and gun dealers who not only produce a legal product to the market but sell it in the legal context. It is important that we understand the arguments about gross negligence and reckless conduct. The idea that has been expressed by the Senator from Arizona, the Senator from Texas, and certainly the Senator from South Carolina, is that once you argue that, then obviously as an attorney the process must prove you are either right or wrong. In so arguing it, and in the effort of making proof, you have in large part destroyed the intent, of the legislation.

Mr. CRAIG. I am more than happy to yield to the Senator from South Carolina.

Mr. CRAIG. I will allow the Senator to take as much time as he desires.

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. CRAIG. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. CRAIG

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I thank my leader for yielding. So the two votes required on the energy conference report will occur after the leader's time tomorrow morning in morning business. Approximately at what time would those votes occur?

Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I am assuming, then, immediately following those votes, we would be back on the gun liability bill, to complete the work under the UC of that legislation?

Mr. CRAIG. So that is yet to be determined?

Mr. CRAIG. I thank the leader.