Susan Collins

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee be authorized to meet on Tuesday, October 5, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., on E-Rate.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 5, 2004, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the nomination of Pamela Hughes Patenaude, of New Hampshire, to be Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, as the Senator from Nevada is aware, this amendment is not germane to the underlying bill. We are in a postcloture situation. There are objections on both sides of the aisle to proceeding with this amendment. Regretfully, I inform the Senator I must object.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, shortly, I am hopeful we will be able to clear three amendments offered by the Senator from Alaska--three pending amendments. We have reached compromises due to a lot of hard work and good faith on both parts. We have asked the Senator from Alaska if he is available to come over to the floor now, and I am hopeful we will be able to resolve those three pending amendments this evening. In the meantime, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Georgia be permitted to speak as in morning business for 20 minutes, just as the Senator from New Jersey was permitted to speak as in morning business.

Ms. COLLINS. I will not object.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, is there not a germaneness requirement for the debate at this point?

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I echo the words of my colleague from Connecticut. Senator Mikulski has been so helpful throughout this debate and in the development of this bill. In fact, when the Governmental Affairs Committee was first assigned the responsibility for evaluating the 9/11 Commission recommendations and producing this bill, it was the Senator from Maryland who was the first to call me and to offer to help, to share her knowledge from her years on the Intelligence Committee and on the Appropriations Committee. I really appreciated that gesture. Since that time, she also participated in one of the Governmental Affairs Committee hearings that we held. Her State lost so many citizens on that awful day, and she has been relentless in her determination to make sure their memory is never forgotten. I very much appreciate all of her contributions. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS

Ms. COLLINS. Thank you, Mr. President. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent that the list be corrected to indicate the correct number is 3908.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I would not be surprised.

Ms. COLLINS. I announce that this will allow us to officially consider the remaining germane amendments. The nongermane amendments, as determined last week, will fall under this order. We will continue to work through the pending amendments that remain at the desk as we move toward completing this bill.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it now be in order to raise points of order, en bloc against the following amendments in that they are not germane under the provisions of rule XXII. They are the following amendments: 3887, 3888, 3889, 3890, 3891, 3892, 3893, 3894, 3808, 3849, 3782, 3905, 3747, 3881, 3724, 3928, 3873, 3871, 3870, 3803, 3930, 3931, 3874, 3850, 3851, 3855, 3856, 3872, 3926, and 3819.

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

Ms. COLLINS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendments Nos. 3739 and 3750 be withdrawn. These are amendments that had been offered by Senator Roberts previously. He has asked that I withdraw them on his behalf.

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

Ms. COLLINS. I thank the Senator from Florida. Hurricane Cleanup

Ms. COLLINS. I thank the Senator for his cooperation and his amendment. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess from 12:30 to 2:15 today to accommodate the weekly party luncheons and that the time in recess be counted against the postcloture period.

Ms. COLLINS. Would the Senator be willing to yield for two quick unanimous consent requests?

Ms. COLLINS. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. COLLINS. I urge adoption of the amendment.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we now turn to Gregg amendment No. 3934, as modified.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Georgia and the Senator from Nebraska for their contributions to this debate. They have raised an important issue. It is, as they have recognized, a difficult and controversial issue, and I am very grateful to both of them for being willing to raise the issue but not press forward with their amendment at this time. I look forward to continuing to work with both of them. Both of them are leaders in military and intelligence matters, and I very much respect their judgment and their knowledge.

Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, it is my understanding that the Senator from New Hampshire, Mr. Gregg, is on his way to the floor to speak briefly on his amendment. While we are awaiting his arrival, I suggest the absence of a quorum.