Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Yes.

Mr. DOLE. I am going to ask unanimous consent that after the first vote, all votes be 10 minutes in length.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. We have no objection.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. As I understand, time has been yielded back.

Mr. DOLE. Following that, there will be a vote on the amendment by the Senator from South Carolina [Mr. Thurmond] and the Senator from Arizona [Mr. McCain]?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I advise my colleagues, that will be the last vote today. We will continue to work on the measure until we are down to 4 hours remaining, but there will be no more votes.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Thurmond- Stevens-McCain amendment. I commend my colleagues for their efforts to ensure an adequate defense budget. Under this amendment, defense spending would be increased to meet the levels approved by the House last week. However, the measure is deficit neutral in each year of the resolution, and keeps us on path to achieve a balanced budget by the year 2002. We are committed to cutting Federal spending. But we must ensure that our military is prepared to meet future challenges. Over the past few years, the Clinton administration has sacrificed the readiness and modernization of our forces. However, around the world, potential enemies are increasing and modernizing their military capabilities. For the past 2 years, the administration has justified its reduction- in-force structure by promising to provide our troops with the most modern technology available. During last year's hearings on the fiscal year 1995 budget, General Shalikashvili stated, and I quote: The structure is adequate only if we stick with two linchpins: We must improve our capabilities, and we must improve and maintain our readiness. Unfortunately, this has turned out to be empty rhetoric. Procurement spending and procurement rates are at their lowest levels in 45 years. Despite promises to enhance force capabilities, modernization has come to a virtual standstill. The result is that our Armed Forces are smaller, but not more capable. Where President Clinton has failed to recognize the long-term needs of the military, we in Congress must take the lead. Our defense budget must balance our need to maintain near-term readiness and our need to provide enhanced capabilities for the future. It must prepare us for tomorrow's challenges. Failure to do so will jeopardize the security of this Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

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

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I yield back the remainder of our time.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I am waiting for the distinguished Democratic leader. Let me indicate while he is on his way to the floor that I want very much to accommodate the Democrats tomorrow evening. But we will complete at least 10 hours on the resolution tomorrow. We are going to have two or three votes. We tried to get credit for that. We cannot get that. So I just suggest that we will have to stay here beyond 6:30, probably, to get the 10 hours--maybe 7 o'clock. We will try to accommodate our colleagues in every way possible. As I understand, we will be working through the policy lunch period tomorrow, and so if there are no amendments, I assume there will be a quorum call so the clock will run against the resolution. Mr. President, in an effort to complete action on this resolution by early Wednesday afternoon, I yield back 3 hours and 51 minutes of the majority side time for debate.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we have had a lot of inquiries as to what will happen the remainder of this evening. We are still discussing this with the Democratic leader, Senator Daschle. Let me indicate what I hope will happen for the remainder of the week. As I understand, when we complete action today, if we stay 5 more hours, there will be about 15 hours left on the resolution. And then tomorrow, to accommodate the other side for their fundraiser, we can only go to about 6 o'clock, but we can still maybe get 8 hours in by working through the lunch hour--or 10 hours--and start at 8, 8:30. So then that would leave 5 hours remaining on Wednesday. If we start early on Wednesday, we hope to finish this bill by mid-afternoon on Wednesday and, I assume, as in many other cases, there will be a number of votes before final passage. Amendments will be called up and voted upon. You could have 2 or 3 hours of votes because we want to move to the antiterrorism bill, hopefully, on Wednesday, try to complete action on that Thursday or, if not, on Friday. We indicated to the President we would do that. It is my hope we can have a bipartisan effort so that we can pass that legislation before the Memorial Day recess, as we indicated to the President we would. We are not in a position to indicate there will be no more votes, but there will be no more votes at least until 9:15, 9:30, if that is of any help to anyone. Otherwise, we will be here a number of hours and there will be votes. If we are here, we could have votes. Mr. DOMENICI addressed the Chair.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, as I understand it, if I can inquire of the chair, does this not mean there are 14 hours for total debate remaining?

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk relating to the retirement of Gerald Hackett and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was agreed to, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk relating to the retirement of Frederick R. Broomfield and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was agreed to, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was agreed to, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote occur on or in relation to the Roth amendment immediately following the first rollcall vote occurring during Tuesday's session.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will not stand in recess between the hours of 12:30 and 2:15 for the weekly policy luncheons. The Senate will be debating the resolution. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will resume consideration of the concurrent resolution at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. Rollcall votes can be expected throughout Tuesday's session of the Senate in order to make progress on the budget resolution. It may also be the intention of the majority leader to turn to the consideration of the rescissions conference report under the time limitation previously ordered. I have discussed that with Democratic leader. I think for the information of all Senators, the Senate will recess for the July 4 recess at the close of business on Friday, June 30, or Saturday July 1, if necessary. The Senate will reconvene on Monday, July 10. It may become necessary for the Senate to convene on some Saturdays prior to the recess in order to consider and complete action on some legislative matters. I hope that is not the case. I do not like Saturday sessions. But I suggest that is a possibility.

Mr. DOLE. Let me say to the Senator from Nebraska: It is on my short list, you understand that. We did discuss it today and we are going to have staff look at some of the issues, and we will try to map out where we might end up. Obviously, we would all prefer to have an August recess. But we hope to have an answer to that. We did get the July recess settled today. Hopefully, we can do the August recess very soon because I know many Members may want to make plans, and in some cases they need fairly long lead time.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was rejected.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I discussed that with the Democratic leader. It is our intent tomorrow, when we have an opportunity, to have back-to-back votes in order to save time so that we can reach the 10-hour period. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until the hour of 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 1995; that following the prayer, the journal of the proceedings be deemed approved to date; that the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in [[Page S7136]] the day, and the Senate resume consideration of S. Con. Res. 13, the concurrent budget resolution.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess under the previous order.