Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Under a previous order, we had agreed to stand in recess between the hours of 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock so that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle might have an opportunity to discuss welfare reform. I am advised there are no speakers and no speakers asking for recognition between now and 1 o'clock. Rather than sit in a quorum call, I suggest we now recess until 2 p.m.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I just want to get a unanimous-consent request. Go ahead.

Mr. DOLE. That will be tomorrow. For the information of all Senators, there will be no further votes today. However, Members who wish to debate the Daschle amendment are urged to do so this evening. Also, Members should be aware, prior to the close of business Thursday, the two leaders will ask consent to limit the remaining amendments in order to the welfare bill to finish the welfare reform bill by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. And there will also be after the vote, depending on the vote on the Daschle amendment, additional votes and debate tomorrow evening. But we are trying to accommodate a number of our friends who want to attend the very historic baseball game tonight in Baltimore to see Cal Ripken, Jr., break the record of Lou Gehrig. So we hope that all those who are able to go will be very cooperative the rest of the week. I thank the Senator from Nevada.

Mr. DOLE. I say this has been cleared by the Democratic leader. I ask unanimous consent that the vote occur on the Daschle amendment numbered 2282 at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, my mother had a phrase she used to repeat. ``Can't never could do anything,'' she told us. I have tried to live by those words throughout my life, and I want to pay tribute today to someone else who doesn't know how to say ``can't.'' For over half a century, baseball experts have said that one record that could never be broken was the great Lou Gehrig's record of playing in 2,130 consecutive games. As all baseball fans know, that record was tied last night, and will be broken tonight by Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. In every game played by the Orioles since May 30, 1982, Cal Ripken has taken the field and done his job with dedication and with excellence. No doubt about it, as a baseball player, Cal Ripken is a superstar. But more importantly, he is also a superstar as a human being, a husband, a father, and a role model. Make no mistake about it, like most professional athletes, Cal Ripken is very well paid. But you cannot watch him play without thinking that he would still be out there, trying as hard as he can, if he was not paid at all. And Cal's commitment to baseball does not end on the field. As a goodwill ambassador for a game that desperately needs one, he freely gives his time to countless charities, and throughout this season, Cal has stayed in the stadium for hours after games, signing autographs for every fan who wanted one. I know that all Members of the Senate join with me in tipping our hats to [[Page S 12687]] Cal. May he have as many years on the field as our ``iron man,'' Senator Strom Thurmond, has had in the Senate. He could run that record way up there.

Mr. DOLE

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

Mr. DOLE. Since there are no other Senators seeking recognition on welfare reform, was leader's time reserved?

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent the Senate resume the welfare bill following the morning business period just provided for.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I have been discussing, through staff, with the Democratic leader, and I now ask unanimous consent that, after all the discussions on the DOD bill, there be a period for morning business not to extend beyond the hour of, I think we will make it 11 o'clock, now, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. DOLE. I further ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in recess between the hours of 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. today in order for the Democratic Members to conduct their weekly caucus luncheon.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, 1 month ago I rose to support the Missile Defense Act of 1995, as the Armed Services Committee reported it. It seemed to me to be just about the right response to the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic and cruise missiles. Frankly, I was a bit surprised by the vehemence with which some of my colleagues opposed the bill once it came to the floor. Many Americans are unaware that right now, America is defenseless against ballistic missiles. If that fact were better known, I think many Americans would be very angry that the Missile Defense Act of 1995 ran into so much opposition from the Clinton administration and some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. But the fact is that our choice--the choice of those who want to protect America from this growing threat--was between this revised amendment or no bill at all. Given the other important aspects of this bill, and given Saddam Hussein's recent revelations, we chose to work things out and to take a step toward defending America--although it is not as big a step as we wanted. Nevertheless this amendment is a step forward and, let us not forget, we will have an opportunity in conference with the House to make modifications. In any case, there can be no doubt that this bill and this amendment take concrete steps toward establishing effective theater and national missile defenses. On the essential question of national defense, this amendment establishes as U.S. policy the deployment of a multiple-site national missile is operationally effective against limited, accidental, or unauthorized ballistic missile attacks on the territory of the United States--a defense system that can be augmented over time to provide a layered defense. The Secretary of Defense is instructed to implement this policy [[Page S 12655]] by developing a national missile defense system--consisting of ground- based interceptors, fixed ground-based radars, and space-based sensors--capable of being deployed by the end of 2003. Unlike some of my colleagues who still believe that the cold-war-era ABM Treaty defends America, I believe that nothing short of the development and deployment of an effective national missile defense system will truly protect America against the threats of the 21st century. The recent revelations by Saddam Hussein--that the Iraqis filled nearly 200 bombs and warheads for ballistic missiles with biological and toxin weapons--should drive this point home. With respect to the ABM Treaty, this legislation calls for a year of careful consideration on how to proceed with the ABM Treaty in the longer term. During that time the President could and should seek to negotiate with Russia a mutually beneficial agreement that will allow the United States to proceed with multiple-site deployments. Furthermore, this legislation prohibits the use of funds to implement an agreement limiting theater missile defenses--which were never limited by the ABM Treaty--without the advice and consent of the Senate. This was intended to address to the very real concern that the administration has not abandoned the ill-conceived course of negotiating changes to the ABM Treaty that would restrict theater missile defenses despite oft-stated and deep-seated Senate objections. This legislation also establishes a theater missile defense core program and a cruise missile initiative that focuses our resources on deploying effective systems that are needed right now to defend, American interests around the globe. Mr. President, this amendment does not achieve all of the objectives I would like to have seen achieved. However, it does take firm, tangible steps toward defending America--most importantly by setting a goal of 2003 to deploy a multiple site, effective defense of the United States of America. On this there cannot be and will not be any compromise. We will have a conference with the House. And if the conference report that is worked out is acceptable and is passed by the Congress, the responsibility will be with the President to sign this bill so that defending America becomes the law of the land. Hans bethe warned of this

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, let me first of all congratulate the managers. This is a major piece of legislation that is always very difficult to bring to a conclusion. But it has been done because of the leadership of the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, Senator Thurmond, and the cooperation of the distinguished Senator from Georgia, Senator Nunn. They have worked together to bring it together, as have other Senators, particularly Senators Warner and Cohen on this side, who have just resolved a very important issue by a vote of 85 to 13. In my view, that compromise should have been passed by that lopsided margin. There is still a conference. They can still make other changes. But I congratulate all the members of the committee and members of their staffs for what I think is an excellent bill. We just heard the Senator from Georgia address some of the concerns that were resolved. The Senator from South Carolina addressed some of the concerns earlier. Now it goes to conference. I think, again, it indicates we are making progress in the Senate. Plus the appropriations bill will be ready for passage as soon as the House acts on it. So as far as the defense area is concerned, I think we are in good shape on the Senate side.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Thank you, Mr. President. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will immediately resume consideration of the Defense authorization bill this morning. At 9:30, there will be at least two rollcall votes with the last vote being on passage of the Defense authorization bill. Following that vote, the Senate will resume consideration of welfare reform legislation. Further rollcall votes are therefore possible during the day's session. The first vote will be a 15-minute plus the 5, and then the second vote will be a 10-minute vote. Let me indicate to many of my colleagues who seem to have an interest in going to Baltimore this evening to witness one of the great, historic moments in baseball with Cal Ripken, Jr., breaking Lou Gehrig's record, we are trying to work out some schedule where we could take up welfare reform and agree to have a vote on the Democratic alternative sometime early tomorrow morning. For those who do not proceed to the ball game, we could stay tonight and debate. We have not reached that agreement yet. We are working on it. I know Senator Mikulski and Senator Sarbanes have a particular interest. We would like to accommodate our colleagues on both sides of the aisle whenever possible and this may be one of those times that we can work it out.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Again, let me indicate to my colleagues, we are trying to accommodate many who wish to go to the baseball game tonight, a very important baseball game in Baltimore. If we can work out some agreement where we can have a vote fairly early tomorrow morning on the Democratic welfare proposal--because it is my hope to [[Page S 12677]] complete action on the welfare bill by next Tuesday, and I think we are making progress on our side and I hope it is going to be a bipartisan effort before it is over. I hope we will have Democratic support. But we would like to move forward and dispose of the Democratic proposal-- by ``dispose,'' I mean either adopt it or not adopt it, that would be disposition; hopefully not adopt it--and then to move on to amendments, if necessary, and I assume some will be necessary, and then complete action by next Tuesday. I think we have now completed action on seven appropriations bills. There are no other appropriations bills now ready for consideration. We may try a two-track system--I will discuss that with the Democratic leader--so we can keep abreast of the House on appropriations bills and have all appropriations bills in the President's hands by October 1. So it may mean some late, late, late evenings. But we will try to accommodate major concerns that many Senators have from time to time.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I mention as an aside and not part of the statement that my colleague from Maryland, Senator Mikulski, is calling me every 5 minutes, 10 minutes. We are going to try to arrange so that the people who want to be at that game can catch the 5:30 train. There are Members of the Senate and others who want to attend that game, so we are trying to work out some agreement for the Democratic leader where either we could have debate on welfare reform for those who would be watching it on television, or maybe take up a nomination that has been pending for some time and some of my colleagues on the other side would like to take up. I thank the managers. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I want to thank the Senator for offering this amendment on my behalf. The amendment is simple. It allows the Air Force to buy up to eight joint primary aircraft trainers [JPATS] in fiscal year 1996. In its fiscal year 1996 budget submission, the Department of Defense had requested authorization to buy 3 JPATS aircraft for $55 million. However, at the time the budget was submitted, the JPATS competition had not been completed and the contract had not been awarded. Consequently, the Air Force had to plan for the possibility that the contract could be awarded for a much more expensive aircraft than the submission which was actually selected. Let me be clear, this amendment does not increase funding for JPATS procurement--it simply allows the Air Force to procure this new trainer at a more efficient rate. Additionally, my colleagues should know that this change has been coordinated with the Air Force. Again, I thank Senator Thurmond and my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for their assistance in clearing this amendment.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. So I announce to my colleagues there will be no more votes this evening but there will be debate. There are a number of Members on each side interested in this issue, so I assume the debate will probably take at least 2 hours, maybe 3 hours. So, I ask unanimous consent the vote at 9:30 Wednesday be 15 minutes in length, with second and subsequent votes being limited to 10 minutes in length.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I think we have an agreement. It is cleared with the Democratic leader and also the two managers, so I will make the request. I ask unanimous consent that the only amendments remaining in order to S. 1026 be those amendments cleared by the two managers of the bill and one amendment to be offered by Senator Thurmond, relevant, and one amendment to be offered by Senator Nunn, relevant; and if a vote is required on or in relation to the Levin amendment, it occur first in the voting sequence beginning at 9:30 Wednesday, a.m.; further, that the vote occur on or in relation to the missile defense amendment second in the voting sequence, to immediately be followed by a vote on the passage of the Defense authorization bill, H.R. 1530, pursuant to the agreement of August 11. So there could be as many as five votes; the votes could be as few as two votes. If the Senator from Georgia offers a relevant amendment, or the Senator from South Carolina, or the amendment of the Senator from Michigan or anything in relation--a motion to table--if that requires a vote, that could be three votes and then on the amendment itself and final passage.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I say to the Democratic leader, I thought I would announce what I intend to propose. Maybe it is not doable. I would like to propose that the only amendments remaining in order to S. 1026 be those cleared by the two managers of the bill and the missile defense amendment, and that the vote occur on or in relation to the missile defense amendment begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, immediately to be followed by a vote on passage of the Defense authorization bill, pursuant to consent agreement of August 11. So what I am suggesting is that there is going to be a period of debate of two, maybe 3 hours, and there will be a number of Members involved in that debate. In the meantime, unless there is some objection, if we could have that vote on that amendment and final passage at 9:30 tomorrow morning, other Members would be free to leave.

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

Mr. DOLE. It is my understanding that there--I did not know about the amendment of the Senator from Michigan [Mr. Levin]. I have been told that, otherwise, everything had been dealt with. What we might do is suggest the absence of a quorum for a few minutes and see if we can work it out. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DOLE. I will make it subject to that.

Mr. DOLE. I have an amendment on welfare that probably will not be relevant, but it will be tomorrow when we take up welfare.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.