Judd Gregg

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, this is an amendment to increase funding in the mass transit area by $100 million which is done by taking that money out of a different account, specifically the State and local first responder account. The reason that account was chosen was, as we discussed before, there is over $7 billion of unspent money in those accounts. To the extent the States have the capacity to handle that money, we will make sure they get additional moneys, but right now they have more money than they can handle in those accounts. This will be within the budget. I hope Members support this amendment. Amendment No. 1205

Mr. GREGG. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, we have had substantial debate on the substance of this amendment, the fact that the $1 billion probably will not impact dramatically the security situation. It might actually misallocate funds that could otherwise be used for intelligence and for Border Patrol agents and for other activities that are so critical and that are threat-oriented. But the practical bottom line is this amendment is $1 billion over the budget and will add to the deficit by $1 billion, if it is adopted. I urge that the motion to waive be defeated.

Mr. GREGG. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 1117, Senator Nelson; amendment No. 1118, Senator Nelson; amendment No. 1137, Senator Collins; amendment No. 1108, Senator Lott; amendment No. 1197, Senator Lautenberg; and amendment No. 1194, Senator Nelson, which are at the desk, be called up and agreed to en bloc.

Mr. GREGG. As I understand it, the prior unanimous consent request that I asked for reflects the Democratic leader's time was also agreed to.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. GREGG. Thank you. Amendment No. 1217

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time be restored in the context of that request, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I am fairly confident that earlier, at the beginning of this section, I asked that all quorum calls be charged equally in relationship to the time allocated. In fact, I am absolutely confident that I made that unanimous consent request. However, I will renew that unanimous consent request at this time.

Mr. GREGG. I also ask unanimous consent that prior to the next two votes there be 2 minutes equally divided.

Mr. GREGG. I ask again the modification I sent to the desk be accepted.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the previously agreed to Hatch amendment numbered 1221 be modified with the changes that are at the desk.

Mr. GREGG. 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. GREGG. Mr. President, we are now proceeding under a prior unanimous consent agreement relative to debate on the three amendments dealing with mass transit and rail. I hope that Members who have time allocated under that agreement will come over and begin the debate. Otherwise, I recommend that the time be equally divided in the quorum call between my hour and the 2 hours on the other side and that the time come off those in the proper proportion. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I thought the motion was on the emergency designation. The amendment would survive that, and we would need a vote on the amendment. I ask for a voice vote on the amendment.

Mr. GREGG. I ask unanimous consent that after this vote, which is the final vote of this group, there be 3 hours to be divided in the usual form to be used concurrently on the amendments; provided further that following the use or yielding back of debate time, the Senate proceed to the votes in relation to the following amendments: Senator Byrd's amendment 1218; my amendment No. 1220, as modified; Senator Shelby's amendment 1205. Provided further that no second-degree amendments be in order and the amendments be prior to the votes. The time will be divided as follows under the 3-hour agreement: Senator Shelby, 15 minutes; Senator Schumer, 15 minutes; Senator Reed of Rhode Island, 15 minutes; Senator Carper, 15 minutes; Senator Biden, 15 minutes; Senator Sarbanes, 15 minutes; Senator Byrd, 15 minutes; and I will retain an hour.

Mr. GREGG. I yield.

Mr. GREGG

Mr. GREGG. 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 Thursday, July 14 at 10 a.m. The purpose of the hearing is to consider the nominations of R. Thomas Weimer to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget, and Mark A. Limbaugh to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 14 at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to review the national park service's business strategy for operation and management of the national park system, including development and implementation of business plans, use of business consultants, and incorporating business practices into day- to-day operations.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia be authorized to meet on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. for a hearing entitled, ``Danger in the District: How Prepared Is the National Capital Region?''

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 3 p.m. to hold a hearing on Nominations.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Indian Affairs Committee be authorized to hold a joint hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 14, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. in SD-430.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works, be authorized to hold a hearing July 14, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. on the following pending nominations: Marcus A. Peacock, of Minnesota, to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Susan P. Bodine, of Maryland, to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection Agency. Granta Y. Nakayama, of Virginia, to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance, Environmental Protection Agency.

Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, July 14, 2005, at 1:30 p.m., for a hearing titled, ``Department of Homeland Security: Second Stage Review.''