Daniel Inouye

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, October 3, 2007, at 10 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in order to conduct a hearing entitled, ``The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Reactor Oversight Process.''

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet tomorrow, Wednesday, October 3, 2007, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Russell 325 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, the debate suggests very strongly that there is much uncertainty in this amendment. Therefore, I move to table the amendment.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Allard be recognized to call up his amendment and to speak briefly on it, and then to set aside that amendment, to consider the Graham amendment, debate that, and to have that disposed of by a vote. Following that, an amendment by Senator Feingold will be in order.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I thank Mr. Graham for his generous remarks. In the spirit of expediting the process before us, I yield back the remainder of my time. Amendment No. 3119, Withdrawn

Mr. INOUYE. That is $11.5 billion.

Mr. INOUYE. I will give you my word, sir.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise to voice my opposition to this measure, not because I do not agree with the goal sought by this Feingold amendment; I agree with it. However, it was the decision of the leadership of the committee that matters that can be appropriately debated in the Iraq supplemental appropriations bill should be debated there. I believe if we open the door to the Feingold amendment, then I am in no position to suggest we oppose other appropriate measures for the supplemental. Therefore, reluctantly, but forcefully, I must say I hope my colleagues will support me in opposing this measure. I thank you, sir.

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, there is no question that these vehicles, the MRAPs, save lives. The committee is well aware of that, and we concur with that. That is why, Mr. President, to date, Congress has provided nearly $11 billion for the rapid production and fielding of 8,000 MRAP vehicles. As a result, there are now 435 MRAPs fielded in the theater, and by Memorial Day 2008 we will have fielded 8,000 MRAPs. Believe me, we are doing everything possible to ensure the Department has sufficient funds to continue this production of MRAPs. On Monday, this week, in the short-term continuing resolution, we provided another additional $5.2 billion exclusively for MRAPs. Providing a specific appropriation in a continuing resolution is extremely unusual and demonstrates the commitment of the Congress, and in particular the Appropriations Committee, to ensure that all the funding that is necessary for MRAPs will be provided to the Department of Defense. The vehicles manufactured with these funds will be produced in March and April of 2008 and fielded in the theater by Memorial Day 2008. We are aware there is a remaining fiscal year 2008 requirement for $11.5 billion for MRAPs, even though the administration has not yet requested any funding. The additional $11.5 billion would fully fund the new increased program requirement of 15,274 vehicles, including 10,000 MRAPs for the Army. The Department of Defense is seeking this $11.5 billion by November 15 in order to avoid a break in production. This is very important. We anticipate addressing this in the upcoming supplemental. But if it is not completed by November 15, it will be in the next continuing resolution. The vehicles produced and procured with these funds would be produced by May through September 2008, approximately at a rate of 1,200 vehicles a month. This additional $11.5 billion for MRAP fully funds the program requirement in fiscal year 2008 and saturates the industrial base through the end of 2008--September 2008. Any funding provided in addition to the requirement of $11.5 billion, would be for vehicles that would not be produced--and I repeat--would not be produced until fiscal year 2009, and many vehicles would not be fielded in the theater until that spring, summer, and fall of 2009. I believe many of us believe our troop presence in Iraq will be significantly reduced by then.

Mr. INOUYE

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

Mr. INOUYE

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Alabama for his generous remarks. I thank him very much. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. INOUYE. I have no objection.

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I yield to the Senator from Alaska.

Mr. INOUYE. No.

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

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

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

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

Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, with the approval of Senator Allard, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No. 3146 be withdrawn.

Mr. INOUYE. I pledge to my friend from Colorado that when we sit down to discuss this matter with the House I will continue to support the ballistic missile defense system. Let me assure you, as well, that we will carefully examine the merits of the programs at the MDSEC and the unique capabilities of the MDIOC when we have our conference negotiations with the House.

Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to be listed as a cosponsor of the Boxer amendment.

Mr. INOUYE. I ask unanimous consent that the Sessions amendment be the last one considered.

Mr. INOUYE. I appreciate very much the diligent work of these three Senators in researching this important issue regarding the critical air-to-ship sensor connectivity within our Navy's carrier battle groups and bringing it to my attention. I appreciate that they understand the rationale for the reduction in funding we have proposed for this program, and I have listened carefully to their description of the impacts that such a reduction might cause in the program. I assure my friends, Senator Chambliss, Senator Isakson, and Senator Martinez, that I will continue to examine this program carefully as we proceed to conference.