Carl Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate considers Feingold amendment No. 2924, which I understand will now be the matter before the Senate, there will be 2 hours of debate, with the time divided as follows: 90 minutes under the control of Senator Feingold or his designee, 30 minutes under the control of Senator McCain or his designee; that no amendment be in order to the amendment prior to the vote; that upon the--Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, it is our understanding--and Senator McCain and I have discussed this--that Senator Feingold will be recognized to offer amendment No. 2924. I ask unanimous consent that there be 2 hours of debate, with the time divided as follows: 90 minutes under the control of Senator Feingold or his designee, 30 minutes under the control of Senator McCain or his designee; that no amendment be in order to the amendment prior to the vote; that upon the use or yielding back of time, without further intervening action or debate, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendment, and that if the amendment doesn't receive 60 votes, it be withdrawn.

Mr. LEVIN. If the Senator will yield.

Mr. LEVIN. It is our hope to work out an arrangement so we can proceed next to the Levin-Reed amendment. If that is the situation, we would hope to work out a time agreement as well on that amendment. There are two other matters that we may want to try to dispose of--at least one other matter--prior to the Levin-Reed amendment. It is our hope as well, as the Senator from Arizona expects, that amendments that are Iraq related include the 60-vote requirement.

Mr. LEVIN. There are several Senators on the way over. The Presiding Officer, I know, looks forward to the continuation of the session with his good nature. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEVIN. Of course, I withdraw the request.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators now be recognized in the following order: Senator Lieberman, Senator Smith, Senator Kyl.

Mr. LEVIN. Before Senator Kyl is recognized, before Senator Smith is recognized, under the current UC, we would then go to Senator Kyl. I ask unanimous consent that after Senator Kyl, Senator Kennedy be recognized on this side of the issue and that after Senator Kennedy, Senator Bill Nelson be recognized as the next speaker in support of the Levin amendment. If there is a speaker in opposition after Senator Kennedy, that Senator would then come immediately after Senator Kennedy and before Senator Nelson.

Mr. LEVIN. With that amendment, I offer that UC.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I understand this is going to be simply sent to the desk, it is then going to be read, and then we are going to set aside that amendment. That is understood by the Senator from Arizona?

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment be set aside.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, there is no time agreement. As I understand, there is an order of speakers.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I believe Senator Nelson was scheduled to be the next speaker on this side of the aisle. He had to do that before 7 o'clock, so he will be unable to take that position. Senator Kerry is next in line on this side. However, I understand he is going to yield to Senator Kennedy for a couple minutes for him to offer a unanimous consent agreement. I thank Senator Kerry for his patience, as always. There is a lot of confusion and difficulty in scheduling speakers. He has been extremely patient. I appreciate it a great deal. I wonder if Senator Kennedy can be recognized for a couple of moments to propound a unanimous consent request, and then Senator Kerry can be recognized.

Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of H.R. 1585 tomorrow, Friday, September 21, that the time until 9:50 a.m. be equally divided and controlled between myself and Senator McCain or our designees; that the time from 9:50 to 10 a.m. be under the control of the two leaders or their designees, with the majority leader or his designee controlling the final 5 minutes; that at 10 a.m., without further intervening action or debate, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Levin amendment, with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote; that the amendment be subject to a 60-vote threshold, and if it does not achieve that threshold, the amendment be withdrawn; that upon disposition of the Levin-Reed amendment, Senator Biden be recognized to offer his amendment; that whenever the Senate resumes consideration of the Biden amendment, there be 30 minutes of debate prior to a vote in relation to the amendment, with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Biden and McCain, or their designees, with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

Mr. LEVIN. I ask the Senator to yield. It is my understanding we are attempting to go back and forth when there are amendments on both sides, and that the floor manager, Senator McCain, would have the opportunity in any event to designate Senator Kyl to offer an amendment. I would agree that that then be the next amendment, if that is his intent, after the Biden amendment is either disposed of or is pending, and for reasons that are obvious needs to be set aside, because it is not ready for resolution, then we would go to the Kyl-Lieberman amendment.

Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, parliamentary inquiry: Under the unanimous consent that is now in operation, it is my understanding the Levin-Reed amendment would be called up. Is that correct?

Mr. LEVIN. I call up the Levin-Reed amendment.

Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in order to conduct a business meeting to consider several General Services Administration Resolutions and S. 589, a Bill to provide for the transfer of certain Federal property to the United States Paralympics, Incorporated, a subsidiary of the United States Olympic Committee, to be followed immediately with a hearing entitled, ``Oversight Hearing to Examine the Condition of our Nation's Bridges.''

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Frozen Out: A Review of Bank Treatment of Social Security Benefits'' .

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet in order to conduct a markup on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 10 a.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226. Agenda I. Bills S. 1845, A bill to provide for limitations in certain communications between the Department of Justice and the White House (Whitehouse, Leahy). S. 772, Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (Kohl, Coleman, Feingold). S. 1267, Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 (Lugar, Dodd, Graham). S. 1703, Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act of 2007 (Durbin, Coburn). II. Nominations Jennifer Walker Elrod to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Patrick Shen, Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Expanding Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs: The Future of Women's Small Business Programs:'' on Thursday, September 20, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 20, 2007, in order to conduct a Joint Hearing to receive the 2007 legislative presentation by the American Legion. The Committee will meet in 345 Cannon House Office Building, at 9:30 a.m.