Carl Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, in a moment or two, I am going to propound a unanimous-consent request while the manager is here. Before I do that, I congratulate the Senator from Montana for his analysis of health care costs in relationship to the manufacturing situation in which we find ourselves. He has pointed out something which is critically important, which is that of all the competition faced by American manufacturers, one of the competitive disadvantages we put them in is the health care system we have compared to the health care systems their competitors have, leading to, for instance, in the automotive area, a disadvantage of something like $1,000 or $1,500 a car. I congratulate him for his efforts in this particular area and many other areas as well. I have one little minor note, and that is, the Senator from Montana is currently looking at the proud owner of a Ford hybrid. So America now is manufacturing hybrids.

Mr. LEVIN. The term ``gross negligence'' is defined in my amendment as the term is defined in 42 United States Code 1791(B), and the term ``reckless'' has the meaning given under section 2(A)1.4 of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. So we do define both terms very precisely as they are already defined in two laws. I appreciate the Senator withholding his objection at this time so I could make that statement. I yield the floor.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, we support this amendment, as modified. It has been modified to address a problem it had which did not relate to the Boy Scouts but which had to do with the wording which made it overly broad. The language clearly depends upon an appropriate agency making either a grant or an appropriation. We support the amendment. We thank Senator Durbin, particularly, for his modification.

Mr. LEVIN. Over 40.

Mr. LEVIN. And are pending; is that correct?

Mr. LEVIN. Is it not also true that these amendments, plus many others, have been offered, and people would have been perfectly happy to have votes on them if they were permitted, but votes were not permitted, so they had to be temporarily laid aside so others could be offered? But the idea that those people who offered those amendments would not have been happy to have votes on those amendments is not right.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Parliamentary inquiry: Following up on that, is it not true that even though amendments are relevant in a postcloture situation, if they are not technically germane, they fall?

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that immediately following the completion of those three time periods on the Republican side, I be allocated 10 minutes on this side, which I will provide equally between the junior Senator from Michigan, the Senator from Washington, and myself, so that four amendments can be introduced and laid aside.

Mr. LEVIN. Reserving the right to object, we have not had any time prior to the ADA matter, and it was intended that we have some time. There is a prepared UC that would perhaps assist us, which has been handed to us. I wonder if the manager will read this.

Mr. LEVIN. Reserving the right to object, I ask that that be modified to allow 10 minutes between 5:15 and 5:30 to be granted to this side for the introduction of those amendments. They will be introduced, with a minute on each, and then set aside.

Mr. LEVIN. No.

Mr. LEVIN. The junior Senator from Michigan, 2 minutes; the Senator from Washington, 2 minutes; and me for 1 minute.

Mr. LEVIN. Reserving the right to object, does that include the UC which the Senator from Virginia read?

Mr. LEVIN. Reserving the right to object, the Democratic leader is going to want 2 minutes prior to the vote on leadership time, or prior to 5:15. You all figure it out.

Mr. LEVIN. I wonder if the Senator will yield. We need only 7\1/2\ minutes before 5:15. I wonder if the chairman will agree to this: After Senator Sessions, go to the Senator from South Carolina for 5 minutes, and then come to me.

Mr. LEVIN. I call up amendment 1494, cosponsored by Senators Kennedy, Rockefeller, and Reed of Rhode Island.

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

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. The reason this comes up is those words have now been utilized by a witness, by somebody who has made investigation. So I want to be as precise as I can, in my question, about whether it would be the belief of the Senator from South Carolina that abusive and degrading treatment would be a violation of the manual?

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 1496.

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

Mr. LEVIN. I thank my good friend from Virginia. I think Senator Graham was actually part of a UC.

Mr. LEVIN. Right. So he has the right to go next. I would ask, if it is convenient for the Senator from Florida, that after Senator Graham, I will ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Florida be recognized to introduce his amendment at that time. I wonder if we could find out from Senator Graham about how long he expects to be.