Carl Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the adoption of the Blumenthal amendment No. 3124, as modified, the amendment be modified further with the changes that are at the desk.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, we are making some very important progress. We are hopeful there may be another package of cleared amendments even before the vote on cloture later this afternoon. If not, we will nonetheless be offering that list of cleared amendments postcloture.

Mr. LEVIN. I join in Senator McCain's thanks to our staff, which he invariably remembers, because they are critically important. They are helping us to clear additional amendments, and the progress is real. I think we are right at just about 100 amendments now that have been either adopted by rollcall vote, voice vote or by cleared unanimous consent. So I thank all our colleagues for working so closely with us and for their cooperation. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent a vote on or in relation to the Kyl-Kerry amendment No. 3123, as modified, which has been cleared by both managers, will occur at a time to be determined by the managers in consultation with the leaders following the vote on cloture on the bill.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President I call up amendments en bloc: Pryor No. 3291, Collins No. 3282, Reed No. 3292, and Reed No. 3165.

Mr. LEVIN. I know of no further debate on the amendments.

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

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. We hope cloture will be voted now. We have disposed of 119 amendments to this bill. I talked to the majority leader, and if we do vote cloture tonight, which of course Senator McCain and I hope we will, we are still going to try to clear some additional amendments using the same process we have used up to now. We would hope we could clear some additional amendments right up to the time of final passage. Hopefully we can get to final passage tomorrow at some point. Cloture Motion

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

Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I call up a list of 13 amendments which have been cleared by myself and Senator McCain: Coats amendment No. 2923, as modified by the changes at the desk; Webb amendment No. 2943; Casey amendment No. 2997, as modified by the changes at the desk; Cardin amendment No. 3023; Wicker amendment No. 3121, as modified by the changes at the desk; Portman amendment No. 3142; Webb amendment No. 3144; Corker amendment No. 3172, as modified by the changes at the desk; Lieberman amendment No. 3276; Lautenberg amendment No. 3298; Blunt amendment No. 3278, as modified by the changes at the desk; Rockefeller amendment No. 2996; and Reid of Nevada amendment No. 3047, as modified by the changes at the desk.

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider these amendments en bloc, the amendments be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LEVIN. I yield the floor and thank all our colleagues for their cooperation. We will continue until vote on final passage, which we expect tomorrow, to clear additional amendments.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, we would need to see the modification before it is accepted.

Mr. LEVIN. We would have to reserve the right--if you could call up the amendment and then hold off on any modification until we can see it. Amendment No. 3009

Mr. LEVIN. I think the order is that we now proceed to consideration of the Cardin amendment. Amendment No. 3025

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to proceed for 10 seconds.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I oppose this amendment. We are cutting military end strength by 5 percent over the next 5 years. In this budget situation, we have no choice but to cut the Defense Department civilian employee and contractor workforces as well. This gives flexibility to the Department of Defense when and where to make the cuts. We have got to make some reductions in the defense budget. This does it in a way which is flexible and necessary, so I too oppose the amendment.

Mr. LEVIN. What is the intent of my friend from Arizona to do with that amendment now?

Mr. LEVIN. Then have it adopted?

Mr. LEVIN. Not to have it adopted at this time by voice vote?

Mr. LEVIN. At some point the Senator would be happy to take a voice vote on it?

Mr. LEVIN. Let me thank Senator Kyl with the way in which he has worked with Senator Kerry. It is very constructive and very important. I want to tell him how much we all appreciate that working together. I believe Senator Shaheen is going to want to be recognized for up to 10 minutes to talk on an amendment.

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

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