Carl Levin

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President, I just suggest two things: One, the interspersed order include Republican speakers, should they desire----

Mr. LEVIN. I don't have a calculator. Whatever 140 times 70 would amount to would be that number, assuming the same approximate density in Hiroshima.

Mr. LEVIN. The so-called bunker busters, which is a total misnomer in my book because these are city busters--they may indeed be nation busters or world busters, but nevertheless the so-called bunker busters are two weapons. There is a so-called B-61 weapon, which is about the power of 28 Hiroshimas, and the other one is the B-83, which is up to 71 Hiroshima weapons, in terms of power.

Mr. LEVIN. Under the law that exists today, the so-called Spratt- Furse language which exists in law today, there is a prohibition on research and development which could lead to the production of a so- called low-yield weapon. Under the bill, that language would be stricken from the law and there would be no such prohibition.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I commend the Senator from Rhode Island and all those who worked with him to make this amendment possible. It is a significant contribution to making our missile defense system more effective, both in terms of the cost and operational effectiveness. It fills some very important holes that otherwise would have existed, and it is his tenacity that made it possible.

Mr. LEVIN. The Senator is correct. The so-called low-yield weapons indeed are about one-third the power of the weapon that was used at Hiroshima.

Mr. LEVIN. The Senator is correct. There are at least two provisions here.

Mr. LEVIN. The Senator from Virginia, the Senator I am addressing.

Mr. LEVIN. We are going to do our best. While the Senator is speaking, I will talk to Senator Kennedy and Senator Feinstein.

Mr. LEVIN. Senator Reed of Rhode Island.

Mr. LEVIN. I wonder if the Senator from Arizona would modify the request to add Senator Reed immediately after Senator Allard on his side.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that after Senator Feingold, Senator Inhofe be recognized and then Senator Byrd be recognized after that Senator, and then Senator Talent be recognized after Senator Byrd.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, will the Senator from Wisconsin yield just for a unanimous consent request?

Mr. LEVIN. An hour and a half?

Mr. LEVIN. Can the Senator give an approximation of how long he will speak?

Mr. LEVIN. I wonder if the Senator from New Mexico will yield for an inquiry.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. It is always ideal to try to bring matters before the committee. The chairman knows I agree with him on that. Sometimes it is not possible just it terms of the workload to do that. I don't think we can fault any member of the committee if and when that load is such that they have to present it to the floor because they were not able to get together in place all the material at the time of the committee hearings. The Senator from Rhode Island would be involved in the debate on many nuclear weapons systems even though those matters in some cases were brought to the attention of the committee. There are new formulations just because new thinking has been brought to bear since our committee hearings and markup on those subjects. But, in any event, I fully concur with the Senator from Virginia. If we can possibly work this out to fill in an omission in what the Ballistic Missile Defense Office should be doing, which is to develop these performance criteria which are measurable for this major system to have an operational test plan for this major weapons system, it seems to me if that can be worked out either over lunch or during the afternoon, I fully concur with the chairman that we ought to do that.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry. Is the Reed amendment now laid aside? Has that action been taken?

Mr. LEVIN. So that we now at this point have three amendments which are laid aside, and there is no amendment which is pending before the Senate, is that correct?

Mr. LEVIN. Did the Chair say two first-degree amendments and one second degree?

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. That makes two of us. So I am happy to yield some additional time.

Mr. LEVIN. The Senator from Virginia is, of course, correct. I join with him in asking Senators to share with us or our staffs at the 5 to 6 o'clock hour what amendment they would expect to be offering either tonight or tomorrow. I also point out, I believe--I want to make sure I am correct--the vote that occurs at 5 will be the only vote today. I ask the Chair, is that correct?

Mr. LEVIN. I thought that had already been agreed to. Am I incorrect on that?

Mr. LEVIN. I withdraw that. I thought an announcement had been made and it would be, of course, inappropriate for anyone other than the majority leader to make that announcement.

Mr. LEVIN. The distinguished whip came to the floor just in time to save my reputation. I very much appreciate that.