Carl Levin

Mr. LEVIN

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services, I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. I understand there is no objection to the amendment, as modified, on our side.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I note that the Senator from Arizona is here. I assume, since we oppose the Bunning amendment, that he, along with the two managers, will be controlling the time. I yield myself 1 minute at this point to put into the Record a letter that I, along with Senator Warner, received from Gen. Shelton, who is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These are his words: . . . reiterate how critically important it is that Congress authorize another round of base closures and realignments. We previously put in the Record a letter from the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, strongly supporting one additional round of base-closing authority to begin in the year 2003 and giving the reasons for that need. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the letter I received this morning from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Shelton.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the opponents of the Bunning amendment be given an extra 2 minutes.

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

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent to vitiate the yeas and nays on the amendment.

Mr. LEVIN. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. LEVIN. 12:30.

Mr. LEVIN

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

Mr. LEVIN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk which I offer on behalf of Senator Mikulski.

Mr. LEVIN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1684

Mr. LEVIN. We have no objection to the amendment.

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

Mr. LEVIN. I wonder if we have any cleared amendments we can take up?

Mr. LEVIN. On behalf of Senators Cleland and Hutchinson, I offer an amendment which would give the Secretary of Defense direct hiring authority for certain health care professionals, and I believe this amendment has been cleared by the other side.

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

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

Mr. LEVIN. I ask unanimous consent this amendment be temporarily laid aside.

Mr. LEVIN. This amendment has been cleared by the other side.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I commend our good friend from New Mexico. He and Senator Bingaman and others have fought hard and long for equity in this area. We intended to do it for some time, but it has always been subject to appropriation. The Senator from New Mexico made sure that in the budget resolution there was an allocation that would make this possible on this bill. He has done his homework, as he always does. It is very gratifying. I know the people he represents, plus a lot of other people for whom justice will finally be done. I commend him for his work and support on the amendment.

Mr. LEVIN

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, 2001, at 10 a.m., in open session to consider the nominations of Gen. Peter Pace, USMC, for reappointment in the grade of general and for appointment as the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, for reappointment in the grade of general and for appointment as Commander in Chief, United States Transportation Command and Commander, Air Mobility Command; and Adm. James O. Ellis, Jr., USN, for reappointment in the grade of admiral and for appointment as Commander in Chief, United States Strategic Command.

Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, September 25, at 3:15 p.m., to conduct an oversight hearing. The subcommittee will receive testimony on the effectiveness of the National Fire Plan in the 2001 fire season, including fuel reduction initiatives, and to examine the 10-Year Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Wildland Fire Risks to Communities and the Environment that was recently agreed to by the Western Governors' Association, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman.