Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. With that in mind, we also yield back all our time on the majority side. I ask for the yeas and nays on the nomination of James Teilborg.

Mr. LOTT. This vote will occur momentarily. However, for just a minute, I will suggest the absence of a quorum, and we will be ready to proceed almost immediately. I want Senators to know the vote is about to begin. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we are ready for the recorded vote.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the conference report to accompany the Interior appropriations bill, and the conference report be considered as having been read.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I say to those who are interested, we are going to the report, but there is no time agreement to run off. Nobody has given up their rights in that regard, but we are now going to be able to proceed to the conference report, and we will continue to work on the issues that are of interest to Senators.

Mr. LOTT

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we intended to proceed to an agreement to take up the Interior appropriations conference report, but it looks as if it will be a few minutes before we can work through an agreement that will allow that. In the meantime, after Senator Harkin completes his remarks, I will enter into consent for a period for morning business so Senators can speak on issues they desire, but within an hour we hope to get an agreement on how to proceed to the Interior appropriations bill conference report. We need to do that. In view of the present situation, we will not have any more recorded votes tonight. We will try to get an agreement to kick in the Interior appropriations bill, and that would be considered tomorrow. I ask unanimous consent the Senate be in a period for morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now be in a period for morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. In addition, I ask unanimous consent that the next 2 hours be under the control of Senators Roberts and Cleland. I will be anxious to hear that presentation.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, there is no time agreement, so we will not be running off agreed-to time. If Senators want to speak on the bill itself, he or she can. Since we do have 2 hours set aside now for Senator Roberts and Senator Cleland, which will take us to 8 o'clock, I presume the decision will be that we will begin on the Interior bill first thing in the morning.

Mr. LOTT. That is what I had in mind.

Mr. LOTT. Did we get a clearance? Are the reservations withdrawn?

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we note with great pleasure that the distinguished President pro tempore, Senator Thurmond of South Carolina, is present and accounted for, as always. We are truly blessed and thankful for the indomitable spirit and the magnificent personality and the leadership of Senator Thurmond. It is good to see him here looking great this morning.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 2 p.m. with Senators Thomas and Byrd in control of the time. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2557, the bill regarding America's dependency on foreign oil. At 5:30 p.m. the Senate will proceed to a vote on the conference report accompanying the energy and water appropriations bill unless some other agreement is reached. As a reminder, on Tuesday morning the Senate will begin final debate on the H-1B visa bill with a vote scheduled to occur at 10 a.m. Therefore, Senators can expect votes at 5:30 p.m. this evening and 10 a.m. tomorrow. I thank my colleagues for their attention. I might also note that we could have a vote or votes on the Executive Calendar this afternoon. So there could be at least two votes beginning sometime around 5:30, maybe as many as three. And then, of course, there will be the other vote at 10 a.m. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have been working on a number of issues. I want to enter one, and then we will have another quorum call while we conclude some other agreements. The first has to do with the intelligence authorization bill. Obviously, this is very important legislation. It has been agreed to on both sides.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 654, S. 2507.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4392. Further, I ask unanimous consent that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 2507, as amended, be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill be read the third time and passed, the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that S. 2507 be placed back on the calendar.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendments be agreed to. The committee amendments were agreed to. Amendments Nos. 4280 through 4285, En Bloc

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed en bloc to the following amendments which are at the desk: Warner amendment No. 4280, Specter amendment No. 4281, Feinstein amendment No. 4282, Moynihan amendment No. 4283, Kerrey amendment No. 4284, and the Shelby-Bryan amendment No. 4285. I further ask unanimous consent that the amendments be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I yield to Senator Bryan.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank Senator Bryan for his comments. Obviously, as I said, this is very important legislation. The Intelligence Committee does good work, important work for our committee. It has been partially delayed by misunderstandings which we have worked out. I think everybody is satisfied with this. I thank the chairman for his persistence. I yield to the chairman of the committee.

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