Trent Lott

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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, it is with great pleasure that I rise to take this opportunity to recognize the exemplary service and career of an outstanding naval officer, Rear Admiral Louis M. Smith, upon his retirement from the Navy at the conclusion of more than 33 years of honorable and distinguished service. Throughout his exemplary career, he has truly epitomized the Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment and demonstrated an exceptional ability to advance the Navy's facilities requirements within the Department of Defense and the Congress. It is my privilege to commend him for a superb career of service to the Navy, our great Nation, and my home State of Mississippi. Since September 1998, Rear Admiral Smith has served as the Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and Chief of Civil Engineers. As the senior civil engineer in the Navy, he is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of naval facilities around the globe. On Capital Hill, he is best known for his quick wit, entertaining and informative testimony, and ability to communicate the Navy's facilities requirements in addition to his role in developing and executing the Navy's Military Construction, Base Realignment and Closure and Environmental programs. He often testified before congressional committees and ensured that Members of Congress and their staffs fully understood the Navy's shore infrastructure requirements. In this capacity, Rear Admiral Smith was second to none. Previously, he served as the Director, Facilities and Engineering Division for the Chief of Naval Operations where he had a hand in shaping the Navy's readiness ashore, as well as numerous quality-of- life initiatives to improve the lives of Sailors and Marines. A true shore facilities expert, his previous public works assignments included Assistant Public Works Officer, Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine; Public Works Officer, Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland; and Commanding Officer, Public Works Center, San Diego, California. As an acquisition professional, he has had numerous contracting assignments, including Officer-in-Charge of Construction, Mid Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Head of Acquisition and Vice Commander of Western Division, San Bruno, California. He embarked on his brilliant naval career as the Officer in Charge of Seabee Team 5301, making three deployments to Vietnam and earning the Bronze Star and Combat Action Ribbon. The Navy will best remember Rear Admiral Smith for his mastery of the Navy's financial system and his prowess in effectively navigating the political waters within the Beltway. His eight tours in the Nation's Capital began with duty in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Facilities Engineer, Security Assistance Division (OP-63). After an exchange tour on the Strategic Air Command staff, he then served as the Director of the Chief of Naval Operations' Shore Activities Planning and Programming Division (OP-44), followed by a tour in the Office of the Comptroller of the Navy. Later, he served in the offices of the NAVFAC Comptroller and the Director of Programs and Comptroller, NAVFAC. After his Command tour in San Diego, he returned to NAVFAC Headquarters as Vice Commander and Deputy Chief of Civil Engineers. Rear Admiral Smith's knowledge of the Fleet, coupled with his unparalleled planning and financial acumen, was absolutely vital to successfully charting the Navy's course through both the 1980s build-up and the post-Cold War draw-down. Rear Admiral Smith is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a graduate of Marquette University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He later attended Purdue University where he earned his Master of Science in Civil Engineering. Married to the former Susan Clare Kaufmann of Milwaukee, he and Susan have two sons, Brian and Michael. My home State of Mississippi has benefitted greatly from the contributions of Rear Admiral Smith's visionary leadership, consummate professionalism, uncommon dedication, and enduring personality. For the State of Mississippi, he was there to assist in the disaster recovery from Hurricane George; he was there to provide outstanding facilities support for U.S. Navy bases in Mississippi; and he was there to assist my staff in providing the highest levels of facilities support for our Navy. On January 1, 2001, he will enter retirement and the Navy will wish him fair winds and following seas. On behalf of the Congress, I congratulate Rear Admiral Louis Martin Smith on the completion of an outstanding and successful career with very best wishes for even greater successes in the future.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the vote relative to the H-1B bill and the visa waiver bill on Tuesday, the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on the Executive Calendar, en bloc: No. 652, Michael Reagan; No. 654, Susan Bolton; and No. 655, Mary Murguia. I further ask unanimous consent that following the en bloc consideration, the following Senators be recognized to speak for the allotted timeframes. They are: Senator Hatch for 20 minutes; Senator Kyl for 20 minutes; Senator Lott or designee for 20 minutes; Senator Levin for 20 minutes; Senator Robb for 10 minutes; Senator Harkin for 30 minutes; Senator Leahy for 20 minutes; and Senator Durbin for 10 minutes. I further ask unanimous consent that following the use or yielding back of time, the nominations be temporarily set aside. I also ask unanimous consent that following that debate, the Senate then proceed to the nomination of Calendar No. 656, James Teilborg, and there be up to 1 hour each for Senators Hatch, Kyl, and Leahy, and up to 3 hours for Senator Harkin or his designee, and following the use or yielding back of the time, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to that nominee, without any intervening action or debate, to be followed immediately by a vote en bloc in relation to the three previously debated nominations. I further ask consent that the vote count as three separate votes on each of the nominations. Finally, I ask consent that following the confirmation votes, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I understand the Senator's interest in that additional nomination. I do not think I have ever moved to discharge the Judiciary Committee on a single nomination or a judge. There are other judges presumably that will also need to be considered. I do appreciate the agreement that has been reached here. I know that it has been difficult for the Senator from Iowa to even agree to this. But in view of the fact that the committee has not acted, I could not agree to that at this time, so I would have to object.

Mr. LOTT. I respond, Mr. President, that I do not get into the background of all the nominees when they are before the committee. I do not know all of the background on these nominees. As majority leader, when nominations reach the calendar, I try to get them cleared. I do think the fact that we had not been able to clear these four, even though they were already on the calendar, has maybe had a negative impact on other nominations being reported on the assumption that, well, if we could not move these, which were, I think, unanimously cleared quickly without any reservations, that that had become an impediment. I do not know that this will remove that impediment, but it looks to me as if it is a positive step.

Mr. LOTT. I say for the Record--and you know that it is true because I believe you were with me when he spoke to me--Senator Grassley has indicated more than once his support for the nominee. So he has made it clear he does support her. I do not know all of the problems or if there are any. But perhaps further consideration could occur. I am sure you won't relent.

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

Mr. LOTT

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

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. We do have time equally divided between the chairman, the Senator from New Mexico, and the ranking member.

Mr. LOTT. All right. We still have 10 minutes under the control of Senator McCain. We will call and see if he wants to take advantage of that.

Mr. LOTT. We will come back to that later.

Mr. LOTT. Now, with regard to the energy and water appropriations conference report, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, following H-1B consideration, the Senate proceed to the energy and water appropriations conference report and that the report be considered as having been read and considered under the following agreement: 1 hour equally divided between the chairman and the ranking member of the Appropriations subcommittee, 20 minutes equally divided between the chairman and ranking member of the full committee, and 10 minutes under the control of Senator McCain. I further ask consent that following the use or yielding back of time, the vote occur on adoption of the conference report immediately, without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, with regard to the Stem Cell Research Act of 2000, Senator Specter has been very energetic in pursuing the opportunity to offer this legislation. As I had agreed earlier, I now ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the HELP Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2015, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration under the following terms: 3 hours on the bill to be equally divided in the usual form; that there be up to one relevant amendment in order for each leader, that they be offered in the first degree, limited to 1 hour equally divided and not subject to any second-degree amendments; that no motions to commit or recommit be in order. I further ask unanimous consent that following the conclusion or use of the debate time and the disposition of the above-described amendments, the bill be advanced to third reading and a vote occur on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended, all without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. LOTT. There very well could be objections on this side, too.

Mr. LOTT. I think there are objections on both sides to this, but I made a commitment to do everything I could to try to get this issue to be considered by the full Senate. Senator Specter feels very strongly about it, is committed to it, and has been reasonable in waiting for an opportunity to offer it. I know there are objections to it on both sides, and there is no question that there is objection on this side. I felt constrained to make this effort. It is a serious effort.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, with regard to the H-1B legislation, I now ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, following the previously ordered morning business speeches, the Senate resume consideration of S. 2045, the H-1B bill, and the following pending amendment Nos. 4214, 4216, and 4217, be withdrawn and the motion to recommit be withdrawn in order to offer a managers' amendment containing cleared amendments limited to 5 minutes equally divided in the usual form. I further ask consent that following the adoption of the managers' amendment, no further amendments be in order, and amendment No. 4177, as amended, be agreed to, the committee substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the bill be advanced to third reading, and final passage occur at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, without any intervening action or motion or debate, and that paragraph 4 of rule XII be waived. I further ask consent that the time between 9:30 and 10 a.m. on Tuesday be equally divided between the two managers for closing remarks.

Mr. LOTT. Let my just say, Mr. President, we have one additional part of this H-1B request we hope to be able to clear momentarily. But the interested parties are reviewing the language of the substitute. When we get that reviewed, then we will ask consent that the bill be laid aside until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday and that the Senate proceed to the visa waiver bill. But we will clarify that in just one moment.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, with regard to H.R. 4986, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate now turn to the consideration of Calendar No. 817, which is H.R. 4986, relating to foreign sales corporations, and following the reporting of the bill by the clerk, the committee amendments be agreed to, with no other amendments or motions in order, and the bill be immediately advanced to third reading and passage occur, all without any intervening action or debate. I further ask consent that the Senate then insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, which will be Senators Roth, Lott, and Moynihan.

Mr. LOTT. No. He did object.

Mr. LOTT. Let me just say, Mr. President, that I did ask for consent on this bill out of the Finance Committee dealing with foreign sales corporations. And, of course, this is the result of WTO decisions, trying to get the U.S. laws to comply with that decision. We did clear it on this side. I understand there are some Senators on the Democratic side who wish to offer amendments. A lot of the amendments on the list I saw were the usual suspects that have now been offered that do not relate to the bill. I understand that has to be worked out. Senator Reid and others will be trying to clear up those objections based on those amendments. But I do want to say, if there is any germane or relevant amendment to this bill, certainly we will work to make sure that will be included in the agreement. Failing that, this is something we need to do, and I hope we can get it cleared up in the next few days.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator from Pennsylvania will yield, let me acknowledge the fact that the Senator from Pennsylvania did agree at a critical moment last year to remove this issue from the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill so we could complete it. It was clearly one of the difficulties we were having in wrapping up the session. I committed at that time that we would make an effort to get it up this year and that I would do that. We probably should have made this effort earlier. I owe him an apology for not doing that. Let me say, in recent days we have tried to clear it. There is objection to it. I believed it was important that I go ahead and make that request publicly because we made that commitment to the Senator. I know how strongly the Senator from Pennsylvania feels about this issue, and a lot of other people feel very strongly about it. I know we had some testimony on it within the last couple of weeks in the Senate. There are strong and passionate feelings about it on both sides in terms of what it can do for some health problems, and there are others who obviously think this is an improper use. I am sure it will be a good debate whenever it is debated and wherever it is debated. I will work with the Senator next year to try to get it up earlier in the session. Before I make a commitment at this time that I will file cloture, I have to make sure it will not fall through and I can keep that commitment. But I will work with him to see that he gets a shot at it. He always has the opportunity to offer amendments on bills that come along. There is not just one way to get it done. I do believe I owe him a commitment to keep working with him. Even though I don't necessarily agree with him on the substance, I think on the procedure I have an obligation to keep a commitment to help him.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 483, S. 1752.