Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Senators Frist and Rockefeller have an amendment at the desk and I ask for its consideration.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 334, S. 1609.

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

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to.

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read the third time and the Intelligence Committee then be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3694. I further ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration, all after the enacting clause be stricken, and the text of S. 2052, as amended, be inserted in lieu thereof. I ask consent that 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, and I ask unanimous consent that the statements related to the bill appear in the Record and S. 2052 be placed on the calendar.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the amendment be agreed to and, further, a classified change be incorporated in the classified schedule of authorizations which has been available for all Members' review.

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, Senator Shelby has an additional amendment at the desk and I ask for its consideration.

Mr. LOTT. There are several manager amendments at the desk, and I ask they be considered and agreed to en bloc.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Armed Services Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2052 and the Senate proceed to its consideration. This is the intelligence authorization bill.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur to the amendments of the House to the amendments of the Senate to the bill.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (H.R. 3130) to provide for an alternative penalty procedure for States that fail to meet Federal child support data processing requirements, to reform Federal incentive payments for effective child support performance, and to provide for a more flexible penalty procedure for States that violate interjurisdictional adoption requirements. The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives: Resolved, That the House agree to the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3130) entitled ``An Act to provide for an alternative penalty procedure for States that fail to meet Federal child support data processing requirements, to reform Federal incentive payments for effective child support performance, to provide for a more flexible penalty procedure for States that violate interjurisdictional adoption requirements, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make certain aliens determined to be delinquent in the payment of child support inadmissible and ineligible for naturalization, and for other purposes'', with the following amendments: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the amendment to the preamble be agreed to, and the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, the amendment to the title be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to this resolution appear at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Let me say again, Mr. President, how proud I am that the Senate last night voted to name our defense authorization bill the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act. We all admire you and love you so much. You are the idol of every Senator. Your example is one to which we all aspire. We are very proud of you, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, this morning there will be a period of morning business until 10:10. Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the nominations of A. Howard Matz to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California, and Victoria A. Roberts to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan. It is, therefore, expected that up to two votes will occur on those nominations at approximately 10:15 this morning. Following those votes, the Senate may consider any of the following items: drug czar reauthorization bill, the clean needles bill, the reading excellence legislation, the legislative branch appropriations bill, and other legislative or executive items that may be cleared for action. Once again, Members are reminded there will be rollcall votes during today's session of the Senate, with the first vote expected at approximately 10:15. I understand from our discussions with Senator Daschle that we perhaps have been able to get an agreement on the higher education bill--we did get the time agreement locked in--with a number of amendments in order. We will work to consider that bill as expeditiously as possible. We need to get it done because the authorization expires July 1. Even though we have had an extension of funding for 90 days, that is something we need to get done absolutely before we go out for the year. So we need to get it completed in the Senate and be able to get it in conference. We also may be able to take up the intelligence authorization bill later on today. Let me go ahead and announce to the Senate, and I will repeat it later, right before votes probably, Senators should expect long days and lots of votes during the month of July. We will have votes on most Mondays, even though we have not made a final decision with regard to July 6. It is expected we will have one vote on that date, but we are still working with Senators on both sides to determine what that one vote will be late in the day. Throughout July, though, Senators should expect to be here on Mondays and on Fridays. I expect that we will be in 6 or 7 hours each Monday; that we will have night sessions every night; that we will be in usually 12 hours a day Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and I will be trying to schedule bills and votes into the night Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays so that we can move several appropriations bills and some of the bills I have mentioned here. We have a number of other important issues--product liability, bankruptcy, the credit union bill. We have a lot of work to do, so what I will try to do is dual-track some of these, with appropriations bills being on the floor almost every day and then maybe work at night on other issues. For instance, it is my intention to have the conference report on the IRS restructuring probably the Tuesday or Wednesday night that we come back. We may actually have a final vote on it the next morning. But in order to get our work done, Senators should expect that I will schedule votes around 9 o'clock every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I have really bent over backwards to be helpful to the Senate, to try to be considerate of their family needs, but it seems that we have not gotten reciprocation from Senators, frankly, on either side. The number of amendments is totally out of control. Every bill now has 100 amendments. If Senators can't learn to be serious, only have major amendments, cut the debate time, if we do not get cooperation on both sides of the aisle, then I have no alternative but to start having what would be called ``bed check'' votes. If we get our work done, we will not go late. If we do not, we will be here until 9 and 10 o'clock every night in July. So Senators need to prepare for that, and then we won't surprise anybody. But that is the schedule we have to work in order to get six or eight appropriations bills done in July, and maybe more, if we can, and other important authorizations that have to be done. I know that is good news for one and all, and now morning business is in order. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President I would like to take leader time just to go over the schedule briefly because I know Senators are interested in the balance of the day and when we return. This second vote will be the last vote of the week. We did get a good deal accomplished yesterday and I thank Senators for their cooperation on the Department of Defense authorization bill, the military construction appropriations bill and nominations. The Senate will recess this afternoon until 12 noon on Monday, July 6, for the Independence Day recess. When we reconvene on Monday, it will be my intention to turn to the Department of Defense appropriations bill. Any votes to occur with respect to that appropriations bill will be stacked to occur on Tuesday, July 7. It is my understanding the managers may have as many as 20 amendments to consider on Monday, and expect to debate those amendments and have votes, then, on Tuesday. Before the Senate adjourns, I will ask consent that we turn to the product liability bill. If that request is objected to, then I will move to proceed to that matter and file cloture. That cloture vote will occur, then, on Tuesday, July 7, at 9:30, if it is necessary to file cloture. We will then be asked to consider the IRS reform conference report Tuesday evening, and I do mean Tuesday night, so that we can get work done on appropriations bills, product liability, and the IRS reform. There will be no vote occurring, then, on Monday, July 6. There are a lot of conflicts, Senators trying to get back and I am trying to be cooperative on that. But I do want to announce again, as I did earlier today: Expect votes on Mondays and Fridays and expect 12-hour days Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout July. We have to do at least 8 appropriations bills during July. If we get our work done, we won't have to have votes at 9 or 10 o'clock. But it would be my intention, if we don't get cooperation, that I would schedule votes at 9 or 10 o'clock every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, because we have to get it done. I hope Senators will stop introducing 100 amendments to every bill. It is ridiculous. If you have three or four important amendments on each side, and I am talking to both sides, fine. But if we call up DOD and there are 150 amendments offered, it just tells you something about the Senate. So we are going to get our work done in July if we have to go way into the night every night. Members should be prepared, then, to work on the appropriations bills and the conference reports. We have a time agreement on higher education. We will work to take up bankruptcy, drug czar reauthorization, Internet gambling, pornography and filtering. I thank all Senators for their cooperation. I thank Senator Gordon Smith for what he has done to the dress code in the Senate. I think the Senate is looking brighter, lighter, and it is good for our image and, I think, for the country. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent there now be a period for the transaction of routine morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am truly honored and awed by the beautiful, flowing, wonderful remarks of the distinguished Senator from West Virginia. I can assure him that the ``House of Lott'' will forever treasure his remarks here today. I actually was not sure that the Senator was going to do this today. But by accident, coincidence, I had suggested to my wife earlier this morning about 10:30 that she might want to look in on the Senate's activities this morning. I hope that she and my son and daughter-in-law and young grandson have been able to watch this magnificent presentation. I could never match, nor would I even attempt to respond in kind to the magnificent statement that has just been given by the Senator from West Virginia. The American people have seen once again here this morning what an important and incomparable role that the Senator from West Virginia plays in this body. He is our historian. He is our conscience. He is the one that guarantees that we honor this institution, respect each other, that we are honest and fair with each other, that we think about our country, and that we have moments of great oratory and moments where we reach for that power star in this country and in the world. But only Senator Byrd would take the floor and take the time to talk about the importance of family, fatherhood, grandchildren, and generations yet to come. He brings us back to Earth. He makes us appreciate, once again, how really humbled we should be to be here, and that we should always keep our priorities in order. History gives us something we can look back toward as we move in the future--great events, great moments, crowning of kings, and war treaties. But in most lives nothing is more important than the birth of your children, your daughter, and your son, and your grandson. So I thank him for what he had to say here today, not just for my grandson and me, but what it says about this institution, what it says about our relationship, and what is says about America and the importance of family. I am very proud. I am a very proud grandfather. I have a wonderful wife and two wonderful children, and now our grandchild. You are right. I have held him in my arms already. I was reduced to a puddle of tears and excitement about this occasion. It really is one of the magic moments in your life. But the most wonderful experience I had over the past week was when I took my son to lunch last Sunday to give him a break because it had been a long time through the delivery. And his wife did wonderfully well. And I was talking to him. I said, ``Now, son, don't feel like you have to pass the family name on. You know, call him whatever you want.'' He said, ``Dad, I want to name my son after my best friend.'' I couldn't say anything more, because I was so proud of him and what he had to say. So this is a great event. I am really appreciative of what you had to say, and I am appreciative of being able to serve in this great body. Thank you. Mr. WARNER addressed the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I now ask unanimous consent the Senate turn to Calendar No. 404, H.R. 2614, the Reading Excellence Act, and immediately following the reporting by the clerk, the chairman be recognized to withdraw the committee amendment and there be 30 minutes for debate to be equally divided in the usual form with no amendments or motions in order. I further ask that following the conclusion or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on passage of H.R. 2614, all without any intervening action or debate. I would like to note that I have discussed this with White House officials, and they have urged that we try to find a way to get this legislation up. Actually, this was a week or two ago, so we have been trying to get something worked out. I would like very much for us to be able to do that.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we turn to Calendar No. 273, H.R. 2610, the reauthorization of the drug czar office, and immediately following the reporting by the clerk, the chairman be recognized to modify the amendment, the committee substitute; that there be 30 minutes for debate to be equally divided with no amendments or motions in order. I further ask that following the conclusion or yielding back of this time, the Senate proceed to immediate adoption of the committee substitute to be followed immediately by third reading and final passage, all without intervening action or debate. And, finally, I ask unanimous consent it be in order for me to ask for the yeas and nays on passage at this time.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I should note we had at least one very important amendment that a Senator wanted to offer on this side of the aisle to this bill, too, dealing with the penalties for the use of powder cocaine. Certainly, it is a very important issue, and I would like it to be considered, but I called upon that Senator--actually it was two Senators--and said you will have a chance to offer that on other legislation including State, Justice, Commerce. He was willing, then, to agree to put it aside. I really think we need to reauthorize the drug czar office. I am hoping this is not the final word on this. Maybe we can work out something in July to consider it. But our problem is, we are really running out of time. I think it is going to be unconscionable if we can't find some way to quickly reauthorize the drug czar's office. We will have to do it without it taking up more than just a couple or 3 hours, because we just don't have the time, when you look at the appropriations bills and everything else we are going to need to do.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I object to further proceedings on this bill at this time.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Then, for the information of all Senators, this cloture vote will occur at 9:30 on Tuesday, July 7, when we return from the Fourth of July recess. It will be the first vote of that week back from the recess. If cloture is invoked, the Senate could be asked to remain in session into the night in order to reduce the 30 hours provided postcloture. I now withdraw the motion.