John McCain

Mr. McCAIN

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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

Mr. McCAIN. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 1895

Mr. McCAIN. The most entertaining man I ever knew was Morris Udall, who often was heard saying: We in Arizona eagerly await the next earthquake so Arizona would be a coastal State. That is not as amusing as it was once, since there was one out there. But perhaps the Port of Yuma will still be a place the Senator from Delaware can help us with. In case our colleagues are wondering what we are doing, we are hoping to resolve one remaining issue before final passage. Negotiations are going on as we speak so we would be able to move to final passage. We hope within minutes that we will have that issue resolved.

Mr. McCAIN. I again thank the Senator from Delaware. I believe we can mark up a bill on Tuesday with the chairman's leadership. I think we also need to address seaport security as well. I believe seaport security is a very serious issue as well as rail security. I hope we will understand those are priority items that need to be addressed. Senator Hollings is far more knowledgeable than I am. But some of the information we have about the amount of cargo, the amount of shipping, the people and trafficking that goes in and out of the seaports in America is also a very important issue that we need to address.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. McCAIN. These amendments have been agreed to on both sides. I urge their adoption.

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. McCAIN. I don't believe there is further debate on the amendment.

Mr. McCAIN. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent for the consideration of several amendments that have been agreed to prior to the vote.

Mr. McCAIN. On behalf of Senators Enzi and Dorgan, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I send two amendments on behalf of Senator Hutchison of Texas to the desk, en bloc.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendments be dispensed with.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendments be dispensed with.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for me to send to the desk a couple more amendments; that they be agreed to, en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any modifications of the filed amendments be in order with respect to these amendments.

Mr. McCAIN. Thank you Senator Feinstein. I too am concerned about airline safety and want to be sure we have provided enough funding for marshals. The Senator from California has my full assurance that if more air marshals are needed, I will support providing more funding to the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration to accomplish that goal.

Mr. McCAIN. Madam President, the first amendment requires background checks for existing aviation security employees over a time certain. The other one requires screening of all employees prior to entering the secure areas. I want to take a moment to thank Senator Hutchison for her wonderful work on this bill and on these amendments. I urge adoption of the amendments.

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. I would ask in modification that both Senators from Ohio would like to speak for 10 minutes and it would take place following the election of the judges.

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, this is a national emergency responsibilities amendment, where the Deputy Secretary will have responsibilities for coordination amongst various agencies. I think it is a good amendment, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. McCAIN

Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I would be glad to yield to the Senator from Idaho.

Mr. McCAIN. I thank the Senator from Idaho. I appreciate his passion on this very important issue to our national security. But since it appears that everybody is in agreement that we need to move forward on this legislation--and there has been no debate that I know of on the specific issue of airport security in the postcloture mode, and I see no reason we should waste the entire afternoon in a postcloture parliamentary situation and yet not debating the issue--I tell our leadership on both sides of the aisle, I intend to come, after lunch, in the early afternoon, and move to proceed to S. 1447. That way, we will not have wasted another entire day. I hope there will be no objection at that time. Mr. President, I yield the floor.