Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the amendment.

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, as the majority leader announced, we are moving towards an amendment that will be voted on shortly. I understand the Senator from New Jersey would like to speak for 12 minutes. I yield to the Senator from New Jersey.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I yield to the Senator from Oregon.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

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

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at 10 a.m. (Panels 1 and 2), and 2:30 (Panel 3), to hold a hearing titled ``The Administration's Missile Defense Program and the ABM Treaty.''

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 24, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. The committee will receive testimony on proposals related to global climate change and measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, including S. 597, the Comprehensive and Balanced Energy Policy Act of 2001; S. 388, the National Energy Security Act of 2001; S. 820, the Forest Resources for the Environment and the Economy Act; and provisions contained in S. 882 and S. 1776 of the 106th Congress.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at 9:30 a.m., on Seaport Security.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, to conduct an oversight hearing on the semiannual report on monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. The Committee will also vote on the nomination of Mr. Harvey L. Pitt to be a Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 24, 2001. The purpose of this hearing will be to discuss livestock issues for the next Federal farm bill.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia be authorized to meet on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, at 2:30 p.m., for a hearing to examine ``Who Cares for the Caregivers?: The Role of Health Insurance in Promoting Quality Care for Seniors, Children and Individuals with Disabilities.''

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 24, 2001, to conduct an oversight hearing on the FHA Multifamily Housing Mortgage Insurance Program.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I heard the comments of the Senators from Arizona and Texas. I want to make it very clear, I have never been against discussion. We put this bill out on the floor last Friday. It has been out here for 3 days. I have continually said I am happy to look at any language any Member brings me on any item of discussion under transportation. What I am against is weakening any of the safety provisions we have included in the committee bill. The proposal that was given to me by the Senator from Arizona considerably weakens and actually guts many of the safety provisions that Senator Shelby and I put into the underlying bill. That simply is not a path we are going to take on the Senate floor. Our provisions were adopted unanimously in the Appropriations Committee. I am not interested in going into a back room and negotiating a sellout of the committee or of the safety provisions that I believe are extremely important. That is simply a nonstarter for me as manager of this bill. I do remind all Senators they can offer amendments and this Senator is happy to consider them as the rules allow. As far as the NAFTA provisions are concerned, I will remind all of our colleagues once again, the underlying bill is not a violation of NAFTA. That is very clear. I set that out in my remarks this morning, and I am to go through that again this afternoon. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15, when the Senate reconvenes, the Senator from Illinois be allowed 20 minutes to discuss his issue that he would like to present to us and then Senator Bill Nelson from Florida be recognized.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like 2 minutes to respond when the Senator from Texas concludes. Does the Senator from Alaska wish to make a statement?

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, how much time does the Senator from Texas require at this time?

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that following the remarks of the Senator from North Dakota, the Senator from Colorado be allowed to speak for 10 minutes.

Mrs. MURRAY

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

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator is correct.

Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator is correct.

Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator is correct.

Mrs. MURRAY. I am happy to yield.