Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask that the Senate consider amendment No. 1842 from Senator Bingaman, as modified.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the Senator is correct. In the authorization conference, this matter is being considered. That is one reason I said it is with reluctance I make a point of order. But I ask the Presiding Officer to rule on my point of order.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I will consult with the distinguished acting leader on the other side. Senator Graham does wish a rollcall vote on his amendment No. 1806.

Mr. STEVENS. There are people leaving, and I do wish we would get an agreement on when we could call for a rollcall vote on----

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, have the yeas and nays been ordered?

Mr. STEVENS. I withdraw my objection.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, we are seeking to urge Members to raise some of the amendments that they have indicated they want to have considered so we might have some discussion of those amendments and schedule them for a vote early tomorrow morning. I know Senator Byrd is prepared to offer an amendment. But I yield to the leader.

Mr. STEVENS. Reserving the right to object, Madam President, we are being asked to consent to an order. We have not even seen these amendments. We don't even know the names on the amendments. I remember, when the tables were turned, vehement objections to such procedure. I object until I see the amendment to see whether we want to stack them automatically for a vote tomorrow.

Mr. STEVENS. Is this the loan amendment of the Senator from California?

Mr. STEVENS. Is it on the list?

Mr. STEVENS. It would be nice to see it.

Mr. STEVENS. I thank the Senator.

Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator respond to a question?

Mr. STEVENS. I state for the information of Senators, we will make some agreements concerning time for the vote to take place tomorrow on the Senator's amendment. I will oppose the amendment. It is an amendment that would limit the discretion and use of these funds. These funds are designed to as quickly as possible bring about the reconstruction of Iraq and the training of Iraqis to take over their own affairs, to defend themselves, to provide their own security, provide their own water, provide their own electricity, run their own schools--a whole series of things to have this money available, as the Senator says, in the tranches. We can do so much for 120 days. You have to wait for another 120 days before you can have the next money, and another 120 days for the next money. Now, when you look at that, what it really means is you are going to have to decide we are going to be there for at least a year just doing what is designed in this process to be an upfront program to move quickly as possible to turn this government back to them. I think that is a restriction on the use of these funds that would hamper the ability of Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid to carry out their instructions they have already received from the Congress and the instructions that are generally contained in this bill. It is my intention to speak further on the amendment tomorrow, but just so there would be no question about it, I will oppose the Senator's amendment and urge that it be defeated. It remains to be seen whether I will ask to table the amendment or to just have a vote on it. We will determine that tomorrow. But I do thank the Senator for her response to my question, and I yield the floor on this matter.

Mr. STEVENS. There will be a vote, but we will confer with the Senator when that vote will occur sometime tomorrow. Last-vote notices have gone out for tonight.

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. 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 October 15, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a markup of S. 811, the ``American Dream Downpayment Act'', of S. 300, the ``Jackie Robinson Congressional Gold Medal bill.'' The committee will also vote on the nominations of Mr. Harvey S. Rosen, of New Jersey, and Ms. Kristin J. Forbes, of Massachusetts, to be members of the Council of Economic Advisors; Ms. Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement; and Mr. Peter Lichtenbaum, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration. Following the votes, the Subcommittee on Securities and Investment will meet in open session to conduct a hearing on ``The Future of the Securities Markets.''

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Wednesday, October 15, at 9:30 to conduct a business meeting to consider legislation S. 1643, S. 1066, S. 1663, and S. 1669, and the nomination of Michael O. Leavitt, to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The meeting will take place in SD 406, hearing room. committee on finance

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 10 a.m., to hear testimony on ``Company Owned Life Insurance.''

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 2 p.m. to hold a hearing on The Middle East Road Map: Overcoming Obstacles to Peace. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. committee on indian affairs

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 10 a.m. in Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a Hearing on S. 550, the American Indian Probate Reform Act of 2003.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a Judicial Nominations hearing on Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. in the Dirksen Office Building room 226. Agenda Panel I: Senators. Panel II: D. Michael Fisher to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. Panel III: Dale S. Fisher to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Gary L. Sharpe to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 2:00 p.m. on ``Indecent Exposure: Oversight of DOJ's Efforts to Protect Pornography's Victims,'' in the Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226. Witness List Panel 1: Mr. John Malcolm, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice, Washington D.C., Mr. J. Robert Flores, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Department of Justice, Washington D.C.; Mr. Lawrence E. Maxwell, Inspector in Charge, Fraud and Dangerous Mail Investigations, United States Postal Inspectors, Washington D.C.; Honorable Mary Beth Buchanan, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA. Panel 2: Mr. Bruce A. Taylor, President and Chief Counsel, National Law Center for Children and Families, Fairfax, VA; Mr. Victor Cline, Emeritus Professor, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Mr. Steve Takeshita, Officer in Charge, Pornography Unit, Organized Crime and Vice Division, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles, CA.