Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I suggest the time just be given to the Senator from North Dakota rather than invade Senator Byrd's time. We are happy to yield 5 minutes to the Senator without any limitation on it.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendments Nos. 2439 through 2459, En Bloc

Mr. STEVENS. Has the Senator from California completed her statement?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, reserving the right to object, am I correct that would mean that Members could offer amendments to, say, any portion of the Defense bill as reported by the committee?

Mr. STEVENS. I will not object. I wish I could find a way, though, to now start putting some time limit on these amendments.

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator has not made that unanimous consent request yet, but I do believe I will support that unanimous consent request. I want the Senate to know that the Senator and Senator Inouye and I have conferred about the allocation of $20 billion, and while I regret we reduced defense in this allocation to $20 billion, I point out to the Senate that this year we have provided $317 billion in the Defense bill in section (a) of this substitute. We have added the $15.3 billion here in this allocation of the moneys from the $15.7 from the $40 billion. There has been a total of over a $42 billion increase in defense spending from the beginning of this year to now. I do believe there is sufficient money to carry us through until the President may make a request. Again, I point out to the Senate that the law we passed on September 18 does require the President shall submit to the Congress as soon as practical detailed requests to meet any further funding requirements for the purposes specified in this act. I also call the Senate's attention once more, there were five purposes outlined in the act: First, providing State, Federal-State, and local preparedness for mitigating and responding to the attacks; second, providing support to counterinvestigate and prosecute international terrorism; third, providing increased transportation security; fourth, repairing public facilities and transportation systems damaged by attacks; and five, supporting national security. All these funds may be delivered for any authorized Government activity to meet those purposes. This presentation tonight by Senator Byrd meets those requirements. All of the money is transferred to a Federal system under an authorized program, and all are within the five stated purposes that the Congress used in providing the $40 billion in September. We all differ some in terms of our priorities. In the final analysis, the priorities for this $20 billion will be decided in conference. I have assured Senator Byrd that I will cosponsor this substitute and fight for its approval in the conference. I fully expect there will be some changes in the conference with the House in terms of the allocation of this money. I am confident we will be hearing from the administration in the meantime. I take the floor to urge the Senate to approve the amendment and to allow the Senator's request to be granted. He has, in fact, now offered and asked for a unanimous consent, but we jointly are offering this as original text to replace the Senate substitute that was reported from the appropriations committee. It will be open to further amendment, as I understand, on all parts of the bill. It is my hope that we would close their section B soon, because I think this allocation, as I said, will primarily absolutely be done in the final analysis insofar as the $20 billion in conference. And we could argue here all night about where the money would go. We met the President's request to limit that amount to $20 billion. I think that is where we should stop. I yield the floor. Does the Senator from West Virginia wish to renew his request? Amendment No. 2348

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

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

Mr. STEVENS. I yield to the Senator from Tennessee for the purpose of a colloquy.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendments Nos. 2415 through 2425, En Bloc

Mr. STEVENS. Reserving the right to object, it is my understanding that if a person wants to strike, say, a provision--say the tanker provision from section A of the substitute--that amendment could be offered now, debated now, and voted on now. When the substitute is filed, it would be so amended; is that correct?

Mr. STEVENS. I know of no parliamentary way right now that we can impose a time limit. I would like a time limit, if we are going to finish these amendments tonight.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. STEVENS. Could we get a time agreement on that amendment?

Mr. STEVENS. I agree with my colleague, Senator Inohfe, and I also feel that this program warrants full funding under the Defense appropriations bill. During conference we must restore the funding in its entirety.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendments Nos. 2426 through 2438, En Bloc

Mr. STEVENS. No. Two more.

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

Mr. STEVENS. I have always been a supporter of the LPD-17 program and the committee very much appreciates the need for the lift capacity of this ship. In 2010, when the last LPD-17 class ship is scheduled to join the fleet, the amphibious force will consist of 36 ships or 12, three-ship Amphibious Ready Groups (ARGs), consisting of one LHA or LHD, one LPD and one LSD. I assure you that we are committed to seeing this program through production.

Mr. STEVENS. I yield back any remaining time.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have at the desk an amendment numbered 2352 which I call up on behalf of Senator McCain and Senator Gramm.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I requested of the leadership an opportunity to speak briefly about Pearl Harbor Day. The Senator from Hawaii would be in Pearl Harbor today, as he has been almost every time every year since he has come to the Congress. I would have been in New Orleans at the opening of the new museum for World War II. I think it is appropriate that we ask the Senate, at the conclusion of the remarks of the Senator from Hawaii, to stand and observe a minute or two of silence in honor of those who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor. Sixty years ago today, I was in bed with pneumonia and heard over the radio about the attack on Pearl Harbor. My friend from Hawaii was a young medical student and was immediately called into action to help give first aid. As a young medical student, Senator Inouye gave first aid and assistance to a great many people. Then he went through a period of time, which must have been very excruciating, when he saw other citizens of the United States of his racial background being taken to camps and various other places because of their Japanese heritage. Subsequently, he joined the Army, proceeded to be trained, and went to war in Italy. As a matter of fact, he was in Italy on one side of the mountain, and our former colleague, Senator Dole, with the 10th Division was on the other side of the mountain. Senator Inouye's unit was the most highly decorated unit in World War II, totally made up of Japanese Hawaiians, the 442nd. The 442nd has a distinguished place in history. And the person who has one of the greatest places in history is my long-time friend, Senator Inouye, who is now a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. He had to wait many years before he got that award, having been passed over at the time because of his heritage. I was privileged, as many others were, to be there when that wrong was righted and he was recognized for his distinguished service to our country for the events that led up to his being injured and, strangely enough, being in the same hospital with Bob Dole as they both came off the battlefield wounded. But I have had a distinguished opportunity here to be a friend of this distinguished man. I never had the privilege--I am getting a little personal--of living with my own brothers, but I have lived and traveled with Dan Inouye throughout the world now for 33 years. I know of no man that I would put in higher esteem than Senator Daniel Inouye. I ask the Senate to recognize him now, and then perhaps he would like to make some comments. (Applause, Senators rising.)

Mr. STEVENS. Madam President, I now ask unanimous consent the Senate stand in silence for a period of 2 minutes in recognition of the sacrifice of those who died at Pearl Harbor.