Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, this bill becomes effective on October 1 of this year. I am pleased to accept the amendment. It will affect the budget surplus that is in effect at that time. We accept the amendment.

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

Mr. STEVENS. For the information of the Members of the Senate, we have a list now of the amendments that have been reviewed by the Parliamentarian and have an indication of those that violate rule XVI. It is our intention to raise rule XVI for those amendments that are in violation of rule XVI. We do have a list that the staff says we may modify so they are not in violation of rule XVI, which we would then be willing to accept, if the sponsors are willing to accept the modification. There are other amendments that have been offered that are not in violation of rule XVI that we intend to oppose. For those, I urge Senators to have their staffs discuss these amendments with the staff of Senator Inouye and myself. It is my understanding we are in agreement on the position on these amendments that we find unacceptable, even though they are not in violation of rule XVI. I do think we can proceed in a very rapid fashion to determine how many votes we will have today if Members will state whether or not they are going to accept our modification. If they accept the modification, we will put them in a managers' package that we will offer around 11:30 as being acceptable under the unanimous consent request we obtained yesterday, to give the managers the right to modify amendments to make them acceptable under rule XVI. It is my understanding the Senator from California is now going to offer an amendment. Could I inquire of the Senator if she intends to ask for a vote on this amendment?

Mr. STEVENS. We are prepared to accept the amendment of the Senator. Does she still want a vote?

Mr. STEVENS. Yes.

Mr. STEVENS. I am happy to yield.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the Senator from California is correct in regard to the defense operations. I do note the exemption, where necessary, in the interest of national security. There are situations in which a commander has to know the medical conditions of people whom they might dispatch. That exception makes it acceptable for the Department of Defense. However, I do not think we are going to proceed with having a piece- by-piece amendment to the Privacy Act on the appropriations bills. This is very much acceptable on this bill. With the conditions that are being applied, it is a step in the right direction. I urge the Senator from California not to consider a piece-by-piece amendment to the Privacy Act on these appropriations bills as they come through because this Senator is not going to support that. It becomes legislation on an appropriations bill on other matters, I can say that. With regard to military records, it is an entirely different circumstance. Military records are part of the Department of Defense operation, and this is a step in the right direction. I am happy to accept the amendment on that basis. I know of no other agency that has access to the medical records of the individuals who are employed by the agency as this one does. The Department of Defense does, and I think the Department of Defense will welcome this guidance. I am pleased to accept it on that basis.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we are awaiting additional amendments. Does the Senator from California intend to offer amendments Nos. 3310 or 3311?

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Following that, it is my intention to move to go to third reading and have final passage on this bill. I serve notice on all those involved that we will have a managers' package following the vote on this amendment before taking up the Wellstone amendment. If there is no further objection, after the Wellstone amendment, we will go to third reading and have final passage immediately after that. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be no further second-degree amendments to any amendment on this bill.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the next votes in this series be limited to 10 minutes each.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Burns be added to the Baucus amendment No. 3372 as an original cosponsor.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator McCain be added as an original cosponsor to amendment No. 3361.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send to the desk the second managers' package with the amendments that have been agreed to on both sides, as modified. I ask unanimous consent that these amendments be considered en bloc.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that the amendments be agreed to en bloc.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be 4 minutes equally divided on the Wellstone amendment.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry: Can I go to third reading now?

Mr. STEVENS. Following that, I will move to go to third reading.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, for the information of the Senate, I was just asked why we didn't raise rule XVI to the amendments that were on the list. Although they were introduced, they were not called up. So the point of order has not been raised because they were not called up. I now ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. STEVENS. I now ask for third reading.

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at 10 a.m. on online profiling and privacy.