Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, there is now, for the Kennedy amendment, 30 minutes on a side, as I understand it; am I correct?

Mr. STEVENS. Fifteen minutes on a side?

Mr. STEVENS. Thank you.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I yield such time as the Senator from Virginia may use.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I disagree. This amendment is about changing the report requirements we have had in the past and that we have in this bill now. And we have had a satisfactory report. If one looks at the report, there is no question there are attitudes in Iraq that indicate this may turn into a civil war. There is no question that is one of the major problems facing us today. To put on the Secretary of Defense the burden of deciding if there is a civil war and giving instructions whether there is or not, changing the basis of things we require that are serving us right now--I urge Senators to look at this report. There are graphs in the report. Are you very or somewhat concerned that a civil war might break out? There is great worry that it might. We should have that worry. But to force the Department of Defense to decide when it has turned into a civil war and give specific instructions in case they do make that decision, and if they don't make the decision--of course, that is not what the Senator from Massachusetts wants. He wants the decision that there is a civil war, obviously, because that would force a withdrawal. This is very much connected with the debate we just had about the amendment that was considered to be not in order. I urge the Senate to reject the Senator's amendment. I move to table his amendment and ask for the yeas and nays. Time is up, is it not, Mr. President?

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator from Massachusetts has 30 seconds.

Mr. STEVENS. I yield back my time. I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. STEVENS. How much time remains?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I normally would agree with the Senator from Maryland, but the comments that were made are really not correct. This has been reviewed by third-party entities, including the Government Accountability Office. We received a final report on May 30, 2006. The Department of Defense strongly opposes the amendment. If the language prevails, it will undermine the competitive sourcing program. They have learned a lot about using A-76 on an enormous entity like the Walter Reed Hospital, but this amendment would preclude the Army from implementing a contract which has been reviewed three times and has been agreed to by the GAO.

Mr. STEVENS. The delay in this matter really came about--there is no question there is a serious delay--as it was reviewed and upheld on two occasions. These are third-party entities that did the review, including the GAO. We should not upset a process that has taken so long and is finalized now. I yield back the remainder of my time and move to table the Senator's amendment. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. 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. Amendment No. 4883, as Modified

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have an amendment that we wish to adopt. As I understand it, the Allen-Durbin amendment No. 4883 has been cleared as modified. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be a period for morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, S. 3861, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to hold an oversight hearing to examine Federal renewable fuels programs.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 10 a.m., to receive a briefing on the Army Field Manual on Interrogation.

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 September 6, 2006, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Stock Options Backdating.''

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 10 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony at a hearing entitled, ``Executive Compensation: Backdating to the Future/Oversight of current issues regarding executive compensation including backdating of stock options; and tax treatment of executive compensation, retirement and benefits.''

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Examining Competition in Group Health Care'' on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 11 a.m., in Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226. Witness List Panel I: The Honorable Tom Coburn, United States Senator, R-OK. Panel II: Mr. Bruce McDonald, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, Washington, DC; Mr. David Wales, Deputy Director, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC; Dr. Mark Piasio, President, Pennsylvania Medical Society, Harrisburg, PA; Ms. Stephanie Kanwit, American Association of Health Plans, Washington, DC; Dr. Edward Langston, Chair-Elect, Board of Trustees, American Medical Association, Chicago, IL; Professor David Hyman, Professor of Law, Gallowich-Huizenga Faculty Scholar, University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, IL.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Wednesday, September 6, 2006, at 2 p.m., in Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 6, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., to hold a closed briefing. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to, the Levin amendment be agreed to, the bill as amended be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in recess until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 7. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate proceed to a period for the transaction of morning business for up to 30 minutes, with the first 15 minutes under the control of the Democratic leader or his designee and the final 15 minutes under the control of the majority leader or his designee; further, that the Senate then resume consideration of H.R. 5631, the Department of Defense appropriations bill.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, speaking for the leader, he believes we had a full day debating the Department of Defense appropriations bill. Tomorrow we will finish this bill. Therefore, Senators should expect rollcall votes throughout the day. The managers should be consulted about any outstanding amendments Senators would like to have considered. Senator Conrad will be here first thing in the morning to offer an amendment. Again, we will finish this bill tomorrow, and Members should anticipate a long day if needed to complete our work on this spending bill.