Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I yield the floor.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, what time is the vote scheduled to take place?

Mr. STEVENS. I ask for the yeas and nays, Mr. President.

Mr. STEVENS. How much time remains?

Mr. STEVENS. I remind Senators that first-degree amendments to this bill must be offered by 2:30 p.m. Additional amendments and votes are expected through today's session. My colleague and I are working on a package of amendments which we will submit as soon as this time has expired and this amendment has been voted upon. At least we will discuss this package. It is my hope we will be able to finish this bill today. I am going to work to achieve that goal. Does the Senator from Hawaii wish to make any comments on this amendment?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I will take a couple of minutes. I was pleased to offer this amendment for my good friend from Iowa, Senator Grassley. Senator Grassley's determined effort to improve the Department of Defense financial accounting standards, by demanding that funds disbursed are matched by funds obligated--simply meaning that they balance their checkbook and they let us know so the taxpayers will know what the checks have been written for--his efforts has already yielded results in lowering the Department's unmatched disbursements. To those who may be unfamiliar with this problem, as of the fiscal year 1998, according to the Department's own inspector general, the Department reported a substantial problem with disbursements. That means that funds were reported having been disbursed to the Treasury but not processed, or, in other cases, the Department's employees could not match a disbursement to an obligated item. There is a conflict here. We are trying to make certain those who provide services to the Department of Defense are promptly paid. On the other hand, there is a requirement for the taxpayers that we know what they have paid and what we have bought with the funds, as the Senator said. The Appropriations Committee is pleased to work with Senator Grassley and the Department of Defense to ensure the Department makes steady progress in reducing these problem disbursements. I do support the amendment of the Senator from Iowa, and I believe all Senators seek to improve the Department's control over the appropriation of taxpayers' funds to the Department of Defense. What time will the vote take place, Mr. President?

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendments en bloc.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I send an amendment to the desk for Senator Roberts.

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that Danelle Scotka, a fellow in the office of Senator Hutchison, be granted the privilege of the floor during consideration of S. 1122.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11 a.m. tomorrow. By previous consent, the cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S. 96 has been vitiated, and at 11 a.m. the Senate will begin debate on the important Y2K legislation. Hopefully, the Senate will make substantial progress throughout the day, and therefore votes on amendments can be expected.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I further ask unanimous consent that at 11 a.m. the Senate begin consideration of S. 96, the Y2K legislation, in accordance with that agreement.

Mr. STEVENS. As I understand it, the consent that was just entered into means Senator McCain will be recognized at the close of that period of morning business. Is that correct?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9. I further ask that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day. I further ask consent there then be a period of morning business until 11 a.m., with Senators permitted to speak up to 10 minutes each, with the following exceptions: Senator Collins, 20 minutes; Senator Smith of New Hampshire, 10 minutes; Senator Durbin or his designee, 30 minutes.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on African Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 8, 1999, at 2:15 p.m. to hold a hearing.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs would like to request unanimous consent to hold a hearing on the nominations of Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., M.P.H., to be Under Secretary for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, and John T. Hanson to be Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 1999, at 2:15 p.m., in room 418 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet in closed session for a hearing re Department of Justice Oversight, during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 8, 1999, at 10:00 a.m., in S407 of the Capitol.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet on Tuesday, June 8, 1999, at 9:30 a.m. in open session, to consider the nominations of General Eric K. Shinseki, USA, for reappointment to the grade of general and for appointment as Chief of Staff, United States Army; and Lieutenant General James L. Jones, Jr., USMC, to be general and for appointment as Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I once again thank all Members of the Senate for their cooperation with us in handling this very controversial bill. I thank my constant companion and good friend, the cochairman of our Defense Subcommittee. I yield to him for any comment he might might make before I ask for the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. The bill is ready to be advanced to third reading.

Mr. STEVENS. The potential of electric drive is certainly worth exploring, and the committee would be willing to consider a request from the Navy if they believe it is critical to the DD-21 design effort.

Mr. STEVENS. I thank Senator Kohl. I agree that the Navy should continue its research efforts into electric drive, and it should strongly consider the benefits it could bring to the DD-21 Class of destroyers. In addition, I am aware that this technology will also provide important benefits to other future Navy ships such as improved stealth for future submarines. By developing a modular, common integrated system, where major system elements can be used on all new Navy ship designs without any design changes, the Navy can also realize the multiple benefits of reduced training and logistics costs, as well as significant production cost savings.