Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, in view of the posture taken by the other side of the aisle, as I understand it, we will not take up any other amendments until we dispose of this amendment, which I understand. I will pursue the closing arrangement for the Senate so that we might put Senators on notice that there will be no other amendments considered today and that we will close.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read for the third time.

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I thank you.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendments were agreed to, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to strike the following amendments which are on the list of proposed amendments: Senator Hatch's amendment on ethical standards; Senator DeWine's amendment on counterdrug funding; Senator Enzi's amendment, which is the first livestock assistance amendment; Senator Feinstein's WIC increase amendment; Senator Harkin's tobacco and two relevant amendments, leaving Senator Harkin with one relevant amendment; and Senator Burns' sheep improvement program. I further ask unanimous consent that an additional slot be added to the list entitled ``managers' amendment'' for use by the managers-- Senator Byrd and myself--for a final package of cleared amendments when we get to the end of the bill.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask that the amendments be adopted.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendments be dispensed with.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I send to the desk an amendment for Senator Sessions that deals with the Crop Loss Assistance Program. Senator Sessions' amendment is offered as one of Senator Cochran's relevant amendments in the agricultural area. I also send to the desk an amendment on behalf of Senator Coverdell making funds available for a scholarship fund in Honduras. Senator Coverdell's amendment is offered as one of my relevant amendments on the list. Finally, I send to the desk an amendment for Senator Daschle dealing with 801 housing at Ellsworth Air Force Base. I ask unanimous consent that these amendments be considered en bloc.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will resume consideration of the supplemental appropriations bill. The pending amendment is the Enzi amendment regarding Indian gaming. Unless an agreement can be worked out on this amendment, I intend to move quickly to table it in an effort to keep this bill moving forward. If an agreement is not reached, all Members should expect the first vote of today's session to be approximately at 10 a.m. Following that vote, it is my hope that Members with amendments will come to the floor to offer debate on those amendments. With the budget resolution scheduled beginning next week, it is imperative that the Senate complete action on the supplemental bill in a timely fashion. The cooperation of all Senators will be necessary to achieve that goal. The leader has stated that on Monday the Senate is expected to debate a Kosovo resolution for several hours, and then resume consideration of this supplemental appropriations bill. There will be no rollcall votes during Monday's session, according to the leader's statement. I thank my colleagues for their attention.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent there now be a period for morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for not to exceed 10 minutes, and that this period expire at 11 a.m.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I urge the adoption of the amendment. I ask for a voice vote on the amendment. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, it is my intention to ask unanimous consent to adopt the Enzi amendment, or to seek a vote on it. I suggest the absence of a quorum for the time being.

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

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be a period for the transaction of morning business, to expire at 1 p.m. this afternoon, with Senators permitted to speak therein for not to exceed 10 minutes.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am informed that Senators Roth and Moynihan wish to speak, and I ask unanimous consent that the time be expanded to 40 minutes to be followed only by a motion to table offered by me.

Mr. STEVENS. Forty-five minutes. The Senator wants to close.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask that we proceed with the amendment at the desk.

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.