Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

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

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 I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, earlier today we had an amendment that I did not move to reconsider and I indicated I would move to reconsider at a later time.

Mr. STEVENS. And the purpose?

Mr. STEVENS. That amendment was agreed to. I move to reconsider the vote, and I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I do desire to limit the time if possible, so we can have a vote when the Senate comes back out of that conference. Could we agree to 30 minutes on a side? Is there objection to 30 minutes on a side? I renew my request----

Mr. STEVENS. The agreement then is 1 hour equally divided?

Mr. STEVENS. I thank the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS. How much time remains?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, is all time yielded back?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am constrained to make a motion to table because I believe that this amendment, if not tabled, would take a considerable amount of time. I served in China in World War II. I would like to be involved at length in this debate, but this is not the time or the place for that debate. I hope all Senators will understand that I make this motion merely to try to control this supplemental and get it ready for a conference at the earliest possible moment. I move to table the amendment and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, that will be postponed until 2:30.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the only amendment that would be in order between this time and 2:30 would be the Torricelli-Harkin amendment, that there be no second-degree amendments, and that if the Senators finish the use of their time prior to that time, the Senate stand in recess until 2:30.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I intend to move to table this amendment. It is a very serious subject and we have had extensive hearings before the Governmental Affairs Committee, which Senator Thompson chairs. I do believe we will have to address this subject at a later time in the Senate, but this is not the time to do it. Therefore, I move to table that amendment and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent there be 2 minutes equally divided for explanation of the second amendment prior to the vote on the second amendment, that is, this amendment I have just moved to table.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 2 minutes between the two votes to explain the process that will occur after that vote.

Mr. STEVENS. Is all time expired?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, may we have order?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, under the agreement we have, there will be 1 minute on each side to explain the next amendment. Senator Torricelli will be first with that minute. Following that, I have 2 minutes to explain to the Senate what we have to do after this vote. The yeas and nays have been ordered, Mr. President. I did order the yeas and nays. But before that vote, Senator Torricelli is to be recognized for 1 minute. It is only 1 minute. I hope we could have order so the Senate can hear these Senators.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask for 2 minutes here to inform the Senate what procedure I hope we will follow at this time. We have a list of amendments here, some 70 amendments, but I do not expect them all to be offered. Particularly, I do not expect them all to be offered when you see what is going to happen to this amendment. I say that advisedly, after being advised by the proponents. But, Mr. President, it is going to be my policy as the majority manager of this bill to move to table every amendment that is not cleared on both sides. This is an emergency measure. We are going home a week from Friday. Next week is all taken up with the budget. We either get this done now so we can go to conference with the House on Monday or Tuesday and bring it back before Friday, or we might as well forget about it. So I respectfully inform the Senate I shall move, as the manager, to table every amendment that does not have bipartisan support. So, if you have an amendment on that list and you do not want to lose on it, now is the time to take it off. Mr. GRAMM addressed the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the yeas and nays that have been ordered be vitiated, and we take a voice vote on this amendment.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 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 ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 70, submitted earlier today by Senators Lott and Daschle.