Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. It is a permissive amendment. It does not mandate. It authorizes. It provides the money if they want to do it. We thought on that basis it is up to the administration to do it or not do it. I inquire of the Senator from Florida----

Mr. STEVENS. What?

Mr. STEVENS. It is $1.4 million for a site in North Dakota as a permissive amendment for cleanup. It has been cleared on both sides, I might say to the Senator.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I want to announce that we have left outstanding one amendment of Senator Graham which I understand may be disposed of by separate--two amendments of Senator Harkin, and we have two outstanding amendments on this side which I hope will be cleared soon. We have a package here ready to present. We have before the Senate-- the pending amendment I believe is Senator D'Amato's amendment on search and rescue. I add to that amendment the following amendments: the Bingaman amendment on donation of surplus dental equipment; the Bingaman amendment on furnishing of dental care to dependents; the Dodd amendment on retired pay backlog; the Harkin amendment on backlog of medals; the Harkin amendment on smoking cessation; the Frist amendment on Marine Corps lightweight maintenance enclosures; the Dorgan amendment on environmental cleanup; the DeWine amendment on drug interdiction; the Wellstone amendment on family violence. I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to consider the managers' amendment en bloc and that the amendments be adopted en bloc and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may withdraw the Kyl amendment No. 3398, with the consent of the sponsor.

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

Mr. STEVENS. So I send to the desk an amendment I offer on behalf of the Senator from New York, Mr. D'Amato.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I know that the Senator from Illinois still has 5 and a half minutes. But I ask unanimous consent that it be in order for me to put down the first of the series of the second managers' package.

Mr. STEVENS. It is my understanding Senator Byrd, to my great regret, is not going to make his statement. Under the circumstances, I yield back the remainder of our time and ask that the time of the Senator from Illinois start at 4\1/2\ minutes before 8 o'clock, and we will vote at 8 o'clock.

Mr. STEVENS. It is my understanding the Senator from Illinois will use the remainder of his time. I understand it is 4 and some-odd minutes.

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. There is no limit there on debate time. I intend to do my best to do that.

Mr. STEVENS. These listed amendments will be disposed of. Once they are disposed of, the bill will go to third reading. They will have to be either acted upon or withdrawn.

Mr. STEVENS. I could not hear you.

Mr. STEVENS. The domestic violence one I do not think I have seen yet. That is also being reviewed by the Armed Services Committee and we cannot report that yet.

Mr. STEVENS. It is in there.

Mr. STEVENS. Yes. I would be happy to do that. The Senator has the right to an amendment in the managers' package. That may be the way that is considered. Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, my request is still pending. Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS. Vote.

Mr. STEVENS. Have the yeas and nays been ordered?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I understand that the Senator from Michigan is on his way. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. STEVENS. He has gone to a meeting. Mr. President, I would like to put some time restraints on this, if we could. I would like to see if we could have the vote take place no later than quarter to 6. Could we have that agreement?

Mr. STEVENS. And how much time does the Senator want?

Mr. STEVENS. I was trying to condition that motion to table. I know Senator Byrd is one of the original cosponsors, Senator Hutchison also. But we do have to move along. I am a cosponsor also. But I do think we have to have some time limit. Would the Senator be willing to have some discussion as to a time when we might be able to vote?

Mr. STEVENS. That is open to amendment. Mr. President, I think they are following the suggestion and perhaps discussing those second-degree amendments. I ask unanimous consent that, again, that be the pending business but it be temporarily set aside until the sponsor of that amendment can return to the floor. I also ask unanimous consent that we proceed with the Bosnia amendment by the Senator from Texas.