Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. It is my understanding this is quite similar to a provision that is already in the armed services bill. And under those circumstances we have no objection.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we have now pending, under the orders agreed to last evening, the Feinstein amendment on land transfer, a Feinstein amendment on NATO expansion cost caps, the Graham amendment on electronic combat testing, the pending Harkin merger cost amendment No. 848, a managers' amendment from Senator Inouye, and one for myself, which we will join together, and two McCain amendments, one dealing with foreign flag vessels, and one ``Buy America'' amendment. I urge Members of the Senate to come and offer their amendments. We are asked by leadership to see if it is possible to finish this bill before the recess for the Tuesday meetings of both parties. The Senator from Hawaii and I are prepared to try to do that if Members would come and offer their amendments. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. STEVENS. I ask for adoption of the amendment.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the yeas and nays be withdrawn.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask that the Chair lay before the Senate my amendment No. 846.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 846

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, last evening the Senator from Hawaii and I discussed this amendment with the Senator from Virginia. We are convinced that it will bring about savings of taxpayer funds and that it should be adopted at this time.

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

Mr. STEVENS. I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of Senator Robb of Virginia.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, is there also pending behind that 846?

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that this bill, S. 1005, not be engrossed, that it remain at the desk pending the receipt of the House companion measure. I further ask unanimous consent that when the House companion measure is passed pursuant to the previous order, the passage of S. 1005 be vitiated and that S. 1005 be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I have a list of a portion of my staff that I would like to have access and have floor privileges through July 23.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Hawaii particularly for congratulating our mutual staff, but I think the Senate knows that this partnership between the Senator from Hawaii and myself has gone on now for 29 years, and I consider that to be a formidable friendship and partnership. I am delighted to have the benefit of his advice, counsel, and assistance. He really is a true partner.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I now ask that we recess under the previous order. Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:36 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m.; whereupon, the Senate reassembled when called to order by the Presiding Officer [Mr. Coats].

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent the Senate turn to the consideration of Calendar No. 107, S. 1004, the energy and water appropriations bill.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I, too, want to commend the subcommittee chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee. I also want to call to the attention of the Senate the fact that this hearkens me back to the days when we had real bipartisan cooperation on the Appropriations Committee. I want to thank all members of the committee for that cooperation, for showing what can be done when we work together and try to resolve issues and accommodate the needs of the various Senators and our individual States. These two Senators have done an excellent and admirable job today on a very difficult bill. I am confident that we will see that in final passage tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will proceed to the foreign assistance bill. I hope we see a similar approach on that bill so that we can go forward and have the legislative bill before the Senate on Thursday. Thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on behalf of the Governmental Affairs Committee Special Investigation to meet on Tuesday, July 15, at 10 a.m. for a hearing on campaign financing issues.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 15, 1997, at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to hold hearings.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, be authorized to hold an executive business meeting during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 15, 1997, at 2 p.m., in room 226 of the Senate Dirksen Office Building.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts, of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 15, 1997, at 10 a.m. to hold a hearing in room 226, Senate Dirksen Building, on: ``Judicial Activism: Assessing the Impact.''

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Regulatory Relief and the Subcommittee on Housing Opportunity and Community Development of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet jointly during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, July 15, 1997, to conduct a hearing on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act [RESPA], the Truth in Lending Act [TILA] and problems surrounding the mortgage origination process.