Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet on Thursday, May 8, 1997, at 5 p.m. in executive session, to consider certain pending military nominations.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask that this bill, S. 672, be postponed and set aside until the House bill arrives and this unanimous consent agreement may be fulfilled.

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

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I yield the floor.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was 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, this is a technical correction to the bill called to our attention by the Senator from Mississippi. I urge its adoption.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to add 5 minutes for Senator Feinstein or that the 5 minutes be designated by Senator Reid.

Mr. STEVENS. I believe that would make it even. I am happy to add the Senator. Who is it?

Mr. STEVENS. Yes.

Mr. STEVENS. Following that amendment, for the information of the Senate, we will have an amendment to discuss that involves Senator Hutchison's amendment. Then there is an amendment from Senators Conrad and Dorgan. We have a colloquy with Senator Bingaman, and two other amendments we do not have agreement on. It is still my hope, Mr. President, we would finish this bill before 6 p.m.

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

Mr. STEVENS. There will not be a rollcall vote on the ESA. I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to ask for the yeas and nays at this time on amendment No. 118 to be offered by Senator Gramm from Texas.

Mr. STEVENS. Does the Senator wish a rollcall vote?

Mr. STEVENS. Before that starts, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent on the amendment of the Senator from Texas, amendment No. 118-- following that time that these Senators will use and the disposal of the ESA amendment--that there be 1 hour equally divided, that the Senator from Texas may have his 1 hour equally divided on amendment No. 118.

Mr. STEVENS. Who wants to speak on this amendment? One, two, three, four, five. I ask unanimous consent each one of these five Senators have 5 minutes on the amendment, that Senator Reid, Senator Baucus, Senator Craig, Senator Kempthorne, Senator Chafee each have 5 minutes on this amendment.

Mr. STEVENS. Does the Senator wish any time in addition to that?

Mr. STEVENS. We talked about the fact the Senator had 5 minutes; the Senator from Idaho, 5 minutes; and the Senator from Nevada, 5 minutes. Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator will have 5 minutes of that time, I might add.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for a 15-minute time limit equally divided between the Senator from Nevada and the Senator from Idaho [Mr. Kempthorne]. Mr. CHAFEE addressed the Chair.

Mr. STEVENS. I thank the Senator. Mr. President, it is my understanding the Senator from South Dakota seeks time.

Mr. STEVENS. As usual, I request that I retain the floor.

Mr. STEVENS. I will be happy to yield to the Senator 5 minutes-plus. We will try to run it if we can.

Mr. STEVENS. How much time would the Senator like or would settle for?

Mr. STEVENS. It is my understanding that the Senator from California wishes some time.