Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, in fiscal year 2002, Congress provided $5 million in the Department of Defense appropriations bill to transport and distribute wheelchairs to the victims of overseas conflicts, landmines, and crippling illnesses if matched by private funds. These funds were allocated from amounts provided to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, DSCA. Since that time, the DSCA has worked with a nonprofit organization called the WheelChair Foundation to deliver over 120,000 wheelchairs to nearly 100 countries, including 5,810 to Afghanistan; 2,400 to Iraq; and over 3,900 to Jordan. I believe it is vital that we plan and invest not only to win the wars we fight, but also to win the peace. In that regard, this program has been an unqualified success. The hope and chance for a new life that a wheelchair can provide to someone who could never afford one has value beyond measure. Additionally, this program gives us the opportunity to leverage Federal support with the efforts of the nonprofit sector to accomplish more than we could do alone. The funding specifically earmarked for this initiative in fiscal year 2002 will likely be exhausted within the year. The legislation we are now considering would provide the full amount of the President's request for Overseas Humanitarian, Disaster, and Civic Aid of $61 million. It is our hope that funding will be available for this activity in the coming fiscal year if appropriate humanitarian needs are identified.

Mr. STEVENS. I say to the distinguished Senator from Montana that I appreciate him bringing these important programs to my attention and to the attention of the Senate. I look forward to working with him on these and other important matters that affect our military and national defense in the days and weeks to come.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. If I may have a moment, I thank our staff for their dedication and hard work putting this bill together. I point out to the Senate the people I am going to name are our staff. They work with both Senator Inouye and me. We work as a seamless team in the subcommittee: Sid Ashworth, Charlie Houy, Lesley Kalan, Brian Wilson, Brian Potts, Kate Kaufer, Mark Hoaland, Alycia Farrell, Katy Hagan, Betsy Schmid, Nicole DiResta, Mazie Mattson, Janelle Treon, Kate Fitzgerald, Jennifer Chartrand. Let me recognize a very dedicated, wonderful staff person of our subcommittee, Mazie Mattson, who is now going to retire after 25 years of working for Congress. This is Mazie's final Defense bill. We are extremely grateful to her for her sincere loyalty and tireless efforts and very gracious support she provided to each and every one of us on both sides of the aisle on our subcommittee. She will be greatly missed. We wish her family and her husband, Bill, all the best. We thank you very much, Mazie. Thank you very much.

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 ask unanimous consent that the attached letters from various foreign officials be printed in the Record. They have all sent their condolences for the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Democratic leader, on Monday, October 17, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 175, H.R. 3058, the Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Friday, October 7, 2005, at 10 a.m. to hold a business meeting to consider pending committee business. Agenda Nomination 1. Julie L. Myers to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Legislation 1. S. , an original bill to repeal the increased micro-purchase threshold.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on today's Executive Calendar: Calendar Nos. 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 366, 367, 368, 369, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to consider Senate Resolution 237.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask consent that when the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs reports the nomination of Julie Myers, the nomination then be sequentially referred to the Judiciary Committee for up to 30 calendar days; provided further that if not reported by that time, the nomination be automatically discharged from the Judiciary Committee and placed on the Executive Calendar.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment of the Senate, the majority leader and senior Senator from Virginia be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore of the Senate, the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences or nonparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by current action of the two Houses or by order of the Senate.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, when the Senate receives from the House the adjournment resolution, the text of which is at the desk, the concurrent resolution be considered agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following treaties on today's Executive Calendar, Nos. 2 and 3. I further ask unanimous consent that these treaties be considered as having passed through their various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolutions for ratification; that any committee conditions, declarations, or reservations be agreed to as applicable; that any statements be printed in the Record as if read; and that the Senate take one vote on the resolutions of ratification, to be considered as separate votes; further, that when the resolutions of ratification are voted upon, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; the President be notified of the Senate's action, and that following the disposition of the treaties, the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask for a division vote on the resolutions of ratification.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am delighted to represent two-thirds of the Senate.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 161, which was received from the House.

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, is the Coburn amendment the pending amendment?

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote on the Coburn amendment commence at noon and prior thereto there be a period of 10 minutes equally divided with no second-degree amendments in order.