Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, we have a managers' package, which is No. 6, that I send to the desk. I ask unanimous consent that they be considered en bloc. I state for the record that this includes a Bingaman-Domenici colloquy on the F-117; for Senator Hatch and others, an amendment on the Air Force Depot Maintenance Program, as modified. This is amendment No. 2001; for Senator Schumer and Senator Clinton, amendment No. 2038 on the arsenal program support, which is modified; for Senator Hagel, a colloquy on supplemental security income; for Senator Bond, amendment No. 1923, for oral anthrax vaccine; for Senator Sarbanes, amendment No. 1969, as modified, for the Naval Academy; for Senator McConnell, amendment No. 2042, recognizing U.S. military personnel; for Senator Landrieu, amendment No. 1942, as modified, for Northern Command; for Senator Graham, amendment No. 2004, as modified, on combatant status review tribunals; for Senator Conrad, amendment No. 1882, as modified, on Predator aircraft.

Mr. STEVENS. Air Force Depot Maintenance, is it not modified? I stand corrected. That is not a modified amendment. I ask that these amendments be considered en bloc, and I ask for their further consideration.

Mr. STEVENS. I agree with the Senator from Nebraska. The provisions of the Social Security Act need to be addressed in order to ensure Supplemental Security Income eligibility and benefits are not inadvertently taken away from those in the armed services when they need them most.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, for the information of Senators, we will resume consideration of this bill tomorrow following the opening of the Senate at 9:30 a.m. as soon as possible. It will be my intention to ask that any votes that are to be taken on this bill be stacked until approximately noon or 12:30 in order that the committees may meet in the morning. There has been a specific request for that to happen. It is my understanding that there will be a request later that the time consumed for cloture be consumed during the period of temporary recess this evening on into tomorrow morning; is that the understanding?

Mr. STEVENS. I am assured that will be the case. Notice of Intent

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I thank my colleagues from Colorado and Hawaii for their work on this issue. They are right. We will continue to support these systems that provide our service members with the force protection they need.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak therein.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Trade, Tourism, and Economic Development be authorized to meet on October 5, 2005, at 2:30 p.m., on Spyware.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet today, October 5, 2005, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Hart 216 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on October 5, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing on the Kyoto Protocol: assessing the status of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.

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 Wednesday, October 5, 2005, at 2:15 p.m. to hold a Business Meeting on nominations.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 5, 2005, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed briefing.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, will the Senator yield?

Mr. STEVENS. I thank the Senator from Arizona. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there be 4 minutes equally divided on this amendment before the vote when it does occur.

Mr. STEVENS. I say to the Senator, I will be pleased to work with the Senator from Arizona to amend this so even though it might be legislation, it urge, at least, an investigation that the Senator has mentioned. Perhaps we can work it out before the time for the vote.

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator's amendment No. 1978 not be subject to a second-degree amendment, but would be subject to an amendment by the Senator from Arizona should he wish to amend the amendment.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, as modified, this is still the authorization bill being offered to an appropriations bill. It amounts to legislation on an appropriations bill--a substantial authorization, I might add. I feel it is a violation of rule XVI. Therefore, as chairman of this subcommittee, I make a point of order that this amendment offered by the Senator from Virginia is subject to the provisions of rule XVI, and I make that point of order very plainly. I ask that it be ruled to be authorization on an appropriations bill.

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

Mr. STEVENS. Will the Senator permit me to interrupt? The Parliamentarian has not ruled. The Parliamentarian has stated and advised that you have the defense of germaneness.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we would like to first examine those amendments.

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