Ted Stevens

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. I agree with the Senator from Nebraska. The State Department has traditionally administered the funds necessary for embassy operations. Although the Senate bill does not allocate the funds to the State Department, we will do our most to support the House language in conference on this matter to ensure the State Department retains the authority to obligate the subject funds.

Mr. STEVENS. I thank the Senator for his kind comments.

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator is correct.

Mr. STEVENS. That is the purpose of the appropriation.

Mr. STEVENS. The Senator's understanding is correct. These funds are also envisioned to be used for these types of force protection initiatives.

Mr. STEVENS. I am aware of the M1A2 SEP and its capabilities.

Mr. STEVENS. I am.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I join my good friend from Michigan in his support for this program and the National Automotive Center. I understand the Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense have confirmed that the FTTS program is on track and possesses a transition pathway that will enable the insertion of new technologies into the Army's tactical wheeled vehicle fleet. These technologies will enable the Army to field a lighter, more mobile and more effective fighting force.

Mr. STEVENS. I concur with the Senator from Michigan. This is an important program, and I support investing in the FTTS science and technology efforts at the National Automotive Center at the level requested by the President. I assure him that I will work in conference to fund this program at the President's Budget request.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask for third reading of the bill.

Mr. STEVENS. We have already ordered the yeas and nays. This is final passage, Mr. President.

Mr. STEVENS. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, on behalf of my good friend and co- chairman, I thank the Senate for coming together so quickly behind this enormous bill. This is the largest Defense appropriations bill in history, but it takes into account the needs of our men and women in uniform throughout the world. As I said, some 120 different countries have our men and women in uniform. It takes care of the great problems for those men and women in harm's way. We thank all of our colleagues for their support and for their confidence in this bill. I again thank the staff. I am overawed by the fact that it is a unanimous vote on this unanimous bill. I think it is a symbol to the country that we are willing to come together in times of crisis. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes, and the Chair then appoint conferees on the part of the Senate.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 24, 2004, at 10 a.m., in open session to consider the nomination of General George W. Casey, Jr., USA, for reappointment to the grade of general and to be Commander, Multi-National Force-- Iraq.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 24, 2004, at 3 p.m., in closed session to receive a briefing regarding ICRC reports on U.S. Military Detainee Operations.

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 Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a hearing on Venezuela.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet for a hearing entitled ``Reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act: Education for the 21st Century Workforce'' during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 10 a.m., in SD-430.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Building Room 226. Tentative Agenda I. Nominations Claude A. Allen to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit and Michael H. Watson to be U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Ohio II. Legislation S. 1735, Gang Prevention and Effective Deterrence Act of 2003 [Hatch, Feinstein, Grassley, Graham, Chambliss, Cornyn, Schumer, Biden]; S. 1635, L-1 Visa, Intracompany Transferee, Reform Act of 2003 [Chambliss]; S.J. Res. 4, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States Act of 2003 [Hatch, Feinstein, Craig, Sessions, DeWine, Grassley, Graham, Cornyn, Chambliss, Specter, Kyl]; S. 1700, Advancing Justice through DNA Technology Act of 2003 [Hatch, Biden, Specter, Leahy, DeWine, Feinstein, Kennedy, Schumer, Durbin, Kohl, Edwards]; and S. 2396, Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2004 [Hatch, Leahy, Chambliss, Durbin, Schumer]

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Aviation be authorized to meet on Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., on Security Screening Options for Airports.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation and Rural Revitalization of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to conduct a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 24, 2004. The purpose of this meeting will be to review the implementation of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S. 2543, to establish a program and criteria for national heritage areas in the United States, and for other purposes.

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space be authorized to meet on Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 2:30 p.m., on H.R. 2608--National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2003.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Steven Wackowski, an intern with the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Pete McAleer, a Defense fellow in Senator Gregg's office, and Brian Glackin, a Defense fellow in Senator Cochran's office, be granted privileges of the floor during the consideration of the fiscal year 2005 Defense appropriations bill.

Mr. STEVENS

Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, who has the floor?

Mr. STEVENS. I will be back to answer that when I get the floor.