J. Thurmond

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, before we vote on the Dorgan amendment, I would like to make a few brief remarks and strongly urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. First of all, let me be clear that the additional funds added in the bill for national missile defense are not to support a space-based or star wars defense system. In fact the funds are not to support a deployment decision at all. We have simply followed the advice of the Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization who has informed the committee that about $800 million per year is needed to support a robust technology development effort. This additional funding is consistent with the administration's own NMD Program, which is supposed to preserve the option of deploying a system by 2003. Regardless of whether you support the Defend America Act, the administration's NMD plan, or some other approach, you should support the funding recommended by the committee to allow for a more comprehensive testing program. The Armed Services Committee did not earmark the funds for systems that are not currently being developed by the Department of Defense. We simply suggest more robust testing within the administration's own program. This program would rely on a ground-based system. Nothing associated with the additional funds in any way conflicts with the ABM Treaty or even with the administration's own 3-plus-3 NMD Program. I would also remind all Senators that Congress added $375 million above the budget request for NMD in fiscal year 1996, which the administration is presently obligating. The Department of Defense recognized that additional funds were needed. The Director of BMDO has stated this explicitly, and the committee added the funds in an effort to reduce technical risk and preserve a realistic deployment option around 2003. Mr. President, in closing, let me urge my colleagues to oppose the Dorgan amendment and to support the additional funds for NMD risk reduction. I yield to the able Senator from Oklahoma, Senator Nickles.

Mr. THURMOND. I will yield back my time, unless somebody wants to speak. I understand the Senator from Oklahoma desires to speak.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time on the Murray amendment related to abortions in military hospitals be limited to 2 hours equally divided in the usual form, that no amendments be in order, and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on or in relation to the amendment. Mr. PRYOR addressed the Chair.

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

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent upon disposition of the Bingaman amendment, that Senator Ashcroft and Senator Kennedy be recognized to speak as in morning business for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I move to table this amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we favor the Craig amendment and recommend it be accepted.

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

Mr. THURMOND. I ask unanimous consent that the time on the Bingaman amendment be limited to 40 minutes equally divided in the usual form, that no amendments be in order, and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on or in relation to the amendment.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, the United States and the Republic of Panama enjoy a long and strong relationship between our two nations, one that stretches back to the 1904 founding of Panama. Since that time, these two great American nations have worked together to build partnerships for peace and prosperity that have not only greatly benefited our respective countries, but all the states of the American continents. During these 92 years, Panamanian and American officials and citizens have built countless friendships, and I rise today to share with my colleagues the unfortunate news that a man most of us know and like very much, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Panama Gabriel Lewis, is resigning his position due to illness. Minister Lewis' contributions to his nation are well known and well respected. He has served Panama faithfully and selflessly during his career, and through his service, he has worked to make his nation a better and stronger place for its citizens. Perhaps Minister Lewis' greatest legacy and contribution to his countrymen, though, is the leading role he took in opposing the dictatorial and criminal regime of the former Panamanian strongman, Manuel Noriega. Bringing Noriega to justice and holding him accountable for his illegal and immoral behavior took thousands of individuals to commit acts of great courage. It took courage for Panamanian citizens to take to the streets and protest the regime of Noriega and to face his riot police and organized thugs dubiously titled ``Dignity Battalions''; and, it took courage for the young soldiers of the 82d Airborne and the 7th Infantry Divisions to engage in combat with the well trained and equipped Panamanian Defense Force. It took great courage for Minister Lewis to openly defy and condemn the government of his nation, and to take Noriega and his puppet advisers to task for attempting to quash democracy and ignore the basic civil rights of their citizens. Minister Lewis' leadership in the international community during that time of crisis was just as critical to the successful outcome of Operation Just Cause, and the arrest and conviction of Noriega as were the contributions made by the people of Panama or the military personnel of the United States. Mr. President, though I am sure that those who know Minister Lewis are sorry to see him leave his post as Foreign Minister of the Republic of Panama, I am pleased to note that our friend is not leaving public service. Recognizing an individual of unusual characteristics and qualities, the President of Panama has appointed Gabriel Lewis to be his senior counsel, with cabinet rank. I am confident that Minister Lewis will continue to make many valuable contributions to the people and nation of Panama through this new position, and that he will also continue to work to maintain and further strengthen the friendship between our nations, as well as to further the march of democracy throughout Latin America. I wish him success in his work as senior counsel, and for a speedy and complete recovery to his full health.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, notwithstanding the previous unanimous- consent request, I ask unanimous consent that we resume consideration of the Grassley amendment. I understand Senator Grassley has agreed to have the amendment voted on by a voice vote. I understand there is no further debate on this question.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I wonder if the Senator will just let us take a voice vote on the Grassley amendment?

Mr. THURMOND. That is correct.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I yield back my time.

Mr. THURMOND. Is that agreeable?

Mr. THURMOND. I wonder if the Senator would agree to a time agreement on this amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. What is a time the Senator would wish to suggest?

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

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be 60 minutes equally divided for debate on the pending Dorgan amendment with no amendment in order to the amendment; that at the conclusion or yielding back of time the amendment be set aside; and, further, that at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 19, the Senate resume consideration of the Dorgan amendment and there be 15 minutes equally divided for debate with a vote on or in relation to the Dorgan amendment at the expiration of that debate.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time on the Grassley amendment be limited to 40 minutes equally divided in the usual form and that no amendments be in order, and that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on or in relation to the amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, in light of this agreement, there will be no more votes this evening. The next rollcall vote will occur at approximately 9:15 tomorrow morning. Amendment No. 4048

Mr. THURMOND. I will be glad to speak at this time.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the full Committee on Environment and Public Works be granted permission to meet to consider pending business Tuesday, June 18, at 9:30 a.m., hearing room (SD-406).

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 18, 1996, at 10 a.m. to hold a hearing on oversight of the Department of Justice witness security program.