J. Thurmond

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished Senator from Oklahoma.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we are willing to yield back any time remaining if they are and we will proceed to a vote.

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

Mr. THURMOND. I wish to thank the able Senator from Arizona.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I yield the Senator from Connecticut 3 minutes.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, Senator McCain I believe is ready now. Mr. McCAIN addressed the Chair.

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

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

Mr. THURMOND. The committee has reviewed the amendment. It provides for the exchange of property at fair market value, which ensures that the Federal Government is fully compensated. The amendment appears to be in the best interest of the Navy and the communities. I recommend approval of the amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I just want to remind the Senate that the House has already passed $500 million for these facilities. In this amendment we are asking only for $228 million. The defense appropriations has approved this amount already. We are ready to vote.

Mr. THURMOND. I further ask that because the Senate has previously approved these projects by an overwhelming vote of 84 to 10, we can agree to a time limit on the debate and a vote on this amendment.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senator Nunn, the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senators Burns and Reid, the chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Senators Bond and Ford in sponsoring this amendment which authorizes an additional $228 million for construction projects which are currently appropriated in the military construction appropriations bill for 1996. The amendment would authorize an additional 46 projects to enhance the readiness of our Armed Forces and improve the living and working conditions of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines across the country. Mr. President, last Friday, I spoke against an amendment to the military construction bill that would have reduced the funding in the bill by $300 million. I will not repeat all the arguments I propounded at that time, other than to say that all the services acknowledge they have a significant shortfall and backlog in the repair and maintenance of the facilities. The facts also indicate that in excess of 70 percent of the family and unaccompanied housing does not currently meet Department of Defense standards. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a list of the additional projects authorized be printed in the Record.

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

Mr. THURMOND. I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration.

Mr. THURMOND. Correct.

Mr. THURMOND. They appropriated $500 million. We are only appropriating here about $300 million.

Mr. THURMOND. That is correct.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, that is correct.

Mr. THURMOND. I understand the distinguished Senator from Arizona [Mr. McCain] will be in in a little bit to speak against this amendment. I wanted to make that announcement now.

Mr. THURMOND

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we will accept the amendment on this side.

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, we will accept the amendment on this side.

Mr. THURMOND

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

Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that after we take the vote on Senator Nunn's amendment that we take the vote on Senator Kyl's amendment, back to back, to save time.

Mr. THURMOND. Madam President, I wish to thank the able ranking member for his kind remarks and also thank him for his fine cooperation in getting this bill to the floor. Madam President, I will now ask that the able Senator from Oklahoma [Mr. Inhofe] be recognized. Mr. FEINGOLD addressed the Chair.