John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, before my colleagues depart--I have been engaged in a wide variety of activities here--can the Senator advise me, through the Chair, are these to be pending amendments to be voted on? Is there to be a further period of debate? We want to accommodate the Senator's desire if he could give us a clarification of the procedures he hopes to have.

Mr. WARNER. Would the Senator consider seeking the votes now so they are in that category? Does the Senator wish to have a rollcall vote, Madam President?

Mr. WARNER. I think that is sufficient clarification.

Mr. WARNER. At the appropriate time, we can arrange that. I thank the distinguished Senators from Colorado.

Mr. WARNER. I would very much appreciate it if the Senator will accommodate the Senate in that way.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank our colleague. The Senator brings to the Senate a very serious proposal. It will be given serious consideration. At this time, the Senator from Colorado desires to be recognized.

Mr. WARNER. Before the distinguished Senator addresses the Senate, I see our distinguished colleague from Connecticut. If I could inquire as to the Senator's wishes. We are trying to arrange a schedule.

Mr. WARNER. If I might ask that the Senator from Connecticut be recognized following the remarks by the Senator from Ohio--the Senator from Colorado.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I wish to assure our distinguished colleague from Colorado that we will give very careful consideration to his amendments. Have they been sent to the desk, I ask the Presiding Officer?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that they be set aside, such that the Senator from Connecticut is to be recognized.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if my distinguished ranking member is prepared, we are about to send a series of amendments to the desk which have been cleared on both sides. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider those amendments en bloc, the amendments be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table. Finally, I ask that any statements relating to any of these individual amendments be printed in the Record.

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, subject to anything my distinguished colleague would want to do, I would like to have the Senate go into morning business.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my ranking member for his usual courtesy and our ability to work out matters to accommodate both sides of the aisle.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, there is a matter that must come before the Senate. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, I was present last night. We had a colloquy among ourselves not unlike what took place today. The Republican leader, Senator Frist, entrusted me with the management of this bill. It was my decision with regard to the votes. It was my decision that we file a cloture motion. I accept full responsibility for those decisions. I am proud of the way we operate on this side, where our leadership reposes in their managers those responsibilities; I accept them. If, in due course, it proves to be in error, I accept that responsibility. But I do believe, based on some 27 years of experience managing this bill, that we can achieve the opportunity for all Senators to have their amendments heard and voted upon in a timely manner. The matter of cloture, as it ripens on Tuesday, can be addressed by the leadership, in consultation with the managers, and a determination made as to whether it should or should not be invoked. I think that decision, in large measure, would be dependent on what we can achieve between now and Tuesday. I look upon this in a very positive way. I have confidence in this institution, confidence in the managers of this bill to see that it is done in a fair and proper manner and done in the best interests certainly of the men and women of the Armed Forces. I yield the floor.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, just to finish, I have a practice of not bringing up personal situations, and I am still going to refrain. If continued to be pushed on this issue, I will recount several things that occurred yesterday where I tried to accommodate interests on that side of the aisle, and when it is said that not a Democratic vote was taken, I know of one vote where I pleaded that it be made, found the time, but the sponsors decided--and it was a joint amendment with a Republican and a Democrat--not to do that. I am not going to get involved in personal situations, but there is a limit to the patience of the Senator from Virginia. On this matter by Mr. Kennedy, I respect my good friend. Our friendship goes back as long as any two Members in this Chamber. This amendment is an important amendment, there is no question about it. But I ask the Senator from Michigan, was not the same amendment voted on by the Senate 3 weeks ago?

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. 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. 185, 186, 187, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 223, 224, 225, and all nominations on the Secretary's desk. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and finally that the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 1 p.m. on Monday, July 25. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and the Senate then proceed to the immediate consideration of the Senate resolution commemorating the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as under the previous order. I further ask unanimous consent that upon the use or yielding back of the first 30 minutes of debate on the ADA resolution, the Senate resume consideration of S. 1042, the Defense authorization bill; provided further, that Senators on Monday have until 2 p.m. in order to file timely first-degree amendments to the Defense bill.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on Monday, the Senate will consider a resolution marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and a vote on the resolution has been ordered for 5:30 p.m. At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, the Senate will resume consideration of the Defense authorization bill. Again, our next vote will occur at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday. It is my expectation that we will be voting in relation to one or more amendments to the Defense authorization bill following the vote on the ADA resolution, so Senators should be prepared for stacked votes beginning at 5:30 on Monday. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the two stacked votes on Tuesday, the Senate proceed immediately to a vote in relation to Frist amendment No. 1342, as now modified, with the changes that are at the desk; provided further that no second degrees be in order to the above amendment prior to the vote and notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 205, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order, and I thank the Presiding Officer for his courtesy.