John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, by way of concluding remarks, we have set forth a joint statement which hopefully will be enacted into law. I commend my two colleagues for their work. I don't fully share some of the allegations raised with regard to the suspicions connected with this contract. It is for that reason the contract should see the full rays of sunlight and be explored. Committees of Congress will eventually be exploring this same issue. This document simply establishes a procedure by which this can be done. It is my expectation we will recognize that those in authority in the Department of Defense, recognizing the urgency of time following the basic cessation, not the full cessation but basic cessation of hostilities, have to move with swiftness. That is the underlying reason. Eventually this contract can be substantiated as in compliance with the law. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

Mr. WARNER. Briefly, to explain to the Senate, basically what we have done is we have put into law the requirement that the Department of Defense shall fully comply with the Competition in Contracting Act for any contract awarded for reconstruction activities in Iraq and shall conduct a full and open competition for performing work needed for the reconstruction of the Iraqi oil industry. Second, a report to Congress. If the Department of Defense does not have a fully competitive contract in place to replace the March 8, 2003 contract for the reconstruction of the Iraqi oil industry by August 31, 2003, the Secretary of Defense shall submit a report to Congress by September 30, 2003, detailing the reasons for allowing the sole-source contract to continue. A followup report shall be submitted to Congress each 60 days thereafter until a competitive contract is in place. I yield the floor.

Mr. WARNER. And the amendment of the Senator from Virginia is now known as the Warner-Boxer-Lautenberg amendment?

Mr. WARNER. Yes, further back than we can remember.

Mr. WARNER. It is to be known as the Warner-Boxer--and also for the Senator from New Jersey, my friend, Mr. Lautenberg. The two of us go back many years.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on passing of the bill.

Mr. WARNER. That is correct.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I call upon the proponent of the amendment.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I object. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 1079, Senator Murkowski's bill to extend the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002, provided that the Senate proceed to its consideration, the bill be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

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

Mr. WARNER. The Senator from Virginia suggests the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER. May I suggest we put in a quorum call.

Mr. WARNER. Yes.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I believe we are ready to proceed.

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

Mr. WARNER. It is cleared on both sides.

Mr. WARNER. On behalf of Senator Santorum, I offer an amendment to support naval research and development for nonthermal imaging systems. The amendment has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 787, As Modified

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, for the Committee on Armed Services, I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Record on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Economic Policy of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 22, 2003, at 10 a.m., to conduct an oversight hearing on ``Jumpstarting the Economy: Increasing Investment in the Equity Markets.''

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Competition, Foreign Commerce and Infrastructure be authorized to meet on Thursday, May 22, 2003, at 2:30 p.m., on NHTSA Reauthorization, in SR-253.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, May 22, 2003, at 10 a.m., in Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on the Status of Telecommunications in Indian Country.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, May 22, 2003, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a hearing on Iraq Stabilization and Reconstruction: U.S. Policy and Plans.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, May 22, 2003, at 10 a.m., on Media Ownership, in SR-253.