John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we had understood that the debate would be held tonight. We were willing to have a vote on Gitmo tomorrow right after the minimum wage. There it is.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in the interim, seeing no Senator desiring to address the Senate, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session the Senate on June 20, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on ``FHA: Issues for the Future.''

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to conduct a hearing during the session of the Senate on Tuesday June 20, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. in 328a, Senate Russell Office Building. The purpose of this committee hearing will be to examine the Rural Development Programs of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 20, 2006, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on ``the reauthorization of the export-import bank.''

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at 10 a.m., to consider the nomination of Paul A. Denett to be Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``The McCarran-Ferguson Act: Implications of Repealing the Insurers' Antitrust Exemption'' on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at 9:30 a.m., in Dirksen Senate Office Building, room 226. Witness list Panel I: Hon. Marc Racicot, Former Governor of Montana, President, American Insurance Institute, Washington, DC; Elinor R. Hoffman, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Bureau, Office of the Attorney General for the State of New York, New York, NY; Michael McRaith, Illinois Director of Insurance, Chair, Broker Activities Task Force, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Chicago, IL; Bob Hunter, Insurance Director, Consumer Federation of American, Washington, DC; Kevin Thompson, Senior Vice President, Insurance Services Office, Jersey City, NJ; Donald C. Klawiter, Chair, Section of Antitrust Law, American Bar Association, Washington, DC.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 20, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed business meeting.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security be authorized to meet on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. for a field hearing regarding ``U.N. Headquarters Renovation: No Accountability Without Transparency.''

Mr. WARNER. 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 Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the National Park Service's revised Draft Management Policies, including potential impact of the Policies on Park Operations, Park Resources, Wilderness Areas, Recreation, and Interaction with Gateway Communities.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my colleague. I notice in this amendment, though, language quite similar to what we had last year in one provision on this amendment. At this time, unless the Senator from New Mexico desires to further address the Senate, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am advised the distinguished majority leader will momentarily come to the floor for purposes of stating the proposal we have with regard to the matters Senator Kennedy addressed earlier. Until such time occurs, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. I thank my colleague. I believe we should proceed under the standing order.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it is my understanding that at 5 o'clock we will have the vote; is that correct?

Mr. WARNER. Upon the conclusion of that vote, would the Chair advise, are there any orders with regard to the business to be conducted then by the Senate?

Mr. WARNER. On the authorization bill for the Armed Forces?

Mr. WARNER

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

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the two leaders and I and Senator Kennedy have had an opportunity to talk about, first, the parliamentary situation and, secondly, an amendment that the Senator from Massachusetts desires to bring up. We have come to an agreement whereby for the next 30 minutes, we will leave the procedure of the pending amendment in place, and the Senator from Massachusetts will be recognized to address the Senate with regard to the subject of an amendment that he intends to bring up at some point in time. I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Massachusetts now be recognized for a period of 30 minutes.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Before I finish, I have a request of the leadership. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 389, S. 2012.

Mr. WARNER. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the committee-reported substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I return to my original unanimous consent request.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, first, I ask unanimous consent that I may be allowed to speak in morning business not to exceed 5 minutes.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, we have yet to bring up the Defense authorization bill. The leadership is continuing to work out, hopefully, an accommodation for the initiative of the Senator from Massachusetts on the very important amendment on minimum wage. So I wish to inform colleagues that hopefully this will be procedurally worked out, such as we can bring the bill up and then proceed on the bill. But in the meantime, we remain in morning business, and if there is additional time the Senator from Massachusetts would like or the distinguished Senator from New Mexico-- and I see the Senator from Kentucky--I will be perfectly willing to try to accommodate Senators. Might I inquire of the Senator from Kentucky the subject on which he would like to speak?

Mr. WARNER. Fine. Yes. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that another 10 minutes be allocated to Senator Kennedy under his jurisdiction.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, unless there are other Members seeking recognition, I know our distinguished colleague from New Mexico wishes to speak, and we will continue in morning business with Senators speaking up to 10 minutes each.