John Warner

Mr. WARNER

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator McConnell now be recognized, that the pending amendments be set aside, and that Senator McConnell then offer an amendment which is relevant to the Nelson amendment; provided further that if and when the McConnell and Nelson amendments are scheduled for votes--that would be sometime next week--the McConnell amendment would be voted on first. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that following the offering of the amendment, Senator Chambliss be recognized in order to offer an amendment.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if I might amend the UC to delete the last sentence which reads: Finally, I ask unanimous consent that following the offering of the amendment, Senator Chambliss be recognized in order to offer an amendment. I ask that sentence be dropped.

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I yield a minute to the distinguished senior Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr. Santorum.

Mr. WARNER. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we should consult with leadership. The yeas and nays having been ordered, I wonder if the Senator would be gracious enough to allow the Senator from Michigan and myself to consult with leadership as to the time for a vote.

Mr. WARNER. Is that the intent?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished colleague. We are trying to work this out. There is a problem. The problem is not to the generic virtues of Senator Feingold's amendment--which, incidentally, I support--but it is a question of the allocation of some funding in it and how that impacts on other areas of funding. As soon as I can work that out, I will advise the Senate. I am hopeful we can eventually go to a vote.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we are prepared to go ahead with a voice vote at this time, if it is agreeable. I add my endorsement of the basic thrust of the amendment. Like others, I have had the opportunity to be debriefed by the inspector general, and I am very impressed with his conscientious service on this matter. He periodically goes over to Iraq, that theatre, and Afghanistan, for periods of time. He has accepted the challenges of this post with enormous enthusiasm and skill.

Mr. WARNER. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. WARNER. 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. President, the leadership and the managers have reached a recommended unanimous consent request which I now propound. I ask unanimous consent at 12 noon today the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to Santorum amendment No. 4234, to be followed by a vote in relation to a first-degree amendment to be offered by Senator Biden related to the same subject; further, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 12 be equally divided between myself, representing Senator Santorum and others, and Senator Levin, with no second degrees in order to either amendment prior to the votes; provided there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the votes.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am not able to answer that question. I believe that would be correct. I would be perfectly willing to have it that way because I know we did Senator Durbin's this morning.

Mr. WARNER. Fine.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I so amend the unanimous consent request that there be a time not to exceed whatever is appropriate for this proper recognition by the Senate of the loss of life.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I yield such time as our colleague wishes. I ask unanimous consent that each manager have at least 3 minutes to address this at the conclusion of the remarks by the Senator from Pennsylvania.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, first, I ask the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania, in fairness, I think he should wrap this debate up. How many minutes does he desire?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, let us establish the hour of 12:15 for the vote, with 5 minutes at the conclusion for the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania and 5 minutes under the control of the Senator from Virginia and 5 minutes under the control of Senator Levin. I ask unanimous consent that be the case.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I say to my distinguished colleagues here that in the course of this debate, I have studied this matter very carefully. I spoke out on it yesterday expressing my concerns. I do believe the actions proposed by the Senator from Pennsylvania are not irresponsible. They are a clear matter of conscience and what he thinks is in our best interest. My concern, which I think is the Senator's concern, is that the timing is unwise. I support the Senator from Nebraska in that observation, as I do the Senator from Delaware, because we have a negotiation of great sensitivity underway at the direction of the President, who, under the Constitution of the United States, has the primary responsibility in the matter of conducting foreign affairs. His chief designee, the Secretary of State, has spoken through Senator Biden. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter addressed to me, to which I will refer momentarily, from the Department of State.

Mr. WARNER. I strongly believe the Senator from Pennsylvania is of clear conscience on this matter. Regarding the fact that he had these cosponsors and the fact that the House spoke on this in April, since the April timeframe--and I believe his earlier amendment had 60 cosponsors--much has transpired. That has been addressed here today, the sensitivity of these negotiations between our Nation and other nations in line for the interests of the United States and the Government of Iran. Therefore, my concern about this amendment is the timing of it. I now would like to refer to the letter forwarded to me as chairman, dated today, which was printed in the Record. One paragraph reads: The amendment runs counter to our efforts and those of the international community to present Iran with a clear choice regarding their nuclear ambitions. The amendment, if enacted, would shift unified international attention away from Iran's nuclear activities and create a rift between the U.S. and our closest international partners. Moreover, it would limit our diplomatic flexibility. Mr. President, I have to accept the good faith of the Secretary of State on this matter and as communicated to this Chamber. I yield the floor.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we are under a unanimous consent agreement. The time, I believe, has expired.

Mr. WARNER. Will the Senator yield back the 6 seconds so we can get to the vote? I regret we have to move forward.

Mr. WARNER. There are Senators who have to go to the Pentagon for a memorial service. The yeas and nays have been ordered.