John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. I ask the Presiding Officer if that is in place, as modified with the 15 minutes?

Mr. WARNER. I thank the Chair. Amendment No. 1563, As Further Modified I ask unanimous consent that the previously agreed to amendment No. 1563 be further modified. I send that modification to the desk. There was a technical error in the preamble. There is no change in the substance of the amendment.

Mr. WARNER. I thank my colleague. We are going to move swiftly today, and issues could be brought up with very short time limitations on debate. That has allowed me the opportunity to express my serious concerns that I will have to address in the context of this amendment as the day progresses. I ask unanimous consent we go back to the amendment by the Senator from Oklahoma, Mr. Inhofe.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I want to again thank my colleague from Oklahoma. I think it is a very important amendment. Mr. President, this is an issue that must be carefully balanced, the constitutional guarantee of free exercise of religion and the constitutional prohibition against the establishment of religion. But it is a longstanding tradition at these academies, and I think the amendment is carefully drafted to strike a balance in those two important considerations. Moreover, this amendment deals with the particular circumstances and environment that exist at our service academies, those honored institutions with long and storied traditions that have the mission of training our next generation of military leaders. A part of that mission is now and always has been the development of moral character and the appropriate respect for religious beliefs and needs of others who are entrusted with their leadership. I must draw a little bit on my modest experience in service on active duty in periods of two wars. I can tell you my own observation of the importance of religion to individuals, particularly those serving overseas, and the hardships they endured either from family separation or combat situations or other difficult problems. It is a very deep feeling these many individuals have about their respective religious traditions and family traditions in religion, and it has often been a matter of life and death to some individuals. Clinging to those strong beliefs has pulled them through difficult situations. I also stop to think about our academies. I have had the privilege over the years to visit all of them. I think particularly of the Naval Academy and its magnificent chapel. People come from all over the world to see the chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy. Just this year I was privileged to be the keynote speaker at the dedication of a new small entrance at the Naval Academy where those of the Jewish faith can go and quietly exercise their religion and share their prayers. I encourage anyone in that area to go and look at these two edifices. To me they symbolize the importance of religion in our military life. I commend the Senator from Oklahoma. I have been informed by the distinguished ranking member that there could be an amendment in the second degree and that individual who would bring it forth is due here in about 20 or 30 minute is my understanding, at which time I hope we could finish addressing this amendment such that the Senate could vote presumably on the second- degree amendment and then the underlying amendment prior to the noon period, although we will not stop consideration of the bill at the time but would continue. But I hope that amendment could be agreed to. I see the distinguished ranking member.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, before we depart, I hope the Senator could share with me and the Republican leadership, with the understandable impediments our two leaders have, with regard to votes and scheduling them. We want to try to----

Mr. WARNER. And the Ensign amendment.

Mr. WARNER. I have. It is such that you and Senator Craig can discuss that amendment.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we have a technical problem we have to address with regard to the UC request; that is, we are operating this bill under a UC, 12 amendments each side. This is not 1 of the 12.

Mr. WARNER. Therefore, I think we could go on the bill time for the purpose of discussing the Senator's amendment in the hopes what differences remain could be reconciled so this amendment could be included as part of the managers' agreed-upon package. Mr. President, let the record reflect we are not calling this amendment up within the context of the UC which controls the overall procedure of this bill but that the two Senators are simply having a colloquy, which is fine.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Texas inquired of the managers if he could address an issue that is tangential to our national security. I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to speak as in morning business, thereby not taking time off the bill, and that would be for not to exceed 10 minutes.

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, we need to inquire as to the issues of the proponent of the amendment, as to the allocation of time. What is his desire on that?

Mr. WARNER. Madam President, that sounds like a reasonable request. Can the Senator from Rhode Island advise the Senate?

Mr. WARNER. That would be the desire of the manager. I wish to inquire of the proponent. Does he agree to the course of action?

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, again, this amendment has just been given to the majority side. We will, in due course, have further response to the Senator. At this time it becomes the pending amendment.

Mr. WARNER. Fine. I thank my colleague. I yield the floor.

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, are we not at this point in time guided by the standing order we just entered?

Mr. WARNER. Have the yeas and nays been ordered?

Mr. WARNER. May we now proceed with the vote.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the need for a quorum call at this time is because there are a number of Senators who had to depart Capitol Hill for a meeting. Therefore, it is beyond the control of either manager. We need to keep in reserve our time on the bill. So I ask unanimous consent that the time expended in the quorum call up to just a minute ago, when I withdrew it, as well as the time that will ensue in the following quorum call not be charged to either side.

Mr. WARNER. I thank the Presiding Officer and I thank the Parliamentarian.

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, I ask unanimous consent that the previously agreed to amendment No. 1526 be modified. I send that modification to the desk. The amendment has been cleared by the other side and is merely a technical correction.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I point out, yes, the Senate has passed it, but for various reasons, conferences have not accepted it, so it is not in law today.