John Warner

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. I certainly do not want the Senator to feel that we are trying to control these stations in such a manner as to preclude members of the Armed Forces and their families from having an opportunity to hear opinions that differ. So in the course of the evening, I and others will look into this. We thank our friend from Iowa.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. WARNER. At this time, the Senator from Alabama will speak to the Allard amendment, which is the subject of a vote in 20 minutes. I give him 5 minutes, plus 2 or 3 other minutes. I thought he was right behind me. The Allard amendment is rather a technical one. It requires our colleagues to be informed on this amendment. I am opposed to it, but I was asked to provide to the Senator from Alabama the time needed to speak to this amendment.

Mr. WARNER. Will the Chair advise the managers with regard to the remaining time?

Mr. WARNER. Basically there is 2 minutes left?

Mr. WARNER. My colleague from Alabama has basically stated the case. But I must say this is a unique amendment among those I have encountered. You could induce laborers to have a slowdown at work so as not to finish it and so attenuate this right or some other benefit, while at the same time they were taking inducements for expediting the work. I commend my good friend from Colorado. I know he fights hard for his constituents. But were we to see this type of precedent distributed to other situations in Government contracting across America, we would be opening up a very interesting line of arguments by a number of contractors and employees. So regrettably I have to oppose the amendment of my good friend from Colorado. I yield the floor.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, informally, I have been advised that tomorrow morning, in all likelihood, there will be a period for morning business, and that this bill will be brought up somewhere in the area of around 11 o'clock in the morning. So again, I am joined by my colleague from Michigan in urging Senators to complete the remainder of the debate time, an hour being given to each amendment. There are several amendments which have been debated in part. We will provide for the Record tonight the list of those amendments and the time remaining. Quite frankly, I am of the opinion we will have been able to have had the full hour of debate on all of the 12 amendments each side has had by the close of business tomorrow. Now, ``close of business'' leaves a little bit to definition. We will certainly receive some recommendations from our joint leadership, but I would hope we could complete this bill tomorrow night.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I might suggest the Harkin amendment, which was debated very thoroughly today. The Senator from Oklahoma, Mr. Inhofe, desires to speak to that amendment and might possibly have an amendment in the second degree. So that one, in all likelihood, could be concluded. The Chambliss amendment is another amendment that I think will not require a great deal of further debate. It is a very strong amendment. It appears to me at this point to be one which I will recommend colleagues support.

Mr. WARNER. Coming from your side?

Mr. WARNER. Well, then, let's work together with a priority to try to have that done. Mr. President, at this time, my understanding is the parliamentary situation is the bill is no longer before the Senate, to be brought up again tomorrow morning, and that at this point we are in morning business; is that correct?

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that MAJ Alison Thompson, a marine fellow on Senator Dole's staff, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the consideration of S. 1042.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this amendment is one of great importance and has far-reaching consequences. As I said, as we speak, there are some facts coming into the public domain. I have no idea of evaluating their authenticity, but it does, in my judgment, bear on this issue. Therefore, speaking for myself, we will have further statements regarding this amendment Monday and quite likely Tuesday before we vote. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am delighted my distinguished colleague, a member of the committee, would like to contribute his thoughts on this very important issue and take such time, I think up to 5 or 6 minutes.

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

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, we have had a very good and productive morning on the Defense authorization bill, a continuation by the Senate of that important legislation. Matters relating to the bill are concluded. I will now await the directions of the majority leader as to the concluding of today's proceedings before the Senate. 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 Department of Defense has opposed Senator Nelson's proposal. I ask unanimous consent that the DOD points of opposition be printed in the Record.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, with regard to the McCain amendment on which I spoke in favor, I have an obligation as manager of the bill to present views of those who differ in some respects with Senator McCain and myself. I ask unanimous consent that the remarks made by Mr. Stephen Hadley, National Security Adviser to the President, on Wednesday, November 2, be printed in the Record. The material is taken directly from a transcript, which I presume is authentic.

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, before we move to a vote, I see another colleague who may wish to speak to this issue, the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, who has been very much a part of the integral working group of Senator McCain, myself, and the Senator from South Carolina.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent there now be a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Major Ken Casey, an Army fellow on Senator Chambliss' staff, be granted floor privileges for the duration of the consideration of S. 1052, the fiscal year 2005 national Defense authorization bill.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Now, Mr. President, in order to bring to conclusion today's session, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 1 p.m. on Monday, November 7. I further ask consent 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 proceed to a period of morning business until 2 p.m., with the time equally divided between the majority and minority. I further ask consent that at 2 p.m. the Senate resume consideration of S. 1042, the Defense authorization bill, as under the previous order.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, next week, the Senate will resume consideration of the Department of Defense authorization bill. The order provides for up to 12 relevant first-degree amendments on each side, with a limited amount of time for debate. The bill managers have made some progress today on the amendment process, and we will have at least one vote on an amendment on the Defense bill on Monday evening, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Senators should plan their schedules accordingly.

Mr. WARNER

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.