Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions.

U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' CARE, KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ
ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

Mr. REID. Mr. President, with the concurrence of the Republican
leader, I now ask that the Senate turn to the consideration of H. R.
2206.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

A bill (H. R. 2206) making emergency supplemental
appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for
agriculture and other emergency assistance for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.

Amendment No. 1123

Mr. REID. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Reid and Senator
McConnell, I send a substitute amendment to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for himself and Mr.
McConnell, proposes an amendment numbered 1123.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States
or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions

Since under the Constitution, the President and Congress
have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of the
Armed Forces of the United States, including their mission,
and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially during
wartime;
Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the
President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the
support they need in order to maintain their safety and
accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the
training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to
ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is
the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the
Legislative Branch of Government; and
Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have
fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the
kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them
when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring)
That it is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) the President and Congress should not take any action
that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and
will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and
other support for troops in the field, as such actions will
ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and
carrying out their assigned missions;
(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an
obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this
country in time of war receive the medical care and other
support they deserve; and
(3) the President and Congress should--
(A) continue to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have
everything they need to perform their assigned or future
missions; and
(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and
funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance
for success in Iraq and elsewhere.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.

[[Page S6116]]

The yeas and nays were ordered.

Amendment No. 1124 to Amendment No. 1123

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I call up an amendment at the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for himself and Mr.
McConnell, proposes an amendment numbered 1124 to amendment
No. 1123.

The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States
or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

In the amendment strike all after the first word and insert
the following: under the Constitution, the President and
Congress have shared responsibilities for decisions on the
use of the Armed Forces of the United States, including their
mission, and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially
during wartime;
Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the
President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the
support they need in order to maintain their safety and
accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the
training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to
ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is
the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the
Legislative Branch of Government; and
Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have
fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the
kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them
when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the President and Congress should not take any action
that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and
will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and
other support for troops in the field, as such actions will
ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and
carrying out their assigned missions;
(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an
obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this
country in time of war receive the medical care and other
support they deserve; and
(3) the President and Congress should--
(A) continue to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have
everything they need to perform their assigned or future
missions; and
(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and
funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance
for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
This section shall take effect 1 day after the date of
enactment.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask that it be reflected that this
amendment is on behalf of Senator Reid and Senator McConnell.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.

Amendment No. 1125 to Amendment No. 1124

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I call up a second-degree amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment
numbered 1125 to amendment No. 1124.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States
or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

The President and Congress have shared responsibilities for
decisions on the use of the Armed Forces of the United
States, including their mission, and for supporting the Armed
Forces, especially during wartime;
Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the
President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the
support they need in order to maintain their safety and
accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the
training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to
ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is
the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the
Legislative Branch of Government; and
Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have
fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the
kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them
when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
That it is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) the President and Congress should not take any action
that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and
will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and
other support for troops in the field, as such actions will
ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and
carrying out their assigned missions;
(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an
obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this
country in time of war receive the medical care and other
support they deserve; and
(3) the President and Congress should--
(A) continue to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have
everything they need to perform their assigned or future
missions; and
(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and
funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance
for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
This section shall take effect 2 days after date of
enactment.

Motion to Commit

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send a motion to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to commit H.R.
2206 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to
report back forthwith with the following amendment numbered
1126.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:

amendment no. 1126

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States
or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

Strike all after the first word and insert the following:
Since under the Constitution, the President and Congress
have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of the
Armed Forces of the United States, including their mission,
and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially during
wartime;
Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the
President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the
support they need in order to maintain their safety and
accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the
training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to
ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is
the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the
Legislative Branch of Government; and
Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have
fought bravely in Iraq an Afghanistan are not receiving the
kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them
when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
That it is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) the President and Congress should not take any action
that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and
will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and
other support for troops in the field, as such actions will
ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and
carrying out their assigned missions;
(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an
obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this
country in time of war receive the medical care and other
support they deserve; and
(3) the President and Congress should--
(A) continue to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have
everything they need to perform their assigned or future
missions; and
(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and
funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance
for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
This section shall take effect 5 days after date of
enactment.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.

Amendment No. 1127 to the Instructions of the Motion to Commit

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the motion to the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment
numbered 1127 to the instructions of the motion to commit
H.R. 2206.

Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment
be dispensed with.

[[Page S6117]]

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States
or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

In the amendment strike all after Congress in line 1 and
insert the following:
``have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of
the Armed Forces of the United States, including their
mission, and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially
during wartime;
``Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way,
the President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all
the support they need in order to maintain their safety and
accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the
training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to
ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is
the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the
Legislative Branch of Government; and
``Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have
fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the
kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them
when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
``Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
``That it is the sense of Congress that--
``(1) the President and Congress should not take any action
that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and
will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and
other support for troops in the field, as such actions will
ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and
carrying out their assigned missions;
``(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an
obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this
country in time of war receive the medical care and other
support they deserve; and
``(3) the President and Congress should--
``(A) continue to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have
everything they need to perform their assigned or future
missions; and
``(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and
funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance
for success in Iraq and elsewhere.''
This section shall take effect 4 days after the date of
enactment.

Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.

Amendment No. 1128 to Amendment No. 1127

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now send a second-degree amendment to the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment
numbered 1128 to amendment No. 1127.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of
the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States
or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

At the end of the amendment add the following:
Since under the Constitution, the President and Congress
have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of the
Armed Forces of the United States, including their mission,
and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially during
wartime;
Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the
President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the
support they need in order to maintain their safety and
accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the
training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to
ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is
the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the
Legislative Branch of Government; and
Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have
fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the
kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them
when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring),
That it is the Sense of Congress that--
(1) the President and Congress should not take any action
that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and
will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and
other support for troops in the field, as such actions will
ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and
carrying out their assigned missions;
(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an
obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this
country in time of war receive the medical care and other
support they deserve; and
(3) the President and Congress should--
(A) continue to exercise their constitutional
responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have
everything they need to perform their assigned or future
missions; and
(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and
funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance
for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
This section shall take effect 3 days after date of
enactment.

Cloture Motion

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

Cloture Motion

We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the
provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate,
hereby move to bring to a close debate on the Reid-McConnell
amendment No. 1123 relating to Iraq to H.R. 2206, the
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Harry Reid, Debbie Stabenow, Daniel K. Inouye, Jon
Tester, Bill Nelson (FL), Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer,
Patty Murray, Frank R. Lautenberg, Benjamin L. Cardin,
Tom Carper, Charles Schumer, Maria Cantwell, Carl
Levin, Daniel K. Akaka, Ted Kennedy, Amy Klobuchar.

Cloture Motion

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send a second cloture motion to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

Cloture Motion

We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the
provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate,
hereby move to bring to a close debate on Calendar No. 146,
H.R. 2206, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Jeff Bingaman, Patty Murray,
Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Dianne Feinstein, Daniel K.
Inouye, Byron L. Dorgan, Benjamin L. Cardin, Max
Baucus, Bill Nelson (FL), Charles Schumer, Debbie
Stabenow, Richard J. Durbin, Daniel K. Akaka, Jack
Reed.

Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the cloture
vote on the Reid-McConnell amendment to H.R. 2206 occur on Thursday 1
hour after the Senate convenes and notwithstanding the provisions of
rule XXII, and that if cloture is invoked, the Senate remain on H.R.
2206 until it is disposed of, notwithstanding the provisions of rule
XXII.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The Republican leader.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me for my side of the aisle
describe what we have just done. Senator Reid and I have entered into
an agreement, which I previously described to my conference, under
which we will be able to smooth the passage of the supplemental
appropriations bill into conference. The majority leader, with my
concurrence, has filled up the tree and filed cloture. This should give
us an opportunity Thursday afternoon on a broad bipartisan basis to
move this troop funding bill into conference where we will continue our
discussions.
The majority leader and I have had several meetings with the
President's designee, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, and we will have
additional meetings--as well as with House Democrats and Republicans--
and hopefully achieve what I think we all want to achieve at this
point, which is a signed troop funding bill before Memorial Day.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Republican leader and I have worked very
closely in the past week or two on the process we are following this
evening. We both agree it is imperative that we get to conference with
the House as quickly as possible, and adoption of the Murray amendment,
which is the amendment which was offered here, will allow us to do just
that. This is a procedural step.
We are anxious to get to conference to work with the President's
Chief of Staff Josh Bolten. He has been available any time we have
asked for his presence. He realizes there is going to have to be some
serious negotiations. We also understand that it is not just the
Senate. The House has to be involved in these negotiations, and we

[[Page S6118]]

certainly understand that and Mr. Bolton understands that.
We have a long way to go, but this was a tremendous step forward. We
may disagree on a lot of issues dealing with the policy in Iraq, but
the one point on which we agree--both Democrats and Republicans--is
that the troops must have everything they need and more, and we are
going to make sure that is the case.
The Republican leader and I agree, and I have spoken with the Speaker
of the House at 5 o'clock today, and she agrees with me, that we are
going to finish this bill and this conference report prior to our
leaving for the Memorial Day recess. Everyone should rest assured we
are going to do that. I hope we can do that without causing a lot of
discomfort to Senators and Members of the House if we finish this bill
at a reasonable time a week from Thursday or Friday, but if we can't,
we are going no place until we finish this legislation and it gets to
the President's desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

____________________