Floor Statements

Mr. President, one question I have gotten over here several times, and I have raised this issue on the floor, Senator McConnell has said on two separate occasions that a week from this Monday, we will be working. People are changing schedules and all.

My personal feeling is we should be working. I hope the leader, whatever the final decision--I understand the preliminary decision is we would be working a week from Monday, more so than just 5 o'clock at night.

If we are to have any hope of getting out of here in time for important events such as people's birthdays and events of that nature, we have to really move forward. I say that actually recognizing the Presiding Officer has a very important date coming up--it is the 18th or 20th, or something like that.

Seriously, if we can have a signoff on what you are going to do that day, it would be important to everybody.

Mr. President, I have said on the floor previously that the veterans of America recognize how important our work is here. So much that we do reflects on these different programs. I also think if things are as difficult as they appear, we may have to do something on that Tuesday. That will certainly be up to the leader. But I also recognize that other than Senator Frist and Senator Daschle, no one has had a more difficult job these last few weeks than the Presiding Officer and Senator Byrd. Trying to marshal through these appropriations bills is extremely difficult.

But we have made really good progress. To think we have been able in just the last few weeks to do as much as we have here on the Senate floor with the appropriations bills is significant. Debating the Interior appropriations conference report this coming Monday is also important. I think there is light at end of the tunnel. With the chairman cajoling, along with the Presiding Officer, we can continue to make progress.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, this is H.R. 3365, is that right?

Mr. President, Senator Landrieu has objected to this. I am told that she has been working with the committee on a sense-of-the- Senate resolution that should resolve this. I hope that can be done quickly.

I ask that people direct their attention to Senator Landrieu. I object.

Mr. President, as some will remember, we on this side are ready to pass this bill with the amendments and send it over to the House for their consideration. The majority insists on going to conference and we object to this part of the consent only. Therefore, I object for the reasons previously stated.

Mr. President, as has been indicated by Senator Lott, we have a lot to do today. There are a lot of different balls in the air regarding this Senate. I think we have them all where we can balance them quite well. We have, as the Presiding Officer knows, a conference report that has been completed after 2 long, hard days, the supplemental. We are making progress; the Interior appropriations bill has been done. I am hopeful we can finish the Energy and Water appropriations bill. So things are moving along quite well. I hope we can continue our momentum.

Will the majority leader yield for a question not related to the Pickering nomination?

Mr. President, we were originally going to have a vote on the global warming issue. It would have been about 12:45 p.m. This will necessitate that vote occurring around 1:15 p.m., but under the regular process here, on Thursdays we do not vote during the hour of 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. I wonder if the leader will be able to at this time indicate that the managers of the Healthy Forests issue should be here about 1:15 p.m., or thereabouts, so they can start on that issue prior to voting on the global warming issue, which I hope can occur at 2 o'clock because there are a number of people on our side who need to vote on that. I hope the leader understands what I am saying.

I object.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``nay.''

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) would vote ``yea.''

Mr. President, we are now on global warming. Because of scheduling problems, the managers of the bill, Senator Inhofe, Senator McCain, and Senator Lieberman, have agreed to each give up 15 minutes on their side. Therefore, the vote will occur at 12:45. I ask unanimous consent that be the case--that the vote occur at 12:45.

Mr. President, I have not spoken to the two managers, but I feel confident it would be OK with them. This is not in the form of a unanimous consent request.

Following the vote, Senator Boxer wishes to speak for 10 minutes. Following that, Senator Bingaman is ready to offer his amendment. He will take a limited period of time. Following that, Senator Leahy has an amendment. He has asked for 30 minutes.

So that is just general information we are going to try to move on as quickly as possible on the Healthy Forests matter.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) is necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) would vote ``nay.''

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. President, what is the regular order?

We need the manager of the bill on the floor for the majority. Senator Bingaman is ready to offer an amendment. He was here all day yesterday.

What we would like to do is have Senator Bingaman offer his amendment--I have not spoken to the two leaders--have that set aside temporarily and then move to the Leahy amendment. They will both be relatively short in time, and then we can arrange an appropriate time for voting on these.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I, too, am pleased at the good news that the GDP has gone up. But for the 3 million people who have lost jobs, J-O-B is more important than G-D-P. This last month, another 46,000 jobs have been lost in this country; during this administration, more than 3 million jobs. This is the only President since Herbert Hoover who has had a net loss in jobs. I think this is very unfortunate. I hope the GDP continues to grow and in the process create jobs.

Mr. President, the distinguished chairman of the committee that has jurisdiction of the bill now before the Senate and I spoke with the majority leader and minority leader a few minutes ago. It is the wish of the distinguished chairman of this committee, the manager of this bill, that when an amendment is offered--unless there is some exception--we are going to debate that and vote on it, dispose of it one way or the other.

As we spoke to the majority leader, the distinguished Senator from Mississippi and I--everyone should be--we were both in tune with the majority leader. Today's votes are going to take 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the majority leader said he is going to ask that the clerk announce the vote. There are going to be people who miss votes, but that is their problem. All staffs who are listening to me, everyone should understand, if the majority leader follows through on what he said--and I am confident he will--a few people will miss votes. But I think fewer will miss them the second time and fewer the third time.

If we are going to finish this most important bill, we cannot have votes going 40 minutes, and that is what they were going yesterday. It is unfair to the managers of the bill, unfair to the Senate, unfair to the country.

I hope that following the vote of Senator Bingaman, we will stick to 20-minute votes, no matter who isn't here for the vote.

Mr. President, if I could say one additional thing, we have run a hotline on our side. We are very close to having a finite list of amendments. That will be offered on this side. We know the intense interest in this bill from all sides. No one exemplifies the interest in this bill more than the Senator from Oregon. Senator Wyden has been very responsive to the bill that is before us. He has been here virtually every minute this matter has been on the floor. Like so many people who are concerned about this, he wants this bill to be completed as quickly as possible. I think with the cooperation of the Senate we can do that.

Mr. President, I ask that the applicable sections of the Budget Act be waived.

I am.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea''.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. President, I would like to ask how long that vote took.

Mr. President, I don't know what more we can do here. I want everyone to know we are doing our best over here to move these amendments. We have a lot of them over here. We are trying to move them. We can't do it if we waste a lot of time on these votes. I want everyone within the sound of my voice to know that we cannot finish the bill if these votes take 30 or 40 minutes. Everyone should understand that.

There are going to be people coming and asking: When can we leave? I have a plane. Are we going to have votes tomorrow?

We will have votes for days, the way this is going. We cannot finish this bill tonight with these votes taking as long as they are taking. I am disappointed, frankly, that the majority leader wasn't here to terminate the first vote. If we limit votes to 20 minutes, people would stop straggling in. It is not fair to the Senate.

Mr. President, with the understanding of the manger of this bill, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Montana, Mr. Baucus, be recognized for 15 minutes to speak on the bill and whatever else he wishes to speak on; further, the Senator from New Mexico, Mr. Bingaman, who still has a number of other amendments that he wishes to be offered be recognized to offer the next amendment.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``nay.''

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``nay.''

Mr. President, I, of course, am also happy about the growth of the domestic product last quarter. It is very important. But before we get too elated over this economic news, we have to also understand that in addition to the need for growth for corporate America, we need job growth.

Last month we lost 46,000 jobs. During the years this man has been President, President Bush, we have lost over 3 million jobs.

I would hope the next quarter, in addition to having good domestic product growth, we also would have job growth. People in Nevada and around the country are more concerned about J-O-B than G-D-P.

The Senator from California is here. She is ready to offer her amendment. She offered two very important amendments yesterday.

I have spoken with Senator Cochran and the Senator from Idaho, who is now managing the bill. It is my understanding that the Senator from New Jersey is here.

Mr. President, what is the unanimous consent request?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senator from New Mexico be recognized for the purpose of offering an amendment. Following that, the Senator from California, Senator Boxer, be recognized to offer her amendment.

Mr. President, I compliment the Senator from California for this amendment, and the people who have joined with her, as indicated in the letter, are certainly headed in the right direction. What the Senator from California has stated is we should direct this very important legislation toward people. That is what this amendment is directed toward--toward people, communities, and areas.

Take, for example, this terrible tragedy in California we see every time we turn on the television set. If there had been hazardous fuel treatment around populated areas, some of these fires may have happened, but most of them would not have happened. This amendment is good for the firefighters. It is certainly good for the people who live in these communities.

As generous and as rich as we are in this country, there is not enough money to take down all the dead and dying trees and other trees that need to be taken down to have good forest health. We simply don't have enough money. But certainly we have enough money to take care of the populated areas of our country, and that is why the Senator from California says we have a limited amount of money, so let's put most of it toward protecting people. That is what this amendment does.

I hope this very reasonable amendment which is directed toward people is adopted. It is important.

I again applaud the Senator from California for bringing this to the attention of the Senate, and I am happy to be a cosponsor of this amendment.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``nay.''

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``no.''

Mr. President, as far as we know on this side, there are two more amendments to be offered. If there are more, Senators should come forward and tell us. The amendments remaining are an amendment by the Senator from Washington, Ms. Cantwell, and the Senator from Iowa, Mr. Harkin, has an amendment. As far as we know, those are the only two amendments.

When these amendments are disposed of, we will go to final passage, as far as I know.

I announce that the Senator from New York (Mrs. Clinton), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman), and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller), are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Rockefeller) would each vote ``nay.''

Senator Harkin has the last amendment, we are told, and then we can go to third reading. Everyone should understand the regular order following final passage of this. We go to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

Will the Senator yield?

Can we voice-vote the managers' package?

I announce that the Senator from New York (Mrs. Clinton), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), the Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. Kohl), the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman), are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``nay.''

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``nay.''

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Carper), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Jeffords), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson), is attending a family funeral.

I further announce that if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Amendment No. 2047

I ask unanimous consent that that be the case, there be no limitations as to time on that but there be no--no limitations as to time.

I would ask if my friend would modify his request. I have spoken to Senator Feinstein, Senator Durbin, and Senator Bingaman. If we could have it in inverse order, Senator Feinstein first, then Senator Durbin, and then Senator Bingaman?

Would that be OK with the Senator?

That is very reasonable. I so modify my request. I hope the manager does on the other side.

Mr. President, if the majority leader has finished, I ask unanimous consent that there be 2 minutes equally divided before each of the subsequent votes following the vote on the Feinstein amendment.

Mr. President, I would further ask, just as a matter of inquiry--I know Senator Durbin is about to wrap up the debate on his amendment. Senator Feinstein told me she would speak no longer than 5 minutes. And people are calling.

Does the Senator from New Mexico have any idea how long he wishes to speak?

Mr. President, so everyone should be aware that these votes should start in the next 10 minutes or so.

No. The Senator from Illinois wants to finish the debate, but he has just a few more minutes.

Mr. President, Senator Feinstein is entitled to 5 minutes.

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Carper), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Carper), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

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

I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Carper), the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. Hollings), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I also announce that the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) is absent attending a family funeral.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Leahy be listed as a cosponsor of amendment No. 2047.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Amendment No. 2023, As Modified

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Amendment No. 1970

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

the clean energy technology exports initiative

Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues, especially Senator Leahy, Senator McConnell, and Senator Daschle, for supporting an amendment that was cleared. The amendment will help one of our closest neighbors--the country of Mexico.

We recently approved billions of dollars to begin rebuilding the nation of Iraq and to maintain order in Afghanistan. We approved this aid not only so the people of Iraq and Afghanistan can enjoy the benefits of a free and democratic society; we also approved it because we know it's in our interest to create a stable situation in those countries.

The same thing goes for our southern neighbor, with whom we share a 2,000 mile border, and where economic conditions are particularly bad right now.

Desperate people take desperate measures, and many people in Mexico are desperate. A few years ago, Mexico seemed on the verge of an economic breakthrough. But today, Mexico's growth rate is half what it was in the 1990s. More than half of all Mexicans--over 50 million people--have an annual income of less than about $1,400. Almost one- fourth of all Mexicans have an annual income of about $720--less than $2 per day.

There is little hope for these people in the Mexican countryside, where coffee prices have plummeted and where homes and land values are falling because of a badly broken system of private property ownership. So these desperate people take desperate measures. Maybe they flee to Mexico City--but there isn't much hope there either. Most refugees from the country side wind up in crowded shantytowns, breathing foul air, and living in filth. Maybe they remain on the land, but instead of raising coffee, many turn to illegal crop production, which facilitates a dangerous trade in drugs that poisons our own cities. Perhaps they will put their lives in the hands of unscrupulous ``coyotes'' who promise to lead them across the desert to the land of plenty. If they don't die trying, they reach the United States, where they place an added burden on our security officials and social services.

I do not condone illegal immigration. But I understand that desperate people do desperate things, and that desperate conditions in Mexico affect the United States.

This amendment extends a helping hand to our neighbor. It provides $10 million for micro credit lending, small business and entrepreneurial development, aid to small farms and farmers, many who have been affected by the collapse of coffee prices, and it calls for programs to support Mexico's private property ownership system, which is in dire need for repair.

The money appropriated pursuant to this amendment won't solve these problems overnight, but we have to start somewhere. Our neighbor needs help, and we can't turn a blind eye.

This is not a handout. It is a commitment to free market-based programs that will spur long-term development and growth in the rural areas of Mexico. By extending a hand to our neighbor, we are also keeping our own Nation strong and secure. I again want to thank my colleagues for supporting this measure.

I move to reconsider the vote.

I ask the distinguished majority leader to amend the time of the minority to have Senator Dayton, 15 minutes; Senator Daschle, 20 minutes; Senator Harkin, 5 minutes. It all works out to the same amount of time.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), and the Senator from Connecticut (Mr. Lieberman) are necessarily absent.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

Madam President, I have listened to the statements here today. They are all very good. People have worked hard on their statements. But I want to simply say this: We have a bill to complete, and we want everyone who has any interest in it to come and give their statements. When that time has come, we will start the amendment process.

We have worked on this bill now 3 hours, and the only amendment offered is the one by the chairman of the committee, Senator Cochran. What I wanted to do is ask unanimous consent--he already has the floor, the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee--that following the statement of Senator Domenici, the ranking member of the committee, Senator Bingaman, would be recognized to give a statement. It is my understanding the Senator from Alaska wishes to give a statement. Following Senator Bingaman, the Senator from Alaska be recognized to give a statement on the bill.

I am.

Madam President, I ask the manager of this bill, the chairman of the committee, to modify his request to allow Senator Lincoln 10 minutes, and that following the disposition of this chairman's amendment, Senator Boxer be recognized to offer the next amendment.

Although I would say, if the distinguished Senator would yield, people still have an opportunity if they want to offer their comments on the bill itself. There is nothing in the request which would prohibit that.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) are necessarily absent.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. President, I have spoken with the distinguished manager of this bill. He has agreed also with Senator Harkin that Senator Boxer is going to speak for about 10 minutes on the bill. I will offer an amendment and speak for a few minutes on that, and then, with the suggestion and consent of the managers of the bill, she will ask that amendment be set aside and offer another amendment. The leadership has agreed we would have two votes at approximately 5:15, something like that.

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy), and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) are necessarily absent.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

I announce that the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy), and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) are necessarily absent.

I further announce that, if present and voting, the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) would vote ``yea.''

Madam President, reserving the right to object.

Madam President, it is my understanding Senator Frist and Senator Daschle have agreed there would be 3 hours of debate on that matter tonight and 2 hours tomorrow, so I would ask the leader to modify his request accordingly.

Before the majority leader goes to the next item, it is going to be extremely difficult to finish this most important bill tomorrow. Senator Wyden has worked so hard on this with others. Senator Boxer, Senator Feinstein, a number of other people on our side of the aisle have worked very hard. We are going to send out a hotline in the morning to find out what amendments are around. We already have some knowledge of the amendments, but it is going to take a lot of cooperation and a lot of people cutting down speeches tomorrow if we are going to finish this bill tomorrow night, which is the desire of the two leaders.

Mr. President, while the distinguished majority leader is in the Chamber, the Senator from Kentucky and I had a conversation on the floor here last night--it was public in nature--indicating that it was the majority leader's intention for us to work on November 10 and 11 that is, Monday and Tuesday of the week after next.

I totally support that. If we are going to get out of here, we have to work that week. The leader set November 7 as a time when we should get out. I think that will be nearly impossible. We may. I hope, if we are going to try to adjourn on November 14, that Members will understand we are going to have to do more that Monday and Tuesday than have votes on judges. We are going to have to go into substantive matters and all during Monday have votes. If we are going to come at 5 o'clock and have a relatively unimportant vote, then I don't think we will accomplish much.

If we have, I repeat, any intention, any hope of getting out of here on November 14--which I hope we could do--we are going to have to work Monday and Tuesday. I fully support the majority leader.

As I said last night on the floor, the veterans of the State of Nevada would also understand why, on an important holiday, Veterans Day, we would be

here doing the people's business. A lot of the business we are doing relates directly to the veterans.

So I hope, if we are going to work those 2 days, they are meaningful, hard days.