Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk with respect to the substitute amendment.

Mr. President, I have a cloture motion on the bill at the desk.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum required under rule XXII be waived.

Madam President, following leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 1:30 today. Senators are permitted to speak during that period of time for up to 10 minutes each. Following that morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the Defense appropriations bill.

At 4:30 today, the Senate will turn to executive session to debate the nomination of Jeffrey Viken to be U.S. district judge for the District of South Dakota. At 5:30 today, we will vote on the confirmation of that nomination.

Madam President, this afternoon we will begin work on the Defense appropriations bill, as I announced. The bill provides $636 billion in new discretionary authority for the Department of Defense, including more than $128 billion in funding for overseas contingency operations.

This is a good bill. It provides funding to grow the Army by 22,000 soldiers, provides $108 billion for procurement of new equipment that our men and women in the military badly need as a result of the equipment having been damaged, destroyed, and worn out in Iraq and other places. It also provides for a modification of tactical vehicles to better protect our forces in battle.

In Nevada, there are significant contributions being made, as we speak, to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, with more than 700 Nevada Guard men and women in combat today. Because the desert terrain in Nevada is similar to that in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of our Nation's warriors prepare for their deployment in Nevada. The Naval Air Station in Fallon, in northern Nevada, is the home to the Navy's preeminent strike and air warfare center, which includes the Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as Top Gun. Naval Air Station Fallon also houses the Strike Warfare Center and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School.

If you are a Navy fighter pilot, the only training that allows you to have, in effect, a Ph.D. in flying the Navy's top fighter planes is going to Fallon. Hawthorne Ammunition Depot has been in existence since the late 1920s as a result of a huge explosion of an ammunition facility in New Jersey. Since the late 1920s, this base--in very arid, dry, north-central Nevada--serves as the staging area for conventional bombs, rockets, and ammunition, a role it has filled since World War

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 290.

Mr. President, with the filling of Senator Kennedy's seat by the State of Massachusetts, we are now rearranging the committees. Some have been vacant since his death.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar Nos. 459, 460, 461, that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, that no further motions be in order and any statements relating to the nominations be printed in the Record as if read; provided further that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, September 30, following a period of morning business, the Senate proceed to consider the conference report to accompany H.R. 2918, the Legislative Branch appropriations; that all debate time until 4:30 be equally divided and controlled between Senators Nelson of Nebraska and Senator Murkowski or their designees; that if points of order are raised, any vote on the motions to waive occur beginning at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow and that no amendments be in order to the motions; I further ask consent that following the disposition of points of order, and if the motions to waive are successful, the Senate then proceed to the adoption of the conference report immediately, with 2 minutes of debate, equally divided, prior to each vote.

Mr. President, with respect to the conferees on the Defense authorization measure, I ask unanimous consent that Senators Kirk and LeMieux be added to replace the late Senator Kennedy and recently retired Senator Martinez.

I ask unanimous consent the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3593 and H.R. 2131 en bloc, and the Senate proceed to their immediate consideration en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bills be read a third time and passed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 285, and that the Senate proceed to its consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; that any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to S. Res. 293.

I ask unanimous consent the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 30; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then proceed to a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half; that following morning business, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2918, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, as provided under the previous order; finally I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Mr. President, there will be at least three votes around 4:30 tomorrow afternoon.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate adjourn under the provisions of S. Res 293 as a mark of further respect to former Senator Henry Bellmon of Oklahoma.

Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the appropriations bill for the Department of Defense. There will be no rollcall votes during today's session, but at 3:30 p.m. today, Paul Kirk will be sworn in as the new Senator from Massachusetts, filling in for the late Senator Kennedy.

As I speak, we have an international war on terrorism, we have American troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and we have a Defense appropriations bill which is now before the Senate. The appointment of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Michael Mullen, expires on September 30. It would be absolutely unacceptable to allow his position to be vacant at a time when our Nation is so engaged internationally. I hope we can count on the cooperation of all my colleagues in allowing this nomination to proceed without delay-- immediately.

Mr. President, would you announce the business of today.

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