Floor Statements

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, September 27; that on September 27, 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 reserved for their use later in the day; that the Senate then resume consideration of H.R. 1585 as provided under the previous order; that Members have until 10:30 a.m. to file any germane second-degree amendments.

I would say, because of the request of a number of Members, I will not use any leader time in the morning. We will move immediately to the legislation before this body and have the full 2 hours. I will not use any leader time in the morning.

If the Republican leader has nothing further, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand adjourned until 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. President, today the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. The time is divided between the two sides. The Republicans will control the first portion. The Senate is expected to resume consideration of the Defense authorization bill this morning. Today the Senate will recess under a previous order entered for our respective party conferences at 12:30 and reconvene at 2:15. At some point during today's session it is expected that we will receive a message from the House relating to the SCHIP program, children's health. The Senate will consider that message and take the necessary steps to conclude action and send it to the President.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, would the Chair have the bill reported that is now before the Senate.

Mr. President, I call for the regular order with respect to the Graham amendment.

Mr. President, I do have an amendment at the desk and ask it be reported.

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

Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk and ask it be reported.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate return to morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, and the morning business be until 12:30 today.

Mr. President, because there is other business we are considering because of the October 1 date hitting us, we will likely attempt to go into morning business from 2:15 until we finish the event with Senator Byrd this afternoon. But we will come back at 2:15 and deal with that.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that morning business be closed.

Mr. President, I send a motion to the desk.

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

Mr. President, I send an amendment to the motion to the desk.

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

Mr. President, I send a second-degree amendment to the desk.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that no further cloture motions in relation to this bill be in order for the remainder of the day.

Mr. President, we understand there may be the proverbial side-by-side in relation to the hate crimes matter. This means the Republicans may file their own version of hate crimes, so we will work that out. This does not apply to that.

Mr. President, I am going to ask unanimous consent that the Senate go into morning business. The managers of the bill may come and see if they can process some amendments, but we are not going to do that right now.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, there will be no more votes tonight. We have tried to work something out on the Kyl-Lieberman amendment and the Biden amendment. We have been unable to do that.

We have been very close a few times, but we have just been informed that Senator Biden will not have a vote anytime in the near future. There will not be a vote on the other one anytime in the near future. We hope tonight will bring more clearness on the issue.

But right now, I think it is fair to say there will be no votes tonight.

Does the Senator from South Dakota have any comments?

Let me say this: One thing I have done is, anytime I know there is going to be no votes, Senator McConnell is the first to know. If there is a Monday we are not going to have votes, I let everybody know; nighttime vote. I think that has worked pretty well. There are no surprises.

Now, sometimes things just do not work out. But anytime we decide, on this side, the majority, there are not going to be votes, Senator McConnell knows. That is an arrangement I made with him. I have stuck to that for the last 8 months.

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

Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of the 14th annual National Public Lands Day, which will be celebrated on Saturday, September 29. I am pleased to acknowledge the efforts of volunteers around the Nation who will come together to improve and restore one of America's most valuable assets, our public lands.

National Public Lands Day has fostered communities of volunteers around the Nation. When it started in 1994, there were 700 volunteers working in only a few areas. This year nearly 110,000 volunteers will work at more than 1,300 locations to protect public land for the enjoyment of future generations. The spirit that guided the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s continues today in National Public Lands Day, our latest commitment to care for our country's natural resources.

Our Nation has a grand tradition of conservation. When Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, it was the world's first national park. The idea of a national park was an American invention of historic proportions that led the way for global conservation efforts. One of the earliest and most energetic conservationists was President Teddy Roosevelt. He dedicated 194 million acres of national parks and national preserves, which set a lofty standard for all who follow.

Over one-third of America is public land. They are places of continuous discovery, where we go to find ourselves, to uncover our history, and to explore for new resources. We are not the only ones to visit our public lands: millions of tourists, many from overseas, enjoy our national parks every year.

Our public lands are part of who we are and their diversity reflects our identity. In many areas, they provide timber, ore, and forage that are the economic bedrock of rural America. In other areas, Congress has designated them as wilderness, places ``untram- meled by man, where man is a visitor who does not remain.''

I want to recognize the thousands of Federal employees who manage these lands year-round. The Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and other Federal land management agencies ensure that public lands in Nevada meet the changing needs of our communities. They provide a vital, though rarely reported, service to our Nation, managing our public lands for our children and grandchildren.

National Public Lands Day encourages volunteers to join in that service. Across Nevada, at places like the Black Rock Desert, Lake Mead, Boundary Peak, Sloan Canyon and the Truckee River, volunteers will work to improve our public lands. This year's focus is the defense of native species from invasive weeds. Noxious weeds are a serious problem that has plagued the West for years. Exotic weeds push out native plants and provide plenty of fuel for wildfires. In Nevada, we know about this threat all too well. National Public Lands Day volunteers in Elko, NV, will help to repair the damage from last year's record-setting fire season.

The preservation of our public lands is a priority for me. Our public lands are part of what makes the United States a great Nation. I voice my gratitude to all who will participate in National Public Lands Day this year.

Mr. President, I want Senator Byrd and the minority response to have the full hour. So when Senator McConnell and I finish whatever remarks we would give, I hope there will be unanimous consent that they could both have a full half hour.