Floor Statements

Mr. President, it is my pleasure to congratulate the Honorable Charles L. Young, Sr. of Meridian, MS, for his 25 years of service as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives. As chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee, he has worked effectively to improve the quality of education in our State.

Representative Young served his country as a member of the U.S. Army during the Korean war and was honored with the Bronze Star for Valor.

He has been recognized by his colleagues as a leader in the field of education, entrepreneurship, and social justice. As a pioneer in the civil rights movement, Representative Young was the first African- American member of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce. He has been a leader in the business community as chief executive officer and President of E.F. Young, Jr., Manufacturing Company, a business that his parents started in 1931.

He was one of the founders of Mississippi Action for Progress, which was the parent organization in our State for Head Start. Mr. Young is also one of the founders of the Greater Meridian Health Clinic, which operates in six locations and has a mobile dental lab.

He is a member of Newell Chapel C.M.E. Church, and he sponsors a tennis camp for over 100 children each year.

Mr. President, I commend Representative Young for his exemplary citizenship and service to the residents of Lauderdale Country and the State of Mississippi. I am proud to be his friend.

Mr. President, the hurricanes of last summer brought new demands on all of our nation's rescue resources. The needs of children, particularly young children and their families, are unique and not a part of local and national recovery plans. Mental health, physical needs, day care, education, and family separation continue to be needs that for communities to address.

The National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives and the non-profit Save the Children, continue to lead the focused on the special needs of children. While assessing damages and recording destroyed facilities, the Rural Early Childhood center and Save the Children, with assistance from others, also developed a plan for future disasters.

Today I am introducing a Senate concurrent resolution that expresses the sense of the Senate that the Federal Emergency Management Agency should consider the unique needs of children and consider the recent experiences, suggestions and solutions of organizations and research centers. We ought to support the incorporation of child-specific needs and concerns into the National Response Plan. The Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Landrieu, is cosponsoring this resolution. We invite all Senators to join us.

S. Con. Res. 94

Whereas major disasters resulting in Presidential disaster

declarations in the United States have increased from an

average of 38 per year in the 1980s, to 46 per year in the

1990s, to 52 per year during the first half of this decade;

Whereas the occurrence of major disasters in the United

States is expected to continue to increase in the foreseeable

future;

Whereas the number of people in the United States affected

by disasters each year is a staggering 2,000,000 to 3,000,000

as measured by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (even

outside of truly catastrophic events as occurred on the Gulf

Coast in 2005);

Whereas 5,192 children were reported missing or displaced

to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as a

result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and it took 6 \1/2\

months to reunite the last child separated from her family;

Whereas the most serious of such cases were those 45

children arriving at shelters separated from parents or

guardians with no adult supervision and it took more than 1

month to resolve all of those cases;

Whereas 1,100 schools were closed immediately following

Hurricane Katrina and 372,000 schoolchildren were initially

unable to attend school in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast due

to the hurricane;

Whereas in Mississippi 7 percent and in Louisiana 21

percent of elementary schools and secondary schools remained

closed 6 months after Hurricane Katrina;

Whereas more than 400,000 children under the age of 5 live

in or have evacuated from counties or parishes that have been

declared disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management

Agency;

Whereas the numbers of licensed child care facilities in

areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita declined by 4

percent (54 facilities) in Mississippi and by 25 percent (356

facilities) in Louisiana after the storms;

Whereas children are known to benefit from rapid mental

health programming following disasters to mitigate longer

term impacts;

Whereas the existing system of disaster management in the

United States is the purview of Federal, State, and local

government emergency management organizations and the

disaster management programs and activities of these

organizations are not mandated nor are able to fully respond

to the unique needs of children;

Whereas Federal, State, and local government emergency

management professionals lack the technical knowledge,

support, and contacts to address the unique needs of children

that need to be incorporated into such professionals'

disaster management programs and activities; and

Whereas existing legislative constraints on Federal

disaster response and recovery aid programs restrict disaster

officials from responding to the specific needs of children

in a disaster and there is no government liaison or program

concerning children's issues in disasters: Now, therefore, be

it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives

concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) the needs of children and youth affected by major

disasters are unique and should be given special

consideration in planning, responding, and recovering to

major disasters; and

(2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency should consult

with appropriate child-focused non-governmental organizations

and public university national research centers with

experience in addressing the needs of children in major

disasters to address the needs of children and youth in

disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation,

including by--

(A) incorporating suggestions from such organizations on

children's issues into the National Response Plan;

(B) seeking the recommendations of such organizations on

how to address the needs of children in emergency shelters,

trailer parks, and transitional housing sites;

(C) jointly developing child-, family-, early childhood

service-, and school-focused disaster preparedness materials

to support understanding of the impact of disasters on

children and strategies to mitigate them; and

(D) jointly developing risk assessment tools for

communities to use in determining children's specific

disaster risks.

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, what is the regular order?

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I first thank very sincerely the distinguished Senator from West Virginia for his good help and assistance, his guidance and his leadership in the development and passage of this bill. We have been called upon, as he points out, to provide emergency supplemental funding for war costs, providing the Department of Defense and the Department of State with funding in accounts that have been devoted to that cause and that effort. It is very important to the protection of the security interests of the people of the United States. So this is an important measure we are taking up today and moving to final passage.

Under the order that was entered last evening, there would be 10 minutes allocated to the Senator from West Virginia and to this Senator, and then there would be consecutive votes on or in relation to two amendments, one which is being offered by the Senator from South Dakota, Mr. Thune, the other by the Senator from Louisiana, Mr. Vitter, as modified, without intervening action or debate, and that following those votes, the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the bill without intervening action or debate. So the order provides for no debate today but just votes on the final two amendments that have been held for votes now.

There have been several other amendments which have been cleared, but I am going to ask unanimous consent that each Senator who has an amendment that has not been considered--Senator Thune and Senator Vitter--be given 2 minutes each to describe their amendments and that the managers of the bill likewise be given 2 minutes each on each amendment, if comments are needed, by the managers of the bill.

I have no objection to that.

I thank the Senator for her comments. Let me also point out how helpful Senator Murray has been in the handling of this legislation. She has served at the request of the Senator from West Virginia as the floor manager during much of the consideration of this bill and has done a truly outstanding job in helping to explain the provisions of the bill, as reported by the committee, and debating amendments and helping guide this measure to the point of passage where it is right now.

Before yielding the floor to those who have amendments, let me use the remainder of my 10 minutes by presenting to the Senate some amendments that have been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

Amendment No. 3753

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3753 on behalf of Ms. Landrieu regarding hurricane disaster-related housing assistance.

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

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3677 on behalf of Mr. Voinovich regarding Rickenbacker Airport in Ohio.

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

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3819 on behalf of Mr. Vitter regarding fishery finance program loans.

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

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, a modification has been sent to the desk.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider an amendment on behalf of Mr. Byrd regarding the availability of previously appropriated funds to the Health Resources and Services Administration. The amendment has been sent to the desk.

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

Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3592 on behalf of Mr. Reed regarding Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, RI.

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

Mr. President, a modification has been sent to the desk.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3729 on behalf of Mr. Chafee regarding Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, RI.

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

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3761 on behalf of Mr. Baucus regarding transportation contract authority.

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

I ask unanimous consent that Senator Burns be added as a cosponsor of that amendment.

I thank the Chair.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Finally, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3805 on behalf of Mr. Bennett regarding sign repair and replacement.

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

Mr. President, a modification has been sent to the desk.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, that concludes the requests for consideration of amendments by the Chair. There are two remaining amendments to be considered, one by Senator Thune and one by Senator Vitter. I am happy to yield the floor to them to describe their amendments. I will have a comment about Mr. Thune's amendment. It is my hope that we can adopt the Vitter amendment on a voice vote. I know of no objection to it. The Thune amendment does have objections and will require a recorded vote. So that is for the information of Senators.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, the Thune amendment will reduce the funding for the National Civilian Community Corps by $20 million. These funds are needed to pay the expenses of training and subsistence for those who have volunteered to provide emergency assistance in the gulf coast region, to help disaster victims recover from the destruction caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

There have been over 1,600 National Civilian Community Corps members in my State of Mississippi since August 30, the day after Hurricane Katrina struck our coast. They continue to provide essential assistance. The State of Mississippi put our State office of the National Civilian Community Corps in charge of the emergency 24-hour call center, as well as supply distribution centers. To date, the National Civilian Community Corps has assisted 1,140,000 people; cleaned out 1,500 homes; contributed nearly 2,000 tons of food and 2,790 tons of clothing; served 1 million meals; refurbished 732 homes; supported 654 emergency response centers; and completed 1,730 damage assessments.

The volunteers of the National Civilian Community Corps receive about $4,000 for college expenses. They are modestly housed, fed, and provided with health care and uniforms. They remain available at a moment's notice for deployment to any emergency in the country. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, and others depend upon this group of professionally trained volunteers for assistance and support.

The thousands of volunteers who are helping care for children and helping the gulf coast recover and rebuild are the backbone of the progress being made in the hurricane-damaged region of our country. They give hope to our families, and I urge the Senate to reject the Thune amendment.

I request the yeas and nays.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

amendment no. 3704

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

salmon spawning

The Senator is certainly right that these are very difficult budgetary times. Funds for nondefense discretionary programs are particularly constrained, while the demand for those funds has not slackened one bit. Having said that, I appreciate the Senator acquainting me with the challenges facing fishing communities on the Oregon coast, and I will work with him and the subcommittee Chairman Shelby and try to identify an appropriate federal response for affected communities.

Have the yeas and nays been ordered, Mr. President?

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Washington for her kind remarks and for her leadership and assistance in getting this bill prepared by our committee, and for handling the duties of managing the bill on the floor of the Senate.

Senator Byrd, of course, the senior Democrat on the committee, has been an inspiration to me and a true leader in every sense of the word in our committee and in the Senate for a long

time. He continues to be a very important friend to me. I am very grateful for that friendship. I join Senator Murray in commending our staff. But, first of all, I think I should mention my appreciation for the majority leader, Bill Frist; and Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, for giving us the latitude and the authority to manage this bill on the floor of the Senate for the Committee on Appropriations to help ensure that every Senator had an opportunity to speak and offer amendments, to be a part of the passage of this bill in every sense of the word. We appreciate the leaders giving us that authority and for not trying to manage the bill from their offices. I really appreciate that.

Also, I have to commend the staff members on our side: Keith Kennedy, staff director, who has been working in the Senate for the Appropriations Committee for a good many years. He has a lot of experience. He is a person of great integrity, and I am very fortunate that he has agreed to serve as staff director of this committee and continue to provide guidance and supervision for all of the members of the staff of the Committee on Appropriations.

We are very proud of all of the staff. Those who have been particularly helpful to me during the handling of this bill, in addition to Keith, include Clayton Heil, our counsel for the committee, who has been on the floor of the Senate for much of the handling of the bill; Les Spivey, who is also a member of the full committee staff, he does a good job as well. I guess you could say he is our token Mississippian who is on the first team of the committee staff.

Terry Sauvain has been someone with whom I have enjoyed working for a number of years. He has worked closely with Senator Byrd for a good many years. We appreciate Terry's continued good assistance, particularly in the handling of this bill.

Chuck Keiffer and Peter Rogoff--Peter works for Senator Murray on the committee staff and has a lot of experience. He has been very helpful to us as we have managed this bill in the Senate.

I thank David Schiappa, Laura Dove, and Jodie Hernandez. They have been at the desk keeping up with all of the amendments, colloquies, and order of business, and keeping people advised through cloakroom telephones and answering Member's questions when they come onto the Senate floor. They go to that spot and ask for the pending business or what the order of amendments may be. They have been absolutely professional and diligent and helpful in every way.

On the Democratic side, I thank Marty Paone and Lula Davis for helping to keep up with things for the Democrats and helping to provide advice and counsel to all of us who have been involved in the handling of this bill. We are deeply grateful for their assistance.

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

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 know of no Senators seeking recognition for discussing the amendment any further. The amendment has been described by the distinguished Senator from New Jersey. The Senate is well aware of its intent. These are funds that are being directed to the situation in Darfur in the Sudan. There is a U.N. mission there with responsibilities for helping to deal with the misery and challenges to life that exist there.

I ask the author of the amendment if that is the purpose of the amendment? It is money that would go for the purpose of supporting the work of the U.N. mission in Darfur?

I thank the distinguished Senator for his explanation and his description of the language.

I know of no requests for yeas and nays on the amendment. I suggest we proceed to a voice vote.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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 am pleased to bring to the attention of the Senate several amendments that have been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

First, I call up amendment No. 3612 on behalf of Mr. McConnell regarding assistance for the West Bank in Gaza.

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

There is a modification of the amendment at the desk.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3719 on behalf of Mr. Biden and others regarding the Sudan.

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

There is a modification of the amendment at the desk.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3823 on behalf of Mr. Leahy regarding Colombia.

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

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3798 on behalf of Mr. Kennedy regarding the AmeriCorps Segal awards.

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

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3746 on behalf of Mr. Lieberman which makes a technical correction to the bill.

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

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3699 on behalf of Mr. Cornyn regarding the distribution of CDBG funds.

Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared on both sides, and we urge its adoption.

Mr. President, I thank the Senate for its cooperation in moving forward on this bill. As others may know, there have been two amendments that I know of that were going to be debated and voted on this morning which have been withdrawn. We are making good progress in the consideration of Senators' amendments. If Senators have amendments, this is the time now to let us know.

As you know, we are under cloture. We are not going to permit nongermane amendments to be brought up. So there will be objections made as a general proposition to accelerate the further discussion and consideration of this bill. We hope to complete action on the bill today. That certainly is possible with the fact that Senators are proceeding to let us know about their amendments that are germane. There is a list of amendments Senators have told us about that we expect to be called up. This is the time to do that. So we urge Senators to help us proceed on an orderly basis to complete action on the bill today.

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

Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I am checking with the chairman and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services to see what the reaction is to the amendment. They are having a hearing as we speak over in the Appropriations Committee. So I feel obliged to get their advice and counsel as to what response ought to be made, if any, to the Senator's amendment. We have no objection to proceeding or to having a vote on the amendment, but the Senate is entitled to know what the reaction might be.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator very much for that indulgence. If there are others who wish to offer amendments, I am prepared to ask unanimous consent to temporarily lay aside the amendment of the Senator from Massachusetts to permit other amendments to be offered. I do ask unanimous consent for that.

Mr. President, to respond to the Senator's comments, in looking at the list of amendments that are not germane, these two amendments appear to be not germane postcloture and therefore not in order. We are checking to see what the reaction is from the authorizing committee. What that would amount to is this is an authorization that has not been approved. The language amounts to an authorization of a water project that has not been approved by the committee that has legislative jurisdiction over the issues. So we are awaiting a response and a reaction from the legislative committee to the amendments.

I suggest we move on to other amendments that may be in order. The Kennedy amendment was temporarily laid aside so the Senator could discuss her two amendments. Having done so, I think we can return to the Kennedy amendment and then let the Senate work its will on that amendment. The Senator from Massachusetts has asked for the yeas and nays on his amendment, and we could proceed to a vote.

We were trying to get a reaction from the chairman of the appropriations subcommittee having jurisdiction over the pandemic influenza vaccine issue, the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations subcommittee. They are having a hearing right now and we haven't had a response to our inquiry about the reaction. We also think the leaders are entitled to notice that this could be subject to a recorded vote to get the reaction as to whether this is the time to do that or if they are available to discuss it, if the leader wants to discuss the issue. So awaiting those advices, 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 understand that two other amendments have now been cleared for the consideration of the Senate.

Amendment No. 3713, As Modified

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to call up amendment No. 3713.

Mr. President, this is an amendment that was offered last evening by the distinguished Senator from North Carolina, Mr. Burr. As I say, it has been cleared on both sides. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be modified with the modifications at the desk.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I now advise that we can call up an amendment of Senator Kennedy regarding democracy in Iraq.

Amendment No. 3686, As Modified

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3686, on behalf of Senator Kennedy and others, regarding democracy in Iraq.

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

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

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

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

Mr. President, the Senator is correct. It is the intention the pending amendment be set aside so we can consider Kennedy amendment No. 3688, as modified, upon which the yeas and nays have been ordered. I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Massachusetts be recognized until the hour of 12 o'clock, at which time we will have a vote.

Madam President, reserving the right to object, I do so only for the purpose of checking to be sure that this is an amendment that has not been made out of order because of the invocation of cloture by the Senate.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Madam President, continuing to reserve the right to object, it is my understanding this amounts to legislation and may be subject to a point of order. For that reason, authorization of basing on a permanent basis in a foreign country--it is not an appropriation of funds, as I understand it. It is strictly legislation and may very well be subject to a point of order.

I withdraw my reservation.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

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

Mr. President, some housekeeping items have been cleared on both sides.

Amendment Nos. 3618, 3619, 3714, and 3716, withdrawn

I ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendment No. 3618, the subject of which was addressed by division II of Coburn amendment No. 3641.

I also ask unanimous consent to withdraw amendments numbered 3619, 3714, and 3716.

Mr. President, what is the pending business?

Amendment No. 3855

I think we are ready to proceed to agree to that on a voice vote.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, we continue to make good progress. We hope to complete action either this evening or tomorrow on the bill. It could be, in consultation with the leader, possible to complete action on the bill today and have a vote on final passage tomorrow if we are going to go a little late this evening, but we don't anticipate a late evening. We hope to be able to adjourn at a reasonable hour. With the cooperation of Senators, we can do that.

We have cloture, which has been invoked, which limits amendments for consideration to germane amendments. We have entered into colloquies and we think some of these amendments are going to be withdrawn. We hope if Senators have an intention of disposing of their amendments, if they want a vote, now is a good time to come to the floor and make that request known. We can dispose of those amendments.

We urge the cooperation of Senators, and if we get to some point, we may offer amendments for Senators, if they are in order and pending and have not yet been called up. As a matter of notice, we intend to press ahead and complete action on the bill within a reasonable time. And we will, with the cooperation of all Senators.

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

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

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

Mr. President, there are some Senators who are in a meeting with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State. We are not going to go to a vote right now because of that conflict with some Senators. But we have an opportunity for those who want to speak on this amendment or any other pending amendment that has not been adequately discussed at this point.

Let me say with regard to the amendment of the Senator from Arizona that I can remember in my State time and time again when we have had severe weather disasters; wet-weather-related disasters. The pecan growers, in particular, would inevitably have a difficult time making a case for the losses they sustained when Federal disasters have been declared and eligibility for Federal assistance had been promised because it is not the kind of program crop, so-called, such as cotton, rice, wheat, corn, that are traditionally supported by Federal programs.

It almost takes someone at the local level who understands yield, production, and how records are kept where the State governments are much better situated in those States to have knowledge and understanding of the crops and of the values of trees and the crops they produce. Peaches is another example. In my part of Mississippi where I grew up, we had a good many peach orchards. We had a good many pecan orchards. And those who live in the rural areas of our State traditionally depend upon these crops to help sustain them.

We are talking about not the kind of agriculture that produces millions of dollars of income but small amounts of income to supplement family needs. Workers in the area can move from orchard to orchard volunteering to help harvest these crops.

I can remember as a young boy my grandparents who lived near Utica, MS, would traditionally kind of let the word go throughout the community that they were going to be picking up pecans on a certain day. And some of the workers would come and pick up pecans and in payment would get part of the pecans. They would get a part of the harvest. That was the payment. Money was short.

We are not talking about wealthy landowners. We are talking about subsistence production in many cases which will qualify for the benefits under this title. If this amendment is approved, they won't get anything.

These funds are going to the States so that at the local level a determination can be made as to the amount of compensation and support those who are disaster victims in these areas of agriculture are entitled to receive.

I am hopeful the Senate will reject this amendment. I just spoke to two parts of it--orchards and the pecan trees--because from my personal experience I know a little bit about that.

But driving through my State after these disasters, I can testify to the widespread damage to orchards, to pine forests on which people depend for their livelihood.

In that part of the State where the storm's destruction was the greatest, there is very little of the traditional large cotton plantation areas. That is not that part of the State. That would be up in the mid to northern part of the State along the Mississippi Delta. That is where the heavy production of cotton is. It may be up in the prairie area of northeast Mississippi and north central Mississippi.

Where this storm's destruction was the heaviest, there are a lot of people who lost pecan orchards, trees, or peach orchards.

Dairy farms were seriously damaged, and dairy is included in this part of the title. Beef cattle production and those things that are grown to sustain those herds of cattle and to feed them were damaged severely.

I am hopeful the Senate will understand that this is not something that the committee made up, either. I am not making this up. These are the facts as I saw them and that I can say to the Senate justify the inclusion of these funds in this bill.

I urge the Senate to reject the amendment.

Mr. President, I rise to simply advise the Senator that I am told by staff that the authorizing committee has some concerns with the amendment and would oppose proceeding to a vote on the amendment at this time without the opportunity of discussing it with other Senators.

That is the reason I didn't raise my hand to authorize the yeas and nays. I have no objection to the yeas and nays being ordered, but I didn't want us to proceed to a vote without the benefit of the advice and counsel of the legislative committee that sent word they have some concerns about the amendment. I don't know what the concerns are.

As I reminded the Senate a moment ago, there is a meeting with the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State. Some Senators are at that meeting and I don't want to unnecessarily infringe on their interests by having a recorded vote as they are meeting on subjects of this legislation. This is a bill that funds the Department of Defense and the Department of State with supplemental appropriations to help pay for ongoing activities in the Middle East. This is a very important subject for Senators to understand at this particular time.

I am sympathetic to their situation and think they should be able to question the Secretaries about the use of funds in this bill and the general situation in the area where we are fighting the war on terror and trying to protect the security interests of our country.

Having said all of that, I don't want to slow down the Senate's consideration of legislation, but I hope we would not proceed to a vote on either the McCain amendment at this time or the Vitter amendment. We can wait until a little later. We will be on the bill for the balance of the afternoon. We hope to complete action on the bill at least by tomorrow morning. We appreciate the cooperation of all Senators and particularly those who are helping identify things that need to be addressed in this bill because of the devastating disasters that occurred in the southeast and the gulf coast region. They need the money now. We are not trying to slow down the action on the bill. We will not do that.

I thank the Senators from Louisiana for understanding and hope they will not push for a vote right now.

Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, we understand the meeting with Senators and the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense is still going on. We are advised that a good time for the vote on the McCain amendment would be about 3:30. You are getting wound up.

Mr. President, there are two amendments that have been cleared for consideration by the Senate.

Amendment No. 3605

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order to call up and consider amendment No. 3605 on behalf of Mr. Lott regarding Armed Forces retirement home.

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

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3657 on behalf of Senator Leahy and others regarding international disaster and famine assistance and hurricane relief.

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

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

Mr. President, this amendment is offset by a reduction in foreign economic assistance.

No, it is not. If the Senator will yield, as I understand it, it shifts funds from a foreign economic assistance account to an account to provide disaster assistance in Guatemala for damages and expenses sustained in a hurricane.

My reading is that it transfers money from a foreign economic assistance account to one that provides disaster assistance for damages sustained in Guatemala as a result of a hurricane-- Hurricane Stan I think was the name of it.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I am advised that we are now prepared to go to a vote on the McCain amendment. For that purpose, I ask for the regular order.

Amendment No. 3616

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

Mr. President, I have been advised that the Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, wants to speak on the amendment and is on his way to the floor to do so. So awaiting his arrival, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I am advised that the Senator from Arizona also wants to speak to the amendment that has just been offered. So unless there is someone else who seeks recognition at this time, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

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

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

Mr. President, I make a point of order en bloc against a list of amendments on the grounds that they are not germane under rule XXII. The amendments are as follows:

Warner amendment No. 3620; Vitter amendment No. 3628, as modified; Wyden amendment No. 3665; Santorum amendment No. 3640, as modified; Salazar amendment No. 3645; Vitter amendment No. 3668; Obama amendment No. 3693; Obama amendment No. 3694; Obama amendment No. 3695; Obama amendment No. 3697; Menendez amendment No. 3675; Conrad amendment No. 3715; Levin amendment No. 3710; Schumer amendment No. 3723; Schumer amendment No. 3724; Cornyn amendment No. 3722; Cornyn amendment No. 3672; Byrd amendment No. 3708; Landrieu amendment No. 3750; and Landrieu amendment No. 3752.

Mr. President, I raise a point of order against these amendments, that they are not germane under rule XXII.

All the amendments that I read?

My understanding is that the Chair sustains the point of order.

I thank the Chair.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes the supplemental appropriations bill tomorrow morning, the Senate proceed to consider votes on or in relation to the following, with no intervening action or debate or second-degree amendments:

Thune amendment No. 3705, and Vitter amendment No. 3728, as modified.

I further ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage with no intervening action or debate; provided further that following passage, the Senate insist on its amendments and request a conference with the House, and the Chair then be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate.

Yes. I say to the Senator from Wisconsin that I do recall that discussion.

I thank the Senator from Wisconsin for expressing his concerns and for providing the specific information regarding the effect of energy costs on agriculture. The Senator is correct, we will be under tremendous pressure in conference to limit the amount of spending in this bill. We all know how important the farming economy is to this country and how badly farm income is being impaired by high energy costs. I would tell my friend from Wisconsin that I will work with him, and other Senators, to make sure that all farmers are treated fairly. The Senator's point about the costs affecting dairy producers, along with the others he mentioned, is well taken, and I hope an accommodation can be made to make sure all these farmers are treated equitably.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. in closed session to mark up the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at 3:30 p.m. to hold a hearing on Nominations.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 3, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet tomorrow, May 3, 2006 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. in Dirksen 106 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Airland be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at 10 a.m. in closed session to mark up the Airland Programs and provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Product Safety, and Insurance be authorized to meet on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., on Pool Safety.

The PRESIDING. OFFICER Without objection, it is so ordered.

Subcommittee on Seapower

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Seapower be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 3, 2006, at 9 a.m. in closed session to mark up the Seapower programs and provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at 11:30 a.m. in closed session to mark up the Strategic Forces programs and provisions contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President, I commend the distinguished Senator from Oregon for his comments and his leadership on these issues that are so important to our forestry owners and people throughout the States who depend on incomes from those jobs.

I ask unanimous consent I be permitted to call up amendments at this point.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3769 on behalf of Mr. Domenici regarding levee funding. This amendment has been cleared on both sides of the aisle, and I urge it be agreed to.

I move to reconsider the vote and I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Amendment No. 3789

I call up amendment No. 3789 on behalf of Mrs. Hutchison regarding treatment of Hurricane Rita States.

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

Mr. President I urge agreement of the amendment. It has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. President, we are at a point in the proceedings at the hour of 11 o'clock to vote on cloture on the bill. I urge Senators to support this motion to bring to a close debate on the provisions of the supplemental appropriations bill so that we may proceed to consider other amendments that are pending and dispose of that measure.

It is an urgent supplemental. It contains emergency funding for the Department of Defense, the Department of State, as well as disaster assistance for the gulf State regions and elsewhere for natural disaster damages and destruction.

Cloture Motion

Mr. President, this provision was included in the committee bill in the agricultural disaster title of the supplemental because of severe weather-related damage to Hawaii's sugarcane crop this year.

Hawaii sustained heavy rains and flooding from February 20 through April 2, devastating and destroying public and private property. The funds were considered by the committee to be necessary to assist sugarcane farmers through their cooperatives with cane crop losses.

They also sustained damage to their irrigation canal systems, and there were public roads that were washed out resulting from the heavy rains.

I support the position of the Senator from Hawaii on this amendment and urge the amendment be defeated.

Mr. President, I object.

Reserving the right to object, No. 3626 is listed on one list of amendments I have as having been passed.

It is pending. It is a community disaster loan limits amendment.

Because of some question as to whether this is cleared on the Democratic side, 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 am sympathetic to the Senator's concerns, that he expressed. As I understand the point he makes, it is that we should not create a situation where a shipbuilder can both get disaster funds from the Federal Government and insurance benefits from hurricane coverage and, thereby, be unjustly enriched by getting money from two different sources for one disaster.

The language of the general provision, which the Senator purports to amend with this amendment, prevents a shipbuilder from getting double payment, in effect. The Senator's amendment strikes the provision and the language in the provision which guarantees that.

I think there is no disagreement between us as to what the outcome ought to be. What we are trying to do is reduce costs to the U.S. Navy and, thereby, to the U.S. taxpayers for future shipbuilding activity by reimbursing the shipbuilder for damages caused by the hurricane, purely and simply. There is no effort to prevent the shipbuilder from recovering what it is entitled to recover from the insurance companies that had coverage in this situation.

But the fact is, you could not get insurance coverage for all of the damages done by the hurricane, only some. The policy defines the obligation. The contract, in effect, between the shipbuilder and the insurance company defines what benefits the shipbuilders are entitled to receive. And these contracts are being honored, some maybe not as generously as the shipbuilder would like. But that is something to be reserved between the shipbuilder and the insurance carrier. And if litigation develops and is resorted to as a way to resolve that, so be it; that happens.

But what we are seeking to do is to acknowledge that the shipbuilder was impeded by the hurricane from proceeding under contracts that it had with the Navy to hire and make available workers on a reliable, predictable schedule that would ensure the ships' future construction on time under the contract.

Some of those costs cannot get reimbursed from the insurance company. There are provisions in the insurance agreements that prohibit the collection of benefits for some of those costs that were caused directly by the hurricane.

So what we have attempted to do is to work with the Navy, consult with the shipbuilder, and try to provide authority in this supplemental bill to help control costs of ships, now and in the future, with a possibility of insurance proceeds offsetting Government costs. Or we can exclude this provision, as the Senator is trying to do, and pay the resulting higher costs through higher taxes, more appropriations to help pay the costs to the Navy to pay for the ships.

To me, I think this amendment reflects a difference in understanding of what the language of the supplemental seeks to accomplish. We do not disagree with the motivation of the Senator from Oklahoma. We applaud his effort to review carefully and make sure we are not ``wasting'' money in this supplemental, that the taxpayer is benefiting, not a shipbuilder being unjustly or inappropriately enriched. I guarantee you that is not the purpose of the assistance that is provided in this section of the bill, this general provision of the bill.

Here is what it seeks to do. And we think it does do this: The general provision adjusts ship contract target costs for the effects of Hurricane Katrina. It provides the U.S. Navy with reimbursement of future shipbuilder insurance receipts. And it makes clear that payments made by the Government to the shipbuilder could not be treated as collateral insurance coverage and could not be used as a reason for insurers not to honor their policy obligations.

That is the purpose of the general provision. I challenge anybody to disagree with that purpose as laudable, as important, and as fair to the taxpayers, to the shipbuilder, and to the insurance companies that have coverage.

This provision was included because it is clear that the impact for delaying the recapitalization of the shipyards will have long-term negative impacts to the Navy's shipbuilding program by making ships more expensive and taking longer to build.

We can provide this authority now to help control the costs of ships, and with the possibility of insurance proceeds offsetting Government costs, or we can exclude this provision and pay for the resulting higher costs of ships.

And note this. The estimated cost of this provision is $140 million, to be paid from within the $2.7 billion the President requested in the shipbuilding account. Hear that? The President requested $2.7 billion in his submission in this request. And a 3- to 6-month shipyard recapitalization delay is estimated to cost $300 to $600 million in increased ship costs.

This is serious business. You can pay me now or pay me later. I guess that is the way to say it. But the whole point is, we can appropriate this money in this supplemental that the President requested. We have identified the part that is going to be used to pay the costs of this amendment.

So in response to Hurricane Katrina and the disaster that resulted to the region, the President requested over $2\1/2\ billion--$1 billion in this supplemental and $1.7 billion in the last supplemental--in the Shipbuilding and Conversion Navy account to address these ordinary costs to replace destroyed or damaged equipment, prepare and recover naval vessels under contract, and, most relevant to this debate, provide for cost adjustments for naval vessels for which funds have been previously appropriated.

So what happened is the President's request did not address or take into account all costs associated with Katrina. So a general provision was added to adjust an existing Navy ship contract's target costs for the effects of Hurricane Katrina. It ensures the industry does not receive redundant funding from the Government and insurance companies. But--guess what--the amendment offered by the Senator, my friend, deletes this provision. That should not be done.

The focus of this supplemental is to provide disaster relief and recovery for hurricanes, including Katrina. Katrina caused the costs of ships that were already under contract with the Navy to increase. Increased costs were occurring because of the disaster.

The provision included in the bill does not impose additional costs. Instead, it directs that all costs be paid from within the $2.7 billion shipbuilding account requested by the President to address the hurricane recovery costs.

In my view, the Senate needs to reject the amendment of the Senator. Let's carry forward in this bill this general provision.

Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, he is absolutely correct. There is, in this general provision, a reference to the $2.7 billion that is contained in the President's request

submitted to the Congress, a request that we appropriate that amount. He is right. We are not creating new funding in this provision but trying to spell out what that funding should be used for.

The Senator is correct. It will not result in a double payment, in effect, to the shipbuilder, of course. And any insurance proceeds that offset the Government's costs are excluded specifically from this provision.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. President, I was going to ask the Senator if he knows of any objection. I was advised that there is one Senator who has indicated opposition to the amendment. I am a member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian. I have a high regard for the work that is done there. Listening to the description of the Senator from North Carolina, I am inclined to support the amendment. But in view of the fact that there is at least one Senator with a contrary view, I think we ought not go forward without giving him an opportunity to come and express his concerns, if he would like to have an opportunity to do so. My hope would be that we could put in a quorum and see if there is a need to discuss it further; otherwise, I suggest that we accept it on a voice vote.

Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator, my colleague from Mississippi, for his contribution to this discussion. I think he made a very compelling argument for the fact that we need to provide funds in this bill with direction to proceed to work on a new facility for these veterans. That is the point. That is why included in this bill is a committee recommendation of $176 million.

The language specifically suggests that this be used to construct a new, multibuilding, campus-style facility on the site occupied by the former Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS. I think that is the key, and that was brought out by my good friend and colleague from Mississippi. That is the point.

It is the sense of our committee and those familiar with this facility that it should remain in the Gulfport, MS, area. The mayor of Gulfport came up to see me to talk about his concerns, his interests, and his ideas. I know he talked with Senator Lott and probably other members of our delegation. I want to help him achieve his goal for having the facility rebuilt, using the best measures that we can to be sure we get a good result for the dollars that we invest, and we don't waste money. We don't want to do that. We don't want to just throw a lot of money out there and let the home spend it without any guidance or restraint.

I am very committed, though, to the notion that we ought to have a provision with some money and these directions in the bill. I don't think the House has included anything like this. We are going to have to negotiate with the House when we get to conference. I don't know what their ideas would be, but I want to be able to have at least the commitment of the Senate behind our effort to do what is said in this report.

It could be $176 million. If the Senator wants to change it to $166 million or $120 million--I don't know what the right number is. But it shows a commitment to proceed with funds available to hire some people to get the work done. This is what Senator Lott's point is. Nothing has been done. We have to get somebody moving, get an architect selected, come together with a plan, and then we will see whether we can fund it. But at least we have enough money in here to show we are serious about rebuilding it, that we are making this investment, and we will monitor the use of the money and try our best to be sure that every dollar is well spent. That is my goal.

The Armed Services Committee has oversight responsibility. That is the legislative committee. So they can help monitor and follow the progress as well. But I hope we won't strike the money and just say this is a bad idea and we are not going to do anything else. That is unacceptable. That is totally unacceptable.

Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I hope that the Senate could accept this on a voice vote. I don't know that we need to have a rollcall vote. It seems to me to be an amendment that should be accepted by the Senate. It calls for the use of--my piece of paper says $50 million, and I heard the Senator say $30 million, or did I hear him wrong?

So the bill as reported from our committee was $20 million, and this adds $30 million?

Mr. President, I am willing to urge the Senate to accept the amendment. There is clearly a need for funding, and we will have an opportunity to monitor this carefully to be sure that money is not wasted. But clearly, the devastation to timberland and forestry resources is immense. It is indescribable. You have to see it. You can drive along hundreds of miles of forestlands in the region, and it is staggering, the amount of destruction that has occurred.

I compliment the Senator and thank him for offering the amendment and assure him of my support and recommendation that we accept it.

Mr. President, I move to lay that motion on the table.

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 there now be a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry be authorized to conduct a full committee hearing during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in SH-216, Hart Senate Office Building. The purpose of this hearing will be to review the implementation of the Peanut Provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 10 a.m. for a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Committee Reports: Report of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs titled, ``Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared.''

Legislation: S. 2459, GreenLane Maritime Cargo Security Act; H.R. 2066, General Services Administration Modernization Act.

Nominations: Uttam Dhillon to be Director of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Mark Acton to be Commissioner, Postal Rate Commission.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``FBI Oversight'' on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Witness List:

Panel I: The Honorable Robert S. Mueller, III, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

Panel II: The Honorable Glenn A. Fine, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC; Linda M. Calbom, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC; John Gannon, Ph.D, Vice President for Global Analysis, BAE Systems Information Technology, former Staff Director of the House Homeland Security Committee, McLean, VA.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 4 p.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Judiciary Nominations'' on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 4 p.m. in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in closed session to mark up the emerging threats and capabilities programs and provisions contained in the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. in closed session to mark up the readiness and management support programs and provisions contained in the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on personnel be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. in closed session to mark up the personnel programs and provisions contained in the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Science and Space be authorized to meet on Tuesday, May 2, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., on NSF.

Reserving the right to object, a moment ago a Senator asked unanimous consent to do that. That Senator is now the Presiding Officer. Someone objected to his request. I am going to object to this request because of that earlier objection.

Mr. President, there are several amendments that have been cleared on both sides of the aisle. Consequently, I call up amendment No. 3676 on behalf of Mr. Bennett regarding the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.

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

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3711, on behalf of Mr. Nelson of Florida, regarding Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida.

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

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3774, on behalf of Mrs. Hutchison, regarding a clarification of funds for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3702, on behalf of Mr. Chambliss, regarding a review of Department of Defense mortuary affairs.

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3644, on behalf of Mr. Salazar, regarding an IED training report.

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

Mr. President, that concludes the list of amendments that

had been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

Knowing of no one seeking recognition, 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, there are several amendments that have been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

I call up amendment No. 3597 on behalf of Senator Lugar and others regarding the State Department personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3661 on behalf of Senator Leahy regarding notification requirements.

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

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

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3663 on behalf of Senator Leahy regarding a technical correction.

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

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

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 there now be a period for the transaction of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Monday, May 1 at 2:30 p.m. The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony regarding the economic and environmental issues associated with coal gasification technology and on implementation of the provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 addressing coal gasification.