John Ensign: “I rise today to respond to remarks by the senior Senator from Idaho on the Senate floor procedures outlined in the…”

“I rise today to respond to remarks by the senior Senator from Idaho on the Senate floor procedures outlined in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act regarding Yucca Mountain. And I come to the floor today out of great respect for the traditions of the U.S. Senate. I am a freshman Senator. I have only been here a year. But one of the first things I did when I arrived was to seek the advice of the senior Senator from West Virginia, Senator Byrd, our very own Senate historian. I asked him for a copy of his history of the Senate which I have turned to often. I haven't had the opportunity to speak to him directly on this matter, but I turned to his books for guidance. Madam President, when you have the chance, turn to Volume II page 191, and see what Senator Byrd says about the powers of the majority leader. He says the majority leader . . . ``determines what matters or measures will be scheduled for floor action and when.'' The Senator from Idaho is planning to change that by asserting that it would be alright for any member to determine when the Yucca Mountain resolution comes to floor. he said that, ``the Nuclear Waste Policy Act provides a special statutory authority to make exception to contemporary practice.'' That is not the case. I have the act right here.…”