Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to add Senator Begich as a cosponsor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I wish to again say that we have asked by unanimous consent to change this to be the McCain-Lieberman-Corker amendment, and we have also added Senators Alexander, Brown of Massachusetts, Murkowski, Johanns, Levin, and Bayh…

Mr. President, as I did yesterday on the floor, I wish to say I cannot thank, and I hope the Senate will feel the same way--I think our country will when they understand what Senator Kyl has done-- I cannot thank him enough for his…

Mr. President, I am thrilled to join with Senator McCain and Senator Lieberman in an amendment dealing with missile defense. This is a subject that has been discussed ever since this treaty was first presented. I cannot think of a better…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that cosponsors be added to Corker amendment No. 4904, as modified, as follows: Senator Lieberman, Senator Brown of Massachusetts, and Senator Murkowski. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without…

Mr. President, I wish to at this moment ask unanimous consent to change the name of the amendment to McCain-Lieberman-Corker. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Today does end the 111th Congress, which Norm Ornstein, one of the most respected historians and observers of public events, said was the most historic and productive Congress since 1965. I am proud to have been a Member of this 111th…

I would also ask unanimous consent to add Senators Johanns, Levin, and Bayh as cosponsors. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.

Mr. President, I know today is a pretty monumental day as it relates to the START treaty we have been discussing for some time, and tomorrow will be a big day in that regard too. I think there is nothing more we care about than our country…

Mr. President, the reason I want that entered into the Record, over the next 10 years, what this calls for is $86 billion--$86 billion--worth of investment throughout the seven facilities throughout our country on nuclear armaments and…

Mr. President, that letter says to the President that they will ask for the moneys necessary to modernize our nuclear arsenal; that they agree to ask for that money as part of their appropriations bill. So, then, you might say: Well, what…

Mr. President, there has been a lot of discussion about many things--and I will get to missile defense in just one moment--but I don't think there is anything, as it relates to nuclear issues, that threatens our national security more than…

Mr. President, let me conclude by saying it is obviously up to us, as Senators. We are the ones who have the right and the responsibility and the privilege to take up the types of matters we are taking up today. It is up to us to do the…

Mr. President, I would like to point out, too, just for clarification, if you look at the makeup of our Joint Chiefs--Admiral Mullen, General Cartwright, General Schwartz, General Casey, Admiral Roughead--every single one of these…

There has been a lot of discussion about the role of the Senate in this ratification. There are a lot of things that go into the ratification of a treaty. I have laid out a number of things we have discussed that are relevant to the…

Mr. President, I also ask unanimous consent to accept the modification. It is modified slightly. I want to make sure that is acceptable.

Absolutely. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report.