Mr. President, Senator Risch and I are here today--in fact, I note we are joined on the floor by our former colleague Senator Larry Craig--to honor one of Idaho's greatest statesmen who passed away on Saturday. We rise to honor the…

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Idaho Small Business Development Center for its 25 years of supporting small business in Idaho. The Idaho Small Business Development Center has a rich tradition of service to small business all…

I want to briefly speak about the impact the overbearing Environmental Protection Agency has in my district. I want to begin by relating an anecdote that illustrates the arrogant and tone-deaf attitude the EPA has taken in its attempts to…

Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to the Uni- Capitol Washington Internship Programme, UCWIP. For more than a decade, this international internship program has been enabling outstanding Australian college students to participate…

Madam President and fellow Senators, I bring you what I believe to be the first amendment to the resolution of ratification. We have had a number of amendments that have been to the actual treaty itself. We have listened to objection after…

Madam President, I join my colleague from Idaho in underscoring the difficulty we have on this issue. Most people on this floor don't have a full appreciation of what those of us in the West have to deal with. Two out of every three acres…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To provide a condition regarding the return of…

Madam President, the compromise the Senator from Montana refers to--and he is correct, we have been intensely working on this issue to find a compromise with the administration and the affected States. The compromise he refers to would…

Madam President, I appreciate the comments of my colleague from Maryland and I appreciate working with him on the committee and I intend to continue working with him. This is an issue of utmost importance in those States in this region of…

Madam President, I will make this request on behalf of myself, Senator Risch, and the Senators from Utah, Mr. Hatch and Mr. Bennett, and the Senators from Wyoming, Mr. Enzi and Mr. Barrasso. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on…

Madam President, I wish to rise to speak about an issue that has been at the center of debate in the northern Rockies for quite some time; that is, the issue of the wolf. The wolf was introduced into the northern Rockies in the 1990s and…

Madam President, first of all, to my good friend from Maryland, I agree with much of what he said about our relationship and the relationship between Georgia and Russia. I will speak about that in the next amendment I am going to offer…

Madam President, with all due respect to my good friend from Maryland, this is exactly the right vehicle to bring this up. This is a vehicle of trust, and it is a vehicle that puts some teeth in an otherwise toothless thing. As far as…

Madam President, may I claim my 19 seconds. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Idaho.

Madam President, somehow the debate about the relationship between Russia and Georgia and our relationship as far as Georgia is concerned has crept into this debate. This amendment has nothing to do with Georgia, other than the fact that…

Madam President, I call up Risch amendment No. 4879. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

Madam President, I wish to call up amendment No. 4878. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to setting aside the pending amendment? Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The…

Mr. President, is the next vote going to be on this amendment or are the judges going to be voted on first? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct. The next vote is on the Risch amendment.