Mike Levin: “the majority leader has railed against language which does not exist in our amendment. Repeating over and over again a…”

“the majority leader has railed against language which does not exist in our amendment. Repeating over and over again a cut-and-run strategy is wrong, he tries to create the impression that that is what paragraph 7 proposes. It does not by its own terms. By repeating cutting and running enough I guess the hope is that people who don't read this language will believe that that is the language in paragraph 7. It is not. What we propose in paragraph 7 is that there be estimated dates, estimated dates if the conditions on the ground are met as the Republican and Democratic amendment both propose occur. Then give us estimated dates for a phased redeployment--estimated dates--if those conditions are met and with the understanding that unexpected contingencies may arise. That cannot be fairly characterized the way the majority leader repeatedly characterized it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has used 1 minute. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senator was necessarily absent: the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Alexander) would have voted ``nay.''”