Tony Thurmond: “I am not going to take but just a few minutes. The point that has been raised by the able Senator is in conference now.…”

“I am not going to take but just a few minutes. The point that has been raised by the able Senator is in conference now. This is not an appropriations matter. It is in the bill we passed in the Senate. It will be decided in conference. This is not an authorization bill, this is an appropriations bill. The authorization bill that the Senate passed includes certain figures for the Marine Corps and the number of generals. The House is different. So they will decide that issue there. This is an appropriations measure, and I think it will be a mistake to even consider this here, because it will be settled in conference. The conference will determine this matter, and since it is not an appropriations matter, I suggest that we not consider it here, and I ask the able Senator if he will withdraw his amendment and let it be settled in conference?”