Joe Biden

I thank the Senator for taking another look at this critical issue and again say that I agree with him on the need to get the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Air Force to submit their overdue studies.

I had planned to offer the Violence Against Women Act as an amendment. In the meantime, the fellow with whom I have worked most on this legislation... has been Senator Hatch. He and I have been working to try to work out a compromise. We…

I wish the 5,600 troops to remain in Kosovo. That is the first part. He has done that. He says: I want them to stay. What happens if the Senate says: We are not even going to vote on it? Can the troops stay?

That is not an assumption. An assumption is if I said ``when the Senate fails to act.'' I did not say that. I said ``if'' the Senate fails to act. It is a question, not an assumption. Now, if the Senate fails to act--does not vote one way…

If I may respond, unless I misunderstand still, that is a distinction with little difference. If I understand the way the legislation reads, the President will submit a report to Congress saying, I want to stay.

Is it his understanding that if we withdraw these forces and war erupts again in Kosovo, the President needs no Congressional authorization and he is preauthorized to use whatever force is necessary to bring peace and stability back to…

Then the Senator is saying there is no damage or war, there is no American being killed now, but we are going to pull the Americans out; but if there is war and carnage, again we will put them back in?

I, as the Senator from Vermont, have been very reluctant over my 28 years in the Senate to support constitutional amendments. I think they are a matter of significant concern and should not be undertaken without significant need and only…

I rise first to compliment my senior colleague from Delaware on his effectiveness. We agree on an awful lot of things. We disagreed on this tax bill, but that in no way diminishes my admiration for his effectiveness. As a matter of fact…

I believe that we need to work towards a more peaceful and stable future for the people of the Balkans, and that requires a commitment to diplomacy and engagement with all parties in the region.

That is my answer. They are trying to stop; we are trying to start. It is a different issue.

He is correct, Mr. President. I am sounding too much like a lawyer now. From a constitutional standpoint, whether they are asked or not is irrelevant. The only relevant constitutional point--and this is getting us off the point here, but…

So we are going to table this motion tomorrow and a whole bunch of our colleagues are going to say--including, by the way, my dear friend from Virginia: Yes, this is a problem. It has only been going on for 5 weeks now. Hundreds of…

First, that the President of the United States, if he were to decide to use ground troops, would need congressional authorization. Second, that we and the President should not ever take anything off the table once we are in a war, in order…

Mr. President, I had originally intended today to introduce a resolution authorizing United States airstrikes against Yugoslavia in connection with the Kosovo crisis because I believe our Constitution requires the President to come to us…

These new speed monitoring systems are important to the operation of the Northeast Corridor and we want to ensure that the installation is done at a facility where the workers have the skills and experience to do the job right.

I note with interest that the report on the bill before us provides funds in the amount of $1 million for the upgrade of safety systems on all locomotives operating between New Haven, CT, and Boston, MA.

I find it very curious the things they say are in their bill, which, in fact, are not in their bill. One, they say that a woman can pick as a primary care physician an ob/gyn. Second, they advertise that this means you have access to the…

Additionally, I would note that the Committee report makes reference to the fact that the statute authorizing Radio Free Asia provides for a sunset a year from now. That is true, but the Senator from New Hampshire should understand that…

I strongly support the Committee's effort, lead by Chairman Gregg and ranking member Hollings, to meet this highly important duty. I just wanted to get a clarification about the Committee's intent--is it the Committee's intent that…

I think local authorities should make that judgment. They should decide. I don't think you should discriminate, whether it is at risk or not at risk. It should be after-school programs in which everyone is entitled to participate. Let the…

I agree. And, as both my colleagues know, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) was established by Congress in 1988 for precisely the purpose of coordinating the federal government's anti-drug program.

I support the committee's effort to seek more information to improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of our border surveillance effort--against both illegal immigration and drugs. But, I also believe that we must review all types of…

Let's stop being hypocritical. We just passed an amendment saying safety is important; the NRA is eligible for Federal funds to teach safety. If the ultimate safety of children is what we are concerned about, why are we so upset about the…

I rise to support passage of S.2073, legislation to authorize specific funding for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I am pleased to join Senator Hatch and others in sponsoring this legislation. I would also note that…