Cord Byrd: “Just in a moment, if I may, and then I will yield. They are undergoing all of these changes. This will all be done…”

“Just in a moment, if I may, and then I will yield. They are undergoing all of these changes. This will all be done within a period of 13 months following the signing by the President of the act. Thirteen months after that act becomes law, all this will be completed. My amendment does not change that calendar date as to when this massive transaction will be completed. My amendment provides that at the end of the 13 months this is envisioned as to be done the same way, the same thing--not the same way, but the same time period over all. Thirteen months occurs with respect to the Lieberman bill and with respect to my amendment, if my amendment is adopted--the same time period, 13 months. So what is the difference? Under the bill, the committee bill, once the Senate passes whatever it passes, and that is sent to conference, and it comes back, and it is signed into law, Congress is out of it except with respect to the appropriations that will go forward to the agency, to the new Department. When the Senate passes this bill and sends it to conference, for all purposes of amending that process in the Senate, it is over. When it goes to conference, whatever comes back from the conference between the two Houses--the Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate--whatever comes back from that conference is it. We have one more--one more--chance, and that is in voting up or down on that conference report.…”