Cord Byrd

I agree, in large measure, with everything the distinguished Senator is saying. I seriously doubt that a lawsuit--I seriously doubt if that would hold up. But anyhow, it is a good thought.

It is far more important for the Senate to engage in thorough debate, and for Senators to have the opportunity to call up amendments, than it is for the Senate to be out of session on Mondays and Fridays. It seems to me that we should be…

Not by the Senator's reasoning, but because it is the 20th century still, until midnight December 31 this year. Regardless of what the media says, regardless of what the politicians say, this year is still in the 20th century.

No, indeed. Never have I hoped that. I would like to have seen a time when Senators didn't want to call up amendments. Maybe I could have gone home earlier. But I have never thought that was a possibility. And I wouldn't hope they would go…

The Senator ought not disagree with me on saying that Senators ought to have an opportunity to call up amendments and that we don't necessarily wish to see clean bills sent to the President. I didn't want to see a clean trade bill sent to…

I have never denied that. The point is that the CRs were called up on the floor, they were debated, and they were amended freely. That is what I am talking about. The Senate had the opportunity to work its will even if those bills, two or…

Except this: The Senator says we hope they can go to the President clean. I don't hope that.

The Senator--my distinguished friend from Idaho--misses the point. There may be CRs this year. There have been CRs before.

I am looking at the chart, ``Final Status of Appropriation Measures, First Session, 100th Congress.'' That would have been 1987. Every bill was reported. I think I am getting now to the question that the Senator asked. Some of the bills…

Well, my memory, which is not infallible, reminds me that the President of the United States asked for an omnibus bill that year. He didn't want separate bills. Mr. Reagan didn't want separate bills that year. He wanted an omnibus bill. I…

I am complaining about the fact that appropriations bills are brought to the Senate floor, and in many instances Senators don't have the opportunity to offer amendments and have them debated. They don't have the opportunity to debate the…

I have been in the Senate 42 years, and I have never yet spoken of another Senator behind his back in any critical terms--never. I once had a jousting match with former Senator Weicker. He called my name on the floor a few times, and so I…

It is for the public domain, no question about that. But if my name is going to be used by any Senator, I would like to know in advance so that I may be on the floor to hear what he says about me so I may have the opportunity to respond…

It is the way I will always treat Senators. I will never speak ill of the Senator, never criticize the Senator, unless he is on the floor. I would like to be treated the same way.

I will never call the Senator's name in public without his being on the floor. I like to go face to face with anything I have to say about a Senator, and I would appreciate the same treatment.

I thank the Democratic whip. I know he is willing to do just what he says. He wants to cooperate. We have to save this institution. There are Senators in this body who have never seen the institution work as it was meant to work. I will…

I seek recognition again for 1 minute simply to express my joy in seeing my friend and our illustrious, highly respected, and able colleague, Dianne Feinstein, back with us on the floor today. We are sorry that misfortune has for the…

Well, I will just add in the last moment here that we are almost at the complete mercy of the executive branch in situations such as that. The executive branch comes in and they want a bill or two added in the conference report, and I…

Yes, I agree with you that $5 million of the emergency funds will be used to implement the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program.

While the increases provided in the bill for base operating increases are essentially spoken for, I will certainly be mindful of the needs identified by the Senator should additional funding become available in conference.

Thank you, Senator Gorton. I, too, share the goal of ensuring that our National Wildlife Refuge System receives the funds it requires to preserve the critical habitat it was designed to protect. I concur with your position on the proposal…

Would it be the Senator's thought that the Department should support technologies which control emissions from coal use or increase the operating efficiency of coal-based power plants?

In closing, the Senate has already rejected this policy twice this year. I ask Members to join in driving a stake right through the heart of this ill-conceived, politically motivated vampire of an amendment that would suck the lifeblood…

In this case, this commission will report to the Congress, so we do not have to depend upon information from the Executive; we have our own.

Otherwise, the Congress is at the mercy of an administration--the administration--for information.