Cord Byrd

I have not heard all of the debate, but from what I have heard, I don't think that another Senator, this Senator, would be precluded from asking for time to explain his amendment. Now if the agreement may preclude other amendments--I don't…

I am only reserving the right to object. I hope we would have just a little while to talk about this. I am very much opposed to this. But I read the tea leaves very well. If the Senator would just desist for the time being, please?

I simply thank the very distinguished Senator from Virginia for his response to the request and his willingness to withhold his unanimous consent request for the time being. I thank him.

I wonder if my friend from Massachusetts, who was engaged when that request was made, has anything in response?

I appreciate from my heart the kind words of my dear friend, Senator Mitch McConnell, from our neighboring State of Kentucky. I am not sure that I was meant to have all these blessings, but I am sure of one thing: Erma was the perfect…

I thank my dear friend, Senator Baucus, for his kind remarks. ____________________

Did I hear the Senator include the provision that there be no second-degree amendments?

I would be agreeable to a time agreement. And I believe my colleague, Senator Gregg, would be willing--he has nodded in the affirmative.

I would. May I defer to my distinguished colleague, Mr. Gregg, that he might speak at this time on the amendment.

Does the Senator also agree that until the Defense Science Board, DSB, study is complete and briefed to Congress, the Biometrics Fusion Center should continue to execute its mission to acquire, test, evaluate, and integrate biometrics, as…

How long am I recognized for? The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Vitter). The Senator from West Virginia is recognized for up to 35 minutes.

I have waited many hours here many times. I never make a fuss about it. I will just leave the floor and----

If I might just take 1 minute, I deeply thank--as they say in the other body--the gentlelady from California, for her noble comments and for her support. The West Virginia delegation in the House and the Senate is pleased at her…

I ask so that I might thank her again for delaying her speech until I could make these few remarks. I thank her from the bottom of my heart. She is so considerate always, so courteous: ``And what is so rare as a day in June?'' The beauty…

Let me thank my friend, the leader, our leader on this side of the aisle, who is a gold miner's son. There are not many of us in here who are gold miners' sons. I am proud that my leader is a gold miner's son. I am proud that he assured…

Lord Byron said, ``Thank God I have done my duty.'' May I say to the Senator from New Jersey, he has done his duty. He is a good Senator. We will miss you. I will. Thank you for standing up for what you believe. Thank you very much. Bless…

I thank the Senator again. I feel pretty well today. I have had the flu over the weekend, but I am glad I came to the Senate today.

That has never been the rule here. Senators have a right to talk, to filibuster. Mr. McCONNELL. Will the majority leader yield?

Yes. Mr. McCONNELL. We have not been filibustering judges during this first session of Congress, and we have been giving judges an up-or-down vote as a direct result of the Senate's collective decision to sort of step back from the brink…

I am not sure about that history. Mr. McCONNELL. --that when nominees came to the floor who enjoyed majority support in the Senate, they got an up-or-down vote? Has that not been what the leader argues for? And to the substantial credit of…

Yes, let the decision stand. Mr. McCONNELL. The precedent in the Senate for 214 years prior to the last Congress was the judges who came to the floor got an up-or-down vote.

I am not sure about that. Mr. McCONNELL. Is that not the case, I ask the majority leader----

I will be glad to take on both Senators in defense of the Constitution. Mr. McCONNELL. Did the majority leader yield to me?

May or may not vote. The Constitution doesn't require that, and the Senator can't find it in the Constitution. He can say all he wants.

The Senator can't find that in writing anywhere in the Constitution. I can vote against a nominee just because, any Senator can vote against a nominee just because----