Dan Coats: “I think the minority leader is about ready to tell us the reason we can't move forward tonight. Again, that just points…”

“I think the minority leader is about ready to tell us the reason we can't move forward tonight. Again, that just points to the bipartisan support. The administration has signaled through the Secretary of Defense, President Clinton's appointed Secretary of Defense, that they are happy with the bill. They thank us for moving forward with the bill in an expeditious fashion. They do not want to get into the situation that we got into last year any more than we want to put them in that situation. I have received similar calls. It appears to be a piece of legislation important to the United States, important to the national security, one that is supported by Democrats and Republicans, one that is supported by the administration, and, yet, we are not able to resolve to go forward in what Senator Thurmond and Senator Nunn a few hours ago said we can dispose of in 20 minutes.”