Trent Lott: “let me observe, first, that I have had the opportunity off and on during the day to listen to some of the debate on the…”

“let me observe, first, that I have had the opportunity off and on during the day to listen to some of the debate on the NATO enlargement issue. I have to say there have been some excellent speeches and some very thoughtful observations about the importance of this legislation and what we should do. I am glad we have gone ahead and taken it up. It has given Members notice that we are moving toward a period where we will have the final debate on amendments and a vote on this issue. But I have been very impressed with the quality of the speeches that I have heard today. We will continue on until, I think it is quarter till 5, this afternoon on NATO enlargement. We will continue to have debate on NATO enlargement until we get something worked out on the Coverdell education savings account legislation and conclude that, and then we will go to the final round of debate and amendments on NATO enlargement. The way we are doing the debate, the dual track of both the education issue and NATO enlargement, is not intended at all to diminish either. It is intended to raise up both of them and the awareness and consciousness of the American people and give Senators an opportunity to make their positions known on both these issues. We will do them in a way where we will get a focus on the issue and have a good debate in the final analysis.”