Byron Dorgan: “Let me make the point that there has not been a ruling of the Chair. The issue is what the Parliamentarian views to be…”

“Let me make the point that there has not been a ruling of the Chair. The issue is what the Parliamentarian views to be relevant and not relevant at this point. There is an important distinction. But we don't want to have a half hour of debate on this point. The only reason I came to the floor to talk about this was because I wanted to talk about two amendments which I wanted to offer, recognizing that one of them at this point has been described as not relevant. I was stunned by that. I expect to be able to redraft it to make it relevant. But I was especially interested in whether the managers of the bill, the chairman and ranking member, would want to prevent us from offering amendments that are so central to the Defense authorization bill. If not now, where would I offer this amendment? I ask the question: If not here, where would I offer it? Is there an alternative to offering this type of amendment somewhere else? Clearly the answer is no. If there is a place, this is the time to offer this amendment. My hope is that working with the chairman and ranking member I will be able to do that. Quite clearly, this amendment is central to the consideration of this bill. It is right in the middle of the defense authorization.”