--the problem we have is, the Senator from Connecticut wants to have his amendment heard prior to cloture. The problem is, there has not been a motion for cloture filed yet. If the cloture motion is filed tonight, then under the rules, an…

We are on the Defense bill, then? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct, until 4 o'clock.

we live in a dangerous time, and that is an understatement. The threats to our freedom are many. They range from terrorist attacks such as those that hit our shores on 9/11 to rogue nations with nuclear ambitions such as North Korea and…

I extend my appreciation to the distinguished Senator from Virginia, Mr. Warner. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.

I think Harry Reid really sort of summed up the whole issue today when he said, I think that even though we have at least two positions, I think, if you look at them closely, they're basically the same.

our valiant troops are now serving in their fourth year in Iraq. Day after day, they have demonstrated courage, skill, and bravery. They do not ask for much. But all of us owe them a lot. At the top of the list of things we owe them is an…

I thought the Senator was finished. Mr. McCONNELL. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.

I reoffer my motion to table. I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant…

yesterday afternoon, I placed a call to a Nevada mother, Jennifer Laybourn. These calls are not easy; they are hard. Like many other Nevada mothers, she lost a boy, 19 years old, her son David, in Iraq. He was performing his duties as a…

my friend from Kentucky and my friend from Texas are involved in a debate that doesn't exist. The amendment before the Senate, which will require a vote, is based on a sense-of-the- Senate resolution offered by the Senator from Florida…

two things that do not exist in Iraq and have not are weapons of mass destruction and cutting and running. This is the McConnell amendment. It is not the Kerry amendment. People have the right to file amendments. They can decide whether…

I spoke yesterday about the terrible courthouse shooting that took place in Reno on Monday, and what we can do in the Senate to help prevent such incidents. In order to move that process forward, I will offer the text of Court Security…

that is a sad state of affairs in Washington. It is very clear that a point of order lies against this supplemental. That means someone could raise a point of order, and it would take under rule XXVIII a simple majority to overrule because…

I ask the Chair, what time is the vote set for? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The vote is set for 2:30, with an hour of debate.

The reason that is very awkward is because we have Secretary Rumsfeld and Secretary Rice coming here, and to have a knock- down, drag-out debate on this at this time doesn't seem to be very good for the body because it is reported that the…

In Reno, NV, yesterday, a friend of mine, Chuck Weller, was shot in the chest. He is a family court judge. We have in Nevada district court judges that do everything but domestic relations and child custody and that kind of thing, which…

I am sorry I was not on the floor. I thought we had this all worked out. It is my understanding there are people who want to go forward with the cloture vote, is that right? Because either we do the cloture vote at 3:30 or we take it off…

it is Monday. The Galleries do not have many people in them. We have a new batch of pages. Others graduated recently. But everyone here--pages and those in the Gallery--should recognize that today is a day of history in America. Public…

I certainly underscore the statement of the distinguished majority leader. This is a good day for the U.S. military and especially our intelligence community. We should feel very good about this. The mission we are talking about, the…

I will use my leader time now. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized.

I have had the good fortune to serve here in Washington almost a quarter of a century. I have had the good fortune of serving with wonderful people, both when I served in the House and when I have had the opportunity to serve here in the…

I say also that the problem is one person can throw a monkey wrench into the process. We have to try to work it out so no wrenches are thrown. Mr. President, I ask consent that Senator Stabenow from Michigan be recognized for up to 2…

first, I understand the people downtown and on 5th Avenue have come up with this death tax name, but this is an estate tax. If my wife or I die, there would be no tax. I would acquire the property she had and vice versa. At such time as…

I rise once again to express my strong opposition to the motion to proceed to this constitutional amendment. There are so many other issues we should be debating instead of this divisive and deeply flawed proposal. We should be debating…

my only response would be on this side of the aisle, we will be voting on the estate tax. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Wisconsin is recognized.