Mark Warner

I anticipate that the reply from the administration would be forthcoming on Monday. I think the Senator would be available to debate this matter later in the afternoon.

Rest assured, that will be done. I will prepare a letter. The Senator from Michigan and I will be here tomorrow morning and perhaps we can make a joint request outlining precisely what our views are.

I thank our colleague. We have had quite a good debate. I am prepared to move on, subject to the views of my colleague.

My last question on that point, there will be an enormous amount of data generated, information and decisionmaking that will take place should the Senator's amendment become law. Is he suggesting that the communities then will have no…

Would the Senator from Maine advise the chairman as to when you would resume your debate with the Senator from New Jersey?

I very much need to accommodate Senators on both sides of the aisle with a short unanimous consent request.

We would like to accommodate the Senator. My only inquiry is, we now have on the floor the two principals on this important measure. If you wish, for a few minutes, to lay down an amendment, I am sure we could do that. I would like to have…

I thank our colleagues. We are open for further amendments. The Boy Scout amendment is being reviewed. The Lautenberg amendment is, likewise, being reviewed on our side. It will take the managers a few moments to advise the Senate as to…

Clarification: Did 7 go to 15? Which is fine. You have 15 minutes, now, total, under your control.

Equally divided between yourself and the Senator from New York? Then I think 10 minutes for Senator Levin--let us assume that we can do it in 30 minutes.

Yes. I thank my colleague. In view of the fact that there is a strong indication by myself and my distinguished ranking member that it be accepted, can we reach a time agreement?

If I may say to my colleagues, in no way does this bind the Appropriations Committee to exercise such discretion as it may so desire in that level of funding. If it was brought to their attention that there was malfeasance or inappropriate…

This issue was raised and the legal counsel drew this up. I must say, you raise a point, but I am sure if there are any improprieties associated with these programs, the appropriators have full authority to curtail or eliminate the funding.

I say to my good friend, that is the way the bill reads, and there 60-some cosponsors who, presumably, have addressed that. I brought it to the attention of the staff of the leader a short time ago and indicated this, asking do I have a…

In concurrence with my distinguished ranking member, I advise the Senate that we will have a vote on amendment No. 1342, regarding supporting the Boy Scouts, occurring at 2:30, with no second-degree amendments in order prior to the vote…

I thank my colleague. If the Senator participated in many of these bills before--for example, tonight, I am not being entirely popular with a number of individuals because I am requesting of the leadership the right to go on into the night…

I will wait to propound the unanimous consent request until the other side responds. I am going to ask unanimous consent--but I will wait until we get a response from the other side--that a vote on or in relation to the Frist amendment No…

Will the Senator kindly yield so I can inform the Senate of the desire on behalf of this side of the aisle?

As I said, in due course I will have further to say. But again it comes down to separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches, and given those situations--and I respect my good friend's evaluation of the tragedy…

On our side we will at an appropriate time interject our opposition to this amendment. We have just gotten the amendment, and it requires some further study. So until such time as I get some additional material, I will have to defer my…

I think we will have to enter into that agreement later, but I will work toward that goal.

The Senator's amendment will be considered on the floor in due time. But I assume that at least two of the amendments involve another committee, the Banking Committee, other than the Armed Services Committee; would I be correct in that?

At this time I believe our colleague from Maine has an amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Graham). The Senator from Maine is recognized.

I thank the Senator. As to the other two amendments, is it his judgment that they are solely within the jurisdiction?

Not the pending. In other words, I desire not to go off the bill to accommodate our friend from Oregon. He has now been accommodated. We are looking at a period of roughly 40 minutes to be allocated among three Senators who wish to speak…