Mark Warner

Is the answer to my question, yes, you are trying to kill the initiation of an element that could lead to space-based weapons? Isn't that correct?

As so many Members in the past few months, we have experienced moments of joy and moments of sorrow, sorrow in attending funerals for those who paid the ultimate price in our engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq. Members have attended those…

I thank our colleague. Back in prehistoric times when I joined the Marines, on the first day you were issued your rifle and the second day they told you if you were contemplating a wife, you bad better wait. The Marine Corps would issue…

I appreciate the expression of those remarks by our senior colleague. Senator Levin and I are in our 25th year--that is a quarter of a century--in the Senate. Throughout that period of time, the Senator from West Virginia has been a tutor…

I wish to endorse the amendment because it has a very sound predicate, a very sound philosophy; namely, that we should do everything possible to channel all of our scientific efforts toward not using a nuclear weapon, and this does just…

The modesty of my distinguished colleague sometimes is overwhelming. The concept of this language which he described and written in the King's English originated with him in the course of the markup of our bill. I then plagiarized it for…

The use of fences is quite common in a number of areas in the Defense authorization process.

I think we have clarified this situation as best we can. But I wish to state to my colleagues, it is the intention of this Senator--I hope to be joined by others; and, indeed, one on the other side of the aisle--to put in legislation, as a…

But if your amendment would pass, wouldn't it be the effect to the Department of Defense: Why waste last year's money if you are prohibited from spending another nickel?

Last year the Congress in the military authorization bill took the first step on this program, and put money in the bill. The research has already commenced. I think the point of reference, to be accurate, I would say to my good…

Am I not correct, last year the Congress of the United States spoke to that issue and took that first step and initiated that program? The first step has been taken.

I share the sentiments of my distinguished colleague, but I do observe that the delay on this vote, while it was the last vote on this side, there was a vote on the Democratic side not more than 5 minutes before. We share equally the…

You cannot point to any language which speaks to this issue with clarity, so it can be understood the world over, as does the Warner amendment. It is as simple as that.

In the spirit of fairness, I am going to read, once again, the Warner amendment, which says: ``The Secretary of Energy may not commence the engineering development phase''--that is the phase blocked--``or any subsequent phase, of a…

I think the advantages, if I may say with respect to my two highly esteemed colleagues, are that the second-degree amendment can be understood by anyone who can interpret the English language. When I look at your amendment--I have been…

I wish we were arguing that case. Both of us were trial lawyers. If you had made that mistake on the floor of a trial courtroom, I would have you nailed right now.

First, it has to be removed and nothing has been removed yet. The law of the land remains the same tonight as it has been since 1994. We are endeavoring to see what should be done about it. The bill reported out by our committee on a…

My amendment says, yes, carry forward with the intent of the majority vote in the Senate Armed Services Committee but put in the steps of Congress having to authorize and approve funds for each step subsequent to research.

I do not want to get tangled up in the terminology, but the bill, as passed out by the Armed Services Committee that is pending before us, repeals, in the entirety, the law that was passed in 1994. Then you are coming along and saying: All…

It simply says: Agency, if it is that important in your judgment in reporting, it goes to the very heart of the oversight process. We should have raised it in subcommittee, adopted an amendment of this type, and worked it out. I was told…

I simply say to my colleague that if there was a serious issue in the function of the Missile Defense Agency, in your judgment-- and you attach enormous importance to this--why did we not consider it in the course of the subcommittee…

I do not in any way contest the Senator's assertion that this is an important subject. I simply ask, can't we as a committee better serve our colleagues if we make an assessment first at the subcommittee, where the members are fully…

I am not contesting that. You recognize that. I am just pointing out, in 25 years, how the committee has to do its work.

I would not want him to leave the floor under the illusion that if the amendment fails to meet the requirements of the Parliamentarian, that my colleague, the distinguished ranking member, and myself, would begin to sit as a supreme court…

I suggest maybe a revision in your commentary. It is not in this bill. You keep referring to 'it's in this bill.' Some years ago this bill, by the authorization committee, did contain it. I happen to have been a drafter of it. But it…