I thank my colleague. If I could further propound a clarification, reading from the preamble to 11850, the Executive order, it says: The United States renounces, as a matter of national policy, first use of herbicides in war except use…

That will be a 10-minute vote on that amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is in order to request the yeas and nays on the amendment at this time. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second…

Subject to the concurrence of the ranking member, I ask the Senate to turn its attention to the Senator from Nevada, who has an amendment which I personally strongly endorse and so recommend to other colleagues. It could well be the…

Under the original order, we were to have the Byrd amendment which would experience the full length of time for an amendment. This was subject to 10 minutes. I think we had better reconstitute that UC to say that this amendment will be…

That would not be the proposed second degree to the Chambliss amendment? The Chambliss amendment is Guard and Reserve, too.

there are four packages of amendments at the desk being held subject to action by the Senate. I ask the Senate consider those amendments en bloc, the amendments be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and I ask any…

subject to the order by the majority and Democratic leader as to the sequence of events tomorrow, the Ensign amendment would remain the pending business at such time as the leadership directs the Senate return to this bill; am I correct in…

in concurrence with the ranking member, the Senator from Oklahoma wishes to lay down an amendment which I am going to recommend be accepted by a voice vote. I believe that is with the concurrence of my ranking member. The PRESIDING…

I again join my colleague from Michigan and our distinguished colleague, a member of the committee. As the Senator says, it is all about veterans, and this is a most deserving class. This is the group that has done a minimum of 20 years…

there is no objection. We have examined the amendment. It is a technical amendment that is needed by the Department of Defense to administer this program and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report…

My understanding is the yeas and nays have been ordered on the amendment, as modified. The PRESIDING OFFICER. They have not been ordered.

under the regular order, the Senate will now proceed with the Reed of Rhode Island vote, with 5 minutes for the Senator from Rhode Island and 3 to 4 minutes for the Senator from Virginia. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct…

I so request the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is on agreeing to the amendment. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to…

the Senator from Maine has an amendment. It is one of the 12 amendments we have under the unanimous consent agreement. There is a time limit on it, of which the Senator is aware. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine is recognized…

Yes. I thank my distinguished colleague, who is a very valued member of our committee. We are anxious this afternoon to pursue amendments. I will review at an appropriate time what we have achieved so far and what we have planned for the…

just to add a note, the Senator touched on this, but we cannot and do not--and I do not think this will--erode the base of pay and benefits given to the regular force. Those individuals have committed to a career in the military. In a…

They have begun their work and they will examine issues related to your amendment and to other structural missions and compensation of the Guard and Reserve Forces in the coming years. I do not believe this commission, which is underway…

if I might add, last year an amendment somewhat similar to this, but considerably more extreme in its reach, was considered by the Senate. At that time I, along with others, established the Commission on the National Guard and Reserve. It…

we have certainly no objection to that. At this juncture in the bill, it does not impair our ability to manage. I ask the Senator to please proceed.

informally, I have been advised that tomorrow morning, in all likelihood, there will be a period for morning business, and that this bill will be brought up somewhere in the area of around 11 o'clock in the morning. So again, I am joined…

At this time, the Senator from Alabama will speak to the Allard amendment, which is the subject of a vote in 20 minutes. I give him 5 minutes, plus 2 or 3 other minutes. I thought he was right behind me. The Allard amendment is rather a…

on that point, I suggest that we now go to the bill. I believe there is a pending amendment which requires a UC to be laid aside; am I not correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.

Basically there is 2 minutes left? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 2 minutes remaining in opposition to the amendment.

Well, then, let's work together with a priority to try to have that done. Mr. President, at this time, my understanding is the parliamentary situation is the bill is no longer before the Senate, to be brought up again tomorrow morning, and…

the Senator talks about cleanup, but over the years $1.4 billion has been recouped by the Department of Defense. That money simply goes to the Treasury to an account earmarked for precisely what the Senator from Michigan said, for cleanup…