first I want to clarify one thing. The distinguished Senator from Michigan, as the ranking member of our committee, participated in all of the hearings of the Armed Services Committee. There were many hearings on the issue of the…

I do have the privilege of being an ex officio member of the Intelligence Committee. I served 8 years on that committee, and my concluding years was as ranking member. I have a very high respect for that committee and find, from my…

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…

the bill is open for further amendment, as Senator Levin and I are here. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who yields time? The Senator from Michigan. Amendment No. 2430

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…

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…

Will the Chair advise the managers with regard to the remaining time? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Colorado, Senator Allard, controls 5 minutes. The Senator from Colorado, Senator Salazar, has been granted 5 minutes under a…

first, I wish to recognize our distinguished colleague from Maine, former member of the Armed Services Committee. We deeply regret that the Senator moved on, but she is now on the Tax Committee. As someone said, that is where the money is…

Mark Warner, who John King just talked about, has a personal wealth of $200 million.

Democrats will certainly make the case that the president's troubles continuing in the state of Virginia -- I will say, though, Anderson, I think the bigger national question out of the state of Virginia might be that this helps the…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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.

Given that, Mr. President, I suggest that this bill now be laid aside, and I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

speaking on my time under my control on this amendment, I wish to express my opposition to this Levin-Reid amendment would transfer $50 million from the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, GMD, program to the Cooperative Threat Reduction…

The order has it that the distinguished Senator from Rhode Island will now continue his contribution to the Levin amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.

I think the Record should also reflect that in the course of my service as Under Secretary and Secretary of the Navy, I had the great privilege of working with the Senator's father, a naval officer without peer, distinction and…

I am delighted my distinguished colleague, a member of the committee, would like to contribute his thoughts on this very important issue and take such time, I think up to 5 or 6 minutes.

we had announced earlier--I see my distinguished colleague, a member of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Reed--that we would move to Senator Allard and then follow with the Senator from Rhode Island, Senator Reed. Amendment No. 2423

now that we are on the bill, it is my intention to eventually deliver an opening statement, but in courtesy to our colleague from Florida--and I believe he will be followed by Senator McCain to be followed by Senator Allard--I think we…

we thank our former member, the Senator from Colorado. Would the Chair kindly advise the managers as to the time remaining on both sides for this amendment? The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 22 minutes remaining in opposition and 20 minutes…

under rule XIV, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the title of the bill for a second time. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S…