Is the amendment of the Senator from New Jersey now at the desk? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Lautenberg], for himself, Mr. Corzine, Mrs. Clinton, and…

I will be happy to share my brief time for remarks with my colleague. The Senator has joined our bill and I appreciate him expressing confidence in this amendment of the Senator from Virginia. I commend the Senator from Massachusetts, Mr…

I wish to be made a cosponsor of this amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I recall very vividly the testimony we received from the whole group of the Joint Chiefs of Staff led by General Myers. General Myers was very strong on this point. You mentioned General Pace. Indeed, he was a leader on it. But, across the…

Well, it is the words ``return from deployment.'' That, clearly, in the mind of this Senator, means all the major, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, combat units. It is not difficult for me to define what are major combat units…

I wish to respond to our distinguished minority leader. I accept full responsibility for the timing and the management of this bill and making the decision that there would be no more votes tonight. My leader has entrusted me with that…

Now, Mr. President, the distinguished Senator from Michigan and I have cleared amendments. I would like to do them. Then I wish to entertain a colloquy with my colleague from South Dakota. Perhaps I will undergo that colloquy at this time…

I ask the Chair to restate the unanimous consent request which we are ready to accede to on both sides. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Consent has been granted for 2 hours of debate on the Lugar amendment.

This is a matter the ranking member and I have worked on. I ask unanimous consent that between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30 tonight the amendment by Mr. Lugar be brought up with 1 hour on each side, with the hour in opposition under the…

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

I ask the indulgence of all Senators. We are about to vote, but I ask that we give consideration, at this point in time, to an amendment that will be offered by the Senator from South Dakota. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The…

there is one matter remaining. I want to thank all of those who have been working very hard on the Defense authorization bill. I am not just speaking of the Senators or their staffs but all of those who make it possible for this venerable…

at this point in time under the UC, there is 2 hours equally divided between the distinguished Senator from Indiana, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Kyl, who will soon be on the floor, and myself. I would say to Senator Lugar, I find myself in a bit of…

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

the time I put under the control of the Senator from Arizona, Mr. Kyl. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.

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…

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 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.

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

What we do have already is a statement by the President that any effort to delay or impede the BRAC process would lead to a veto, with such clarity in my mind. By the way, an amendment, if I may advise my good friend, quite similar to this…

the managers wish to advise the Senate that we have accomplished a good deal today, and we will be fully in business tomorrow, with the exception of rollcall votes. It is our hope and expectation that we can go through a number of…

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…

in great seriousness, referring to the cosponsors, they are Senators Lieberman, Snowe, Lautenberg, Johnson, Dodd, Collins, Corzine, Bingaman, and Domenici. I stick by my words that it is a distinguished list of cosponsors.

I wish to commend my very dear and longtime friend, Senator Lugar--as I said, I was here when this program was initiated-- and our esteemed former colleague, Sam Nunn, for their vision and work in this very valuable program. Through the…

One last point, and then perhaps the distinguished ranking member would like to be engaged in this debate. One of the aspects of the BRAC process that has always troubled this Senator is the duty, beginning with the Governor of the State…