If I could transition to the second part of this, the budget is prepared and approved by the President. It is then acted upon by the Congress by authorization and appropriation and it goes to the NID. Am I correct?

Good. And if they had inserted that in there, it would have been clearer, I hasten to add. We are not going to debate this further. In fairness, having raised this question, I think the Senator has brought considerable clarification. It…

I asked that if a construction of this language we received today is full budget authority, it could lead someone to the conclusion that everything was transferred.

So, therefore, should not the Secretary of Defense have a voice--and I would like to see how we can describe that voice--in the compilation of that budget for the national program which in part supports the efforts of the forces in the…

I acknowledge that, the JMIP and the TIARA in the language sent up. But it seems to me the writer of this could have been somewhat more explicit in the communication because this is an important communication to guide Senators desiring to…

I think it is a document that will be of value to all Members of the Senate if they have not received it. I would like to draw the attention of the two managers to that operative paragraph 2: The Administration supports, in particular, the…

Without diminishing in any way that very encouraging sentence, if you go on to read the totality of this communication, there are expressly in here some reservations, but I will not get into that at this point in time. I want to go back to…

I will pose a question to both managers, also members of the Armed Services Committee. As we proceed with this legislation, I am sure you are bearing in mind that we recall the aftermath of the 1991 war in which we participated in…

I hope to be on the Senate floor when they do that. I wonder if the managers of the bill might acquaint them with the title 10 and title 50 provisions and ask where in the amendment those provisions are modified; otherwise, we are going to…

We are writing to you, however, to express our serious concern that current draft of the bill, as described by your summary and after review-- It is addressed to the chairman. --by the Governmental Affairs Committee members and staff, does…

I would draw that argument to the attention of the distinguished manager of the bill. My understanding, in reading some of your comments, is that I do not find in this amendment where there is a clear delineation of authority and that…

I pointed out specific provisions of the law requiring certain accountability of the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. We do not want to do patchwork legislation. My understanding, after reading and studying your…

The question is the language sent up by the administration did have a breakout of the budget authority as relates to certain parts of the overall programs performed by these combat agencies. I ask our distinguished manager of the bill…

I say to my good friend, a little humor now and then is well advised. But I understand precisely the question directed to me. Let us read your amendment. Would you read your amendment and show me where that residual authority under titles…

today, as part of the Working Families Tax Relief Act, the Senate will pass legislation that I authored to extend for another 2 years an important tax relief provision aimed at America's teachers. The teacher tax relief benefit in this…

there has been steady progress in the improvements in our intelligence system. The Department of Defense is the largest user, and these senior people in the Department of Defense--civilian and military alike--have not tried to tell the…

I hope the Senate appreciates the thoroughness with which Chairman Roberts has gone into this nomination. He has provided the members of the committee and many others with an opportunity to express their views with regard to the…

I rise to commend and congratulate the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of Annandale, VA on its fortieth anniversary. The cultural and political history of the United States has changed dramatically over the last five decades. During…

I rise to note the April 20th release of the Preliminary Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy. This comprehensive report, the first of its kind in 35 years, lays out an ocean blueprint for the 21st century for implementation by…

First and foremost, I can't comment on the Washington Times article. But yesterday, in the course of an Armed Services Committee briefing by General Dayton, who at this point in time is also briefing the Senate Intelligence Committee--and…

I commend my colleague. He has worked very hard on the Speicher case and undoubtedly his commitment will carry forward. I suggest, based on what was said yesterday, that he will be in consultation with the Secretary of the Navy. He has the…

I intend to vote in support of cloture on the motion to proceed to the Federal Marriage Amendment, S.J. Res. 40. I feel very strongly that the Senate should be accorded the opportunity to debate in full and to amend, if it is necessary…

Suppose they wish to do it not by statute but actually by an amendment to their constitution? The Senator and I understand that a constitutional amendment has a greater longevity than a statute because what the legislature does via statute…

I expressed a willingness to indicate to both colleagues that the Senate bill contains a provision coauthored by my two distinguished colleagues on a subject that is of great importance to the men and women of our military.

as always and customary with the distinguished Senator from South Dakota, you have spoken to the situation factually. Historically, that is the way we have dealt with those matters in the Senate. I appreciate you respect my position as a…