I want very much for the Senator to have a full opportunity to present his viewpoints, of course, in the time remaining. But at some point I think it would be very helpful to the other Senators following this debate to frame exactly what…

Mr. President, we are almost parallel in thought here, certainly parallel in thought for the need to help the retirees. I have been privileged to be in this institution 22 years. This is the first time, I say to my colleague, we have ever…

The CBO, looking at the Senator's bill, said it would cost about $90 billion over 10 years.

I thank my colleague. I remember so well when the Senator brought this up last year. This is a serious effort by one of the most serious, conscientious Senators with whom I have ever been privileged to serve and one for whom I have the…

This question of pay inversion, let me just sort of describe it. You have a sergeant who has served 5 or 6 years. He has a wife and two children. And then a private comes into his platoon, and he has a number of children, which enables him…

It is important as part of this colloquy that we lay the foundation that the Senator was very careful in arriving at his pay levels--not to bump sergeant, or jump over it, which I think was wise. In doing so, would I not be correct in…

Last, we added $25 million for five additional Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support teams formerly known as RAID teams. This will result in a total of 32 of these teams by the end of fiscal year 2001. It is the committee's intent to…

I have always felt that the backbone of the Navy was the bosun's mate. Yet we find in the Navy that the bosun's mate is the lowest paid, while the electronic technician, the computer specialist, and others, who are of equal rank--or rate…

It is critical that they get higher pay, not only for flight but for retention purposes, than other officer segments. I have to chuckle. In what little military experience I have, I was an electrician's mate third class. I am not sure I…

The Senator is right, the electronic technician people, and so forth. The second question is--and it is interesting--you were quoting from the future Chief of Naval Operations--indeed, an outstanding professional. He says he would rather…

What a great strength he has been to national defense in the 22 years we have worked on this. Fritz Hollings was in the European campaign. Senator Stevens was an Air Corps pilot, before there was an Air Force; he flew in the Pacific…

does the Senator remember the collection of scrap metal? I will never forget it. In those days, the Nation's Capital, where we lived, had great big trash trucks, and the trucks ran overtime. They would come down the street, and people…

I have spoken to every one of them today. I will read their names in the order of seniority of the Senate: Senator Thurmond, who crossed the beaches on D-Day. He did it in a glider, and it crashed, he was injured, but he went on and took…

our beloved former colleague, former majority leader, Senator Dole, and others have been very active in raising funds to build a memorial to those who served in World War II. I have been in consultation with him, as have other Members of…

I happen to have been in uniform. I remember where we had a little book of stamps, savings bonds, and you put your quarter stamps in. You were rationing butter, meat, shoes and clothing. We never thought about it. It was our way of backing…

if I might interject myself, as this is drawn, I can easily amend it so that the next President can bring about the necessary infrastructure of studies and have them completed on a timetable to accelerate it so it is not tied to December…

I am not going to single out the Foreign Relations chairman, but I make the following observation. That is, this is the law of the land. We are giving the opportunity to the next President to do the necessary studies. Supposing President…

Let me finish. Then, not addressing the SIOPs in any way--I think you understand why we should not do that--I believe that it is unwise, given the current posture of the studies and the fact that on the face they are not up to…

Why didn't your President take those initiatives several years ago? What I am saying to you now is, before this President or any other President begins to make an assessment of a magnitude such as this, they better have in place an…

One of the reasons, motivations for the Russians to drive to lower figures as soon as they can possibly get there is the inability fiscally to maintain their own structure in a readiness posture, which equates to what they have had in…

I simply say to my distinguished colleague, before this Senator expresses a view on that, I want to see a new quadrennial review, as well as a new analysis of our strategic system. I will not commit to any numbers at this time until I see…

In the first place, the law of the land is still intact until the Senate and, indeed, the House are in conference and the President signs this bill. At the moment, the law of the land precludes him from doing that. What I am trying to…

I give to my colleague two responses: No. 1--and I am not trying to be critical of this President's administration--why didn't they do that several years ago? Because the deterioration of the infrastructure and the financial situation in…

What I am saying, practically speaking, is I do not think President Clinton can do it in a judicious and effective way, given the time limitations between now and the end of his term of office.

By his amendment, he wishes to repeal the limitation on retirement or dismantlement of strategic nuclear delivery systems in excess of military requirements. ``Section 1302 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1998 is…