[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 3 (Friday, January 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S96]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ARMED SERVICES AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. WARNER. Now, Mr. President, I wish to also pay special 
recognition to the distinguished senior Senator from South Carolina, 
the President pro tempore of the Senate, Senator Thurmond.
  Just minutes ago, when I had the opportunity to be the Presiding 
Officer, the Chair announced the appointment of conferees upon the 
receipt of the message from the House, conferees to resume negotiations 
between the Senate and the House for hopefully the adoption of the 
authorization bill for the armed services of the United States. Senator 
Thurmond, together with Senator Nunn, has worked tirelessly to put 
together an excellent bill. It was vetoed, and I shall not review the 
reasons. The President had his reasons, many of which I continue, not 
all, to disagree.
  Nevertheless, that is history. It is behind us. The veto message is 
back. The veto message was carefully considered by Senator Thurmond, 
Senator Nunn, myself, and other members of the committee here yesterday 
and again today. Staffs are now diligently working on an agenda to be 
considered by the conferees, and I am very optimistic that we can 
produce a conference report which will be accepted by the Senate as 
well as the House and eventually the President.
  Again, I wish to commend the leadership of the distinguished senior 
Senator from South Carolina and, indeed, the ranking member, the 
Senator from Georgia [Mr. Nunn], in bringing this matter back up, such 
that the second conference can hopefully produce a bill that will be 
accepted by the Congress and the President. It is essential to the 
Armed Forces of the United States.
  There are key provisions in this bill, not the least of which are pay 
raises, well deserved by the men and women of the Armed Forces, key 
provisions relating to new programs which are essential for the 
modernization. And I want to express special tribute to the Secretary 
of Defense and members of his staff for informally working with the 
staffs of members of the Armed Services Committee of the Senate, for 
the majority and minority, in giving us guidance on how this conference 
report can embrace the views of both the President and the Congress 
such that it will become law.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. FORD addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.

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