[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PROGRAM
Mr. McCAIN. For the information of all Senators, tomorrow the Senate
will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. and immediately resume consideration of the
FAA reauthorization bill. There will be 20 minutes for closing remarks,
followed by a rollcall vote on passage of the FAA reauthorization bill.
Therefore, the first rollcall vote of Friday's session will occur at
approximately 9:50 a.m. Following that vote, the Senate may consider
any legislative or executive items cleared for action.
As a reminder to all Members, a cloture motion was filed today to the
vacancies bill and therefore Members have until 1 p.m. on Friday to
file first-degree amendments. The cloture vote has been scheduled to
occur at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 28.
Mr. President, I would like to yield to the Senator from Kentucky if
he would have any comments before I make a closing remark.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I will have a few additional remarks
tomorrow. I made a speech one night and read it, and going home that
evening Mrs. Ford said, ``Did you ever think about just speaking from
notes and off the cuff? It seems more sincere.'' So the next time we
went out, I made this speech from just three or four notes, and I
thought I did very well. We were going home, and I said, ``Well, how
did I do tonight?'' There was a hesitation, and she said, ``I believe
I'd go back to reading.'' And so I will be off the cuff tomorrow, with
probably some prepared remarks. As you all know, this is probably the
last piece of aviation legislation I will have any input into as a
Senator.
I appreciate all the cooperation and good humor that has been
displayed as we have moved along the way. I have been impressed by the
staff that Senator McCain has assembled to assist him. I have been
amazed at the staff that we have, and how they work together and
ultimately get it done. One of the things we worried about was having
all the amendments maybe worked out before we got on the floor. And
that came close.
But I remember something that Senator Robert Byrd told me a long time
ago: If you cannot get an agreement, start, and it will create a
vacuum. So I think that is exactly what has occurred here, along with
the hard work on both sides of the aisle. It has been a good ride, and
I look forward to the vote in the morning at 9:50, and then I will make
some comments after that.
I am grateful to my colleague for his patience with me. We look
forward to several more weeks of working together and accomplishing
many things that he and I want to do. We are going to try. Whether we
accomplish those things or not, only time will tell. But if there is
anything in trying to get it done, Senator McCain and I will accomplish
our end purpose.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.
Mr. McCAIN. I will have some more remarks tomorrow about my dear
friend from Kentucky, because I would like to have more of my
colleagues hear them. But hearing him speak in his own unique and
frankly straightforward and candid fashion reminds me of all the years
now, 12, that he and I have been working together. Perhaps that is not
a long time in some areas of life, but it certainly is a long time when
you consider the long, long list of issues concerning aviation that he
and I have addressed together and the fact that I freely acknowledge,
with great pride, that he has taught me an enormous amount, not only
about aviation issues but how to achieve legislative results.
I will have more to say about that tomorrow. But as it is kind of
quiet here in the Senate tonight, it makes one a bit nostalgic at this
late hour.
Mr. FORD. Maybe it is the best time to say it.
Mr. McCAIN. So I will stop before becoming maudlin.
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