[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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