[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5056-S5057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOMINATION OF JOHN A. GORDON

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, could I interrupt the proceedings here 
momentarily and get the attention of the distinguished Democratic 
leader and the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee?
  Early this morning, I say to the distinguished minority leader, on 
the subject of General Gordon, we talked and I talked to the majority 
leader. I think there is a consensus that tomorrow morning at some 
point his nomination can be voted upon.
  Could we, at the conclusion of this day, before it is finished, at 
least represent that?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in response to the senior Senator from 
Virginia, let me say we have no objection to moving to the nomination, 
with the understanding that at a date no later than a date that we 
could mutually agree to, we deal with the accompanying nomination.
  I think that understanding has now been made, and I believe we can 
proceed to the first piece of this with that understanding.
  Mr. WARNER. I thank our distinguished leader.
  Mr. LEVIN. If the Senator will yield on that point, General Gordon 
has very strong support on both sides of the aisle. He is a 
Presidential nominee who has gotten a very positive response from just 
about everybody I know. I think the people look forward to voting on 
his nomination as early as possible tomorrow morning.
  Again, I think there is an effort being made to set a deadline for 
another vote on a nominee to the same Department, someone who has been 
waiting for a long time.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield for another 
moment, Madelyn Creedon has been on the calendar since April 13, and 
General Gordon has been on the calendar since May 24.
  We have no objection to moving to General Gordon first, even though 
he was just reported out a couple of weeks ago, and Mrs. Creedon has 
been now on the calendar for almost 2 months, with some understanding 
that we can move to the Creedon nomination no later than a time on 
which we can agree.
  We have no reason not to want to move to the Gordon nomination.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, it would be no longer than the day or day 
after we return from the July 4 recess.
  Mr. DASCHLE. That is acceptable, Mr. President.
  Mr. WARNER. July 11 or July 12.
  Mr. DASCHLE. With the understanding we would vote no later than July 
11, we have no reservations.
  Mr. WARNER. Could we make it July 12? I am not in a position to know 
exactly when votes are ordered on the return.
  Mr. DASCHLE. We will make it the July 12.
  Mr. LEVIN. If the Senator will yield on that, that opens the 
possibilities

[[Page S5057]]

that we would vote on that nomination prior to the recess because it 
says ``no later than.''
  Mr. WARNER. It does not foreclose earlier consideration. I thank my 
colleagues.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________