[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5107-S5108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            VOTE FOR CLOTURE

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I understand there will be morning 
business now until 10:30 and the time will be equally divided. Between 
10:30 and 11 a.m. we will have equally divided debate on the pending 
issue and the Stevens-Byrd cloture vote at 11 a.m.
  I come to the floor to make sure that I have an opportunity to urge 
my colleagues to vote for cloture. I am not happy with this 
legislation. It is very unfortunate that it has been increased at every 
step along the way beyond what the President asked for, at least $4 
billion more than what the President asked for, and the mix within the 
rest is clearly not what the President asked for in this emergency 
supplemental for defense and homeland security. It is unfortunate that 
it has been brought to the floor in this way.
  I remind my colleagues that postcloture, assuming cloture passes, 
amendments to strike would still be in order. I am sure there will be a 
number to try to pare back the bill and to take out nonemergency, 
nondefense, and homeland security issues. I hope they succeed, because, 
clearly, the bill has gotten out of control.
  This is nothing new. Every Congress does it. Every President makes 
the mistake of asking for supplemental appropriations, and every 
Congress sees this as a vehicle on which we can enjoy a ride. We have 
all participated. I am not proud of that. But I say that to

[[Page S5108]]

make the point this is not something new. They always tend to grow and 
grow. I have taken occasion with every President of both parties to 
plead with them not to send a supplemental; just do what we need in the 
regular appropriations process. But they always do it. And quite often 
we urge them to do it when there are, ostensibly, emergencies. Many of 
them are very legitimate.
  On the other side of this coin, this is supposedly an emergency. We 
should have done it 2 months ago. The President should have asked for 
it earlier, the House should have acted earlier, and we should have 
found a way to act early, although it is hard to be too critical of the 
time in the Senate because we were not going to be able to move forward 
on it until the House acted.
  If it is an emergency, if it is payback for what we have spent in 
defense, if it is to provide what we need on an emergency basis--
homeland security, Coast Guard, whatever--in terms of making sure our 
country is safe, we should have already done it. To drag this out into 
next week would not be a positive thing.
  I add that amendments that would be offered, if we don't get cloture, 
will make worse a bill that has a lot of problems. Substantive 
amendments would be offered that would cause problems. More spending 
would be added. The better part of valor is to vote for cloture, 
continue to work to try to pare it down to a more reasonable number, 
get it in conference, and get it closer to what the President wants so 
we can get our work done before the Fourth of July recess and get it to 
the President so he can sign it.
  We are not unanimous on our side of this issue. The proper leadership 
position is to say, let's vote for cloture, go forward in the hours we 
have after cloture to cut it back and then get it into conference.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides to vote for this cloture motion. 
Perhaps the cloture was filed too quickly. I understand, as majority 
leader, sometimes events or speeches prod you to do things that later 
maybe you wish you had not done. The fact is the majority leader filed 
it, and we will vote on it. After watching events the last 2 days, I 
think we should go ahead and support cloture.

  With that, I yield the floor.
  Mr. REID. Before the Senator from Mississippi, the Republican leader, 
leaves the floor, I express my appreciation for his leadership role in 
suggesting and advocating that we invoke cloture.
  This is the right thing to do for the country. There are things in 
the bill I do not like. There are things in the bill the President does 
not like. But that is what conferences are all about.
  We will get this thing out of here. There are some motions to strike. 
I understand we have been talking about bringing those forward for 
several days now. Good, let's have them come forward. We will vote as 
to whether or not they are good or bad motions. Let's get the matter to 
conference as quickly as possible so we can help our troops and we can 
help homeland defense.
  The Republican leader's advocacy is something that is good for the 
country, and I appreciate that very much.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the statement of the Senator 
from New Jersey not appear interrupted and he be given, minus the time 
he has already taken, the full 30 minutes as the Republicans would be 
given, and then we will shorten the time.
  I am reminded, of course, it is not the full 30 minutes but whatever 
he was accorded, following the initial discussion, prior to his 
beginning. The Democrats would have the same amount of time as 
Republicans; we would just shorten the time before 11 o'clock for those 
for and against the cloture motion.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from New Jersey.

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