[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 88 (Wednesday, June 23, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7203-S7204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FINISHING DOD AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we on this side want to finish this bill. In 
fact, last night, as we indicated, we agreed to shorten the time to the 
five amendments that are pending. We want to move forward. We feel we 
can finish this bill. One of the suggestions--and I have not had a 
chance to talk to the managers--but rather than having the votes after 
this stack, we can have another series of amendments when we

[[Page S7204]]

finish debate on these, so we would not be interrupted continually with 
votes.

  We are going to do everything within our power to complete this bill 
as quickly today as possible. There has been this contentious issue 
raised dealing with delaying amendments. This is not going to hold up 
this bill. We believe we can dispose of these amendments in a 
relatively short period of time and go to final passage. The Leahy 
amendment should not hold up this bill. We have cooperated, we feel, 
immeasurably. We started out with about 300 amendments, and we have 
completed work on these. We are waiting to go. We hope the time is 
shortened, and we will move forward and do the best we can.
  I apologize to my friend from Massachusetts. He has a question to 
ask.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Yes. One of the amendments we were considering yesterday 
was the Reid amendment, offered on behalf of the Senator from Vermont, 
myself, and other members of the Judiciary Committee, about getting 
certain reports we have not been able to receive yet. I am wondering, 
since it is still in order, whether we are going to have an opportunity 
to address that issue in a short time discussion or debate, or is it 
the position of the majority leader that we are not going to have an 
opportunity to have that amendment offered and considered and voted on 
and disposed of?
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in response, through the Chair, that 
discussion continued last night with the managers as to how that 
particular amendment is handled. What we did do last night, so we can 
continue business, is agree upon the five we laid out. No commitments 
have been made, at least from the leadership level, in terms of 
particular amendments that are out there.
  So I suggest right now, or after you complete your remarks, getting 
together with the managers of the bill. Right now the only agreement is 
we will continue straight ahead with these five amendments and keep the 
ball rolling.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader for his 
willingness to move ahead. There are a number of us who are going to 
insist we at least have an opportunity to offer that amendment and 
address it at some time. I know I can speak for the Senator from 
Vermont, and he would be willing to enter into a short time agreement. 
It is a matter of enormous importance and consequence involving, we 
believe, the security of American troops because that is what the 
Geneva Conventions are all about: protecting American troops.
  It is important on an issue of this importance and consequence that 
we move toward final conclusion, that we have a resolution of that 
issue. As a matter of fact, it is, I believe, imperative.
  I thank the majority leader. We will find how we can deal with this 
issue over the course of the day. I thank our leader as well.

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