[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S1590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come 
before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in 
adjournment under the previous order following the remarks of Senator 
Durbin for up to 15 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. FEINGOLD. Reserving the right to object, I wish to indicate that 
I am pleased we could work out a time for the vote tomorrow. I want to 
be very clear that not only have I not given up any of my rights under 
the bill, as I understand it, given the rules postcloture, I actually 
have more time for debate than I otherwise would have to oppose this 
unwise legislation. In terms of convenience for Members, I am pleased 
about that. It will be important to continue the debate tomorrow prior 
to 3 o'clock. I thank the leaders for the ability to achieve that.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Illinois is recognized.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, pursuant to the unanimous consent request, 
I wish to speak to a resolution which was just passed, but prior to 
that time, I would like to commend my colleague from the State of 
Wisconsin for his dogged determination to have the Senate actually 
consider an amendment--a substantive amendment--to the PATRIOT Act. He 
has been more than cooperative in suggesting he would limit the time of 
that debate to 15 minutes, but he has been stopped every time he has 
come to the floor and made that request by the majority.
  I may disagree with the Senator from Wisconsin, but I am going to 
stand here and fight for as long as I can that he have this 
opportunity. Why is the Senate afraid of debate? Why is the Senate 
afraid of deliberation? What is so frightening about having two 
Senators present a point of view and then have the Senate vote? It 
almost sounds like the reason the Senate was created, but the Senator 
from Wisconsin has been waiting, trying his best to get 15 minutes, day 
after day, as the majority refuses to give it to him.
  As I have said repeatedly, I think there is merit to this PATRIOT 
Act, as amended with Senator Sununu's efforts and the efforts of many, 
including myself, but I am going to defend the right of the Senator 
from Wisconsin to come to the floor any time he wants, as a Senator 
representing his State and as a coequal Member of this Chamber, and 
offer an amendment. The majority should not be so frightened of debate, 
not so frightened of a vote that they would deny the Senator this 
opportunity.

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