[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6115-S6118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' CARE, KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ 
                ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, with the concurrence of the Republican 
leader, I now ask that the Senate turn to the consideration of H. R. 
2206.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H. R. 2206) making emergency supplemental 
     appropriations and additional supplemental appropriations for 
     agriculture and other emergency assistance for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.


                           Amendment No. 1123

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Reid and Senator 
McConnell, I send a substitute amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for himself and Mr. 
     McConnell, proposes an amendment numbered 1123.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be 
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States 
 or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions

       Since under the Constitution, the President and Congress 
     have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States, including their mission, 
     and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially during 
     wartime;
       Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the 
     President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the 
     support they need in order to maintain their safety and 
     accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the 
     training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is 
     the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the 
     Legislative Branch of Government; and
       Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have 
     fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the 
     kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them 
     when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
       Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring)
       That it is the Sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President and Congress should not take any action 
     that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and 
     other support for troops in the field, as such actions will 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and 
     carrying out their assigned missions;
       (2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an 
     obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this 
     country in time of war receive the medical care and other 
     support they deserve; and
       (3) the President and Congress should--
       (A) continue to exercise their constitutional 
     responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have 
     everything they need to perform their assigned or future 
     missions; and
       (B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and 
     funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance 
     for success in Iraq and elsewhere.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.

[[Page S6116]]

  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 1124 to Amendment No. 1123

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I call up an amendment at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for himself and Mr. 
     McConnell, proposes an amendment numbered 1124 to amendment 
     No. 1123.

  The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be 
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States 
 or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

       In the amendment strike all after the first word and insert 
     the following: under the Constitution, the President and 
     Congress have shared responsibilities for decisions on the 
     use of the Armed Forces of the United States, including their 
     mission, and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially 
     during wartime;
       Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the 
     President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the 
     support they need in order to maintain their safety and 
     accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the 
     training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is 
     the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the 
     Legislative Branch of Government; and
       Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have 
     fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the 
     kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them 
     when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
       Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President and Congress should not take any action 
     that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and 
     other support for troops in the field, as such actions will 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and 
     carrying out their assigned missions;
       (2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an 
     obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this 
     country in time of war receive the medical care and other 
     support they deserve; and
       (3) the President and Congress should--
       (A) continue to exercise their constitutional 
     responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have 
     everything they need to perform their assigned or future 
     missions; and
       (B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and 
     funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance 
     for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
       This section shall take effect 1 day after the date of 
     enactment.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask that it be reflected that this 
amendment is on behalf of Senator Reid and Senator McConnell.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 1125 to Amendment No. 1124

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I call up a second-degree amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 1125 to amendment No. 1124.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be 
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States 
 or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

       The President and Congress have shared responsibilities for 
     decisions on the use of the Armed Forces of the United 
     States, including their mission, and for supporting the Armed 
     Forces, especially during wartime;
       Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the 
     President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the 
     support they need in order to maintain their safety and 
     accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the 
     training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is 
     the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the 
     Legislative Branch of Government; and
       Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have 
     fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the 
     kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them 
     when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
       Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       That it is the Sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President and Congress should not take any action 
     that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and 
     other support for troops in the field, as such actions will 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and 
     carrying out their assigned missions;
       (2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an 
     obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this 
     country in time of war receive the medical care and other 
     support they deserve; and
       (3) the President and Congress should--
       (A) continue to exercise their constitutional 
     responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have 
     everything they need to perform their assigned or future 
     missions; and
       (B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and 
     funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance 
     for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
       This section shall take effect 2 days after date of 
     enactment.


                            Motion to Commit

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send a motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to commit H.R. 
     2206 to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to 
     report back forthwith with the following amendment numbered 
     1126.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:


                           amendment no. 1126

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be 
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States 
 or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

       Strike all after the first word and insert the following:
       Since under the Constitution, the President and Congress 
     have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States, including their mission, 
     and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially during 
     wartime;
       Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the 
     President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the 
     support they need in order to maintain their safety and 
     accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the 
     training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is 
     the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the 
     Legislative Branch of Government; and
       Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have 
     fought bravely in Iraq an Afghanistan are not receiving the 
     kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them 
     when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
       Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       That it is the Sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President and Congress should not take any action 
     that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and 
     other support for troops in the field, as such actions will 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and 
     carrying out their assigned missions;
       (2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an 
     obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this 
     country in time of war receive the medical care and other 
     support they deserve; and
       (3) the President and Congress should--
       (A) continue to exercise their constitutional 
     responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have 
     everything they need to perform their assigned or future 
     missions; and
       (B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and 
     funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance 
     for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
       This section shall take effect 5 days after date of 
     enactment.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


     Amendment No. 1127 to the Instructions of the Motion to Commit

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the motion to the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 1127 to the instructions of the motion to commit 
     H.R. 2206.

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment 
be dispensed with.

[[Page S6117]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be 
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States 
 or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

       In the amendment strike all after Congress in line 1 and 
     insert the following:
     ``have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of 
     the Armed Forces of the United States, including their 
     mission, and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially 
     during wartime;
       ``Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, 
     the President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all 
     the support they need in order to maintain their safety and 
     accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the 
     training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is 
     the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the 
     Legislative Branch of Government; and
       ``Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have 
     fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the 
     kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them 
     when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
       ``Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       ``That it is the sense of Congress that--
       ``(1) the President and Congress should not take any action 
     that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and 
     other support for troops in the field, as such actions will 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and 
     carrying out their assigned missions;
       ``(2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an 
     obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this 
     country in time of war receive the medical care and other 
     support they deserve; and
       ``(3) the President and Congress should--
       ``(A) continue to exercise their constitutional 
     responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have 
     everything they need to perform their assigned or future 
     missions; and
       ``(B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and 
     funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance 
     for success in Iraq and elsewhere.''
       This section shall take effect 4 days after the date of 
     enactment.

  Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 1128 to Amendment No. 1127

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now send a second-degree amendment to the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 1128 to amendment No. 1127.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

(Purpose: Expressing the sense of the Congress that no action should be 
taken to undermine the safety of the Armed Forces of the United States 
 or impact their ability to complete their assigned or future missions)

       At the end of the amendment add the following:
       Since under the Constitution, the President and Congress 
     have shared responsibilities for decisions on the use of the 
     Armed Forces of the United States, including their mission, 
     and for supporting the Armed Forces, especially during 
     wartime;
       Since when the Armed Forces are deployed in harm's way, the 
     President, Congress, and the Nation should give them all the 
     support they need in order to maintain their safety and 
     accomplish their assigned or future missions, including the 
     training, equipment, logistics, and funding necessary to 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness, and such support is 
     the responsibility of both the Executive Branch and the 
     Legislative Branch of Government; and
       Since thousands of members of the Armed Forces who have 
     fought bravely in Iraq and Afghanistan are not receiving the 
     kind of medical care and other support this Nation owes them 
     when they return home: Now, therefore, be it
       Determined by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       That it is the Sense of Congress that--
       (1) the President and Congress should not take any action 
     that will endanger the Armed Forces of the United States, and 
     will provide necessary funds for training, equipment, and 
     other support for troops in the field, as such actions will 
     ensure their safety and effectiveness in preparing for and 
     carrying out their assigned missions;
       (2) the President, Congress, and the Nation have an 
     obligation to ensure that those who have bravely served this 
     country in time of war receive the medical care and other 
     support they deserve; and
       (3) the President and Congress should--
       (A) continue to exercise their constitutional 
     responsibilities to ensure that the Armed Forces have 
     everything they need to perform their assigned or future 
     missions; and
       (B) review, assess, and adjust United States policy and 
     funding as needed to ensure our troops have the best chance 
     for success in Iraq and elsewhere.
       This section shall take effect 3 days after date of 
     enactment.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     hereby move to bring to a close debate on the Reid-McConnell 
     amendment No. 1123 relating to Iraq to H.R. 2206, the 
     Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.
         Harry Reid, Debbie Stabenow, Daniel K. Inouye, Jon 
           Tester, Bill Nelson (FL), Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, 
           Patty Murray, Frank R. Lautenberg, Benjamin L. Cardin, 
           Tom Carper, Charles Schumer, Maria Cantwell, Carl 
           Levin, Daniel K. Akaka, Ted Kennedy, Amy Klobuchar.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I send a second cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     hereby move to bring to a close debate on Calendar No. 146, 
     H.R. 2206, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.
         Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Jeff Bingaman, Patty Murray, 
           Patrick Leahy, Carl Levin, Dianne Feinstein, Daniel K. 
           Inouye, Byron L. Dorgan, Benjamin L. Cardin, Max 
           Baucus, Bill Nelson (FL), Charles Schumer, Debbie 
           Stabenow, Richard J. Durbin, Daniel K. Akaka, Jack 
           Reed.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the cloture 
vote on the Reid-McConnell amendment to H.R. 2206 occur on Thursday 1 
hour after the Senate convenes and notwithstanding the provisions of 
rule XXII, and that if cloture is invoked, the Senate remain on H.R. 
2206 until it is disposed of, notwithstanding the provisions of rule 
XXII.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Republican leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me for my side of the aisle 
describe what we have just done. Senator Reid and I have entered into 
an agreement, which I previously described to my conference, under 
which we will be able to smooth the passage of the supplemental 
appropriations bill into conference. The majority leader, with my 
concurrence, has filled up the tree and filed cloture. This should give 
us an opportunity Thursday afternoon on a broad bipartisan basis to 
move this troop funding bill into conference where we will continue our 
discussions.
  The majority leader and I have had several meetings with the 
President's designee, Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, and we will have 
additional meetings--as well as with House Democrats and Republicans--
and hopefully achieve what I think we all want to achieve at this 
point, which is a signed troop funding bill before Memorial Day.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Republican leader and I have worked very 
closely in the past week or two on the process we are following this 
evening. We both agree it is imperative that we get to conference with 
the House as quickly as possible, and adoption of the Murray amendment, 
which is the amendment which was offered here, will allow us to do just 
that. This is a procedural step.
  We are anxious to get to conference to work with the President's 
Chief of Staff Josh Bolten. He has been available any time we have 
asked for his presence. He realizes there is going to have to be some 
serious negotiations. We also understand that it is not just the 
Senate. The House has to be involved in these negotiations, and we

[[Page S6118]]

certainly understand that and Mr. Bolton understands that.
  We have a long way to go, but this was a tremendous step forward. We 
may disagree on a lot of issues dealing with the policy in Iraq, but 
the one point on which we agree--both Democrats and Republicans--is 
that the troops must have everything they need and more, and we are 
going to make sure that is the case.
  The Republican leader and I agree, and I have spoken with the Speaker 
of the House at 5 o'clock today, and she agrees with me, that we are 
going to finish this bill and this conference report prior to our 
leaving for the Memorial Day recess. Everyone should rest assured we 
are going to do that. I hope we can do that without causing a lot of 
discomfort to Senators and Members of the House if we finish this bill 
at a reasonable time a week from Thursday or Friday, but if we can't, 
we are going no place until we finish this legislation and it gets to 
the President's desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

                          ____________________