[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. DODD. Madam President, I know the Senator from Michigan is maybe 
doing so, but as I understand it, there was objection raised to the 
consideration of a managers' amendment regarding, I guess, 100 
amendments. One of those amendments is a proposal of Senator Shelby and 
I, along with a unanimous vote of our Banking Committee, after lengthy 
discussion. It was the Iran sanctions proposal, which took a lot of 
work and effort to put together.
  This was a comprehensive package, widely endorsed across the country 
by organizations to give us the kind of leverage necessary for us to 
bring Iran to the negotiating table diplomatically to reduce the threat 
that their potential nuclear arsenal poses to us, our allies, the State 
of Israel and others.
  I appreciate the fact that the managers of this bill had included 
this amendment in their managers' package. It would be a great 
travesty, in my view, for us to leave here having the other body having 
adopted similar language. This is the one opportunity for this body to 
embrace an economic sanctions proposal which would give us tremendous 
leverage in our efforts to bring Iran to that table.
  To lose that opportunity would be a serious loss of opportunity for 
this country. So, again, my dear friend from Virginia was here. 
Therefore, on behalf of those of us on the committee, unanimously, the 
Dodd-Shelby Iran sanctions divestment nonproliferation amendment to the 
DOD authorization bill, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding 
any agreement with respect to S. 3001, it be in order for the Senate to 
consider amendment No. 5572 and that the amendment be considered and 
agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. WARNER. Reserving the right to object, and I will object, I wish 
to advise the Senator that the vote to take place right now is on final 
passage. It has been agreed to by unanimous consent. Prior thereto, the 
distinguished chairman raised the question of the package to which you 
refer.
  I, personally, approved of putting in the amendment. It had been my 
hope, I say it is now no longer my hope, my disappointment, that that 
could not be achieved along with about 100 other amendments from both 
sides of the aisle.
  So at this time I have to object and ask the Chair for regular order 
for the vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

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