[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3152-S3153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  WRDA

  Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I wish to take about 2 minutes--and I 
know Senator Brown is here to speak--to explain what just happened 
because a normal person would never follow this, in my opinion. That is 
just me speaking.
  Let me tell my colleagues what we did. Happily, we are moving forward 
with the first votes on amendments to the WRDA bill--the water 
resources bill--tomorrow. I have to thank so much Majority Leader Reid 
because he worked very hard on making sure we could figure out a way to 
move these votes forward. Senator Vitter and I both wanted to see this 
happen, and we are very pleased.
  So what will happen is we will first have a vote on an amendment by 
Senator Coburn dealing with a study about ammunition. Upon disposition 
of that amendment, we will move to another Coburn amendment that deals 
with people being able to carry guns on Corps of Engineers land that 
has levees and dams on it and so on. We will have debate and a vote on 
that. Finally, we will have a vote on the Whitehouse amendment which 
deals with an oceans trust fund. So those three votes will be in order, 
and following that we believe the Boxer-Vitter amendment will be 
pending.
  I wish to thank everybody for their cooperation in moving forward. I 
don't understand why and how we would have gun amendments on a water 
infrastructure bill, but that is just me. This is about water 
infrastructure. It is about flood control. It is about making sure our 
ports are deepened so that commerce can flow in and out. It is about 
water conservation. It is about wetlands conservation and restoration. 
So I don't quite get why we are voting on guns, but it is the 
Republicans' desire that the first two votes be on guns, so that is 
what we are going to do. We will dispose of those.
  I can only say to my colleagues, my friends, on both sides of the 
aisle, could we keep the amendments to the subject at hand? If we could 
keep the amendments to the subject at hand--I know there is a desire to 
have votes on lots of issues, but I think we all agree that for the 
economic well-being of our country, we need an infrastructure that is 
top-notch. I hate to say it but our infrastructure has been rated as a 
D-plus. That means our ports are not functioning as they should and our 
flood control projects are not handling the extreme weather we are 
facing. We need to get back to work here in regular order.
  I know there are people here who think more gun votes is the way to 
go. That is a very controversial subject. It tears at the heart of the 
American people in many ways. But so be it. Let the country see what we 
are dealing with. The first two votes by the Republicans on a water 
infrastructure bill are about guns. Let the people decide if they think 
it is appropriate on a water infrastructure bill that deals with flood

[[Page S3153]]

control and the adequacy of our ports and our wetlands, and 
restoration, if that bill should be burdened with amendments about 
guns. I don't think so. That is how I am talking about it. We will see 
what happens tomorrow, but at least we have a path forward.
  Again, I thank Senator Vitter for working with me today. I thank 
Senator Reid and all of my colleagues for their indulgence. Frankly, I 
hoped we would have had a few relevant amendments disposed of, but at 
least we have a path forward together, and I look forward to seeing 
everybody then.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.
  Mr. BROWN. I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business 
for up to 10 minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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