[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 28021]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 1828

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I will propound a unanimous consent request 
regarding the Syria Accountability Act in just a minute.
  This is an important piece of legislation that requires our immediate 
attention.
  This bill would establish economic sanctions against Syria, unless 
the President certifies that Syria has ceased all support for 
international terrorism and has gotten out of the weapons of mass 
destruction business.
  As we have known for some time, Syria supports and sponsors Hizballah 
and other terrorist groups. Hizballah, of course, was responsible for 
the deadly attack against 298 of our marines in Lebanon 20 years ago, 
and they have also been behind repeated attacks against Israeli 
civilians over the years.
  It is also no secret that the Baathists of Syria and Iraq shared a 
common view of the world. They are anti-western, corrupt, and 
dangerous. Our intelligence experts have noted a significant amount of 
weapons and terror traffic between Iraq and Syria leading up to the 
war. This would be consistent with reports that Syria offered sanctuary 
to senior figures from the Iraqi regime.
  And now, as our brave men and women fight a low-intensity conflict in 
Iraq, it is becoming clear that many of the threats that they face 
result from the porous border with Syria, and the failure of Syria to 
crack down on cross-border terrorism.
  Make no mistake: This bill is critical to our troops, and to 
restoring peace in the Middle East. It is also critical to holding 
Syria accountable for their shabby record on terrorism and human 
rights.
  I am hopeful my colleagues on the other side will pass it without 
further delay.
  To my knowledge, no amendment has been filed tonight. I hope tomorrow 
morning we can pass the Syria Accountability Act. We can shorten the 
time to 1 hour. Under the present consent agreement which has been 
approved before this body, we will move to it for an hour and half at 
any time the majority leader wishes. We have waited a long time to get 
to this. I hope we can do it tomorrow.
  I hope that also tomorrow--and I was willing to do it tonight, but it 
has been rejected on two separate occasions--we can pass the Military 
Construction appropriations bill. I don't understand why we can't do 
that. We could have this matter on the President's desk in a matter of 
hours. After it is signed, places such as Nellis Air Force Base and 
Fallon Naval Air Training Center would be able to start construction 
projects that are badly needed. Both of those bases are terribly busy 
because of what is going on in the Middle East and because of the 
training for our naval airmen and Air Force airmen. I know the people 
at Nellis badly need this money.
  I ask consent that the order entered with respect to H.R. 1828, the 
Syria Accountability Act, be changed to reflect the time for 
consideration be reduced to 60 minutes; that there be 30 minutes under 
the control of Senator Specter, 15 minutes each for Senators Lugar and 
Boxer, or their designees; and at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning the Senate 
proceed to the measure under limitations provided under the previous 
order as modified above with the remaining provisions of the order now 
in order to remain in effect.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCAIN. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I would hope that the majority would allow the Senate, 
before we take our weekend break, to do these two pieces of 
legislation--the Syria Accountability Act and the military construction 
conference report. I hope we can do that. These are non-partisan 
measures. I don't know what advantage any of us have by taking a few 
minutes and passing them. I hoped we could do military construction in 
tonight's wrap-up. It is something that needs to be done that no one 
disputes. No one needs it more than the military of our country.
  I yield the floor.

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