{ 1999/07/21 TIME: 13-00 , Wed. 106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}

{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}

{13:00:18 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM VERMONT.

{13:00:20 NSP} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. LEAHY: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE CALL OF
           THE QUORUM BE DISPENSED WITH.

{13:00:22 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           HEARING NONE, SO ORDERED.

{13:00:31 NSP} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. LEAHY: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK THAT KATIE LAMPERN OF MY STAFF
           HAVE PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR THROUGHOUT TODAY, INCLUDING ALL
           VOTES TODAY.

{13:00:35 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           SO ORDERED.

{13:00:43 NSP} (MR. LEAHY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. LEAHY: MR. PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.

{13:00:48 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
           
           
           
           QUORUM CALL:

{13:01:19} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

{13:04:30 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT?

{13:04:34 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.

{13:04:37 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE ORDER
           FOR THE QUORUM CALL BE RESCINDED.

{13:04:42 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.

{13:04:50 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE SOME RATHER BRIEF REMARKS,
           RELATIVELY 15 MINUTES. IS THIS A GOOD TIME WHEN I MIGHT SPEAK
           OUT OF ORDER?

{13:04:58 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: A VOTE
           
           IS SCHEDULED TO OCCUR AT 1:15.

{13:05:04 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, I'D LIKE TO
           PROCEED, AND I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE VOTE BE
           DELAYED FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES OR WHATEVER.

{13:05:16 NSP} (MR. LOTT) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. LOTT: MR. PRESIDENT, CERTAINLY I WOULD NOT OBJECT FOR SUCHA
           REASONABLE REQUEST FROM A SENATOR, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE
           WOULD BE NO FURTHER DELAY. WE WERE -- WE HAD INTENDED TO
           
           VOTE AT 12:00. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE AT
           
           123:30, 12:40, 1:156789 NOW
           
           IT'S 1:20. YOU KNOW THERE'S AN EFFORT TO WORK IT OUT AND THAT'S
           COMMENDABLE. WE NEED TO HAVE A RECORDED VOTE HERE. I WOULD NOT
           OBJECT, BUT I WOULD PLEAD WITH THE SENATORS,
           
           LET'S VOTE AT 1:20.

{13:05:45 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.

{13:05:49 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY
           LEADER. I DON'T TAKE THE TIME OF THE SENATE VERY OFTEN. I TRY
           NOT TO IMPOSE UPON OTHER SENATORS OR UPON THE SENATE, BUT I
           NOTE ADD SERIES OF QUORUM CALLS HERE, SO I FELT THAT THIS MIGHT

{13:06:19} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           BE A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO SPEAK. MR. PRESIDENT, A SMALL, SERIOUS
           TOUSLED-HAIRED LAD SEEMED EVEN AT THE TENDER AGE OF THREE TO
           KNOW JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO. WITH A STRAIGHT BACK AND A
           SMART, ENTIRELY PROPER MILITARY SALUTE, JOHN F. KENNEDY JR.
           EXPRESSED THE GRIEF OF AN ENTIRE NATION WITH THE DIGNITY FAR

{13:06:52} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           BEYOND HIS YEARS. HE WAS ONLY THREE. YET, HE GAVE THE NATION A
           LASTING, MEMORABLE, INDELIBLE IMAGE, AN IMAGE THAT IS
           REMEMBERED BY MILLIONS AND CAPTURED ON VIDEOTAPE FOR
           GENERATIONS TO COME. AND NOW J.F. KENNEDY JR. HAS HIMSELF BEEN
           LOST AT AN AGE FAR TOO YOUNG FOR EASY ACCEPTANCE BY A COUNTRY
           WHICH HAD AFFECTIONATELY GROW TO MANHOOD. HIS UNTIMELY DEATH

{13:07:32} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           FEELS AS HEAVY AND OPPRESSIVE AS THE TOO HOT, TOO DRY SUMMER IN
           WHICH HE LIVED HIS FINAL DAYS. WORDS FAIL TO EXPRESS THE
           SPECIAL DEPRIVATION THAT THE HUMAN SPIRIT FEELS WHEN THE YOUNG,
           THE BEAUTIFUL, THE HANDSOME, THE VITAL AMONG US ARE SUDDENLY
           TAKEN FROM OUR MIDST BEFORE THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR POTENTIAL

{13:08:08} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           PROMISE. ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE, THE MIND REELS AT THE SPECTER
           OF YET ANOTHER KENNEDY TAKEN TOO SOON, YET ANOTHER UNBEARABLE
           SORROW FOR THIS FAMILY WHICH HAS HAD SO MUCH SORROW TO BEAR.
           YET, THIS INCREDIBLE AMERICAN FAMILY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY ONCE
           AGAIN DEMONSTRATE TO THE NATION THAT THEY WILL ENDURE AND THAT

{13:08:42} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           ITS HOW ONE LIVES AND NOT HOW ONE DIES THAT ULTIMATELY MATTERS.
           JOHN KENNEDY JR., HIS WIFE, CAROLINE, AND HIS SISTER-IN-LAW,
           LAUREN BESSETTE, HAVE VANISHED IN THE SUMMER NIGHT IN THE
           SPRINGTIME OF THEIR YEARS, AND OUR HEARTS GO OUT TO THE
           BESSETTE AND THE KENNEDY FAMILIES. I AM PARTICULARLY SADDENED
           FOR MY GOOD FRIEND, SENATOR TED KENNEDY. HE IS A GREAT SENATOR.
           HE IS A GREAT FIGURE ON THE AMERICAN POLITICAL STAGE. I KNOW

{13:09:25} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THAT HIS HEART MUST BE BROKEN BY THIS LATEST FAMILY TRAGEDY.
           YET, I AM CONFIDENT THAT HIS EXPANSIVE SPIRIT AND HIS DEEP
           FAILINGT IN GOD WILL SEE HIM SAFE -- DEEP FAITH IN GOD WILL SEE
           HIM SAFELY TO A HARBOR OF PEACE AND COMFORT. MY WIFE, ERMA, AND
           I OFFER OUR PRAYERS AND OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO HIM AND TO
           THE FAMILIES AT THIS SADDEST OF SAD TIMES. TED KENNEDY, IN JULY

{13:10:02} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           OF 1996 -- THREE YEARS AGO -- PRESENTED ME WITH A BOOK --
           PRESENTED TO ME A BOOK TITLED, "AMERICAN POETRY." AND SO I HAVE
           CHOSEN A BIT OF POETRY FROM THAT BOOK FOR THE RECORD HERE
           TODAY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IT'S MOST APPROPRIATE AND, OF

{13:10:42} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           COURSE, VERY TIMELY. THE TITLE OF THIS POEM IS "THE OCEAN."
           "THE OCEAN HAS ITS SILENT CAVES DEEP, QUIET AND ALONE. THOUGH
           THERE BE FURY ON THE WAVES, BENEATH THEM THERE IS NONE. THE
           AWFUL SPIRITS OF THE DEEP HOLD THEIR COMMUNION THERE. AND THERE

{13:11:16} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           ARE THOSE FOR WHOM WE WEEP BEYOND THE BRIGHT, THE FAIR. CALMLY
           THE WEARIED SEAMEN REST BENEATH THEIR OWN BLUE SEA. THE OCEAN'S
           SOLITUDES ARE BLESSED FOR THERE IS PURITY. THE EARTH HAS GUILT,
           THE EARTH HAS CARE, UNQUIET ARE ITS GRAVES. BUT PEACEFUL SLEEP
           IS EVER THERE BENEATH THE DARK BLUE WAVES." MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT
           IS THE SCHEDULED TIME FOR THE VOTE?

{13:11:53} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

{13:11:58 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: 1:15, SIR.

{13:12:04 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: I THANK THE CHAIR. MR. PRESIDENT, I AM GOING TO HONOR
           THE REQUEST BY THE DISTINGUISHED MAJORITY LEADER, AND I'M GOING
           TO YIELD THE FLOOR NOW. BUT I WILL ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
           IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VOTE I MAY BE RECOGNIZED TO MAKE A SECOND
           SPEECH TO WHICH I HAD ALLUDED EARLY AND WILL PROBABLY REQUIRE
           NO LONGER THAN 15 MINUTES AT THAT TIME.

{13:12:33 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
           HEARING NONE, WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.

{13:12:39 NSP} (MR. BYRD) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BYRD: I THANK THE CHAIR, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.

{13:12:49 NSP} (MR. DOMENICI) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. DOMENICI: I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.

{13:12:52 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CLERK WILL CALL
           THE ROLL.
           
           
           
           QUORUM CALL:

{13:13:24} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

{13:14:07 NSP} (MR. BINGAMAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BINGAMAN: MR. PRESIDENT?

{13:14:09 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO.

{13:14:11 NSP} (MR. BINGAMAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BINGAMAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D ASK THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
           DISPENSED WITH.

{13:14:13 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.

{13:14:15 NSP} (MR. BINGAMAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BINGAMAN: MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS AN AMENDMENT THAT SENATOR
           DOMENICI AND I AND SENATOR REID HAVE AGREED TO, WHICH I WOULD
           OFFER AT THIS TIME AND ASK FOR ITS IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION.

{13:14:26 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED, AND THE
           CLERK WILL REPORT THE AMENDMENT.

{13:14:31 NSP} (THE CLERK) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE CLERK: THE SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO, MR. BINGAMAN, FOR
           HIMSELF AND OTHERS, PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1262 TO
           AMENDMENT NUMBER 1258.

{13:14:40 NSP} (MR. BINGAMAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BINGAMAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D ASK THAT FURTHER READING OF
           THE AMENDMENT BE DISPENSED WITH.

{13:14:43 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.

{13:14:46 NSP} (MR. BINGAMAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

           MR. BINGAMAN: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME JUST BRIEFLY SAY THAT I'M
           VERY PLEASED THAT WE COULD GET AGREEMENT TO DO THIS AMENDMENT.
           IT IS A JOINT AMENDMENT THAT SENATOR DOMENICI AND MYSELF AND
           SENATOR REID HAVE ALL PARTICIPATED IN THE DRAFTING OF. IT TRIES
           TO ENSURE THAT THE
{END: 1999/07/21 TIME: 13-15 , Wed.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}

{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}