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Thursday, June 24, 2004 |
The Senate voted 98-0 to pass the Defense Appropriations bill. The Senate is expected to vote shortly on two judicial nominations.
6:25:45 PM 
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The Senate voted 54-44 to table the Biden amendment. The Senate is expected to vote on final passage of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill shortly.
5:58:35 PM
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Citing the fact that the Senate has all ready approved $95 million for Sudan, Senator Stevens has moved to table the Biden amendment. The Biden amendment would provide signficant additional funds for the current crisis in Sudan. The Senate is expected to vote on the motion to table the Biden amendment shortly.
5:21:55 PM
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Senator Akaka is speaking about a crisis facing American families. He noted that credit card debt and predatory loan practices are overwhelming too many families. The Senator pointed out that the University of Oklahoma will receive $13 million in return for allowing a credit card company exclusive opportunity to market their credit cards to Oklahoma students and faculty. He continued to say that so many students are all ready saddled with mountais of debt because of their college loans and that more needs to be done to help these students.
5:00:06 PM
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The Senate is currently voting on the Byrd amendment.
4:12:48 PM
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Working at a furious pace, Senator Stevens is trying to complete action on the Defense Department Appropriations bill. He has asked all Senators to offer any amendments they may have to the bill. The Senator also asked that a vote on the Byrd amendment occurr at 4:00.
3:38:26 PM
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Senator Byrd is speaking about the cost of the war in Iraq. He noted that we are spending $4.8 billion a month to continue the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senator said that the Congress has been stiff-armed by the Administration and that this goes against the history of planning ahead for the cost of war. Senator Byrd continued to say that Congress should not allow itself to be steam rolled and that this is how errors get made. He pointed out a number of admissions that occurred because the Administration did not give Congress a detailed accounting of how funds in Iraq were spent.
3:28:06 PM
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Senator Pryor is speaking about the partisanship in the Senate. He said that he hopes that each Senator will respect the choices of voters and work cordially with Senators on the other side of the aisle. The Senator continued to say that we need to say no to the politics of revenge and return to the principles that make this country great. Senator Pryor said that you can summarize what needs to happen very simply, as the "Do-Right Rule."
3:08:10 PM
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Senator Durbin is speaking about the DeWine amendment, and said that he is happy to add his name as a cosponsor. He also mentioned that he hopes it passes with broad bi-partisan support.
2:30:15 PM
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Senator DeWine is speaking about his amendment, S.Amdt 3493 which relates to the current crisis in Sudan. He noted that his amendment will provide $95 million in emergency funding for the crisis. Senator DeWine said that the mortality figures in Sudan continue to rise and that the violence that started the situation has not stopped. He continued to say that these funds will not provide all the resources that are needed, but it will provide some assistance now, because we cannot wait any longer. The Senator also called on his colleagues to support a United Nations resolution to provide peacekeeping troops to monitor the ceasefire in Sudan.
2:21:51 PM
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Senator Alexander is speaking as if in morning business. He noted that at 2:00 the Senate will begin consideration of the Defense Appropriations bill and that he and Senator Landrieu hope to introduce the America Outdoors Act which will promote conservation and use of the outdoors. Senator Landrieu also spoke briefly about the bill, noting that she believes that it is a promising approach to launch one of the greatest conservation efforts ever.
2:02:21 PM
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Senator Hatch is speaking on the nominations of Dianne Sykes to the 7th circuit court of Appeals. He took a moment to speak about her resume and that he believes she will bring twelve years of experience to the bench. The Senator said that the ABA rated her as well qualified and he hopes that other Senators will join him in supporting the nomination. Senator Hatch also spoke in support of the nomination of Peter Hall, who has been nominated to the 2nd circuit.
1:18:57 PM
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Coming to the floor to talk about the nomination of Peter Hall, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is beginning with stating that Mr. Hall has the support of the entire Vermont delegation. Senator Leahy is mentioning Judge Parker, whose seat Peter Hall would be filling on account of Judge Parker's death last year. Senator Leahy and Judge Parker went to law school together and were close friends. Stating that Mr. Hall's record as federal prosecutor is one which anyone would be proud to have, Senator Leahy is voicing his full support for Mr. Hall, the Republican nominee for the 2nd Circuit. Senator Leahy is concluding with saying that once Mr. Hall's nomination is confirmed, more judicial nominees will have been confirmed during President Bush's Administration than President Reagan did in his first term, than President Clinton did in his second term, and than President George H.W. Bush did.
12:30:53 PM
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Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii came to the floor to voice his full support for the Department of Defense Appropriations bill.
12:15:00 PM
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After Senator Ted Stevens asked that his report accompany the appropriations bill, he is talking about the hundreds of thousands of troops who are bravely serving the United States around the world. He is mentioning that the bill includes $416.2 billion in budget authority for defense, including a 3.5% increase to the average military pay, an increase in the number covered by TRICARE, $3 billion for the Army for the ongoing transformation initiative, $10.2 billion for the Navy for shipbuilding and other purposes, and $10.2 billion for missile defense programs.
12:13:38 PM
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Turning to the topic of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill, Senator Robert C. Byrd is talking about the debt limit that is being debated concerning the appropriations bill.
12:03:54 PM
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Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont came to the floor to voice his strong support for the nomination of Peter Hall to be the U.S. Circuit Judge for the 2nd Circuit. He is praising Mr. Hall for his temperament, strong values and exceptional judgment.
11:18:20 AM
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The Senate agreed to the nomination of John Danforth to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations with a voice vote.
11:05:46 AM
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Adding to Senator Biden's comments on the nomination of John Danforth to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations, Senator Jim Talent is praising Mr. Danforth for the work he did as the special envoy to Sudan.
11:00:45 AM
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Senator Joe Biden, the Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, is talking about what an important position being Representative of the United States to the United Nations is. He is stating that stature matters in this job and that he believes John Danforth has the needed stature.
10:41:18 AM
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Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, is saying that the job John Danforth has been nominated for is a daunting one, since the critical decisions made by the United Nations have an enormous impact on the outcome in Iraq and on the welfare of our troops around the world. Senator Lugar is saying that Mr. Danforth's talents as a communicator and a bridge builder will greatly assist him in this future position. Since September, 2001, Mr. Danforth has served as the special envoy to Sudan.
10:28:41 AM
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Majority Leader Frist is describing today's schedule which will include the consideration of nominations as well as beginning debate of the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. Senator Kit Bond is beginning the Senate's consideration of the nomination of John C. Danforth to be Representative of the United States to the United Nations. He is saying that in addition to Jack Danforth being a member of the clergy of the Episcopal Church, Mr. Danforth was also the Attorney General of Missouri and a United States Senator. Senator Bond is saying that one of Mr. Danforth's most impressive qualities was his ability to understand and simplify complex political situations.
10:19:06 AM
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After a late night in the Senate, during which the Department of Defense Authorization bill was passed with a vote of 97-0, the Senate will reconvene this morning at 10:00. Debate will begin today on the Department of Defense Appropriations bill.
9:13:07 AM
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