Thursday, August 03, 2006

8:29 Menendez Amendment Agreed To The Menendez amendment was agreed to by a vote of 96-0. 8:29:24 PM

8:00 Roll Call Vote In Progress There is currently a roll call vote in progress on the Menendez amendment. The amendment makes available from Operation and Maintenance, Navy, an additional $3,000,000 to fund improvements to physical security at Navy recruiting stations and to improve data security. 8:04:38 PM

6:43 Sessions Amendment Fails The Sessions amendment was not agreed to by a vote of 31-67. 6:44:18 PM

5:55 Roll Call Vote Scheduled For 6:15 There will be a roll call vote at 6:15 p.m. on an amendment offered by Senator Sessions. The amendment would restore funding for the Conventional Trident Modification Program, which would place conventional warheads on top of a submarine launched intercontinental ballistic missile.  5:54:37 PM

5:00 Coburn Amendment Agreed To The Coburn amendment was agreed to by a vote of 96-1. 5:10:16 PM

4:30 Boxer Amendment Agreed To, Senate Moves To Vote On Coburn Amendment The Boxer amendment was agreed to by a vote of 97-0. The Senate will now proceed to a vote on an amendment offered by Senator Coburn. His amendment would require notice be given to Congress and the public on earmarks of funds available to the Department of Defense. 4:31:42 PM

4:05 Roll Call Vote In Progress There is currently a roll call vote in progress on an amendment offered by Senator Boxer. The amendment states that no funds appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill may be used by the government of the United States to enter into and agreement with the government of Iraq that would subject members of the Armed Forces of the United States to the jurisdiction of Iraq criminal courts or punishment under Iraq law. 4:06:53 PM

2:10 Senator DeMint Speaking Senator DeMint is on the floor discussing the accomplishments of the Republican leadership during this session. Off the floor, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace are giving a private, Members-only briefing on the situation in Iraq. 2:14:59 PM

11:55 Coburn Amendment Agreed To By a vote of 96-0 the Senate agreed to the Coburn amendment #4785. 11:59:17 AM

11:45 Senate Voting on Coburn Amendment #4785 The Senate is now voting on another Coburn amendment. This amendment would direct the Department of Defense to provide a report related to improper payments the Department may make for travel.  11:52:10 AM

11:37 Motion to Table Fails The vote on the motion to table the Coburn amendment (#4787) was 36-60.  Therefore, the amendment was not tabled. 11:38:28 AM

11:05 Senate Voting on Motion to Table Coburn Amendment #4787 The Senate just began a roll call vote on the motion to table Senator Coburn's amendment (#4787) relating to Defense Department conferences.  Senator Coburn's amendment would provide that the Department of Defense could spend no more than $70 million on conferences.  11:07:59 AM

10:35 Senator Coburn Discusses Amendment on Public Disclosure of DOD Reports Senator Coburn is still on the Floor discussing amendments he has offered to the DOD spending bill.  The second amendment Senator Coburn outlined would require the public disclosure of Defense Department reports on the Internet website of the Department of Defense. Senator Coburn stated that anything which would compromise national security would be exempted from his amendment. Senator Coburn said that the American public ought to be able to see what these reports say, provided there's no risk to our nation's security.    11:04:05 AM

10:25 Remarks of Senator Coburn Senator Coburn of Oklahoma just came to the Floor to discuss amendments he is proposing to the FY07 Defense Department spending bill.  The first amendment Senator Coburn discussed dealt with the amount spent each year on conferences. Senator Coburn stated that the Pentagon spent $77 million last year on conferences. He declared that 36,000 military and civilian employees went to 6,600 conferences worldwide last year at an average cost of $2,200 per person.   Senator Coburn believes the Pentagon should be utilizing video-conferencing and other technology to save that money for our troops.   10:51:52 AM

10:00 Debate Continues on the FY07 Defense Department Spending Bill The Senate convened at 9:30 today to resume consideration of the Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Department Appropriations bill.  Roll call votes are expected during today's session. 10:00:22 AM