Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, would the Senator yield for a question?

Mr. KERRY. I am happy to yield.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.

Mr. DURBIN. I have just checked with the clerk and it is my understanding eight amendments have been filed to date on this START treaty.

Mr. KERRY. I think we had about five, but it may have gone up in the time I have been here.

Mr. DURBIN. The latest count, eight amendments. We are on the third day of debate. How many of these amendments have been called for a vote?

Mr. KERRY. We are only on the first amendment.

Mr. DURBIN. I see. Is the Senator from Massachusetts prepared to have a vote on one of these amendments or all of these amendments?

Mr. KERRY. We are prepared to vote actually on the treaty, but they have several amendments. We want to give them time to have those amendments. We are prepared to vote on this amendment.

In fairness, let me be clear. I want to be clear to the Senator from Illinois. I don't think our colleagues have used the process, in terms of this amendment. They have tried in good faith to line up speakers. I think it is important that they have an opportunity to thoroughly debate it and some other amendments. So I am certainly not joining in suggesting they have delayed this with this amendment. I think we have gotten into a good debate and we ought to be able to finish it.

Mr. DURBIN. I am not suggesting it either, but eight

amendments have been filed by Republican Senators and I don't know that you have done anything--I am certain you have done nothing to stop them should they want to move forward with those amendments.

It strikes me that we are on our third day of debate, tomorrow will be the fourth day of debate, and historically many of these treaties have been completed in 2 to 5 days, if I am not mistaken. I ask the Senator from Massachusetts if we can work on this tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday--I mean, we could consider the amendments that have been filed; could we not?

Mr. KERRY. Absolutely. Madam President, I would say, obviously, that depends somewhat on what the majority leader's decision is with respect to some of that schedule, but in terms of what we are prepared to do, I believe we can work on it tomorrow. It is my understanding the majority leader said he thought we would be, as well as on Sunday. The majority leader is prepared to continue to proceed forward on this agreement.

Mr. DURBIN. If I could ask the Senator from Massachusetts, through the Chair--this is less question than a statement--but I will try to end it with a question mark. I would like to let the Senator from Massachusetts know that I have withheld the entire day from coming to the floor and speaking about the DREAM Act, which we will be voting on first thing in the morning, although it is very important to me. I wished to give every Senator the opportunity on both sides of the aisle to discuss the New START treaty. I would like to say to the Senator from Massachusetts that when his debate on this matter ends today, as late as it may be, I will come to the floor and speak on the DREAM Act, but I don't want to interrupt what he is doing at this moment in his efforts to give everyone a chance to speak about this national security measure. So that this is in the form of a question, doesn't that sound reasonable?

Mr. KERRY. I thank the Senator for his forbearance and his thoughtfulness with respect to what is going on here on the floor. That is absolutely reasonable, as far as I am concerned.

I will yield for a question from Senator Corker. Senator Dodd is next in line. I am happy to answer a question from my friend.

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