November 28, 1979
Page 33824
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, I hope we can get a time agreement on a time to vote in relation to the pending amendment. I am not going to speak to that time agreement at this moment, but I do have a resolution which I wish to call up, and this has been cleared with the distinguished minority leader.
RELEASE OF U.S. DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL IN IRAN — SENATE RESOLUTION 292
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration of a resolution; that there be a time limit of 30 minutes on it, and with no amendment in order. This has been cleared with the minority, and I send the resolution to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. This has been cleared with Mr. BAKER.
Mr. CHAFEE. I should like to ask a question as to where we stand on the pending amendment. We have a half hour on this resolution. Is that correct?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes. I would be willing to make it 20 minutes.
Mr. CHAFEE. I do not want to interfere in that. I was just curious as to the schedule.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. As a matter of fact, I would be perfectly agreeable to voting on it immediately.
Mr. CHAFEE. I am not trying to interfere with any arrangements that have been made. I am just curious as to when we will go back on the pending amendment. Is that the next order of business after the resolution is disposed of?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes.
I will have the clerk read the resolution before I ask for any time agreement on it. I just offer it on behalf of Mr. BAKER, Mr. CRANSTON, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. CHURCH, Mr. JAVITS, Mr. STEWART, and others. I will let the clerk state it and then see where we go from there.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution will be stated.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 292) proposed by Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD (for himself, Mr. BAKER, Mr. CRANSTON, Mr. STEVENS, Mr. CHURCH, Mr. JAVITS, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. BAYH, Mr. BELLMON, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. BOSCHWITZ, Mr. BURDICK, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. DANFORTH, Mr. DECONCINI, Mr. DOMENICI, Mr. EXON, Mr. FORD, Mr. GLENN, Mr. HAYAKAWA, Mr. HEFLIN, Mr. HELMS, Mr. HUDDLESTON, Mr. HUMPHREY, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. JACKSON, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. MATHIAS, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. METZENBAUM, Mr. MUSKIE, Mr. NUNN, Mr. PACKWOOD, Mr. PELL, Mr. PERCY, Mr. PRYOR, Mr. RANDOLPH, Mr. ROTH, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. SASSER, Mr. STAFFORD, Mr. STEWART, Mr. STONE, Mr, THURMOND, Mr. TSONGAS, Mr. WALLOP, Mr. WARNER, Mr. WILLIAMS, Mr. YOUNG, and Mr. ZORINSKY)
S. RES. 292
Whereas, personnel of the United States in Iran have been seized and held hostagein violation of the fundamental principle of international relations regarding immunity of diplomatic personnel; and
Whereas, all members of the community of Nations, including Iran, have a common and vital interest in this historic and essential principle of diplomatic relations between nations; and
Whereas, the Ayatollah Khomeini and other leaders of Iran have declared repeatedly to the world that there is a lack of unity and determination of the American people and the American government concerning the immediate, safe and unconditional release of United States personnel; and
Whereas, the United Nations Security Council is convening to consider the current situation in Iran; now therefore be it
Resolved, that it is the sense of the Senate that there must be an immediate, safe and unconditional release of all United States personnel; and
That the American people and their representatives in government are united in their determination and in their efforts to achieve the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all United States personnel; and
That we call upon the Security Council of the United Nations to take all measures necessary to secure the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all United States personnel held hostage in Iran.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, the resolution speaks for itself. I do not think that it is necessary to have any time debating it. I wish for all Senators to have an opportunity to vote on it by roll call, and I wish as soon as the distinguished minority leader gets here to see, if we can agree to proceed perhaps to an immediate vote. I ask the respective cloakrooms just now to put out the word that there may be a roll call vote impending shortly.
The distinguished minority leader is here. I wonder if we could get an agreement to vote immediately on the resolution which I have just introduced on behalf of myself and the distinguished minority leader, the distinguished Republican whip, and the majority whip, and other Senators. The resolution speaks for itself. The clerk has read the resolution. I do not think any time is needed to debate it. I do think Senators would want to be recorded on it.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. President, if the majority leader will yield to me, I know of no further requirement for debate. I am perfectly happy to proceed now to its immediate consideration and vote. I see no request for time to speak. So I am prepared to agree to that.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. I thank the Senator.
Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, the junior Senator from Maine was here earlier and had an appointment. Our matter was pending at that time. He asked when it was coming up. I indicated our matter certainly would not be coming up before 3:30 p.m., not knowing this came in between. I do not know whether that has been brought to the minority leader's attention.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. May I say to my friend, and he is my friend, we stand together on a lot of issues and we almost stand alone.
Mr. CHAFEE. Do not bother to say it.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. He thinks we stand for the right.
No Senator can really take on absolute assurance the kind of statement that was made by the distinguished Senator from Rhode Island as a guarantee that the Senate will not vote on some other matter or on a tabling motion for that matter. I am very happy to schedule the vote for 3:30 p.m. I am happy to make it at 3:30 p.m.
Mr. BAKER. Mr. President, I wonder, in that view, if we could just agree by unanimous consent that there would be a vote to occur at 3:30 p.m. without further vote on this issue.
Mr. CHAFEE. Three-forty just in case?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. I have problems on my side after 3:30 p.m.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote occur on the resolution that has just been introduced at 3:30 p.m. without further debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. I ask far the yeas and nays on adoption of the resolution.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, will the majority leader yield?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes.
Mr. DOLE. May Senators submit statements in support of the resolution without a bullet?
[Laughter.]
Mr. BAKER. He almost slipped that one in.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. I ask unanimous consent that all Senators may be permitted to insert statements in the RECORD prior to the introduction of the resolution and as though stated.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.