Mr. President, the Senate has a solemn duty to offer its advice and consent in the matter of treaties. We are not only not offering our advice, but we may be offering the wrong consent if we vote next week. We may be going the wrong way. We may be ill advised in the consent that we give. Not just consent, as I say, but advice as well.
Advice comes in the form of understandings, reservations, amendments, conditions, and the like.
But not on this treaty under these circumstances. On this treaty under these circumstances, amendments, understandings, reservations, motions, or any other binding expression of opinion are out of bounds. They are off limits, save for one amendment each to be offered by the two leaders of the Senate. That is no way to deliberate on a treaty, particularly one such as the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which holds such promise, and likewise, perhaps, such peril for the future of America's national security. I respect the passion with which many of my colleagues view this treaty.