[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1994

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the 
Senate will now resume consideration of S. 2019, which the clerk will 
report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2019) to reauthorize and amend title XIV of the 
     Public Health Service Act (commonly known as the ``Safe 
     Drinking Water Act''), and for other purposes.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the bill.
  Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Montana [Mr. 
Baucus], is recognized.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, we are now on the Safe Drinking Water Act 
again. We have a new consent agreement which essentially provides that 
all amendments listed must be offered by 3 p.m. today in order for them 
to be in order. I urge Senators to think long and deep about the 
meaning of that consent agreement, because it essentially has the 
effect of saying that if there are amendments up, say, at 1 o'clock 
being extensively debated and we are still on the amendment at 3 
o'clock, all other amendments on the list are out of order. They cannot 
be brought up once we reach 3 o'clock.
  So I strongly urge Senators to bring up their amendments now. It is 5 
minutes after 9 in the morning. Those amendments brought up now will 
have a much better chance of being fully debated. I think the Senate 
will be in recess beginning at 10:40 a.m. in order to accommodate the 
joint session of Congress, so that Members of both bodies will be able 
to hear an address by the Prime Minister of India. That is time which 
is not available to offer amendments.
  I also believe there might be other times during the day which would 
be more difficult for Senators to offer amendments. So there is not a 
lot of time remaining between now and 3 o'clock to deal with 
amendments. We have about 50 amendments. That is 50 amendments in less 
than 6 hours, or probably in about 4 hours.
  I urge Senators to come to the floor and offer their amendments.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I inquire as to what is the pending 
business for today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The pending business is S. 2019, 
the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I may proceed 
as if in morning business for no more than 10 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Senator from Montana is recognized.
  Mr. BURNS. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Burns and Mr. Baucus pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 2125 are located in today's Record under 
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  (The remarks of Mr. Burns pertaining to the introduction of Senate 
Joint Resolution 191 are located in today's Record under ``Statements 
on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Montana, [Mr. 
Baucus].
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed as if 
in morning business on another matter.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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