[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, on July 5, I wrote a letter to each 
Member of the Senate setting forth the schedule for this legislative 
period. In that letter, I stated that the education bill, a bill 
entitled ``Improving America's Schools Act of 1993,'' would be a 
legislative priority and would be brought up during this legislative 
period. On July 12, I read that letter and had it placed in the 
Congressional Record. I also on that day placed in the Congressional 
Record a list of legislation which I intended to bring before the 
Senate during this legislative period, and that list included the 
education bill.
  On July 21, I met with the Republican leader to discuss the schedule 
for this legislative period. During that meeting, I informed him that I 
would proceed to the education bill during this legislative period and 
probably sometime the following week, which is, of course, this week.
  On July 25, this past Monday, the Senate began consideration of the 
Interior appropriations bill, and at my direction my staff notified the 
Republican leader's staff that the next legislative item would be 
either the education bill or the VA/HUD appropriations bill.
  Therefore, Mr. President, each Member of the Senate has been on 
notice for several weeks that I would bring before the Senate the 
education bill, and that notice has taken several forms and been 
repeated over several weeks.
  On yesterday, last evening, at my direction, my staff notified the 
Republican leader's staff that, having discussed the matter with the 
several chairmen involved in the various bills remaining, I concluded 
it would be best to proceed to the education bill today.
  Accordingly, Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar Item 495, S. 1513.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. COCHRAN. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Mississippi.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I rise to reserve the right to object 
because I have been advised that there is a Senator on this side of the 
aisle who would like to speak on the motion to proceed to the 
consideration of the bill. I have not been advised how long the Senator 
would like to speak or for what purpose except to speak on the motion 
to proceed.
  So I would hope, if the majority leader could, he would consider 
laying the motion before the Senate and our proceeding to discuss that, 
and then at some point it is my hope that we will be able to proceed to 
the bill.
  As the majority leader knows, I helped craft some of the provisions 
of this bill with members of the committee. I would like to see the 
bill taken up. Therefore, I have no personal objection to proceeding to 
consideration of the bill this morning, but I am constrained to object 
if the unanimous-consent request is put before the body.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I appreciate the Senator's comments, and 
I understand the position in which he finds himself. I wish to make an 
inquiry of the Senator regarding the length of time involved.
  Last evening, I indicated that it was my intention to make this 
motion at 9 a.m. today. We were asked by our Republican colleagues in 
order to accommodate one Senator--I assume the same Senator--if I would 
wait until 9:30, which I agreed to do--now waited until 9:40--and I 
inquire of the Senator whether he has any knowledge as to when we might 
be able to get a decision in that regard. I am perfectly prepared, as 
the Senator knows, to accommodate a Senator's wishes and schedule in 
that regard, but it would be helpful to me if I had some idea of when 
these events might occur.
  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I can say that 
I am told the Senator who wants to speak is on his way to the Capitol 
and would like to have the opportunity to speak. I do not know when he 
will arrive or how long he will speak, so I cannot answer the question 
about at what time we would proceed to consider the bill under the 
unanimous-consent request.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I regret very much the objection to the 
unanimous consent request. The only effect of this, of course, is to 
cause delay of the Senate's actions and to mean that at some later time 
this evening or Friday we will be in session longer than otherwise 
would be the case.

                          ____________________