[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 121 (Monday, August 22, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President and Members of the Senate, the House 
yesterday passed a historic crime bill.
  As I have stated publicly on many, many occasions, the most recent 
being last Friday, the Senate will take up the crime bill as soon as 
possible following House enactment.
  I have advised the minority leader that it is my intention, 
therefore, at 10:30 a.m. today, to seek unanimous consent to proceed to 
the crime bill. If an objection is made and unanimous consent cannot be 
obtained to proceed to the bill, then I will make the motion to proceed 
to the bill at 6 p.m. today.
  Under our rules, that motion is not debatable, and there will then be 
a vote on the motion to proceed to the bill at that time if consent is 
not previously obtained.
  The distinguished Republican leader requested the opportunity to 
consult with his colleagues until 10:30 this morning. That is, of 
course, a reasonable request, and one which I immediately agreed to. 
Therefore, I will have a further announcement with respect to 
proceeding on the crime bill at 10:30, and at that time I will, in any 
event, make a unanimous-consent request to proceed to the bill.
  I hope very much that it will be granted and that we can proceed to 
debate on that very important measure. It has, as all Senators know, 
been the subject of substantial discussion, negotiation, and debate in 
the House of Representatives prior to its passage yesterday.
  I congratulate the House leadership, the Speaker, the majority 
leader, and others, as well as all of those House Members, Democratic 
and Republican, who joined together to pass this important legislation 
in the House.
  I hope very much that the same will occur in the Senate, and that a 
bipartisan majority of the Senate will support the bill and enable us 
to pass it promptly. It is a very important measure, balanced as 
between providing additional police for crime prevention, providing 
substantial funding for the construction of prisons to enable the more 
effective security for those who have engaged in violent crime, and 
additional prevention programs to seek to encourage people, and 
particularly young people, to engage in productive and not criminal 
actions in our society.
  So, Mr. President and Members of the Senate, it is a very important 
measure, one which I hope we can begin discussion on today, and which I 
hope we can pass promptly. Therefore, I will await the response of our 
colleagues, and in any event will return at 10:30 this morning to seek 
unanimous consent to proceed to that bill.
  Mr. President, seeing no other Senator seeking recognition, I now 
suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The majority leader is recognized.

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