[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 134 (Thursday, September 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

 
                                PROGRAM

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, the Senate will return to session at 3 
p.m. on Monday to take up the VA-HUD appropriations bill.
  Under an agreement reached between myself and the distinguished 
Republican leader, all amendments which are to be offered to that bill 
must be offered on Monday and fully debated on Monday. Any votes that 
are required, both with respect to amendments and final passage, will 
occur on Tuesday. So there will be no rollcall votes on Monday. 
However, I repeat, all amendments which are to be offered to that bill 
must be offered on Monday, and we will remain in session as long as is 
necessary to consider such amendments. But no amendment will be in 
order after Monday. The bill will be closed as of close of business on 
Monday, and the votes will occur on Tuesday at a time to be determined 
and announced prior to then.
  Mr. President, we are approaching the end of this legislative 
session. Nearly a year ago when announcing the schedule for this second 
session of the 103d Congress, I designated October 7 of this year as 
the target date for final adjournment of the Senate. I hope that we can 
complete the important business before the Senate in time to meet that 
target date. But whether or not we are able to do so will depend almost 
entirely upon the actions of Senators themselves.
  Over the past few days, we have witnessed in the Senate unprecedented 
obstructionist actions. I have asked the Senate Historian, the Senate 
Parliamentarian, and others with knowledge of the history and practices 
of the Senate, and no one can recall nor can anyone find any record of 
a similar series of events as have occurred in the Senate this week.
  We have had unprecedented increasing use of the filibuster in the 
Senate by the Republican minority to prevent action on legislation. But 
not ever before, to the knowledge of those familiar with the history of 
the Senate, in the more than 200 years of our Nation's history, have we 
had filibusters on trying to go to conference on a bill as we are now 
facing here.
  Mr. President, it makes completing action in the Senate extremely 
difficult, if not impossible. I recognize that is the objective of 
those who are engaging in such unprecedented actions. But one of the 
effects of such actions is to make it impossible for the Senate to 
conduct any business, even that business which is required by law and 
which all Senators want to accomplish, and also makes it extremely 
difficult, if not impossible, to meet the target date or any other date 
for final adjournment.
  Senators have shown an increasing willingness to exploit the rules to 
maximum political and partisan advantage with virtually no concern for 
the effects on the institution itself. The constant disparagement of 
this institution by word and deed by those who are Members of the 
institution brings discredit upon the Senate, and I believe upon those 
themselves who engage in such tactics and practices.
  We simply have to get to a point where there can be some degree of 
comity and some degree of cooperation and some willingness to refrain 
from trying to gain maximum political advantage through use of the 
Senate rules.
  There was a time in American life when political campaigns were 
conducted at limited and designated times and in limited and designated 
places.
  All limitations on time have vanished, as political campaigns are now 
conducted around the clock, 365 days a year, year in, year out; and it 
appears that all limitations on place have vanished, as the Senate 
increasingly itself becomes a forum for political campaigns. Over and 
over again, we get amendments and other actions that are offered not 
with any legislative purpose of any kind, but blatantly, openly 
acknowledged by people who are involved in the process as being done 
for political purposes, to get people on record so that 30-second spots 
can be run against them.
  We only have a few weeks left. We have only a few bills left to pass, 
and they are important. I hope our colleagues will join in restoring a 
sense of purpose that is positive to this institution, but more 
important, I hope that they will join in restoring a sense of meaning 
and commitment to the institution itself.
  The Senate is larger than any individual Member, larger than any 
bill, larger than any cause of the moment. And yet, the direction in 
which the Senate is heading as a result of the actions of some of its 
Members is, I fear, the wrong one.
  So I hope that at the very least we can begin to adopt practices 
which are positive and refrain from the unprecedented obstruction which 
is occurring. It is one thing if Senators do not like a bill; that 
happens to all of us every day. It is one thing if we debate a bill and 
offer alternatives and have a vote and accept the result. It is even 
one thing if a Senator wants to filibuster a bill, or even if a Senator 
wants to filibuster taking up a bill. But when we now reach the point 
where we are having filibusters on going to conference with a bill, we 
are reaching a point that has never before been reached in the history 
of this Senate. I believe that is unfortunate and, more than that, I 
believe that those who engage in these tactics will themselves come to 
rue them.
  I hope very much that we can reach agreement on a narrow but 
important agenda and on an end to obstructionist tactics and complete 
our business on or close to the target date for final adjournment. I 
think we will serve not only ourselves and our constituents well, but 
also something seems little in the minds of the Senators these days, we 
will serve well the Senate itself.
  Mr. President, I am advised that the distinguished Senator from Ohio 
is on his way to the Senate and wants to address the Senate. There are 
no other requests for speakers. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that 
when he arrives and is recognized, the Senator from Ohio be permitted 
to address the Senate as in morning business, and upon the completion 
his remarks, the Senate stand in recess as previously ordered.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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