[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 138 (Wednesday, September 28, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1995, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
   SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND RESCISSIONS ACT, 1994--CONFERENCE 
                                 REPORT

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a 
message from the House on H.R. 4649.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the message.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       Resolved, That the House recede from its disagreement to 
     the amendment of the Senate numbered 3 to the bill (H.R. 
     4549) entitled ``An act making appropriations for the 
     Government of the District of Columbia and other activities 
     chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said 
     District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1995 and 
     for other purposes and concur therein with an amendment.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the amendments in disagreement to 
the conference report.

       Pending:
       Gramm amendment No. 2585 (to House amendment to Senate 
     amendment number 3), to strengthen the Violent Crime Control 
     and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 by reducing the number of 
     social programs and increasing the penalties for criminal 
     activity.

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I would like to remind Senators where we are 
on this bill. On Wednesday September 21, 1994, the Senate began 
consideration of the conference report on D.C. appropriations. On that 
day the Senate voted 71 to 27 to adopt the conference report.
  After adopting the conference report we then took up the amendments 
in disagreement. On the first such amendment the Senator from Texas 
offered an amendment. Certainly any Senator has that right, however, 
the amendment offered has nothing to do with the D.C. appropriations 
bill.
  I understand that other amendments may be offered,and that while they 
may be germane under Senate rules, have nothing to do with the D.C. 
bill.
  Mr. President, the end of the fiscal year is rapidly approaching. I 
can assure you that the D.C. government will have serious cash flow 
problems if the Federal payment contained in this bill is not received 
October 1. The city must balance its budget each year, the amount and 
timing of cash flow is very important.
  Mr. President, I hope that my colleagues will find another way to 
accomplish their legislative needs and allow us to send this bill to 
the President without delay.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator withhold?
  Mr. KOHL. I will.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair would like to point out the pending 
question is on the Gramm amendment No. 2585 to the House amendment to 
Senate amendment No. 3.
  That is the current position of the Senate.
  The Chair recognizes the Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, we do have to work our way through these 
amendments. But I just want to remind the Senate that, if we do not 
have this bill or a continuing resolution, as of the first day of 
October the District of Columbia is, in essence, broke. So it may be a 
bill of convenience for a handful of Senators, but imagine the 
inconvenience to the city if we do not have any public schools, garbage 
collection, street cleaning, public libraries, youth services, child 
day care, classes at UDC, and so on.
  So I urge my colleagues come to the floor, present their amendments, 
and let us get this bill passed--either that or a continuing 
resolution, whichever is the delight of the Senate.
  I thank my chairman for his work on this and I yield the floor.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further 
proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Harkin). The Chair, in his capacity as a 
Senator from Iowa, is forced to object.
  Will the clerk please call the roll.
  The legislative clerk continued the call of the roll.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed 
to speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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