[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 64 (Thursday, April 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5303-S5304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CLOTURE MOTION

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:


                             CLOTURE MOTION

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the Hatfield 
     amendment No. 420 to H.R. 1158, the supplemental 
     appropriations bill:
         Bob Dole, Fred Thompson, Rick Santorum, Alfonse D'Amato, 
           Chuck Grassley, Trent Lott, Larry Craig, Connie Mack, 
           Craig Thomas, Jesse Helms, John H. Chafee, Thad 
           Cochran, Mark Hatfield, Pete Domenici, Dan Coats, and 
           Judd Gregg.

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, let me indicate to the distinguished 
Democratic leader, who is on the floor, it is still my hope that we can 
reach some agreement. It seems to me we are not that far apart. We 
ought to be able to do it.
  I am certainly prepared to sit down with the Democratic leader, or 
anyone else, if there is a problem. But, just in case we cannot work it 
out, then I have filed a cloture motion, because I do think it is 
important that we finish this bill so we can take up the defense 
supplemental bill and some other things after that.
  But I am prepared and I think the Democratic leader is prepared and, 
hopefully, our colleagues are prepared. It seems to me we have one of 
two choices. Either we try to finish this tonight with no votes 
tomorrow, or we will be here tonight and tomorrow and maybe Saturday. 
But, that is up to our colleagues. I cannot believe any of these 
amendments are so critical they cannot wait until the next supplemental 
or until the appropriations bills start arriving.
  I think there was a lot of give and take on each side in good faith. 
I thought we were almost there. But if we make an agreement and 
everybody says, ``Well, I will make the agreement but I want to go back 
and offer an amendment to try to undo the agreement,'' then we do not 
have an agreement. Either we have an agreement or we do not have an 
agreement.
  I can agree, if you let me have 25 chances to improve on what I have 
already agreed upon, but I do not think that is an agreement.
  I hope that we can resolve everything so that, when it comes to the 
floor, I can persuade the Senator from New York to withdraw the 
amendment with reference to Mexico. He has not done that yet. We have 
the Jordan aid in this package that I know the administration is very 
concerned about.
  So I hope there would be some way to bring it together in the next, 
say, 45 minutes to an hour.
  I also remind my colleagues on this side of the aisle, there is a 
Republican conference in progress in S. 207 which will end, hopefully, 
at 3 o'clock.
  I am happy to yield the floor or yield to my colleague from South 
Dakota.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, as I said before the vote, it was not our 
desire to hold up this bill. I will reiterate my sincere desire to work 
with the majority leader in finding an agreement.
  What I hope we might be able to do, perhaps, is to maybe run two 
tracks, get some debate and offer some of these amendments. We could 
maybe work out some short time agreements and have a good debate, 
rather than just putting the Senate in a quorum call, and then work 
simultaneously to see if 
[[Page S5304]] we might not be able to address some of these concerns.
  I agree with the majority leader. We are close and perhaps we can 
find a way to accommodate many of the concerns raised on both sides of 
the aisle.
  But perhaps at the same time we might be able to accommodate some 
Senators who have been waiting patiently to be able to offer 
amendments. If we could do that, perhaps that might even accelerate our 
progress.
  I reiterate my sincere desire, and I think the desire on this side, 
to work in earnest and try to accommodate everyone and successfully 
complete this bill.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DOLE. Will the Senator yield? We are prepared to vote on the 
amendment of the Senator from Massachusetts. I do not think we need any 
additional debate on that. I am for it, not that it makes any 
difference.
  Mr. KENNEDY. We are quite prepared to vote. I do not think we need 
additional time. We wanted to do that at the earliest possible 
convenience. We welcome the opportunity to have a rollcall vote.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I think the distinguished Senator from New York will be 
interested in speaking to the amendment prior to the time we vote, but 
I am sure there could be some relatively brief time agreement that we 
could work out to accommodate him, and others, who may yet want to 
speak. But I do not think it will take that long. I suggest we do that.
  Mr. DOLE. Why do we not agree to have the time between now and 3 
o'clock equally divided and then vote at 3 o'clock? I think the Senator 
from West Virginia also wants to speak on some other issue.
  Mr. BYRD. I can wait.
  Mr. DOLE. Is that satisfactory?
  Mr. DASCHLE. If the majority leader will let me consult with the 
distinguished Senator from New York, Senator Moynihan, to see how much 
time he may require, we can resolve this matter very soon.
  Mr. DOLE. While the minority leader is checking, 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. BYRD. 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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