[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8085-S8086]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION AND DEREGULATION ACT

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we are still in a period for morning 
business. I wanted to indicate that the chairman of the Commerce 
Committee, Senator Pressler, is standing by. He is prepared to do 
business. He is sincere about finishing the telecommunications bill, 
and he is prepared to stay here for the rest of the afternoon and on 
into the night. But in order for him to do business, somebody has to 
offer an amendment.
  Now, it is my hope that we can finish this bill by next Tuesday 
evening. Senators Pressler and Hollings think that may be possible. I 
understand that there are some who wanted to debate and said they were 
not getting time to debate, and they are not here at the present time--
Senator Dorgan and Senator Kerrey. Senator Pressler is on the floor. If 
you want to debate your amendment, this is a good opportunity. We want 
to finish this bill and move on to either welfare reform or regulatory 
reform next week.
  So, hopefully, we will finish the bill no later than Tuesday evening. 
We will not file cloture today. This is an important bill. We should 
have a lengthy debate. A lot of people have different ideas on this 
bill. Certainly, we should be able to complete action on the bill by 
Tuesday. That would give us the better part of about 4\1/2\ to 5 days, 
which seems to be a considerable length of time, considering the 
importance of the bill.
  But I just say that Senator Pressler is here and ready to do 
business. If the Senator from Iowa has an amendment, we would be happy 
to engage in a debate.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CHAFEE. 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the quorum call be rescinded.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. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. CHAFEE pertaining to the introduction of S. 910 
are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. 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. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, since I have to catch a flight back to 
Minnesota, and I understand the majority leader is going to be coming 
out in a moment, I just wanted to say to all who have been involved in 
these negotiations I am very pleased. I know that Senator Levin, 
Senator Feingold, and Senator Lautenberg join me.
  I thank Senator Ford from Kentucky and my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle. It seems as if what we are going to have is an 
announcement that will make it clear that in July, and certainly no 
later than the end of the month, we will have an opportunity to have 
both lobby disclosure and the gift ban in this Chamber, and we will 
have the debate and we will have votes.
  I think that is the way it should be. I am very pleased with what I 
understand is certainly going to be an agreement. The majority leader 
will go into this in more detail, and he will read the terms of the 
agreement, but this is what we have all been working for. It is what we 
have all been negotiating about. And from my own point of view, I think 
the most important thing is that this will be an opportunity for the 
Senate to go on record, this will be an opportunity for the Senate to, 
I think, really lead the way on a measure that has everything to do 
with openness in the political process, with accountability, with 
changing matters for the better.
  People in the country really believe in public service, want to 
believe in public service. All of us do, Democrats and Republicans 
alike. I think this moment in July and this debate, this discussion and 
the final action by the Senate will be a very strong and positive 
reform.
  So I am very pleased that finally these negotiations have borne 
fruit, and I am pleased that the majority leader will be out here to 
announce this. I thank the Chair.
  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. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded. [[Page S8086]] 
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  

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