[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 94 (Friday, June 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8086-S8087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we have had some ongoing negotiations the
last several days on lobbying reform legislation and gift ban
legislation as it affects the Senate or affects Congress, depending on
which prevails.
We have a unanimous-consent agreement. It is fairly lengthy, but I
can read it. In any event, I ask that it be printed in the Record.
I ask unanimous consent that not later than Friday, July 28, and
after notification of the minority leader, that we proceed to S. 101, a
lobbying gift ban bill, the bill having been discharged and placed on
the calendar by this consent agreement; that the motion to proceed be
agreed to and the bill then be automatically divided into two separate
pieces of legislation; the first measure embodying the text of title I
regarding lobbying reform, and the second measure embodying the text of
title II regarding gift rules; that the clerk be authorized to make the
necessary changes in the form of the measure or matter that are
appropriate, so that each measure stands on its own; that the Senate
then begin consideration of the measure embodying title I; that
immediately upon the disposition of that measure, the Senate turn to
the consideration of the measure embodying title II; and that the
preceding all occur without any intervening action or debate.
That is the first part of the request.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DOLE. And the second part.
I further ask unanimous consent that if, after third reading of the
second bill, which is gift rules, that bill contains matter which only
applies to the Senate, the Senate then immediately turn to the
consideration of a Senate resolution that contains the text of that
language; that a vote occur on the resolution, without any intervening
action or debate; and that the Senate bill be indefinitely postponed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DOLE. I further ask unanimous consent that this agreement be null
and void if a unanimous-consent agreement can be subsequently reached
governing the Senate's consideration of legislation regarding the
congressional gift rules and an original bill regarding lobbying
reform, or a bill that encompasses both proposals.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. DOLE. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that no bill, resolution,
or amendment regarding the congressional gift ban rule or lobbying
reform bill be in order prior to the execution of this agreement.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The text of the agreement is as follows:
Ordered, That prior to the August recess, but not later
than Friday, July 28, 1995, the Majority Leader, after
notification of the Minority Leader, shall proceed to S. 101,
a Lobbying Gift Ban Bill.
Ordered further, That the motion to proceed be agreed to
and the bill then be automatically divided into two separate
pieces of legislation: the first measure embodying the text
of Title I regarding lobbying reform, and the second measure
embodying the text of Title II regarding gift rules:
Provided, That the Clerk be authorized to make the necessary
changes in the form of the measure or matter that are
appropriate, so that each measure stands on its own.
Ordered further, That the Senate then begin consideration
of the measure embodying Title I, that immediately upon the
disposition of that measure, the Senate turn to the
consideration of the measure embodying Title II, and that the
preceding all occur without any intervening action or debate.
Ordered further, That if after third reading of the second
bill, that bill contains matter which only applies to the
Senate, the Senate then immediately turn to the consideration
of a Senate resolution that contains the text of that
language, and that a vote occur on the resolution, without
any intervening action or debate, and that the Senate bill be
indefinitely postponed.
Ordered further, That this agreement be null and void if a
unanimous consent agreement can be subsequently reached
governing the Senate's consideration of legislation regarding
the Congressional gift rules and an original bill regarding
lobbying reform, or a bill that encompasses both proposals.
Ordered further, That no bill, resolution, or amendment
regarding the Congressional gift ban rule or the lobbying
reform bill be in order prior to the execution of this
agreement.
Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, having gotten the consent agreement, let me
indicate what it does.
We have been trying for some time to come together on a lobbying
reform bill and gift rule changes. We are not there yet, but there is,
I think it is fair to say, honest negotiation going on on both sides.
This is not a partisan matter. I do not know of anybody here who does
not want lobbying reform, depending on how you define ``reform.''
And I do not know of anybody who does not believe we can improve the
gift rules that apply to Members of Congress. We have been working with
the distinguished Senator from Kentucky, Senator Ford, and others on
that side of the aisle. As I understand, there will be a number of us
on each side of the aisle working together in the next few weeks to see
if we can come up with a separate package, but, if not, then we will
proceed to S. 101.
If we come up with a package and we agree on it, obviously, we have
now consent to go to that. That is precisely what it is. I hope that we
can do this. We will take it up no later than Friday, July 28, and if
we have some agreement, or even without an agreement, it should not
take more than 2 or 3 days of the Senate's time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky is recognized.
Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I want to thank the majority leader for his
patience, Senator Lott's patience, and others as we have tried to move
through this, because it is complicated. If it is a resolution, it only
applies to the Senate. If it is a bill, it applies to the House and
Senate.
There are different views on lobbying reform and on gift ban. But
this S. 101 is a bipartisan piece of legislation. It is Cohen, Levin,
Wellstone, and others as it relates to bipartisanship. So there is an
interest on both sides of the aisle to work something out. Senator
Levin has worked very hard, as the majority leader knows, to put this
together and to bring this bill to the attention of the Senate and to
have a stand-alone vote. Also, Senator Wellstone, Senator Feingold,
Senator Lautenberg--very sincere and like-minded individuals--and
others.
I hope we at some point, as the majority leader says, can come
together with a bipartisan effort so we can agree on it. If we do, I
think it will be a bellwether day. Let me thank him and others who have
been so diligent in this. We all understand the give and take, and
sometimes we have to walk off and let it cool a little and come back
and go after it again. That is the system. That is the institution. As
of today, I am proud I am here. I thank the Chair.
Mr. DOLE. I thank the Senator from Kentucky. I just hope this is
something on which the leadership, including the Senator from Kentucky,
obviously the Senator from Mississippi, Senator Lott, myself, and
Senator Daschle, will have some input.
It seems to me we have to take some responsibility for changes in the
lobbying procedures and also gift rules. I am prepared to do that. I
know the Senator from Kentucky and I assume the Senators from South
Dakota and Mississippi are, too, working with other Senators, because
different people have different ideas on what reform is and what rule
changes ought to be made.
As far as I am concerned, they can go as far as they want. It does
not make any difference to this Senator. But I think we can work out a
reasonable approach to get it done and get it behind us either before
or during the August recess, let us put it that way, because we are not
certain when the August recess will begin.
Mr. FORD. Mr. President, will the Senator qualify during the recess?
Work on it after we go or is he indicating we may not go out?
Mr. DOLE. In fact, I should say, in all candor, we are working this
weekend--my staff has been directed to work with others to see how much
we really believe we can finish by the date of the normal August
recess, which is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 4, and scheduled
to conclude on September 5.
Obviously, all Senators hope we can keep that entire period of time.
It is my hope we can also do that. But I must say to my colleagues, we
need to take a hard look at where we are. It is a question of how long
we stay out in August or how long we stay here in November. So it will
be one way or the other. We will try to give everybody
[[Page S8087]] some indication by the end of next week whether we will
start the August recess on the 4th or the 11th or the 18th or
thereafter.
____________________