[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.

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