[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8678-S8679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT--NOMINATION OF DR. HENRY FOSTER

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, the Senate proceed to 
executive session to consider the nomination of Henry Foster, to be 
Surgeon General, and the debate on the nomination be limited to 3 hours 
equally divided in the usual form, and at 12 noon on Wednesday, June 
21, the Senate proceed with a vote [[Page S 8679]] on the motion to 
invoke cloture on the nomination of Dr. Foster, to be Surgeon General, 
with the mandatory quorum under rule XXII being waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DOLE. If cloture is invoked, the Senate would immediately begin 
postcloture debate under the provisions of rule XXII.
  I also ask, if cloture is not invoked, the Senate return to 
legislative session, and at 12 noon on Thursday, June 22, the Senate 
resume executive session to consider the nomination of Dr. Foster, and 
there be 2 hours of debate equally divided in the usual form, and at 2 
p.m. a second vote occur on the motion to invoke cloture on the 
nomination of Dr. Foster, to be Surgeon General, with the mandatory 
quorum under rule XXII being waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DOLE. Again, if cloture is invoked, the Senate would immediately 
begin debate postcloture under the provisions of rule XXII.
  And finally I ask unanimous consent that if cloture is not invoked on 
the Foster nomination, the nomination be immediately returned to the 
calendar and the Senate return to legislative session, all without any 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I wonder if I might just indulge the distinguished 
majority leader on a couple of questions. Assuming that cloture is 
invoked, obviously there is a 30-hour time agreement. But is it the 
intention of the majority leader not to limit time on the actual 
confirmation vote itself?
  Mr. DOLE. Beyond the 30 hours?
  Mr. DASCHLE. No, something shorter than 30 hours.
  Mr. DOLE. My view is there would be 30 hours. I do not think it would 
take 30 hours, but certainly--as I understand, the most any one Member 
could accumulate would be 7 hours.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, let me thank the distinguished majority 
leader for his cooperation in the effort over the last several days to 
reach this point. Obviously, we are quite hopeful that we can invoke 
cloture on the first vote and go to a vote on the confirmation shortly 
thereafter.
  This represents an effort on both sides to allow a vote, at least 
first on cloture, and second, hopefully, on the motion to confirm Dr. 
Foster. I know the distinguished majority leader has expressed his 
interest in working with us to reach this point, and I appreciate the 
cooperation that he has demonstrated.
  We will have 3 hours of debate tomorrow, and then, if we fail to 
invoke cloture tomorrow, 2 hours of debate on Thursday. Many of us have 
been seeking an opportunity to have a vote, and we are just hopeful, 
now that we have reached this agreement, that, indeed, we can find the 
requisite number of colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure 
that cloture is invoked and that Dr. Foster be allowed a vote on 
confirmation.
  As I understand it, no nomination for the Bush administration was 
ever defeated on a cloture motion, and I hope the same opportunity 
could be accorded the nominees of this President.
  In accordance with the agreement, I ask unanimous consent to send two 
cloture motions to the desk, as in executive session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I thank again the distinguished majority leader.

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