[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 104 (Friday, June 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S9012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SENATE SCHEDULE

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, there were a couple of reports that the 
August recess would start on August 4. That has not yet been 
determined. I saw in a couple of the Hill publications--one called the 
Hill, and I think the other was Roll Call--that that matter had been 
settled. We hope it will start as previously scheduled but it depends 
on what unfinished business there may be. I think August 4 would be the 
day we hope to start the recess, but it may go into the next week. It 
could be the 11th or even shortly after the 11th, if we have unfinished 
business.
  We still have some very major pieces of legislation to deal with. One 
is certainly regulatory reform. We are working, in a bipartisan effort, 
Republicans and Democrats, to try to come together. If we can do that 
and complete action on that next week, that will be a big step in the 
right direction. I have been asked by the Democrat leader to sit down 
with him next week on that issue.
  Also, before the recess, we have agreed to take care of the gift 
reform legislation and lobbying reform legislation. Again, we are 
attempting to work in a bipartisan way.
  I have asked Senator Lott to lead a group on our side to meet with a 
like group on the Democratic side to see if we cannot come to some 
conclusion for good, sound gift reform and lobbying reform legislation.
  Welfare reform is another very important issue that will take some 
time to dispose of. I think it is fair to say--I can say on the 
Republican side, we are having problems coming together on some of the 
issues. That may be true on the other side. But we believe we can 
resolve any differences, at least on this side. That is a matter we 
want to do before the August recess.
  In addition, there will be a number of appropriations bills that will 
be ready for action and a number of conference reports that will be 
ready for action.
  Hopefully, in the month of July, we can consider crime legislation. 
That will depend on whether or not the Judiciary Committee will have 
the time to report out reform of the present crime statutes. Hopefully, 
again, that will have bipartisan support.
  I am just speaking here from memory. I may have left out some 
critical pieces of legislation. But the point I want to make is that 
obviously we want to start the recess as early as we can, hopefully on 
time. That decision has not been made. I know many of my colleagues 
have already made commitments in their own States for meetings, meeting 
with constituents, and I certainly want to honor all those commitments 
if we can. But the other side of the coin is, if we do not complete it, 
it means we are going to be here longer this fall. Hopefully, we can 
arrive at some agreement that will accommodate nearly all the views of 
Members on each side of the aisle.

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