[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 170 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16358-S16359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THANKING SENATE STAFF

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, the conference report has been the subject 
of praise and criticism and blame. Let me take this opportunity to 
express my appreciation and, I am sure, the Senate's appreciation to 
the floor staff under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate, 
Kelly Johnston, for the outstanding service that the floor staff 
provided to the Senate during the lengthy debate on the reconciliation 
bill that was passed in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, 
October 28.
  I commend the hard work and long hours of the legislative clerk, 
Scott Bates, and his able assistant, David Tinsley, as well as the bill 
clerk, Kathie Alvarez. But most particularly, Mr. President, I applaud 
the outstanding efforts of the office of the Parliamentarian of the 
Senate, the staff of very hard-working and dedicated professionals. 
That office is under the supervision of the Senate Parliamentarian, Bob 
Dove. And he is very ably assisted by Alan Frumin, Kevin Kayes, and 
Beth Smerko, as well as Sally Goffinet.
  The reconciliation bill that the Senate adopted last week was a 
massive and complicated omnibus bill. Many difficult rulings were 
required of the Parliamentarian, particularly in the context of the 
often maligned Byrd rule and the need to interpret the consistency or 
lack thereof of particular amendments with respect to the Byrd rule.
  In many of these instances, proponents of amendments argued adamantly 
and with passion before the Parliamentarians that their amendments were 
relevant under the Byrd 

[[Page S16359]]

rule and, therefore, qualified for inclusion in the reconciliation 
bill. The opponents of such amendments argued just as strongly that a 
number of these amendments were extraneous or had no budgetary impact 
and, therefore, did not qualify for inclusion in the reconciliation 
bill.
  The Parliamentarians had the very difficult task of reaching a final 
determination in questions such as these on the basis of their 
interpretations of the requirements of the Budget Act in relation to 
the Byrd rule as well as the precedents of the Senate in this regard. 
This is a very difficult and thankless responsibility, which, to my 
knowledge, was carried out without exception on an objective and fair 
and equitable basis in every instance.
  So I congratulate the Parliamentarians on their performance in 
connection with the record-setting stream of amendments and the 
interpretations that had to be determined in relation to many of them 
during the debate on the reconciliation bill. The Senate and the 
American people owe these hard-working professional staff members our 
deep gratitude.
  I would be recreant if I did not also compliment the majority leader, 
Mr. Dole, and the minority leader, Mr. Daschle, and the chairman and 
the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, Mr. Domenici and Mr. 
Exon. The two managers of the bill demonstrated great skill, 
equanimity, and patience in their work.
  The majority leader carried a heavy burden. I think he was fair. He 
was hard driving, but he succeeded in overcoming the difficulties and 
problems and was successful in getting Senate action on the bill.
  Mr. Exon on this side did us all proud. He likewise was fair, 
patient, and is to be greatly commended.
  Mr. Domenici is one of the brightest minds in this Senate. That was 
evidenced in the way he conducted himself during the markup and 
management of the bill in the committee and on the floor.
  And our own minority leader demonstrated great understanding and 
reached out to all of the members of the minority, as he always does, 
and, in my judgment, did a masterful job in his work on behalf of the 
minority and on behalf of the people that we represent.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor and 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. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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