[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 192 (Tuesday, December 5, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S18036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, it will be the majority leader's intention 
to move to proceed to House Joint Resolution 79, the constitutional 
amendment regarding flag desecration, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 
6. I hope between now and then we will have consent to go to that. We 
would like to complete action on this bill on December 7.
  I know there has been an objection raised as to consideration. I hope 
we do not have to file cloture to proceed to this very important piece 
of legislation and that my colleagues may cooperate with us. If it 
takes that, we will proceed on that basis. I know we have at least 60 
votes to proceed and I hope we have 60 votes if cloture is needed on 
the amendment itself.
  We can expect votes to occur possibly on the constitutional amendment 
and can expect amendments to the partial-birth abortions bill.
  Also, for the information of all my colleagues, the schedule for the 
next few days is as follows: As I said, tomorrow we will start at 10 
a.m. on flag burning, or debate a motion to proceed to that measure; at 
5 p.m., resume the partial-birth abortions bill. Therefore, late 
sessions can be anticipated.
  On Thursday and Friday, complete action on partial-birth abortions if 
not previously disposed of; resume and, hopefully, complete action on 
the constitutional amendment regarding flag desecration.
  Also, the Senate could be asked to consider any available 
appropriations conference reports once received from the House. We 
expect to receive State, Justice, Commerce from the House on Wednesday 
afternoon.

  And then the following week, the State Department reorganization 
bill, S. 1441, if agreement cannot be reached to activate the original 
consent agreement of September 29, 1995, we will start on that bill on 
Monday.
  Other items next week: Available appropriations conference reports; 
H.R. 660, fair housing exemption bill, hopefully under a time agreement 
of 1 hour. It may be that we can dispose of that this week.
  There will be a Bosnia resolution next week. We are still in the 
process of drafting that resolution. We have had meetings today, and we 
hope to have additional discussions tomorrow and the next day. It is my 
hope that we can have some resolution that can be supported by a 
majority of our colleagues. I am not certain what day next week that 
will come up.
  It is very likely next week there will also be a conference report on 
welfare reform. I think we have about concluded the conference. I just 
ask my colleagues, the original bill passed in the Senate by a vote of 
87 to 12. We believe we have retained most of the Senate provisions in 
the conference, and I ask my colleagues on both sides--this bill had 
strong bipartisan support--to take a close look.
  Eighty-eight percent of the American people want welfare reform. We 
will have it on the floor, we hope, next week. We hope the President of 
the United States will sign it. In my view, it is a good resolution of 
differences between the House and the Senate. We still have one or two 
minor--well not minor--issues in disagreement we hope to resolve 
tomorrow, and then we hope to bring it up by midweek next week.

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