[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 203 (Monday, December 18, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18791-S18792]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I have been asked by a number of my 
colleagues if I could give some idea when we might be leaving here for 
the holidays, and I cannot. But I will lay out some of the items we 
would like to take up before Christmas or New Year's Eve, whichever.
  They are the nominations on the Executive Calendar and other calendar 
items; the Whitewater subpoena controversy, which may or may not be on 
the Senate floor. If so, we would like to do that on Wednesday. If 
there is a budget negotiated agreement, we would like to complete that, 
of course. There are three appropriations bills remaining; DOD 
authorization conference report, which we hope to have a vote on 
tomorrow. There will be a cloture vote on the Labor-HHS bill after 
consultation with the Democratic leader probably tomorrow.
  There are other available conference reports. The ICC sunset, I think 
that is a conference report, and then welfare reform conference report, 
which should come to the Senate Wednesday or Thursday.
  I will also say, and I think I have indicated this publicly, that 
there will be no votes today. We hope to receive the D.C. 
appropriations bill from the House late afternoon or early evening. I 
think we are trying to work out some agreement, because of the urgency 
of the matter, that we can deem that to have passed when it reaches the 
Senate. As soon as we have the language on the bill, we will give that 
to all the interested parties. What they have done is take out, as I 
understand, all the education provisions and, on that basis, I think 
the House is prepared to act.
  If anything develops between now--well, any time anything develops--
if there is any development and the President should call and say he 
would like to discuss the budget, I will certainly convey that to my 
colleagues.
  So there will be a period of morning business until 11:30, with no 
votes today. I hope to be able to have the D.C. appropriations 
conference report deemed agreed to when it arrives. There will be a 
cloture vote, as I have said, tomorrow.
  Also, last evening, there was an effort by Senator Dorgan by 
unanimous consent to pass a Senate continuing resolution. Normally 
appropriations originate in the House. I suggested that we might be 
able to accommodate them to do that until the 22d of December if they 
let us take the Labor-HHS bill, which has been tied up on the calendar 
since September 15 because of objections on the other side to one 
little provision in that whole bill.
  Today, if they are prepared to do that, I think we can work that out. 
The Speaker told me he would be very anxious to receive the Labor-HHS 
bill with the CR attached. So we will be working with the Democrats. If 
that can happen, that will at least keep everything open until the 22d. 
It is up to my colleagues on the other side. We are prepared to move on 
that at any time during the day.
  I know that my distinguished colleague, Senator Lott from 
Mississippi, will discuss in some detail some of the relief that could 
happen very quickly. I am very pleased to yield the floor.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, before the Senator does that, will the 
distinguished majority leader yield for a comment from me?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Craig). The Senator from Vermont. 
  
[[Page S18792]]

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the distinguished majority leader had 
mentioned the Defense authorization bill, and the distinguished 
chairman of the Armed Services Committee, the senior Senator from South 
Carolina, is also here on the floor.
  Mr. President, I realize this would have to probably be hotlined from 
both Cloakrooms, but I certainly am willing to agree to a vote at a 
time certain. But I mention two provisos: First, at some point prior to 
the vote, and if the vote is going to be tomorrow, at that time 
tomorrow, that I be recognized for 20 minutes to speak--of course, with 
equal time on the other side, naturally--to speak on the subject of 
landmines.
  I will do that with the understanding of the distinguished chairman 
that on the subsequent Defense authorization bill, there not be 
language on landmines, certainly not the language that I have stated my 
objection to and have given on the floor to him and to the 
distinguished Republican leader. I mention that for the sake of our 
distinguished majority leader, because I know he has to try to put 
together a schedule. I just want him to know, with the distinguished 
Senator from South Carolina here on the floor.
  Mr. DOLE. I thank the Senator from Vermont, and I thank also the 
chairman of the committee. That is satisfactory.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I think that is satisfactory to have a 
definite time to vote, and the distinguished Senator from Vermont will 
have 20 minutes before the vote and I will have 20 minutes before the 
vote to speak on the bill and have a definite time to vote. If we can 
agree on that time, I suggest maybe 12 o'clock tomorrow, if that suits 
the distinguished Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. I would leave it to the leaders to set the time. But I 
certainly would agree to whatever time the two leaders were able to 
set. I understand there are both Republican and Democratic Senators who 
wish to speak on it, on the bill. I do not want to preclude that. 
Certainly, within the normal course of things, my understanding was 
that the leadership wanted to have a vote sometime tomorrow. I would 
hope to accommodate whatever that is.
  Mr. LOTT. Will the chairman yield?
  Mr. THURMOND. Yes.
  Mr. LOTT. That seems like a very reasonable proposal. I hope we can 
get that locked in as soon as possible. Why don't we check with both 
sides, our leaders, and see if we cannot get that cleared momentarily. 
We will work on it, and we hope the Senator from Vermont will do the 
same on his side. Thank you.
  Mr. LEAHY. I assure the Senator from Mississippi and the Senator from 
South Carolina that, with the understanding that I have with the 
distinguished chairman regarding the issue of landmines, I will be 
willing to accommodate whatever time the joint leadership wants to have 
this vote. I ask only that the leadership, in setting that vote, 
provide 20 minutes each for the distinguished Senator from South 
Carolina and myself prior to the vote.
  Mr. President, I know the Senator from Mississippi has some other 
scheduling and housekeeping to do. Once he is finished, at some 
appropriate point, I am going to retain the floor in my own right for a 
few minutes of morning business.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, that would give today for those who wish 
to speak on the bill, for or against it, to make their speeches, and 
then tomorrow we can have the vote. The leaders can agree on a time 
tomorrow. Senator Lott is now representing the leadership on the 
Republican side, and he can get in touch with the Democratic leadership 
and agree on a time for the vote. But as I understand it, it will 
definitely be tomorrow. I ask unanimous consent that it will be 
tomorrow.
  Mr. LOTT. Reserving the right to object, I think we need to have 
representation from both sides of the aisle before we enter an 
agreement on unanimous consent. Can I ask the chairman to withhold 
momentarily and we will check with the leaders?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator from South Carolina withdraw 
that unanimous-consent request?
  Mr. THURMOND. If that is the desire of the Senator from Mississippi, 
I will do that.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I reemphasize to the chairman of the Armed 
Services Committee that we will be working on both sides of the aisle 
to see if we cannot get an agreed-to time to have a vote tomorrow on 
the Defense authorization bill. I think we can get that worked out. I 
thought the comments of the Senator from Vermont were very helpful. We 
will work on that in the next few minutes.
  Mr. President, if I can clarify the parliamentary circumstances, we 
have a period of morning business now that will go for how long? Is it 
for a time certain or for a period of time?

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