[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 11 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S484-S485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1523

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I know he is constrained to object 
tonight, but let me ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. 1523, the bill be read a third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.
  Mr. President, S. 1523 is the bill I just mentioned with respect to 
the extension of the farm program.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, let me 
indicate I 

[[Page S485]]
have discussed this with the Senator from North Dakota. We are in the 
process--the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, Senator Lugar, 
Members on both sides of the aisle, Senator Grassley from Iowa, Senator 
Pressler from South Dakota, the Democratic leader and others on both 
sides--to see if we cannot come to some agreement by Thursday of next 
week.
  It is my hope we can lay out some process where, first of all, we 
would try to bring up or at least proceed to the bill we passed one 
other time. We would have to obtain cloture. That would probably not be 
invoked.
  Then perhaps the Senator from North Dakota could lay down his 1-year 
extension, and if at that time we should have a bipartisan compromise, 
we would offer that as a substitute. That is what we have been 
discussing. I have talked to the Democratic leader two or three times 
today. I know the farmers are anxious in all parts of the country. We 
hope we can work it out. It may not be possible to do it that quickly, 
but we are working on it. Our staffs will continue to work in a 
bipartisan way, and we hope we can have it done by next Thursday.
  Therefore, I feel compelled to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard to the request of the 
Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. DORGAN. If the Senator will yield for one moment, I understand 
that, and I hope we can reach a bipartisan compromise on this. I think, 
to the extent we will move to it and address it next week, that is real 
progress. I think farmers and others in rural America will be pleased 
by that, and I hope we can make some significant progress next week on 
this issue.
  I thank the Senator from Kansas.

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