[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CLOTURE VOTE POSTPONED ON THE FARM BILL

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, if I could have the attention of my 
colleagues, I ask that the cloture vote be postponed.
  Let me indicate what we believe is in progress. We have been working 
for the last 2 or 3 hours with a number of Members on each side of the 
aisle and with Chairman Lugar and the ranking member, Senator Leahy, on 
the Senate Agriculture Committee. I am not certain if there is an 
agreement yet, but we may be close to an agreement. We think it would 
save a considerable amount of time if we could suspend it temporarily. 
I understand the Democrats have a conference at 5:30.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Assuming we have an agreement to talk about, but I was 
told that we were close to an agreement. I felt it was important that 
we set a time, if it were possible to do that, and then immediately go 
back to the floor and continue our work.
  Mr. DOLE. I know a number of Members have other engagements. I will 
be in a position, maybe by 6 o'clock, to indicate whether we have an 
agreement or do not have an agreement. If we do not have an agreement, 
we will vote on cloture. If we do have an agreement, we will try to get 
a time agreement and consider all amendments--en bloc?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Hopefully.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request to set aside 
the cloture vote and to come back at 6 o'clock on this issue? Without 
objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I can tell Members now that there will not 
be any votes for a while. We will try to give an a announcement at 6 
o'clock. We hope we can have a short time agreement. If there is an 
agreement overall on the agriculture bill, we would not be here too 
late this evening. If not, we would have to come back tomorrow or 
sometime next week.
  So I say to my colleagues that we will let you know as soon as we 
have any information. And I appreciate your cooperation.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Let me commend the distinguished Senator from South 
Dakota, and in particular our minority ranking member, the Senator from 
South Carolina [Mr. Hollings] for the remarkable job he has done in 
bringing us to the point we achieved today. Were it not for his 
contribution and leadership and incredible determination over the last 
several months, we would simply not have achieved what we achieved this 
afternoon. Senator Hollings deserves commendation on both sides of the 
aisle. I publicly want to again thank him for the effort that he put 
forth, for the remarkable teamwork that he demonstrated in allowing us 
the opportunity to at long last achieve what we have all hoped we could 
achieve.
  So I commend Senator Hollings and others who were involved, certainly 
the Senator from South Dakota, and I am very pleased with the result 
this afternoon.
  I yield the floor.

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