[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 30 (Thursday, March 7, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S1630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, there 
will be no more recorded votes today. However, I think it should be 
noted that we had hoped to move forward on the small business 
deregulation bill. There has been basically an objection to bringing 
that up at this time by one of the Democratic Members, perhaps other 
Members about bringing it up at this time. We are attempting though to 
reach an agreement on when that bill will be considered. It is one that 
passed overwhelmingly, unanimously, bipartisan, a good bill. I think 
everybody understands that. We have agreement on it. We should go ahead 
and move that legislation. I have discussed this with the distinguished 
Democratic leader. We are now trying to get an agreement on making sure 
that we get it up in a very short, reasonable period of time.
  We will begin the omnibus appropriations bill on Monday morning. 
Amendments will be started on Monday with the votes to occur on 
Tuesday, and we will have some further specific announcement on the 
time of those votes. Also, we are expecting Members to have amendments 
ready on Monday on this omnibus appropriations bill. Again, I have 
discussed this with the Democratic leader. We do know already at least 
one amendment that will be ready on Monday is the Daschle omnibus 
amendment. We are working now, we are hoping maybe even here in the 
next few minutes to get some of the amendments, a list of the 
amendments that would be available on Monday.
  I do want to emphasize also it is important that we get a reasonable 
agreement on time for handling this legislation because it will call 
for a conference with the House because there clearly will be 
differences between the two bodies' versions of the omnibus 
appropriations bill. We need to get it done in time so there can be a 
conference, an agreement in conference, and get this matter hopefully 
concluded by Thursday of next week.
  There will be no votes on Friday and no votes on Monday, but I 
emphasize again we will begin debate on this omnibus appropriations 
bill with amendments to be offered. I hope Members will not try to hold 
their amendments to the second day. We just will not physically be able 
to accommodate that. We are going to work across the aisle to get an 
agreement on that at the appropriate time.
  I do want to inform Members that later there will be a cloture motion 
laid down on Whitewater, and in all probability on the D.C. 
appropriations conference report.

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