[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6383-S6384]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we are working with the Democratic leader 
and trying to get agreements on how we can proceed on this bill and 
other

[[Page S6384]]

issues. For the information of all Senators, the Democratic leader and 
I have been negotiating on the minimum wage issue since Friday of last 
week. This Senator believes that we are making good progress and may 
yet today be able to reach an agreement that would satisfy all 
Senators.
  With that in mind, I will now outline the agreement that we have been 
discussing. The agreement is as follows: On Monday, July 8, at a time 
to be determined later, the Senate would begin consideration of H.R. 
3448, the House-passed minimum wage bill, which also contains the small 
business taxes, and at that time Senator Kennedy would offer his 
amendment with a 1-hour time limit. The amendment would then be laid 
aside, and I would offer an amendment on behalf of Senator Bond, with 
an hour time limit. The Senate would then vote, first on the Bond 
amendment, to be followed by a vote on the Kennedy amendment.

  Following the two minimum wage votes, the bill would then be opened 
to two tax-related amendments, one to be offered by each leader and 
debated separately and limited to 2 hours of debate each. I want to 
emphasize again that this has not been agreed to, but this is an 
outline of what we are talking about.
  It seems to me this is a fair agreement; that it also offers a date 
specific that we would take these issues up and act on them. If the 
Democratic leader is optimistic some agreement along these lines can be 
reached, then it would be my intention to ask unanimous consent that no 
minimum wage amendments be in order during today's session in order to 
make progress on the DOD bill while negotiations are ongoing with 
respect to this minimum wage issue.


                      Unanimous-Consent Agreement

  Mr. LOTT. I understand the Democratic leader has no objection to 
this, and therefore I ask unanimous consent that no minimum wage 
amendments be in order during the remainder of the session of the 
Senate today, Tuesday, June 18, 1996.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee 
amendments be set aside until the close of business today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. There was no objection heard?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There was no objection.
  Mr. LOTT. Senator Grassley has one on infrastructure; Senator 
Bingaman has one on ASAT; Senators Simpson and Thomas have one with 
regard to a Wyoming project; Senator Ford, DOD/DOE chemical munitions. 
We are not asking at this time for any time agreement on these 
amendments, but these Members and amendments are ready to go. We need 
to get started on the amendment process.
  It would be the intention of the leadership that we go ahead and take 
these amendments up and try to get agreement on a time where votes 
would be agreed to. Perhaps, even, we would stack some of them at a 
time certain. We will notify the Members as soon as we can get that 
agreed to.
  At this time, we would like the committee members to go ahead and 
proceed with the DOD bill and amendments that are ready to go.
  With that, Mr. President, I turn the floor back over to the 
distinguished chairman of the committee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Carolina is recognized.


                         Privilege Of The Floor

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Michael 
Montelongo, a fellow in Senator Hutchison's office, be granted the 
privilege of the floor during the consideration of S. 1745.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Comdr. 
Thomas Vecchiolla, a Navy fellow in Senator Cohen's office, be granted 
the privilege of the floor for the duration of the debate on the fiscal 
year 1997 national defense authorization bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, Senator Grassley, I believe, will be here 
momentarily. I believe that Senator Bingaman is here ready to go.
  I see Senator Grassley is on the floor. We will be ready to go 
momentarily.

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