[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 92 (Thursday, June 20, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6586]
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, I had hoped we would have more Senators 
still on the floor so I can talk about this. While a great effort is 
being made by the managers of the bill on both sides, we still have a 
good way to go on this bill, and we do not have a lot of time to get 
our work done this year.
  I urge Senators on both sides of the aisle, if you have an amendment, 
please come to the floor and offer it this afternoon. We have an 
agreement. We are going to go, I believe, to the Pryor amendment next. 
When that is completed, we would like to go to other amendments.
  I am hearing Senators say, they are not ready, they would like to do 
it next week. We also intend to be in tomorrow. We would like to, after 
Senators talk in morning business, continue on the DOD authorization 
bill and get some amendments done.
  Senator Daschle and I have been talking about exactly how tomorrow 
will be handled, and we are continuing to work on an agreement with 
regard to the small business tax package and minimum wage. We are very, 
very, very close, I think, to having an agreement, although it has been 
very difficult to get that.
  But my point is this: If Senators will not come and offer their 
amendments during the day on Thursday, will not offer their amendments 
during the day on Friday, we are going to be in session next Tuesday 
night and Wednesday night and people are going to be whining about why 
we are here.
  Senator Daschle and I are trying to show we want to be different, to 
be reasonable, get out before too late at night and go home and eat 
some supper with our families, but if we do not get cooperation during 
the daytime, it leaves us no option.
  So I hope if Senators on both sides of the aisle have an amendment, I 
cannot imagine you are not ready now but you will be on Tuesday. Again, 
I urge Senators to do that so we can complete this bill early next 
week, because we still have the other bills we want to consider, 
including the possibility of one or two appropriations bills.
  I yield the floor, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Senator Pryor is recognized.
  Mr. PRYOR. I think under the unanimous-consent agreement reached last 
night, I was to be recognized at this point. Mr. President, if there is 
no objection, I would like to yield 3 or 4 minutes to the Senator from 
Nebraska who wants to make a statement, and then also to the Senator 
from Idaho and the Senator from New Mexico who have an amendment that I 
understand will be presented and accepted perhaps by a voice vote. 
Then, if there is no objection, I hope to be recognized. I ask 
unanimous consent to do so.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator from Nebraska is recognized.

  Mr. EXON. I inquire of the Chair, what is the pending business before 
the Senate?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the amendments are 
to be laid aside so that the business of the Senator from Arkansas can 
be considered.
  Mr. EXON. And the underlying amendment is a Kyl amendment?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. We have one amendment, No. 4052 of the Senator 
from Arizona.
  Mr. EXON. I thank the Chair. I thank my friend from Arkansas.

                          ____________________