[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             CLOTURE MOTION

  Mr. LOTT. I move that the Senate proceed to the H.R. 3396, and I send 
a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to 
     proceed to H.R. 3396, the Defense of Marriage Act:
         Senators Trent Lott, Bob Smith, Conrad Burns, Rod Grams, 
           Larry E. Craig, Judd Gregg, Jim Inhofe, Hank Brown, Don 
           Nickles, Dan Coats, Chuck Grassley, Craig Thomas, Frank 
           H. Murkowski, Lauch Faircloth, Richard Shelby, Slade 
           Gorton, Phil Gramm.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want our colleagues to know that I have 
been discussing this back and forth with the Democratic leader. He was 
aware that I was going to do this. We are working on a number of other 
issues that are not directly related necessarily to this. We also have 
an understanding that we are working out on exactly what time this vote 
might occur.
  But I have just filed a cloture motion on the motion to proceed to 
H.R. 3396. Under rule XXII, the cloture vote will occur--we will either 
have this occur on Monday or agree to a time on Tuesday. I believe we 
are going to agree to a time on Tuesday when this vote will occur. So I 
think we are getting cooperation on that.
  If we continue to work toward an agreement on the VA-HUD 
appropriations bill, and go ahead and get started next on the Interior 
appropriations bill, then we would probably have this vote on Tuesday 
morning around 10 o'clock. But we will make that official later on.

  I now withdraw the motion to proceed.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The motion is withdrawn.
  The Democratic leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I just wanted to take a moment to explain that it is not 
our desire necessarily to hold up this piece of legislation. There is 
support on our side as well. Unfortunately, the majority leader has not 
been able to work out an agreement with us to accommodate a number of 
Senators on our side who wish to offer amendments. It was for that 
reason that I objected tonight.
  Obviously, we will have a good debate about the bill. It will be my 
hope we could offer amendments, but at least at this time it does not 
appear to be likely. We will continue to work together and try to find 
a way to resolve these issues, but at least tonight that has not been 
resolved.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor, Mr. President.

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