[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11699-S11700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 3539

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now turn 
to the consideration of the conference report to accompany the FAA 
reauthorization bill and the report be considered as having been read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I shall 
object.
  There was what is not a technical correction put on in conference, a 
provision that affects one corporation, benefits one corporation, and a 
provision that was defeated in the Appropriations Committee just 2 
weeks ago when there was an attempt to put it on. I do not think this 
is the way we ought to be legislating. If that provision is taken off, 
I will be happy to support it. But I do object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could be heard just briefly further 
with regard to that? I just came from the Democratic leader's office in 
which we were discussing this matter. We are still very hopeful 
something can be worked out. I know an effort is underway there.
  Had the Senate been able to proceed to this very vital conference 
report, it was my intention to file a cloture motion, which would call 
for the cloture vote on Monday. Since our colleagues have chosen to 
object to the conference report, I cannot file that cloture motion. 
Consequently, the FAA conference report containing funds for the 
airport trust fund, essential air service, and addressing safety 
matters at our Nation's airports, is therefore in dire straits now. We 
are not sure exactly how we are going to be able to proceed, but I know 
a good-faith effort is underway, and I am hoping in the next few 
minutes something can be worked out that is fair.
  Otherwise, we are either going to see the FAA reauthorization not be 
completed, which causes major problems with our airline industry, or we 
may be forced to ask our Senators to be prepared to vote on Sunday 
afternoon. That is an option we are reviewing. That also could entail 
having to have votes on Tuesday, inconveniencing everybody concerned. 
But maybe we can find a way to get to a conclusion without having to do 
it that way.
  Does the Senator from Kentucky have a comment on that?
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I agree with the majority leader. I would 
prefer we not be in this position. It was inadvertently left out of the 
law, and now they have seized on it and it has become a fight. I 
understand that very well.

  But it was defeated. The Senator from Illinois did not say it was 11 
to 11. It was not a huge defeat; it was a tie. So 11 people in the 
committee voted for it. So there was some support at that time, and I 
do not think much work had been done. If some work had been done, it 
probably would have been taken care of there and we would not be 
fooling with it on this bill.
  I am not a lawyer, I am just on the jury. I am trying to listen to 
all these lawyers running around town trying to tell me what is and 
what is not. The jury tells me that we need to do something for the 
country as it relates to

[[Page S11700]]

aviation. My record with labor is just as good as the next fellow's, 
and I will put mine, my percentage, up with that of the Senator from 
Illinois as to my support for labor.
  But this is one time I want the aviation industry of this country to 
continue to be the best in the world. If they are going to take this 
stance and say we are going to bring the FAA bill down--that is what 
the Senator from Illinois is doing--then we will be here next week, in 
my opinion. We will probably vote on Monday to proceed. We then lay a 
cloture motion down and they will be around here a lot longer than they 
had expected.
  If that is the procedure, if you want to get the fur up, that is 
fine. It suits me fine. I understand it, not to say that I like it. I 
understand the procedure and I understand the rules. I understand the 
rules pretty well.
  So, I hope we can work something out, I say to the majority leader. I 
am prepared to offer some objections myself here.
  Mr. SIMON. If the majority leader will yield for 1 minute?
  Mr. LOTT. I will be glad to.
  Mr. SIMON. I am all for the FAA bill. What was put on was neither in 
the House nor in the Senate on this bill. That can be put on--if you 
drop this provision, it can be put on the continuing resolution. There 
are a variety of ways of handling this.
  I hope we can get it worked out.
  Mr. FORD. I say to my friend, you can put this bill into the 
continuing resolution now.
  Mr. SIMON. What we should not do is tack on a major labor-management 
provision on this thing--without hearings on what is a very 
controversial provision, I might add.

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