[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 23 (Thursday, February 27, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT--S. J. Res. 1

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I just had a discussion with the Democratic 
leader with respect to the pending balanced budget constitutional 
amendment. This agreement would allow the Senate to conclude the matter 
on Tuesday, March 4. Having said that, I now will propound a unanimous 
consent for final disposition of the constitutional amendment.
  I ask unanimous consent that the time between 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday 
and 12:30 be equally divided between the two managers for closing 
remarks on Senate Joint Resolution 1. I further ask that, at 2:15 on 
Tuesday, there be 1 hour under the control of the manager on the 
Democratic side of the aisle, with the first 20 minutes under the 
control of Senator Byrd, to be followed by the next hour under the 
control of Senator Hatch, to be followed by the next 30 minutes under 
control of Senator Daschle, or his designee, with the final 30 minutes 
under the control of the majority leader or his designee.
  I further ask that following the conclusion or yielding back of time, 
a vote occur on the passage of S.J. Res. 1 at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, and 
that paragraph 4 of rule XII be waived and all occur without 
intervening action.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, the majority leader and I have had the 
opportunity to discuss this matter, and I concur with the unanimous-
consent request, with the understanding--which we have discussed--that 
if there is a family emergency or an illness that would preclude a 
Member from having the opportunity to vote on such an important issue 
as this, that we would revisit the issue. I don't anticipate that. I 
expect 100-percent attendance. And, as I say, we have had that 
understanding in our discussion also. So I do not object.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could just comment on the Democratic 
leader's comments of a moment ago. First of all, I think we have had a 
good and full debate on this issue. I said from the beginning that I 
hoped we would do that, and that it would be a thoughtful and 
provocative debate that would cause Members to think seriously about 
this issue. I think that has happened.
  There has been some suggestion that we put it off, and I thought 
about that. If there were some reason to do that, I would be willing to 
delay it further. But I think we should be ready to vote. We have had 
amendments and the debate, and we would be prepared to do that, then, 
on Tuesday under this agreement. But, as always is the case, we need to 
be aware of and respectful of extenuating circumstances beyond our 
control. I will join the Democratic leader in moving the vote to the 
next morning, or whatever, if we have that need, based on a genuine 
illness or family problem that could not be avoided.

                          ____________________