[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 30 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2108-S2109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There are 15 minutes equally divided to each 
side.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Smith of New Hampshire). Without 
objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, in the absence of anyone on this side of 
the aisle, I suggest a quorum be reinstated and that the time not be 
counted against either side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative 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the quorum call be rescinded.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 (Mr. Enzi). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                      Unanimous-Consent Agreements

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have a unanimous consent process that we 
will go through here that would allow for the withdrawal of the pending 
second-degree amendment and the offering of a new amendment. We are 
very close to an agreement on not only this procedure, but a number of 
other aspects of how we will deal with this pending resolution this 
afternoon.
  We would like to get this consent agreed to, and then we will take a 
few minutes more to make sure everybody understands exactly what we are 
proposing to agree to, and we will come back and go through that 
process. It could lead to our having perhaps just one more recorded 
vote and final passage. But we want to make sure everybody understands 
and is comfortable with what we are doing to the maximum degree 
possible.
  I ask unanimous consent, Mr. President, notwithstanding the consent 
agreement, that it be in order for me to withdraw amendment No. 22 in 
order to offer a separate amendment, and the amendment be in order 
notwithstanding the fact that it hits the resolution in more than one 
place.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending 
Glenn amendment be laid aside in order for me to offer an amendment, 
and no further amendments be in order prior to the vote on or in 
relation to my amendment.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I ask 
whether that is intended to preclude any further amendments on the 
resolution.
  Mr. LOTT. At this point it is just no further amendments in order to 
my amendment. We are discussing the possibility of an agreement that 
would not provide for additional amendments, but we have not reached a 
final agreement on that at this point. So we would have to just talk 
that through with you and

[[Page S2109]]

other Senators and make sure everybody understands and agrees before we 
enter that next request. But it is not applicable here.
  Mr. SPECTER. As long as this unanimous consent request is not 
precluding further amendments to the resolution, I do not object.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Reserving the right to object, I only do so for purposes 
of clarification.
  I think what the majority leader is proposing here goes a long way to 
resolving one of the issues that divided Democrats and Republicans. 
First, I commend him and commend those responsible for offering this 
amendment.
  What this would do is to add the word ``improper'' at the appropriate 
places within the authorization to allow us to look at both improper 
and illegal activity. So, as I say, this goes a long way to resolving 
the conflict that we have discussed now for some time and that was the 
subject of debate this morning. So this moves this process along. I 
would certainly urge all of my colleagues to agree to this unanimous 
consent request.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the Senator for his comments. I 
might say, just for further clarification, it would add to ``illegal'' 
the words ``and improper.'' The Glenn amendment of course has a number 
of descriptions. We are working on a discussion here of how that might 
be handled in a colloquy here today. But this would just add the words 
``and improper'' at the appropriate places in the resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further objection in regard to this 
request? Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. I further ask unanimous consent that following the 
disposition of the Lott amendment, the Senate resume the Glenn 
amendment No. 21, and no amendments be in order prior to the vote on or 
in relation to the Glenn amendment No. 21 and he be permitted to 
withdraw his amendment if he chooses after our discussions take place.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.


                            Amendment No. 23

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now send my amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Lott], for himself, Mr. 
     Thompson, and Mr. Warner, proposes an amendment numbered 23.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       On page 10, line 19 after the word ``illegal'' add ``and 
     improper''.
       On page 10, line 23 after the word ``illegal'' add ``and 
     improper''.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DOMENICI. 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. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
permitted to proceed as in morning business for 5 minutes to introduce 
a measure, after which time I will suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DODD. Will my colleague yield to make that 6 minutes so I could 
get a minute in?
  Mr. DOMENICI. I ask unanimous consent for 7 minutes and give 3 of my 
minutes to Senator Dodd.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  (The remarks of Mr. Domenici and Mr. Dodd pertaining to the 
introduction of S. 422 are located in today's Record under ``Statements 
on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I may proceed for 12 
minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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