[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 82 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CONTINUING RESOLUTION

  Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate receives from 
the House legislation which provides for the continuing of Government 
funding at a level of 100 percent of the fiscal year 1997 for those 
fiscal year 1998 appropriations that have not been signed by October 1, 
1997, the majority leader may proceed with that legislation after 
consultation with the Democratic leader.
  I did not read that smoothly. This is the continuing resolution, 
Government shutdown prevention language. We assume we will receive it 
in this 100 percent form of 1997 levels for those 1998 appropriations 
that have not been signed. There will then be one relevant amendment in 
order for each leader, limited to 1 hour each, to be counted against 
the overall 8 hours, and no other amendments or motions be in order to 
the bill, there be 8 hours for debate on the bill equally divided 
between the two leaders or their designees, and finally, following the 
expiration or yielding back of the time, the bill be read a third time 
and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage, all without intervening 
action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Let me say, Mr. President, that I appreciate the 
cooperation of the Senator from South Dakota. He has been willing to 
work on a number of different approaches to resolve this matter. This 
is clearly not the way I thought we should proceed. Apparently, the 
House-passed bill will be at the full funding level of about $8.6 
billion. I think that is inappropriate, uncalled for. I think it is 
important that we get the disaster funds through and the funding for 
the Department of Defense Bosnia activities, but this bill has grown 
like Topsy. There is no need for it to be $8.6 billion. There has been 
a lot of add-ons on both sides of the Capitol, both parties, and the 
administration even made an additional request apparently in writing 
the other day with regard to forward funding.
  It seems to be everybody has found a way to add more money here and 
there, and while enumerated on the floor and put in on the floor, some 
of the things that have been added--and, again, this is not partisan or 
it is not aimed at just the Senate or just the House; it is a 
bicameral, bipartisan exercise--but as the effort has gone forward to 
try to reduce this funding, basically what this Senator has found is 
everybody said: No, not mine. Don't take this out. Don't take that out. 
There is a good reason for that, good reason for this, good reason for 
everything--always wanting to spend more of the people's tax money. So 
I am very unhappy with the amount of money involved here.
  But I think, as majority leader, it is incumbent upon me to work with 
all the various parties involved here to find a procedure to get this 
work done. We have done that, and so now I think we are ready to go 
forward with the debate. I believe the chairman, Senator Stevens, is 
here to give some more details about what is included in this bill.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would ask if the majority leader would 
just clarify one, I hope, minor point. In the last unanimous-consent 
request there was a reference to legislation which provides for the 
continuing of Government funding at a level of 100 percent of fiscal 
1997 for fiscal 1998 appropriations. I assume that the reference to 
that particular legislation only refers to that particular matter and 
no other extraneous issues that could be attached. Is that the 
understanding of the majority leader, there would not be anything else 
in the bill other than continuing appropriations?
  Mr. LOTT. Oh, yes, absolutely. Only that substance. Not other 
unrelated matters. I can think of lots of things they might try to 
attach to that.
  No, not at all. We want this to be considered upfront in the daylight 
and a sincere effort to work out a way to avoid the fun and games at 
the end of the fiscal year. I think this will give us that shot. And if 
the House adds extraneous to it, it will never come up in this form. I 
would work with the Senator to make sure that does not happen.

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I appreciate that clarification. That is 
exactly the assurance I assumed the majority leader would give, and I 
appreciate very much appreciate his assertion in that regard.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. STEVENS. Reserving the right to object, has it been agreed to?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair would observe that the unanimous-
consent request has been agreed to.
  Who seeks time?
  Mr. STEVENS. I wanted to make certain, Mr. President, there was an 
agreement that----
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska is recognized.
  Mr. STEVENS. I want to make sure there is an agreement that the 
conference report that accompanied the bill, the managers' report 
accompanying the conference report is agreed to without any reservation 
as being the legislative history for the bill that will be covered by 
this unanimous-consent agreement. Is that understood?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senator from Alaska making that in the 
form of a unanimous-consent request.
  Mr. STEVENS. I do seek to add that to the unanimous consent, that the 
managers' report--there will be no report accompanying this bill. The 
statement of managers on the report on H.R. 1469 I wish to be included 
in this unanimous-consent request as being the legislative history for 
this bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I would certainly not object. On this 
side of the aisle, there are no reservations or objections to that at 
all.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Reserving the right to object--I will not object--my only 
hesitancy was I was wanting to make sure I understood the ramifications 
of the Senator's request. I think I do, and based on that I do not have 
any objections.
  Mr. STEVENS. I thank both leaders.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Who seeks time?
  Mr. COCHRAN addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi is recognized.

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