[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8720-S8721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION MODERNIZATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 
                                  1997

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now turn 
to the consideration of S. 830, the FDA reform bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  Mr. DASCHLE. On behalf of Senator Kennedy, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.


                           Motion to Proceed

                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. LOTT. I move to proceed to S. 830, and I send a cloture motion to 
the desk.

[[Page S8721]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The assistant 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, 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to 
     proceed to Calendar No. 105, S. 830, the FDA reform bill.
         Trent Lott; Jim Jeffords; Pat Roberts; Kay Bailey 
           Hutchison; Tim Hutchinson; Conrad Burns; Chuck Hagel; 
           Jon Kyl; Rod Grams; Pete Domenici; Ted Stevens; 
           Christopher Bond; Strom Thurmond; Judd Gregg; Don 
           Nickles; and Paul Coverdell.

  Mr. LOTT. I withdraw the motion to proceed.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. For the information of all Senators, I regret that the 
cloture motion is necessary at this time. I understand all of the 
interested parties were in agreement just prior to the recess. In fact, 
I stayed very close to the members of the committee that reported this 
legislation and to those who have continued to work to try to work out 
remaining disagreements, including Senator Jeffords, Senator Mack, 
Senator Frist, others on this side of the aisle, as well as Senator 
Dodd and Senator Mikulski.
  This is truly a bipartisan issue and one we certainly should take up 
and finish before we go out at the end of this year.
  When you talk about quality of life for Americans, certainly having a 
reformed Food and Drug Administration would be in their interest. Too 
many procedures, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices are delayed, hung 
up by bureaucracy. What we need is an expedited process, the reforms 
that are necessary to make that happen, and safe procedures for the 
American people.
  I hope we can get this done. The only objection I know of was one 
that has been lodged by Senator Kennedy. We thought we had the 
agreement all worked out the last week we were in session. At the last 
minute, there seemed to be some further objection. As a matter of fact, 
I had hoped over the last 2 weeks before we went out the 1st of August 
for our State work period that we could get this agreed to. Now there 
is apparently some disagreement with regard to cosmetics. I would think 
this legislation is much more important than some remaining small 
disagreement in this area.
  So as a result of filing this cloture motion, a cloture vote will 
occur on Friday, September 5 in the morning unless something is worked 
out in the meantime. I will consult with the Democratic leader and all 
the Senators involved on both sides of the aisle as to how we can 
proceed. We need to get this done.
  By the way, this is on the motion to proceed. It looks like we will 
have a filibuster even on the motion to proceed. I am committed to 
this. If we have to have a cloture on the motion to proceed, if we have 
to have more than one, if we have to have cloture on the bill itself, 
whatever is necessary, I feel that we should force this to an action.
  However, I do ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum under rule 
XXII be waived at this time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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