[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 121 (Friday, September 12, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9243-S9244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, the Senate will be in session today only 
for the transaction of morning business. No rollcall votes will occur 
during today's session of the Senate. On Monday, the Senate will resume 
consideration of the Interior appropriations bill. As announced, no 
rollcall votes will occur during Monday's session. The majority leader 
intends that the Senate conclude debate on the Interior bill by 
Tuesday. As a consequence, Members are encouraged to contact the 
managers of the bill to schedule floor action on any possible 
amendments on Monday or Tuesday.
  As Members are aware, this is the next to the last appropriations 
bill remaining for Senate consideration, so Members' cooperation is 
appreciated in the scheduling of floor action as we attempt to conclude 
action on both the Interior appropriations bill and the District of 
Columbia appropriations bill next week. As a result of this policy, the 
next rollcall vote will be a cloture vote on the substitute amendment 
to S. 830, the Food and Drug Administration reform bill, which will 
occur on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Under rule XXII, all first-degree 
amendments to S. 830 must be filed by 1 p.m. on Monday. The majority 
leader thanks his colleagues for their attention.
  Mr. President, as manager of the Interior appropriations bill, I have 
spoken to a number of my colleagues with interest in the National 
Endowment for the Arts to express my views and those of Senator Stevens 
and the majority leader that to the maximum possible extent, amendments 
relating to the National Endowment for the Arts be presented and 
debated on Monday. With a single exception, all of the Members who I am 
aware of who may have such amendments have been contacted and have 
expressed their cooperation. But for the information of all Members on 
both sides of the aisle, Monday will provide a time at which the 
National Endowment for the Arts can be debated at leisure without time 
constraints or the interference of other matters.
  So I do hope that those Members who have an interest in expressing 
their views on the subject will come to the floor of the Senate on 
Monday afternoon and let their views be known to other Members of the 
Senate.
  This is not to say, of course, that other amendments will not be in 
order on Monday, as they will be. We are aware of the possibility of 
amendments by Senators Helms and Ashcroft that would terminate the 
National Endowment for the Arts in the way that the House of 
Representatives voted to do; additional amendments by Senator Helms 
with respect to content restrictions; a potential amendment by Senator 
Hutchinson of Arkansas, together with Senators Sessions and Abraham on 
block granting most or all of the funds for the National Endowment for 
the Arts; an amendment by Senator Hutchison of Texas to restructure the 
grant process of NEA; an amendment by Senator Jeffords, as the chairman 
of the authorizing committee for the Endowment, to deal with the 
committee's authorization proposal as a part of this appropriations 
debate; and the possibility that Senator Cochran may wish to clarify 
the definition of arts education. That is not to say all these 
amendments will, in fact, be adopted. It is not to say there are not 
others. I

[[Page S9244]]

may report that there seems to be more interest in debating this issue 
in a number of different guises than there is of any other part of the 
Interior appropriations bill. I, obviously, will be here for the day. I 
hope I am accompanied by the great majority of those who wish to speak 
on the issue.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Collins). The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, what is the business before the 
Senate?

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