[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10918-S10919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1998

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
turn to House Joint Resolution 97, the continuing resolution, for 
debate only. Therefore, no amendments will be in order.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 97) making further continuing 
     appropriations for the fiscal year 1998, and for other 
     purposes.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.
  Mr. STEVENS. House Joint Resolution 97 is now pending?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, this resolution would extend the 
continuing concept of our appropriations to Friday, November 7, of this 
year. The terms and conditions are exactly the same as the bill that 
was passed by the Senate in September. The 1997 fiscal year funding 
levels and policy limits will prevail during the extended period of 
this continuing resolution.
  We have made considerable progress on the appropriations bills for 
fiscal year 1998. The Defense, military construction, Treasury, energy 
and water, and legislative branch bills have all been enacted.
  The Transportation and VA-HUD bills are pending before the President 
and should be signed within the next few days.
  The Agriculture conference report has passed the House and is pending 
here in the Senate.
  We expect to file an Interior appropriations conference report later 
today.
  And it is my opinion we will complete the conference on the foreign 
operations, Commerce and Labor, Health and Human Services bills this 
week.
  Additionally, we should pass or obtain cloture on the District of 
Columbia bill this week.
  I am here to say I am grateful for the cooperation of the two 
leaders, Senator Lott and Senator Daschle, in aiding our Appropriations 
Committee in passing these bills with significant bipartisan 
majorities.
  We continue to need the help of all Members to complete our work 
prior to November 7.
  Mr. President, I do not hope to come back to this floor again during 
this session of Congress to seek another continuing resolution.
  We have very difficult policy issues to be settled on foreign 
operations, the Labor bill, and the Commerce bill, but I do believe we 
can complete the budget aspect of those bills this week. The 
controversial riders that are attached to the bills will dictate 
whether we can complete all of our work on these appropriations bills 
within this extended period.
  I urge Senators who are concerned about these bills to support this 
continuing resolution, to give the committee the time it needs to work 
out the remaining differences between the House and the Senate on the 
bills that I have just enumerated.
  Mr. President, again, it is my hope that we will, in this session, 
pass the separate appropriations bills, let the President exercise his 
will with regard to each bill, and conduct our affairs in the 
Appropriations Committee with separate appropriations bills and not to 
have one all-encompassing global type of continuing resolution as we 
wind up this session.
  It is possible, Mr. President, to do our job, as we should do it--13 
separate bills. That is my plea to the Senate. Help us work out the 13 
separate bills.
  I thank the President and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                         Privilege of the Floor

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Brian 
Symmes, a fellow, and Maggie Smith, an intern, be granted the privilege 
of the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I now be

[[Page S10919]]

allowed to speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota is recognized to 
speak as in morning business.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank the Chair.

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