[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 23 (Monday, March 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1560-S1561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT OF 1997

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.

[[Page S1561]]

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture 
vote scheduled to occur today now occur at a day and time to be 
determined by the majority leader after notification of the minority 
leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I further ask unanimous consent that all 
first-degree amendments, as provided under rule XXII, now be filed up 
to 4 hours following the cloture vote and second-degree amendments to 
be filed within 24 hours after the cloture vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Now, to explain briefly just what we have done, and it is 
with the concurrence of the Democratic leader and the managers of the 
legislation. I do feel that we should get cloture. We should begin to 
move toward a defined list of amendments and try to bring this very 
important legislation to a conclusion.
  But the biggest complicating factor we have right now is that the 
titles from the Banking Committee and Finance Committee have not been 
offered and have not been adopted. I hope now that the two chairmen of 
those committees will be prepared, later on today or tomorrow, to have 
those titles included and will give the managers more time to work with 
Senators who still have some questions that need to be answered. So it 
seemed, after talking with Senator Daschle, Senator Baucus, and Senator 
Chafee that it was the proper thing to do at this time.
  But let me say, again, we need to begin to think about what are the 
important amendments; how do we bring this matter to a conclusion. I 
had indicated last week that it might be necessary, if we cannot find 
some way to begin to bring it to a close by Wednesday, for us to begin 
to think about Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday sessions. I know 
that a lot of Senators have conflicts and would prefer that we not do 
it that way. But we will need everybody's cooperation in order to avoid 
that.
  This is Monday. I have faith that we are going to make progress this 
afternoon and tomorrow. And we will do another assessment then about 
exactly when we have this cloture vote. I remind Senators that we do 
have a recorded vote scheduled at 5:30, after 20 minutes of debate on 
the Intelligence Disclosure Act.
  I yield the floor, Madam President.
  Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. I thank the majority leader for his efforts in helping us 
move this bill very expeditiously. He very graciously decided to 
vitiate the cloture vote that was otherwise scheduled today in an 
effort to speed up the passage of a couple of the titles of the bill, 
particularly the Finance and the Banking Committee portions.
  I pledge my cooperation--I know I speak for Senator Chafee--in trying 
to work this bill through as quickly as we possibly can because we have 
to get this thing enacted into law--the current extension expires--so 
people----
  Mr. LOTT. The first of May.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Right--can get their dollars spent on the highway 
programs.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hagel). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, what is the pending business?

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