[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. CHAFEE. Tomorrow, the Senate, Madam President, will be in a 
period of morning business from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., 
by a previous order, the Senate will proceed to a rollcall vote on the 
McCain amendment to S. 1173, the so-called ISTEA II legislation. 
Following that vote, the Senate will attempt to complete action on the 
bill.
  In addition, the Senate may begin the consideration of S. 414, the 
international shipping bill, and H.R. 2646, the A-plus education bill. 
Therefore, Members should anticipate a busy voting day with votes 
occurring into the early evening.
  Mr. FORD. Madam President, would the distinguished Senator yield for 
a question?
  Mr. CHAFEE. Yes.
  Mr. FORD. Members have until the hour of 10 a.m. to file first-agree 
amendments to S. 1173. Is that in addition to the amendments that are 
already filed correctly, and this gets around the hour in advance?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's understanding is correct.
  Mr. FORD. So the second-degree amendments can still be offered?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. By previous agreement, second-degree 
amendments are allowed for 24 hours.
  Mr. FORD. I wanted to be sure about that so there would not be any 
confusion. I thank the leadership for accommodating those so we would 
not have to file those tonight and so we could prepare those overnight 
and file them at 10 o'clock in the morning. I am grateful for that 
accommodation.
  I thank the chairman and I thank the Chair.
  Mr. CHAFEE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island.
  Mr. CHAFEE. I hope everybody does not feel----
  Mr. FORD. Compelled.
  Mr. CHAFEE. The requirement that they file an amendment. We have 
dealt with some 200 amendments. That, it seems to me, pretty well 
covers the field. So I would not have hurt feelings if there were no 
amendments filed by 10 a.m. tomorrow.
  Mr. FORD. Well, the Senator knows that, given overnight, there is a 
lot of thought going into what they might file tomorrow, and to 
accommodate your colleagues, it may have gotten you in a little more 
trouble than you wanted. So I throw that in. I believe the Senator will 
be surprised at the small number of amendments that are filed by 10 
o'clock tomorrow.
  Mr. CHAFEE. I will be happy to be surprised.
  So that completes our business. I do want to say to those who will be 
listening, I really believe we can finish this bill rather quickly 
tomorrow, if people restrain themselves on further amendments. We have 
some here, and we worked out some. It seems to me we have had a pretty 
good--we have been on this bill now I think for something close to 2\1/
2\ weeks, and everything is pretty well taken care of. I hope Members 
will show great restraint.

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