[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 47 (Friday, April 24, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3561-S3562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will begin 
consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 1757, the 
State Department reorganization bill, under a 6-hour time agreement. 
Under the previous order, the vote on the conference report will occur 
on Tuesday, April 28 at 2:25 p.m.
  On Monday, following morning business, the Senate will proceed to 
executive session to consider the NATO expansion treaty. It is hoped 
that Members who wish to offer amendments to the treaty will come to 
the floor on Monday to offer and debate those amendments.
  We have had some discussion already on this NATO enlargement. I 
remember very well an outstanding speech given on the floor by the 
distinguished Senator from Oregon a month or so ago, a beautiful speech 
laced with history. It made an indelible impression upon my mind.
  Senators have claimed that we have not enough time on NATO 
enlargement, or that the issue has been unfocused. But one of the 
problems has been that Senators have not been willing to come to the 
floor and offer their amendments.
  Beginning Monday, the debate will be focused and uninterrupted on 
this very important issue of the NATO treaty alliance. We will spend 
all day on Monday and all day on Tuesday with the only interruption 
being the vote at 2:25 when we come back in from our policy luncheons. 
We will spend whatever time is necessary on Tuesday and Wednesday. I 
hope that we can complete it Wednesday after a thoughtful debate. Every 
Senator will have an opportunity to make a statement, if he or she 
wishes, or to offer amendments. But we must begin the process, and it 
includes having amendments in fact offered so we can bring it to a 
conclusion.
  I remind our colleagues that we still have a lot of very important 
issues that we need to take up. Unfortunately, earlier in the year 
several committees had not acted. But committees are acting profusely, 
and good bills are beginning to line up now. I would like to begin to 
move bills. In fact, we probably are going to have a high-tech period 
where we take up as many as 10 bills from a variety of committees that 
are important to the high-tech area, all the way from antislamming in 
the telephone area to gambling on the Internet, and a lot of things in 
between and beyond those. We have other good bills that we want to try 
to consider.
  In order to be able to do that and get to the IRS reform package the 
week after next, we are just going to have to have more cooperation. If 
Members continue to delay, then there will be more nights like last 
night where we were here at 8 or 8:30 or 9. I don't think our work is 
as good when we are working late into the night.
  As a reminder to all Members, there will be a rollcall vote on Monday 
at 6 p.m. on an Executive Calendar matter to be determined today by the 
majority

[[Page S3562]]

leader after consultation and with information, of course, being 
provided to the minority.
  As previously announced, there will be no rollcall votes during 
today's session since we have 6 hours reserved for debate on the State 
Department reorganization.
  The next vote will then occur at 6 p.m. on Monday.

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