[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4816]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am trying to have an announcement for the 
Members. But I need to check with a couple of people in just a moment. 
So if the Senator from Iowa would like to proceed with statements, I 
would like to maybe interrupt in a moment.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, while the leader is on the floor--if the 
Senator from Iowa will withhold for just a moment--I know the leader is 
trying to get a schedule together. I just wanted to note, because there 
has been some question over here on this side of the aisle, that on S. 
2037, the WIPO bill, or the digital new millennium copyright 
legislation, there is absolutely no objection to going forward with it. 
I suggest that there will be unanimous support for it over here. I just 
wanted to advise the distinguished majority leader of that fact.
  Mr. LOTT. I might respond to the fact that we do want to get that 
bill done. We have run into a possible technical problem that we are 
trying to work out, as you well know.
  Mr. LEAHY. I understand what the leader wants to do. I wanted to make 
sure that he understands this side of the aisle is ready and raring to 
go.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the 
Senate has now passed the second of the four high-tech bills that we 
had been working on and have worked to get agreements. And we have been 
successful in that. It is our intent at the earliest opportunity to 
consider and pass the WIPO bill, even though I understand there may be 
a technical problem with the blue slip issue involving the House of 
Representatives. We are trying to check that out, and also the 
immigration bill that the Senator from Michigan has been working on, 
and Senator Kennedy from Massachusetts.
  It would be our intent to call up that immigration bill, if we do not 
do it before noon on Monday, with the possibility of stacked votes on 
Monday afternoon about 5:30. I am not asking unanimous consent to that 
effect right now. I have discussed that with Senator Abraham, and 
Senator Kennedy. But I would need to check that with Senator Daschle 
and others.
  But I want the Members to know that we need to complete action on 
these high-tech bills. A lot of great work has been done. We have been 
able to pass two of them. We are very close to being able to get the 
other two done. Our intent is to stay with that until we get it 
completed.
  The Senate will now begin the DOD authorization bill.
  Having said all of that, there will be no further votes this evening, 
and the Senate will consider the DOD authorization bill throughout 
Thursday's session of the Senate. I had hoped there would be opening 
statements. But I understand we will just lay the bill down, and then 
we will begin tomorrow.
  But I want the Record to show that I was requested to have the 
remainder of the night for the DOD authorization bill so that we could 
get 2 or 3 hours on it. We are not going to be able to do that. But I 
am certainly prepared and willing, and wanted to do that.

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