[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10141-S10142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT--MOTION TO PROCEED

  Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now turn to 
consideration of S. 1645, the child custody bill.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. LOTT. In light of the objection, I move to proceed to S. 1645, 
and send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provision of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to 
     proceed to S. 1645, the Child Custody Protection Act:
         Trent Lott, Orrin Hatch, Spencer Abraham, Charles 
           Grassley, Slade Gorton, Judd Gregg, Wayne Allard, Pat 
           Roberts, Bob Smith, Paul Coverdell, Craig Thomas, James 
           Jeffords, Jeff Sessions, Rick Santorum, Mitch 
           McConnell, Chuck Hagel.

  Mr. LOTT. For the information of all Senators, this cloture vote will 
occur on Friday, 1 hour after the Senate convenes, unless changed by 
unanimous consent. I am making an effort to make sure that we have some 
votes on Friday, but as is usually the case, we would do our best to 
accommodate Members and have the votes before noon on Friday so we 
could have cloture vote on this bill, possibly on bankruptcy reform, 
but I am still hoping we can work that out.
  I now ask that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. I now withdraw the motion.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The motion is withdrawn.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I think that a short explanation may be 
in order with regard to the objection I just made to the motion that 
has just been filed by the majority leader.
  Obviously, there are varied opinions about the nature of this 
legislation and its propriety and how we might pursue some resolution 
to the issue of individuals transported from one State to another. I 
think the fundamental question, once more, is simply procedural. Can we 
find a way to take into account legitimate concerns that should be 
raised under a debate of this nature? I believe that there are many 
relevant amendments that will be declared nongermane but that are 
certainly relevant to this very complex question.
  If a cloture motion on the bill were to be successful, it would 
preclude those amendments. It is for that reason that I objected.
  It is also worth noting that we are being asked to proceed to yet 
another bill that has had little debate at the same time we are being 
told that there is not enough time left in the session to debate HMO 
reform. That causes me concern as well.
  Perhaps we could explore the possibility of coming up with a 
definitive list on this legislation as we are attempting to do on 
bankruptcy. I don't know. But I do know this, that filing cloture prior 
to the time we had a debate, filing cloture prior to the time we have 
even considered whether that option is available to us, in my view, is 
premature, and for that reason I had to object.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, could I just inquire of Senator Daschle, the 
Democratic leader, is there some Senator that I should get Senator 
Abraham to contact about this particular bill, or just talk through 
you?
  Mr. DASCHLE. There are a number of Senators, and I will certainly 
provide the Senator with the information. I wouldn't want to preclude 
somebody

[[Page S10142]]

by simply giving him a name off the cuff, but there are some Senators 
that will address this issue, and I am willing to share that with you.
  Mr. LOTT. Or if you ask them if they would get in touch with us 
tomorrow, maybe we can work something out.

                          ____________________