[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10269-S10270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will begin debate in 
relation to the motion to proceed to S. 1981, the Truth in Employment 
Act, with the time between now and 1 p.m. equally divided between 
Senators Hutchinson and Kennedy or their designees. I see that Senator 
Hutchinson is on the floor and prepared to go forward and already has 
his charts on display here. I appreciate the work that he has done in 
this area.
  At 1 p.m. the Senate will resume consideration of the Interior 
appropriations bill. It is the majority leader's hope that the Interior 
bill will be finished the first part of this week. Last week there were 
other issues that were debated, that were attached to the Interior 
appropriations bill, and cloture votes that were also voted on. But I 
think this week it is important that we stay focused on the Interior 
appropriations bill, this afternoon and Tuesday and Wednesday, if 
necessary, to try to get it completed. That is an important part of us 
doing the people's business.
  Yes, there are a lot of distractions, but in the meantime the Senate 
must continue to go forward with the things that have to be done before 
we can go out at the end of this session so that our Members can go 
home and be with their constituents. So the Interior bill will be our 
principal focus this week. Senators who have amendments are encouraged 
to come to the floor. Don't keep shoving them off and saying, ``I will 
offer them later,'' ``I will offer them Tuesday,'' ``I will offer them 
Wednesday.'' You will wind up being here at 10 o'clock Wednesday night 
having to offer and debate your amendments. I hope that Senators will 
come forward and offer amendments if they have them.
  At 5 p.m., under a previous order, the Senate will resume debate in 
relation to the Truth in Employment Act until 5:30. At that time the 
Senate will proceed to a vote on cloture on a motion to proceed to the 
employment bill.
  Also at that time there could be a vote or votes on or in relation to 
amendments on the Interior appropriations bill. We do not have that 
locked in yet, but we would like to get some work done, and there is a 
likelihood that there will be a second vote following the vote that is 
already scheduled at 5:30. Further votes could occur, as I said, during 
this evening. And Members should expect that we will have to go into 
the evening almost every night this week.
  In addition, on Friday we did get a unanimous consent agreement with 
regard to how we would bring up and debate and vote on the bankruptcy 
reform bill. I thank Senators on both sides for working late into the 
night Thursday night and during the morning Friday, that allowed us to 
craft this unanimous consent agreement. We will bring that up the first 
opportunity we have--certainly only after consultation with the 
Democratic leader. But if we could finish the Interior bill at a 
reasonable time Wednesday, we could very well go to the bankruptcy bill 
either Wednesday night or Thursday, but it will depend on how things go 
between now and then.
  Also, I understand that the Banking Committee did report out, by a 
wide margin, the Financial Services Act last week. I had indicated to 
the chairman, Chairman D'Amato, that if they reported it out on a broad 
bipartisan vote, we would look for an opportunity to have a vote on 
that also. I don't know if that would come before next week or even the 
next week, but bankruptcy reform and the Financial Services Act would 
be two very large accomplishments, if we could get these done before we 
go out at the end of the session.
  So, again, I hope Senators will be prepared to work hard, offer their 
amendments, let us have our votes, and let us make some progress so we 
can show the American people, despite the distractions, we are doing 
our work.
  I yield the floor.

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