[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 91 (Thursday, June 24, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7551-S7552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, I think 
it is important that I take a minute to sort of review the bidding as 
to what has been going on. There have been a number of discussions as 
to how to proceed

[[Page S7552]]

with the pending agriculture appropriations bill, as well as the two 
pending Patients' Bill of Rights proposals. Senator Daschle and I 
talked numerous times throughout the day. At one point, beginning on 
Tuesday night, we talked about trying to find a way to take the 
Patients' Bill of Rights issues up and deal with them on Wednesday and 
Thursday. We could not quite get that approved.
  Then a proposal was made to go ahead and go forward with the 
appropriations bills and maybe some other legislative issues that could 
be cleared and to take up the Patients' Bill of Rights issue on Monday, 
July 12, when we come back from the recess, and spend until the close 
of business that week, Thursday, July 15, on the Patients' Bill of 
Rights issue. Originally, I was thinking it would just be sort of a 
jump ball; we would get started. We would go forward, no limits on 
amendments, no limits on time, but understanding everybody had to be 
fair with each other. There should not be an attempt on this side to 
block a reasonable number of amendments. Neither should there be an 
attempt on the other side to say we have to have 18 or 26 or 35 or any 
requisite number of amendments but just do like we do legislative 
bills--we take them up and go forward.

  Concerns developed on both sides of the aisle, and we modified that 
proposal two or three times. As of late last night, about 6, we were 
still exchanging ideas. So we do not have a finalized agreement.
  I think progress has been made toward finding a way to complete 
action on the pending bill; that is, the underlying bill, the 
appropriations bill, as well as other important appropriation bills. We 
should be able to find a way to consider the Patients' Bill of Rights 
issue, because there is belief, I think on both sides, that there are 
some areas that need to be addressed. There are some rights that need 
to be protected. There should be some way to appeal decisions within 
HMOs. Once we make up our minds that we will get together and work 
through it, I think we will be able to do that. We can continue trying 
to negotiate, which I am always willing to do, or we can just go ahead 
and go forward and see what happens.
  Keep in mind that this Patients' Bill of Rights issue, or pieces of 
it, would be on the agriculture appropriations bill, which is not the 
normal place we would want it. Also, I presume it won't be there when 
the appropriations bill comes back. So I do not quite understand why we 
would be doing it this way.
  To enable us to negotiate, I will ask for a period of morning 
business, but I would like to discuss that momentarily with Senator 
Daschle and leadership on both sides.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________