[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S10286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY S. 1429

  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Bunning). The majority leader.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 1:06 this 
afternoon the Senate begin consideration of the reconciliation 
conference report, notwithstanding the receipt of the papers, and there 
be 6 hours for debate to be equally divided in the usual form with the 
vote to occur at the conclusion or yielding back of the time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. ROBB. Reserving the right to object, may I ask a question of the 
majority leader.
  Is it the majority leader's intention to return to the underlying 
bill, the Interior appropriations bill, at the conclusion of 
consideration of the tax bill today?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, to respond to the Senator's question, it is. 
When we complete reconciliation, at the conclusion of this 6 hours or 
yielding back time, which theoretically could occur, then when that is 
completed our intent is to go back to the Interior appropriations bill.
  The agreement we had last week was that this week we would try to 
complete these two appropriations bills, Agriculture and Interior, 
complete the reconciliation conference report, and try to get as many 
nominations confirmed as we could get cleared on both sides.
  We are still assiduously pursuing that goal.
  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, continuing to reserve the right to object, I 
ask the majority leader, without specifically asking for an additional 
unanimous consent request, that if it is his intention to proceed, 
those of us who have been waiting through two sessions to either raise 
points of order, offer amendments, or whatever the case may be, to the 
Interior appropriations bill, might be able to do so tonight after 
conclusion of this bill. I am in full agreement with the expedition of 
a number of matters that have been pending on this floor, particularly 
some of the appointments. While I may not favor the tax bill that will 
be taken up this afternoon, I am in favor of moving the trains.
  With that, if the majority leader is prepared to give that verbal 
understanding his concurrence, I will not object.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I give my concurrence in that. We intend to 
return to the Interior appropriations bill. I believe the distinguished 
manager of this legislation would be glad to agree we would go to this 
issue immediately upon return, with a vote if one is required.
  Mr. GORTON. If the majority leader will yield, I would be delighted 
to have the first item to be dealt with, with respect to the Interior 
appropriations bill, immediately after the vote on the tax bill, be the 
point of order the Senator from Virginia wishes to raise.
  Mr. ROBB. Will the majority leader include that particular provision 
in his unanimous consent request?
  Mr. LOTT. I am glad to make that additional request in my unanimous 
consent request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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