[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 130 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11720-S11721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT--S. 82
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I congratulate all who have been involved in
this next unanimous consent. A lot of effort has gone into it. I will
not name them individually, but I know several Senators have been
following very closely.
I ask unanimous consent on Monday, October 14, it be in order for the
majority leader to proceed to the consideration of S. 82, the FAA
reauthorization bill, that the majority and minority managers of the
bill be recognized to modify the committee amendments, and further that
only aviation-related amendments be in order to the bill, that relevant
second-degree amendments will be in order.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is recognized.
Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I do not intend to object. But I have been
trying now for almost 2 years on this very important legislation to
deal with a very serious problem my constituents have brought to my
attention dealing with the loophole-ridden Death On The High Seas Act.
We had families at home in Oregon lose loved ones in international
waters as a result of a situation where a Korean freighter ran them
over. I have been repeatedly assured in the Senate Commerce Committee
that we would have an opportunity on the floor of the Senate to remedy
this great injustice. In fact, Chairman McCain had agreed with me
previously to work to reform the Death On The High Seas Act to ensure
that victims of maritime accidents would have the same rights as those
provided to victims of aviation accidents under the FAA bill.
I have been extremely patient with respect to this matter. I have
indicated on at least two occasions that I would not offer the
amendment. I do not intend to do it now because the FAA legislation is
of such extraordinary importance. But I want to make it clear to the
Senate that at the next available opportunity, I am going to do
everything I can to ensure that these victims of these maritime
tragedies--tragedies in international waters where very often they are
run over by foreign freighters and left at sea languishing for hours
and hours--actually have a remedy. They do not today. It is a grave
injustice.
We have discussed this at considerable length in the Senate Commerce
Committee. In fact, we even made changes in the Death on the High Seas
Act in the past without addressing this particular issue.
I do not intend to hold up the consideration of the FAA legislation
because it is so important, but I want to make it very clear to the
Senate that at the next available opportunity, we are going to debate
this on the floor of the Senate. We are going to have an up-or-down
vote on it. My colleagues are now aware of that.
Mr. President, I withdraw my reservation.
Several Senators addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mr. WARNER. Reserving the right to object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Virginia.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, may I address the distinguished majority
leader who has been very helpful to the interests of my State given
that National Airport and Dulles Airport are undergoing extensive
modernization. In the present form of the bill that the leader has
designated, is that issue taken care of? If not, is the opportunity
open for the Senator from Virginia and others to address that issue?
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield under his
reservation, first, I thank Senator Wyden for his comments and for the
record he has made and for not objecting. I know this is an important
issue to him. He could object and bring additional pressure on the
chairman and the committee. He is on the committee. I know he will
continue to work on it. I know he and Senator McCain will be talking
about it on Monday. I thank him for not objecting.
With regard to the question of the Senator from Virginia, I believe
the issue that is so important to him is addressed in the bill the way
he understands it to be. But if it is not or if there is any problem,
under this unanimous consent request, relevant amendments on aviation
would be in order and any amendment that he or the other Senator from
Virginia wishes to offer with regard to this matter would be in order
and would be protected.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank my distinguished leader. Likewise,
the issue of the number of slots has been a moving target. May I
inquire as to the current specification in the bill and whether or not
that could be changed by the proponents of the bill under this UC
between now and the date it is brought up?
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, in answer to the Senator's question, I have
in my mind the number of slots that are available based on the
discussions he and I have had over about 2 years. I am assuming that is
what is in the bill. I have to check and make sure of the exact number,
but whatever it is, if the Senator is not satisfied with that, an
amendment and a debate to change that number would certainly be in
order.
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I thank our leader for the assistance he
has given throughout the years to the Commonwealth of Virginia and
other interested parties with regard to these two airports.
Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Virginia.
Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.
Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, reserving the right to object and I
shall not--I do not think I will--as I understand this unanimous
consent agreement, this will be the FAA bill with relevant amendments.
Does the majority leader intend to bring up the nuclear waste bill?
Mr. LOTT. I would like to bring up the nuclear waste bill. I think
this is a major environmental issue. It is very important to a number
of States, I believe, including the Senator's State of Minnesota.
There has been an indication there may be a desire for a filibuster
and perhaps the Democrat leadership would not support cloture on this
very important issue. If that is the case, then I would not be inclined
to file cloture on it on Friday, giving us additional time to see if we
can work out an agreement or accommodation as to how to bring up that
very important issue.
I do not know how many States have nuclear waste sitting in open
cooling pools or how many people have looked at the need to address
this problem. I believe a large number of Senators probably as many as
two-thirds or more, believe we need to move this legislation. I want to
find a way to do that.
Mr. WELLSTONE. If I can do a quick followup, the reason I asked the
majority leader was actually less because of the subject matter of that
bill but the question whether or not he also plans on restricting it to
relevant amendments. What I am asking is, when will I have an
opportunity as a Senator from Minnesota to bring legislation to the
floor of the Senate which will alleviate the economic pain and
suffering of family farmers? That is what I want to know. Are we going
to have an opportunity for debate on agriculture policy?
Mr. LOTT. We certainly know the Senator from Minnesota has views on
that or amendments he wants to offer. One of the things we are planning
on doing, I say to the Senator--and Senator Daschle may want to talk
about it--is to bring up the sanctions bill. I do not know whether or
not the Senator's amendments will be in order to that. It does relate
to food and agriculture. He may have something to say or some amendment
he wants to offer on that.
We have not agreed on a time. You may wind up objecting to it, but I
think it is high time we have some debate around here and some thought
about how we deal with these unilateral sanctions of countries, how we
use food and medicine in that area. We had a vote on it in Agriculture.
It is still very controversial. I have indicated it is my intent and it
is my hope, if we can find a way, to bring that bill to the floor.
Mr. WELLSTONE. With an opportunity for other amendments dealing with
agriculture.
[[Page S11721]]
Mr. LOTT. I believe they probably could be offered to that bill. I do
not particularly relish the idea, but I think they probably could be.
Mr. WELLSTONE. I thank the majority leader.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, will the majority leader yield? He made
reference to a couple of matters which ought to be addressed briefly.
First, with regard to nuclear waste, I know of nobody on this side of
the aisle who wishes to filibuster the bill, and I will be happy to
clarify that with the majority leader. I think there is an interest,
however, in amending the bill. We would love to have the bill come to
the Senate floor under normal Senate order, regular order, and if the
bill were brought up under regular order, we would be in support of
moving the bill and voting in favor of the motion to proceed. I will be
happy to work with the majority leader to schedule that, if we could
accommodate Senators who wish to offer amendments.
With regard to the FAA debate, this was one of the more difficult
agreements. I appreciate the ability of many of our colleagues to allow
us the opportunity to have this debate on Monday. But I must say that,
once again, this is a unanimous consent request to limit debate and
limit amendments. We are agreeing to this only because we believe the
FAA bill is a matter of great national security and of import not only
for safety and health of aviation but because we believe we have
already taken too long to reauthorize this legislation.
So because of the expiration of the authorizing legislation, because
of the safety and health matters, we share the view that this
legislation ought to come up and be debated and that we ought to limit
ourselves to relevant amendments.
But again I say that we have not had a bill before the Senate under
regular Senate order since last May. We have gone through June, July,
August, and now September--4 months--and we are simply saying: Let's
bring bills to the floor under regular order. Let's have a good debate,
and let's have amendments offered. I am hopeful that we can work
through the rest of the agenda with that in mind.
So we are not going to object to this bill being brought up, again,
under abnormal Senate order and rule. But I think there is a growing
concern that too many bills are coming to the floor without the
opportunity for a full debate.
So whether it is nuclear waste or whether it is an array of other
bills that could come to the floor, we are ready to debate them. We are
ready to have a good amount of time dedicated to whatever piece of
legislation ought to be considered. But we want the right to offer
amendments. We will forego that right under FAA, but there are not many
bills that fit into that category, if any, for the rest of the year.
I thank the majority leader for yielding.
Mr. SCHUMER addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York.
Mr. SCHUMER. Reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I
want to take this moment to thank both the majority leader and the
minority leader, the Senator from Arizona, and the Senator from South
Carolina, for their patience because we did have a problem that
affected my area that has been worked out.
I ask the majority leader one little question. I want to confirm that
the language we have talked about seems to meet the agreement of all
sides. I want to get the attention of the majority leader. I was
thanking him and the minority leader and others, and I just want to
clarify the language we have talked about seems to meet the agreement
of all the major players in solving that problem.
Mr. LOTT. I have not had an opportunity to talk personally, directly,
to the Senator from Arizona, but I am informed by his senior aide that
he is committed to living with the language that the Senator from New
York is familiar with, and that also the Senator from South Carolina,
the ranking Democrat, has indicated he will comply with that. And based
on the assurance I received, then I would work to make sure that
understanding was lived up to. Whether you agree with the final result
or not, I will make sure that what your understanding is on the part I
have been involved in would be honored.
Mr. SCHUMER. I thank the Senator and thank again the Members of the
body for their indulgence on this issue.
Mr. BRYAN addressed the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
Mr. BRYAN. Earlier, the majority leader made inquiry about the
position on the nuclear waste bill. I want to put the majority leader
on notice the Senators from Nevada are not prepared to surrender any of
the procedural rights on this issue. This, as you know, is an issue----
Mr. LOTT. Will the Senator yield?
Mr. BRYAN. I am happy to.
Mr. LOTT. You mean you are not ready to go to final passage on this
bill at this point?
Mr. BRYAN. The Senator from Mississippi, with his characteristic
insight, has hit the nail right on the head.
Mr. LOTT. Let me assure the Chair and my colleagues that we know the
very passionate feelings of the Senator from Nevada. We know he is
going to make them heard, and in every way he can. And he will be
entitled to all the rules of the Senate in that effort. We understand
that and appreciate it.
Mr. BRYAN. I thank the majority leader.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
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