[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 144 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S12961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WORK INCENTIVES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1180, the work incentives bill. I 
further ask consent that all after the enacting clause be stricken and 
the text of S. 331, as passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu 
thereof. I further ask the bill be read a third time and passed, the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, the Senate then insist 
upon its amendment, and request a conference with the House.
  I further ask consent that nothing in this agreement shall alter the 
provisions of the consent agreement on June 14, 1999, relating to S. 
331.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 1180), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
  (The text of S. 331 is printed in the Congressional Record of June 
16, 1999.)
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Chair be 
authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. KENNEDY. Reserving the right to object. I reserve the right to 
object, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator reserves the right to object.
  Mr. KENNEDY. If the Senator from Pennsylvania is the acting leader, 
could he give us some indication of when we will go to conference on 
that legislation? It is the most important piece of legislation 
affecting the disabled in this country. We have passed the legislation 
99-0. It has been in the House of Representatives for several months. I 
hope at the time we are announcing we are going to appoint conferees, 
we would have at least some indication from the leadership as to when 
we are going to get to conference. I know millions of disabled 
Americans across this country will want to know what the intention of 
the leadership is on this legislation.
  Can the Senator give us some idea?
  Mr. SANTORUM. I say to the Senator from Massachusetts, first, I think 
this bill we are considering right now has a far greater impact on 
people with disabilities to come than this piece of legislation. But 
that being said, I am just doing this on behalf of the leader. I have 
not conferred with the leader as to what his plans are, so I am unable 
to answer the Senator's question.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Further reserving the right to object, and I will not at 
this time, I think this legislation is of enormous importance. We are 
very hopeful we will get an early conference on it and we will get a 
favorable resolution. This has passed 99-0 in our body. It is a good 
bill that came out of the House. It is legislation we ought to complete 
before we adjourn.

  I have no objection.
  There being no objection, the Presiding Officer (Mr. Hagel) appointed 
Mr. Roth, Mr. Lott, and Mr. Moynihan conferees on the part of the 
Senate.

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