[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 158 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14438-S14439]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, today the Senate will resume consideration 
of the bankruptcy reform legislation with up to 4 hours of debate on 
the Hatch amendment No. 2771 regarding drugs. I must say to my 
colleagues, this bill is moving very slowly. The Democratic leader and 
I, Tom Daschle, have agreed we would let the amendments go forward and 
let the Members have an opportunity to work their will, but we also 
want to get this important legislation passed; our intent is to get it 
done today. As with other bills, we are going to stick with this. If I 
have to file cloture to bring it to conclusion, I will do that. I have 
avoided doing that because I want to show good faith and trust that 
Senators will stick to the issue and find a way to complete the 
legislation. We cannot leave it on the sidetrack indefinitely or have 
it tie up the Senate's time much longer because we have a number of 
bills we need to pass today, tonight, Friday, or whenever we are going 
to wrap up this session.
  Following the use or yielding back of that debate time on amendment 
No. 2771, the Senate will proceed to at least three stacked rollcall 
votes beginning with the Hatch amendment, to be followed with votes on 
the nominations of Carol Moseley-Braun and Linda Morgan. Those votes 
are expected to occur between 12 and 1 p.m. at the latest. I hope it 
can actually occur earlier because we do have some conflicts of which 
we are trying to be cognizant.
  Senators who have amendments pending to the bill or amendments they 
expect to offer are encouraged to work with the bill's managers so 
those amendments can be disposed of in a timely manner. I hope a large 
number of them will be accepted or withdrawn. Senators can expect votes 
to occur

[[Page S14439]]

throughout today's session and into the evening.
  For the information of all Senators, progress has been made on the 
appropriations bills. It is hoped the Senate can vote on the remaining 
appropriations today or early next week. I realize that doesn't please 
a lot of Senators, but while I think great progress has been made, and 
I did have occasion to talk to the President a few minutes ago, I think 
now our biggest problem is just the physical ability to get the 
paperwork done and the House vote, and then have it come to the Senate 
and complete action.
  However, the Senate has been known to act with lightning speed when 
it makes up its mind. I hope we can do that this time.
  Thanks again to the women officers of the Senate for the work they do 
and for being here today. I hope we can keep Members in place the rest 
of the day and we can wrap this up by sundown.
  I yield the floor.

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