[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S1925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, I understand the Democrat leader has a 
statement to make. Let me just say to our colleagues, we are going to 
take up the bill providing loan guarantees to those who would develop 
the technology and make the investments to bring local television to 
rural America. We expect there to be opening statements this morning. 
Let me say, since there is no one here on the other side to debate the 
issue, I intend at some point to ask unanimous consent that we might 
have an hour or so for opening statements and then I might be 
recognized to offer an amendment at that point. If there is an 
objection to that, then I will go ahead and offer an amendment at the 
conclusion of my statement.
  Let me say we should have votes throughout the day. We are confident 
we will finish this bill today--or we hope to.
  Following the disposition of this bill, there will be a cloture vote 
on the motion to proceed to the gasoline tax legislation. After the 
cloture vote, the Senate will begin a period of morning business with 
statements expected by Senator Brownback on the marriage penalty.
  I thank our colleagues for their attention.
  Mr. President, before I go into a discussion of the bill, I ask 
unanimous consent I might yield to the Democrat leader to make a 
statement on his leadership time, and then that I might be recognized 
to make the initial opening statement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, while the two managers of the bill are on 
the floor, the Senator from Texas asked that there be an hour for 
opening statements. The Senator from Maryland, the manager on the 
minority side, thinks that is a good idea.
  Mr. GRAMM. Mr. President, that being the case, let me ask unanimous 
consent, following the comments of the acting Democrat leader, that 
there be an hour equally divided for opening statements and that at the 
conclusion of that hour I be recognized to offer an amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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