[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S8885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT AGREEMENT--S. 2796

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, on behalf of the leader, I 
ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration 
of Calendar No. 729, S. 2796, the Water Resources Development Act of 
2000, under the following limitations: There be 3 hours for general 
debate on the bill equally divided between the two managers; the only 
amendments in order be a managers' amendment; one amendment to be 
offered by Senators Warner and Voinovich relating to cost-share and 
operations and maintenance, limited to 2 hours equally divided in the 
usual form; one amendment offered by Senator Feingold relating to 
independent peer review, limited to 1 hour equally divided in the usual 
form, and subject to one relevant second-degree amendment offered by 
Senators Smith and Baucus and limited to 30 minutes; one amendment 
offered by Senator Torricelli regarding marketing of dredge spoils, 
limited to 20 minutes equally divided, and subject to a relevant 
second-degree amendment offered by Senator Smith, or his designee, 
under the same time limitations; and one additional relevant amendment 
per manager limited to 10 minutes equally divided.
  I further ask consent that during the consideration of the bill, 
Senators Thomas and Kennedy be in control of up to 1 hour each for 
statements.
  Finally, I ask consent that following the disposition of the above 
amendments, and the use or yielding back of the time, the bill be read 
a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, 
with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. I apologize to my friend who is the chairman of the 
committee, but I am going to have to object.
  I just spoke to one of the Members, and she is going to be over to 
talk to the Senator from New Hampshire forthwith.
  In light of my conversation with her, I am going to have to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. If I could engage my colleague for a 
moment. Without mentioning the name--
  Mr. REID. I have no problem with that. It was Senator Lincoln from 
Arkansas.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. All right. I think the issue with Senator 
Lincoln, to the best of my knowledge, has been resolved satisfactorily. 
If that is not the case, then we can delay action.
  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 
that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, at this time I renew my 
unanimous consent request regarding Calendar No. 729, S. 2796, the 
Water Resources Development Act of 2000.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we have spent 
approximately an hour on this matter. We have had a number of 
conversations. I appreciate the work of the chairman and the 
subcommittee chair, Senator Voinovich. I have been assured by the 
Senator from Arkansas that if there is a problem in the underlying 
appropriations process, they will work with the people in the House to 
alleviate that problem to the best of their ability. There is no 
guarantee, but they will do everything within their power to resolve 
the issues about which we have spoken during this hour that we have 
been in a quorum call.
  I say to my friend from New Hampshire and my friend from Ohio that I 
appreciate their consideration.
  My understanding of what they will attempt to accomplish, if 
necessary, is accurate. Is that not true?
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. That is correct.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I thank my colleague from Nevada. We will 
do our best to work through the process as outlined by the Senator from 
Arkansas and the Senator from Nevada.

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