[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S9595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following the 
vote relative to the H-1B bill and the visa waiver bill on Tuesday, the 
Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the 
following nominations on the Executive Calendar, en bloc: No. 652, 
Michael Reagan; No. 654, Susan Bolton; and No. 655, Mary Murguia.
  I further ask unanimous consent that following the en bloc 
consideration, the following Senators be recognized to speak for the 
allotted timeframes. They are: Senator Hatch for 20 minutes; Senator 
Kyl for 20 minutes; Senator Lott or designee for 20 minutes; Senator 
Levin for 20 minutes; Senator Robb for 10 minutes; Senator Harkin for 
30 minutes; Senator Leahy for 20 minutes; and Senator Durbin for 10 
minutes.
  I further ask unanimous consent that following the use or yielding 
back of time, the nominations be temporarily set aside.
  I also ask unanimous consent that following that debate, the Senate 
then proceed to the nomination of Calendar No. 656, James Teilborg, and 
there be up to 1 hour each for Senators Hatch, Kyl, and Leahy, and up 
to 3 hours for Senator Harkin or his designee, and following the use or 
yielding back of the time, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to 
that nominee, without any intervening action or debate, to be followed 
immediately by a vote en bloc in relation to the three previously 
debated nominations. I further ask consent that the vote count as three 
separate votes on each of the nominations.
  Finally, I ask consent that following the confirmation votes, the 
President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate 
then return to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. HARKIN. Reserving the right to object, I ask the distinguished 
majority leader, in good faith, if he would modify his unanimous 
consent request to discharge the Judiciary Committee on further 
consideration of the nomination of Bonnie Campbell, the nominee for the 
Eighth Circuit Court, and that her nomination be considered by the 
Senate under the same terms and at the same time as the nominees 
included in the majority leader's request?
  I ask the majority leader if he would modify his request.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I understand the Senator's interest in that 
additional nomination. I do not think I have ever moved to discharge 
the Judiciary Committee on a single nomination or a judge. There are 
other judges presumably that will also need to be considered. I do 
appreciate the agreement that has been reached here. I know that it has 
been difficult for the Senator from Iowa to even agree to this. But in 
view of the fact that the committee has not acted, I could not agree to 
that at this time, so I would have to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, further reserving the right to object for 
just one more, again, I just want to say to the majority leader that on 
some of these nominees--I think maybe three of them were nominated, got 
their hearings and were reported out of committee all within one week 
in July. Yet Bonnie Campbell from Iowa was nominated early this year. 
She has had her hearing, and has been sitting there now for four months 
without being reported out. I just find this rather odd. I haven't 
heard of any objections to bringing her nomination out on the floor.
  I just ask the majority leader whether or not we can expect to have 
at least some disposition of Bonnie Campbell before we get out of here.
  Mr. LOTT. I respond, Mr. President, that I do not get into the 
background of all the nominees when they are before the committee. I do 
not know all of the background on these nominees. As majority leader, 
when nominations reach the calendar, I try to get them cleared. I do 
think the fact that we had not been able to clear these four, even 
though they were already on the calendar, has maybe had a negative 
impact on other nominations being reported on the assumption that, 
well, if we could not move these, which were, I think, unanimously 
cleared quickly without any reservations, that that had become an 
impediment. I do not know that this will remove that impediment, but it 
looks to me as if it is a positive step.

  Mr. HARKIN. I just say to the leader, it seems odd we have a nominee 
that is supported by both of the Senators from her home State, on both 
sides of the aisle, on the Republican and Democratic side; and I think 
she is not getting her due process here in this body. I just want to 
make that point. I appreciate that.
  Mr. LOTT. I say for the Record--and you know that it is true because 
I believe you were with me when he spoke to me--Senator Grassley has 
indicated more than once his support for the nominee. So he has made it 
clear he does support her. I do not know all of the problems or if 
there are any. But perhaps further consideration could occur. I am sure 
you won't relent.
  Mr. HARKIN. I plan to be here every day. I thank the leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the majority leader's 
original request?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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