[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 50 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3637-S3638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, today the Senate will immediately resume 
consideration of the final amendments to the budget resolution. There 
will be 2 minutes of debate prior to a vote on any of the amendments 
proposed.
  There are, for the information of Senators, between 30 and 40 
amendments to be considered during today's session. We are working with 
Senators on both sides to see which amendments can be accepted, which 
will require rollcall votes, and perhaps which we will not be required 
to take action on at all.
  Senators should be aware that all votes after the first vote will be 
limited to 10 minutes. Therefore, Members should stay in the Chamber if 
possible between votes. We are working to vote on final passage by 2:30 
or 3 p.m.
  I thank my colleagues for their attention.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, we have looked at the amendments 
overnight. We still have 42 amendments pending. Between the two sides 
we have 42 amendments pending. That does not count the leadership wrap-
up amendments or the debate on those amendments. So realistically we 
would be talking about 16 hours of straight voting unless we are able 
to find some give in the good hearts of our colleagues. I am going to 
turn to my side of the aisle and urge colleagues on my side to please 
relent in the interest of getting the business of the Senate done on 
this budget resolution.
  Senator Reid and I have gone to our colleagues and asked them to 
please refrain from pushing their amendment to

[[Page S3638]]

a vote. We understand every Senator has a right to take his or her 
amendment to a vote, but if everyone insists on their absolute right, 
we are going to be here 16 hours. Truthfully, it would probably be more 
than that because we have not been able to do three votes an hour.
  That is the reality of the situation we confront. We urge our 
colleagues to try to work with us as the morning proceeds and to reduce 
amendments.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Will the Senator yield for a question?
  Mr. CONRAD. I am happy to yield.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Just for the record, would the Senator do me the favor 
of emphasizing this amendment dealing with veterans' health care 
benefits is an amendment from yesterday? I have, indeed, withdrawn my 
other two amendments, just so colleagues will know that. Will the 
Senator amplify that?
  Mr. CONRAD. I am pleased to say the amendment of the Senator from 
Minnesota was actually scheduled for last night for a vote and it was 
held over because of a parliamentary situation that developed last 
evening. So I am not making this request of the Senator from Minnesota. 
He has been patient. He has been one who has cooperated and dropped 
amendments, which we appreciate very much.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  Does the chairman wish we go to a quorum call or go to the vote?
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, let me suggest we have three or four 
Senators we want to talk with on the phone. We may significantly change 
our numbers. We do not have anything like those--we are one-third of 
your number or one-fourth.
  I believe we ought to proceed. I believe Senator Bond is ready on our 
side with a second-degree.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, what is the parliamentary situation? I 
understood we were going to have votes at 9:30?
  Mr. DOMENICI. We are ready to go. We will get an amendment up and be 
ready to go.

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