[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 17, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7736-S7737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have been in conversation with my 
counterpart, Senator Nickles. We both recognize the importance of 
moving this bill and other appropriation bills. At this time, however, 
after consulting with Senator Nickles, we are not going to ask for a 
unanimous consent agreement that there be a time for filing of 
amendments.
  Senator Domenici and I will work through these amendments. We know 
there are several amendments, and as soon as we get off the bankruptcy 
bill, Senator Stabenow is going to offer one. There may be others. 
Senator Domenici and I will work through them.
  When we get to a point where we think the amendments are not coming 
in, we will move to third reading, and we will keep the leadership of 
the minority advised as to what we are doing.
  I appreciate the advice and counsel and suggestions made by my friend 
from Oklahoma. We will do our best to abide by these.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The assistant Republican leader.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I thank my friend and colleague, Senator 
Reid. I appreciate his not entering a request to limit or say that all 
amendments would have to be filed by a certain period of time. I 
encourage my colleagues to work with the managers of this bill, Senator 
Domenici on our side, if they have amendments, to bring those to his 
attention.
  It is certainly not our intention to procrastinate on this bill. We 
would like to see the amendments that are pending and do some homework 
on the amendments, consider them, take them up, pass them or defeat 
them, and come to final passage in the not too distant future.
  I urge all of our colleagues, Republicans and Democrats, if they have 
amendments, to please bring those forward so we can deal with those 
appropriately and finish consideration of this important bill.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, if my friend will yield, the other thing I 
would like to bring to the attention of the Senate is, as soon as we 
finish this bill, we move to one of President Bush's very

[[Page S7737]]

important nominations; that is, of Mr. Graham. The agreement that has 
been made by the two leaders and that is now part of the Senate record 
is that as soon as we finish this bill, we will move to that 
nomination. There is a time agreement that has already been made on 
that matter. The sooner we finish this bill, the sooner we can get to 
this important nomination of President Bush.
  Mr. NICKLES. Mr. President, I concur. I compliment Senator Reid for 
bringing forward Mr. Graham's nomination. That is a very important 
nomination. It deals with the Office of Regulatory Affairs. It deals 
with the cost of regulations. You cannot go a day without seeing some 
regulations that have an impact in the billions and billions of 
dollars. It is very difficult for President Bush to deal with this 
issue and not have his person installed as head of the office. We will 
have 7 hours of debate on Mr. Graham's nomination. I look forward to 
that debate and to his confirmation as well.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I thank my two colleagues. This is 
reasonable. I am concerned that when we have before us an important 
issue such as this energy bill, which really bears a lot on where we 
are going in this whole area of energy--and it is very important to me 
and to the American people--we get the amendments in. But this idea of 
having them filed by a certain time I think is really tough. We need a 
list perhaps. But thank you very much for this little change in 
direction.

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, 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. WELLSTONE. 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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