[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8171-S8172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to thank a number of my 
colleagues, especially Senator Gramm and Senator McCain. I also 
especially thank the distinguished Republican leader for his help in 
getting us to this point.
  We have been discussing throughout the day the schedule for the 
balance of the day. I will propound a unanimous

[[Page S8172]]

consent request for the moment that will allow us now to take up the 
Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. Following that, it will be my intention to 
move to a couple of the nominations that we agreed yesterday we would 
take up. There are time requests for debate on both nominees, and we 
will accommodate those requests as the unanimous consent provided for 
last night.
  With that understanding, I will propound the request.
  I ask unanimous consent that following the vote with respect to the 
Gramm amendment, regardless of the outcome, the Senate proceed to the 
consideration of Calendar No. 98, S. 1218, the Iran-Libya sanctions 
bill, and that the bill be considered under the following limitations: 
that there be a time limitation of 60 minutes for debate on the bill, 
with the time equally divided and controlled between the chairman and 
ranking member, or their designees; that the only first-degree 
amendment in order to the bill be a Murkowski amendment regarding 
Iraq's oil; that there be 90 minutes for debate with the time divided 
as follows: 60 minutes under the control of Senator Murkowski, 30 
minutes under the control of the chairman and ranking member, or their 
designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time on the amendment, 
the amendment be withdrawn; that upon the use or yielding back of all 
time, the bill be read the third time, and the Senate proceed to vote 
on passage of the bill, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President, from the 
standpoint of clarification, the amendment that I am prepared to offer, 
according to the statement by the majority leader, would be withdrawn. 
It had been my request of both leaderships that the condition on 
withdrawing the amendment would be the assurance that I would have an 
opportunity for an up-or-down vote at a future time on the issue of oil 
imports from Iraq. I request consideration, if indeed the leadership 
will consider that, associated with the appropriate opportunity--maybe 
on one of our trade agreements that will come before this body--that I 
would be allowed at least not more than an hour and a half or 2 hours 
to debate that and have the assurance of an up-or-down vote. I ask the 
leadership for that consideration.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, if I may respond, Senator Murkowski has 
reiterated the understanding we have on both sides of the aisle with 
regard to his offering an amendment at a later date on Iraq oil on 
another bill. I will certainly provide him with a vote in relation to 
that amendment when that time comes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCAIN. Reserving the right to object, are the intentions, after 
disposition of the nominations, to return to the pending legislation?
  Mr. DASCHLE. In answer to my colleague from Arizona, the intention 
would be that we go right back to the Transportation appropriations 
bill. What I am hoping, frankly, is that over the course of the next 
several hours we can continue our discussions. Our staff has indicated 
again that they are willing to begin the discussions in earnest, with 
the hope that we might proceed with some expectation that we find some 
resolution. It is our hope that while our colleagues debate these other 
matters, that will free up those people who have been involved in this 
issue to talk, and it would be our intention to come back to this.

  Mr. McCAIN. Further reserving my right to object, we have just 
established 35 votes, which is sufficient to sustain a Presidential 
veto, which has been threatened on this bill. I hope it will motivate 
the other side to engage in a meaningful negotiation, which has not 
happened so far, so that we can resolve the situation.
  I reiterate my commitment to remain through a series of cloture 
votes, if necessary, until we get this issue resolved to the 
satisfaction of those who are concerned about it, including the 
President of the United States.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Reserving the right to object, just for clarification 
from the leader, the Senator from Alaska requested specifically the 
assurance of an up-or-down vote, and I believe the majority leader 
indicated a reference ``in relation to.'' I don't want to 
mischaracterize the intent. I wanted to have an understanding I would 
be afforded an opportunity for an up-or-down vote.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I will have no objection to an up-or-down vote.
  Mr. LOTT. Reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I 
want to say that I appreciate the majority leader's comments about the 
need for us to have a serious effort to find a compromise on this issue 
that is still pending on the Transportation bill. I thank him for the 
assurances given to Senator Murkowski.
  As I understand it now, we will go to the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act 
and have 60 minutes on that bill. Senator Murkowski will have his time, 
and we will go to final passage. Then after some debate time, we will 
have one or two votes on nominees. Did the Senator clarify that?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, in answer to the Republican leader's 
question, the answer is, we would provide for the debate allotted under 
the unanimous consent that we were able to arrive at last night. In 
regard to the Horn nomination and the nomination for the Administrator 
of the SBA, in both cases, as I understand it, rollcalls have been 
requested. So it is my intention that we would have debate on the two 
nominees and then the votes on those yet tonight. Then we will revert 
back to Transportation.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank the Senator. Further reserving the right to object, 
I know there are strong feelings on the question of the U.S.-Mexican 
truck crossing at the border, a lot of ramifications, and making sure 
it is NAFTA compliant, and making sure the trucks come into the country 
in a safe way after being inspected. I understand all of that.
  This is an appropriations bill and this language should not even be 
on this bill. Clearly, though, this can be resolved.
  While everybody is in a position of wanting to get dug in, let me 
point out that this issue could go on for days. It is really not 
necessary. I have never seen an issue that is more clearly in the realm 
of having an agreement worked out. We ought to do it. I urge both sides 
to do their very best to accomplish that.
  I thank Senator Daschle for giving these answers. I withdraw my 
reservation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request of the 
majority leader?
  The Senator from North Dakota.
  Mr. DORGAN. Reserving the right to object, and I shall not, I wanted 
to inform the majority leader that the proposition of discussions about 
the Murray language, in my judgment, should not just be among those who 
support the language and those who wish to weaken it. Others wish to 
strengthen it. While there is a disagreement on this issue, it is not 
just on one side. I hope if discussions ensue in the coming hours on 
this subject, they include those of us who believe the Murray language 
is not strong enough.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I say to Senator Dorgan that I don't 
think we ought to exclude anybody. Clearly, no one has devoted more 
time to the issue and has been more eloquent on the floor with regard 
to safety and the importance of recognizing the issue of safety than 
Senator Dorgan. Senator Murray has accommodated everybody, and I know 
in these discussions that would be her intent as well. I appreciate the 
Senator's interest in being involved in these discussions. I want to 
say that we hope to include anybody that has an interest in it.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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