[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 171 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S12821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. KYL. Madam President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the majority leader, after consultation with the 
Republican leader, proceed to executive session no later than December 
14 to consider Calendar No. 471, the nomination of Eugene Scalia to be 
Solicitor for the Department of Labor, and I further ask unanimous 
consent that there be 3 hours for debate, with the time equally divided 
in the usual form, with no other motions in order; and I ask unanimous 
consent that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate 
proceed to the vote on the confirmation of the nomination, 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. DASCHLE. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I believe I have the floor after the 
request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is the understanding of the Chair.
  The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KERRY. I thank the Chair.
  Madam President, I ask my colleague from Arizona, without losing my 
right to the floor, if his propounding of that request indicates that 
somehow his denial of the ability to proceed forward on the small 
business bill is linked to the request he just made regarding the 
nomination.
  Mr. KYL. Madam President, I would be happy to respond to my 
colleague. The answer to the question is no. As the Senator from 
Massachusetts is aware, there are ongoing negotiations with the Senator 
as well as the Senator from Missouri and representatives of the 
administration in an effort to reach a compromise on the legislation, 
and the Senator's request related to my unanimous-consent request 
related to the importance of considering Eugene Scalia as Solicitor for 
the Department of Labor, and I believed as long as we were making 
unanimous-consent requests to proceed to other business, I would take 
the opportunity to do so for that nomination.
  Mr. KERRY. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Arizona. I would 
like to respond and say a few words, if I may, about the small business 
bill.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask the Senator if he will yield for 
a unanimous-consent request for just a moment.
  Mr. KERRY. I am pleased to yield.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the Senator from Massachusetts very much.

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