[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S13865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 3529

  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of H.R. 3529, which is the stimulus 
package received from the House. I further ask unanimous consent that 
there be 60 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form; 
further, I ask that at the expiration or yielding back of that time, 
the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on 
passage of the bill, with points of order waived.
  Before the Chair rules on this unanimous consent request, I add that 
if there is any additional debate time--if 2 or 3 hours would be 
needed--I will certainly amend my unanimous consent request to 
accommodate more debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I offer an alternative and make it a 
proposal that we amend the unanimous consent request made by the 
distinguished Republican leader as the following: That the amendment 
include a substitute amendment that I have at the desk which would 
extend unemployment insurance coverage for 13 weeks, and that the bill, 
as amended, be read a third time and passed.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I want to 
make sure I understand the proposal: That we would not have a vote on 
that addition but to just include it in the package. Is that correct?
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, we have already indicated, of course, 
to all of our colleagues that we would not have any additional rollcall 
votes today. We would have to accommodate this request with simply a 
voice vote on the substitute.
  Basically, what we are suggesting is that since we cannot reach 
agreement on the overall economic stimulus, the one piece for which 
there is general agreement is the need to extend unemployment 
insurance. We did it three times in the early 1990s, recognizing that 
the limited regular benefit period of time was inadequate for a lot of 
those who are out of work.
  Again, without getting into extended remarks, I would simply, by 
explanation, note that would be the intent of this unanimous consent 
request, which is to substitute economic stimulus with the 13-week 
extension.
  Mr. LOTT. Madam President, under those conditions, I would have to 
object.
  Let me just say that if we can set it up in a way to have a rollcall 
vote on that rather than a voice vote to make that very substantial 
change, I think we need to do both, and therefore I would have to 
object to that modification.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Hawaii.

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