[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3117]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREMENT--H.R. 8

  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, throughout the morning we have 
attempted to find ways to move the process along. I thank a number of 
Senators on both sides of the aisle for their cooperation. We are at a 
point now where procedurally I think we are in a position to move 
forward. We will make a unanimous consent request following this one 
having to do with amendments to the energy bill. But that is a separate 
matter. This has primarily to do with the question of estate taxes.
  I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate considers Calendar No. 
33, H.R. 8, the estate tax bill, no later than June 28, the only 
amendments in order are as follows:
  Senator Gramm of Texas, an estate tax amendment; the majority leader, 
or his designee, an estate tax amendment which shall be subject to two 
second-degree amendments to be offered by Senator Daschle, or his 
designee, with Senator Daschle's amendment being the first one offered; 
that all of the above amendments deal solely with the subject of estate 
tax; that all of the above estate tax amendments be subject to a 60-
vote Budget Act point of order and that no other amendments or motions 
be in order to the bill, except motions to waive the Budget Act; and 
that if any of the above amendments, after each has had its motion to 
waive vote, is adopted, the bill be read a third time and the Senate 
vote on final passage of the bill without any intervening action or 
debate, and that if none of the amendments achieve 60 votes to waive 
the Budget Act, the bill be placed back on the calendar; further, that 
there be 2 hours for debate on each of the above amendments equally 
divided in the usual form; further, that upon the granting of this 
consent, Senator Baucus be recognized to offer the Baucus-Grassley 
Finance Committee tax amendment to the energy bill, and that the 
amendment be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, without any intervening action or debate.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  The Chair hears none, and it is so ordered.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, let me just say, it is the intention of 
Senator Lott and me to offer the unanimous consent request shortly 
which would make in order a number of amendments pertaining to the 
energy bill that, hopefully, will bring us to closure.
  What we have done in this case is simply agree to a debate on the 
estate tax legislation sometime prior to June 28. Senators will have an 
opportunity to debate the estate tax bill. I know there is a great deal 
of interest on both sides of the aisle.
  We will also now entertain the Baucus amendment as it relates to the 
tax provisions of the energy bill. All Senators, of course, still 
retain their right to offer amendments on taxes prior to cloture.
  Madam President, I yield the floor and thank all of my colleagues for 
their cooperation.

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