[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S4818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--H.R. 4775 AND S. 625

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I have been in consultation with the 
distinguished Republican leader during the course of these votes. We 
have reached agreement on proceeding to the supplemental and then to 
the hate crimes legislation when we return. I know of no objection. So 
I will propound a unanimous consent request.
  I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, June 3, at 2 p.m., the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of H.R. 4775, the supplemental 
appropriations bill; that after the reporting of the bill, the text of 
the Senate companion, S. 2551, be substituted in lieu thereof and 
considered original text, provided that no points of order be 
considered as having been waived by its adoption; that upon the 
disposition of H.R. 4775, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 
625, the bill to assist local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes; 
further, that if on Monday, June 3, the Senate has not received from 
the House the supplemental appropriations bill, the Senate proceed to 
S. 625 and it remain the pending business until the Senate receives 
H.R. 4775, at which time it be temporarily laid aside, the Senate begin 
consideration of H.R. 4775, and that no call for the regular order 
serve to displace H.R. 4775.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I thank my colleagues and the 
distinguished Republican leader for his help in working through this 
procedural arrangement. I also thank the chairman of the Appropriations 
Committee and the ranking member.
  This will afford us the opportunity, at the earliest possible date, 
even though we are disappointed we are not able to take it up now, to 
take it up as soon as the House completes its work, hopefully, on the 
Monday we return from the Memorial Day recess.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I will be brief. First of all, I, too, want 
to thank the managers of the trade legislation. It has taken a lot of 
time and effort. There have been a number of problems along the way, 
but the managers have been persistent. I commend Senator Baucus and 
Senator Grassley for their work. A lot of people have been involved and 
it was the right thing to do. The proof of that is the vote of 66 to 
30.
  A lot of people would have thought 10 days ago that we could not get 
it done. We have a few barnacles, I am sure, that will be sheared off 
in conference, and a good bill will come out of conference. I commend 
the managers for doing good work.
  With regard to the unanimous consent request, I have a couple of 
comments. I am glad we were able to work this out. We need to go to the 
supplemental as soon as possible. This is an urgent supplemental for 
defense to replace a lot of what has already been spent, and also for 
homeland security. I was concerned that if we could not get it worked 
out today or tomorrow, if we came back, other issues might intervene. 
Senator Daschle has a commitment to try to move the other legislation, 
S. 625, dealing with hate crimes. This way, we could go to the 
supplemental appropriations bill--assuming it is over here from the 
House--and complete it and then go to the next issue.
  If we don't have a supplemental, for whatever reason, received from 
the House, we can go to the hate crimes. When the supplemental comes, 
we can interrupt that, get it done, and then go back to the other 
issue.

  There will be a lot of debate about both of these issues. This seems 
like a fair way to proceed. I want to emphasize the necessity to move 
as quickly as possible to the Defense authorization bill. The Armed 
Services Committee reported that bill out a couple weeks ago. We can't 
get started with our appropriations bills very well without that 
defense authorization bill. It would make it possible to do the Defense 
appropriations bill.
  I am not trying to set up the order. I just want to remind the 
majority leader that we need to do these defense issues as soon as 
possible so that we can go on to the appropriations bill so our men and 
women will know what they can count on in the defense bill.
  This is a good arrangement at this time. Hopefully, we can complete 
both of these bills the first week we are back, so we can get the 
supplemental into conference and get it done and out of conference 
before the Fourth of July recess. I wanted to make those points.
  I thank the Chair and I thank Senator Daschle for his cooperation. I 
yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana is recognized.

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