[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 79 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TERRORISM INSURANCE

  Mr. DODD. Madam President, we are going to start voting at 9:35. We 
need a roadmap to follow as to what we are going to do in the next 45 
minutes with a variety of votes on matters that are related in some 
degree, but mostly unrelated, to S. 2600, the terrorism insurance bill, 
the subject of debate all day yesterday. We will be continuing with 
matters that have to be dealt with before we get back to that bill. I 
take a minute or so to express my sincere hope we will get back to that 
bill. I regret it is taking this long. We have been at this an awfully 
long time.
  We only dealt with two amendments yesterday that were relevant to the 
bill despite all the talk about this. There are people from the AFL-
CIO, to business groups, developers, commercial interests, who would 
like to see the bill adopted soon because of the inability of major 
projects to move forward due to the unavailability of terrorism 
insurance.
  We have come a long way while waiting to get here. This is an 
important issue. The President indicated this, and the Secretary of the 
Treasury, and every organization I know of, with the exception of one 
or two, believe this is something we must do and should have done 
earlier. We will deal with some of the other matters, and I don't 
minimize the importance of them, but we are getting off track from the 
underlying bill. The leader feels strongly about this, as do many 
Members on both sides. We had some very fine speeches yesterday by 
Members on both sides of the aisle in support of this underlying 
legislation.
  My hope is sooner, rather than later, we can adopt S. 2600. We will 
deal with some other matters, but I hope to get back to the bill and 
complete it. I am prepared to stay here as long as we have to and 
listen to Senators all day today and all day Monday. There will be no 
votes until Tuesday, but we can dispense with debate today and Monday 
and bring us to final closure on this bill on Tuesday. The leader has 
to make some decisions on proceeding, but he is determined the 
legislation move forward.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LEAHY. What is the parliamentary situation?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. At 9:30, morning business is to be 
closed.
  The Senator from Iowa.
  Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to speak for 4 minutes and delay the vote from 9:35 to 9:39.
  Mr. LEAHY. Reserving the right to object, and I shall not, has there 
been reserved time already on this vote?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There is no time reserved for 
debate on matters.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I understood the Senator from Vermont had 
time reserved on the Leahy-Hatch amendment. Am I incorrect on that?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There was an order for the Senator 
to be recognized to offer the amendment but no specific time for 
debate.
  Mr. LEAHY. I thank the Chair.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, the Senator from 
Iowa will be recognized for 4 minutes.

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