[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 98 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S7028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 3210

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to immediate consideration of Calendar No. 252, H.R. 3210, the 
House-passed terrorism insurance bill; that all after the enacting 
clause be stricken, and that the text of S. 2600, as passed the Senate, 
be inserted in lieu thereof; that the bill, as amended, be read a third 
time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; that 
the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House 
on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses; and that the chair be 
authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate with the 
ratio of 4 to 3; all without intervening action or debate.
  I have indicated I was going to propound this. I know there is no one 
present from the other side. I object on behalf of the minority, the 
Republicans. I do that with some reluctance because we have to move 
this legislation forward. It is important. I don't do this to embarrass 
anyone or to try to minimize what is taking place. In fact, it is just 
the opposite. We have to move forward on terrorism insurance.
  I get calls in my office every day saying: Why can't you move this 
bill? The reason we can't move it is because we have an objection. I 
repeat what I said yesterday and the day before and the day before: We 
fought to get this bill on the floor. We were held up getting the bill 
on the floor. Once we got the bill passed, then we have fought to get 
conferees appointed.
  The sad part about this is we were told initially: We don't like the 
ratio; the ratio is three Democrats to two Republicans.
  We said: What do you want?
  They told Senator Daschle: We want four Democrats, three Republicans.
  We said: Fine, we will go for that.
  They still won't let us clear this. It is my understanding the House 
is going out of session for the summer next Friday. So we have just a 
few days to do this. Everyone should understand why it is not being 
done.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I will put it back on my desk, and I will return with this 
in the future.

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