[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S8021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS AND 
 TEAM OWNERS SHOULD ATTEMPT TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AND AVOID A STRIKE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 137, submitted earlier 
today by Senator Miller.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will state the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 137) expressing the 
     sense of Congress that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation 
     Service should exert its best efforts to cause the Major 
     League Baseball Players Association and the owners of the 
     teams of Major League Baseball to enter into a contract to 
     continue to play professional baseball games without engaging 
     in a strike, a lockout, or any conduct that interferes with 
     the playing of scheduled professional baseball games.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc, without intervening action 
or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 137) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 137

       Whereas major league baseball is a national institution and 
     is commonly referred to as ``the national pastime'';
       Whereas major league baseball and its players played a 
     critical role in restoring America's spirit following the 
     tragic events of September 11, 2001;
       Whereas major league baseball players are role models to 
     millions of young Americans; and
       Whereas while the financial issues involved in this current 
     labor negotiation are significant, they pale in comparison to 
     the damage that will be caused by a strike or work stoppage: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, on its own motion 
     and in accordance with section 203(b) of the Labor Management 
     Relations Act, 1947 (29 U.S.C. 173(b)), should immediately--
       (1) proffer its services to the Major League Baseball 
     Players Association and the owners of the teams of Major 
     League Baseball to resolve labor contract disputes relating 
     to entering into a collective bargaining agreement; and
       (2) use its best efforts to bring the parties to agree to 
     such contract without engaging in a strike, a lockout, or any 
     other conduct that interferes with the playing of scheduled 
     professional baseball games.

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