[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 124 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 4695

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I thank the Senators from Wisconsin and 
Nevada.
  I rise to offer a unanimous consent request for the Senate to 
consider the partial-birth abortion bill that passed the House 
recently. We have been working diligently for the past 18 months, since 
the Supreme Court decision, to craft a partial-birth abortion bill that 
meets the constitutionality muster of the Nebraska decision. We think 
we have accomplished that, and I would argue that the House agrees with 
us.
  The House recently passed this legislation 274 to 151. I understand 
time is short, and we have held this bill at the desk. I am hopeful and 
have been working to try to get a unanimous consent agreement that we 
can bring up this legislation for debate and discussion. We are willing 
to do it on a very limited time agreement, limited amendments, or as 
many amendments as the other side thinks is necessary.
  This is an important piece of legislation. It is one the President 
said he would sign. It is one that received an overwhelming bipartisan 
vote in the House. I believe it will have a very strong bipartisan vote 
in the Senate.
  While I understand this unanimous consent will be objected to this 
evening, I am hopeful we can continue to work together to try to bring 
up this very important piece of legislation that has been voted on here 
at least in the last three sessions of Congress with very strong 
majorities. Unfortunately, it was vetoed by President Clinton. We now 
have a President who will sign it. We have language that will meet 
constitutional muster. We will continue to work and seek the unanimous 
consent request to bring this up.
  I now offer that request. I ask unanimous consent that at a time 
determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the 
Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar 
No. 521, H.R. 4965, a bill to prohibit the procedure commonly known as 
partial-birth abortion. I further ask unanimous consent that there be 
one relevant amendment on each side, with 1 hour of debate equally 
divided on each amendment, and that there be 2 hours for debate equally 
divided between the two leaders or their designees; provided further 
that following the use or yielding back of time, the bill be read the 
third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, 
with no further intervening action or debate.
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President, the Senator 
from Pennsylvania is absolutely right. Time is so critical. Separate 
and apart from the time involving this matter, there are a number of 
Senators who have spoken to me personally about their objection to 
proceeding to this matter, if it came to the floor while I was here. 
Senator Feinstein was the last to have spoken to me in this regard.
  I note an objection.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Wisconsin.

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