[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 126 (Monday, September 15, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11453-S11454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT OF 2003

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a 
message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 3) to 
prohibit the procedure commonly known as partial-birth abortion.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

       Resolved, That the House insist upon its amendment to the 
     bill (S. 3) entitled ``An Act to prohibit the procedure 
     commonly known as partial-birth abortion'', and ask a

[[Page S11454]]

     conference with the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses thereon.
       Ordered, That the following Members be the managers of the 
     conference on the part of the House.
       From the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of 
     the Senate bill and the House amendment, and modifications 
     committed to conference: Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Hyde, and Mr. 
     Nadler.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, it is my understanding that 2 hours of 
debate on this proposal are to commence. I ask unanimous consent that 
those 2 hours begin to run upon the arrival and speaking of the Senator 
from California, Mrs. Boxer, who I understand is on the way to the 
floor at this time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. In the meantime, Mr. President, I suggest the absence 
of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask what the pending business is.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending business is the message from the 
House on S. 3.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, as I understand it, I will have up to 60 
minutes to discuss this tonight; is that correct?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
  Mrs. BOXER. I ask my friend from South Carolina what issue he is here 
to discuss tonight and what his time parameters are.
  Mr. HOLLINGS. I would like to discuss an issue to be voted on in the 
morning, a resolution of disapproval of the FCC, increasing 35 to 45 
percent ownership, and, more than that, the cross-ownership at the 
local level.
  Also, I would like to start paying for the war. I take it the Senator 
wants to pay for the war.
  We have the poor GI down in Baghdad. We hope each day he does not get 
killed, and the reason is we want him to hurry back so we can give him 
the bill. We ain't going to pay for it, but we need a tax cut so we can 
get reelected next year. That is what is going on in this town.
  Every time I go home, I am again embarrassed. I want to talk to that 
point.
  Mrs. BOXER. If I could ask my friend, is the Senator able to wait 30 
minutes?
  Mr. HOLLINGS. Yes, ma'am.

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