[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16082-S16083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 2673

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 
2673, the omnibus appropriations language; further, I ask unanimous 
consent that the conference report be agreed to and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? The Democratic leader.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Reserving the right to object--and I will have a 
lengthier statement--I ask unanimous consent, instead, that later 
today, at a time to be determined by the two leaders, the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of a resolution to correct the flaws in 
the omnibus appropriations bill by: Reinstating the Senate-passed 
provision to prohibit the administration's plan to abolish overtime for 
8 million workers; reinstating the Senate-passed provision on media 
ownership; striking the House language blocking the implementation of 
country-of-origin labeling; striking the provision that weakens the 
background check requirements of the Brady bill; striking the provision 
to impose a voucher system on the DC public school system; striking the 
provision to allow the contracting out of over 400,000 Federal jobs and 
reinstating the House-passed language; and striking the provisions 
imposing arbitrary across-the-board cuts to education, Head Start, 
veterans health care, highway construction, and other needed programs. 
I further ask consent that the resolution be subject to 1 hour of 
debate equally divided, that no amendments or motions be in order, and 
that after the expiration of the time, the bill be agreed to and sent 
to the House of Representatives. Finally, I ask consent that upon 
approval of this correcting resolution by the House, the omnibus 
appropriations bill be agreed to by the Senate, and that it be sent to 
the President for his signature.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the leader so modify his request?
  Mr. FRIST. I object to the Democratic leader's request.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, then I object to the request made by the 
majority leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia is recognized.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, both requests have thus far been objected 
to; am I correct?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.
  Mr. BYRD. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time 
determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the 
Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to the conference report to 
accompany the omnibus bill, provided, further, that there be 5 hours 
for debate to be equally divided in the usual form. I further ask 
consent that following the use or yielding back of debate time, the 
Senate proceed to a vote on the adoption of the conference report, with 
no intervening action or debate.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I am not surprised by these objections. I 
think that a number of colleagues, including the distinguished Senator 
from West Virginia and others on their side, have been very open and 
forthright with their intent to object to this legislation.
  The conference report was filed before Thanksgiving, and it was my 
hope that over the intervening period of time people would have had the 
opportunity to review the language before we proceeded. I hope they 
have taken that opportunity to do so.

[[Page S16083]]

  Given the objections we have just heard, it appears as though we will 
need to file cloture on the measure to assure a vote on the conference 
report. That cloture vote will occur on January 20. It is my hope that 
during this period Members will take the additional time to review it 
so everyone can fully understand the importance of much of the funding 
in this legislation.

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