[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10339-S10340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 849

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority 
leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, may at any 
time proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 127, S. 849, the 
Openness Promotes Effectiveness of Our National Government Act of 2007, 
sponsored by Senators Leahy and Cornyn, and that the bill be considered 
under the following limitations: that there be a time limit of 2 hours 
of general debate on the bill, with the time equally divided and 
controlled between the chair and ranking member of the Judiciary 
Committee or their designees; that the only amendment in order be a 
Leahy-Cornyn technical amendment, which is at the desk; that upon the 
use or yielding back of the time, the amendment be agreed to, the bill, 
as amended, be read the third time, and the Senate vote on passage of 
the bill, with the above occurring without further intervening action 
or debate.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, and I will 
object, I believe it will be possible, with the sponsors of the bill, 
to reach an agreement that will obviate the necessity for a great deal 
of floor time or amendments on the floor. I have met with the sponsors 
of the bill and have presented ideas about ameliorating some of the 
deficiencies the Department of Justice brought out about the 
legislation. Last week, I had a long conversation with Senator Cornyn, 
who is here. I believe if we can continue those discussions, in a very 
brief period of time--perhaps by the end of this week--it would not be 
necessary to devote a great deal of time to the consideration of the 
bill. Because of that, at this time, I will object to that particular 
procedure, but I hope we can report back to the majority leader that we 
have reached an agreement on the bill in the near future.
  Mr. REID. I would be satisfied if the junior Senator from Arizona 
could work on this. I hope there can be an agreement reached that we 
can take this bill up maybe when we get back, with a limited amount of 
time and amendments. It is very popular legislation--the Freedom of 
Information Act--which our friends in the press

[[Page S10340]]

love, and other organizations around the country. It is very important. 
I hope we can move forward on this bipartisan piece of legislation.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I thank the Chair.

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