[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 168 (Thursday, November 1, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S13680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, EN BLOC HOTLINES

  Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, I wish to share my concerns regarding the 
process currently being utilized by the Energy and Natural Resources 
Committee to pass legislation on the Senate floor. As many of my 
colleagues know, I am currently objecting to unanimous consent on two 
en bloc packages reported by the committee, containing more than 40 
bills.
  I want to make clear to my colleagues that I do not object to all of 
the bills contained in the two packages. In fact, I have offered to 
give consent to all those bills where I have no fiscal or policy 
concerns. Unfortunately, the committee is insisting on passing all of 
the legislation en bloc and will not allow the noncontroversial bills 
to be released for passage. These bills are in effect being held 
hostage by the committee.
  As my colleagues know, I evaluate all unanimous consent requests, in 
part, on whether the proposed legislation increases authorizations for 
spending. If it does, I also look to see whether the new cost has been 
offset by a corresponding reduction in another program authorization. I 
also review each bill for specific policy concerns.
  Of most concern to me, the two packages authorize over $150 million 
in new spending, without a single offset. This does not include the 
$640 million reauthorization for the Geologic Mapping Program. I have 
offered to work with the committee to identify possible offsets that 
would allow the en bloc packages to move forward. Given the 
considerable program oversight performed by the committee, I am eager 
to hear where it believes other programs may not be working as intended 
or where they may have become of a lesser priority than the bills 
currently under consideration.
  As stewards of the Federal tax dollar, I believe it is imperative we 
proceed with the hard but necessary work of prioritizing our spending. 
Every American taxpayer is forced to do this every day, and so should 
we. Prioritization begins with the authorization process, and so does 
long-term fiscal discipline.
  I renew my pledge to work with any Member of this body to identify 
offsets, to ensure that our actions today never add to the already 
heavy financial burden we have placed on the next generation of 
Americans.
  It is my hope the committee will abandon the practice of en bloc 
unanimous consent requests. Each bill should be considered on its 
merits, and if it is truly worthwhile, should be allowed to stand on 
its own. As an institution, this Senate is more than capable of this 
task.
  To make the Record absolutely clear, I am including the list of 
noncontroversial bills in these packages that should be cleared and 
allowed to pass under unanimous consent: S. 216, S. 266, S. 241, S. 
202, S. 232, S. 262, S. 220, H.R. 386, S. 320, S. 553, H.R. 497, H.R. 
658, S. 1139, H.R. 235, H.R. 482, H.R. 467.

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