[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 194 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15827-S15828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 2771

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2771, the 
legislative branch appropriations bill; that the only amendment in 
order be a substitute amendment at the desk which is cosponsored by 
Senators Leahy, Coleman, Klobuchar, Snowe, Obama, Dole, Baucus, Sununu, 
Cantwell, Collins, Casey, Lieberman, Landrieu, Kerry, Kennedy, and 
Clinton--this amendment provides for $800 million in additional LIHEAP 
funding--that there be a time limitation of 30 minutes for debate 
equally divided in the usual form on the amendment; that upon the use 
of that time, the amendment be agreed to, the bill be read a third 
time, and the Senate, without any intervening action or debate, vote on 
passage of the bill, as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, I say to my friend from 
Vermont, I support this issue. All you have to do is look in the 
Washington Post today at their editorial. It says, among other things:

       This could be the start of an epic winter. If the past few 
     winters here in the northeast have taught us anything, it is 
     to be prepared to do whatever winter allows at the moment it 
     allows.

  We have to be prepared for a cold winter. We have some money in this 
bill that we hope to pass sometime in the next several hours to take 
care of some of the needs of the problems relating to the issue of 
LIHEAP; that is, money for people who are desperately poor and need 
help to keep their homes warm. That is what this is all about. I have 
told the Senator from Vermont that I am going to do everything within 
my power to get this issue before the Senate as soon as possible. 
Winter is not going to end at Christmastime. Winter is going to be 
here. We can move to enlarge the funding for this bill. That is a 
commitment I have. I think with the list of cosponsors he has on this 
proposed unanimous-consent request, it is something we should be able 
to get done.
  The problem the distinguished Senator finds himself in is, it is late 
in the year. This is the first year of this session of Congress. There 
are always a lot of reasons for not doing things this late in the year.
  I have admired this fine Member of Congress for many years, being 
with the people he best represents, people who don't have any 
representation. I admire what the Senator has done. I hope we can move 
forward on this now.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. KYL. Mr. President, on behalf of several Republican Senators, I 
object.

[[Page S15828]]

  I would also note that I believe there may be one other unanimous-
consent request, and I would be happy to suspend while that is made and 
then conclude my remarks in 3 minutes. I think the Senator from Rhode 
Island would like to speak, or I can go ahead and conclude, and then 
the Senator from Ohio could make his request--whatever the pleasure of 
the leader is.
  Mr. REID. Has there been objection?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call 
be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator 
from Arizona be recognized for up to 5 minutes to finish his statement, 
and then I would like to be recognized.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arizona.

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