[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 80 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--H.R. 634

  Mr. DODD. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the 
session of the Senate on May 15, 2008, at 3 p.m., in executive session, 
to conduct a markup of the following: an original bill entitled ``The 
Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008''; H.R. 634, 
``American Veterans Disabled For Life Commemorative Coin Act'' and an 
original bill to make technical corrections to title II of the SAFETEA-
LU bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. CORKER. Madam President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee is recognized.
  Mr. CORKER. Madam President, the bill the chairman of the Banking 
Committee, the distinguished Senator from Connecticut, is speaking 
about is over 400 pages long. It has been amended verbally numerous 
times over the past week. We are going to have a meeting at 3 o'clock 
today. None of us has seen the bill. None of us has seen the 
amendments.
  I have tremendous respect for the chairman of this committee. He is, 
to me, one of the best Senators in this body to work with. I respect 
the ranking committee member. I know time is of the essence, if you 
will, as to addressing some of the issues that are in this bill. I am 
very disappointed that today at 3 we are going to be going through a 
very technical bill many Senators in this body, candidly, may not ever 
take the time to look at because of the technicalities that exist and 
the specialties that will be addressed, if you will, by this bill.
  I am very tempted to object to this, not because it is taking place 
today at 3, but because of the fact that we do not have any of the 
documentation regarding the agreements that have been made.
  Out of my respect for this chairman and out of my respect for the 
ranking member, I will not object at this time. But I will say, in the 
future I hope for a technical bill such as this that is more than a few 
lines--something that is over 400 pages long--there will be time to 
actually go through the bill prior to a very strenuous markup. I in no 
way assert any negativity toward the Senator. I know he is doing the 
best he can to hold this bill together. I know there are a lot of 
competing interests. It is actually out of respect for him trying to do 
the job he is doing today, in order to move something forward in this 
body, that I will not object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DODD. Madam President, I appreciate the Senator not objecting, 
but let me, for the purpose of the record, inform him that the 
committee print has not been changed. There were no verbal agreements. 
The bill was available a week ago for anyone to read. It was in the 
Congressional Record. It has been on a Web page as well so the public 
at large could read it here.
  It is a long involved process, an involved process. The only reason 
we are meeting at 3 today is because of the request of the ranking 
member to delay the markup this morning. I am here to work out some 
additional provisions. I want to let my colleague know that. I 
appreciate my colleague very much. He is a very active and constructive 
member of the Banking Committee, but this is a product that has been 
available for people to review almost for a week now, before the markup 
actually was to occur this morning.
  I appreciate his not objecting. We will see how things progress. 
Nonetheless, we will keep working at it, but his involvement will be 
critical.
  Mr. CORKER. Madam President, I wish to say that portions--while no 
doubt we have the original text, it is my understanding negotiations 
were taking place throughout the night. I was getting e-mails at 1:30 
in the morning regarding the negotiations, and yet I have seen no 
written copies of any of the agreements that have been made. I would 
say that would be nice to see prior to a markup of this type, but again 
out of respect I will not object, and thank you very much for this 
colloquy.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader is recognized.

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