[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 124 (Saturday, July 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S7523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 3001

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 732, S. 3001, the DOD 
authorization, at a time determined by the majority leader, following 
consultation with the Republican leader, and that when the bill is 
considered, the only first-degree amendments in order be those that are 
germane to S. 3001, H.R. 5668, the House companion measure, and items 
within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee, and that 
the first-degree amendments be subject to second-degree amendments 
which are germane to the amendment to which it was offered; that upon 
the disposition of all amendments, the bill be read a third time and 
the Senate vote on passage of the bill; that upon passage, it then be 
in order for the Senate to consider, en bloc, the following calendar 
items: Nos. 733, 734, and 735; that all after the enacting clause of 
each bill be stricken and the following divisions of S. 3001, as passed 
by the Senate, be inserted as follows: Division A--S. 3002, Division 
B--S. 3003, Division C--S. 3004; that these bills be read a third time, 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc; 
further, that the consideration of these items appear separately in the 
Record; provided further, that the Senate then proceed to the 
consideration of Calendar No. 758, H.R. 5658, the House companion; that 
all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 3001, as 
amended and passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; the bill 
be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table; that the title amendment, which is at the desk, be considered 
and agreed to; that upon passage of H.R. 5658, as amended, the Senate 
insist on its amendments, request a conference with the House on the 
disagreeing vote of the two houses, and the Chair be authorized to 
appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, with the above occurring 
with no further intervening action or debate; finally, that in order 
for a first-degree amendment to be considered in order to the bill, it 
must be filed at the desk, and comport to the requirements specified 
above, by 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, 2008; provided further that the 
bill would not be considered prior to the filing deadline of first-
degree amendments.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, although I 
may not personally have an objection to this, this consent would limit 
the rights of Senators to offer amendments to the Defense authorization 
bill. This is an agreement that would need to be cleared by all 
Senators on both sides. Given the detailed limitations of what can be 
offered to this bill, I will have to object on behalf of the Members on 
this side of the aisle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I would say to my friend, the only requirement was that the 
amendments be germane. There were unlimited amendments as long as they 
relate to what we are dealing with on our side.
  Mr. HATCH. On behalf of our side, I have been asked to object. I 
apologize to my dear friend from Nevada.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. I understand the objection. The Senator from Utah is 
certainly not supposed to be totally aware of all that is in the 
Defense bill. But this agreement would allow scores of amendments 
because it would be anything that is germane. That is certainly nothing 
unusual. So I understand.

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