[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 3297

  Mr. REID. Madam President, there is a homeland security bill in the 
package that Senator Coburn's office has objected to, being supported 
by his Republican colleagues. This legislation would establish two 
programs to assist African Americans and others in conducting 
genealogical and historical research. It would require the Archivist of 
the United States to establish, as part of the National Archives, an 
electronically searchable database and of historic records of 
servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction contained 
within Federal agencies. The bill would also require the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission to provide grants to 
States, colleges, universities, libraries, museums, and genealogical 
associations to preserve records and establish databases of local 
records of such information. The bill passed the House 414 to 1.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of subtitle (b) of title VI of 
S. 3297, that we proceed to that, that the bill be read three times and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and there be 
no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. COBURN. Reserving the right to object, with the same answer as 
before, I object.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, directing a question to my friend. He has 
indicated he is going to look at these. When should we come back and 
see if we can get some of them done?
  Mr. COBURN. My answer, through the Chair, Mr. Majority Leader, I 
appreciate that you have made concessions on many bills. I have not 
seen those. My staff is working on what you have sent over 30 minutes 
ago. I will communicate to you as soon as we finish the review, which 
should be before 1 o'clock today.

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