[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S897-S898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 4691

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, on my own behalf and on behalf of 
numerous members of the Republican caucus who have expressed concerns 
to me, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate 
consideration of H.R. 4691, with 1 hour of debate equally divided 
between the leaders or their designees, and that following the use or 
yielding back of time, the bill be read a third time and the Senate 
proceed to a vote on passage.
  Madam President, this is the House-passed bill that extends for 30 
days the following expiring provisions: unemployment insurance, which 
is so important to those who are struggling--there are 500 Mainers 
whose benefits expired on Sunday; the COBRA health insurance extension 
subsidies for the unemployed; important flood insurance; highway 
funding; small business loans; the provisions of the American Recovery 
Act that include those small business loan provisions; the doctors fix. 
If we do not act, physicians all across this country are going to have 
a 21-percent cut in their Medicare reimbursements.
  I hope we can act together for the American people. Again, I want to 
emphasize that this issue is so important to Senators on both sides of 
the aisle. Many of my colleagues have expressed concerns to me that 
this was not done last week when it should have been done. So, Madam 
President, I do propose the unanimous-consent request.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, Madam President, I 
appreciate the efforts of my friend, the Senator from Maine, and I 
would hope my

[[Page S898]]

friend, the Senator from Kentucky, would reconsider. His point has been 
made. It has been adequately made. I would hope he would let us proceed 
on this because it is more than meets the eye. We have people lined up 
all over the country in unemployment lines who would not be there but 
for this.
  I would also say it is broader than even that. As my friend 
mentioned, we have problems with doctors who are now refusing to take 
Medicare patients.
  We have a bill that is on the floor now in which we are going to try 
to make a long-term decision soon on this. I have offered my friend 
from Kentucky a right to vote on this--I would be happy to have a vote 
on this--that it be paid for. But it is really not appropriate to 
object without even allowing the Senate to work. We talk about voting. 
That is why we need to vote.
  I say to my friend from Kentucky, you have made your point. You have 
made it well. I understand how you feel that this should be paid for. 
The majority of the Senate disagrees with you. Let us either vote on 
that or withdraw your objection.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. BUNNING. There is. I object. And let me----
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard.

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