[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 57 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT S. 1789

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, first of all, let me express my appreciation 
to every Senator. We tried something a little different, and I think it 
is something we can look to in the future. We decided we were going to 
have an amendment process. Maybe it is not as far as everyone wants to 
go, but it is a pretty good step in the right direction. Rather than 
having no amendments, rather than having only germane amendments, we 
decided we would have a standard that is very broad; that is, relevant 
amendments. It has given people the opportunity to offer lots of 
different things. So I hope in the future--it may not happen on every 
piece of legislation that comes along, but I hope we get in the habit 
of being able to do things such as this; that gives Senators wide range 
on things they can do. But anyway, we have done it on this and I 
appreciate everyone's cooperation.
  I also appreciate the good work of Senator Lieberman and Senator 
Collins. I have many times in the last week or so expressed that 
appreciation to them for their leadership. This has been extremely 
difficult. It is a massive bill dealing with more than one-half million 
postal employees, more than 30,000 post offices, 500 or so processing 
centers, and it has been extremely difficult to get to a point where I 
hope we can arrive shortly. So we are here. I have been given the nod.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motions with 
respect to the Lieberman-Collins substitute amendment and the bill be 
vitiated; the motion to recommit be withdrawn; that the pending 
amendments Nos. 2013 and 2015 be withdrawn and that the following 
amendments be the only amendments in order to S. 1789 or the pending 
substitute amendment No. 2000, as modified: McCain 2001; Tester 2056; 
Coburn 2060; McCain 2033; Wyden-Feinstein 2020; Coburn 2058; McCaskill-
Merkley 2031; Coburn 2061; Snowe 2080; Udall of New Mexico 2043; Durbin 
2082; Akaka 2034, with a modification agreed to by the two managers; 
Bennet-Blunt 2047; Corker 2083; Mikulski 2003; Akaka 2049; Paul 2025; 
Manchin 2079; Paul 2026; Bingaman 2076; Paul 2027; Cardin 2040; Paul 
2028; Carper 2065; Paul 2029; Carper 2066; Paul 2039; Casey 2042; Paul 
2038; Landrieu 2072; DeMint 2046; McCaskill 2030; Coburn 2059; Pryor 
2036; Rockefeller 2073; Rockefeller 2074; Schumer 2050; Tester 2032; 
and Warner 2071, with a modification agreed to by the two managers; 
that on Tuesday, April 24, at a time to be determined by the majority 
leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate vote 
in relation to the amendments in the order listed; that there be 2 
minutes equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote; that all 
after the first vote be 10-minute votes; that the amendments be subject 
to a 60-affirmative-vote threshold; that there be no other amendments 
in order to the bill, the substitute amendment, as modified, or the 
amendments listed; and there be no points of order or motions in order 
to any of these amendments, the substitute amendment or the bill, other 
than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive; that 
upon disposition of the amendments, the substitute amendment, as 
modified and amended, if amended, be agreed to; further, the bill, as 
amended, then be read a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on 
passage of the bill, as amended; finally, that the vote on passage of 
the bill be subject to a 60-affirmative-vote threshold.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Udall of Colorado). Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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