[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 69 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S3178]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MEASURE READ THE 1ST TIME--
                                S. 3187

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I understand that S. 3187 was introduced 
earlier today by Senators Harkin and Enzi, and I ask for its first 
reading.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title for 
the first time.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3187) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and 
     Cosmetic Act to revise and extend the user-fee programs for 
     prescription drugs and medical devices, to establish user-fee 
     programs for generic drugs and biosimilars, and for other 
     purposes.

  Mr. REID. I now ask for its second reading but object to my own 
request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection having been heard, the bill will be 
read for the second time on the next legislative day.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, this is a very important piece of 
legislation done in the right way. Senators Harkin and Enzi have done 
something in the way we always used to do things: They moved a bill out 
of committee to the Senate floor, truly a bipartisan bill, so important 
to our country, the FDA bill--Food and Drug Administration.
  Senator Enzi has always been very focused on when we bring something 
to the floor, it must have the committee mark on it--and this bill 
does.
  The reason I move to the bill today the way I have is to line this up 
for filing cloture on Thursday. I hope we don't have to file cloture, 
we move to proceed to it. Why don't we get on the bill? If we can get 
on the bill, we can start on it Monday, we can start offering 
amendments, and get this moving along.
  I have talked to Senator Enzi, I have talked to Senator Harkin. We 
had good luck on the highway bill. We had good luck also on the postal 
bill with relevant amendments. This is a very important piece of 
legislation. I hope we can move to this without having to file cloture. 
If I have to file cloture, I will have to file cloture, but I sure hope 
not. I admire the cooperation and the working together of Senators 
Harkin and Enzi.

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