[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 7 (Monday, January 13, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         Unemployment Insurance

  Mr. REID. The Republican leader and I have had a number of 
conversations today about how we should proceed on unemployment 
insurance. I have had conversations and he has had conversations with a 
number of our Members, both Democrats and Republicans. Right now, 
because the vote is not scheduled until 5:30, it has been difficult for 
me, and I am quite certain for the Republican leader, to talk to all of 
the necessary people involved in trying to come to some conclusion as 
to how we should proceed on this legislation. Two of the people I met 
with today, everyone knows, are people who are trying to work something 
out, including Senator Collins and Senator Heller. Senator Heller is a 
cosponsor of the underlying bill and Senator Collins is always trying 
to make peace with everybody. They have made a proposal. I have an 
outline of their proposal and I appreciate their good work.
  However, I can't automatically agree to it because it calls for 3 
months rather than the 11 months or so we had in the underlying 
proposal that is before the Senate. As everyone knows, the President is 
not in favor of a 3-month proposal and I am not either, but that 
doesn't mean we can't work something out. I have made statements 
indicating I prefer a longer period in the proposal and so has the 
President.
  However, my main point in saying a few words this afternoon is that 
we need to be able to meet with Senators--I need to meet with my caucus 
tomorrow before I can determine how I would suggest--along with the two 
Republican Senators I met with--how we will proceed on this matter.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Will the majority leader yield?
  Mr. REID. Of course; I am happy to.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I would observe that what I am hoping for is an open 
amendment process. We have the amendment tree filled and it remains my 
hope that we will be able to, through these discussions we have had, 
get to something closer to what we have been accustomed to in the past 
with a relatively open amendment process. So under those circumstances, 
and in the hope that by tomorrow we end up with a more fair process, I 
am happy to go along with what the majority leader has suggested.

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