[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 72 (Thursday, April 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S2600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



              Unanimous Consent Request--Joint Resolution

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, colleagues, it is my understanding that 
the four corners who are working on the omnibus appropriations are 
very, very close to agreement. We still need a few days to process the 
larger bill. The House has posted a 1-week CR to keep the government 
open. We are prepared to clear the 1-week CR on this side of the aisle.
  Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that the text of a joint 
resolution, which is at the desk--that is, a 1-week continuing 
resolution--be printed in the Record; further, that if the Senate 
receives a joint resolution from the House, the text of which is 
identical to the text of the joint resolution printed in the Record, 
the joint resolution be considered to have been read three times and 
passed, and that the motion to reconsider be considered to have been 
made and laid upon the table; provided further, that if the language is 
not identical, then this order be vitiated.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, colleagues, I am objecting because we 
still have to resolve the issue of poison pill riders before Democrats 
can agree to the short-term CR.
  Let's make no mistake about it, we are indeed making great progress. 
I thank the majority leader. He has been cooperative and extremely 
helpful throughout the process. I thank Chairman Cochran and Senator 
Leahy the same. But our position has been clear, and it is nothing new: 
no poison pill riders. The sooner we can resolve this issue, the 
quicker we can have an agreement on appropriations for 2017.
  So I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The majority leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I would only add--not to prolong the 
discussion, but I don't think the failure to pass the 1-week CR 
necessarily impacts in a positive way the concerns the Democratic 
leader has. But that is his call to make. This 1-week CR is cleared on 
our side.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, there is a simple way to resolve it, and 
that is, the Republican leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the 
House just agree to no poison pill riders.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas.
  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to make sure my colleagues on 
the other side of the aisle know that if we don't pass the 1-week 
extension, the miners' healthcare expires, but it is in the 1-week 
extension. If we don't pass the 1-week extension, the miners' 
healthcare revision expires.
  Mr. SCHUMER. We are aware.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I 
move to table the motion to reconsider.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion.
  The motion was agreed to.

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