[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Pages 26593-26594]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT--Continued

  Mr. LOTT. I thank the chairman of the Finance Committee and ranking 
member for being here and being willing to proceed on this important 
legislation. I do think we have an opportunity with this CBI and 
African free trade legislation to be able to have better relations and 
trade with Central America, with the Caribbean, and with Africa. I 
believe it will be in the interests of all countries concerned. It is 
the right attitude.
  There are a lot of terms being thrown around in recent weeks about 
isolationism. This is clearly a case where, by trading with countries 
in Central America, the Caribbean and Africa, we can open up not only 
trade but relationships and opportunities for peoples in all the 
countries involved, including the United States. So I am glad we have 
proceeded to this legislation.
  The Senate has been debating the motion to proceed because there had 
been objection to going to the bill itself. That is as a result of the 
objection to its immediate consideration by Senator Hollings. I wanted 
to see if maybe we could go ahead, get started, have some debate and 
amendments and then not have to debate the motion to proceed and then 
debate the bill itself, but it looks as if we are not able to at this 
time proceed in that way. Since there has been objection and this is an 
important trade bill, one with major implications, one I discussed with 
the President three times this week alone, about his interest and 
concern and support of this legislation, I think it is important we 
file cloture and try to find

[[Page 26594]]

a way to stop a threatened filibuster and move to the substance of the 
bill.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to 
     proceed to Calendar No. 215, H.R. 434, an act to authorize a 
     new trade and investment policy for sub-Sahara Africa:
         Trent Lott, Bill Roth, Mike DeWine, Rod Grams, Mitch 
           McConnell, Judd Gregg, Larry E. Craig, Chuck Hagel, 
           Charles Grassley, Pete Domenici, Don Nickles, Connie 
           Mack, Paul Coverdell, Phil Gramm, R.F. Bennett, Richard 
           G. Lugar.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this cloture vote will occur on Tuesday, 
October 26. I will notify all Senators as to the exact time of the 
cloture vote. In the meantime, I now ask unanimous consent the 
mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.
  Mr. WYDEN. I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 15 minutes as 
in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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