[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 27571]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1287

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
turn to S. 1287, the nuclear waste bill.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Objection.
  Mr. REID. Objection.
  Mr. BRYAN. Objection.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  Mr. LOTT. There was an objection. I believe I still have the floor.
  I would be glad to yield for a question or comment.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. It is my understanding, Mr. President, there are a 
number of Senators who are seeking recognition for items they would 
like to bring up in morning business. I obviously would like to 
accommodate them. But I wonder if we could get some idea of who and how 
many, because obviously I am prepared to start the debate on the 
nuclear waste bill and want to accommodate Members.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I yield to Senator Reid, if he would like to 
comment.
  Mr. REID. I say, through the majority leader, to the Senator from 
Alaska, Senator Durbin wishes to speak for 15 minutes and the Senator 
from Arkansas for 5 minutes. That is all we have until we turn to the 
matter of the Senator from Alaska.
  I ask the Senator from Alaska, in relation to his opening statement, 
does he have any idea how long he is going to take?
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. I have no idea, Mr. President, how long the leadership 
wants to go today. But I am prepared to accommodate the interests of 
the Senate and am also prepared to go at great length. So it might be 
appropriate if we had some indication of how long the leadership wants 
this matter debated today because I understand we are going to be going 
off of it and then back on it.
  Mr. LOTT. If I could respond, Mr. President, we do not have a certain 
time set. I would not want in any way to preclude the Senator from 
using as much time as he needs.
  It sounded to me as if you have about 15 minutes on the other side. 
You could take the time you need, and when that is completed--I see 
Senator Byrd may be here and want to speak, too. So as long as Senators 
are here and wanting to speak, we will continue this afternoon. But if 
I could----
  Mr. REID addressed the Chair.
  Mr. LOTT. I will be glad to yield to Senator Reid.
  Mr. REID. I say, through the leader, Senator Byrd is on the floor and 
he needs 20 minutes, just so the Senator from Alaska would have some 
idea. And I would think Senator Byrd would speak before Senator Durbin.
  Mr. DURBIN. That is a good idea.
  Mr. REID. Although the Senator from Arkansas has agreed to how much 
time? Five minutes.
  Mr. LOTT addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.

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