[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25808]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           BANKRUPTCY REFORM

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I know my friend from Illinois wishes to 
speak at some length. First, I have a couple of comments. On the 
recently completed vote on cloture regarding bankruptcy, I think that 
is an example of why we need to follow Senate procedures the way we 
have for 200-plus years. Here is the bankruptcy bill brought up on a 
bill under the jurisdiction of the Foreign Relations Committee. Some 
Members who should have been weren't in that conference. I just think 
it is a very poor way to do business.
  I think that we in the minority have been treated unfairly on a 
number of occasions this year. In an effort to show my displeasure--and 
that is a real soft, cool word because I feel more strongly than that--
I voted against invoking cloture.
  There comes a time when we have to work as legislators, and as 
Senators. If things don't change here, there are going to be other 
unfortunate procedures such as this, even though there is support for 
the substance of the legislation.
  Also, Senator Schumer had a very strong point in this legislation. He 
and I cosponsored an amendment that is very simple. It said that these 
people--these very, in my opinion, evil people, who go to clinics where 
women come to get advice--some people may not like the advice they get 
in these clinics because some of the advice results in obtaining an 
abortion. But we live in a free country; people have the right to go 
where they want to go and talk about what they want. What these women 
are doing is lawful, not illegal. People spray chemicals into those 
facilities, and they can't get rid of the stench for up to 1 year, and 
many times they have to simply tear the insides of the facility down so 
it can be reused. In this legislation, Senator Schumer and I said if 
you do that, you cannot discharge that debt in bankruptcy as a result 
of the damages incurred, whether to the facilities or those women who 
use those facilities.
  That provision should be in this legislation. For it not to be is 
wrong, and I understand that the chief advocate of the legislation--I 
don't know this to be a fact--Senator Grassley, was willing to accept 
the provision. However, it was not in there. This is wrong and, as a 
matter of procedure and as a result of the substantive issue that I 
just talked about, I am satisfied with my vote. I have no second 
thoughts. I did the right thing. Unless there is a different method of 
approaching this bankruptcy reform, which I agree is badly needed, 
there are going to be roadblocks all along the way.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois is recognized.

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