[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14219-14220]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I know there is a discussion going on off 
the floor with regard to coming to some resolution on the issue of 
Mexican trucking. I hope we can find a way to resolve this 
procedurally.
  I applaud Senators Murray and Shelby and others who reached the 
compromise that is now part of the bill, and I hope, whether we reach 
another agreement or whether we can't reach agreement and simply have 
votes, we can do that. I think we have made reasonably good progress 
before the August recess on appropriations.
  I have had some discussions with the Republican leader, as well as 
with our caucus and my leadership. We have discussed just what remains 
to be done prior to the time we leave. I think it is fair to say we are 
way behind the curve with regard to where we should be on the 
appropriations front. We have only completed three appropriations bills 
so far. I hope at the very least we can complete our work on at least 
two more--Transportation and HUD/VA. I have indicated to Senator Lott 
that would be my desire. I have indicated to my caucus that there is no 
question that we ought to be able to do those two. Senator Byrd, the 
chairman of the Appropriations Committee, shares my view.
  So my expectation and my determination is that we complete our work 
on those two bills. We also have two emergency issues to deal with. 
First is the Agriculture supplemental authorization. It has already 
passed in the House. I am told that the Agriculture Committee is 
intending to vote on it tomorrow. It would be my expectation to take it 
up shortly after the committee action in an effort to get it through 
the floor and into conference in time to bring it back prior to the 
time we leave. That, too, is a very necessary piece of legislation, 
first, because of the relief it provides to millions of producers 
across this country--producers that are not only incorporated into the 
farm bill itself, but many other producers that do not have farm 
programs per se. If we do not act before the August recess, we will 
lose the budget authority that is dedicated under the budget resolution 
to agriculture and disaster assistance. It would then be taken out of 
next year's authorization.
  We can't afford to lose the $5.5 billion authorization. But that is 
exactly what we face if we are not able to act. So I don't think we 
have any alternative, any recourse, except to ensure that the work is 
complete before we leave for the August recess.
  Finally, the Export Administration Act is also in peril. The act 
expires during the August recess. The administration has indicated this 
is a high priority for them. It is a high priority for our caucus, but 
I think, on a bipartisan basis, Senators on both sides of the aisle 
have indicated a strong desire not to allow this legislation to expire 
in August. So it is my expectation that it, too, must be dealt with 
prior to the time we leave.
  In addition, our Republican colleagues have expressed a strong 
interest in confirming additional nominees, and I have every 
expectation that we will be doing that as well. In the past 2 weeks, 
the Senate has now confirmed 77 nominees. I intend to move as many 
additional nominees to the floor prior to the recess as we can. I have 
discussed the matter with each of our Chairs, and they have volunteered 
extensive cooperation in bringing additional nominees to the Executive 
Calendar so we can move on them once the work has been done. To my 
knowledge, except for those nominees for whom there is a Republican 
hold, there are few, if any, nominees who have been on the calendar 
more than a couple of days. I do believe we owe every Senator the right 
to examine the nominees and

[[Page 14220]]

to ensure that they are prepared to support them. But I will press for 
consideration and ultimately confirmation of those nominees prior to 
the time we leave.
  All of us have August recess plans, but we have to accomplish these 
four essential items, in addition to the nominations that I want to be 
able to move forward and confirm before we take a vacation. I think we 
have a fundamental duty not only to build on what we have been able to 
do in the appropriations process, but also to deal with the many other 
additional requirements that are pending before the Senate prior to the 
time we leave.
  So just to sum up, it is my hope, even though we are not making a lot 
of progress today so far on the Transportation bill, that we can 
complete it. I see the distinguished Chair of the subcommittee on HUD/
VA on the floor. She has indicated that she knows of no significant 
legislative impediments to consideration of her appropriations bill. So 
at least those two bills will need to be addressed prior to the time we 
leave. And then, of course, as I said, there is the Agriculture 
authorization supplemental. I can't imagine that anybody would want to 
hold it up or want to delay its implementation. As I have noted, the 
House has already acted. It would be our hope and expectation that we 
cannot only act but that we can work out our differences with the House 
in time to assure that this bill is sent to the President before we 
leave. If we fail to do that, of course, we then fail to allocate the 
$5.5 billion committed to emergency agricultural spending in the 
budget.
  The Export Administration Act, of course, is also something we need 
to consider. I see the Chair of the Banking Committee, whose 
jurisdiction it is, and he has indicated as well his desire to 
cooperate and move forward in a bipartisan way to ensure that we attain 
that goal.
  So we have a lot of work to do in 2 weeks. I expect we are going to 
stay in late Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. I think it is 
important for us to make full use of this week, and we will be doing 
so. If I am required to file cloture on Transportation by the end of 
the day, I will do so. I am withholding that at this point because I 
hope that some accommodation can be reached on a vote on whatever 
amendments may be offered on Mexican trucking. But we have to get on 
with our work. We simply can't afford these long delays throughout the 
week.

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