[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10933]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 10933]]

                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1052

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 11:30 a.m. 
tomorrow, Tuesday, June 19, the Senate proceed to the consideration of 
S. 1052, the Patients' Bill of Rights.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. LOTT. Reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority leader.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on my reservation, I note a couple of facts 
have to be considered at this time. That is, the manager of the 
legislation is not able to be here today. I have not been able to talk 
with him. I tried to reach him, as a matter of fact, this morning by 
phone--that is Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire--and other Senators 
who are directly involved in this legislation. I have not been able to 
get clearance to proceed at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow.
  Also, I understand the underlying legislation that will be the 
vehicle we consider was changed perhaps as late as Friday afternoon. We 
are trying to get a look at it and see exactly what changes have been 
made because that will determine what first amendments might be offered 
or what the tone of the debate will be as we open this legislation. I 
am sure we are going to be able to go to the Patients' Bill of Rights 
in a reasonable period of time, but at this time I have been asked to 
object. So I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Warner). Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I say before my friend leaves that we have 
copies of the legislation, and we will be happy to let anyone who wants 
look at it. I hope, as the minority leader indicated, that we can move 
to this bill tomorrow. If not, of course, there are other procedural 
things we can do to get to it eventually.
  I have spent time with Senator Gregg in recent weeks, and he is a 
pleasant man to be with. I know Senator Frist is well advised about 
this legislation. This has been going on for years, and we hope we can 
finally dispose of it one way or the other in the near future. I not 
only appreciate what the Senator has said but the tone in which he said 
it. We look forward to seeing if we can work it out tomorrow.

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