[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 667

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I know the hour is late. I will be as quick 
as possible on this very important issue.
  Four months ago the Senate Finance Committee reported S. 667, the 
Personal Responsibility and Individual Development for Everyone Act, 
known as the PRIDE Act. This would reauthorize temporary assistance for 
needy families, which was due for reauthorization in 2002. It is a 
bipartisan bill and received virtually unanimous support in the 
committee, a compromise that demonstrates how things can work.
  The PRIDE Act contains increased funding to help parents cover the 
costs of childcare, among other things, so that they can join the 
workforce. It contains critical transitional medical assistance so that 
parents who work do not immediately lose their health care benefits in 
the transition to work. In short, it will help tens of thousands of 
Americans who are simply trying to do the right thing by their families 
and their communities.
  That is why our Governors and State legislatures, both Democrats and 
Republicans, have asked that we reauthorize the program and pass the 
PRIDE Act at the earliest possible date.
  Unfortunately, instead of helping working families and listening to 
our Governors and legislatures by immediately taking up this important 
bipartisan legislation, Republicans have spent months fighting among 
themselves, delaying its consideration. In the meantime, these working 
families that I have described in our States have had to live with 
uncertainty about whether this program will continue and, if so, in 
what form and at what cost.
  While we have been forced to wait several months for the majority to 
work out their intraparty squabbles, Congress has had to pass a series 
of stop-gap extensions to keep the program going. Just before the last 
recess we passed what was the tenth extension of this program. However, 
that extension will expire at the end of September if we do not act on 
permanent legislation before then.
  Even more threatening, some of our Republican colleagues are 
interested in including TANF in reconciliation, which will mean serious 
cuts, not increases, in many of the important programs contained in the 
bipartisan legislation reported by the Finance Committee.
  I commend Senators Baucus and Grassley, the chairman and ranking 
member of that committee, for their efforts in behalf of this 
legislation and the American people. The chairman and ranking member of 
the Finance Committee have been working together for months in an 
effort to bring the committee-reported bill to the floor, but we must 
consider this measure soon. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that no 
later than the close of business on September 9, the Senate begin 
consideration of Calendar No. 60, S. 667, the PRIDE Act, and that all 
amendments be relevant to the subject matter of the bill without the 
need for textual reference; and that the bill be completed before the 
Senate considers any reconciliation bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. FRIST. Reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I very much appreciate the Democratic 
leader's comments on the PRIDE Act, especially stressing the critical 
importance of this piece of legislation. It is a bipartisan bill. I do, 
too, want to thank the chairman and the ranking member, Senators 
Grassley and Baucus, for their diligent work, their hard work in 
bringing this bill forward. I look forward to working with the Chair 
and ranking member in appropriate scheduling of this bill.
  I do object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

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