[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT--S. 295

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the majority 
leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, shall, no later 
than July 27, call up S. 295; that if the bill has not been reported by 
then by the Finance Committee, it be discharged at that time and that 
the Senate shall consider it under the following time limitation: that 
there be 2 hours for debate equally divided between the chairman of the 
Finance Committee and the Democratic leader or his designee; that no 
amendments or motions be in order, including committee amendments; that 
after the use or yielding back of time the bill be read the third time 
and the Senate proceed to vote on the passage of the bill with no 
intervening action or debate; provided further that the bill become the 
pending business when the Senate resumes legislative session after July 
26 under the terms and conditions if it has not been considered prior 
to that time.
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I 
will say that one of the things we are also working on, and I am 
willing to go forward without this stage, we were moving along with the 
colloquy of Senator Stabenow and Senator Lindsey Graham--I am quite 
certain that was the cosponsor of the amendment--an amendment dealing 
with international trade. I spoke to Senator Grassley. Senator Grassley 
indicated he would be willing to enter into a colloquy with her. That 
was being prepared when the problem arose with the New York Senators 
and Senator Dodd. As a result of that, the colloquy was never 
finalized--at least brought to the floor.
  I hope when we return to that bill, whenever that might be, we can 
complete that colloquy because, in fact, what Senator Grassley said is 
that if the amendment were not filed at this time he would be happy to 
take a look at it. He has another amendment coming and he basically 
said he agreed with the content of her amendment, but he didn't agree 
it should be brought up on this bill. He felt his Finance Committee has 
jurisdiction.
  I want that spread on the record. This does not call for anyone 
agreeing or disagreeing with what I said, just in the future I hope we 
can work that out.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, prior to the ruling, the proponents of 
the legislation have also agreed they would withhold offering 
amendments in committee or on the floor on the subject matter for the 
duration of this session of Congress as part of this understanding, as 
well.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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