[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Thursday, 
May 11, immediately after the time for the two leaders, the Senate 
begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4297, 
the Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act; provided further that 8 
hours remain out of the statutory time limit and that it be equally 
divided. I further ask consent that following the vote on the adoption 
of the conference report, and notwithstanding rule XXII, there be 60 
minutes of debate, equally divided, between the chairman and ranking 
member of the HELP Committee or their designees prior to a vote on the 
motion to invoke cloture on the modified substitute to S. 1955, the 
small business health plans bill, with no intervening action or debate, 
and the live quorum waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, reserving the right to object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, may I inquire of the majority leader, at 
this point, are we closing down debate on this bill?
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, through the Chair, on the small business 
reform bill, we will have 1 hour prior to the cloture vote. And during 
the day tomorrow, I expect people will be coming to the floor talking, 
as well, on small business health plans.
  Mr. DURBIN. If I may ask through the Chair to the majority leader, as 
I understand the procedural position we are in, earlier today the 
majority leader filled the tree, as we say, to preclude any further 
amendments. And now, as I understand it, the majority leader has filed 
a cloture motion, which basically means we are going to bring this to a 
close without further amendments, without further debate, one up-or- 
down vote on cloture?
  Mr. FRIST. That is correct. Someone could offer an amendment tomorrow 
prior to the cloture vote, if they so desire.
  Mr. DURBIN. If I might ask the majority leader through the Chair, I 
asked earlier today if we would be allowed to bring up the stem cell 
research issue, which the majority leader has expressed his support of, 
and whether we could bring that up for a vote this week while we are on 
Health Care Week so we could address this issue of medical research.
  I would like to ask the majority leader through the Chair if we could 
bring it up before cloture or after cloture?
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, through the Chair, the interest in stem 
cells will be debated in the future, at a time that is mutually set by 
the Democratic leadership working with the Republican leadership. Stem 
cells can be discussed but will not be voted upon before this cloture 
motion.
  Mr. DURBIN. I thank the majority leader.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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