[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 27751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 3221

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I had indicated earlier today that I was 
going to move to go to conference. The record should reflect that 
Speaker Pelosi and I have talked about this matter and we think it 
would be appropriate to go to conference. It is my understanding we are 
close to being able to do that. That would be good.
  This is a bill that needs to be done and can only be done if 
Democrats and Republicans agree. The majority of us in this body are 
Democrats, but it is a slim majority. So everything we do, I need to 
get 20 percent of the Republicans to move forward on legislation. 
Hopefully, we can do that and have a real good conference on this 
matter.
  As I indicated this morning, there are a number of issues that are 
important: A renewable portfolio; it is important we do something about 
CAFE; It is also important we do something about taxes so we can have 
the great entrepreneurs of America have the ability to invest in 
renewable energy. Right now the ability to do that is very limited 
because we have only given them a year, 2 sometimes with the tax 
credits, and they can't plan ahead for that. So those are the three 
things we need to work on.
  There is much more, but that gives us an idea of what we need to 
focus on, and it is not easy because the House did not have CAFE, we 
did not have the renewable portfolio. So it is going to take some 
mathematical moving around to get this done because we need to work it 
out, I would hope, so we can do CAFE in both bodies and renewables in 
both bodies. Anyway, we need to give this a valiant try, and that is 
what conferences are all about.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to 
the consideration of Calendar No. 340, H.R. 3221, the House Energy 
bill; that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of 
the Senate engrossed amendment to H.R. 6 be inserted in lieu thereof; 
that the bill be read a third time, passed, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table; that the Senate insist on its 
amendment, request a conference with the House, and the Chair be 
authorized to appoint conferees and that the title amendment at the 
desk be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I had 
talked to the majority leader before he propounded the unanimous 
consent proposal. As we have discussed, we are trying to clear any 
objections on our side. Given the fact it is Friday and Members are 
traveling, we are having a few difficulties doing that. But it is my 
hope we can continue to work through it and resolve those so the 
unanimous consent request can proceed without any objection.
  At this point, because of those challenges we have, while we are 
continuing to work in good faith to resolve them, I must respectfully 
object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The majority leader is 
recognized.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, we have had a good couple of months here 
in the Senate. We have accomplished a lot, working together. Hopefully, 
on this momentous piece of legislation, we can continue to do that.
  As I indicated this morning, we had a number of conversations 
yesterday, Republican Senators that want to move this forward, and I 
think there is a real possibility we can get a conference and move 
forward on this and come up with legislation where this body agrees 
with the House as to how to proceed.
  I understand that is the case, and I understand why the junior 
Senator from Texas had to object. It is Friday afternoon. Hopefully, 
maybe next week, we can appoint conferees and move forward.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call 
be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________