[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14072]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2766

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 832, 
S. 2766, the Clean Boating Act, the bill be read a third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I ask 
that the unanimous consent request be modified, that my amendment which 
is at the desk be agreed to, and that the bill be read a third time and 
passed.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I think the 
Senator from Alaska knows full well the amendment she is seeking to 
attach to our bill, or the substitute she is putting forward, never was 
approved in the committee of jurisdiction, the EPW Committee.
  The committee worked long and hard at getting a compromise. Because 
of Senator Nelson and Senator Martinez and others, we have a bill at 
the desk that Senator Nelson tried to get done now that passed our 
committee by an overwhelming vote.
  As a matter of fact, 13 million boaters, 13 million boaters are going 
to wake up very unhappy in the morning if Senator Murkowski objects to 
this bill. Her substitute was never voted on by the committee.
  As a matter of fact, the individual she asked to offer an amendment 
never offered it. There was a reason; this was a delicate compromise.
  I object to Senator Murkowski's amendment to the request. I support 
strongly Senator Nelson's request to move this Clean Boating Act. It 
means that 13 million recreational boaters will not have to get a 
permit to discharge their water pollution, and 13 million recreational 
boaters are counting on us.
  I hope Senator Nelson's unanimous consent will be granted.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the original unanimous 
consent from the senior Senator from Florida?
  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I do object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Louisiana is recognized.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, the evening is getting late, and we have 
taken some significant action tonight. But I wish to speak for a moment 
and ask unanimous consent to speak up to 10 minutes on the supplemental 
bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________