[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19685]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST--S. 1315

  Mr. AKAKA. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 674 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that 
all after the enacting clause be stricken, the text of S. 1315, the 
Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act, as passed by the Senate on April 24, 
2008, be inserted in lieu thereof, the bill, as amended, be read the 
third time and passed; that a title amendment which is at the desk be 
agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate, the Senate insist on its amendments, 
request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two 
Houses, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of 
the Senate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. CRAIG. Madam President, reserving the right to object--and I will 
object because of my concern of the way the given legislation is being 
handled--this is an issue on which the chairman of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee and I have had some difference. At the same time, I 
clearly recognize the phenomenal commitment of the chairman to veterans 
and, in this case, to Filipino veterans who served us so gallantly 
during World War II.
  It is my understanding there is a conflict in the House at this 
minute relating to the passage of legislation the Senate has moved. 
This is an effort to avert that conflict and bring the bill to a 
conference committee in a different form by using a House-passed bill. 
It is a tactic I hoped we would not use to address this important 
issue. The Senate can and should revisit this issue at another time. I 
hope we will.
  It is with that intent that I object to this unanimous consent 
request.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  The Senator from Hawaii is recognized.

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