[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1931]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 2615

  Mr. REID. Madam President, as I indicated I would earlier today, I 
will ask unanimous consent to extend the law that is now in effect. I 
wish to extend that 15 days to see if we can work out something more 
with the House.
  So I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate 
consideration of Calendar No. 571, S. 2615; 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. The Republican leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Reserving the right to object, let me just make the 
point once again that we just passed this bill 68 to 29 in its initial 
form, which was preserved on the Senate floor. It came out of the 
Intelligence Committee 13 to 2. This is the Rockefeller-Bond 
bipartisan, overwhelmingly supported bill coming out of the Senate.
  The current law does not expire until Saturday. It is still my hope 
that the House, and particularly when you consider the fact that 21 
House Democrats, so-called Blue Dog Democrats, have indicated to the 
Speaker in writing that they would like to see the Senate bill passed--
the Rockefeller-Bond bill taken up and passed by the House--I think it 
is just premature for an extension, Madam President. I think there is 
still at least a chance the House might conclude that we have done a 
terrific piece of work, and they could very well consider the option, 
as the Blue Dogs have suggested, of taking up the measure and sending 
it on down to the President for signature.
  So for the moment, Madam President, I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BROWN. I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________