[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 25631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--H.R. 3548

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, these are not competing consent agreements. 
This is an effort to try to get something the American people should 
have--the most unfortunate people who have been out of work for an 
extended period of time--which is unemployment compensation checks.
  I ask unanimous consent that we pass H.R. 3548 with no amendments; 
that is, benefits that will go to people who have been out of work for 
an extended period of time. This is an act to amend the Supplemental 
Appropriations Act of 2008 to provide for the temporary availability of 
certain additional emergency unemployment compensation. I hope we can 
move forward with that.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we have 
just had a discussion about two consent agreements, each of which has a 
very limited number of amendments. There is no reason we cannot reach 
an agreement to take up the underlying bill, with a limited number of 
amendments, and finish the bill expeditiously.
  Simply cutting people off and not allowing any amendments at all is 
not an acceptable approach. Therefore, I object.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is not a question of having no 
amendments. We agreed to have six. I think that is unnecessary. My 
friends in the minority are continuing to slow-walk unemployment 
compensation, while people are desperate for these small checks that 
they get to keep the rent paid and pay for groceries for their kids. I 
think we should do this today, get it done now.
  I understand there is an objection. I think it is unfortunate.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Well, Mr. President, the only thing that would slow 
this down would not be to reach a consent agreement. We will continue 
to talk to the majority leader and, hopefully, we can reach an 
agreement for a reasonable amount of amendments.
  I yield the floor.

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