Tom Daschle

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. In answer to my colleague from Arizona, the intention would be that we go right back to the Transportation appropriations bill. What I am hoping, frankly, is that over the course of the next several hours we can continue our discussions. Our staff has indicated again that they are willing to begin the discussions in earnest, with the hope that we might proceed with some expectation that we find some resolution. It is our hope that while our colleagues debate these other matters, that will free up those people who have been involved in this issue to talk, and it would be our intention to come back to this.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, if I may respond, Senator Murkowski has reiterated the understanding we have on both sides of the aisle with regard to his offering an amendment at a later date on Iraq oil on another bill. I will certainly provide him with a vote in relation to that amendment when that time comes.

Mr. DASCHLE. I will have no objection to an up-or-down vote.

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to thank a number of my colleagues, especially Senator Gramm and Senator McCain. I also especially thank the distinguished Republican leader for his help in getting us to this point. We have been discussing throughout the day the schedule for the balance of the day. I will propound a unanimous consent request for the moment that will allow us now to take up the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. Following that, it will be my intention to move to a couple of the nominations that we agreed yesterday we would take up. There are time requests for debate on both nominees, and we will accommodate those requests as the unanimous consent provided for last night. With that understanding, I will propound the request. I ask unanimous consent that following the vote with respect to the Gramm amendment, regardless of the outcome, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 98, S. 1218, the Iran-Libya sanctions bill, and that the bill be considered under the following limitations: that there be a time limitation of 60 minutes for debate on the bill, with the time equally divided and controlled between the chairman and ranking member, or their designees; that the only first-degree amendment in order to the bill be a Murkowski amendment regarding Iraq's oil; that there be 90 minutes for debate with the time divided as follows: 60 minutes under the control of Senator Murkowski, 30 minutes under the control of the chairman and ranking member, or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time on the amendment, the amendment be withdrawn; that upon the use or yielding back of all time, the bill be read the third time, and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, under a previous order, we had agreed to a vote at 6:30 p.m. I know the memorial service is still underway. We will accommodate Senators who have other plans. I ask that we proceed with the vote. I also note this will be the last vote of the evening. I have not yet been given a report from our negotiators as to the status of the ongoing discussions with regard to Mexican trucking, but I will file a cloture motion tonight and expect if we are able to resolve these questions, we can vitiate it in the morning. With that, I think we ought to proceed with the vote.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, for the information of our colleagues, it may be that we will have one rollcall vote on the Iran-Libyan Sanctions Act at some point. Currently, it is scheduled for 6:30. I understand that vote has been scheduled for 6:30 to accommodate some Senators who are attending a memorial service. I would suggest we proceed now to the nomination of Mr. Horn. And we will provide our colleagues with more information as it is made available to us. I yield the floor.

Mr. DASCHLE. I am happy to yield.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, we have been consulting on both sides of the aisle over the last several moments. The authors of the Gramm- McCain amendment have agreed to a vote on that amendment at 1:45. It is my expectation we will have a vote at 1:45 on the McCain-Gramm amendment and then we will at that point entertain the possibility of moving to the Iranian-Libyan Sanctions Act if we can reach a unanimous consent agreement with regard to time. So far, one of our colleagues is still contemplating what his legislative options might be, and we have not been able to reach that agreement. If we are not able to reach that agreement, we will proceed with additional amendments to the transportation bill. I yield the floor. Amendment No. 1065

Mr. DASCHLE. I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, just to recap what we have agreed to, we will take up a number of amendments tomorrow morning relating directly to the Transportation appropriations bill. There will be votes on those amendments. We will anticipate that ongoing negotiations will bring us to some conclusion about the need to file cloture tomorrow. If cloture is filed, the cloture vote will then occur on Thursday. If there is time to be allotted to other issues, the other issues will include the Iran Sanctions Act as well as the two nominations, Horn and Barreto. We will have a number of rollcall votes tomorrow. Hopefully, we can continue to see real progress made on the Transportation appropriations bill. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, there is also the possibility that we may move to the nominations of those who have been on the Executive Calendar now since the early part of May, the Treasury nominees Nos. 59, 60, 159, and 161. I have had a number of consultations with the Republican leader about those nominees. That also is a possibility. He has been discussing the matter with colleagues in his caucus, and we may have more to report with regard to those nominees at a later time. Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I yield the floor.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until the hour of 9 a.m. on Wednesday, July 25. I further ask unanimous consent that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there be a period for morning business until 10 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each with the following exceptions: Senator Hutchison of Texas, 9 to 9:30; Senator Durbin, or his designee, 9:30 to 10. Further, I ask unanimous consent that at 10 a.m. the Senate resume consideration of the Transportation appropriations bill.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I remind Senators, if cloture is filed, all first-degree amendments must be filed by 1 p.m. on Thursday. I would like to announce as well that the negotiations throughout the day will necessitate that Senators who may have amendments that may fall under cloture offer them in the morning. As I understand it, Senator Murray has been working with a number of our colleagues. They are planning to offer amendments tomorrow morning. There will be a number of amendments offered with rollcalls to accompany the debate. We expect rollcall votes tomorrow morning. It is also my expectation, if those negotiations are ongoing, that we would take advantage of the time available to us. I have been discussing with Senator Lott the possibility of taking up the Iran Sanctions Act under a time limit that would be offered tomorrow sometime during the day. We anticipate spending a relatively short period of time thereon. I don't want to spend the entire day debating the issue, but it is a matter that has to be resolved prior to the time we leave recess as well. I would hope that we could take it up. I understand there may be one amendment that we may want to consider. But that also is an issue that will be addressed tomorrow, if we cannot resolve the Mexican trucking matter in an expeditious manner.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, earlier today I indicated that we had hoped we could continue to make progress on the Transportation appropriations bill, with some expectation of completing our work in the next day or so. That effort has not been as successful as I had hoped we could make it. For the last several hours, as our colleagues know, we have been attempting to negotiate language on the Mexican trucking issue. Our Republican colleagues are in many cases opposed to the language that is currently in the bill. It remains a very contentious issue. I also suggested this afternoon that this is a matter that will continue to be the subject of ongoing negotiations and that I would be filing cloture tonight. The minority leader has indicated that we would not be required to file cloture tonight, even though I want to have the vote on cloture on Thursday. So we will ask unanimous consent that when we file cloture tomorrow, if it is required, that the vote still occur on Thursday. It is my understanding that we are now in a position to agree to that unanimous consent request. I will not be filing cloture tonight. My hope is that tonight the negotiations can continue and that tomorrow we will have additional opportunities to see if we can find some way to resolve the matter. I ask unanimous consent that should I file cloture on the Murray substitute and the bill tomorrow, the cloture vote occur on Thursday, as provided under rule XXII, with the mandatory quorum being waived.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution, as amended, be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, the title, as amended, be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record with no intervening action.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendments be agreed to in proper sequence and the motions to reconsider be laid on the table.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I understand Senator Torricelli has amendments at the desk. I ask that it be in order for the amendments to be considered in the proper sequence.

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 83, S. Res. 128.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Madam President, the other matter I would like to consider as well is the matter involving further consideration of nominations. There are a couple of nominations that we can turn to tomorrow that will involve some time. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent, as in executive session, that the majority leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, may turn to the consideration of Wade Horn to be Assistant Secretary for Family Support at the Department of Health and Human Services and that he be considered under the following time limitation: 2 hours under the control of Senator Wellstone; 60 minutes under the control of Senator Baucus and Senator Grassley; that when all time is used or yielded back, the Senate vote on the confirmation of the nomination, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions. I further ask unanimous consent that upon the disposition of the Horn nomination, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 252, the nomination of Hector Barreto to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration and that there be 30 minutes for debate on the nomination equally divided between Senators Kerry and Bond, or their designees, and that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; that any statements on either of these two nominations be printed in the Record at the appropriate place, and the Senate return to legislative session.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, we have been in a quorum call now for several hours. As I understand it, there are still negotiations ongoing with regard to the trucking amendment. In order to accommodate further discussion, I would like to ensure that other Senators know I will be filing cloture tonight, and it will be very important during this negotiation period for other Senators to come to the floor to offer their amendments. I expect there will be additional rollcall votes later on tonight. We know of two amendments that will be offered. We will expect rollcall votes on those amendments sometime after 6:30 this evening. Beyond that, there may be other amendments as well. But we will have additional votes tonight. Senators ought to come to the floor. As I say, I reluctantly will file cloture with the hope that perhaps it could be vitiated if we can reach some agreement. But barring that, we will expect a cloture vote on Thursday. We would expect, as well, that Senators who have amendments that may not be germane postcloture can come to the floor, offer them, have them debated, and certainly have a vote on them as well. So tomorrow we will be devoting time to amendments. If amendments are not offered, it would be my expectation that we would take up at least one, if not more, of the controversial nominations that might require some debate time. But we will address that in greater detail at a later moment. At this point, I encourage Senators to come to the floor because we are entertaining amendments. We expect to offer a couple. As I said, we will have rollcall votes later on this evening. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DASCHLE

Mr. DASCHLE. I thank the Senator from Vermont. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.