Robert Dole

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, the Democratic leader asked me to institute a quorum call, which I did, but I think we have an amendment of the Senator from California, Senator Feinstein, which can be accepted. We will be prepared to do that. Then the amendment of the Senator from North Dakota was set aside. Apparently he is prepared to proceed on that. It is part of our list, so I think it will be appropriate to do that. So I will work to clear it with Senator Daschle.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DOLE. Maybe better yet, as I understand, the Nickles amendment numbered 2556, I was advised by Senator Nickles that had been worked out to the satisfaction of both sides.

Mr. DOLE. Maybe we will put in a quorum call and we will find Senator Nickles. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DOLE. Are there any other amendments that have been cleared? I think the Senator from Massachusetts has one or two minor amendments that I do not see any problem with.

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DOLE. I now ask unanimous consent we move to consideration of 2556, the Nickles amendment, and I send a modification to the desk which has been cleared by the distinguished Senator from New Jersey [Mr. Bradley].

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, we have no problem with the amendment. It has been cleared on this side.

Mr. DOLE. Further, that the amendments be considered agreed to and that any statements relating to them be placed at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. DOLE. I move to reconsider the vote.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DOLE. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. DOLE

Mr. DOLE. We have Senator Shelby, Senator Mikulski, two amendments by Senator Feinstein, and then in our rotation plan it would come back to this side unless we have an agreement we can accept. Once the Senator from North Dakota has his worked out----

Mr. DOLE. We changed it about an hour ago. As I understand it, it is more than halfway to where the Senator was with his amendment the other day. We checked it with some others, and they think this is a very generous, responsible offer. That would be $8 billion over 5 years set aside for child care

Mr. DOLE. My view is that is what the Senator wanted.

Mr. DOLE. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. DOLE. As I understand, there are two amendments.

Mr. DOLE. Naturalization and deeming?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I have been in discussion with the distinguished Democratic leader and other colleagues on both sides. I think we have the framework of an agreement. We do not have it drafted. Nobody has signed off on it finally. But I think in the interest of time it has occurred to me and the Democratic leader, Senator Daschle, that maybe those who have outstanding amendments could come to the floor now and offer those amendments, hopefully in a very short period of time because we hope to go and will go to third reading hopefully by midnight tonight. But we are going to go to third reading on welfare reform between now and sometime, and we would rather do it by midnight if we could. I know there are a number of amendments we have looked at people can accept. We will try to be as accommodating as we can with our colleagues. But I think that is the view of the distinguished Democratic leader; is that correct?

Mr. DOLE. I send amendment 2614 to the desk.

Mr. DOLE. I think amendment 2614, as drafted, is acceptable.

Mr. DOLE. Twenty minutes on each amendment?

Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I would like to offer my support of the comments made by Senators Mack and Simpson on this issue. children's ssi

Mr. DOLE. Then I will present it to you now.