J. Exon

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. No. That is simply to state what we hope we could do.

Mr. EXON. I yield 30 seconds to the Senator from West Virginia.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 1 minute for an exchange of views between the managers----

Mr. EXON. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. EXON. Is there anyone who seeks to speak in opposition?

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. EXON. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, since the Mikulski matter has been set aside temporarily, the next amendment is an amendment regarding dairy, offered by the Senator from Wisconsin, Senator Feingold. I yield 30 seconds on our side to him for that stated purpose. Amendment No. 2999 (Purpose: To strike the provision relating to the milk manufacturing marketing adjustment which provides special treatment to California cheese processors at a budget cost of $20 million)

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, earlier we had suggested that three Medicare amendments by Senator Feingold, Senator Moseley-Braun, and Senator Rockefeller be combined into one. We agreed that each Senator would have 30 seconds to explain their joint amendment. At this time, I ask the Chair to recognize Senator Feingold, then Senator Moseley-Braun, and then Senator Rockefeller. I congratulate them for expediting the process.

Mr. EXON. Yes.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, we have agreed on an amendment that has been worked on for a long time by Senator Wellstone. I yield 30 seconds to him for the purpose of introducing the amendment which both sides have agreed to accept.

Mr. EXON

Mr. EXON. This amendment allows pregnant women to stay on food stamps, if they otherwise are eligible for food stamps, even after 6 months if they cannot find a job. This treats pregnant women with their first child in the same manner as women who care for dependent children. The amendment is paid for by cuts in the standard deductions. The amendment saves money. Without this change, pregnant women will be taken off food stamps in their third trimester of pregnancy if they cannot find a job. That is a brief explanation of the amendment that has been agreed to.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I yield back the remainder of my time. We approve of the amendment.

Mr. EXON. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I believe the next amendment that we have would be by the Senator from New Jersey. I yield 30 seconds for the purpose of an explanation of the amendment to the Senator from New Jersey. Amendment No. 3023 (Purpose: To strike sections 5400 and 5401 of the reconciliation bill, sections which provide for the discounted prepayment of construction costs currently owed by farmers to the Federal government for irrigation water provided under the Reclamation program, thereby relieving them of the 960 acre limitation on delivery of federally subsidized water contained in the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982)

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I yield the remainder of my time. We agree with the amendment. I ask for the vote.

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

Mr. EXON. It has been approved.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, the following unanimous consent request has [[Page S 16020]] been cleared with the majority managers. On behalf of the Senator from Vermont, Senator Leahy, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its consideration, and further, I ask unanimous consent that further reading be dispensed with after it is started, the amendment be agreed to, and the motion to table the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. EXON. I yield 2 minutes to the Senator from West Virginia.

Mr. EXON. I yield 1 minute.

Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I yield myself 2 minutes. I rise to oppose a motion to waive, including a major welfare bill in this massive, multi-page bill under a fast-track procedure. It is a gross violation of the process. It is extremism. Yes, most of us voted for the welfare bill, as did this Senator. But putting this major policy change in a bill whose sole purpose is to reduce the deficit is abuse. This is just the sort of thing that the Byrd rule was designed to prevent. I urge my colleagues to reject this motion to waive. I yield 30 seconds to the Senator from New York.

Mr. EXON. I yield 2 minutes to the Senator from South Dakota.

Mr. EXON

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