Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. We have seen here today persistence does pay off. Yesterday very little was said about it, but a lot of credit goes to the members of the committee that produced the Water Resources Development Act under the chairmanship of Bob Smith. There was some disagreements with the House, but they put their shoulder to the wheel and we passed that very important legislation last night. Today, thanks to a lot of good effort by Senator Daschle and Senator Reid, and working with Senators on our side, we were able to move the FSC legislation, which we had not been able to get done earlier. So at this very moment, we are continuing to work to get agreement on the bankruptcy vote. I agree that this is an indication of why we probably should take a time-out. We didn't pass that cloture today because of absentees. I believe when we get everybody here, cloture will be invoked, and we will go forward with that important legislation. Again, I thank the Senator for his good work as always. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 p.m., the Senate turn to the continuing resolution, H.J. Res. 122, if received from the House, and the resolution be read the third time, agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, before this session of the 106th Congress comes to an end, I'd like to take the time to say farewell to Tom McIlwain, who served on my staff this year as a fellow from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Prior to coming to my staff in March, he served as Fishery Administrator for the NMFS Southeast Fishery Center. Tom is a native of my hometown, Pascagoula, Mississippi. He understands the importance of oceans and fisheries issues to the Gulf Coast, and the Mississippi coast in particular. This is Tom's second stint as a fellow on my staff. Back when I was a member of the other chamber, and Tom worked for the State of Mississippi, he spent a year as a fellow on my staff advising me on oceans and fisheries matters. Tom is a longtime expert in this area. His advice and counsel was just as vital to me this year as it was back then. As a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I have participated in development and passage of a number of oceans and fisheries authorization bills during this session, and Tom has advised me on every one of them. This year alone, he assisted in the enactment into public law of the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000, Fishermen's Protective Act Amendments of 1999, Yukon River Salmon Act of 1999, and the Fisheries Survey Vessel Authorization Act of 1999, and the Senate passage of the Pribilof Islands Transition Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 2000, Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Act of 2000, Shark Finning Prohibition Act, Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act of 1999. I expect several of the latter bills to be enacted this year. Tom also identified key funding shortfalls in NMFS and State of Mississippi programs for the Gulf of Mexico. His concern that Gulf of Mexico needs were being overlooked as NMFS funding was increased to address high-profile issues in other regions of the country led me to fight for additional funding for our region. The NMFS appropriation for Fiscal year 2001 includes an additional $8.25 million for red snapper research and $1 million to expand the NMFS Mississippi Laboratory at Pascagoula. I know he is pleased with that the State of Mississippi will receive much needed additional funding for coastal impact assistance, almost $28 million in Fiscal Year 2001. This vital piece of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act was authorized and funded this year. I wish Tom and his wife Janet all the best as they prepare for his next assignment within NMFS. I know that whatever he does, he will bring to it the same keen insight, practical solutions, and good humor that has served him so well in the past.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we were all saddened to learn of the death of a long-time Senate employee and good friend, Ms. Betty Bunch. Betty died last week after a long struggle with a pulmonary infection. Betty started working for the Senate on January 3, 1977, when she moved to Washington, DC, to be the office manager for Senator Malcolm Wallop, the Republican Senator from Wyoming. As a graduate of the University of Wyoming, Ms. Bunch worked for some years at the University before deciding to move East with the Senator. After serving Senator Wallop for 10 years, Betty transferred to the Committee on Rules and Administration and worked for ranking member Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. In July 1991, Betty moved to the Senate Sergeant at Arms office and worked on a number of projects for the Education and Support Services team of the Computer Center. One of Betty's major projects was to assist with the final construction planning for the Sergeant at Arms' operations move to the Postal Square building. She was very involved in the relocation of the Senate's computer and communications center and staff, as well as the financial and procurement staffs. This was a major initiative, and Betty accomplished it with the utmost professionalism. Betty continued on a number of special projects for the Sergeant at arms until her retirement in June 1999. In total, Betty served the Senate well for over 22 years. We will all miss her loyalty, professionalism, integrity, and wonderful sense of humor. Her son Jamie and daughter-in-law Glennis are in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. At the request of Senator Grassley and others who wish to be heard, we are asking to extend the time from 6 until 6:30. I believe there will be a voice vote at the conclusion of this time.

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the time between now and 6:30 remain in control of the majority leader for morning business, as provided under the previous order.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, it is my understanding that the time between now and 6 p.m. is under my control for morning business. With that in mind, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair close morning business.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now withdraw my motion to proceed to S. 2557.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I move to proceed to the conference report containing the tax bill, H.R. 2614.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now renew my motion to proceed to S. 2557. I will notify all Senators as to the exact date on which I intend to file cloture on this very important tax conference report. I note that I will not do that today. In the meantime, this action I have just taken will allow me to file that cloture motion at a later date.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Go ahead. Mr. President, I will withhold.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, are we ready to proceed?

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now withdraw my motion to proceed to S. 2557, regarding America's dependency on foreign oil.

Mr. LOTT. The motion is withdrawn?

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now move to proceed to S. 2557, regarding America's dependency on foreign oil.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this cloture vote will occur on Wednesday. I will consult with the minority leader as to the exact time. In the meantime, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I understand the Senate has received the continuing resolution. I ask that the previous order now commence, and the clerk report the joint resolution.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on this Sunday we thank the Chaplain for his words and for his prayer on this special day--and every day. It means a great deal to us, and we take great comfort in it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I extend my hearty congratulations to the University of Mississippi football team. Their homecoming was yesterday. My daughter and wife and son-in-law, along with a large number of friends, were there; I, however, was not there; I was here. But our very worthy opponent was the Running Rebels of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It was a hard-fought victory in overtime. The University of Mississippi prevailed 43-40. So I know all present would be interested in having that information. I extend my congratulations to Senator Reid on his outstanding team and his outstanding quarterback who almost gave me a very miserable Saturday night but, thank goodness, good fortune did prevail.

Mr. LOTT. It sounds like something you would hear in Washington.

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor, Mr. President.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 6:45 p.m., with Senators speaking for up to 10 minutes each. A vote on a continuing resolution that funds the Government for another day will occur at approximately 6:45 p.m. if the papers have been received from the House. We will try, once again, to see if we can get a vote before that time. The House, I believe, goes in at 6, so we probably will not have the papers before 6:45. We will see if we can go ahead and arrange for a vote to occur before that time but hopefully no later than 6:45. Senators will be updated throughout the afternoon's session. By previous order, the Senate will convene on Monday at 5 p.m. to consider another continuing resolution. That vote will occur at 7 p.m. and will be the first vote of the day. I might say that there have been meetings with the appropriate Members of Congress and the administration on Saturday. There have been ideas exchanged--are being exchanged even now--that are being developed. I think we are very close, even though it is never over until we get an agreement on the final four or five issues that are still in play. I think it would be wise for the Senate, the House--the Congress--and the administration to complete their work as soon as possible so that we can leave to be with our constituents and attend to our duties back in our respective States. But it is more important that we look after the people's business first. We will continue, as we have been now, until an agreement can be worked out. We are prepared to exchange some suggestions today, and hopefully we will get some additional information later on this afternoon. It is still my hope that perhaps by Tuesday we could have the final two or three votes that would be required. That would mean the Labor- HHS appropriations bill, in whatever final form it might be, would have to be filed not later than Monday night. So we would need to have time, of course, for that to be filed and printed and for Senators to have a chance to review it. I presume that would then mean that the vote, if it came on Tuesday, would be late on Tuesday. But I will confer with Senator Reid--we were just talking about it--and with Senator Daschle to make sure we give Senators the maximum amount of notification when those substantive recorded votes might occur. Again, I do not want to give the impression it is just about to be done, but that would be our fervent hope. We will give as much advance notice as possible for a final vote on the tax relief package, and also the Labor-HHS appropriations bill, and bankruptcy. I expect to file cloture on the bankruptcy bill today or tomorrow, depending on what might be happening with the schedule. With that, Mr. President, I see Senator Reid is here. Would the Senator like me to yield to him?