Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator would yield under his reservation to respond, let me say again, I appreciate the cooperation of Senators on both sides of the aisle, from the Judiciary Committee, and other Senators who have interest in these nominations. It has been a very delicate balance to work through a process where we could get these nominations confirmed. The nominations of Mr. Marrero from, I believe, New York, and Mr. Lorenz from California have not been controversial. They have been cleared for quite some time. We had the unfortunate situation with regard to the nomination of Ted Stewart where we had a cloture vote, which I think both sides would prefer not to have happened. There are reasons for it. But I think it is important we not start down that trail. Both sides have indicated we do not want to start having cloture votes to determine the confirmation of judges. Then also there is the nomination of Mr. Fisher for the Ninth Circuit. So we have here a process where we can have a voice vote on two of them and some debate and votes on the other three: White, Stewart, and Fisher. That is a significant undertaking. That will get us into the process where judges--certainly judges who are not controversial--will not be held up because of controversial judges in other areas. So I just wanted to kind of go through that whole process. With regard to the other two nominations Senator Daschle asks about, I will continue to work with the Democratic leader as well as other Members on his side of the aisle and on my side of the aisle in scheduling executive nominations. I have to go through a process where I have to notify Members that a judicial nomination may be called up and see if there are problems with it, see if that can be worked out, see if we are going to need an extended period of time of debate, see if there is a threatened filibuster. So I will work, as I have in the past, to see if we can get these nominations cleared so we can move forward. I will continue to do that. I will do that on specifically the two that have been mentioned. I will try to find a way to have them considered. I cannot confirm at this point when or how that will be done, but I will continue to work on it. That is one of the reasons that moving these other judges is important. Because it takes time to get the nominations cleared. When you have five that you are close to getting cleared, once you get those out of the way, then you can focus your attention on the remaining judges on the calendar. By the way, I understand there are other basically noncontroversial judges on whom the Judiciary Committee will be meeting, maybe in the next week or two, and there will be more judges on the calendar. So we want to keep moving the ones that can be cleared because there are districts and circuits around the country that do need these judges to be confirmed. I think we can get this request agreed to. It will be positive, and we will be able to continue to work together. I hope that is helpful in responding to Senator Daschle's question.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that after Senators Akaka and Murkowski speak--Senator Akaka is going to speak next and then Senator Murkowski--Senator Leahy be recognized to speak as in morning business.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate agree to the amendment of the House.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Alaska for allowing us to enter into some unanimous consent agreements and some colloquy that we have been working on for quite some time. I understand the Senator from Alaska may want to continue after we complete this.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we will be doing wrapup momentarily.

Mr. LOTT. The next vote will occur at 9:30 in the morning.

Mr. LOTT. I would like to notify the Members that there will be some more time taken on the bill itself, but that will be the final recorded vote for tonight, the last vote for tonight. There will be at least one vote tomorrow. I am still working on both sides to make a final determination on Monday. It is anticipated we will have at least one vote, maybe more, on Monday. But we have not locked that in yet. We will notify you of that officially tomorrow. I ask unanimous consent Senator Collins be recognized at 9 a.m. on Friday to call up her amendment, No. 1824, there be 30 minutes of debate equally divided in the usual form, and a vote to occur immediately on conclusion or yielding back of time and no second-degree amendments in order. That would mean the vote tomorrow would be at 9:30.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I believe they probably could be offered to that bill. I do not particularly relish the idea, but I think they probably could be.

Mr. LOTT. We certainly know the Senator from Minnesota has views on that or amendments he wants to offer. One of the things we are planning on doing, I say to the Senator--and Senator Daschle may want to talk about it--is to bring up the sanctions bill. I do not know whether or not the Senator's amendments will be in order to that. It does relate to food and agriculture. He may have something to say or some amendment he wants to offer on that. We have not agreed on a time. You may wind up objecting to it, but I think it is high time we have some debate around here and some thought about how we deal with these unilateral sanctions of countries, how we use food and medicine in that area. We had a vote on it in Agriculture. It is still very controversial. I have indicated it is my intent and it is my hope, if we can find a way, to bring that bill to the floor.

Mr. LOTT. I have not had an opportunity to talk personally, directly, to the Senator from Arizona, but I am informed by his senior aide that he is committed to living with the language that the Senator from New York is familiar with, and that also the Senator from South Carolina, the ranking Democrat, has indicated he will comply with that. And based on the assurance I received, then I would work to make sure that understanding was lived up to. Whether you agree with the final result or not, I will make sure that what your understanding is on the part I have been involved in would be honored.

Mr. LOTT. I would like to bring up the nuclear waste bill. I think this is a major environmental issue. It is very important to a number of States, I believe, including the Senator's State of Minnesota. There has been an indication there may be a desire for a filibuster and perhaps the Democrat leadership would not support cloture on this very important issue. If that is the case, then I would not be inclined to file cloture on it on Friday, giving us additional time to see if we can work out an agreement or accommodation as to how to bring up that very important issue. I do not know how many States have nuclear waste sitting in open cooling pools or how many people have looked at the need to address this problem. I believe a large number of Senators probably as many as two-thirds or more, believe we need to move this legislation. I want to find a way to do that.

Mr. LOTT. Will the Senator yield?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if the Senator will yield under his reservation, first, I thank Senator Wyden for his comments and for the record he has made and for not objecting. I know this is an important issue to him. He could object and bring additional pressure on the chairman and the committee. He is on the committee. I know he will continue to work on it. I know he and Senator McCain will be talking about it on Monday. I thank him for not objecting. With regard to the question of the Senator from Virginia, I believe the issue that is so important to him is addressed in the bill the way he understands it to be. But if it is not or if there is any problem, under this unanimous consent request, relevant amendments on aviation would be in order and any amendment that he or the other Senator from Virginia wishes to offer with regard to this matter would be in order and would be protected.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I congratulate all who have been involved in this next unanimous consent. A lot of effort has gone into it. I will not name them individually, but I know several Senators have been following very closely. I ask unanimous consent on Monday, October 14, it be in order for the majority leader to proceed to the consideration of S. 82, the FAA reauthorization bill, that the majority and minority managers of the bill be recognized to modify the committee amendments, and further that only aviation-related amendments be in order to the bill, that relevant second-degree amendments will be in order.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Virginia. Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, in answer to the Senator's question, I have in my mind the number of slots that are available based on the discussions he and I have had over about 2 years. I am assuming that is what is in the bill. I have to check and make sure of the exact number, but whatever it is, if the Senator is not satisfied with that, an amendment and a debate to change that number would certainly be in order.

Mr. LOTT. You mean you are not ready to go to final passage on this bill at this point?

Mr. LOTT. Let me assure the Chair and my colleagues that we know the very passionate feelings of the Senator from Nevada. We know he is going to make them heard, and in every way he can. And he will be entitled to all the rules of the Senate in that effort. We understand that and appreciate it.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if it would be appropriate, I yield the floor at this time.

Mr. LOTT. I don't know. I assume that could happen. There are at least two chairmen who would probably be willing to do something in that area. I yield to the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Mr. LOTT. One observation, if the Senator will withhold for a second: This agreement doesn't preclude hearings in the appropriate committees either this week or next week.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have been working quite some time now to get a final agreement on how to bring up the FAA reauthorization bill. This is important legislation. We have tried to extend the time, and there has been resistance to that. We have tried to direct a conference; there has been resistance to that. So it is important we have a couple days to have debate relevant amendments and deal with this issue. We are working on both sides of the aisle, and I think we have resolved most of the questions. If there is any one remaining problem, I would like to flesh it out so we can deal with it. I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, October 4, it be in order for the majority leader to proceed to the consideration of S. 82, the FAA reauthorization bill, that the majority and minority managers of the bill be authorized to modify the committee amendments and, further, that only aviation-related amendments and relevant second-degree amendments be in order to the bill.

Mr. LOTT. I thank the Democratic leader for that response. The manager of the bill and the ranking member, Senator McCain and Senator Hollings, are really anxious to go forward with this. There is an understanding on both sides of the aisle that this is very important legislation we have to complete. We have worked through problems that Senator Robb had, Senator Abraham, a number of Senators who have amendments, but they will be able to offer those relevant amendments under this agreement. I hope later on today we can lock in this agreement and be on this bill then next Monday, and after a reasonable time for debate and amendments, surely we can finish it by the close of business on Tuesday. Also, Mr. President, there had been an indication that some amendment might be offered on the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill on an unrelated matter but one with which, frankly, we are prepared to go forward.