Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk creating a subcommittee consisting of two Senators to notify the President that a quorum of each House is assembled and ask that it be reported by title, agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send a resolution to the desk notifying the House that a quorum is present, and I ask that it be reported by title, agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on behalf of the Senate, I extend congratulations to all of the newly-elected Members of the Senate.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 2, the adjournment resolution, the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, pursuant to rules III and IV of the Rules of Procedure and Practice When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, I ask unanimous consent that at the hour of 1 p.m., on Thursday, January 7, 1999, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the articles of impeachment and that the Presiding Officer, through the Secretary of the Senate, notify the Chief Justice of the United States of the time and place fixed for consideration of the articles and requesting his attendance as presiding officer pursuant to Article I, section 3, clause 6, of the U.S. Constitution. I further ask consent that the Presiding Officer be authorized to appoint a committee of Senators, three upon the recommendation of the majority leader and two upon the recommendation of the Democratic leader, to escort the Chief Justice into the Senate Chamber. Finally, I ask consent that the Secretary of the Senate be directed to notify the House of Representatives of the time and place fixed for the Senate to proceed upon the impeachment of William Jefferson Clinton in the Senate Chamber.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, pursuant to rule I of the Rules of Procedure and Practice When Sitting on Impeachment Trials, I ask unanimous consent that the Secretary of the Senate inform the House of Representatives that the Senate is ready to receive the managers appointed by the House for the purpose of exhibiting articles of impeachment against William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States, agreeably to the notice communicated to the Senate, and that at the hour of 10 a.m., on Thursday, January 7, 1999, the Senate will receive the honorable managers on the part of the House of Representatives in order that they may present and exhibit the articles of impeachment against William Jefferson Clinton, President of the United States.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT. I thank Senator Moynihan for his remarks, for his wisdom, for his leadership, counsel, and legislative acumen he has exhibited for so many years, but also his efforts over this very day to remind us of what our responsibilities are and how difficult they will be and how they can be misconstrued. We will do our best to stand together to get this done in an appropriate way. I thank you for your comments. Mr. President, I believe we are about ready to receive the official notification of the managers for the purpose of exhibiting Articles of Impeachment. Therefore, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. LOTT. I am delighted to yield to the distinguished Senator from New York.

Mr. LOTT. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will convene then at 9:45 a.m. The majority leader will be recognized in order to begin a live quorum. Following that live quorum at approximately 10 a.m., the Senate will prepare to receive the managers from the House of Representatives for the purpose of exhibiting Articles of Impeachment. In addition, it is expected that at 1 p.m., the Senate will commence with the swearing in of the Chief Justice of the United States and all Senators. Mr. President, just one further note, if I might. I know that Senators, members of the media and the American people are anxious to know how we plan to proceed. I think I should say at this point I think we had a very productive day. A lot of activities have been going on in a bipartisan way between Republicans, among themselves, and with the Democrats in the Senate and in the House. There is, in fact, a meeting underway right now with a bipartisan group of the Senate meeting with a group of managers from the House. We intend to continue to try to narrow the list of questions and come forward with a proposal that would provide for an early beginning, an appropriate time for briefings to be filed, for a full trial to be provided for, and votes on Articles of Impeachment at the end of the process. There are a lot of gaps around what I just said, but I think that there is a sincere bipartisan effort and a nonpartisan effort to do it in a way that is fair and that would get us to a conclusion on this matter which has been presented to us or will be presented to us by the House of Representatives. We have a duty. We will do our very best to carry it out in a way that the American people will feel is appropriate for the Senate and that is dignified and fair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today it stand in adjournment until 9:45 a.m., on Thursday, January 7. I further ask that when the Senate reconvenes on Thursday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, and the majority leader then be immediately recognized.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on January 6, 1999, by the President of the United States: The Hague Convention and Hague Protocol, Treaty Document No. 106-1. I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and the President's message be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Well, let me understand something. Does that mean that the FBI or the Department of Justice would be able to collect and maintain all personally identifying information on transactions relating to approved firearms transfers for one and one half years, or for any period of time?

Mr. LOTT. Specifically, though, is the NICS statute clear on this prohibition of maintaining an audit log or other repository of approved firearms transaction and personal information on firearms owners? Is there any doubt as to Congress' intent in this regard?

Mr. LOTT. Is there any information that the FBI is permitted to maintain from an approved firearms transaction that goes through NICS?

Mr. LOTT. I would like to be sure that the rights of law abiding gun owners are not violated by FBI's operation of NICS. Do you have any suggestions in this regard, to ensure that the laws are being followed?

Mr. LOTT. I certainly would second that recommendation. This matter is too important to the American people to allow any opportunity for abuse.

Mr. LOTT. I agree with my colleague from Montana. As our nation continues to seek ways to improve environmental quality and to reduce the need for imported energy, several new technologies run the risk of not being developed if Congress does not act to provide incentives to develop clean alternative fuels. These technologies provide two significant benefits to our nation. First, the use of alternative fuels reduces our reliance on foreign energy sources. Second, the technologies provide cleaner results for our environment. For these reasons, I want to assure my colleague from Montana that I will make a priority of addressing the need for tax incentives to produce clean alternative fuels.

Mr. LOTT. I believe the yeas and nays have been ordered, Mr. President. We are ready to proceed to the vote.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to House Joint Resolution 138 received from the House.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I finally ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, any statements relating to the nominations appear at the appropriate place in the Record, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read three times, and passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, that the title be appropriately amended, without any intervening action.