Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. As a matter of fact, we just discussed it a moment ago. If the Senator wants to object, he can go ahead and object. I think the implication here is that there is some sinister effort here. And it is certainly not true. This is something that is very noncontroversial. I don't know of any problem with it. I can't imagine why any Senator would object to it.

Mr. LOTT. I would be glad to yield.

Mr. LOTT. With regard to his unanimous consent request, I have no idea of the ramifications of the unanimous consent request he just asked. I don't know what is involved there. We already passed the agriculture appropriations bill. There was action taken on that particular item. I would not be able to agree to that at this point without checking with Senators that have been involved in that legislation with that amendment. So there is no need in holding up the Senate any further. If the Senator wants to object, he can do so. I am going to also ask unanimous consent that he go ahead and move on the H-1B issue which has been worked out previously in conference by both sides of the Capitol by both parties. This is an issue that we need to get resolved. I thought that we had a reasonable resolution of the issue.

Mr. LOTT. Will the Senator respond to a question?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read the third time and passed; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statement relating to the bill appear at the appropriate place in the Record.

Mr. LOTT. I yield to the Senator from Georgia.

Mr. LOTT. Didn't I call the Senator and ask if there was a problem?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I know there are a lot of Senators on their feet, but in an effort to try to be fair before I move for regular order, I am going to withhold so the Senator from North Dakota can comment and then the Senator from Georgia, and then I will ask for the regular order.

Mr. LOTT. Let me say again, Mr. President, when you get to the end of a period of time like this, when you are fixing to go on a recess for an extended period of time, there are a lot of bills, there are a lot of issues we are dealing with, a lot of nominations we are trying to clear. I am either going to have to do it now or later tonight or tomorrow, when everybody else is gone. We wouldn't have been able to get this cleared, probably, tomorrow. But by doing it now, I think everybody will realize that this is something that will help. It is not that controversial, and we can get it done and we can move on to the recess and feel like we did something here that will be helpful. We will have other opportunities before the year is out to provide more help as we go through the conference.

Mr. LOTT. I believe the Senator from Kansas has been working on this issue. He knew we were trying to get it cleared tonight. I made a specific call to him to contact Senators on both sides of the aisle and discuss this issue. I assumed that he was doing that. I had the impression that it had been--any holds or objections had been cleared. Did it come as surprise to the Senator? Does the Senator think it came as a surprise?

Mr. LOTT. We are late in the hour. I see a number of Senators from farm States who would like to speak, perhaps, on this. Senator Hutchison, I know her State of Texas has been affected by the drought. Is this a matter that would be helpful in your State of Texas?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President--did we not have conversations with Senators?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I renew my unanimous consent request.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will momentarily proceed to passage of the Department of Defense appropriations bill. But I can't let this moment escape without first commending the chairman, Senator Stevens, and his ranking member, Senator Inouye, for the unbelievable speed in which they have been able to handle this appropriations bill and bring it to a close. They are absolutely the best when it comes to knowing this legislation, and perhaps all legislation. I think they probably have set a record. But I think they did it in a way that was sensitive to all Senators' needs. And it took a lot of cooperation on both sides of the aisle. So I thank Senator Stevens. He set an example for all of us to follow. And the better part of wisdom was for me to get out of the way and let him do his job. He did a great job. I thank him, and I know that all Senators extend their thanks to him, and congratulations. Having said that, the Senate still must consider two additional items before I can announce the voting situation for the rest of the evening. Those items are the Emergency Farm Financial Relief Act, and legislation coming from the House relative to H- 1B, the Nonmigrant Immigrant Program.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I send an adjournment resolution to the desk calling for a conditional adjournment for the August recess, and ask that the resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that immediately after the conclusion of morning business, following the reconvening of the Senate from the August recess, the Senate proceed to the conference report to accompany the Texas Compact, H.R. 629, and the conference report be considered as having been read. I further ask that there be 4 hours of debate, equally divided, between the Senator from Minnesota, Senator Wellstone, and Senator Hatch, or their designees, and following the conclusion or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to a vote on adoption of the conference report, without any intervening action or debate. Now, I did not specify whether this would be Monday the 31st or Tuesday, September 1st. I need to talk further about the exact date with the Senators involved, and Senator Daschle, but the first day we are back. And I appreciate the cooperation I received from Senator Wellstone on this UC. Mr. WELLSTONE addressed the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Vote on Amendment No. 3124, As Amended

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, while the chairman is working on the list, I have a quick unanimous consent agreement we have worked out. I would like to go ahead and get that done while we have a break here.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT. Everything would be just like it is at this very moment on this appropriations bill.

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have had, obviously, extensive consultation about how to proceed to this point. There is disagreement about this particular amendment and how we can complete the Treasury- Postal Service and other related agencies appropriations bill at this time. In the interest of Senators to have time to work on the substance, what we have agreed to do is to set this bill aside--I will ask unanimous consent to that effect in a moment--and we would go on to the Department of Defense appropriations amendments and continue to work progressively, with the idea of finishing the Department of Defense appropriations bill as early as possible--hopefully, even tonight-- which will allow us time to work on some nominations and allow Senators to attend the funeral tomorrow and adjourn for the recess at a reasonable hour tomorrow, or earlier if there is any way of doing it. I ask unanimous consent that the pending Treasury-Postal Service appropriations bill be laid aside, not to recur prior to September 1, unless agreement is worked out in the meantime. There is hope that could be done. Maybe we could act on it after the DOD appropriations bill is completed. If not, it would be September 1. And no call for the regular order serves to displace the treasury bill, when it is pending in September, in the status quo.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, that is correct. Second-degree amendments would be in order. We are freezing everything in place. We would not take it up again before September 1, unless an agreement were worked out. When we do go back to it, we will be right where we are now, and second-degree amendments will be in order.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I believe we are ready to go to final passage of the defense bill.