Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion on the table.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to propound a unanimous consent request now. If we can get this worked out, then we will have one remaining vote tonight.

Mr. LOTT. If we can get this unanimous consent agreement worked out, then there will be one remaining vote tonight and then the first recorded vote will be about 9:20, I believe, in the morning. Then we will go on to other issues with time limits, and we will probably have another series of stacked votes on over in the morning after consultation with the managers, if that would be all right. I ask unanimous consent that following the next vote, the Senate resume the pending Craig amendment to the Kyl amendment and a vote occur on or in relation to the Craig amendment at 9:15 on Thursday, with 10 minutes equally divided for closing remarks prior to the vote. I further ask that following the vote in relation to the Craig amendment, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Kyl amendment, as amended. I further ask, following the Kyl amendment, the following amendments be the only amendments to be offered to the pending legislation other than the managers' amendment, with no second-degree amendments in order, and limited to the times, where specified, all to be equally divided. The list is as follows: A Nickles amendment regarding defense attorneys, 10 minutes; a Bingaman amendment regarding trademark and Indian tribes, 20 minutes; a Bumpers amendment regarding immigrant investor program, 20 minutes; a Kerrey of Nebraska amendment regarding copper, 40 minutes; a Kerry of Massachusetts amendment regarding Vietnam, 20 minutes; a Wellstone amendment regarding abuse of immigrant spouses, 30 minutes; a Hatch amendment regarding gun prosecutions, 20 minutes; a Grams amendment regarding criminal court, 10 minutes; a Grams amendment regarding U.S. nationals, 10 minutes; a Grams amendment regarding budget certification, U.N., 10 minutes; a Smith of Oregon amendment regarding guest workers, 10 minutes. I further ask that following the debate on the above-listed amendments, the Senate proceed to vote in a stacked sequence, with 2 minutes for debate to be equally divided prior to each vote, and following those stacked votes, Senator Gregg be recognized to offer the managers' amendment, and following its disposition, all other provisions of the previous consent agreement with respect to the passage vote then occur. Before the Chair puts this to a question, I thank Senator Daschle for his cooperation in getting reasonable time agreements here. I think maybe some of these amendments would actually require less time than has been identified. But we are trying to make sure that all Senators have the time that they need.

Mr. LOTT. The problem with all of these is that if we have them offered, then second degrees would be requested by others. So if we can't get this agreed to, then I think we will just have to go on with this vote and keep going tonight. Now, we can work during this vote and see if we can work it out. But it is 30 minutes for first degree, 30 minutes for a second degree, and there is no end to it. We have tried to work up a reasonable agreement here. I would like for Senators to work during this vote. We cannot tell you this is the last vote now. So you are not going to be able to vote and leave unless we can get something worked out very quickly. Any other reservations we need to be made aware of here?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, let's proceed to vote. Mr. STEVENS addressed the Chair.

Mr. LOTT. Again, Mr. President, I thank Members for the cooperation we have been receiving. We have worked out time agreements on which I believe we can get a unanimous consent agreement. Let me read the whole thing once again. We have made changes. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume the pending Craig amendment to the Kyl amendment and that a vote occur on, or in relation to, the Craig amendment at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, with 10 minutes for closing remarks, to be equally divided. I further ask unanimous consent that following the vote in relation to the Craig amendment, the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Kyl amendment, as amended, with 2 minutes equally divided prior to the vote. I further ask unanimous consent that following the Kyl amendment, the following amendments be the only remaining amendments to be offered to the pending legislation, other than the managers' amendments, with no second-degree amendments in order, unless specified, and limited to the times where specified, all to be equally divided. The list is as follows: Senator Nickless amendment regarding defense attorneys, 10 minutes; Senator Bingaman, 20 minutes; Senator Bumpers, 20 minutes; Senator Kerrey of Nebraska, 40 minutes; Senator Kerry of Massachusetts, 20 minutes; Senator Wellstone amendment for 30 minutes; Senator Hatch amendment, 20 minutes; the first Grams amendment for 10 minutes regarding criminal courts; a second Grams amendment regarding U.S. nationals for 10 minutes, with a possible second-degree amendment by Senator Biden with 10 minutes; a Senator Grams amendment regarding budget certification for 10 minutes; Senator Smith of Oregon amendment regarding guest workers with 20 minutes, with a second-degree amendment for 20 minutes by Senator Kennedy. We are still hoping they can work this out. If this matter is not resolved, we will have an amendment by Senator Daschle on this subject for 10 minutes, and an amendment by Senator Lott for 10 minutes. Also, a Torricelli amendment regarding nonpoint source, 20 minutes; a Lieberman amendment regarding Asian financial crisis, 20 minutes; and a Lautenberg amendment regarding police cars, 20 minutes. I further ask unanimous consent that following the debate on the above-listed amendments, the Senate proceed to vote in a stacked sequence, with 2 minutes for debate to be equally divided prior to each vote, and following those stacked votes Senator Gregg be recognized to offer the managers' amendment, and following its disposition, all other provisions of the previous consent agreement with respect to the passage vote then occur.

Mr. LOTT. In light of this agreement, then, thanks again for the cooperation of all Senators. There will be no further votes tonight. The next vote will occur at approximately 9:15 a.m. in the morning, perhaps slipping a minute or two to 9:20 on Thursday, and then a series of votes to be announced at a specified time later in the morning on Thursday. Thank you. I yield the floor. Mr. GREGG addressed the Chair.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I now send a second-degree amendment to the desk.

Mr. LOTT. I send an amendment to the desk to the instructions and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I move to commit the pending legislation to the Judiciary Committee to report back forthwith in status quo with an amendment as follows. I send the text to the desk.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending Boxer second-degree amendment be withdrawn and the motion to commit be withdrawn and the first-degree amendment be laid aside and Senator Craig be immediately recognized to offer a first-degree amendment relative to gun safety. I further ask unanimous consent that there be time between now and 4:45 for debate on both the Boxer and the Craig amendments combined, to be equally divided between Senators Craig and Boxer, with no second- degree amendments in order to either amendment; that following the conclusion or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to a vote on, or in relation to, the Craig amendment, to be followed immediately by a vote on, or in relation to, the Boxer amendment; further, that there be 2 minutes of debate prior to the vote in relation to the Boxer amendment.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I will be happy to withdraw this action just taken if the Senator from California would be willing to agree to the following consent, which I will now propound. This consent would allow for a vote in relation to the Craig gun safety issue as well as the Boxer trigger lock issue. I hope the Senator would consider and would agree to the consent. I ask unanimous consent, then, that the pending Boxer second-degree amendment be withdrawn and the motion to commit be withdrawn and the first-degree amendment be laid aside and Senator Craig be immediately recognized to offer a first-degree amendment relative to gun safety. I further ask that there be 90 minutes for debate on both the Boxer and the Craig amendments combined, to be equally divided between Senators Craig and Boxer, with no second-degree amendments in order to either amendment, and following the conclusion or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to a vote on or in relation to the Craig amendment, to be followed immediately by a vote on or in relation to the Boxer amendment.

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

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

Mr. LOTT. I make that request then.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, can we amend the unanimous consent request to take it then to 4:50 p.m.?

Mr. LOTT. First of all, I thank the Senator for working with us to get what I believe to be a fair amount of time and a vote on each issue. We will not be able to amend it to allow for that vote. We have to have the option for a motion to table.

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

Mr. LOTT. If I might say to the Senator's objection, I think this is a fair way to consider this issue. The Senators have time to state their position on both sides of the issue and we could then come to a vote on both of them. My effort here is to try to get it set up in that way where each side gets a fair vote, each side gets a fair time to debate it. I hope the Senator will give consideration to that. If the Senator likes, until we can decide exactly how we might proceed, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today, the Senate pauses to recognize Senator Jeff Sessions, who has now presided over the Senate for one hundred hours during the 105th Congress. It is a long-standing tradition in the U.S. Senate to award these members with the golden gavel. Since the 1960's, the golden gavel has served to mark a Senator's 100th presiding hour and continues to represent our appreciation for the time that these dedicated members contribute to presiding over the U.S. Senate--a very important duty. With respect to presiding, Senator Sessions and his conscientious staff have worked to assist with presiding difficulties when scheduling difficulties arose. It is with sincere appreciation that I announce to the Senate the latest recipient of the Golden Gavel Award--Senator Jeff Sessions.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I would like to say we have worked on it and I think we have made some progress. These are all interrelated or connected, because it does involve the Internet with regard to filtering, to keep out certain programs in our schools; and of course the tax question. There has been a lot of work that has gone on in that area, working not only with the companies that would be affected, then, the Internet companies, but working with Governors and mayors, making sure that all points of view are involved. But the pornography question is a very, very important part of it all and it does relate to the Internet. In fact, there have been indications just recently that even more pornography than what is already there is planned for the future, free and accessible to everybody. So, for now, I think we should keep the three together, but we will continue to work with the minority and see if we can get an agreement to clear all three of them or consider just doing two of them if all else fails. I think we should not neglect any of these.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 436, S. 1482, and it be considered under the following limitations: 1 hour of debate equally divided on the bill; one amendment offered by Senator Durbin, regarding reviews of criminal records, 30 minutes of debate equally divided; one amendment offered by Senator Moseley-Braun and Senator Durbin relating to Internet predators, 30 minutes of debates equally divided; one amendment offered by Senator Dodd regarding blocking software, 30 minutes of debate equally divided. No other amendments will be in order to the bill. I further ask consent that following the expiration or yielding back of debate time, and the disposition of the above-listed amendments, the bill will be read for a third time and the Senate will proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, with no intervening action or debate. I further ask consent that the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 437, S. 1619, and it be considered under the following limitations: 1 hour of debate equally divided on the bill, 30 minutes for Senator Murray; one Dodd amendment regarding America Online, 30 minutes equally divided; one Feingold amendment, text of S. 900, 30 minutes equally divided; and one relevant amendment offered by Senator Burns, 2 hours equally divided. I further ask unanimous consent that following the expiration or yielding back of the debate time and the disposition of the above amendments, the bill be read the third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, with no intervening action or debate. I finally ask consent that S. 442, the Internet tax bill, be referred to the Committee on Finance, and, further, that if the bill has not been reported by July 30, it be automatically discharged from the Finance Committee and placed on the calendar. Now, I might just say before the Chair puts the question on this agreement, this would be the process whereby we bring to the floor the Internet filtering bill, the Internet pornography bill, and the Internet tax bill. So I did ask consent that it incorporate a process to bring all three of these very important matters to the floor of the Senate.