Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. LOTT. If Senator Byrd will yield, I note that just a few minutes ago we even had a 99-0 vote on an amendment that the sponsor was perfectly willing to have accepted by a voice vote. Actually, we have a limited number of amendments here. I would hope some of them would not be offered or could be withdrawn or could be accepted in the manager's package. We should be close to finishing this legislation. We had indicated for days, including at the beginning of this bill, that we needed to complete action tonight because we have other very important work to do this week. I know Senators Kennedy, Jeffords, and others were ready to go back to the education bill in the morning. That, too, is very important. And we need the time to go into conference between the Members of this body and the other body and complete action on this very important legislation. I know of no legislation that will be more important than what we are doing tonight. I have been very diligent as all Senators know, in trying to be respectful of Senators' needs to do other events. It is getting harder and harder. There is an event every night. There are events during the day. And we try to accommodate all Senators. But I think that as close as we are, and as far as we have come, if the Senators will just forbear--and we will work with the managers of the legislation--we could complete it tonight. I am afraid if we stop now and come back tomorrow, the number of amendments will grow. We have not been able to get a limit or agreement to withhold on amendments. I had hoped we could do that. As difficult as it may be, Senators are minding the store, staying in the Chamber. Most of these votes have been occurring in less than 12 minutes, or 15 minutes at the most. If we will continue on, we should be able to complete this by midnight and then go on to other important legislation. I thank Senator Byrd for yielding to me in order to respond to his question.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I know from past experience in the Senate, and from observing the Senate from the House, there have been many occasions when the Senate stayed late, beyond even midnight. I believe one time, in the case of a gas deregulation bill, they went very late. There is need to finish this legislation tonight. If it goes over to tomorrow, we should just continue going. This is very important legislation, to be followed by other very important legislation. If we had some sort of understanding, some finite list of amendments, that would be certainly worth considering. It is important, from my conversation with Senator Daschle, to note even now, without completing this legislation, we still will have work to do on Friday and possibly Saturday. Again, it is important that we complete this work. It is important that we complete it so we can go on and begin the conference and go back to the education bill. It is not that late by comparison. I urge the Senate to continue its work. I know there had been a feeling that we should not complete it tonight. We need to do it. We have been working on this legislation one way or another for at least 3 months. We know how the final result will go, and I urge the Senate to move forward with the amendments that are offered and get to a final conclusion tonight.

Mr. LOTT. If the Senator will yield, there has been no end to the amendments that might be offered. I know a number of Senators have three or four more amendments. I would be interested in seeing if we can get an agreement on the amendments that would be proposed. That would give us something we could at least consider. But in the meantime, we could continue to make progress on the legislation while we are seeing if there is some sort of list that can be developed. I think that to stop now, without even knowing what the final product is going to be, what amendments might be offered or when the final conclusion would come, is not the way to proceed. I know there are those who don't want us to ever complete this legislation. I understand that. But we have had a full debate. We have complied with the rules that apply. And we have made it very clear for days, including before we began this series of votes, that our intent was to go until we concluded. At this point, let's proceed with the amendments that are pending. I believe Senator Feingold has an amendment that he is ready to offer, and I would be glad to discuss with anybody what the final package of amendments, what list of amendments might be developed, and we will see where we are. I will be glad to yield to Senator Nickles.

Mr. LOTT. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I seek recognition under leader time so I can propound a unanimous consent request and get an understanding as to how we are going to proceed at this point. First of all, I think it is unfortunate that we see there is a delay being forced. I understand there are Senators who think we have gone late enough tonight and would like for us to resume tomorrow. It is very important we complete this work, and obviously we will not go to any other legislation until we complete this very important work of the people. I have listened to Senators on both sides of the aisle and am trying to find a way to give Senators a chance to offer their amendments and have them considered. I hope that it will not be delayed indefinitely. Certainly that would be a subversion of the rules, but we will take a time out here and hopefully tomorrow Senators will be prepared to resume our work and bring it to a conclusion. I believe Senator Daschle intends to work with me and the managers of the legislation to try to find a way to bring this debate to a reasonable conclusion. But I emphasize again, we have work we need to do this week, and if we have to go on into Friday or Saturday, I think we should be prepared to do that. Senators on both sides have indicated they would be willing to do that.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, and following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the Senate resume voting with respect to H.R. 1836, with 2 minutes prior to each vote for explanation and all succeeding votes in the series limited to 10 minutes in length. I further ask unanimous consent that all amendments remaining in order, other than a series of cleared amendments to be offered by the managers, must be contained on a list that will be submitted by the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, after 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I renew my request that the Senate complete its business today and stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, and following the prayer, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the Senate resume voting with respect to H.R. 1836, with 2 minutes prior to each vote for explanation and all succeeding votes in the series be limited to 10 minutes in length.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.

Mr. LOTT

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

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, Senator Daschle, Senator Reid, Senator Nickles, the managers, and I have been working to try to come up with an agreed to process to complete action for tonight and complete action on this legislation by the close of business on Monday. I think we have come to an agreement on a very fair proposal. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate resumes consideration of the reconciliation bill at 9:30 on Monday, there be 6 hours equally divided for amendment debate and 2 hours equally divided between each leader or designee for general debate and closing remarks. I further ask consent all remaining first-degree amendments be limited to 1 hour instead of the 2 we had been having, and second-degree amendments be limited to 30 minutes. I further ask consent that a vote occur in relation to the Carnahan amendment beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, that no second-degree amendments be in order, and there be 2 minutes for explanation prior to the vote. I further ask consent when the Senate resumes consideration of the bill on Monday, the Senate immediately resume consideration of the Gregg amendment numbered 656.

Mr. LOTT. That is right, one; so there will be 30 minutes on each side. The 1 hour is equally divided. I also note that we will continue tonight--but with this agreement, the vote we just had would be the final vote--and we go to the following amendments: Collins for 30 minutes; Carnahan for 20 minutes; Rockefeller for 30 minutes; Bayh for 30 minutes; and Harkin for 30 minutes, if they wish to come and offer their amendments.

Mr. LOTT. Senator Hatch has an amendment to do tonight.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I believe that is the intent; they would be laid aside and voted in sequence in the order they are offered. And Senator Landrieu is added to the list for tonight, 30 minutes.

Mr. LOTT. After we get this agreement, we can continue tonight. The amendments we have arranged tonight are Collins, 30 minutes; Carnahan, 20 minutes; Rockefeller for 30 minutes; Bayh for 30 minutes; Harkin for 30 minutes; Landrieu for 30 minutes; and Senator Graham tonight also for 30 minutes after Senator Landrieu. I ask unanimous consent Senator Hatch be the next Republican amendment on Monday after the Gregg amendment. So it is the Gregg amendment, a Democrat amendment, and then Senator Hatch.

Mr. LOTT. So I amend the agreement, and I am sure we will get all this straight momentarily, that the Wellstone amendment comes after the Gregg amendment, and that is followed by Hatch on Monday.

Mr. LOTT. I certainly amend the request to that extent. Let me say to all of our colleagues, we are not closing up shop. Members will have an opportunity to offer these amendments Monday at a time that hopefully will be convenient. Senator Byrd will be added to the list, I believe, after Senator Hatch, if that is what he is asking, but I don't think Members will be excluded if they are not on the list now. Are the managers around?

Mr. LOTT. You have it.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if we could get this agreement entered into, we have additional time that Senators have, thankfully, agreed to for tonight. Let's get the manager and look at the time and get with the Senators and get this order lined up. I know Senator Baucus and Senator Grassley will find a way to accommodate the Senators who want to offer amendments. We need to have some flow in terms of getting amendments on this side among the others. If we get this agreement, we will ask Senator Reid and Senator Nickles to work with these other Senators to make sure Senators are on the list.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I want to make sure we have this list lined up. I would like to have the managers work with us on this. I feel uncomfortable trying to arrange all the amendments. But a request has been made we put Senator Dorgan on that list for Monday. I think we need to see if there is a Republican amendment to come after Senator Byrd before Senator Dorgan. We will continue to alternate. Senator Dodd, we will accept him now and be done with it. Senator Dodd will be on the list.

Mr. LOTT. I believe your request was for tonight.

Mr. LOTT. It is 30 unless you would like to have less.

Mr. LOTT. Senators Collins, Carnahan, Rockefeller, Bayh, Harkin, Landrieu, and Graham if offered.