Trent Lott

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I believe the time is reserved for the next hour or 40 minutes or so for the Democratic leadership. Since there is no Democrat seeking recognition at this point, I yield myself time out of my leader time to make some brief remarks.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, there is one other subject on which I want to touch. Later today we will consider the nomination of Robert Zoellick to be the U.S. Trade Representative. That vote will occur at 4:15 p.m. I am satisfied that he will be confirmed, and he should be confirmed. He has a tremendous record in terms of education and experience and previous administrations in the private sector. I believe he will be a strong USTR. I want to add that I am very much concerned about what I see happening in the trade area. I want the U.S. Trade Representative to be strong. I am concerned about dictates I have seen in the past by both Democrat and Republican administrations, where the State Department or the Commerce Department goes to the White House and stops our Trade Representative from enforcing the trade laws. Free trade, yes, but also fair trade and enforce the laws on the books. Canada is not dealing with us fairly when it comes to soft wood lumber and wheat. Our closest neighbor, perhaps our best friend in the world, and we cannot get them to live up to the trade agreement we have with them. While we see increased trade in Mexico and Central America, that is good. We have certain problems with Mexico, too. In Europe, for heavens' sake, the first two decisions that the WTO made the Europeans basically have thumbed their nose at. I suggested to Mr. Zoellick, to quote a former great Senator from Georgia, Richard Russell, ``I think we ought to have an American desk at the U.S. Trade Representative's office.'' Somebody needs to speak for America and quit quaking in our boots about the diplomatic impact it would have with Canada if we say enforce the law. Enforce the law. I made that statement to Mr. Zoellick privately and in the Finance Committee hearings, and I am going to do so when he is confirmed. I thought Charlene Barshefsky of the previous administration was a good U.S. Trade Representative up until the last year. Then I think she was overrun by the election year and the State Department and all kinds of other people. I think she was tougher than most Trade Representatives. Overall, she did a good job, particularly in the high-tech area. In agriculture, she was not quite so good. But I am worried. I have supported all of these trade agreements we voted on over the years-- GATT, NAFTA, Africa and CBI trade, and China PNTR. But I am getting really fed up with the way we are being treated by our trading partners. I am even more fed up with the way our administrations don't insist on the laws being enforced. So I have urged Mr. Zoellick to do that. I believe he will. I hope he will. If he does not, I can assure him and this administration and our trading partners that a strong letter to follow and action will be taken to be commensurate with how I feel about this issue. We have to have some change in how we deal with our trading partners. Now is the time, at the beginning of a new administration. Without being overly critical, it has been both Republican and Democrat administrations. It is time we look after American interests in the trade area as well as in the diplomatic, economic, and military areas. I know others will say things such as this, and in the Finance Committee some of my friends on the Democratic side were surprised to hear me say this and liked it. I don't mean to sound as if I am some sort of a traditional protectionist, but fair is fair. I don't think our trading partners are dealing with us fairly right now. I support this nomination, and I will urge a vote for his confirmation. I yield the floor.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, this is a remarkable day in American history. Today we celebrate the 90th birthday of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. As a Senate, we send to him our heartfelt best wishes for his continued recovery from a recent surgery and we thank him for all that he has done to make America, the Shining City on the Hill. Ronald Regan stands in the first rank of freedom's pantheon. Happy Birthday, Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that an article highlighting Ronald Reagan's early journey through politics, Rehearsals for the Lead Role, written by John Meroney, associate editor of The American Enterprise, 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. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, either on March 19, 2001, or March 26, 2001, the Rules Committee be immediately discharged from consideration of S. 27, as introduced, and the Senate shall return to its immediate consideration. I further ask unanimous consent that following the reporting of the bill by the clerk, the bill become the pending business, to the exclusion of all other business, except for a motion to temporarily postpone consideration of the pending legislation made by the Republican leader, following approval of the Democratic leader, and that no call for the regular order serve to displace this item, except one made by the Republican leader, also after the approval of the Democratic leader. I ask unanimous consent that when a first-degree amendment is offered, there be up to 3 hours evenly divided in the usual form for debate only, after which a motion to table may be made. If a motion to table fails, the amendment then be fully debatable and amendable. Further, that if the motion to table is not made at the expiration of the 3 hours, a vote occur on the amendment without intervening action, motion or debate, provided that no point of order be considered as having been waived by this agreement.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I respond to the Senator from South Dakota that I will, after this agreement is entered into, follow that immediately with an agreement with regard to the Hollings constitutional amendment, which I assume will also be agreed to.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, would the Senator like to be heard at this point? I will be glad to yield to Senator McCain for comment before I go to the next consent.

Mr. LOTT. I believe that colloquy also includes Senator Daschle. I think the three of us are included.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if I could get a clarification, the Senator is reserving the right to object?

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask that Senator McCain withhold that request until he can consult further with his colleague. I presume there would be no problem at that point.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, while the Senators are consulting, we are going to have a colloquy. Let me add to what has been said by Senators McCain and Feingold, and I know Senator Daschle feels the same way. This is a fair and very open agreement. I guess there is plenty of opportunity for mischief, if somebody on either side decides to cause it. I guess we could get tangled up on many issues, completely unrelated to election and campaign finance reform. But we are trying to all act in good faith. We are going to have to try to do that. The way this is constructed, Senators should have an opportunity to offer amendments, have those amendments debated for a reasonable period of time--3 hours is a good bit of time--and get a vote. Then if that doesn't carry, then a second degree could be offered or other amendments could be offered. I suppose that one example of the kind of mischief you can have is a Senator could get the floor and talk for a long time without ever offering an amendment and eat up 2 hours before he or she ever lays down their amendment. Then there would be 3 hours. That is not good faith. That would be violating the spirit of what we are doing here. Three hours is enough time to talk and have a vote. I have said all along, unlike in the past, I think everybody ought to have a chance to make their case and get a vote. I also think that 2 weeks is long enough. In that period of time, if you get to figuring the amount of time we are going to be in, a number of amendments could be offered. I don't know whether it will wind up being 15 or 25. But there will be plenty of opportunity, and more, for amendments to be offered and then to wrap it up. I think, hopefully, we will get a vote on final passage of the end product and move on. I am going to think that bad faith, again, is at play if we are into the middle of the third week, or if it goes beyond that, when we should be taking up the budget resolution instead or taking up some other issue, such as energy, or any other matter. I think we have a fair parameter in terms of how amendments can be offered, debated, voted on, and come to a conclusion within a 2-week period of time. I ask that Senators on both sides of the aisle try to live up not only to the specifics of the agreement and the colloquy, but the spirit in which it has been put together.

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I am pleased to come to the floor today to share with my colleagues the discussions that the Senator from Arizona and I have been having on campaign reform. I appreciate the Senator's willingness to work through this issue, and I believe that we have come up with a fair arrangement.

Mr. LOTT. Under this agreement, the President will have some time to introduce his agenda to the American people and to the Congress. I believe that the agreement we have reached will allow us to begin work on some of these issues, while ensuring that campaign, political, and election reform is addressed early. It is my hope that we will be able to move expeditiously on both education reform and the budget resolution in the next 2 months. To that end, should we have a budget resolution ready for floor consideration prior to March 19, we will consider the resolution first. If the budget is not ready within that timeframe, we will consider campaign, political and election reform first, to be followed by consideration of the budget in early April.

Mr. LOTT. It is my intention to call up S. 27, the McCain-Feingold bill, within the time frame we have discussed. I also believe that we should have a full and open debate. I expect that many of my colleagues have ideas on campaign reform, political reform and election reform that warrant consideration by the Senate. The amendments, I hope, should be on the subjects of campaign reform, political reform and election reform. In addition, I do not anticipate a circumstance arising that will compel me to use my prerogatives as majority leader to fill up the amendment tree. I anticipate that we will have a full, open and spirited debate on any amendment offered to the Senate for consideration. Let me be clear, we intend to allow an opportunity for all amendments to be considered. Therefore, I do not expect that any major striking amendments, or the so-called wrap around amendments will be offered toward the end of the Senate's consideration. I intend to complete action on the bill, working long hours if necessary, within 2 weeks.

Mr. LOTT. As the Senator from Arizona is aware, every Senator has rights in this regard. However, I would discourage any efforts to filibuster this measure, and do not anticipate a filibuster of this bill. In fact, it is my expectation that the Senate will finish deliberations of campaign, political and election reform within 2 weeks of commencing action on it. I am determined to stick to this schedule, even if we must work through the weekend to complete action.

Mr. LOTT. I thank my colleague from Arizona.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have had a number of conversations over the past several days with Senator McCain and Senator Feingold, with the Democratic leadership, Senator McConnell, Senator Hollings, Senator Nickles, a whole number of Senators have been involved in this, Senators Dodd and Levin, in coming to an agreement on how to proceed on the election campaign reform issue. We have come to agreement here that everybody seems to be satisfied with at this time. I would like to enter this unanimous consent request. I actually have three. One is dealing with how to handle the campaign finance reform issue. The next one is the Hollings constitutional amendment, and then also a consent regarding the U.N. dues and its consideration on the floor of the Senate beginning tomorrow.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 1 p.m. Wednesday, February 7, the Senate proceed to the U.N. dues bill, if reported by the Foreign Relations Committee, and all amendments offered be relevant to the subject matter and cleared by both managers. I further ask consent that if the committee has not reported the bill by 1 p.m., it be immediately discharged and the Senate proceed immediately to its consideration.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, when the Senate receives from the House H.J. Res. 7 relating to the birthday of former President Ronald Reagan, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be considered read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements thereon be printed in the Record.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until the hour of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 7. I further ask that on Wednesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of the proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then proceed to a period for morning business until 1 p.m. to be divided in the following fashion: The time between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. be divided as follows: Senator Lott or designee under 30 minutes, Senator Lieberman in control of 15 minutes, Senator Durbin or designee in control of 15 minutes, Senator Thomas or designee controlling the time between 11 and 12 noon, Senator Byrd controlling the time between 12 and 1 p.m.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during or immediately following the disposition of the McCain-Feingold legislation, S. 27, the Hollings-Specter constitutional amendment legislation then become the pending business and that it be considered under the following limitations: That no amendments be in order to the constitutional amendment; 5 hours to be divided as follows: 2 hours under the control of Senator Hollings, 2 hours under the control of Senator Hatch or his designee, and 1 hour equally divided between the Republican and Democratic leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate, without intervening action, motion, or debate, proceed to vote on passage of the constitutional amendment.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order following the remarks of the distinguished Democratic leader.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, on Wednesday, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 1 p.m. under the order. At 1 p.m., the Senate will begin consideration of S. 248, the U.N. dues legislation. A minimal amount of debate is expected on the legislation. Therefore, it is expected that a vote will occur during tomorrow afternoon's session. On Thursday, the Senate will begin consideration of the pipeline safety bill. I hope the Senate can complete consideration of that bill prior to the week's adjournment.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I now ask for its second reading, and I object to my own request.

Mr. LOTT

Mr. LOTT. I certainly would not object to that. I do wish to speak briefly myself. I believe I would be in control of the time after that.