Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I yield what time I have to the distinguished Senator from Washington.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I will be brief. But I want to take a couple minutes to commend the Senator from Oregon for having the courage and the foresight and tenacity to push these amendments because they make a lot of sense. All of us travel by the airlines. We want our airlines to do well. We want them to respond to all the people in the market. But we want it to be done upfront and, I think, upright. I am not sure that is going on today. That is why I believe this legislation is necessary. I think it is a step in the right direction. We all go back to the deregulation of the airlines. I want to deregulate everything. But I want competition to be out there in the marketplace, including the airlines, to where people will have a choice. I am not sure we have a choice today in the airline industry because we have such concentration. We all fly. We want some basic rights. I believe the passengers, who are the customers who support the airlines--without customers there will be no airlines--ought to have a say. I believe that is the thrust of the amendments offered by the Senator from Oregon. That is why I support them. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today the Senate will immediately begin 1 hour of debate on the Wyden amendments Nos. 1625 and 1626, both regarding airline reporting. Votes on those amendments have been scheduled to occur at 11 a.m. Further amendments to the Transportation appropriations bill are anticipated. Therefore, Senators may expect votes throughout the day. It is hoped, however, that Senators who have amendments will work with the chairman and the ranking member to schedule the offering of their amendments in a timely manner so we can expedite this bill. Today the Senate may also resume consideration of the Interior appropriations bill in an attempt to complete action on the bill.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Helms amendment, which I understand is the pending business, be temporarily set aside. We are trying to work on a time to vote on it a little later.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I am offering this amendment on behalf of Senator Daschle. It deals with airport eligibility. It has been cleared by both sides of the aisle. I see no opposition to it. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate amendment No. 1663, as modified. This is an amendment I will be offering on behalf of Senator Inhofe dealing with the TARDIS program. It has been modified.

Mr. SHELBY. Will the Senator yield for a UC request?

Mr. SHELBY. I ask unanimous consent that the vote occur on or in relation to the pending amendment at 6:40 p.m. with the time allocated as follows: 30 minutes under the control of Senator Gorton, 40 minutes under the control of Senator Abraham, and 10 minutes under the control of Senator Levin. I further ask that no other amendments be in order prior to the 6:40 vote. I also ask that immediately following that vote, a vote occur on amendment No. 1658, with 2 minutes for explanation prior to the vote. I understand this request has been cleared.

Mr. SHELBY. Therefore, it is my understanding the next two votes will occur on a back-to-back basis at 6:40 p.m. this evening.

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this amendment has been cleared by both sides. I urge its adoption. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate amendment No. 1661.

Mr. SHELBY. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 268, S. 299.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be granted permission to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 15, for purposes of conducting a full committee hearing which is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. The purpose of this hearing is to consider the nominations of David Hayes to be Deputy Secretary of the Interior; Sylvia Baca to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management; and Ivan Itkin to be Director of the Office of the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, the Finance Committee requests unanimous consent to conduct a hearing on Wednesday, September 15, 1999 beginning at 10:00 a.m. in 215 Dirksen.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Governmental Affairs Committee be permitted to meet on Wednesday, September 15, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. for a hearing on the nomination of Sally Katzen to be Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 15, 1999 at 9:30 a.m. to conduct an oversight hearing on the issue of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and Contract Support Costs. The hearing will be held in room 485, Russell Senate Building.