Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

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

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this amendment would expand the flexibility available to OPM in providing services to CSRS and FERS annuitants in such functions as processing health benefits enrollment changes, changes of address and responding to annuitant inquiries. All of these postadjudication matters would be funded in the same way, and therefore fully integrated with the postretirement COLA adjustments, Federal and State tax withholding and allotments from annuity payments. It is my understanding it has been cleared on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this amendment before the Senate provides authority to the General Services Administration to negotiate payment for housing the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC. It is my understanding this amendment, too, has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this is a technical amendment that strikes a provision which is identical to a provision which appears at another place in the bill. It has been cleared, I understand, on both sides of the aisle.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this amendment will solve problems that agencies, the Office of Personal Management, and the Federal employee health benefit carriers have experienced with regard to payment of health care premiums by allowing agencies to advance the employee premium for employees on leave without pay, rather than waiting for the employees to return to work. I understand this has been cleared on both sides.

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

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

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

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I have another amendment, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, the committee included language in the bill when it was reported to require the Administrative Office of the Courts to do a space utilization study of courtroom space and utilization. Since the bill was reported from the committee, the AOC has been working with the appropriate authorizing committees to review courtroom space and utilization. These issues should appropriately be reviewed in this manner. It is for that reason I am moving to strike this provision. It has been cleared on both sides.

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

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

Mr. SHELBY. I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. SHELBY

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