Arlen Specter

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the second amendment offered by the Senator from Nevada to add $10 million to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health that would come from administrative costs, is what we think a worthwhile objective. We are candid to say that the charges to administration are now very heavy. So it would be my intention to accept this amendment, subject to the understanding that we are going to have to work out in conference where the funding will come from. After a while, the administrative costs deduction is so overburdened that it becomes intolerable, but subject to that limitation, we will be prepared to accept the amendment on this side. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, with respect to the first amendment by the Senator from Nevada, a sense of the Senate respecting legislation to eliminate or minimize the significant risk of needlestick injury to health care workers, it is my understanding that the Senator from Nevada has such legislation which is pending, and it is obviously a very worthwhile objective. It is my view that we ought to move such legislation as promptly as possible. There is a serious problem and, to the extent it can be eliminated or minimized, I am all for it. We would accept this amendment.

Mr. SPECTER. It is a very big item. The Senator from Oklahoma knows we will do our best.

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SPECTER. If the Senator would yield, on the first point, we have sought to get a list of amendments. We will hopefully seek a unanimous consent agreement by the end of the day as to the amendments which are going to be offered. And we will accommodate the distinguished Senator from South Carolina, although I have never heard Senator Hollings speak for as little as 7 minutes. I am looking forward to that speech myself. Mr. President, I suggest we proceed now with Senator Smith, Senator McCain, and then Senator Hollings.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SPECTER. By all means, we look forward to them being offered.

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

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, coming back to the amendment offered by the Senator from Nevada for $10 million to be added to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health out of administrative costs, we are prepared to take it at this time. Again, this is subject to the understanding that there is quite a bit of money taken out of administrative costs, and this is something we will have to work out in conference.

Mr. SPECTER. Will the Senator from Minnesota yield for an inquiry?

Mr. SPECTER. We have another amendment that is ready to go. We will set Senator Wellstone's aside, obviously. How much longer does the Senator from Minnesota anticipate he wishes to speak?

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, on behalf of our distinguished majority leader, Senator Lott, I have been asked to announce the Senate will immediately resume consideration of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. Under the order, there will be closing remarks by the distinguished Senator from Mississippi, Mr. Cochran, on his pending amendment regarding pilot programs for antimicrobial resistance monitoring and prevention. A vote will occur on the Cochran amendment at 9:45 a.m. Following that vote, we will turn to the amendment offered by the distinguished Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, regarding the Internet. We will be seeking a time agreement on that amendment. We ask all Senators who have amendments to offer to come to the floor. We are trying to establish a list so we can proceed to the disposition of this bill. It is hoped that in the next day or so we could have a unanimous consent agreement which will limit pending amendments so we can proceed to conclude action on this bill. Senator Lott has asked that the announcement be made that rollcall votes may be expected throughout the day. I yield the floor.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of the pending McCain amendment, Senator Reid be recognized in order to call up amendment No. 3526.

Mr. SPECTER. 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, June 27. I further ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, immediately following the prayer, the Journal of 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 resume consideration of the Cochran amendment No. 3625 to the Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill as under the previous order.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, further, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess from the hour of 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. for the weekly policy conferences to meet.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. For the information of all Senators, on Tuesday the Senate will resume consideration of the Labor-HHS-Education bill at 9:30 a.m. Under the order, there will be closing remarks on the Cochran amendment regarding pilot programs for antimicrobial resistance monitoring and prevention with a vote to occur at approximately 9:45. Following the vote, the Senate will continue debate on amendments as they are offered. Senators may anticipate rollcall votes throughout the day.

Mr. SPECTER

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

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending Cochran amendment regarding antimicrobial resistance monitoring agents be laid aside to recur as the pending business at 9:40 a.m. and there be 5 minutes for closing remarks tomorrow morning with a vote to occur on the amendment at 9:45 a.m. with no second-degree amendments in order. I further ask unanimous consent that following that vote, the Senate resume consideration of the McCain amendment regarding the Internet.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on June 26, 2000, by the President of the United States: Investment Treaty with Nicaragua (Treaty Document No. 106-33). Further, I ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time, that it be referred with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed, and that the President's message be printed in the Record.

Mr. SPECTER

Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order following the remarks of Senator Kennedy.

Mr. SPECTER

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