Congressional Record UNUM

E PLURIBUS

United States

of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 104th CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

S 5683

Vol. 141 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1995 No. 68

House of Representatives

The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, May 1, 1995, at 12:30 p.m.

Senate

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1995

(Legislative day of Monday, April 24, 1995)

The Senate met at 10:30 a.m., on the

expiration of the recess, and was called

to order by the President pro tempore

[Mr. THURMOND].

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Our

prayer this morning will be delivered

by the Reverend Dr. T. Warren Moorhead, of the First Baptist Church of

Trion, GA.

PRAYER

The guest Chaplain, the Reverend Dr.

T. Warren Moorhead, offered the following prayer:

May we pray:

Holy God, You are almighty, You

alone are holy. As Lord of the universe,

Sovereign Ruler of nations and men,

and Holy Redeemer of the unborn, the

living, and the dead, we join this Senate today confessing our unworthiness

in Your presence. You are total love.

Through the example of Your son, You

taught us to love one another and to

reach out to our neighbor, as well as

our enemy. But too often we have been

consumed by our own selfish concerns.

Why must it take, O God, a tragedy as

occurred last week to shock our Nation

into realizing the potential evil inherent in every man’s heart and our ultimate hopelessness without the manifestation of Your love in each of us

through Your son, Jesus Christ.

You are God and we are but persons

of clay. We begin this congressional

day by acknowledging Your power and

requesting Your guidance in all deliberations. Holy Father, give the Members of this body not only the wisdom

to know right but also the courage to

do what is right. The Members of this

Chamber are accountable to the people

of these United States but ultimately

to You. Psalms 72 reminds us that You,

God, give rulers Your justice that they

may judge Your people with righteousness, Your poor with compassion, that

they may defend the cause of the destitute, give deliverance to the needy,

and crush the oppressor. Lord, may

You give to the esteemed men and

women of this sacred Chamber the willingness to cooperate with You in promoting justice and righteousness, establishing peace and tranquility across

our troubled land. May we strive for

the day when peace covers the Earth as

water covers the sea.

Holy God, today, great pressures will

be brought to bear on the men and

women of this room. Remind them now

that You allowed the people to elect

them because of their inner strengths

that will protect them from outside

pressures. May the words of their

mouths, the meditations of their

hearts, and the actions of their hands

be acceptable in Your sight this day. In

Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The

distinguished Senator from Georgia is

recognized.

Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I

suggest the absence of a quorum.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The

clerk will call the roll.

The bill clerk proceeded to call the

roll.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask

unanimous consent that the order for

the quorum call be rescinded.

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.

SANTORUM). Without objection, it is so

ordered.

RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME

fThe PRESIDING OFFICER. Under

the previous order, leadership time is

reserved.

COMMONSENSE PRODUCT LIABILITY AND LEGAL REFORM ACT

fThe PRESIDING OFFICER. Under

the previous order, the Senate will now

resume consideration of H.R. 956, which

the clerk will report.

The bill clerk read as follows:

A bill (H.R. 956) to establish legal standards and procedures for product liability litigation, and for other purposes.

Pending:

(1) Gorton amendment No. 596, in the nature of a substitute.

(2) Abraham amendment No. 597 (to amendment No. 596) to provide for equity in legal

fees.

(3) Hollings amendment No. 598 (to amendment No. 597) to establish a limitation on attorneys’ fees in all civil actions to $50 per

hour.

(4) Gorton (for Brown) amendment No. 599

(to amendment No. 596) to restore to rule 11

of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure the

restrictions on frivolous legal actions that

existed prior to 1994.

The Senate resumed consideration of

the bill.

Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, is there

a pending amendment?