The bill was sponsored by U.S. Sens. Robert Byrd, West Virginia, and Pete Domenici, New Mexico. Today's vote demonstrates the deep concern by the majority of our senators over the problem with illegal steel imports. Cloture, which needs at least 60 of 100 Senate votes for passage, is a procedure that requires the senators to debate and vote on a bill in 30 hours or less. Cloture limits debate on a bill, permits only relevant amendments and requires the Senate to take a vote within or at the end of the 30-hour time limit. Without cloture, a filibuster can occur and amendments can be attached that are not related to the bill's contents.
Unrelated amendments can cause the bill to be altered or dropped from consideration.
Cloture eliminates any chance for further delay on this bill. The Senate will soon have the bill presented to them, debate it and vote within a short period of time. In addition, we sincerely thank Sen. Byrd for his sponsorship of this bill and his colleagues who supported this issue. H.R. 1664 would provide guaranteed low-interest loans to eligible U.S. steel companies that have been injured by the flood of steel imports during the past 18 months. The U.S. oil and gas industry, with many of its companies located within Sen. Domenici's state, also would be eligible for such loans because it too has suffered from imports.