Date: 1982-09-23
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I recognize the position that the distinguished rqajority leader is in. This bill has been before the Senate since August 16. as he !ndicated earlier today. a period of 5 weeks. During that 5 weeks. the majority leader has carried out commitments which he has made as best he can. The 5 weeks have been absorbed. for the most part. however. in debate on amendments that came from the other side of the aisle. They dealt with abortion and they dealt with school prayer. Now. there are some Senators on this side of the aisle who would like to have an opportunity at some point to debateand I hope we could achieve a time agreementto debate and act upon the Jobs bill. and the unemployment compensation bill. I had earlier intended to mention the crime bill on which there is a time agreement. but the dictinguished majority leader has already indicated that there will be an opportunity to take that bill up and that he will move to take that one up. But the third measure I have in mind is a bill that was placed on the calendar to improve job training and job placement programs and educational assistance programs for veterans. We feel. on this side of the aisle. out of fairness to those in the minority who strongly support these three measures. that there ought to be some opportunity to debate and vote on these three measures. We would like to have an upordown vote. but even If it were rot an upordown vote. we would like to have debate. brief debate. at least. and an opportunity to offer these amendments and get a vote on themeven though not necessarily on this bill. When this measure is sent to the committee. if it is sent to the committee in accordance with the motion. it comes back clean. Amendments can be offered to the measure. The instructions can also be amended so as to get a vote on these measures that I have mentioned. I would hope that we could work out some orderly procedure. however. whereby the majority leader could schedule these measures at his convenience before we go out before the election so that those on this side who have sat for 5 weeks listening to debates on amendments on abortion and on school prayer would have an opportunity to vote on measures which affect the economy of this country. and which affect the employment of people throughout the country. In my State we have about 10.000 coal miners out of work. We have several thousand steelworkers out of work. We have several hundred persons who have lost their jobs at Kaiser Aluminum at Ravenswood. We have high unemployment all over the State. There are going to be other West Virginians who face the prospect of losing their jobs. We think It only fair that we have an opportunity at some point during the next week to briefly debate and have a vote on these measures. I would like to support the majority leaders motion to send the measure back to the committee and strip it of its amendments. There is at least one amendment. and maybe two. however. that the majority leader and I joined in adding to the bill. One dealt with the Senate gymnasium. I have discussed this with the distinguished majority leader. It would be our plan. I hope. to do something about that proposition at some point. The majorIty leader will speak for himself. We are in agreement on the necessity for dealing with that matter aC some point. I would like to support the distinguished majority .leader in moving to recommit the measure. clearing it of the amendments. While I might not vote for the bill as passed by the House. I think the decision of some Senators on this side of the aisle with respect to at least the final vote on the House bill may depend on whether or not we can get some assurance that there will be an opportunity for us to have a debate and vote on the jobs bill and on the unemployment compensation bill. and on the measure that pertains to assistance to veterans. The majority leader is a man of his word. in whatever he says. If he can give some assurance that he will attempt to give us a vehicle or give us an opportunity or call the bills off the calendarthey are all on the calendarand debate for a short time those bills. it would be appreciated even if a motion to table is made. We understand that is a Senators right to so move. We do feel. Mr. President. that in all fairness we are entitled to a vote on or in relation to these three matters before the Senate goes out. They are on the calendar and they can be called up. or at least a motion can be made to call them up. by any Senator. I would just hope that the majority leader could give us some assurance today. however. that he will do whatever Is within his power to see that we get this opportunity. I think this would help in getting the votes on this side of the aisle for the final passage of the House bill without amendments once it comes back from the committee. I am not urging that we call up these amendments to the bill after it is brought back before the Senate. though that is open to any Senator. I am not urging that we do that. I would like assurance. if the majority leader can give it. that we will have an opportunity to take up these issues at some point before the Senate goes out. We will not debate them for 5 weeks as these other matters have been debated. We can debate them for 1 hour. as far as I am concerned. and have a vote. But if the majority leader. after listening to my request. can give that assurance. I think there are many on this side who will appreciate the opportunity to vote on these measures.