November 29, 1979
Page 34033
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, in order to give the various Senators and their staffs ample time in which to work on the various aspects that have been discussed, I should like to see if it might be possible to take up the bill which was to have been taken up on Saturday. I hope it will be possible to take up the bill S. 1918, since we have a window in the day on tomorrow and, hopefully, dispose of that bill. It is under a time agreement. If I do that, it will be with the understanding that the Senate will not stay on that bill any longer than, probably, 1 o'clock. I assure the Senator that that will be done, because, before we go out today, I shall make the pending excess profits tax the unfinished business. That means that a call for the regular order will at any time bring down any other bill.
Mr. BRADLEY. May I ask the majority leader, what is the time agreement on the bill?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. The time agreement on the bill is as follows: There will be debate limited to 3 hours on the bill and debate on any amendment would be limited to 30 minutes, except on an Armstrong amendment of 40 minutes.
The Senator can be assured that the bill I hope to bring up, if the managers on both sides are ready to work on it tomorrow, will not be an obstacle to progress on the excess profits tax bill. Because, as I say, the excess profits tax bill will be brought back up tomorrow at any time that the managers are ready to go and the problems have been worked out. We would have an understanding that whatever action remains on S. 1918 would go over until further time.
Mr. BRADLEY. I have no objection.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. I thank the Senator.
Also, we are having some problems, I understand, in connection with budget waivers. I want to address this question to the distinguished Senator from Maine (Mr. MUSKIE)
I understand there is a problem in connection with the budget waiver, a problem in relation to S. 1648, a bill to provide for improving the Nation's airport and airway system.
I had scheduled that bill for the first thing Saturday morning. What is the prospect for a budget waiver in time to take that up on Saturday morning?
Mr. MUSKIE. Let me advise the distinguished majority leader that there are some problems with respect to the budget waiver. I have discussed those with Senator CANNON and we are in the process, as I understand it, of trying to work out, if we can, a resolution of those problems.
In the meantime, two members of the Budget Committee have requested a Budget Committee meeting to discuss those problems and it does not seem likely we could hold that meeting before Monday.
Normally, we hold these whenever we can, as the majority leader knows.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes.
Mr. MUSKIE. Whenever a member requests meetings, we try to hold them.
It may be that the requested meeting may be aborted if we can resolve the problem. So I will know better tomorrow.
But, at the moment, I see no bright prospect that we could resolve the waiver problems before Saturday.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Very well.
I thank the Senator. It will help the leadership have a better understanding of what the prospects might be and, in turn, help the membership.
Mr. DOLE addressed the Chair.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. I will yield to the Senator briefly. I just want to tie down the other bill, if I can, for action on tomorrow.
Mr. DOLE. Will the Senator yield me 1 minute to introduce an amendment on gasohol, and to indicate that the other cosponsor (Mr. BAYH) will be coming to the floor later to speak on the amendment.
Can I have 1 minute without the Senator losing his right to the floor?
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Certainly. It is for printing and calling up at a later time.
Mr. DOLE. Just for printing.
Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Yes. I yield for that purpose.