[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 12] [Senate] [Page 16588] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]UNANIMOUS-CONSENT REQUEST--S. 3001 Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 732, S. 3001, the DOD authorization, at a time determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, and that when the bill is considered, the only first-degree amendments in order be those that are germane to S. 3001, H.R. 5668, the House companion measure, and items within the jurisdiction of the House Armed Services Committee, and that the first-degree amendments be subject to second-degree amendments which are germane to the amendment to which it was offered; that upon the disposition of all amendments, the bill be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill; that upon passage, it then be in order for the Senate to consider, en bloc, the following calendar items: Nos. 733, 734, and 735; that all after the enacting clause of each bill be stricken and the following divisions of S. 3001, as passed by the Senate, be inserted as follows: Division A--S. 3002, Division B--S. 3003, Division C--S. 3004; that these bills be read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc; further, that the consideration of these items appear separately in the Record; provided further, that the Senate then proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 758, H.R. 5658, the House companion; that all after the enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 3001, as amended and passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; the bill be read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the title amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that upon passage of H.R. 5658, as amended, the Senate insist on its amendments, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing vote of the two houses, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, with the above occurring with no further intervening action or debate; finally, that in order for a first-degree amendment to be considered in order to the bill, it must be filed at the desk, and comport to the requirements specified above, by 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, 2008; provided further that the bill would not be considered prior to the filing deadline of first- degree amendments. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, although I may not personally have an objection to this, this consent would limit the rights of Senators to offer amendments to the Defense authorization bill. This is an agreement that would need to be cleared by all Senators on both sides. Given the detailed limitations of what can be offered to this bill, I will have to object on behalf of the Members on this side of the aisle. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. Mr. REID. I would say to my friend, the only requirement was that the amendments be germane. There were unlimited amendments as long as they relate to what we are dealing with on our side. Mr. HATCH. On behalf of our side, I have been asked to object. I apologize to my dear friend from Nevada. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. Mr. REID. I understand the objection. The Senator from Utah is certainly not supposed to be totally aware of all that is in the Defense bill. But this agreement would allow scores of amendments because it would be anything that is germane. That is certainly nothing unusual. So I understand. ____________________