December 13, 2018 - Issue: Vol. 164, No. 197 — Daily Edition115th Congress (2017 - 2018) - 2nd Session

[Pages S7597-S7598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 725--MODIFYING EXTENDED DEBATE IN THE SENATE TO 
                    IMPROVE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

  Mr. MERKLEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 725

       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. EXTENDED DEBATE.

       Paragraph 2 of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the 
     Senate is amended by striking the second undesignated 
     paragraph and inserting the following:
       `` `Is it the sense of the Senate that the debate shall be 
     brought to a close?' And unless that question shall be 
     decided in the negative by one more than two-fifths of the 
     Senators duly chosen and sworn (except on a measure or motion 
     to amend the Senate rules, in which case the necessary vote 
     shall be two-thirds of the Senators present and voting in the 
     affirmative, a quorum being present), then cloture has been 
     invoked.
       ``If that question is on disposition of a bill or joint 
     resolution, a resolution or concurrent resolution, a 
     substitute amendment for a bill or resolution, a motion with 
     respect to amendments between the Houses, a conference 
     report, or advice and consent to a nomination or treaty, and 
     if such question shall be decided in the affirmative by a 
     majority of Senators voting, a quorum being present, and in 
     the negative by more than two-fifths of the Senators duly 
     chosen and sworn (or in the affirmative by less than two-
     thirds of the Senators voting, a quorum being present, in the 
     case of a measure or motion to amend the Senate rules), then 
     it shall be in order for the Majority Leader (or his or her 
     designee) to initiate a period of extended debate upon the 
     measure, motion, or other matter pending before the Senate, 
     or the unfinished business, in relation to which the motion 
     to close debate was offered, in which case the period of 
     extended debate shall begin one hour later.
       ``During a period of extended debate, such measure, motion, 
     or other matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished 
     business, shall be the unfinished business to the exclusion 
     of all other business, except on action or motion by the 
     Majority Leader (or his or her designee).
       ``During a period of extended debate it shall not be in 
     order for a Senator other than the Majority Leader (or his or 
     her designee) to raise a question as to the presence of a 
     quorum, except immediately prior to a vote

[[Page S7598]]

     or when it has been more than forty-eight hours since a 
     quorum was demonstrated. If upon a roll call it shall be 
     ascertained that a quorum is not present, then the Senate 
     shall adjourn to a time previously decided by order of the 
     Senate or, if no such time has been established, then to a 
     time certain determined by the Majority Leader, after 
     consultation with the Minority Leader.
       ``During a period of extended debate a motion to adjourn or 
     recess shall not be in order, unless made by the Majority 
     Leader (or his or her designee) or if the absence of a quorum 
     has been demonstrated. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of rule 
     XIX, there shall be no limit to the number of times a Senator 
     may speak upon any question during a period of extended 
     debate.
       ``If, during the course of extended debate, the Presiding 
     Officer puts any question to a vote, the Majority Leader (or 
     his or her designee) may postpone any such vote, which shall 
     occur at a time determined by the Majority Leader, after 
     consultation with the Minority Leader, but not later than the 
     time at which a quorum is next demonstrated.
       ``If at any time during a period of extended debate no 
     Senator seeks recognition, then the Presiding Officer shall 
     inquire as to whether any Senator seeks recognition. If no 
     Senator seeks recognition, then the Presiding Officer shall 
     again put the question as to bringing debate to a close (and 
     the Majority Leader or his or her designee may postpone such 
     vote in accordance with the preceding paragraph), which shall 
     be decided without further debate or intervening motion. If 
     that question shall be decided in the affirmative by a 
     majority of Senators voting, a quorum being present, then 
     cloture has been invoked and the period of extended debate 
     has ended. If that question shall be decided in the negative 
     by a majority of Senators voting, a quorum being present, 
     then the period of extended debate has ended.
       ``If cloture is invoked, then the measure, motion, other 
     matter pending before the Senate, or the unfinished business, 
     in relation to which the motion to close debate was offered, 
     shall remain the unfinished business to the exclusion of all 
     other business until disposed of.''.

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