John Cornyn: “One of the concerns I personally have about the unanimous consent request that will be proffered is it would not allow…”

“One of the concerns I personally have about the unanimous consent request that will be proffered is it would not allow for any amendments to be made. I just point out to the distinguished Democratic leader my own concern that, as he pointed out, this has not actually been voted out by the Judiciary Committee, but it has been through a number of committee hearings, three of which I have chaired, and I believe there have been at least two others chaired on this important issue by the Judiciary Committee and others. I am concerned with the offer that we have an up-or-down vote on this matter on Wednesday, without the opportunity for anyone to offer amendments. That is a concern I have shared with the majority leader and others. Indeed, it was just last week on the class action bill, where the majority leader offered that piece of legislation but filled the amendment tree so there was no opportunity for our friends on the other side to offer an amendment, they objected mightily because no amendments were allowed. So I remind my colleagues that if it is a concern that you cannot offer amendments on a piece of ordinary legislation, it is doubly a matter of concern--at least it is to me, and I speak for myself--where there would be no opportunity to offer amendments on this legislation.”