Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on a separate issue, today, several of my Senate colleagues and I will be hosting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and members of his Cabinet here in the United States Capitol. I have met with President Abbas on several occasions, most recently during my trip to the Middle East in May and his visit to Washington later that month a few weeks after our visit there. President Abbas is here to discuss ways to move the Middle East peace process forward, and how both sides can fulfill their obligations under the roadmap. Less than 2 months ago, Israel completed its disengagement of settlers and soldiers from all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank. The disengagement was conducted in a smooth and generally peaceful manner. This was a bold and courageous move by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Now President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority face the challenge of creating a secure and stable environment in Gaza. It is vital, it is critical that they succeed. The Palestinian people need to feel tangible improvements in their everyday lives, in their daily welfare, and they need to see that only peaceful dialog and negotiation can lead to a more prosperous future. While coordination between the Israelis and Palestinians during the disengagement was not ideal, it did exist. Prior to the withdrawal, Israeli and Palestinian security officials worked to ensure a peaceful disengagement and to establish a basis for returning to the roadmap. Recently, however, events in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have taken a turn for the worse. Rocket attacks on Israel continued to be launched from the Gaza Strip. In the last 9 months, 219 Palestinians have died in internecine clashes. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Hamas has claimed responsibility for abducting and killing an Israeli settler after issuing demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners. This past weekend, three Jewish settlers were killed and five were wounded in shootings in the West Bank. The Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade has claimed responsibility for these attacks. These events threaten to derail the peace process and to move both sides backward. We have reached a critical juncture in the Middle East peace process. The Israeli disengagement from Gaza offers a tremendous opportunity to get the peace process and the roadmap back on track. To succeed, both sides must fulfill their responsibilities, but this requires a secure environment in order to act. For the Palestinians, this means ending incitement, dismantling the terrorist groups, and disarming the militias. This is what I will impress on President Abbas when I meet with him later today. The violence must be renounced, and it must end. Making progress on these issues can set the stage for Israel to move forward on the release of Palestinian prisoners and relieving restrictions on travel. I commend President Abbas for his leadership. He has made measurable progress in advancing internal reforms in the Palestinian Authority. More is clearly needed, though, and more must be done. For example, the PA security forces must be reformed, unified, and given the mandate to enforce the rule of law and establish order in the West Bank and Gaza. President Abbas needs and deserves our continued support, and the Congress has provided the funding to help the Palestinian people and make reform a reality. The United States remains committed to President Bush's vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. We will continue to work with both parties to fulfill their obligations under the roadmap toward a true and lasting peace. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Stevens now be recognized to offer a first-degree amendment which is relevant to the Coburn amendment No. 2165; provided further, that the Coburn amendment No. 2165 be further modified to be drafted as a first- degree amendment; I further ask consent that there be 5 minutes equally divided in the usual form, and that following that time, the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Coburn amendment No. 2165, to be followed by a vote in relation to the Stevens amendment; provided, that no second-degree amendments be in order to either amendment prior to the votes. I finally ask unanimous consent that if either of the amendments does not achieve 60 votes in the affirmative, that amendment be automatically withdrawn; provided further, that following these votes, the Bingaman amendment No. 2065 be agreed to.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, to my distinguished colleague from Massachusetts, are you talking about the small business reauthorization or the Katrina-focused legislation?

Mr. FRIST. The Senator's question, that it has passed the Senate or is being considered?

Mr. FRIST. The question to me is what, again?

Mr. FRIST. Obviously, we need to focus on small business. We know how important that is in terms of both the flexibility and the release of regulations. The focus on small business is part of that rebuilding and renewal in a smarter way. I would be happy to talk to the Senators who are involved to see how we could address it. I am not going to make any commitment at this point in time, but the Senate has spoken in terms of a very significant vote on the floor. I will be happy to talk to my colleagues about how we can, in some way, accelerate that next week.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I understand there are two bills at the desk and I ask for their first reading, en bloc.

Mr. FRIST. I now ask for a second reading in order to place the bills on the calendar, and under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request en bloc.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning we will start with a 60-minute period for morning business. Following that time, at approximately 10:45 or so, we will return to the pending business, which is the Transportation-Treasury-HUD appropriations bill. We expect to have two votes in relation to the minimum wage issue today. I hope we can schedule those votes early. We need to make substantial progress on the underlying bill today, and I hope we can get back to amendments pertaining to matters within the scope of the bill. The two managers have been on the floor since Monday, and I know they are prepared to bring this bill to a close as soon as possible. I would reiterate again that we will finish this bill this week, with votes on Friday if necessary. In addition to the Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill, we continue to move forward with resolve to meet our overall governing responsibilities. Given the significant, unexpected expenditures for Katrina, the Senate will meet the challenge of making tough choices about spending priorities. Most of my days, and the days of my leadership colleagues, have been spent in helping pull people together, in making those tough choices which are focused on restraining Government spending. That does start at home in this body. Thus, yesterday the Senate overwhelmingly voted to eliminate congressional pay raises. I believe that was an appropriate action. It shows we are serious as we look for savings throughout the Government, and it starts at home in this body. Eight committees of the Senate are hard at work doing the exact same thing, and that is prioritizing. I thank and commend the committees and their chairs and ranking members--the HELP Committee, the Banking Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee--for their success yesterday in meeting those goals set out in the budget. I thank the chairmen and the committee members for their tremendous progress to date.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today begins what is no less than the trial of the century, the trial of Saddam Hussein. For the first time in recent history, a former leader will stand before his own people to be judged and tried for his crimes against humanity. For the first time, the Iraqi people will hear and watch the ``Butcher of Baghdad'' answer for 23 years of terror. Saddam's crimes are surpassed only by the Rwandan genocide, Pol Pot's killing fields, and the tyrannies of Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and Kim Jong Il. Egyptians, Kuwaitis, and Iranians were put to death simply because he decreed so. Saddam killed Kurds because of their ethnicity. And he killed Shiites because of their religion, Sunnis for their political views. Even babies and toddlers fell victim to the firing squad. As Prime Minister al-Jafari said yesterday, there will be no tears for Saddam Hussein. But most surely, there will be tears for the hundreds of thousands of lives he crushed and destroyed with utter ruthlessness. The trial of Saddam will reveal to the Iraqis and to the world the full extent of his brutality. And as the crimes are tallied and recorded, he will face the full judgment of the people and the uncompromising judgment of history. I am confident justice will be served and that Saddam and his henchmen will be treated fairly and appropriately. And I am hopeful the process will be an opportunity for the Iraqi people to experience some measure of catharsis and closure on a dark and terrible chapter in their history. I commend them for their courage to restrain the desire for vengeance and to commit to the rule of law. It cannot be easy. Saddam's abuse ran deep and ran wide. But by granting him a fair trial--an opportunity to answer the charges--the Iraqi people are showing that Saddam's brutality was born of his nature and not theirs. Cicero once said: Let us remember that justice must be observed even to the lowest. Today, let it be said that justice will be observed even by the once mighty. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be printed in the Record without intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 278 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 225 and that the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and any statements be printed without intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, very briefly, this morning we have set aside a period of morning business for the first 60 minutes. Following that time, we will return to the consideration of the Transportation- Treasury-HUD appropriations bill. Last night, we entered into an agreement which will allow Senators Brownback and Landrieu to offer the DC appropriations bill at 11 o'clock this morning. Following their statements, we expect a vote on that amendment. That will be a voice vote. Also under our order from last night, at 12:10 today, we will vote on the Kyl amendment relating to a freeze of the Members' COLA or cost-of- living adjustment. After that vote, we will recess for our scheduled policy luncheons. We will return to the bill this afternoon, and we will have additional votes on amendments to the appropriations measure. It would also be helpful to have a filing deadline so that the two managers will be better able to manage the amendments as they come forward. Today, I will be talking to the Democratic leader about a unanimous consent for that deadline. We need to finish this appropriations bill this week. We will finish this appropriations bill this week. It does mean we may need to be voting on Friday in order to accomplish that, and we will be here on Friday to accomplish that if necessary. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 277 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of S. 1886, introduced earlier today.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 279 which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this resolution concerns a request for testimony in a shoplifting action pending in Municipal Court in the City of Clarksdale, MS. Trial is scheduled to commence on or about October 20, 2005. The defendant has subpoenaed a member of the Senator's staff who has provided casework assistance to him. The enclosed resolution would authorize that staff member to testify in connection with this action.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Senate continued to work on the Transportation--Treasury appropriations bill today. A number of amendments have indeed been filed. I encourage Senators who are serious about offering them to come down early in the day tomorrow to do just that. We hope to dispose of the pending Kennedy amendment and an alternative to that amendment at an early hour tomorrow. The two managers were here all day and have been very patient. If Senators do not come down in a timely manner to offer their amendments, then I would encourage the managers to close out the bill to further amendment and proceed to final passage. We will finish this bill this week, either Wednesday or Thursday, or Friday, if necessary, and therefore votes can be expected each day until we finish this bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the previous order.