Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask for its second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceedings on this matter.

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I understand that H.R. 4359 is at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1731, which is at the desk.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the committee substitute amendment be adopted, the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 482, S. 1932.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third time and passed with no intervening action or debate and any statements relating to this measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 485, S. 2237.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today is the final day prior to the July 4 recess. I expect we will be in for a short period of morning business to allow Members to make statements. However, as we announced yesterday, there will be no rollcall votes today. In addition, today is the final day to submit statements for the Record regarding the passing of our former President, Ronald Reagan. Again, these statements will be included in a book containing all of the tributes and services of 2 weeks ago. This past week has been a challenging week, but as we discussed yesterday in the Senate, it was a satisfying week in that we have been able to complete two very important pieces of legislation, the Defense authorization and the Defense appropriations bills. Today we still expect to clear for confirmation many of the pending ambassadorial nominations. I will be consulting with the Democratic leadership again this morning on these important diplomatic posts. We hope to have that confirmed prior to our adjournment. I will have more to say as to the schedule when we return after the break a little bit later this morning prior to closing.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Continuing in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration of the following nominations: June Carter Perry, PN1548; Joyce Barr, PN1546; Barrie Walkley, PN1550; James McGee, PN1541, Cynthia Efird, PN1621; Jackson McDonald, PN1419; Christopher Dell, PN1629. I further ask consent that the Senate proceed to their consideration, the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I further ask consent that the bill be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to this measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 484, S. 2192.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent, notwithstanding the upcoming recess or adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that during the adjournment of the Senate, the Senator from Virginia and the majority leader be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent, notwithstanding the Senate's adjournment, committees be authorized to report legislative and executive matters on Wednesday, June 30, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that at 9:45 a.m., on Tuesday, July 6, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Calendar No. 165, the nomination of J. Leon Holmes to be U.S. district judge for the Eastern District of Arkansas. I further ask consent that there then be 6 hours of debate equally divided between the chairman and ranking member or their designees; provided further that following that debate the Senate proceed to a vote on the confirmation of the nomination with no intervening action or debate. I further ask consent that following the vote, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate immediately proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on today's Executive Calendar: Calendar Nos. 676, 711, 713, 714, 716, 717, 718, 719, 721, 722, 723, 724, 726, 728, 730, and all nominations on the secretary's desk. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it was 1976 in Americus, GA. Millard Fuller and his wife Linda had sold their possessions, given away their millions and rededicated themselves to their Christian faith. They had decided to express their faith by building homes for the poor. They believed, in their words, that: What the poor need is not charity but capital, not caseworkers but co-workers. And what the rich need is a wise, honorable and just way of divesting themselves of their overabundance. So they founded Habitat for Humanity International to build no- interest, no-profit homes for the poor and homeless. Since then, the ecumenical, Christian-based organization has grown to serve 89 countries. It has built more than 150,000 houses providing more than three quarters of a million people with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Millard and Linda Fuller have taken a Biblical injunction and turned it into worldwide action. Jack Kemp, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and a board member of the organization, says that, ``When I'm asked about housing success stories from our inner cities, the first group that comes to mind is Habitat for Humanity.'' I tell you all of this, because next month, I have the privilege of joining over two dozen volunteers in my home town of Nashville, TN, to help build a Habitat home for Anita Phillips, a single mom of three. Local businesses have donated supplies. Anita has taken out a no- interest mortgage. She will be working alongside us, hammering nails and hauling lumber. Anita calls her new Habitat home ``a gift from God.'' For nearly three decades, Habitat has shared the gift of homeownership with thousands around the world. Habitat helps organize local communities to pitch in and give hard working people like Anita the opportunity to build equity and pride. In Tennessee, alone, Habitat has 52 affiliates and serves 61 counties. This year, Tennessee will celebrate building two thousand Habitat homes. Social scientists tell us that homeownership is one of the most important economic and social investments we can make. Owning a home helps families build financial stability and wealth. It helps break the cycle of poverty as families accumulate equity. Homeowners also become stakeholders in their communities. They become more invested in the civic life and health of their neighborhood. Their children are healthier and do better in school. Owning ones' home also generates a sense of pride and belonging. It's a big responsibility, but those four walls belong to you. I commend habitat for Humanity International for their tireless efforts. This past March, I was joined by over a dozen members from both sides of the aisle and both houses of Congress to build a home right here in the Nation's capital. I encourage my colleagues to participate in Habitat builds in their home States, as well. It sends the message that Congress is committed to helping organizations like Habitat spread the good work. This fiscal year, Congress has provided $27 million for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program. Also called, ``SHOP,'' the program requires homebuyers to contribute their labor to the construction or rehabilitation of their soon-to-be, new home. President Bush has requested $65 million for the next fiscal year to support the SHOP initiative. Additionally, the 108th Congress passed, and President Bush signed into law, the ``American Dream Downpayment Act of 2003.'' This new program will help 40,000 families a year with their down payment and closing costs. In the halls of Congress and in communities across America, we care about helping our neighbors fulfill the American dream. Habitat for Humanity International has been at the forefront of the cause. That is because through their faith and compassion, Millard and Linda Fuller realized decades ago that the working poor need a hand-up not a hand-out, and that a community is not just something you join, it's something you build.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in adjournment under the provisions of S. Con. Res. 120.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. On Tuesday, July 6, the Senate will be in executive session for the consideration of a district court nomination. We would expect a vote on the nomination Tuesday afternoon between 5 and 5:45. We will also begin consideration of the class action fairness legislation. I encourage Members to be ready Tuesday evening and through the week for discussion on the class action bill. As I mentioned earlier, this bill has strong bipartisan support. I hope we can begin work quickly on the bill and complete action on the bill in a reasonable timeframe. It is an important piece of legislation and one many Members feel very strongly about and look forward to completing. We will have votes throughout the week as we return to business following the Fourth of July break. It will be a very busy week with time spent on class action.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee amendments be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 589, S. 1292.

Mr. FRIST

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

Mr. FRIST

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