Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that the Senate stand in adjournment under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 432, following the remarks of Senator Domenici.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair now lay before the Senate a House message to accompany H.R. 1047, the miscellaneous tariffs bill; that the Senate disagree with the House amendment, agree to a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees with a ratio of 3 to 2.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will be voting on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Class Action bill when we return after the Memorial Day recess. Under a previous order, the vote will occur at 5:30 on Tuesday, June 1. That will be the first vote of the day. As I mentioned earlier, we will also need to complete the important Department of Defense authorization bill after the recess. It would be my intention to return to this bill upon completion of the class action bill. Again, we need to assist our two managers on the Defense authorization bill by securing a list of amendments and notifying them of potential amendments to that bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. 12:45 to 2:15 on Wednesday.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it would be so modified to have their party caucus luncheon at the usual time. Is it 12:30 to 2:15 on Wednesday as well?

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 10 a.m., Tuesday, June 1. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and the Senate then conduct a period for morning business until 12:30 with the time equally divided between the majority leader or his designee and the Democratic leader or his designee. I further ask that the Senate stand in recess from 12:30 until 2:15 to accommodate the weekly party luncheons. I further ask that at 2:15, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 430, S. 2062, the Class Action Fairness bill, that the time until 5:30 p.m. be equally divided between the chairman and ranking member or their designees.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I object to further proceedings on the measures en bloc at this time.

Mr. FRIST. I understand there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading, and I ask unanimous consent that the bills be given a second reading en bloc.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that 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. Mr. President, I object to the modification.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, earlier today the chairman and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee were here to make further progress on the Department of Defense authorization bill. We have adopted a number of amendments that have been cleared. However, we have been unable to vote on the pending amendment which was offered by Senator Graham of South Carolina. In addition, Senator Warner has been unable to secure an agreement for a filing deadline or an amendment list. We have a list of possible Republican amendments. However, there is an objection on the Democratic side of the aisle to limiting amendments. Further, many weeks ago we scheduled the class action legislation for when the Senate returns from the upcoming recess. I would add that the class action bill does have strong bipartisan support, and we would like to finish that bill in a reasonable period of time. I believe we can, indeed, do just that. I had hoped we would have been able to proceed to that bill by consent, but again there is an objection to proceeding to the class action bill. I want to reiterate that we are going to finish the Defense authorization bill. It is a critical bill, an important bill. It is a bill we have made progress on this week. We need to lock in an amendment list on this legislation, the Defense authorization, to allow our managers to work with Senators on their respective amendments and to make continued progress. This is a vital piece of legislation, and we will return to the bill. My intention is to go to the class action bill and then return to the Defense authorization bill. Thus, I now ask unanimous consent that at 2:15 on Tuesday, June 1, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 430, S. 2062, the class action bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I will be making a couple statements before we wrap up for this week and for this period of 5 weeks before the recess. But I do want to speak on two issues that are important. I want to state and restate some of the events of the last several days, the last several weeks, before leaving for this recess.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the measure 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. 367, submitted earlier today by Senators Stabenow and Levin.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further action on S. Res. 353 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand there are two bills at the desk due for their second reading. I ask unanimous consent that the bills be given their second reading, en bloc.

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 previous order.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 424, which is at the desk.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statement relating to the concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 432, the adjournment resolution, which is at the desk.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand there are two bills at the desk, and I ask that they be read for the first time, en bloc.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.