Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, again I ask the other side if they would be prepared to set a time certain for an up-or-down vote on this nominee after whatever debate they may need.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I suggest the general agreement is to spend an hour, 30 minutes to a side, and if they are not using the time, it will be yielded back to the other side. I ask unanimous consent that I use 15 minutes, 15 minutes for Senator Hatch, and we go to the other side.

Mr. FRIST. You would have 30 minutes.

Mr. FRIST. Again, I think it is time for us to move forward. Conceptually, we are going to have an hour, 30 minutes either side. Say I used 15 minutes--it may be more--Senator Hatch will speak about 15 minutes, and 30 minutes will be to your side, and we will be going back and forth.

Mr. FRIST. I thought I had a pretty good 20-minute speech. I was ready to start, but because of questions directed to me, again, about scheduling--we get things well set and then because of questions--if we can just start now and do as I requested, have 15 minutes and you take 30 minutes, we will be able to get started.

Mr. FRIST. Would you please repeat that?

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, you mean I have Senator Hatch speak?

Mr. FRIST. No, Mr. President, Senator Hatch is going to follow me, and then we will go into going back and forth. Senator Hatch has also been waiting 30 minutes. If it hadn't been for these questions, we would have been done 15 or 20 minutes ago.

Mr. FRIST. Would the Chair clarify how much time we have available on either side?

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, once again, I ask if we would be able to limit the time for debate on this nominee to 8 hours or 10 hours.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read for 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

Mr. FRIST. I further ask unanimous consent that following the confirmation vote, the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nominations en bloc, Nos. 436 through 450, and all remaining nominations on the Secretary's desk; further, that the nominations be confirmed, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, the President be immediately notified of all of the above action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar item No. 369, S. 286.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment which is at the desk be agreed to; the committee-reported substitute, as amended, be agreed to, that the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc; and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it is my hope that we can go next to the Defense authorization conference report. We have some Senators who may want to make closing remarks, and then we would like to adopt this important conference report during today's session. I think it is fitting that the Senate act on this measure today, on Veterans Day. Having said that, I ask my Democratic colleagues if they are prepared to allow for a 3-hour debate limitation prior to a vote on adoption of the Defense conference report.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, November 11 was originally known as Armistice Day to celebrate the end of World War I. In 1938, Congress declared November 11 a national holiday in the hopes that the world would never ever again see a battle so fierce and so devastating as that First World War, but that was not to be. Only a few years later, World War II broke out in Europe. America would lose 407,000 servicemen in battle. Henceforth, the movement began to recognizes our heroes in uniform. In 1954, President Eisenhower proclaimed November 11 Veterans Day. He told the Nation at that time that it was his ``earnest hope that all veterans, their organizations, and the entire citizenry will join hands to ensure proper and widespread observance of this day.'' Today, nearly 50 years later, we join hands to pay tribute to that very special group of people who have brought our country such honor, whose courage and whose sacrifice have secured our liberty: the men and women of the Armed Forces; people such as Senator Daniel Inouye, who fought so valiantly in World War II and earned the highest award that can be bestowed, the Medal of Honor; Senator McCain, who served with singular courage and sacrifice in Vietnam; Senator Stevens, a World War II Air Force pilot, who earned two distinguished Flying Crosses, two Air Medals, and the Yuan Hai medal from the Republic of China. John Warner, Chuck Hagel, and Fritz Hollings are also Members of this distinguished body who served in battle with honor and with courage. It is because of them and over 46 million veterans since our Nation's founding that we are today free--free to debate in these Halls of Congress, free to raise our families with the values that we choose. It is because of the sacrifices of these special Americans that we have the freedom to live as fully and as completely as our imaginations will allow, to realize those blessings of liberty. The last 2 years have put these blessings in stark relief. On September 11, when our enemies struck, and the billows of smoke were rising out of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon here in Washington, DC, and in that pulverized plane on a Pennsylvania field, we saw that determined face of evil. But as clear as the blue sky above--and who will ever forget that bright, stark, blue sky on that morning?--we saw the blessings of liberty. We relearned that freedom indeed is precious and that freedom must be defended. Since that day a new generation of men and women have heard the calling--so young yet so brave. They are taking the battle to the enemy. The men and women in the Armed Forces are proving every day that America is a courageous and a compassionate nation, and that our cause is just. We are blessed to have such heroes among us. Today we honor them as well. We are working with the President to improve our veterans' quality of life by securing the benefits afforded to them for their service. Access to quality care is critical to our veterans. Veterans hospitals have been the focal point of veterans' health care delivery. We are also working to improve the hospital system to allow disabled veterans to collect, over 10 years, the portions of their pensions that they do not receive under current law. Veterans with combat-related injuries and those who are considered 50-percent disabled would qualify for these benefits. It is our intent to have this legislation enacted this year. For our future veterans, we have expanded funding to support our troops. In the 2004 emergency Iraq-Afghanistan supplemental appropriations bill, military personnel salaries and benefits were increased to $17.8 billion for Guard and Reserve troops activated for duty. In addition, much of the funding in this supplemental appropriations bill will be used to support military operations and provide needed equipment to our troops overseas. We are also working to help our fighting men and women by improving veterans health care and the TRICARE program for our armed services. The recently enacted supplemental bill increases TRICARE benefits to thousands of members of the Guard and Reserve. In these and other concrete ways, we are working hard to support those whose serve us so ably. In doing so, we not only recognize their contribution, we recognize the great purpose of our Nation. In the midst of the Revolution, the great essayist Thomas Paine told his fellow Americans: These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Today we express our love and thanks to the men and women who have stood to defend our freedoms in battles past, and to all of the soldiers today in the field, I thank you. America thanks you.

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 this matter be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

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

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. Thereupon, the Senate, at 9:03 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, November 12, 2003, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3054 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Tomorrow morning, the Senate will begin consideration of the VA-HUD appropriations bill. This will be the last of the appropriations bills brought individually to the floor. We expect to have amendments offered in the morning and therefore rollcall votes are anticipated tomorrow morning. It is my hope that we can finish that bill during Wednesday's session. As previously announced, the Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 for the Democratic Party luncheon. Following that recess, there will be 20 minutes remaining for debate before the vote on adoption of the Department of Defense authorization conference report. Immediately following that vote, the Senate will vote on the adoption of the Military Construction appropriations conference report. Tomorrow evening it is my intent to focus the Senate's attention on several judicial nominations. This debate will go forward. I do encourage all Members to participate. This will be an opportunity for all Members to express themselves with respect to these highly qualified nominees. I hope that if Senators have reservations on any of these judicial nominations they would be present for this important debate. I have stated repeatedly on the floor that we need to give these nominations a very straightforward up-or-down vote. I will have more to say on the plans for tomorrow night tomorrow but I do want to announce that this important debate will begin tomorrow evening.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table without any intervening action or debate, and that any statements related to this matter be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 265, which was introduced earlier today by Senator Boxer.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 12. 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 resume consideration of the VA-HUD appropriations bill, as under the previous order. I further ask consent that the senior Senator from West Virginia be recognized at noon for up to 30 minutes; provided further that the majority leader be recognized at 6 p.m.