Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I have not talked to our caucus about that, but I will get back to Senator Reid shortly so we can plan out the day tomorrow.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today the Senate will be in a period for morning business until 12 noon. Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of the NATO expansion treaty. This treaty is a necessary step to include seven new member countries in the NATO alliance. Under the previous order, the Senate will debate the treaty and dispose of all amendments during today's session. I advise my colleagues that rollcall votes are possible with respect to the two amendments to the resolution of ratification. Once those amendments are disposed of during today's session, the Senate will set aside the treaty, so the Senate will vote on the adoption of the resolution of ratification at 9:30 tomorrow morning. As a reminder, cloture motions were filed on the nominations of both Priscilla Owen and Miguel Estrada. This will be the second attempt to end the filibuster on the Owen nomination and our sixth effort with respect to Miguel Estrada. The cloture votes on Owen and Estrada will occur during Thursday's session. In addition, I want to inform all Members that negotiations are ongoing to continue to clear several important pieces of legislation for floor action. These items include the State Department authorization bill, the bioshield bill, air cargo security legislation, the FAA reauthorization bill, the FISA legislation, and a number of pending nominations. Therefore, Members should anticipate additional votes throughout the day.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 10:30 a.m. Following morning business, the Senate will begin consideration of Calendar No. 79, S. 14, the energy bill. Under the previous agreement, no amendments to the bill will be in order until Thursday. However, Members are encouraged to come to the floor to make opening statements and to debate the merits of the bill. Also, today the Senate will recess for the weekly party lunches from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. In addition to the energy bill, the Senate may begin consideration of any of the following items later today: The State Department reauthorization bill, the air cargo security bill, the FAA reauthorization bill, as well as any additional nominations that can be cleared over the course of the morning. There are still several judicial nominations that are on the calendar that may require rollcall votes and, therefore, Members should anticipate rollcall votes during today's session. Under a unanimous consent agreement reached last night, on Wednesday the Senate will begin consideration of the NATO Expansion Treaty. The agreement allows for two amendments to be considered on Wednesday. However, the Senate will not vote on the resolution of ratification until Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. I thank all Members for their attention. As always, we will notify Members as votes are scheduled today. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 thank all of the Senators who have been involved in leadership on the Democratic side and the Republican side in working on this agreement. I particularly thank Senator McConnell for his perseverance and counsel over the course of the past several days. Both sides have worked in good faith to come to this conclusion. I now would ask for a further clarification with respect to the nomination of John Roberts. That nomination will be reported a week from today. We have been assured by the other side of the aisle that there would be no filibuster on the nomination of John Roberts; also, that the Senate would vote up or down on his confirmation. I know Members will want to speak on that nomination and we will be prepared to provide time on Thursday for that debate. I, therefore, expect that prior to completing our business next week we will vote on the nomination. I yield to my colleague with regard to this understanding.

Mr. FRIST. I believe that was the way it was requested.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for his comments and agree wholeheartedly in terms of the efforts that have been made in good faith on both sides of the aisle. It has been difficult in terms of negotiations but everybody has been involved at the leadership level, as well as working with the respective leaders of the committee. We have come to a satisfactory conclusion. By the end of next week we will have accomplished the goals we all have, and that is to keep the process working--it is not always pretty--in a way that will deliver what the American people deserve. We will have more to say later today, but we will expect to have two votes on Monday, the first at 4:45 and then a vote later, which we will set up the time agreement probably an hour or so after that vote, with consideration to Miguel Estrada. Again, we will make specific announcements but we will have two votes on Monday. I point out the first one is at 4:45, which we have tried to announce a few days ago to make sure people are back for that particular vote.

Mr. FRIST. That is correct. The first vote on Monday will be 4:45, and that would be on the Cook nomination.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I want to make sure there is adequate time for debate. I would like to try to have the vote by the end of next week, if at all possible.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote on the pending Prado nomination occur at 2:15 today with the remaining time until then equally divided between the chairman and the ranking member. I further ask consent that following the vote, the President immediately be notified of the Senate's action. I also ask consent that on Monday, May 5, at a time determined by the majority leader after consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Calendar No. 34, the nomination of Deborah Cook to be a U.S. district judge for the Sixth Circuit; provided further there be 4 hours for debate equally divided between the chairman and ranking member or their designees. Further, I ask that following the use or yielding of that time the Senate proceed to a vote on the confirmation of the nomination, again with no intervening action.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I am very hopeful we will be able to make progress. Again, the three Senators who are speaking now, with Senator Daschle, have been working very hard with our colleagues to try to reach an agreement. But we have been unsuccessful. We will keep moving ahead, and I am optimistic these three nominees will be confirmed shortly. I do want to add, really for the benefit of my colleagues, that progress is being made. As my colleagues know, one of the nominees, Roberts, went back to committee, and the understanding was that with him going back to committee, we would have votes, up-or-down votes, on both Roberts and Cook. That is the background. We have been working on that for actually several weeks, and that process is underway. So we look forward to having that become a reality. That first step, with Roberts going back to committee, was taken. And now the expectation is, and the general agreement is, we are moving in the direction that we will, at some point in time--we have not been able to lock in the time--have votes on both Roberts and Cook.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:15 a.m., Thursday, May 1. I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and there then be 1 hour for debate equally divided in the usual form prior to the vote on cloture on the nomination of Priscilla Owen to be a circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit. I further ask unanimous consent that if cloture is not invoked, the Senate immediately proceed to the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 105, the nomination of Edward Prado to be a circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit.

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. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Priscilla Owen at 10:15 tomorrow. If cloture is not invoked, the Senate will begin consideration of the nomination of Edward Prado to be a circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit. It is my hope that we can reach a short time agreement, with the vote on the nomination to occur by early afternoon. I also hope the Senate can vote on the Cook nomination during tomorrow's session. In addition to those executive matters, the Senate may also consider the FISA legislation, the State Department authorization bill, the bioshield legislation, or additional judicial nominations during tomorrow's session. Therefore, Senators should expect rollcall votes throughout the day.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I now ask for its second reading and object to my own request.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand that S. 14, introduced earlier today, is at the desk and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaties transmitted to the Senate on April 30, 2003, by the President of the United States: Amendments to Constitution and Convention of International Telecommunication Union, Geneva 1992, Treaty Document No. 108-5, and Protocol of Amendment to International Convention on Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures, Treaty Document 108-6. I further ask that the treaties be considered as having been read the first time; that they be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's messages be printed in the Record.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Calendar No. 62, S. 760, be indefinitely postponed.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask for its second reading and object to further proceeding on this matter.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand that H.J. Res. 51 is at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, there is not an hour that goes by that we don't either pass in the hallway or on the Capitol grounds our Capitol Police. On the occasion of this 175th anniversary, it gives us this formal opportunity to express our gratitude to the men and women of the Capitol Police. It is nice to be able to put H. Con. Res 156 forward because we have a lot to be thankful for each and every day for their tremendous work.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 156.

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 any statements relating 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. 126 which was submitted earlier today by Senators Coleman and Dayton.