Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period for morning business.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that at 5 p.m., on Monday, April 7, the Senate proceed to executive session and an immediate vote on the confirmation of Calendar No. 78, Cormac Carney, to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California; I further ask consent that following that vote, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 342) to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to make improvements to and reauthorize programs under that Act, and for other purposes. The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives. Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 342) entitled ``An Act to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to make improvements to and reauthorize programs under that Act, and for other purposes'', do pass with the following amendment: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate disagree with the House amendment and request a conference, and that the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees, with the ratio of 3 to 2.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate proceed to Calendar No. 22, S. 476, the CARE Act, and it be considered under the following limitation: there be 4 hours of general debate, equally divided in the usual form; provided that the only amendments in order be the following: a managers' amendment, which will be at the desk; a Nickles amendment, conservation; provided further, that there be 30 minutes of debate on the amendments, equally divided in the usual form. I further ask consent that following the disposition of the above amendments, the bill be read a third time, and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with no intervening action or debate. I finally ask consent that no points of order be waived by virtue of this agreement, and that following passage of the bill, it be held at the desk.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Senator from Rhode Island is correct in the nature of the discussion between the Senator from Pennsylvania, myself, and the Senator from Rhode Island.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, what I would prefer to do is refer that question to the manager of the bill because I am not familiar with that aspect of it. That will be Mr. Santorum, the Senator from Pennsylvania.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I am not in a position now to withdraw that amendment at this juncture. I am simply not familiar enough with it. I understand there was an agreement that it be there as part of it. I think we can continue the discussion on Monday when we are back in. But right now, I am not in a position to withdraw that.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we can check on that. It is my understanding that this has been available to the other side, that this had been agreed to. If not, at this juncture I am just not in a position to agree to a motion to strike.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, my response is that we will work in good faith with the Senator from Rhode Island as well as the assistant Democratic leader. I hesitate at this juncture to speak on behalf of the Senator from Pennsylvania. Again, we are committed on both sides to working in good faith. We have been able to do that to date. So I would ask once again for the unanimous consent as propounded.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations on today's Executive Calendar: Calendar Nos. 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, and 104. I further ask unanimous consent that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then return to legislative session.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 104, submitted earlier today by Senator Dayton and Senator Coleman.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 3 p.m., Monday, April 7. I further ask unanimous consent 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 begin a period for morning business until 5 p.m., with the time until 4 p.m. to be equally divided between Senator Hutchison and the minority leader or their designees, and the remaining time until 5 p.m. be equally divided between the two leaders or their designees.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, the Senate will return for business on Monday. On Monday there will be a period for morning business to allow Members to continue to make statements in support of our troops. At 5 p.m. under a previous order, the Senate will proceed to a vote on the confirmation of a district court judge. Next week, as I announced earlier this evening, the Senate will consider nominations, including judicial nominees, the CARE Act, the FISA bill, and, hopefully, under a unanimous consent agreement, the POW resolution, and conference reports as they are available. Next week is the last week prior to the Easter recess. I expect a busy week as we attempt to finish the mentioned items and any other legislative or executive items that can be cleared.

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.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives to accompany S. 151 to amend title 18, United States Code, with respect to the sexual exploitation of children.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate disagree with the House amendment and request a conference, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees, with the ratio of 4 to 3.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 10 a.m. to allow Members to continue to make statements honoring and supporting our fighting men and women overseas. At 10 a.m., the Senate will resume consideration of the supplemental appropriations bill. As I announced last night, the chairman has developed a lineup of amendments. Senator Boxer will go first with an antimissile amendment. Then we will try to reach a 30-minute time limitation on her language. I understand following that amendment, Senator Bayh will be prepared with an amendment regarding bioterrorism, and Senator Graham of Florida will have an amendment regarding VA health. Votes will be stacked in the early afternoon to accommodate the schedules of a number of Senators. The Senate will complete action on the supplemental bill today. If Members continue to cooperate and allow for short debate limitations on their amendments, it may be possible to finish at a reasonable hour today. That is my hope. In any event, we all are prepared to stay as late as necessary in order to finish the bill this evening.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I have a short statement to make on our troops. Very briefly, we have taken a period of time each morning to comment on the wonderful work and tremendous commitment and dedication our troops are displaying overseas for us, and we have had the opportunity to comment on the families at home, offering prayers and support for their children, and in many cases for their spouses and their parents as well. They know the men and women are fighting for liberty, democracy, and peace. This morning, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the soldier who died during Operation Iraqi Freedom, SP Brandon J. Rowe, Company C, 1-502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, Fort Campbell, KY. Two sentences caught my eye from the Army news release: Specialist Rowe epitomizes the best of our country--a brave soldier--who exhibited courage, selfless service, and honor in abundance. His ultimate sacrifice has contributed immeasurably to the freedom and security of both Iraq and the world. While liberating Najaf, the 101st Airborne has been met over the last 48 hours by grateful people waving and clapping hands and saying, ``Good job.'' Quoted yesterday in the Washington Post, LTC Chris Hughes, a battalion commander in the 1st Brigade: We waited about an hour and a half, and the hair on the back of my neck began to stand up. The crowd got bigger and bigger, so we pulled back out. But it was like the liberation of Paris. Our newspaper in Nashville, the Tennessean, reported yesterday that a soldier in the 101st will soon learn he is a new father--again showing the many dimensions of this war and its impact on families and the feelings families are expressing and sharing among themselves. SGT Chris Schornak's wife Robyn gave birth to Tristan James Schornak at 2:01 p.m. on Tuesday. He was born at NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield. The mom and young Tristan are doing well and will soon be living with relatives in Franklin, KY. Again, these are faces of our families and our troops, and to all of them our thoughts and prayers continue to go out.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration, en bloc, of the following calendar items: No. 26, S. 273; No. 27, S. 302; No. 28, S. 426.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 3. I further ask unanimous consent 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 begin a period for morning business until 10 a.m., with the time equally divided between Senator Hutchison and the minority leader or their designees. I further ask unanimous consent that at 10 a.m., the Senate resume consideration of S. 762, the supplemental appropriations bill, and that Senator Boxer be recognized at that point to offer an amendment related to antimissiles.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on behalf of Senators Collins, Lieberman, and Carper, I send a substitute amendment to the desk and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. FRIST

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