Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I appreciate the Senator's comments. I believe that we are all in agreement on the importance of a smallpox immunization program to our national security, and I look forward to working with the Senator and with Chairman Gregg to ensure the success of a smallpox immunization program.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning, after 10 minutes for debate, the Senate will vote in relation to the Inhofe amendment regarding clean air, to be followed by a vote in relation to the Edwards amendment. Following those votes, the Senate will proceed to executive session for the consideration of the nomination of Tom Ridge to be Secretary of Homeland Security. We have a consent agreement which provides for a limited period of debate, and therefore I expect a vote on the confirmation prior to the policy luncheons. I expect the Senate to recess for the policy luncheons following the vote on the Ridge nomination. Additional amendments are pending to the appropriations measure, and therefore rollcall votes will occur throughout the afternoon and into the evening. I remind my colleagues that late nights are anticipated as we continue to make progress on the bill. As of last night, 245 amendments were filed. As I look through page after page of these amendments, I think all of us expected much fewer than that. I encourage my colleagues, as I look through page after page of amendments, to come together and ask that most or many of these amendments not be called up, that we can work them out in other ways. I also ask my colleagues to recognize that we do need to finish this appropriations bill in short order and go forward as we look at issues such as funding first responders and funding election reform which we have already passed. Our goal, I think on both sides of the aisle, is to finish this bill as soon as possible, allowing time for debate and consideration of the appropriate amendments on this bill. Our goal is to finish this week. We will continue to work in good faith, working across the aisle, addressing each of the issues that are important to these appropriations bills. We worked yesterday and made great progress. We made great progress last night, into the early evening, and have been working on the amendments over the course of the last 18 hours since we have had the amendments. That goal of finishing this week is real and one that we should work towards accomplishing. If we do finish this bill Thursday night, I expect we would not have rollcall votes on Friday or Monday. If we cannot finish it by tomorrow night--again, I recognize that is ambitious, but if we focus on completion of the bill, we can accomplish that--we will have rollcall votes through Friday and we will have rollcall votes until we finish it, including Monday and into next week. Again, working together, looking at these amendments, having a number of them not called up and recognizing we can address these issues in other ways as we go forward, I hope we get these to a manageable number.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I add to that, we decided not to do the Ridge nomination out of consideration for a number of people who wanted to speak who either were not back last night or prepared to go forward. We reached an agreement yesterday we would give time to people who requested it. We did that by unanimous consent and it is set up for this morning. I ask anyone on that list to come down and we will respectfully give them that time. We need to finish this vote this morning. We would like to have a vote this morning or shortly after noon.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, let me continue through the Chair to encourage the managers to work very aggressively on both sides of the aisle to complete this bill. What I just heard from the bill managers, we need participation of everyone pulling together to give some focus to the 245 amendments in order to complete this bill. This is unfinished business from the last Congress. As my colleagues know, we are supposed to be on recess right now, a scheduled recess for this week. We have called everyone back on the floor of the Senate, all 100 U.S. Senators, and asked them to cancel their plans from overseas travel, meeting with leaders around the world, to meeting with constituents at home, for the sole purpose of completing this bill and addressing these very important issues. Again, I am optimistic we can finish this week, I am confident we can, but only if we have the participation of everyone, recognizing the importance of this bill and the appeal that the managers are making that we all work together to get these amendments condensed to a manageable number, and their willingness to work with us, again, essentially around the clock, on time that was supposed to be a recess, to complete this important bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it was my hope that we could debate and vote on the confirmation of the Ridge nomination during today's session. It is my understanding that the other side of the aisle will require approximately an hour and 40 minutes for debate. In a discussion a few minutes ago, we agreed that we would at least begin that debate tonight. Shortly, I will be asking for unanimous consent to outline what the proposal is. It is an important nomination. I believe all of us would like to address and vote on the nomination as soon as possible. We will be conducting that vote tomorrow. I encourage our colleagues who have statements to make those tonight, if at all possible. As in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that following the stacked votes on Wednesday morning, the Senate proceed to executive session for the consideration of Calendar No. 1, the nomination of Tom Ridge to be Secretary of Homeland Security. Further, I ask that the debate time be limited as follows: Senator Dorgan, 15 minutes; Senator Byrd, 15 minutes; Senator Carper, 15 minutes; Senator Feinstein, 10 minutes; Senator Lautenberg, 20 minutes; Senator Lieberman, 15 minutes; Senator Daschle, 10 minutes; and Senator Collins to be in control of 1 hour and 40 minutes. I further ask unanimous consent that following the use or yielding back of the debate time the Senate proceed to a vote on the confirmation of the nomination with no intervening action or debate; further, that following the vote, the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I remind my colleagues that late nights are to be expected for the remainder of this week as we continue to work through amendments to the appropriations bill. I believe the amendments have been filed at this juncture. I look forward to having the opportunity of looking through the amendments so we can give our colleagues a better idea of the schedule over the course of this week. It is my hope we will be able to complete the bill this week as early as possible. I think after looking over the amendments that have been given to the managers we will have a much better idea in that regard. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Collins be yielded 10 minutes at this juncture.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the second vote tomorrow morning be a 10-minute vote.

Mr. FRIST. That is correct. I understand that Senator Carper may be willing to use his time tonight. I would encourage others to do so, once the unanimous consent request is agreed to. Shortly, we will enter into an agreement for two stacked votes for tomorrow morning at approximately 9:30. Following those votes, we will begin consideration of the Ridge nomination. I expect the vote will occur prior to the policy luncheons tomorrow afternoon, as outlined.

Mr. FRIST. That is correct.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. For the information of all Senators, the Senate will return for business on Tuesday. On Tuesday, we will resume consideration of the appropriations measure. I understand there are several Members on the other side of the aisle who have agreed to offer their amendments during Tuesday's session. Under the previous order, the Senate will vote on passage of the Amber alert bill at 5:15 on Tuesday. Therefore, Senators can expect the first vote of next week to occur at 5:15. Additional votes will occur during Tuesday's session. In addition to considering further amendments to the appropriations measure, it is my hope that on Tuesday the Senate will consider the nomination of Tom Ridge to be Secretary of Homeland Security. I believe some Members have indicated their desire to speak in regard to that nomination, and a rollcall vote is anticipated. I hope that on Tuesday we will be able to reach an agreement to allow for that debate and a rollcall vote Tuesday evening. Finally, I wish to announce to Members that they should expect busy sessions and late nights next week. We have no choice but to press on and complete this matter. I hope Members will cooperate and offer their amendments in a timely manner so we can complete these appropriations next week. I thank Members for their cooperation in advance.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at the hour of 5:05 p.m. on Tuesday, the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 121, the Amber alert bill, and the Senate proceed to the consideration of the bill, and that Senators Hutchison and Leahy be recognized for 5 minutes each to debate the measure; that following the use or yielding back of all time, the bill be read the third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage, without any intervening action or debate.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 10 a.m., Tuesday, January 21; 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 that there be a period of morning business not to extend beyond the hour of 10:30 a.m., with the time equally divided in the usual form; further, I ask that at 10:30 a.m., the Senate then resume consideration of H.J. Res. 2, the appropriations bill.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all first- degree amendments to H.J. Res. 2 be filed at the desk by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, with the exception of the managers' amendments which are cleared by both managers.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

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 following the remarks of Senator Harkin for up to 15 minutes.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mr. FRIST. That is the understanding.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Kennedy be recognized in order to offer an amendment relating to education; provided further that when Senator Gregg is recognized, Senator Kennedy's amendment be temporarily set aside in order for Senator Gregg to offer a first-degree amendment relating to education; further, that no second-degree amendments be in order to the amendments prior to votes in relation to the amendments.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, pending is the Byrd amendment. There will be 2 hours of debate on the amendment. Members should be advised that a vote will occur sometime between noon and 12:30 p.m. today. Following the disposition of the Byrd amendment, other amendments and votes are likely. A late night is unavoidable. A number of our colleagues have asked about scheduling for today and tomorrow. My response has been that in 18 days the President of the United States will be delivering a budget to this body for consideration and for the next fiscal year. We are already about a quarter of the way through this fiscal year, yet the Senate has not yet addressed the 11 appropriations spending bills. That process is now under way. We will be having our first vote in 2\1/2\ hours. I look forward to a very productive day. Depending on how productive the Senate is today and tonight, and we may go well into the evening because we are working against, hopefully, a coming recess, it is going to be incumbent upon us to be disciplined, to be focused. All of our colleagues will want to talk on every single issue. Clearly they have that opportunity. I do ask, in the consideration of the number of amendments on either side, that we be disciplined on both sides of the aisle so we can finish this bill before we leave. We will be here through tomorrow; it could well be tomorrow night. It is my goal--my goal--as we are in the early stages on this bill, to finish this bill before we leave. People have asked, Could that possibly mean Saturday morning? The answer to that is yes. I think it is that important that we move forward. If we are unable to finish tonight or tomorrow or tomorrow night or Saturday or decide that going into Saturday is not the appropriate way to address it, we absolutely will be back here Tuesday morning to finish these appropriations bills. Whether we finish it then Tuesday or later in the week, it remains on how disciplined we are. I encourage my colleagues to consider the importance of getting this unfinished business done as soon as possible so we can move ahead with the Nation's business.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. I think that would be fine.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H.J. Res. 2; further, that immediately upon the reporting of the bill Senator Stevens be recognized in order to make his opening statement; I further ask unanimous consent that following the remarks of Senator Stevens, Senator Byrd be recognized for an opening statement only; further, following those remarks, Senator Stevens be recognized to offer an amendment; provided that the amendment be agreed to and be considered original text for the purpose of further amendment, with no points of order waived. I further ask unanimous consent that following any comments by Senator Stevens, Senator Byrd be recognized in order to offer a first-degree amendment relating to homeland security; further, that when the Senate resumes consideration of the joint resolution tomorrow at 10 a.m., there be an additional 2 hours for debate, equally divided in the usual form, in relation to the pending Byrd amendment; provided further that following the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Byrd amendment with no second-degree amendments in order to the amendment prior to the vote. I would finally ask unanimous consent that following the disposition of any additional amendments and the completion of any additional debate, the resolution be read a third time and the Senate proceed to a vote on passage of the resolution, provided further that following passage, the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House, and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate and that the conferees be the entire Appropriations Committee as proposed by the committee resolutions, with 15 Republicans and 14 Democratic members.

Mr. FRIST. That is correct.

Mr. FRIST. That is the understanding that is in the unanimous consent request.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Madam President, let me also give my colleagues a very short update on progress made on the committee resolutions. As I said earlier, I think I said it last night and this morning, and I will say it once again, we are making progress. We are making progress, again, in a very cooperative, bipartisan way. I mentioned my previous conversations with the Democratic leader have set as our goal to have these committee resolutions passed as soon as possible, and everybody is working in good faith. I am very hopeful that tonight--as they say, in 10 minutes, in 15, or in 30 minutes, but whenever final agreement is reached--I will come to the floor and I will be able to do that, and I expect to be able to do that by unanimous consent. Again, it is confusing to people because we have the underlying committee resolutions. But by unanimous consent agreement, we are proceeding with this very important appropriations proposal and bill. I am glad we are addressing that. Again, we are making progress on that.