Bill Frist

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 2 p.m. on Monday, February 6. 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, and the Senate then proceed to a period for the transaction of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each. I further ask that if a cloture motion is filed during Monday's session on the motion to proceed to S. 852, the asbestos bill, and notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, that vote occur at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, with the mandatory live quorum waived.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it has been a very long day, but a very productive day with the ultimate passage of the Tax Relief Act by a vote of 66 to 31. In addition, just a short time ago, we passed the temporary extension of a very important bill, the PATRIOT Act. We will start debate on the motion to proceed to the asbestos legislation on Monday. A cloture vote on the motion to proceed will occur on Tuesday at 6 p.m. We do have Members who will be attending the funeral of Coretta Scott King on Tuesday; therefore, we are postponing that vote until 6 p.m.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator Bunning be added as a cosponsor to the Rockefeller amendment adopted earlier.

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 during the adjournment of the Senate, the majority leader and the majority whip be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, we had 30 minutes. Our people are not here, but they were lined up. The plans had been scheduled. I request that the Senator from Illinois speak right after our 30 minutes, the first part.

Mr. FRIST. We have the initial 30 minutes. Is the request made to talk within our 30 minutes?

Mr. FRIST. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today, in just a short while, we will begin consideration of the House-passed tax reconciliation bill. As Senators remember, the Senate passed our bill, the Senate bill on November 18. We considered the bill for 3 days and after 17 votes, passed the bill with a 64-to-33 vote. With the two bills now complete, we would normally reach agreement to send them to conference to produce a final conference report. I have had a number of conversations with the Democratic leader on this matter. I know Members on his side of the aisle will object and desire to start the House bill with the 20 hours remaining under the statute. That is their right and that is what we will be doing. We have already considered the Tax Relief Act of 2005, and it is not my desire to take up any more of the Senate's time on this bill. We do need to move forward and get both bills to conference in order to reach an agreement on final language. That would take unanimous consent and, with objection from the other side, we have no choice but to proceed in the manner that we will, under statute over the next 20 hours. I do ask that Senators on both sides of the aisle use restraint and try not to use their entire block of time. Much of the discussion that carried on in the quorum call is how we can organize that in such a way to consider amendments appropriately and in a reasonable way. But we should not have to use all 20 hours. We have a lot of other important issues to consider. In the meantime, we will be on the reconciliation bill throughout the day and the evening and the rest of the week until we finish the measure. I ask unanimous consent that after the House bill is reported, we begin a period of morning business, as under the order from last night, and further, that following the scheduled morning business period, the bill be open for debate only until later today when either I or the assistant majority leader is recognized.

Mr. FRIST. As I understand it, all morning business time, including this additional 30-minute increment, would be part of the 20 hours.

Mr. FRIST. Reserving the right, the recognition prior to Senator Durbin would be to Senator Bond?

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

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. on Thursday, February 2. 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, and the Senate proceed to consideration of H.R. 4297, the tax reconciliation bill; provided further that when the Senate resumes the bill there be 3\1/2\ hours remaining for each side under the statute; further, that the bill be subject to debate only until the majority leader is recognized at 10:45 a.m. on Thursday.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that there now be a period for morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. FRIST

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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 79, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read 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. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 355, S. 1219.

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 363, which was submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 332, which was received from the House.

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

Mr. FRIST

Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP Committee be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4519.

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