[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 93 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S6786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I announce when the Senate returns following 
the Independence Day recess, the Senate will return to consideration of 
the Department of Defense authorization bill. I want all Senators to 
know in advance it is my intent to complete action on that bill--the 
DOD authorization bill--that week, and I intend to stay with it even 
though it means votes on Friday, July 11, and even on Saturday, if 
necessary.
  We have a lot of work to do. Earlier this year, because we were in a 
new Congress, some of the committees were not able to get their bills 
out, but we now have a lot of bills that are coming to the floor. The 
appropriations bills will be coming in rapid order. We have bills such 
as the FDA reform legislation, wildlife refuge bill, Amtrak reform, a 
whole number of bills. We are just going to have to work on Fridays, 
and we should begin, certainly, with the Department of Defense 
authorization bill.
  In order to expedite action on the bill, I want any amendments that 
are going to be offered to be delivered to the committee. We would like 
for them to be given to the Armed Services Committee as soon as 
possible next week. The Armed Services staff will work through the 
recess to clear the amendments of any Senators that do have amendments 
they want to offer. So we urge Senators to make us aware of the 
amendments they have.

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