[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 148 (Tuesday, December 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11547-S11548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, the Senate will be in a period of morning 
business until 12:30 p.m. By previous consent, the Senate will recess 
from 12:30 to 2:15 for the weekly party conferences to meet. When we 
reconvene, the Senate may continue morning business. However, it is 
possible the Senate will have one or as many as four votes this 
afternoon. I don't want to lock it in at this point, but it is possible 
we could have a recorded vote at 2:15 on the continuing resolution that 
would be for 2 days. We also could have one or more votes this 
afternoon on or in relation to cloture on the conference report to 
accompany H.R. 2415, the bankruptcy legislation.

[[Page S11548]]

  I see the distinguished assistant Democratic leader here. He may want 
to comment on that. I emphasize that we do expect at least a couple, 
maybe as many as four, votes this afternoon.
  I welcome back all Senators of the 106th Congress. I hope this 
session can come to an early conclusion. It would be very important at 
this time, considering all that is going on. If we show we can act 
quickly on the remaining appropriations bills and dispose of the tax 
and Medicare issues, that will be very positive for our country. I look 
forward to working with the chairman and senior member of the 
Appropriations Committee to see if we can get that worked out and see 
if there is any way that maybe we can complete it by Thursday night 
when this continuing resolution will expire. We will get more 
information to all Senators later this afternoon, after consultation 
with the Democratic leaders.
  I yield to Senator Reid.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Senator Byrd would like 15 minutes prior to 
the CR vote, to be divided between him and Senator Stevens, to talk 
about that.
  During our party conferences, we will find out if we need the two 
extra votes on bankruptcy. It is my understanding what the leader wants 
is to have a vote on cloture on bankruptcy. If we have to go through 
the drill, we will have to have a couple votes before we get to that. I 
will talk to the people in the Democratic Conference at 12:30 today and 
report back to the leader as quickly as I can.
  I am happy to hear the majority leader talking about moving forward 
where we left off before the lame duck session started. There has been 
a tremendous amount of work that has gone into those appropriation 
bills, the balanced budget problem we have, the add-ons, and the other 
things the leader has indicated we will try to move, rather than have a 
CR. I hope we do that. We await the direction of the majority in the 
next few days so we can go home and have a good Christmas.
  Mr. LOTT. I thank Senator Reid. We will have further announcements 
after consultation with the leadership on both sides of the aisle.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.

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