[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S6463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Madam President, on behalf of Senator Daschle, the majority 
leader, I announce that today we are going to continue the 
consideration of the motion to proceed to the Patients' Bill of Rights. 
The debate on the motion will be divided in 30-minute increments, 
beginning right now, between the managers of the bill. The first 
speaker on our side will be Senator Kennedy, the manager of the bill.
  There will be a vote on the motion to proceed tomorrow morning at 
9:30 a.m. to proceed to the Patients' Bill of Rights.
  Madam President, Senator Daschle has asked that I again notify 
everyone that we are going to complete this legislation prior to the 
Fourth of July break. Everyone, including this Senator, has parades, 
and other things, during the Fourth of July festivities, but we should 
all make some calls home to make sure our staffs there indicate to 
those who are concerned that we may not be able to make it.
  I was going home late last night, and I ran into one of the 
journalists. He said he had spoken to one of the Senators in the 
minority who thought this was just a bluff on Senator Daschle's part. 
Everyone should understand, Senator Daschle does not bluff. He has 
announced that we are going to finish this bill and that is the way it 
is. We all recognize there has been an effort to stall our going 
forward on this bill. It is not going to work. We are going to complete 
this bill prior to the Fourth of July recess.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. THOMAS. Madam President, I thank the Senator for this 
arrangement. I think alternating half hours is the way to do it. I hope 
the Presiding Officers will adhere to that.
  Further, I want to say that one of the reasons for waiting to proceed 
to the bill is that it is relatively new to many people. It is 
something we need to talk more about. Certainly, we will be prepared, 
as we go through the day, to be able to move on to the bill tomorrow.
  Thank you.

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