[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           SENATE PRIORITIES

  Mr. THOMAS. Madam President, I rise to reflect a little bit on the 
issues we have before us and the idea that we have some things to do 
that are priorities. I think most of us would agree to a certain set of 
priorities, and that we ought to be dealing with those priorities and 
moving forward with what we have to do. We have known this for quite a 
long time, as a matter of fact.
  I am sure the folks on the other side of the aisle will get up and 
say the Republicans are blocking everything; that is not true. We need 
to put a priority on what we are seeking to do and get those jobs done.
  We have three more appropriations, I think, out of the 13 with which 
to deal. We ought to be doing that and we are working on one now.
  Conference reports, which will be coming back--handle those.
  Certainly, I think everyone is committed to the idea of doing an 
economic stimulus package. I understand there are different points of 
view, and it is understandable because I don't think anybody knows 
precisely what it is that will have the most and quickest impact on the 
economy. Nevertheless, we need to do that; we need to do some things 
that are short term that have an impact. Most of us understand that.
  We need to finish up airport security. That has to be done, of 
course, before we go.
  Somewhere along the line, of course, bioterrorism is something that 
needs to be done.
  We had hoped as part of the stimulus package or related to it we 
could get a date or do something with energy. If there is anything that 
impacts the economy, certainly it is an energy policy. An energy policy 
also, of course, is becoming vital to what we are seeking to do in the 
Middle East.
  The idea that here we are in kind of a shutdown, when we are kind of 
in a press to get things done, and it seems like an opportunity to 
stick on everything that everybody has ever wanted to do is not a very 
good way to manage this place. It is not a very good way for us to set 
the priorities that this country needs, which is our job, and then to 
get on with doing it.
  I have to say it gets a little discouraging sometimes for us to be 
going along with all this to do and somehow we can't seem to get with 
it. We have not even voted in the last 2 days in a rollcall vote.
  I know it is a difficult thing to do. I am not critical of anyone 
particularly. But I think collectively we ought to come to the snubbing 
post and say we have these things to do and here is what we have to do 
to them and put aside some things that have been hanging around forever 
and put them on something that is going in, which is always the impact 
and effect of coming down to the end.
  I have to share a certain amount of frustration with what is 
happening. We are not going to agree on every issue. To not understand 
that is naive. But we could agree on saying we have to get this job 
done. Some have to give up this or have to give up that, but we have to 
do it.
  I feel very strongly about the energy issue. I have been part of the 
group that has worked on that for a very long time. I do believe it 
has, indeed, always been important to have a policy, to do something 
more about domestic production. But it is even more important now, and 
clearly so.
  I can't think of anything, as a matter of fact, that probably has 
more impact on the economy than the availability and cost of oil and we 
produce that oil and the cost of production.
  These are the kinds of things we can do. So I am hopeful that as we 
work towards adjournment time, which can't be too far off, we will set 
a list of priorities. We should say: These are the things we need to 
do. Here are our priorities. Let's do them. Let's get on with it.

  Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  Mr. SESSIONS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator withhold?
  Mr. THOMAS. Yes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.

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