[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 149 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H7696-H7697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

  (Mr. FROST asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I take this time to inquire about next week's 
schedule.
  I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the majority leader.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the House has 
completed its legislative business for the week.
  The House will next meet for legislative business on Tuesday, 
November 6, at 12:30 p.m. for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative 
business. The House will consider a number of measures under suspension 
of the rules, a list of which will be distributed to Members' offices 
tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, Members will want to note that on Tuesday, no recorded

[[Page H7697]]

votes are expected before 6:30 p.m. I repeat that, in compliance with 
the wishes of the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran), there will be no 
recorded votes before 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday next.
  On Wednesday and the balance of the week, the House will consider the 
following measures, subject to rules: H.R. 3167, the Freedom 
Consolidation Act of 2001, that was marked up today in the Committee on 
International Relations; and the Department of Defense Appropriations 
Act for Fiscal Year 2002. Appropriators are also continuing to work on 
several conference reports. I am hopeful that the VA-HUD conference 
report, among others, will be ready for consideration in the House 
early next week.
  The Speaker also reports that he will be ready to name conferees on 
the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act, which I will be happy to 
schedule for consideration next week as well.
  I want to thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the distinguished majority 
leader, he has indicated that perhaps the VA-HUD conference report will 
be ready for consideration. Are there other conference reports that the 
gentleman is optimistic about being considered next week?
  Mr. ARMEY. If the gentleman will continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, yes, 
we do have reason to expect the Transportation appropriations 
conference report, the Agriculture conference report, and the CJS 
conference report as well next week.
  Mr. FROST. I would further ask the gentleman, do you expect fast-
track legislation on the floor next week?
  Mr. ARMEY. If the gentleman will continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, we 
are having discussions about the Trade Promotion Authority legislation. 
While it is not currently scheduled to be scheduled, I think it fair to 
advise the body that it is possible for consideration next week.
  Mr. FROST. I would ask the majority leader, will there be votes next 
Friday? Can you determine that at this point?
  Mr. ARMEY. Again, as the gentleman continues to yield, Mr. Speaker, 
we are hopeful that the DOD appropriations bill and other conference 
reports may be available to us, in which case we would stay for votes 
on Friday; but as has been our circumstance recently, we would have to 
watch that as the week develops and advise Members as quickly as we can 
during the week.
  Mr. FROST. I would ask the gentleman, when do we expect to wrap up 
the session for the year? Do you think it will occur before 
Thanksgiving?
  Mr. ARMEY. Again, I thank the gentleman for the request; and if the 
gentleman would continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, we are currently 
operating under a continuing resolution that would take us to the 16th. 
Up at the White House last week the President made it clear he would 
like to see us complete our work.
  The leadership on both sides of the building have made a commitment 
to the 16th. So while I stress that it seems to be the universal goal 
and objective that we would complete our work on the 16th, that at this 
point is what I must advise the gentleman is our target for completing 
our work.

                              {time}  2045

  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for a question.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I would inquire of the distinguished majority leader whether it is 
possible that the Speaker will name conferees on the just-passed 
aviation security bill. I see that the distinguished leader announced 
that the Speaker will be ready to name conferees on Foreign Operations 
Appropriations, but given the urgency and the significance that was 
referenced throughout the debate tonight, I would inquire of the 
distinguished majority leader if it is possible at an early time to 
name conferees.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Texas will continue to 
yield, again, I would like to thank the gentleman from Minnesota for 
the inquiry and it is, in fact, a very important point. While my 
remarks for this colloquy were prepared prior to the final passage 
vote, I can advise the gentleman that the Speaker talked to me just 
before he left the floor and advised me that he will seek to name 
conferees as quickly as possible.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost) 
will continue to yield, I hope that will be early in the week because 
of the urgency of getting together and closing the rather significant 
gulf between the two versions of the aviation security bill.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will continue to yield, the 
gentleman from Minnesota's point is well taken, and I think he would 
find the Speaker's enthusiasm as I saw it expressed to me would be in 
perfect compliance with your point.
  Mr. FROST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas.

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