[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 27 (Tuesday, March 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have spoken to the two managers of this 
legislation. What we are going to do now, if the unanimous consent 
request is approved, is go to morning business until 12:30.
  The amendment offered by the Senator from California, Mrs. Feinstein, 
is an extremely important amendment dealing with derivatives, among 
other things. The way the legislation is now written, it appears 
Senator Gramm of Texas opposes this legislation. He and the Senator 
from California are now in deliberations. The arrangement has been made 
that they are going to report back at 2:15 today after the party 
conferences are completed. If there is some hope that further 
discussion between them will bear some fruit, then we will go further; 
otherwise, we are going to complete that matter today. Senator Gramm 
said he wants to speak on it for a while. He may have a second-degree 
amendment.
  I say to all Members, we need to move forward. As I indicated on 
behalf of the majority leader today, we have light at the end of the 
tunnel. The minority leader has indicated he thinks we can finish this 
bill by a week from this Friday. We agree that is certainly the way it 
should be.
  We have some important matters to consider. We have to do something 
with ANWR, we have to do something with CAFE standards, and 
electricity. We hope those three very difficult, contentious issues can 
be disposed of. And we would indicate we are going to finish 
derivatives before we move to something else, unless there is some 
agreement between the two Senators. We cannot keep bouncing around this 
legislation.

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