[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 130 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S11729]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today the Senate will resume debate on H.R. 
2691, the Interior appropriations bill. We currently have five 
amendments which are pending to the bill. This afternoon the two 
managers will be discussing which of those amendments will be ready for 
Senate votes.
  I announced last week that we would be voting today and asked that 
the managers consider beginning that vote--we will probably have two 
votes, although we will be discussing that over the afternoon--at 5:30 
this afternoon. If further debate is necessary on amendments or we are 
unable to set a time certain for the votes on those amendments it will 
be my intention to schedule a judicial nomination tonight. So I am 
pretty certain we will be voting about 5:30, but as soon as we firm 
that up after discussion with the leadership on both sides we will make 
that known to our colleagues.
  With respect to the remainder of the week, we will try to finish the 
Interior appropriations bill as early as possible tomorrow. The 
managers were here Thursday and continued to work through this past 
Thursday morning. They, of course, are here and will continue to be 
here through the afternoon and early evening, although I do not want to 
encourage any new amendments. If anybody is at all considering 
amendments, we must have those come forward as soon as possible.
  Following completion of the Interior appropriations bill, as we 
mentioned last week, we will continue with the appropriations process. 
We will possibly begin consideration of the DC appropriations bill, 
although I want to talk to the chairman of the Appropriations Committee 
and the various managers. We will consult with the leadership, the 
managers, and the appropriate committee chairmen to make that 
determination as we move a little bit closer.

  We finished last week very strong, and as a number of conference 
reports become ready, I anticipate bringing them to the floor this 
week, if possible. We could schedule hopefully those conference reports 
with short time agreements and votes this week.
  At the end of last week, I also mentioned that there are 11 judicial 
nominations on today's Executive Calendar. Six are ready to be 
scheduled for votes, and I will be scheduling these for floor action 
over the course of the next couple of days.
  At an appropriate time, I want to make a brief statement and would be 
happy to turn to the assistant leader of the other side for any 
comments about the week or the schedule for clarification for our 
colleagues.

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