[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 152 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S13323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ORDERS FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2003

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the 
Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., 
Tuesday, October 28. I further ask that following the prayer and the 
pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings 
be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their 
use later in the day, and the Senate then proceed to executive session 
to consider the Leavitt nomination as provided under the previous 
order; provided that following the disposition of the nomination, the 
Senate return to legislative session and resume consideration of H.R. 
2800, the foreign operations appropriations bill.
  I further ask consent that the Senate recess tomorrow from 12:30 to 
2:15 for the weekly party lunches.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The assistant minority leader.
  Mr. REID. If the Senator will yield, I have had the opportunity today 
to speak to the distinguished Senator from Kentucky on a number of 
issues. One of the things that I did not speak to him about--and I have 
had a number of inquiries on this side--is if we are unable to adjourn 
by next Friday, November 7, the date that the distinguished majority 
leader has suggested, a real question arises as to what we are going to 
do the Monday and Tuesday of the following week. We need to have a 
decision made on that real soon because it is Veterans Day and there 
are some parades around the country in which people want to be 
involved. So I say to the distinguished majority whip that if the 
leader could make a decision on that as quickly as possible, 
many people would appreciate that.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The assistant majority leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I appreciate that. I know the majority 
leader's thinking at the moment is that Monday would be a workday. We 
have a lot of work to do if we plan to finish up this session, 
certainly before Thanksgiving, if not sooner, which I think would be 
the preference of most of the Members. I think it is his current 
intention, which I am sure he will address in the next few days, that 
the Monday before Veterans Day, which falls on a Tuesday, would be a 
workday.
  Mr. REID. I would simply say to my friend from Kentucky that I 
believe that is a wise decision. We have a lot to do and every day that 
we are not here means that much longer we have to go into Thanksgiving 
and, perish the thought, thinking about Christmas.
  Mr. McCONNELL. My friend from Nevada is absolutely right. If we take 
off Monday and then Tuesday, people will start coming in on Wednesday, 
and pretty soon it is Wednesday night and we have squandered the whole 
week. So I am sure the majority leader will address that in the next 
day or two. I know it is his current intention that the Monday before 
Veterans Day, which falls on Tuesday, would be a workday.
  Mr. REID. If I could just say one more thing.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The assistant minority leader.
  Mr. REID. I know my veterans in Nevada would understand because a lot 
of the work we are doing is directly related to them anyway.

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