[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2003

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the 
Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., 
Wednesday, November 19. I further ask unanimous consent that following 
the prayer and 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 begin a 
period for morning business for up to 60 minutes, with the first 30 
minutes under the control of the minority leader or his designee, and 
the second 30 minutes under the control of Senator Hutchison or her 
designee.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. REID. If I may say through the Chair to the distinguished 
majority leader, on our side we are ready to finish the session. We 
understand we will have to work Saturday, Sunday, and hopefully we will 
finish then; otherwise, we will go Monday and Tuesday. Everyone has 
been told that is what we are going to do. Even though there is a 
little grumbling, everyone has accepted the fact that is what we are 
going to have to do.
  I hope everyone understands the decision made by the leadership--we 
need to make sure everyone has a chance to be heard--but we have to 
have cooperation to get this very difficult session completed. We have 
some very important issues--the Energy bill, Medicare--and I hope 
everyone understands the time is limited.
  As I say, we have signed on to the program, and we are willing to 
work until we finish the business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I very much appreciate the statement made 
by the assistant Democratic leader. What he is referring to will be 
ambitious in the sense we are asking both sides of the aisle to work 
together to address a number of pieces of legislation that are very 
important to this body and very important to the American people.
  We have agreed we will be here over the course of this week and, if 
necessary, into the weekend so that we can complete the bills before 
us. One of the reasons we are here at this hour of the evening is that 
I was hopeful we could proceed with the Energy bill. For a number of 
reasons, we will wait and start that early in the morning after morning 
business.
  The leaders on both sides of the aisle have been in touch over the 
course of the day, and both are determined to proceed in an orderly 
way, a collaborative way to address the issues that will be coming 
before us over the next several days.

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