[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page S15210]]
                          ORDERS FOR TOMORROW

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the 
Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. 
Thursday, November 20. I further ask that following the prayer and the 
pledge, the morning hour be deemed to have 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 that the Senate then 
resume consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 6, the 
Energy Policy Act of 2003.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we worked for several hours this afternoon 
on the conference on the omnibus. Significant progress was made. The DC 
title was closed. The VA-HUD title was closed. The Commerce-State-
Justice is one open item. But that should be resolved quickly tomorrow, 
which leaves Agriculture and Labor-HHS.
  I think that is what we have left. I think progress was made. Another 
couple of hours tomorrow and we should be able to finish that. That 
would bring that very important bill to the floor. At this stage, it 
appears that Senators Stevens and Byrd have done an outstanding job, 
having just dealt with those appropriations bills and not extraneous 
materials, as some talked about doing.
  I think this is something that, in a relatively short period of time, 
if things continue like this in conference, should not take a lot of 
floor time.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, just to add to the comments of the 
distinguished assistant minority leader, the Medicare conference, I 
believe, will be held tomorrow, and most probably tomorrow morning, 
although I am not sure if a final announcement or determination of the 
time has been made. It will be made a little later tonight.
  Substantial progress has been made on that conference as well. There 
are a few numbers coming in from CBO over the course of tonight. Once 
they are back, that conference will be held.
  What our colleagues have just heard is that, on the omnibus, 
substantial progress has been made. And on what we are addressing on 
the floor--energy--real progress is being made. Also, in terms of 
Medicare prescription drugs, real progress is being made. People are 
collaborating. Everybody understands that we will be here probably each 
day, every day until we finish the Senate's business. After a long day 
today, we have made real progress.

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