[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 172 (Sunday, November 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S15592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Today, the Senate will resume debate on the Medicare 
prescription drug conference report. We had an extended and vigorous 
debate on this historic legislation yesterday. Again, it is unusual to 
have a Saturday session and even more unusual to have a Sunday session, 
but the historic level which this debate has reached demonstrates the 
importance of doing just that.
  There are a number of Senators who will be on the Senate floor to 
discuss this matter during today's session, and in an effort to 
accommodate the number of Senators who are seeking floor time today, we 
would encourage Members to limit their statements to no more than 30 
minutes. We hope to work out a schedule so that Members will have a 
better understanding of at what point in the day or the evening they 
will be able to speak. If we can lock in 30 minutes per Member, or 
possibly work out alternating hours, which we will do, hopefully, in a 
few minutes, we will then have an orderly way to move forward so that 
everybody will have an opportunity to address this important issue.
  Yesterday, it became apparent that we would not be able to lock in a 
time certain for an up-or-down vote on this important legislation, and 
at least one Democratic Member said that a filibuster would be the road 
to pursue. Thus, I filed a cloture motion on the conference report. 
That vote on the motion to invoke cloture is expected to occur sometime 
around 12:30 on Monday. All Senators will be notified when that vote is 
set.

                          ____________________