[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 23 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1897-S1898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE SENATE THIS WEEK

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we will be wrapping up very shortly for the 
week. Because it has been a very busy week, I would like to run through 
the progress that has been made. We have proceeded in step-wise fashion 
and advanced the business of this body in a very thoughtful way. We 
started the week hoping to consider the OB/GYN medical liability bill, 
aptly entitled ``Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access Care Act.'' 
We debated the issue on Monday and Tuesday but, unfortunately, were 
prevented from formally going to the bill. A cloture motion was filed 
on the motion to proceed.
  I also want to thank our colleagues, Senator Ensign and Senator 
Gregg, for their real leadership on this particular issue. As we closed 
that debate, it was clear--as both sides stated--that we were going to 
have to come back and address the liability issues, and we will bring 
it back before the Senate again.
  S. 1805, the gun manufacturers' liability bill, which is more 
formally called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, was then 
addressed, continues to be addressed through today. I commend our 
leader, Senator Craig, for his leadership.
  We do plan on proceeding and having a final vote on this bill 
Tuesday. There was an objection to proceeding from the Democratic side 
of the aisle initially on that bill and thus we had to file, once 
again, a cloture motion. We prevailed on that cloture motion to proceed 
by a vote of 75 to 22, and thus we were able to get on the bill and 
debate the bill.
  We were able to lock in the agreement limiting amendments to the gun 
liability bill, and during Thursday and Friday's session we have 
considered 16 amendments. We disposed of eight of those amendments, 
conducted six rollcall votes on Thursday. Under the agreement, we will 
pass the legislation on Tuesday. The House passed their version of this 
bill April 19th of last year. I hope we will be able to proceed on a 
conference on this bipartisan legislation so we can reconcile the 
differences. Again, I understand there is an objection to proceeding to 
a conference from the other side of the aisle,

[[Page S1898]]

but we will continue to discuss with the Democratic leadership how we 
can best proceed to conference.
  Finally, just a few moments ago, we passed H.R. 3850, a 2-month 
extension of the highway bill. As we witnessed over the course of the 
day, it has required a lot in terms of discussions among colleagues in 
this body with Members of the House of Representatives, but I am 
pleased to announce we have reached a satisfactory conclusion for all 
parties involved. I thank all the Senators who were just appropriately 
thanked for their participation.
  Again, the 5,000 Transportation employees who were at risk of not 
being able to go to work and being paid for work on Monday can rest now 
and, indeed, will receive both those checks and show up for work on 
Monday.

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