[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 32 (Friday, March 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2824-S2825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            SENATE BUSINESS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this week the Senate completed action on S. 
Con. Res. 95, the fiscal year 2005 budget resolution, under the 
tremendous leadership of Chairman Nickles. As we look over the last 4 
days, we have had a very busy course with debating and disposing of 64 
amendments to the budget resolution. There were 25 rollcall votes in 
relation to the amendments, including passage.
  We had a long day of voting yesterday until the early hours of this 
morning with 19 votes, and Senator Nickles guided the budget resolution 
to passage early this morning by a vote of 51 to 45.
  In addition to that business, we were able to clear executive 
nominations. The Senate confirmed 17 nominations. Two of the 
nominations confirmed were district judges from Arizona and 
Mississippi. I am pleased we were able to clear these judicial 
nominations, and I look forward to continuing this process for the 
remaining nominations that are on the calendar.
  Indeed, there are approximately 22 judges on the calendar, of which I 
believe 15 or so should move expeditiously. I will continue to work 
with the Democratic leader in scheduling these when we return from the 
recess. I understand the Democratic leader mentioned additional 
nominations, and I will be consulting with him on those as well. He 
mentioned them earlier today and last night, and we will be consulting 
on those nominations.
  Late last night, as I mentioned earlier, the Senate confirmed the 
nomination of Mark McClellan to be Administrator of the Centers for 
Medicare and Medicaid Services.
  Yesterday, the Senate also spoke with one voice with regard to a 
tragedy, the deadly attack yesterday against the people of Spain. Our 
condolences were expressed. We had a moment of silence yesterday to 
honor the people of Spain. In addition, we sponsored a resolution that 
condemned this

[[Page S2825]]

cowardly act. Our prayers continue to go out to the leaders and the 
people of Spain over what we know is a very difficult time.
  In addition, we consider other matters that people do not see very 
much, and I won't go through all of them, but we passed S. 741, the 
animal drug bill that Senator Sessions sponsored that provides for new 
drugs on what are called minor animals.
  We passed H.R. 3195 just this morning, a bill that extends Small 
Business Administration programs. That is Senator Snowe's bill.
  We passed H.R. 254, which are amendments to the U.S.-Mexico Agreement 
on the Border Environment Cooperation Commission and the North American 
Development Bank. Senator Hutchison was instrumental in clearing this 
bill.
  The list goes on. I did want to reflect the amount of work we were 
able to pull through over the course of the week.
  In addition, we were able to ratify the United States-Japan Tax 
Treaty reported by Chairman Lugar and the Foreign Relations Committee. 
This is a very important treaty.
  We just passed Senator Alexander's S. 1881, the Medical Devices and 
Technical Correction Act.
  Senator Specter secured passage of S. 2043, which designates a 
Federal building in Harrisburg, PA, as the ``Ronald Reagan Federal 
Building.''
  Senator Shelby assisted in passage of H.R. 3724.
  So we had a very productive week by anyone's measure. I wanted to 
notice the hard work and efforts of all of my colleagues with respect 
to these legislative and executive accomplishments.

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