[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning, following the time set aside 
for the leaders, the Senate will begin a period of morning business for 
up to 60 minutes. Today the Republican side will control the first 30 
minutes, to be followed by 30 minutes under the control of the other 
side of the aisle.
  Following morning business, the Senate will resume the motion to 
proceed to the asbestos bill. During the last 2 days Senators came to 
the floor and engaged in debate on the asbestos issue. I appreciate 
that. However, we should now proceed to the bill itself in order to 
work through various issues.
  Last night, in order to move forward with the bill, I filed a cloture 
motion on the motion to proceed. That cloture vote will occur tomorrow. 
Again, this procedural vote is to allow us to begin the process of 
deliberating and deciding on the issues surrounding the issue of 
asbestos. It is a beginning of the process. Therefore, I hope cloture 
will indeed be invoked tomorrow morning.
  In addition, Senators Kyl and Feinstein have been discussing the 
victims' rights constitutional amendment which is on the calendar. My 
hope is to consider that legislation following the asbestos bill. There 
was an objection to beginning that bill as well, and it became 
necessary to file a cloture motion on the motion to proceed to that 
joint resolution. Depending on the outcome of the asbestos cloture 
vote, the cloture vote on the victims' rights amendment may also occur 
tomorrow.
  On both of these matters, the Senate should be able to deliberate on 
the underlying issues, and ultimately the Senate should work its will 
on each of these bills. We will continue to press for consideration of 
the asbestos legislation and the victims' rights amendment this week in 
order for the Senate to ultimately vote on these two important pieces 
of legislation.
  The leadership, Republican and Democratic, will continue to discuss 
among themselves the asbestos bill and the best way to proceed over the 
next several days.
  I yield the floor.

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