[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

   Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning, following leader time, the 
Senate will be in a period of morning business for up to 60 minutes. 
The morning business period will be divided. The Republican side will 
control the first 30 minutes and the Democrat side will control the 
final 30 minutes.
  After morning business, the Senate will begin 60 minutes of debate on 
the motion to proceed to the asbestos bill. When the 1 hour of debate 
concludes, the Senate will conduct a rollcall vote on invoking cloture 
on the motion to proceed to the asbestos bill. We have heard from a 
number of Senators on this bill in the last couple of days. As the 
debate has progressed, there have been a number of ongoing discussions 
which involved our options for moving forward on this important piece 
of legislation.
  At this point, it is difficult to say exactly how the continued 
negotiations are going to be carried out, but we are going forward with 
the cloture vote today, and we will continue with discussions and 
negotiations at the leadership level. If we are unable to invoke 
cloture and actually begin the asbestos bill, we will have an agreement 
to consider the victims' rights bill that was introduced yesterday by 
Senators Kyl, Feinstein, and others. That order provides for up to 2 
hours of debate prior to a vote on passage of the bill.
  I thank all of the Members who have assisted in bringing that to 
conclusion. Both the assistant Democratic leader and I mentioned last 
night that they have done yeomen's work in bringing this legislation to 
the point it is.
   It is bipartisan. I know Senator Kyl has been very engaged in this 
debate. And only through his efforts, working together with the efforts 
of Senator Feinstein and others, will we be able to finish that bill 
today.
  I will be talking to the Democratic leadership about the schedule for 
the remaining part of this week and next week as the course of the day 
goes on.
  I know my distinguished colleague from Missouri is here. I would be 
happy for him to make a statement with regard to our visiting Chaplain 
today.
  So people know, I have about a 4- or 5-minute statement to make 
before going to morning business.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Missouri.

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