[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 67 (Thursday, May 13, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S5452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, while the distinguished majority whip is on 
the floor, Senator Bingaman has been working for more than a year on a 
medal that would go to those military men and women who participated in 
Afghanistan and Iraq. That matter has passed the House of 
Representatives without a single dissenting vote. Senator Bingaman has 
informed me he has spoken to Senator Warner, and Senator Warner 
believes this matter should come up at the earliest possible date.
  In short, we hope we can get to this important piece of legislation 
today. We could do it very quickly. There would be very short speeches. 
I bet we could do it in an hour evenly divided. There would be no one 
against it, but both sides could speak in favor of this legislation. It 
would pass without a dissenting vote.
  I think it would send a tremendous message to the fighting men and 
women in Afghanistan and Iraq that they would receive a medal for their 
participation in those conflicts in those two countries.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kentucky.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I respond by saying we are working that 
issue on this side of the aisle and hope to have a response to the 
Senator's request shortly.
  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SPECTER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Murkowski). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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