[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COMPLETING SENATE ACTION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, while the distinguished Republican leader is 
on the floor, I wish to make a couple of statements. It is good we 
finished, finally, the bill on which the Presiding Officer worked so 
hard, the Omnibus spending bill. It will now be sent to the President. 
It is a few weeks overdue, but at least it is done right.
  The provision dealing with the Internal Revenue Service is out of 
that bill. We learned how it was put in the bill. I am confident and 
hopeful that will not happen in the future.
  I extend my appreciation to the Democratic leader of the House of 
Representatives, Representative Pelosi, for making sure there was a 
vote on this measure. It sends a good message to the people of America.
  I also extend my congratulations to Senators Lieberman and Collins 
for their brilliant work on this 9/11 bill. We had a true conference on 
that bill. No one can dispute there was anything done in the darkness 
of night. The people appointed to that conference committee worked long 
and hard to come up with what we will vote on either tonight or 
tomorrow.
  There have been times when, on this side, we have complained how the 
conferences have worked. On that bill, it worked the way it is supposed 
to work. Senators Lieberman and Collins have worked well together. This 
legislation, while imperfect, is still in keeping with the 
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, and the American people are 
going to be safer as soon as this legislation is signed by the 
President.
  I say to my distinguished colleague, the Republican leader, on our 
side the only two requests for speeches I have on the 9/11 bill are 
Senator Leahy, who wants to speak for a relatively short period of 
time, and Senator Byrd, who will want to speak for a fairly long period 
of time.
  In addition, I have had requests from Senator Dorgan and Senator 
Graham of Florida that they want to be able to speak sometime during 
the day as in morning business.
  Those are the only indications we have today on this side of the 
aisle. As I indicated, Senator Byrd may want to speak for an extended 
period of time. I do not know if that means an hour, 2 hours, or 3 
hours, whatever it is. We will check with him and find out when he will 
be able to speak.
  It is my understanding we could get the bill from the House sometime 
as early as this afternoon. If that is the case, then I hope there is a 
decision made by those who, in the past, have said they want a vote on 
this measure whether they are going to require a vote. If they do, as I 
indicated to the Democrats, some people have to fly a long way to get 
back here for a vote tomorrow. We will keep the Republican leader 
advised during the day as to what we have on our side.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as you have just heard from both leaders, 
requests have been made for people to come to the floor today. Although 
I know people's schedules are so complicated, we will do our best to 
keep people posted over the course of the day and come to the floor and 
make periodic announcements as to progress being made.

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