[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S2483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SCHEDULE
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I wish everyone a good morning as we start
a very busy day in the Senate.
Yesterday, I think we defined a good glidepath to finishing the
lobbying reform bill, after which we will return to the immigration
issues.
Today, following our period of morning business, we will return to
the consideration of the lobbying reform bill. Yesterday, we invoked
cloture by a vote of 81 to 16, and therefore I believe we will be able
to finish that bill at an early hour today. The order from last night
provides that all amendments must be offered no later than 11 a.m. this
morning. The bill managers will be here and will be able to call up
amendments if Members are unable to get to the floor by 11 o'clock.
Therefore, at 11 o'clock this morning, we will be able to determine how
many remaining amendments will require votes before we go to passage of
the lobbying reform bill. We already have a time agreement with Senator
Feingold on his amendment relating to gifts, and we will vote on that
issue prior to noon today.
Once we complete the lobbying reform bill, we will proceed to the
border control bill under the order entered yesterday. We will begin
that bill for a period of debate first before we get into the amendment
process. Many Senators have indicated that there is a desire to have
opening statements before we begin to consider other immigration
issues. Therefore, we have provided for that period for debate, and I
encourage Members to take advantage of this opportunity today, this
afternoon, or this evening.
Having said that, we will be voting today on a number of lobbying
amendments as well as passage of the lobbying reform bill. I also
encourage Senators to keep their schedules open for the remainder of
the week as we get into the border control bill and related issues. We
are providing ample time for the consideration of this bill, and we
need to take advantage of each day between now and the recess for this
bill.
It was now over 3 months ago that we said we would spend these 2
weeks on the issues of border control, of interior enforcement, and
issues such as the temporary worker issues. We will be doing that over
these 2 weeks. I believe we can complete that over the course of these
2 weeks. I do encourage our colleagues to get involved early, both in
the debate and taking advantage of the time we are providing beginning
today, tonight, and every day and every night between now and the next
recess.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.
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