[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 54 (Monday, May 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will return to debate on several 
health care proposals. We had previously slated this week to consider 
two medical liability, medical malpractice reform bills, as well as the 
small business health plan bill reported by the HELP Committee. Because 
there was an objection to proceeding to each of these three bills, I 
was forced to file cloture last week on each of these bills on the 
motion to proceed. Thus, the first vote will be at 5:15 today on one of 
the medical liability bills and the second medical liability bill, if 
we do not get cloture on the first, to follow.
  At 5:15, the vote will be on the Medical Care Access Protection Act 
of 2006, S. 22. If cloture is not invoked on that comprehensive bill, 
the Senate will then immediately vote to invoke cloture on the motion 
to proceed to S. 23, the Healthy Mothers and Healthy Babies Access To 
Care Act. That second bill is similar to the first, S. 22, but limits 
itself to litigation and focuses just on obstetrical and gynecological 
care.
  If the Senate is not able to turn to either of these pieces of 
legislation, the next vote we will have will be tomorrow morning, 
Tuesday morning, on cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 1955, the 
Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act. This 
is the bill reported by Chairman Enzi's committee called the small 
business health plans bill. The bill is intended to aid small business 
owners by giving them more power to negotiate for affordable insurance 
for their employees and their families.
  We have set aside debate throughout the day today to allow Senators 
to speak on any of these three health care measures. I look forward to 
the debate on each of these issues--each very important--as we look at 
the overall affordability of health care, the access to health care, as 
well as the quality of health care for all Americans.

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