[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 103 (Monday, July 31, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8417-S8418]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will start a period of morning 
business until 3 p.m. Following that time, we will return to the debate 
on the Gulf of Mexico energy security bill. We have a cloture vote 
scheduled for 5:30 on this bipartisan bill. I hope cloture will be 
invoked and that we can then work together to bring that bill to a 
close at the earliest opportunity.
  This is our final week of business prior to the August adjournment, 
and we have some extraordinarily important measures to consider before 
we leave.
  We now have a freestanding pensions bill that has arrived from the 
House which we will need to consider before the close of the week. We 
also have a bill that relates to an increase in the minimum wage, death 
tax reform, and some other very important tax provisions. I expect to 
schedule that bill at the earliest time, and I hope we can get 
cooperation from all Senators. The Senate will address that package 
before we adjourn for the recess. Chairman Stevens is ready to bring 
the Department of Defense appropriations bill to the floor, and we will 
look for a window to have that bill debated and voted on as well. There 
are a number of nominations--judicial and otherwise--that I hope we can 
consider this week.
  We have a very aggressive agenda this week that has been laid out 
before us--a very important one because I believe the importance and 
weight of each of these bills demands that we address them this week.
  We have acted on a number of issues over the past several weeks, and 
most of the recent debate has been on the issue we will consider later 
today, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act.

[[Page S8418]]

Today we are scheduled to conclude that debate on this important piece 
of legislation. It fundamentally is a bill which will substantially 
reduce overwhelming dependence on foreign sources of oil. It would move 
us toward energy independence. It strengthens our national security, 
and it helps reduce the cost of living for American families and 
businesses.
  Moving toward that energy independence is not only possible, but it 
is the key to reducing the energy prices that people feel every day 
when they fill up their cars with gas, when they cool their homes, or 
other times of the year when they heat their homes. The high energy 
prices affect people in their everyday lives.
  I believe energy independence can be achieved, but a first and very 
important major starting point will be to make sure we bring more of 
America's energy to American consumers. That is what the bill does by 
allowing deep sea exploration in the Gulf of Mexico.

  As I mentioned, we have a cloture vote this afternoon, and I expect 
the final vote on the Energy Security Act hopefully sometime tomorrow.
  There are a number of different issues before us as we continue to 
move and produce meaningful solutions to the problems facing 
Americans--and that is what we will continue to do.


                           Order of Procedure

  I ask unanimous consent that following the remarks by myself and 
Senator Reid, Senator Hagel be recognized for 30 minutes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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