[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S9216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, tomorrow we will continue to work on the 
port security bill, which we began tonight. As I announced earlier in 
the evening, there will not be any rollcall votes tomorrow or on 
Monday. That being said, the managers will be here and we do hope to 
move forward with this bill and have amendments offered. Opening 
statements on the port security bill have begun tonight and will 
continue in the morning and over the course of the morning and maybe 
afternoon. I do encourage Senators with amendments to this bill to 
begin working with the managers in order to get these amendments in the 
queue.
  Today, a very important bill was passed 98 to 0, the Department of 
Defense appropriations bill. As we have done on the floor previously, I 
thank the chairman and ranking member, Senator Stevens and Senator 
Inouye, for their perseverance in passing this critical spending bill, 
a bill we completed today but we began prior to the August recess.
  We, earlier today, recognized Senator Domenici for passing a very 
significant milestone with 13,000 votes. As we reviewed the records, 
there have been only seven other Senators who have met that milestone. 
He is No. 8. As we said, there are four other Senators currently 
serving who have met that milestone, so we have a lot of competition 
here in the U.S. Senate.
  As I said earlier, and as was spoken in the tributes to him, he has 
been a steadfast leader, a bold leader here in the U.S. Senate, 
somebody who--I did not say earlier today--has offered me counsel from 
day one over the last 12 years since I have been in the U.S. Senate, 
counsel that I respect. And I have tremendous admiration for him.
  Several of my colleagues did mention Nancy, his wife. She has been 
right at his side throughout each of his endeavors and, as he has told 
me so many times, does provide the anchor for everything he 
accomplishes. They are a great couple, a great pair, and are great 
friends to Karyn and myself.

                          ____________________