[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9859-S9860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ACTIVITY IN THE SENATE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we have a lot of activity going on, both on 
the floor and also off the floor. We have several conference reports, 
in terms of appropriations bills--Homeland Security and Department of 
Defense. We are making real progress. We will address those next week. 
An issue which I am constantly asked about by press and constituents is 
what progress is being made and how much progress is being made on the 
legislation surrounding terrorist camps and terrorist military 
tribunals and terrorist surveillance. There is a lot of activity at the 
committee level. Negotiations are underway and, hopefully, we will be 
able to report back more on that later this afternoon.
  Today, I believe most of the debate postcloture time will be used on 
border security and on the issues surrounding immigration. We will have 
votes on Monday and, I would say, they are likely Friday. As I have 
said each day this week, we may have to be in next Saturday. I urge our 
colleagues to focus on accelerating their work at the committee level 
so we can finish at a reasonable time next week.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, has the majority leader made a decision as 
to when we are going to vote Monday?
  Mr. FRIST. Monday afternoon around 5 o'clock to 6:30. There have been 
several questions about that.
  Mr. REID. The other question is, I recognize that other than delaying 
things, if the majority wants to go home, that is what we do because we 
have fewer votes than they have. But my Senators are asking, and staff 
is asking, is this Friday and Saturday the date that the majority is 
going to go home?
  Mr. FRIST. Next Friday or Saturday.
  Mr. REID. The reason I say that, if there is some anticipation that 
if things don't work out, we are going to go beyond next week, our 
folks should know that.
  Mr. FRIST. It is very important, Mr. President, that we keep 
everybody's schedules clear because there are campaigns going on. 
People need to get back to their States. It is our intent that we are 
going to stick with it. Unless there is an unforeseen emergency of some 
sort, we will finish next week. We will be out this month. My intention 
is to finish Friday, working with the Democratic leader in that regard. 
There is very important business for us to do, and that should send a 
signal that we have to keep our committees and conferences working for 
the rest of today, tomorrow, and over the course of the weekend and 
into next week.

[[Page S9860]]

  Unless there is something very surprising, I expect we will be out 
this month. I would like for it to be Friday, but it may be Saturday.
  Mr. REID. The majority leader and I have had private conversations. 
It is my further understanding that the majority leader is planning on 
coming back the following Monday after the elections?
  Mr. FRIST. The following week.
  Mr. REID. Monday or Tuesday?
  Mr. FRIST. Right. It is clear that over the next 8 or 9 days, we have 
unfinished business we absolutely must do. Looking at the calendar, 
either that Monday or Tuesday of the week following the elections, we 
will be back in.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. STABENOW. 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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