[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S15084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we will be in a period of morning business 
for 1 hour, with the time equally divided as usual, with the 
Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the 
final half.
  Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of 
the farm bill. There has been tremendously good movement on that. All 
the Republican amendments have been offered. Five Democratic amendments 
have been offered. We are going to set up a program for voting on 
these.
  For example, some of the most controversial, the one we thought would 
be controversial that Senator Domenici has offered regarding the 
renewable fuel program, I think probably we can take that. So I think 
progress can be made.
  We have Senator Coburn who has offered a number of amendments. 
Senator Gregg has offered a number of amendments. But we can set up a 
voting schedule for those. I think we have every indication that we can 
complete this bill before we leave and hopefully have it go to 
conference.
  I have spoken to the Republican leader about the conference. We have 
an idea of how we can do a conference in this instance. While in some 
others it could not be done, I think in this instance there is a way we 
can have a real conference. I hope that is the case.
  Under an order entered last night, the Senate will debate the Lugar-
Lautenberg amendment for 3 hours. The vote in relation to that will 
occur sometime after the Senate returns from the caucus recess period 
today. That will be the first vote today. There could be other votes 
this afternoon. I will talk to the Republican leader about that. If we 
cannot schedule more votes this afternoon, we will schedule a load of 
them in the morning.

  A lot of work remains to be done. Members can expect long days as we 
continue to work toward Christmas, which is 2 weeks from today.
  The Senate will recess for the caucus lunch period from 12:30 to 2:15 
p.m.
  During the next 10 days, we have a lot of work to do. As I have 
indicated, we are going to try to finish the farm bill. We are going to 
try to make a significant effort to try to complete our intelligence 
legislation. We have the AMT which is still pending. Although we have 
passed it here, we understand the House is going to give us something 
dealing with that. We have to do our work on that.
  We have energy legislation. We are trying to work through that, and 
we also have our spending. I have had a conversation with the 
Republican leader this morning on that, and while things do not appear 
as hopeful as I wish, I am kind of reminded of President Lincoln. If 
you go to the Lincoln Memorial, you see on the wall the carved words of 
his second inaugural address, which is so prophetic and so strong, 
where he talks about both sides are praying to the same God, praying 
for different results.
  You know, I, of course, am confident we are trying to do the right 
thing on the farm bill, FISA, alternative minimum tax, our spending 
programs, but I am realistic enough to know there is hopefully some way 
in between to work all this out. Even though we are all hopeful that 
our side is right, I have come over the years to learn there is usually 
some way of working through these things, although this is pretty 
difficult duty we have now to complete our work in the next few days. I 
hope we can do that.
  As the end of 2007 continues to draw near, we have, as I have 
indicated, a tremendously busy work period ahead of us. We hope to 
complete action on the appropriations process which will require the 
White House, along with House and Senate Republicans, to be responsible 
and reasonable in the pursuit of common ground.
  We will work to complete the Energy bill with the bipartisan 
compromise that will take our country toward lower energy prices for 
consumers and a cleaner environment.
  We will work to complete FISA legislation to ensure that we have the 
tools to fight terrorism with fair and, yes, constitutional tools, and 
pass legislation that will fund this Government. We know we are going 
to have to do a very short CR, continuing resolution, to keep the 
Government open. Hopefully that will be for a matter of days and 
certainly not multiple weeks.
  I look forward to some bipartisan progress. I hope that can be done.

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