[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 192 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S15598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF BUSINESS

  Mr. REID. Madam President, we are going to then move and complete 
work today on the farm bill. We hope the two managers can work through 
whatever minor problems exist. The sooner people determine what they 
want to do, the more quickly we can dispose of the bill.
  As I indicated earlier, we are going to file cloture this evening, 
this afternoon, on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It is an 
extremely important piece of legislation. There are some strong 
feelings on both sides of the issue. We are going to come in around 11 
o'clock on Monday morning. There will be a vote around noon on Monday. 
The managers of this bill, this important bill, should be ready to 
start legislating Monday afternoon. We do not have a lot of time.
  This is an important piece of legislation. There are a significant 
number of amendments people want to offer. A week from Tuesday is 
Christmas. So I would hope we can work our way through this. We hope 
there are some other issues we can complete. Late in the session like 
this, they have to be agreed upon.
  Senator McConnell and I have had a number of conversations the last 
couple of days on the way we are going to end the session regarding 
funding, other issues relating to funding. The one good thing is both 
my office and his office have kept quiet about it. As a result of that, 
things are moving fairly quietly.
  That is the way we want it. No one will be surprised about anything. 
Everyone will know exactly what is going to happen. At this stage, it 
appears the House will take up the spending matter, the omnibus, on 
Monday. They will send it to us on Tuesday. That is the glidepath we 
have now. The path we hope is a smooth one, but in this world we live 
in, you never know, but it is looking pretty good.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, let me briefly add, I am hoping there 
will not be a need for this hour of debate on the Defense conference 
report. I think we all know what is in it at this point. Hopefully, we 
can yield back time. There are a number of Members who have travel 
plans. If we can expedite the consideration of the remaining issues, it 
would be appreciated by a great many of our Members.

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