[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S3621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks, we will proceed to 
a period of morning business for up to 1 hour. The Republicans will 
control the first half; the majority will control the second. Senators 
will be permitted during that time to speak for up to 10 minutes each.
  Following morning business, the Senate will resume the postcloture 
debate on the motion to proceed to H.R. 1388, the national service 
reform legislation.
  The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 for the weekly caucus 
luncheons.
  As I announced yesterday, we have to finish the national service 
legislation this week, because we have to be on the budget next week. 
For those of us who have been in the Senate for a while, frankly, the 
budget is kind of an ugly thing. We have no rules, other than that the 
time for debate is limited. But at the end, it is a free-for-all where 
we can offer amendments, and there is no limitation to them. We have to 
finish that legislation before we take the Easter recess.
  As I told everyone yesterday, we have to finish this bill today. I 
hope we can start legislating early today. I spoke to the managers of 
the bill yesterday, Senator Mikulski and Senator Enzi, who was held up 
in a snowstorm. I talked to Senator Mikulski and she thought the bill 
could be finished in 1 day. I hope those who are wanting to use this 
time would allow us to start this legislation so that we can offer some 
amendments today and finish it in a reasonable time. I hope we don't 
have to work into the weekend. There are important things people have 
scheduled.
  This is our last weekend prior to the Easter recess. I hope we can 
have thoughtful cooperation. If there are amendments, offer them, but 
let's complete this as quickly as possible.

                          ____________________