[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 52 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3817-S3818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will be 
in a period of morning business for an hour, and Senators will be 
allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each during that period of time. 
The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes. The last half hour 
will be controlled by the Democrats.
  Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of 
the national service legislation.
  Cloture was filed last night on the underlying bill. As a result, 
there is a 1 p.m. filing deadline today for first-degree amendments.
  Today will be a very confusing day on the floor. We have the Budget 
Committee meeting. There will be a series of votes starting at noon and 
then at 3:30 this afternoon. Those could take a considerable period of 
time. In addition, there is a White House meeting that I believe is a 
bipartisan meeting; is that right? Is the Senator going to the White 
House today?
  Mr. McCONNELL. I am not sure I am going to be able to go.
  Mr. REID. But it is a bipartisan meeting.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Yes.
  Mr. REID. The President will brief the bipartisan group of Senators 
on what is going on in Afghanistan. It is a report that has been 
completed. I mention that because that takes place at 1 p.m. today. 
There will be a lot of difficulty in scheduling votes here today.
  In addition, there is a 4 p.m. Senators-only briefing with Ambassador 
Richard Holbrooke to talk about Afghanistan and Pakistan. We are going 
to try our best to finish this bill, so everyone be patient. I have had 
extended conversations with Senator Hatch. It is very doubtful whether 
we will have to try to invoke cloture on this. I think people have had 
opportunities to offer amendments.
  If there are other amendments to be offered today, I hope Senators 
will do it quickly so we can schedule the debate and votes on those. We 
have had a good week on this important, truly bipartisan piece of 
legislation, with heavy bipartisan support.

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