[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 175 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S7587]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. REID. Following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of 
morning business for 1 hour. The majority will control the first half 
and the Republicans the final half. Following morning business, the 
Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 2354, the Energy and Water 
appropriations bill. We will continue to work on an agreement for the 
bill and notify Senators when votes are scheduled.
  We have a lot of work to do in the next few days. We cannot have the 
Defense authorization bill eat up a lot of time after we get back from 
the recess we will have for Thanksgiving. So everyone should understand 
that we are going to move forward on the Defense authorization bill. It 
may not be tomorrow, it may not be the next day, but we have to do it 
before Thanksgiving. So I hope everyone understands. I know everyone 
wants to get home for Thanksgiving--we all do--but we have an 
obligation here.
  In the Christmas period; that is, after Thanksgiving, we will have 
just a few weeks to get everything done. As important as the Defense 
authorization bill is, we can't eat days and days of that time in 
December. We have to finish that bill now. I know that won't be easy, 
so I would hope that people understand, if they have an idea that they 
are going to stop us from moving forward on the bill, on the motion to 
proceed, we are going to get that done and more. So that might mean we 
have to work past Thursday, past Friday, and if we have procedural 
obstacles on that very important legislation, it will mean we will have 
to work the weekend and into next week. So I want to make sure everyone 
understands that. So all Senators who are watching and listening, and 
especially the staff, just make sure you have alternate reservations to 
leave Washington.

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