[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Page 388]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, there will be a period for morning business 
until noon, with the time equally divided, and Senators permitted to 
speak for up to 10 minutes each.
  It is my hope that an agreement can be reached regarding the 
committee resolutions on which both sides are working very hard at this 
juncture. Once these committee resolutions are adopted, the committees 
will then be able to begin their important and very urgent work 
addressing the issues surrounding homeland security, the war, health 
care, our economy, and the important agenda before the American people, 
an agenda they expect us to address as soon as possible. So I do not 
want these discussions to progress indefinitely because it is important 
we begin to address the agenda before us in this 108th Congress.
  We are making progress, and I am very hopeful over the course of the 
morning that discussions will continue and I will be able to report 
back on the progress and, ultimately, agreement on these committee 
resolutions. One example is that of the Senate Appropriations Committee 
which is poised to meet to complete action on the fiscal year 2003 
bills which is unfinished business from last year. Before we address 
our agenda for the coming year in the 108th Congress, both sides of the 
aisle made a commitment to finish last year's business.
  The importance of proceeding with these committee resolutions is 
that, as of today, the new Senators do not have committee assignments. 
Although both sides made the assignments, until we officially adopt the 
committee resolutions, they are not on any committees in the Senate. It 
is my hope that this agreement can be reached in short order on the 
committees and that the resolutions can be agreed to after we agree to 
it at the leadership level and in our caucuses by voice vote. However, 
at this time we are not quite there, and I regret to say that rollcall 
votes are still possible today.
  Over the course of the morning, as negotiations continue, I will be 
back on the floor to advise the Senate about the day's schedule.
  Mr. REID. Will the leader yield?
  Mr. FRIST. Yes.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I say to the distinguished majority leader 
that Senator Daschle has indicated that he and the majority leader had 
productive meetings yesterday and that we are very close to working 
something out on the organizational resolution. I received a call last 
night from Senator Lott, the incoming chairman of the Rules Committee, 
when we get the organizational business done, that he is working on the 
space problem we have. He has indicated he thinks this can be worked 
out shortly also.
  We hope the leader can come back to the floor later today and 
indicate to Senators that we have worked out something. It would be 
good for everyone if we can do that.
  Mr. FRIST. I thank the Senator.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, it is my understanding the Chair will 
announce morning business until noon today; is that right?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Sununu). The Senator is correct.

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