[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 15893-15894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING MINORITY LEADER

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The assistant Democratic leader is 
recognized.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, if I could say through the Chair to the 
leader, as the leader indicated, we have more than 30 amendments. To 
vote on those would take 12 hours, or something like that. The two 
managers last night indicated they thought two-thirds of the amendments 
that are pending could be accepted by the two managers.
  We have on our side probably no more than six more amendments to 
offer on this legislation. Senator Boxer is here to offer her 
amendment. We have several more that could follow that. Then we have an 
important amendment that Senators Conrad and Lincoln offered. Senator 
Lincoln offered it on Friday, but she withdrew it, and she wants to 
reoffer that today.
  I think if we do not have some flareup as a result of someone wanting 
to change the basic components of the bill, it is very likely we can 
finish this bill in a reasonably short period of time. I hope the two 
managers, who were meeting after we adjourned last night, have been 
able to make headway in working through the money we have left over 
that has created so much interest. Anytime there are a few dollars--and 
this is more than a few dollars--left on the table, so to speak, there 
are a lot of people who are after that money. I hope that can be 
resolved in some fair manner. But if that is the case, then I think 
you, the distinguished Republican leader, can complete this bill in a 
reasonably short period of time.

[[Page 15894]]

  On our side, we have done our best to have amendments ready to offer. 
Senator Boxer is in the Chamber. She will not take a great deal of time 
on her amendment. We have the other key amendments we believe are ready 
to be offered and can be done in a short period of time.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader.
  Mr. FRIST. I thank the Chair. In brief response, through the Chair, I 
think it is a very accurate assessment of where we are. The managers 
continued to meet last night and will continue to meet this morning as 
we put together the various amendments. So I am very satisfied with the 
continued progress we are making and appreciate Members on both sides 
of the aisle coming forward with their amendments. With that, I think 
we will be able to stay on schedule, giving good, adequate time for 
debate and amendments.
  I yield the floor.

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