[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17951]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority leader, the 
Senate will be in a period for morning business until 10:30 a.m., with 
the time under the control of the two leaders or their designees. 
Following morning business, the Senate will resume debate on H.R. 2658, 
the Department of Defense appropriations bill. The chairman and ranking 
member were able to work through several amendments yesterday and we 
will continue the amendment process today.
  There are several Senators who want to speak on the bill but the 
majority leader remains hopeful that we can complete action on this 
vital appropriations bill during today's session. Rollcall votes will 
occur throughout the day today.
  The Senate will recess for the weekly party lunches from 12:30 to 
2:15 p.m.
  Mr. REID. Will the Senator yield?
  Mr. DeWINE. Yes.
  Mr. REID. Before the distinguished President pro tempore and chairman 
of the Appropriations Committee leaves the Chamber, I say that we all 
are aware of and concerned about--as always, impressions are made by 
things visual--I am very concerned today because the distinguished 
Senator from Alaska is wearing his Hulk tie. That is usually a sign of 
a very difficult day in the Senate. I hope that is not the case.
  A couple of years ago we had an appropriations process with a most 
difficult end to an appropriations bill but we did finish it. One of 
the nicest gifts that was ever given to me--I will not say it was ugly 
but it was quite a tie--was given to me by the chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee, Senator Stevens, as a result of the good work 
I had done. I have worn that tie a couple of times, although not for 
very long.
  I do hope things go well on the bill today. I know it is a difficult 
bill, that he and Senator Inouye have tried to work through it, but I 
think he may be a little too optimistic that we are going to finish it 
today. When he wears the Hulk tie, we never know what is going to 
happen.
  Mr. DeWINE. I say to my colleague that when I see that tie, I think 
it is simply a good indication that the Senate will get a lot of work 
done. That is usually an indication that my colleague from Alaska is 
resolved to see the job through.
  Mr. REID. A lot of work done or else.
  Mr. DeWINE. Or else, yes, that is absolutely true.

                          ____________________