[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 18882]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING MINORITY LEADER

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Democratic whip is recognized.
  Mr. REID. The leader should be aware that we are going to run a 
hotline to find out what amendments we have on Homeland Security. 
Senator Byrd's amendment is a large amendment, and he has a speech that 
will take close to an hour to talk about. As soon as that is completed, 
I am sure we will be able to arrive at an end of the debate on that 
issue and a vote can be scheduled at the pleasure of the leader.
  I would ask, through the Chair: We are this morning going to be in 
morning business until 11. Senator Byrd is preoccupied on other matters 
until 11:30. The leader has indicated there will be no votes this 
morning. The party caucuses usually run until 2:15, and we are always 
jammed for time in ours. I wonder if it would be in the best interest 
of the Senate that the party caucuses be extended an additional 15 
minutes from 2:15 to 2:30. I think we should be in recess when Mr. 
Bremer is here.
  The point is, if the leader intends to put us in recess until 3:30, 
could we extend the caucuses another 15 minutes?
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I would rather talk to Senator Cochran 
before making decisions about this afternoon. As the Democratic 
leadership wants to do, I want to progress in an expeditious way but at 
the same time give people the opportunity to do policy lunches and 
debate. We also have an all-the-Senate briefing this afternoon. But 
before locking down any understanding, I will first check with the 
floor managers on the particular bill. That would be appreciated.

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