[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21136]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  ORDERS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2003

  Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the 
Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:15 a.m., 
Friday, September 5. I further ask unanimous consent that following the 
prayer and pledge the morning hour be deemed expired.
  I assume we will still be able to have a prayer and pledge in this 
body and that the courts will not have struck it down sometime in the 
interim.
  I ask unanimous consent that the morning hour be deemed expired, the 
Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two 
leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate then 
resume consideration of H.R. 2660, the Labor-HHS-Education 
appropriations bill, with the time until 9:30 a.m. equally divided 
between the two bill managers or their designees; provided that at 9:30 
a.m. the Senate proceed to a vote in relation to the Clinton amendment 
No. 1565, to be immediately followed by a vote in relation to the 
Harkin amendment No. 1575; provided further that no amendments be in 
order to either amendment prior to the vote, and there be 5 minutes for 
debate equally divided in the usual form prior to the second vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. REID. Madam President, reserving the right to object, I say 
through the Chair to the distinguished acting leader that as of this 
evening we have worked now for 2 days to come up with a finite list of 
amendments on our side. My friend, the manager of the bill, the Senator 
from Pennsylvania, Mr. Specter, has asked me about this. If he has 
asked me once, he has asked me 15 times. We came up with a list. And 
now tonight we can't get approval from the majority that this is a 
finite list. I really do not understand that. I hope it is just some 
clerical problem or some Senator who maybe couldn't be contacted. But I 
hope after all we have been through that we would have an agreement 
tomorrow on a finite list of amendments on this most important bill.
  I say that we are trying to help. We understand. I spoke to the two 
leaders today. As soon as we complete this bill, we will go to the 
energy and water appropriations bill, which is an extremely important 
bill. It is a $25 billion bill which is all nondiscretionary money. It 
is money to fund the nuclear weapons program in addition to many other 
very important programs that are important around our country, 
including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps of Engineers, and other 
multibillion-dollar programs.
  I hope we can move forward and conclude this legislation. It seems 
rather strange, as far as I am concerned, that the minority is talking 
about moving an appropriations bill, but that is the way it is.
  We have said all week that we have one issue that we had to vote on 
next week for obvious reasons. We have to have four Democratic Senators 
who are running for President. We want to make sure they are all here. 
That has been recognized by Senator Specter and by the majority leader. 
We had a tentative time set up to do that.
  I hope before we adjourn tomorrow that we can get the agreement that 
has been prepared by both staffs. I think it would move toward 
concluding this legislation. But also I think it sets the proper tone 
for what is going to be a most difficult remaining legislative session 
this year.
  I have no objection to the request by the Senator from Alabama.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Madam President, I note that Senator Specter certainly 
has been working our side to get that agreement. Without dispute, there 
will certainly be far fewer amendments pursued to vote on from the 
Democratic side. But that is all right. I know the Senator is close to 
having that done. I thank the Senator for working his side.

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