[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22542]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING MINORITY LEADER

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The assistant minority leader.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, there are a number of amendments pending--
the Bingaman amendment and another Daschle amendment. Unless something 
can be worked out with the managers, I am sure we can dispose of those 
by votes prior to the recess. Also, I say to the leader, that with 
respect to the contracting-out amendment, which will take a little more 
debate, we will be ready to vote around 3 o'clock on that amendment. At 
least the way amendments are now stacked, that is the most contentious 
amendment that has been filed.
  I also say in the presence of the majority leader, and for Senators 
on our side and on the other side, the two managers are waiting for 
amendments. If there are amendments to be offered, they should do that 
as quickly as possible. Progress has been made more rapidly than I 
thought on this bill. With a little bit of good fortune, we can 
complete this bill fairly early this evening.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I will close. I know people will be coming 
over to speak in morning business. We have an hour.

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