[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26880]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we will have a period of morning 
business for the first hour of the day's session. Following that hour, 
the Senate will begin consideration of the fair credit reporting 
legislation. The consent agreement governing that bill allows for a 
limited number of amendments to be offered to the legislation. We hope 
to complete action on that bill during today's session.
  Last night we were also able to reach an agreement on H.R. 1828, the 
Syria accountability bill. We may be able to schedule consideration of 
that measure during today's session as well.
  Rollcall votes will occur throughout the day today. The Senate will 
recess from 12:30 to 2:15 for the regular party luncheons.
  In addition to the items I have mentioned, the Senate will act this 
week on the Internet tax moratorium extension. I anticipate that debate 
to begin on Thursday, and we will complete that before the end of this 
week.
  Also, additional appropriations conference reports may be ready 
during the week, and we will proceed to those that are available.
  It is my understanding the military construction conference is 
completed, and that may be ready for consideration this week.
  We will continue to schedule votes as necessary over the course of 
the week.
  This week we will also continue on the appropriations bills. I have 
been speaking to the chairman of the committee, and it is hoped the 
remaining bills can be finished in a timely way. I will have more to 
say on the specifics of the appropriations schedule after further 
discussion with the chairman, Senator Stevens, and the Democratic 
leadership as well.
  With that said, in order for us to adjourn at the earliest time this 
year, it is important for all of our colleagues to recognize we are 
going to need to work every day and have productive days. That is going 
to include Mondays, and it is going to include Fridays. It will likely 
include each day next week. I know a lot of Senators are wondering 
about their schedule for next week, given the Veterans Day holiday. I 
think over the course of the morning we will be able to lock in an 
understanding in terms of how and when we can consider these 
appropriations bills.
After that is done, we will clarify what will happen on Veterans Day.
  We have all come to the floor many times to express our desire to 
finish our work at the earliest opportunity and, in my mind, we have 3 
weeks--actually, it is less than 3 weeks--now to complete our work. In 
order to do that, we will have to work together. We will have to have 
full, productive days, including Mondays and Fridays. It may well be we 
have to even consider weekends in order to complete our business. We 
will monitor the schedule and progress closely over the next day or so 
and make those final decisions regarding scheduling next week. At this 
time, I think all Members should prepare for a very busy 2\1/2\ weeks.
  Again, I would like very much for us to work together to shoot for a 
total of 3 weeks, around November 21, to depart.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, let me say on behalf of the minority that we 
are most happy to work on all the items the majority leader has 
mentioned. We look forward to working with the chairman of the 
Appropriations Committee and Senator Byrd to move more of these 
appropriations bills. I think we have a really outstanding record 
working with the majority on appropriations bills and will continue to 
do that. We feel it is vitally important. The conference which was 
completed last week was extremely difficult and long. But we now have a 
bill which the President has.
  We finished the Interior appropriations conference report. I am happy 
to hear we have a completed military construction conference report. 
That wasn't easy. Everyone had to take their projects in their States 
and cut back from what they had.
  We look forward to a productive 2\1/2\ weeks. I hope we will do 
everything we can to complete our business before Thanksgiving.
  We are here to work nights, weekends, whatever it takes, to complete 
that work.

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