[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2217]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         EARLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  Mr. REID. Having said that, I want to say to the majority leader, 
separate and apart from HIV/AIDS, that the reason I came here--I am 
very glad I did because I was educated by the leader's speech--there 
are not opportunities to do this all the time, it is early in the 
session, it is early in your leadership but I would just like to say we 
have, I think, done some good work. Last week, we were able to complete 
the appropriations bill. There were some who said we were going to try 
to stop it.
  The leader took our word for it and didn't file cloture early. I 
think that set a good tone in this body. Some of the time we spent last 
week was tedious, but it set a good foundation. I would also say, based 
on conversations we had off the floor today with you and the Democratic 
leader, it was not all that likely we would be able to complete the 
work on a very important nomination you have wanted, the President has 
wanted, but we were able to work that out.
  The only reason I mention that tonight is, there will be days when I 
am sure you will criticize us, and we will criticize you for not being 
able to get a lot of things done. We sure appreciate the days we have.
  I know the leader has not decided what time we will start on the 
Estrada nomination. I will talk to you privately about that, what time 
we should do that Tuesday. I think we have been able to accomplish some 
good things today.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I will get to the closing statements. I 
briefly want to respond that in the past 3 weeks we have had a lot to 
do. It has been an opportunity for us to work hand in hand, and I think 
what has happened over the last initial 12 days, and then now over the 
last 4 days, does demonstrate that with an aggressive agenda, that by 
working together and cooperating and, yes, negotiating, we can work 
through and achieve great accomplishments for the country. I appreciate 
his comments.
  Mr. REID. I would also say, I did not realize the leader had decided 
what time to go to the nomination on Tuesday. We would rather start it 
after the caucuses on Tuesday. But if the leader feels he needs to go 
at 10, we will be ready to go at 10 Tuesday morning.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, it would be best if we could go ahead to 
the nomination earlier in the day, as spelled out in the unanimous 
consent agreement, again, just to maximize the use of our time. I will 
offer the proposal that we go in the morning.
  Let me also say, because we are shortly going to approve the 
nomination of the Secretary of the Treasury, I didn't think even 8 
hours ago we would be able to do that. I appreciate the opportunity to 
be able to do that, complete it tonight, and then move in the 
appropriate fashion with the Estrada nomination.
  Mr. REID. If the leader will yield, I should have said that good work 
was done this afternoon with the Secretary-nominee, Mr. Snow, meeting 
with Senators Durbin and Harkin. He obviously did an excellent job. I 
express my appreciation to him, but also to Senators Durbin and Harkin 
for allowing us to move forward.

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