[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21315-21316]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning we will have a brief period of 
morning business for up to 30 minutes, with the first 15 minutes under 
the control of the minority and the final 15 minutes under the control 
of the majority.
  Following that time, the Senate will resume consideration of the 
pending resolution regarding Senate intelligence and Homeland Security 
oversight reform. Our whips are here again today to manage that 
resolution throughout the day. They will be able to update Members 
shortly in terms of expectations over the course of the day. I hope 
Members come forward with their amendments so we can finish this 
important resolution today.
  I remind everyone that last night we filed a cloture motion on that 
resolution with the purpose of ensuring that we complete consideration 
of the reform resolution this week. That is the goal that was set out 
actually weeks ago by the Democratic leader and myself, the leadership 
on both sides of the aisle. Again our purpose was not in any way to get 
Senators cut off on their ability to offer amendments, but given our 
objective of departing tomorrow, we do need to work expeditiously on 
this legislation which we absolutely must and will finish.
  As my colleagues know, rule XXII requires that first-degree 
amendments be filed at the desk no later than 1 o'clock today. At that 
point in time we should have a better idea as to how to proceed with 
the resolution over the course of the afternoon.
  In addition to completing the pending reform resolution, we expect 
the House to act on the FSC/ETI or JOBS conference report today. Real 
progress was made yesterday. As we all know, the conference completed 
its action and the House will address the conference report today. Once 
they address it, we will be able to address it. We will turn to that 
conference report later today, late today.
  I hope we can reach an agreement for debate on that privileged 
conference report. However, similar to the current bill, if necessary, 
we would have to file cloture. I hope that is not the case. There has 
been a lot of discussion over the last several days and I hope that 
discussion continues and that people do not force us to file cloture.
  Again, the leadership on both sides of the aisle agrees and has set 
out the objective of finishing the FSC legislation before we close out 
our business.
  We have a lot to do. We would also consider any other conference 
report that does become available during this period.
  I thank my colleagues.


                    National Intelligence Reform Act

  A brief comment on action yesterday. Once again, I congratulate the 
Chair and ranking member of the Governmental Affairs Committee for a 
tremendous effort. A lot of the other committees participated directly 
through their chairmen and ranking members. Yesterday, we proved the 
Senate could act very deliberately but expeditiously on a very 
important bill, a bill that represents the most dramatic and 
significant reform of our intelligence community in half a century. We 
delivered that product yesterday. It has been an effort underway for 
months and months, most significantly since July, the 9/11 Commission 
Report release date, but which proceeded through August, September, 
into October, with the final Senate product being produced yesterday.
  As mentioned again and again, what we have done the last several 
weeks is address nearly all 39 of the 41 recommendations put forth by 
the 9/11 Commission. The business in the Senate after morning business 
today will be the remaining 2 of those 41 recommendations put forth by 
the 9/11 Commission. Those two are very important, in part because they 
focus on

[[Page 21316]]

this body, its internal operation of oversight of the intelligence 
community, and thus we will address that.
  Again, I congratulate everyone for their participation. There is no 
question that the provisions in the bill we passed yesterday will make 
our Nation safer, it will improve our intelligence community, and will 
help us immensely in the war on terrorism. That was reflected by the 
overwhelming support, with only two Senators voting against the bill 
yesterday.
  This is going to be a very busy day but a productive day. Again, we 
should be able to complete all of our business to be able to depart 
tomorrow, but if not, we would have to be here into Saturday and 
whatever time it takes.
  I yield the floor.

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