[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23053-23054]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will resume 
consideration, in an unusual session on Sunday, of the FSC/ETI JOBS 
conference report. Under the previous order, we will vote at 1 p.m. on 
cloture of the FSC bill. I hope cloture is invoked and that we could 
then reach an agreement for a time certain for passage.
  In addition, moments ago I filed cloture on two appropriations 
matters: Military Construction and Homeland Security. Both are very 
important bills. It was necessary to file cloture because of the 
obstruction that has played out over the last 2 days from the other 
side of the aisle. The votes will likely occur on Monday.
  We have those three remaining issues prior to our adjournment. When 
we complete action on the FSC/ETI bill and the two appropriations 
bills, then we will have concluded our work that was set out by the 
Democratic leader and myself days ago; we will be finished.
  It has been a tough several days, with a very unusual session today, 
a full day on Saturday, with votes. Because of these cloture votes, 
which have certain time limits, we are really forced to come back 
tomorrow in order to complete our business. It looks like we will be 
going into the holiday on Monday as well, which is mutually agreed upon 
between both sides of the aisle in order to complete our business. The 
bills before us, such as Homeland Security, we need to get through this 
body. A lot of people watching are wondering, why in the world can't 
the Senate move more quickly? I hope we can do so.
  Right now, we will stay on course and we will enter tomorrow with the 
schedule that we have outlined, and I think we can make continued 
progress and complete our work, hopefully, Monday morning. We will 
continue to consider other legislative or executive items that can be 
cleared as we go forward.
  Again, I thank Members for their participation over the course of 
yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This is all vitally important work. 
That is why we were here all day today and well into the evening 
tonight, and that is why we will be here tomorrow morning in this very 
unusual session.
  I understand that the Chair has an announcement.

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