[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23055]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I welcome everybody this morning. It is 
unusual to have to meet on a Sunday, but in order to complete the 
Nation's business, we are doing just that. I know that it has 
interrupted a number of people's schedules, but we are forced to do so 
in order to complete business which does affect the safety and security 
of the American people.
  This morning, we will continue debate on the conference report to 
accompany the FSC, or JOBS bill. We have controlled debate time until 
the cloture vote, which will occur at 1 p.m. today. If Senators desire 
to debate the conference report prior to that cloture vote, there will 
be a limited amount of time and therefore they should notify us early 
this morning of their request. We hope and expect cloture to be invoked 
at 1 today. If invoked, we would hope the Senate would then act 
expeditiously on the conference report.
  As a reminder, not that many hours ago but when we closed last night, 
I filed cloture motions on the two conference reports to accompany the 
Military Construction appropriations bill and the Homeland Security 
appropriations bill. As I said last night, I regret having to file 
those cloture motions. However, there was an objection from the other 
side of the aisle. I understand the Homeland Security appropriations 
bill passed unanimously in the House of Representatives. I know of 
absolutely no issues in that conference report to cause this delay. 
Therefore, once again, I ask my colleagues to take that into 
consideration so we can proceed on this very important Homeland 
Security appropriations bill. That is money to be invested in our 
security and safety and it is time for us to act.
  It is unfortunate that because of the action on the other side of the 
aisle we are holding up money that will be used to further secure this 
country.
  Having said that, I hope the Members on the other side will rethink 
this objection and allow us to proceed. I further hope that we can get 
the disaster package passed in short order as well. It is time to pass 
this package. We are talking about money to respond to emergencies, to 
drought, to hurricanes. We are ready to deliver all of that money if we 
can remove the objections from the other side of the aisle.
  Again, I remind my colleagues that the vote will occur at 1 on the 
cloture motion on FSC/ETI.

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