[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12495]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                PROGRAM

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will resume the 
Defense authorization bill. Under the previous order, when we resume 
consideration of the bill tomorrow morning, the Bond-Harkin energy 
employee amendment will be the pending business. It is the hope of the 
bill managers that we can adopt the amendment without a rollcall vote.
  For the remainder of the day, we will continue the consideration of 
amendments to the bill. There is another amendment that I will offer 
related to death benefits, and there are several missile defense 
amendments we hope to consider early in the day. Senators should expect 
rollcall votes throughout the day as the Senate continues to make 
progress on the bill. As a reminder, a cloture motion was filed on the 
Defense bill.
  In addition, there will be additional votes on judicial nominations 
during Thursday's session as well.
  Mr. President, I will just add, on the death benefits bill, 
legislation I have offered, that it is important, in my view, we 
examine the extent of death benefits to men and women who serve our 
country in combat. Frankly, it is not where it should be. This bill 
would increase those benefits. It will be done in a way that will not 
engender a budget point of order. But I think we can make some progress 
with that tomorrow, and I hope Senators will be alert to this issue. I 
think, frankly, we are not where we should be in generosity toward 
those who give their lives for their country.

                          ____________________