[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23145]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                                SCHEDULE

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning we will start with a 60-minute 
period for morning business. Following that time, at approximately 
10:45 or so, we will return to the pending business, which is the 
Transportation-Treasury-HUD appropriations bill. We expect to have two 
votes in relation to the minimum wage issue today. I hope we can 
schedule those votes early.
  We need to make substantial progress on the underlying bill today, 
and I hope we can get back to amendments pertaining to matters within 
the scope of the bill. The two managers have been on the floor since 
Monday, and I know they are prepared to bring this bill to a close as 
soon as possible. I would reiterate again that we will finish this bill 
this week, with votes on Friday if necessary.
  In addition to the Transportation-Treasury appropriations bill, we 
continue to move forward with resolve to meet our overall governing 
responsibilities. Given the significant, unexpected expenditures for 
Katrina, the Senate will meet the challenge of making tough choices 
about spending priorities. Most of my days, and the days of my 
leadership colleagues, have been spent in helping pull people together, 
in making those tough choices which are focused on restraining 
Government spending.
  That does start at home in this body. Thus, yesterday the Senate 
overwhelmingly voted to eliminate congressional pay raises. I believe 
that was an appropriate action. It shows we are serious as we look for 
savings throughout the Government, and it starts at home in this body.
  Eight committees of the Senate are hard at work doing the exact same 
thing, and that is prioritizing. I thank and commend the committees and 
their chairs and ranking members--the HELP Committee, the Banking 
Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee--for their 
success yesterday in meeting those goals set out in the budget. I thank 
the chairmen and the committee members for their tremendous progress to 
date.

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