[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 8924-8925]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, if I could ask the distinguished majority 
leader a couple of questions, we had a lot of trouble last year and we 
finally worked something out on the Defense authorization bill. This is 
such an important bill, and I hope in the planning which is taking 
place that we will find some time to spend on that most important piece 
of legislation. I ask the majority leader if we have an idea how the 
supplemental is coming along? The reason I ask the question is there is 
no end of questions coming to me and people saying it is really 
important to get this done before we leave.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, on the Defense authorization, I have talked 
to both the chairman and ranking member, as I am sure the Democratic 
leader has, and have asked them to do their very best to address how we 
can best bring that bill to the floor and have reasonable time for 
debate and amendment where we don't have to be starting and stopping 
and starting and stopping like we had to do over the last several 
years. Both of them are working very hard in that regard. It is a high 
priority.
  I agree with the Democratic leader. We want to address it as soon as 
possible. The supplemental bill is in committee now. I have met with 
leadership involved in that bill, in terms of the managers on Thursday 
night and with the House as well. I was advised to let them work hard 
and aggressively over these last what has now been 3 or 4 days, and I 
will get a report back later today.
  I, too, have been both advised and called by a number of people, both 
from the Department of Defense, our military, and it is clear that this 
money is needed. We need to work together to accomplish that this week. 
That is my intention.
  After I talk to our conferees later today, I can get back in terms of 
whether that is going to be possible, but we are working very hard.
  Mr. President, I see the Senator from Iowa. I want to make a 
statement. If the Senator from Iowa would allow me to suggest the 
absence of a quorum so I can speak to the leader, and I will be back 
and talk, it shouldn't be too long.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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