[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have spoken to the two managers, Senators 
Byrd and Cochran. We have done some work this afternoon. We are getting 
a feel of the legislation. Senator Cantwell has an amendment she will 
offer at the appropriate time. Maybe it can be worked out with the 
managers. If it cannot, we certainly are not going to be able to debate 
it all tonight. We are working on the warrior legislation. If we decide 
to finish that tonight, that will be done by unanimous consent and 
won't require a rollcall vote. At least it won't require one tonight. 
So I think that with a number of balls being up in the air--and we are 
waiting for other Senators to come and offer amendments--we will have 
no more rollcall votes tonight.
  I suggest, though, that Senators should understand that tomorrow is 
Wednesday and we really need to finish this bill. I hope Senators who 
have amendments to offer will do that. I checked with the managers, and 
I have spoken with Senator Cochran. Tomorrow, if we are in a period 
where there are no amendments being offered, we will move to third 
reading. If people want to improve this bill in any way that they feel 
appropriate, the way to do it is to come and offer an amendment.
  I have said today--and I say it again--I don't want to file cloture 
on the bill. I think it would set a pattern for how we need to work on 
appropriations bills. Let's get this done in the regular order. In 
fact, I said earlier today--and I will say it again--I have spoken to 
the President's Chief of Staff about appropriations bills generally. My 
feeling is that we will be happy to sit down and talk to the 
President's people about an overall program to get these bills passed. 
In the meantime, let's do them one at a time. The power of the White 
House, whether it is a Democratic or a Republican President, comes when 
we have the conference, anyway.
  Again, I hope we can work within the regular order to get this 
passed. I notify all Senate offices that there will be no more rollcall 
votes tonight.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Menendez). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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