Thomas Daschle: “It is nearly 6:30 and we have not had an opportunity to make much progress on the energy and water appropriations bill.…”

“It is nearly 6:30 and we have not had an opportunity to make much progress on the energy and water appropriations bill. I am a little disappointed. I had hoped that we could move at least to the adoption of a few of the amendments that I know are pending. I am hopeful that we can get an agreement on a finite list tomorrow morning. The Republican leader has indicated that might be a possibility tomorrow morning. We have colleagues on both sides of the aisle who, I know, have amendments, and I hope they can come to the floor as quickly as possible and begin offering them. I will say to those who may feel the need to drag this out that we have to get this work done. If we can't get it done between now and Thursday night, of course, we will have no recourse but to continue for a reasonably full day on Friday--Friday morning and at least a part of Friday afternoon. I will also say that these appropriations bills I know are important to the administration, important to the Congress, and I hope nobody makes any definite date for their plans for the August recess. We are going to finish this work, and if we have to bump into the August recess some to complete it, we will do that. Each day we delay now possibly entails additional days at the end of the July work period that we will have to use in order to accommodate the work. We will not allow this work to go over until September. We will stay here.”