that is the Cantwell-Talent resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with regard to establishing a National Methamphetamine Prevention Week. I am delighted the resolution was adopted. It is an important issue. This is our No. 1 drug…

one last item, a very important statement, and then we will close down. But it is very important and people will recognize why. This Sunday, millions of families around the world will celebrate their moms. I was changing my reservations…

I mentioned a second issue, and that is the 125th anniversary of the American Red Cross. This year is 125 years of voluntarism. We have seen it in our own lives, especially in the Katrina episode over the last year. Yesterday, I had the…

we will be closing shortly. I take the opportunity before doing so to comment on two issues. One is the event of the last week in terms of our health care initiatives and, second, comment on the 125th anniversary of the Red Cross which is…

today we will be in a period of morning business in order for Senators to make statements. Yesterday we completed our work on the Tax Relief Act with a vote of 54 to 44. We had a good debate--a great debate--on the importance of this…

on Monday, we will return to the immigration reform bill. Members wishing to offer amendments to this bill and wishing to debate the bill are encouraged to do so starting on Monday. The first rollcall vote next week will be on Tuesday…

I modify the unanimous consent request so that it is clear that it is applicable to S. 2611 or a House bill in which we conference using the language of S. 2611. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so…

in a moment, we will begin consideration of the conference report to accompany the Tax Relief Act. Our order from last night provides for up to 8 hours of debate from the statutory limit. The chairman and ranking member of the Finance…

I will close by saying it is important we finish this bill before the Memorial Day recess. I have said that several times in my statements over the last couple of weeks, and I think in my discussions with the Democratic leader, we both…

So to restate, I ask unanimous consent for 17 minutes on either side, so the vote will be at approximately 14 minutes after 6 o'clock. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from…

I ask our chairman approximately how much time we would need. What we want to do is try to get the time down as far as we can. We have a number of people who have plans that they need to make, and we would like to vote as quickly as we…

what the Democratic leader and I have laid out is a way to get onto this bill, and as you can tell, both of us have been working in good faith on various issues that have been raised on the floor. We both appreciate our colleagues'…

we have a lot going on on the floor, and we are going to have one more vote today, and it will be up to an hour from now. But what we would like to clarify is who needs to speak from our side. Chairman Enzi is right here. Do we have…

I will be brief, and we will be voting shortly. We know that keeping taxes low spurs economic growth and that results in the creation of jobs. Twice in the last 4 years, this Congress passed major tax relief bills. Together these laws have…

Was that the second-degree amendment? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The second-degree amendment has been read. Amendment No. 3888 to motion to recommit

let me summarize or attempt to summarize where we are in terms of what we just did and where we have been. After a 96-to-2 vote on invoking cloture on the motion to proceed, we have now finally proceeded to the small business health plans…

I now move to recommit the bill to the HELP Committee, and I send that motion to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Frist] moves to…

tomorrow we will turn to the tax reconciliation conference report under the agreement reached. There will be a maximum of 8 hours of debate prior to a vote on the conference report. I filed cloture on the pending substitute amendment to S…

through the Chair, the interest in stem cells will be debated in the future, at a time that is mutually set by the Democratic leadership working with the Republican leadership. Stem cells can be discussed but will not be voted upon before…

through the Chair, on the small business reform bill, we will have 1 hour prior to the cloture vote. And during the day tomorrow, I expect people will be coming to the floor talking, as well, on small business health plans.

the issue of stem cells is a very important issue. As my colleague knows, I am very committed to addressing that particular issue. What is very clear to me, as we started discussing health care on Friday of last week--and it is now…

That is correct. Someone could offer an amendment tomorrow prior to the cloture vote, if they so desire.

in just a few minutes, at 10 a.m., the Senate will proceed to the vote on invoking cloture on the motion to proceed to the small business health plan bill. Chairman Enzi is here, and there will be a few minutes for closing remarks before…

today we will return to debate on several health care proposals. We had previously slated this week to consider two medical liability, medical malpractice reform bills, as well as the small business health plan bill reported by the HELP…

briefly, because I know the Democratic leader has another statement to make, I am absolutely committed to completing and giving adequate time to complete what is a complex bill. As the Democratic leader implied, there are a lot of issues…