William H. Frist

for the last 30 minutes or so, we have been putting together an orderly way to address several issues: the underlying bill, the gun liability bill; CAFTA; and the energy report, which we received from the House. I know a lot of our…

I will go through the whole schedule shortly, if I can get through the unanimous consent request. Very briefly, we will have a rollcall vote on CAFTA in about 30 minutes, 25 minutes. Whenever we finish that, it would be the last rollcall…

a quick review of what we have just done. The PRESIDING OFFICER. For the purpose of clarification of the record----

within several minutes, we will start 20 minutes of debate on CAFTA, equally divided. We will have a rollcall vote. We will go to energy after that. We will complete debate on energy tonight. We will not have a further rollcall vote…

I have two further unanimous consent requests, and then we can review everything. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request? Without objection, it is so ordered. The majority leader. ____________________

I understand there is a technical drafting error in the Craig amendment No. 1605, and I would therefore ask unanimous consent that amendments 1605 and 1606 be modified with the changes at the desk. I would note that these are technical…

or we could even be before. We could actually come on those amendments before as well.

it is our intention--and I will be offering an amendment shortly--but we will be in discussions with the leadership and the ranking member and chairman discussing amendments and allowing them to be offered accordingly in the judgment of…

that is correct, and I was thinking the exact same thing when I was talking, and Department of Defense as well. We have a whole range of issues. The Democratic leader knows I am in constant discussion with him as to how we are going to get…

the current Congress has taken a stand against frivolous lawsuits, and we have done so in a number of ways as we paint a portrait of the fact that frivolous lawsuits today are not in the interest of the American people. We addressed it in…

I will phrase it that at any time determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Democratic leader, the Senate will resume consideration of the Defense authorization bill.

this morning we are returning to the motion to proceed to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, otherwise known as the gun manufacturers liability legislation. Yesterday we invoked cloture on the motion to proceed. We now have an…

I am happy to say, that is why I specifically stated in my unanimous consent request ``in consultation with the Democratic leader.'' Until we get through the highway bill, the Energy bill, Interior appropriations, Legislative Branch…

this vote can technically ripen as early as 1 a.m., not tomorrow but the next day, Friday morning. I am not certain at this point if we will vote then or later that morning. I will continue and want to continue to consult with my…

yesterday, as everyone knows, we invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to this underlying legislation with a vote of 66 to 32. Although we are now proceeding to the substance of the bill, it has been made clear that the bill will be…

I now send a second-degree amendment to the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Tennessee [Mr. Frist] proposes an amendment numbered 1606 to amendment No. 1605.

very briefly, I want to mention--I know the Senator from Alaska has a comment--our sympathy for the tragic events that have occurred at the Boy Scouts Jamboree. Our thoughts and prayers are with the many families who have been affected so…

I do not have a statement this morning. Following the Democratic leader's statement, I believe the Senator from Alaska has a brief statement to make as well.

Through the Chair in response to the Democratic leader, we laid out a plan at the end of last week where we can stay on the Department of Defense authorization bill. We have filed cloture to bring some order to that process. We will have…

we come back for a final week before our recess with a number of important items, many of which are the culmination of many months of work. It will be a challenging week in order to accommodate the range of issues. I will mention a number…

Yes. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Vitter). The Senator from Alaska is recognized. Boy Scouts Jamboree Tragedy

yesterday, tens of thousands of Scouts began arriving at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia to attend the National Scout Jamboree. Held every 4 years at the Army base, the jamboree draws Scouts, leaders, and volunteers from around the world. The…

very briefly, both sides have talked about the importance of the Defense authorization bill. We both feel the importance of that bill. Cloture being invoked here shortly, which I believe it will, will allow us to have a Defense…

wherever I travel, Americans tell me the same things about our health care system: it costs too much, leaves too many without insurance, and does too little to help those in need. America has the world's best hospitals, doctors, nurses…

I object and I once again state my request that at a time determined by the majority leader, we return to the Department of Defense authorization bill.