congressional_record: CREC-2004-12-08-pt1-PgS11938-3
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| granule_id | date | congress | session | volume | issue | title | chamber | granule_class | sub_granule_class | page_start | page_end | speakers | bills | citation | full_text |
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| CREC-2004-12-08-pt1-PgS11938-3 | 2004-12-08 | 108 | 2 | SCHEDULE | SENATE | SENATE | SSCHEDULE | S11938 | S11938 | [{"name": "William H. Frist", "role": "speaking"}] | 150 Cong. Rec. S11938 | Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004) [Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004)] [Senate] [Page S11938] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] SCHEDULE Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, this morning we will begin consideration of the conference report to accompany the intelligence reform bill. We have a number of Senators who desire to speak, and we hope to lock in a time for a vote later this afternoon. As announced last night--and again we will try to lock all of this in shortly, after discussion with the Democratic leadership--we are working toward beginning the vote sometime around 2 to 2:30 today. This will have to be adjusted depending on how many people do want to speak and how long they want to speak. We continue to have Members who are adjusting their schedules, who will be traveling today, and thus we will, in a very unusual fashion, keep the vote open until sometime around 5 or 5:15 today to accommodate individuals' schedules. The actual time in terms of bringing the bill to the floor was dependent upon the House schedule, and as everyone knows, and our colleagues know, that bill was passed last night. We will shortly begin to address that bill here formally on the floor. Once all of our colleagues have had the opportunity to discuss the bill, we will proceed to the vote. I expect later today, tonight, the Senate will adjourn sine die, and that will be following the disposition of the intelligence reform conference report. There will be additional wrap-up items that we will address, including some of the executive nominations before we close sine die. Intelligence Reform Bill Mr. President, let me also say, with respect to the intelligence bill we will pass today, it is the most sweeping reform of our intelligence community since the beginning of the CIA. This is a huge accomplishment for the United States of America and for the U.S. Congress and, indeed, for the President of the United States, but most importantly for the American people whose safety and security are first and foremost in all of our minds. The reform of our intelligence community is not going to end today, and we have seen that in the debates. In many ways this is a major leap forward, but we all understand in this changing environment that intelligence community reform and the strengthening and improving of our intelligence is an ongoing process, and debates and recommendations will continue well into the future. This body will continue to respond in an expeditious manner, as has been demonstrated over the last 4, 4\1/2\ months since the release of the 9/11 Commission report. With the step that is going to be taken today in this body, our country will be safer from those plotting against us. The bill provides for much improved coordination, much improved communication within our intelligence community. We have heard it argued by many people that it does not go far enough, and then we hear it argued that it goes too far. Again, it is not a perfect bill. There is never a perfect bill or piece of legislation that comes to this body, but it is a very strong bill, and we clearly are not going to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We must adapt. Our intelligence capabilities must adapt. By passage of this legislation, we demonstrate we are adapting and will adapt. But reform is an ongoing process. I have a few more remarks to say on the intelligence bill, but let me turn to the assistant Democratic leader for comments about the schedule over the course of today, and then I will make a few more remarks. ____________________ |