The Focus of Today's Session will be
the Omnibus Appropriations bill

            6:10 P.M.         

Senator Frist recently made a brief statement regarding obesity after he made a unanimous consent request to pass S.1172.  No one objected to this motion.   This is a bill  to establish grants to provide health services for improved nutrition, increased physical activity, obesity prevention, and for other purposes.  Senator Daschle is now speaking about the life of Senator Simon.

            5:15 P.M.         

Senator Fitzgerald of Illinois is speaking about the passing of former Illinois Senator, Paul Simon.  Former Senator Simon passed away today after undergoing heart surgery. 

            2:30 P.M.         

Senator Warner is currently speaking on the Senate floor regarding the importance of seat belt laws.  Senator Warner and Senator Clinton are introducing a bill today that would move states towards a ninety percent usage rate for seat belts. 

            2:05 P.M.         

Senator Robert C. Byrd is again speaking on the floor, currently about the recent decision by the Bush Administration to lift steel tariffs.  Senator Byrd spoke about how these tariffs had helped the steel industry in his home state of West Virginia and voiced his opinion that the tariffs had been lifted too soon.

            11:45 A.M.         

Senator Robert C. Byrd, the Ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, is speaking on the floor about his opposition to passing the Omnibus appropriations conference report by unanimous consent. The Omnibus includes seven appropriations bills, is over 1,000 pages long, and totals more than $328 billion. Senator Byrd is passionately voicing his opinion that a piece of legislation as important as this Omnibus be voted on with a roll call vote.

            11:30 A.M.         

Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio came to the floor to speak about Chief Warrant Officer Brian van Duesen, a native of Ohio, who was killed in Iraq while saving the life of a young Iraqi girl who had been injured in an explosion near the Tigress River. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, is now discussing the Omnibus bill.

            11:00 A.M.         

Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio came to the floor to speak about Chief Warrant Officer Brian van Duesen, a native of Ohio, who was killed in Iraq while saving the life of a young Iraqi girl who had been injured in an explosion near the Tigress River. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, is now discussing the Omnibus bill.

            10:45 A.M.         

Majority Leader Frist announced that he would like to take up consideration of the Omnibus conference report, but acknowledged that it will not be passed by the Senate today. In addition, he said he would like for the Senate to address some of the pending executive nominations. Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota came to the floor next to offer a correcting resolution to the Omnibus which would reinstate the Senate- passed provision to prohibit the Administration's plan to abolish overtime for 8 million workers, would reinstate the Senate-passed provision on media ownership, would strike the House language blocking the implementation of the Country of Origin labeling, would strike the provision that weakens the background check requirements of the Brady bill, would strike the provision to impose a DC voucher system, and would strike the contracting out of over 400,000 federal jobs.

            10:00 A.M.         

After being adjourned since November 25, the Senate will resume this morning at 10:00 in a period of morning business.  Majority Leader Frist has announced that he would like to begin consideration of the conference report to accompany the Omnibus Appropriations bill, H.Rept.108-401. In addition, the Senate may consider any legislative or executive items that can be cleared by unanimous consent. There will be no roll call votes during today's session.