The Focus of Today's Session will be the
Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill

                   5:00 P.M.         

Senator McConnell is currently on the floor speaking about Senator Byrd's amendment, #1969 which would require that the Administrator for the Provisional Authority in Iraq, who is appointed by the President, be confirmed by the Senate.

                   4:15 P.M.         

The budget act was not waived with respect to the Senator Lugar's amendment by a vote of 40-57.  Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado

                   3:25 P.M.         

Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana has offered an amendment, #1974, to H.R. 2800.  Senator Harry Reid, the assistant Democratic leader has raised a budget point of order on the amendment because it appropriates funds not included in the budget.  A vote on whether or not to waive the budget act in regard to Senator Lugar's amendment will occur at 3:35

                   2:30 P.M.         

At 12:45 the Senate took a short recess and returned at 2:15.  Senator Byron Dorgan and Senator Graham are now speaking on the floor about releasing information on the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 

                   12:15 P.M.         

Moments ago, the Senate passed three amendments by voice vote: an amendment offered by Senators Mitch McConnell and Patrick Leahy for democracy building in Egypt; an amendment offered by Senator Pete Domenici for the International Law Enforcement Academy; and an amendment offered by Senator Larry Craig for reforestation in Afghanistan. In addition, the Senate passed on bloc nine amendments, including Senator Chuck Schumer's amendment regarding the parking tickets of diplomats, Senator Sam Brownback's amendment regarding refugees, Senator Mitch McConnell's amendment regarding Russia, and Senator Patrick Leahy's amendment regarding the United States Agency for International Development.

                   12:00 P.M.         

Senate consideration of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill began today with Senator Dianne Feinstein offering an amendment regarding funding for HIV/AIDS. While Majority Leader Bill Frist has announced that he intends to complete action on this bill early this week, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee,  and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Ranking Democrat on the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, announced that they would like to pass the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill today. 

                   11:30 A.M.         

The Senate voted 88-8 to confirm the nomination of Michael Leavitt.  Before returning to debate on the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, Senators Larry Craig of Idaho and Dianne Feinstein of California spoke briefly about the wildfires in California.

                   9:30 A.M.         

The Senate will return to consideration of the nomination of Michael Leavitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.  There will be a period of sixty minutes for debate before the Senate is expected to vote at 10:30.  Following the vote, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.2800, the FY 2004 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.  Presently, there are three pending amendments to the H.R.2800: Senator Mike DeWine's S.Amdt.1966 about HIV/AIDS funding, Senator Robert C. Byrd's S.Amdt.1969 about the Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority, and Senator Mitch McConnell's S.Amdt.1970 about Burma.