Providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses.

Madam President, I want to express my gratitude to a number of our colleagues who have worked with us to accomplish the multifaceted agreement that has now been put into place. I know this has been a very difficult and trying time for the entire Senate, and I know that my colleagues who have been to the floor and have expressed themselves over the last several days did so with the very best intent.

I think this is the best resolution to accommodate the very understandable concerns they have, but also to allow the Senate to complete its work. We have much more that needs to be done when we come back, and obviously we are going to be working on that. But this does allow us to move forward on what I think has been a very consequential week. The FSC bill, the military construction bill, the Homeland Security bill, the 9/11 conference report, the legislative reorganization, we have been able to do a good deal of work in a very short period of time. This will culminate our effort to complete the work and to move forward.

I appreciate very much their cooperation and their willingness to allow us to enter into this resolution.

I ask unanimous consent that Senator Kennedy be recognized tomorrow to speak for up to 30 minutes.

Madam President, I would concur it is our understanding that these matters will be handled by voice except for the FSC conference report. While we do not have it before the Senate at the moment, we will also be asking that Senator Boxer be recognized for 30 minutes and that a resolution having to do with a provision she has been very involved with be taken up as well. But that would be momentarily. Again, I appreciate her cooperation, along with that of many others.

Mr. Speaker, on October 8, 2004, I was unable to vote on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 843, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 4200, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2005 (rollcall 524); had I been present I would have voted ``yea.'' Also, I was unable to vote on a motion to instruct conferees on S. 2845, to reform the intelligence community and the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States government (rollcall 525); had I been present I would have voted ``nay.'' Additionally, I was unable to vote on the motion to table H. Res 845 (rollcall 526); had I been present I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, on October 9, 2004, I was unable to vote on several measures before the House: H. Con. Res. 518, providing for an adjournment of the two Houses (rollcall 527); had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''; On agreeing to the conference report on H.R. 4200, the DOD Authorization for fiscal year 2005 (rollcall 528); had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''; on agreeing to the conference report on H.R. 4837, the Military Construction Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005 (rollcall 529); had I been present, I would have voted ``yea''; and on agreeing to the conference report on H.R. 4567, the Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2005 (rollcall 530); had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 518 until 12 o'clock noon on Tuesday, November 16; I further ask that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and there then be a period of morning business until the hour of 12:30, with Senators to speak for up to 5 minutes each.

I further ask consent that the Senate recess from the hours of 12:30 to 2:15 for the weekly policy luncheon; provided further that at 2:15 the Senate begin executive session for the consideration of Executive Calendar No. 915, Francis Harvey, to be Secretary of the Army as provided under the previous order.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 518, the adjournment resolution, which is at the desk, provided that the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Madam President, while the Democratic leader is here, I want to again thank both him and the assistant Democratic leader and my assistant leader as well and all the parties who have had to participate in bringing the agreement we just reached together. What it means is that tomorrow at noon, we will be having a rollcall vote and that the remainder of the bills I mentioned would be handled by voice vote tomorrow. But we will have a single rollcall vote tomorrow at noon.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2004, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in House Concurrent Resolution 518, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.