Providing for the sine die adjournment of the second session of the One Hundred Eighth Congress.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn sine die under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 531.

I further ask consent that when the Senate returns on Tuesday, January 4, at 12 noon, following the presentation of the certificates of election and the swearing in of elected Members, and the required live quorum, the morning hour then be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be reserved, and that there then be a period for morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

I can add very little to what has just been said. But as America has watched and as our colleagues have participated over the last, really, 6 hours, you have seen--not on the floor, but we have all worked together over the course of the day to bring to resolution another major bill before we close out this session. We came to a lameduck, now, several weeks ago. Lameduck sessions are notoriously not very productive. Both the Democratic leader, our leadership, their leadership on the other side of the aisle, again and again said these lameducks never produce very much, if you look at history. A lot of time is spent, although we clearly end up producing something.

I think if you look at this lameduck session and the intervening time before coming back in this week, we can all be very proud of what has been accomplished in the series of bills, the bill we just discussed and the series of bills we passed over the course of the day, and the major intelligence reform bill that was passed. So we have had a very productive session of which we can all be proud.

As the Democratic leader said, I very much look forward to working with him and having this leadership team meet with their leadership team as we move forward in accomplishing what America expects from us.

When the 109th Congress convenes on January 4, we will immediately proceed to the presentation of certificates of election. Following the swearing in ceremonies and the live quorum, the Senate will consider the normal routine housekeeping matters of the 109th Congress beginning.

Once again, I thank everyone who has contributed to our efforts during the past Congress. We always want to mention the pages who are here tonight at a little before 11. They have been here all day. We thank them for their dedication, for their hard work in making the cogs in this body function as well as they possibly could; the law enforcement, the police who, again, are standing right outside the doors with us, from early in the morning until late at night; the cloakroom staff; the clerks who are here before us; the many others who work to keep the institution running. We appreciate their service to this body.

We are going to have a fresh start in January. People are quite tired, producing all of this legislation. It is going to be a fresh start. We all look forward to that. I do wish everybody a happy holiday season.

Mr. President, the hour is late, but let me say that I have some real mixed emotions tonight. I have had this desk for 6 years and it has been a great experience for me to serve as the assistant leader, the whip, of the Senate Democrats. I have learned so

much being on the floor regarding procedures of this very classic body. I am now going to move over one desk. As I have said on this floor previously, I will miss very much my dear friend, my brother, Tom Daschle. My ability to function here these past 6 years has been based upon my relationship with Senator Daschle.

I look forward to my new job. I look forward to working with my friend, the distinguished Republican leader. I have said publicly and privately what a good experience this will be for me. He has dedicated 12 years of his life, at least, to public service after having been a very distinguished transplant surgeon. I look forward to our relationship. I hope we can do some good things for the country. I am certainly going to try.

I know that the experience of these past 6 years has been made much more interesting as a result of the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Stevens, the President pro tempore of the Senate. He is here tonight and this legislation that just passed is an indication of his tenaciousness and the role model he sets for all of us. Six hours ago, none of us could have thought we would have accomplished this. A couple of hours ago, we wished he had not tried. But it is over with now.

I thank the staff very much for working as hard as they do and putting up with our many delays which are necessary to move things forward. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Mr. President, if the Senator would yield just for a second, I want to thank the Senator from Nevada and tell him that I spent 8 years in the whip's job and sought to move left. Unfortunately, it did not happen.

I do congratulate the Senator from Nevada, and we look forward to working with him and the assistant Democratic leader.

I thank, Senator Burns for his tenaciousness on this bill, and I want to acknowledge the really intense cooperation of the Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, and really praise my great and longtime friend Senator Byrd from West Virginia for having recognized the necessity to have this bill passed before we go home for the recess. We are really going to adjourn sine die.

I do congratulate the Senator. He listened to us. It is quite late. He has been quite gracious to proceed with us on the commitment that we will protect the appropriations process in the future and work with him to make certain that the provisions of the law that govern expenditures of the money covered by the bill we just passed be followed, as far as the protection of the Treasury. And we will be consistent with the Constitution, as he has urged us so many times to be.

I thank the Senator for his patience in keeping us in session, and I am prepared to take tickets here as we leave the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2004, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 531, in which case the House shall stand adjourned sine die pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of H. Con. Res. 531, the adjournment resolution; provided that the concurrent resolution be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.