Amendments Slow Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill
A list of amendments to the FY 2002 Labor-HHS appropriations bill (HR 3061) is "thwart[ing]" the Senate leadership's "desire to ensure swift passage," CongressDaily reports. For example, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), who has been negotiating with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on bioterrorism legislation, said that senators are considering a "variety" of amendments addressing the issue. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) are also working on a bioterrorism package but plan to offer it during debate on a $20 billion supplemental Labor-HHS spending package. Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) said, "Everyone's looking for their political prize. I would be very surprised if we could get Labor-HHS done before (the end of) this week, without some limit on the desire to put up amendments." Even though the package is moving "slower than ... hoped," CongressDaily reports that some senators think Congress will finish work before the next continuing resolution runs out Nov. 16 (Earle, CongressDaily, 10/30).
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