An amendment to the defense appropriations bill that will face House and Senate conferees as Congress returns would close this training loophole.

For that reason, the administration had agreed to a shorter delay that would push off the effective date to early January, before Congress returns.

By Jan. 20, when Congress returns, he will have enough members present to guarantee passage, he said.

Mr. Gingrich promised more as soon as Congress returns.

Negotiations will resume when Congress returns Sept. 9.

But once Congress returns July 21 from the Democratic National Convention, the prospect is for bitter party fights.

Initial financing of $400,000 for training under the International Military and Training program is expected to pass its final hurdle when Congress returns.

Taxpayers can only hope the shared embarrassment of Democrats and Republicans will spark some true ethics reform when Congress returns.

Yet this is what a large pack of them is intent on doing in Washington as Congress returns for a new round of mischief.

Dr. Frist intends to propose a compromise when Congress returns, they say, although details remain vague.