Judd Gregg: “before we proceed to the vote, I do want to once again express my deep appreciation and thanks to the senior Senator in…”

“before we proceed to the vote, I do want to once again express my deep appreciation and thanks to the senior Senator in the Senate, the Senator from West Virginia, who has been exceptionally helpful as the ranking member of this committee and we could not have gotten this far without his help. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on passage of the bill, as amended. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will please call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint), and the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Lott). Further, if present and voting, the Senator from South Carolina (Mr. DeMint) would have voted ``yea.''”