Mitch Landrieu: “it has been a very long day. I am hoping, as this day continues into the evening hours, as we continue to work on the…”

“it has been a very long day. I am hoping, as this day continues into the evening hours, as we continue to work on the underlying bill, which is the Defense appropriations bill, to have an amendment dealing with Hurricane Katrina in a way this Congress might respond to this urgent need. I thank the Senator from Alaska for his patience through this day because the issue that is before us really is not an amendment on the Defense bill. It is a separate issue but needs to be handled before we leave, in my opinion. That is why I have stayed here throughout the day and have been here, of course, throughout the week, in many meetings and phone calls, and now in time on the floor throughout the day, to try to find a way to get some immediate help to our cities and parishes and counties along the gulf coast. It looks like there is a possibility that still might be the case. But because of the lateness of the hour, really for the staff that has been here so long, I am going to agree to continue to work through the night, allow the staff to take a recess, and spend some time on this, as I have throughout the last few hours, working with my colleagues, particularly Senator Levin from Michigan, who has put in a tremendous amount of time, other Senators, Senator Carper from Delaware, Senator Clinton, Senator Durbin, Senator Reid. And Senator Frist has been here for a while.…”