Mitch Landrieu: “I understand we are currently considering the Kerry-Landrieu amendment to the CJS appropriations bill. We have been…”

“I understand we are currently considering the Kerry-Landrieu amendment to the CJS appropriations bill. We have been considering amendments to this important bill all day in light of the devastation and tremendous challenge that is before the Nation right now to help rebuild our gulf coast area and particularly the southeastern part of the State I have the great privilege and honor of representing. I understand there are various different opinions from the Republican side and the Democratic side about what to do and how much to do and when to do it regarding either communications or housing or health care or education. I understand a lot of those details are being worked out as we debate on the floor. In a spirit, though, of bipartisanship, I do come to the floor to urge special consideration for this particular amendment. Believe me, there are so many amendments to this bill I have voted for today and wish we could have adopted. But the reason I feel particularly strongly about this amendment is because small business is the heart and soul and strength of the economy in Louisiana, in the gulf coast region, and, as a matter of fact, throughout the Nation. I do not think we realize that. We say it, but I do not think we really believe it.…”