Trent Lott: “I do want to urge my colleagues this morning to allow us to move forward, to debate seriously this very important…”

“I do want to urge my colleagues this morning to allow us to move forward, to debate seriously this very important legislation and to start dealing with germane amendments--amendments that really do relate to the substance of this bill. A lot of charges have been made that this legislation was being moved too quickly. This obviously is not the case. The distinguished majority leader has exercised a lot of patience and has allowed all the time that Members could possibly want to bring up amendments, even unrelated amendments, and debate them at great length. We have spent 5 entire days, and, yet, we are only beginning to discuss the serious parts of the pending bill. This pace certainly could not be considered rushing the bill through to judgment. Further, this legislation is not a new concept. Senator Kempthorne, Senator Roth, Senator Glenn, and others, have been working on this legislation for 2 years.”