Heidi Alexander said "On December 3, 1996, Senator Robert C. Byrd, the late Senator Byrd, who most of us think understood this body better than any Senator in its history, told the newly arriving U.S. Senators the following: Good afternoon and welcome to the United States Senate Chamber. You are presently occupying what I consider to be hallowed ground. Senator Byrd went on to say: . . . as long as the Senate retains the power to amend and the power of unlimited debate, the liberties of the people will remain secure. In his last testimony before the Senate Rules Committee before he died--this was in May of this year--Senator Byrd said: Our Founding Fathers intended the Senate to be a continuing body that allows for open and unlimited debate and the protection of minority rights." @ PoliticalQuotes.com

On the recordSeptember 21, 2010

On December 3, 1996, Senator Robert C. Byrd, the late Senator Byrd, who most of us think understood this body better than any Senator in its history, told the newly arriving U.S. Senators the following: Good afternoon and welcome to the United States Senate Chamber. You are presently occupying what I consider to be hallowed ground. Senator Byrd went on to say: . . . as long as the Senate retains the power to amend and the power of unlimited debate, the liberties of the people will remain secure. In his last testimony before the Senate Rules Committee before he died--this was in May of this year--Senator Byrd said: Our Founding Fathers intended the Senate to be a continuing body that allows for open and unlimited debate and the protection of minority rights.

Said by

Heidi Alexander

Labour Party

Source

govinfo.gov

Editor's note · Context

The speaker reflects on the importance of open debate and minority rights in the Senate, citing Senator Byrd.

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