Barbara Boxer: “I want to thank the Senator from Oregon very much. He gets it. We are united on this. We hope our colleagues hear our…”

“I want to thank the Senator from Oregon very much. He gets it. We are united on this. We hope our colleagues hear our plea that if we can get rid of this rider, we will have a magnificent bill that was worked on by so many: my friend Jim Inhofe, myself, Senator Merkley in the committee, Senator Fischer--a beautiful bill. Why? Because we worked together. The bill had hearings, saw the light of day. Then literally, literally at the last second, a special interest rider was added. I know this was not the work of the Senate. I love my colleagues here. They did not want this done. It was done. Once it was done, we have to make a decision. You know, before I yield to Ron Wyden, what I want to say is, if you ask people on the street ``Why do you give Congress such low marks?'' people don't like us here. I personally think this is a noble profession. I am so blessed to have a chance to make life better for people. All of us feel that way. But why don't people really appreciate our work? One of the reasons is they put unrelated matters on at the last second, as Maria Cantwell said, simply because they can. This is a bill which is so wonderful for the country. Now they make it so controversial and so difficult for Members to choose. Look at my situation. I have 26 provisions in here for my State. It is magnificent for my people. But yet and still, this rider threatens the entire fishing industry of my State and thousands of jobs all up and down the west coast.…”