Tony Thurmond: “the Senate has a very able majority leader. It is his business to take matters up after the committees have acted and to…”

“the Senate has a very able majority leader. It is his business to take matters up after the committees have acted and to get action one way or the other. The Senate Armed Services Committee has brought forth a bill here. It is ready to be acted on. Why is this delayed? Some Senators are not pleased with what it contains. Now, any Senator who is not pleased with any portion of this bill and wishes to amend it or repeal it has an opportunity to offer an amendment to do that. But to say to the Senate, we are going to object to even taking up the bill, even considering the bill, and holding up the work of the Senate--isn't it reasonable to go forward with this bill, let amendments be offered, let them be acted on? That is the democratic way. Now, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed this bill out unanimously. Every member of the Senate Armed Services Committee voted for it. Every Republican and every Democrat voted for it. It cannot be too bad a bill in view of the unanimous support it has received. Again, I repeat, any Member who is dissatisfied with any portion of this bill has an opportunity to offer an amendment to the bill to their liking. I hope the objections to going forward with the bill and considering it will be discontinued and we can proceed with the welfare of the Senate which is to take up this bill and act on it. I yield the floor.”