Cord Byrd: “as we close the debate on my amendment, I pause first to thank the distinguished Senator from Alaska for his generosity…”

“as we close the debate on my amendment, I pause first to thank the distinguished Senator from Alaska for his generosity, for his courtesy, which he has accorded us on this side of the aisle and on this side of the question. He could very well have made a motion to table at any point and, therefore, shut off debate on the amendment. He probably has the votes, if we look at the Appropriations Committee vote a few days ago when we saw a straight party-line response to my efforts to strike out the language during the markup. He probably has the votes. So he could very well have moved to table, and could have tabled my amendment. So I thank him for his consideration in that respect. I think it is good for the Senate to have the debate on this matter. I found him to be, many years ago, not only a fine Senator but a gentleman. Mr. President, I also wish to express my respect to Mr. McCain, who is a genuine American hero. I respect him as one who has suffered not hours nor days nor weeks nor months but years. I take my hat off to him in that regard. What I say about the amendment and my motion to strike language is not said in derogation of the Senator, nor any particular Senator, for that matter. I am addressing my remarks in the main to my amendment and to the language that my amendment seeks to strike from the bill. We have heard much said, Mr. President, about this being an effort to avoid a manmade disaster.…”