Cord Byrd: “Tomorrow, April 8, is the anniversary of the ratification by the State of Connecticut of the 17th amendment. But for…”

“Tomorrow, April 8, is the anniversary of the ratification by the State of Connecticut of the 17th amendment. But for that amendment, I would not be here and for that amendment, a good many of us would not be here. That amendment provides for the popular election of Senators. I just wanted to call that to our colleagues' attention. Tomorrow is quite an important day for most of us. Does anyone think the West Virginia Legislature would have selected me for the Senate? I did not have two nickels I could rub together. Nobody knew me. My dad was a coal miner. I expect a lot of us can say somewhat the same things. Just keep that in mind tomorrow, how thankful we should be for the 17th amendment. I yield the floor.”