Cord Byrd: “this is my 42nd year on the Appropriations Committee. I think I have served longer than any Member, past or present. The…”

“this is my 42nd year on the Appropriations Committee. I think I have served longer than any Member, past or present. The Appropriations Committee was first created in 1867. I don't have any doubt that I have served with the greatest chairmen who have served on that committee since its inception in 1867. That was 133 years ago. I have served with Senators such as Carl Hayden of Arizona, Dick Russell, John Stennis, John McClellan, Allen Ellender, and Senator Hatfield. These were great chairmen. They had long service in the Senate. I served with all of them. But I have never served with a better chairman on the Appropriations Committee than the current chairman, Ted Stevens. I think he is a better chairman than I was. I don't say that idly. He works at the job all the time. He works hard. I support him in this request to the leaders. I don't happen to be a great fan of the treaty with China. I will have more to say about that later. But I am a great fan of getting these appropriations bills down to the President on time.”