Cord Byrd: “first let me say, I cannot understand the rush to act on this amendment. This is a resolution. It was called up today as…”

“first let me say, I cannot understand the rush to act on this amendment. This is a resolution. It was called up today as an amendment to the pending legislation. I had hoped to speak before the vote, not that my speech would have made any difference insofar as other votes are concerned, but I wanted to speak before the vote. I sent word to the leadership that I wanted to speak before the vote. For several days I have had hearings scheduled in the Appropriations Committee, hearings on homeland security, hearings on the supplemental appropriations bill. Those are important hearings. A couple of weeks ago, the Appropriations Committee conducted hearings on the supplemental and the homeland security request, and we heard from people at the local level, the local responders: The firefighters, the policemen, the health personnel. We had a good hearing. On the day before yesterday, the committee continued its hearings and we had administration witnesses. We again had administration witnesses today. The distinguished Senator from Washington, who is now presiding over this Senate, was there today at those hearings. The hearings were set. They were announced in advance. We had important witnesses today-- Secretary of HHS, Tommy Thompson; we had the Attorney General; we had the head of FEMA. And there was good attendance in the committee. Several Senators on both sides of the aisle were there to ask questions.…”