The Public Record
I rise to announce the retirement of a longtime public servant and former staff member of the U.S. Senate. After 40 years of Federal service, Anthony J. ``Tony'' Zagami will retire as the longest serving general counsel in the history of…
As we approach this Christmas season, our joy is tempered by sorrow over the loss in late November of one of our Senate family members. The sorrow is borne of shock and loss as we mourn the sudden departure from this earthly life of our…
Sir Walter Scott, in his poem ``Marmion,'' said these words: Heap on more wood!--the wind is chill; But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still. The Senate will shortly adjourn for the remainder of the year. We will…
in his Pulitzer Prize winning book, ``Profiles in Courage,'' Senator John F. Kennedy extolled the virtues of political courage. ``Surely, in the United States of America, where brother once fought brother,'' Senator Kennedy wrote, ``we do…
Yesterday the Armed Services Committee conducted a thorough hearing on the nomination of Dr. Robert Gates to be the next Secretary of Defense. I commend Senator Warner and Senator Levin for their leadership in holding a hearing which may…
one of Congress's most fundamental duties is to make careful choices about how to spend the taxpayers' dollars. We are now over 67 days into the fiscal year. The Senate has passed only 3 of the 12 appropriations bills. Only two of the…
next week, Americans across our great land will be celebrating one of our oldest and most beloved holidays, Thanksgiving. What a great and glorious holiday this is--a truly and uniquely American holiday. It is a day for giving thanks. A…
I, for one, will definitely be interested to see how the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State are progressing on WHTI implementation. And we will be able to do so because we mandate that the Departments provide…
every year, the University of Notre Dame presents its annual Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award to one of its alumni for extraordinary accomplishment in the field of public service. This prestigious award, which was established in 1985…
There are only 2 days--2 days--remaining in the fiscal year, and the Senate has passed only 2--only 2--of the 12 appropriations bills. The Senate just adopted a continuing resolution to continue the operations of Government for 14 of the…
I say farewell to Senator Dayton. Seldom has a freshman Senator made more of an impression on me than has Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota who has announced that he will be leaving us at the end of this session of the Congress. From the…
on the 5 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, many our Nation's commentators asked the same question: Are we safer today than we were on 9/11? Well, I must say to my colleagues, that is the wrong question. America was not…
I am almost speechless. I listened to the words that have just been uttered by my friend. My amendment does not affect, in any way, the portions of this bill that relate to the Geneva Conventions. It sunsets only the authority of the…
I support cloture on H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act. The sooner the Congress passes this bill, the sooner the Congress can put aside the misguided amnesty legislation passed by the Senate earlier this year. The American people have…
it could be a Democratic President, as far as I am concerned. I think this is wise on the part of the Senate in conducting its constitutional oversight, to say that we will do it this far and then we will take another look at it in the…
Friends, Senators, lend me your ears. I voted to report a fair and balanced bill from the Armed Services Committee, but the legislation before the Senate today bears little resemblance to that legislation. It has been changed so many…
the military commissions bill before us would strip from the U.S. Constitution of one of its most precious protections: the writ of habeas corpus. The Great Writ. The bill would deny those who are detained indefinitely--even those who may…
the Senator knows my great respect for him. It is an abiding respect. When I look at him, I see a man--a Member of this Senate--who has had vast experience and worn many coats of honor. I see a man who stands by his word, who keeps his…
Mr. President, I shall offer an amendment today that provides a 5-year sunset to any Presidential authorization of any military commission enacted under the legislation currently being debated. This amendment which I shall offer is…
yesterday, September 17, the Nation observed Constitution and Citizenship Day. Yesterday, on the Sabbath, the Nation observed Constitution and Citizenship Day. The day marked the 219th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution…
what is the limitation on speeches at this point? The PRESIDING OFFICER. We are currently in morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes.
September 11 has come and gone, and as we remember those who were lost, those lives that were lost on that awful day, that fateful day, and contemplate events since the horrific attack, one truth stands out: The war in Iraq has backfired…
important provisions in H.R. 5970 provide a long-term solution for the Abandoned Mine Land, AML, program as well as resolve the uncertainty of the health care needs for retired miners and their families. Right now, there are 52,320 retired…
during this hot, sultry, high-gas-price summer, I urge the American people to take a minute to observe the U.S. Senate. Take just a few minutes from the daily challenges of coping with the kids, driving them from camp to soccer grounds…
yesterday the Prime Minister of Iraq addressed a joint meeting of Congress. In his speech, he stressed his view that great progress has been made in his country in the past months and equated the violence in Iraq to the al-Qaida attacks on…
Politicians like Cord Byrd
