David Weldon: “I would like to make two important points about the debate surrounding my amendment. I too, along with my colleagues on…”

“I would like to make two important points about the debate surrounding my amendment. I too, along with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, have been blessed by the high level of comity and good relations we have had since the tremendous tragedy that struck our Nation on September 11, and some of my colleagues seem to be implying: Why are you bringing this up at this time? I just want to point out to everyone involved in this debate that for 9 years the policy of the Congress has been to not allow this provision to move ahead. Indeed, it was originally endorsed by a Republican President and a Democratic Congress, and then for 2 years, a Democratic President and a Democratic Congress, and then from 1995 on, a Democratic President and a Republican Congress. It is actually the other side of this debate who brought this issue up on September 18. I would agree that this is a somewhat divisive issue, but I would just like to point out to my colleagues that I did not bring it up; they did. They introduced this issue for debate at this time.”