Johnny Isakson: “I thank you and I thank the Members for allowing me this courtesy. Mine Safety Legislation Mr. President, I just…”

“I thank you and I thank the Members for allowing me this courtesy. Mine Safety Legislation Mr. President, I just received a phone call about 30 minutes ago from the House of Representatives to notify me they are prepared, tomorrow, to agree to the mine safety bill which this Senate just passed today. That is record speed for the House of Representatives. It is record speed for the Senate. But it proves that Congress can respond to a great tragedy. Certainly, with the Sago mine disaster of January 2, followed by other disasters, and now the recent Kentucky disaster, it was very important that we look at all the mine safety issues, all the occupational safety issues, and look at coal mining. I want to pay tribute today to the staff that worked so diligently, the staffs of Senator Kennedy and Senator Enzi, the staff of Senator Murray, my staff, and the staffs of the two distinguished Senators from West Virginia, Mr. Rockefeller and Mr. Byrd: Ilyse Schuman, Brian Hayes, Kyle Hicks, Holly Fechner, Portia Wu, Sharon Block, Ed Egee, Bill Kamela, David McMaster, Ellen Doneski, and John Richards. These individuals worked tirelessly to bring a bill to this floor which we adopted unanimously. I am pleased to tell you the House intends to do the same tomorrow.…”