Paul Coverdell: “I will not be supporting the Dodd- McCain amendment, but I wanted to make several observations about the situation we…”

“I will not be supporting the Dodd- McCain amendment, but I wanted to make several observations about the situation we are facing this evening. First, I want to commend Senator Dodd of Connecticut for his extended interest in this subject, for his cooperation and longstanding work on the matter. I am an admirer of his work. I believe, however, that this is not the way to close the circle on the long, extended debate on certification and that process. As chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I promised to hold hearings on the issue. As Senator Dodd knows, I have long said there are real questions about this process that need airing. I have to say I am somewhat disappointed by General McCaffrey and NSC Adviser Berger coming forward in this manner without a thorough discussion. I worked extensively, along with Senators Dodd, Kerry, McCain, Hutchison, and others, when this became so contentious before, and I think we ought to have had more notice with regard to their views on this than we have had. I want to point out that the certification process has had successes, as Senator Kerry has pointed out, and it has created issues and problems, as Senator Dodd has pointed out. There have been benefits and there have been problems. The idea of shutting the process down without a fix on where we are going to go bothers me. Senator Dodd and I have talked about an alliance. Well, maybe that would be an appropriate new place to go.…”