Charles E. Grassley: “I would like to speak for a few moments on a provision in the bill that is before us, which, compared to the billions of…”

“I would like to speak for a few moments on a provision in the bill that is before us, which, compared to the billions of dollars in the bill, is a very small provision that is tucked away in this emergency supplemental. It happens to be $1.05 million to fund lawyers retained by the Senate to defend Senators in employment discrimination cases. First and foremost, it can hardly be characterized, in my judgment, as an emergency. Second, it seems to me that, even if there is a need for some money in this area, $1.05 million is an excessive amount of money. In 1991, I worked very closely with Senator Mitchell on an amendment to cover the Senate under the civil rights laws... This represented the first time the Senate would be governed by the same laws--in this case the civil rights laws of our Nation--as businesses of America.”