Tom Harkin: “I would like to join my colleagues and thank everyone for getting this bill done. This is a good bill. First, I would…”

“I would like to join my colleagues and thank everyone for getting this bill done. This is a good bill. First, I would again say thanks to both Senator Burr and Senator Mikulski. This is really their bill. They spent the better part of 2 years working this out. I would like to say that we have had a good day here to work this out, as Senator Alexander said. But a lot of that is the preliminary work that goes into developing a bill such as this over a long period of time. So my respect--my great respect--and my thanks to both Senator Burr and Senator Mikulski for getting this bill to where we are now. My thanks to my good friend Senator Alexander and for the great partnership we have working together on the committee. As he said the other day, no other committee has a wider divergence of ideological views than our committee, but I believe, if I am not mistaken, this is the 19th or 20th bill we have gotten through our committee this Congress. Mr. REID addressed the Chair. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.”