Tom Harkin: “I say to my friend from Missouri, we do have a counsel at the Department of Agriculture who has every ability to do…”

“I say to my friend from Missouri, we do have a counsel at the Department of Agriculture who has every ability to do exactly what the Senator is talking about. The Senator says, take it to committee. I say to the Senator, take this to the committee. Let's have the committee take a look at this and not do it on the floor. Just as the Senator says we ought to take it to the Small Business Committee, that is my suggestion. And why stop with small business? Why don't we do veterans? Why don't we do the same thing for our veterans in this country, who, time and time and time again, are affected by agency decisions in other parts of the Government? Why don't we have the Secretary of Veterans Affairs have the same power that the Senator from Missouri wants to give to the Secretary of Agriculture? Why not do the same thing for our veterans and give them that kind of protection that they need, so that the President, without even consulting Congress, could overturn, amend, reverse any agency decision if he believes it adversely affects veterans in this country? Why don't we give that power to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs? Why stop there? Why not give the same power to the Secretary of the Interior to review any agency action that might adversely affect a public park or interfere with the enjoyment I might have in going to a public park? And then let the President amend it, reverse it, without ever consulting with Congress? Why stop there?…”