Dan Coats: “we are grinding away slowly in this process on regulatory reform. I think all Members had hoped we would be able to move…”

“we are grinding away slowly in this process on regulatory reform. I think all Members had hoped we would be able to move much more quickly on this legislation. The majority leader has just outlined a schedule for the Senate between now and the August--I should say supposed August--recess. It seems to me that schedule will be impossible to meet, given the timeframe and the seriousness of the issues which we will be debating. Nevertheless, we cannot even begin to get to complete that agenda if we cannot move along on this particular piece of legislation. We are now completing a full week's debate, with amendments. We have had long days and long nights, and there is no end in sight. I hope that we can continue to make progress. I certainly am not going to be one to delay that process. Let me say, Mr. President, that during the course of this debate, media reports about activities on the Senate floor, debate on this floor, and general discussion about what is taking place here, have left a misimpression as to what this legislation is designed to achieve. There have been claims made, by a number of individuals, that if this bill stands as it is and is not drastically changed, the quality of our water and our air will be placed in jeopardy, our environmental treasures will be threatened, our Nation's wildlife will be endangered.”