Jerry Moran: “I appreciate so much the remarks of the Senator from Oregon, Mr. Wyden. It was a significant moment in my brief time as…”

“I appreciate so much the remarks of the Senator from Oregon, Mr. Wyden. It was a significant moment in my brief time as a Member of the Senate when, 3 months ago, Senator Wyden and I had a conversation here on the Senate floor about this legislation, about PIPA and about SOPA and about the open Internet, and it was a moment in which Senator Wyden found me looking for ways in which I could be engaged in the process of trying to create an environment in which entrepreneurship flourished in the United States. I had been discouraged or disillusioned a bit by the lack of Congress's and the President's ability to find ways to reduce spending and to balance the budget, and while I don't intend ever to walk away from those important issues, it became clear to me that another way we can reach a more balanced budget is to have a growing economy. I started looking at research that would suggest how we get there. When Senator Wyden presented this thought to me about engaging on this issue, it was one that made so much sense to me, and I am very grateful for the partnership we have developed. Senator Wyden and I, as he said, intended to speak this evening about our concerns about the PROTECT IP Act prior to the bill being considered this week on the Senate floor.…”