Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as we continue the important work of the Senate this week on a number of important bills, one of them being the small business package that is before this body now, we are always mindful, as we come to the floor with the beautiful flowers on Senator Byrd's desk, of the great loss we are all experiencing. His colleagues here and in his home State of West Virginia, the Nation and, as you know, many people around the world are mourning the death of a great Senator, a very well-known Senator, a very well-respected Senator, and a very historic figure. So as we all do our work today, it is with heavy hearts that we work. I told my staff today walking into the building, it seems so empty and particularly quiet, and it is because of the great respect this Senator enjoyed in his life and now enjoys in his death. But as even Senator Byrd would say if he were here, the work of the Senate, which he loved very much, needs to go on because it is the work of the people in a very special way. It is in that spirit that I come to the floor to briefly talk about a bill we are attempting to move to. It is a major piece of legislation. It has three distinct components. It has been in shape and in the works for many months now. A part of this bill has come out of the Small Business Committee. I am extremely proud, as the chair of that committee, that the package we have contributed has been built on strong, solid bipartisan support.…”