John Kerry: “this is a modification mutually arrived at together with Senator Smith of New Hampshire and Senator McCain in an effort…”

“this is a modification mutually arrived at together with Senator Smith of New Hampshire and Senator McCain in an effort to try to improve the intelligence-gathering process with respect to POW/MIA matters, and I thank Senator Smith of New Hampshire for his cooperation and Senator McCain. I think we have strengthened the ability of the process to guarantee that intelligence is going to be properly and fully vetted in the process but at the same time be able to continue the cooperative effort that we have achieved over these last years in that process. I think the compromise we have arrived at is a thoughtful one and an appropriate one with respect to the best intelligence gathering and control. So I think we have served the process well. I yield the floor.”