John Kerry: “as one of the original authors and cosponsors of the Aviation Security Act, I take a moment to underscore where the…”

“as one of the original authors and cosponsors of the Aviation Security Act, I take a moment to underscore where the Senate finds itself at this moment, which I find distressing and deeply frustrating and less than an adequate response to the compelling requests made by the President of the United States a few days ago in a joint session of Congress. Only a few days ago, the Senate came together with the House to listen to the President describe a war, to describe the most compelling circumstances this Nation has faced certainly since Pearl Harbor, and perhaps in its history in the context of the nature of the attack on New York City and the Pentagon. There is a danger in raising the level of rhetoric and not meeting it with the actions that the American public understand are required of a nation facing urgent circumstances. It is extraordinary to me that the Senate is in gridlock.”