Edward M. Kennedy: “for the benefit of Members, even though we have not been involved in extended debate on the floor, we have been making…”

“for the benefit of Members, even though we have not been involved in extended debate on the floor, we have been making good progress in the areas in which a number of our colleagues have been interested and concerned, such as addressing issues about the length of the authorization and the kinds of flexibility that we have provided in this legislation to be able to deal with some of the existing rules and regulations and even laws. We have found a consistent position both in the education programs and, hopefully, in this program to provide a degree of flexibility which had not existed previously. I think there are some Members who desire to go even further than that. But we have been working with our colleagues. Then there are some other issues involving the questions of employment and the paying of certain employees. We have been addressing that. Others want to have some limitation in terms of the total amounts that are going to be authorized and a few other matters as well. Nonetheless, we have been working with our colleagues. There are several who have been listed on this list of amendments who have common positions, so we have been working through on the substance of those issues. We want to give assurance to our colleagues that we are proceeding along and making good progress.”