Roy Blunt: “also on two things that do not relate to my comments about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act--I would like to…”

“also on two things that do not relate to my comments about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act--I would like to say it is a great honor for me to be able to speak on the floor for the first time with the President pro tempore presiding over the Senate. I know he is going to lead this body well and he has served with great dignity. It is an honor to be here with him on this day, even if it is December 27, 2012, and even though we are, of course, all continuing to think about the former President pro tempore and the services for him that were just completed. Tributes to Departing Senators Danny Akaka I would also like to say I was here when the new Member from Hawaii was sworn in and listened to Mr. Akaka's comments. I have great respect for him and the quiet dignity he brings to everything he does--from weekly demonstrations of his personal faith, which I share with him, to his name being mentioned first in all these quorum calls that have gone on now for, I assume, all the time he has been in the Senate, going back to 1981. But we will miss him, as we will miss his colleague from Hawaii, and we welcome his new colleague today. I get to welcome you personally, Mr. President, with heartfelt appreciation, as the new President pro tempore of the Senate. Following that, I wish to speak on the importance of extending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the Amendments Act, I think it is called.…”