On the recordMarch 25, 2010
there are a flood of emotions going through all of us today as we pass this reconciliation bill which improves upon the bill the President signed 2 days ago. I would like to focus only on one part--a very important part but only one part--and that is to thank the people who have worked so hard, especially in this body, to help accomplish this result. I thank especially my friends Senator Dodd, the chairman of the Banking Committee, who many times acted in the capacity as chairman of the HELP Committee, and Senator Harkin, chairman of the HELP Committee, working so hard with their staffs. As well, I thank Senator Conrad, especially for his acumen, his budgetary acumen. I don't know anybody who knows this stuff better than Senator Conrad. We all rely on him very much. I thank Leader Reid for his strategic vision--he helped put the Finance Committee bill together; he saw a path forward--and his staff, who are so competent--Kate Leone, Bob Greenawalt, Randy DeValk--his top three staff. I also thank my friend from New Hampshire, Senator Gregg, for his courtesy in managing this bill. He was very decent and a very good person to work with.
