Judd Gregg: “I would try also to support this legislation. I wish to congratulate the Senator from Idaho and the Senator from Ohio in…”

“I would try also to support this legislation. I wish to congratulate the Senator from Idaho and the Senator from Ohio in moving this bill forward in such a prompt and expeditious manner. I also wish to congratulate the Senator from Delaware and the Senator from New Mexico who chaired the committees which have jurisdiction for their willingness to move this bill in an expeditious manner. I especially, as I mentioned, wish to applaud the Senator from Idaho [Mr. Kempthorne], who has made this a cause of inordinate proportions in his daily activities here since being elected 2 years ago by his friends and neighbors from Idaho. They have been extraordinarily well served by his efforts. This is S. 1. It is the No. 1 piece of legislation which this Congress is going to take up, that the Senate will take up in this year. The reason it is S. 1 is because of the significance of the legislation. But the reason that it is here is because of the dogged and unwavering commitment of Senator Kempthorne to making sure that we pay attention to this critical issue. I have had the pleasure of working with Senator Kempthorne on this matter over the last 2 years. We both happened to come to the Senate at the same time, and both making this a high priority. I admire his efforts and congratulate him for them. On my own part, I strongly endorse the nature of this bill. First, because it addresses the issue; and second, because it has such strong bipartisan support.”