Pete Domenici: “I promise you that it will be reasonably interesting and very, very short. First, let me say that this bill could not be…”

“I promise you that it will be reasonably interesting and very, very short. First, let me say that this bill could not be passed by the U.S. Senate, this conference, at a better time, because in the confines of this city over the last 72 hours, councilmen and mayors and councilwomen from all across America were here as part of the National League of Cities' conference. I might say to the Senate that there is no question that the exhilaration in the language and words of thanks and profuse gratitude from those who came from far and wide across America as mayors and council people, saying this was the first step in some kind of revitalization of federalism in a prudent and realistic manner, seem to me to be right on the mark. We were on the mark when we passed it. So this bill begins a redefinition of the relationship between the Federal Government, States, and local governments and even our Indian tribes.”