Robert Byrd: “Could you please, not only take a look, but let this subcommittee know your response to that question?”

Let us also hope that this hearing will provide information on the Government and company officials who should be held accountable.

Never, ever, ever get rid of the filibuster. It is the guardian of minority rights and an essential engine for consensus.

It is to force there to be a group of senators on either side who have to respect one another's views so that they work together and produce 60 votes on important issues.

Let us clearly understand one thing. The Constitution's Framers never intended for the Senate to function like the House of Representatives.