Byron Dorgan: “I understand that. The two managers, Senator Warner and Senator Levin, are doing a remarkable job of trying to move this…”

“I understand that. The two managers, Senator Warner and Senator Levin, are doing a remarkable job of trying to move this legislation forward. It is not my intent to cause difficulties, but I do not want one or two Senators holding up the will of 70 percent of the Senate, saying this country ought not use food and medicine in sanctions anymore. If I were assured by somebody that the efforts we have underway-- Senator Ashcroft, myself, Senator Gorton, Senator Dodd, and others--to strike these sanctions of food and medicine in other pieces of legislation that are coming to the floor were somehow protected, that would be one thing. It is quite clear to me, and the leadership said to me publicly: We intend to dump them; it does not matter how many people support it, we intend to dump them, get rid of them. The only opportunity I have is to force my way into this bill. If we have an up-or-down vote on this, 70 percent of the Senate and 70 percent of the House says this country will never use sanctions on the shipment of food and medicine, which is wrong, and the only chance I have to do that is on a piece of legislation such as this.”