Byron Dorgan: “let me follow on the comments of my colleagues from New York and Oregon. The issue of 9/11 is very important. I have…”

“let me follow on the comments of my colleagues from New York and Oregon. The issue of 9/11 is very important. I have spoken a couple of times about it previously, only because we created a commission to take a look at what happened with respect to 9/11, events leading up to it and following, to try to understand what happened, how did it happen, and what lessons can we learn. I have been very distraught that the 9/11 Commission has actually had to issue subpoenas. This Commission that we, with the President, have impaneled to find the answers of what happened and what we can learn has had to issue subpoenas to our government to get information. I don't understand that. Why on earth should this Commission have had to use any subpoena power at any time? Why would not the administration have said to all of the agencies under their control, anything this Commission wants, anything they ask for--they are doing the country's work--provide complete information? Instead, they have met with roadblocks. I do not understand that. I learned this morning that National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is willing to testify but not in public and in limited circumstances. The fact is, on Sunday she was a guest on all five network morning shows. She has plenty of time to do that, but somehow there is not enough time to appear publicly before the 9/11 Commission to give testimony. I do not understand that.”