Frank Lautenberg: “Mr. President as we are now prepared to consider the amendment, in the minute I have--which I assume is the time--I…”

“Mr. President as we are now prepared to consider the amendment, in the minute I have--which I assume is the time--I would like to tell everybody that the purpose of this amendment is to ask that we take the cap off the number of TSA screeners we can hire. The cap is 45,000. We have had it in legislation before, but the House insisted on the cap being continued. It is silly, when passenger volume on airlines, as of this point in the year is almost at the alltime high, and it is expected this year we will see the largest number of airline passengers in the history of the country. We have these constant reviews to protect ourselves from terrorist attack from those who want to sabotage an airplane. So it is simple. Just remove that cap. Remove it and let the TSA figure out what to do with it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. All time has expired. The question is on agreeing to the Lautenberg amendment. The yeas and nays have been ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant legislative clerk called the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senator was necessarily absent: the Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Chafee).”