Frank Lautenberg: “I am absolutely aware of that. That is why I am surprised when I hear the distinguished Senator from Alaska, who knows…”

“I am absolutely aware of that. That is why I am surprised when I hear the distinguished Senator from Alaska, who knows this place better than anybody, who knows how desperately grants are sought and fought for, as he has so many times for his own State of Alaska, as he should, and how many times he has been successful, and how many times grants have been given to Alaska because his constituents needed the help. But what goes around comes around, as they say. Now its New Jersey and New York that need that kind of help and we shouldn't be turned away. With regard to the offsets for this amendment, I would prefer that we not take the money from communications and from science and technology. I would submit that there are other offsets, including the one I suggested a moment ago--one I would be most willing to forego--and that is the tax break that has come along. Take some of that money, the hundreds of millions of dollars that are involved, the billions of dollars over the next several years, and put that money back where it belongs, to protect our society.”