Harry Reid: “We have 26,000 employees working in the 3 Senate office buildings and 3 House office buildings. Again, I underscore and…”

“We have 26,000 employees working in the 3 Senate office buildings and 3 House office buildings. Again, I underscore and emphasize how indebted we are to the Capitol Police. Within the Senate we have a lot of people who render invaluable service to the Senate. One of the most important features of the Senate is that we are always in line on parliamentary issues. The Chair rules, but at the present time we have just two Parliamentarians who are experts on the rules of the Senate. They do a remarkably good job. They are bipartisan in nature. Their rulings are grounded in precedent and have no regard for party affiliation. We never hear the Parliamentarians say a word yet their duties are essential to the operation of the U.S. Senate. The Chair rules, and always rules correctly. The reason for that is they have the backup of these two fine Parliamentarians, Alan Frumin and Elizabeth MacDonough. I am speaking for the entire Senate when I say what an outstanding job they do day in and day out.”