Harry Reid: “Let me say, this is not my amendment, it is our amendment. The committee has extended it forward, for which I am very…”

“Let me say, this is not my amendment, it is our amendment. The committee has extended it forward, for which I am very grateful, on behalf of the Senate, that this amendment was offered. This is the way I look at it. It is not my amendment. We started off a number of years ago, working our way through this, to be at the point we are now. I am very happy. One of the things I was struck with on Memorial Day this year--it never hit me like it did this year--over many years, three decades, at least, I have been going to Memorial Day services. They have one big event in Las Vegas and a number of others. The event is not as big as it used to be. Veterans are dying. World War II veterans are dying. This Memorial Day, I looked out in the audience, and people I expected to be there were gone. That is what this amendment is all about. It is bringing the respect to these people who are gone, and those who are here still living what they deserve. World War II veterans are dying at the rate of more than 1,000 a day. I cannot say enough on this Record to express my personal appreciation to Senators Levin and Warner because we have not been real successful in years past. We have done OK but have not been completely successful. You have fought, in conference with the House, to get us what we want. I will never forget how you fought. I remember last year after we failed, we held a press conference, talking about we are going to do better next year. And we have done better.”