On the recordSeptember 22, 2016
I reserve my right to object. It is stunning that my friend from Pennsylvania would come to the floor and abandon all the principles we have heard the new Republican majority wants in the Senate. First of all, how about having a hearing? There has not been a hearing on this bill. I would put my support of animals and fighting animal abuse with anyone's. The Humane Society has supported me every time I have run for office. PETA has supported me, as have all of the animal rights groups. Wouldn't it be a good idea to follow what the Republican leader said about how we are going to proceed in this new Senate? He said that we were going to have hearings, and they would not bring a bill to the floor unless there has been a hearing. Well, that hasn't worked out so well. We have recently been out of session for 7 weeks. We had a lot of time to do all kinds of things, but we have done nothing. This has been the longest recess since 1956, and with the break that is anticipated by my Republican colleagues, we will break all records going back to-- we don't even know when. We haven't been able to determine that. It could go as far back as the Depression or World War I. All of this sadness about not getting something done on this legislation cries for relief--relief for the American people that we start working again.…





