Harry Reid

It's a very good bill, because Senator Ensign and I are both unhappy with the situation and I think that's a good sign that the bill is good.

I will say this to everyone here assembled. Senator Smith/Senator Wyden really did set a good example for Senator Ensign and I.

I really appreciate very much you and Senator Wyden and others arranging this hearing.

This is a bill that Senator Ensign and the entire congressional delegation from Nevada believes is a win for both Lincoln and Clark Counties.

It takes care of the very difficult problems we have dealing with wilderness, which is so contentious on a lot of occasions.

This bill is very important, and it does something I think could be a model for what goes on around the country.

I, of course, would vote for this amendment whether it had an offset or not because it is so important. I appreciate this amendment. When we send our people to battle in Iraq and Afghanistan and other places, they have the ability to…

We sent to Iraq last year--and I also mentioned this to Senator Byrd earlier--in supplemental appropriations--meaning appropriations over and above the normal appropriations we do, last year we sent a first supplemental of $69 billion and…

So we have $100 million. That would do a lot. A lot that needs to be done is simply planning and designing how we will do that. My point is, these are problems that are very difficult to take care of but they have to be done because you…

I had the good fortune, when I was home this past break, to meet all the sheriffs of Nevada. They have a lot of problems with the unfunded mandate because of the homeland security----

In August 2002, the president failed to make an emergency designation for $2.5 billion for homeland security to specifically address shortcomings identified by the Rudman/ Hart Report on terrorism vulnerabilities. . . . Bush said at the…

On June 6, 2002, the Senate passed by a vote of 71 to 22 a supplemental money bill that contained $8.3 billion for homeland security. . . . On June 17, the president's senior advisor recommended a veto of that bill because it contained…

I refer to this same page: On December 4, 2001, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously sent the fiscal year 2002 defense appropriations bill to the Senate floor for action. The bill included $13.1 billion for homeland security…

I have in my library a book that he recommended written by someone from South Dakota on this subject, a book on this terrible problem that affects a lot of different people, especially in Indian country. I have never forgotten that book…

We are focused today, and certainly I support the Senator in doing so, on the soldiers who are dead. As the Senator indicated, it is now 999. The one thing we do not focus on is this war is different than any war we have ever had. The…

I simply want to say that it is important to me to do what we can to recognize what is going on in Iraq. It is a situation that is extremely difficult and desperate. It appears now that we have not solved the Sadr problem. We have moved…

We are within a score of having a thousand deaths in Iraq. I say to my friend from California, I appreciate it so much because I have been on the Senate floor where I have lamented the fact and have referred to major newspapers around the…

I asked all 17 superintendents of school districts in Nevada to meet with me... Without exception, every one of the superintendents said: The Leave No Child Behind Act is leaving children of Nevada behind, without exception. They said…

But one of the good things that happens to me every day that I come is to hear the prayer. Today, for example, I wish I were good enough to live up to the expectations of the prayer offered by Admiral Black. Really, he does a wonderful…

Senator Daschle and I traveled to Africa a couple years ago this August. I was stunned then to go to Botswana where the average life expectancy is 39 years. Since then, it has dropped even lower. As we speak, people are dying. They are…

The Senator is aware, however, is he not, as stated by the majority, this is a work in progress? They, obviously, are not sure what they want to vote on. Or is it just a political issue and they want to vote on nothing, they want to have…

Through the Chair, I direct this to the Senator from Illinois. From today's Congressional Daily, p.m. edition, it says: Senator Gordon Smith, Republican from Oregon, today denied that he has insisted the Senate vote on his alternative…

Through the Chair, I further question my friend, is the Senator aware in that debate over a period of years that lots and lots of money was spent in ads for and against the amendment, door-to-door activities took place, many more…

I say to my friend, it has taken place. It was long and arduous. It took a period of years to accomplish. Would the Senator agree that the State of Nevada had the right to do that; whether they agree with the conclusion or not, didn't they…

Is the Senator aware, through the Chair I direct this question, in the State of Nevada, on two separate occasions, there was a vote by the people of the State of Nevada on whether they should include in the Nevada State Constitution a…