Arlen Specter: “I again thank my distinguished ranking member, Senator Jay Rockefeller, who works collaboratively on veterans affairs…”

“I again thank my distinguished ranking member, Senator Jay Rockefeller, who works collaboratively on veterans affairs matters and all members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. It is a committee which has worked in a bipartisan way. It has a very excellent staff, with staff director Bill Tuerk. I thank the staff for their assistance and commend to the public and the Congressional Record the legislation which has been passed during the 106th Congress. I know my time has expired, and I note the presence on the floor of a distinguished Senator, Ms. Collins. I yield the floor. I was about to say ``another distinguished Senator,'' but I modified that to ``a distinguished Senator.'' The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.”