Arlen Specter

The political campaign in Iran by all press accounts is about as much of a political brawl as you see.

The election results in Lebanon with Hezbollah losing and the dominance of U.S.-backed interests is certainly encouraging.

It would be useful in our dealings with Iran to have a missile defense that is aimed only at Iran.

We talk about illegal immigrants coming in from Mexico. It is a lot more serious if illegal weapons are going into Mexico.

When you see how much drugs are coming into this country from Mexico, threatening our young people and older people alike, I think we just have to do a lot more about it.

The United States is a major cause of the problem on smuggling, weapons smuggling.

The facts about what is going on in Mexico are staggering, posing an enormous threat to the United States.

The kind of funds which have been allocated to Mexico are small compared to what we spend in other places.

No, no. No questions. Answers.

What the invention is, you have to define the invention.

So you like the gatekeeper concept.

Value contributed by the invention.

We will judge whether you are the best person.

The critical factors, it seems to me, if we are to succeed with legislation, is the issue of the damages.

It is of critical importance that whatever we do legislatively, we get it right.

It would be highly desirable to legislate in this field and to modernize the patent laws.

I congratulate Chairman Leahy and former Chairman Hatch on their leadership on this very important subject.

There is a predicate if we have evidence of torture. Torture is a violation of our law. Go after them.

I think that is really the generalization, although I would not mind looking backward if there is a reason to do so.

I have repeatedly said on the Senate floor that the period from 9/11/2001 to the end of the Bush administration has seen the greatest expansion of executive power in the history of our country.

When this idea of the so-called truth commission first surfaced, I said it was unnecessary because you had a change in administration.

I think it is very important to structure legislation which can receive popular support, public support.

I think the evolution of the views of President Bush on the threat of global warming are highly significant.

I look forward to working with you, Madam Chairwoman, and the others on this Committee to try to structure legislation which can be enacted this year.

I am delighted to be a member of this very important Committee, Environment and Public Works.