Thomas Daschle: “I came to this Chamber just as we opened the session to welcome back our colleagues and staff and all of those who are…”

“I came to this Chamber just as we opened the session to welcome back our colleagues and staff and all of those who are so much a part of this great institution. I reiterate that welcome again this afternoon. I am sure we all hope this new year and this new session will be constructive and productive. Much has happened in the weeks since we adjourned. In the war on terrorism, President Bush and his national security team continue to do a superb job. And our men and women in uniform continue to inspire us with their heroism and their success. Closer to home, workers in New York continue to clear away the wreckage at ground zero. At the Pentagon, rebuilding is already underway. In Princeton, NJ, a tiny 15-day-old baby girl--the daughter of Scott and Lisa Beamer--is living proof that the spirit of the heroes of United flight 93 will never die. And just yesterday--more than 3 months after the largest bioterrorism attack in our Nation's history forced it shut--the Hart Senate Office Building finally reopened. Those are all reasons to be hopeful about this new year. But there are also reasons to be concerned. In all, there are now more than 8.3 million Americans who want to work but do not have jobs. The collapse of Enron has cost thousands of Enron employees their jobs--and their retirement savings. Tens of thousands of other Americans who have invested part of their retirement savings in pension funds have also been hurt by Enron's implosion.”