Thomas Daschle: “the resolution just sent to the desk is one that provides for the organization of the U.S. Senate in the 108th Congress.…”

“the resolution just sent to the desk is one that provides for the organization of the U.S. Senate in the 108th Congress. In the last Congress, we saw unprecedented challenges in the Senate. A switch in power September 11, anthrax, and the loss of our friend and colleague, Paul Wellstone. I believe, in working through those challenges--and, in many cases, our own grief--we lived up to James Madison's expectation that the Senate would be the great ``anchor'' of the Government. Now, in the Congress, we face new and growing challenges: We need to do far more to tackle terrorism abroad, and make our country more secure at home. We also need to recognize that national strength depends on economic strength, and work to get the economy growing--with new jobs and better incomes. We need to deal with a growing deficit that poses a growing danger to Social Security and Medicare. On these issues, and so many more, we have much to do. And that requires getting the Senate organized to do it.”