Thomas Daschle: “I will say for the record--and I want all to know--that I have never seen a more passionate or a more determined effort…”

“I will say for the record--and I want all to know--that I have never seen a more passionate or a more determined effort on the part of my colleagues on any issue than I have by my colleagues on this one. Senator Wellstone, Senator Rockefeller, and Senator Mikulski in caucus, in leadership, in private meetings, and in every conceivable forum have made this an issue that we now clearly understand. I am grateful to them for enlightening us, for sensitizing us, and for making this the kind of cause it deserves to be, not only within our caucus but within the Senate and within the Congress itself. Everyone should know that were it not for their passionate defense, we would not be here this morning. Second, I don't know if there is a more important issue as it relates to the well-being of workers who are vulnerable. We can talk about wages, we can talk about all the other issues involving displacement and the effects of trade, but when you talk about health, you are talking about the well-being of individuals who have no other choice but to seek remedy as these Senators seek it in this amendment.”