Kay Bailey Hutchison: “I am very pleased to say the Senate is open for business, and we are preparing to take up very important legislation as…”

“I am very pleased to say the Senate is open for business, and we are preparing to take up very important legislation as it relates to the U.S. war on terrorism. Before we talk about that, I want to say that what we are doing is important as an example to our country. We have had severe threats to the people who work in the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol is the symbol of freedom and democracy for the whole world. It represents the United States. Our people made the decision that we would close the office buildings so our staff would be protected. We are checking the office buildings to see what kind of anthrax might be present. We are doing the prudent thing. We are trying to take care of our people. On the other hand, we are also keeping the Capitol open as the symbol that the business of Government is going on, and many of us are working out of our Capitol offices. We have our staffs with us. They are very happy to be here. There is a spirit of comradeship up and down the halls of the Capitol where people are spilling out from the various small offices to make room in the tiny little offices from where we are now operating. But everybody is happy to do it because we know this is important for our country.”