Patrick Leahy: “I know the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I know them. I trust Senator Inouye, someone awarded the…”

“I know the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I know them. I trust Senator Inouye, someone awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery and valor in World War II. I trust the senior Senator from Mississippi and the senior Senator from Alabama with whom I have served for many years. They will follow the law. They will abide by the Supreme Court. I was disturbed to read a comment that this amendment is being brought forward out of distrust of these Senators. These are Senators I have served with for decades. They can and should be trusted. We should not kill this bill over this amendment. Instead, we should reject the amendment and pass the bill. (Mr. BENNET assumed the Chair.)”