David Obey: “I do want to issue one warning because we have been told with respect to homeland security items, strengthening the FBI…”

“I do want to issue one warning because we have been told with respect to homeland security items, strengthening the FBI, giving greater security at the border, providing greater assistance to local public health officials in the event of an outbreak of biological or chemical attacks on this country by terrorists, we have been told do not worry, we can do that in March. There is plenty of time to do that in March. Members said that again to me yesterday. If we look at the calendar for next year, this Congress is scheduled in January to have exactly 1 full day of session on January 24 and one-half day on January 23. The following week we will meet only after 5 p.m., and the next day there will be no votes after 2. So that is about 2 legislative days in the entire month of January. If we look at the calendar for February, I see there are 6 full legislative days scheduled in February, and 3 other days where there will be no real action until after 6:30 in the evening.”