Jay Rockefeller: “However, the cost of inaction will be much, much worse than the economic impact of action.”

I thank Senator Leahy for attempting to address my concerns about this bill. I thank his committee staff for working with my committee staff to insert clarifying report language.

I come today with a spirit of reflection and optimism about our future. I am also compelled towards an honest assessment of where we are as a body--of the promise of what we can achieve when we don't shy away from compromise and what we…

I am interested in the children who still have to be reached out to, in the Alabamas and West Virginias and Pennsylvanias and Ohios, et cetera.

Furthermore, if we are going to potentially burden our government agencies with increased costs that will be associated with complying with the bill, then I think Congress should also provide these agencies with sufficient funding to deal…