[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 79 (Friday, June 8, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SENATOR BYRD, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I am on my way to a meeting with Senator 
Lott on the reorganization of the Senate, but I passed through the 
Senate Chamber en route. It is always a great thrill to come to the 
Chamber of the Senate, and a great privilege to be a Senator. Seeing 
the distinguished President pro tempore, the distinguished chairman of 
the Appropriations Committee, presiding, I decided to exchange a few 
moments of pleasantries and ask how a man of his prominence and 
importance could be presiding over the empty Senate.
  Senator Byrd exchanged philosophical comments and referred to the 
people here as ``auditors'' of the Government of the United States. I 
hope that is not inappropriate, in terms of referring to people in the 
gallery. I know we cannot acknowledge people. I breached the rule once 
when Penn State won the national championship and acknowledged the 
presence of the Penn State football team in the gallery. Senator Byrd, 
in a very gentle, kindly way reminded me of the Senate rule.
  However, I think we are being audited, and the Senate of the United 
States has important oversight responsibilities on the Federal 
Government. The people of the United States are our overseers, our 
oversight committee of 270 million, and they are auditing here today in 
the Senate.
  When Senator Byrd made the comments about auditors, I reflected for a 
moment about the profound nature of that comment because we are the 
servants of the people of America. Senator Byrd has delivered many, 
many erudite presentations, we might call them lectures, perorations on 
this floor, and they have been put into volumes on the history of the 
Senate.
  I made a comment to Senator Byrd, as pleased as we are to have his 
talents in the Senate in the year 2001, he may have been born 2,000 
years too late; that had he been a Roman senator, the heroes whom he 
speaks about and lionizes would have even been a greater Roman senate. 
The Senate is a greater Senate because of the presence of Senator Byrd 
who is our historian and mentor.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Corzine). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________