[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 140 (Wednesday, October 17, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S10779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TERRORISM IN THE OFFICE OF SENATOR DASCHLE

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I certainly do not have all the details, but 
we do know that more than 20 people in Senator Daschle's office have 
been infected with anthrax. The tests have come back positive.
  Senator Daschle had a meeting at the White House early this morning, 
and he has been meeting with his staff since he came back. I have not 
had an opportunity to speak with him. My heart goes out to Senator 
Daschle. I have spent a great deal of time with him and know what a 
caring person he is and how much he cares about his staff. I spend a 
great deal of time with his staff as a result of working with him on 
matters relating to the activities of the Senate. He has a wonderful 
staff. Sometimes I feel they are my staff. I am very close to Senator 
Daschle's staff.
  I can imagine the heartbreak he is experiencing as a result of these 
people going through this personal turmoil as a result of working for 
him. I know I speak for the entire Senate when I say that our thoughts 
and our prayers go out to Senator Daschle personally, his lovely wife 
Linda, and his entire staff that this will be of short duration. We 
have been told the sickness they have will be of short duration. 
Certainly, the medicine that is available will cure the problems that 
are present. We are fortunate we do have the medicine available to do 
this.
  My thoughts cannot contemplate the evil nature of such an act on 
innocent people working in Senator Daschle's office opening mail, 
answering constituent mail, doing those activities that one does 
working for a public servant. A lot of them are very young.
  This is a tremendously evil act. I hope these people will be brought 
to justice; that the full weight of this Government will be used to 
search out these people who would perpetrate this evil through this 
diabolical scheme they engendered. I do not know what satisfaction they 
get out of doing such acts.
  We are the greatest country in the history of the world. We are far 
from perfect, but certainly we are going to overcome this. It is a very 
small setback, and we will proceed stronger than ever.
  Again, my heart is overwhelmed today with a feeling of anxiety and 
sadness for the majority leader of the Senate for the burden he has 
recognizing that because he is who he is, people in his office are 
sick. I know him and know how much heartache this causes him.

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