[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20901]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      COMPLETING THE SENATE'S WORK

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, we have come a long way and I 
congratulate our managers and thank, once again, our assistant 
Democratic leader for his assistance in moving our effort along. We 
will complete our work on the bill today. That is very gratifying. I 
only hope now once we have completed our work we can expedite 
consideration with the House. We will await their decisions with regard 
to how they might proceed. Clearly, we are in a position to complete 
our work in a reasonable time. I hope the same spirit of bipartisanship 
that was so clearly demonstrated from the very first day with regard to 
consideration of this legislation can be equally as evident and 
apparent as we finish our work. It is the only way the bill will get 
done under these circumstances. Again, I thank the majority leader for 
setting that tone.
  I also say we are in a very good position to do the same with the 
legislative reorganization. A lot of thought and effort has gone into 
the working group's recommendations. I am one who believes this 
resolution is as close to the consensus within the Congress, within the 
Senate, at least, regarding how we might respond to the recommendations 
made by the 9/11 Commission as we will get. We cannot let the perfect 
be the enemy of the good.
  We have provided the Senate with an opportunity to address the 
concerns raised by the 9/11 Commission in a very reasonable, 
thoughtful, and comprehensive way.
  I thank the assistant Republican leader and the assistant Democratic 
leader for their work and hope we can complete our work as a result of 
their contribution in the next couple of days.
  We could have a very productive week. As the majority leader has 
indicated, there are other bills that could be addressed, as well. We 
have made a lot of progress and I hope we continue to do so.
  I yield the floor.

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