[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22007]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              THE DNA ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I have been in a lot of discussions today 
by phone, with my staff, and elsewhere, on H.R. 5107, something 
referred to as the innocent protection act and by others as the DNA 
act.
  I think we are close. In some ways, it is like the perils of Pauline, 
you are up the hill, down the hill, if we can excuse, at 10 minutes of 
8 in the evening, mixed metaphors.
  But this is a bill that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support 
in the other body, from the most conservative to the most liberal 
Members of the other body. Then there is just a little difference, or 
at the last moment the Department of Justice comes up with some little 
thing they just thought of.
  After a while, one wonders if even with the proven, overwhelming 
support--polls show overwhelming support for it; the other body has 
passed it overwhelmingly. I would guess if we actually had a vote in 
this body, 80 to 90 Members would vote for it. There are always a 
couple of Members who have some reason for holding it up. I hope we get 
rid of that. I hope we are coming closer.
  I only wanted to say this for my colleagues both in the House and in 
the Senate who have been working with me and my staff today and working 
with people everywhere, from church groups to prosecutors' groups 
throughout yesterday and late last night and throughout today, I am 
hoping we can settle. That is why I asked the question of the 
distinguished Senator from Tennessee, to make sure we reach such an 
agreement at some point and we can move forward.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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