[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10268]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNITION OF THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER

  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Democratic leader is recognized.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, first, I wish to indicate that I share 
much of the sentiment expressed by the distinguished majority leader 
about the importance of the oversight responsibilities that we hold to 
be very critical in this difficult and challenging time. I want to 
single out, in particular, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee 
for his valiant effort in trying to establish just what went wrong, why 
it went wrong, and how we can prevent it from occurring again. He has 
been criticized, in some cases, by members of his own party. I think 
that is very unfortunate. I think we have a role and that role ought 
not to be minimized at times of crises.
  I think we ought to take these investigations where the facts lead 
us. I do believe other committees ought to be involved as well, and in 
some cases they are.
  I also compliment the distinguished chairman of the Foreign Relations 
Committee, Senator Lugar, who always seems to be as engaged, in a 
constructive way, as anyone can be given his responsibilities. I think 
he ought to be recognized as well.
  There is work that should be done on the Judiciary Committee, 
Governmental Affairs Committee, and other committees that I think have 
yet to pursue the responsibilities they have for oversight as fully and 
completely as perhaps they should. But certainly one would not have to 
look beyond the Armed Services Committee and Foreign Relations 
Committee for models. We can all be very proud and appreciative of the 
job they currently are doing.

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