[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14211-14212]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     EXTENSION OF MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I think Senators Cornyn and Durbin wish to 
speak. So after the Senator from Virginia and the Senator from 
Connecticut finish speaking, if we could--I would suggest that we give 
them the remaining time on morning business until 11:30. I ask 
unanimous consent to establish morning business until 11:30.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without 
objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator from Virginia is recognized.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I am very heart warmed that this concept 
is giving us the opportunity to talk about these magnificent documents. 
I was fortunate at one time to be designated by the President and 
actually confirmed by the Senate in a position for the Nation's 
bicentennial to lead discussions all across America in all 50 States--
and indeed I traveled to 22 foreign countries--working on the concept 
of America's bicentennial and of the magnificence of the Constitution, 
the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights. I remember so 
well when talking to audiences the rapt attention that was given at 
that period in our history about the importance of these documents. Not 
one, not two--I don't know how many people would say to me that they 
felt the hand of divine providence came down and rested upon the 
shoulders of the Founding Fathers to put together such a magnificent 
framework of government.
  That framework of government today stands as the longest and oldest 
surviving form of a democratic republic on Earth. It is something to 
think about. All the other forms of government--monarchies and so 
forth--have either been changed or have gone into the dust bin of 
history but not ours. It is because of the genius of these individuals 
that enables us to carry forward.
  I remember I was challenged one time that Switzerland's Government 
was continuous. I reminded them that Napoleon crossed the Alps, I think 
it was in--and I will check it and correct it for the record--in about 
1827 and annexed Switzerland to France. That persisted for some 18 
months, and then Napoleon decided it was too cold over there, didn't 
want it, and cut it loose and let it go. I will polish that history 
later on.
  I believe we should focus on the magnificence of this document, its 
endurance, and that we are proudly the trustees of this framework of 
government, to make it work as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. We 
recognize that with the passage of time, there are things that have 
overtaken some of the original--not their basic concepts, but just the 
electronic world in which we live now, the instantaneous information 
world and all of those things have contributed. Nevertheless, we are 
the oldest surviving democratic republic on Earth today because of the 
magnificent work of the Founding Fathers.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I wish to thank Senator Warner for 
those very eloquent words. I can't think of a better way to end this 
celebration of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas 
Jefferson of Virginia than with the words of the great Senator from 
Virginia today, John Warner. I appreciate all of the Members of the 
Senate having participated in this celebration of our founding 
documents and of the principles that have given America its purpose and 
destiny over these many decades. Of course, we hope this will serve in 
its way as a teaching instrument, a civics lesson for those around the 
country who may be listening.

[[Page 14212]]

  For our own part here in the Senate, let's pledge today to uphold 
these principles and their values and the eloquence with which they 
were expressed, with the same dedication and persistence in courage as 
the great first generation of Americans who wrote them.
  I thank the Chair, and I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The assistant majority leader is 
recognized.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is my understanding that the time 
between now and 11:30 is equally divided between myself and a Senator 
on the Republican side?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. That is not part of the unanimous 
consent agreement.
  Mr. DURBIN. Is there any pending unanimous consent or any pending 
consent relative to the time?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Only that morning business continue 
until 11:30.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent to speak for 10 minutes--well, 
let me just make that request, that the remaining time between now and 
11:30 be equally divided between the Democratic side and the Republican 
side and that I be allocated the Democratic time.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. I thank the Chair.

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