Dodd on FISA

[ProSense]

Mr. DODD. Mr. President, let me say before I read this last section, I commend the majority leader. He has had a very trying week. The floor staff and others have done a remarkable job in getting us to this point. I wouldn't want this evening to pass without noting they do not get the recognition they often deserve, but this institution functions because there are a lot of people whose names are never known who make this happen.

It is important, as we begin this Independence Day break, that we recognize the remarkable people who function and work every single day in the Senate, the majority leader's staff, and others who have had to weave through this morass of procedural objections that have allowed us to reach the point we have.

We are going to come back in 10 days. I mentioned the housing bill, but also the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is a source of significant controversy. While I have serious objections to it, and appreciate the opportunity I will have to strike section 2 of that bill dealing with retroactive immunity, I want the record to reflect the deep appreciation I have for the majority leader -- I know others do as well -- for the way in which he and his office have allowed us to achieve the results we have up to this point.

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