1:22:32 to 1:22:53( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: 50th year of the service of senator robert byrd of west virginia. 50 but he's been a member of congress he served in the house before he came here. it's n reverence for the united states senate, we've all learned a lot.

1:22:57 to 1:23:19( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: i also have learned a lot from senator byrd of his desire for all americans to appreciate that little document we call constitution. so on this, the 50th anniversary of senator byrd's service, i

1:23:20 to 1:23:40( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: fection, admiration of this good man and wish this congress. for our nine new members sworn today and for all americans, i offer a few of senator byrd's words which he delivered to a meeting of new senators about 12 years ago. when he said -- and i quote --

1:23:41 to 1:24:01( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: "after 200 years, the senate is still the anchor of the republic, the morning and evening star of the american constitutional constellation, weathered the adversity and provided stability and strength to a nation in civil strife

1:24:02 to 1:24:23( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: depressions. in war and peace has been the refuge and protector in the righ minorities. today the senate still stands the great form of constitutional american so said senator byrd 12 years ago. today is a new chapter in history. it begins today.

1:24:45 to 1:25:05( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: states of america stands firm." and i believe that, mr. president. just a few other brief remarks. as my colleagues are democrat united state senate seats are vacant. i'll address these circumstaes because of the inquiries we've

1:25:28 to 1:25:48( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: morning by the sergeant at arms terry gainer, who was chief of police in they had a gracious meeting with the secretary of the senate, nancy erickson and sene parliamearian alan frumin who informed them that mr. burris is not in possession of the necessary credentials from the state of a court case in illinois is

1:26:10 to 1:26:32( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: mr. burris will likely give testimony to the illinois state assembly impeachment proceedings in the next few days, proceedings against governor blagojevich. but minnesota, mr. president, i

1:26:57 to 1:27:17( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: reagan, paul laxalt and i are close personal friends, but i lost that vote by 524. now, mr. president, we went through a i there were no challenges. as hard as it was -- and it was hard, because that was the first thing i ever lost.

1:27:39 to 1:27:59( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: listen, our politics are so different, but our friendship is as good as i that was a tough election, a bitter election that john ensign and i went through. we had the recount in nevada. it was ongoing.

1:28:21 to 1:28:43( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: and i remember that. so, anyway, john ensign filed no challenges, didn't complete the recount. no lawsuits. and john of the united states senate. and i have -- i'm

1:29:06 to 1:29:31( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: have done an exemplary job in handling the recount. no allegations of partisanship and unfairness from either side that i'm aware of, and i've followed it every day for six weeks. even close elections, though, have winners. and i can testify to that. after all votes have been fairly counted, al franken has been declared the winner.

1:29:58 to 1:30:18( Edit History Discussion )

Harry Reid: ensign did, would be the right step. this can't drag on i understand that. i hope that former senator coleman and all our republican colleagues will choose to respect the will of the people of minnesota. they have chosen a new senator, al franken, and his term must begin and will begin soon. mr. president, i look forward

1:30:19 to 1:30:39( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: to -- i hoping that next year at this time we'll be here talking about the many things we've been a to accomplish. as i've said on this floor, if we militia things, there is credit to go around. if we don't accomplish things,

1:30:40 to 1:31:01( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: there is blame to go around for everyone and that's want to be. the presiding officer: i the absence -- the presiding officer: will the leader withhold for a the chair plays b the chair l

1:30:59 to 1:31:19( Edit History Discussion )

Jon Tester: the chair plays b the chair l communications from the director of the national archives transmitting pursuant to the law certified copies of the final ascertainment of the electors for president an vice president which a president which are ordered to

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Jon Tester: lie on the the clerk will call the roll.

1:32:31 to 1:32:53( Edit History Discussion )

Joseph Lieberman: quorum cl: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from mr. lieberman: i thank the chair. i ask s. suspension of proceedings -- suspension of the proceedings under the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. lieberman: mr. president, i rise to speak in morning business. the presiding officer: the senator's recognized. mr. lieberman: thank you.

1:32:54 to 1:33:14( Edit History Discussion )

Joseph Lieberman: mr. president, i'm honored to have the opportunity today, obvisly early on this first day of this new session of congress, together with colleague from utah, senator hatch, to introduce bipartisan legislation which would finally grant citizens of our natn's

1:33:15 to 1:33:36( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: capital, the district of columbiaoting representation. the proper representation to which they are entitled as citizens that representation voting would be in the united states house of representatives. this bill is entitled district of columbia house voting rights act of 2009. it is identical to a bill which

1:33:37 to 1:33:59( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: senator hatch and i introduced in thek' 110th congress. it would for the first time give citizens of the district of columbia full voting representation in the house while adding a fourth congressional seat for the state of utah based on population

1:34:00 to 1:34:21( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: ex the 2000 census, i think the came close -- i think they would say, in fact, they deserve an additional seat. mr. president, this is the fifth session in which i have introduced legislation to try to correct what i fundamental wrong, which is to

1:34:22 to 1:34:43( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: deny the citizens of our nation's capital voting representation here in congress. i hope and believe and pray that this is the session in which we're going to get last year this bill passed overwhelmingly in the pass by a

1:34:44 to 1:35:04( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: vote of 271-177. but it fell three gaing cloture here in the senate though the vote in favor was 57-42. with a new president who was, in fact, a co-sponsor of this bill himself in the last session of congress, i am hopeful that we can pass

1:35:05 to 1:35:26( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: this legislation vital to the rights of nearly 600,000 americans living in the district of columbi keep in mind that the population of the district, though small compared to many states, is roughly equal to the state populations of alaska, north dakota, vermont, and wyoming,

1:35:27 to 1:35:50( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: all of which have, of course, not only representation, that is voting in the house, but two senators here. this deals only and exclusively with voting representation in the house. i want to particularly thank my dear friend and colleague, senator orrin hatch, for his continued, principled steadfast support of this bill.

1:35:51 to 1:36:13( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: he set aside partisanship to join me and others in trying to right this historic wrong. i greatly admire his commitment to this cause. i am also proud to say that senators leahy, kennedy, clinton, dodd, sanders, kerry, durbin, and feingold are today joing as original co-sponsors of this legislation.

1:36:14 to 1:36:35( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: and, of course, i want to pay special honor and thanks to the d.c. delegate eleanor holmes norton, who has been a champion of full representation of the citizens of the district. of course a for the citizens of the district generally. delegate norton is interduesing

1:36:36 to 1:36:56( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: a similar bill in the house of representatives today. i do this with a certain personal pride because delegate nortonnd i were at law school at yale at the same time just a few years ago. mr. president, it probably would

1:36:57 to 1:37:17( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: seem to the casual observer hard to belve that we deny the residence of our nation's capital of the right to have a voting representative in the hoe of representatives. in fact, public opinion polls have been taken over the years that ask people, do you think

1:37:18 to 1:37:41( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: that the residents of the district of columbia have voting representation? and overwhelmingly the american people says, of course they because they can't believe there would be a reason to deny them in recent years those who have oppod this legislation, which would correct a historic

1:37:42 to 1:38:04( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: injustice have argued tt congressional representation is granted only to the states under the constitution and therefore our legislation is unconstitutional. with all respect i believe that simply is not true. the constitution provides congress with the authority to

1:38:05 to 1:38:25( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: bestow voting rights on the district. multiple spanning spectrum of left to right and including ken starr, former judge on the u.s. court of appeals and former solicitor general, viet dem, former

1:38:26 to 1:38:49( Edit History Discussion )

Maria Cantwell: district attorney general, many others have told the public that this authority, which is the authority to grant representati within the district clause of the constitution, which is article 1, section 8, where it states that congress has the power and i quote -- "to exercise exclusive legislation

1:38:50 to 1:39:12( Edit History Discussion )

in all cases whatsoever over such district." congress has repeatedly used this authority to treat the district of columbia as a state for various public purposes. for

1:39:34 to 1:39:54( Edit History Discussion )

congress said, no, for purposes of diversity jurisdiction access to the courts, even thoh the constitution says that the courts may hear cases between citizens of diffe would be citizens of -- citizens of the district of columbia because they happen to live in the

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district and to include the district in interstate regulation. these are rights and responsibilities that our constitution grants to states, yet, the distr allowed congress to apply those rights and responsibilities to the district of columbia because

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number of their civic duty by voting for their representatives in congress. unfortunately for over 200 years d.c. residents have been denied that most basic right. according to a 2005k.r.c.

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the people of the district have been the target terrorist attack, but they have no vote on how the feder government provides for their homeland security. men and women, citizens of the district have fought bravely in our wars, in defense of our

1:42:29 to 1:42:49( Edit History Discussion )

the district of columbia per capita pay federal income at the second highest rate in the nation, yet, they have absolutely no voice, no voting representation in setting tax rates or in determining how the revenues raised by those taxes

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amer live in the district of columbia this precious right. with the united states engaged in two wars, a global against the terrorists who attacked us on our country facing significant economic crisis

1:43:57 to 1:44:17( Edit History Discussion )

affairs, chair and i hope that we will able to take it up quickly. it's my intention to consider this legislation at the first markup our committee session and then to bring it to the floor as quickly as possible with -- with a high sense

1:45:00 to 1:45:21( Edit History Discussion )

Joseph Lieberman: legislation," a very learned article and one that i found convincing on the constitutionality of the bill that -- that we're submitting today and i ask unanimous consent that that article be printed as well. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. lieberman: and, finally, i ask unanimous consent that full text of the bill be printed into the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. lieberman: i thank the chair, i yie the floor.