Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments Of 2007--Continued

Floor Speech

PRESCRIPTION DRUG USER FEE AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2007--Continued -- (Senate - May 08, 2007)

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Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this week we in Congress are continuing to work toward a solution in Iraq that both supports our troops and changes our mission away from policing a civil war to more narrowly focusing on what should be our first and foremost goal--fighting terrorism, counterterrorism, to make sure al-Qaida cannot set up a camp and strike at us.

I rise today because we are beginning. We have said all along that this is going to be a long battle. Because we do not have 61 votes in the Senate, because the President has the veto power and we certainly do not have 68 votes to override a veto in the Senate, we are going to have to continue to bring up resolution and amendment after resolution and amendment until we persuade our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do what the American people want, to do what the American people asked for in November of 2006; that is, dramatically change the course in Iraq, the mission--greatly reduce the number of troops so we can keep some troops there who can fight terrorism, but that will be many fewer. Most will be out of harm's way.

We are getting good signs. First, 6 months ago President Bush said he wouldn't accept any benchmarks or any limitation. Now the word from the White House seems to be that they will accept some types of benchmarks or other types of language that would not just be a simple funding the troops without our other goal, changing the mission. But second and more significant, what I and my colleague from Washington--and I believe my colleague from Illinois will be speaking about--are seeing is our Republican colleagues begin to set their own timetables, their own deadlines. This weekend, House minority leader JOHN BOEHNER signaled that, as this debate wears on, the President will continue to lose support among the members of his own party.

By the time we get to September or October, members are going to want to know how well this is working and, if it isn't, what is plan B?

That sure seems similar to what we are trying to do, although we want to do it now.

Mr. Boehner's comments are echoed by a number of other Republicans who are hearing back in their States and districts that we must change the mission in Iraq. There are many comments.

TRENT LOTT:

I do think this fall we have to see some significant changes on the ground in Baghdad and other surrounding areas.

There are many more. One of those is JIM WALSH, from my home State of New York. Today, the New York Times reports that Mr. Walsh is replying to his constituents that he could soon be prepared to reassess our policy and begin withdrawing our troops.

Republican Congressman RAY LAHOOD is indicating he expects Republican members will grow increasingly ``nervous'' about the President's strategy.

Asked about the President's demand for a funding bill with no benchmarks, no conditions, and no reports, says Senator Collins, who just spoke here:

Many of us on both sides of the aisle don't see that as viable.

We are going to try to come up with a very strong resolution that both supports our troops and changes the mission. But we know we are making progress because our Republican colleagues themselves have been setting timetables, benchmarks, and other types of goals--limitations that are not terribly dissimilar from ours.

We will continue this battle, this struggle to require the President to change course in Iraq. We eagerly await our Republican colleagues joining us.

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