Unanimous Consent Request -- H.J. Res. 70

Floor Speech

Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I want to raise as a preliminary matter under rule XIX of the Senate Rules, no Senator shall in debate directly or indirectly by any form of words impute to another Senator or to other Senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator.

I want to remind all our colleagues that when they talk about Members of the Senate who are not on the floor and not here or able to defend themselves, I think if not the letter of the rule, certainly the spirit is in jeopardy of being transgressed, and I think we don't want to head down that path.

I would point out that we have witnessed, with some dismay, many of our World War II veterans being turned away at the World War II Memorial here in Washington, DC.

A number of these Honor Flights come from my State. There will be one that comes here tomorrow afternoon. I intend to meet them and welcome them to Washington and visit the World War II Memorial with them.

These gentlemen and ladies are quite advanced in years, and for many of them--like, for example, my father-in-law who landed on Utah Beach on the second day of the Normandy invasion, his physical health is not such that he could come. But he would love to come to the Memorial.

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Mr. CORNYN. I will not yield for a question at this time. I will at a later time.

He would love to visit the World War II Memorial. Unfortunately, his health is not such that he can. But those who can are coming to Washington. There will be one from Fort Worth coming on Tuesday, and I intend to meet them and to welcome them. They should not be turned back because of this politically concocted government shutdown--one that the President and the majority leader seem to be enjoying but which is causing a lot of hardship and inconvenience.

The House of Representatives has passed a separate piece of legislation that would open the World War II Memorial, along with other national park services. I would note it got 252 votes in the House of Representatives yesterday, including 23 Democrats. I hope it would enjoy the same sort of bipartisan support in the Senate.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.J. Res. 70, making continuing appropriations for National Park Service operations, which was received from the House; that the measure be read three times and passed; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

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