Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007

FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT OF 2007 -- (Senate - January 22, 2007)

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IRAQ RESOLUTION

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, I am here speaking a little bit early. Senator Warner will appear on the scene shortly. But as you know, Madam President, I will be presiding, so this gives me the opportunity to speak now.

Senators Warner and Collins and I have worked to develop a bipartisan resolution dealing with Iraq. I thank them for working to forge this bipartisan resolution. I would clarify that the goal of this resolution is to broaden the resolution's appeal. It is important to send a strong message to the White House and Iraq. And the more support the resolution receives in the Senate, the stronger our message will be.

This may not be an either/or situation. We are bringing forth a new set of ideas, something more broadly worded for Senators to consider. Some can vote for this resolution, and the other, without feeling any contradiction.

The content of this resolution is more inclusive of the Iraq Study Group's recommendations and steers clear of partisan or Presidential rhetoric.

I urge our colleagues--some of whom I have spoken with today, and some of whom I have spoken with over the weekend, and others in recent days, some tomorrow--to read this resolution carefully. I believe they will find the resolution to be thoughtful, forceful, and meaningful.

If a Senator is not comfortable with the wording of the previously announced resolution, if a Senator was concerned that the resolution did not include the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group, if a Senator was concerned about the infringement on executive powers, I think that Senator will find our resolution more appealing.

In the end, we all have a responsibility to lead. We are accountable to our constituents--the American people, as is the President. When we see a policy development that we feel is not in the best interests of the United States and the U.S. military, we must speak out, we must act, and we must communicate with the President that we disagree with his plan.

Simply put, that is what we are trying to do--to express our concern, our opposition, or disagreement with deploying troops in the heart of a civil war in Iraq.

The goal is maximum bipartisan support to send the strongest message possible from the Senate to the President, to the American people, and to Iraq about our concern about this plan.

Thank you, Madam President. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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