agree on is the fact that congress needs checks and balances here. right now disagree or agree with me. none of us in congress have had a voice. neither a voice in support nor a voice in opposition much -- opposition. we woke up just like the citizens of america and found out that we own 60% of general motors, a decision made by president obama literally with no oversight by congress. what's happened, mr. president, is the legislative branch has effectively given mr. obama -- president obama, a free pass to do as he wishes with $700 billion. but with the passage of this legislation, we can regain some type of oversight over the

dispersement of tarp funds. let's not continue to criticize the use and management of tarp funds, yet do nothing about it. support for this legislation is an important step in the right direction. it would ensure that congress provides checks and balances. that's what we were elected to deliver. that's why we are here. at the very minimum let's at least have a vote before the government takes ownership of private companies. my bill only asks for a simple majority governed by the normal rules of the senate. but it makes a very significant statement that congress has not fallen asleep at the switch. i hope my colleagues will not choose to remain silently in their seats. you see, mr. president, we must fulfill our duty to provide oversight over the executive branch. that's what our constitution demands. i urge my colleagues whether you

support or oppose funds for private industry to reclaim the role congress has in this process. doing anything less would simply be a dereliction of our duty. when i introduced this legislation as an amendment to s. 982, it quickly got 30 cosponsors. i'm very happy to report that many of these people have joined me as cosponsors today and we're nearing that number again. i encourage all of my colleagues to support this commonsense legislation to join me as a cosponsor. we can work together to ensure that free enterprise is not relegated to the back burner in this country. and most important, we can work together whru agree or disagree -- together whether you agree or disagree to make sure that congress is not sell gated

to the -- relegated to the back burner. the freer enterprise act is a positive step in that direction. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor, and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will read the r roll. quorum call:

a senator: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from alaska. mr. begich: i'd like to call off the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. begich: madam president, i have is it unanimou unanimous ct requests for -- consent requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the

majority and minority leaders. i ask unanimous consent that these requests be agreed and that these requests be printed in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. begich: i suggest an absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call: