unabated. to that point, let me say this. i've been in the senate for 40 years. and i think my record for being willing to reach across the aisle is beyond any reasonable dispute. and i've certainly done it with my fellow democrats here on this committee. in fact, from time to time, i've taken lumps in some conservative circles for working closely with my democratic colleagues. i have, on some occasion, voted against confirming executive branch nominees, but far more often than not, i've opted to defer to the occupants of the white house and allow them to choose who serves in their administration. i've taken some lumps for that, too. i'm not bringing any of this up to brag or solicit praise from anyone in the audience. i raise all of this today so people can know, i'm serious when i say that i am worried about what my colleagues on the minority side are doing to the senate as an institution.