Mr. Verniero "perpetrated a huge injustice on our community," Senator Wayne R. Bryant, a Democrat from Camden, said after testifying this week.
"Who actually is the benefactor of someone who is about to become Commander-in-Chief trashing the intelligence community?" Senator Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, demanded.
"I have no problem with New York law being tougher than federal law, because we're talking about restoring faith with the investing community," Senator LaValle said.
"It's access to the weapons of war, the access to the weapons that can kill mass amounts of children or adults in our schools and in our communities," Senator Williams said.
As Clinton spoke at a two-year community college, Senators Brian Schatz, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren joined 30 largely progressive congressmen in the House of Representatives to introduce a resolution aiming to make sure all students at public institutions – not just those at two-year community colleges – can graduate without debt.
The program is critically important to the smallest community banks, Senator Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat and supporter of the bill, said on the Senate floor Tuesday.
"My personal feeling is I think it sends a terrible message to the international community," said Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who is majority leader.
"It's a very clear issue to the pro-life community," said Senator Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican and a leading opponent of the research.
A coalition of groups representing border communities urged senators to reject the amendment, which they called "an example of excessive and wasteful government spending" and a "poorly thought-out policy".
"A reduction in refugee admissions represents substantial human hardship, and it undermines the leadership role of the United States in the world community," said Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusets Democrat who chairs the subcommittee that oversees refugee resettlement.
