solve major national problems

One recurring theme is Mr. Kennedy’s belief that the Senate in the 21st century was not working hard enough to solve major national problems, continually limiting debate and amendments or avoiding issues entirely if passage could not be guaranteed in advance. When he was elected in 1962, he said, the Senate would be busy five days a week and stay on a bill as long as it took to pass it or defeat it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/us/politics/reflections-of-a-master-legislator-senator-edward-kennedy.html