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LIKE, BUT BETTER THAN I THINK
THE FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO
ARE JUST SAYING NAY, SAYING NO
TO EVERYTHING.
MR. PRESIDENT.
SO LET ME END THERE,
I WILL YIELD THE FLOOR BACK AND
NOTICE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
COUNTRY FACES MANY PROBLEMS, BUT
I THINK IF YOU GO OUT ON MAIN
STREET, IF YOU GO OUT TO RURAL
AMERICA, IF YOU GO TO MY STATE
OF VERMONT, WHAT PEOPLE WILL
TELL YOU IS THAT THE MAJOR
CRISIS WE FACE IS THAT WE HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH
UNEMPLOYMENT.
SOME PEOPLE WILL SUGGEST TO YOU
COUNTRY.
THAT UNEMPLOYMENT IS 9% IN THIS
ACCURATE.
THAT'S NOT REALLY QUITE
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FOR
THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GIVEN UP
LOOKING FOR WORK, IF YOU LOOK AT
THE NUMBERS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ARE WORKING PART TIME WHEN THEY
WANT TO WORK FULL TIME, WE ARE
LOOKING AT A SITUATION WHERE 60%
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE --
16% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED.
THAT IS 25 MILLION AMERICANS.
AND WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS NOW IS TO
START PUTTING THOSE PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK.
THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO DO.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS AN
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
VIRTUALLY EVERY AMERICAN WHO
GETS INTO HIS OR HER CAR
UNDERSTANDS THAT OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUMBLING.
THAT'S ROADS AND BRIDGES.
TALK TO MAYORS ALL OVER VERMONT,
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY'RE
HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR
WATER SYSTEMS.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR RAIL SYSTEM
IN THIS COUNTRY, IT IS WAY
BEHIND EUROPE, JAPAN, CHINA.
WE NEED TO REBUILD PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION AND HAVE A 21st
CENTURY RAIL SYSTEM.
SO IF YOU PUT PEOPLE TO WORK,
REBUILDING OUR CRUMBLING
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE BUILDING OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, YOU ARE
GOING TO MAKE THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA MORE PRODUCTIVE,
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE US MORE
COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONALLY,
AND YOU ARE GOING TO CREATE THE
MILLIONS OF JOBS THAT WE
DESPERATELY NEED.
AND IT IS STUNNING TO ME THAT WE
HAVE NOT MOVED ADPREFL IN TERMS
OF JOB CREATION -- AGGRESSIVELY
IN TERMS OF JOB CREATION.
DO.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO
IF WE PUT $400 BILLION INTO
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE CAN CREATE
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
GOOD-PAYING JOBS, WE CAN MAKE
OUR COUNTRY MORE PRODUCTIVE AND
MORE INTERNATIONALLY
COMPETITIVE.
MR. PRESIDENT, EVERY SINGLE
YEAR WE ARE IMPORTING AND
SPENDING ABOUT $350 BILLION ON
FOREIGN OIL, BRINGING THAT OIL
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
IN FROM SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER
AS WE MOVE TO ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE, AS WE BREAK OUR
DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS,
MOVING TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND
SUSTAINABLE ENERGIES LIKE SOLAR
SOLAR, WIND, GEOTHERMAL,
BIOMASS, WE CAN CREATE MILLIONS
MORE JOBS.
SO MR. PRESIDENT, IT SEEMS TO
ME THAT AT A TIME WHEN THE
MIDDLE CLASS IS DISAPPEARING,
AT A TIME WHEN POVERTY IS
INCREASING TO A RECORD-BREAKING
LEVEL, AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE IN
EVERY SECTION OF THE COUNTRY ARE
SAYING WE NEED TO PUT OUR PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK, NOW IS THE TIME
DO THAT.
MR. PRESIDENT, LAST YEAR I
INTRODUCED THE CONCEPT WHICH
MILLIONAIRES.
SAID LET US HAVE A SURTAX ON
AND THE REASON I SAID THAT IS
THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY ARE BECOMING WEALTHIER,
THEIR REAL EFFECTIVE TAX RATE IS
THE LOWEST IN DECADES.
AND I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IS MOVING
FORWARD IN THAT DIRECTION.
SO AS WE CREATE THE JOBS THAT WE
NEED BY REBUILDING OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, BY TRANSFORMING
OUR ENERGY SYSTEM, IT IS
ABSOLUTELY APPROPRIATE THAT AT A
TIME WHEN THE GAP BETWEEN THE
VERY, VERY WEALTHY AND EVERYBODY
ELSE IS GETTING WIDER, THAT WE
ASK THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY TO HELP US FUND JOB
CREATION SO THAT WE CAN PULL THE
MIDDLE CLASS OUT OF THE
TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE RECESSION
THAT THEY ARE SUFFERING FROM.
SO MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK THE
JOB IS A MAJOR JOBS PROGRAM NOW
FOR OUR COUNTRY.
REBUILD OUR INFRASTRUCTURE,
TRANSFORM OUR ENERGY SYSTEM,
ASK THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY TO START PAYING
THEIR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES,
LET'S END MANY OF THESE TAX
LOOPHOLES AND BREAKS THAT LARGE
CORPORATIONS HAVE.
WE CAN FUND A SERIOUS JOBS
PROGRAM AND PUT MILLIONS OF OUR
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, WHICH IS
SOMETHING WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO
DO.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT I
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI IS
RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE PRESIDENT
FOR RECOGNIZING ME.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO TALK AS
WE DISCUSS WHAT WE SHOULD BE
TALKING ABOUT, HOW TO GET MORE
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT
APPROACHES ON HOW WE GET THERE,
BUT I HOPE WE CAN REACH THE
DECISION THAT WE NEED TO DO THE
THINGS IN GOVERNMENT THAT ALLOW
PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE THE
DECISIONS THEY MAKE TO CREATE
JOBS.
YOU KNOW, OUR FEDERAL DEBT HAS
REACHED OF COURSE A RECORD HIGH
AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW EVERY
DAY.
NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT IS
LINGERING AROUND 9%.
HOME PRICES HAVE PLUMMETED IN
ALMOST EVERY COMMUNITY IN
AMERICA.
GAS PRICES AND HEALTH CARE COSTS
HAVE SKYROCKETED.
THE GAS PRICES, THE HEALTH CARE
COSTS ON THE ENERGY ISSUE THAT
MY FRIEND FROM VERMONT WAS
TALKING ABOUT, THE SHORTEST
PATH TO MORE AMERICAN JOBS IS
MORE AMERICAN ENERGY AND I'M NOT
OPPOSED TO ANY OF THE GREEN JOBS
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE US HAVE ALL OF
THOSE JOBS IF THEY CAN
EVENTUALLY BE A COMPETITIVE PART
OF AN ENERGY ENVIRONMENT AND I
THINK THEY CAN, BUT I THINK WE
SHOULD ALSO FOCUS ON THE JOBS
THAT POWER AMERICA TODAY.
EVEN IF WE KNEW WHAT THE COUNTRY
WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE
ENERGYWISE 30 YEARS FROM NOW,
IT WOULD WOULD BE -- IT WOULD
TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THERE.
AND I'M FOR MORE AMERICAN ENERGY
JOBS OF ALL KINDS.
FOR 50 YEARS, WE HAVEN'T MET
THE MARKETPLACE NEED WITH WHAT
COULD PRODUCE.
ALWAYS THERE.
BUT THE MARKETPLACE NEED IS
IT'S ALWAYS THERE IN A BAD
ECONOMY, ALWAYS THERE IN A GOOD
ECONOMY.
LET'S MEET THAT NEED AND
CERTAINLY THAT CAN MEAN MORE
SOLAR AND MORE WIND AND MORE
BIOFUELS AND MORE EVERYTHING
ELSE WE CAN THINK OF.
BUT MR. PRESIDENT, ALSO NEEDS
TO MEAN MORE SHALE GAS AND MORE
SHALE OIL, MORE USING THE
FOSSIL FUEL DEPOSITS LIKE COAL
THAT WE HAVE AS WE MOVE TOWARD A
DIFFERENT ENERGY FUTURE, AND TO
DO THAT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS TO
US CONTINUE TO BE COMPETITIVE.
IF OUR UTILITY BILL DOUBLES IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WHERE
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
TODAY AND I ARE FROM, WE'RE ARE
NOT AS COMPETITIVE AS WE ARE AND
I DON'T THINK WE LOSE THE JOBS
WE LOSE TO MASSACHUSETTS OR
CALIFORNIA.
I THINK WE LOSE THOSE JOBS TO
PLACES THAT CARE A WHOLE LOT
LESS ABOUT WHAT COMES OUT OF THE
SMOKESTACK THAN WE DO.
AT THE SAME TIME JUMP STATING
OUR ECONOMY WILL REQUIRE
BIPARTISANSHIP AND EXAMINE IF
WE'RE GOING TO COMPETE IN A
GLOBAL ECONOMY, WE STROOB
WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER.
THIS WEEK WE SAW A LONG AWAITED
BUT STILL A REAL EXAMPLE OF THAT
KIND OF BIPARTISANSHIP WHEN
PRESIDENT OBAMA SUBMITTED THE
THREE PENDING TRADE AGREEMENTS.
THEY'VE BEEN PENDING FOR THREE
YEARS, AND WE'VE LOST
OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE MARKETS
FOR THREE YEARS, BUT IN
FAIRNESS TO THE PRESIDENT FOR AT
LEAST THE FIRST TWO OF THOSE
THREE YEARS, THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES WOULDN'T HAVE
PASSED THESE AGREEMENTS.
BUT THEY WOULD PASS THEM NOW AND
THEY WILL PASS THEM NOW, AND SO
WILL THE SENATE, I'M HOPEFUL AS
EARLY AS NEXT WEEK.
AND THAT CREATES OPPORTUNITIES
IN MISSOURI WHERE I'M FROM AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR
COLLEAGUES, SENATOR PORTMAN AND
I PUT A LETTER TOGETHER OF
REPUBLICANS WHO TOLD THE WHITE
HOUSE WE'RE WILLING TO WORK ON
THE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE
AS PART OF THE PACKAGE, IF
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET
THESE TRADE AGREEMENTS SENT TO
AND WE DID, AND
THOSE TRADE ADJUSTMENT
AGREEMENTS HAVE NOW PASSED THE
SENATE AND ARE READY TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE TRADE BILLS.
THESE THREE -- THESE FREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS WOULD MEAN AN
ADDITIONAL $2.5 BILLION TO
$3 BILLION IN AGRICULTURAL
EXPORTS OF YEAR, EVERY BILLION
DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
IS AN ESTIMATED 8,000 NEW JOBS.
THIS -- THESE ARE THE PLACES
WHERE WE CAN GET THE JOBS.
TRADE, TRAVEL, TOURISM,
ENERGY, THIS IS NOT THAT
COMPLICATED A FORMULA, BUT THE
GOVERNMENT CAN'T CONTINUE TO
STAND IN THE WAY OF ALL THOSE
THINGS MOVING FORWARD.
IN MISSOURI, EXPORTS ACCOUNTED
FOR 5.4% OF OUR GROSS DOMESTIC
PRODUCT IN 2008.
COMPANIES IN OUR STATE SOLD
PRODUCTS IN NEARLY 200 FOREIGN
MARKETS.
SINCE 2002, EXPORTS HAVE
INCREASED THREE TIMES FASTER
THAN THE REST OF OUR ECONOMY.
THAT'S ONE STATE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE COUNTRY WORKING TO BE
COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD.
THE PASSAGE OF THESE TRADE
AGREEMENTS WILL INCREASE TRADE
FOR SOYBEANS, FOR BEEF, FOR
CORN, FOR PORK, FOR DAIRY
PRODUCTS, FOR PROCESSED FOOD,
FOR FISH, ALL OF WHICH WE
PRODUCE IN OUR STATE, PLUS ALL
KINDS OF MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS
THAT IN SOUTH KOREA AND COLOMBIA
AND IN PANAMA, GIVEN THE CHOICE
OF TWO PRODUCTS ON THE SHELF,
THE AMERICAN PRODUCT IS STILL A
PRODUCT THE CONSUMERS IN THOSE
COUNTRIES WILL CHOOSE EVEN WITH
SOME DISADVANTAGE, IMAGINE WHAT
WILL HAPPEN WHEN WE ELIMINATE
MORE OF THAT DISADVANTAGE.
NOW, THIS WEEK THE BILL ON THE
FLOOR I THINK THIS BILL THAT
CONCERNS ME ABOUT MANAGING CHINA
CURRENCY BUT ONLY IF THE
PRESIDENT DOESN'T DISAGREE WITH
WHAT THE CONGRESS HAS PASSED,
HAS MUCH GREATER POTENTIAL TO
START A TRADE WAR THAN IT DOES
TO SOLVE ANY GIVEN PROBLEM.
NOW, I'M NOT HERE,
MR. PRESIDENT, TO DEFEND THE
CHINESE OR ITS LEADERS OR ITS
TRADE PRACTICES.
IN FACT, ONE OF THOSE PRACTICES
WHERE YOU MAKE A PRODUCT IN
CHINA AND THERE'S ALREADY A
FINDING THAT THAT PRODUCT IS
SOMEHOW UNFAIRLY BEING IMPORTED
OR EXPORTED IN THE W.T.O.
AGREEMENTS SO YOU PUT ANOTHER
LABEL ON IT THAT SAYS IT'S FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE, SOMETIMES
CALLED TRANSSHIPMENT, SENATOR
WYDEN AND I HAVE A BILL, THE
ENFORCE ACT, THAT WOULD DEAL
WITH THAT.
AND IT DEALS WITH THAT
SPECIFICALLY, DIRECTLY, AND
ACTUALLY WILL PRODUCE A RESULT
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BILL
BEING ON THE FLOOR.
I'M PROUD TO COSPONSOR SENATOR
HATCH'S ALTERNATIVE TO THE BILL
THAT'S ON THE FLOOR THIS WEEK
THAT IN FACT IS MULTILATERAL,
IT INVOLVES OTHER COUNTRIES PLUS
PLUS THE I.M.F.,
IN A DISCUSSION THAT MIGHT
ACTUALLY PRODUCE A REAL RESULT
OF WHAT THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES OF
THE WORLD INCLUDING CHINA ARE
DOING AS THEY MANAGE THEIR
CURRENCY IN WAYS THAT MAY NOT BE
FOUND TO BE FAIR IN THE FOREIGN
MARKETPLACE.
BUT WE NEED RESULTS.
WE JUST DON'T NEED LEGISLATION
TO TALK ABOUT FOR PURPOSES THAT
USE UP TIME WHEN WE'VE GOT SO
BE DOING.
MANY IMPORTANT THINGS WE COULD
I'VE COSPONSORED THE AFFORDABLE
CANTWELL.
FOOTWEAR ACT WITH SENATOR
THAT WILL EASE THE TAX BURDEN ON
AMERICAN CONSUMERS WHO
UNKNOWINGLY PAY UP TO 40% DUTIES
ON RETAIL COSTS THAT COVER THIS
IMPORT DUTY OR THE SHOE TAX ON
SHOES MADE OUTSIDE THE UNITED
STATES.
ALL THESE BILLS REPRESENT WAYS
WE CAN LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD
FOR AMERICAN WORKERS, FOR
AMERICAN JOB CREATORS AND SPUR
ECONOMIC GROWTH RIGHT HERE AT
HOME.
THAT WE SHOULD BE
FOCUSED ON IS FEDERAL REGULATION
AND REGULATION THAT JUST SIMPLY
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
I'VE MET LOTS OF JOB CREATORS IN
MISSOURI, EVEN THIS YEAR, AND
CERTAINLY IN PAST YEARS BUT THIS
YEAR MORE THAN ANY OTHER THEY
REGULATORS.
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE AIR
RULES, THE UTILITY MAC RULE,
THE CROSS STATE AIR POLLUTION
RULE THAT COULD CAUSE AS MUCH AS
15% OF OUR COAL PRODUCING ENERGY
PLANTS TO SHUT DOWN.
NOW, WHEN THEY SHUT DOWN THAT
MEANS THE PRICE GOES UP, AND I
KNOW THAT IT'S A PHILOSOPHY OF
MANY IN THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION THAT OUR PROBLEM
IS THAT OUR ENERGY ISN'T SPENT
EXPENSIVE ENOUGH BUT I DON'T
FIND ANY MISSOURI FAMILIES
SITTING DOWN AT THE KITCHEN
TABLE LOOKING AT THEIR UTILITY
BILL AND SAYING THE PROBLEM HERE
IS, THIS BILL JUST ISN'T HIGH
ENOUGH.
WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO TO
SOLVE OUR ENERGY PROBLEM IS
RAISE THIS.
SAYING THAT.
EVEN THOUGH THE CAP-AND-TRADE
LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THE
HOUSE IN 2009 WOULD HAVE DOUBLED
THE YOU UTILITY BILL IN MISSOURI IN
ABOUT 12 YEARS.
A LOT OF THINGS WORK AT TODAY'S
LATER.
UTILITY BILL THAT DON'T WORK
UNDER THE NEW E.P.A. REGULATIONS
ON CROSS-STATE AIR POLLUTION,
ONE ELECTRIC COMPANY ANNOUNCED
THEY'LL BE FORCED TO CLOSE TWO
OF THEIR COAL-FIRED PLANTS BY
THE END OF THIS YEAR.
CLOSE.
NOT MODIFY, NOT REDO, JUST
THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES SENSE
IS TO CLOSE THOSE PLANTS AND THE
PEOPLE THAT GET THE UTILITY BILL
WILL KNOW THOSE PLANTS ARE
CLOSED BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO
BE PAYING A HIGHER PRICE.
ELECTRIC RATES COULD RISE 20% IN
SOME AREAS BY JUST IN A VERY
SHORT TIME.
FUGITIVE DUST.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A RULE THAT THE
E.P.A. IS TALKING ABOUT WHERE
FARMERS CAN'T LET DUST FROM
ANOTHER FARM.
I WAS RAISED ON FARMS AND AROUND
FARMS, AND YOU CAN'T FARM
WITHOUT DUST.
DUST.
YOU CAN'T HARVEST A CROP WITHOUT
YOU CANNOT FARM IN THE MUD.
YOU CAN'T CONTAIN THE DUST THAT
IS PART OF FARMING.
AND IT'S THE KIND OF RULE THAT
JUST SIMPLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
THERE'S A RULE ON BOILERS THAT
WOULD IMPACT UNIVERSITIES AND
HOSPITALS AS WELL AS SAW MILLS
AND OTHER FACILITIES THAT
GENERATE THEIR ENERGY FROM
INDUSTRIAL BOILERS.
THERE'S A CEMENT REGULATION.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE KIND
OF RECOVERY WE WANT IN THIS
COUNTRY WITHOUT A RECOVERY IN
HOUSING.
AND THE HOUSE RECENTLY PASSED A
BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE
ADMINISTRATION TO EVALUATE THE
ECONOMIC TOLL OF THE NEW E.P.A.
RULES ON CEMENT AND OTHER
INDUSTRIES.
THE HOUSE ALSO IS SET TO TAKE UP
A BILL THAT WOULD DELAY THE
CEMENT RULES FOR AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IF YOU
HAVE ACCESS TO PRODUCTS
OUT OF.
THAT MAKE SENSE TO BUILD THINGS
I'VE SAID FOR SOME TIME THAT WE
OUGHT TO HAVE A MORATORIUM ON
ALL THESE REGULATIONS AND IN
FACT, I'M COSPONSORING SENATOR
COLLINS' BILL TO CALL A TIME-OUT
ON NEW MAJOR REGULATIONS AND
GIVE EMPLOYERS THE CERTAINTY
THEY NEED TO CREATE NEW JOBS IN
AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE
LIKE AS THOSE JOBS HAVE A CHANCE
TO BECOME PERMANENT JOBS.
THIS IS AN EASY SOLUTION TO HELP
JOB CREATORS.
BUT INSTEAD, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THE JOBS BILL.
AND THE PRESIDENT'S ALMOST ALL
OF SPEECHES ON THE JOBS BILL ARE
IN POLITICALLY COMPETITIVE
STATES.
I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S NOT A
2012 POLITICAL STRATEGY INSTEAD
OF A 2011 LEGISLATIVE STRATEGY.
THERE ARE 1.7 MILLION FEWER
AMERICAN JOBS SINCE THE
PRESIDENT SIGNED THE FIRST
STIMULUS BILL INTO LAW.
NEED STIMULUS II.
WE NEED TO DO THE THINGS THAT
ENCOURAGE PRIVATE SECTOR JOB
CREATORS TO CREATE PRIVATE
SECTOR JOBS.
LET'S VOTE ON THE BILL.
INSTEAD OF THIS DEBATE WE'RE
HAVING THIS WEEK ON CHINA
CURRENCY, LET'S VOTE ON THE
PRESIDENT'S BILL.
HE SAID IN I THINK DALLAS ON
TUESDAY AT LATE MORNING IN
DALLAS, LET THE SENATE AT LEAST
VOTE ON THE BILL.
AND SO THE MINORITY LEADER,
MR. McCONNELL, CAME TO THE
FLOOR AND SAID LET'S VOTE ON THE
BILL, AND WE'RE READY ON OUR
SIDE.
LET'S VOTE ON THE BILL.
LET'S GET BEYOND THE -- PAST THE
BILL.
LET'S SEE IF THE VOTES ARE THERE
TO PASS THE BILL SO WE CAN GET
TO THE THINGS THAT REALLY WILL
GET THE COUNTRY GOING AGAIN.
THESE REGULATIONS, THIS TALK OF
HIGHER UTILITY BILLS AND HIGHER
TAXES PUTS A BIG WET BLANKET ON
THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.
THIS DISCUSSION OF WHO WE'RE
GOING TO BE PUTS A BIG WET
BLANKET ON THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.
LET'S TAKE THAT BLANKET OFF,
LET'S DO THE THINGS THAT THE
GOVERNMENT -- AT THE GOVERNMENT
LEVEL THAT ALLOW PRIVATE JOB
CREATORS TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO
CREATE PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS.
AND I HOPE WE CAN GET ALONG --
GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS THAT
THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO GET DONE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE THERE
IS THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
I RISE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT THE
ISSUE OF CREATING JOBS IN
AMERICA, MORE SPECIFICALLY,
THE LOSS OF JOBS THAT HAS BEEN
DRIVEN BY THE UNFAIR TRADE
PRACTICES OF CHINA.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: CHINESE
MANIPULATION OF CURRENCY IS A
TARIFF ON AMERICAN PRODUCTS AND
A SUBSIDY TO CHINESE EXPORTS.
GREATLY DISADVANTAGING
MANUFACTURING IN AMERICA AND
DESTROYING THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS
OF AMERICAN JOBS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR CHALLENGE,
OUR CHALLENGE IS TO NOT SIMPLY
THE OVERALL ECONOMY,
OFTEN MEASURED BY THE GROSS
DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
OUR CHALLENGE IS TO STRENGTHEN
THE AMERICAN FAMILY, THE
FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS THAT
DEPEND UPON A GOOD, LIVING-WAGE
JOB.
SO EVERY PROPOSAL THAT WE
CONSIDER SHOULD BE WEIGHED BY
WHETHER IT CREATES JOBS OR
DESTROYS JOBS.
THAT IS TRUE IN TIMES OF A
ROBUST ECONOMY.
IT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE NOW WHEN
WE HAVE A PERSISTENT HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, WHERE
FAMILIES HAVE BEEN BATTERED,
NOT JUST BY THE LOSS OF JOBS BUT
BY THE LOSS OF EQUITY IN THEIR
HOMES, BY THE LOSS OF THEIR
HEALTH CARE THAT WENT WITH THEIR
JOB, BY THE LOSS OF THEIR
RETIREMENT SAVINGS.
ALL OF THESE IN A TIME WHEN THE
PRICE OF THINGS FUNDAMENTAL TO
FAMILIES KEEPS GOING UP.
WHO LOOKED TO THE
OPENING OF CHINA AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A VAST
MARKET FOR AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
AND INDEED, MANY CONTINUE TODAY
TO TALK ABOUT CHINA IN TERMS OF
THE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR
AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
BUT THE PICTURE HAS CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST
DECADE.
AND WE AS POLICYMAKERS HERE IN
THE SENATE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT
CHANGE, THAT CHINA HAS BECOME A
VAST MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISE,
THAT IT HAS DONE SO THROUGH A
DELIBERATE MANUFACTURING AND
EXPORT STRATEGY, AND THAT THAT
STRATEGY IS DESTROYING JOBS IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, CHINA
HAS REAPED BENEFITS, BUT THEY
HAVE NOT UPHELD THEIR END OF THE
BARGAIN.
ONE PIECE OF THE DEAL
IS THAT THEY WOULD CREATE A RULE
OF LAW, THAT THEY WOULD ENFORCE
RESTRICTIONS ON THE THEFT OF
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WHEN WE
TOOK A BIPARTISAN DELEGATION TO
CHINA EARLIER THIS YEAR LED BY
THE MAJORITY LEADER, COMPANY
AFTER COMPANY TOLD US THE
STORIES OF THEIR PRODUCTS BEING
STOLEN BY CHINESE ENTERPRISES.
AND NOT JUST THE DESIGN OF THEIR
PRODUCTS THAT WERE THEN
REPLICATED AND SOLD WITHOUT THE
APPROPRIATE PATENTS, BUT ALSO
THE SOFTWARE.
AND IF YOU WANT A SIMPLE EXAMPLE
OF THIS, TAKE MICROSOFT WINDOWS
AND ITS PRODUCTS IN ITS OFFICE
SUITE.
ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE COPIES
USED BY THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT
IN CHINA ARE LEGAL COPIES.
AND OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT,
ONLY A VERY SMALL FRACTION OF
THE COPIES ARE LEGAL COPIES.
AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF
THE VAST INTELLECTUAL THEFT
WHERE CHINA HAS NOT UPHELD ITS
END OF THE BARGAIN TO CREATE A
RULE OF LAW AND STOP THE
OUTRIGHT THIEVERY OF AMERICAN
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, DAMAGING
AMERICAN COMPANIES.
SECOND, WE HAVE THE CHINESE
PEGGED CURRENCY.
NOW, WHEN A COUNTRY PEGS ITS
CURRENCY TO ANOTHER AS THEY HAVE
THEIR CURRENCY TO THE DMAR,
THEY CAN DO SO -- DOLLAR, THEY
CAN DO SO AND ADJUST IT
PERIODICALLY ACCORDING TO MARKET
INFLUENCES, THEY CAN DECIDE TO
END THE PEGGING AND LET IT FLOAT
WHICH THEN YOU GET A REAL MARKET
EVALUATION OR THEY CAN
DELIBERATELY KEEP PRINTING MONEY
TO SUSTAIN A SITUATION IN WHICH
THE CURRENCY IS UNDERVALUED.
DONE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT CHINA HAS
NOW, WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR
CURRENCY CHEAP, WHAT THEY DO IS
MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS MUCH LESS
EXPENSIVE TO OTHER NATIONS.
THAT IS EQUIVALENT OF
SUBSIDIZING THEIR EXPORTS.
AND WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR
CURRENCY CHEAP AND MAKE DOLLARS
VERY EXPENSIVE, IT IS
EQUIVALENT TO PUTTING A TAX ON
AMERICAN PRODUCTS, A TARIFF ON
AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
SO WHILE MUCH OF AMERICA HAS
THOUGHT OF THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION AS ONE THAT CREATED
A PLATFORM FOR FREE TRADE OR
EVEN A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD,
THAT IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH.
THE TRUTH IS THAT CHINA HAS BEEN
ALLOWED TO SUSTAIN A PEGGED
CURRENCY THAT PUTS THE
EQUIVALENT OF A 25% TARIFF
TO AMERICAN
PRODUCTS AND A 25% SUBSIDY TO
CHINESE PRODUCTS.
NOW, THERE ARE THOSE ON -- IN
THIS CHAMBER WHO HAVE COME TO
THIS FLOOR AND SAID THAT TO
CHALLENGE THE CHINESE TARIFF ON
AMERICAN PRODUCTS IS TO LAUNCH A
TRADE WAR.
MY FRIENDS, DO YOU NOT REALIZE
THAT CHINESE TARIFF ON AMERICA
IS A TRADE WAR AND THAT THEY ARE
WINNING THIS WAR AND THEY ARE
DESTROYING AMERICAN JOBS WHILE
VASTLY INCREASING THEIR OWN
PRODUCTION?
IF NOT, PLEASE GO TO CHINA AND
TALK TO AMERICAN COMPANIES, AND
TALK TO THE AMERICAN COMPANIES
THAT HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN IN
AMERICA.
NOW, WE HAVE LOST THREE MILLION
MANUFACTURING JOBS SINCE 1998,
A LITTLE BIT OVER A DECADE.
NOT ALL OF THAT IS THE
CHINESE
PRACTICES.
BUT A GREAT AMOUNT OF IT IS.
SO WE MUST NOT STAND BY TRYING
TO PRETEND THE WORLD IS ONE
WAY, THAT CHINA REPRESENTS
SOLELY A MARKET AND NOT A
MANUFACTURING COMPETITOR, WHEN
THE TRUTH IS THEY ARE A FIERCE
COMPETITOR USING INDUSTRIAL
POLICY AND A PEGGED CURRENCY TO
OUTCOMPETE AMERICAN PRODUCTS,
TO PENALIZE AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
IN TERMS OF THE CURRENCY
MANIPULATION, OUR SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY SAID THIS:
"WHATEVER YOUR DEFINITION OF
MANIPULATION IS, WHAT MATTERS
IS THE CURRENCY IS UNDERVALUED.
THEY ARE INTERVENING, REFERRING
TO CHINA, THEY ARE INTERVENING
TO HOLD IT DOWN.
THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS OUR
ECONOMIC INTERESTS AND THERE IS
AN OVERWHELMINGLY COMPELLING
ECONOMIC CASE FOR THE WORLD FOR
TRADING PARTNERS, FOR
CHINA, FOR US, TO WORK TO
ALTER THAT BASIC PRACTICE."
WELL, CERTAINLY WE HAVE THE
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
ECHOING THAT WE HAVE A CHALLENGE
THAT IS HURTING AMERICA AND THAT
WE NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT
CHALLENGE, AND THAT IS WHY WE
HAVE THIS BILL ON THE FLOOR
ADDRESSING THE CHINESE
MANIPULATION OF CURRENCY.
NOW, THIS IS NOT THE ONLY
STRATEGY THAT CHINA USES.
THEY ALSO USE A STRATEGY OF
HOLDING DOWN INTEREST RATES
THROUGH THEIR USE OF RULES BELOW
THE INFLATION RATE, WHICH MEANS
THAT ANY CHINESE CITIZEN THAT
PUTS THEIR MONEY IN A
STATE-CONTROLLED BANK -- AND
THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION THEY
HAVE -- LOSES VALUE EVERY YEAR
ON THAT MONEY.
IS SOMETIMES CALLED BY
ECONOMISTS BY A FANCY NAME, AND
THAT'S FINANCIAL REPRESSION.
YOU REPRESS OR HOLD DOWN THE
INTEREST RATES.
WELL, LET'S JUST CALL IT
SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE MORE
UNDERSTANDABLE.
INSURANCE RATE MANIPULATION.
THAT IS DONE IN ORDER TO ALLOW
THE CENTRAL BANK, THE CHINESE
BANKING SYSTEM TO REAP GREAT
REVENUES THAT THEY CAN THEN TAKE
AND SUBSIDIZE MANUFACTURING.
THEY DO THIS THROUGH A SERIES OF
GRANTS AND THEY DO THIS THROUGH
A SERIES OF SUBSIDIZED LOANS.
AN AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR WAS IN
MY OFFICE THE MORNING BEFORE
YESTERDAY TALKING ABOUT HOW AN
INDIVIDUAL THAT HE KNOWS WENT TO
CHINA AND WAS NEGOTIATING AND
STARTED OUT WITH CHINA OFFERING
HIM A 3% INTEREST RATE ON MONEY
TO OPERATE HIS ENTERPRISE AND
ENDED UP OFFERING A NEGATIVE 3%
INTEREST RATE.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD PAY
HIM TO TAKE THE MONEY IN ORDER
THAT MANUFACTURING TO
CHINA, TAKE IT OUT OF THE UNITED
STATES, BRING IT TO CHINA.
THEY WOULD PAY HIM TO DO THAT.
THAT'S A VAST SUBSIDY, AND IT'S
NOT THE ONLY SUBSIDY.
THE GRANTS, THE SUBSIDIZATION OF
WATER COSTS, THE SUBSIDIZATION
OF ELECTRICITY.
ALL OF THESE SUBSIDIES HAVE A
BIG IMPACT, AND IF YOU GO TO THE
W.T.O. WEBSITE, YOU WILL SEE HOW
IT SUMMARIZES THE STRUCTURE OF
THE W.T.O.
UNDER THE SECTION CALLED
SUBSIDIES, THEY NOTE THEY ARE
PROHIBITED BECAUSE THEY ARE
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO DISTORT
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND ARE
THEREFORE LIKELY TO HURT OTHER
COUNTRIES' TRADE.
SO THE PLAN WAS THAT WHEN
SUBSIDIES WERE USED DELIBERATELY
TO DISTORT INTERNATIONAL TRADE,
THAT THEY WOULD BE OUTLAUD.
GUESS WHAT?
CHINA IS IGNORING THIS.
IN FACT, THEY ARE FLAUNTING IT
BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED UNDER
THE W.T.O. TO DISCLOSE EACH AND
EVERY YEAR ALL OF THE SUBSIDIES
THEY PROVIDE TO THEIR
IT.
MANUFACTURING, AND THEY DON'T DO
THEY DID IT ONCE IN 2006, A VERY
MINIMAL DISCLOSURE.
WELL, WHY IS IT THAT WE CONTINUE
TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A
STRUCTURE THAT FACILITATES
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TRADE IN THE
W.T.O. WHEN CHINA THROUGH
CURRENCY MANIPULATION AND DIRECT
SUBSIDIES TO EXPORTS IS BREAKING
EVERY KEY ASPECT OF THE W.T.O.
FRAMEWORK WITH HARDLY A PROTEST
FROM THE UNITED STATES?
WELL, NOW WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR A
WILL NO
LONGER TURN OUR HEAD FROM THE
DELIBERATE DISTORTION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL TRADING REGIME
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT
BOTH NATIONS BUT IN FACT HAS
BECOME A POWERFUL INTERNATIONAL
TOOL, STEALING JOBS FROM THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
UNDERMINING THE SUCCESS OF THE
AMERICAN WORKER.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT PAPER.
JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, BLUE
HERON -- WHICH IS A COMPANY
THAT'S OPERATED FOR NEARLY A
CENTURY IN OREGON -- THIS
COMPANY SHUT DOWN.
IT'S A PAPER COMPANY.
NOW, THEY SHUT DOWN FOR ONE
SIMPLE REASON -- BECAUSE THE
CHINESE CURRENCY MANIPULATION
AND THE CHINESE DIRECT SUBSIDIES
TO THOSE WHO MANUFACTURE PAPER
FOR EXPORT IN CHINA COMPLETELY
UNDERMINED THE MARKET FOR
MANUFACTURERS IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
SO THEIR LIVES ARE DESTROYED.
YOU KNOW, THE WORKERS OWN BLUE
HERON, AND WHEN THEY GOT THE
NOTICE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO
HAVE TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF
THESE CHINESE SUBSIDIES AND
CHINESE CURRENCY MANIPULATIONS,
THEY BASICALLY ARE COMPLETELY ON
THE STREET.
NO HEALTH CARE AFTER THE FRIDAY
THAT THEY WERE SHUTTING DOWN.
NO SEVERANCE PAYMENT.
INDEED, THEY ARE STARTING FROM
SCRATCH, WORKERS 40, 50 YEARS
OLD STARTING FROM SCRATCH IN AN
ECONOMY WHERE THERE ARE NO JOBS
TO BE FOUND.
THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
PAPER COMPANIES ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVE
BEEN SHUTTING DOWN FOR EXACTLY
THE SAME REASONS.
OR LET'S TAKE THE CASE OF WIND
TURBINES.
WIND TURBINES THAT ARE IMPORTED
INTO CHINA ARE SUBJECT TO A 10%
TARIFF, WHILE WIND TURBINES
IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ARE
SUGGEST TO ONLY A 2.5% TARIFF.
WHY DO WE ON TOP OF EVERYTHING
ELSE THAT I'VE NOTED HERE ADD TO
THE INJURY BY PUTTING A LOWER
TARIFF ON THEIR IMPORTS THAN
THEY PUT ON OURS?
CAN SOMEONE IN THIS CHAMBER
EXPLAIN TO ME WHY SHUTTING DOWN
MANUFACTURING IN THE U.S. AND
OPENING MANUFACTURING IN CHINA
BY PILING ON LOWER TARIFFS ON A
COUNTRY THAT IS ALREADY
SUBSIDIZING ITS EXPORTS, ALREADY
PUTTING A TARIFF ON OURS, MAKES
ANY SENSE.
I CERTAINLY WOULD BE VERY
INTERESTED IN THAT EXPLANATION,
AND I THINK THE WORKERS IN THE
CITY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE
MANUFACTURING THESE WIND
TURBINES HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED
IN THE EXPLANATION.
CHINA DOESN'T GIVE OUR WIND
TURBINES A FAIR CHANCE TO BE
USED IN THEIR ENERGY PRODUCTS.
IN 2009, AND I VOTE, ALL
MULTINATIONAL FIRMS BIDDING ON
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM
COMMISSION PROJECTS -- THOSE ARE
THE CHINESE PROJECTS, WERE
QUICKLY DISQUALIFIED ON
TECHNICAL GROUNDS WITHIN THREE
DAYS.
IN OTHER WORDS, A NONTARIFF
BARRIER IN CHINA WAS ADDED ON
TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE TO MAKE
SURE THAT ONLY CHINESE
MANUFACTURERS WOULD HAVE A
CHANCE TO GET THE CONTRACTS.
LET'S TURN TO SOLAR, SOLAR
VOLTAIC PANELS.
THE WHOLE TECHNOLOGY INVENTED IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
BUT YOU WILL SEE NOW THAT OVER
THE LAST THREE YEARS, TREMENDOUS
SUBSIDIES TO SOLAR IN CHINA ARE
DESTROYING THE AMERICAN
INDUSTRY.
ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING
IS SOLAR WORLD.
IT'S LOCATED IN MY STATE, THE
STATE OF OREGON.
BUT IN A SPAN OF LESS THAN TEN
MONTHS IN 2009 AND 2010, THREE
MAJOR MANUFACTURERS SHUT DOWN,
DESTROYING HUNDREDS OF JOBS,
JOBS THAT WON'T BE RESTORED.
EFFICIENT.
SOLAR WORLD IS INCREDIBLY
THEY'RE WORKING WITH AN AMERICAN
TECHNOLOGY.
WE SHOULD BE BUILDING AND
SELLING THESE SOLAR PANELS TO
THE WORLD, BUT WE AREN'T GOING
TO BE ABLE TO DO SO IF CHINA,
USING THEIR MANIPULATED INTEREST
RATES TO PRODUCE FUNDS FOR
GRANTS AND SUBSIDIZED LOANS, ARE
VIRTUALLY PAYING FOLKS TO SHIFT
THEIR MANUFACTURING INTO CHINA
AND DISCRIMINATING AGAINST
AMERICAN PRODUCTS.
I WANT SOLAR WORLD TO BE THERE,
JUST NOT NEXT YEAR BUT TEN YEARS
FROM NOW, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, AND
THAT WON'T HAPPEN IF WE DON'T
ADDRESS THIS MASSIVE ASSAULT ON
AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.
NOW, BECAUSE CHINA HAS FAILED TO
DISCLOSE ITS SUBSIDIES AS
REQUIRED UNDER W.T.O., I
PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE
BILL, AN AMENDMENT THAT WILL NOW
NOT BE HEARD BECAUSE A DEAL
CANNOT BE WORKED OUT TO ALLOW
AMENDMENTS ON THIS BILL, AND I'M
VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.
THIS AMENDMENT SAYS SIMPLY THAT
IF CHINA OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN
THE W.T.O. FAILS TO DO THE
NOTIFICATION OF SUBSIDIES
REQUIRED, THAT OUR U.S. TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE WILL DO A
COUNTERNOTIFICATION PUTTING
THOSE SUBSIDIES ON THE TABLE.
WE CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT
THEY ARE AND WE CAN BE PART OF
THIS DEBATE.
IT'S THE BEGINNING OF HOLDING
CHINA ACCOUNTABLE FOR BREAKING
THE W.T.O. RULES.
NOW, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRATIC
AMENDMENT, THIS IS NOT A
REPUBLICAN AMENDMENT.
THIS IS AN AMENDMENT ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IN
AMERICA, THE FUTURE OF THE
WORKER IN AMERICA.
I'M PLEASED TO HAVE SENATOR ENZI
AS MY CHIEF COSPONSOR AND
ADDITIONAL COLLEAGUES FROM
ACROSS THE AISLE, SENATOR
BARRASSO, SENATOR SNOWE.
AND I'M PLEASED ON THIS SIDE OF
THE AISLE TO HAVE SENATOR NELSON
AND SENATOR SCHUMER AND SENATOR
LEVIN AS COSPONSORS.
THAT PRETTY MUCH SPANS A
SPECTRUM OF OPINION IN THIS
CHAMBER THAT EVERYONE CAN AGREE
THAT CHINA SHOULD BE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE, AND IF THEY ARE
SUBSIDIZING THEIR MANUFACTURING,
WHICH THEY ARE, THEY HAVE TO
IT, WHICH THEY AREN'T,
AND THAT WE CAN HAVE A BETTER
DEBATE ABOUT HOW TO END THEIR
RULE BREAKING UNDER W.T.O. IF WE
HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO NOTE
THAT THIS DEBATE SHOULD HAVE
HAPPENED A DECADE AGO, SHOULD
HAVE HAPPENED FIVE YEARS AGO,
BECAUSE OVER THAT TIME SPAN, WE
HAVE CONTINUED TO HEMORRHAGE
JOBS, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HOPE
THAT CHINA WOULD APPLY THE RULE
OF LAW ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HOPE THAT
THEY WOULD END THEIR
MANIPULATION OF THEIR CURRENCY.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO HOPE THAT
THEY WOULD END THEIR ILLEGAL
SUBSIDIES UNDERMINING AMERICAN
PRODUCTS.
WHILE THOSE HOPES HAVE NOT BEEN
REALIZED, CHINA HAS NOT CHOSEN
TO HONOR THE FRAMEWORK THAT WAS
ESTABLISHED, AND WHILE WE HOPE
AMERICAN WORKERS ARE LOSING
THEIR JOBS, AND THAT'S WHY WE
HAVE TO HAVE THIS DEBATE ON THE
FLOOR.
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL BEFORE US
MUST BE PASSED TO GIVE THE
PRESIDENT GREATER LEVERAGE AND
TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CHINA THAT
WE ARE NOW FULLY PAYING
ATTENTION AT A LEVEL WE SHOULD
HAVE A DECADE AGO, BUT THAT'S
WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE.
WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION NOW.
AND IF ANYONE CARES ABOUT HAVING
AMERICA WITH A MIDDLE CLASS,
WITH LIVING WAGES FOR WORKERS,
THEN I ASK YOU TO FULLY SUPPORT
THIS BILL.
THE TRADE WAR THAT CHINA HAS
BEEN CARRYING OUT DECIMATING
MANUFACTURING IN OUR NATION MUST
NOT GO WITHOUT FULL DEBATE AND A
FULL RESPONSE.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT I BE RECOGNIZED TO
SPEAK AS IF IN MORNING BUSINESS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.