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BE FCC'S NEW BROADBAND POLICY.
THE HOUSE IS LIVE ON C-SPAN.
NOW LIVE TO THE SENATE HERE ON
LET US PRAY.
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, HOW GREAT AND
WONDERFUL ARE YOUR DEEDS.
BLESS TODAY THE MANY PEOPLE WHO
HELP OUR SENATORS DO THEIR WORK.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MANY
MEMBERS OF THEIR STAFFS WHO HELP
THEM SUCCEED.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR PAGES AND
THE SIGNIFICANT WORK THEY DO.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO
WORK WITHOUT FANFARE TO KEEP THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS GOING.
KEEP THESE FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF
FREEDOM FROM GROWING WEARY IN
THEIR LABORS.
REMIND THEM THAT THEIR HARVEST
SEASON WILL COME.
MAY THEY NEVER FORGET THAT
FAITHFULNESS IS MORE IMPORTANT
TO YOU THAN SUCCESS.
GUIDE THEM WITH THE LIGHT OF
YOUR TRUTH UNTIL ONE DAY THEY
WILL EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF
HEARING YOU SAY, "WELL DONE."
WE PRAY IN YOUR GREAT NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
OF ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON D.C.,
APRILL 5, 2011.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
APPOINT
THE HONORABLE JEANNE SHAHEEN,
A SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE
CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER REMARKS
THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL
11:00 A.M. WITH REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
FINAL HALF.
SENATE WILL PROCEED TO
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4, 1099
REPEAL, WITH ONE HOUR OF DEBATE.
SENATORS SHOULD EXPECT TWO ROLL
CALL VOTES AROUND NOON ON THE
MENENDEZ AMENDMENT AND PASSAGE
OF H.R. 4 AS AMENDED, IF
AMENDED.
WE WILL RECESS FOLLOWING THE
VOTES UNTIL 2:15 P.M. FOR THE
WEEKLY CAUCUS MEETINGS.
WE'RE WORKING TO REACH AN
AGREEMENT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS
BILL, AND WE'LL NOTIFY SENATORS
WHEN ADDITIONAL VOTES ARE
SCHEDULED.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M STANDING IN
THIS MORNING FOR THE MAJORITY
LEADER REID WHO HAS BEEN CALLED
TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR A MEETING
WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE
LEADERSHIP, THE SPEAKER AND
REPRESENTATIVES.
THE OBJECT OF THIS IS OBVIOUSLY
TO AVERT A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
I LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THE
PRAYER FROM THE CHAPLAIN THIS
MORNING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL NEED
DIVINE INSPIRATION OR DIVINE
INTERJECTION INTO THIS MATTER.
BUT WHATEVER IT MIGHT TAKE, I
HOPE THE PEOPLE OF GOODWILL CAN
COME TO AN AGREEMENT.
WE'RE CLOSE.
I DON'T THINK IT IS GOOD FOR US
AS A GOVERNMENT OR AS A NATION
TO SEE A SHUTDOWN OF BASIC
SERVICES THAT MAY INCONVENIENCE
AND CAUSE HARDSHIP ACROSS
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
MADAM PRESIDENT, TODAY THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN PAUL RYAN
A
QUORUM CALL IS IN PROCESS.
I ASK CONSENT
THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, TODAY THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN PAUL
RYAN, IS RELEASING A SERIOUS
DETAILED PLAN FOR GETTING OUR
NATION'S FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER.
CONGRESSMAN RYAN'S PLAN WOULD
PUT US ON A PATH TO REDUCING THE
IT WOULD STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL
SAFETY NET SO THAT WE CAN KEEP
THE PROMISES WE'VE MADE TO
AMERICA'S SENIORS.
IT WILL PROPOSE A WAY FOR
WASHINGTON TO START LIVING
WITHIN ITS MEANS.
AND IT WILL REPEAL LAST YEAR'S
HEALTH CARE LAW WHICH RAISED
HEALTH CARE COSTS, LEAD TO FEWER
REJECTED.
CONGRESSMAN RYAN IS PRESENTING A
PLAN, IN OTHER WORDS, TO ADDRESS
OUR MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS HEAD
ON AT A MOMENT WHEN THE
PRESIDENT AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS SIMPLY REFUSE TO DO SO
THEMSELVES.
HE'S DOING WHAT HIS CONSTITUENTS
HAVE SENT HIM HERE TO DO.
ANYBODY CAN SAY THAT OUR
NATION'S PROBLEMS NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED, BUT HISTORY WILL SHOW
THAT CHAIRMAN RYAN IS ONE OF
THOSE WHO ACTUALLY STEPPED UP TO
DO IT.
AND HE SHOULD BE APPLAUDED FOR
THAT BY PEOPLE OF GOODWILL ON
BOTH SIDES.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE ALREADY KNOW
HOW MANY DEMOCRATS INTEND TO
RESPOND TO THIS PLAN.
WE'VE HEARD THE SPIN ALREADY.
IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY SOLUTIONS
OF THEIR OWN TO A LOOMING
ENTITLEMENT FIASCO AND THE
TESTIMONY OF COUNTLESS EXPERTS
ON THE FISCAL PERIL WE FACE,
DEMOCRATS INTEND TO USE
CONGRESSMAN RYAN'S PLAN AGAINST
THE FACTS.
THEY'LL TRY TO SCARE THE PUBLIC
BY CLAIMING IT SAYS THINGS THAT
IT DOESN'T.
THEY'LL SQUANDER THE GOLDEN
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE RIGHT NOW TO
TACKLE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE
FACE IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, THE
WAY OUR PREDECESSORS DID WHEN
THE TWO PARTIES SHARED POWER IN
WASHINGTON, ALL IN THE NAME OF
HAVING AN EDGE -- AN EDGE -- IN
THE NEXT ELECTION.
FRANKLY, IT'S SHAMEFUL.
AMERICANS WOULD LIKE THEIR
PRESIDENT AND SENATORS AND
CONGRESSMEN TO LEAD.
THEY DON'T EXPECT TO US AGREE ON
EVERYTHING BUT THEY EXPECT US TO
WORK TOGETHER WHEN A PROBLEM
BECOMES SO PRESSING THAT
COOPERATION ACROSS PARTY LINES
IS REQUIRED.
NOW IS SUCH A MOMENT.
THE DEBT IS AT CRISIS LEVELS,
POSING A THREAT NOT JUST TO
BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES PLANNING
FOR THE FUTURE, BUT TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY.
SINCE THE PRESIDENT HAS TAKEN
OFFICE, NEARLY THREE MILLION
AMERICANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.
AS A RESULT OF THE ONGOING
HOUSING CRISIS, MILLIONS OF
HOMEOWNERS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER
WATER ON THEIR MORTGAGES.
THE ONLY INDUSTRY THAT SEEMS TO
BE GROWING IS GOVERNMENT, AND
THE ONLY CITY THAT SEEMS TO BE
ISOLATED FROM PROBLEMS MOST
AMERICANS FACE RIGHT NOW IS
WASHINGTON.
ALL AT TAXPAYERS' EXPENSE.
THE BUDGET DEBATE WE'VE BEEN
ENGAGED IN IN THE PAST SEVERAL
WEEKS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE
FACT THAT DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS
FAILED TO PASS ONE OF THEIR OWN
FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
REPUBLICANS HAD TO STEP IN AND
DO IT FOR THEM.
AND NOW SIX MONTHS INTO THE
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, THE
PRESIDENT AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS
IN CONGRESS STILL HAVE YET TO
PRODUCE A PLAN OF THEIR OWN.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE PRODUCED
MULTIPLE PLANS, INCLUDING ONE
THAT THEY'LL OFFER TODAY WHICH
FUNDS OUR TROOPS THROUGH THE END
OF THE YEAR, KEEPS THE
GOVERNMENT RUNNING AND GETS US
ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE LEVEL OF
SPENDING CUTS THAT EVEN THE
SENIOR SENATOR FROM NEW YORK HAS
DESCRIBED AS REASONABLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, DEMOCRATS WOULD
RATHER TAKE POT SHOTS AT THESE
PROPOSALS FROM THE SIDELINES
HOPING THAT THEY BECOME
UNPOPULAR WITH THE PUBLIC SO
THEY CAN BENEFIT POLITICALLY.
THEY HAVE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY
ADVOCATED THEIR -- ABDICATED
THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO I'D LIKE TO APPLAUD
CONGRESSMAN RYAN NOT ONLY FOR
THE ENERGY AND CREATIVITY AND
SERIOUSNESS WHICH HE'S BROUGHT
TO THESE ISSUES, BUT ALSO FOR
HIS COURAGE AND DOING SO AT A
TIME WHEN DEMOCRATS IN
WASHINGTON WOULD RATHER SIT ON
THEIR HANDS.
BY STEPPING FORWARD, HE'S FORCED
A MUCH-NEEDED DEBATE ABOUT THE
MANY CRISES OF THE MOMENT.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT OUR FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE RECOGNIZE THIS
EFFORT FOR WHAT IT IS: A SERIOUS
GOODWILL EFFORT TO DO SOMETHING
GOOD AND NECESSARY FOR THE
FUTURE OF OUR NATION.
AND THAT FOR THE GOOD OF THE
NATION THEY'LL JOIN IN IN THIS
EFFORT AT SOME POINT BEFORE IT'S
TOO LATE.
NOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, ON ANOTHER
MATTER, AS I'VE TRAVELED ACROSS
KENTUCKY OVER THE PAST YEAR,
I'VE HEARD FROM COUNTLESS SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS WHO TOLD ME HOW
BURDENSOME THE SO-CALLED 1099
PROVISION IN THE DEMOCRATS'
HEALTH CARE BILL WOULD BE TO
IMPLEMENT AND HOW IT COULD
HAMPER THEIR ABILITY TO CREATE
GOOD PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS.
I HOPE THEY'RE TUNING IN TO THE
SENATE FLOOR TODAY SO THEY CAN
WATCH THE VOTE ON ITS REPEAL.
THIS HAS BEEN A HARD-FOUGHT
EFFORT, AND ALL OF THE CREDIT
SHOULD GO TO THE JUNIOR SENATOR
FROM NEBRASKA, MY GOOD FRIEND,
SENATOR MIKE JOHANNS.
HE HAS LED THIS FIGHT ON BEHALF
OF THE COUNTLESS ENTREPRENEURS
AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY WHO RAISED THE ALARM
ON THIS ISSUE.
SO THIS IS A BIG WIN FOR SMALL
BUSINESS.
IMPORTANTLY, IT'S ALSO THE FIRST
OF WHAT I HOPE ARE MANY
SUCCESSFUL REPEAL VOTES RELATED
TO THE DISASTROUS HEALTH
SPENDING BILL THE DEMOCRATS
THE MORE AMERICANS LEARN ABOUT
THIS BILL THE LESS THEY LIKE IT.
WE HOPE WE CAN RESPOND TO THEIR
CONCERNS WITH MANY REPEAL VOTES
LIKE THE ONE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
THIS MORNING RIGHT HERE IN
THEN WE WILL REPLACE IT WITH THE
KIND OF COMMONSENSE REFORMS THAT
WILL ACTUALLY LOWER COSTS AND
ENCOURAGE JOB CREATION.
ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO THANK
SENATOR JOHANNS FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP AND HARD WORK ON
REPEALING THIS ONEROUS
PROVISION.
THIS IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A
SENATOR WHO LIST TOPBD HIS
CONSTITUENTS -- LISTENED TO HIS
CONSTITUENTS, DEVELOPED A
SOLUTION, WON THE SUPPORT OF HIS
COLLEAGUES AND DOGGEDLY PURSUED
A COURSE OF ACTION THAT LED TO
TODAY'S VOTE.
AMERICA'S SPWEUGSS CAN THANK --
AMERICA'S SMALL BUSINESSES CAN
THANK SENATOR JOHANNS FOR
PUSHING THIS INITIATIVE ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE AND I CALL ON
THE PRESIDENT TO SIGN IT INTO
LAW.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
MORNING BUSINESS UP TO
PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN
MINUTES EACH WITH THE TIME
EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED
BETWEEN THE LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES, WITH THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
FINAL HALF.
THE SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AMERICA'S
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM IS
CONTROL.
WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT WE
DESPERATELY NEED TO BETTER
PROTECT OUR BORDERS, ENSURE THAT
ONLY CITIZENS AND LEGAL
RESIDENTS CAN BE HIRED FOR JOBS
IN THIS COUNTRY AND REVERSE
MISGUIDED POLICIES THAT SERVE AS
IMMIGRATION.
TODAY I'M INTRODUCING A BILL
THAT FALLS INTO THAT THIRD
CATEGORY, TO GET RID OF THESE
MAGNETS THAT ENCOURAGE FURTHER
ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
THE BILL WOULD AMEND THE
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALIZATION
ACT IN ORDER TO CHANGE OUR
CURRENT PRACTICE OF GRANTING
AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP TO THE
CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL ALIENS BORN
ON AMERICAN SOIL.
WHEN IT COMES TO U.S.
CITIZENSHIP, IT'S NOT JUST WHERE
MATTERS.
AT LEAST IT SHOULDN'T BE.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF A PERSON'S
BIRTH AND THE NATIONALITY OF HIS
OR HER PARENTS ARE OF AT LEAST
AND I SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT
OUR CONSTITUTION CONFERS
CITIZENSHIP ON CHILDREN WHO
HAPPEN TO BE BORN ON U.S. SOIL
WHEN BOTH OF THEIR PARENTS ARE
FOREIGN TOURISTS OR ILLEGAL
THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT
MANDATE OR REQUIRE THAT.
AND YET, THAT'S OUR POLICY.
EACH YEAR 300,000 TO 400,000
CHILDREN ARE BORN IN THE UNITED
STATES TO AT LEAST ONE PARENT
WHO IS AN ILLEGAL ALIEN OR A
FOREIGN TOURIST.
A SIGNIFICANT SUBSET OF THAT
NUMBER INCLUDES CHILDREN BORN TO
TWO PARENTS WHO ARE NOT U.S.
CITIZENS, THAT CATEGORY THAT MY
BILL ATTACKS.
DESPITE THE ILLEGAL STATUS OF
FOREIGN CITIZENSHIP OF THE
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH,
OUR GOVERNMENT, NOW
AUTOMATICALLY RECOGNIZES THESE
CHILDREN AS U.S. CITIZENS UPON
NOW, THIS PRACTICE IS NOT
MANDATED BY FEDERAL LAW OR THE
CONSTITUTION.
IT'S BASED ON WHAT I BELIEVE IS
A FUNDAMENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING
OF THE 14th AMENDMENT OF OUR
AND AS SUCH, THIS POLICY IS
INCOMPATIBLE WITH BOTH THE TAX
AND LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE
CITIZENSHIP CLAUSE.
I DON'T THINK THE 14th
AMENDMENT GRANTS THIS BIRTHRIGHT
CITIZENSHIP TO CHILDREN OF
ILLEGAL ALIENS.
IN FACT, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
LOOK AT HISTORY AND THE ACTUAL
TEXT OF THE CONSTITUTION AS OUR
THE 14th AMENDMENT DOESN'T SAY
THAT ALL PERSONS BORN IN THE
U.S. ARE CITIZENS, PERIOD, END
OF STORY.
IT STATES THAT CITIZENSHIP
EXTENDS TO -- QUOTE -- "ALL
PERSONS BORN OR NATURALIZED IN
THE UNITED STATES, AND SUBJECT
TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF."
CLOSE QUOTE.
NOW, THIS LATTER PHRASE IS
IT'S CONVENIENTLY IGNORED OR
MISCONSTRUED BY ADVOCATES OF
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, BUT OF
COURSE A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE IN
TERMS OF CONSTITUTIONAL
INTERPRETATION IS THAT WORDS ARE
ASSUMED TO BE THERE FOR A
PURPOSE, AND IF THOSE WORDS HAD
NO MEANING, HAD NO IMPACT, THEN
THE FOUNDERS WOULD NOT HAVE
WRITTEN THEM IN TO THAT PART OF
THE CONSTITUTION.
ITS ORIGINAL MEANING REFERS TO
THE POLITICAL ALLEGIANCE OF AN
INDIVIDUAL, AND THE JURISDICTION
THAT A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT HAS
OVER THAT PERSON.
THAT'S WHY AMERICAN INDIANS AND
THEIR CHILDREN DIDN'T BECOME
CITIZENS UNTIL CONGRESS ACTUALLY
PASSED THE INDIAN CITIZENSHIP
ACT OF 1924.
I'M INTRODUCING TODAY'S
LEGISLATION BECAUSE IT'S
APPARENT THAT CONGRESS MUST
REASSERT ITS PLENARY AUTHORITY
OVER NATURALIZATION AND MAKE
CLEAR THAT -- QUOTE -- "SUBJECT
TO THE JURISDICTION THEREOF"
CLOSE QUOTE -- DOES NOT INCLUDE
CHILDREN BORN IN THIS COUNTRY TO
ILLEGAL ALIENS OR FOREIGN
TOURISTS.
THOSE PARENTS ARE CLEARLY
SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF
FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.
MY BILL LIMITS BIRTHRIGHT
CITIZENSHIP TO INDIVIDUALS BORN
IN THE UNITED STATES TO AT LEAST
ONE PARENT WHO IS A LEGAL
CITIZEN, A GREEN CARD HOLDER OR
AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE UNITED
STATES ARMED FORCES.
CONGRESS CLEARLY HAS THE POWER
TO DETERMINE THAT CHILDREN BORN
IN THE U.S. TO ILLEGAL ALIENS
ARE NOT SUBJECT TO AMERICAN
JURISDICTION.
AS JUDGE RICHARD POSNER OF THE
SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
HELD IN A 2003 CASE, -- QUOTE --
"CONGRESS WOULD NOT BE FLOUTING
THE CONSTITUTION IF AMENDEDDED
THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY
ACT TO PUT AN END TO THIS
NONSENSE."
CLOSE QUOTE.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT MY BILL
WOULD DO, PUT AN END TO THIS
NONSENSE.
CLOSING THIS LOOPHOLE WILL NOT
PREVENT ANYONE FROM BECOMING A
NATURALIZED CITIZEN.
INSTEAD, IT WILL ENSURE THAT HE
OR SHE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE
SAME PROCESS AS ANYONE ELSE BORN
OF FOREIGN NATIONAL PARENTS WHO
WANTS TO BECOME A UNITED STATES
NOW, OUR PRACTICE OF BIRTHRIGHT
CITIZENSHIP IS CLEARLY AN
INCENTIVE TO ILLEGAL
IMMIGRATION, AND IT REALLY DOES
A DISSERVICE TO EVERY WOULD-BE
CITIZEN WHO IS ACTUALLY
FOLLOWING THE RULES, APPLYING TO
BE NATURALIZED.
STANDING IN LINE OFTEN FOR A
VERY LONG TIME.
THIS MISGUIDED POLICY OF
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP NOT ONLY
UNDERMINES THE STABILITY OF OUR
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, BUT IT HAS
SEVERE FISCAL CONSEQUENCES AS
WELL AS SERIOUS NATIONAL
SECURITY IMPLICATIONS.
RECENT NEWS REPORTS OF -- HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED THE GROWING
POPULARITY OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS
-- QUOTE -- "BIRTH TOURISM."
CLOSE QUOTE.
WEBSITES ACTUALLY ADVERTISE
BIRTH PACKAGES FOR FOREIGN
VISITORS SO THAT PREGNANT WOMEN
CAN GIVE BIRTH IN THE UNITED
STATES AND ENSURE AUTOMATIC
CITIZENSHIP UNDER CURRENT
PRACTICE FOR THEIR NEWBORN
CHILDREN.
AND, OF COURSE, WITH THAT
AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP COMES THE
FULL BENEFITS THEREOF, INCLUDING
UNLIMITED TRAVEL TO THE U.S.,
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS AND THE
ABILITY TO SETTLE HERE AS AN
ADULT, AND EVENTUALLY DOWN THE
LINE, THE ABILITY TO GRAB BACK
THE PARENTS AND GET THEM INTO
U.S. CITIZENSHIP.
ONE SUCH AGENCY THAT APPEALS TO
FOREIGN MOTHERS-TO-BE BY
DESCRIBING THE BENEFITS OF
AMERICAN-BORN CHILDREN, POINTING
OUT THAT A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT
IN A BIRTH PACKAGE WILL RESULT
IN A LIFETIME OF BENEFITS FOR
THEIR FAMILY, WAS IN THE NEWS
RECENTLY, AND SPECIFICALLY IT
SAYS YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE
TO ATTEND U.S. PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS AND THAT THEY MAY APPLY
FOR SCHOLARSHIPS DESIGNATED FOR
U.S. CITIZENS, AND THEY'RE
ENTITLED TO WELFARE BENEFITS.
ALL OF THIS EXPLICITLY SPELLED
OUT IN THE ADVERTISING FOR THIS
AGENCY.
JUST LAST MONTH, AUTHORITIES IN
CALIFORNIA SHUT DOWN A
MAKE-SHIFT MATERNITY CLINIC
AFTER DISCOVERING 10 NEWBORNS
AND A DOZEN CHINESE WOMEN WHO
PAID AS MUCH AS $35,000 TO
TRAVEL TO THIS COUNTRY TO GIVE
BIRTH TO CHILDREN WHO WOULD
AUTOMATICALLY BE RECOGNIZED AS
U.S. CITIZENS.
NOW, BIRTH TOURISM, AS AMAZING
AS THIS IS, IS NOT A NEW
PHENOMENON, AS WOMEN FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES HAVE LONG TRAVELED TO
THE U.S. LOCALLY ON TOURIST OR
STUDENT VISAS AND GIVEN BIRTH
WHILE HERE.
HOWEVER, RECENT REPORTS INDICATE
THAT THE PRACTICE HAS ESCALATED.
A NEW REPORT BY THE CENTER FOR
IMMIGRATION STUDIES FINDS THAT
EVERY YEAR, 200,000 CHILDREN ARE
BORN TO WOMEN WHO WERE LAWFULLY
ADMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES ON
A TEMPORARY BASIS.
EACH OF THESE CHILDREN RECEIVE
U.S. CITIZENSHIP, DESPITE THEIR
MOTHER'S ALLEGIANCE TO A
DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND EVEN IF
THE FATHER IS NOT A U.S.
CITIZEN.
BIRTH TOURISM IS CERTAINLY A
REPREHENSIBLE PRACTICE, BUT IT'S
NOT AN ILLEGAL ONE.
IT'S ASTOUNDING THAT THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO
EXPLOIT THE LOOPHOLES OF OUR
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IN THIS
MANNER, AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
CONGRESS HAS THE AUTHORITY AND
THE OBLIGATION TO PUT AN END TO
IN ADDITION TO THIS BIRTH
TOURISM -- AND BY THAT, I REFER
TO FOCUSING ON TOURISTS HERE
LEGALLY UNDER A TOURIST VISA --
OF COURSE, THERE ARE TENS OR
CHILDREN BORN IN THIS COUNTRY TO
TWO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PARENTS,
AND THOSE CHILDREN UNDER THE
SAME PRACTICE AUTOMATICALLY
BECOME U.S. CITIZENS.
AND THIS, TOO, IS A VERY
DANGEROUS PRACTICE, A MAGNET TO
ATTRACT MORE AND MORE ILLEGAL
ACTIVITY ACROSS THE BORDER WHEN
WE SAY WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING
TO STOP THAT.
WELL, CERTAINLY, IF WE TRULY
WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO
STOP THAT, WE NEED TO UNPLUG
THOSE MAGNETS.
STOP THAT POLICY FROM ATTRACTING
MORE AND MORE ILLEGAL CROSSINGS
ACROSS THE BORDER.
THE
SENATOR HAS REACHED HIS
10-MINUTE LIMIT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IF
I COULD ASK FOR 30 ADDITIONAL
SECONDS?
I OBJECT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WAS SCHEDULED
FOR 10 MINUTES IMMEDIATELY
LOUISIANA.
IF HE WOULD AMEND HIS U.C. TO
INCLUDE MY 10 MINUTES, FULL
MINUTES FOLLOWING HIM, I WOULD
NOT OBJECT.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO
DO THAT.
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
SO I INTRODUCE THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION TODAY, AND I THANK
SENATORS PAUL AND LEE AND MORAN
FOR JOINING ME IN ADDRESSING
THIS CRITICAL ISSUE.
I INVITE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE TO JOIN ME IN DOING THIS.
AND I -- I YIELD THE FLOOR,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
THE DISASTER, THE THINGS THAT
ARE TAKING PLACE AND THE LOSS OF
LIVES IN LIBYA AND MANY OTHER
PLACES, PARTICULARLY THE LAST
FEW MONTHS, WITH YOU GOING
SEEMINGLY UNNOTICED IS PROBABLY
JUST AS GREAT A DISASTER THAT'S
HAPPENING IN COAT DID A -- COTE
D'AVOIR AS WE SPEAK.
THE INCOUPLE DENT PRESIDENT
GBAGBO WAS CLAIMED BY QUATTARA.
HE COMES FROM THE NORTH, THE
MUSLIM AREA UP THERE.
WE FOUND SO MUCH VOTER FRAUD
THAT WE IDENTIFIED, WE
SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT ON THE
SENATE FLOOR THAT I HAVE ASKED
SECRETARY CLINTON BY LETTER
TWICE TO INTERVENE AND DEMAND A
NEW ELECTION.
WHEN I SAY VOTER FRAUD, I
ENTERED THIS IN THE RECORD
YESTERDAY, SO I WON'T DO IT
AGAIN TODAY, BUT THIS SHOWS HOW
THEY MISCALCULATED ALL THOSE
VOTES UP IN THE NORTH.
IN JUST ONE PRECINCT, A THOUSAND
VOTES.
WELL, ACTUALLY, 94,873.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, IF WE HAVE
100,000 OR SO VOTES IN ONE
WAY.
USE LOGIC.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, STOP AND
THINK ABOUT THIS.
HOW COULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT IN
THE NORTHERN PART OF COTE
D'IVOIRE, THAT WHEN THEY HAD THE
ELECTION, WHAT WE WOULD CALL THE
PRIMARY ELECTION, PRESIDENT
GBAGBO GOT THOUSANDS, THOUSANDS
OF VOTES IN EACH ONE OF THE
PRECINCTS, AND YET WHEN THE
RUNOFF CAME, HE GOT ZERO.
THAT IS A STATISTICAL
IMPOSSIBILITY, AND I THINK FOR
THOSE OF US -- CERTAINLY THE
UNITED STATES THOUGHT THE U.N.
AND PERHAPS FRANCE WAS ACCURATE
IN THEIR INITIAL RESPONSE TO
THIS THING THAT WE WERE GOING TO
HAVE TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND FINISH WHAT
I MENTIONED YESTERDAY.
IN THE TOWN OF DUEKOUE, WITH A
QUATTARA'S FORCES ALONG WITH THE
FRENCH WENT IN THERE AND
PEOPLE.
WE GET THE REPORTS FROM THE RED
CROSS AND FROM OTHER SOURCES,
BUT WHEN QUATTARA HAS TRIED TO
DENY HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE
SLAUGHTER, HIS FORCES TOOK THE
TOWN EARLIER, AND THIS IS A WEEK
GONE.
AND I THINK WE COULD JUST LOOK
AT THE DEPUTY HEAD OF THE UNITED
NATIONS MISSION IN COTE
D'IVOIRE, HE SAID THAT
QUATTARA'S FORCES HAD CARRIED
OUT THE KILLINGS IN DUEKOUE.
-- QUOTE -- "WE HAVE EVIDENCE,
WE HAVE PICTURES, THIS WAS
RETALIATION."
AND SO WE HAVE ALL THIS EVIDENCE
THAT I MENTIONED YESTERDAY WAS A
PART OF IT.
I READ YESTERDAY FROM "THE GUARD
RAN," THE BRITISH GUARDIAN, THE
U.S. MISSION HAS TARA DICIALS
HUNTERS FOUGHT ALONGSIDE
QUATTARA'S FORCES AND TOOK PART
IN KILLING 330 PEOPLE IN THE
WESTERN TOWN OF DUEKOUE WHICH WE
PEOPLE.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF
RED CROSS SAID AT LEAST 800
IT GOES ON AND ON, WHICH I MADE
A PART OF THE RECORD YESTERDAY.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE
BBC YESTERDAY.
KEEP IN MIND NOW, THEY HAVE IN
DUEKOUE, THEY MURDERED ALL THESE
PEOPLE, THEY HAVE MASS GRAVES.
PEOPLE ARE CHARRED AND BURNED.
I WILL QUOTE RIGHT NOW.
HOLD YOUR STOMACHS."
I SPOT FOUR PIGS EATING
SOMETHING DARK AND CHARRED IN
THE COURTYARD, STANDING BY A
NEWLY DUG MASS GRAVE.
A U.N. SOLDIER FROM MOROCCO IS
CHOKING WITH RAGE AND GRIEF.
I ASK HIM IF THE DEAD ARE
HE NODS AND BEGINS TO SOB
QUIETLY INTO HIS FACEMASK."
SO WE KNOW OF THIS DISASTER THAT
IS TAKING PLACE, AND HERE WE DO
NOTHING, AND WE KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND I JUST WOULD SAY AMERICA,
WAKE UP.
THE MASSACRE COULD HAVE BEEN
AVOIDED IF QUATTARA HAD ACCEPTED
THE MEDIATION EFFORT FROM THE
PRESIDENT GBAGBO DID ACCEPT,
QUATTARA DID NOT, AND HE
REJECTED IT, AND I THINK WE KNOW
WHY HE REJECTED IT.
BECAUSE HE WANTS THAT POWER, HE
WANTS THAT JOB.
WELL, ANYWAY, WHERE WE ARE
NOW -- AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO
GET THIS ALL IN -- THE UNITED
STATES I THINK SHOULD CALL FOR
THE CEASE-FIRE AND FOR A NEW
ELECTION.
I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD WITHIN THE
LAST DAY THAT THE UNITED NATIONS
HELICOPTERS, U.S. PEACEKEEPING
HELICOPTERS ARE FIRING UPON
GBAGBO'S MILITARY CAMP.
LASTLY, I HAVE SENT A LETTER TO
THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
CHAIRMAN JOHN KERRY.
LET ME APPLAUD JOHN KERRY.
HE HAS AGREED TO HOLD A HEARING
TO LOOK AT THIS.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I
APPRECIATE IT, BECAUSE IT TAKES
COURAGE TO STAND UP AGAINST THE
UNITED NATIONS AND FRANCE AND
OUR STATE DEPARTMENT AND ADMIT
THING.
SO THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO.
FLOOR.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?
LAST NIGHT, THE JOB WAS
FINISHED.
THEY WENT IN AND THEY MASSACRED
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE.
YOU SEE, PRESIDENT GBAGBO HAD
YOUNG CHILDREN THAT WERE
SURROUNDING HIS PALACE AND HIS
RESIDENCE, AND HIS WILLINGNESS
TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIVES TO SAVE
THEIR COUNTRY FROM THE FRENCH
INFLUENCE THAT THEY ARE GETTING
WITH QUATTARA.
THEY WERE ARMED WITH BASEBALL
BATS AND TWO-BY-FOURS.
OF THEM OUT THERE.
LAST NIGHT, SARKOZY WENT TO
THE -- HAD GONE TO THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL MUNE AND SAID
USE MY FORCES TO END THIS, AND
THEY DID, AND WE KNOW WHAT
MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.
THEY WENT IN WITH HELICOPTERS
AND WITH ROCKETS, AND THEY
DESTROYED MOST OF A TOWN, OF A
MAJOR CITY, ABIDJAN, THE CAPITAL
OF COTE D'IVOIRE.
AND -- AND WE HAVE EVIDENCE.
I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WILL TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS, PARTICULARLY
THOSE PEOPLE.
I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
OUT THERE THAT ARE JUST OPPOSED
TO ANY INTERVENTION THAT WE
HAVE, AND THEY DON'T REALLY CARE
ABOUT SUB-SAHARA AFRICA.
NO ONE CARES ABOUT SUB-SAHARA
I HAVE STOOD ON THIS FLOOR TIME
AND TIME AGAIN, BACK WHEN WE
WERE SENDING TROOPS INTO BOSNIA.
THE EXCUSE WAS ETHNIC CLEANSING.
I SAID FOR EVERY ONE DAY, AND
ANY TOWN IN, ANY COUNTRY IN
SUB-SAHARA AFRICA, THERE ARE
MORE PEOPLE ETHNICALLY CLEANSED
THAN ANY DAY IN BOSNIA, BUT
NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE.
SO WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF KIDS
AROUND THERE, AND LAST NIGHT
THEY WERE MOWED DOWN.
IF ANYONE QUESTIONS THIS, YOU
CAN ACCESS ON MY INTERNET, INWHO
HAVE.SENATE.GOV AND GET THE
YOUTUBE THAT SHOWS GRAPHICALLY
WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HUNDREDS,
HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN BRUTALLY MURDERED LAST
NIGHT BY THE FRENCH-SUPPORTING
QUATTARA, AND IT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN,
AND I AM -- WHEN I LOOK AT
PRESIDENT OBIANGE FROM
ECUADORIAL GUINEA, THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE AFRICAN UNION, HE SAYS HE
CONDEMNED THE FOREIGN
INTERVENTION IN THE IVORY COAST.
AND WE STAND BY IDLY AND WE
DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO RENEW MY
REQUEST TO SECRETARY CLINTON AND
TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND TO
OTHERS WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT THE
LOSS OF INNOCENT LIFE IN
SUB-SAHARA AFRICA, SPECIFICALLY
IN ABIDJAN AND COTE D'IVOIRE TO
COME FORWARD AND HELP US IN THIS
HEARING TO FIND THAT JUSTICE IS
I HOPE THAT PRESIDENT GBAGBO AND
HIS WIFE SIMONE, GOOD FRIENDS, I
HOPE THEY ARE NOT DEAD TODAY.
THEY MIGHT BE DYING AS WE SPEAK.
THEY ARE RAIDING THEIR
RESIDENCE, THEY ARE RAIDING THE
PALACE, AND IT'S A BRUTAL MESS.
SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER
SEEN IN THE YEARS THAT I HAVE
BEEN HERE, PARTICULARLY COMING
FROM FRANCE, SUPPORTED BY
SARKOZY THE RAID ON INNOCENT
LIVES IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL YIELD THE
FLOOR.
IF NO ONE ELSE COMES IN, I'M
GOING TO TALK LONGER.
ALL RIGHT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I
BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK UNTIL
SOMEONE COMES IN TO SPEAK.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
GUESS YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.
I HAVE HAD AN INTEREST IN
SUB-SAHARA AFRICA FOR QUITE SOME
TIME, AND AFTER 9/11, FINALLY
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DECIDED THEY WOULD DO SOMETHING
OF CONCERN IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA,
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE HAD SINCE
THAT TIME IS AN INTEREST IN
HELPING THEM TO BUILD AFRICAN
BRIGADES AS THE TERRORS COME --
TERRORISTS COME DOWN THROUGH THE
HORN OF AFRICA AND JABUDI AND
THE COULDN'T TENT OF AFRICA.
WE NEED TO HELP THE AFRICANS
BUILD BRIGADES SO WE CAN RESIST
THEM, NOT DOING IT FOR THEM, NOT
DOING IT IN PLACE OF THE
AFRICANS DOING IT, BUT TO HELP
THEM SO THEY CAN DEFEND
THEMSELVES.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
I HAVE BEEN HONORED TO BE KIND
OF THE POINT MAN ON THE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE AND TO GO
OVER AND WORK WITH THESE GUYS.
OUR COUNTRIES IN AFRICA ARE OUR
THEY PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS
LIKE THE IMET PROGRAM THAT
ALLOWS US TO TRAIN THEIR
OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, LIKE THE TRAIN AND
EQUIP PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS US TO
WORK WITH THEM AND TRAIN THESE
INDIVIDUALS.
AND SO WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING,
AN ATROCITY LIKE THIS THAT TAKES
PLACE AND YOU JUST VISUALIZE THE
YOUNG KIDS THAT ARE OUT THERE
BEING BRUTALLY MURDERED, IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD DO
SOMETHING ABOUT.
I AGAIN AM GOING TO PRAISE
SOMEONE WHO PHILOSOPHICALLY -- I
HAVE NOT AGREED WITH MOST OF THE
TIME I HAVE SPENT IN THE UNITED
STATES
SENATE AND SENATOR JOHN KERRY,
AND HE IS VERY -- JOHN KERRY,
AND HE IS VERY SYMPATHETIC TO
WHAT IS GOING ON THERE AND HAS
AGREED TO HAVING A HEARING.
TIADORA.
MEL TIADORA WAS THE MAYOR OF AND
JANUARY -- ABDID I JANUARY IN --
ABDIJAN IN COTE D'IVOIRE.
HE IS THE HEADS OF THE OPPOSING
PARTY TO PRESIDENT GBAGBO.
HE WAS THE CANDIDATE AGAINST HIM
WHEN HE RAN FOR PRESIDENT.
HERE IS A GUY WHO HAS EVERY
REASON TO BE OPPOSED TO
PRESIDENT GBAGBO.
YET HE IS WILLING TO TESTIFY
BEFORE SENATOR KERRY'S COMMITTEE
THAT NOT ONLY DID THEY RIG THE
ELECTION, BUT -- AND SHOWED THE
DOCUMENTATION ON RIGGING THE
ELECTION, THAT WE SHOULD BE IN A
POSITION WHERE WE COULD STRONGLY
RECOMMEND THAT WE HAVE A -- THAT
WE RECOMMEND ANOTHER ELECTION.
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST WHAT YOU
YOU -- GUATERRA EXCEPT I KNOW HE
SINCE 2002.
THIS IS THE FINAL KILL.
AT WHAT EXPENSE IS THIS COMING?
AT A HIGH EXPENSE OF A NUMBER
THAT WE CAN'T QUANTIFY TODAY.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT, LOOK IT
UP YOU CAN GET THE YOUTUBE SITE
AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENED LAST
NIGHT AND WATCH IT ON
I SEE MY GOOD FRIEND, SENATOR
VIRGINIA, BEFORE I YIELD THE
FLOOR TO HIM, I WANT TO APPLAUD
HIM FOR HIS BEING COURAGEOUS AND
STANDING UP FOR DOING SOMETHING
ABOUT THE E.P.A. TAKING OVER THE
REGULATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES
THAT WOULD PUT COAL AND OIL AND
GAS OUT OF OUR REACH IN THIS
COUNTRY.
SO I APPLAUD YOU, SENATOR
MANCHIN, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT THE OCCASION OF THE WORST
MINE DISASTER IN 44 YEARS.
A YEAR AGO TODAY MEN WENT
UNDERGROUND TO MINE THE COAL OF
OUR GREAT NATION AND THEY DIDN'T
COME BACK.
OUR ENTIRE NATION GRIEVED WITH
THEIR FAMILIES FOR THEIR
TREMENDOUS LOSS AND I RISE TODAY
TO HONOR THEIR COURAGE,
SACRIFICE AND THE EXTRAORDINARY
STRENGTH OF THEIR FAMILIES.
I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT
THE PROUD MEN AND WOMEN TODAY
WHO GO UNDERGROUND AND GO
UNRECOGNIZED AND MAKE SURE OUR
GREAT NATION CAN KEEP THE LIGHTS
ON.
WHEN SOME PEOPLE SEE A COAL
MINER WALK OUT FROM UNDERGROUND,
THEY SEE SOMEONE WHO IS TIRED,
WEARING DUST-COVERED OVERALWAYS,
STEEL BOOTS AND CARRYING A
DINNER BUCKET AND MAKE A FEW
FLAWED ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE
AMOUNT OF EDUCATION THEY MAY OR
MAY NOT HAVE OR THEY HAVE
NOWHERE TO TURN BECAUSE THERE IS
NO JOB AVAILABLE.
I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THOSE
ASSUMPTIONS ARE DEAD WRONG.
WEST VIRGINIA COAL MINERS ARE
THE BACKBONE OF THIS COUNTRY,
PROVIDING THE LIGHTS FOR THIS
CHAMBER, THE STEEL AND MACHINERY
THAT BUILD OUR COUNTRY, THE
GREATEST INDUSTRIAL POWER IN THE
WORLD, THE MILITARY THAT KEEPS
US SAFE AND FREE AND ENERGY FOR
HOMES AND BUSINESSES ALL OVER
THIS COUNTRY.
WEST VIRGINIA MINERS UNDERSTAND
GEOLOGY, MATHEMATICS AND
PHYSICS, THE WAY A SEAM RUNS
THROUGH THE EARTH AND HOW TO
SAFELY EXTRACT ITS BOUNTY TO
MAKE OUR COUNTRY STRONGER.
WEST VIRGINIA MINERS ARE THE
SALT OF THE EARTH, PATRIOTIC,
GOD-FEARING, FAMILY-LOVING AND
FAMILY-ORIENTED AND PROUD OF
THEIR HARD WORK.
IN OUR STATE WE'VE ALWAYS DONE
THE HEAVY LIFTING.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE
CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COUNTRY AND
TIME AND AGAIN IN TIMES OF WAR,
TIMES OF PEACE AND IN TIMES OF
PROSPERITY AND IN TIMES OF NEED.
AT A TIME WHEN OUR NATION'S
ATTENTION AND MISPLACED PITY
WILL AGAIN FOCUS ON COAL MINERS
BECAUSE OF THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY
OF THE WORST MINING DISASTER IN
THE LAST 40 YEARS, WE WEST
VIRGINIANS WANT THE WORLD TO
KNOW THAT WE ARE PROUD OF OUR
COAL MINING HERITAGE AND OUR
FUTURE.
AS WEST VIRGINIA'S FORMER
GOVERNOR, NOW U.S. SENATOR, I
WANT TO TELL THE AMERICANS NOT
ONLY ABOUT OUR SACRIFICE BUT
ALSO OUR DEDICATION TO OUR
SHARED FUTURE.
THE MINERS OF WEST VIRGINIA AND
THEIR FAMILIES ARE THE HEART AND
SOUL OF WEST VIRGINIA AND AN
INSPIRATION FOR ME AND TO MY
WE SHOULD ALL DRAW STRENGTH FROM
THEIR COURAGE THAT THEY HAVE
SHOWN US ALL.
NOW ALLOW ME TO TURN TO THE
TERRIBLE DAY A YEAR AGO AND
REMEMBERING THE UPPER BIG BRANCH
DISASTER, MY THOUGHTS TURN FIRST
TO THE FAMILIES OF THE 29 MINERS
WHO WENT TO WORK THAT DAY ON
APRIL 5, 2010, AND DIDN'T COME
HOME.
IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE
VIOLENT EXPLOSION WHICH REMAINS
UNDER INVESTIGATION TODAY, I
SPENT ALL DAY AND EVERY DAY FOR
FIVE DAYS WAITING TO FIND OUT
WITH THE FAMILIES IF THEIR LOVED
ONES WERE ALIVE OR DEAD.
THOSE FAMILIES AND I STAYED
TOGETHER AT MIDNIGHT AND AT
DAWN, THROUGH PHOEPLS OF --
THROUGH MOMENTS OF HOPE AND
DESPAIR ON PINS AND NEEDLES AND
IN SHARED GRIEF AS THE RESCUERS
DIDN'T FIND MORE SURVIVORS.
WE PRAYED TOGETHER BEFORE AND
AFTER EACH BRIEFING.
WE RECITED THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE.
WE HELD EACH OTHER AND CRIED
TOGETHER.
RESTAURANT OWNERS DONATED FOOD.
AND ONE YOUNG MAN, NICK HELMS,
WHO I REMEMBER SO WELL, WHOSE
FATHER WAS KILLED IN THE SAGO
DISASTER IN 2006, CAME DOWN AND
OFFERED FIRSTHAND HIS
EXPERIENCES.
IN THOSE DAYS THE UNBREAKABLE
CLEAR.
ONE FAMILY ALONE LOST THREE GOOD
I FIRST TOLD CHARLES AND LINDA
DAVIS, THE PARENTS OF TIMMY AND
THE GRANDPARENTS OF COREY AND
JOSH, I TOLD TOMMY -- AND TOMMY
WAS ANOTHER BROTHER WHO WORKED
IN THE MINE, JUST CAME OFF THE
SHIFT, AND TOMMY WAS THE FATHER
OF COREY.
AND I ALSO TOLD PATTY -- LARGE
FAMILIES -- AND PATTY IS THE
DAUGHTER OF LINDA AND CHARLES.
SHE WAS JOSH'S MOTHER.
SO WE HAD IN THE MINE WE HAD
TIMMY, THE UNCLE; AND WE HAD
JOSH AND COREY.
ALL THREE MEN HAD BEEN FOUND,
BUT THEY HAD PERISHED.
THE FIRST QUESTION I GOT FROM
TOMMY AFTER I TOLD HIS PARENTS,
HE SAID, JOE, WERE THEY ALL
TOGETHER?
I SAID, YES, THEY WERE TOMMY.
TOMMY REPLIED TO ME, HE SAID, I
KNEW MY BROTHER TIMMY WOULD BE
TAKING CARE OF THE BOYS.
THAT WAS NOT MY STATE'S FIRST
MINING DISASTER OR MINE.
WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN, MY OWN
FAMILY WENT THROUGH THE TRAGEDY
OF THE FARMINGTON NUMBER NINE
EXPLOSION IN 1968.
78 MINERS WERE KILLED THAT DAY,
AND IT LEFT A SEARING IMPRESSION
ON ME.
OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW RIGHT
AWAY HOW BAD IT WOULD GET.
EVERYONE CAMPED OUT AT THE
COMPANY STORE.
WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR ANY WORD
BEFORE THE AUTHORITIES FINALLY
CAME AND THEY TOLD US ALL THAT
THE DECISION HAD BEEN MADE TO
SEAL THE MINE, WHICH ESSENTIALLY
WAS ENTOMBING ALL OF THEM AND
THE RESCUERS OVER.
IN THAT DISASTER I LOST MY
UNCLE, I LOST MY NEXT-DOOR
NEIGHBOR, I LOST SOME OF MY HIGH
SCHOOL CLASSMATES.
ONE OF MY STRONGEST LESSONS THAT
HAS STAYED WITH ME TO THIS DAY
IS THAT WAITING FAMILIES SHOULD
BE SYSTEMATICALLY UPDATED ON THE
PROGRESS OF A RESCUE OPERATION.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT A MINUTE
SEEMS LIKE AN HOUR, AN HOUR
SEEMS LIKE A DAY, AND A DAY
SEEMS LIKE ETERNITY.
WITH CONSISTENT UPDATES, THE
WAITING BECOMES A LITTLE MORE
BEARABLE.
DURING MY TERM AS GOVERNOR IN
THE THRAOEL TRAGEDIES WE WENT
THROUGH -- THREE TRAGEDIES WE
WENT THERE, SAGO AND UPPER BIG
BRANCH AND SARACOMA.
WE RECEIVED A BRIEFING EVERY
THREE HOURS.
IT WAS A CYCLE WE CONTINUED
UNTIL THE FATE OF ALL OF OUR
MINERS WERE KNOWN.
WE'VE LEARNED A LOT IN WEST
VIRGINIA AFTER DISASTERS AT SAGO
AND ERACOMA.
WE ENACTED MORE SAFETY MEASURES
IN MY TERM AS GOVERNOR THAN IN
THE 30 YEARS BEFORE.
WE'VE BECOME A LEADER IN SAFETY.
WHAT WE IMPLEMENTED IS BEING
USED IN ALL TYPES OF MINING ALL
WORLD.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS IN OUR STATE
WE WON'T TOLERATE INTIMIDATION
FROM ANY PERSON OR COMPANY THAT
PUTS PROFITS AHEAD OF SAFETY.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE
SINGLE-MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN
ANY MINING OPERATION IS THE MEN
DAY.
UNDER MY WATCH, WE EMPOWER THOSE
INDIVIDUAL MINERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES TO TAKE MORE OWNERSHIP
AND CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN
SAFETY, WITHOUT FEAR OF
RETRIBUTION, WITH A 24-HOUR
ANONYMOUS HOTLINE TO REPORT
UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
SINCE MAY OF LAST YEAR WE'VE HAD
86 CALLS AND WE RESPONDED.
AT THE END OF THE DAY THE
FAMILIES AND THE PEOPLE OF WEST
VIRGINIA AND ALL AMERICANS NEED
TO KNOW HOW THIS TRAGEDY
HAPPENED AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO
PREVENT ANYTHING THIS TERRIBLE
FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE
RESULTS OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE
INVESTIGATIONS AS WELL AS AN
INDEPENDENT REPORT FROM MY
SPECIAL-APPOINTED INVESTIGATOR,
NATIVE.
WE WILL LOOK AT THE RESULTS OF
THEIR INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE
WHAT HAPPENED, MAKE CERTAIN IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND
DETERMINE WHETHER ANYONE THROUGH
INTIMIDATION OR OTHERWISE PUTS
PROFITS AHEAD OF SAFETY AND THAT
THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE ARE HELD
IN THE MEANTIME, I AM
COSPONSORING A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION WITH SENATOR JAY
ROCKEFELLER, THE ROBERT C. BYRD
MINE AND WORKPLACE SAFETY AND
HEALTH ACT OF 2011.
IT IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE
COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING MINE
AND OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH LAWS, EMPOWER WORKERS TO
RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS, PREVENT
FUTURE MINE AND OTHER WORKPLACE
TRAGEDIES AND ESTABLISH THE
RIGHTS OF THE FAMILIES OF
VICTIMS OF WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS.
LAST WEEK I SPOKE AGAIN TO TOMMY
DAVIS, THE MAN WHO LOST HIS
BROTHER, HIS NEPHEW, AND HIS SON
AT THE UPPER BIG BRANCH MINE.
WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT HE WAS
DOING THESE DAYS, TOMMY GAVE ME
A SIMPLE ANSWER.
MINES.
TOMMY'S PROUD TO BE A MINER.
AND WHILE HE AND ALL OF US HAVE
MUCH TO MOURN TODAY, WE ALSO
HAVE THE CHANCE TO HONOR THE
MEMORIES OF THE 29 DEDICATED MEN
WHO DIED A YEAR AGO AND THEIR
COLLEAGUES WHO CONTINUE THEIR
WORK WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY.
FINALLY, GAIL AND I AND ALL WEST
VIRGINIANS PRAY FOR CONTINUED
STRENGTH AND COURAGE FOR THE
FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES ON
THIS SAD DAY A YEAR AGO.
MAY GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF THEM.
MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF
WEST VIRGINIA, AND MAY GOD
CONTINUE TO BLESS THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, AND
I ASK THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM
OBJECTION.
MORNING BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 4, WHICH