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WE MUST REPEAL AND REPLACE THIS
HEALTH CARE LAW.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO VITIATE THE
QUORUM.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WANT TO SPEAK
ABOUT THE URGENT FISCAL CRISIS
THAT IS FACING OUR NATION.
WE KNOW THAT THE CONGRESS RIGHT
NOW IS IN NEGOTIATION FOR A
RESOLUTION THAT WILL TAKE US
UNTIL THE END OF THE FISCAL
YEAR.
IT'S IN AN ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT
OUR OVERWHELMING DEBT AND THE
DEFICIT THAT WOULD BE IN THE
BUDGET THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE
PRESIDENT FOR SURE.
WE NOW ARE TRYING TO CUT THAT
BUDGET RESPONSIBLY.
THE UNITED STATES IS AVERAGING
$4 BILLION A DAY IN DEBT, A $1.6
TRILLION DEFICIT IS PROJECTED BY
THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THAT'S JUST THE DEFICIT.
THAT'S ADDING TO THE DEBT.
FEDERAL SPENDING IN 2010 WAGS
23.-- WAS 23.8% OF GROSS
THE C.B.O., THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, PREDICTS IT WILL
BE 24.7% OF G.D.P. IN 2011.
AS A NATION, WE MUST REMAIN
COMPETITIVE BY REDUCING FEDERAL
SPENDING AND SPURRING ECONOMIC
GROWTH IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
IT IS JOBS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
THAT WILL TAKE OUR ECONOMY OUT
OF THE DOLDRUMS WHERE IT IS NOW.
FOR THE SAKE OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, I HOPE WE CAN COME
TOGETHER TO STOP THE RECKLESS
FEDERAL SPENDING.
CONTINUING THE SPENDING, THE
BORROWING AND THE TAXING IN
WASHINGTON WILL HALT JOB
CREATION AND TRIPLE THE DEBT BY
THE END OF THIS DECADE.
THAT IS WHAT IS PREDICTED.
WE MUST MAKE BOLD CUTS WHERE WE
CAN BY CAREFULLY ALSO
PRIORITIZING INVESTMENT IN AREAS
OF STRATEGIC NATIONAL
IMPORTANCE.
WHAT WE NEED NOW IS FOR THE
PRESIDENT, THE SENATE MAJORITY
LEADER AND THE HOUSE SPEAKER TO
SIT IN A ROOM AND NOT COME OUT
UNTIL A DEAL IS MADE UNTIL WE
HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS.
SHUTDOWN.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN WILL BE ENORMOUS.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE
TALKING ABOUT THAT AS AN OPTION
AS IF IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL JUST
DON'T REALIZE HOW MANY LIVES IT
WILL TOUCH AND HOW HARD IT IS
GOING TO MAKE LIFE FOR SO MANY
PEOPLE, PEOPLE TWHOF DEPEND --
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEPENDED ON
BENEFITS SUCH AS VETERANS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN
IN A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN
TO OUR MILITARY BECAUSE THAT'S
NOT CLEAR.
AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK
ABOUT TODAY.
A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WILL PUT
PEOPLE IN PERIL IN MANY AREAS.
BUT NOW WE HAVE A SITUATION IN
WHICH OUR MILITARY, OUR
ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY, SOME WHICH
ALMOST 100,000 IN AFGHANISTAN,
47,000 IN IRAQ, ARE PUT IN A
POSITION TODAY OF NOW ALSO
WONDERING IF THEIR SPOUSE IS AT
HOME WITH CHILDREN ARE GOING TO
GET THEIR PAYCHECKS IF WE HAVE A
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT WILL
AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO PAY
THEIR MORTGAGES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, LET ME ASK ARE
THERE TIME LIMITS IN PLACE?
THERE'S
AN ORDER TO RECOGNIZE SENATOR
AYOTTE FOR HER FIRST SPEECH AT
MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, LET ME JUST SAY
THAT I'VE INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION.
I HAVE COSPONSORS CASEY, INHOFE,
SNOWE, MURKOWSKI, COLLINS,
AYOTTE AND HOEVEN.
IT IS THE ENSURING PAY FOR OUR
MILITARY ACT OF 2011.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
IT JUST ENSURES THAT IN THE
EVENT OF A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN -- WHICH I DO NOT WANT
TO HAPPEN AND DO NOT SUPPORT --
NEVERTHELESS, OUR MILITARY WILL
IT ALSO WILL ALLOW ANYONE THAT
IS SERVING OUR MILITARY --
CIVILIAN, DEFENSE EMPLOYEES OR
CONTRACTORS WHO DO THE FOOD
SERVICES -- TO ALSO BE ABLE TO
GO TO WORK AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO BE
HAPPENING BACK HOME IF YOU'RE IN
A TENT IN AFGHANISTAN.
I SO HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE
TO PASS THIS BILL.
I DON'T WANT ONE MORE MINUTE OF
STRESS ON OUR MILITARY.
THE BILL IS VERY SIMPLE AND IT
IS VERY SHORT AND VERY CLEAR.
OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR
SUPPORT WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY
A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I HOPE THAT I
UP.
WE HAVE INTRODUCED SENATE BILL
724, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN GET
A VOTE ON THIS BILL IN VERY
THE TABLE.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR MY
INTERN ROBERT VARNER TO HAVE
PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR FOR THE
BALANCE OF THE DAY.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
WITH HUMILITY AND A DEEP SENSE
OF REVERENCE FOR THIS BODY, I
RISE TODAY TO ADDRESS MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE.
SERVING IN THIS HISTORIC CHAMBER
IS TRULY AN HONOR.
ON THIS FLOOR, MEN AND WOMEN OF
STRONG CHARACTER GATHER TOGETHER
TO WORK ON THE UNFINISHED WORK
UNION.
IT IS AN EVEN GREATER PRIVILEGE
TO STAND HERE REPRESENTING THE
PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, A PLACE
OF DISTINCT BEAUTY THAT PLACES A
PREMIUM ON SELF-GOVERNANCE AND
INFORMED PUBLIC DISCOURSE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE REFLECTS THE VERY
BEST OF OUR NATION.
AS AMERICA FACES ENORMOUS
CHALLENGES, I AM REMINDED OF THE
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM ONE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE'S REVERED STATESMEN,
GENERAL JOHN STARK.
AFTER FIGHTING BRAVELY AND
HEROICALLY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY
WAR, GENERAL STARK GAVE NEW
HAMPSHIRE ITS TREASURED STATE
MOTTO: LIVE FREE OR DIE.
THIS FAMOUS QUOTE PERFECTLY
CAPTURES THE SPIRIT AND
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE OF THE
GRANITE STATE.
FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AND
STRONGLY PROTECTIVE OF OUR
PERSONAL FREEDOMS, WE PLACE A
HIGH PREMIUM ON SELF-RELIANCE,
PERSONAL INITIATIVE, AND
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY.
WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT
GOVERNMENT CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT
BE ALLOWED TO GET IN THE WAY OF
EACH OF US REACHING OUR FULL
POTENTIAL.
THAT'S WHAT "LIVE FREE OR DIE"
YET, AS I STAND HERE TODAY, AND
AS I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY OF MY
FELLOW GRANITE STATERS, WE ARE
AT A TIME WHEN OUR GOVERNMENT
HAS GROWN SO LARGE AND WE HAVE
BECOME SO INDEBTED THAT THE SIZE
OF OUR DEBT THREATENS THE FULL
POTENTIAL AND FUTURE OF THE
GREATEST PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON
ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF, HAS SAID THAT AMERICA'S
DEBT IS THE GREATEST NATIONAL
SECURITY THREAT THAT WE FACE.
THAT DEBT NOW STANDS AT AN
HISTORIC LEVEL OF OVER $14
TRILLION, ABOUT HALF OF WHICH IS
HELD BY OTHER COUNTRIES.
THE SINGLE-BIGGEST FOREIGN
HOLDER OF OUR DEBT IS CHINA, A
COUNTRY WHICH DOES NOT SHARE OUR
VALUES.
WE ARE BORROWING $4 BILLION A
DAY, OR 40 CENTS OF EVERY SINGLE
DOLLAR TO FUND OUR
EVER-EXPANDING GOVERNMENT.
IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY ALONE,
WE RAN A RECORD MONTHLY DEFICIT
OF $223 BILLION.
BILLION SHORTFALL
ACCUMULATED IN JUST ONE MONTH,
PUTS INTO PERSPECTIVE THE
CURRENT SPENDING DEBATE THAT
WE'RE HAVING IN CONGRESS.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS CAME UP WITH A
PLAN TO CUT $61 BILLION FOR THE
REST OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH
IS AN IMPORTANT START.
BUT THOSE CUTS ONLY COVER A
LITTLE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF
THE DEFICIT THAT WE ACCUMULATED
IN JUST ONE MONTH.
YET, ALL I HEAR FROM MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE IS THAT $61 BILLION IN
CUTS IS EXTREME.
IN MY VIEW, THE ONLY THING THAT
IS EXTREME IS FAILING TO
CONFRONT THE ENDLESS FLOOD OF
RED INK THAT THREATENS OUR
ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND THREATENS
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
THE DEBT THAT WE OWE, IT'S SO
MUCH MORE THAN JUST NUMBERS.
THIS IS ABOUT US, WHO WE ARE AS
AMERICANS, AND WHAT KIND OF
COUNTRY THAT WE WANT TO LEAVE
BEHIND FOR OUR CHILDREN.
MY HUSBAND, JOE, AND I ARE THE
PROUD PARENTS OF TWO CHILDREN,
KATE WHO IS 6 YEARS OLD AND
JACOB WHO IS 3 YEARS OLD.
I AM DETERMINED TO KEEP ALIVE
THE AMERICAN DREAM FOR MY
CHILDREN, FOR ALL OF OUR
CHILDREN AND FOR FUTURE
GENERATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT
OUR ADDICTION TO SPENDING IN
WASHINGTON THREATENS THAT DREAM.
I FOR ONE WILL NOT SIT BY WHILE
OUR CHILDREN ARE BEHOLDEN TO
CHINA.
HOLLOW WORDS PAYING LIP SERVICE
TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY HAVE
BEEN USED BY TOO MANY IN
CONGRESS FOR FAR TOO LONG.
HALL OF-- NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILIES SIT
AROUND THEIR TABLES AND FIND
WORK.
WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, THEY
MAKE HARD CHOICES TO DISTINGUISH
BETWEEN WANTS AND NEEDS.
IT IS TIME FOR OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO DO THE SAME.
THAT'S WHY THE FIRST STEP THAT
WE SHOULD TAKE IS TO PASS A
CONSTITUTION.
ALMOST EVERY STATE IN THE NATION
IS REQUIRED TO BALANCE ITS
BUDGET, AND OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE NO
LAST WEEK, I WAS PROUD TO JOIN
WITH ALL 46 OF MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORTING SUCH AN
AMENDMENT THAT CAPS SPENDING,
REQUIRES THE BUDGET TO BALANCE
AND MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO
RAISE TAXES.
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE TO JOIN US IN
AND TO PUT THIS VOTE TO THE
STATES FOR RATIFICATION.
I APPRECIATE THAT AMENDING THE
CONSTITUTION IS NO LIGHT MATTER,
BUT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS COULD
NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED HOW
UNWILLING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
WOULD BE TO ACTUALLY PASS A
BALANCED BUDGET AND TO MAKE
FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS.
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS WERE WELL
DEBT.
IT WAS TOMORROWS JEFFERSON WHO
WROTE, "TO PRESERVE OUR
INDEPENDENCE, WE MUST NOT LET
PERPETUAL DEBT.
WE MUST MAKE OUR ELECTION
BETWEEN ECONOMY AND LIBERTY OR
PROFUSION AND SERVITUDE."
IN 1997, THE SENATE CAME CLOSE
TO GETTING ITS ARMS AROUND THE
DEBT WHEN A BALANCED BUDGET
AMENDMENT FAILED TO PASS THIS
CHAMBER BY JUST ONE VOTE.
AT THAT TIME, OUR NATIONAL DEBT
WAS A LITTLE OVER $5 TRILLION.
THEN.
IMAGINE HOW MUCH STRONGER OUR
NATION WOULD BE TODAY HAD THE
SENATE APPROVED A BALANCED
BUDGET AMENDMENT BACK THEN AND
HAD THE STATES ADOPTED IT.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
REQUIRING A BALANCED BUDGET IS A
KEY FIRST STEP, BUT GETTING
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL WILL TAKE
A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH.
THAT'S WHY WE MUST ALSO MOVE
QUICKLY TO PASS SERIOUS
STATUTORY LIMITS ON SPENDING.
ONE OF MY HONORABLE PREDECESSORS
FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE, WARREN
RUDMAN, HELPED AUTHOR THE
GRAHAM-RUDMAN-HOLLINGS ACT TO
REQUIRE SEQUESTRATION OF FUNDS
IF CONGRESS FAILED TO ACT AND
CUT SPENDING WITHIN DEFICIT
TARGETS.
UNFORTUNATELY, CONGRESS SIR
COUPLE VENTED THE LAW'S
PROVISIONS BY FINDING LOOPHOLES.
WHILE THAT EFFORT MAY NOT HAVE
ULTIMATELY SUCCEEDED, WE SHOULD
TAKE THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM
THAT EXPERIENCE.
WE NEED STATUTORY SPENDING CAPS
WITH TEETH THAT CONGRESS CANNOT
EASILY UNDERMINE.
WELL, I REALIZE THAT THIS WEEK
WE ARE WORKING TO PASS FUNDING
FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR OF 2011
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, CONGRESS
MUST DO SOMETHING THIS YEAR THAT
IT FAILED TO DO LAST YEAR --
PASS A BUDGET.
BACK HOME IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS, ARE ASTOUNDED
TO LEARN THAT OUR FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS OPERATING RIGHT
NOW OUTSIDE THE CONFINES OF A
STRICT BUDGET.
FRANKLY, IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT THE
LAST CONGRESS DID NOT APPROVE A
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011.
THEIR FAILURE TO ACT IS WHY WE
ARE IN THE DIFFICULT PLACE WE
FIND OURSELVES TODAY.
HERE WE ARE TRYING TO FUND
GOVERNMENT THROUGH A SERIES OF
PATCHWORK, SHORT-TERM FUNDING
BILLS.
WE NEED A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
BUDGET THAT CUTS FEDERAL
SPENDING AND PUTS US ON A PATH
TO ELIMINATING OUR DEBT
ALTOGETHER.
STATE GOVERNMENTS OPERATE WITHIN
A BUDGET, FAMILIES OPERATE
WITHIN A BUDGET, SMALL
BUSINESSES OPERATE WITHIN A
BUDGET, AND THE SENATE SHOULD
NOT BE WORKING ON ANY OTHER
LEGISLATION UNTIL WE RESOLVE
FUNDING FOR THE REST OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR AND PASS A
RESPONSIBLE BUDGET FOR 2012.
WE HAVE TO BEGIN BY REVIEWING
EVERY PROGRAM IN OUR GOVERNMENT
AND ELIMINATING THE WASTE, FRAUD
AND DUPLICATION THAT WE ALL KNOW
IS THERE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SO MUCH
MORE THAT WE CAN DO TO
STREAMLINE OUR FEDERAL
A G.A.O. REPORT RELEASED IN
MARCH IDENTIFIED HUNDREDS OF
REDUNDANT PROGRAMS COSTING US
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
FINALLY, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE
CANNOT ADDRESS OUR COUNTRY'S
FISCAL CRISIS WHILE CONTINUING
TO FOCUS ON ONLY 12% OF
THAT'S CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT
START, AND THERE IS PLENTY TO
CUT, BUT IN ORDER TO TRULY GET
OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER, WE
MUST LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BUDGET,
WE MUST RARE OUR ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS OF MEDICAID, MEDICARE
AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
ENTITLEMENT REFORM SHOULD BE AN
ISSUE THAT BRINGS US ALL
TOGETHER, REPUBLICANS,
DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, TO
ENSURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PROMISES
TO THOSE WHO ARE RELYING ON
THOSE PROGRAMS WHILE MAKING SURE
THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS DON'T
PAY FOR OUR FAILURE TO ADDRESS
THE FISCAL REALITY OF THESE
PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THAT
REQUIRES PRESIDENTIAL
LEADERSHIP, AND I JOIN OTHERS IN
MY PARTY IN INVITING THE
PRESIDENT TO WORK ACROSS PARTY
PRIORITY.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE A
SUBSTANTIVE, RESPONSIBLE DEBATE
ON HOW WE CAN PRESERVE THESE
PROGRAMS IN A FISCALLY
SUSTAINABLE WAY.
WE SIMPLY CANNOT CONTINUE TO PUT
OFF MAKING THE DIFFICULT
DECISIONS TODAY AND PASSING THEM
ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION.
WITH OUR TRILLION DOLLAR-PLUS
DEFICITS AND RAPIDLY
ACCELERATING DEBT, WE ARE AGAIN
CLOSING IN ON OUR DEBT CEILING.
HAVING TO REPEATEDLY INCREASE
THE DEBT LIMIT REPRESENTS A
BROAD FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP BY
POLITICIANS FROM BOTH PARTIES.
AS A NEW MEMBER OF THE SENATE, I
REFUSE TO PERPETUATE THAT CYCLE.
WE CANNOT LET THIS MOMENT PASS
US BY, AND I CANNOT IN GOOD
CONSCIENCE RAISE OUR DEBT
CEILING WITHOUT CONGRESS PASSING
REAL AND MEANINGFUL REFORMS TO
REDUCE SPENDING.
THAT PLAN SHOULD INCLUDE A
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT,
STATUTORY SPENDING CAPS,
SPENDING CUTS AND ENTITLEMENT
WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE
STATUS QUO OR BUSINESS AS USUAL
IN WASHINGTON.
THE DAYS OF SPENDING LIKE
THERE'S NO TOMORROW TO BRING
HOME THE BACON MUST END.
AND THE FISCAL CRISIS THAT
THREATENS OUR UNION, THREATENS
ALL OF US.
WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES.
THERE WILL BE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE
TO PUT ASIDE OUR PAROCHIAL
INTERESTS AND APPRECIATE THAT
THE ONLY WAY THAT WE WILL BE
ABLE TO CUT SPENDING IS FOR ALL
OF US TO TAKE SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY AND TO MAKE
SHARED SACRIFICES FOR THE GREAT
COUNTRY THAT WE LOVE.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, OUT-OF-CONTROL
SPENDING JEOPARDIZES OUR
NATION'S ECONOMIC STRENGTH AND
COSTS US JOBS, AND ONE THING IS
FOR SURE: WE CANNOT SPEND OUR
WAY TO PROSPERITY.
WE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE
STIMULUS PACKAGE TO PROVE THAT
STUBBORN FACT.
THE REALITY IS THAT GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T CREATE THE JOBS.
SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ENTREPRENEURS CREATE JOBS.
WHAT WE CAN DO IN THE SENATE IS
TO HELP CREATE THE RIGHT TAX AND
REGULATORY CONDITIONS TO ALLOW
OUR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE AND
GROW.
DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE
FACE, WE ARE BLESSED TO LIVE IN
THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A CHALLENGE
THAT WE HAVE NOT FACED AND MET
AND OVERCOME AND BEEN BETTER
FOR.
WHEN I THINK OF WHAT IT WILL
TAKE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES
BEFORE US, I'M REMINDED OF MY
95-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER, JOHN
SULLIVAN, WHO IS A WORLD WAR II
VETERAN AND WHAT HIS GENERATION
WENT THROUGH AND WHAT HE DID.
MY GRANDFATHER LANDED ON THE
BEACHES OF NORMANDY, AND HE IS
PART OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE
GREATEST GENERATION OF OUR
COUNTRY.
EVERY GENERATION IS CALLED UPON
ANEW TO PRESERVE OUR COUNTRY.
IN MY VIEW, THIS GENERATION'S
GREATEST CHALLENGE IS HAVING THE
COURAGE AND THE WILL TO TAKE ON
AND FIX OUR FISCAL CRISIS AND
GET OUR FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER
ONCE AND FOR ALL.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO SHOW THAT WE
HAVE THE FORTITUDE AND THE
COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT TO
PRESERVE THE GREATEST NATION ON
EARTH.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I KNOW THAT WE
CAN DO THIS, AND IT IS TRULY
HUMBLING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE IN THIS BODY AT A TIME
WHEN I KNOW THAT LEADERSHIP AND
DIFFERENCE.
ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE, I STAND READY TO
FIGHT FOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND
TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO
ADDRESS OUR FISCAL CRISIS.
I REMAIN CONFIDENT THAT
AMERICA'S BEST DAYS STILL LIE
AHEAD OF US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MADAM
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
MADAM
PRESIDENT, I WANT TO
CONGRATULATE OUR NEW COLLEAGUE
FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE ON HER
INITIAL SPEECH RELATED TO THE
TWIN PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THIS
COUNTRY OF SPENDING AND DEBT,
AND ALSO SAY TO HER THAT IT'S
PRETTY CLEAR TO ALL OF US THAT
SHE IS A WORTHY SUCCESSOR TO OUR
GOOD FRIEND, JUDD GREGG, WHOSE
SEAT SHE NOW OCCUPIES, WHO WAS
ALSO A LEADER IN THIS BODY, SOME
WOULD ARGUE THE LEADER IN THIS
BODY, ON THE QUESTION OF OUR
NATION'S FISCAL CRISIS AND HOW
TO GET IT IN ORDER.
SO ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES, I CONGRATULATE
SENATOR AYOTTE.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE
TO CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUE
FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IT IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PRIVILEGE
TO SERVE IN THIS CHAMBER, AND IT
IS A LONG TRADITION OF THE
CHAMBER TO UTILIZE ONE'S FIRST
SPEECH OR MAIDEN SPEECH AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS SOMETHING
THAT IS CLOSE TO ONE'S HEART, SO
I EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO HER
AND TO HER VOICE, HER INTELLECT,
HER PASSION ON ISSUES THAT WE
MUST ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS AISLE
WORK TO RESOLVE IN ORDER TO
BUILD A BETTER AMERICA AND PUT
AMERICA BACK ON TRACK.
THANK YOU.
MORNING
BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF S. 493, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT.
CALENDAR NUMBER 17,
S. 493, A BILL TO RE-AUTHORIZE
AND IMPROVE THE SBIR AND STTR
PROGRAMS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
I ASK CONSENT THAT
COBURN AMENDMENT 281 REPLACE
AMENDMENT 223 IN THE AGREEMENT
WE REACHED LAST EVENING.
THIS IS AN UPDATED VERSION OF
SENATOR COBURN'S AMENDMENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
PREVIOUS AGREEMENT THAT WE
REACHED LAST EVENING -- AND I
WANT TO REALLY THANK BOTH
LEADERS, SENATOR REID AND
SENATOR McCONNELL WHO HAVE
WORKED SO HARD WITH SENATOR
SNOWE AND MYSELF TO TRY TO BRING
OUR CAUCUSES TO CONCLUSION
POINTS ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT
BILL, THE SMALL BUSINESS
INVESTMENT BILL -- SMALL
BUSINESS INNOVATION BILL THAT WE
HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATING NOW FOR
ALMOST TWO WEEKS, AND IT'S A
VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT
DESERVES TO BE RE-AUTHORIZED.
THIS BILL WILL REAUTHORIZE THIS
PROGRAM FOR EIGHT YEARS.
WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FOR THE
TIME.
MADAM PRESIDENT, YOU
REPRESENTING NEW YORK, MANY OF
YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE
MANY OF YOUR UNIVERSITIES, TO
ACHIEVE OR TO ACQUIRE OR TO
REACH CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES
THAT NOT ONLY OUR FEDERAL
AGENCIES NEED BUT TAXPAYERS
BENEFIT DIRECTLY FROM THIS
PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM IS A JOB CREATOR.
IT'S AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM AND
IT'S A JOB CREATOR.
AND SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT OUR TWO LEADERS HAVE
DONE WITH SENATOR SNOWE AND
MYSELF TO GET US TO THIS
WE'LL BE HAVING SEVEN VOTES THIS
SKWR TO RECAP THEY'LL BE BAUCUS
236, STABENOW, 277, ROCKEFELLER
2 15RBGS COBURN 217, COBURN 281
AND COBURN 273 WITH A
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH INOUYE 286.
THAT'S ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO.
BUT, MADAM PRESIDENT, OUR
CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAVE 124
AMENDMENTS ADDITIONALLY THAT
HAVE BEEN FILED, MOST OF WHICH
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER
THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION OR THIS PROGRAM.
AND WE UNDERSTAND SENATORS ARE
FRUSTRATED AND WANT FLOOR TIME
FOR THEIR ISSUES, BUT TAXPAYERS
WORKS.
WE'RE ELIMINATING SOME PROGRAMS
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT DON'T
WORK.
THIS ONE DOES.
AND SO WE NEED TO TRY TO FIND A
WAY TO GET IT AUTHORIZED AND
CONTINUE THE GOOD ECONOMIC
NUMBERS THAT WE'RE HEARING
COMING OUT OF TREASURY AND OTHER
INDEPENDENT THINK TANKS THAT ARE
SAYING JOBS ARE BEING CREATED,
THE RECESSION LOOKS LIKE IT
POTENTIALLY IS COMING TO AN END.
WE'RE CREATING NEW JOBS EVERY
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS
IT'S A GREAT FOUNDATION PROGRAM
BASED ON CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH
AND INNOVATION THAT REALLY HELPS
SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTRY
WHO ARE THE JOB CREATORS.
SO I ASK MY MEMBERS ON BOTH
SIDES TO LET'S WORK
TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE ON
THESE SEVEN AMENDMENTS THIS
AFTERNOON AS PREVIOUSLY AGREED
TO, AND WE'LL BE CONSIDERING AND
TRYING TO WORK WITH MEMBERS ON
SOME OF THEIR OTHER ISSUES.
BUT IF WE COULD GET A GOOD,
STRONG SMALL BUSINESS BILL
AGREED TO THIS WEEK AND SENT
OVER TO THE HOUSE SO AS WE
RESOLVE THESE VERY TOUGH
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE BUDGET, WE
CAN BE PROUD TO AT SOME POINT
VERY SOON SEND THIS BILL WITH A
FEW ATTACHED AMENDMENTS,
HOPEFULLY NOT MANY, BUT A FEW TO
THE PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR
SO, AGAIN, I THANK THE MEMBERS
FOR THEIR COOPERATION, AND I
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
REQUEST.
I ASK THAT SENATOR SANDERS'
AMENDMENT -- I'M SORRY.
I ASK THE CLERK TO REPORT UNDER
THE PREVIOUS AGREEMENT THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO GET TO LAST
EVENING.
CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
L.A., MS. LANDRIEU -- THE
SENATOR FROM FROM LOUISIANA
MS. LANDRIEU PROPOSES STABENOW
AMENDMENT 277, ROCKEFELLER
AMENDMENT 215, COBURN AMENDMENT
217, COBURN AMENDMENT 28 1,
COBURN AMENDMENT 273 AND INOUYE
AMENDMENT 286.
SANDERS DASHES.
I ASK THAT
SENATOR SANDERS AMENDMENT BE
MODIFIED WITH CHANGES AT THE
OBJECTION.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT ANY TIME SPENT IN A
QUORUM CALL PRIOR TO THE VOTES
AT 4:00 P.M. BE EQUALLY DIVIDED.
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
I ASK THE QUORUM
CALL BE VITIATED.
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WE
ARE AT A UNIQUE AND ENORMOUSLY
IMPORTANT MOMENT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, AND THE DECISIONS THAT
WILL BE MADE BY THE CONGRESS AND
PRESIDENT IN THE COMING DAYS,
WEEKS AND MONTHS WILL IN MANY
WAYS DETERMINE HOW WE GO FORWARD
AS A NATION AND WILL IMPACT THE
LIVES OF VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF
OUR 300 MILLION-PLUS CITIZENS.
THE REALITY TODAY, AS I THINK
MOST AMERICANS KNOW, IS THAT
WITHIN OUR ECONOMY, WE HAVE A
MIDDLE CLASS WHICH IS COLLAPSING
COLLAPSING.
IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, MEDIAN
FAMILY INCOME HAS DECLINED BY
MILLIONS OF AMERICAN WORKERS ARE
WORKING LONGER HOURS FOR LOWER
WAGES.
IF YOU LOOK AT REAL UNEMPLOYMENT
RATHER THAN THE OFFICIAL
UNEMPLOYMENT, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT 16% OF OUR PEOPLE
UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED.
NUMBERS MAY BE EVEN HIGHER FOR
CERTAIN BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS AND
FOR YOUNG WORKERS.
STRAITS.
POVERTY IN AMERICA IS INCREASING
INCREASING.
SINCE 2000, NEARLY 12 MILLION
AMERICANS HAVE SLIPPED OUT OF
THE MIDDLE CLASS AND INTO
POVERTY.
AS A NATION, WE HAVE 50 MILLION
AMERICANS TODAY WHO HAVE NO
HEALTH INSURANCE AND THAT NUMBER
HAS INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS.
WE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF
CHILD POVERTY OF ANY MAJOR
COUNTRY ON EARTH.
WE ARE INDUSTRIALIZING IN A
RAPID RATE.
WE ARE DEINDUSTRIALIZING AT A
IN THE LAST TEN YEARS ACCIDENT
WE HAVE LOST 3,000 MANUFACTURING
PLANTS AS MANY OF OUR LARGEST
COMPANIES HAVE DECIDED IT IS
MORE PROFITABLE FOR THEM TO DO
BUSINESS IN CHINA, OTHER
LOW-WAGE COUNTRIES THAN REINVEST
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THAT IS ONE REALITY.
THEN THERE IS ANOTHER REALITY
THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT TOO
MUCH AND THAT IS WHILE THE
MIDDLE CLASS DISAPPEARS AND
POVERTY INCREASES, PEOPLE ON THE
TOP ARE DOING PHENOMENALLY WELL.
TODAY, THE TOP 1% OF INCOME
EARNERS EARN ABOUT 23% OF ALL
INCOME.
THAT IS MORE THAN THE BOTTOM
50%.
TOP 1% EARN MORE INCOME THAN THE
BOTTOM 50%.
AND THE GAP BETWEEN THE VERY,
VERY RICH AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS
GROWING WIDER.
MADAM PRESIDENT, NOT WIDELY
DISCUSSED BUT TRUE, IN AMERICA
TODAY, THE WEALTHIEST 400
FAMILIES OWN MORE WEALTH THAN
THE BOTTOM 150 MILLION
AMERICANS.
AMERICANS.
THAT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE GAP IN
TERMS OF WEALTH BETWEEN A
HANDFUL OF FAMILIES AND THE VAST
MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
AND THAT GAP IS GROWING WIDER.
IN 2007, THE WEALTHIEST 1% TOOK
IN 23.5% OF ALL THE INCOME
EARNED IN THE UNITED STATES, TOP
.1% TOOK IN 11%.
THE PERCENTAGE OF INCOME GOING
TO THE TOP 1% HAS NEARLY TRIPLED
SINCE THE 1970'S, AND BETWEEN
1980-2005, 80% OF ALL NEW INCOME
GENERATED IN THIS COUNTRY WENT
TO THE TOP 1%.
SO WE ARE LIVING IN A SOCIETY
WHERE THE VERY WEALTHIEST PEOPLE
ARE BECOMING WEALTHIER, MIDDLE
CLASS DISAPPEARING, POVERTY
INCREASING.
AND THAT TAKES US TO THE BUDGET
SITUATION THAT OUR REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS ARE PUSHING.
AT A TIME WHEN THE RICHEST
PEOPLE ARE BECOMING RICHER, WHAT
THE REPUBLICANS SAYING AS THE
ANSWER IS LET US GIVE
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES
EVEN MORE IN TAX BREAKS.
AT A TIME WHEN THE MIDDLE CLASS
IS IN DECLINE, POVERTY IS
INCREASING, WHAT OUR REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS ARE SAYING, LET US
ATTACK VIRTUALLY EVERY
SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM THAT
MODERATE-INCOME PEOPLE.
RICH GET RICHER, THEY GET MORE.
MIDDLE CLASS GETS POORER, THEY
GET LESS.
MAYBE THAT SENSE OF MORALITY
MAKES SENSE TO SOME PEOPLE.
IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO THIS
SENATOR AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT
MAKES SENSE TO THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS OUTLINED
THEIR IMMEDIATE BUDGET PROPOSALS
FOR 2011, FOR THE C.R.
IN THEIR BILL, H.R. 1.
LET ME BRIEFLY REVIEW IT,
BECAUSE I WANT EVERYBODY IN
AMERICA TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE
FOLKS WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AND
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DISCUSS
IT.
50 MILLION AMERICANS HAVE NO
HEALTH INSURANCE TODAY.
REPUBLICAN SOLUTION -- SLASH
$1.3 BILLION FOR COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS, DENYING PRIMARY
HEALTH CARE TO 11 MILLION
PATIENTS.
NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE
SICK, YOU HAVE NO INSURANCE, YOU
DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, YOU CAN'T
GO TO A DOCTOR?
WHAT HAPPENED?
PERHAPS YOU DIE, PERHAPS YOU
SUFFER, PERHAPS YOU'RE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO GET INTO A HOSPITAL.
WE SPEND HUGE SUMS OF MONEY
READING TO YOU WHICH COULD HAVE
BEEN TREATED A LOT MORE
COST-EFFECTIVELY THROUGH A
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.
TODAY IN MY OFFICE, AND I
SUSPECT IN YOUR OFFICE,
MADAM PRESIDENT, PEOPLE WILL
TELL YOU THAT IT TAKES TOO LONG
FOR THEM TO GET THEIR CLAIMS
FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY
CLAIMS.
WAITING LINES TOO LONG.
REPUBLICAN SOLUTION -- SLASH
$1.7 BILLION FROM THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, MAKING
SENIORS AND THE DISABLED WAIT
EVEN LONGER.
EVERYBODY IN AMERICA KNOWS HOW
HARD IT IS FOR A MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILY TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO
COLLEGE.
A SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL PROGRAM
ARE THE PELL GRANT PROGRAMS,
MAKING IT EASIER FOR LOW- AND
MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES TO
REPUBLICAN SOLUTION -- SLASH
$5.7 BILLION FROM PELL GRANTS,
WHICH MEANS THAT 9 -- OVER
9 MILLION AMERICAN STUDENTS WILL
LOSE SOME OR ALL OF THEIR PELL
GRANTS, MANY OF THEM WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO GO TO COLLEGE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, EVERYBODY,
EVERY WORKING FAMILY IN AMERICA
KNOWS HOW HARD IT IS TODAY TO
FIND QUALITY, AFFORDABLE CHILD
CARE.
MOST AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILIES, THE HUSBAND WORKS,
WIFE WORKS.
THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEIR
KIDS ARE IN A SAFE, GOOD-QUALITY
CHILD CARE CENTER.
FOR DECADES NOW, HEAD START HAS
DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN
PROVIDING QUALITY EARLY
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR
LOW-INCOME KIDS.
IN THE MIDST OF THE CHILD CARE
CRISIS, REPUBLICAN SOLUTION --
SLASH HEAD START BY 20%, THROW
218,000 CHILDREN OFF OF HEAD
START, LAY OFF 55,000 HEAD START
INSTRUCTORS.
AND ON AND ON IT GOES.
IN MY STATE, IT GETS COLD IN THE
WINTER.
20 BELOW ZERO.
MANY SENIORS LIVING ON SOCIAL
SECURITY CAN'T AFFORD ESCALATING
COST OF HOME HEATING OIL.
REPUBLICAN SOLUTION -- SLASH
$400 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR
LIHEAP, MAKING IT HARDER FOR
SENIORS AND OTHER LOWER-INCOME
PEOPLE TO STAY WARM IN THE
WINTERTIME.
BUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE VERY CLEAR
OF, MADAM PRESIDENT, AS WE
DISCUSS THE BUDGET, IS THE
REPUBLICAN PROPOSALS FOR THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION FOR THE
REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR 2011 IS
ONLY THE FIRST STEP, ONLY THE
FIRST STEP IN THEIR LONG-TERM
PLAN FOR AMERICA.
AND YESTERDAY WHAT WE SAW IS THE
REAL VISION OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY FOR WHERE THEY WANT TO
TAKE THIS COUNTRY INTO THE
FUTURE.
AND WHILE I APPLAUD THEM FOR
BEING STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT THAT
VISION, I THINK THE MORE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TAKE A HARD LOOK
AT WHERE THEY WANT THIS COUNTRY
TO GO, THE MORE OUTRAGE WILL BE
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
CITIZENS, AS THEY UNDERSTAND THE
REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL FOR THE
FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW, IF YOU ARE A SENIOR
CITIZEN, YOU GET SICK, YOU NEED
GO TO THE HOSPITAL, YOU HAVE A
HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM CALLED
MEDICARE.
WHICH HAS BEEN LIFESAVING FOR
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF SENIORS
SENIORS.
REPUBLICAN BUDGET, AS OUTLINED
BY CONGRESSMAN RYAN YESTERDAY,
ESSENTIALLY ENDS MEDICARE AS WE
KNOW IT, CONVERTS IT INTO A
VOUCHER-TYPE PROGRAM THAT WILL
LEAVE SENIORS PAYING OUT OF
POCKET FOR MANY LIFESAVING
HEALTH CARE COSTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU END UP AT
THE AGE OF 75 WITH CANCER OR
ANOTHER ILLNESS, WHAT THE
REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL DOES IS GIVE
VOUCHER TO A PRIVATE INSURANCE
COMPANY, $6,000, $8,000, WE'RE
NOT EXACTLY SURE, AFTER THAT,
YOU HAVE AN INCOME OF $15,000,