Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I ASK THAT FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE QUORUM
CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I I HAVE HIGH HOPES
THAT THE SENATE WILL PROCEED TO
THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
SAFETY AND INNOVATION ACT OF
2012.
I'M PLEASED TO REPORT TO MY
COLLEAGUES THAT THE HEALTH,
EDUCATION AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE
HAS PRODUCED AND EXCELLENT
BILL, THE PRODUCT OF NEARLY A
FULL YEAR OF BIPARTISAN
COLLABORATION AND GOOD FAITH
NEGOTIATION.
THE BILL REAUTHORIZATION
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT F.D.A. USER
FEE AGREEMENTS AND MODERNIZES
F.D.A.'S MEDICAL PRODUCT
AUTHORITY TO BOOST AMERICAN
INNOVATION AND ENSURE THAT
PATIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
THERAPIES THEY NEED.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN THIS ERA OF
OFTEN EXTREME PARTISANSHIP AND
LEGISLATIVE GRIDLOCK, THIS BILL
IS TRULY A REFRESHING EXCEPTION
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HOPEFUL AND
AND CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE NO
OBJECTION ON THE FLOOR TO MOVING
TO THIS BILL NEXT WEEK.
FRANKLY ALL OF US ON THE
HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND
PENSIONS COMMITTEE ARE PROUD NOT
OF THE BILL BUT THE
REMARKABLE BIPARTISAN PROCESS
THAT PRODUCED IT.
I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL TO THE
COMMITTEE'S RANKING MEMBER,
SENATOR ENZI, FOR HIS OWN
INSISTENCE ON A BIPARTISAN
PROCESS AND FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
IN MOVING THIS VERY COMPLEX
LEGISLATION FORWARD.
IN MY BRIEF TIME THIS AFTERNOON
I'D LIKE TO REVIEW THE
BIPARTISAN PROCESS AT EVERY STEP
MARKED BY OPENNESS AND
TRANSPARENCY THAT PRODUCED THIS
LEGISLATION.
MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO BEGINNING
IN EARLY 2011, FOR SOME ISSUES
MY OFFICE AND THE OFFICE OF
RANKING MEMBER ENZI CONVENED SIX
BIPARTISAN HELP COMMITTEE
WORKING GROUPS.
EACH WORKING GROUP WAS TASKED
WITH DEVELOPING CONSENSUS POLICY
PROPOSALS ON KEY ISSUES SUCH AS
DRUG SHORTAGES AND THE INTEGRITY
OF THE DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN.
THESE BIPARTISAN WORKING GROUPS
MET WEEKLY AND IN MANY CASES
BIWEEKLY OVER THE WHOLE COURSE
DISCUSSING AND
DEVELOPING DRAFT CONSENSUS
PROPOSALS.
WHILE THIS CONSENSUS PROCESS WAS
ONGOING, MY STAFF WOULD OFTEN
MEET MANY TIMES A WEEK WITH
STAFFERS REPRESENTING BOTH
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
MEMBERS OF THE -- OF THE "HELP"
COMMITTEE.
EVERY SINGLE WORKING GROUP WAS
BIPARTISAN AND STAFF FROM MY
OFFICE WORKED CLOSELY WITH
RANKING MEMBER ENZI'S OFFICE TO
SOLICIT PRIORITIES FROM OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
IN MANY CASES, WE INVITED ALL
GROUPS.
WE EVEN INVITED STAFF OF
NONCOMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE
BEEN LEADERS IN A PARTICULAR
POLICY AREA TO JOIN THE GROUPS.
FOR EXAMPLE, OUR BIPARTISAN
DRUG SHORTAGE WORKING GROUP HAD
STAFF MEMBERS FROM 18 SENATE
OFFICES, INCLUDING THE STAFFERS
FOR TWO SENATORS WHO WERE NOT
EVEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WHILE DEVELOPING THE CONSENSUS
DRAFTS, EACH OF THESE
BIPARTISAN WORKING GROUPS MET
WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR TO SOLICIT INPUT.
FOR EXAMPLE THE DRUG SUPPLY
CHAIN INTEGRITY WORKING GROUP
MET WITH MORE THAN 40
STAKEHOLDERS OVER A PERIOD OF
NINE MONTHS.
IN ADDITION TO THE WORKING GROUP
MEETINGS BEGINNING IN LATE
2011, MY STAFF MET TWICE A WEEK
FOR ALMOST 18 WEEKS WITH ALL
DEMOCRATIC "HELP" OFFICERS TO
BRIEF THEM ON THE
REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS AND
UPDATE THEM ON THE PROGRESS OF
ALL THE POLICY PROPOSALS.
TO FURTHER ENGAGE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS, THE ADMINISTRATION,
STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE PUBLIC,
WE HELD A TOTAL OF FIVE FULL
COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON THE USER
FEE REAUTHORIZATION HELD OVER
THE LAST YEAR.
AFTER OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING
IN JULY OF 2011, WE HELD THREE
HEARINGS ON DISTINCT POLICY
ISSUES SURROUNDING THE USER FEES
AS WELL AS A HEARING ON THE
ACTUAL USER FEE AGREEMENTS.
AS A RESULT OF THE EXCELLENT
WORK OF THESE BIPARTISAN WORKING
GROUPS, IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR
STAFF AND RANKING MEMBER
ENZI'S STAFF RELEASED FIVE
BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS DRAFTS AND
SOLICITED FURTHER STAKEHOLDER
INPUT.
BIPARTISAN STAFF CONDUCTED
STAKEHOLDER BRIEFINGS ON THE
RELEASE OF EACH DRAFT, AND THE
DRAFTS WERE AVAILABLE ON THE
HELP WEB SITE MORE THAN THREE
WEEKS PRIOR TO MARKUP.
IN RESPONSE TO THE FIVE
DISCUSSION DRAFTS RELEASED TO
THE PUBLIC, OUR STAFFS RECEIVED
MORE THAN 160 COMMENTS AND HELD
MORE THAN 30 SHAKEHOLDER
MEETINGS ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS
OVER THREE AND A HALF WEEKS.
BIPARTISAN STAFF WORKED TO
INCORPORATE STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK
INTO THE DRAFTS AND THEN THE
COMMITTEE PUBLICLY RELEASED A
MANAGER'S PACKAGE ON WEDNESDAY,
APRIL 18, ONE WEEK BEFORE
MARKUP.
ON APRIL 25 OF THIS YEAR, THE
COMMITTEE MET TO CONSIDER THE
BILL.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS VOTED NEARLY
UNANIMOUSLY BY VOICE VOTE TO
FULL
SENATE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AS I SAID THIS
ENTIRE PROCESS HAS BEEN A MODEL
OF BIPARTISANSHIP, OPENNESS,
AND TRANSPARENCY.
BELIEVE ME, IT WAS TOUGH TO
ACHIEVE CONSENSUS ON MANY OF THE
COMPLEX AND CONTROVERSIAL
PROVISIONS IN THE BILL.
AT EVERY STEP IT REQUIRED
DIFFICULT AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL
COMPROMISE.
EVEN AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, I
DID NOT GET SOME OF MY HIGHEST
PRIORITY PROPOSALS.
SINCE I COULD NOT GET CONSENSUS
AMONG MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS.
COMPROMISE AND SOMETIMES
SACRIFICE WERE ESSENTIAL.
I WAS ACUTELY AWARE AS WERE
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE
THIS BILL.
WE WERE DETERMINED NOT TO ALLOW
PARTISANSHIP TO SLOW THIS
PACKAGE DOWN OR TO JEOPARDIZE
OUR GOAL OF CONSENSUS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, AS I SAID,
THE END RESULT IS AN EXCELLENT
BILL.
TO AUTHORIZING THE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT F.D.A. USER
FEE AGREEMENTS, THIS
LEGISLATION MAKES IT POSSIBLE
FOR THE F.D.A. TO KEEP PACE WITH
EVER-CHANGING BIOMEDICAL
LANDSCAPE.
SO HERE IS SOME OF THE MAJOR
PROVISIONS OF THE F.D.A. SAFETY
AND INNOVATION ACT WHICH WILL BE
ON THE FLOOR NEXT WEEK.
IT AUTHORIZES KEY USER FEE
AGREEMENTS TO ENSURE TIMELY
APPROVAL OF MEDICAL PRODUCTS.
WE STREAMLINE THE DEVICE
APPROVAL PROCESS WHILE ENHANCING
PATIENT PROTECTIONS.
WE MODERNIZE F.D.A.'S GLOBAL
DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN AUTHORITY.
WE SPUR INNOVATION AND
INCENTIVES FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT
FOR LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS.
THE BILL REAUTHORIZES AND
IMPROVES INCENTIVES FOR
PEDIATRIC TRIALS.
IT HELPS PREVENT AND MITIGATE
DRUG SHORTAGES, DRUG SHORTAGES.
AND IT INCREASES F.D.A.'S
VERY
IMPORTANTLY, IT'S TRANSPARENCY.
SO, MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH THIS
BIPARTISAN BILL I THINK THAT WE
HAVE A BILL, I HOPE, THAT WE
CAN ALL SUPPORT AND THAT WE CAN
MOVE IT FORWARD EXPEDITIOUSLY.
NEITHER DEMOCRATS NOR
REPUBLICANS GOT EVERYTHING THEY
WANTED.
ON EVERY ISSUE WE SOUGHT
CONSENSUS.
AND WHERE WE COULD NOT ACHIEVE
CONSENSUS WE DID NOT ALLOW OUR
DIFFERENCES TO DEFLECT US FROM
THE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT GOAL OF
PRODUCING A BILL THAT EVERYONE
COULD SUPPORT.
AS A RESULT, THIS IS A TRULY
BIPARTISAN BILL AND IT'S BROADLY
SUPPORTED BY THE PATIENT GROUPS
THIS IS A CHART JUST SHOWING,
WE HAVE OVER 100 -- 100
DIFFERENT ASSOCIATIONS AND
GROUPS, PATIENT GROUPS,
CONSUMER GROUPS, PHARMACEUTICAL
GROUPS, RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS
ALL OVER AMERICA THAT HAVE COME
IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
SO EVERYONE FROM THE
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, YOUR
DRUGSTORES, RESEARCH
INSTITUTIONS, CONSUMER
ORGANIZATIONS ALL NOW HAVE
SUPPORTED THIS BILL TO
REAUTHORIZE OUR USER FEE
AGREEMENTS.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED THAT TODAY
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ISSUED
AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF
FINANCIAL POLICY ASSERT --
ADMINISTRATION POLICY ASSERTING
THAT -- QUOTE -- "THE
ADMINISTRATION STRONGLY SUPPORTS
PASSAGE OF S. 3187.
LASTLY, LET ME MENTION THAT THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
SCORED THE BILL AS FULLY PAID
FOR, ESTIMATES THAT THE
LEGISLATION WOULD REDUCE THE
DEFICIT BY $363 MILLION OVER THE
NEXT TEN YEARS.
SO, AGAIN, NOT ONLY ARE WE
PATIENTS' RIGHTS AND
PROTECTIONS, WE'RE ENSURING A
BETTER INTEGRITY FOR THE DRUG
SUPPLY CHAIN.
AS WE KNOW, MORE THAN 80% OF
THE PRODUCTS THAT GO INTO OUR
DRUGS MANUFACTURED IN THIS
COUNTRY COME FROM ABROAD.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY STORIES
WRITTEN, MANY TELEVISION
INVESTIGATIVE STORIES INCLUDED,
ON PROBLEMS IN THAT DRUG SUPPLY
CHAIN.
WELL, THIS BILL ENHANCES OUR
ABILITY TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY
OF THAT DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN FROM
WHERE THEY GET THE RAW MATERIALS
TO WHERE THEY PUT IT TOGETHER IN
THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO THIS BILL, AS I SAID,
IS -- NOT ONLY DOES IT DO GOOD
FOR OUR PATIENTS, WE ENHANCE
F.D.A.'S AUTHORITY TO STREAMLINE
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING
DRUGS TO MARKET IN MORE RAPID
ORDER.
AND WE SAVE $363 MILLION OVER
TEN YEARS DOING IT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING
THE F.D.A. SAFETY AND INNOVATION
ACT TO THE FLOOR IN A FEW DAYS.
THE HOUSE HAS HAD A SIMILAR
BIPARTISAN PROCESS, THEY'RE
SCHEDULED TO TAKE UP THEIR
VERSION OF THE BILL ALSO NEXT
WEEK.
IF THE SENATE ACTS QUICKLY I'M
CONFIDENT WE CAN GO TO
CONFERENCE, GET A FINAL BILL ON
THE PRESIDENT'S DESK THIS
TO THAT END, I'M HOPEFUL AND
CONFIDENT WE CAN MOVE WITHOUT
THE BILL.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SO.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MUST-PASS
LEGISLATION.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE
F.D.A., TO THE INDUSTRY, AND
TO OUR PATIENTS TO GET THIS
DONE.
SO I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
TO JOIN IN THE BIPARTISAN SPIRIT
OF COOPERATION THAT WE HAVE
ENGINEERED AND WITNESSED IN THE
YEAR.
LET US COME TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE, LET'S
GET THIS LEGISLATION ON THE
FLOOR, PASS IT, WHICH IS OF
SUCH CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH THAT I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE QUORUM CALL IN
PROGRESS BE VITIATED.
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE
COULD SOME COMING DOWN FROM THE
OTHER SIDE WHO WANT TO SPEAK, SO
I JUST ASK THAT I BE RECOGNIZED
FOR UP TO 15 MINUTES AS IF IN
MORNING BUSINESS.
OBJECTION.
ALL RIGHT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, TODAY I WANT TO
EXPOSE A FAR-LEFT ENVIRONMENTAL
AGENDA THAT'S BEING IMPOSED UPON
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BY
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND A LOT OF HIS
IT COMES AT THE SAME TIME THAT
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS
FOCUSING ON DRAMATICALLY REDUCED
CUTS IN THE MILITARY.
AS RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE
PUBLIC WORKS AND SENIOR MEMBER
OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE,
STOPPING THE RADICAL GLOBAL
WARMING AGENDA AS WELL AS
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DEVASTATING
CUTS TO OUR MILITARY HAVE BEEN
THE TOP PRIORITIES.
THAT'S ALL I'VE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF
MONTHS.
I'VE HAD A GROWING CONCERN ABOUT
HOW PRESIDENT OBAMA'S GLOBAL
WARMING AGENDA IS HARMING OUR
MILITARY, BUT THE REMARKS
RECENTLY MADE BY SECRETARY
PANETTA HAVE LED ME TO COME HERE
AND KIND OF MAKE A FEW
STATEMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THIS
ABOUT SECRETARY PANETTA.
I SERVED WITH HIM FOR FIVE YEARS
OVER IN THE HOUSE.
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO HE AND I
BECAME VERY CLOSE FRIENDS.
TPH-FBG, I REJOICED WHEN HE WAS
NOMINATED AND WE CONFIRMED HIM
AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.
SO I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED
TO SEE THAT HE WAS WASTING HIS
VALUABLE TIME PERPETRATING THE
PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL WARMING
FANTASIES AND HIS WAR ON
AFFORDABLE ENERGY WHICH OCCURRED
NO LESS AT A GATHERING OF
RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS.
THAT'S WHERE THE STATEMENT WAS
SECRETARY PANETTA SAID -- AND I
QUOTE -- "IN THE 21st CENTURY,
REALITY IS THAT THERE ARE
ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS THAT
CONSTITUTE THREATS TO OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY AND VOWED THAT
THE PENTAGON WOULD TAKE A
LEADING ROLE IN SHIFTING THE WAY
THAT THE -- THE WAY THAT THE
U.S. USES ITS ENERGY."
EVERY TALKING POINT THAT
SECRETARY PANETTA USED IN HIS
SPEECH, FROM RISING SEA LEVELS
TO SEVERE DROUGHTS, TO THE
SO-CALLED PLIGHT OF THE POLAR
BEAR, ALL OF THESE -- I WON'T GO
INTO THEM ONE AT A TIME -- THESE
CAME OUT OF AL GORE'S SCIENCE
TOTALLY REBUKED.
IN REALITY, IT IS PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S WAR ON AFFORDABLE ENERGY
THAT'S HAVING A DRAMATIC IMPACT
ON OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, A WAR
THAT IS FURTHER DEPLETING AND
ALREADY STRETCHED MILITARY
BUDGET AND PUTTING OUR TROOPS AT
RISK.
SECRETARY PANETTA MADE ANOTHER
REVEALING STATEMENT IN
JUSTIFYING THE PRESIDENT'S GREEN
AGENDA AS "THE HILL" REPORTED --
QUOTE THIS NOW,
THIS WAS JUST IN ABOUT TWO
EDITIONS AGO IN "THE HILL"
MAGAZINE.
"AS OIL PRICES CONTINUE TO
SKYROCKET, THE DEPARTMENT NOW
FACES A SHORTFALL SUCCEEDING $3
BILLION OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED
FUEL COSTS THIS YEAR.
ACCORDING TO PAN NET TAXER IN
ORDER TO DIG ITS -- PANETTA, IN
ORDER TO DIG ITS WAY OUT OF THAT
FINANCIAL HOLE, D.O.D. HAS NO
CHOICE BUT TO LOOK TO
ALTERNATIVE FUEL TECHNOLOGIES.
THE PENTAGON OFFICIALS PLAN TO
INVEST MORE THAN $1 BILLION INTO
DEVELOPING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES IN
FISCAL YEAR 2013."
I MIGHT ADD THAT'S $1 BILLION
THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE SPENT ON
DEFENDING AMERICA.
ENERGY PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED
BECAUSE OF THE POLITICS OF THIS
THEY HAVE OPENLY ADMITTED, THE
SECRETARY OF -- ENERGY SECRETARY
STEVEN CHU SAID THAT -- QUOTE --
"SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO BOOST THE PRICE OF
GASOLINE TO THE LEVELS IN
WE ALL KNOW WHY HE MADE THAT
BACK IN 2008.
AND IT WAS OBAMA'S STATEMENT
THAT SAID -- QUOTE -- "UNDER HIS
CAP AND TRADE, WHICH IS WHAT
THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT,
ELECTRICITY PRICES WOULD
NECESSARILY SKYROCKET."
BECAUSE DOMESTIC ENERGY PRICES
HAVE SKYROCKETED UNDER HIS
ADMINISTRATION, JUST AS THEY
WANTED THEM TO DO, SECRETARY
PANETTA WANTS THE MILITARY TO GO
GREEN INSTEAD OF SPENDING SCARCE
RESOURCES GREENING THE MILITARY,
THE COMMONSENSE SOLUTION IS
SIMPLE, TO BEGIN DEVELOPING OUR
RESOURCES.
SECRETARY PANETTA'S COMMENTS
CAME JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
IS TO BEGIN THE MARKUP OF THE
BEGINNING OF THE, THIS COMING
YEAR'S DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
I'LL BE TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE COMMITTEE TO PUT THE
SPOTLIGHT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
FORCING HIS COSTLY GREEN AGENDA
ON THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
WHILE HE'S TAKING DOWN THE
BUDGET FOR THE DEFENSE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO INTRODUCING A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS THAT WILL
PUT A STOP TO THIS NONSENSE AND
HELP ENSURE THAT SECRETARY
PANETTA HAS THE TOOLS THAT HE
I COULD ASSURE YOU THAT, BECAUSE
I KNOW HIM WELL, THAT THIS WAS A
SCRIPT THIS CAME OFF OF.
AS PART OF EFFORT, I'M RELEASE
AGO DOCUMENT PUT TOGETHER BY THE
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
THAT PUTS A PRICE TAG ON HOW
MUCH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PROVIDES GLOBAL WARMING
I'LL BE DISCUSSING THIS.
WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA, RUNNING
FOR REELECTION AND PRETENDING TO
BE FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE ENERGY
APPROACH, SECRETARY PANETTA'S
COMMENTS ARE SURPRISING BUT THEY
ARE STILL ALSO ILLUMINATING.
SECRETARY PANETTA IN HIS
COMMITMENT FOR $1 BILLION OF
ALTERNATIVE FUELS MAKES THAT
CLEAR, DESPITE THE PRESIDENT'S
IN RHETORIC FOR
HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN HE
REMAINS DETERMINED TO IMPLEMENT
HIS ALL-OUT ATTACK ON
TRADITIONAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
AND THE MILITARY IS ONE PLACE
WHERE HE CAN FORCE THAT
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GREEN
EXPERIMENT USING OUR MILITARY.
TO SHOW JUST HOW EGREGIOUS THIS
WHOLE THING IS, LET ME SPEND
JUST A SECOND HERE DOCUMENTING
HOW BADLY PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS
TO TAKE DOWN THE MILITARY FOR
THE BENEFIT OF HIS GREEN AGENDA.
OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, D.O.D.
HAS BEEN FORCED TO DRASTICALLY
CUT ITS PERSONNEL, THE NUMBER OF
BRIGADE COMBAT TEAMS, TACTICAL
FIGHTERS, AIRCRAFT, AIRLIFT
CAPABILITIES, IT'S ELIMINATING
OR POSTPONING PROGRAMS SUCH AS
THE C-17, THE C-22, THE GLOBAL
HAWK, THE C-131 AVIONICS PACKAGE
WHICH WE DESPERATELY NEED, AND
THE MODERNIZATION AND THE
ADVANCEMENT OF THE F-35.
THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE
ON THE DRAWING BOARD, AND
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE
CARRY THESE THROUGH TO FRUITION.
EVEN MORE CONCERNING, THESE CUTS
COULD GO EVEN DEEPER BECAUSE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE FAILED TO REPORT
LEGISLATION LAST FALL -- AND WE
ALL REMEMBER THIS -- IT WOULD
HAVE REDUCED THE DEFICIT BY AT
LEAST $1.2 TRILLION OVER THE
NEXT TEN YEARS.
THE PENTAGON'S BUDGET COULD BE
CUT BY AN ADDITIONAL $495
BILLION BETWEEN 2013 AND 2021.
THAT IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE
DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO THINGS,
NOT JUST DEGRADING THE MILITARY
BUT OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS
TAKING A HALF TRILLION DOLLARS
OUT, AND IF SEQUESTRATION SHOULD
COME IN THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER
HALF TRILLION AND THAT WOULD BE
DEVASTATING TO THE MILITARY.
SECRETARY PANETTA RIGHTLY WARNED
US SUCH CUTS ARE GOING TO BE A
THREAT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY.
I'LL QUOTE HIM NOW.
HE SAID UNFORTUNATELY WHILE
LARGE CUTS ARE BEING IMPOSED,
THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY
WOULD NOT BE REDUCED.
AS A RESULT WE WOULD HAVE TO
A NEW SECURITY
STRATEGY THAT ACCEPTED
SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF NOT MEETING
OUR DEFENSE NEEDS.
SEQUESTRATION BUDGET IS NOT ONE
I COULD RECOMMEND.
THAT'S A QUOTE BY SECRETARY
THE GENERAL DEMOCRAT
CIRCUMSTANCE CHAIRMAN OF THE
JOINT CHIEFS -- GENERAL DEMPSEY
WEIGHED IN AND SAID THE IMPACT
OF SEQUESTRATION IS NOT ONLY IN
ITS MAGNITUDE, IT'S IN WHAT IT
DOES.
WE LOSE CONTROL.
AS WE LOSE CONTROL, WE BECOME
OUT OF BALANCE.
WE WON'T HAVE THE MILITARY THIS
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ACCEPTING RISKS, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT LIVES.
RISKS EQUALS LIVES.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO FOR
THIS GREEN AGENDA?
THE REMARKS BY THE TOP D.O.D.
OFFICIALS MAKE PANETTA'S RECENT
GLOBAL WARMING SPEECH AT ODDS
WITH SOLVING OUR MILITARY'S
BUDGET PROBLEMS, EVEN AS
SECRETARY PANETTA EXPRESSES
CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF
THESE CUTS ON NATIONAL SECURITY,
HE IS OPENLY SUPPORTING
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FORCING D.O.D.
TO EXPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF
RESOURCES ON EXPENSIVE
ALTERNATIVE FUELS.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, AND
THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE SECRETARY
PANETTA'S GLOBAL WARMING REMARKS
WERE WRITTEN BY SOMEONE IN THE
WHITE HOUSE TO APPEASE THE
RADICAL LEFT AND NOT SECRETARY
PANETTA.
THAT.
THAT AFTER SEEING HOW SEVERE
THESE CUTS AT D.O.D. WILL BE,
HOW COULD ANYONE JUSTIFY THIS
SO-CALLED GREENING OF THE
CONSIDER, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
NAVY'S PLAN TO SAIL ITS GREEN
FLEET STRIKE GROUP POWERED BY
ALTERNATIVE FUELS BY 2016, THE
SUCCESS OF THIS GREEN FLEET IS
PREDICATED UPON BIOFUEL.
MUCH OF IT IS ALGAE-BASED,
BECOMING PRACTICAL AND
THEY'RE ASSUMING THAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE
IT WILL HAPPEN.
IN 2009 THE DEPARTMENT OF NAVY
PAID $424 A GALLON FOR 20,000
GALLONS OF BIODIESEL MADE FROM
ALGAE, WHICH WOULD SET A RECORD
FOR ALL-TIME COST OF FUEL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT'S PER
THAT WAS ON THE MARKET FOR $4 A
AND IT'S $424 A GALLON.
IN DECEMBER 2011, THE NAVY
PURCHASED 45,000 GALLONS OF
BIOFUEL AT $12 A GALLON -- $12
MILLION.
THAT WORKS OUT ABOUT $26 A
THIS PURCHASE IS PART OF A
LARGER DEAL IN WHICH THE NAVY
HAS PLEDGED TAXPAYER FUNDS OF
$170 MILLION AS THEIR SHARE OF A
$510 MILLION EFFORT TO CONSTRUCT
OR RETROFIT BIOFUEL REFINERIES
MARKET.
THIS BIOFUEL WILL BE MIXED WITH
CONVENTIONAL FUELS BY A 50-50
RATIO TO YIELD A BLEND THAT WILL
COST ROUGHLY $15 A GALLON.
ROUGHLY FOUR TIMES WHAT WE
SHOULD HAVE TO BE SPENDING.
KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE SAME
TIME WE'RE REJECTING SYSTEMS
THAT WERE ON THE, IN OUR PLANS
AND HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG PERIOD
OF TIME.
AS IF THE SERVICES ARE NOT
BY A SERIOUS
BUDGET CUTS, THE SECRETARY OF
NAVY ALSO DIRECTED THE NAVY AND
MARINE CORPS TO PRODUCE OR
CONSUME ONE GIGAWATT OF NEW
RENEWABLE ENERGY TO POWER NAVAL
INSTALLATIONS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
NOT EVERYONE AGREES THAT ENERGY
EFFICIENCY IN THE MILITARY IS A
WORTHY GOAL.
IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN A STRONG
SUPPORTER OF THE D.O.D.'S
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOLUTIONS
THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND THAT
MAKE SENSE, INCLUDING THE
INITIATIVES OF NONALGAE BIOFUELS
AND NATURAL GAS.
IN FACT, IN MY STATE OF
OKLAHOMA, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH
THE MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AND
OTHERS TO TAKE THAT LEADERSHIP
ROLE.
FORCING OUR MILITARY TO TAKE
MONEY AWAY FROM CORE PROGRAMS IN
ORDER TO INVEST IN UNPROVEN
TECHNOLOGIES AS PART OF A FAILED
CAP-AND-TRADE AGENDA IS NOT
REALLY WRONG.
IT'S RECKLESS.
I'M NOT ALONE IN SAYING THIS.
MY GOOD FRIEND SENATOR McCAIN
AGREES WITH ME ON THIS POINT.
LAST MONTH SENATOR McCAIN
CRITICIZED EARMARKS FOR
ALTERNATIVE-ENERGY RESEARCH IN
THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
WHICH COST THE TAXPAYERS $120
MILLION.
SENATOR McCAIN SAID -- I'M
QUOTING HIM NOW -- "WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT CUTTING THE ARMY
BY 100,000 PEOPLE, THE MARINES
BY 80,000 PEOPLE.
AND YET, WE NOW HAVE OUR ARMED
SERVICES IN THE BUSINESS OF
ADVANCED ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
RESEARCH.
THE ROLE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN
THE UNITED STATES IS NOT TO
ENGAGE IN ENERGY RESEARCH.
THE JOB OF ENERGY RESEARCH
SHOULD BE THAT OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY."
THAT'S WHERE IT BELONGS AND I
STATEMENT.
THE C.R.S. REPORT IS SIGNIFICANT
LARGELY DUE TO MY CONCERN ABOUT
GREEN SPENDING IN THE MILITARY.
I ASKED THE C.R.S. TO FIGURE OUT
HOW MUCH MONEY, HOW MUCH
TAXPAYER DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY
GOING TO, ARE BEING USED TO
ADVANCE THE GREEN AGENDA.
THE AMOUNT CAME OUT IN 2008,
$68.4 BILLION HAS BEEN USED TO
ADVANCE A GREEN AGENDA.
TO NAME A FEW OPTIONS, WE COULD
ADD, IF WE DIDN'T DO THAT, WE
COULD ADD $12.1 BILLION TO
MAINTAIN D.O.D. PROCUREMENT AT
FISCAL LEVELS OF 2012 AND ALLOW
OUR MILITARY TO CONTINUE TO
MODERNIZE ITS FLEET OF SHIPS,
ITS AIRCRAFT, GROUND VEHICLES.
WE CAN AVOID A DELAY IN THE OHIO
CLASS BALLISTIC MISSILE
SUBMARINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM,
AND IT GOES ON AND ON WHICH I'LL
HAVE AS PART OF THE RECORD.
INSTEAD OF FUNDING THESE
PRIORITIES, THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE HAS BEEN FORCED TO SPEND
VALUABLE RESOURCES ON RESEARCH
RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND
RENEWABLE ENERGY.
IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, EACH
BRANCH OF THE ARMED SERVICES AND
THE PENTAGON ITSELF WAS GIVEN
$75 MILLION TOTAL OF $300
MILLION TO RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT
AND EVALUATE PROJECTS THAT
ADVANCE ENERGY-EFFICIENT
PROGRAMS.
IN TOTAL, SINCE 2008, D.O.D. HAS
SPENT AT LEAST $4 BILLION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE AND
ENERGY-EFFICIENT ACTIVITIES.
THE SAME $4 BILLION COULD HAVE
BEEN USED TO PURCHASE 30
BRAND-NEW F-35 JOINT STRIKE
FIGHTER, 28 NEW F-22 RAPTORS OR
COMPLETELY PAY FOR THE C-130
AVIATION PROGRAM, AVIONICS
PROGRAM WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
FOR A MINUTE I'LL TURN TO THE
ARGUMENT THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND THE FAR LEFT HAVE BEEN USING
TO JUSTIFY IN MISSION TO GO
THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT WE NEED TO
TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL
ONE THING THAT WE DO KNOW AND IT
IS A FACT, WE HAVE -- AND I
DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE OUT
THERE WHO'S DISAGREEING OR
ARGUING WITH THIS.
WE HAVE MORE RESERVES IN OIL,
GAS, AND COAL -- THESE ARE
RECOVERABLE RESERVES I'M TALKING
THE WORLD.
AND I -- WHEN YOU STOP AND YOU
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT ON THIS WAR THAT
THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD ON
FOSSIL FUELS, IT'S BEEN THAT ON
ONE THING PEOPLE UNDERSTAND,
THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN THIS
BODY OR ANYONE ELSE THAT I'VE
FOUND IN AMERICA THAT DOESN'T --
DIDN'T LEARN BACK IN THE
ELEMENTARY DAYS ABOUT SUPPLY AND
SO WE HAVE ALL OF THIS VAST
SUPPLY.
THE GOVERNMENT WON'T LET US
DEVELOP OUR OWN SUPPLY.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS JUST --
IT'S LUDICROUS.
WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD WHERE THAT'S A PROBLEM.
NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE FACT
THAT WE CANNOT USE OUR RESOURCES
-- DEVELOP OUR OWN RESOURCES, WE
KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER AGAIN
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING.
THEY'RE SAYING, WELL, IF WE WERE
TO EVEN OPEN UP OUR PUBLIC LANDS
TO DEVELOPMENT, TO DRILLING AND
TO PRODUCING, IT WOULD TAKE TEN
YEARS BEFORE THAT WOULD REACH
THE ECONOMY.
I KNOW MY TIME IS SHORT HERE, SO
I'M HAVING TO SHORTCUT THIS.
I'VE TALKED TO HAROLD HAMM FROM
OKLAHOMA.
HE ACTUALLY WAS UP IN NORTH
DAKOTA RIGHT NOW AND HE'S DOING
INCREDIBLE THINGS IN DEVELOPING
SHALE AND DEVELOPING GAS AND OIL
TO RUN THIS COUNTRY.
AND SO WE HAVE NOW SHALL, WHEN I
ASKED HIM THE QUESTION, I SAID,
YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I SAID, I'M GOING TO USE YOUR
NAME IN QUOTING.
HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE IF YOU
WERE SET UP IN NEW MEXICO AND
ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WOULD LIFT
THE BAN, IN ORDER FOR THAT TO
REACH THE ***?
ME TO REACH THE PUMP?
HE SAID IT WOULD BE 70 DAYS.
IT ONLIATION 10 DAYS TO GO
THROUGH THE REFINING PROCESS AND
REACH THE PUMP.
SO IT IS SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
WE HAVE THAT AND WEERKD NOT BE
I AM GOING TO GIVE MY WHOLE
STATEMENT AS PART OF THE RECORD
THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH MONEY WE'RE
SPENDING IN THE MILITARY TO
PRESIDENT.
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: MAY I INTERRUPT FOR
ONE MOMENT?
YEAH.
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
I JUST WANTED
TO CONFIRM THAT THE OFFERED
PROCEEDING IS GOING TO BE
SENATOR FRANKEN IS GOING TO
SPEAK AND THEN I WILL SPEAK FOR
A FEW MOMENTS AFTER SENATOR
FRANKEN, AND I KNOW THAT THE
PRESIDING OFFICER IS TO BE
EXCUSED VERY SHORTLY.
YOU COULD SPEAK
NOW --
I WOULD ASK
CONSENT THAT I FOLLOW SENATOR
FRANKEN AND WE WILL SEE TO IT
THAT THE PRESIDING OFFICER IS
EXCUSED FIPPLE TIMELY AT 4:00.
OBJECTION.
I THANK THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE BLOCKED
A VOTE THAT WOULD HAVE EASED THE
BURDEN OF DEBT FOR MILLIONS OF
COLLEGE STUDENTS IN MINNESOTA
AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS DISAGREED
WITH US ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO
PAY FOR THIS LEGISLATION, SO A
MINORITY OF SENATORS KEPT US
FROM HELPING MILLIONS OF
FAMILIES AND TAKING A STEP
TOWARD KEEPING OUR NATION'S
WORKFORCE DPLOABLLYWORKFORCE GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE.
BUT, MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS
DEBATE IS NOT JUST ABOUT HELPING
STUDENTSSTUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE TWO COMPETING
PROPOSALS TO PAY FOR THIS
CRITICAL LEGISLATION.
I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR
NATIONAL PRIORITIES AND OUR
NATIONAL VALUES.
NOW, ON ONE SIDE, THE DEMOCRATIC
PROPOSAL WOULD CLOSE A LOOPHOLE
THAT ALLOWS SOME OF THE
WEALTHIEST AMERICANS TO AVOID
PAYING TAXES THAT THEY SHOULD
OWE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THIS FIX WOULD ONLY APPLY -- OUR
FIX WOULD ONLY APPLY TO
AMERICANS MAKING OVER $200,000 $250,000 A
YEAR AND WOULD NOT CREATE ANY
NEW TAXES ON INDIVIDUALS OR
BUSINESSES.
IT WOULD JUST CLOSE A LOOPHOLE
THAT ALLOWS HIGH-INCOME PEOPLE
TO GET OUT OF PAYING TAXES THAT
EVERYONE ELSE IN AMERICA IS
ALREADY EXPECTED TO PAY.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
YOU SEE, SOME PEOPLE MAKING A
LOT OF MONEY TALK TO THEIR
ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX LAWYERS WHO
HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THE LAW
WAS WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT
YOU COULD USE AN "S" CORPORATION
TO GET AROUND PAYING SOME OF
YOUR PAYROLL TAXES.
PAYROLL TAXES ARE YOUR SOCIAL
SECURITY TAXES AND YOUR MEDICARE
TAXES.
NOW, "S" CORPORATIONS ARE
BASICALLY A PASS-THRU.
WHATEVER PROFITS YOUR COMPANY
MAKES, YOU JUST AT THE END OF
THE YEAR PASS IT TO YOU AND
CLAIM IT AS INCOME, AND YOU PAY
REGULAR INCOME TAXES ON IT.
IT'S INCOME.
BUT ALTHOUGH THE LAW WAS NEVER
INTENDED TO ALLOW THIS, THIS IS
THE LOOPHOLE:
YOU CAN PAY YOURSELF AN
ARTIFICIALLY LOW AMOUNT OF MONEY
SOMETIME EARLIER IN THE YEAR
ANDY ACALL THAT A SALARY -- SAY,
$40,000 -- AND THUS YOU'LL PAY
ENOUGH TO QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL
SECURITY LATER WHEN YOU RETIRE.
AND YOU'LL ONLY PAY FICA ON THIS
BUT THEN YOU TAKE -- AT THE END
OF THE YEAR YOU TAKE THE REST OF
THE BUSINESS'S PROFITS AS
IS CONSIDERED
OKAY?
THE AMOUNT.
THIS IS -- THAT'S THE LOOPHOLE.
YOU STILL PAY INCOME TAX ON IT
BECAUSE IT'S INCOME.
BUT BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT IN
THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN --
THIS WAS NOT INTENDED -- YOU
AVOID PAYING FICA TAXES ON THE
PART YOU DIDN'T INITIALLY CALL
SALARY.
ALL OF THE MONEY POCKETED, BOTH
THE SO-CALLED SALARY AND THE
PROFIT AT THE END OF THE YEAR,
AGAIN, IS INCOME -- IT'S INCOME.
IT'S NOT CAPITAL GAINS.
SO YOU SHOULD BE PAYING, LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE, MEDICARE TAXES
ON ALL OF IT AND SOCIAL SECURITY
TO $110,000.
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
THERE'S SIMPLY NO EXCUSE -- NO
REASON -- FOR NOT PAYING TAXES,
PAYING YOUR FICA TAXES ON THE
$110 FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE
REST AND ALL YOUR INCOME FOR
MEDICARE, EXCEPT FOR AN ANOMALY
THAT WAS CONSENTLY ACCIDENTALLY WRITTEN
INTO THE CODE.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE TYPE OF
LOOPHOLE WE SHOULD BE CLOSING.
I.T.CLOSING
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CONGRESS
CREATED INTENTIONALLY FOR A
REASON, TO HELP PEOPLE BUY HOMES
OR TO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
THERE IS NO REASON THAT THIS
LOOPHOLE EXISTS.
THERE IS NO PURPOSE TO IT.
THERE IS NO REASONING TO KEEP IT
THERE.
SO THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATION
WOULD CLOSE THAT LOOPHOLE FOR
THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAKING MORE
THAN $250,000 IN A YEAR.
AND WE WOULD USE THAT SAVINGS TO
PREVENT THE DOUBLING OF INTEREST
THAT STUDENTS PAY ON
STAFFORD-SUBSIDIZED LOANS.
BY CONTRAST, THE REPUBLICAN
PROPOSAL WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE
A FEW WEEKS AGO WOULD ELIMINATE
THE PREVENTION IN PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND, WHICH IS OUR NATIONAL
INVESTMENT IN PREVENTIVE HEALTH
CARE.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD UNDERMINE
THE HEALTH OF OUR NATION BY
CUTTING FUNDING FOR CANCER
AM -- CHILD
IMMUNIZATIONS AND DIABETES
PREVENTION, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
AND IT WOULD BE FISCALLY
IRRESPONSIBLE TO BOOT, SINCE
ACCORDING TO A STUDY FOR THE
TRUST FOR AMERICA'S HEALTH,
EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN PROVEN
COMMUNITY-BASED DISEASE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS YIELDS A
RETURN OF $5.60.
MY HOME STATE OF MINNESOTA LEADS
THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO
PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY, LOW-COST
HEALTH CARE.
SO WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO
REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF
MINNESOTA, I PUT TOGETHER A
SERIES OF ROUND TABLES WITH
EXPERTS AROUND MINNESOTA TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM.
I HEARD THE SAME THING FROM
LEADING NATIONAL EXPERTS AT THE
MAYO CLINIC, THE UNIVERSITY OF
MINNESOTA, FROM PROVIDERS, FROM
DOCTORS, FROM PEOPLE IN PUBLIC
AND RURAL HEALTH AND
INSURANCE -- EVERYONE SAID THE
SAME THING:
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH
A POUND OF CURE.
THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IF WE
CATCH CANCER EARLY, A PATIENT
WILL BE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO MAKE
A FULL RECOVERY.
IF EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO
IMMUNIZATION, WE'LL PREVENT
OUTBREAKS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
AND OUR KIDS WILL GROW UP
STRONGER AND HEALTHIER.
AND IF WE CAN PREVENT INTUN FROM SOMEONE
FROM GETTING DIABETES, THEY'LL
BE HEALTHIER THAN IF WE PAY THE
UNTIL THEY HAVE IT AND THEN
TREAT THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR
NOT ONLY WILL PEOPLE BE
HEALTHIER IF WE PREVENT DISEASE,
BUT WE WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY,
TOO.
THAT'S WHY THE HEALTH CARE LAW
INCLUDED THE PREVENTION IN
PUBLIC HEALTH FUND.
IS ALREADY INVESTING IN
COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS LIKE
THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM,
A PROGRAM THAT *** LUGAR AND I
FOUGHT TO INCLUDE IN THE HEALTH
CARE LAW.
THIS PROGRAM WAS PILOT-TESTED BY
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
AND PREVENTION IN ST. PAUL,
MINNESOTA, AND IN INDIANAPOLIS.
IT INVOLVES STRUCTURED NUTRITION
CLASSES FOR 16 WEEKS, AND 16
WEEKS OF EXERCISE AT
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE THE YMCA, WITH PEOPLE WHO
HAVE PREDIABETES.
AND, GUESS WHAT?
THE PROGRAM -- THE DIABETES
PREVENTION PROGRAM -- HAS BEEN
SHOWN TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD
THAT SOMEONE WITH PREDIABETES
WILL BE DIAGNOSED WITH
FULL-BLOWN TYPE-2 DIABETES BY
NEARLY 60% -- BY NEARLY 60%.
THOSE ARE PRETTY GOOD ODDS.
AND THE PROGRAM DOESN'T JUST
MAKE PEOPLE HEALTHIER.
IT ALSO SAVING SAVES FEN SAVES MONEY.
THE DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM,
THE PROGRAM I JUST DESCRIBED,
COSTS ABOUT $300 PER PARTICIPANT
AS COMPARED TO TREATING TYPE-2
DIABETES, WHICH COSTS MORE THAN
$6,500 EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THAT'S WHY UNITED HEALTH, THE
LARGEST PRIVATE INSURER IN THE
COUNTRY THAT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE
HEADQUARTERED IN MINNESOTA, IS
ALREADY PROVIDING THE PROGRAM TO
ITS BENEFICIARIES.
IN FACT, THE C.E.O. OF UNITED
HEALTH TOLD ME THAT FOR EVERY
DOLLAR THEY INVEST IN THE
DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM,
SAVE $4 IN HEALTH CARE
LATER ON.
THE MONEY IN THE PREVENTION IN
PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM AND THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS THERE TO
SCALE YOU UP IN PROGRAM AROUND THE
COUNTRY SO EVERYBODY IN THE
COUNTRY, EVERY PRE-- PERSON THAT
HAS PREDIABETES CAN HAVE
AVAILABILITY TO MAKE -- IT CAN
BE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THIS HOMEGROWN PROGRAM IS
EXACTLY WHAT THE PREVENTION IN
PUBLIC HEALTH FUND WAS DESIGNED
TO SUPPORT.
IT.
IN MINNESOTA THE FUND HAS GONE
ON -- HAS GONE TO SUPPORT
TOBACCO CESSATION PROGRAMS.
IT'S HELP PREVENT INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
AND IT HAS EXPANDED OUR
WORKFORCE.
I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE
WORTHWHILE
INVESTMENTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF MY
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE ARE TRYING TO END THIS
IMPORTANT WORK, CALLING THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND A WASTE OF MONEY, OR
WORSE.
AND JUST LAST WEEK ONE OF MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR
INACCURATELY CLAIMED THAT --
QUOTE -- "A HEALTH CLINIC WAS
USING THE FUND TO SPAY AND
NEUTER PETS."
LET ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH THAT MY
FRIEND ACCUSED OF USING
PREVENTION FUNDS TO PAY TO SPAY
PETS HAS NOT AND WILL NOT SPEND
PREVENTION FUND MONEY FOR THIS
PURPOSE.
I JUST ASK THAT IN THESE DEBATES
WE REALLY CONFINE OURSELVES TO
FACTS.
YOU KNOW, THIS ALL COMES DOWN
TO PRIORITIES.
MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WOULD RATHER CUT THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND THAN CLOSE A TAX LOOPHOLE
FOR WEALTHY AMERICANS, WHICH
SERVES ABSOLUTELY NO PURPOSE.
IN FACT, THEY'D RATHER KEEP US
FROM VOTING ON A BILL TO EASE
THE BURDEN OF DEBT FOR STUDENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAN CLOSE
THIS LOOPHOLE.
I HEAR SOMETIMES TALK ABOUT
CLOSING LOOPHOLES SO WE CAN
BRING THE MARGINAL RATE DOWN.
IF YOU CAN'T CLOSE THIS LOOPHOLE
WHICH HAS NO PURPOSE, I DON'T
SEE ANY LOOPHOLE THAT WE CAN
POSSIBLY AGREE TO CLOSE.
SO I ASK MY FRIENDS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE JUST ONE
FAVOR.
TALK TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
TALK TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
SAVED FROM THE AFFLICTION OF
DIABETES OR WHO HAVE QUIT
SMOKING OR WHO HAVE IMMUNIZED
THEIR CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND.
TALK -- TALK TO YOUR STATE AND
LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHO
ARE WORKING TO PREVENT OUTBREAKS
OF THE NEXT DANGEROUS STRAIN OF
FLU, THANKS TO THE INFECTIOUS
DISEASE PREVENTION FUNDING.
AND STAND WITH ME IN SUPPORT OF
THE PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
FUND.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND WILL YIELD
TO MY FRIEND FROM RHODE ISLAND
AND I KNOW THAT THE PRESIDING
OFFICER MAY HAVE TO GO, SO I
YOU.
HOW'S THAT?
THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
LET ME THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
MINNESOTA FOR HIS COURTESY IN