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THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN DR. BARRY BLACK
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
ETERNAL LORD GOD,
OUR SHELTER
IN THE TIME OF STORM,
YOU HAVE GUIDED OUR NATION
SEASONS
OF DANGER AND DURESS.
IN THESE CHALLENGING
ECONOMIC TIMES,
GIVE OUR LAWMAKERS
THE WISDOM THEY NEED
TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS.
HELP THEM TO SEE
THAT WITHOUT
WISE AND PROMPT ACTIONS,
MULTITUDES WILL FACE
A FUTURE OF PRIVATION
AND UNCERTAINTY.
USE OUR SENATORS TODAY
TO MAKE AMERICA
ALL YOU INTEND FOR IT TO BE.
WE PRAY IN YOUR LOVING NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
ONE NATION
UNDER GOD,
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
OCTOBER 18, 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,
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES
OF THE CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL BE IN A
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS FOR
THE MAJORITY WILL CONTROL THE
SECOND HALF.
FOLLOWING THAT MORNING BUSINESS,
THE SENATE WILL RESUME
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2112.
WILL RECESS FROM
12:30 UNTIL 2:15 P.M. TODAY FOR
OUR WEEKLY CAUCUS MEETINGS.
WE'LL WORK ON AN AGREEMENT WITH
RESPECT TO PENDING AMENDMENTS TO
THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT'S
WE'LL NOTIFY SENATORS WHEN VOTES
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN PROCESS
SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE
NOW PENDING.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING SENATOR
McCAIN IS COMING TODAY TO
OFFER A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
SENATOR McCONNELL AND OTHERS
TO MOVE THE PROCESS ALONG AS
QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
THERE ARE FIVE BILLS AT THE DESK
DUE FOR A SECOND READING.
THE CLERK
WILL READ THE BILLS FOR THE
SECOND TIME.
H.R. 2250, AN ACT TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE
PROTECTION AGENCY AND SO FORTH.
H.R. 2273, AN ACT TO AMEND SUB
TITLE D OF THE SOLID WASTE
DISPOSAL ACT AND SO FORTH.
S. 1720, A BILL TO PROVIDE
AMERICAN JOBS THROUGH ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
S. 1723, A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR
TEACHER AND FIRST RESPONDER
STABILIZATION.
S. 1726, A BILL TO REPEAL THE
IMPOSITION OF WITHHOLDING ON
CERTAIN PAYMENTS MADE TO VENDORS
BY GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD
OBJECT TO ANY FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WITH RESPECT TO EACH
OF THESE BILLS.
OBJECTIONS HAVING BEEN HEARD,
THE BILLS WILL BE PLACED ON THE
CALENDAR UNDER RULE 14.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
AMERICA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS
LITERALLY UNDER SIEGE.
THIS TERRIBLE RECESSION THAT
WE'RE INVOLVED IN HAS PUT
MILLIONS OF FAMILIES IN OUR
COUNTRY IN A DESPERATE ECONOMIC
SITUATION.
IT'S ALSO PUT OUR SCHOOLS AT
RISK.
SINCE 2008, WE HAVE LOST 300,000
EDUCATION JOBS, 200,000 IN THE
LAST YEAR ALONE.
WITHOUT TALENTED, DEDICATED
TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF, OUR
SCHOOLS CANNOT PROVIDE THE
WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION STUDENTS
NEED TO SUCCEED IN TODAY'S
DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CLIMATE.
AS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ARE FORCED TO SLASH EDUCATION
FUNDING AGAIN AND AGAIN, IT
JEOPARDIZES THE FUTURE OF
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN, REGARDLESS
OF WHERE THEY LIVE OR HOW MUCH
MONEY THEIR PARENTS MAKE.
NEVADA ALONE IS FACING A
$1.2 BILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL IN
2011, PRACTICALLY ENSURING
FURTHER CUTS TO STATE AND LOCAL
EDUCATION, BUT NEVADA CAN ILL
AFFORD TO LOSE MORE TEACHERS,
POLICE AND FIRST RESPONDERS.
THE STATE HAS ALREADY SLASHED
STATE EDUCATION FUNDING BELOW
PRE-RECESSION LEVELS.
ANY ADDITIONAL CUTS WILL PLACE
THOUSANDS OF NEVADA TEACHER JOBS
SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN NEVADA HAVE
ALREADY MADE DIFFICULT CUTS,
LAYING OFF TEACHERS, ELIMINATING
PROGRAMS, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF
HOURS CHILDREN SPEND IN SCHOOL.
THE STATE HAS DELAYED EXPANSION
OF ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN,
ELIMINATED RESOURCES FOR GIFTED
AND TALENTED PROGRAMS AND CUT A
MAGNET PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WHO
ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
ELIMINATED.
FURTHER CUTS WILL AFFECT THE
EDUCATION.
ALREADY, THE SCHOOL BOARD IN
COUNTRY COUNTY, LYON COUNTY, A
RURAL PART OF NEVADA, HAS
CONSIDERED MOVING TO A FOUR-DAY
SCHOOL WEEK.
STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES
ALREADY SPEND MUCH LESS TIME AT
SCHOOL THAN STUDENTS IN OTHER
COUNTRIES INCLUDING THOSE WITH
WHOM WE COMPETE FOR JOBS.
MOST AMERICAN PEOPLE SPEND A
MONTH LESS IN THE CLASSROOMS
THAN THOSE IN SOUTH KOREA AND
JAPAN WHOSE STUDENTS ARE AMONG
THE HIGHEST PERFORMING IN THE
WORLD.
AT A TIME WHEN NEVADANS ARE
COMPETING FOR JOBS WITH
GRADUATES FROM COUNTRIES AROUND
THE WORLD AS WELL AS THOSE IN
NEIGHBORING STATES, SCHOOL
DISTRICTS SHOULD BE FORCEED TO
MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THE ONE
FACING THE LYON COUNTY, NEVADA.
THE TEACHERS FIRST RESPONDERS
BACK TO WORK ACT FILED LAST
NIGHT AND LED BY SENATOR LENS
WILL ENSURE LYON COUNTY SCHOOL
DISTRICT WON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN LAYING TEACHERS OFF AND
REDUCING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT WILL PROTECT GAINS MADE BY
SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE THE ONE IN
WASHINGTON COUNTY WHICH
INCREASED ITS EDUCATION RATE
FROM 55% TO NEARLY 70%.
GRADUATION RATE
INCREASED FROM 55% TO NEARLY 70%
IN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN TWO
YEARS.
BUDGET CUTS WOULD THREATEN THAT
PROGRESS.
THE DISTRICT CAN'T EXPECT TO
IMPROVE ON THESE GAINS IF IT HAS
TO JAM MORE STUDENTS IN EVERY
CLASS AND LAY OFF LITERACY AND
MATH SPECIALISTS.
THE TEACHERS LEGISLATION THAT I
INTRODUCED LAST NIGHT WILL STEM
THE LOSS OF EDUCATION JOBS AND
HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS LIKE THEM
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL PROVIDE
NEVADA WITH AN ADDITIONAL
$260 MILLION TO KEEP TEACHERS IN
THE CLASSROOM AND MAINTAIN CLASS
SIZES.
IT WILL SUPPORT 3,600 EDUCATION
JOBS IN THE STATE AND GIVE THE
ECONOMY A JOLT, AND IT WILL NOT
INCREASE THE DEFICIT BY ONE
PENNY.
IT ASKS MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES TO CONTRIBUTE A
TINY FRACTION MORE TO HELP TURN
OUR ECONOMY AROUND.
THAT'S AN IDEA TWO-THIRDS OF
AMERICANS AND A MAJORITY OF EVEN
REPUBLICANS SUPPORT.
THIS NATION'S SCHOOLS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN HIT HARD BY STATE
AND LOCAL BUDGET CUTS.
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE MORE
TEACHERS OR TO LAY OFF MORE
POLICE OR FIRST RESPONDERS.
IN NEVADA, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
HAVE ALREADY MADE THE DIFFICULT
CHOICE TO CUT ALMOST 9,000 JOBS.
THESE UNPRECEDENTED LAYOFFS HAVE
EXTENDED THE RECESSION, SLOWED
RECOVERY IN NEVADA.
FURTHER BUDGET SHORTFALLS
THREATEN THOUSANDS MORE JOBS.
BUDGET CUTS WOULD COST AS MANY
AS 280,000 TEACHER JOBS NEXT
YEAR UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
THIS TEACHERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS LEGISLATION WILL
INVEST $30 BILLION TO CREATE OR
SAVE NEARLY 400,000 TEACHER
THAT IS THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO
BE LAID OFF THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OFF
AND HURT IN THE PAST YEARS.
THAT MONEY WILL HELP STATES AND
SCHOOL DISTRICTS STOP MORE
WE HAVE HAD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
TEACHERS LAID OFF SINCE THIS
WE WILL ALSO INVEST $5 BILLION
TO RETAIN AND REHIRE THE POLICE,
FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES
TIMES.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
THAT THE SENATE MOVE TO THIS AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
TEACHERS OUT OF WORK THROUGH NO
FAULT OF THEIR OWN AND STUDENTS
WHO DESPERATELY NEED A GOOD
EDUCATION ARE RELYING ON US TO
ACT.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
PRESIDENT.
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED
WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM
PRESIDENT, IT'S NO SECRET THAT
THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS
AREN'T HAPPY WITH WASHINGTON
RIGHT NOW.
THEY SAY THAT 13% OF THE PUBLIC
APPROVE OF CONGRESS, AND I
HAVEN'T MET ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE.
IT'S ALSO NO SECRET THAT THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
IS TRYING TO USE THIS
DISPLEASURE WITH WASHINGTON FOR
POLITICAL GAIN, AND I THINK
THAT'S A PRETTY SAD COMMENTARY
ON THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OVER AT
THE WHITE HOUSE LATELY.
AS THE ONLY PERSON ELECTED TO
REPRESENT EVERY AMERICAN, THE
PRESIDENT SHOULD SPEAK FOR ALL
AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES
OF CRISIS, NOT DIVIDE THEM FOR
SHORT-TERM PARTISAN POLITICAL
GAIN.
BUT IT IS PERFECTLY OBVIOUS WHY
THE PRESIDENT WOULD FIND THE
PATH OF DIVISION APPEALING,
BECAUSE ON THE NUMBER-ONE ISSUE
WE FACE, JOBS AND THE ECONOMY,
THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES HAVEN'T
WORKED AS ADVERTISED.
AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS IN
OFFICE, HE'S FAILED TO MAKE ANY
PROGRESS ON HIS PROMISES TO TURN
THE JOBS CRISIS AROUND, AND I
THINK YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH SUM UP
THAT FAILURE WITH A SINGLE
NUMBER -- 1.5 MILLION.
THAT'S HOW MANY FEWER JOBS THERE
ARE RIGHT NOW IN AMERICA SINCE
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED HIS FIRST
STIMULUS, ACCORDING TO THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION'S OWN LABOR
DEPARTMENT.
1.5 MILLION.
SO WHAT IS THE PRESIDENT TRYING
TO DO?
WELL, HE'S TRYING TO CHANGE THE
TOPIC.
HE WANTS TO DEFLECT ATTENTION
FROM THAT 1.5 MILLION JOB LOSS.
HE WANTS TO THINK THE PROBLEM
ISN'T HIS POLICIES.
IT'S THOSE MEAN REPUBLICANS IN
CONGRESS WHO OPPOSE IT.
BUT THE PRESIDENT BRINGS THINGS
OUT OF THE RE-ELECTION SCRIPT
TOUR.
FIRST OF ALL, IT WASN'T JUST THE
REPUBLICANS WHO DEFEATED HIS
LATEST STIMULUS BILL LAST WEEK.
THE ONLY REASON A MAJORITY OF
DEMOCRATS VOTED TO DEBATE IT IS
THEY KNEW THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO
VOTE ON IT.
THAT'S WHY THE MAJORITY LEADER
REPEATEDLY MOVED TO BLOCK A VOTE
ON THE MEASURE ITSELF, THE
ACTUAL PROPOSAL.
SECOND, WE'RE NOW LIVING UNDER
ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT PRESIDENT
OBAMA HIMSELF PUT IN PLACE.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU WILL
HEAR ON THE BUS TOUR, BUT LET'S
BE CLEAR.
THE PRESIDENT GOT EVERYTHING HE
WANTED FROM A
DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED CONGRESS
DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF
HIS PRESIDENCY.
THE PLACE.
NOW WE'RE LIVING WITH THE HARD
REALITIES THAT THOSE POLICIES
HAVE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON THE
AMERICAN WORKER, SO AT THIS
POINT, ANY TIME THE PRESIDENT
SAYS PASS THIS BILL, PEOPLE HAVE
A VERY GOOD REASON TO BE
SKEPTICAL, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T
THE FIRST TIME PRESIDENT OBAMA
DEMANDED THAT CONGRESS PASS WHAT
HE CALLS A JOBS BILL.
BUT IF THIS ONE WERE TO PASS AND
IT WORKED AS ADVERTISED, THEN IT
WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT DID.
AGAIN AND AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT'S
RESPONSE TO AMERICA'S ONGOING
JOBS CRISIS HAS BEEN TO INSIST
THAT CONGRESS PASS SOME URGENT
PIECE OF LEGISLATION RIGHT AWAY,
RESULT.
THOSE BILLS WERE SUPPOSED TO
CREATE JOBS AND PREVENT LAYOFFS
AS WELL, BUT HE KEEPS COMING
BACK FOR MORE.
I GUESS THE PRESIDENT IS
COUNTING ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
TO FORGET THAT PART.
HE'S COUNTING ON US TO FORGET
THE OTHER STIMULUS
LEGISLATION HE'S ALREADY SIGNED
INTO LAW AND THAT HAS FAILED TO
LIVE UP TO ITS HYPE EVERY SINGLE
TIME.
AGAIN AND AGAIN THE PRESIDENT
HAS DEMANDED CONGRESS DO
SOMETHING TO CREATE JOBS AND THE
ONLY THING WE SEEM TO END UP AT
THE END OF THE DAY IS MORE
DEBT, MORE GOVERNMENT, AND
FEWER JOBS.
SO LET'S JUST REVIEW THE RECORD
FOR A WHILE.
2 1/2 YEARS AGO PRESIDENT OBAMA
WENT DOWN TO FLORIDA AND SAID
THE FIRST STIMULUS, THE NEARLY
$1 TRILLION GOVERNMENT SPENDING
BILL HE SIGNED SHORTLY AFTER
TAKING OFFICE, WOULD SAVE OR
CREATE MILLIONS OF JOBS
INCLUDING JOBS FOR
FIREFIGHTERS, NURSES, POLICE
OFFICERS, AND TEACHERS.
WELL, WHAT HAPPENED?
THE STATES GOT THEIR BAILOUT,
THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
DIDN'T BUDGE, AND A YEAR AND A
HALF LATER THE PRESIDENT WAS
FOR ANOTHER ONE.
THAT'S RIGHT, A YEAR AND A HALF
AFTER THE FIRST STIMULUS, THE
WHITE HOUSE WAS BACK LAST AUGUST
SAYING THEY NEEDED ANOTHER
$26 BILLION RIGHT AWAY OR ELSE
160,000 TEACHERS WOULD GET PINK
SLIPS.
AND POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WOULD
LITERALLY BE OFF THE JOB.
AND WHAT HAPPENED THEN?
WELL, THE STATES GOT ANOTHER
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DIDN'T
AND NOW THE PRESIDENT'S RIDING
AROUND ON A BUS SAYING IF THEY
DON'T GET ANOTHER ONE,
TEACHERS, POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS WILL LOSE THEIR
JOBS AGAIN.
ANYBODY NOTICE A PATTERN HERE?
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR NEARLY
THREE YEARS NOW.
FOR THREE YEARS.
IT DOESN'T WORK AS ADVERTISED.
PROBLEM.
IN FACT, THEY PERPETUATE IT.
ALL WE GET FROM THE PRESIDENT
AND DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS IS DO
IT AGAIN, OR
ELSE.
WE'VE BEEN MIRED IN A JOBS
CRISIS FOR THREE LONG YEARS NOW.
AND ALL THE DEMOCRATS EVER WANT
TO DO IS TO THROW MORE TAXPAYER
MONEY AT IT.
AND IT NEVER WORKS THE WAY THEY
CLAIM IT WILL.
AND YET THEY WANT TO KEEP ON
DOING IT.
WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
JUST THROW ANOTHER BAILOUT
TOGETHER, SLAP THE WORD "JOBS"
ON THE COVER PAGE, AND DARE
PEOPLE TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
THAT'S APPARENTLY THE DEMOCRATS'
GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY.
THREE YEARS INTO THIS JOBS
CRISIS.
WELL, MADAM PRESIDENT, IT
IRRESPONSIBLE TO
OPPOSE AN APPROACH LIKE THIS.
IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO
CONSIDER IT.
IT DIDN'T WORK THE FIRST TIME,
IT DIDN'T WORK THE SECOND TIME,
AND THE THIRD TIME WON'T BE A
CHARM.
THAT'S WHY REPUBLICANS AND A
GROWING NUMBER OF OUR DEMOCRATIC
FRIENDS WANT A DIFFERENT
APPROACH.
THERE'S A GROWING BIPARTISAN
OPPOSITION TO TRYING THE SAME
FAILED POLICIES AGAIN.
AND THERE'S BIPARTISAN
OPPOSITION TO RAISING TAXES
ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN
14 MILLION AMERICANS ARE OUT OF
WORK.
I MEAN IF THERE'S ONE THING WE
SHOULD AGREE ON RIGHT NOW, WE
SHOULD BE MAKING IT EASIER FOR
BUSINESS TO HIRE, NOT HARDER.
SO THE PRESIDENT SHOULD DROP HIS
OBSESSION, HIS OBSESSION WITH
RAISING TAXES.
AND IF HE REALLY WANTS TO CREATE
SHOULD CONSIDER
DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WE'VE TRIED THE BAILOUT APPROACH
WE'VE TRIED MORE REGULATIONS,
MORE DEBT, MORE TAXES.
WHY DON'T WE TRY A NEW IDEA FOR
A CHANGE?
ONE THAT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
ONE THAT ISN'T A TWO-TIME PROVEN
FAILURE.
LET'S TRY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT
ACTUALLY WORK.
BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
DIDN'T SEND US HERE TO KICK OUR
PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD.
AND THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T SEND
US HERE TO REPEAT THE SAME
MISTAKES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND THEN STICK THEM AND THEIR
CHILDREN WITH THE TAB.
THAT MIGHT BE HOW YOU MAINTAIN A
SENSE OF URGENCY BY FAILING TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TWO
TIMES AROUND, BUT IT ISN'T HOW
YOU SOLVE A JOBS CRISIS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SIMPLY
THIS.
THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN FALSE
PROMISES THEY'VE BEEN GETTING.
THE PRESIDENT GOT EVERYTHING HE
WANTED FROM A DEMOCRATIC
CONGRESS FOR TWO YEARS,
EVERYTHING HE WANTED.
A HEALTH CARE LAW THAT WAS
DESIGNED TO TAKE OVER ONE-SIXTH
OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY, A
FINANCIAL REFORM BILL THAT
PUNISHESS WHICH BISES THAT HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL
CRISIS.
OUT-OF-CONTROL REGULATIONS THAT
ARE FORCING OTHERWISE HEALTHY
BUSINESSES TO SHUT DOWN,
BUSINESSES LIKE SMART PAPERS IN
HAMILTON, OHIO, A PAPER MILL
THAT SAID LAST WEEK IT'S
SHUTTING DOWN BECAUSE OF ONEROUS
NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT
MAKE IT TOO COSTLY TO DO
BUSINESS.
AND A TRILLION-DOLLAR SURPLUS
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO SOLVE THE
JOBS CRISIS TWO AND A HALF YEARS
FOR TWO YEARS, WHEN THE
PRESIDENT SAID PASS THIS BILL
AWAY, DEMOCRATS DID IT.
AND HERE'S WHAT THEY GOT DESPITE
ALL THE TRILLIONS IN DEBT AND
MORE THAN A MILLION AND A HALF
FEWER JOBS, THAT'S WHAT WE
GOT, TRILLIONS IN DEBT AND MORE
THAN A MILLION AND A HALF FEWER
JOBS AFTER THE PRESIDENT GOT
EVERYTHING HE WANTED FOR TWO
WHOLE YEARS.
WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE OF THAT.
WE CAN'T AFFORD MORE OF THE
SAME.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER THE LEADERSHIP
TIME IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS FOR ONE HOUR
WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
EACH WITH THE TIME EQUALLY
DIVIDE AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN
THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES WITH THE MAJORITY
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE
FINAL HALF.
THE SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
WOULD THE SENATOR
FROM NEW JERSEY YIELD?
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT I BE
ALLOWED TO FOLLOW THE SENATOR
FROM NEW JERSEY AFTER HIS
REMARKS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I RISE AS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF
THE TEACHER FIRST RESPONDER BACK
TO WORK ACT, AND I RISE IN
FAVOR OF JOBS, IN FAVOR OF
TEACHERS, IN FAVOR OF POLICE
OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS, OF
KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE,
AND THE PROMISE WE MADE TO FIRST
RESPONDERS AFTER SEPTEMBER 11.
NOW, WE HAVE A CHOICE AND I
LISTENED TO THE DISTINGUISHED
REPUBLICAN LEADER, BUT, YOU
KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING HOW
HISTORY CAN YOU VIEWED THROUGH
DIFFERENT LENSES.
WHY I FAILED TO HEAR WAS THE
CHALLENGES THAT THIS PRESIDENT
AND THIS COUNTRY INHERITED FROM
EIGHT YEARS OF POLICIES THAT LED
THE VERGE NOT OF
THE GREAT RECESSION WE HAVE BEEN
REFERRING TO BUT ON THE VERGE OF
A NEW DEPRESSION WHERE THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE
AND THE FORMER SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH
CAME BEFORE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AND SAID WE HAVE A SERIES OF
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ON THE
VERGE OF COLLAPSE, IF THEY
COLLAPSE, THEY'LL CREATE
SYSTEMIC RISK TO THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY'S ECONOMY AND EVERY
AMERICAN WILL FEEL THE
CONSEQUENCES OF IT.
AND THE RESULT OF THAT, OF
EIGHT YEARS OF LARGELY
UNREGULATED PROCESSES, CREATED
EXCESSES WHERE LARGE ENTITIES
MADE DECISIONS THAT ULTIMATELY
BECAME THE COLLECTIVE
RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERYBODY IN
THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE FAILURE TO
HAVE MET THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES
WOULD HAVE MEANT A COLLAPSE IN
THIS COUNTRY.
NOW, THERE ARE THOSE IN THE
SENATE WHO ADVOCATE GOING BACK
TO THOSE VERY POLICIES.
THEY TALK ABOUT STOPPING EACH
AND EVERY REGULATION, THOSE
REGULATIONS ULTIMATELY, THE
LACK OF IT AND THE LACK OF
ENFORCEMENT OF IT IS WHAT GAVE
US THE EXCESSES THAT WE HAD.
ADDITIONALLY, TWO WARS RAGE
AGRICULTURE BROAD, TOTALLY
UNPAID FOR, FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY WENT OUT THE
WINDOW THERE, TAX CUTS TOTALLY
UNPAID FOR, FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY WENT OUT THE
WINDOW THERE, AND THE
CULMINATION OF ALL OF THAT
BROUGHT US TO JANUARY OF 2009
WHEN THE NEW PRESIDENT TAKES
OFFICE AND HAS ALREADY INHERITED
MILLIONS OF JOBS THAT HAD BEEN
LOST PRIOR TO THEN, AROUND 7.5%
UNEMPLOYMENT WAS THE STARTING
POINT ALREADY, AND IN THE FIRST
QUARTER OF 2009 BEFORE HE COULD
EVEN DO ANYTHING, BEFORE HE
COULD TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE IN
LATE JANUARY, SWEAR IN A
CABINET IN FEBRUARY AND SEND A
PLAN TO MARCH, ANOTHER TWO
MILLION JOBS WERE LOST.
I FIND IT INTERESTING HOW WE
FORGET ALL OF THAT.
POINT.
WE'VE HAD 19 MONTHS OF PRIVATE
SECTOR GROWTH.
THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
BUT WHERE WE HAVE BEEN SHEDDING
MANY OF THE JOBS IS IN THE VERY
ESSENCE OF THOSE IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR WHO TEACH OUR CHILDREN,
WHO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION AND THE COMPETITIVE
FUTURE OF AMERICA, AND WHO
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
POLICE OFFICERS WHO PROTECT US
FROM CRIME, FIREFIGHTERS THAT
RESPOND WHEN THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WITH THE TEACHERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS BACK TO WORK ACT, WE
CAN FULFILL OUR DUTY TO EDUCATE
OUR CHILDREN AND KEEP OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE, OR WE CAN
GAMBLE OUR FUTURE ON THE
POLITICAL GAMES THAT WE HAVE
SEEN HERE THAT DISINVEST IN THE
FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE
COMMUNITIES.
ALMOST 300,000 EDUCATION JOBS
ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK THIS
YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY.
AT A TIME WHEN OTHER COUNTRIES
IN THE WORLD ARE INCREASING
THEIR EDUCATIONAL WORK FORCE,
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF
DECREASING IT.
NEW JERSEY, MY HOME STATE, IS
FACING A $10.5 BILLION SHORTFALL
IN ITS BUDGET.
THAT MEANS CUTS FOR STATE AND
OUR CHILDREN.
THE TEACHERS AND FIRST
RESPONDERS BACK TO WORK ACT
CREATES 400,000 EDUCATION JOBS
BECAUSE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR
TEACHERS IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR
CHILDREN AND IN OUR COLLECTIVE
FUTURE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $30 BILLION
TO STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
TO RETAIN, TO HIRE, TO REHIRE
THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE ALREADY
BEEN SEPARATED, TO EDUCATE
TOMORROW'S ENTREPRENEURS.
MY STATE OF NEW JERSEY THAT
BILL WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL
$831 MILLION IN FUNDS TO SUPPORT
AN ADDITIONAL 9,300 EDUCATION
JOBS THAT LARGELY HAVE BEEN
LOST.
NEW JERSEY ALONE HAS LOST OVER
6,000 TEACHERS SINCE 2008,
SLOWING OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
AND CREATING A HUGE KNOWLEDGE
GAP IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WHAT DOES THAT GAP TRANSLATE IN
TERMS OF LOST KNOWLEDGE?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO A PROMISING
YOUNG SCIENTIST WHO NEEDS SOME
GUIDANCE OR A STRUGGLING STUDENT
WHO NEEDS A LITTLE EXTRA HELP?
MADAM PRESIDENT, I KNOW ABOUT
THE POWER OF A TEACHER.
I KNOW IT THROUGH MY OWN
PERSONAL LIFE.
I'VE HAD SEVERAL GREAT TEACHERS
ALONG THE WAY BUT THERE WAS ONE
WHO MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN MY
I STILL REMEMBER HER NAME, GAIL
SHE WAS MY SPEECH TEACHER IN
COLLEGE -- I MEAN IN HIGH
SCHOOL, I'M SORRY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOME OF
MY COLLEAGUES WON'T BELIEVE THIS
BUT I WAS AMONG THE MOST
INTROVERTED PERSONS AT THAT TIME
IN MY LIFE.
I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE THE
SPEECH COURSE.
BUT I WAS TOLD BY MY GUIDANCE
COUNSELOR THAT IT WAS A MUST.
AND I WAS A GOOD STUDENT, HONOR
STUDENT, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO
TAKE THE SPEECH COURSE BUS
BECAUSE I DWANT TO DO
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING, GET UP
IN FRONT OF THE CLASS, DO ANY
ASSIGNMENTS, DIDN'T WANT TO DO
I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT.
BY PREPARE MY WORK BUT I
WOULDN'T DELIVER IT.
AND FINALLY GAIL HARPER, THE
TEACHER SAID TO ME, ROBERT,
KEPT ME AFTER CLASS ONE DAY AND
SAID LOOK, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU
PREPARE YOURSELF, YOUR
PREPARATION IS GREAT BUT IF YOU
DON'T DELIVER THIS HERE, YOU'RE
GOING TO FAIL.
AND MY MOTHER, WHO HAD FLED A
COUNTRY TO COME TO FREEDOM AND
WAS CONVINCED I'D BE THE FIRST
IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE,
TOLD ME FAILURE IS NOT AN
OPTION.
SO WHEN I HEARD GAIL HARPER TALK
ABOUT FAILURE, I KNEW THAT THAT
WAS NOT AN OPTION.
AND SHE WORKED WITH ME TO
NURTURE MY ABILITIES SO THAT I
COULD BREAK OUT OF THAT
SELF-IMPOSED SHELL AND REALLY
TRANSFORM MY LIFE.
IN SOME RESPECTS, THINKING THAT
I'M HERE TODAY SITTING ON --
SPEAKING ON THE SENATE FLOOR IS
BECAUSE OF GAIL HARPER.
SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND HOW
TEACHERS CAN MAKE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE THIS THE LIFE OF A
YOUNG PERSON.
WE NEED TO REINVEST IN TEACHERS
AND EDUCATION, IN NEW JERSEY'S
KIDS AND IN AMERICA'S FUTURE.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE 6,000 NEW
JERSEY TEACHERS BACK IN NEW
JERSEY CLASSROOM AND HIRE
THOUSANDS MORE IN EVERY SCHOOL
AND EVERY STATE IN AMERICA.
AND THEN I TURN TO THE POLICE
AND FIREFIGHTERS, AND I
REMEMBER LIVING IN THE NEW
JERSEY-NEW YORK REGION, THAT
FATEFUL DAY ON SEPTEMBER 11, A
LITTLE OVER A DECADE AGO.
IT WAS NOT
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
RESPONDED TO THE TRAGEDIES AND
THE HORROR OF THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER.
IT WAS LOCAL POLICE, LOCAL
FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT THAT WERE THE FIRST
RESPONDERS, THAT RISKED THEIR
LIVES, THAT GAVE THEIR LIVES ON
THAT FATEFUL DAY.
WE MADE A PROMISE TO EVERY
COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD KEEP
COMMUNITIES SAFE IN AMERICA IN A
POST-SEPTEMBER 11 WORLD, THAT WE
WOULD GIVE COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS
WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO DO
EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS WANTED
TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH A POLICE
OFFICER OR A FIREFIGHTER.
WE CALL THEM HEROES.
AND NOW REPUBLICANS WANT TO ZERO
OUT A COPS PROGRAM THAT PUTS
POLICE OFFICERS ON THE BEAT.
THEY WANT TO BREAK OUR PROMISES
AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, AND I THINK
IT'S TIME TO MAKE GOOD ON IT
WITH THE $5 BILLION THAT OUR
LEGISLATION PROVIDES SO THAT
COMMUNITIES CAN HIRE AND KEEP
COPS AND FIREFIGHTERS ON THE
JOB.
THEY ARE OUR FIRST LINE OF
WE LEARNED THAT AFTER
AND I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU ARE
IN THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM OR
WHAT YOU BELIEVE THE ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT IS, WE CAN ALL AGREE
THAT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE
SECURITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS
RESPONSIBILITY.
WE DON'T NEED POLICE AND
FIREFIGHTERS JUST IN THE BIG
CITIES, ALTHOUGH THEY FACE SOME
OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES.
WE NEED THEM IN EVERY TOWN AND
COMMUNITY.
OVER 2,700 COMMUNITIES APPLIED
FOR HELP TO FUND 9,000 OFFICERS
IN THE LAST ROUND FOR A TOTAL OF
$2 BILLION.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE OPPOSITION OF
THOSE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE TO
KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO FIRST
RESPONDERS, ONLY $243 MILLION
WAS AVAILABLE, ENOUGH FOR ONLY
APPLIED.
THAT'S 9%.
AND IT WAS CAPPED AT 25 OFFICERS
NO MATTER HOW BIG THE CITY OR
HOW GREAT THE NEED.
IN NEW JERSEY, MORE THAN 150
COMMUNITIES APPLIED FOR FUNDING
TO KEEP COPS ON THE JOB.
ONLY 12 OF THOSE 150 WERE
FUNDED.
THOSE 12 COMMUNITIES WERE ONLY
ABLE TO HIRE APPROXIMATELY 78
THREE YEARS.
RIGHT NOW IN NEW JERSEY, THERE
ARE 705 POLICE OFFICERS WHO LOST
THEIR JOBS AND CAN'T FIND LAW
ENFORCEMENT WORK.
705 FEWER SWORN OFFICERS ON THE
STREET.
AND THERE ARE 4,000 FEWER
OFFICERS TODAY IN NEW JERSEY
THAN THERE WERE ON DECEMBER 31,
PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOVERNMENT'S
NUMBER-ONE RESPONSIBILITY, AND
IT'S TIME TO DELIVER ON THAT
PROMISE AFTER SEPTEMBER 11 TO
OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS.
THIS LEGISLATION INCLUDES
$5 BILLION TO HELP FIRST
RESPONDERS STAY ON THE JOB,
CLOSE THE PUBLIC SAFETY GAP AND
KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
SO LET ME CONCLUDE BY SAYING
ACCORDING TO A CNN POLL RELEASED
JUST YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, 75% OF
AMERICANS SUPPORT PROVIDING
FUNDING TO STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS TO HIRE TEACHERS AND
FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING 63%
OF REPUBLICANS.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A CHOICE.
WITH THIS LEGISLATION, WE CAN
FULFILL OUR DUTY TO EDUCATE OUR
KIDS AND KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES
SAFE OR WE CAN GAMBLE OUR FUTURE
ON POLITICAL GAMES THAT DON'T
INVEST IN OUR CHILDREN, OUR
ECONOMY AND THE SAFETY OF OUR
COMMUNITIES.
I THINK THE CHOICE IS CLEAR.
I CHOOSE EDUCATING OUR KIDS.
I CHOOSE PROTECTING OUR
I CHOOSE INVESTING IN OUR
AND WE DO THIS ALL AND PAY FOR
IT AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A
FIGHT, AND WE WILL BE BACK AGAIN
AND AGAIN TO FORCE OUR FRIENDS
ON THE OTHER SIDE TO MAKE THE
CHOICE AGAIN AND AGAIN ABOUT
WHOSE SIDE ARE THEY ON.
I THINK THE CHOICES ARE PRETTY
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN.
IT'S TIME TO GET OUR TEACHERS
WORK.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
NEW JERSEY FOR THIS AMENDMENT.
IT'S AN AMENDMENT THAT'S
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO NEW
JERSEY, TO ALASKA, AND TO THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, BECAUSE THE
MENENDEZ-CASEY AMENDMENT IN MY
STATE MEANS THAT 14,500
TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND
POLICEMEN WILL STAY ON THE JOB.
IF THE MENENDEZ AMENDMENT, WHICH
IS PART OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
JOBS PACKAGE, DOES NOT PASS,
WORK.
THERE WILL BE MORE KIDS IN THE
WILL BE LAID OFF.
THERE WILL BE FEWER COPS ON THE
BEAT IN SMALL TOWNS AND LARGE,
AND FIREFIGHTERS WILL HAVE TO
CUT BACK IN TERMS OF THEIR
RANKS, AND WE NEED THEIR
PROTECTION AND WE CAN'T LET THAT
HAPPEN.
SENATOR MENENDEZ HAS AN
RESPONSIBLY.
IT PAYS FOR IT.
TO THE DEFICIT.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE OBJECTION
COMES IN FROM THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE OF THE AISLE, BECAUSE HE
PAYS FOR IT BY ASKING THOSE
MAKING OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A
YEAR TO PAY ABOUT .5% MORE IN
TAXES, AND THE REPUBLICANS SAY
NO WAY.
WE CANNOT ASK THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE IN AMERICA TO PAY ONE
PENNY MORE.
NOW, THAT TO ME IS HARD TO
WHY WE WOULD WANT TO DENY OUR
CHILDREN A QUALITY EDUCATION,
LAY OFF TEACHERS, MAKE OUR
STREETS A LITTLE LESS SAFE WITH
FEWER POLICE AND RUN THE RISK OF
FEWER FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE WE
DON'T WANT TO ASK PEOPLE MAKING
OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO
PAY .5% MORE ON THEIR TAXES.
PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING OVER 20 --
A WEEK, WE ARE ASKING
THEM TO PAY .5% TO SAVE THE JOBS
OF TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS AND
POLICE.
IT'S INTERESTING TO ME,
MR. PRESIDENT, BECAUSE WHEN
PRESIDENT BUSH OFFERED HIS JOBS
BILL YEARS AGO, WITH PAYROLL TAX
CUTS AND CUTS FOR BUSINESSES,
THESE SAME SENATORS THAT ARE
CRITICIZING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
VERSION OF THE BILL WERE VOTING
FOR IT AND IT WASN'T PAID FOR.
IT WAS ADDED DIRECTLY TO THE
DEFICIT.
THESE DEFICIT HAWKS WERE WILLING
TO VOTE FOR THIS WITH PRESIDENT
BUSH'S NAME ON IT BUT NOW OPPOSE
ON IT.
IS THERE A MESSAGE THERE?
I THINK THERE IS A CLEAR
MESSAGE.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS WHICH DRIVE
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS WHEN IT
COMES TO THIS DEBATE.
FIRST, PROTECT THOSE MAKING OVER
COST.
LET AMERICA LANGUISH IN THIS
RECESSION WITH 14 MILLION PEOPLE
UNEMPLOYED RATHER THAN ASK THE
WEALTHIEST, MOST COMFORTABLE
PEOPLE IN AMERICA TO PAY JUST A
LITTLE BIT MORE IN TAXES.
SECONDLY, THEY CONSISTENTLY
OPPOSE PROPOSALS TO DEAL WITH
THIS JOBS CRISIS IF THEY ARE
OFFERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
SENATOR McCONNELL SAID IT
EARLIER, IT'S BEEN QUOTED OVER
AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT
HIS HIGHEST PRIORITY AS THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE
WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT PRESIDENT
OBAMA WAS A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT.
IF WE ARE DRIVEN ONLY BY THAT
KIND OF MOTIVE, I ASSUME IT WILL
MAKE FOR GOOD POLITICAL
HEADLINES, BUT IT REALLY TIES
OUR HANDS IN GETTING THINGS
YOU SEE IN THE SENATE HERE, IT
TAKES 60 VOTES TO DO ANYTHING
SIGNIFICANT, AND UNFORTUNATELY
53 ON THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE
NEED THE HELP OF SEVEN ON THE
OTHER SIDE, AND THEY HAVEN'T
BEEN FORTHCOMING.
LAST WEEK, WE OFFERED THE
PRESIDENT'S JOBS BILL AND SAID
TO THE REPUBLICANS AT LEAST
LET'S PROCEED TO THE BILL AND
OFFER AMENDMENTS.
WE COULDN'T GET A SINGLE
REPUBLICAN SENATOR TO VOTE WITH
US, NOT ONE.
WE HAD 51 VOTES FOR IT.
TWO DEMOCRATS DID NOT VOTE FOR
IT, BUT WE HAD NO REPUBLICAN
SUPPORT, NONE.
SO WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN JOBS
WHAT WOULD THEY DO TO TURN THIS
ECONOMY AROUND AND MOVE US
FORWARD?
SADLY, THEY HAVE NOTHING TO
OFFER, NOTHING.
PROTECT THE INCOMES OF THE
WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN AMERICA AND
SAY NO TO EVERYTHING THAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA SUGGESTS.
THAT'S NOT A RECIPE FOR MOVING
AMERICA FORWARD.
I LIKE TO LISTEN TO THEIR
ARGUMENTS ABOUT CUTTING RED TAPE
TO CREATE JOBS, AND I THINK TO
MYSELF DO WE HAVE TO REALLY
ELIMINATE THE STANDARDS IN THIS
COUNTRY FOR CLEAN AIR AND CLEAN
WATER IN ORDER TO HAVE A
THRIVING ECONOMY?
AND IF WE WENT THE REPUBLICAN
WAY OF ELIMINATING THESE
PROTECTIONS FOR AMERICA'S
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, WOULD
A BETTER NATION?
I THINK NOT.
BASIC PROTECTIONS WHEN IT COMES
TO AIR POLLUTION, FOR EXAMPLE,
REALLY MEAN AN AWFUL LOT TO A
LOT OF AMERICANS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I MAKE IT A POINT
OF GOING TO CLASSROOMS AND
ASKING THE KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM
A QUESTION -- HOW MANY OF YOU IN
THIS CLASSROOM KNOW SOMEONE WHO
HAS ASTHMA?
I JUST ASKED THAT QUESTION IN
MOUNT STERLING, ILLINOIS, A
RURAL COMMUNITY, ONE THAT YOU
WOULDN'T BELIEVE WOULD BE
DEALING WITH AIR POLLUTION
PROBLEMS OR PULMONARY ISSUES.
THEIR HAND.
YES, THEY ALL KNEW SOMEONE -- AT
LEAST HALF OF THEM KNEW SOMEONE
WHO WAS DEALING WITH ASTHMA.
EVERY YEAR, ASTHMA IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR NINE MILLION
VISITS TO HEALTH CARE
PROFESSIONALS AND MORE THAN
4,000 DEATHS IN AMERICA.
IT'S ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES
OF SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM.
ACCOUNTS FOR 14 MILLION MISSED
SCHOOL DAYS ANNUALLY.
THE AVERAGE FAMILY SPENDS
5.5% AND 14.5% OF ITS
TOTAL INCOME ON TREATING AN
ASTHMATIC CHILD.
SO WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO
COME FORWARD HERE AND WAIVE AIR
POLLUTION STANDARDS, ELIMINATE
THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE'RE
TRYING TO PUT IN PLACE, THEY ARE
ENDANGERING THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE
AND CHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA.
THAT IS THE REALITY.
TO ARGUE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO
BUILD THE AMERICAN ECONOMY IS BY
DESTROYING PUBLIC HEALTH
STANDARDS TO PROTECT FAMILIES
ANSWER.
WE HAVE GOT TO FIND A BALANCED
APPROACH, ONE THAT TAKES INTO
ACCOUNT THE REALITY OF SCIENCE
AND THE REALITY OF BUSINESS, BUT
CERTAINLY PROTECTS DEFENSELESS
AMERICANS FROM THE KINDS OF
CHANGES WHICH SOME REPUBLICANS
ARE SUGGESTING.
TO?
IS THIS THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY FORWARD?
TO SAY THAT WE MAY HAVE TO
COMPROMISE THE PURITY OF OUR
DRINKING WATER WHEN IT COMES TO
AND ARSENIC IN ORDER TO
HAVE THE ECONOMY CREATE JOBS?
WHAT A TERRIBLE CHOICE THAT IS.
AND IT'S A REAL CHOICE.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE AMENDMENT
OFFERED BY A REPUBLICAN SENATOR
ON CEMENT KILNS.
CEMENT KILNS GENERATE TOXIC
CHEMICALS THAT END UP IN AIR
POLLUTION AND EVENTUALLY ARE
DEPOSITED ON EARTH, MANY TIMES
IN BODIES OF WATER LIKE THE
GREAT LAKES.
WHAT DO MERCURY AND ARSENIC DO
TO THE AQUATIC LIFE IN THE GREAT
LAKES AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
AROUND THOSE GREAT LAKES?
THEY COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF
THOSE GREAT BODIES OF WATER.
NOW, THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY
WELL, IT GOES IN THE AIR AND IT
SURELY ISN'T GOING TO HURT YOU,
AND YET THE STATISTICS SHOWS
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
POOR AIR QUALITY IN THE MOST
POLLUTED U.S. CITIES CAN SHORTEN
THE LIVES OF RESIDENTS UP TO TWO
YEARS ON AVERAGE.
THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
FOUND THAT THE RISK OF EARLY
DEATH IS OVER 15% GREATER IN
POLLUTION.
NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE
SUFFERING FROM ASTHMA LIVE IN AN
AREA WHERE AT LEAST ONE FEDERAL
AIR QUALITY STANDARD IS NOT
BEING MET.
WE CAN'T IGNORE THIS PUBLIC
HEALTH REALITY.
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO THE
FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THESE
CITIES, WHETHER IT'S CHICAGO OR
SPRINGFIELD OR ANY CITY ACROSS
AMERICA, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE
DON'T COMPROMISE BASIC AIR
QUALITY STANDARDS, AND THAT
FRANKLY IS THE ONLY PROPOSAL WE
HEAR FROM THE REPUBLICANS TO
CREATE JOBS.
THEY WANT TO PROTECT THE INCOMES
OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN
AMERICA AND LESSEN THE STANDARDS
THAT WE USE TO PROTECT INNOCENT
FAMILIES FROM AIR POLLUTION AND
DETERIORATION OF WATER QUALITY.
MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE I GOT UP
TO SPEAK, YOU SHOWED ME A
JOURNAL."
IT'S A HEADLINE THAT WE NEED TO
REMIND REPUBLICANS OF WHEN THEY
GET INTO THIS DEBATE ABOUT JOBS.
MR. PRESIDENT, DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW MANY TIMES THEY MOCKED THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
BECAUSE HE STEPPED UP AND SAID I
WILL NOT ALLOW THE AMERICAN
TO DIE?
I'M GOING TO STEP IN, HE SAID,
AND HELP GENERAL MOTORS AND
CHRYSLER THROUGH A VERY
DIFFICULT TIME.
AND YOU RECALL WHAT WE HEARD
FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE?
IT'S THE WRONG THING TO DO.
LET GENERAL MOTORS GO BANKRUPT,
THE REPUBLICANS SAID.
EVEN FORMER GOVERNOR ROMNEY SAID
THAT THE YUBL BAILOUT WAS A BAD
HERE IS GOVERNOR ROMNEY FROM A
FAMILY THAT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH
THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY AND
OUGHT TO KNOW A LITTLE BETTER
ABOUT IT.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T
MY AMBITION TO STEP IN AND
INTERVENE AND HELP MAJOR
AUTOMOBILE COMPANIES, BUT I'M
GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE HUNDREDS
STAKE.
THE REALITY IS THAT THE
PRESIDENT'S DECISION WAS THE
RIGHT DECISION.
IT WAS THE RIGHT DECISION NOT
JUST FOR MICHIGAN AND ILLINOIS,
I MIGHT ADD, BUT FOR THE NATION.
NOW GENERAL MOTORS AND CHRYSLER
HAVE RESTRUCTURED, NOW THEY HAVE
A LEANER WORK FORCE, A STRONGER
INVENTORY AND BETTER PRODUCTS,
AND THE REPORT FROM THE "WALL
STREET JOURNAL" WHICH YOU SHOWED
ME, MR. PRESIDENT, SHOWS THAT
THE PROFITABILITY OF AUTOMOBILE
COMPANIES WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS
THE BOARD IS NOW TIPPING IN
FAVOR OF AMERICAN COMPANIES F
AMERICAN WORKERS.
THERE WAS ALSO THAT SUPPORT
THERE THAT SAID FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN A LONG TIME, WE ARE
IMPORTING JOBS FROM ASIA AND
MEXICO IN THE AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY BACK TO THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
NOW, SOME REPUBLICAN SENATORS
CAN COME TO THE FLOOR AND SAY
WRONG.
COME ON DOWN TO THE FORD WORKS
SOUTH OF CHICAGO AND TAKE A LOOK
AT THOSE WORKERS FILING IN EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO GO TO WORK.
THEN GO OVER TO BELVEDERE,
FACILITY AND SEE 1,200 PEOPLE
JOBS.
THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE THIS
PRESIDENT STEPPED UP AND SAID
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THESE
JOBS GO AWAY.
MANY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE
WRONG.
EXPLAIN THAT TO FAMILIES THAT
HAVE THESE GOOD-PAYING JOBS
RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA WITH GOOD
BENEFITS.
SO WHEN I HEAR MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS COME TO
THE FLOOR AND CRITICIZE WHAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS DONE ON THIS
ECONOMY, THEY BETTER STOP AND
EXPLAIN THEIR EARLY POSITION
OPPOSING THE PRESIDENT'S EFFORTS
TO MAKE SURE THE AUTOMOBILE
INDUSTRY IN AMERICA SURVIVED AND
THRIVES.
200,000 WORKERS TODAY WENT TO
WORK FOR GENERAL MOTORS IN
IF THE REPUBLICANS HAD HAD THEIR
WAY, G.M. WOULD HAVE GONE
WHETHER IT WOULD HAVE SURVIVED
BANKRUPTCY, NO ONE KNOWS.
THE PRESIDENT SAID WE CAN'T RUN
THAT RISK.
HE KEPT THE COMPANY IN
BUSINESS, RESTRUCTURED, AND
NOW PROFITABLE AGAIN.
THAT'S A FACT.
I'LL SAY THIS, TOO: WHEN I HEAR
THE REPUBLICAN LEADER COME TO
THE FLOOR AND ARGUE THAT THE
PRESIDENT SHOULD SPEAK UP FOR
ALL AMERICANS, I WOULD ASK THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER TO TAKE A LOOK
THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS
WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE
SHOULD CUT PAYROLL TAX FOR
WORKING FAMILIES SO THEY'RE
STRUGGLING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK
AND THEY HAVE MONEY TO GET BY,
PEOPLE SUPPORT IT.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE
SHOULD HELP SMALL BUSINESSES
HIRE THE UNEMPLOYED,
PARTICULARLY VETERANS SHALL,
OVERWHELMINGLY THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE SUPPORT IT.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE
SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT TEACHERS
AND POLICEMEN AND FIREFIGHTERS
DO NOT LOSE THEIR JOBS IN THIS
TOUGH ECONOMY, OVERWHELMINGLY
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT IT.
WHEN THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT
MILLIONAIRES SHOULD PAY A LITTLE
BIT MORE IN THEIR TAXES TO MAKE
SURE THE AMERICAN RECOVERY IS
UNDERWAY, OVERWHELMINGLY THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE SUPPORT THAT,
TOO.
IN FACT, 56% OF REPUBLICANS
WHEN ASKED SAY THAT IS A
REASONABLE WAY TO PAY FOR A JOBS
PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, NONE OF THOSE
56% SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.
WHO HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THEIR
TASK AND GOAL IS TO
PROTECT THE INCOMES OF THE
WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
MOVE FORWARD ON A BIPARTISAN
BASIS TO CREATE JOBS.
THIS PRESIDENT INHERITED A VERY
WEAK ECONOMY.
UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH WE HAD MORE
THAN DOUBLED THE NATIONAL DEBT.
WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH TOOK OFFICE
OUR NATIONAL DEBT WAS
WHEN HE LEFT OFFICE, IT WAS
OVER $10 TRILLION.
TWO WARS HE DIDN'T PAY FOR,
PROGRAMS HE DIDN'T PAY FOR, AND
TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE IN
THE MIDST OF A WAR, SOMETHING
NO PRESIDENT HAD EVER DONE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA INHERITED THAT
AND IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH ROAD,
HE'LL TELL YOU, TO GET THIS
ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK BUT NOW HE
OFFER NOTHING.
THEY VOTE AGAINST THE
PRESIDENT, WHATEVER HE WANTS,
THEY'RE OPPOSING.
AND THEY VOTE AGAINST COMMON
SENSE WHICH SAYS HELPING WORKING
FAMILIES, HELPING SMALL
BUSINESSES, HELPING OUR
VETERANS FIND JOBS AND PAYING
FOR IT SO IT DOESN'T ADD TO OUR
DEFICIT IS A SENSIBLE APPROACH
TO GETTING AMERICA BACK ON THE
RIGHT TRACK.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, PUT
THE CAMPAIGNING ASIDE FOR A
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO
CREATE JOBS AND BRING YOUR BEST
IDEAS TO THE TABLE.
LET'S SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND PUT
TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN BILL.
WE'LL HAVE THE PRESIDENT'S
PROPOSALS AS A STARTING POINT,
BRING YOUR IDEAS, TOO.
LET'S DO SOMETHING FOR THIS
COUNTRY ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.
I THINK THAT'S WHY WE WERE
ELECTED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE I YIELD
THE FLOOR I HAVE EIGHT UNANIMOUS
CONSENT REQUESTS FOR COMMITTEES
TO MEET DURING TODAY'S SESSION
OF THE SENATE WITH THE APPROVAL
OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY
LEADERS.
IN THE RECORD.
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
AS ALWAYS, I
LISTENED WITH INTEREST TO MY
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM
ILLINOIS, AND I DIDN'T COME TO
THE FLOOR WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO
DISCUSS THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING
THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE
BAILOUT OF GENERAL MOTORS AND
CHRYSLER WHEN THE FACT IS THAT
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SMALL
BUSINESSES AND COMPANIES ALL
OVER AMERICA THAT HAD TO GO INTO
BANKRUPTCY BUT DIDN'T GET THE
BAILOUT THAT WAS FAVORABLE TO
THE TRADE UNIONS.
WHY COULDN'T -- WHY COULDN'T
GENERAL MOTORS HAVE GONE INTO
BANKRUPTCY THE WAY EVERYBODY
OTHER COMPANY AND CORPORATION
HAS HAD TO DO IN HARD TIMES,
RESTRUCTURE AND THEN GO BACK
INTO BUSINESS AGAIN?
BUT INSTEAD, THIS
ADMINISTRATION AND MY FRIEND
FROM ILLINOIS SEEM TO FAVOR THE
TRADE UNIONS WHO OBVIOUSLY GOT
VERY FAVORABLE TREATMENT RATHER
THAN THE NORMAL BANKRUPTCY
PROCEDURES, WHICH UNLIKE THE
FAVORED TRADE UNIONS, AND
WERE ABLE TO GET WHICH THOUSANDS
OF SMALL BUSINESSES AND
ALL OVER AMERICA WERE
UNABLE TO GET THE BENEFIT OF
THEIR LARGESS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I CAME TO THE
FLOOR THIS MORNING WITH MY
COLLEAGUES TO DISCUSS THE
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL, BUT BEFORE I DO, I'D
LIKE TO MENTION THAT THERE
IS -- HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK
DOMINATING OR CERTAINLY PART OF
THE TALK RADIO AND TELEVISION
ABOUT THE BUS TOUR THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS ON.
AND A LOT OF IT HAS CENTERED
AROUND THE BUS AND I'M NOT GOING
TO DISCUSS THAT ANY MORE EXCEPT
TO SAY THAT IN 2008 WHEN I RAN
FOR PRESIDENT, I DIDN'T NEED A
BUS TO BE PAID FOR AND BUILT BY
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE TAXPAYERS
OF THE UNITED STATES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT NOW THERE HAS
BEEN ANOTHER BUS PURCHASED FOR
WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE
HOW DO YOU JUSTIFY THAT?
REPUBLICAN NOMINEE MAY NOT WANT
A BUS.
BUT THE FACT IS, AFTER HAVING
SAID THAT, THE MOST IMPORTANT
IS, IS THAT THE
PRESIDENT IS NOW ON THE
TAXPAYERS' MONEY CAMPAIGNING FOR
THREE DAYS IN NORTH CAROLINA.
IT SAYS, TODAY'S POST, AND I
QUOTE, "ON N.C. BUS TOUR,
OBAMA IN FULL CAMPAIGN MODE."
OBAMA IN FULL CAMPAIGN MODE.
I SAY I HAVE SEEN OTHER
PRESIDENTS, BOTH REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATS, WHO HAVE HEDGED AND
COME RIGHT UP TO THE EDGE AND
SOMETIMES CROSSED OVER IT, AND
CHARGING THE TAXPAYERS FOR WHAT
HAS BEEN CLEARLY CAMPAIGN
ACTIVITIES.
BUT NEVER DO I BELIEVE ANY OF US
HAVE SEEN THE KIND OF ACTIVITY
THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ENGAGED
IN, AND ALL OF IT BEING CHARGED
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF AMERICA.
THAT'S WRONG.
THAT'S THE WRONG THING TO DO.
ACCORDING TO RECENT REPORTS,
THE PRESIDENT'S CAMPAIGN HAS
RAISED RECORD AMOUNTS OF MONEY
ALREADY.
THE CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE PAYING
CAROLINA TRIP OF
HIS.
AND I DON'T BEGRUDGE HIM BEATING
UP ON US AND CRITICIZING US AND
MAKING ALL KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS
ABOUT NOT UNDERSTANDING HIS --
HIS STIMULUS 2 PACKAGE, WHICH
WE UNDERSTAND VERY WELL IS MORE
OF THE SAME.
BUT AT LEAST THIS CAMPAIGN
SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS KIND
OF CAMPAIGNING.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO ENGAGE IN A COLLOQUY
WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM
GEORGIA, SENATOR CHAMBLISS,
FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE, SENATOR
AYOTTE, AND THE DISTINGUISHED
REPUBLICAN LEADER, SENATOR
McCONNELL, FOR PURPOSES OF A
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, TODAY WE COME TO
THE FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
FOR 50 YEARS, FIVE ZERO, 50
YEARS, THE CONGRESS OF THE
UNITED STATES HAS ENACTED A
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL,
ENACTED IT DO LAW AND HAD IT
SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN
THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN VERY
CONTENTIOUS.
DAYS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR,
DAYS DURING OPERATION DESERT
STORM, OPERATION IRAQI
FREEDOM, BOSNIA, COMPANIES OWE
VOE, ALL -- KOSOVO, ALL OF
THOSE TIMES THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL HAS BEEN A
VEHICLE FOR DEBATE AND VOTES ON
THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE
OF NATIONAL SECURITY.
AND FOR 50 YEARS WE HAVE CARED
FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE
SERVED AND PROVIDED THEM WITH
THE EQUIPMENT, THE PAY, THE
BENEFITS THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THIS COUNTRY DESERVE, WITH
HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF
DELIBERATION, THOUSANDS OF
HOURS OF WRITTEN TESTIMONY AND
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE,
FULL COMMITTEE, AND
SUBCOMMITTEE, SUCH AS THE
CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SENATOR FROM
THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
AND NOW BECAUSE OF A PART OF THE
LEGISLATION THE MAJORITY LEADER
HAS DECIDED THAT WE WILL NOT
TAKE THIS BILL TO THE FLOOR OF
THE SENATE.
THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS A
BETRAYAL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO ARE SERVING THIS NATION.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
ARE DIFFERENCES ON THE ISSUE OF
A DETAINEE TREATMENT.
I UNDERSTAND IT'S AN EMOTIONAL
ISSUE.
BUT SHOULD IT BE A REASON FOR
THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO
CARRY OUT ITS 50-YEAR TRADITION
AND DEBATE AND DISCUSS AND AMEND
AND VOTE AND COME OUT WITH A
PACKAGE THAT PROVIDES FOR THE
NEEDS, THE TRAINING, THE
EQUIPMENT, THE BENEFITS OF THE
MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING?
I QUOTE FROM A LETTER FROM
THE -- FROM THE DISTINGUISHED
MAJORITY LEADER WHO SAYS, AND I
THE LETTER TO BE SENATOR
LEVIN AND TO ME, HE SAYS
"HOWEVER, AS YOU KNOW, I DO
NOT INTEND TO BRING THIS BILL TO
THE FLOOR UNTIL CONCERNS
REGARDING THE BILL'S DETAINEE
PROVISIONS ARE RESOLVED."
IS THAT THE WAY THE SENATE
WORKS?
THAT WE DON'T BRING BILLS TO THE
FLOOR UNLESS OBJECTIONABLE --
THAT ARE DISAGREED WITH BY ONE
SIDE OR THE OTHER ARE NOT
I ALWAYS BELIEVED THE WAY THESE
ISSUES ARE RESOLVED IS THROUGH
DEBATE, THROUGH AMENDMENTS,
THROUGH VOTES, THROUGH ALLOWING
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ALSO TO SEE
AND HEAR OUR DELIBERATIONS, OUR
DISCUSSIONS, AND OUR DEBATE.
SO NOW IT APPEARS -- AND
OBVIOUSLY THE FISCAL YEAR HAS
EXPIRED, AND SO THIS BILL IS
OBVIOUSLY LONG OVERDUE.
SO NOW WE ARE IN A POSITION THAT
APPARENTLY THE MAJORITY LEADER
THE PRESIDENT'S
JOB BILL ONE BY ONE,
APPARENTLY, IN COMPLETE
DISREGARD OF THE NEEDS AND THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO ARE SERVING IN OUR
PART OF THAT BILL ALSO IS THE
INTELLIGENCE PARTS OF THE BILL
FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
THE SENATOR FROM GEORGIA, WHO
I -- AND BY THE WAY, I NOTE THE
PRESENCE OF THE SENATOR FROM
SOUTH CAROLINA WHO KNOWS MORE
ABOUT DETAINEES THAN ANY MEMBER
OF THIS BODY WITHOUT QUESTION.
HE CONTINUALLY TRAVELS TO IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN, HE HAS VISITED
THE PRISONS, HE UNDERSTANDS THE
ISSUES BETTER THAN ANYONE.
AND I'D BE WILLING TO ASK HIM
HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE DETAINEE
PROVISIONS AFTER THE SENATOR
FROM GEORGIA MAKES A COMMENT
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
INTELLIGENCE PORTION OF THE
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
SENATOR FROM HE ARIZONA.
THIS IS THE NINTH DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT I'VE
BEEN INVOLVED IN SINCE I'VE BEEN
A MEMBER OF THE SENATE, AND I
MUST SAY THAT THE REFUSAL TO
BRING THIS DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL TO THE FLOOR BY THE
MAJORITY LEADER IS TRULY
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT
WE ADDRESS THE ISSUES NOT ONLY
OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN, BUT THE DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS OF OUR MILITARY FROM
THE STANDPOINT OF PAY RAISES,
QUALITY OF LIFE, PURCHASE OF
WEAPONS SYSTEMS FOR FUTURE USE,
ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE
INCLUDED TODAY AND THE REFUSAL
OF THE MAJORITY LEADER TO BRING
THIS TO THE FLOOR BECAUSE OF HIS
OBJECTION TO A VERY CRITICAL
ASPECT OF THIS BILL TRULY IS
DISHEARTENING.
DURING COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
OF THE BILL, COMMITTEE
CONSIDERED AND ADOPTED BY A VOTE
OF 25-1 A COMPREHENSIVE
BIPARTISAN BILL -- PROVISION
RELATING TO DETAINEES.
WE HAVE NO DETAINEE POLICY IN
THIS COUNTRY TODAY.
IF WE HAD CAPTURED BIN LADEN,
WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE WITH
IF WE HAD CAPTURED ANWAR
AWLAKI, WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE
WITH HIM.
CERTAINLY WE COULD HAVE GAINED
ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE FROM
EITHER ONE OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS, BUT WE HAVE NO
TODAY.
WE HAVE NOWHERE TO TAKE THEM TO
THAT WE CAN HOLD THESE
INDIVIDUALS AND ENSURE THAT THEY
DON'T GET LAWYERED UP QUICKLY
AND THAT WE'RE UNABLE TO GET THE
TYPE OF INFORMATION THAT WE NEED
TO GET FROM -- FROM INDIVIDUALS
LIKE THAT.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
THERE'S BEEN AN ONGOING DEBATE
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
ABLE TO FULLY AND LAWFULFULLY
INTERGATE SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.
ONE THING IS CLEAR AFTER ALL
THESE YEARS THAT OUR NATION
STILL LACKS THIS CLEAR AND
EFFECTIVE POLICY.
THIS BIPARTISAN DETAINEE
COMPROMISE GOES A LONG WAY
TOWARD ENSURING WE CAN GET
TIMELY AND ACTIONABLE
INTELLIGENCE FROM NEWLY CAPTURED
DETAINEES CONNECTED TO AL QAEDA
ORGANIZATIONS.
THE COMPROMISE ALSO PROVIDES FOR
A PERMANENT PROCESS FOR
TRANSFERRING GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES TO OTHER COUNTRIES.
AND WE'RE IN THE MIDST RIGHT NOW
OF REVIEW WITHIN THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE OF THE
THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WENT INTO
THE TRANSFERRING OF THE
DETAINEES BY BOTH THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION AND THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATION, AND I WILL TELL
YOU THAT THERE ARE REAL FLAWS IN
THAT POLICY.
THOSE FLAWS HAVE RESULTED,
ACCORDING TO THE D. NIEMPLET,
GENERAL CLAPPER, OF A
RECIDIVISM RATE OF GUANTANAMO
DETAINEES OF 27%.
THAT MEANS 27% OF THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE
RELEASED FROM GUANTANAMO AND
SENT TO OTHER COUNTRIES WHO HAVE
BEEN WILLING TO TAKE THEM UNDER
VARIOUS AGREEMENTS, 27% OF THEM
HAVE RETURNED TO THE BATTLEFIELD
AND ARE KILLING -- SEEKING TO
KILL AMERICANS.
ONLY ABOUT
DETAINEES, BUT POLICIES WITH
REGARD TO WHAT WE DO WITH
GUANTANAMO DETAINEES IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF US THAT
WERE INVOLVED IN THOSE -- THE
AMENDMENTS THAT WENT INTO THE
AUTHORIZATION BILL IN COMMITTEE.
SENATOR GRAHAM FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA, SENATOR AYOTTE FROM
NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS INTEGRALLY
AND LET ME JUST TURN TO SENATOR
AYOTTE, AND FROM THE PERSPECTIVE
OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
WHERE DO YOU THINK WE ARE WITH
RESPECT TO A DETAINEE POLICY IN
THIS COUNTRY TODAY?
THANK YOU, SENATOR
CHAMBLISS.
I WOULD SAY THIS, YOU
HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE,
NUMBER ONE, AS DID SENATOR
McCAIN OF PASSING THE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION.