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MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
I CALL UP VITTER
AUTUMN 769.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT.
MR. VITTER PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 769 TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 738.
ON PAGE --
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO WAIVE
READING OF THE WHOLE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, LET
ME BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS ABOUT AND I'LL BE
VERY BRIEF.
IT WOULD ALLOW FOR PERSONAL USE
DRUG REIMPORTATION FROM CANADA
ONLY, AND IN DOING SO,
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS AMENDMENT IS
NEARLY IDENTICAL TO AN AMENDMENT
I HAVE PROPOSED PREVIOUSLY ON
LAST CONGRESS,
WHICH PASSED IN A VERY STRONG
BIPARTISAN VOTE.
MR. PRESIDENT, AMERICANS SPEND
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
A YEAR ON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS,
AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES ARE
SKYROCKETING, AND THEY CONTINUE
TO SKYROCKET.
AND THAT CAUSES REAL HURT AND
ANGST AMONG MANY FAMILY
FAMILIES, PARTICULARLY AMERICAN
SENIORS.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN LIFESAVING MEDICINE AND
OTHER BASIC NEEDS OF LIFE LIKE
FOOD AND ELECTRICITY, AND YET
OFTEN, MR. PRESIDENT, THE
REALITY IS THAT THEY DO HAVE TO
MAKE THAT CHOICE.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD HELP EASE A
LITTLE BIT OF THIS PAIN BY
GIVING AMERICANS MORE OPTIONS.
BUT IN DOING SO, MR. PRESIDENT,
IT'S VERY NARROW, IT'S VERY
CAUTIOUS, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC.
IT APPLIES TO ONLY INDIVIDUAL
CONSUMERS, NOT WHOLESALERS,
BRINGING IN FOR THEIR PERSONAL
USE F.D.A.-APPROVED PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS, AND ONLY FROM ONE
COUNTRY; NAMELY, CANADA.
AS I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, IN
DOING SO, THE LANGUAGE IS NEARLY
IDENTICAL TO THE VITTER
AMENDMENT TO THE D.H.S.
APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT PASSED
THE SENATE LAST CONGRESS WITH A
STRONG BIPARTISAN MAJORITY,
55-36, WITH NINE MEMBERS NOT
VOTING.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS WOULD
PROVIDE REAL RELIEF TO MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS, INCLUDING SENIORS.
IT WOULD ALLOW REIMPORTATION
FROM CANADA, A VERY SAFE-SOURCE
COUNTRY, INCLUDING THROUGH MAIL
ORDER AND OVER THE INTERNET.
THE LANGUAGE, AGAIN, WAS
RESTRICTED TO PERSONAL USE
REIMPORTATION, WHOLESALERS
CANNOT PARTICIPANT PARTICIPATE IN IT.
IT ONLY APPLIES AT THAT CONSUMER
THAT GETS A VALID PRESCRIPTION
FROM A DOCTOR.
SO THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT FUNDING TO
THE F.D.A. TO THE EXTENT THAT
THEY WOULD CRACK DOWN AND
PROHIBIT AND POLICE AGAINST THIS
NARROW SET OF ACTIVITY.
BACK HOME, MEN IN WASHINGTON,
MEMBERS IN CONGRESS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE, OFTEN TALK
ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT
SKYROCKETING PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COSTS.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC,
NARROWLY TAILORED, CAUTIOUS, BUT
EFFECTIVE MEANS WHEREBY WE CAN
DO SOMETHING, WHERE WE CAN HAVE
AN IMPACT, WHERE WE CAN HELP
TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS,
INCLUDING MANY VULNERABLE
SENIORS.
SO I HOPE, MR. PRESIDENT,
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WILL
COME TOGETHER AGAIN, AS WE DID
LAST CONGRESS, AND GIVE A STRONG
HEALTHY, BIPARTISAN MAJORITY TO
THIS IDEA.
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT WOULD HELP AMERICANS, IT
WOULD HELP SENIORS, AND IT IS A
CAUTIOUS APPROACH.
PERSONAL USE ONLY; NOT
WHOLESALERS.
CANADA ONLY.
AGAIN, I URGE THAT WE ADOPT THIS
AMENDMENT, MR. PRESIDENT, AND
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
KNOW THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER
SENATORS THAT WANT TO CALL UP
THEIR AMENDMENTS.
I OHM ONLY WANT TO SPEAK FOR TWO
JUST SUBMITTED AND JUST EXPLAIN
MINUTES ON THE AMENDMENT THAT I
TO THE SENATE WHY THIS AMENDMENT
IS NECESSARY, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH THE CHAIRWOMAN
OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE,
SENATOR STABENOW FROM MICHIGAN,
AND OTHERS TO WORK THROUGH THE
DETAILS.
BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE IS
AN INCONSISTENCY IN THE LAW
BETWEEN THE 404 PROCESS THAT THE
CORPS OF ENGINEERS USES WHEN
ANYONE, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, WANTS
TO BUILD ANYTHING IN A WETLANDS.
OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT TO GET A
PERMIT.
WE'RE GETTING USED TO THAT.
IT IS NOT AN EASY PROCESS, BUT
IT WORKS FOR THE MOST PART.
YOU'VE GOT TO MITT GAIVMENT
THERE IS A NO NET LOSS RULE AND
WE'RE ALL SUPPORTING THAT.
HOWEVER, THERE IS A DISCREPANCY
IN THE FARMING RULE AND
DEVELOPMENT ACT THAT ACTUALLY
PROHIBITS SOME VERY, VERY
WORTHY, NONPROFIT ENTITIES WHO
ARE BUILDING COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
THIS IS NOT FOR-PROFIT.
TO EVEN APPLY FOR A PERMIT, EVEN
IF THEY COULD MITIGATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT MY AMENDMENT
SEEKS TO CORRECT.
SO THE CHAIRPERSON ON THE
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE AND OTHERS
THAT HAVE JURISDICTION ARE --
HAVE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH ME
ON THIS, TO TAILOR THIS
AMENDMENT SO THAT IT PROVIDES
THE HELP THAT SOME OF THESE
LOANS NEED THROUGH THE RURAL
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, BUT IT
DOESN'T OPEN UP A WHOLE, NEW
AREA OF POLICY.
AND I THANK THE CHAIR, AND
THAT'S BASICALLY A VERY SHORT
BUT CONCISE AND COMPLETE
DESCRIPTION OF WHAIRM A TRYING
TO DO.
IT IS ABOUT AAS SIMPLE AS THAT.
I LOOK FORWARD WHEN WE CAN, THE
SENATOR FROM WISCONSIN, WHEN HE
ALLOWS US TO GET FLIEN FOR A
VOTE ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND I
THANK SENATOR KOHL FOR ALLOWING
THIS TIME.
US TO OFFER THIS AMENDMENT AT
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE PENDING
AMENDMENT BE SET ASIDE AND
AMENDMENT NUMBER 791 BE CALLED
UP.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE CLERK WILL
REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA, MR. COBURN, PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 791 TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 738.
AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE --
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE AMENDMENT BE
CONSIDERED AS READ.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THIS IS A
STRAIGHTFORWARD AMENDMENT.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
MILLIONAIRES IN THE COUNTRY, BUT
WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
FARMERS IN THIS COUNTRY WHOSE
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME IS WELL IN
EXCESS OF $1 MILLION THAT WE'RE
PAYING DIRECT PAYMENTS TO.
AND WHAT I WOULD PUT FORWARD IS,
IF YOU'RE MAKING A $1 MILLION A
YEAR, I REALLY DON'T THINK YOU
NEED A LOT OF HELP FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE
PROFITABLE.
AND SO WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WILL
DO WILL PUT A LIMIT OF $1
MILLION OR GREATER FROM
RECEIVING DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
YOU COULD SAY SOMEBODY MAKING
$980,000 WOULDN'T, BUT WE'VE
CHOSE EN THIS -- RIGHT NOW IT'S
SUPPOSEDLY $2.5 MILLION.
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME.
SO, WHAT WE'VE DONE, OF THOSE
PEOPLE WHO MAKE $2.35.5 MILLION
FARMING, OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION, 75%
INCOME OUTSIDE OF THE
FARMING INCOME COMES FROM SOME
OTHER AREAS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS NOT
THEIR MAIN BUSINESS.
THEIR MAIN BUSINESS ISN'T
FARMING.
SO IF THEY MAKE $2.5 MILLION
FARMING AND THEY MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT 75% MORE THAN THAT
IN OTHER AREAS, AGAIN, I WOULD
SAY WE SHOULD HAVE TROUBLE
JUSTIFYING TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT WE'RE SENDING THEIR
TAX DOLLARS, ACTUALLY BORROWED
MONEY THAT ARE GOING TO BE
CHARGED THAT THEIR KIDS AND
GRANDKIDS, THAT WE SHOULD BE
SENDING THOSE TO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
OF THE 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE WHO
RECEIVE FARM PAYMENTS FROM 2003
AT THAT TIME.
TO 2006, 2,702 RECEIVED PAYMENTS
G.A.O. REPORTED THAT THE USDA
DOES NOT HAVE MANAGEMENT
CONTROLS IN PLACE TO VERIFY THAT
INDIVIDUALS OF
PAYMENTS ARE NOT MADE TO
INCOME-ELIGIBILITY LIMIT.
SO WE HAVE A LIMIT OF $2.5
MILLION.
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE
ENFORCING IT.
FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE GOING TO CUT
IT COMEBACK TO $1 MILLION AND
SAY, PUT IT -- PUT IN ACTION SO
YOU KNOW WHO YOU'RE PAYING AND
HOW MUCH THEY'RE MAKING.
G.A.O. FOUND THAT PARTICIPANTS
IN THE PROGRAM IN 2506 WERE
THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO HAVE AN
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME IN EXCESS
OF $500,000 AS THAN INDIVIDUALS
WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE AT ALL
IN THE DIRECT-PAYMENT PROGRAM.
IN OTHER WORDS, 216 EVERY 1,000
FARM PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
REPORTED IN EXCESS ADJUSTED
GROSS INCOME OF $500,000 OR MORE
COMPARED WITH SEVEN OF EVERY
1,000 FILERS IN THE TAX FILERS
IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
INSTEAD OF TAKING MORE OF WHAT
WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS HAVE EARNED,
CONGRESS WOULD BE WISE TO FIRST
END UNSOLICITED SUBSIDIES IN THE
FARM PROGRAM TO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS.
STUDIES SHOW THAT DIRECT
PAYMENTS WENT TO WEALTHY
INDIVIDUAL WHOSE LIVE IN URBAN
AREAS BUT OWN OR HAVE PARTIAL
FARMS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE ABSENTEE
LANDLORD WHOSE LIVE IN U.S.
CITIES WITH POPULATIONS OF
100,000 OR MORE.
BUT THEY WERE PAID $394 MILLION
IN FARM PAYMENTS IN TERMS OF THE
DIRECT PAYMENT IN 2010 ALONE.
THAT'S HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.
THE TOP 10% OF DIRECT PAYMENTS
IN 2010 RECEIVED 59% OF THE
MONEY UNDER THE PROGRAM.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE TOP 10% GOT
59% OF THE DIRECT-PAYMENT MONEY.
THESE 88,000 PEOPLE GOT AN
AVERAGE OF $30,000.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE WITH
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME, THEY GOT
FAR IN EXCESS OF THAT.
SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE 23 MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS IN 112th CONGRESS.
INSIDE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
203 INDIVIDUALS IN MIAMI.
179 INDIVIDUALS INSIDE THE CITY
LIMITS OF SAN FRANCISCO RECEIVED
OVER $1 MILLION IN PAYMENTS.
290 INDIVIDUALS IN NEW YORK CITY
RESIDENTS RECEIVED $800,000, ON
AVERAGE, IN PAYMENTS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FISCAL 2012
BUDGET PROPOSES TO REDUCE THE
PER-PERSON CAP ON DIRECT
PAYMENTS TO WEALTHY FARMERS BY
25% OR MORE AND REDUCE THE
ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME
ELIGIBILITY LIMIT BY $250,000
OVER THREE YEARS.
WELL, WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES
IS IT GOES IN SPIRIT OF WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO DO BUT
GOES FURTHER.
IT JUST SAYS, IF YOU'RE MAKING
OVER $1 MILLION IN ADJUSTED
GROSS INCOME, YOU SHOULD NOT BE
ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT PAYMENTS
THROUGH THE FARM PROGRAM.
STRAIGHTFORWARD, IT'S A WAY FOR
US TO CHANGE WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S A WAY FOR US TO SAVE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY,
DOLLARS.
AND I WOULD DARE TO SAY THAT IF
YOU POLLED THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
AND YOU SAID, WE'RE PAYING OUT
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
EVERY YEAR TO PEOPLE THAT ARE
MAKING MORE THAN $1 MILLION THAT
ARE FARMING, THEY'D SAY, WE
DON'T AGREE WITH THAT; THAT
CAN'T BE THE INTENT OF THE
ORIGINAL -- THE ORIGINAL INTENT
OF THAT PROGRAM.
THAT PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY
UNDERCAPITALIZED, WHO TRULY ARE
HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME, EVEN
WHEN WE HAVE GREAT MARKETS, AND
I AM NEAT OPPOSED TO THE
DIRECT-PAYMENT PRAVMENT BUT THE
FACT IS, TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
PERCENTAGE OF THAT GO TO
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE MAKING FAR
IN EXCESS -- 33 TIMES WHAT THE
AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL IN THIS
COUNTRY MAKES -- I THINK IS
SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO END AND WE
OUGHT TO END RIGHT NOW.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'D ASK THAT THE
PENDING AMENDMENT BE SET ASIDE
AND AMENDMENTS NUMBER 792 BE
CALLED UP.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE CLERK WILL
REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA, MR. COBURN, PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 792 TO
AMENDMENT NUMBER 738.
AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE --
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE AMENDMENT BE
CONSIDERED READ.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THIS IS ANOTHER
AMENDMENT.
FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD
WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT HOUSING FOR
PEOPLE THAT HAVE A NEED IN OUR
COUNTRY, BUT INSIDE THAT PROGRAM
IN H.U.D. THERE ARE PAYMENTS
BEING MADE FOR HOUSING COMPLEXES
WITH LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS
OR IN ABSOLUTE POOR PHYSICAL
CONDITION.
AND YET PEOPLE ARE TRAPPED
THERE.
WE KEEP SENDING THE MONEY.
THE MONEY DOESN'T GO TO IMPROVE
THE HOUSING.
IT GOES INTO THE POCKETS OF
THOSE THAT OWN THE HOUSING
THROUGH THE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING.
THOUSANDS OF NEEDY FAMILIES HAVE
TURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR
STABLE HOUSING.
THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN
PROPERTIES WITH HEALTH AND
SAFETY DEFICIENCIES, INCLUDING
ARE LIFE-THREATENING.
THERE ARE 3,847 PROPERTIES WITH
LIFE-THREATENING -- THIS IS
LIFE-THREATENING DEFICIENCIES AS
DETERMINED BY H.U.D.
LIFE-THREATENING THAT ARE
CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY
DESIGNATED AS TROUBLE BY H.U.D.
DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
OF THESE, 2,297 ARE IN POOR
PHYSICAL CONDITION THAT WERE
DESIGNATED AS TROUBLE BY H.U.D.
SOME OF THESE ARE FOR THE SAME
PROPERTIES THAT APPEAR YEAR
AFTER YEAR ON H.U.D.'S
REGISTRATION LIST OF TROUBLE
PROPERTIES.
THESE NUMBERS WON'T REFLECT ALL
OF THE DEFICIENT HOUSING
PROVIDED BY H.U.D. AND OTHER
AGENCIES.
FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND
SO THIS IS JUST A TASTE OF THE
PORTION OF WHAT IS OUT THERE.
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO
WOULD BE CUT OFF AID TO THE
GREEDY SLUMLORDS WHILE
PROTECTING NEEDY FAMILIES BY
PROHIBITING H.U.D. FROM MAKING
PAYMENTS FOR ANY ASSISTANCE OR
ASSURED MULTIFAMILY HOUSING
PROPERTY CURRENTLY DESIGNATED AS
TROUBLED ON THE ONLINE PROPERTY
INTEGRATED INFORMATION SYSTEM
FOR A LIFE-THREATENING
DEFICIENCIES OR POOR PHYSICAL
CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN ON THIS
OPIS, TROUBLED PROPERTY LEASE AT
LEAST ONE TIME DURING THE PAST
FIVE YEARS.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS IF YOU'VE
BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE
PROGRAM AS THE OWNER OF THIS
PROPERTY AND NOT MAKING IT A
SAFE PROPERTY, NOT MAKING IT
INHAPPEN BY THIBLE, YET --
INHABITABLE, WHAT WE'RE SAYING
IS H.U.D. SHOULD NOT BE GIVING
YOU ANY MONEY.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
THERE HAVE BEEN FAR TOO MANY
EXAMPLES OF SLUMLORDS RECEIVING
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS, IN MANY
CASES THOSE WITHOUT STABLE
HOUSING SEEK HELP BUT WERE PUT
AT HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK BY
THOSE ENTRUSTED TO CARE FOR THEM
WITH TAXPAYER FUNDS.
ABC NEWS, ""NIGHTLINE""
INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LOW-INCOME
HOUSING PROGRAMS ARE PLAGUED BY
THEFT, MISMANAGEMENT AND
CORRUPTION AT LOCAL LEVELS
INCLUDING MILLIONS SPENT ON
HOUSING FOR SEX OFFENDERS AND
DEAD PEOPLE AND ALL TOO OFTEN
FAIL THE THREE MILLION FAMILIES
WHO RELY ON THEM FOR A CLEAN,
SAFE PLACE TO LIVE.
SPECIFICALLY, THE REPORT FOUND
PHILADELPHIA HOUSING AUTHORITIES
SPENT HOUSING FUNDS ON LAVISH
GIFTS FOR ITS EXECUTIVES,
$500,000 TO SETTLE ***
HARASSMENT CLAIMS, H $17,000 OF
HOUSING FUNDS TO THROW AN
EXTRAVAGANT PARTY FOR THE
EXECUTIVES.
THE SAME MONTH AS A BELLY-DANCER
PARTY A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL LIVING
IN SUBSIDIZED HOUSING SUFFERED A
NEAR-FATAL ASTHMA ATTACK THAT
LEFT HER UNTAOEUBL SPEAK OR
WALK -- UNABLE TO SPEAK OR WALK
SECONDARY JUST TO DANGEROUS MOLD
IN THAT APARTMENT HOUSING
COMPLEX, BECAUSE IT WASN'T TAKEN
CARE OF WITH THE DOLLARS THAT
WERE PAID BY AMERICAN TAXPAYERS
TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT HAD OR
DEPENDED ON US.
"THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" FOUND
SOME OF THE CITY'S WORST
LANDLORDS RECEIVED $81 MILLION
IN FEDERAL HOUSING FUNDS EVEN
THOUGH THEIR BUILDINGS ARE
RIDDLED WITH HOUSING CODE
VIOLATIONS.
THE REPORT STATED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS HAVE BEEN DOLED OUT TO
BUILDINGS WHERE TENANTS HAVE
REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED.
RATS, ROACHES, UNWORKING
ELEVATORS, LACK OF HEAT AND
FLAKING, LEAD PAINT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDED
$300 MILLION TO MORE THAN 60
HOUSING AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN
REPEATEDLY FAULTED BY AUDITORS
FOR MISHANDLING GOVERNMENT AID.
IN INDIANA, INVESTIGATORS FOUND
THE POOR BEING FORCED TO LIVE IN
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING THAT LOCAL
AUTHORITIES KNEW WAS UNSAFE, YET
DID NOT FIX.
IN INDIANAPOLIS ALONE, MORE THAN
$5.2 MILLION A YEAR HAS BEEN
SPENT ON HOUSING RESIDENTS IN
UNSAFE CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO
THE FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE.
ABOUT $2.2 MILLION OF THE
FEDERAL FUNDS INTENDED TO
SUPPORT LOW-INCOME HOUSING OF
THE NAVAJO NATION INDIAN LANDS
IN NEW MEXICO WAS INSTEAD SPENT
GAMING, FURS, JEWELRY,
RACEHORSE TRAINING ACCORDING TO
THE "LAS VEGAS SUN."
THERE IS NO OVERSIGHT AT H.U.D.
TO MAKE SURE THE LANDLORDS MEET
THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR
RECEIVING THESE FUNDS.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING DOING IS
WE'RE SAYING IF YOU DON'T MEET
THE CRITERIA, YOU SHOULDN'T GET
THE MONEY.
THAT'S HARDLY A NOVEL IDEA, AND
YET WE CONTINUE TO SPEND
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
SUPPOSEDLY TO HELP THOSE WHAT
ARE NEEDIEST AMONG US, BUT YET
DOESN'T HELP THEM AT ALL.
BECAUSE THE MONEY'S MISDIRECTED
AND NOT REINVESTED IN THE
HOUSING.
H.U.D. TENSE TO SUBSIDIZE --
CONTINUES TO SUBSIDIZE REPEAT
OFFENDERS.
THERE ARE 6,1600 -- 6,100
PROPERTIES DESIGNATED AS
THE PAST FIVE
YEARS.
SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES APPEAR
THE SAME LIST.
YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR ON
IN OTHER WORDS, NO CHANGE,
THEY'RE STILL GETTING THE MONEY.
THESE INCLUDE PROPERTIES IN MY
OWN STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
NEEDY FAMILIES SHOULD NOT BE PUT
IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AS A
RESULT OF NEGLECT BY THE
SLUMLORDS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, RESULTS OF
NEGLECT BY OUR OVERSIGHT OF
H.U.D.
SO WHAT WE WOULD PROPOSE TO DO
IS TO ENSURE THAT FEDERAL
HOUSING BENEFITS FOR THE NEEDY
RATHER THAN THE GREEDY AND TO
PREVENT SLUMLORDS FROM ABUSING
TAXPAYERS AND THE DISADVANTAGED.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BAR H.U.D.
FROM PAYING LANDLORDS WHOSE
PROPERTIES ARE IN POOR PHYSICAL
CONDITION OR HAVE
LIFE-THREATENING DEFISH
CIRCUMSTANCE ACCORDING TO THEIR
OWN ANALYSIS -- LIFE-THREATENING
DEFICIENCIES ACCORDING TO THEIR
OWN ANALYSIS.
THEY ALREADY KNOW IT BUT THEY'RE
STILL PAYING IT.
WHAT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD SAY IS
IF YOU'RE ON THE LIST, YOU DON'T
QUALIFY.
IT WILL SEND A GREAT SIGNAL.
NOT ONLY WILL WE NOT PAY AS MUCH
MONEY TO PROPERTIES AND PUT
PEOPLE IN BETTER PROPERTIES BUT
WE WILL CHANGE THE EXPECTATION
OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING ALL
THE MONEY OFF THE H.U.D. MONEYS
FOR THE PROPERTIES.
IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
SO THERE MAY NOT BE MANY THAT
ACTUALLY LOSE THE MONEY, BUT
THERE WILL BE MANY PEOPLE WHO
ARE DEPENDING ON US LIVING IN
FAR BETTER CONDITIONS, FAR SAFER
CONDITIONS IF WE PASS THIS
AMENDMENT.
I WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT, IF
MY COLLEAGUE DOESN'T MIND, JUST
MOMENT.
TO TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE FOR A
I HAVE A TOTAL OF 12 AMENDMENTS
I WAS ALLOWED TO BRING UP TWO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DON'T
WANT TO GET IN A HURRY.
BUT THE FACT IS THESE ARE ALL
GOOD GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS.
EVERY AMENDMENT THAT I BROUGHT
UP.
THEY MAY NOT PASS, BUT THAT'S
OUR FAULT.
THAT'S NOT -- BUT THE FACT IS,
IS THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE
LIMITING AMENDMENTS.
LET'S GET THEM OUT THERE.
LET'S DO THEM.
THEY ARE MONEY SAVINGS.
THERE ARE QUALITY SAVINGS.
THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE THE
AGENCIES WORK BETTER.
AND WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF
THAT.
WE STAND RIGHT NOW AS A NATION
IN THE WORST SHAPE WE HAVE EVER
BEEN.
GREAT.
THE RISK TO OUR COUNTRY ARE
WE NEED TO QUIT THINKING ABOUT
PARTISANSHIP.
WE NEED TO QUIT THINKING ABOUT
ADVANTAGE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA
AND START DOING WHAT IS
NECESSARY TO FIX OUR COUNTRY.
WE PASSED A BUDGET BILL THAT
ALLOWED A DEBT INCREASE THAT THE
AVERAGE AMERICAN DOESN'T REALIZE
MONEY.
THAT WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T SAVE ANY
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SPEND
$800 BILLION OR MORE THAN WHAT
WE SPENT LAST YEAR OVER THE NEXT
TEN YEARS ON DISCRETIONARY
PROGRAMS.
IT'S TIME WE START BEING HONEST
WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND
THESE 12 AMENDMENTS ARE SIMPLE
AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.
ONE OF THEM COPIES SENATOR
MIKULSKI'S AMENDMENT, THAT IN
TERMS TIES DOWN AND MAKES MORE
RESPONSIBLE THE AGENCIES ON
THEIR CONFERENCE SPENDING.
CONFERENCE SPENDING IS OUT OF
CONTROL.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS
OUT OF CONTROL ON THE MONEY IT
SPENDS.
AND SO WE OUGHT TO BE ABOUT
MOVING THINGS THROUGH HERE THAT
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE SO THAT
CONFIDENCE.
WE CAN START REBUILDING THE
WHEN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, 15% OF
THE PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
US.
AND I UNDERSTAND WHY, BECAUSE WE
SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME AROUND
HERE IN A QUORUM CALL.
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO -- I WAS
PREPARED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO
PUT ALL THESE AMENDMENTS UP TO
SEE WHICH ONES COULD BE TAKEN,
NOT NECESSARILY HAVE A VOTE ON
EVERY ONE.
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW
THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT
TO HAPPEN NOT FOR ANY GOOD
REASON.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW IT TO
HAPPEN FOR POLITICAL REASONS.
THAT'S KILLING OUR COUNTRY.
WHETHER REPUBLICANS DO IT OR
ANY GOOD.
DEMOCRATS DO IT, NONE OF IT'S
THE COUNTRY IS ON TO US.
JOB.
LOUSY
I WONDER WHY IT'S THAT LOW.
I CAN'T FIND ANYBODY IN THE
STATE OF OKLAHOMA THAT THINKS
WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
AND I CAN'T FIND ANYBODY AROUND
THE COUNTRY THAT THINKS WE'RE
DOING A GOOD JOB.
BUT I WOULD ASK MY COLLEAGUES,
LET'S START MOVING STUFF THROUGH
HERE THAT ACTUALLY CHANGES
THINGS THAT,'S ACTUALLY GOING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO AGREE, BUT
VOTE IT DOWN.
NONE OF THESE ARE TRICK
AMENDMENTS.
NONE OF THESE ARE MEANT TO BE
POLITICAL AMENDMENTS.
THEY ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD, GOOD
GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS THAT WE
OUGHT TO CONSIDER.
AND IF YOU DISAGREE, DISAGREE,
FINE.
BUT LET'S NOT NOT VOTE ON THEM.
AND LET'S NOT MAKE AN ATTEMPT --
LET'S NOT QUIT MAKING ATTEMPTS
TO TRY TO FIX WHAT'S WRONG IN
OUR GOVERNMENT.
H.U.D.'S OVERSIGHT OF THE
HOUSING IS A DISASTER.
WHEN WE HAVE THIS MANY
PROPERTIES YEAR AFTER YEAR ON
THIS LIST.
WHY WOULD WE NOT WANT TO FIX
THAT?
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
FIX IT.
IT'S WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE
SOMEBODY AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT
OUT THE REAL REASON OUR
COUNTRY'S IN TROUBLE.
AND THE REAL REASON IS US.
WE HAVEN'T DONE OUR JOBS.
WE HAVEN'T DONE THE OVERSIGHT.
WE HAVEN'T CLEANED THINGS UP.
WE COULD HAVE GREAT ARGUMENTS
AND GREAT DISCUSSIONS AND GREAT
DEBATES.
BUT TO NOT HAVE THE DEBATE AT
ALL MEANS WE DESERVE EVERY BIT
THAT HAVE 85% LACK OF CONFIDENCE
IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD HOPE
TOMORROW THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO
OFFER THE REST OF THESE
AMENDMENTS.
I WILL WORK WITH, TALK WITH
ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THE MANAGERS
ON THE AMENDMENTS.
NONE OF THEM ARE CONTROVERSIAL.
SOME THEY MAY DISAGREE WITH AND
WANT VOTES ON.
THE OTHERS CAN BE ACCEPTED.
BUT TO NOT MOVE FORWARD AND THEN
TO SAY IT'S TAKING TOO LONG TO
GET THE BILL WHEN WE'RE HERE
READY TO WORK IS NOT AN EXCUSE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE READY TO
BUY ANYMORE.
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
KOHL MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT --
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE SENATE PROCEED TO A
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS WITH
SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR
UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON.
MY COLLEAGUE WAS
ADDRESSING THE FRUSTRATION THAT
EXISTS WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
ITS JOB.
WITH THIS CHAMBER FOR NOT DOING
I MUST SAY ON THAT POINT WE ARE
IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT.
I HEAR IN EVERY TOWN HALL, IN
EVERY CONVERSATION WITH
CONSTITUENTS THE QUESTION OF WHY
IS IT THAT WHAT WE NEED -- WHAT
WE NEED MOST IN THIS NATION ARE
THIS CHAMBER, THE SENATE,
IS UNABLE TO HOLD A DEBATE OVER
A JOBS BILL?
AND JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD A
DEBATE NOT OVER THE JOBS BILL,
BUT WHETHER TO PROCEED TO THE
JOBS BILL.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT WAS
DEFEATED NOT BECAUSE THE
MAJORITY DIDN'T WANT TO GET TO
THE BILL, BUT BECAUSE THE
MINORITY OPPOSED IT AND INVOKED
A 60-VOTE HURDLE, A HURDLE THAT
WAS NEVER ROUTINELY USED IN THIS
CHAMBER IN THE PAST.
THE FEAR OF DEBATING A JOBS BILL
IN THIS CHAMBER BY MY COLLEAGUES
IS IRRATIONAL.
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT US TO
WRESTLE WITH CREATING JOBS.
HAVE PEOPLE NOT GONE OUT AND
TALKED TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS?
DID THEY NOT KNOW THE
NATION?
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THIS
DO THEY NOT HEAR FROM THE
AND THE MOTHERS WHO ARE
WORRIED ABOUT KEEPING SHELTER
OVER THEIR FAMILY?
OR WORRIED ABOUT THEIR MORTGAGE
AND THEIR RENT AND THEIR
UTILITIES?
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE
COULD SAY LET'S NOT HAVE A
DEBATE ABOUT JOBS ON THE FLOOR
OF THE SENATE, AND YET IT WAS A
UNANIMOUS "NO" VOTE FROM ACROSS
THE AISLE WHEN WE PROPOSED
HAVING A DEBATE OVER THE JOBS
BILL.
I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT
ALL OF US HERE IN THIS CHAMBER
WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVE A PAYCHECK
UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE AND THE
PLIGHT OF AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO
EITHER ARE WORKING PART TIME IN
MULTIPLE JOBS, TRYING TO MAKE
ENDS MEET, HAVE LOST THEIR JOB
UNEMPLOYED.
OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WE HAVE
LOST FIVE MILLION MANUFACTURING
JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY.
OVER THE
LAST TEN YEARS, WE HAVE LOST
50,000 FACTORIES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
SO WORKING FAMILIES ARE IN A
TREMENDOUS CRUNCH.
SO I THOUGHT I'D SIMPLY SHARE
SOME STORIES FROM BACK HOME
BECAUSE THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE
MANY PEOPLE LISTENING TO FOLKS
BACK HOME, AND THEY ARE
CONCERNED THAT THIS CHAMBER
DEBATE AND PRODUCE A JOBS BILL
AND GET IT TO THE PRESIDENT.
JERRY FROM LYNN COUNTY SAYS I
WAS LAID OFF IN APRIL, 2009.
IT TOOK ME TWO YEARS AND TWO
JOB.
MONTHS TO FIND A CONTRACTING
I APPRECIATE HAVING A JOB.
HOWEVER, I HAVE NO BENEFITS, NO
PAY, NO
MEDICAL OR DENTAL COVERAGE.
MY WIFE RECENTLY SUFFERED A
BADLY BROKEN LEG.
WE HAVE NO INSURANCE.
HER INJURY REQUIRED SURGERY AND
A HOSPITAL STAY.
NOW WE ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING
THE HOUSE THAT I BOUGHT IN 1993.
I AM TOLD THAT MY CONTRACT HAS
BEEN RENEWED FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
2012.
THAT WILL BRING US TO MAY OF
THEN I HAVE TO LEAVE FOR THREE
MONTHS BEFORE I CAN RETURN.
I AM GIVEN NO PROMISE OF BEING
ABLE TO RETURN TO WORK THERE.
THAT'S JERRY'S STORY THAT HE
SENT IN TO SHARE.
VIRGINIA FROM HILLSBOROUGH
WRITES IN FEBRUARY, 2010, MY
DEPARTMENT AT MY COMPANY WAS
ADVISED WE WOULD BE LAID OFF
AFTER TRANSITIONING OUR JOB
DUTIES TO REPLACEMENT STAFF IN
INDIA.
A BLOW.
PRIOR TO THE LAYOFF, THE COMPANY
HAD NOT GIVEN US RAISES FOR
THREE TO FOUR YEARS, EVEN THOUGH
THEY WERE REPORTING PROFITS.
HALF OF OUR DEPARTMENT WAS LAID
OFF WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.
I FILED A T.A.A. PETITION TO
ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL
FUNDS FOR SCHOOLING FOR THE
PEOPLE OF OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT IT
WAS DENIED.
THE YEAR BEFORE I WAS LAID OFF,
MY DAUGHTER WHO LIVES WITH US
WITH HER SON CHANGED JOBS AND
THEN WAS LAID OFF FROM THE NEW
JOB.
FOUR MONTHS AFTER MY LAYOFF, MY
HUSBAND WAS ADVISED THE REST OF
HIS DEPARTMENT WAS BEING LAID
OFF AFTER THEIR JOB DUTIES ARE
TRANSITIONED TO AN OFFSHORE
SITE.
HOPEFULLY HE WILL HAVE WORK
UNTIL MARCH.
MY DAUGHTER, MYSELF AND MY
HUSBAND ARE ALL LOOKING FOR
WORK.
WE MOVED MY MOTHER UP WITH US
THREE YEARS AGO, SO NOW WE HAVE
HOME.
IN OUR
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WILL HAPPEN
IF NONE OF US CAN FIND WORK.
MY HUSBAND SERVED HIS TIME IN
THE ARMY AND HE AND I HAVE
ALWAYS WORKED FULL-TIME, STEADY
JOBS.
IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE BEING
PUNISHED FOR SPENDING OUR LIVES
WORKING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
FAMILY AND TO KEEP A ROOF OVER
OUR HEADS.
I READ IN THE PAPERS THIS
MORNING THAT THINGS ARE
IMPROVING IN OREGON, BUT
HONESTLY, I DON'T SEE IT.
AMERICANS ARE HURTING.
AMERICANS NEED JOBS.
WE WANT TO WORK AND NEED TO
WORK.
WE ARE NOT LAZY.
WE ARE INNOVATORS AND ALWAYS
HAVE BEEN.
WE NEED TO REGAIN OUR PRIDE IN
OUR COUNTRY, HELP EACH OTHER AND
QUIT FOCUSING ON GREED.
SO THAT WAS VIRGINIA FROM
HILLSBOROUGH.
AND IF YOU DIDN'T CATCH THE
BEGINNING OF HER LETTER, IT
STARTED BY SAYING THAT SHE AND
HER TEAM WERE LAID OFF AFTER
TRAINING REPLACEMENTS IN INDIA
TO TAKE OVER THEIR JOB, AND THAT
THIS TERRIBLE ECONOMY IS
RESULTING IN PEOPLE IN MULTIPLE
GENERATIONS OF HER FAMILY
WITHOUT WORK.
JULIO FROM SOUTHWEST PORTLAND
SAYS I AM 31 YEARS OLD WITH MY
FIRST BABY ON THE WAY, AND I CAN
HONESTLY TELL YOU I AM NOWHERE
NEAR WHERE I THOUGHT I WOULD BE
AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE.
UPON GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, I
JOINED THE NAVY.
I DID A SIX-YEAR ENLISTMENT.
MY MOTHER WAS A HOUSEKEEPER.
MY FATHER WAS AN ORDAINED
MINISTER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE
TO HELP ME WITH THE EXPENSES OF
HIGHER EDUCATION, SO I TOOK FULL
ADVANTAGE OF THE G.I. BILL ONCE
I WAS DISCHARGED, HONORABLY
DISCHARGED IN 2004.
I COMPLETED MY DEGREE IN THREE
YEARS AND NINE MONTHS AND
GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR'S IN
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND A MINOR
IN ECONOMICS.
I STRONGLY FELT THAT AS A
SIX-YEAR VETERAN OF THE NAVY
WITH A DEGREE IN BUSINESS AND
BEING BILINGUAL, I WOULD HAVE NO
PROBLEM FINDING EMPLOYMENT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD THE
MISFORTUNE OF GRADUATING JUST AS
2008.
THE FINANCIAL WORLD COLLAPSED IN
THREE YEARS LATER, I WORK TWO
JOBS AND STILL MAKE LESS THAN
30,000 A YEAR.
I HAVE INTERVIEWED FOR SEVERAL
GREAT JOBS BUT DUE TO THE AMOUNT
OF PEOPLE APPLYING FOR THE SAME
POSITION, I HAVE LOST OUT TO
AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE.
INDIVIDUALS WITH A GREATER
I KNOW I CAN DO WELL, BUT IN OUR
CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, I FEEL AS
CHANCE.
THOUGH I DON'T EVEN HAVE A
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO CREATE
BETTER-PAYING JOBS IN OREGON
WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
THAT WAS JULIO FROM SOUTHWEST
PORTLAND.
THESE STORIES ARE COMING FROM
OUR SINGLE PARENTS, THEY ARE
COMING FROM OUR HUSBANDS, OUR
WIVES, THEY ARE COMING FROM
FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING CARE OF
THEIR PARENTS, THEY ARE COMING
FROM FOLKS WHO ARE TRYING TO
TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, AND
YOU CAN FEEL THE SENSE OF
FRUSTRATION.
YOU CAN FEEL THE SENSE OF PANIC
IN THIS ECONOMY.
SO LAST WEEK, THIS CHAMBER
DEBATED WHETHER TO HAVE A DEBATE
ABOUT CREATING JOBS, AND MY
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE SAID
NO, WE WILL NOT LET THE JOBS
BILL COME TO THE FLOOR.
I MUST SAY I'M EXTRAORDINARILY
FRUSTRATED THAT AT THIS TIME IN
THIS ECONOMY WITH SO MANY
AMERICANS HURTING, MY COLLEAGUES
ARE UNABLE TO SUMMON THE
CONNECTION TO THE CHALLENGE OF
THE AMERICAN FAMILY SO THAT WE
CAN HAVE FULL DEBATE ON THIS
FLOOR ON A JOBS BILL.
WELL, THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE
WRITING, AS YOU COULD TELL FROM
COUNTRY.
THEIR LETTERS, THEY SERVED THEIR
SEVERAL OF THEM WERE IN THE
SERVICE.
THEY PLAYED BY THE RULES.
THEY WORKED HARD.
BUT THEY HAVE BEEN LET DOWN
AGAIN AND AGAIN BY A POLITICAL
SYSTEM THAT HAS PROTECTED TAX
BREAKS FOR THE WEALTHY OVER
CREATING JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
SO I HOPE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER
CHANCE TO DECIDE WHETHER TO
DEBATE A JOBS BILL, AND I HOPE
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS CHAMBER
WILL SAY YES, YES TO TAKING AND
SHUTTING DOWN TAX BREAKS,
$20 BILLION A YEAR FOR OIL
COMPANIES THAT ARE STASHING THAT
MONEY IN THE BANK AND NOT
CREATING A SINGLE JOB WITH IT
AND TAKING THAT $20 BILLION AND
PUTTING IT TO WORK ON ENERGY
RETROFITS, WHICH IS BY EVERY
ECONOMIST THE BEST *** FOR THE
BUCK WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE IN
CREATING JOBS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
OUTSOURCE A SINGLE BIT OF THE
LABOR AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE
PRODUCTS ARE MADE RIGHT HERE IN
OUR ECONOMY, FROM THE PINK
THE
DOUBLE-PANED WINDOWS TO THE
CAULK.
SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF
THE KIND OF CONVERSATION WE
SHOULD BE HAVING.
WE SHOULD BE HAVING A
CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER WE
SHOULD BE HELPING OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS HIRE TEACHERS.
THAT'S IN THE BILL.
SOME WILL AGREE, SOME WON'T, BUT
LET'S HAVE THE DEBATE.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PROPOSE AN
AMENDMENT AND SAY NO, WE DON'T
WANT TO HELP OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS, WE CAN DO SOMETHING
BETTER TO CREATE JOBS, THEN
LET'S HAVE THAT DEBATE, BUT
LET'S NOT SIT ON OUR HANDS WHEN
SUFFERING.
THE AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE
LET'S GET TO WORK AND CREATE
AMERICA NEED.
JOBS THAT THE FAMILIES ACROSS
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM TENNESSEE.
MR. PRESIDENT,
ARE WE IN MORNING BUSINESS?
WE ARE.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I'M DELIGHTED THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO IS IN THE CHAIR WHEN I
SPEAK BECAUSE I WANT TO SPEAK ON
A SUBJECT ABOUT WHICH HE IS THE
FOREMOST EXPERT IN THIS CHAMBER,
AT LEAST IN DAY-TO-DAY
OPERATIONS, AND THAT IS OF
SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND I THINK HE
WILL APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND
WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY IN WAYS
THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL NOT.
YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY, I HAD A
TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH A
MEMBER OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF
A PROMINENT NEWSPAPER IN THIS
COUNTRY WHO ASKED ME THIS
QUESTION.
SHE SAID SENATOR ALEXANDER, HOW
COULD YOU AND THE NATIONAL
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION POSSIBLY
BE TOGETHER ON THE TEACHER
EVALUATION QUESTION?
HOW CAN YOU JUSTIFY THAT?
AND THEN SHE SAID AND WHEN HAS
THE N.E.A. EVER DONE ANYTHING TO
ENCOURAGE THE EVALUATION OF
SCHOOLTEACHERS?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
BOTH QUESTIONS ARE GOOD
QUESTIONS.
WHAT SHE WAS REFERRING TO, OF
COURSE, WAS THE DRAFT ANNOUNCED
YESTERDAY BY SENATOR HARKIN AND
SENATOR ENZI WHO ARE THE RANKING
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE
THAT HANDLES EDUCATION, AND IN
IT INCLUDED A PROVISION ON
EVALUATION OF PRINCIPLES AND
TEACHERS.
AT MY SUGGESTION AND THAT OF
OTHERS.
BUT CONTRARY TO THE SUGGESTION
OF A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, IT DOES
NOT INCLUDE AN ORDER FROM
WASHINGTON THAT ALL 15,000
SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE A
SYSTEM.
TEACHER-PRINCIPAL EVALUATION
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A DEFINITION
OF WHAT IT SHOULD BE, AND IT
DOESN'T INCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE EDUCATION SECRETARY,
WHOMEVER IT MAY BE, TO THEN
ISSUE A NUMBER OF REGULATIONS
DEFINING WHAT A TEACHER
EVALUATION SYSTEM WOULD BE IN
DENVER OR IN MARYVILLE OR IN
NASHVILLE.
WHAT IT DOES INCLUDE IS THE
FOLLOWING -- FOR THE FIRST TIME,
IT SUCCESSFUL ALLOWS A STATE TO
SPEND ITS TITLE 2 MONEY.
THAT'S $2.5 BILLION OF FEDERAL
FUNDS THAT GOES TO STATES.
THAT MONEY TO BE SPENT
TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A
PRINCIPAL-TEACHER EVALUATION
SYSTEM THAT IS RELATED TO
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
NOW, IN MY VIEW, THAT'S THE HOLY
GRAIL OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.
IF WE COULD EVER FIGURE OUT HOW
TO DO THAT AND TO GET EVERYBODY
TO DO IT, I THINK IT WOULD DO
MORE THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE THING
WE COULD DO TO HELP OUR CHILDREN
LEARN WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW AND
BE ABLE TO DO, EXCEPT SOME LAW
THAT WOULD MAKE EVERYBODY BETTER
PARENTS, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO
PASS SUCH A LAW.
SO THAT'S THE FIRST THING THE
HARKIN-ENZI DRAFT INCLUDES ABOUT
TEACHER EVALUATION.
IN TENNESSEE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT
WOULD MEAN THAT THERE WOULD BE
ABOUT $41 MILLION THIS YEAR THAT
COULD BE SPENT FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THERE ARE ABOUT 63,000 TEACHERS
IN TENNESSEE, SO THAT'S ABOUT
$660 PER TEACHER, PER YEAR OF
FUNDS THAT COULD BE USED
TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT A
PRINCIPAL-TEACHER EVALUATION
SYSTEM RELATED TO STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT, AND THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME THAT'S BEEN
SPECIFICALLY ALLOWED.
SECONDLY, THERE IS SOMETHING IN
THE DRAFT LEGISLATION CALLED THE
TEACHER INCENTIVE FUND.
MANY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS LIKE
THE DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM
COLORADO KNOW THAT FUND VERY
WELL.
WE KNOW IT IN TENNESSEE BECAUSE
OF THE WORK IN MEMPHIS.
BASICALLY, IT'S A GRANT THAT WAS
INCLUDED AS A RESULT OF LANGUAGE
IN NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
SECRETARY SPELLINGS THEN BEEFED
UP THE PROGRAM, GOT THE MONEY
APPROPRIATED, AND IT RECOGNIZES
THE DIFFICULTY OF FIGURING OUT
HOW TO REWARD AND EVALUATE
TEACHERS IN A FAIR WAY,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO
BASE COMPENSATION ON THAT, AND
IT SAYS OKAY, IF YOU WANT TO DO
IT, WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME MONEY TO
HELP YOU TRY TO DO IT.
AND SO YOU CAN DO IT ONE WAY IN
KNOXVILLE, ANOTHER WAY IN
ANGELES.
DENVER, ANOTHER WAY IN LOS
HOPEFULLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS
OVER TIME, WE'LL FIND LOTS OF
FAIR WAYS TO -- TO REWARD
OUTSTANDING TEACHING AND
DETERMINE OUTSTANDING TEACHING,
AND SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND
OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN --
ANOTHER.
CAN BORROW IDEAS FROM ONE
THAT'S BEEN A BIG SUCCESS.
SECRETARY DUNCAN SUPPORTS IT, I
SUPPORT IT.
IT HAS SUPPORT ALL THE WAY
AROUND.
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SUPPORTED
IT.
THE THIRD THING THAT'S AVAILABLE
FOR HELPING DEVELOP TEACHER
EVALUATION SYSTEMS IS A PROGRAM
CALLED RACE TO THE TOP.
$700 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR
2011.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
STATES HAD TO COMPETE BASED UPON
THEIR -- AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THEIR ABILITY TO DEVELOP
PRINCIPAL-TEACHER EVALUATION
SYSTEMS.
MY STATE OF TENNESSEE -- AND I
CAN BRAG ON THEM ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
IT AT LEAST RECENTLY, WON THAT
COMPETITION, WON $500 MILLION
WHICH IS BEING SPENT TODAY TO --
WHICH HAS BEEN SPENT TO DEVELOP
AND IMPLEMENT AN EVALUATION
PROGRAM FOR ALL THE TEACHERS IN
TENNESSEE.
AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER ITEM
IN THIS DRAFT WHICH FITS IN
HERE.
I WOULD CALL IT THE SECRETARY'S
REPORT CARD.
ALL PREVIOUS EDUCATION
SECRETARIES -- AND I'M ONE OF
THEM -- HAVE TRIED TO USE THE
BULLY PULPIT.
SO HAVE PRESIDENTS.
WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE
AND WE WERE WORKING ON A MASTER
TEACHER PROGRAM, PRESIDENT
REAGAN CAME TO TENNESSEE TO SAY
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA.
THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL TO ME AT
THE TIME.
HE DIDN'T TRY TO SAY THIS IS HOW
YOU SHOULD DO IT.
HE SAID I RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'RE
DOING AND I APPLAUD IT AND
ENCOURAGE IT.
BILL BENNETT, WHEN HE WAS THE
EDUCATION SECRETARY FOR
PRESIDENT REAGAN, WENT TO
CHICAGO AND SAID THEY HAD THE
WORST SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY.
MADE A LOT OF NEWS.
BUT WHEN A SECRETARY USES THAT
DIFFERENCE.
PULPIT, HE CAN MAKE A
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD EDUCATION
SECRETARY RIGHT NOW, ARNE
DUNCAN, AND WHAT HE NOW HAS AT
BEFORE.
HIS DISPOSAL, NO ONE HAS HAD
HE HAS EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OF
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF
SCHOOLS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
AND THERE ARE ABOUT 100,000
PUBLIC SCHOOLS HE HAS THIS
INFORMATION FOR.
AND
HE CAN GO AROUND THE CAWNTD SAY
THIS IS GOOD, THIS IS BAD,
I'LL PUT THE SPOTLIGHT HERE,
LET'S DO MORE OF THIS.
HE CAN DO IT IN A WAY NOBODY
EVER COULD BEFORE.
SO THIS IS WHAT IN THE DRAFT
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT WOULD FOR THE FIRST TIME
GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SIGNIFICANTLY INVOLVED IN
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR
TEACHER-PRINCIPAL EVALUATION
RELATED TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
ONE IS $2.5 BILLION IN FEDERAL
DOLLARS, IN TITLE II CAN BE
USED FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE
INCENTIVE FUND, $399 MILLION,
RACE TO THE TOP NEARLY
$700 MILLION AND THEN THERE'S
THE SECRETARY REPORT CARD.
I RESPONDED TO THE EDITOR WHO
CALLED ME AND SAID LOOK, I KNOW
SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, IN 193
AND 1984 WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR OF
TENNESSEE, WE BECAME THE FIRST
STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO CREATE A
STATEWIDE SYSTEM FOR REWARDING
OUTSTANDING TEACHING AND PAYING
THOSE TEACHERS BASED UPON THAT.
AT THAT TIME IN TENNESSEE NOT
ONE TEACHER MADE ONE PENNY MORE
ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY FOR
BEING A GOOD TEACHER.
NOT ONE TEACHER MADE ONE PENNY
MORE, WAS PAID ONE PENNY MORE
FOR BEING A GOOD TEACHER.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN 1983 AND
1984.
SHE SAID HOW HARD COULD THAT BE?
EVERYBODY KNOWS SOME TEACHERS
ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN WE PUT OUR
CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
WHY CAN'T WE EVALUATE TEACHERS?
HOW HARD COULD THAT BE?
I WAS A LITTLE BIT AMUSED BY
THAT BECAUSE THOSE WERE EXACTLY
THE SAME KINDS OF QUESTIONS I
WAS ASKING IN FRUSTRATION 30
YEARS AGO.
I WOULD SAY IT TO EVERY COLLEGE
OF EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY.
I COULDN'T FIND A SINGLE ONE
THAT WOULD HELP ME IN ANY
SIGNIFICANT WAY EVALUATE
OUTSTANDING TEACHING.
NOW, THAT MAY SOUND LIKE AN
OVERSTATEMENT, IT'S NOT MUCH OF
AN OVERSTATEMENT.
I HAD DEAN AFTER DEAN,
EDUCATION PROFESSOR AFTER
EDUCATION PROFESSOR SAY YOU
CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU CAN'T -- YOU CAN'T
DETERMINE THAT ONE TEACHER IS
BETTER THAN ANOTHER ONE,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU PLAN TO REWARD
THEM, COMPENSATE THEM BASED
UPON THAT.
I FOUND THAT PATENTLY
RIDICULOUS.
PATENTLY RIDICULOUS.
JUST LIKE THE EDITOR WAS TRYING
TO SAY TO ME EVERY PARENT KNOWS
THAT, MY MOTHER PUT ME IN ONE
FIRST GRADE INSTEAD OF ANOTHER
FIRST GRADE IN TENNESSEE BECAUSE
SHE THOUGHT ONE TEACHER WAS
BETTER THAN THE OTHER.
SHE HAD AN OPINION ABOUT THAT.
SHE WAS TEACHER HERSELF SO
PERHAPS SHE KNEW.
WE ALL HAVE THOSE JUDGMENTS TO
MAKE.
I.B.M. HIRES A LOT OF
EDUCATION PEOPLE AND THEY
MAKE -- THEY HAVE TEACHERS AND
THEY KNOW SOME ARE BETTER THAN
OTHERS AND THEY PAY THEM
CORRESPONDLY.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PAY
TEACHERS ALL THE WAY UP THE
LADDER FROM LOWER AMOUNTS TO
VERY HIGH AMOUNTS FOR
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS.
DISTINCTION.
THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO MAKE A
BUT SOMEHOW WE'D GOTTEN IN THIS
RUT 30 YEARS AGO THAT SAID WE
CAN'T MAKE -- WE CAN'T MAKE ANY
DISTINCTION AMONG TEACHERS BASED
UPON THEIR ABILITY TO TEACH,
ESPECIALLY RELATED TO STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT, AND THEN WE
ESPECIALLY CAN'T TAKE THE NEXT
STEP AND PAY SOME MORE THAN
OTHERS.
THE REASON I THOUGHT THAT WAS
SUCH AN URGENT PROBLEM 30 YEARS
AGO WAS THAT WE CAN'T TRAP WOMEN
IN OUR SCHOOLS ANYMORE TO TEACH.
WOMEN ARE IN THE MARKETPLACE
NOW.
THAT'S WHAT WE DID FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS.
IF WE WANT -- IF WE WANT TO
ATRACK AND -- ATTRACT AND KEEP
THE VERY BEST MEN AND WOMEN
OUR CLASSROOMS WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE
EXCELLENCE WHEN WE FIND IT AND
TO REWARD IT WITH COMPENSATION.
I CAN REMEMBER SITTING AROUND
WITH A GROUP OF GOVERNORS WHEN
BILL CLEMENT SAID TO A GROUP OF
MOSTLY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS,
WHEN IS ONE OF YOU, HE USE HE
ANOTHER WORD, SO-AND-SO'S GOING
THE N.E.A.
TO GET ON THE COURAGE TO TAKE ON
WHAT HE MEANT, THE NATIONAL
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.
WELL, I WAS YOUNG AND MAYBE
DIDN'T KNOW BETTER SO I CREATED
A BIPARTISAN COMMISSION IN MY
SECOND TERM WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
WE SET OUT TO FIGURE OUT A
NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT
EDUCATION, INCLUDING A MASTER
TEACHER PROGRAM.
THE LOONGD SHORT OF IT WAS WE
DID THAT.
IT TOOK A YEAR AND A HALF OF MY
TIME AS GOVERNOR.
I MUST HAVE SPENT AN HOUR AND 40
OR 50 -- PERCENT OF MY TIME
AN ONGOING BRAWL
NAMELY WITH THE NATIONAL
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AS SOME
WHETHER WE COULD DO THIS OR NOT.
THEY DEFEATED MY PROPOSALS IN
THE FIRST YEAR, I CAME BACK THE
SECOND YEAR AND WON BY ONE VOTE.
AND WE PUT IN PLACE A VOLUNTARY
PROGRAM THAT BEFORE LONG UP TO
10,000 TENNESSEE TEACHERS
VOLUNTARILY WENT INTO A CAREER
LADDER PROGRAM, BECAME MASTER
TEACHERS, MANY GOT 11-MONTH AND
10-MONTH AND 12-MONTH
CONTRACTS, IT RAISED THEIR
PAY, GAVE THEM DISTINCTION AND
I HAVE TEACHER AFTER TEACHER
COME TO SEE ME TODAY TO THANK ME
FOR THAT, INCLUDING THE CURRENT
LEADERSHIP OF THE TENNESSEE
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WHOSE
ORGANIZATION KILLED THE PROGRAM
AFTER I LEFT OFFICE.
SO IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ASK
SENATOR ALEXANDER, WHY ARE YOU
AND THE NATIONAL EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION IN CAHOOTS ON ANY
PROPOSAL?
SORT OF TEACHER EVALUATION
WELL, I WANTED TO JUST SAY
BRIEFLY HERE WHY.
A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 1983-
1984, GOVERNOR HUNT,
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF NORTH
CAROLINA AND OTHERS HAVE CREATED
THE BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL
TEACHING STANDARDS.
THE N.E.A. AND FEDERATION OF
TEACHERS BOTH PARTICIPATED IN
THAT, THAT WAS A STEP FORWARD
IN RECOGNIZING AND CERTIFYING
OUTSTANDING TEACHINGERS.
THE A.F.T., THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF TEACHERS HAS
ALWAYS BEEN OPEN TO THIS
PROPOSAL.
THE I REMEMBER ALBERT SCHENKER
SAYING IF WE CAN HAVE MASTER
PLUMBERS YOU CAN HAVE MASTER
TEACHERS ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE
GOING TO PAY THEM MORE AND HE
INVITED ME TO THEIR NATIONAL
CONVENTION IN LOS ANGELES TO
TALK ABOUT IT.
PRESIDENT BUSH AND SECRETARY
SPELLINGS, PRESIDENT OBAMA AND
SECRETARY DUNCAN WHO HAVE TAKEN
A LEAD ON THIS DESPITE THE FACT
IT'S NOT POPULAR WITH MANY OF
THE CONSTITUENTS OF THEIR PARTY
HAVE STUCK THEIR NECKS OUT ON
THIS AND I APPLAUD THEM FOR
THAT.
THE GATES FOUNDATION HAS PUT
MONEY BEHIND IT.
BILL GATES HAS TOLD ME
PERSONALLY THIS IS ONE OF THE
TWO THINGS HE WANTS TO DO IN
EDUCATION WITH THE TIME AND THE
MONEY THAT HE'S GOT.
SO THERE IS A CONSENSUS, NOT
EVERYBODY MIGHT NOT SAY AS I DO
IT'S THE HOLY GRAIL OF
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THE 12th
GRADE BUT THERE'S A CONSENSUS
THAT FINDING FAIR WAYS TO REWARD
OUTSTANDING TEACHING THROUGH
TEACHER-PRINCIPAL EVALUATION
RELATED TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
IS URGENTLY IMPORTANT.
SO IT'S VERY TEMPTING JUST TO
PASS ALONG WASHINGTON AND -- A
LAW IN WASHINGTON AND SAY LET'S
ORDER IT, LET'S JUST DO IT.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY THINGS
AMERICA.
WORK IN THE UNITED STATES OF
DEVELOPMENT.
WE DID THAT WITH PROFESSIONAL
THE LAW NOW SAYS WITH ALL THAT
$2.5 BILLION, DO IT, HAVE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
SENATOR FROM COLORADO THINKS BUT
MY VIEW AND I DON'T THINK
SECRETARY DUNCAN WOULD MIND MY
REPEATING HIS COMMENTS OFTEN,
THAT'S THE BIGGEST WASTE OF
MONEY WE HAVE IN THE FEDERAL
EDUCATION PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT WELL USED.
WE SAY DO IT AND SO THEY HAVE
ALL THESE PROGRAMS AND TEACHERS
KNOW IT'S A WASTE OF TIME AND
EVERYBODY KNOWS IT'S A WASTE OF
TIME, WE'RE NOT SPENDING THAT
MONEY WISELY.
SO WHY ARE WE TO THINK IF WE
JUST SAY CREATE A TEACHER
EVALUATION SYSTEM THAT ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 15,000
SCHOOL DISTRICTS PEOPLE WILL
JUST SAY OKAY, WE HAVE TO DO IT
IT?
TO GET THE MONEY AND THEY'LL DO
I THINK IT WOULD BE THE KISS OF
DEATH FOR THE WHOLE MOVEMENT.
IT'S TEMPTING, TEMPTING TO DO
IT.
THEN YESTERDAY ON MY WAY UP HERE
IN MY HOMETOWN OF MAYORYVILLE,
TENNESSEE, I PICKED UP THE
NEWSPAPER AND IT REMINDED ME OF
WHY I SO STRONGLY BELIEVE IT IS
A GOOD IDEA TO CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AND STATES CAN CREATE
TEACHER-PRINCIPAL EVALUATION
SYSTEMS AND IT'S A BAD IDEA TO
ORDER IT, DEFINE IT AND
REGULATE IT FROM WASHINGTON.
HERE'S THE HEADLINE.
I MENTIONED THIS YESTERDAY ON MY
REMARKS ON THE FLOOR.
CONTENTIOUS.
EVALUATION OF TEACHERS
HERE'S THE STATE OF TENNESSEE
TENNESSEE -- COULD I ASK FOR
THREE MORE MINUTES?
A SENATOR: I CERTAINLY HAVE NO
OBJECTION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I THANK THE
SENATOR FROM KANSAS AND I'LL
KIND OF SPEED UP MY COMMENTS A
LITTLE BIT.
MIGHT TAKE FOUR UNLESS THAT'S A
PROBLEM.
I HAVE NO OBJECTION.
I'D LIKE TO
FINISH MY POINT IF I MAY.
THE STATE OF TENNESSEE,THE ONE
RATES RAYS TO THE TOP.
DEVELOPED THE SANDERS MODEL
WHICH WAS THE FIRST REAL WAY
ACHIEVEMENT TO TEACHER
THAT WE RELATED STUDENT
PERFORMANCE.
HARD.
MAY SOUND EASY, IT'S PRETTY
NOBODY ELSE WOULD DO IT, THIS
PROFESSOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF
TENNESSEE AGRICULTURE
DEPARTMENT, A STATISTICIAN SAID
I THINK I CAN DO IT AND DID HE
IT AND IT'S USED MANY PLACES BUT
NOT EVERY PLACE.
SOME DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN
IT.
BUT SO TENNESSEE WINS
$500 MILLION IN RACE TO THE TOP
TO DO WHAT?
HAVE A TEACHER-PRINCIPAL
EVALUATION PROGRAM.
HERE THEY'RE DOING IT.
25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND IT'S
THE FRONT PAGE NEWS,
CONTENTIOUS.
EVALUATIONS OF TEACHERS
ALL THE STRUGGLES WITH THAT
PROGRAM.
AND THEN WE GET INTO HERE WHAT
IT'S INVOLVED.
IT SAYS UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM,
THIS IS THE TENNESSEE SYSTEM OF
EVALUATION, TENURED TEACHERS
WILL BE EVALUATED AT LEAST FOUR
TIMES EACH YEAR.
NONTENURED TEACHERS WILL BE
EVALUATED AT LEAST SIX TIMES
EACH YEAR.
EFFECTIVENESS RATINGS ARE
CALCULATED USING A FORMULA
THAT'S 50% QUALITATIVE, 50%
QUALITATIVE.
STUDENT GROWTH OTHER 15% AND 15%
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, THEY'RE HAVING A
TOUGH TIME IN MARYVILLE,
TENNESSEE AND NASHVILLE,
TENNESSEE, IMPLEMENTING THEIR
OWN PROPOSAL.
IT SAID STATE OFFICIALS ARE
TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE TO
MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS, THE
STATE OF EDUCATION'S ADVISORY
GROUP WILL BRING REVISIONS TO
EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.
RECOMMENDATIONS MIGHT NEED TO BE
BROUGHT BEFORE THE STATE BOARD
OF EDUCATION.
DO WE REALLY WANT THEM TO COME
TO WASHINGTON AFTER THEY GET
THROUGH AND SAY OKAY, WE'VE GOT
IT FIGURED OUT, WE'RE HAVING A
REALLY HARD TIME DOING IT, YOU
TELL US WHAT TO DO, DEFINE WHAT
WE OUGHT TO DO AND MAY WE PLEASE
HAVE YOUR PERMISSION TO DO
THINGS THIS WAY INSTEAD OF THAT
WAY.
I THINK NOT, MR. PRESIDENT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE KISS
OF DEATH FOR ANY MOVEMENT FOR
TEACHER-PRINCIPAL EVALUATION.
SO MY -- MY PLEA IS THAT WE
SHOW SOME RESTRAINT HERE, THAT
WE RECOGNIZE IT JUST A LITTLE
MOVEMENT HERE MAKES A BIG
DIFFERENCE THERE WHEN WE'RE
DEALING WITH 3.2 MILLION
TEACHERS.
WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH 100,000
SCHOOLS.
SECRETARY DUNCAN SAYS A SYSTEM
BASED ON MULTIPLE MEASURES
INCLUDING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS
EDUCATION FOR EDUCATION REFORM
TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE CANNOT RETREAT FROM REFORM.
HE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
MEAN WE NEED A
NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD.
THAT'S WHAT A GOVERNOR, A
LEGISLATOR, A SCHOOL DISTRICT,
LOCAL PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE DOING
WORKING WITH TEACHERS.
SO THE N.E.A. AND I MAY HAVE THE
SAME POSITION TODAY ON WHETHER
TO HAVE A MANDATE DEFINITION AND
REGULATION FROM WASHINGTON OF
TEACHER EVALUATION.
WE MAY AGREE.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM.
BUT WHAT I'LL BE WATCHING THEM
NOW -- AS I DID 30 YEARS AGO
AND AS I DID 15 YEARS AGO -- 20
YEARS AGO AS EDUCATION
SECRETARY, I'LL BE TWIEWCHG SEE
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN TENNESSEE.
ARE THEY MAKING IT EASIER FOR
KEVIN HUFFMAN AND THE GOVERNOR
AND THE LEGISLATURE TO IMPLEMENT
THIS AWARD WINNING TEACHER
EVALUATION PROGRAM OR MAKING IT
HARDER?
I HOPE WE'LL HAVE A GOOD, FULL
DEBATE AS WE MOVE TO THE MARKUP
THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
I RESPECT THE ENTHUSIASM OF ALL
THOSE WHO WANT TO BEGIN A
PROGRESS FOR TEACHER AND
PRINCIPAL EVALUATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT NO
ONE WANTS IT TO MOVE MORE THAN I
DO.
I'VE WATCHED IT FOR 30 YEARS,
I'VE FOUGHT EVERYONE WHO IS
AGAINST IT FOR 30 YEARS, AND I
STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT
WAY TO DO IT IS TO RECOGNIZE
THAT EDUCATION IS LIKE JOBS.
BOTH ARE NATIONAL CONCERNS,
BOTH ARE OF INTEREST TO THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT WE
CAN'T CREATE THEM FROM HERE.
WE HAVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT
IN WHICH LOCAL PEOPLE, STATE
PEOPLE CAN CREATE BETTER SCHOOLS
AND CREATE BETTER JOBS AND IN
THIS CASE, A MANDATE DEFINITION
AND REGULATION FROM WASHINGTON,
A NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD, WOULD
BE A TERRIBLE ERROR.
I THANK THE PRESIDENT, I THANK
THE SENATOR FROM KANSAS FOR HIS
COURTESY AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM KANSAS.
I COMMEND THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TENNESSEE FOR HIS
REMARKS.
I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS IN
WASHINGTON, D.C. IS IMPORTANT,
WE REALLY DO CHANGE THE WORLD
ONE PERSON AT A TIME AND IT
HAPPENS AT HOME IN CLASSROOMS
ACROSS AMERICA EACH AND EVERY
DAY AND THERE IS NO MORE NOBLE
PROFESSION OTHER THAN PARENTHOOD
THAN THAT OF A TEACHER.
AND THEY MAKE A TREMENDOUS
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
AMERICANS EACH AND EVERY DAY AND
I COMMEND THEM FOR THAT AND I
COMMEND THE GENTLEMAN FROM
EDUCATION.
TENNESSEE FOR HIS PASSION FOR
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATION
THAT'S OCCURRING AT FORT
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS AND I WANT
TO CALL TO MY COLLEAGUES'
ATTENTION IMPORTANT WORK THAT'S
BEING DONE IN THE HEARTLAND TO
EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF
MILITARY LEADERSHIP AT THE
COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF
COLLEGE, THE CGSC IS THE
INTELLECTUAL CENTER OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMY AND HAS
TRAINED MANY OF OUR NATION'S
LEGENDARY LEADERS.
MACARTHUR, PATTON,
EISENHOWER, ARNOLD AND BRADLEY.
TODAY THE COLLEGE CONTINUES TO
PREPARE A NEW GENERATION OF
ARE TASKED WITH
PROTECTING OUR COUNTRY FROM
THREATS HERE AT HOME AND ABROAD
AROUND THE WORLD.
THE 21st CENTURY NATIONAL
DISIEWRT CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE
-- NATIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
WE FACE ARE OFTEN COMPLEX AND
REQUIRE COOPERATION OF SEVERAL
FEDERAL AGENCIES.
IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR OFFICIALS
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO
BE WORKING ALONGSIDE THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
OR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ON
THE SAME PROJECT.
FROM THE PROVINCIAL
RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS IN
AFGHANISTAN TO RESPONDING TO
HURRICANES OR MAN-MADE DISASTER,
THE CAPABILITY OF AGENCIES TO
WORK TOGETHER IS VITAL TO THE
SUCCESS OF THIS MISSION.
BY WORKING TOGETHER AND LEARNING
FROM PREVIOUS MISTAKES, OUR
GOVERNMENT WILL BECOME
BETTER-PREPARED TO KEEP OUR
COUNTRY SAFE AND SECURE.
TO IMPROVE COORDINATION WITHIN
AGENCIES TASKED WITH THE
NATIONAL SECURITY, THE COMMAND
AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE
FOUNDATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP
OF RETIRED COLONEL BOB ULAND
ESTABLISHED THE ARTHUR D.
CENTER AT
FORT LEAVENWORTH IN KANSAS.
THINGS A VERY GENEROUS FINANCIAL
GIFT FROM ROSS PEROT, THE CENTER
WAS CREATED LAST APRIL AND NAMED
AFTER MR. PEROT'S GOOD FRIEND,
RETIRED COLONEL ARTHUR "BULL"
SIMONS, WHO LED A RESCUE MISSION
OF SPECIAL FORCES TO FREE
1970.
AMERICAN PRISONERS IN VIETNAM IN
THE SIMON CENTER FOCUSES ON
GENERATING SOLUTIONS TO
CHALLENGES OFTEN ENCOUNTERED
WHEN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MUST
WORK TOGETHER.
BY DRAWING ON REAL-WORLD
EXPERIENCE, THE SIMON CENTER
WORKS TO FACILITATE BROADER AND
MORE EFFECTIVE COOPERATION
WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT AT THE
OPERATIONAL AND TACTICAL LEVELS
THROUGH RESEARCH, ANALYSIS,
PUBLICATION, AND OUTREACH.
THE CENTER IS ALSO ACTIVELY
ENGAGED IN WORKING WITH MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS.
MOST RECENTLY, THE CENTER HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH THE SENATE
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE,
HOMELAND SECURITY AND
OF WHICH I AM A MERGERS AND ON
LEGISLATION TO HELP FACILITATE
BETTER COMMUNICATIONS AND
AMONG PERSONNEL IN
THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND
HOMELAND SECURITY FIELDS.
THE INTERAGENCY PERSONNEL
ROTATION ACT IS SCHEDULED TO BE
CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW
AND WOULD GIVE SECURITY
PROFESSIONALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WORK ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER IN A
DIFFERENT AGENCY FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME.
THE BILL REMINDS ME OF THE OLD
SAYING, "BEFORE YOU JUDGE A MAN,
WALK A MILE IN HIS SHOES."
BY GIVING STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY
TO WORK WITHIN ANOTHER AGENCY,
TO WALK WITHIN HIS SHOES, I
IMAGINE PERSPECTIVES WILL CHANGE
AND COOPERATION WILL INCREASE.
IF THE LEGISLATION IS APPROVED
BY CONGRESS, THE SIMON CENTER
THESE POLICIES.
WILL PLAY A ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING
IN ADDITION TO OFFERING POLICY
PARTNERS WITH SEVERAL
RECOMMENDATIONS, THE CENTER ALSO
ORGANIZATIONS TO HOST
CONFERENCES FOCUSED ON HOW TO
COORDINATION.
IMPROVE INTERAGENCY
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CENTER RECENTLY
COHOSTED A SYMPOSIUMS ON
INTERAGENCY TRANSITION IN IRAQ,
AFGHANISTAN, AND BEYOND WITH A
COMBINED ARM CENTERS AND THE
U.S. INSTITUTE OF PEACE.
CONFERENCES LIKE THESE HELP
PROVIDE SENIOR GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS A HELPFUL FORUM TO
FURTHER ANALYZE ONGOING
CHALLENGES AND DEVELOP PRACTICAL
SOLUTIONS.
I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CENTER'S
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TED STRICKLER
WHO JOINED AFTER A 30-YEAR
CAREER IN THE STATE DEPARTMENT
FOR HIS PAST YEAR'S WORK TO ET
GO THE CENTER UP AND RUNNING.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
RETIRED COLONEL BOB ULAND FOR
HIS ONGOING DEDICATION TO THIS
IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.
UNDER THE COLONEL'S LEADERSHIP,
THE FOUNDATION SUCCESSFULLY
SUPPORTED OUR COUNTRY'S OLDEST
AND LARGEST MILITARY STAFF
COLLEGE IN ITS MISSION TO
EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF
OUR MILITARY LEADERS.
FINALLY, THE URGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
VALUABLE WORK TAKING PLACE AT
THE SIMON STRVMENT WE ALL
RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF
IMPROVING OUR GOVERNMENT'S
ABILITY TO HARNESS THE STRENGTH
OF ITS VARIOUS AGENCIES.
BY PROMOTING INTERAGENCY
COORNTION THE SIMON CENTER IS
HELPING TO STRENGTHEN OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY CAPABILITIES
SO THAT OUR COUNTRY AND ITS
CITIZENS ARE BETTER-PREPARED FOR
THEIR FUTURE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOTICE THE
THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: