Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER
THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED
WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S
MY PLEASURE BUT ALSO A SAD
MOMENT FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO
TAKE THIS TIME TO CELEBRATE THE
SERVICE OF AND ALSO TO SALUTE
THE RETIREMENT OF ONE OF THE
SENATE'S GREAT STAFFERS.
ED LEVINE.
ED IS RETIRING THIS WEEK AFTER A
REMARKABLE 35 YEARS OF SERVICE
TO THE SENATE, A LOT LONGER THAN
MOST SENATORS GET TO SERVE AND
MOST STAFF UP HERE HAVE THE
COURAGE TO HANG IN THERE AND
SERVE.
IN HIS DECADES OF SERVICE, ED
HAS PROVIDED WISE AND PERCEPTIVE
COUNSEL TO TWO COMMITTEES AND TO
MANY, MANY MEMBERS, AND MOST
RECENTLY TO THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
HIS DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF FOREIGN
POLICY AND HIS REMARKABLE SENSE
OF THIS INSTITUTION ARE TRULY
GOING TO BE MISSED, AND I MEAN
MISSED ENORMOUSLY.
HE GREW UP AND HE WENT TO SCHOOL
HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., BEFORE
HE HEADED OFF TO BERKELEY AND
THEN LATER TO YALE.
WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN HERE IN
THIS COMMUNITY, HE USED TO RIDE
THE STREETCAR DOWN TO GEORGIA
AVENUE WHERE HE WOULD WATCH THE
SENATORS PLAY AT GRIFFITH
STADIUM.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE TOO YOUNG
TO REMEMBER, THERE ACTUALLY WAS
A BASEBALL TEAM CALLED THE
SENATORS ONCE UPON A TIME.
HE DIDN'T WATCH FOLKS HERE
PLAYING AT GRIFFITH STADIUM.
BUT WHEN THE WASHINGTON SENATORS
LEFT FOR GOOD TO BECOME THE
TEXAS RANGERS, I HAVE TO RECKON
THAT ED JUST DECIDED THAT THE
U.S. SENATORS WERE THE ONLY GAME
LEFT IN TOWN, AND HE HAS BEEN
HERE EVER SINCE.
HE FIRST CAME TO THE SENATE,
MR. PRESIDENT, IN 1976.
HE JOINED THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON INTELLIGENCE BACK THEN,
ESTABLISHED.
LITERALLY RIGHT AFTER IT WAS
AND IT WAS AN HISTORIC MOMENT.
THOSE WHO REMEMBER THEIR HISTORY
OF THE 1970'S REMEMBER THAT WAS
A TIME OF GREAT CONSTERNATION
ABOUT THE COVERT ACTIVITIES OF
THE C.I.A., AND THAT'S THE
ACTIVITIES OF -- AND THE
OVERSIGHT OF THE C.I.A. BECAME A
MAJOR NATIONAL ISSUE AND
CONCERN, AND SO IT WAS AN
HISTORIC MOMENT WHEN THE SENATE
WAS REASSERTING ITS
CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO
PROVIDE OVERSIGHT.
ED SPENT THE NEXT 20 YEARS
OVERSEEING SOME OF THE NATION'S
MOST SENSITIVE PROGRAMS AND SOME
OF ITS MOST CLOSELY GUARDED
SECRETS.
HE WAS TRUSTED WITH SOME OF THE
MOST SECRET INFORMATION OF OUR
COUNTRY BECAUSE HE NEVER HAD
ANYTHING BUT THE INTERESTS OF
OUR COUNTRY AND THE SECURITY OF
THE NATION FOREMOST IN HIS MIND.
I THINK THAT IS ALSO BORNE OUT
IN THE FACT THAT THROUGH THE
COURSE OF HIS CAREER, HE WORKED
FOR MEMBERS OF BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE WHILE HE WAS ON THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE.
HE SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE AS
THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF
REPUBLICAN SENATORS CLIFFORD
CASE AND THEN REPUBLICAN DAVID
DURENBERGER, AND THEN LATER FOR
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS HOWARD
METZENBAUM AND CHUCK ROBB.
HIS WORK FOR THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMITTEE EXEMPLIFIED A STANDARD
OF PUBLIC SERVICE THAT REALLY
PUTS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE
SENATE'S CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES
ABOVE ANY OTHER PARTISAN
CONCERN.
FOR HIM, THERE NEVER WAS A PARTY
ISSUE, REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR
AN IDEOLOGICAL ISSUE, LIBERAL OR
CONSERVATIVE.
IT WAS WHAT ARE THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA'S BEST
INTERESTS AND HOW DO WE PROTECT
ITS SECURITY?
AND HE HAS APPLIED THAT VERY
SAME APPROACH TO HIS WORK ON THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
WHERE I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF WATCHING HIM WORK OVER THE
COURSE OF THE 26 YEARS THAT I
HAVE BEEN HERE.
HE WORKED MOSTLY PREVIOUSLY FOR
NOW-VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN.
A FEW DAYS AGO, WE HELD A
BUSINESS MEETING OF THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND IT WAS
CHARACTERISTIC OF ED'S DILIGENCE
IN REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF
COUNTRY ABOVE PARTY THAT SENATOR
LUGAR, THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE AND WHO HAS SERVED
WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME, TOOK
TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS SERVICE
AND TO NOTE HOW CONSTRUCTIVELY
HE HAD WORKED WITH THE
REPUBLICAN COUNTERPARTS OF THE
COMMITTEE OVER THESE MANY YEARS.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE SAW THAT IN
LARGE MEASURE LAST YEAR WHEN WE
CONSIDERED THE START TREATY, THE
NEW START TREATY IN WHICH ED
PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE.
YOU KNOW, I MIGHT MENTION TO
COLLEAGUES WHEN SENATOR -- WHEN
VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS SENATOR
BIDEN AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE, HE COINED A NICKNAME
FOR ED.
HE CALLED HIM FAST EDDIE.
AND THE IRONY OF THAT FOR ALL OF
US WHO KNOW HIM IS THAT ED
DOESN'T DO FAST.
HE IS ONE OF THE MOST CAREFUL
AND DELIBERATE THINKERS ON OUR
STAFF, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE
MOST.
THINGS PEOPLE VALUED IN HIM THE
IT WAS NEVER A HIP SHOT.
IT WAS ALWAYS BASED ON THINKING,
RESEARCH, AND EXPERIENCE AND
KNOWLEDGE.
AND HIS KNOWLEDGE OF ARMS
CONTROL, I MAY SAY, IS
ENCYCLOPEDIC.
DURING THE NEW START DEBATE, WE
HAD A WAR ROOM SET UP ONE FLOOR
BELOW US IN THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE ROOM WITH
DOZENS OF EXPERTS FROM VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS OF OUR GOVERNMENT
AND STAFFS OF BRIEFING BOOKS AND
INSTANT COMPUTER LINKAGE TO THE
STATE DEPARTMENT, TO THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT, INTELLIGENCE AND SO
FORTH, BUT OFTEN WHEN WE HAD A
QUESTION, ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS
TURN TO ED, AND HE WOULD KNOW
THE ANSWER FROM RIGHT UP HERE IN
HIS HEAD, FROM HIS EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS NOT SURPRISING, GIVEN
HOW MANY TREATIES ED HAS HELPED
CAREER.
THIS BODY TO CONSIDER DURING HIS
HE WORKED ON THE I.N.F. TREATY,
ON THE START ONE TREATY, ON THE
START TWO TREATY, ON
CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS.
I JUST WENT UP TO HIM A MOMENT
AGO, I SAW HE WAS WEARING A TIE
WITH SWORD BEING BEATEN INTO
PLOWSHARES, AND HE REMINDED ME
THAT CAME FROM THE MUTUAL
BALANCED FOREST REDUCTION
TREATY, WHICH HE SAID WAS THE
ONLY THING THAT THEY COULD AGREE
ON, BUT HE IS PROBABLY WEARING
IT TODAY.
WHAT ALL OF THIS ADDS UP TO,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT ED SPENT
A GREAT CHUNK OF HIS LIFE DOING
HIS BEST TO HELP THE UNITED
STATES SENATE PROTECT OUR NATION
FROM THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPONS
THAT EVER EXISTED.
HE DID IT WITH SUCH
PROFESSIONALISM, EVEN, I MIGHT
ADD, WHEN FACED WITH PERSONAL
LOSS AS WHEN HIS FATHER DIED
LAST YEAR RIGHT DURING THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE TREATY, BUT
IT DIDN'T STOP ED FROM DOING HIS
DUTY.
ALL OF HIS SERVICE HERE IS A
REAL TESTAMENT TO HIS CHARACTER,
THAT HE EARNED THE RESPECT FROM
THE MEMBERS HE SERVED AND THE
STAFF HE WORKED WITH AS A
TESTAMENT TO HIS GREAT SKILL AND
KNOWLEDGE, AND THAT HE HAS DONE
SO FOR SO MANY YEARS IS A
TESTAMENT TO HIS SENSE OF PUBLIC
CITIZENSHIP AND HIS LOVE OF
COUNTRY.
SO, ED, WE THANK YOU, ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WE WILL MISS YOU IN THE SENATE,
AND I WISH YOU PERSONALLY THE
BEST IN ALL OF YOUR FUTURE
ENDEAVORS.
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
MR. PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
I WOULD ASK THAT
THE QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED
WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE
JUST PASSED LEGISLATION THAT
WOULD RAISE THE DEBT CEILING AND
AS A PART OF THAT WAS AN EFFORT
TO REVERSE THE DEBT TRAJECTORY
WE ARE ON, BUT IT CAN ONLY BE
CALLED AT BEST A FIRST STEP.
I THINK PRETTY MUCH WE COULD ALL
AGREE ON THAT.
INDEED, THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN
THE "FINANCIAL TIMES" ABOUT
PROFESSORS ROGOFF AND REINHART
WHO'VE WRITTEN A BOOK THAT'S
GOTTEN A GREAT DEAL OF
ATTENTION.
IT'S WIDELY RESPECTED.
DESCRIBING AND ANALYZING
SOVEREIGN DEBT, NATIONAL
COUNTRIES WHO'VE GONE -- WHICH
HAVE GONE BANKRUPT AROUND THE
WORLD.
AND THEIR COMMENTS WERE IT'S --
MUCH OF WHAT OCCURRED IN OUR
DEBATE IS LIKE THOSE OTHER
NATIONS.
WE -- THE OTHER NATIONS SCRAMBLE
AROUND WHEN THE PRESSURE'S ON
WITH SOMETHING LIKE A DEBT
CEILING AND THEY DON'T REALLY
CHANGE ANYTHING SIGNIFICANTLY
BUT THEY MEET THE CRISIS AND
TELL EVERYBODY EVERYTHING'S
OKAY.
AND THEY SAY IN THIS ARTICLE IN
THE "FINANCIAL TIMES"
EVERYTHING'S NOT OKAY.
INDEED, THE DEBT WILL INCREASE
OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS
APPROXIMATELY $13 TRILLION AND
THIS PACKAGE WOULD REDUCE THE
INCREASE IN OUR DEBT FROM
$2.1 TRILLION TO $2.4 TRILLION.
THAT'S NOT MUCH.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, LARRY
LINDSEY, FORMER ECONOMIC ADVISOR
TO PRESIDENT BUSH, HAS DONE SOME
ANALYSIS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE SCORE OF WHAT THE
BUDGET WOULD LOOK LIKE OVER TEN
YEARS AND HE POINTS OUT THAT
THEY WERE PREDICTING NEARLY 3%
GROWTH THE FIRST AND SECOND
QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR, PRINTING
THAT --PRINTING -- PREDICTING THAT AS
EARLY AS THIS YEAR.
AND SO NOW WE'VE HAD A
REANALYSIS OF THE FIRST QUARTER
AND ECONOMIC GROWTH WASN'T 3%,
IT WAS .4%.
AND THE SECOND QUARTER HAS
INITIALLY BEEN SCORED AT ONLY
1.3%, NOT 3%, NOT 2.7% OR THAT
FIGURE.
HE SAYS THAT LOSS IN G.D.P.
ALONE WILL MEAN LESS GROWTH IN
THE ECONOMY, MEANS LESS TAX
REVENUE FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
AND OVER TEN YEARS, IT PUTS US
ON A TRAJECTORY THAT THE
GOVERNMENT WOULD LOSE
$750 BILLION, WOULD COLLECT $
$50 BILLION
750 BILLION LESS, WHICH IS ABOUT
A THIRD OF WHAT SAVINGS WAS TO
OCCUR IN THE BILL.
AND MR. LINDSEY SAYS SECOND AND
THIRD -- THIRD AND FOURTH
QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR ALSO ARE
GOING TO BE WELL BELOW THAT.
SO MAYBE WE'RE LOOKING AT IN
THIS YEAR ALONE ENOUGH DECLINE
IN G.D.P., UNFORTUNATELY --
HOPEFULLY NOT -- THAT WOULD WIPE
OUT HALF, MAYBE MORE, OF THE
SAVINGS THAT WERE JUST PASSED.
BUT I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT I
BELIEVE MANY IN OUR CONGRESS,
MANY IN THE SENATE ARE IN DENIAL
ABOUT HOW SERIOUS THE DEBT
THREAT IS THAT WE ARE TOO OFTEN,
AS ROGOFF AND REINHART SAID,
SAYING THE SAME THINGS THAT
OTHER NATIONS SAID BEFORE
ECONOMIC CRISIS HIT.
INDEED, THE NAME OF THEIR BOOK,
"THIS TIME IT'S DIFFERENT"
REFERS TO WHAT GOVERNMENTAL
LEADERS SAID IN THOSE COUNTRIES,
THOSE OTHER COUNTRIES THAT WENT
INTO DEFAULT, WENT INTO DEBT
CRISIS UP UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE.
THEY WERE SAYING, "WE'VE GOT IT
UNDER CONTROL.
IT'S NOT SO BAD.
THIS TIME IT'S DIFFERENT.
JUST BECAUSE OUR NUMBERS LOOK
LIKE THEY DID IN SOME OTHER
COUNTRY, IT'S DIFFERENT THIS
TIME."
AND IMMEDIATELY OUT OF THE BLUE,
A CRISIS, A LOSS OF CONFIDENCE
OCCURRED AND THEY HAD A SERIOUS
PROBLEM.
SOMETHING LIKE WHAT HAPPENED
WHEN PEOPLE LOST CONFIDENCE IN
THE HOUSING MARKET SEVERAL YEARS
AGO THAT PUT US IN THIS
RECESSION.
I JUST SAY IT'S TROUBLESOME,
IT'S WORRISOME.
WE ARE NOT FACING A LITTLE
PROBLEM, WE'RE FACING A PROBLEM
THAT WILL REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION
STEADFASTLY FOR A DECADE TO GET
THIS COUNTRY ON THE RIGHT
COURSE.
WELL, I'M -- I WOULD NOTE THAT
THE PRESIDENT HAD A PRESS
CONFERENCE TODAY.
IN A WAY, IT REJECTED EVERYTHING
DEBATE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THIS
IT REALLY DID NOT TALK ABOUT THE
NATURE OF THE CRISIS THAT ROGOFF
AND REINHART DESCRIBED.
HE DIDN'T TELL THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE THAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS
SPENDING THAT'S SURGING OUT OF
CONTROL.
HE DIDN'T SAY YOU CAN'T CONTINUE
AS A NATION BORROWING 42 CENTS
OF EVERY DOLLAR YOU SPEND.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE SPENDING
$3.7 TRILLION WHEN WE TAKE IN
$2.2 TRILLION.
YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
WE DIDN'T -- HE'S NOT TALKED TO
US HONESTLY ABOUT THAT.
HE'S NOT SENT A SIGNAL, HE'S NOT
SOUNDED THE ALARM, I THINK A LOT
OF PEOPLE, SOME IN CONGRESS AND
SOME OUTSIDE OF CONGRESS, SORT
OF THINK IT MUST NOT BE SO BAD.
THE PRESIDENT HASN'T TOLD US IT
IS.
BUT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
EXPRESSING CONCERN AND THERE'S A
GROWING UNEASE NATIONWIDE AS
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SHOWS, AS
BUSINESS INVESTMENT SHOWS.
WE JUST GOT SOME BAD
MANUFACTURING NUMBERS YESTERDAY.
SO THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD
AND WE'VE GOT TO BE HONEST WITH
OURSELVES THAT THIS IS A
DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT TIME.
HE DID, HOWEVER, MAKE REPEATED
STATEMENTS IN HIS PRESS
CONFERENCE ABOUT RAISING TAXES.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD
THING TO DO WHEN THE ECONOMY'S
IN A FIX LIKE IT IS.
HE FLATLY AND ERRONEOUSLY, I
BELIEVE, STATED YOU CAN'T
BALANCE A BUDGET WITH SPENDING
CUTS.
WELL, YOU CERTAINLY CAN.
YOU CAN ARGUE YOU'D RATHER HAVE
TAX INCREASES AND LESS SPENDING
CUTS, BUT WE CAN AND MUST
BALANCE OUR BUDGET, WE CAN AND
MUST BALANCE OUR BUDGET, AND IT
CAN BE DONE WITH SPENDING
REDUCTIONS.
QUITE A NUMBER OF PLANS ARE OUT
THERE THAT WOULD DO JUST THAT.
AND HE CONTINUES TO TALK AS IF
THE PROBLEM WAS THE DEBT CEILING
BUT THE DEBT CEILING IS REALLY A
SIGNAL THAT WE'VE SPENT TOO MUCH
AND WE'VE BORROWED ALL THE
CONGRESS HAS ALLOWED THE
PRESIDENT TO BORROW AND YOU
CAN'T BORROW ANY MORE UNLESS
CONGRESS AGREES TO RAISE THE
DEBT CEILING.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM, AS ROGOFF AND
REINHART SAID, IS OUR DEBT.
THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
FIX.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO
I WISH IT WERE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY TO
FIX.
BUT IF WE WORK TOGETHER AS A
NATION, WE CAN DO IT.
THIS COUNTRY CAN RISE TO MEET
THE CHALLENGE.
I'M TOTALLY CONVINCED OF THAT.
THE PRESIDENT SAID -- QUOTE --
TODAY, "AND SINCE YOU CAN'T
CLOSE THE DEFICIT WITH JUST
SPENDING CUTS, WE'LL NEED A
BALANCED APPROACH."
THAT MEANS WE NEED TO BALANCE
OUR CUTS WITH TAX INCREASES.
RIGHT?
THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.
HE WENT ON TO SAY, "WE CAN'T
MAKE IT TOUGHER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
TO GO TO COLLEGE OR ASK SENIORS
TO PAY MORE FOR HEALTH CARE."
BUT AT SOME POINT WHEN YOU DON'T
HAVE THE MONEY, WE MIGHT NOT BE
ABLE TO BE AS GENEROUS AS WE
WERE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN
CONDITION.
WE HAD A BETTER FINANCIAL
YOU SEE?
ISN'T THAT COMMON SENSE?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU CAN'T MAKE
ANY CHANGES IN HOW WE DO
BUSINESS?
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE
CHANGES IN HOW WE DO BUSINESS.
HE GOES ON TO SAY, AND CONTINUES
REPEATEDLY TO TALK ABOUT
INVESTMENTS.
THIS IS A QUOTE JUST IN THE
PRESS CONFERENCE -- "YET IT ALSO
ALLOWS US TO KEEP MAKING KEY
INVESTMENTS IN THINGS LIKE
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH."
KEEP GOING ON CONTINUING TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION.
DOES THAT MEAN WE'LL MAINTAIN
OUR CURRENT LEVEL OF EDUCATION,
WE'LL TRY NOT TO CUT IT IF WE
HAVE TO MAKE REDUCTIONS IN
SPENDING?
IS THAT WHAT THE PRESIDENT
MEANS?
NO, IT DOES NOT.
WE JUST HAD THE SPECTACLE LAST
WEEK OF THE SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION APPEARING BEFORE THE
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE
ASKING FOR A 13.5% INCREASE IN
BUDGET COMMITTEE.
EDUCATION FUNDING BEFORE THE
I MEAN, HE'S DEFENDING THAT JUST
LAST WEEK.
THE PRESIDENT'S STILL TALKING
ABOUT INVESTMENTS.
MORE.
MORE.
13.5%?
AND YOU KNOW 90% OF EDUCATION IS
COUNTIES ANYWAY.
FUNDED BY STATES, CITIES AND
IT'S NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
IT'S NOT OUR -- THE PRIMARY ROLE
AND NEVER HAS BEEN.
WE ONLY FUND APPROXIMATELY 10%
OF THE MONEY THAT GETS SPENT ON
EDUCATION.
IN AMERICA.
WE CAN'T HAVE DOUBLE-DIGIT
INCREASES WHEN YOU'RE BORROWING
42 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR.
EVERY PENNY OF THAT INCREASE
WILL BE BORROWED MONEY.
EVERY PENNY WILL BE BORROWED.
DOESN'T COMMON SENSE TELL US WE
MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO INCREASE
SPENDING THIS YEAR, EVEN IF WE'D
LIKE TO?
AND I WOULD JUST POINT OUT
BEFORE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
WHICH I'M RANKING REPUBLICAN, WE
HAD THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
TESTIFY HE WANTED A 9.5%
INCREASE IN THE ENERGY
DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT THAT
DOES MORE TO BLOCK ENERGY THAN
CREATE ENERGY.
AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT WAS
PROJECTED AND WAS ASKING FOR
10.5% IN THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
AND THE PRESIDENT'S REQUEST TO
US.
AND THE TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT WAS TO GET A 60%
INCREASE IN SPENDING.
THE HIGHWAY BILL LAST YEAR WAS
ABOUT $40 BILLION.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THIS YEAR
THE HIGHWAY -- THE INTEREST ON
OUR DEBT WILL BE $240 BILLION.
SO I JUST -- WHAT I WOULD WANT
TO SAY TO OUR COLLEAGUES, WE ARE
NOT DEALING WITH REALITY.
AMERICANS KNOW WHEN ONE OF THE
THE -- MAYBE THEY'RE LUCKY THEY
GOT TWO WAGE EARNERS IN THE
FAMILY AND ONE LOSES THEIR JOB.
DO THEY NOT CHANGE THE WAY THEY
DO BUSINESS?
THEY JUST THINK THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO SPEND TWICE AS MUCH
AS THEIR INCOME AS IF THEY WERE
BOTH STILL WORKING?
PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT, AND ALL
OVER AMERICA THEY'RE MAKING
TOUGH DECISIONS.
NO WONDER THEY'RE UPSET AT US
FOR PURSUING THIS IDEA THAT WE
DON'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES
IN WHAT WE DO.
IT'S JUST VERY, VERY DISTRESSING
TO ME.
THE PRESIDENT SAID, TALKING
ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT -- THAT'S -- "THAT'S
PART OF THE REASON PEOPLE ARE SO
FRUSTRATED WHAT'S GOING ON IN
THIS TOWN.
THE LAST FEW MONTHS, THE ECONOMY
TO ABSORB AN
EARTHQUAKE IN JAPAN, ECONOMIC
HEADWINDS COMING FROM EUROPE,
THE ARAB SPRING AND INCREASES IN
OIL PRICES, ALL OF WHICH HAVE
BEEN VERY CHALLENGING TO THE
RECOVERY.
BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE COULDN'T
CONTROL."
WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT THOSE
ARE THE BIG PROBLEMS AROUND
HERE.
RISING OIL PRICES ARE.
TODAY OIL PRICES ARE MORE THAN
DOUBLE, JUST ABOUT DOUBLE, A
LITTLE MORE, THAN WHAT THEY WERE
OFFICE.
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA TOOK
WE'VE SHUT DOWN VIRTUALLY NEW
EXPLORATION IN THE GULF.
WE'RE BLOCKING THE PRODUCTION OF
NATURAL GAS IN -- IN THE -- IN
THE SHALE FORMATIONS THAT GOT SO
MUCH PROMISE FOR US.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS THAT
ARE DRIVING UP THE COST OF
ENERGY.
THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY THIS,
WHICH IS SURPRISING TO ME.
HE IS HE A THE ONE THAT SAID THE
CRISIS WAS SO LARGE.
AND I THINK IT WAS A NATIONAL
PROBLEM.
HE SAID, "OUR ECONOMY DIDN'T
NEED WASHINGTON TO COME ALONG
WITH A MANUFACTURED CRISIS TO
MAKE THINGS WORSE."
WE HAD A SERIOUS DEBATE OVER
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE DEBT
CEILING THAT WE HAVE REACHED AND
CONGRESS -- THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE
WENT AND YIELDED FROM $6
TRILLION IN CUTS OVER TEN YEARS,
AS THEY PROPOSED IN THEIR
BUDGET, TO TAKING $1 TRILLION IN
CUTS UP FRONT AS PART OF THIS
DEBT DEAL.
AND THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T WANT --
HE WANTED LESS CUTS THAN THAT,
APPARENTLY.
ELSE WE COULD HAVE --
AND THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.
OF COURSE IT COULD BE $2.4
TRILLION IF THE COMMITTEE
FUNCTIONS CORRECTLY, AND WE HOPE
IT WILL.
UNDER
THE ORDER, THE SENATORS ARE
LIMITED TO TEN MINUTES.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I'D ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT I
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
WELL, WHAT I
WANTED TO POINT OUT IN THIS
CHART -- AND THIS CHART GIVES
SOME INDICATION OF HOW WE'RE
OPERATING IN THE SENATE AND THE
CONGRESS AND REALLY DRIVEN IN
SUBSTANTIAL PART BY THE
PRESIDENT'S DESIRES.
IT'S THE -- A CHART THAT SHOWS
THE GROWTH IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS
THAT ARE EXEMPT FROM THE CUTS,
AUTOMATIC CUTS THAT WOULD OCCUR
IF A BUDGET AGREEMENT IS NOT
REACHED AS PART OF THE
LEGISLATION WE JUST PASSED.
PROGRAMS, ALL OF WHICH WE LIKE
AND HOPE AND WISH WE COULD ALLOW
TO CONTINUE TO GROW EVERY YEAR.
UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOT GOING
DO THAT.
TO HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THESE PROGRAMS AS WELL AS ALL
SPENDING, DEFENSE AS WELL AND
OTHER PROGRAMS, NO DOUBT ABOUT
IT.
SO YOU'VE GOT, FIRST, OVER HERE
THE CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT
DISABILITY FUND.
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE
INCREASE OF THAT FUND'S COST HAS
BEEN 4.9%.
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE IN
THAT FUND EACH YEAR SINCE
2005-2010 HAS BEEN 4.9%.
NOW DURING THIS TIME WE'VE
CALCULATED THE INFLATION.
THE AVERAGE INFLATION RATE
DURING THIS TIME IS 2.5%.
SO THAT'S ABOUT TWICE THE
INFLATION RATE.
THE NEXT FUND THAT'S HERE --
THOSE OF US WHO SO VALUE THE
MILITARY, I THINK ALL OF US DO,
THE MILITARY RETIREMENT FUND.
IT HAS INCREASED AT THE AVERAGE
ANNUAL RATE OF 5.4%.
INFLATION IS 2.5%.
MEDICAID, A PROGRAM THAT IS
ADMINISTERED BY STATES BUT 70%
FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, MEDICAID WILL -- HAS
BEEN INCREASING AT 8.5% EACH
YEAR.
AND I THINK MOST OF US KNOW THE
RULE OF SEVEN, WHERE IF YOUR
MONEY IN THE BANK DRAWS 7%
INTEREST, THAT MONEY WILL DOUBLE
IN TEN YEARS.
SO THIS MEANS IN ABOUT EIGHT OR
NINE YEARS, THE ENTIRE MEDICAID
PROGRAM WILL DOUBLE AT THAT KIND
OF RATE OF INCREASE.
INFLATION IS 2.5%.
CHILDREN'S HEALTH, THE CHIP
PROGRAM, AN INSURANCE PROGRAM,
IT HAS BEEN INCREASING AT 9% A
YEAR, AND THE SNAP PROGRAM, THE
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM, HAS BEEN
INCREASING AT 16.6% A YEAR FOR
THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
16.6%.
SO IS THIS SUSTAINABLE, I ASK.
WE'RE BORROWING 42 CENTS OUT OF
EVERY DOLLAR.
THE ECONOMY IS NOT GOING TO BE
GROWING AS MUCH AS WE WOULD HAVE
HOPED AND EXPECT.
AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO BAIL US
OUT OF THIS SO WE CAN SUSTAIN
THIS KIND OF SPENDING LEVEL.
SO ALL OF THESE ARE PROGRAMS WE
VALUE.
WE HATE TO TALK ABOUT, DON'T
WANT TO MENTION, BUT THE ODD
THING ABOUT IT WAS, IN THE
AGREEMENT THAT WAS JUST PASSED
EARLIER TODAY, AT THE INSISTENCE
OF OUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES,
THESE PROGRAMS WOULD RECEIVE NO
REDUCTIONS IF AN AGREEMENT TO
CUT SPENDING IS NOT REACHED BY
THE COMMITTEE.
UNDER THE RULE, IF THE COMMITTEE
CAN'T REACH AN AGREEMENT,
THERE'LL BE SOME AUTOMATIC CUTS
ACROSS THE BOARD, EXCEPT IT'S
NOT EVENLY CUT ACROSS THE BOARD.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE UNTOUCHED.
THEY ARE UNTOUCHABLE BECAUSE OUR
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES SAID, WE
CAN'T DEAL WITH THEM.
WELL, IT'S TIME FOR US TO LOOK
UNDER THE HOOD OF FOOD STAMPS.
I GOT TO TELL YOU, HOW CAN IT BE
INCREASING AT 16.6% A YEAR FOR
FIVE YEARS?
HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?
DON'T WE NEED TO EXAMINE IT, BE
LOOKING AT IT?
WE'VE HAD NO HEARINGS, DONE
NOTHING THIS YEAR TO CONFRONT
THAT SURGING PROGRAM.
AND WHAT ABOUT IMHAID AND MEDICAID AND
CHIP?
THOSE ARE SURGING.
MAYBE WE COULD SAVE A LITTLE ON
THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE
GOING ABOVE INFLATION.
WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU, THE
MILITARY, NOW, IS ONLINE, UNDER
THE BILL THAT JUST PASSED, IF AN
AGREEMENT ISN'T MET, THE
MILITARY TAKES A 10% CUT.
THAT -- THAT'S THE BASELINE
MILITARY.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
THAT NUMBER IS COMING DOWN AND
PROJECTED TO COME DOWN
DRAMATICALLY.
SO I GUESS I WOULD SAY, FORGIVE
ME IF I'M A LITTLE BIT TAKEN
ABACK HERE ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES
AND ABOUT THE WILLINGNESS OF
CONGRESS TO DEAL WITH SPENDING
THAT'S OUT OF CONTROL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT ..., THAT'S A
GOOD DEAL OF MONEY HERE WE'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
THE MEDICAID PROGRAM IS $270
BILLION A YEAR.
FOOD STAMPS HAVE MORE THAN
DOUBLED.
IT'S NOW $78 BILLION A YEAR.
ALABAMA'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS
ABOUT $2 BILLION.
I THANK THE CHAIR.
I WOULD ASK FOR ONE ADDITIONAL
MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I NOTICE NO ONE
ELSE IS HERE, AND I WOULD --
I'VE ALREADY YIELDED THE FLOOR,
HAD THERE BEEN SOMEONE --
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA IS HERE.
OH, I'M SORRY.
I DIDN'T SEE THAT.
WCIALG I SHOULD LONG AGO HAVE
YIELDED THE FLOOR BECAUSE HE'S
GOT SOMETHING WORTHWHILE TO SAY,
I'M SURE.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST WOULD
SAY THAT WE'RE NOT DEALING
HONESTLY WITH THE CRISIS WE'RE
IN.
THE PRESIDENT IS IN DENIAL.
HE'S NOT LOOKING THE PEEL PEOPLE IN
THE EYE AND TELLING US WHAT A
SERIOUS FIX WE'RE IN AND
CHALLENGING US ALL TO DEAL WITH
THE REALITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO
BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHAT I SAY AND I HATE TO
SAY IT BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S
TRUE.
AND WE'VE GOT TO DO BETTER.
I THANK THE CHAIR AND WOULD BE
PLEASED TO YIELD TO ONE OF OUR
MORE TALENTED, INSIGHTFUL NEW
MEMBERS, SENATOR RUBIO FROM
FLORIDA.
MR. CHAIRMAN?
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
THANK YOU, TO MY
COLLEAGUE FROM ALABAMA, WHO DOES
A FABULOUS JOB OF OUTLINING THE
ECONOMICS OF IT.
I UNDERSTAND ACCORDING TO
SORNLINGS I MIGHT BE THE LAST
SPEAKER TODAY OR ONE OF THE
LAST, SO I DON'T WANT TO KEEP
THE SENATE OPEN ANY LONGER THAN
IT SHOULD BE.
WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK HERE
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
I WENT BACK AROUND FORTH HERE
WHETHER I WANTED TO SPEAK HERE
OR NOT.
ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE
SAID HAS BEEN SAID REGARDING THE
EVENTS OF THE LAST FEW DAYS.
BUT I DID ULTIMATELY WANT TO
SHARE MY THOUGHTS FOR A MOMENT,
AS WE HEAD INTO THE AUGUST
RECESS, AS THEY CALL IT HERE IN
WALKERS AND MANY OF US HERE IN
THE SENATE WILL BE RETURNING TO
OUR HOME STATES TO EXPLAIN TO
THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT
WHAT WE DID OR DID NOT DO IN THE
LAST FEW DAYS.
FIRST LET ME START BY POINTING
OUT TO THAT OUR REPUBLIC IS AN
AMAZING THING.
AS HEATED AS THE RHETORIC MAY
HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAY,
I THINK ALL OF US SHOULD STOP
FOR JUST A MINUTE AND UNDERSTAND
THAT ALL AROUND THE WORLD THERE
ARE COUNTRIES THAT SOLVE THE
DEBATE.
PROBLEMS WE'VE SOLVED THROUGH
THEY SOLVE IT THROUGH CIVIL WAR
AND CONFLICT, ARMED AND
OTHERWISE.
OUR REPUBLIC IS AN AMAZING
THING.
IT ISN'T ALWAYS PRETTY.
IT'S MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, MESSY.
IT'S WITHSTOOD YEARS OF
PRESSURES AND CHOICES AND
CONTINUES TO DO SO IF ULTIMATELY
WHAT IT GIVES US IS NOT
SOLUTIONS TO OUR PROBLEMS.
WE ARE COMBLESSED TO HAVE IT.
I WOULD REMIND MANY LIKE MYSELF
THAT WERE ELECTED IN THE LAST
ELECTION CYCLE, TIGHTLY
EMBRACING THE PRINCIPLES OF OUR
CONSTITUTION, THAT THE
CONSTITUTION IS NOT JUST A SET
OF WORDS THAT OUTLINE OUR
PRINCIPLES.
GOVERNMENT.
IT GIVES #US A SYSTEM OF
IT GIVES US THIS REPUBLIC.
AND THIS REPUBLIC IS VALID.
AND IT MATTERS, EVEN WHEN THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING IT MAY
NOT BE PEOPLE YOU AGREE WITH.
AND WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER
THAT.
WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SPECIAL AND
UNIQUE.
WE SHOULD EMBRACE IT AND BE
THANKFUL TO OUR GOD EACH NIGHT
THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND
THE BLESSING OF LIVING IN A
NATION SUCH AS THIS.
MOVING ASIDE FROM THAT, HOWEVER,
THE FACTS STILL REMAIN THAT THIS
COMING MONTH AND EVERY MONTH TO
COME MORE OR LESS THIS
GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND $300
BILLION A MONTH.
THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
MORE THAN ANY GOVERNMENT HAS
EVER SPENT IN THE HISTORY OF
MAN.
$180 BILLION OF THAT $300
BILLION IS MONEY THAT WE COLLECT
FROM THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY
THROUGH TAXES AND FEES AND OTHER
WAYS.
BUT WE BORROW $120 BILLION A
MONTH TO PAY OUR $300
BILLION-A-MONTH BILL.
THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH MONEY.
THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY FOR
REPUBLICANS, IT'S TOO MUCH MONEY
FOR DEMOCRATS.
IT'S JUST TOO MUCH MONEY.
AND ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD BE HAPPY
THAT TOMORROW AND IN THE DAYS TO
COME WE'RE NOT FACING A DEFAULT,
AN INABILITY TO MEET OUR BILLS,
THE TRUTH IS, AN UNDENIABLE ONE
THAT I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE
WOULD DISAGREE WITH ME WHEN I
SAY, WE CAN'T KEEP BORROWING
$120 BILLION EVERY MONTH.
OR MORE.
BECAUSE THE POINT AND THE DAY
WILL COME WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO
LEND US THAT MONEY WILL STOP
LENDING US THAT MONEY.
IF WE KEEP DOING THIS FOR LONG,
WE WILL ONE DAY REACH A DAY IN
THIS COUNTRY WHERE WE WILL FACE
A DEBT CRISIS, BUT IT WON'T BE
BECAUSE OF THE DEBT LIMIT OR
BECAUSE OF GRIDLOCK IN
WASHINGTON; IT WILL BE BECAUSE
FOLKS ARE NO LONGER WILLING TO
BUY AMERICA'S DEBT, BECAUSE THEY
SERIOUSLY DOUBT OUR ABILITY TO
PAY IT BACK.
IT'S NOT HYPERBOLE.
IT IS NOT AN EXAGGERATION.
IT IS A MATHEMATICAL,
INDISPUTABLE FACT THAT NO MEMBER
OF EITHER PARTY WOULD DISPUTE.
THERE IS GENERAL GREEMENT ON
THIS AND THERE'S GENERAL
AGREEMENT THAT THE ONLY WAY TO
SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS A
COMBINATION OF TWO THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THIS GOVERNMENT
NEEDS TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE.
AND, NUMBER TWO, THIS GOVERNMENT
NEEDS TO RESTRICT ITS GROWTH IN
SPENDING.
BECAUSE AS BAD AS THE $3 00
BILLION-A-MONTH LOOKS, IT ONLY
GETS WORSE FROM HEREON OUT.
SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT OUR
ECONOMY ISN'T GROWING.
IT'S NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH
REVENUE MOVING FORWARD.
MEANWHILE, ALL THE PROGRAMS WE
FUND ARE ABOUT TO EXPLODE IN
THEIR GROWTH BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE
THAN EVER ARE GOING TO RETIERKS
LIVE LONGER THAN THEY'VE EVER
LIVED AND THE MATH JUST DOESN'T
ADD UP MUCH THESE ARE FACTS.
NO ONE WOULD DISPUTE THAT.
THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON IS NOT
EVEN ABOUT THAT FACT.
THE DEBATE IS HOW DO WE SOLVE
IT, HOW DO WE GENERATE MORE
MONEY FOR GOVERNMENT AND REDUCE
THE SPENDING AT THE SAME TIME?
AND I WILL AT THE YOU, THIS IS
INTO THE DEBATE WE WILL SOLVE IN
THE MONTH OF AWSMGHT I BELIEVE
IT WILL CHARACTERIZE THE REST OF
THIS CONGRESS, THE 2012
ELECTIONS, AND THE YEARS THAT
LIE AHEAD.
AND THE DIVISION ON HOW TO SOLVE
IT GOES TO THE ROOT OF THE
DISPUTE THAT WE FACE IN AMERICA
BETWEEN TWO VERY DIFFERENT
VISIONS OF AMERICA'S FUTURE.
BY THE WAY, ONE NOT MORE OR LESS
PATRIOTIC THAN THE OTHER.
PATRIOTIC, COUNTRY-LOVING
AMERICANS CAN DISAGREE ON THEIR
FUTURE VISION OF WHAT KIND OF
COUNTRY WE SHOULD BE.
BUT THIS DIVISION, THIS
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, IS THE
REASON WHY EVEN THOUGH THIS BILL
PASSED, THIS DEBATE WE JUST HAD
IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD FOR
SOMETIME TO COME.
ON THE ONE HAND, THERE ARE THOSE
WHO BELIEVE THAT THE JOB OF
GOVERNMENT IS DELIVER ECONOMIC
JUSTICE, AN ECONOMY WHERE EVERY
CAN BE DONE.
ONE DOES WE WILL OR AS WELL AS
THERE IS ANOTHER GROUP THAT
BELIEVES IN CONCEPT OF ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY WHERE IT IS NOT THE
GOVERNMENTst JOB TO GUARANTEE
AN OUTCOME BUT TO GUARANTEE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO FULFILL YOUR
DREAMS AND HOPES.
ONE IS NOT MORE MORAL THAN THE
OTHER.
THERE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT
VISIONS OF THE ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT IN AMERICA.
BUT A T. LIES AT THE HEART OF
THE DEBATE THAT WE'RE HAVING AS
A NATION.
AND SO WE HAVE TO DECIDE BECAUSE
WASHINGTON IS DIVIDED BECAUSE
AMERICA IS DIVIDED ON THIS
POINT.
AND WE MUST DECIDE WHAT EVERY
GENERATION OF AMERICANS BEFORE
US HAS DECIDED:
AND THAT IS WHAT KIND OF
GOVERNMENT DO WE WANT TO HAVE
AND WHAT ROLE DO WE WANT IT TO
HAVE IN AMERICA'S FUTURE?
AND SO THE THE FAULT LINES EMERGER,
THE SOLUTIONS EMERGE FROM THOSE
TWO DIVISIONS.
RAISE MORE TAXES, SOME BELIEVE
THAT THERE ARE SOME IN AMERICA
THAT MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY AND
SHOULD PAY MORE IN THEIR TAXES.
THEY BELIEVE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS CAN STIMULATE ECONOMIC
GROWTH.
AND THEY BELIEVE THAT PERHAPS
AMERICA NO LONGER NEEDS TO FUND
OR CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO FUND
LEVELS.
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AT CERNES
ANOTHER GROUP BELIEVES THAT IN
FACT OUR REVENUES SHOULD COME
NOT FROM MORE TAXES BUT FROM
MORE TAXPAYERS, THAT WHAT WE
NEED ARE MORE PEOPLE BEING
EMPLOYED, MORE BUSINESSES BEING
CREATED, THEY'LL PURSUE TAX
REFORM, THEY'LL PURSUE
REGULATORY REFORM, BUT
ULTIMATELY WE LOOK FOR MORE
REVENUE FOR GOVERNMENT FROM
ECONOMIC GROWTH, NOT FROM GROWTH
IN TAXES.
WE BELIEVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR
CREATES THESE JOBS, NOT
GOVERNMENT AND NOT POLITICIANS.
JOBS IN AMERICA ARE CREATED WHEN
EVERYDAY PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS
OF LIFE START A BUSINESS OR
EXPAND AN EXISTING BUSINESS.
I BELIEVE AND WE BELIEVE IN A
SAFETY NET PROGRAM, PROGRAMS
THAT EXIST TO HELP THOSE WHO
CANNOT HELP THEMSELVES AND TO
HELP THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED BUT
FAILED TO STAND UP AND TRY
AGAIN, BUT NOT SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS THAT FUNCTION AS A WAY
OF LIFE AND BELIEVE THAT
AMERICA'S NATIONAL DEFENSE AND
OUR ROLE IN THE WORLD AS THE
STRONGEST MILITARY MAN HAS EVER
KNOWN IS STILL INDISPENSABLE.
THESE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS
OF AMERICA AND TWO DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SOLUTIONS.
ULTIMATELY WE MAY FIND THAT
BETWEEN THESE TWO POINTS THERE
MAY NOT BE A MIDDLE GROUND AND
THAT IN FACT AS A NATION AND AS
A PEOPLE, WE MUST DECIDE WHAT WE
WANT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT TO
BE IN AMERICA, MOVING FORWARD.
SO LET ME CLOSE BY JUST SAYING
THIS HAS BEEN A UNIQUE WEEK FOR
ME IN A WOUFPL WAYS.
ONE -- IN A COUPLE OF WAYS.
ONE, MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR
THE BETTER PART OF A WEEK, YOUNG
CHILDREN.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WALK
AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND LOOK AT
ALL THE STATUES AND MONUMENTS
THAT PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR HERITAGE
AS A PEOPLE.
IT REMINDS US THAT WE ARE NOT
THE FIRST AMERICANS THAT HAVE
BEEN ASKED TO CHOOSE WHAT KIND
OF GOVERNMENT WAOEPL OR WHAT --
WE WANT OR WHAT ROLE OF
GOVERNMENT WE WANT IN OUR
GOVERNMENT.
IT IS A CHOICE EVERYONE BEFORE
US HAS HAD TO MAKE.
EVEN IN THIS CHAMBER YOU CAN
ABSORB THE HISTORY OF
EXTRAORDINARY DEBATES THAT TOOK
PLACE ON THIS FLOOR, DEBATES
THAT WENT TO THE CORE AND HEART
OF WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY WE
WANTED TO BE MOVING FORWARD.
AND THE VOICE OF THOSE ANCIENTS
CALL TO US EVEN NOW THAT REMIND
US EVERY GENERATION OF AMERICA
HAS BEEN CALLED TO CHOOSE
CLEARLY WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY
THEY WANT MOVING FORWARD.
AND THAT DEBATE WILL CONTINUE.
IT WILL DEFINE THE SERVICE OF
THIS CONGRESS AND FOR MOST OF US
THAT ARE HERE NOW.
I PRAY WE CHOOSE WISELY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE MONTHS
THAT LIE AHEAD THAT WE WILL
CHOOSE AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE
FOR OUR FUTURE AND FOR OUR
PEOPLE.
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE PERIOD FOR
MORNING BUSINESS BE EXTENDED
UNTIL 6:00 P.M. WITH SENATORS
PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN
MINUTES EACH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I APPRECIATE THE SENATOR FROM
MINNESOTA BEING WILLING TO STAY
IN THE CHAIR FOR A FEW MORE
MINUTES BEFORE I HAVE TO PRESIDE
SO THAT I CAN TAKE THIS TIME TO
EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENED WITH THE FAILURE TO
REAUTHORIZE THE FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION.
THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THAT
ADMINISTRATION HAS EXPIRED AND
IT'S LED TO A PARTIAL SHUTDOWN
OF THAT AGENCY AND TO 4,000
FURLOUGH.
WORKERS BEING PLACED ON UNPAID
A NUMBER OF THOSE WORKERS ARE
FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
AND WHILE I KNOW THAT ALL OF US
HERE ARE GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE
TO COME TOGETHER TO REACH A
BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON RAISING
THE DEBT CEILING AND AVOIDING A
FINANCIAL CRISIS, I AM DEEPLY
DISAPPOINTED THAT BIPARTISANSHIP
HAS FAILED US WHEN IT COMES TO
REAUTHORIZING THE F.A.A.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOUSE MAY
HEAD HOME FOR RECESS TODAY AND
FOR THE REST OF AUGUST,
STRANDING 4,000 F.A.A. WORKERS
AND AS MANY AS 70,000 -- THAT'S
RIGHT, 70,000 -- AIRPORT
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AROUND THE
COUNTRY WHO ARE OUT OF WORK
UNTIL WE CAN GET AN AGREEMENT.
LET ME JUST REVIEW FOR A MINUTE
HOW WE GOT HERE.
SINCE THE F.A.A.'S AUTHORIZATION
EXPIRED IN 2007, CONGRESS HAS
OF THE F.A.A.
PASSED 20 SHORT-TERM EXTENSIONS
ALL OF THOSE BILLS, EVERY SINGLE
ONE OF THEM, WERE CLEAN BILLS
INTENDED TO KEEP THE F.A.A.
RUNNING WHILE CONGRESS DECIDED
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE COMPLICATED
POLICY ISSUES OF A LONG-TERM
REAUTHORIZATION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE 21st TIME
AROUND, THAT'S THE TIME THAT
WE'RE IN, THE HOUSE DECIDED IT
WAS NO LONGER IMPORTANT TO KEEP
THE F.A.A. OPERATING, AND 4,000
PEOPLE ARE OUT OF WORK WHILE THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY
HEAD HOME FOR RECESS.
NOW, I APPRECIATE THAT THERE ARE
SOME SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE TWO LONG-TERM F.A.A.
AUTHORIZATION BILLS PASSED BY
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL OF WHICH
CENTERED AROUND A RULING BY THE
NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD ON
UNIONIZATION RULES.
BUT THAT'S WHY CHAIR ROCKEFELLER
AND RANKING MEMBER HUTCHISON
APPOINTED MEMBERS TO A
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE WHERE THE
HOUSE AND SENATE COULD WORK OUT
OUR POLICY DIFFERENCES.
SO FAR THE HOUSE HAS REFUSED TO
APPOINT CONFEREES.
INSTEAD THEY'VE DECIDED TO STOP
NEGOTIATING AND, UNFORTUNATELY,
TO PLAY POLITICS WITH 4,000
F.A.A. WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
SO RIGHT NOW THE F.A.A. HAS BEEN
SHUT DOWN FOR 11 DAYS.
AND AS LONG AS THAT SHUTDOWN
CONTINUES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL
CONTINUE TO LOSE $200 MILLION A
WEEK, ABOUT $30 MILLION A DAY,
THAT WOULD PAY FOR AIRPORT
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY AND FOR
THE REPLACEMENT OF OUR COUNTRY'S
OUTDATED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
SYSTEM.
SO, IF THE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
THROUGH THE AUGUST RECESS, WE'RE
GOING TO LOSE OVER $1 BILLION IN
REVENUE THAT COULD BE USED TO
UPGRADE OUR AIR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.
THAT'S WASTE OF THE WORST KIND,
AND IT MAKES OUR DEFICIT
PROBLEMS WORSE AT A TIME WHEN
EVERYBODY SAYS THEY'RE SO
FOCUSED ON THE DEFICITS.
NOW, EVERY DAY THE SHUTDOWN
CONTINUES HAS A VERY REAL, VERY
PAINFUL IMPACT ON PEOPLE ALL
AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BEEN
FURLOUGHED.
I HOPE THE HOUSE, IN LEAVING FOR
RECESS, HAS LEFT OPEN THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO
ADDRESS THIS DISPUTE AND RESOLVE
IT IN A WAY THAT WILL BRING
EVERYBODY BACK TO WORK.
THE F.A.A. HAS ISSUED STOP-WORK
ORDERS FOR 241 AIRPORT
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WORTH
NEARLY $11 BILLION THAT SUPPORT
70,000 JOBS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WHO
ARE BEING FORCED TO MAKE REAL
SACRIFICES.
IN MY STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, A
$16 MILLION PROJECT TO REBUILD
THE RUNWAY OF BOYER FIELD IN
NASHUA WILL BE DELAYED IF WE
DON'T PASS AN EXTENSION.
BOYER FIELD IS THE BUSIEST
GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORT IN NEW
ENGLAND, AND BREAKING GROUND
THIS FALL ON THE RUNWAY
RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT WOULD
HAVE CREATED 50 JOBS.
INSTEAD, BECAUSE OF THIS DELAY,
CONSTRUCTION LIKELY WON'T BEGIN
UNTIL THIS SPRING, AND THOSE 50
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO
WAIT, SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T
HAVE TO HAPPEN.
THE TRAGEDY IS THAT THEY WON'T
HAVE JOBS NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE THE SKILLS OR THAT THE
PROJECT ISN'T NEEDED, BUT
BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS PLAYING
POLITICS WITH THE F.A.A.
42 EMPLOYEES AT THE F.A.A.'S AIR
TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER IN NASHUA
HAVE BEEN FURLOUGHED, AND THIS
SHUTDOWN IS TAKING A TERRIBLE
TOLL ON THEM.
I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT JUST
ONE: STEVE FINNERTY FROM
BEDFORD.
I TALKED TO STEVE EARLIER TODAY.
HE'S A CIVIL ENGINEER AND WORKED
FOR THE F.A.A. FOR THE LAST 15
YEARS.
HE'S THE SOLE BREADWINNER FOR
HIS FAMILY OF FIVE.
HE HAS A YOUNG DAUGHTER AND A
PAIR OF YEAR-OLD TWINS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH MEDICAL ISSUES.
HE'S ALREADY LOST NEARLY TWO
WEEKS OF PAY, AND HE'S NOT SURE
THAT HE'S GOING TO GET THAT PAY
BACK EVEN WHEN HE DOES GO BACK
TO WORK.
HE'S CONCERNED UNDERSTANDABLY
ABOUT HOW HE'S GOING TO PAY HIS
MORTGAGE AND HIS DOCTOR BILLS
AND THE GROCERY BILLS AND ALL
HAS.
THE OTHER NEEDS THAT HIS FAMILY
AND NOW HE'S FACING THE
POSSIBILITY OF AN ENTIRE MONTH
WITHOUT PAY.
AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHO ARE STUCK IN THE SAME
CIRCUMSTANCE WHO WANT TO GET
BACK TO WORK, WHO WE NEED TO GET
BACK TO WORK.
WE NEED THEM TO GET BACK TO WORK
SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR MORTGAGES
AND THEIR CHILDREN'S COLLEGE
BILLS.
TUITIONS AND THEIR MEDICAL
WE NEED THEM TO GET BACK TO WORK
SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD A
G.P.S.-BASED AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
SYSTEM LIKE EVERY OTHER
INDUSTRIALIZED HAVE COUNTRY HAS.
WE NEED TO GET THIS ECONOMY
MOVING AGAIN, AND THAT MEANS WE
NEED TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES HERE IN
WASHINGTON.
LET'S PASS A CLEAN EXTENSION OF
THE F.A.A.
LET'S GET THESE PEOPLE BACK TO
WORK, AND LET'S GO ABOUT THE
BUSINESS OF REBUILDING A MODERN
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM LIKE
STATES.
WE SHOULD HAVE IN THE UNITED
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.