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REQUESTS FOR THE COMMITTEES TO
MEET DURING TODAY'S SESSION OF
THE SENATE.
THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE
MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS.
I ASK THAT THESE REQUESTS BE
AGREED TO AND PRINTED IN THE
RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I RISE GENE THIS MORNING AS I
HAVE FOR A NUMBER OF MONTHS TO
TALK ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE FACING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND THIS CONGRESS, AND THAT IS
JOBS.
AND A GOOD-NEWS STORY ON THE
JOBS FRONT HAS BEEN OUR WIND
ENERGY INDUSTRY.
THE WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY HAS
CREATED THOUSANDS OF GOOD-PAYING
JOBS, AND IT COULD CREATE
THOUSANDS MORE.
BUT THE TROUBLING NEWS THAT GOES
ALONG WITH THE GOOD NEWS, MADAM
PRESIDENT, IS THAT THE
POTENTIALLY BRIGHT FUTURE OF
THIS INDUSTRY IS UNCERTAIN.
WHY?
BECAUSE WE HEAR HERE IN THE
CONGRESS -- BECAUSE WE HERE IN
THE CONGRESS ARE HOLDING THE
WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY HOSTAGE
BECAUSE WE FAILED TO EXTEND THE
PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.
AS I'VE SAID EVERY DAY I'VE BEEN
OTOFLOOR SINCE -- ON THE FLOOR
SINCE JUNE TO DISCUSS THIS
TOPIC, MADAM PRESIDENT, EVERY
DAY THAT WE FAIL TO EXTEND THE
P.T.C. FOR WIND ENERGY, MORE
JOBS ARE PUT AT RISK.
AND WE'VE SEEN THIS UNFORTUNATE
REALITY UNFOLD ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, AS PREDICTED, INCLUDING
IN MY HOME STATE OF COLORADO
WHERE OVER 100 PEOPLE HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL MY
COLLEAGUES THAT WHEN YOU LOSE
JOBS, THOSE JOB LOSSES
NEGATIVELY AFFECT FAMILIES AND
THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND JUST YESTERDAY -- BREAKS MY
HEART -- BUT SEIMEN'S CENTURY
ANNOUNCED THEY WILL LAY OFF
FLORIDA.
PEOPLE IN IOWA, KANSAS, AND
AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
THESE LAYOFFS THAT CONTINUE TO
BE ANNOUNCED ALMOST WEEKLY,
MADAM PRESIDENT, SHOULD SPUR US
TO EXTEND THE WIND PRODUCTION
TAX CREDIT WITHOUT ANY FURTHER
DELAY.
JOBS ARE AT STAKE.
I MEAN, IT IS THAT
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THAT IS STIMULUS.
-- IT IS THAT SIMPLE.
WITH MANY AMERICANS ALREADY
LOSING THEIR JOBS, MORE JOBS ARE
AT RISK, THOUSANDS LITERALLY IF
WE DON'T ACT.
AND HERE'S MY QUESTION: WHY
WOULD WE FORFEIT LEADERSHIP IN
AN INDUSTRY THAT'S POISED TO GO
EVEN FURTHER?
THERE'S NO REASON WE SHOULD CEDE
LEADERSHIP OF THIS IMPORTANT
INDUSTRY TO CHINA OR ANYWHERE
ELSE BY LETTING THE PRODUCTION
TAX CREDIT EXPIRE?
IF WE COMMIT
TO EXTENDING THE P.T.C., WE WILL
THEN LEAD THE WORLD IN WIND
POWER AND, MADAM PRESIDENT,
HERE'S IN PART WHY I COME TO THE
FLOOR EVERY DAY.
I TALK ABOUT A PARTICULAR STATE.
THERE ARE FEW PLACES THAT THAT'S
WYOMING.
RESERVES.
WYOMING HAS PHENOMENAL WIND
IF YOU'VE DRIVEN THROUGH I WOULD
WISHINGS YOU KNOW-- IF YOU'VE DRIVEN THROUGH
WYOMING, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M
TALKING ABOUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE IN
EXCESS IN WYOMING IS WIND.
IF YOU TALK TO THE NATIONAL
RENEWABLE ENERGY LAB BASED IN
COLORADO, THEY ESTIMATE THAT
WYOMING HAS ENOUGH WIND POWER
POTENTIAL TO MEET 116 TIMES THE
STATE'S ENERGY NEEDS.
SO YOU PUT IT ANOTHER WAY.
WELL, THAT'S 25 MILLION HOMES
THAT WOULD BE POWERED BY
HARNESSING THE WIND.
WYOMING IS WELL ON ITS WAY TO
HARNESSING ITS WIND POTENTIAL.
WELL, WHY?
BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT RANKS
11th, WHICH IS NOT A SHABBY
NUMBER, THERE ARE PLANS TO
QUADRUPLED WIND POWER IN THE
STATE OF WYOMING.
NOT ONLY WOULD THAT CREATE
THOUSANDS OF JOBS, IT WOULD
PRODUCE ENOUGH ELECTRICITY TO
POWER 1.A.5 MILLION HOMES.
CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE
PROJECTS WILL CREATE HUNDREDS OF
NICELY PAYING RENEWABLE ENERGY
JOBS RIGHT IN THE STATE OF
WYOMING.
IT'S NO WONDER THAT THE MASSIVE
WIND POTENTIAL HAS ALREADY
ATTRACTED INVESTMENT IN
MANUFACTURERS.
TO MAKE THAT POINT, I WANT TO
SHARE A DEVELOPMENT WITH YOU.
LAST YEAR L.A.N. TO BUILD THE
FIRST -- A PLAN TO BUILD THE
FIRST WIND MANUFACTURING
FACILITY WAS ANNOUNCED IN
WYOMING.
IT WAS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN
JESTAMP AND WORTHINGTON WIND.
THE COMPANIES ANNOUNCED THEY
WOULD BUILD A FACILITY IN
CHEYENNE, WYOMING.
THERE WOULD BE 150 GOOD-PAYING
JOBS ATAFD TO ATTACHED TO THAT FACILITY.
THEY PLANNED TO IN INVEST $40
MILLION IN THE PLANT.
HERE'S THE TWIST, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BEFORE.
THAT PROJECT HAS NOW BEEN PUT ON
HOLD.
THOSE JOBS AND THE MILLIONS IN
INVESTMENT THAT WERE PLANNED TO
BE DIRECTED INTO WYOMING HAVE
BEEN SHELVED.
THIS ISN'T AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
THERE ARE WIND MANUFACTURING
FACILITIES AND WIND PROJECTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE WE'RE
HAPPENING.
SEEING EXACTLY THE SAME THING
AND THE REASON IS CLEAR:
UNCERTAINTY OVER THE FUTURE OF
THE PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.
SO OUR INACTION HERE IN THE
CONGRESS IS PUTTING GOOD-PAYING
AMERICAN JOBS AT RISK AND
REDUCING OPPORTUNITIES FOR
FURTHER INVESTMENTS IN THIS
GROWING INDUSTRY.
THERE'S JUST NO REASON FOR T THE
P.T.C. HAS STRONG SUPPORT FROM
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND FROM
BOTH HOUSES OF THE CONGRESS, AND
OF COURSE A BROAD ARRAY OF
GROUPS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
INDUSTRY.
SUPPORT THE WIND ENERGY
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST
YESTERDAY A GROUP OF BUSINESSES
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WROTE TO
HOUSE AND THE
SENATE URGING US TO BRING UP AND
PASS AN EXTENSION OF THE P.T.C.
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BUSINESSES LIKE STARBUCKS AND
LEVILEVIS JOINED A DIVERSE GROUP OF
COMPANIES INCLUDING COLORADO'S
OWN ASPEN SKIING COMPANY AND
URGED US TO WORK ACROSS THE
DIVIDE, WORK ACROSS THE AISLE,
AND EXTEND THE P.T.C.
THESE COMPANIES UNDERSTAND HOW
POSITIVE THE PRODUCTION TAX
CREDIT HAS BEEN FOR JOCKS AND -- HAS BEEN
FOR JOBS AND FOR NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THEY MADE THAT CASE
YESTERDAY IN THE LETTER.
I ASK THAT THE LETTER BE
INCLUDED IN THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
SO, MADAM
PRESIDENT, AS I CONCLUDE, I WANT
TO ALSO REMIND ALL OF US THAT IN
AUGUST BEFORE WE ADJOURNED FOR
OUR MONTH OF STATE WORK PERIOD,
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
INCLUDE AN EXTENSION OF THE
PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT.
AND I WAS REALLY ENCOURAGED TO
SO THAT THE COMMITTEE BRIDGED
THE PARTISAN DIVIDE HERE TO
ADVANTAGES WHAT IS REALLY TRULY
A COMMONSENSE POLICY THAT WILL
HELP OUR AMERICAN ECONOMY AND
OUR MIDDLE CLASS.
WE SHOULD BUILD ON WHAT THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE DID AND TAKE
UP AND PASS THIS LEGISLATION AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE LONGER WE DELAY, THE MORE
JOBS WE PUT AT RISK AND THE MORE
RISK.
THAT OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS AT
IT IS VERY SIX THE PRODUCTION
TAX CREDIT -- IT'S VERY SIX THE
PRODUCTION TAX CREDIT EQUALS
JOBS OF WE SHOULD PASS IT AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO, COLLEAGUES, LET'S WORK
TOGETHER.
LET'S FIND A PATH FORWARD AND
PASS THIS CRITICAL TAX CREDIT AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
A QUORUM.
FLOOR, AND I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF
THE
ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
OFFICER IF WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I WITH AENS TO
SPEND A FEW MOMENTS TALKING
ABOUT THE BUDGET POINT OF ORDER
IMU REALLY A BIGGER TOPIC.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE AT
NOON, AND THE QUESTION IN MY
MIND IS, WILL WE AT SOME POINT
IN THE FUTURE RECOGNIZE THE HOLE
THAT WE'RE IN?
WHEN I TALK TO INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS, THEY ALL AGREE, YEAH,
WE'RE IN A HOLE.
GOT A PROBLEM.
AND IT'S GETTING READY TO BITE
THIS COUNTRY IN WAYS THAT ARE
UNIMAGINABLE IN TERMS OF IT'S
IMPACT ON THE EVERYDAY CITIZEN
OF THIS COUNTRY.
AND YET IN THE SENATE WE'VE DONE
MOG TO ADDRESS THE BIGGER
PROBLEMS FACING THE COUNTRY, AND
NOW WE HAVE A BILL THAT HAS A
BUDGET POINT OF ORDER LYING
AGAINST IT, AND THE QUESTION IS,
WILL WE CONTINUE THE BEHAVIOR
THAT PUT OUR COUNTRY IN THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE IN TODAY, OR
WILL WE TAKE A NEW TRACK?
THE INFORMATION -- THE DESIRE TO
HELP VETERANS IS A NOBLE DESIRE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF POINTS
ABOUT THIS BILL THAT THE AVERAGE
AMERICAN AND THE AVERAGE VETERAN
OUGHT TO BE ASKING.
THERE'S ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT
WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT
WE'RE DOING FOR JOBS FOR
VETERANS AND HOW WELL ARE THEY
WORKING?
WE HAVE SIX VETERAN JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS.
WE ALREADY HAVE A PREFERENCE
ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
FOR HIRING VETERANSMENT WE HAVE
S.B.A. PROGRAMS LIKE CRAZY, WE
HAVE CONTRACTING PROGRAMS, WE
HAVE ALL THESE PROGRAMS BUT NOT
ONE HEARING HAS BEEN HELD BY THE
COMMITTEE OF JURISDICTION ON THE
JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS OR THE
OTHER PROGRAMS WE HAVE TO
ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
OF OUR VETERANS.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A BILL
THAT'S BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR THAT
HAS GOOD INTENTIONS BEHIND IT
BUT SHOWS THE ABSOLUTE LAZINESS
OF CONGRESS IN TERMS OF REALLY
DIGGING THINGS OUT.
WHEN THE G.A.O. ISSUED THEIR
DUPLICATION REPORT ON THE JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS,
FOUR OF THEM DO EXACTLY THE SAME
THING.
NONE OF THEM HAVE A METRIC.
SO WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE
WORKING, AND WE HAVEN'T HELD A
HEARING TO FIND OUT IF THEY'RE
WORKING.
BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING?
WE'RE PROPOSING ANOTHER JOB
PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WITHOUT
HAVING DONE THE SERIOUS WORK OF
HOW WE INVEST $1 BILLION.
NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT WE
SHOULD KNOW IS WE'RE SPENDING $1
BILLION A YEAR RIGHT NOW ON
VETERAN JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.
THIS BILL HAS $1 BILLION OVER
FIVE.
THE SECOND POINT I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE -- AND I THINK IT WAS MADE
BY THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE -- IS WE'RE --
THERE'S NO HONEST ACCOUNTING IN
THIS BILL.
REGARDLESS OF THE BUDGET POINT
SLIP, THE
NONCONSTITUTIONALITY OF
ORIGINATING REVENUE BILLS IN THE
SENATE
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO
TRANSPARENCY NOR CORRECTNESS,
NOR CHARACTER OR INTEGRITY IN
THE FINANCING OF THIS BILL.
WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES $16
TRILLION IN DEBT AND WE'RE GOING
TO PAY FOR ANOTHER BILL OVER
FIVE YEARS BY TEN YEARS OF
CHANGES, WE NEVER GET OUT OF
THE PROBLEM.
WE MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
AND WHO ARE WE DOING IT FOR?
AND ARE WE REALLY THINKING ABOUT
VETERANS WHEN WE DON'T SOLVE THE
BIGGER PROBLEMS, AND WE HAVE
MANIFEST PRESENCE IN THIS BILL
OF THE VERY PROBLEMS WE SAY WE
NEED TO BE ADDRESSING BUT YET
WE'RE MAKING THEM WORSE WITH
THIS BILL?
WE'RE MAKING THE FINANCIAL
PROBLEMS WORSE WITH THIS BILL.
I'M BEFUDDLED AND DISAPPOINTED
THAT WE CANNOT AS A GROUP OF
INDIVIDUALS WHO ALL LOVE THIS
COUNTRY VERY MUCH COME TOGETHER
UNDER SOME CERTAIN BASELINE
PRINCIPLES WE OUGHT TO BE
OPERATING IN THE SENATE.
AND THE FIRST OF THOSE OUGHT TO
BE WE OUGHT TO DO NOTHING NOW
THAT MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE FOR
OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE AT NOW OVER
$200,000 PER FAMILY OF DEBT PER
HOUSEHOLD IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE'RE OVER $200,000.
IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT $225,000.
NOW, THINK ABOUT THAT MEDIAN
FAMILY INCOME OVER THE LAST FOUR
YEARS HAS GONE DOWN 9% IN THIS
9%.
COUNTRY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT
GOES DOWN EVEN FURTHER IF WE
CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE'RE DOING
IN THIS BILL.
SO WE'VE GONE FROM $54,900
MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME TO $50,200
IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, MEDIAN
FAMILY INCOME, AND WE GOT GAS
PRICES AS HIGH AS THEY'VE EVER
BEEN, AND WE'RE GOING TO
PERPETUATE A SYSTEM THAT SAYS
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE
THE PROBLEM WORSE, NOT BETTER.
THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER LITTLE
GIMMICK IN THIS BILL THAT IF YOU
WERE TO DO IT IN PRIVATE, YOU'D
GO TO JAIL FOR IT.
AND THAT IS WE'RE GOING TO
CHARGE CORPORATIONS MORE INCOME
TAX THAN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY OWE
TO GET PAST A YEAR AND THEN
AFTER THE YEAR'S OVER WE'RE
GOING TO FLIP IT BACK SO WE CAN
SAY WE PAID FOR SOMETHING WHEN
WE REALLY DIDN'T.
IT VIOLATES ALL ASPECTS OF
INTEGRITY AND HONESTY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER I
HEAR WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT
12347, OH, WE'VE DONE IT IN THE
PAST.
WELL, IT WASN'T RIGHT IN THE
PAST AND IT CERTAINLY IS NOT
RIGHT NOW TO LIE, TO CHEAT, TO
BE DISHONEST ABOUT THE
ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
SURROUNDING THIS BILL IN TERMS
OF HOW WE PAY FOR IT.
BECAUSE IN ESSENCE IT VIOLATES
PAYGO.
THE VERY RULE THAT WE SAY WAS
GOING TO HELP US GET OUT OF OUR
PROBLEMS, THAT 67 TIMES HAS
LAST THREE
YEARS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I DON'T
KNOW THE LAST TIME A PAYGO
CHALLENGE WAS NOT WAIVED.
SO THE SECOND PRINCIPLE THAT WE
OUGHT TO BE DEALING WITH IS THAT
WE OUGHT TO FOLLOW THE RULES
THAT WE SET UP FOR OURSELVES
THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO DISCIPLINE
US IN TERMS OF GETTING OUR
COUNTRY OUT OF THE PROBLEM,
WHICH WE ARE REGRETTABLY
CONTINUALLY IGNORING.
SO IF, IN FACT, YOU WANT TO
HELP VETERANS GET JOBS, THERE'S
LOOT OF WAYS FOR US TO DO IT.
ONE IS, MAKE SURE THE JOB
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY ARE
WORKING, AND THEY'RE NOT.
AND IF THEY'RE NOT WORKING, WHY
ARE WE CONTINUING TO SPEND A
BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON IT?
NUMBER TWO, CREATE A LEVEL OF
CONFIDENCE IN THIS COUNTRY BY
OUR OWN BEHAVIOR THAT WE'RE
ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE REAL
PROBLEMS IN FRONT OF THE COUNTRY
RATHER THAN THE POLITICAL
DYNAMICS OF AN ELECTION THAT
SAYS WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING AND
EVERYBODY IN THIS CHAMBER KNOWS
EVEN IF WE PASS THIS BILL, IT'S
NOT GOING TO ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING
BECAUSE, IN FACT, IT HAS A BLUE
SLIP AGAINST IT BECAUSE OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
SO ON MONDAY MORNINGS WHEN I GET
UP, I GET UP ABOUT 4:30 TO
CATCH A FLIGHT TO COME BACK UP
HERE.
AND I'VE NOTICED THAT I HAVE AN
ATTITUDE PROBLEM.
I DON'T WANT TO COME ANYMORE.
AND THE REASON I DON'T WANT COME
ANYMORE IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
DOING ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THE
REAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN FRONT
OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE'RE IGNORING THE REAL PROBLEMS
SO WE CAN CREATE POLITICAL CON
TRADZ FOR OUR -- CONTRASTS,
FOR AN ELECTION ALL THE WHILE
THE COUNTRY IS SINKING, SINKING
AND SINKING.
AND WHAT IT IS IS A LACK OF
LEADERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LEAD IN THE
WRONG DIRECTION KNOWING WHAT THE
PROBLEMS ARE AND MAKE MISTAKES
AND YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR
THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT THE REAL
PROBLEMS ARE AND YOU'RE IGNORING
THEM, IT'S UNFORGIVABLE FAILURE
OF LEADERSHIP.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND
OURSELVES.
I HEARD MY COLLEAGUE MENTION THE
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR
US NOT TO HAVE PASSED A DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL THAT GIVES
THE PLANNING, THE DIRECTION,
AND THE COMMITMENT FOR THIS
COUNTRY'S FUTURE IN TERMS OF OUR
DEFENSE NEEDS.
THE NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY FOR US
AS A CONGRESS, ACCORDING TO THE
CONSTITUTION.
AND YET WE'VE NOT DONE THAT.
WE'VE MADE THE IMMEDIATE
POLITICAL SITUATION TRUMP
EVERYTHING.
THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF
LEADERSHIP.
IT'S ACTUALLY COWARDICE,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE A LEADER AND
YOU DUCK THE REAL PROBLEMS IN
FRONT OF YOU, YOU TAKE
EVERYBODY DOWN WITH YOU.
THE WELL-INTENTIONED AND THE NOT
WELL-INTENTIONED AND THAT'S
WHERE WE ARE.
AS A COUNTRY, AS A SENATE, BY
NOT ADDRESSING THE REAL ISSUES
OF THIS COUNTRY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN ON THE VOTES ON THIS
BILL.
BUT I KNOW WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
IN THE SENATE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A RENEWED
SENSE OF AWARENESS OF WHAT THE
REAL PROBLEMS ARE FACING THIS
COUNTRY.
AND A REDOUBLING OF OUR
COMMITMENT TO SHED PARTISAN
ROBES AND GET DOWN TO FIXING THE
REAL PROBLEMS IN FRONT OF US.
AND PAROCHIALISM HAS NO PLACE IN
THAT DISCUSSION.
THE POLITICAL CAREERS OF MEMBERS
HAVE NO PLACE IN THAT
DISCUSSION.
THE REAL FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY
IS AT RISK.
AND WE'RE, LIKE THE PROVERBIAL
PERSON WITH THEIR HEAD IN THE
SAND, IGNORING THAT RISK.
THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF
FALLING, PREDICTED LONG AGO BY
SUCH PEOPLE AS JOHN ADAMS AND
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
THAT THE DAY WOULD COME THAT WE
IN FACT WOULD PUT THE POLITICAL
AHEAD OF THE BEST INTEREST OF
OUR COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING PLAYED
OUT IN WASHINGTON.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
SEEING PLAYED OUT WITH THIS
BILL.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE MUCH
BETTER THAN THAT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
BEFORE THE SENATOR LEAVES, I
WOULD ASK A QUESTION.
ACCORDING TO THE G.A.O., IN
2009 -- AND THE REASON I'M
ASKING SENATOR COBURN ABOUT
THIS, BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY OF
THIS 100 SENATORS THAT ARE HERE
TODAY WHO HAS SPENT MORE HOURS,
EFFORT, AND TIME IN DEALING
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAN
WITH THE DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS OF
SENATOR COBURN.
AND HE BROUGHT THESE ISSUES UP
TIME AND AGAIN, BUT I WOULD
JUST ASK, ACCORDING TO THE
G.A.O. IN 2009, SENATOR
COBURN, I UNDERSTAND THAT NINE
FEDERAL AGENCIES SPENT $18
BILLION TO ADMINISTER 47 JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS.
YOU'VE LOOKED INTO THAT, I KNOW
I'VE HEARD YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT
IN SPECIFIC.
I WAS SURPRISED THAT YOU BROUGHT
OUT THAT THERE ARE ALREADY SIX
PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS NOW AND
THIS WOULD BE A NEW ONE ADDED TO
IT.
WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF WHAT A
RESPONSIBLE CONGRESS SHOULD DO
WHEN WE LEARN THAT WE ARE
SPENDING THCH MONEY -- THIS
MUCH MONEY ON ALL THESE PROGRAMS
WITH THEIR OWN BUREAUCRATS, CAN
WE DO BETTER?
ABSOLUTELY.
LET ME GIVE THE PEOPLE SOME
HOPE.
VIRGINIA FOXX, A REPRESENTATIVE
FROM NORTH CAROLINA IN THE HOUSE
WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WORK FORCE AND
LABOR, HAS PASSED A BILL OUT OF
HER COMMITTEE THAT CONSOLIDATES
33 OF THOSE JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS INTO ONE.
PUTS METRICS ON EVERY ONE OF
THEM.
SO WE'LL KNOW IF THEY'RE
WORKING.
REQUIRES MANDATORY OVERSIGHT OF
THEM.
THE REASON SHE DIDN'T DO ALL 47
IS 14 OF THEM ARE NOT IN HER
JURISDICTION.
BUT ADD TO IT ANOTHER $4 BILLION
AND ANOTHER 20-PLUS PROGRAMS FOR
THE DISABLED.
SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALMOST 70
PROGRAMS AND $23 BILLION A YEAR
WE'RE SPENDING ON JOB TRAINING
OF WHICH NOBODY KNOWS -- AS A
MATTER OF FACT, I KNOW THEY'RE
NOT WORKING.
WE ACTUALLY RELEASED A REPORT ON
JOB TRAINING IN OKLAHOMA.
WE LOOKED AT EVERY JOB
TRAINING -- FEDERAL JOB
TRAINING AND STATE JOB TRAINING
PROGRAM GOING ON IN OKLAHOMA.
YOU KNOW WHAT WORKS?
OKLAHOMA PROGRAMS.
YOU KNOW WHAT DOESN'T WORK?
FEDERAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.
IN OKLAHOMA.
WE HAVE ONE CITY IN OKLAHOMA HAS
PEOPLE HAS 17 FEDERAL JOB
TRAINING CENTERS AND AN
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 4.7%.
17 DIFFERENT FEDERAL AGENCIES IN
ONE CITY OF 16,000 PEOPLE WITH
AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 4.7%.
WHAT WE ARE DOING IS EMPLOYING
PEOPLE IN THE JOB TRAINING
INDUSTRY, WHICH MAY BE GOOD IF
THEY'RE HAVING RESULTS, BUT WE
HAVE RESULTS THAT ARE UNTENABLE.
SO THE REAL QUESTION -- AND JOB
TRAINING IS JUST ONE AREA OF OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE -- THE G.A.O. HAS
RELEASED REPORTS ON
DUPLICATION, THEIR FINAL REPORT
WILL COME FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR
WHERE THEY WILL HAVE LOOKED AT
THE ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW IS IF
WE DID OUR WORK, DID OUR WORK,
OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS WE WOULD
SAVE $200 BILLION BY ELIMINATING
DUPLICATION IN FEDERAL PROGRAM.
BILLION.
I SAID OVER TEN YEARS.
THAT'S $200 BILLION PER YEAR.
IT'S $2 TRILLION OVER TEN YEARS.
WE CAN SAVE $200 BILLION PER
YEAR.
SEQUESTRATION?
WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING
SEQUESTRATION IF WE DID OUR
JOB, IF WE DID OUR OVERSIGHT,
IF'S CONSOLIDATED PROGRAMS,
MADE THEM TRANSPARENT AND MADE
THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND PUT METRICS
TO SEE IF THEY'RE WORKING AND
DID THE OVERSIGHT TO SEE THAT
THEY'RE WORKING.
WE WOULDN'T BE IN SEQUESTRATION.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE NEAR THE
PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
BUT THE FAILURE IS US.
THE CONGRESS HAS FAILED TO DO
ITS JOB.
AND THE CONSEQUENCES WILL NOT BE
BORNE BY US.
THE CONSEQUENTIALS -- THE
CONSEQUENCES WILL BE BORNE BY
THE SON OF MY NEW GRANDSON WHO
IS ALMOST 7 WEEKS OLD.
WHO WILL PAY THE
CONSEQUENCE PES, IS THE
CHILDREN OF THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE
FAIL TO DO OUR JOB.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I'M GOING TO SUPPORT YOUR POINT
OF ORDER.
IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AND I DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THE
AREAS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT IN
TERMS OF WE SET UP THIS BUDGET
AGREEMENT FOR TWO YEARS AND I'LL
TELL YOU WHAT, THE C.R.
COMING, THIS IS THE IRONY OF
ALL IRONIES.
HAD WE NOT HAD THAT BUDGET
AGREEMENT AND WE DID A C.R., WE
WOULD SPEND $2.6 BILLION LESS
NEXT YEAR IF WE HAD A CLEAN C.R.
THAN UNDER THE BUDGET CONTROL
ACT THAT WE PASSED.
BY DOING THE BUDGET CONTROL ACT
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO SPEND
MORE MONEY THAN WE DID LAST
YEAR.
SO EVERYTHING'S UPSIDE DOWN IN
WASHINGTON BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S
POLITICAL OR PAROCHIAL AND
NOBODY'S THINKING LONG TERM
ABOUT THE BIG PROBLEMS FACING
OUR COUNTRY.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. CHAIRMAN I
CHANG THANK THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA.
HE SERVED ON THE DEBT
COMMISSION, IS STEEPED ON THE
CHALLENGES FACING OUR COUNTRY
AND I SALUTE SENATOR BURR FOR
COMING FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL
THAT I THINK WOULD DO THE JOB
WITHIN THE BUDGET AND
REGRETFULLY I THINK WILL END
THIS MATTER TODAY, AND THE
LEGISLATION THAT'S COMING
FORWARD THROUGH THE BUDGET POINT
OF ORDER.
I THANK THE CHAIR AND YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA KNOWS THE
PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP THAT WE HAVE
AND MY HIGH REGARD FOR HIM AND
THE PRIVILEGE THAT I HAVE HAD
WORKING WITH HIM OVER THE YEARS,
AND IT HAS BEEN A WORKING
RELATIONSHIP.
SAY THAT
REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU FEEL
ABOUT A BUDGET AND A BUDGET
POINT OF ORDER, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT A TECHNICALITY TO KILL A
BILL TO HELP UNEMPLOYED VETERANS
AT A TIME THAT THEY DESPERATELY
NEED HELP, BECAUSE THEY ARE
COMING BACK FROM IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN AND THEY CAN'T FIND
WORK, AND UNTIL WE COME OUT OF
THE RECESSION AND THE RECOVERY
IS UNDER WAY BUT VETERANS HAVE A
HIGHER PERCENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT
AND ESPECIALLY VETERANS UNDER
AGE 24 HAVE AN EVEN HIGHER
PERCENTAGE OF UNEMPLOYED, AND SO
WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION TO GIVE AN
UNEMPLOYMENT CUSHION FOR
AT LEAST A YEAR
UNTIL THEY CAN FIND EMPLOYMENT
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND THIS
IS EMPLOYMENT TO DO THINGS THAT
WE NEED SINCE SO MANY OF OUR
NATIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS
PARKS, SUCH AS EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS, SUCH AS
FIREFIGHTERS, SUCH AS POLICE
NEED HELP.
LOOK AT ALL THE UNFUNDED THINGS
THAT ARE DETERIORATING IN THE
NATIONAL PARKS.
THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
EMPLOY THOSE VETERANS AND EMPLOY
THEM UP TO A YEAR.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS MAKES
COMMON SENSE AND IT'S THE RIGHT
THING TO DO, AND WHAT'S
HAPPENING IS THE FOLKS ON THAT
SIDE OF THE AISLE BECAUSE WE ARE
IN AN ELECTION AND BECAUSE THIS
HAPPENED TO BE A PROPOSAL COMING
OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND IS
BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR BY THIS
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA, THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO SUPPORT IT AND
THEY'RE GOING TO KILL IT ON A
TECHNICALITY BY DENYING US 60
VOTES IN ORDER TO WAIVE THE
BUDGETARY POINT OF ORDER.
NOW, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE,
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND
HAPPENING.
IT'S SAD AND YET THAT'S WHAT'S
JUST LOOK AT THE VOTES IN THE
LAST WEEK.
HERE WE PASSED THE MOTION FOR
CLOTURE ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED
BY 95-1.
DOESN'T THAT TELL YOU SOMETHING?
AND THEN WE HAD THE SECOND
PROCEDURAL VOTE, IT WAS 84-8.
ALL WE NEED IS 60 VOTES TO GET
OVER THIS HURDLE AND TO GET TO
THE BILL AND THEN PROBABLY PASS
IT BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT BECAUSE
EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THE
OF THIS.
IT'S CLEAR THAT COMMONSENSE
LEGISLATION THAT HAS BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT IS GETTING THWARTED IN
THIS CHAMBER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE
WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
TO HELP OUR VETERANS FIND WORK
AS THEY RETURN HOME.
NOW, DOES THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA WANT TO ASK A QUESTION?
YOU KNOW THIS SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA KNOWS MY RESPECT FOR
HIM AND MY PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP
FOR HIM, AND I ADMIRE THE
SENATOR IN THE COURAGEOUS
STANCE, BUT THE SENATOR WOULD
UNDERSTAND THAT I RESPECTFULLY
SAY THAT IN A NEED SO GREAT AS
UNEMPLOYED VETERANS, THIS IS NOT
THE TIME TO DRAW A TECHNICAL
I WOULD
EARNESTLY AND RESPECTFULLY
REQUEST OF MY FRIEND THAT THIS
BE ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS
THAT HE WOULD MAKE.
WOULD THE SENATOR WANT TO ENGAGE
IN ANY CONVERSATION, OR I WILL
GO ON AND JUST --
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
ASK THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
IF WE COULD HAVE A REAL BACK AND
FORTH DEBATE ON THIS, WITH YOU
CONTROLLING THE TIME.
I HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE REASONS I CAME
OUT IS I DON'T AGREE WITH THE
SUBSTANCE OF THIS BILL, AND I
DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE A
STATEMENT FROM THE SENATE FLOOR
THAT EVERYBODY DOES.
WE HAVE SIX VETERANS' JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT NOBODY
HAS OVERSIGHTED.
NOBODY KNOWS IF THEY WORK.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST
TO MY FRIEND -- AND HE KNOWS
THAT HE IS MY FRIEND -- IF HE
HAS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, I
RESPECT THAT AND I WANT HIM TO
SHARE THAT.
I'D LIKE TO GO ON AND JUST
BRIEF STATEMENT
HERE, AND THEN FOR THE SENATOR
TO STATE WHATEVER IT IS.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AMONG
VETERANS RETURNING FROM IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN WAS HOVERING AROUND
11%, AND FOR THOSE UNEMPLOYED
VETERANS IN THE AGE 24 AND LESS,
IT'S EVEN HIGHER.
WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO COMBAT
THIS PROBLEM.
THIS PAST SUMMER, WE PASSED
LEGISLATION THAT WILL HELP
VETERANS GET FEDERAL
OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES WHEN THEIR
CIVILIAN REQUIREMENTS.
MILITARY TRAINING MATCHES
THAT MADE SENSE.
THAT MADE COMMON SENSE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE GOT THAT
THROUGH THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY,
AND THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW,
AND THAT WAS TO SAY THAT A
VETERAN GETS ALL OF THIS
SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND THEY
OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT
TRAINING WITHOUT HAVING TO GO
THROUGH ALL THE TRAINING AND THE
RE KIND OF LICENSING.
WE COULD DO THAT -- AND WE
PASSED WHAT IS NOW LAW -- WE
COULD DO THAT IN FEDERAL LAW
REQUIREMENT.
WHERE THERE IS A SIMILAR KIND OF
NOW WHAT'S IN THIS BILL IS TO DO
THAT FOR THE STATE OCCUPATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS, TO TAKE A VETERAN
WHO HAS A MILITARY DISCIPLINE, A
SPECIALTY, AND AS THAT VETERAN
IS APPLYING FOR A PRIVATE SECTOR
JOB THAT HAPPENS TO BE COVERED
BY STATE LAW ON THE OCCUPATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF
LICENSING, THAT THAT IS A
CONSIDERATION INSTEAD OF THE
THROUGH ALL
OF THAT AGAIN.
NOW, THAT JUST MAKES COMMON
SENSE, AND THAT PARTICULAR IDEA
WAS OFFERED BY THE SENATOR FROM
ARKANSAS, SENATOR PRYOR, AND IS
A PART OF THE BILL, JUST LIKE
SENATOR MURRAY, SHE IS HERE ON
THE FLOOR, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE, REACHED OUT AND
INCORPORATED A NUMBER -- AND SHE
CAN ADDRESS THAT -- A NUMBER OF
THE DIFFERENT IDEAS BIPARTISAN,
NOT JUST MY IDEA, WHICH IS THE
ONE THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT
THAT VETERANS CAN HAVE
EMPLOYMENT UP TO A YEAR, BUT SO
MANY OTHERS THAT ARE
INCORPORATED INTO THE BILL THAT
CAME OUT OF COMMITTEE.
AND SO WE -- WE ALREADY DID
SOMETHING ABOUT MATCHING
CIVILIAN REQUIREMENTS, ALBEIT
WHAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW WAS
EMPLOY.
FEDERAL
LAST YEAR ALSO, WE PASSED A BILL
THAT GRANTED TAX BENEFITS TO
COMPANIES THAT HIRE WOUNDED
WARRIORS.
AND, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW WHAT
INSPIRATION THAT ALL THE REST OF
US TAKE FROM THE WOUNDED
WARRIORS.
THE SENATOR AND I FROM TIME TO
TIME GO TO BETHESDA TO WHAT USED
TO BE CALLED BETHESDA NAVAL, NOW
IS THE COMBINED ALL-MILITARY
SERVICES WALTER REED.
I JUST -- EVERY ONE OF US THAT
GOES OUT THERE AND YOU SUDDENLY
SEE THESE VETERANS COMING IN ON
THESE NEW KIND OF COMPUTER
CONTROLLED PROSTHESIS WHERE THEY
CAN ACTUALLY WALK AND RUN EVEN
WHEN THEIR LEG HAS BEEN BLOWN
OFF ABOVE THE KNEE, IT'S -- IT
AND YET
HAS MOVED.
YOU'RE SO GLAD THAT TECHNOLOGY
BUT THOSE SAME LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN NEED JOBS, AND UNTIL
THE RECOVERY IS COMPLETE,
THEY'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY.
THAT'S WHY I FILED THIS BILL.
AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE AND THE RANKING MEMBER
HAVE DONE THEIR BEST TO WORK
ACROSS THE AISLE.
VETERANS DON'T CARE TO HEAR
ABOUT WHY WE CAN'T HELP THEM.
THEY DON'T CARE TO HEAR ABOUT
TECHNICALITIES OF A BUDGET POINT
OF ORDER.
THEY WANT OUR COUNTRY TO SUPPORT
THEM IN THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE
SUPPORTED US, AND THAT IS AN
OBLIGATION.
A LOT OF US IN THIS CHAMBER HAVE
SERVED IN THE MILITARY, AND IT'S
INGRAINED, I THINK, IN EVERY
HERE THAT WE HAVE AN
OBLIGATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE
SERVED THIS COUNTRY.
THIS EFFORT HERE TODAY THAT
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IN 20
MINUTES HAS THE BROAD SUPPORT
FROM VETERANS AND POLICE
ORGANIZATIONS, THE DISABLED
AMERICAN VETERANS, THE MILITARY
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA,
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, THE
AMERICAN LEGION.
THEY ALL SUPPORT IT.
THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
VETERANS OF AMERICA HAVE CALLED
AND PLEADED FOR ITS IMMEDIATE
PASSAGE.
AND THEY KNOW WHY.
BECAUSE THEIR VETERANS NEED, AND
THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT CONGRESS
HAS THEIR BACK.
THE
SENATE, WE JUST NEED A FEW VOTES
FROM THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE TO
GET TO THE THRESHOLD OF 60 TO
WAIVE THE TECHNICALITY OF THE
BUDGET POINT OF ORDER.
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD
YIELD THE FLOOR AND I WOULD BE
LOOKING FORWARD TO MY FRIEND'S
COMMENTS.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
THE TIME IS
CONTROLLED OVER HERE.
I WOULD RESERVE, MADAM
PRESIDENT, THE FINAL SEVEN
COMMITTEE.
MINUTES FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MY COLLEAGUE FROM
FLORIDA RAISES SOME GOOD POINTS
ABOUT OUR DESIRE, ABOUT US
WANTING TO HELP OUR VETERANS.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYBODY
HERE THAT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE
SIGNIFICANT SACRIFICE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WASN'T
THE 45th FROM
OKLAHOMA LOST 17 PEOPLE IN
AFGHANISTAN AND HUNDREDS
WOUNDED.
THE REAL QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
HELP THEM THE BEST?
HOW DO YOU REALLY HELP VETERANS?
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO
ALWAYS SAY THERE'S A REASON TO
NOT DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE
LONG-TERM BEST INTERESTS OF OUR
COUNTRY.
WE HAVE NEVER FOUND OURSELVES IN
THE PREDICAMENT THAT WE FIND
OURSELVES IN TODAY IN TERMS OF
OUR FINANCIAL EXPOSURE.
THE REAL RISK TO THE VETERANS
THAT HAVE JOBS TODAY -- WHICH
NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT -- THE
REAL RISK FOR THEM, BECAUSE WHEN
THIS THING GOES DOWN -- AND I'M
TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL
COLLAPSE OF THIS COUNTRY.
WHEN IT HAPPENS, THOSE THAT HAVE
JOBS THAT ARE VETERANS, THEY'RE
THEM.
SO THERE COULD BE A NO MORE
NOBLE CAUSE THAN TO MAKE AN
EXCEPTION FOR VETERANS, EXCEPT
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE SENATE DOES.
WE MAKE AN EXCEPTION EVERY TIME,
EVERY TIME.
HERE'S THE QUESTION FOR MY
FRIEND.
UNDER WHAT SYSTEM OF VALUES,
HONOR AND INTEGRITY DID THESE
VETERANS SERVE?
THE HIGHEST AND NOBLEST OF HONOR
AND INTEGRITY.
WITHOUT A DOUBT.
THEY PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE
SO I DON'T HAVE TO, SO MY ADULT,
MATURE CHILDREN IN THEIR 30'S
TO.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IS WHAT THEY
PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR
WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE FREEDOM
AND LIBERTY AND VIBRANCY OF THIS
COUNTRY GOES FORWARD.
AND WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE
POCKETKNIFE TO ONE OF THE LEGS
OF THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL WITH
OUR ACTIONS AND SLOWLY NIBBLING
THE SUPPORT OF THAT LEG.
WE'RE TAKING IT AWAY BY OUR VERY
ACTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I'D LIKE TO RESPOND TO MY
FRIEND.
IF I COULD FINISH?
WE'RE GOING TO SAY THAT THE
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE
COUNTRY DOESN'T MATTER.
WE'RE GOING TO SAY THAT IT
DOESN'T MATTER IF THE $1 BILLION
WE'RE SPENDING A YEAR ARE
ALREADY ON VETERANS JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
WE'RE GOING TO SAY HERE'S A
YEAR'S PROGRAM OF JOBS FOR
20,000 VETERANS AND IT'S GOING
TO TRUMP EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE ANY
OBJECTION FROM THIS SENATOR IF
YOU ACTUALLY REALLY PAID FOR
THIS, ONE; IF YOU DIDN'T VIOLATE
PAYGO, AND YOU REALLY DID IT IN
A WAY THAT OVERSIGHTED THE
PRESIDENT'S JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAD, AND YOU
REALLY DID IT THE WAY THAT
MATCHES THE INTEGRITY AND HONOR
OF OUR VETERANS.
WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
NOW, WE PLAYED GAMES.
RULES.
WE PLAYED GAMES WITH THE BUDGET
WE PLAYED GAMES WITH PAYGO.
WE DIDN'T DO ANY OVERSIGHT.
WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A HEARING.
THERE WAS NO HEARING ON THIS
BILL.
YOU TOOK SENATOR BURR'S
SUGGESTIONS WHICH WERE
COMMONSENSE, AND APPLIED IT
BROADLY ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.
BUT WE DIDN'T MATCH THE HONOR
AND INTEGRITY AND VALOR AND
PURPOSE.
AND WHEN I MEET WITH VETERANS IN
TOWN HALL MEETINGS, I ASK THEM
WHY THEY SERVE.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY TELL ME?
BECAUSE THIS IS THE GREATEST
COUNTRY THE WORLD HAS EVER
KNOWN, AND THEY WANT TO KEEP IT
THAT WAY.
WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY DOESN'T
KEEP IT THAT WAY.
IT DOESN'T KEEP IT THAT WAY.
IT PERPETUATES THE SAME PROBLEMS
THAT HAVE CREATED THE VERY, VERY
DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT THIS
COUNTRY'S IN.
SO WHEN WE MAKE A CLAIM THAT
EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THIS BILL,
I JUST WANT TO SAY I DON'T AGREE
WITH THE BILL.
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF WAYS TO
HELP VETERANS THAT IS BETTER
THAN THAT, THAT GIVES THEM A
PERMANENT JOB.
WE PASSED THE G.I., THE
POST-9/11 G.I. BILL; RIGHT?
YOU CAN GET PAID A STIPEND WHILE
YOU GO TO COLLEGE TO LEARN A NEW
SKILL, THE SAME AS A NONCOM
OFFICER.
YOU GET PAID FOR THE BOOKS AND
TUITION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, SO
YOU CAN BECOME WHOLE AS YOU
LEARN A SKILL.
WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY FOR
STUDIES WHILE WE'RE IN THE
MILITARY.
WE HAVE SIX SEPARATE JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE
SPENDING $1 BILLION A YEAR ON.
THE BEST WAY TO HELP VETERANS IS
TO FIX THIS COUNTRY'S ECONOMIC
SITUATION TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY,
AND THEY'LL FLY, BECAUSE THEY'VE
ALREADY PROVEN THAT THEY HAVE
THE INITIATIVE, THE STRENGTH,
THE MORAL COURAGE, THE INTEGRITY
AND THE VALOR TO ACCOMPLISH
ACCOMPLISH.
THAT THEY WANT TO
FRIEND.
SO I'M IN DISAGREEMENT WITH MY
I THINK WE HAVE A POLITICAL
DEVICE IN FRONT OF US, AND I'M
GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTED TO
SEE THE CHARACTER OF THE SENATE
ON WHETHER IT SUCCUMBS TO THE
PAROCHIAL AND POLITICAL OVER THE
BEST LONG-TERM INTERESTS OF THE
COUNTRY.
AND IF IT DOES, IT JUST PROVES
THAT THE SENATE NEEDS TO BE
CHANGED TO TRULY ADDRESS THE
REAL PROBLEMS FOR THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO PROVE,
REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME.
DO WE HAVE THE CHARACTER?
DO WE MATCH THE VALOR, HONOR AND
INTEGRITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO
SERVE THIS NATION IN THE ARMED
FORCES WITH OUR WILLINGNESS TO
SACRIFICE OUR POLITICAL CAREERS
TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST
COUNTRY?
LONG-TERM INTEREST OF THE
THEY SET THE EXAMPLE FOR US.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT
WE'LL FOLLOW THEIR EXAMPLE.
I YIELD TO MY FRIEND THE FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
MADAM PRESIDENT,
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
BEFORE THE TIME THAT IS RESERVED
FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE, I JUST WANT TO
RESPOND TO MY FRIEND -- AND HE
IS MY FRIEND -- FROM OKLAHOMA BY
TELLING HIM WHY I THINK HE'S
WRONG ON THIS ISSUE AND TELL HIM
BY WAY OF A COMPLIMENT TO HIM.
BECAUSE THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA AND I, THE SENATOR FROM
FLORIDA, HAD WORKED TOGETHER --
HE BEING MUCH MORE PROMINENT IN
THE EFFORTS TO BRING THE BUDGET
UNDER THE CONTROL A YEAR AGO.
IN HAVING DISCUSSIONS ACROSS THE
AISLE, OFTEN PRIVATE
DISCUSSIONS, WHAT STARTED AS A
GROUP KNOWN AS THE GANG OF SIX
BLOSSOMED INTO WHAT
IN EFFECT BECAME A GROUP OF 45.
AND I THINK THAT WAS THE NUMBER
OF US THAT STOOD UP IN THE
SENATE PRESS GALLERY IN THE
SUMMER A YEAR AGO -- IT WAS THE
SUMMER OF 2011 -- AND SAID THAT
WE WANT ADD BIG, $4
TRILLION-PLUS BUDGET DEFICIT.
AND WE POINTED OUT WAYS THAT WE
COULD GET THERE.
INDEED, WHAT THIS SENATOR HAS
SAID, I HAVE HEARD OTHER
REPUBLICAN SENATORS -- AND I
WILL NAME ONE -- WHO WE FEEL
ALMOST AND HAVE SAID VERY CLOSE
TO IDENTICAL THINGS PUBLICLY.
AND THAT IS SENATOR LINDSEY
GRAHAM.
AND HE STATED IT ON "MEESE --
"MEET THE PRESS" A COUPLE OF
MONTHS THAT THE WAY YOU GET
THERE IS REDUCING REVENUE
THROUGH REFORM OF THE TAX CODE,
BY GOING AFTER ALL OF THE TAX
PREFERENCES WHICH HAVE BALLOONED
OUT OF CONTROL SINCE THE LAST
TAX REFORM BILL IN 1986 THAT
THIS SENATOR, THEN A YOUNG
CONGRESSMAN, VOTED FOR, TO THE
POINT THAT TAX EXPENDITURES, TAX
PREFERENCES ARE NOW $14 TRILLION
OVER TEN YEARS.
A LOT OF THEM HAVE OUTLIVED
THEIR USEFULNESS.
A LOT OF THEM, THEIR SPECIAL
INTERESTS OR SPONSORS WOULD TELL
YOU WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT IF WE
CAN HAVE A CERTAINTY OF A LOWER
RATE.
AND, THEREFORE, WE HAVE SAID
MANY TIMES ON THIS FLOOR AND IN
PUBLIC STATEMENTS, YOU CAN TAKE
TAX PREFERENCES, RESTRAIN THEM,
USE THAT REVENUE TO DO TWO
THINGS: LOWER EVERYBODY'S TAX
RATES, INCLUDING CORPORATE.
STREAMLINE THE TAX CODE BY
GETTING ALL THIS UNDERBRUSH OF
PREFERENCES OUT OF THE WAY.
AND THEN USE THE REST OF THE
REVENUE TO LOWER THE DEFICIT.
NOW, I SUSPECT THAT THE SENATOR
AND I FEEL VERY SIMILAR ABOUT
THAT ISSUE.
AND SO WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT
REFORMING THE SPENDING PROCESS,
THE FISCAL PROCESS, WHICH
INCLUDES THE REVENUE PROCESS OF
THIS COUNTRY, THEN I THINK WE
AGREEMENT.
HAVE GROUNDS FOR SIGNIFICANT
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE'RE
GOING TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE
LAME-DUCK SESSION THAT STARTS.
MY PLEA TODAY IS THAT WE DON'T
TAKE IT OUT IN THIS PARTICULAR
CASE ON SOMETHING THAT CAN BE
DONE IMMEDIATELY FOR VETERANS IN
NEED RETURNING HOME FROM IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN.
WOULD THE SENATOR
YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
OF COURSE.
THROUGH THE CHAIR
I'D ASK THE SENATOR HOW DID HE
VOTE ON THE TAX EXTENDER PACKAGE
COMING OUT OF THE SENATE FINANCE
COMMITTEE?
BECAUSE THAT'S THE REAL TEST OF
WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO
REFORM THE TAX CODE.
IF I RECALL, YOU VOTED FOR IT
AND I VOTED AGAINST IT.
THERE'S A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.
THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
I MIGHT REMIND ALL THE SENATORS
IMPORTANT BILL.
WE ARE ON THE FLOOR ON A VERY
I WANT TO THANK SENATOR BILL
NELSON FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND
PASSION IN MAKING SURE OUR
VETERANS GET BACK TO WORK AT THE
TIME THEY HAVE A 20%-PLUS
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND HIS WORK
ON THE BILL AS WE MOVE TO THIS
POINT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE BEEN
LISTENING TO THE DEBATE ON THIS
BILL.
WHAT I'VE HEARD ARE SOME PRETTY
WEAK ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE
MERITS OF THIS LEGISLATION.
I'VE HEARD WE HAVEN'T HELD
HEARINGS ON THE EMPLOYMENT OR ON
THE PROVISIONS IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
SENATORS THAT SPOKE MAY NOT
HAVE KNOWN THEY'RE NOT ON OUR
COMMITTEE BUT WE HAVE HAD
HEARINGS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR
AND ON THIS BILL.
VETERANS GROUPS AND V.A. AT
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
MULTIPLE HEARINGS IN FACT HAVE
THEIR VIEWS.
AND THE COPS AND SAFER GRANTS
PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN THIS HAVE
BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS AND WE
KNOW THAT THEY WORK.
THE POINT THAT I HEARD
REITERATED HERE WAS THAT THE
BILL WASN'T PAID FOR, VIOLATED
PAYGO.
AS ALL BILLS THAT COME BEFORE
PAID FOR.
THE SENATE, THIS BILL IS FULLY
IT DOES NOT VIOLATE PAYGO RULES.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A VOTE
SHORTLY ON A POINT OF ORDER ON
THIS BILL AND A VOTE TO SUPPORT
THE POINT OF ORDER, PLAIN AND
SIMPLE, SAYS WE'VE SPENT ENOUGH
NOW ON OUR VETERANS.
THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.
WE'VE SPENT ENOUGH ON OUR
VETERANS.
A VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS POINT OF
ORDER SAYS DESPITE THE FACT THAT
WE HAVE PAID FOR THIS BILL,
DESPITE THE FACT THAT ONE IN OUR
FOUR YOUNG VETERANS TODAY ARE
OUT OF WORK AND DESPITE THE FACT
THAT VETERANS SUICIDES ARE
OUTPACING COMBAT DEATHS, AND
DESPITE THE TACT THAT MORE AND
MORE VETERANS ARE COMING HOME
TODAY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO INVEST
IN THOSE CHALLENGES.
IT SAYS WE'VE DONE ENOUGH.
WELL, MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS
POINT OF ORDER PUTS A PRICE ON
WHAT WE AS A COUNTRY ARE WILLING
TO PROVIDE OUR VETERANS AND SAYS
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A PENNY
MORE.
IT'S A POINT OF ORDER THAT NOT
ONLY WILL IT KILL OUR ABILITY, I
WOULD TELL MY COLLEAGUES, TO
PASS THIS BILL, BUT IT WILL ALSO
AFFECT EVERY EFFORT WE MAKE TO
IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR
VETERANS GOING FORWARD.
IN FACT, JUST LAST WEEK OUR
COMMITTEE HELD A MARKUP IN THE
VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
WE PASSED A SLEW OF BILLS IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION.
THOSE WERE REALLY IMPORTANT
BILLS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH
ACCESS, TO GIVE STUDENTS NEW
TOOLS SO THEY COULD MAXIMIZE
THEIR G.I. BENEFIT.
AND, IMPORTANTLY, WOULD GIVE
VETERANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR
ABILITY TO START A FAMILY ACCESS
TO FERTILITY SERVICES.
ALL OF THOSE BILLS UNDER THIS
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO A POINT OF
ORDER AS WOULD OF COURSE
COUNTLESS OF OTHER BILLS
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT, I
WOULD TELL EVERYONE, FOR HOW
BE RAISED.
LONG THIS POINT OF ORDER COULD
SO WE HAVE TO CONSIDER AS WE
VOTE ON THIS THE LASTING EFFECT
OF THIS VOTE THAT WE ARE ABOUT
TO TAKE.
AND WE SHOULD ALL CONSIDER THE
FACT THAT VETERANS ARE WATCHING
THIS VOTE VERY CLOSELY.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A BILL
THAT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE
AMERICAN LEGION AND BY THE IRAQ
AMERICA.
AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS OF
THEY KNOW USE I DO, NEITHER
PARTY HAS A MAGIC BULLET FOR
THIS PROBLEM OF EMPLOYMENT.
WE SHOULD BE TAKING GOOD IDEAS
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE
WITH THIS BILL THAT'S BEFORE US.
BILL INCLUDES 12 DIFFERENT
PROVISIONS TO HELP CREATE
VETERANS' JOBS.
EIGHT OF THEM ARE IDEAS THAT
HAVE COME FROM REPUBLICANS.
IN FACT, TO MAKE THIS BILL EVEN
MORE INCLUSIVE AND MORE
BIPARTISAN, WE TOOK NOR BURR'S
ENTIRE -- WE TOOK SENATOR BURR'S
ENTIRE ALTERNATIVE BILL AND
ADDED IT TO OUR BILL AND AT
EVERY TURN WE HAVE SOUGHT
COMPROMISE.
INSTEAD OF MEETING IT HALFWAY
WE'VE BEEN MET WITH RESISTANCE.
INSTEAD OF SAYING YES TO NEARLY
ONE MILLION UNEMPLOYED VETERANS,
IT SEEMS THAT SOME ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE HAS SPENT THE
LAST WEEK AND A HALF SEEKING ANY
WAY TO SAY NO.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO END THIS WAY
FOR OUR UNEMPLOYED VETERANS.
THIS BILL.
WE CAN JOIN TOGETHER AND PASS
YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, AS
YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY, OUR
VETERANS DON'T ASK FOR A LOT.
MY OWN FATHER NEVER TALKED ABOUT
HIS SERVICE.
THE VETERANS I MEET ACROSS THE
COUNTRY DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN AS
DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT.
BUT WE OWE THEM MORE THAN A PAT
ON THE BACK AND SEND THEM OUT TO
THE WORLD WHEN THEY COME HOME.
WE OWE THEM MORE THAN BUMPER
STICKERS AND PLATITUDES.
WE OWE THEM MORE THAN PROCEDURAL
ROADBLOCKS WHICH IS WHAT WE WILL
VOTE ON SHORTLY THAT WILL IMPEDE
OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THEM NOT
HOEPBL NOW, BUT -- NOT ONLY HELP
NOW BUT INTO THE FUTURE.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE OWE THEM
ACTION.
WE OWE THEM REAL INVESTMENTS
THAT WILL HELP THEM GET BACK TO
WORK, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS
LEGISLATION DOES.
AND IT DOES SO BECAUSE PUTTING
OUR SERVICE MEMBERS BACK TO WORK
IS A COST OF WAR.
PUTTING OUR VETERANS BACK TO
WORK IS A COST OF WAR, JUST LIKE
THEIR HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS,
IT'S PART OF WHAT WE OWE THE
LESS THAN 1% OF MEN AND WOMEN
WHO SACRIFICED FOR THE 99% THAT
DID NOT.
MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S NO SECRET
THAT THIS IS NOT THE EASIEST
PASSED.
TIME OF YEAR TO GET A BILL
IT IS TOO EASY TO POINT TO THE
OR TO LEVEL
ACCUSATIONS ABOUT POLITICS
AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
BUT IN MY TWO DECADES ON WORKING
ON VETERANS' ISSUES HERE IN THE
SENATE, I HAVE SEEN VETERANS'
ISSUES RISE ABOVE POLITICS TIME
AND AGAIN EVEN WHEN IT SEEMED
OUR BACKS WERE AGAINST THE WALL.
I HAVE SEEN DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS COME TOGETHER, AND
THEY'VE DONE SO BECAUSE THERE IS
ONE GROUP OF AMERICANS THAT
DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE CALENDAR
OR HOW DAYS WE ARE OUT FROM AN
ELECTION, AND THAT IS OUR
UNEMPLOYED VETERANS.
WHAT THEY CARE ABOUT IS FINDING
WORK IN THEIR COMMUNITIES,
FINDING THE WORK THAT GIVES THEM
THE SELF-ESTEEM THAT THEY NEED
TODAY AND FINDING WORK THAT
HELPS THEM PROVIDE FOR THEIR
LOVED ONES.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE CAN DO THAT
TODAY.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
WITH US IN WAIVING THIS POINT OF
ORDER, TO JOIN WITH US IN
TELLING OUR VETERANS THAT WE ARE
NOT DONE INVESTING IN THEIR CARE
AND BENEFITS, NOT BY A LONG
SHOT.
JOIN WITH US IN MOVING FORWARD
WITH A BILL THAT IS PAID FOR,
TO OUR DEFICIT
AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE KILLED BY
PROCEDURAL GAMES.
JOIN WITH US IN PUTTING VETERANS
ABOVE POLITICAL OBSTRUCTION AND
BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I YIELD BACK ANY TIME THAT WE
MAY HAVE LEFT.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THE QUESTION SO
THE MOTION TO WAIVE.
THE YEAS AND NAYS HAVE
PREVIOUSLY BEEN ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
VOTE: