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THEY WILL BEGIN WITH GENERAL
SPEECHES AS MEMBERS RETURN TO
WASHINGTON.
LEGISLATIVE WORK GETS UNDERWAY
AT 4:00 EASTERN WITH MORE DEBATE
ON THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
NO VOTES ARE SCHEDULED FOR TODAY
ALTHOUGH MATURITY LEADER HARRY
REID HAS WARNED LAWMAKERS TO
LEADERSHIP TRIES TO WRAP UP WORK
ON A MEASURE THIS WEEK.
NOW LIVE TO THE SENATE FLOOR
HERE ON C-SPAN2.
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAT LYNN WILL LEAD THE
SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
LORD OF MERCY, WE TRUST YOUR
POWER AND WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
IN THESE CHALLENGING DAYS, GIVE
THAT COMES
FROM CONFIDENCE IN YOUR
PROVIDENTIAL POWERS.
WHEN THEY FEEL PESSIMISTIC,
REMIND THEM THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO
KEEP THEM FROM STUMBLING AND
THAT DELIVERANCE COMES FROM YOU.
YOU ARE A GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL
GOD, SLOW TO ANGER AND ABOUNDING
IN STEADFAST LOVE.
HELP OUR SENATORS TODAY TO
STRIVE TO DO AS MUCH GOOD AS
THEY CAN IN AS MANY
CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO AS MANY
PEOPLE AS THEY CAN.
WE PRAY IN YOUR SACRED NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE CLERK
WILL READ A COMMUNICATION TO THE
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C,
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
RULE 1, PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE
STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE,
I HEREBY APPOINT THE
HONORABLE CHRISTOPHER A. ***,
A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
WE RARELY ACKNOWLEDGE
THE CHAPLAIN HERE IN THE SENATE
AND WE SHOULD MORE OFTEN.
WE'RE SO FORTUNATE AS A BODY TO
MAN LEADING US IN
PRAYER VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY.
THE PRAYERS HE GIVES TREMENDOUS
THOUGHT TO WHAT HE SHOULD SAY.
THEY'RE ALWAYS VERY CHALLENGING
AND ENCOMPASS THE ISSUES THAT
WE'RE DEALING WITH.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING WHO
DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS
MAN, HE IS A ROLE MODEL OF WHAT
AMERICA'S ALL ABOUT.
RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER.
SHE WOULD GIVE HIM A FEW PENNIES
EACH DAY THAT HE WOULD MEMORIZE
VERSES OF SCRIPTURE.
HE -- I'VE SEEN THE MAN AND HIS
ABILITY TO SPEAK VOLUMES,
PULLING UP THINGS THAT HE HAS IN
HIS BRAIN, REMIND ME OF SENATOR
BYRD WHO FOR MANY YEARS SAT
RIGHT HERE BEHIND WHERE I AM,
AND HE HAD A REMARKABLE ABILITY
TO REMEMBER THINGS THAT HE HAD
READ OR STUDIED.
THE SAME.
SO I AM -- I'M, MR. PRESIDENT,
I'M VERY -- AND I SPEAK FOR THE
WHOLE SENATE, NOT DEMOCRATS OR
REPUBLICANS, BUT FOR THIS BODY
TO THE GOOD WORK HE DOES, NOT
ONLY IN OFFERING HIS PRAYERS
HERE BUT THE COUNSELING THAT HE
DOES ON A DAILY BASIS HERE IN
THE SENATE.
MR. PRESIDENT, EACH DAY THE
SENATE BEGINS ITS WORKDAY WITH A
RITUAL, A SOLEMN RITUAL -- WE
JUST DID THAT -- WE PLEDGE
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR FLAG.
EACH DAY WE REDEDICATE OUR
LOYALTY TO THIS FLAG AND TO THE
FUNDAMENTAL PILLAR FOR WHICH IT
STANDS, RIGHT TO DO JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
UNFORTUNATELY FOR TENS OF
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, THAT
RIGHT TO EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW
IS AT RISK AND I'M SORRY TO SAY
IT'S AT RISK BECAUSE OF
REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGY.
MORE THAN HALF THE NATION'S
POPULATION -- 160 MILLION
AMERICANS -- LIVE IN PARTS OF
THIS COUNTRY THAT'S BEEN
DECLARED A JUDICIAL EMERGENCY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS THAT MORE THAN HALF THE
PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY WHO
SUGGESTS OF THE COURTS AND
JUDGES, THE COURTS WE FIND ARE
STRAINED AT THE BREAKING POINT
UNDER A BACKLOG SO INTENSE AN
EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE PRESIDING
OFFICER IS AN EXPERT ON
BANKRUPTCY AND KNOWS HOW
IMPORTANT FILLING THOSE
BANKRUPTCY SLOTS ARE.
ONE REASON WE ARE SLOW IN
FILLING THOSE BANKRUPTCY SPOTS
IS, OF COURSE, WE NEED MORE
BANKRUPTCY JUDGES, BUT THE
BANKRUPTCY JUDGES ARE CHOSEN BY
OUR FEDERAL JUDICIARY, TRIAL
THEY'VE GOT OTHER THINGS TO DO.
THEY ARE SO OVERWHELMED WITH
THINGS TO DO.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BUSINESSES THAT
THEY HAVE PROBLEMS DEALING WITH
BECAUSE OF FEDERAL LAWS NEED TO
GO TO COURT, HAVE THOSE ISSUES
REDRESSED.
THERE COULD BE INJURIES SUFFERED
THAT ONLY THE FEDERAL SYSTEM CAN
RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR
RESPONSIBILITIES.
DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF AGE,
GENDER, ANTITRUST CASES,
BUSINESS REARRANGING.
MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'VE HEARD THAT
EXPRESSION, "WHAT ARE YOU TRYING
TO DO, MAKE A FEDERAL CASE OUT
OF IT?"
THE REASON PEOPLE SAY THAT IS
THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM IS THE
PLACE YOU GO TO BE TREATED
FAIRLY.
WHEN I PRACTICED LAW, I HAD
GREAT RESPECT FOR THE STATE
COURT SYSTEM, BUT IT WAS IN THE
MINOR LEAGUES COMPARED TO WHEN I
HAD TO GO ACROSS THE STREET TO
THE FEDERAL COURT.
MUCH DIFFERENT SETTING.
MR. PRESIDENT, ONE OUT OF EVERY
TEN FEDERAL JUDGESHIPS IS NOW
STANDING VACANT IN OUR COUNTRY.
AMERICANS CAN NO LONGER RELY ON
FAIR AND SPEEDY TRIALS.
THE COURTS WHERE SOCIAL SECURITY
CASES ARE HEARD, APPEALS ARE
SUITS ARE
TRIED -- I WENT THROUGH THE
WHOLE LIST -- THEY SIMPLY DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH JUDGES TO HANDLE THE
CASES BROUGHT BEFORE THE FEDERAL
COURT.
IN THESE COURTS, OUR FEDERAL
JUDGES ARE BEING FORCED TO LIMIT
THEIR TIME ON THE CASES THEY
HAVE AND WE DON'T WANT THESE
FEDERAL COURTS TO BE LIKE
TRAFFIC COURT JUDGES.
THEY'RE DIFFERENT
RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO SAY, WHAT ARE
YOU TRYING TO DO, MAKE A FEDERAL
CASE OUT OF THIS?
WE WANT THAT TO BE -- TO MEAN
AND FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES
TYPICALLY WAIT FOR YEARS BEFORE
THEIR CIVIL CASES ARE HEARD.
NOW THERE'S SOME PROBLEMS THAT
CONGRESS CAN'T SOLVE BUT THIS
ISN'T ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS.
I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT ONE OF
THOSE PROBLEMS.
THE SENATE COULD ACT TOMORROW TO
PUT HIGHLY-QUALIFIED JUDGES ON
THE FEDERAL BENCH, JUDGES WHO
ARE SUPPORTED BY BOTH DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS.
THE SENATE COULD ACT TOMORROW TO
EASE THE BACKLOG OF CASES,
LIGHTEN THE LOAD OF OVERWORKED
JUDGES AND SHORTEN THE TIME IT
TAKES TO SEE JUSTICE DONE IN OUR
GREAT COUNTRY.
THE SENATE COULD ACT TOMORROW TO
CONFIRM 22 JUDGES CURRENTLY
READY TO SERVE BUT AWAITING
SENATE ACTION.
THESE ARE 22 QUALIFIED CONSENSUS
NOMINEES, THE OVERWHELMING
MAJORITY OF THEM RECEIVED
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF
REPUBLICAN SENATORS FROM THEIR
HOME STATES.
11 OF THESE NOMINEES WOULD FILL
VACANCIES DESIGNATED AS JUDICIAL
EMERGENCIES.
WE'RE FILING, MR. PRESIDENT, I
WILL SOON ANNOUNCE, CLOTURE ON
ALL THESE TO BRING TO STOP THE
FILIBUSTER BEING CONDUCTED ON
THESE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN WHO
WANT TO SERVE.
WE'RE GOING TO FILE ON 17.
11 OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE --
WE'RE TRYING TO GET CONFIRMED,
MR. PRESIDENT, ARE NOMINEES FROM
JUDICIAL EMERGENCY STATES, YET
REPUBLICANS HAVE REFUSED TO
ALLOW US TO EVEN VOTE -- WON'T
EVEN ALLOW US TO VOTE -- ON
THESE QUALIFIED JUDICIAL
NOMINEES.
SENATOR FROM DOING ITS
CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY AND THAT'S
WHAT IT IS.
THE HOUSE DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THIS BECAUSE OUR
CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT THAT'S
OUR OBLIGATION, TO CONFIRM OR
REJECT THE NOMINATIONS THE
PRESIDENT SENDS TO US.
WE SHOULD HAVE UP-OR-DOWN VOTES
ON THESE.
THE KIND OF QUALIFIED CONSENSUS
NOMINEES THAT IN YEARS PAST
WOULD HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN
DAYS OR WEEKS NOW LANGUISH FOR
MONTHS AND MONTHS WITH NO ACTION
ACTION.
THERE ARE JUDGES ON THIS LIST GO
BACK TO NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
NOT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HAVE
DONE IT.
THESE COULD BE CONFIRMED IN A
MATTER OF MINUTES.
THE VOTES SHOULD BE ROUTINE.
THEY SHOULDN'T BE A FIGHT THAT
MEASURES.
CREATING JOBS IS THE SENATE'S
NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
REPUBLICAN OBSTRUCTIONISM IS THE
ONLY THING STANDING IN THE WAY
OF MOVING FORWARD WITH
ADDITIONAL WORK TO GET OUR
ECONOMY BACK ON TRACK.
UNFORTUNATELY, REPUBLICANS HAVE
FORCED OUR HAND.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
THE ENDLESS OBSTRUCTIONISM HAS
CREATED A JUDICIAL EMERGENCY IN
THIS COUNTRY TIME AND TIME AGAIN
AGAIN.
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, SENATE
REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO ALLOW
VOTES ON EVEN ONE OF THE 14
JUDICIAL NOMINEES AWAITING
CONFIRMATION LAST YEAR, BREAKING
WITH THE SENATE'S LONG-STANDING
TRADITION OF CLEARING THE
CALENDAR OF CONSENSUS NOMINEES
AT THE END OF A SESSION.
EACH OF THESE NOMINEES WAS WELL
QUALIFIED AND HAD BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S JUDICIAL
NOMINATIONS HAVE WAITED AN
AVERAGE OF FIVE TIMES LONGER TO
BE CONFIRMED THAN THOSE OF
PRESIDENT BUSH.
LOOK AT THIS, MR. PRESIDENT.
PRESIDENT CLINTON.
THESE ARE DAYS.
THESE ARE DAYS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S WERE
CONFIRMED IN A MATTER OF ABOUT
FIVE OR SIX DAYS.
PRESIDENT BUSH'S, 21 OR 22 DAYS.
OBAMA'S ARE STILL SKYROCKETING.
IT'S REALLY, MR. PRESIDENT,
UNFAIR.
IT IS REALLY UNFAIR.
IT'S NOT ONLY UNFAIR TO THE
SYSTEM, WHICH I'VE DESCRIBED,
BUT IT'S UNFAIR TO THESE
NOMINEES.
THEY'RE ALL WELL QUALIFIED.
THEY'VE RECEIVED NEAR UNANIMOUS
SUPPORT.
THEY'RE ALL LAWYERS HAVING TO
HOLD THEIR PRACTICE BACK WAITING
TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
THESE ARE LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS.
THAT'S WHAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS
ESTABLISHED.
LONG WAITS HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THESE
NOMINATIONS.
AS I'VE INDICATED, AFTER WAITING
MONTHS FOR THE SENATE TO ACT ON
THESE JUDGES, THEY'RE OFTEN
UNANIMOUSLY.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY?
IT SAYS THAT THE WAIT IS
DILATORY.
IT'S DELAY FOR DELAY'S SAKE.
AS WE KNOW HERE, MY FRIEND, THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER, SAID HIS
NUMBER-ONE GOAL IN THIS CONGRESS
IS TO DEFEAT PRESIDENT OBAMA.
THIS IS PART OF IT.
PRESIDENT THOMAS JEFFERSON
SAID -- AND I QUOTE -- "WHEN ONE
UNDERTAKES TO ADMINISTER
JUSTICE, IT MUST BE WITH AN EVEN
HAND AND BY RULE, WHAT IS DONE
FOR ONE MUST BE DONE FOR
EVERYONE IN EQUAL DEGREE."
WELL, WHEN WE HAVE JUDICIAL
EMERGENCIES ALL OVER THIS
COUNTRY AFFECTING 160 MILLION
PEOPLE, WHAT PRESIDENT JEFFERSON
SAID DOESN'T WORK.
PRESIDENT JEFFERSON'S PRINCIPLE
IS TRUE IN AMERICA'S COURT
SYSTEM AS IT IS ANY PLACE IN
AMERICA AND IT SHOULD BE TRUE IN
THE SENATE.
ONE QUALIFIED CONSENSUS JUDICIAL
NOMINEE OUGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE
ANOTHER, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL
PARTY AND REGARDLESS OF WHO'S
PRESIDENT, QUITE FRANKLY.
FOR THE COURTS ALREADY IN
CRISIS, THE REPUBLICANS COULDN'T
HAVE CHOSEN A WORSE TIME TO PLAY
PROCESS.
SO TODAY I REGRET THAT I HAVE TO
FILE CLOTURE ON A PACKAGE OF 17
DISTRICT COURT JUDGES.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE THROUGH
THESE.
I HOPE PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO BE
DOING MORE DILATORY TACTICS.
IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED, PEOPLE
HAVE A RIGHT UNDER OUR RULES TO
HOLD UP THE NEXT JUDGE IN LINE
FOR 30 HOURS.
THAT WILL SHOW WHAT THIS IS ALL
ABOUT.
IT WILL SHOW IT'S AN EFFORT TO
EMBARRASS THE PRESIDENT AND NOT
TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION
160 MILLION PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THEIR
CASES TRIED IN AN ORDERLY
MANNER.
THE PETITION TO END THE
FILIBUSTER ONLY APPLIES TO
JUDGES.
I HOPE THAT REPUBLICANS WON'T
CONTINUE TO FILIBUSTER APPELLATE
JUDGES, OUR CIRCUIT COURT
JUDGES.
THAT WOULD BE WRONG.
WE WOULD HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT
TO TAKE ACTION WITH THAT.
THERE'S A LESSER NUMBER OF THOSE
POSITIONS.
THIS -- WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK TO
DO, MR. PRESIDENT, HERE IN THIS
BODY.
WE MUST COMPLETE ACTION ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL, WHICH WILL
EITHER SAVE OR CREATE
2.8 MILLION JOBS.
I'LL WORK WITH THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER TO FINALIZE A PATH
FORWARD ON A BIPARTISAN SMALL
BUSINESS JOBS BILL THAT THE
MARGIN LAST WEEK.
WE MUST CONSIDER POSTAL REFORM
LEGISLATION, CYBER SECURITY
LEGISLATION.
WE HAVE GAS PRICES WE HAVE TO
DEAL WITH.
AND THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, AND
OTHER THINGS, MR. PRESIDENT,
THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR
IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'VE HAD
TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING
THAT IS SO GLARINGLY WRONG.
LOOK AT THIS.
LOOK AT THIS, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND THIS -- THESE ARE STATIC.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
THESE ARE NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
CLINTON'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE.
WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED.
HERE, THIS NUMBER KEEPS GOING UP
UP. YOU GO BACK TO A
COUPLE OF THOSE JUDGES,
NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY,
FEBRUARY, MARCH.
WE'RE UP TO FIVE MONTHS WITH
SOME OF THESE JUDGES.
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I WOULD ASK THE CALL
OF THE QUORUM BE TERMINATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
WOULD THE CHAIR
ANNOUNCE THE BUSINESS.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED.
THERE WILL BE A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 4:00 P.M.
THE SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK
IN MORNING BUSINESS FOR UP TO 40
MINUTES.
OBJECTION.
PRESIDENT.
I THANK THE MAJORITY LEADER FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON AN AMENDMENT
ON THE TRANSPORTATION BILL, THE
MENENDEZ-REID-BURR AMENDMENT.
FOR A SHORT-TITLE PURPOSES IT IS
CALLED THE NAT GAS BILL.
THIS IS NOT A NEW BILL.
UNDERSTAND.
IT IS A GAME CHANGER AS IT
RELATES TO OUR ENERGY POLICY IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THE ECONOMIC
SECURITY OF OUR COUNTRY.
I WANT TO TAKE THESE 40 MINUTES
TO SORT OF WALK THROUGH THE
BILL, BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL BEFORE
I DO THAT THAT I SAY TO MY
COLLEAGUES AND TO THEIR STAFF
AND TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IF
FOR SOME REASON YOU BELIEVE THAT
IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS IN AMERICA
TAX
REFORM, LOWER RATES, NO
DEDUCTIONS, NO CREDITS, NO
SUBSIDIES, THEN I WANT TO YOU DO
ME A FAVOR: TURN OFF YOUR TV.
LEAVE THE GALLERY BECAUSE I'LL
NEVER CONVINCE YOU THAT THIS IS
THE RIGHT MOVE.
IN FACT, IF I BELIEVED WE WERE
GOING TO DO COMPREHENSIVE TAX
REFORM, I WOULD NOT BE ON THIS
I WOULD NOT BE OFFERING THIS
BUT THE TRUTH IS THERE'S NOBODY
IN AMERICA THAT BELIEVES THAT'S
GOING TO HAPPEN.
MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME SAY THIS
TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES, THEIR
STAFF AND TO THE AMERICAN
IF YOU BELIEVE SOME MYRRH
CALCULUS THING -- SOME
MIRACULOUS THING IS GOING TO
HAPPEN AND THERE IS GOING TO BE
PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST -- NO
CIVIL WARS, NO NUCLEAR
ADVANCEMENTS, NO THREATS -- THEN
TURN OFF YOUR TV.
LEAVE THE GALLERY.
I'LL NEVER CONVINCE YOU, NOR
WOULD I BE HERE TODAY IF I
THOUGHT THAT WAS GOING TO
HAPPEN.
BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT AS
POLICY-MAKERS WE'RE CHARGED WITH
DOING THINGS BASED UPON THE
LANDSCAPE AND THE FRAMEWORK WE
HAVE IN FRONT OF US.
AND TODAY IN THE ABSENCE OF THIS
BODY, THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES ACTING, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE WILL GET EXACTLY WHAT
THEY'VE GOTTEN.
ESCALATION OF ENERGY COSTS.
THAT'S TO FILL THEIR CAR.
IT'S TO FILL THEIR TRUCK.
IT'S TO HEAT THEIR HOUSE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S FELT BY THE INCREASED COST
OF THE BUSINESSES THEY WORK FOR.
THIS IS ABOUT PERSONAL SECURITY.
THIS IS ABOUT THE LIVELIHOOD OF
EVERY AMERICAN.
LET ME JUST SAY NOW IF YOU'RE
STILL WITH ME, IF YOU HAVEN'T
TURNED OFF THE TUBE OR LEFT THE
GALLERY, THE SINGLE-MOST
IMPORTANT REASON THAT WE SHOULD
DO THIS IS OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY IS VITAL
TO THIS COUNTRY.
NOW LET ME JUST STOP AND POSE A
QUESTION TO YOU.
WHO CONTROLS TODAY OUR ACCESS
AND OUR COST OF ENERGY?
IT'S NOT US.
IN MANY CASES IT'S PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD THAT DON'T EVEN LIKE
US THAT CONTROL WHETHER WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO OIL OR
WHAT THE COST IS GOING TO BE.
TODAY 70% OF OUR OIL IS
SO WE'VE GOT 30% THAT WE'VE GOT
SOME ABILITY TO CONTROL AND TO
BUT 70% OF IT, WE'RE AT THE
WHIMS OF OTHER PEOPLE.
WE'RE AT THE WHIMS OF THE
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY DON'T LIKE US AND THEY
DON'T CARE WITH A WE PAY.
AND I MIGHT SAY, MR. PRESIDENT,
MANY OF THOSE COUNTRIES USE THE
DOLLARS WE SEND THEM TO FUND
TERRORISTS TO, FUND THE VERY
PEOPLE THAT WE RUN INTO ON THE
IN AFGHANISTAN,
IRAQ, AND AROUND THE WORLD.
THEY AREN'T CONCERNED WITH OUR
ECONOMY.
THEY AREN'T CONCERNED WITH THE
FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY OR THE
FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN.
NOT A VERY COMFORTING SITUATION
TO RELY ON FOR OUR ENERGY,
ESPECIALLY WITH 70% RELIANCE ON
WHAT THEY HAVE.
LET ME SUGGEST THAT THIS
REQUIRES U.S. DOLLARS TO BE
SPENT AND U.S. LIVES TO BE PUT
ON THE LINE TO MAKE SURE THAT
DAY IN AND DAY OUT THIS COUNTRY
HAS ACCESS TO THAT 70% RELIANCE
ON BLACK GOLD.
LOOK AT THE GULF TODAY.
SHIPS, SAILORS, MARINES,
AIRCRAFT, ALL IN THE GULF TO
MAKE SURE THAT SOMEBODY DOESN'T
SHUT DOWN THE STRAITS OF HORMUZ,
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT
THAT OIL.
IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T CAP WHAT WE
PAY AT THE PUMP OR IN THE TAXES
THAT WE PAY TO ASSURE THAT WHEN
WE NEED IT, IT'S GOING TO BE
SOME CLAIM THAT SPECULATORS ARE
THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH THE OIL
INDUSTRY, AND I'LL ADMIT I THINK
AROUND THE EDGES A COUPLE CENTS
A GALLON, THAT SPECULATION,
FUTURES TRADERS PROBABLY DO HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF IMPACT.
BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S NOT
SIGNIFICANT.
AND SPECULATORS DON'T CONTROL
OUR ACCESS TO IT, OUR RELIANCE
ON FOREIGN OIL IS WHAT JUDGES
WHETHER WE HAVE ACCESS TO IT OR
WE MUST ADMIT THAT OUR ACCESS
TODAY IS A NATIONAL SECURITY
THREAT.
TWO, ECONOMIC SECURITY.
MR. PRESIDENT, YOU AND I KNOW A
WORD UP HERE IS CALLED LIHEAP.
IT'S THE LOW-INCOME HEATING
PROGRAM FOR SENIORS ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY, FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
CAN'T AFFORD HOME HEATING OIL.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND $5.1
BILLION THIS YEAR TO SUBSIDIZE
HOME HEATING FUEL.
THIS ENTIRE BILL, THE NAT GAS
BILL, WHICH IS A GAME CHANGER
RELATIVE TO THE COST OF NOT JUST
HOME HEATING FUEL, BUT DIESEL
AND GASOLINE, COSTS A LITTLE
OVER $3 BILLION AND THE
TAXPAYERS AREN'T ON THE HOOK FOR
ONE PENNY OF IT.
LATER.
THE U.S. ECONOMY IS STARTING TO
RECOVER.
WE'VE SEEN SIGNS NOT IN EVERY
COMMUNITY AND NOT IN EVERY
SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY, BUT WE
THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT THERE'S ONE COMMON THREAD
THAT ALL ECONOMISTS AGREE ON.
IF ENERGY COSTS GOES UP, YOU
STAND THE CHANCE OF CUTTING OFF
THAT RECOVERY.
YOU STAND THE CHANCE OF FREEZING
OR INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT AT
THE RATES THAT IT'S AT TODAY.
NOW HOW QUICKLY WE RECOVER, HOW
QUICKLY AMERICANS ARE HIRED, HOW
QUICKLY UNEMPLOYMENT GOES DOWN,
HOW THIS AFFECTS OUR BALANCE OF
TRADE, WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED
ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY
BUDGET.
THINK OF WHAT A TYPICAL FAMILY
IS FACED WITH TODAY, THE COST ON
A WEEKLY BASIS TO FILL THAT
VEHICLE UP.
MANY FAMILIES TODAY HAVE
ACCEPTED JOBS NOT CLOSE TO WHERE
THEY LIVE.
WHERE JOBS WERE AVAILABLE.
THEY DRIVE FROM ONE COMMUNITY TO
ANOTHER.
SOME DRIVE FROM ONE STATE TO
JOB WAS.
WE'VE HAD NO INCREASE IN WAGES.
WE ALL KNOW THAT.
BUT WE'VE SEEN FOOD PRICES AND
GAS PRICES AND
ENERGY PRICES GO UP.
HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO
HAVE A REAL IMPACT ON THE FAMILY
BUDGET IN AMERICA WITHOUT
CHARGING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ONE
PENNY TO HAVE US DO IT.
IN MY OPINION, MR. PRESIDENT, WE
SHOULD HAVE STARTED NEW
EXPLORATION DECADES AGO.
HAD WE SKHROERD FOR -- EXPLORED
FOR OIL AND NATURAL GAS ONSHORE,
OFFSHORE AND BUILT PIPELINES, WE
MIGHT NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM
RIGHT NOW.
FOR THOSE THAT SAY WE SHOULDN'T
DO IT NOW BECAUSE IT'S TEN YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE WE FEEL THE
EFFECTS, WE HAD THIS SAME DEBATE
10 YEARS AGO AND HAD IT 18 YEARS
AGO WHEN I GOT TO THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
TODAY WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT
THE ONLY THING THAT'S CHANGED IS
THE PRICE OF ENERGY IN AMERICA.
FOCUS ON
AMERICA, NORTH AMERICA, AND WE
OUGHT TO TAP THOSE RESOURCES IN
A SAFE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY WAY, WHICH IS IN FACT
WE'RE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO GO
TODAY.
MY THIRD GOAL TO THIS BILL IS
ENERGY SECURITY TH-FPLT YEAR WE
VOTED AGAINST PIPELINES.
THEY WOULD HAVE PROVIDED SOME
SECURITY.
WE'VE REDUCED SOME FORM OF
DEMAND, NOT MUCH.
TODAY WE'RE REDUCING
EXPLORATION.
WE'RE NOT INCREASING EXPLORATION
AND WHO PAYS THE BILL?
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT'S REAL SIMPLE.
IT'S JUST PASS THROUGH AND
PRETTY SOON WE GET USED TO
AVERAGE.
IN SOME PLACES IN THE COUNTRY
IT'S OVER $4.
BUT -- THREE YEARS AGO $1.86.
I WAS RATINGED AS THE SEVEN -- I
WAS RATED AS THE SEVENTH MOST
UNITED STATES SENATE.
THIS YEAR I BOUGHT A HYBRID.
I BOUGHT A HYBRID BECAUSE I WAS
TIRED OF PAYING PEOPLE MONEY
I WAS TIRED OF PAYING AN
EXORBITANT AMOUNT FOR GASOLINE.
I PERSONALLY WOULD DO ANYTHING
THAT I COULD TO MAKE SURE I
REDUCE MY CONSUMPTION AND MY
COSTS.
BUT THE ONLY WAY I CAN AFFECT
EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY IS TO COME
ON THIS FLOOR AND TO CHANGE THE
POLICIES THAT WE HAVE IN THIS
COUNTRY IN A WAY THAT NOBODY IS
SLIGHTED, NOBODY IS CHEATED.
NOBODY LOSES.
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAID THIS
BILL PICKS WINNERS AND LOSERS.
WELL, I'VE GOT TO ADMIT IT DOES.
THE WINNERS ARE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND THE LOSERS ARE
EVERYBODY INTERNATIONALLY THAT
PRODUCES OIL.
I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD
PICK.
WELL, LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS MUST STOP.
IT MUST STOP.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT IT SHOULD
THIS AMENDMENT.
WE NEED AN ENERGY PLAN.
WE SHOULD EXPLORE.
WE SHOULD BUILD PIPELINES.
IF WE DID, DOWN THE ROAD, WE'D
BENEFIT.
YOU MIGHT THINK WELL ALL OF THIS
IS AN ACCURATE DEPICTIONS OF
WHERE WE ARE.
WHAT WOULD A NATURAL GAS BILL DO
TO CHANGE OUR SITUATION?
LET ME SUGGEST TO YOU IT'S ABOUT
OUR MOST ABUNDANT CLEAN,
YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT'S AMERICAN.
IT'S FOUND RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
WHY WOULDN'T WE USE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE?
OH, BY THE WAY, DID I SAY IT'S
CHEAP?
IF YOU LOOK AT NATURAL GAS AS AN
EKWEUF THRAOPBT A GALLON --
EQUIVALENT TO A GALLON OF
GASOLINE.
NATURAL GAS IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
RATES.
IMAGINE WHERE DIESEL IS.
IMAGINE WHERE HOME HEATING OIL
WHY?
BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY HAS ALLOWED
US TO REACH RESERVES THAT WE
COULD NEVER REACH BEFORE.
IT'S ALLOWED US TO DO IT
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.
IT'S ALLOWED US TO DO IT AT A
PRETTY ATTRACTIVE PRODUCTION
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE WORD IN
THE WORLD IS THE UNITED STATES
IS THE SAUDI ARABIA OF NATURAL
GAS.
BUT NOBODY LOOKS AT US AND SAYS
YOU'RE CONTROLLING OUR ACCESS
BECAUSE WE CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT
WHAT OUR POLICY IS GOING TO BE.
NOW, LET ME JUST SUGGEST TO YOU
THAT I THINK THE PRESIDENT --
MR. PRESIDENT KNOWS THIS.
IF WE PRODUCE MORE THAN WE
CONSUME, THEN WE WILL
AGGRESSIVELY BUILD AN
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SHIP IT ALL
AROUND THE WORLD.
BUT IF WE CONSUME WHAT WE
PRODUCE, THERE WILL BE AN EFFORT
TO PRODUCE MORE AND TO PRODUCE
MORE AND TO PRODUCE MORE, AND
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, TYPICALLY THE
PRICE GOES DOWN.
SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IN FRONT
OF THIS BODY IS ARE WE GOING TO
USE IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE OR ARE WE GOING
TO SHIP IT TO THE REST OF THE
WORLD?
NOW, SOME IN CONGRESS WILL TELL
YOU THAT SHIFTING NATURAL GAS
USAGE THROUGH FEDERAL
LEGISLATION SHOULDN'T BE DONE.
LET ME BE CLEAR.
I AGREE 100%.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT
THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE
LEGISLATING HOW MARKETS GO.
BUT WHEN I CONSIDER THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WE'RE SPEAKING FOR
THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER, BECAUSE
USUALLY THEY ARE THE ONES THAT
ARE THE BACKUP FUNDER OF
EVERYTHING THAT WE PASS.
THIS BILL DOESN'T DO IT.
THIS BILL IS A FIVE-YEAR BILL
IT GOES AWAY.
AND IT FUNDS THE ROUGHLY
$3.4 BILLION WITH A USER FEE ON
THE EXACT PEOPLE THAT ARE
BENEFITED BY IT.
THOSE NATURAL GAS USERS.
AMERICAN TAXPAYER
HAS NO SKIN IN THIS GAME.
THEY ALL SAY THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, THE AMERICAN
TAXPAYERS, SHOULDN'T FUND ANY
NEW TAX CREDITS OR SUBSIDIES.
THESE ARE THE TWO CRITICISMS
THAT THIS BILL HAS RECEIVED.
I AGREE WITH THEM TOTALLY.
READ THE BILL.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE DO.
WE FUND IT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT
BENEFIT FROM THE CREDITS AND
FROM THE SUBSIDIES.
NOW, YOU MIGHT ASK WHERE DO WE
DISAGREE?
POLICY CAN AND I THINK IT SHOULD
ACCELERATE THE USAGE OF NATURAL
GAS.
SOME HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS NO
NEED TO DO THIS.
IT'S HAPPENING ALL BY ITSELF.
I AGREE.
ANOTHER POINT OF AGREEMENT.
IS HAPPENING EVERY DAY IN
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.
AND TEN YEARS FROM NOW, WE MIGHT
LOOK BACK ON IT AND WE MIGHT
HAVE MADE A LITTLE PROGRESS.
WE HAVE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT
NOW WITHOUT TAXPAYER FUNDING TO
ACCELERATE THIS MOVE IN 18-WHEEL
VEHICLES, IN FLEET VEHICLES, IN
MUNICIPAL TRUCKS AND
SO I THINK THAT WE CAN AND I
THINK THAT WE SHOULD ACCELERATE
AGAIN, NATURAL GAS IS THE ONLY
FLEXIBLE MOBILE FUEL WE HAVE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THERE ARE OTHER
OPTIONS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN
ACCOMPLISH THIS WITH.
I BELIEVE THAT IF CREDITS OR
SUBSIDIES ARE PAID FOR BY THE
USERS, THOSE THAT BENEFIT, THAT
THIS IS A GOOD THING AND IT IS
THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT.
IF YOU TOOK ALL OF YOUR 18-WHEEL
VEHICLES IN AMERICA AND YOU PUT
YOU WOULD
REDUES CUMMINGS OF FOREIGN OIL
BY ONE-THIRD.
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW TO BRING
DOWN THE PRICE OF GASOLINE AND
THERE IT IS.
TAKE ONE-THIRD OF THE DEMAND AND
SHIFT IT OVER TO NATURAL GAS.
FLEET VEHICLES TODAY, COMPANIES,
FEDEX, U.P.S., I CAN SORT OF
NAME ALL OF THEM, THE IN AND OUT
EVERY DAY.
THEY GO OUT IN THE MORNING, THEY
COME BACK IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY
HAVE ONE FUELING STATION AND
THEY ARE RUNNING TO GO TO
THEY DON'T NEED THE INCENTIVE,
BUT LOOK HOW FAST THEY COULD
TAKE THEIR ENTIRE FLEET IF IT
WAS THERE.
AGAIN, WITHOUT ONE PENNY OF
TAXPAYER MONEY.
THERE IS NOT A MUNICIPALITY IN
AMERICA TODAY THAT'S NOT
CHALLENGED FROM THE STANDPOINT
OF THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET.
THEY HAVE CUT PARKS AND
RECREATION.
THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW TO DO EDUCATION.
EVERY COMMUNITY IS FACED WITH
THE SAME THING, DECREASING
PROPERTY VALUES.
THEREFORE, THE FLOW OF REVENUES
IN IS LESS THAN THEY WERE LAST
YEAR AND THE YEAR BEFORE.
WHERE IS THE GAME CHANGER FOR
MUNICIPALITIES IN A MARYLAND GAS
BILL?
-- IN A MARYLAND GAS BILL?
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
THERE ARE 500,000 BUSES IN
AMERICA AND THERE ARE 26 MILLION
KIDS EVERY DAY THAT GET ON A
IF YOU CAN REDUCE BY ONE-THIRD
OR MORE THE COST BY SWITCHING TO
NATURAL GAS, WE SHOULD BE DOING
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET EVERY
SCHOOL SYSTEM IN AMERICA TO HAVE
A NATURAL GAS ENGINE IN THEIR
SCHOOL BUS SO THAT THE OTHER
TWO-THIRDS THAT THEY HAVE SAVED
GOES BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM TO
EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN, THAT
NOBODY IS FACED WITH TRYING TO
DECIDE WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO
BUY TEXTBOOKS OR HAVE A
TEACHER'S AIDE.
BUT EVERY CLASSROOM IS DESIGNED
NOT BASED UPON HOW MUCH MONEY WE
HAVE GOT AVAILABLE BUT WHAT THE
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR
THAT NEXT GENERATION.
FOR THOSE THAT SUGGEST THIS BILL
DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, I WOULD
TELL YOU THAT ONE POINT ALONE IS
ENOUGH TO GET UP AND VOTE YES
IT COMES UP.
IT'S A GAME CHANGER.
IT'S A GAME CHANGER TO LOCAL
BUDGETS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY
MUNICIPALITIES GET TO DEVOTE THE
MONEY TO THE RIGHT PLACES.
NOW, WHY IS THE CREDIT NEEDED?
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
IT COSTS MONEY TO SWITCH AN
A TYPICAL NATURAL GAS ENGINE IS
GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
25,000 AND 40,000 MORE THAN THE
TYPICAL DIESEL ENGINE IN AN
18-WHEEL VEHICLE TODAY.
BUT YOU KNOW, AS MORE AND MORE
AND MORE GET BUILT, WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO FIND IS THE DIESEL
ENGINE IS HIGHER AND THE NATURAL
GAS ENGINE IS CHEAPER.
WOULDN'T WE ACCELERATE THIS AS
FAST AS WE COULD SO THAT WE CAN
GET THE BENEFITS OF THAT
PRODUCTION SHIFT?
TODAY.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT'S SO
COMPELLING A REASON THAT
CHRYSLER, FORD, GENERAL MOTORS
HAVE ALL ANNOUNCED IN THEIR
LIGHT-DUTY PICKUPS, THEY ARE
GOING TO COME FROM THE FACTORY
WITH NATURAL GAS.
BUT YOU KNOW, FOR A CONSUMER TO
FUEL NATURAL GAS, THEY'RE GOING
TO HAVE A LITTLE COMPRESSOR AT
HOME FOR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS
HOOKED UP RIGHT TO THEIR NATURAL
GAS LINE.
FOR AN 18-WHEEL VEHICLE GOING
FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO
CALIFORNIA, IT'S NOT THAT EASY.
IT MEANS YOU HAVE GOT TO HAVE AN
INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THAT ENABLES THAT TO BE
A FEASIBLE BUSINESS DECISION FOR
A COMPANY.
WHAT'S PART OF THE NAT GAS BILL,
IT CREATES A CREDIT, A SUBSIDY
SO THAT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT'S NEEDED IS OUT THERE.
AND OH, BY THE WAY, WE HAVE
STILL GOT THE CREDIT IN PLACE
FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS THAT
WANT TO HAVE FUELING STATIONS.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE NOT
RE-CREATING THE SOLAR OR WIND
SUBSIDIES OR CREDITS.
WE'RE NOT RE-CREATING AN ETHANOL
SUBSIDY FOR GASOLINE THAT
AMERICANS HAVE JUST HAD A HUGE
DISTASTE FOR.
WE'RE TAKING NOT A TECHNOLOGY OF
THE FUTURE AND INVESTING IN IT,
WE'RE TAKING A TECHNOLOGY THAT'S
HERE TODAY AND SAYING LET'S
CREATE THE INCENTIVE FOR THIS TO
EXPLODE, FOR THIS TO BE A GAME
CHANGER IN THE GLOBAL BALANCE OF
TRADE.
NOW, WHY DON'T SOME WANT THIS?
SOME DON'T WANT THIS BECAUSE
THEY USE NATURAL GAS TODAY AND
THEY DON'T WANT THE PRICE TO GO
UP.
WE'RE SITTING ON A 100-YEAR
SUPPLY OF NATURAL GAS RIGHT NOW
IF WE DIDN'T DRILL ANOTHER WELL.
WE HAVE GOT COMPANIES THAT ARE
IN THE BUSINESS TODAY BECAUSE OF
WHERE THE PRICE POINT IS AND
BECAUSE OF WHERE THE DEMAND IS
ARE THINKING ABOUT PLUGGING,
SHUTTING IN NATURAL GAS WELLS
BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MOVE IT OUT
AND THEY CAN'T
SELL IT HERE, YET WE'RE ON THE
CUSP OF BEING ABLE TO CREATE AN
INCENTIVE THAT'S PAID FOR BY THE
USERS THAT NOT ONLY KEEPS THOSE
WELLS OPEN BUT GIVES THE REASON
FOR THOSE COMPANIES TO ACTUALLY
PRODUCE MORE.
AMERICA'S ALWAYS PROVEN IF WE
BUY IT, THEY WILL BUILD IT.
LOOK AT THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
WE WOULD BUY THEM AND TODAY
WE'RE GOING EVERYWHERE IN THE
WORLD TO FIND THE GASOLINE THAT
IT TAKES TO PUT IN THEM.
WELL, MY BELIEF IS,
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IF YOU
ACCELERATE THE USE OF NATURAL
MUNICIPALITIES, WHAT YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE IS YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE ANOTHER EXPLOSION OF
NATURAL GAS FINDS.
YOU'RE GOING TO INCREASE SUPPLY.
IF ANYTHING, YOU MAY SEE PRICES
EVEN FURTHER, BUT WITHOUT
THE DEMAND, I CAN ASSURE YOU THE
FUTURE IS VERY PREDICTABLE.
WE HAVE THIS FUEL AT HOME.
IT'S ON LAND.
THERE IS SOME OFFSHORE, BUT THE
MAJORITY OF THE FINDS ARE ON
LAND.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS HAS HAPPENED
EXACTLY WHERE WE NEED IT.
PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO, NORTH
DAKOTA, OKLAHOMA.
AND YES, PROBABLY NORTH CAROLINA
AND VIRGINIA.
THE FACT IS NONE OF US KNOW
TODAY BECAUSE SOME AREAS
GEOLOGICALLY HAVE NEVER BEEN
WHAT ARE THE REALITIES?
WELL, IF WE CAN OUTPRODUCE WHAT
WE CONSUME, ONE OF TWO THINGS
WILL HAPPEN.
ONE, WE'LL BUILD AN
INFRASTRUCTURE TO SELL IT ALL
AROUND THE WORLD, OR TWO, WE'LL
SLOW THE EXPLORATION.
UP.
ISN'T THAT WHY PEOPLE ARE
AGAINST THIS BILL?
BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED THE
PRICE IS GOING TO GO UP?
IN FACT, THIS BILL IS THE ONLY
THING THAT WILL KEEP NATURAL GAS
PRICES AT HISTORICALLY LOW
ANYTHING LESS THAN THIS WOULD
CAUSE DEVASTATION THROUGHOUT THE
MARKETPLACE.
MANY SAY LET THE MARKETS DRIVE
WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING.
THIS LEGISLATION SAYS PRODUCE AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
SHIFT AS MUCH FROM PETROLEUM AS
TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW US.
YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF LIKE
SAYING LET'S GIVE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT A FIVE-HOUR ENERGY
DRINK.
LET'S PUT THIS POLICY ON
STEROIDS OF SHIFTING AS MUCH AS
TECHNOLOGICALLY CAN FROM
GASOLINE AND DIESEL AND HOME
HEATING OIL OVER TO NATURAL GAS.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE IF WE DON'T DO
THIS?
IT'S HIGHER GAS AND DIESEL
PRICES.
WE BUY.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE DON'T
THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHEN
THAT TRUCKER PAYS $4.20 A GALLON
FOR DIESEL AND THEY HAVE SEEN
THEIR PRICE DOUBLE IN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS, IT'S NOT TOO LONG
BEFORE WE FEEL IT IN THE COST OF
GROCERIES OR IN CONSUMER GOODS
OR IN EVERYTHING THAT WE
PURCHASE IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IF THE WAREHOUSE THAT THAT
PRODUCT IS STORED IN, ENERGY
COSTS GO UP, WE GET IT THERE.
AND IF THE COST TO PRODUCE IT
GOES UP BECAUSE THE
MANUFACTURING PROCESS COSTS A
LITTLE BIT MORE, IT GOES UP
THERE.
THIS IS HOW INFLATION HAPPENS.
HERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
US TO REALLY GET OUR TEETH INTO
INFLATION AND CUT THE PRIMARY
DRIVER OF INFLATION AND THE
BYPRODUCT OF IT WOULD BE, I
THINK, THAT WE WOULD HAVE ALMOST
A MAGNET IN AMERICA OF A CAPITAL
ATTRACTION TO FUEL JOB CREATION
AND TO PUT AMERICANS BACK TO
WORK.
SEE, THERE IS A LOT MORE TO AN
ENERGY POLICY BILL THAN WHETHER
THEY ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS.
WHAT ELSE WOULD THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE BE IMPACTED BY IF WE
DON'T DO THIS?
HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES.
THERE IS NO WAY AROUND IT.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY
AROUND IT IF, IN FACT, WE WANT
THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE
AND WE HAVE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY
TO TAKE TWO-THIRDS OF THAT
TRANSPORTATION COST OF A
MUNICIPALITY TODAY AND TO PUMP
IT BACK IN TO THE BUDGET.
WELL, LET ME SUGGEST THAT THERE
IS ANOTHER LOSER IN THIS.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE KNOWS THIS.
IF WE FAIL TO USE THIS AS A
FLEXIBLE MOBILE FUEL, MOST OF IT
IS GOING TO BE USED TO GENERATE
ELECTRICITY.
THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE THE EASY
WAY OUT, $50 MILLION TO BUILD A
NUCLEAR -- I MEAN A NATURAL GAS
GENERATION FACILITY.
IT'S CLEANER BURNING.
THEM.
THE ONLY PROBLEM IS WE'RE GOING
TO GET 30 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD,
MOST OF US HERE ARE GOING TO BE
OLD ENOUGH THAT WE'RE LOOKING
BACK, IF WE'RE STILL HERE, AT
OUR CHILDREN, SAYING I CAN'T
BELIEVE WE MADE THIS MISTAKE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE LOCKED YOU
INTO ONE FUEL FOR THE GENERATION
OF ALL OF AMERICA'S ELECTRICITY.
ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF AMERICA
IS THAT WE HAVE A MIX AND WE'RE
CONSTANTLY CHANGING THAT MIX
BETWEEN COAL AND NATURAL GAS AND
NUCLEAR.
WELL, WE WOULD MAKE A HUGE
MISTAKE IF WE JUST LEFT IT TO
TODAY'S ECONOMICS TO SAY LET'S
DO IT ALL IN NATURAL GAS.
IF WE DID THAT, WE WOULDN'T
HAVE A BRIDGE FUEL, THE
FLEXIBLE FUEL THAT NATURAL GAS
PROVIDES US.
WE WOULD BE LOCKED INTO BETTING
THAT SOLAR ALLOWS US TO RUN IT
IN FUTURE AND I'M NOT SURE I CAN
GRANDCHILDREN.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE THERE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE SMART
ENOUGH.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO
THE SENATE.
WHAT IF I'M WRONG?
I'VE BEEN WRONG BEFORE.
WHAT IF I'M WRONG?
WHAT IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN?
WHAT IF THERE'S NOT AN EXPLOSION
OF TRANSITION FROM GAS AND
DIESEL OVER TO NATURAL GAS?
IT'S REAL SIMPLE.
THE USER FEE GOES AWAY.
BUT WE TRIED SOMETHING.
THERE'S NO DOWNSIDE.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE LOCKED INTO
SOMETHING THAT COSTS THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE MONEY.
IF WE DON'T NEED AS MUCH, THEN
WE DON'T KNEAD THE USER FEE.
-- NEED THE USER FEE.
HAD HADN'T IMPACTED UP OR DOWN
FUEL COSTS IF IN FACT WE HAVEN'T
PUSHED THINGS OVER.
WE'RE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
NO DANIELS, NO DOWNSIDE.
DANIELS, NO DOWNSIDE.
WHAT IF
I'M RIGHT?
WHAT IF I'M RIGHT AND THIS IS A
GAME CHANGER?
WELL, WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR
PRODUCTION OF GAS.
THAT CREATES TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF JOBS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE REDUCE OUR NEED FOR FOREIGN
PETROLEUM.
GAME CHANGER IN THE SECURITY OF
THIS COUNTRY.
WE STABILIZE OR REDUCE THE
CURRENT PRICE OF GAS, DIESEL,
HOME HEATING FUEL, THE MORE
NATURAL GAS WE LEVERAGE, THE
MORE DOLLARS WE HAVE IN OUR
POCKETS.
AS AMERICANS.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS
SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN DIESEL
OR GASOLINE.
OUR ECONOMY GROWS BECAUSE FUEL
COST IS PREDICTABLE AND MORE
INVESTMENTS ARE MADE, HIRING
MORE AMERICANS.
COMMUNITIES AND COMPANIES CAN
BUDGET, THEY CAN BUDGET
BETTER, BECAUSE WE HAVE CONTROL
OF OUR FUTURE COST, NOT
SOMEBODY THAT HATES US.
PRICES COME DOWN BECAUSE FUEL
COST IS LESS, DO NOT GO UP.
LESS OF THE FAMILY BUDGET GOES
TO FUEL, LESS COMMUNITY BUDGETS
GO TO BUSES, MORE GOES TO OUR
CHILDREN.
I REALIZE THIS IS BOLD.
AND, BOY, HAS AMERICA BECOME
RISK-AVERSE.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I
STUMBLED ON YESTERDAY.
I'VE BEEN PROMOTING THIS FOR
THREE YEARS.
THIS IS THE FIRST CHANCE TO COME
TO THE SENATE FLOOR AND HAVE A
VOTE.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT PROBABLY IS NOT GOING TO
PASS.
THAT'S THE DISAPPOINTING THING
OF IT.
IT WILL PROBABLY FAIL TOMORROW
UNLESS MY COLLEAGUES OR THEIR
STAFF THAT STAYED AFTER MY FIRST
TWO COMMENTS AND LISTENED TO
THIS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NOT
A DOWNSIDE TO DOING THIS.
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD WE NOT
TAKE THIS BILL AND IMPLEMENT IT
IN HOPES THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME
WE'VE GOT A PIECE OF ENERGY
POLICY IN AMERICA?
I SAID AT THE BEGINNING THAT IF
THIS WAS DONE BY PULLING THE
MONEY FROM TAXPAYERS IN
AMERICA, BY NEVER BE UP HERE
OFFERING THIS BILL.
BUT THIS IS THE TIME.
IT'S NOW.
LOOK AT THE GLOBAL LANDSCAPE,
LOOK AT THE COST OF ENERGY.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE
IMPORTANT TIME FOR A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT DRASTICALLY
CHANGES THE FUTURE OF THIS
COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I,
TOO, HAVE BEEN DISGUSTED WITH
GOVERNMENTS INVESTING OUR
DOLLARS AND PICKING WINNERS AND
LOSERS.
MOSTLY IN LOSERS IN TECHNOLOGY
THAT HAVEN'T PROVEN TO BE
EFFECTIVE.
THIS ISN'T THAT.
THIS IS USING DOLLARS THAT WE
COLLECT FROM USER FEES TO
ACCELERATE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS
THERE TODAY.
IT'S JUST ACCELERATING ITS USE.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT THE FUTURE
IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT.
USING EXISTING TECHNOLOGY TO BE
A GAME CHANGER.
IT AFFECTS THE LIVES AND THE
LIVELIHOOD OF EVERY AMERICAN,
THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE IN, AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR CHILDREN.
I MEAN, MAYBE THIS IS TOO
SIMPLE.
MAYBE -- MAYBE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS ONLY GETS HE GET
DIFFICULT THINGS NOW.
THIS IS EASY.
IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND, IT'S
EASY TO SEE THE PICTURE OF WHAT
IT AFFECTS.
IT'S EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AND IT'S ALL POSITIVE.
IF YOU IMPLEMENT IT, IT HAS NO
DOWNSIDE.
WHY WOULDN'T WE TRY IT?
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF PASSING THIS
AMENDMENT MIGHT ACCOMPLISH WHAT
I'VE DESCRIBED, WHY WOULDN'T WE
DO IT?
WE REPRESENT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, AND IT MAY BE THAT
THEIR VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD
BEFORE TOMORROW WHEN VOTES
HAPPEN.
THIS REQUIRES VISION, AND I'VE
GOT TO ADMIT, IT'S SOMETHING
THAT CONGRESS HAS SHOWN VERY
LITTLE OF, OF LATE.
BENEFITS ONLY
ONE THING, ONLY ONE THING.
THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY, THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THE OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR
CHILDREN, THE PROSPERITY OF THE
GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
IF THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOU, THEN YOU OUGHT TO SUPPORT
THIS BILL.
THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE ON A DAY
WHEN THE SENATE HAS NO
BUSINESS, HAS NO VOTES,
BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONE TIME I
COULD COME HERE UNINTERRUPTED
THE DISTRACTIONS OF ALL
THE VISITORS AND ALL THE CLAIMS
TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT
THIS LEGISLATION.
IT'S SIMPLE, IT'S EASY TO
UNDERSTAND, IT IMPACTS
EVERYBODY IN AMERICA, IT DOES
PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS, IT
SAYS AMERICA IS GOING TO WIN,
AND THE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T OUR
FRIENDS ARE GOING TO LOSE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU CAN SAY IT
ANY CLEARER THAN THAT.
DOESN'T COST TAXPAYERS A DIME.
THE BENEFICIARIES ARE THE ONES
THAT PAY THE TAB.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THERE'S NO
DOWNSIDE.
IF IT DOES WORK, IT IS A GAME
CHANGER FROM THE STANDPOINT OF
OUR ENERGY POLICY AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, OUR FUTURE.
THE BILL SUNSETS AFTER FIVE
YEARS.
WE'VE GOT A HUNDRED-YEAR SUPPLY
OF NATURAL GAS TODAY IF WE
DIDN'T DRILL ANOTHER WELL.
OUR PETROLEUM,
AND THAT COSTS $25 BILLION A
MONTH THAT WE SEND THERE.
IMAGINE WHAT THAT $25 BILLION
COULD CREATE IN JOBS HERE IF IN
FACT WE MADE THIS SIMPLE POLICY
CHANGE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR ATTENTION, FOR YOUR
PATIENCE, AND THE PATIENCE OF
MY COLLEAGUES, SINCE I RAN OVER
A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I'LL CONCLUDE WITH THIS: A
BILL THAT ROUGHLY COSTS
$3.4 BILLION TO $3.8 BILLION AND
IS FUNDED BY USER FEES IS NOT A
BIG BILL IN WASHINGTON.
BUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THIS
BE BIG
IN AMERICA, IT WILL CHANGE THE
LANDSCAPE OF THE WORLD.
IT WILL PUT US BACK IN CONTROL
OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, OF
OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY, AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, OF OUR ENERGY
SECURITY.
THIS WILL BE A DAY THAT CONGRESS
WILL EITHER BE PROUD OR
DISGUSTED AT THE OUTCOME OF A
POLICY LIKE THIS.
I THANK THE PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
I WOULD ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
AND,