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GIVING ME THE EXTRA TIME.
THE DISTINGUISHED SENIOR SENATOR
FROM DELAWARE, THE DISTINGUISHED
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT, AND I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM DELAWARE.
I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO
YIELD A LITTLE MORE TIME TO THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE.
I -- I JUST WANT TO START OFF
TODAY -- I HADN'T PLANNED TO SAY
THIS, BUT I WANT TO START OFF
TODAY -- I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
BUSINESS, SMALL BUSINESSES, AND
HOW TO INCENTIVIZE JOB CREATION
AND JOB PRESERVATION.
BEFORE I DO THAT, I JUST WANT TO
TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL
PRIVILEGE AND JUST TO TALK ABOUT
THE NAVY SEALS.
I'M A RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN.
I SPENT 23 YEARS OF MY LIFE AS A
NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICER.
BEFORE THAT I WAS A MIDSHIPMAN,
NAVAL ROTC MIDSHIPMAN OUT OF
OHIO STATE.
WE WOULD DO OUR SUMMER TOUR AS
MIDSHIPMEN BEING TRAINED TO BE
NAVAL OFFICERS.
ONE OF OUR TOURS WAS DOWN IN
LITTLE CREEK WHERE WE LEARNED A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT STORMING THE
BEACHES OF VIRGINIA AND LEARNED
HOW TO BECOME MARINES OR PRETEND
THAT WE WERE.
WE ALSO LATER ON AS A -- THIS IS
A -- LIEUTENANT J.G. BEING OUT
IN CORONADO BEFORE WE WENT TO
SOUTHEAST ASIA AND HAVING A
CHANCE TO SEE IN BOTH PLACES,
BOTH THE LITTLE CREEK NAVAL
STATION AND OVER AT -- ON
CORONADO, NORTH ISLAND NAVAL
STATION TO WATCH THE SEALS
TRAIN, NAVY SEALS TRAIN.
I REMEMBER TALKING TO SOME OF MY
COME PADRES GOING -- COMPADRES
GOING THROUGH THE TRAINING WITH
US, SAYING WE WOULDN'T WANT TO
MESS WITH THOSE GUYS.
FOR GOOD REASON.
THEY HAVE MADE US PROUD.
THEY HAVE TAKEN ON AN INCREDIBLY
DIFFICULT TASK AND I THINK
HANDLED THEMSELVES WITH --
SPLENDIDLY.
I JUST WANT TO START OFF TODAY
TO SAY HOW PROUD WE ARE OF THEM.
I'M NOT QUITE AS PROUD, HOWEVER,
WHEN IT COMES TO ONE OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES, AND AS A
RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE A
NURTURING CLIMATE FOR JOB
CREATION, JOB PRESERVATION.
I TALK A LOT ABOUT SMALL
BUSINESS FOLKS.
I TALK IN MY WORK WHO RUN PRETTY
BIG BUSINESSES, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS I'VE HEARD AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND AGAIN, NOT JUST THIS
YEAR BUT LAST YEAR AND THE YEAR
BEFORE, BUT LARGE BUSINESS IS
MAKING A FAIR AMOUNT OF MONEY
THESE DAYS.
A LOT OF THEM ARE SITTING ON A
PILE OF CASH.
WHEN YOU ASK THEM WHY ARE YOU
SITTING ON A PILE OF CASH AND
NOT HIRING PEOPLE?
WHAT WE HEAR FROM A LOT OF THEM
IS, WELL, BUSINESSES,
PARTICULARLY LARGE BUSINESSES,
BUT BUSINESSES LIKE CERTAINTY,
THEY LIKE PREDICTABILITY.
IN TOO MANY AREAS, AREAS THAT WE
ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO
WITH, THERE IS NOT THE KIND OF
PREDICTABILITY OR CERTAINTY THAT
THOSE BUSINESSES NEED.
FOR EXAMPLE, ARE WE GOING TO BE
SERIOUS ABOUT REDUCING OUR
DEFICIT?
I HOPE SO.
I THINK THE COMMISSION GIVE US A
GOOD ROAD MAP TO
TAKE $4 TRILLION OUT OF THE
DEFICIT IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
I HOPE IN THE END WE'LL USE THAT
AS A ROAD MAP, NOT TO USE IT
WITH PRECISION BUT TO USE IT AS
A ROAD MAP.
BUT THAT'S A BIG UNCERTAINTY.
CODE?
TAX CODE, WHAT ABOUT OUR TAX
WE'RE ON SORT OF A TWO-YEAR
EXTENSION OF THE PREVIOUS TAX
CODE, BUT THAT ENDS AT THE END
OF NEXT YEAR.
IT?
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY THERE.
WE HAVE WORKED LONG AND HARD TO
TRY TO PASS HEALTH CARE
LEGISLATION.
IT'S DESIGNED NOT JUST TO
EXEXTEND COVERAGE TO PEOPLE WHO
DON'T HAVE IT BUT ALSO DESIGNED
TO GET US TO BETTER HEALTH CARE
OUTCOMES, TO ACHIEVE BETTER
HEALTH CARE OUTCOMES FOR BEST
MONEY, OR AT LEAST BETTER HEALTH
CARE OUTCOMES FOR THE SAME
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
WE HAVE THE PROSPECT OF THE
FEDERAL COURTS.
A NUMBER OF LITIGATIONS ARE
UNDER WAY AROUND THE COUNTRY,
EITHER AT THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
APPEALS LEVEL OR MAYBE SOMEDAY
AT THE SUPREME COURT LEVEL,
TAKING APART PIECES OF THE
HEALTH CARE BILL.
WE NEED SOME CERTAINTY THERE.
WE NEED THE COURTS TO ACT.
I'M NOT A LAWYER, BUT SOME OF MY
FRIENDS ARE.
SOME OF THEM ARE A LOT SMARTER
THAN ME ON THESE THINGS SUGGEST
THAT AS FAR AS THEY'RE
CONCERNED, WE JUST NEED AN
ANSWER AND WE NEED TO GET ON
WITH IT.
TO THE EXTEND WE NEED TO CHANGE
HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION TO FIX
IT, TO MAKE IT BETTER, LET'S DO
THAT.
THERE IS A LOT IN THE
GET BETTER HEALTH CARE RESULTS
LEGISLATION THAT ENABLES US TO
FOR LESS MONEY.
WE NEED TO DO MORE WITH WHAT
WORKS.
THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY
WITH RESPECT TO TRANSPORTATION
POLICY.
ON A SERIES OF EXTENSIONS OF
TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS FOR THIS
COUNTRY.
9 -- THE WAY IT WORKS, IF YOU
WILL, MR. PRESIDENT, JUST
LOOKING AT MY PODIUM HERE, WE'LL
JUST SAY RIGHT HERE IS THE
TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, AND
RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE IS THE
GENERAL FUND FOR OUR COUNTRY,
OUR TREASURY, AND OVER HERE IS
OF THE WORLD.
SOURCES OF CAPITAL FROM THE REST
WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN
OUR TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND
OVER HERE TO -- TO BUILD
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
WE END UP BORROWING FROM THE
GENERAL FUND RIGHT HERE, MOVING
OVER TO THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST
FUND.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND
TO RUN THE GOVERNMENT, SO THEN
WE GO OVERSEAS AND WE BORROW
MONEY FROM EVERYBODY WE CAN TO
REPLACE THE GENERAL FUND IN
ORDER TO PUT MONEY IN THE
GENERAL TRANSPORTATION TRUST
FUND.
IT'S CRAZY.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE
HAVE A BIG BUDGET DEFICIT AND WE
HAVE UNCERTAINTY.
WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED -- OUR
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN THIS
COUNTRY HAS BEEN AWARDED A GRADE
D, AS IN DELTA.
ACTUALLY, A GRADE D AS IN
DECAYING BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH OUR TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.
I THINK THINGS WORTH HAVING ARE
WORTH PAYING FOR.
WE NEED TO GET ON WITH IT.
THAT'S A SOURCE OF UNCERTAINTY.
AND THE LAST ONE IS ENERGY
POLICY.
AS WE SEE RUNUPS IN ENERGY
PRICES, THE PRICE OF FUEL AT THE
PUMP, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
PART OF WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS TO
SAY WE WANT MORE
ENERGY-EFFICIENT CARS, TRUCKS
AND VANS TO BE BUILT IN THIS
COUNTRY.
WE CHANGED THE CAFE LEGISLATION
TO RAISE THE FUEL EFFICIENCY FOR
CAR CONSTRUCTION, SO BY THE END
OF 2016, THE OVERALL FLEET
AVERAGE HAS TO BE 36 MILES A
GALLON, A HUGE INCREASE FROM
WHERE IT HAS BEEN SINCE 1975.
THAT'S BEING RAMPED UP.
THAT WILL HELP, BUT BEYOND THAT,
WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE KIND OF
ENERGY POLICY THAT WE NEED.
THAT'S ANOTHER UNCERTAINTY.
SO THOSE ARE FIVE REASONS WHY
LARGE BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY ARE
SITTING ON A PILE OF CASH AND
NOT HIRING.
AND ONE OF OUR OBLIGATIONS HERE
IS TO ADDRESS THOSE
UNCERTAINTIES.
MY HOPE IS WE'LL DO IT, WE HAVE
ACTUALLY GOTTEN OFF TO A PRETTY
GOOD START THIS YEAR IN A COUPLE
OF WAYS.
NUMBER ONE, WE PASSED F.A.A.
REAUTHORIZATION, FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, AND IN
DOING SO, WE PUT -- WE AGREED ON
A REVENUE PACKAGE AGREED TO BY
THE INDUSTRY TO BE ABLE TO
MODERNIZE THE AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROL SYSTEM, THAT'S GREAT, TO
BE ABLE TO PUT SOME EXTRA MONEY
TOWARD AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S GOOD AS WELL AS PART OF
OUR INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE PASSED IN THE SENATE
HERE PATENT REFORM LEGISLATION.
WE'LL SAY IF THE PRESIDING
OFFICER FROM MONTANA WERE -- AND
HE'S A VERY CLEVER FELLOW, BUT
IF HE INVENTS -- THINKS HE HAS
INVENTED A PRODUCT OR
TECHNOLOGY, HE GOES WITH THE
PATENT -- TO THE PATENT OFFICE
UNDER CURRENT LAW AND FILES FOR
A PATENT, I CAN COME ALONG EVEN
IF I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT
TECHNOLOGY OR THAT PRODUCT, AND
I CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, HI THAT
IDEA FIRST.
AND DRAW HIM INTO A LAWSUIT AND
MAYBE MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HIM
TO ACTUALLY GET HIS PATENT, AND
WE CHANGE THAT IN THIS PATENT
REFORM LEGISLATION.
IF HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO FILE,
HE'S THE FIRST ONE TO FILE.
A PATENT TROLL LIKE ME WOULD NOT
BE ABLE TO GET IN THE WAY AND
CREATE MISS CHIEF AND SIMPLY
ULTIMATELY GET BOUGHT OUT.
THE IDEA OF CHANGING THAT, I
THINK THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING.
WE HAVE A DEFICIT REDUCTION
AGREEMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE TOOK ABOUT $40 BILLION OR SO
OUT OF OUR SPENDING.
THAT'S -- THAT'S ENCOURAGING.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY ANOTHER PIECE
OF ENCOURAGING LEGISLATION THAT
I THINK PASSED BY UNANIMOUS
CONSENT IN THE LAST CONGRESS ON
SMALL BUSINESSES AND HOW TO HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES DO MORE
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH AND HOW TO
HELP THEM DO -- USE THEIR
ABILITY TO DO TECHNOLOGY
TRANSFERS.
I THINK IT PASSED BY UNANIMOUS
CONSENT LAST YEAR.
AND NOW SO FAR THIS YEAR -- WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
LEGISLATION OFF AND ON SINCE
MARCH, SINCE THE EARLY PART OF
MARCH.
WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
OFFERED TO THE BILL.
ONE OF THEM FROM MYSELF AND
SENATOR VITTER, SENATOR COBURN
AND SENATOR McCASKILL AND
SENATOR BEGICH AND A BUNCH OF
OTHER PEOPLE THAT SAID IT'S NOT
RELATED TO SMALL BUSINESS BUT
IT'S CERTAINLY RELATED TO THE
DEFICIT.
WHAT IT DOES, IT SAYS -- THE
PRESIDENT MENTIONED THIS IN HIS
STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS -- WE
HAVE THOUSANDS, MAYBE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PIECES OF SURPLUS
PROPERTY THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OWNS THAT WE'RE NOT
USING.
WE PAY MONEY TO KEEP THEM
SECURE, WE PAY MONEY FOR THE
UTILITIES, FOR THE UPKEEP.
WE'RE NOT USING THEM.
WE OUGHT TO SELL THEM.
WE CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY -- IF WE
CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY TO THE
STATE GOVERNMENTS AND HOMELESS
GROUPS, WE OUGHT TO SELL THEM.
THAT'S GOING TO BE OFFERED AS AN
AMENDMENT TO THE SMALL BUSINESS
BILL.
MY HOPE IS MY COLLEAGUES WILL
SUPPORT IT.
SENATOR LANDRIEU WHO CHAIRS THE
SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE AND
SENATOR SNOWE WHO IS THE RANKING
REPUBLICAN, PREVIOUSLY THE
CHAIR, HAVE WORKED ON THE
UNDERLYING BILL FOR SOMETHING
LIKE SIX YEARS, SIX YEARS.
IT PASSED -- AGAIN, I'LL SAY,
PRETTY YEAR BY UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.
WE NEED TO GET IT DONE.
MY HOPE IS THAT THOSE OF US WHO
HAVE AMENDMENTS, ESPECIALLY
THOSE THAT ARE NOT
CONTROVERSIAL, WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER OUR
AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL, AND YET
WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
I -- IF YOU LOOK AT -- IT'S
INTERESTING, IF YOU LOOK AT
SMALL BUSINESSES, AN INORDINATE
NUMBER OF SCIENTISTS ACTUALLY
WORK FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.
SOMETHING LIKE -- I WANT TO SAY,
MR. PRESIDENT, SOMETHING LIKE
40% OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS AND
ENGINEERS ACTUALLY ARE EMPLOYED
BY SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND THE -- WE HAVE GOT SOME
STUDIES THAT SHOW THE SMALL
BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH
PROGRAMS ACTUALLY ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING LIKE
25% OF OUR NATION'S CRUCIAL
INNOVATION
INNOVATIONS OVER THE PAST
DECADE, AND ACCOUNT FOR AGAIN
SOMETHING LIKE 40% OF AMERICA'S
PATENTS.
FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE
21ST CENTURY, WE NEED TO -- THE
PRESIDENT LIKES TO SAY WE NEED
TO OUTEDUCATE, OUTINNOVATE AND
OUTCOMPETE THE REST OF THE
WORLD.
PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING A
WORLD-CLASS WORK FORCE, THAT WE
ARE PRODUCING A WORLD-CLASS
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND FINALLY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE MAKING
DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL LEAD TO
PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE
COMMERCIALIZED, IDEAS ARGUED
THAT CAN BE COMMERCIALIZED, TURN
INTO PRODUCTS THAT WE CAN BE
MAKING HERE IN THIS COUNTRY AND
SELLING AROUND THE WORLD.
I THINK IF WE CAN SOMEHOW FIGURE
TO RESOLVE OUR
DIFFERENCES SO THAT PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO OFFER THEM -- ESPECIALLY
THOSE THAT ARE NOT CONTROVERSIAL
OFFER THEM TO THIS BILL, WILL
DEBATE THEM OR MAYBE THEY COULD
JUST BE ACCEPTED, THE STUFF
THAT'S REALLY CONTROVERSIAL,
LET'S SAVE IT TO ANOTHER DAY.
STUFF.
WE PROBABLY AGREE ON 80% OF HIS
WE MAY DISAGREE ON 20%.
THE 20% WE DISAGREE ON -- THIS
IS THE ENZI 80/20 RULE.
THE 80% WE AGREE ON, LET'S AGREE
ON IT, PUT IT IN THE BILL.
THE 20% WE DON'T AGREE ON, THERE
IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF CONTROVERSY,
LET'S JUST WORK ON IT, SAVE IT,
HAVE ADDITIONAL HEARINGS AND
DEAL WITH THAT LATER ON.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WHY DON'T
WE PASS THIS BILL?
WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT EASIER FOR
FOR -- FOR -- EASIER FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES TO GET R&D MONEY?
WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT A LITTLE
EASIER TO BE ABLE TO DO
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS, IN SOME
CASES TO NONPROFITS TO DO NEW
IDEAS, WHY DON'T WE FACILITATE
THAT AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
IF WE DO THAT KIND OF THING, WE
CONVINCE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THIS PLACE ISN'T BROKEN AND WE
ACTUAL CAN WORK TOGETHER TO GET
STUFF DONE, AND, MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WE'LL GET STUFF
DONE AND WE'LL HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES TO GET STUFF DONE.
WE'LL HELP THEM MAKE MONEY,
ENABLE TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE AND
IN THE END, SOME OF THOSE
PEOPLE, SOME OF THOSE BUSINESSES
WILL ACTUALLY PAY MORE TAXES AND
THAT WILL HELP DRIVE DOWN THE
DEFICIT.
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD OUTCOME AND
IT'S ONE THAT'S WORTH PURSUING
AND I HOPE WE CAN IN N THE DAYS
TO COME.
I WANT TO COMMEND SENATOR
LANDRIEU.
I WANT TO COMMEND SENATOR SNOWE
FOR WORK ON THIS LEGISLATION FOR
SIX YEARS.
AND WE JUST NEED TO PUT THAT
GOOD WORK TO THE TEST, TO THE
VOTE AND MOVE O. -- AND MOVE O.
MR. PRESIDENT, THANKS FOR --
THANKS FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME
TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING THE COMMENTS OF MY
BLUMENTHAL.
FRIEND FROM CONNECTICUT, SENATOR
THANK YOU.
I YIELD BACK THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU TO THE
DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM
DELAWARE FOR THOSE VERY
IMPORTANT AND INSIGHTFUL
COMMENTS, BOTH ON THE NAVY
EXPEELZ ON THE SMALL -- BOTH ON
BUSINESS LEGISLATION THAT'S
THE NAVY SEALS AND ON THE SMALL
PENDING BEFORE THIS BODY.
I WANT TO BEGIN, FIRST OF ALL,
BY SAYING I HAVE SEVEN UNANIMOUS
CONSENT REQUESTS FOR COMMITTEES
THE SENATE.
TO MET DURING TODAY'S SESSION OF
THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE
MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS,
AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THESE REQUESTS BE AGREED TO AND
IN THE RECORD.
THAT THESE REQUESTS BE PRINTED
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
AS MY COLLEAGUE AND THE
DISTINGUISHED SENATOR FROM
DELAWARE HAS MENTIONED, OVER THE
LAST 36 OR SO HOURS, OUR NATION
AND ALLIES AROUND THE GLOBE HAVE
RIGHTLY CELEBRATED AN
EXTRAORDINARY MILITARY TRIUMPH,
A GREAT VICTORY IN THE WAR ON
TERROR, A TURNING POINT PERHAPS
TOWARD PEACE.
OSAMA BIN LADEN, THE HEINOUS
MASTERMIND OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS
THAT MURDERED THOUSANDS OF
AMERICANS, HAS BEEN FINAL
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE -- HAS BEEN
FINALLY BROUGHT TO JUSTICE AND
WE ARE RIGHTLY CELEBRATING THE
EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE, BRAVERY,
SKILL OF THE NAVY SEALS WHO WAS
THE TIP OF THE SPEAR, AN
AMERICAN MILITARY THAT HAS
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE ONE OF THE
CRIMINALS, ONE OF THE WAR
CRIMINALS OF OUR TIME.
AND WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY, OF
COURSE, THE NAVY SEALS BUT ALL
OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE
GIVEN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR
SERVICE OVER THE PAST YEARS AND
THEIR FAMILIES, AND WE CELEBRATE
ALSO THE INTELLECTUAL AND
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, THE
INTELLECTUAL GIFTS THAT THEY
HAVE BROUGHT TO BEAR, THE
INTELLIGENCE THAT THEY HAVE
MOBILIZED IN SUPPORT OF THIS
EFFORT THAT WERE SO CRUCIAL.
EVEN AS THESE CELEBRATIONS HAVE
BEEN CONDUCTED, ON ONE SMALL
BEACH IN CONNECTICUT, THIS NEWS
HAS BEEN GREETED WITH SOLACE AND
SOMBER REMEMBRANCE.
IT IS THE BEACH AT SHERWOOD
ISLAND, WHERE CONNECTICUT IS
HOME TO THE LIVING MEMORIAL FOR
THE CONNECTICUT VICTIMS OF 9/11.
A MEMORIAL TO THE 152 VICTIMS OF
THIS TRAGEDY, THIS MURDEROUS ACT
BY THE MAN BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE,
EXQUISITELY AND HEARTBREAKINGLY
BEAUTIFUL.
THE SKYLINE OF NEW YORK IS
VISIBLE FROM THIS POINT
JUSTICING OUTJUSTICEJUT -- POINT JUTTING OUT FROM
WEST PORT, THE PLACE IN COULD BE
SEEN IN FLAMES ON 9/11.
THE PLACE IN PROVIDED A STAGING
AREA FOR MANUFACTURE THE RELIEF
EFFORTS -- FOR MANY OF THE
RELIEF EFFORTS THAT HAPPENED ON
THAT DAY AND SUCCEEDING DAYS.
AND NOW IT IS A PLACE THAT THE
COMMUNITY OF WEST PORT, THE
STATE OF CONNECTICUT, AND THE
WORLD CAN REMEMBER THAT TRAGEDY
AND THE 152 PEOPLE WHO LOST
THEIR LIVES.
IT IS ALSO THE PLACE THAT EVERY
YEAR CONNECTICUT GATHERS TO
HONOR THEIR MEMORY AND THE
FAMILIES, MANY OF THEM, OF THOSE
152 VICTIMS COME, AS SOME OF
THEM DID YESTERDAY, WITH VERY
MIXED FEELINGS PROBABLY TODAY.
I KNOW THEY ARE MIXED FEELINGS
BECAUSE I TALKED JUST A SHORT
WHILE AGO THIS MORNING WITH LEE
HANSEN, WHO IS THE FATHER OF
PETER AND HIS WIFE SU KIM AND
THEIR DAUGHTER CHRISTINE, WHO
LOST THEIR LIVES ON THAT DAY.
LEE AND EUNICE COME TO THAT
PLACE ON THE DAY THAT WE
RECOGNIZE THE CONNECTICUT
VICTIMS OF 9/11 AND MANY OTHER
DAYS, AND THEY FELT DEEPLY THE
AMBIVALENCE, THE MIXED FEELINGS,
THE GRIEF RENEWED AGAIN.
ON THE MEMORIAL, A GRANITE
MARKER IN WEST PORT, THEIR READS
THE FOLLOWING: "THE CITIZENS OF
CONNECTICUT DEDICATE THIS LIVING
MEMORIAL TO THE THOUSANDS OF
INNOCENT LIVES LOST ON SEPTEMBER
11, 2001, AND TO THE FAMILIES
WHO LOVED THEM."
AND TODAY, WHILE THERE ARE MANY
VOICES WHO CELEBRATE THIS
VICTORY -- AND RIGHTLY SO --
THERE ARE VOICES HARDER TO HEAR,
PERHAPS UNHEARD, THE VICTIMS AND
THEIR FAMILIES WHOSE MEMORY I
WISH TO HONOR TODAY AND ASK TO
PLACE IN THE RECORD THE NAMES OF
THOSE 152 MEN AND WOMEN OF
CONNECTICUT WHO DIED ON
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, AS RECORDED
ON THE MEMORIAL THAT HONORS
THEIR LEGACY IN SHERWOOD ISLAND.
I ASK THAT THEIR NAMES BE PLACED
IN THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE LIVES OF THOSE FAMILIES HAVE
BEEN CHANGED FOREVER.
THEIR CHILDREN ARE YOUNG ADULTS.
CHILDREN NOW.
SOME OF THEM HAVE THEIR OWN
THEIR LIVES HAVE MOVED ON.
SOME HAVE REMARRIED AND SOME
HAVE COME TO PEACE.
BUT THEIR LIVES, LIKE THE LIVES
OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHO
RAN INTO THE BUILDING, THE
FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE AND
CHANGED FOREVER.
THEIR FAMILIES, HAVE BEEN
THE LIVES OF OUR VETERANS WHO
HAVE FOUGHT AND SERVED AND
SACRIFICED IN THE WAR ON TERROR
HAVE BEEN CHANGED FOREVER.
AND WE OWE IT TO THEM NEVER TO
FORGET, EVEN AS WE CELEBRATE
THIS VICTORY, WE OWE IT TO OUR
VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED AND
SACRIFICED TO HONOR THAT SERVICE
NOT JUST IN RHETORIC BUT IN DEED
AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LEAVE
NO VETERAN BEHIND IN EDUCATION
AND JOBS AND HEALTH CARE, TO
PROVIDE FOR THEM WHAT WE HAVE
OBLIGATED AND PROMISED TO
PROVIDE.
AND WHILE WE HOPE FOR PEACE FROM
THIS DAY FORWARD, WE MUST DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THE
BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONTINUE
TO SERVE IN THE WAR ON TERROR
THAT NOW CONTINUES AND THOSE OF
OUR ALLIES, WHOSE RELENTLESS
SERVICE AND SACRIFICE HAVE
HELPED US TO WIN THIS VICTORY.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT THE MEMORY
OF THE VICTIMS OF 9/11 WILL
BRING US TOGETHER IN A TIME OF
UNITY AND PURPOSE, JUST AS THAT
HEINOUS ACT DID ON THAT DAY
ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO.
THE HEINOUS, BRUTAL *** OF
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, HIT THE
WORLD TRADE CENTER AND THEY HIT
THE PENTAGON BUT THEY MISSED
AMERICA, AS WAS REMARKED AT THE
TIME, THEY MISSED WHAT MAKES
AMERICA GREAT AND THEY BROUGHT
US TOGETHER IN A TIME THAT WE
CAN REMEMBER WITH PRIDE BECAUSE
IT WAS A TIME OF RESOLVE AND
UNITY.
AND I HOPE THAT THE MEMORY OF
THOSE VICTIMS, THE 152 FROM
CONNECTICUT AND THOUSANDS MORE
FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL
AS THEIR FAMILIES, CAN BRING US
TOGETHER NOW IN A RENEWED SENSE
OF UNITY AND PURPOSE TO FACE THE
CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
IS THE SENATE IN A
QUORUM CALL?
YES, IT
IS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THAT BE VITIATED.
OFFICER WITHOUT OBJECTION.
I AT ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT AT 2:15 P.M. TODAY,
THERE BE UP TO 75 MINUTES ON THE
RESOLUTION DIVIDED BETWEEN THE
TWO LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES
PRIOR TO A VOTE ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE RESOLUTION WITH THE FINAL
10 MINUTES RESERVED FOR THE TWO
LEADERS WITH THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER CONTROLLING FIVE MINUTES
AND THE MAJORITY LEADER
CONTROLLING THE FINAL FIVE
MINUTES.
FURTHER, UPON DISPOSITION OF THE
RESOLUTION, THE PREAMBLE BE
AGREED TO, THERE BE NO
AMENDMENTS IN ORDER TO EITHER
THE RESOLUTION OR THE PREAMBLE.
AND THAT THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER BE CONSIDERED AND
LAID UPON THE TABLE WITH NO
INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE.
THE SENATE PROCEED TO A PERIOD
OF MORNING BUSINESS FOR MORNING
BUSINESS ONLY WITH SENATORS
MINUTES EACH.
PERMITTED TO SPEAK UP TO FIVE
OBJECTION.
WETHE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
THE VOTE ON THE
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION WILL
OCCUR AT 3:00 P.M. TODAY.
I ENCOURAGE SENATORS TO VOTE
FROM THEIR DETECTION.
I WOULD ASK EVERYONE TO BE IN
THEIR SEATS 10 MINUTES BEFORE
3:30 SO THAT WE CAN VOTE AT 3:30
IN A DIGNIFIED MATTER ON THIS
MOST IMPORTANT RESOLUTION.
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE
STANDS IN RECESS UNTIL 2:15 P.M.
SENATOR HAVES RECESSED
FOR THEIR WEEKLY PARTY LUNCH
MEETINGS.
THEY WILL RETURN AT 2:15
EASTERN TO CONTINUE GENERAL
SPEECHES.
DEMOCRATIC LEADER HARRY REID
SAID THIS MORNING HE WILL
BRING UP A RESOLUTION
COMMENDING U.S. FORCES AND
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY FOR