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NOT UNDERMINING THE HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING OF OUR WOMEN OUR
CHILDREN AND AMERICA'S
PROSPERITY.
I YIELD THE FLOOR BACK TO MY
COLLEAGUE IN CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. PRESIDENT --
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SENATOR MIKULSKI ASKED THAT I
CONTROL THE TIME FOR OUR SIDE.
SO I WILL STAY ON THE FLOOR.
WHAT TIME DOES THAT TIME EXPIRE?
THE
MINUTES.
SENATOR CONTROLS 37 1/2 MORE
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M HERE TODAY TO
SPEAK OUT, ALONG WITH MY
COLLEAGUES, FOR THE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN -- FOR THE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN OUR NATION WHO WOULD
BE GRAVELY HARMED BY THE HOUSE
BUDGET H.R. 1.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE WE GET THE
CHANCE TO VOTE ON THAT HOUSE
BUDGET BECAUSE I THINK THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WHO ARE IN
CHARGE OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
NOW, WE ALL KNOW WE NEED TO
REDUCE THE DEFICIT, BUT WE ALSO
KNOW THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
WE DID IT WITH PRESIDENT BILL
CLINTON.
WE DID IT WITH A MIX OF REVENUE
RAISERS AND SMART CUTS PLUS
INVESTMENTS THAT PAY DIVIDENDS.
WE DID IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE
ACTUALLY HAD A SURPLUS AT THE
END OF THE DAY AND 23 MILLION
NEW JOBS.
WHEN GEORGE W. BUSH TOOK OVER,
THE SURPLUS WAS GONE AND THE JOB
CREATION WAS GONE.
COMPARED TO 23 MILLION NEW JOBS
UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH,
THERE WERE A MILLION JOBS
CREATED AND HE LEFT US WITH
SOARING DEFICITS AND THE DEEPEST
DEPRESSION.
RECESSION SINCE THE GREAT
THAT'S THE STORY.
IT HAS A BEGINNING, A MIDDLE AND
WE'RE ABOUT TO WRITE THE END.
AND I WILL BE HONEST.
I WILL STAND WITH MY COLLEAGUES,
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, WHO
ARE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THE
PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AND THE
MIDDLE CLASS OF THIS COUNTRY.
THE BUDGET BILL, H.R. 1, WOULD
DESTROY, ACCORDING TO LEADING
EXPERTS, 700,000 JOBS, HURT OUR
FAMILIES, AND, TO ME THIS IS MY
PERSONAL OPINION, IT LOOKS LIKE
A POLITICAL VENDETTA AGAINST
WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND A HEALTHY
ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY RELY ON.
BECAUSE THEY NEED TO BREATHE
CLEAN AIR AND DRINK CLEAN WATER,
AND ALL OF THIS IS ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK THERE.
LET'S LOOK AT TITLE 10, FAMILY
PLANNING PROGRAM.
WHAT IS TITLE -- WHAT DOES TITLE
10 DO?
AND IT IS ZEROED OUT.
IS THAT RIGHT?
ZEROED OUT IN H.R. 1, THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET.
TITLE 10 PROVIDES CONTRACEPTIVES
SERVICES FOR 4.7 MILLION WOMEN
NATIONWIDE.
IT HELPS PREVENT ALMOST A
MILLION UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES.
WE'RE ALL SAYING LET US MAKE
SURE THAT WE CUT DOWN ON THE
NUMBER OF ABORTIONS?
CONTRACEPTION.
WHAT IS ONE PROVEN WAY TO DO IT?
THEY WOULD PREVENT ALMOST A
MILLION -- ALMOST A MILLION
PEOPLE FROM GETTING THAT KIND OF
SERVICE.
NOW, IN MY STATE PLANNED
PARENTHOOD OPERATES 800 HEALTH
CARE CENTERS NATIONWIDE.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE IS VERY WELL
AWARE OF HEALTH CARE CENTERS.
THEY PROVIDE 720,000 BREAST
EXAMS NATIONWIDE, 730,000 PAP
TESTS.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
MR. PRESIDENT, HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF WOMEN, JUST IN
CALIFORNIA, AND MILLIONS NATION
WIDE, -- NATIONWIDE, GO TO
PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE BREAST
CANCER, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
CERVICAL CANCER, THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE AN S.T.D., THAT THEY DON'T
HAVE AIDS, AND IF, GOD FORBID,
IT TURNS OUT THEY HAVE ANY OF
CURED.
THESE THINGS, THEY CAN GET
TROUBLE.
WITHOUT THIS, THEY'RE IN DEEP
EVERYONE IN AMERICA KNOWS EARLY
DETECTION IS WHERE IT'S AT.
SO IF I SAY THE IMPACT OF THE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WOULD MEAN
MORE ABORTIONS, MORE BREAST
CANCER, MORE CERVICAL CANCER,
MORE S.T.D.'S, MORE AIDS THAT'S
UNTREATED THAT IS NOT HI HIGH HYPERBOLE,
THAT IS A FACT.
CALIFORNIA.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT PAT FROM
SHE WROTE TO ME AND SAID,
PLEASE, SUPPORT PLANNED
PARENTHOOD, BECAUSE, BY THE WAY,
OUR COLLEAGUES ELIMINATE PLANNED
PARENTING TO GET $1 OF FEDERAL
FUNDING.
WHAT ARE THEY APPLYING?
THAT IT IS USED FOR ABORTIONS.
GOT ONE PENNY OF FEDERAL FUNDS
ABORTIONS.
MAY BE USED FOR PROVIDING
SO THEY KNOW THAT'S AN UNTRUTH.
AND, YET, THEY LET IT HANG OUT
THERE.
THE MONEY PLANNED PARENTHOOD
GETS IS FOR JUST WHAT I SAID,
CANCER PREVENTION, SEXUALLY
TRANSMITTED DISEASE PREVENTION,
AND CONTRACEPTION.
SO WHAT DOES NICOLE SAY?
SHE WAS 23 YEARS OLD, SHE HAD NO
INSURANCE, PLANNED PARENTHOOD
WAS THERE FOR HER AND CAUGHT HER
CERVICAL CANCER EARLY ENOUGH TO
SAVE HER LIFE.
SO I STAND WITH NICOLE
SANDAVOLE, I'M HERE TO STAND
WITH LIA FROM TORRENCE.
SHE WROTE TO ME IN WHICH A
MEMBER OF HER FAMILY WAS ***.
THIS MEMBER OF THE FAMILY WENT
TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
SHE SAID THAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD
DIRECTED HER FAMILY MEMBER TO GO
TO THE HOSPITAL.
GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE NURSE
EXAMINER, CONTACTED HER FAMILY
TO TAKE CARE OF HER.
HAD SHE NOT GONE TO PLANNED
PARENTHOOD SHE WRITES SHE WOULD
NOT HAVE SURVIVED THAT
EXPERIENCE.
AND I STAND WITH LIA AND HER
FAMILY AND WITH PLANNED
PARENTHOOD.
ZERO OUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD?
WHERE ARE WE GOING?
WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING
FORWARD.
WE'RE GOING BACK.
I REMEMBER THE YEARS THAT GEORGE
HERBERT WALKER BUSH WAS ON THE
BOARD OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS A
BIPARTISAN OPERATION.
IF YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, THEY
DON'T ASK WHETHER YOU'RE A
DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN, REGISTERED
VOTER, WHO YOU ARE, YOU GET
TAKEN CARE OF AND THE COMMUNITY
IS HEALTHIER.
NOW IN THE REMAINING TIME I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT THE ATTACK ON THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT WOMEN AND
CHILDREN HAVE TO LIVE IN.
THE ATTACK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY IS THE BIGGEST
CUT OF ANY AGENCY IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BY A REPUBLICAN -- BY
OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS OVER IN
THE HOUSE.
70% OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAY
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
80'S SI SHOULD DO ITS -- AGENCY
SHOULD DO IT JOB.
69% THINK THAT THE E.P.A. SHOULD
UPDATE CLEAN AIR ACT STANDARDS.
68% BELIEVE THAT THE CONGRESS
SHOULD NOT STOP E.P.A. FROM
ENFORCING CLEAN AIR ACT
STANDARDS.
69% BELIEVE THAT E.P.A.
SCIENTIST, NOT CONGRESS, SHOULD
SET THE POLLUTION STANDARDS.
LOOK AT THIS IN THIS TOUGH TIME
WHEN THIS COUNTRY'S DIVIDED
ALMOST 70% OF OUR PEOPLE SAY
LEAVE E.P.A. ALONE.
OH, NO, OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
WHACK THAT AGENCY BY ONE-THIRD,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND NOT
ONLY THAT, INSTRUCT THAT AGENCY
WITH RIDERS TELLING THEM THEY
CAN'T ENFORCE AIR POLLUTION
STANDARDS FOR SOOT -- AND WE
KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE
EXPOSED TO SOOT -- AND WE'RE
LOOKING AT OTHERS EXPOSURES AS
WELL.
SMALL PARTICULATE MATTER WHICH
GETS IN OUR LUNGS, IS LODGED IN
OUR LUNGS.
THEY SAY WE CAN'T LOOK AT CEMENT
MANUFACTURING AND GO AFTER THE
FIRMS.
MERCURY THAT COMES OUT OF THOSE
THE MERCURY, ARSENIC, DO WE
THINK -- DO WE THINK THE
AIR?
AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT DIRTIER
ABOUT?
IS THAT WHAT THE ELECTION WAS
I WOULD CHALLENGE, I JUST CAME
OUT OF A TOUGH ELECTION, AND I
HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT ONE PERSON
EVER CAME UP TO ME AND SAID
PLEASE, I WANT MORE SOOT.
I REALLY NEED MORE SMOG.
IT'S MISSING OUT OF MY LIFE.
AND OH, MY GOD, WHEN MY KID
DRINKS WATER OUT OF THE TAP, I
WANT THEM TO GET CONTAMINATED.
FORGET IT.
ABOUT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ELECTION WAS
THE ELECTION WAS ABOUT JOBS,
JOBS, JOBS.
OKAY.
LET'S LOOK AT A CHILD, A CHILD
THAT GETS -- PAYS THE PRICE WHEN
THE AIR IS DIRTY.
CHILDREN, THEIR EXPOSURE TO AIR
POLLUTION CAUSES ASTHMA ATTACKS,
LOST DAYS OF SCHOOL, EMERGENCY
ROOM VISITS, AND FOR THE OLDER
PEOPLE, HEART ATTACKS, STROKE,
CANCER AND PREMATURE DEATH.
ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN LUNG
ASSOCIATION, WE HAVE ANOTHER
BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF A CHILD
THERE THAT I'D LIKE TO SHOW.
ASTHMA IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON
CHRONIC DISORDERS IN CHILDREN.
IT AFFECTS SEVEN MILLION
CHILDREN.
HERE'S ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BABY
HERE.
I'M SHOWING YOU THIS AS A
GRANDMA.
I'M GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER TWO
MINUTES AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO
SENATOR SHAHEEN.
LOOK AT THIS PICTURE, LOOK AT
THIS FACE, LOOK AT THOSE EYES.
I WANT TO SAY TO OUR FRIENDS IN
THE HOUSE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU ARE THROWING WOMEN AND
CHILDREN UNDER THE BUS.
YOU'RE THROWING THE MIDDLE CLASS
UNDER THE BUS, AND I, FOR ONE,
AM GOING TO TELL THE TRUTH.
DURING MY CAMPAIGN, THE PRESS
WOULD ALWAYS SAY WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO TO WIN?
DEMOCRATS.
TOUCH A TERRIBLE YEAR FOR
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WIN?
I SAID I HAVE A SECRET PLAN.
WHAT IS IT?
I'M GOING TO TELL THE TRUTH, YOU
KNOW?
I'M GOING TO JUST LAY IT OUT
THERE.
LOOK, THE TRUTH IS THE E.P.A.
RELEASED A NEW REPORT, IT WAS
ASKED FOR BY CONGRESS, THAT
CONGRESS DEMANDED TO KNOW THE
BENEFIT OF CLEAN AIR LAW.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT DID?
THEY SAID IN 2010 ALONE, 160,000
CASES OF PREMATURE DEATHS WERE
AVOIDED.
CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
AND THEY WANT TO TURN ALL OF
THIS BACK.
THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
SAYS H.R. 1 IS TOXIC TO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH, TOXIC TO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND THEY SAY IT WOULD RESULT IN
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, INCLUDING
KIDS AND SENIORS, PEOPLE WITH
CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS ASTHMA,
BEING FORCED TO BREATHE AIR
THAT'S UNHEALTHY.
AND IT CAN CAUSE ASTHMA ATTACKS,
HEART ATTACKS, STROKES AND
CANCER AND SHORTEN LIVES.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THIS TO
MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS.
DO YOU KNOW WHO SIGNED THE CLEAN
AIR ACT?
A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.
A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.
YOU KNOW WHO SET UP THE E.P.A.?
A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, RICHARD
NIXON.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?
I ALREADY SAID GEORGE W. --
GEORGE HERBERT W. BUSH, WALKER
BUSH WAS ON THE BOARD OF PLANNED
PARENTHOOD.
AIR ACT.
RICHARD NIXON SIGNED THE CLEAN
SO THEY DON'T SEEM TO EITHER
HAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY OR THEY
HAVE MOVED SO FAR AWAY FROM SOME
OF THE PROUD TRADITIONS OF THEIR
PARTY THAT THEY HAVE LOST TOTAL
TOUCH.
SO IN CLOSING, LET ME SAY THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP THIS
WAR AGAINST WOMEN, WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO STOP THIS WAR AGAINST
CHILDREN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
ENVIRONMENT.
STOP THIS WAR AGAINST THE
WE'RE GOING TO COME FORWARD WITH
DEFICIT REDUCTION THAT WILL
EQUAL WHAT THEY DO, BUT WE WILL
DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T HURT
JOB CREATION AND THAT DOESN'T
HURT OUR KIDS, OUR FAMILIES AND
THE ENVIRONMENT WE ALL DEPEND
UPON.
AND WITH THAT, IT IS MY HONOR TO
YIELD TO SENATOR SHAHEEN FOR
FIVE MINUTES.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, SENATOR BOXER.
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, SENATOR BOXER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP
AND THANK YOU TO SENATOR
MIKULSKI FOR THE WORK THAT SHE
HAS DONE TO ORK US THIS
AFTERNOON TO POINT OUT JUST WHAT
IS BEING PROPOSED BY OUR
COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER -- IN
THE OTHER CHAMBER.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR LONG-TERM
DEFICIT, WE ALL KNOW THAT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SOME HARD
CHOICES TO BALANCE THE BUDGET,
BUT THERE'S A RIGHT WAY AND A
WRONG WAY TO DO THAT.
AND THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THAT IS
TO FIRST LOOK AT THINGS LIKE
ELIMINATING THE BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AND DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS
THAT WERE IDENTIFIED JUST THIS
WEEK BY THE G.A.O.
THE WRONG WAY IS TO ADDRESS THE
DEFICIT BY DOING WHAT OUR
COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE DID WHEN
THEY SLASHED FUNDING FOR
SERVICES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES AND OUR
FUTURE PROSPERITY.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BUDGET CUTS
INCLUDE A $1.1 BILLION CUT TO
HEAD START AND CHILDCARE.
THIS IS MONEY THAT IS CRITICAL
TO SO MANY WORKING FAMILIES IN
COUNTRY.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ACROSS THE
LET ME JUST PUT IT INTO
PERSPECTIVE.
A CUT THIS SIZE WOULD MEAN THAT
NATIONALLY, OVER 200,000
CHILDREN WOULD BE KICKED OUT OF
HEAD START, AND AN ADDITIONAL
360,000 CHILDREN WOULD LOSE
CHILDCARE OPPORTUNITIES.
NOW, I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS AND
SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN, SO I
UNDERSTAND, LIKE SO MANY MOTHERS
DO, JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO
JUGGLE WORK AND FAMILY
OBLIGATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR WORKING
PARENTS TO KNOW THAT THEIR
CHILDREN ARE BEING SUPERVISED BY
QUALITY CAREGIVERS.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT A WORKING
PARENT CAN BE A PRODUCTIVE
MEMBER OF THE WORK FORCE ONLY
WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEIR
CHILDREN ARE SAFE.
WHEN I WAS GOVERNOR, WE ASKED
FOR A REPORT TO BE DONE ON
CHILDCARE IN THE STATE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE, AND WHAT WE FOUND IN
THAT REPORT WAS THAT THERE'S A
DIRECT RESULT BETWEEN QUALITY
CHILDCARE AND THE PRODUCTIVITY
OF THEIR PARENTS IN THE WORK
FORCE.
AND CHILDCARE IS EXPENSIVE.
QUALITY CHILDCARE CAN EASILY TOP
TOP $10,000 PER CHILD PER YEAR,
AN AMOUNT THAT'S OUT OF REACH
FOR SO MANY WORKING FAMILIES WHO
ARE TRYING JUST TO MAKE ENDS
MEET, ESPECIALLY IN THIS
ECONOMY.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THIS
COUNTRY IS 9%.
WE SHOULD BE PUTTING OUR FOCUS
ON CREATING JOBS TODAY AND
HELPING TO BUILD A STRONG WORK
FORCE FOR THE FUTURE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT THE
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE
WOULD DO JUST THE OPPOSITE.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT QUALITY
CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL TO
PREPARING OUR CHILDREN FOR
TOMORROW'S JOBS.
WE KNOW THAT THE FIRST FIVE
YEARS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT IN
BRAIN.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD'S
DURING THESE YEARS, CHILDREN
DEVELOP THEIR COGNITIVE, SOCIAL,
EMOTIONAL AND LANGUAGE SKILLS
THAT FORM A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR
THEIR LIVES.
ECONOMISTS POINT TO THE STRONG
RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE GET FOR
INTERVENTION EARLY IN LIFE.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND ON
QUALITY EARLY LEARNING, WE
RETURN UP TO $17.
THESE SAME EXPERTS SITE AN
INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY AND
WORK FORCE READINESS AND IN
GRADUATION RATES AMONG CHILDREN
WHO ARE QUALITY EARLY
CHILDHOOD -- WHO ARE IN QUALITY
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.
IN ADDITION, THEY HAVE ALSO
FOUND OUT THAT FOR THOSE
CHILDREN, THERE IS A DECREASE IN
SPECIAL EDUCATION, IN CRIME
RATES AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY AND
IN OTHER BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY
MADE ME AWARE OF THIS DIRECT
RELATIONSHIP WAS GOING TO MY
FIRST GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE
AFTER I GOT ELECTED, AND I HEARD
A PRESENTATION ON BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT.
THE PRESENTERS SHOWED THAT THE
BRAIN SCAN OF A CHILD WHO HAD
QUALITY EARLY LEARNING LOOKED
VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE BRAIN
SCAN OF THOSE CHILDREN WHO DID
NOT, AND THEY SHOWED A GRAPH
THAT DEMONSTRATED THAT THE WAY A
CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS IS
INVERSELY PROPORTIONAL TO OUR
INVESTMENTS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE MAKING THE
SMALLEST INVESTMENTS IN THE
YEARS WHEN IT WOULD MAKE THE
MOST IMPACT ON HOW A CHILD
DEVELOPS.
THIS MADE SUCH AN IMPRESSION ON
ME THAT I WENT BACK HOME TO NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND FOCUSED SO MUCH OF
MY TIME AS GOVERNOR ON THE
IMPORTANCE OF EARLY LEARNING.
WHEN I BECAME CHAIR OF THE
EDUCATION COMMISSION OF THE
STATES IN MY SECOND TERM AS
GOVERNOR, THIS BECAME THE TOP
PRIORITY FOR ME AND FOR E.C.S.
THERE'S NO DOUBT, WE CAN LOOK AT
ALL OF THE DATA, HELPING WORKING
FAMILIES AFFORD QUALITY
CHILDHOOD CARE AND QUALITY
EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAS IMMEDIATE
AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS, AND I
URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO REJECT THE
SHORTSIGHTED, RECKLESS CUTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET, AND INSTEAD
INVEST IN OUR FUTURE AND THE
FAMILIES.
FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: THANK YOU, SENATOR
BOXER AND MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA IS
RECOGNIZED.
TODAY I ALSO RISE TO
SPEAK FOR WOMEN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND IN MY STATE OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL CARE
TRANSLATES INTO HEALTHY MOMS AND
HEALTHY FAMILIES.
CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE WELL CHILD
VISITS TO THEIR DOCTORS AND
HEALTHIER LIVES.
RECOMMENDED IMMUNIZATIONS LIVE
BE KIDS.
THEY CAN GO TO SCHOOL AND JUST
BUT THE HOUSE-PASSED CONTINUING
RESOLUTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF
FISCAL YEAR 2011 MAKES DRACONIAN
CUTS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
AND THE TITLE 5 MATERNAL CHILD
HEALTH BLOCK GRANT, TWO PROGRAMS
THAT ARE VITAL IN REDUCING
MATERNAL AND CHILD MORTALITY.
IF THESE CUTS GO THROUGH, NEARLY
4.5 MILLION WOMEN AND CHILDREN
UNDER AGE 6 ARE AT RISK OF
LOSING CARE OR NOT RECEIVING
CARE AT THEIR COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS.
CONSIDER THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH
CENTERS ACCOUNT FOR 17% OF ALL
LOW-INCOME BIRTHS, BUT PRENATAL
PATIENTS AT HEALTH CENTERS ARE
MUCH LESS LIKELY TO GIVE BIRTH
TO LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABIES
COMPARED TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS
NATIONALLY.
AND WHY?
BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING
PRENATAL CARE.
MOREOVER, RATES OF VACCINATION
AMONG CHILDREN RECEIVING REGULAR
CARE AT A HEALTH CENTER ARE
UNIFORMLY HIGHER THAN THOSE OF
CARE.
CHILDREN WITH ANOTHER SOURCE OF
WITH THE HOUSE PROPOSED CUTS,
PREGNANT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO
RELY ON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
FOR CARE WILL BE LEFT WITH
LITERALLY NOWHERE TO TURN TO FOR
HEALTH CARE.
BY SLASHING $50 MILLION IN
FUNDING FROM THE MATERNAL CHILD
HEALTH BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, THE
HOUSE BILL WOULD DRAMATICALLY
CURTAIL SERVICES TO THE
35 MILLION WOMEN AND CHILDREN
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING
NEARLY 500,000 WOMEN AND
CHILDREN IN NORTH CAROLINA WHO
RECEIVE SUCH SERVICES AS NEWBORN
HEARING SCREENINGS AND POST
NATAL CARE.
IN NORTH CAROLINA, INFANTS BORN
TO MINORITIES ARE TWICE AS
LIKELY TO DIE AS THOSE BORN TO
CAUCASIANS.
HOWEVER, A PROGRAM CALLED THE
HEALTHY BEGINNINGS PROGRAM IS
WORKING TO REVERSE INFANT
MORTALITY AND LOW BIRTH WEIGHTS
AMONG MINORITIES.
HEALTHY BEGINNINGS PROVIDES CASE
MANAGEMENT, GENERAL HEALTH
EDUCATION AND OTHER SUPPORT FOR
AT-RISK WOMEN THROUGHOUT THEIR
PREGNANCY AND UNTIL THEIR CHILD
TURNS 2.
IN THREE YEARS, IN THREE YEARS,
THIS INITIATIVE HAS REDUCED
INFANT MORTALITY BY 60% IN
PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES.
ALSO, EARLY DETECTION OF
PERMANENT HEARING LOSS IS
ESSENTIAL FOR CHILDREN TO
PROGRESS AT AGE-APPROPRIATE
RATES.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BY THE TIME
A CHILD WITH HEARING LOSS
GRADUATES FROM HIGH SCHOOL, MORE
THAN $400,000 CAN ACTUALLY BE
SAVED IF -- IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
COSTS IF THAT CHILD IS
IDENTIFIED EARLY AND GIVEN
APPROPRIATE EDUCATION, MEDICAL
AND AUDIOLOGICAL SERVICES.
DETECTION PROGRAM WAS
THE NORTH CAROLINA EARLY HEARING
ESTABLISHED IN 1999 AS PART OF
THE STATE'S TITLE 5 MATERNAL AND
CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM.
SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS
PROGRAM, THERE HAS BEEN A
REMARKABLE INCREASE IN THE
PERCENTAGE OF INFANTS SCREENED.
ALL NEONATAL FACILITIES IN NORTH
CAROLINA OFFER ADDITIONAL
NEWBORN HEARING SCREENINGS.
IN 2009, 96% OF INFANTS
COMPLETED THESE SCREENINGS OVER
ABOUT 100,000 CHILDREN, AND OF
THESE, 450 CHILDREN ACTUALLY
RECEIVED HEARING AIDS AND SOME A
COCHLEAR IMPLANT THROUGH A
CONTRACT FUNDED BY MATERNAL AND
CHILD HEALTH BLOCK GRANT.
AND I HEARD FROM THREE OF THE
FAMILIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, ALL
WHOSE CHILDREN FAILED THE
SCREENING TEST, AND THEIR
STORIES WERE TRULY HEART
WRENCHING AS THEY DESCRIBED
ABLE TO HEAR.
THEIR HOURS-OLD BABIES NOT BEING
BUT IN ALL THREE OF THESE
FAMILIES, THE HEARING LOSS WAS
DETECTED AS PART OF THE NEWBORN
SCREENING.
AND IMMEDIATELY, THESE CHILDREN
WERE PROVIDED WITH FOLLOW-UP,
WITH HEARING AIDS AND A COCHLEAR
IMPLANT, SOME OF THEM.
AND AS A RESULT OF THESE
PROGRAMS, EACH OF THESE
FAMILIES, THE CHILD IS AHEAD OF
THEIR PEERS VERBALLY.
THERE ARE JUST TWO CRITICAL
PROGRAMS THAT I HAVE MENTIONED
THAT ARE FUNDED BY THE TITLE 5
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BLOCK
GRANT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE NOT
JUST STATISTICS, BUT REAL WOMEN
AND KIDS AND FAMILIES WHO
BENEFIT FROM THIS IMPORTANT
PROGRAM, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE
THAT WE HAVE GOT TO WORK
TOGETHER TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK
ON SOLID FISCAL GROUND.
I'M VERY MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS AND WANT TO WORK ON THAT.
I WAS ONE OF THE SENATORS WHO
ADVOCATED FOR THE CREATION OF
THE BOWLS-SIMPSON FISCAL
COMMISSION.
OUR CHALLENGES REQUIRE A
RIGHT TRACK.
SOLUTION THAT GETS US ON THE
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
THESE CUTS ARE SIMPLY
WE CANNOT BALANCE THE BUDGET ON
THE BACKS OF OUR NATION'S FUTURE
FUTURE: OUR CHILDREN.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR CALIFORNIA.
I WANT TO THANK
SENATOR HAGAN FOR HER REMARKS.
SHE IS REALLY ONE OF THE LEADERS
HERE IN FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE
DEFICIT THAT DON'T KILL JOBS AND
DO DEFICIT REDUCTION IN THE
RIGHT WAY, AND I JUST WANTED TO
THANK HER.
AND HER MAKING THE POINT THAT
WHEN WE ATTACK KIDS AND PREGNANT
WOMEN, AT THE END OF THE DAY,
IT'S MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE, BUT
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT COSTS
MONEY.
BEAUTIFULLY.
I THINK THAT POINT WAS MADE
IT IS AN HONOR TO YIELD TEN
MINUTES TO A GREAT -- A GREAT
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR MA PREIA
CANTWELL FROM WASHINGTON STATE.
TEN MINUTES.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR WASHINGTON.
THANK YOU.
CALIFORNIA.
I THANK THE GENTLEWOMAN FROM
I THANK HER FOR THE STATEMENT ON
THE RIDER ON H.R. 1 WHICH WOULD
MAKE SURE THAT THE CLEAN AIR ACT
ACT IS ENFORCED.
I THOUGHT THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA'S COMMENTS ABOUT NO
ONE IN CALIFORNIA ASKING HER
THAT THEY WANTED MORE *** WAS A
VERY PROFOUND STATEMENT BECAUSE
THAT'S REALLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE
SAYING WHEN THEY TRY TO DO A
RIDER, E.P.A. DON'T ENFORCE THE
LAW THAT THE SUPREME COURT TOLD
YOU TO ENFORCE.
IT IS AS IF YOU ARE JAMMING DOWN
SMALL CHILDREN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AIR AND AIR QUALITY THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT IS LESS THAN
SUFFICIENT.
AND WE KNOW THAT.
WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE IT IS BASED
ON SCIENCE.
AND THAT'S WHAT E.P.A. HAS SAID
AND THAT'S WHAT THE SUPREME
COURT HAS SAID THAT THEY SHOULD
ENFORCE AND YET HERE WE ARE IN
THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS.
THE STLIEWTION OUR ECONOMY IS TO
HAVE A RIDER ON LEGISLATION
BASICALLY SAYING, DON'T ENFORCE
WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAYS IS
THE CLEAN AIR ACT.
SO I THANK THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON
THIS ISSUE.
AND I COME TO THE FLOOR TO JOIN
MY OTHER COLLEAGUES TODAY
BECAUSE I THINK THE AMERICAN
MESSAGE.
PEOPLE HAVE SENT A CLEAR
THEY WANT US TO FOCUS ON
CREATING JOBS, PROMOTING
INNOVATION, AND PUT PEOPLE BACK
TO WORK.
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
SENATE.
BUT IN THE HARKS THE REPUBLICANS
SEEM LIKE THEY ARE SAYING, LET'S
CUT PROGRAMS AND VITAL SERVICES
TO WORKING WOMEN AND FAMILIES
AND SOMEHOW THAT WILL GENERATE
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
WE WILL, MR. PRESIDENT, INSTEAD
OF CREATING JOBS, ALL THEY HAVE
DONE IS LAUNCH ADD WAR ON WOMEN.
AND H.R. 1 THAT THEY ARE
PROPOSING WOULD ELIMINATE
FUNDING FOR TITLE 10, WHICH
WOULD PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES,
INCLUDING FAMILY PLANNING AND
BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER
SCREENING AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH,
AND CERTAINLY WOULD IMPACT
LOW-INCOME WOMEN, AND IT DOESN'T
CREATE JOBS.
THERE'S NOTHING IN WHAT I JUST
SAID IN THE CUTTING OF THAT THAT
WOULD CREATE JOBS.
HOW ARE JOBS CREATED OUT OF
CUTTING THOSE SERVICES?
IT'S ACTUALLY AN ATTACK ON THE
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.
AND WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE HELT
HEALTHY PEOPLE, I GUARANTEE YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT, YOU END UP WITH
BAD ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.
THE BILL ALSO CUTS FUNDING FOR
TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION
PROGRAMS AND FEDERAL FUNDING FOR
PLANNED PARENTHOOD CENTERS THAT
SERVICE MORE THAN 3 MILLION
WOMEN EACH YEAR, JEOPARDIZING,
AGAIN, ACCESS TO CRITICAL HEALTH
PREVENTIVE SERVICES.
JUST IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
WE HAVE 39 CENTERS THAT SERVE
OVER 130,000 PATIENTS ANNUALLY
AND ADMINISTER OVER 170,000
TESTS FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
UNFECTIONS.
AND ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS, WHO
WAS DIAGNOSED AT 22 YEARS OLD
WITH BE A NORMAL GROWTH ON HER
*** WALL, CAME TO A PLANNED
PARENTHOOD CLINIC.
WHY?
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE.
YOATING HER, SHE SAID, "I HAVE
NOT HAD A SCHEDULED EXAM -- I
WOULD NOT ARE HAD A SCHEDULED
EXAM ON MY OWN.
WITHOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD, I
MAY HAVE DIED OR LOST MY ABILITY
TO HAVE CHILDREN DM THE FUTURE."
AND ASIDE FROM THESE PERSONAL
EFFECTS, AS AN UNINSURED
STUDENT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN A
HUGE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON MY
FAMILY AND ON MY COMMUNITY."
THERE IT IS, MR. PRESIDENT.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS BEEN
EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING OVER
40,000 PREGNANCIES AND DIVERTING
$160 MILLION BACK TO THE STATE,
ECONOMIC TIMES.
WHICH WE NEED IN THESE TOUGH
SO INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING WOMEN
AND FAMILIES SO THEY CAN BE
PRODUCTIVE PARTS OF OUR ECONOMY,
REPUBLICANS ARE CONTINUING TO
TURNING THE CLOCK BACK ON WHAT
ARE HARD-FOUGHT ACCESSES TO
HEALTHY SERVICE BY ATTACKING
WOMEN'S TRITE CHOOSE.
THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD DENY WOMEN
USING FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
OR FROM USING USING PRETAX DOLLARS
FROM INSURANCE TO COVER THEIR
WIDE-RANGING REPRODUCTIVE
CHOICES.
AND WOULD DISALLOW TAX
DEDUCTIONS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED IF
INSURANCE INCLUDED REPRODUCTIVE
HEALTH CARE CHOICE.
SO THE REPUBLICANS' ANSWER TO
THE QUESTION IS ATTACK
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE?
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE
PROPOSALS ARE REALLY JUST ABOUT
ATTACKING THE MOST VULNERABLE IN
OUR SOCIETY, INCLUDING THE
ELDERLY, WHERE YOU WOULD HAVE AN
IMPACT ON SERVICES FOR ELDERLY,
INCLUDING MEALS AND HOUSING AND
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, AND THESE
ARE WOMEN THAT COMPROMISE
TWO-THIRDS OF OUR ELDERLY.
AND THEY WOULD BE HARMED MOST BY
THESE CUTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MR. PRESIDENT, IN
2009, 25% OF ALL FAMILIES WITH
CHILDREN WERE FEMALE HEAD OF
HOUSEHOLDS AND 78% OF MOTHERS
WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES
OF 6 AND 7 WERE IN THE LABOR
FORCE.
SO THAT'S A BIG PERCENTAGE.
THEREFORE, CUTTING PROGRAMS THAT
SUPPORT WORKING MOTHERS, LIKE
JOB TRAINING, LIKE CHILD CARE,
LIKE EDUCATION, LIKE HEALTH
CARE, WILL IMPACT THOSE
FAMILIES' ABILITY TO BE
PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF OUR
ECONOMY.
I PERSONALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY IN THE WORLD AT THIS POINT
IN TIME WITH THIS HIGH OF AN
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WE WOULD EVER
CUT THE JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.
I CAN TELL YOU, I TRAVELED THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND I
CONSTANTLY HEAR, EVEN IF THESE
HIGH ECONOMIC TIMES, EMPLOYERS
WHO CAN'T FIND THE WORKFORCE
THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE JOBS.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT,
WHEN A COMPANY CAN'T FIND THE
WORKFORCE THAT IT NEEDS BECAUSE
THERE'S A SKILLS GAP, THAT'S
HOLDING THAT COMPANY BACK FROM
PRODUCING HIGHER REVENUES, FROM
MEETING THEIR GOALS, AND FROM
ADDING STIMULUS TO THE ECONOMY.
ALL BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND THE
WORKFORCE.
AND YET WE HERE IN THE SENATE
ARE TRYING TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE
TRAINING AND TO HAVE PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED SUCCESSES,
LIKE THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT
ACT, THAT ARE INVESTING FOR
EVERY -- FOREVER DOLLAR INVESTED
BY THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT,
IT IS $10 IN STIMULATING MORE IN
OUR ECONOMY.
SO IT IS A ONE-TO-TEN RATIO.
WHY WOULD WE CUT SUCH PROGRAM?
AND IN WASHINGTON STATE, OVER
78% OF THOSE JOB SEEKERS WHO
HAVE FOUND JOBS HAVE BEEN -- I
SHOULD SAY, OF THE WORKFORCE
CENTER, 78% OF THE WORKFORCE
CENTERS END UP FINDING JOBS.
SO IT IS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE
OF HELPING PEOPLE AND PLACING
THEM.
I JUST LOOK AT THIS EXAMPLE OF
THIS BIG DECISION WE JUST HAD
WITH BOEING ON WINNING THE
REFUELING TANKER DECISION.
HERE WE ARE WITH 11,000 JOBS IN
WASHINGTON STATE AND A SUPPLY
CHANGE THAT IS GOING TO ALSO --
CHAIN THAT IS GOING TO ALSO HAVE
MORE JOBS CREATED.
YET, IF WE DON'T MAKE
ANNVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE
INVESTMENT, THAT SUPPLY CHAIN
WON'T BE ABLE TO FIND THE PEOPLE
TO FILL THOSE JOBS, TO HELP
FULFILL THIS C NOW, HERE WE ARE,
SOMETHING THAT IS AS BIG AS A
$35 BILLION CONTRACT THAT WE'RE
INVOLVED IN, BECAUSE IT IS THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, AND YET
ON THE SAME SIDE, THE
REPUBLICANS OVER IN THE HOUSE
ARE SAYING, LET'S CUT THE
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT, EVEN
THOUGH WE KNOW WE'VE A PLANE TO
DELIVER, EVEN THEE WE KNOW IT
HAS A MILITARY PURPOSE THAT WE
SUPPORT, AND YET WE'RE GOING TO
SAY, LET'S CUT PROGRAMS BECAUSE
SOMEHOW THAT IS GOING TO MAKE
OUR ECONOMY HEALTHIER.
WE WILL, I CAN GIVE YOU AN
EXAMPLE.
GENERAL PLASTICS WOULD NOT HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO KEEP ITS CURRENT
STAFF LEVEL OR GROW ITS BUSINESS
IN THE PAST YEAR WITHOUT THE
HELP OF WORKFORCE INVESTMENT
DOLLARS.
THEY WERE IN PARTNER WITH TACOMA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND TRAINED TO
WORKFORCE IN THE IMPROVEMENT AND
TECHNIQUES THAT ALLOWED THE
COMPANY TO STREAMLINE ITS
EFFECTIVELY.
PRODUCTION AND GROW ITS IMPIS
AND DURING -- AND GROW ITS
BUSINESS EFFECTIVELY.
AND DURING THIS PAST YEAR, THEY
COMPETITIVE.
GREW 10% TO 15% AND BECAME MORE
THEY ALSO ADDED ABOUT 22 NEW
EMPLOYEES BECAUSE OF ADDITIONAL
NEW BUSINESSES.
AND THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT
WOULD BE CUT BY THE PROPOSAL IN
H.R. 1 THAT THE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO PUSH.
I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IMPROVE
OUR ECONOMY.
I THINK IT WOULD STALL WHAT IS A
VERY, VERY FRAGILE RECOVERY.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE, AND
WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRAINED AND
SKILLED, THE EMPLOYERS GET WHAT
THEY NEED, THE COMMUNITY
PROSPERS, AND EVERYBODY TRULY
WINS AND WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
CALLED FOR, WING THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE HERE IN THE SENATE STAND
UP AND SAY "NO" TO THESE CUTS,
LIKE THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT
ACT, LIKE IN FAMILY HEALTH, LIKE
THE CUTS IN THE PELL GRANT
PROGRAM
WHICH WOULD BE CUT BY MORE THAN
$800 PER STUDENT OR THE HEAD
START OR EARLY START THAT,
AGAIN, WOULD IMPACT THOUSANDS OF
CHILDREN IN WASHINGTON STATE.
IN ADDITION, WE SHOULD NOT MAKE
-- WE SHOULD NOT CUT WHAT ARE
THE HEALTHY ELEMENTS OF OUR
ECONOMY BUT MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE HELPING WOMEN AND FAMILIES
DO WHAT WILL HELP THEM SURVIVE
AND HELP THEM HELP US WITH AN
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW SOME
PEOPLE THINK THIS IS THE WAY TO
GET OUR ECONOMY GOING AGAIN, BUT
I CAN TELL YOU, OUR ECONOMY
CERTAINLY IN 2008 HIT THE
ICEBERG.
BUT WHAT H.R. 1 DOES, INSTEAD OF
SAYING WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST,
THEY ARE BASICALLY CUTTING THEM
OFF OF THE LIFELINE THAT THEY
NEED AND CUTTING OFF WHAT ARE
ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS TO HELP US
GROW JOBS AND HAVE A HEALTHY
ECONOMY.
I THANK THE PRESIDENT, AND I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
AFTER CONSULT WITH
MY FRIEND, SENATOR KYL AND
SENATOR SESSIONS, WE'RE RUNNING
A LITTLE LATE, SO I WOULD GIVE
SENATOR LAUTENBERG UNTIL SIX
MINUTES AFTER THE HOUR AND THEN
ADD SIX MINUTES TO THE TIME OF
THE REPUBLICANS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
OKAY.
HE IS RECOGNIZED THEN, PLEASE.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NOTHER.
HOPE IT'S --
LTS WILL THE MR. PRESIDENT, I
MR. PRESIDENT,
I HOPE IT IS NOTED THAT I STAND
HERE AS THE MALE MEMBER WITH MY
COLLEAGUES WHO COMPRISE THE
SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE WOMEN
MEMBERS OF OUR -- OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
THEY DO THE MOTHERING, THEY DO
THE FAMILY RAISING, BUT IT'S
PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ALL OF US THAT
WE -- THAT FATHERS, GRANDFATHERS
HAVE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN WHAT
HAPPENS WITH OUR CHILDREN, WHAT
IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
GROW UP HEALTHFULLY, THAT THEY
GROW UP WITH THE TOOLS THAT
THEY'LL NEED IN THEIR FUTURE
LIVES FOR THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO
THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND
THE COUNTRY AT LARGE.
MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT WE'RE
WITNESSING IN AMERICA TODAY IS
AN ASSAULT BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS
TRYING TO RAM THROUGH A
RECKLESS, UNHEALTHY SPENDING
PLAN THAT WILL ULTIMATELY BRING
SHAME TO OUR COUNTRY.
-- AS IT CAUSES PAIN NOW FOR
LITTLE CHILDREN WHO COME FROM
FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE
MEANS, THAT DON'T HAVE THE
STABILITY OF FAMILY LIFE IN MANY
CASES, THAT WILL GIVE THEM AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH
THEMSELVES WITH A CYCLE THAT
WILL BRING THEM TO SUCCESSFUL
LIVES LATER ON, TO BE ABLE TO
HOLD JOBS OF SIGNIFICANCE AND
CREATE A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S HARD WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MISSION
IS.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I COME FROM
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND I'VE
BEEN HERE A LOT OF YEARS -- 27
-- BUT I SPENT 30 YEARS IN THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
AND I LEARNED SOMETHING.
I LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND I
LEARNED THAT YOU HAVE TO
SOMETIMES CUT COSTS HERE OR
THERE AND THAT SOMETIMES YOU
HAVE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS SO THAT
YOU CAN EXPAND, YOU CAN EXPAND
YOUR BUSINESS, YOU CAN MAKE IT
MORE COMPETITIVE, MORE LEADERLY.
AND SO AS WE LOOK AT THE PLAN
THAT'S BEING OFFERED FOR CUT,
CUT, CUT, IT CAUSES US TO
RETHINK WHAT'S TAKING PLACE, TO
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, AS THEY
SAY.
THERE'S A LOT OF APPLAUSE FOR
CUTTING COSTS.
THERE'S A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WHO HAVE TARGETS FOR COST-CURING
THAT WILL LEAVE -- FOR
COST-CUTTING THAT WILL LEAVE
AMERICA WITHOUT THE TOOLS IN THE
FUTURE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND
TO REMAIN THE PLACE WHERE GREAT
THINGS CAN HAPPEN.
WHY IS THAT?
A LOT OF IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE
CUTTING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
HEAD START, FOR ONE THING P.
NOW, HEAD START, I THINK EVERY
UNITED STATES SENATOR OUGHT TO
PLEDGE TO TAKE A TRIP THROUGH A
HEAD START FACILITY, SEE WHAT
IT'S LIKE.
SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE
CHILDREN EVEN ONE AND TWO YEARS
OLD IN THE EARLY HEAD START
PROGRAM OR THREE, FOUR, FIVE IN
AND LATER IN THE FULL HEAD START
PROGRAM, SEE THE ENTHUSIASM THAT
EXISTS WITH THESE CHILDREN.
AND I HAVE AN INDICATION.
THIS CARD WAS VALENTINE'S DAY
WHEN I WENT INTO A CITY CALLED
BIRTH ANBOY IN THE CITY OF OF NEW
JERSEY.
AND THE CITY OF BIRTH ANBOY WAS
WHERE ONE OF THE FIRST
SIGNATURES WAS MADE.
I GET NOTES FROM THESE CHILDREN.
FLATTERING, BY THE WAY, AND NOT
BECAUSE OF MY LOOKS BUT BECAUSE
THEY SAY HERE, "DEAR
REPRESENTATIVE.
WE LOVE COMING TO SCHOOL.
WE LEARN LANGUAGES.
WE CAN BE SCIENTISTS.
WE CAN BE ARTISTS.
WE CAN BE AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS.
WE CAN BE LIFETIME LEARNERS."
AND THEY TALK IN LESS PRECISE
HANDWRITING, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW
NICE IT IS TO BE ABLE TO COME TO
SCHOOL.
THEY TALK ABOUT -- THE DESIGN
MAKES IT A LITTLE TOUGHER
PRESENTATION.
"DEAR MR. REPRESENTATIVE: WE
LOVE OUR PRESCHOOL CLASS.
WE LEARN TO WRITE.
WE EXPLORE SCIENCE.
WE EXPLORE CHANGING IN THE
WORLD.
WE LOVE TO BE HERE IN SCHOOL."
AND WE LOVE IT WHEN THEY'RE
THERE, MR. PRESIDENT, BECAUSE WE
KNOW NOT ONLY ARE THEY -- THEIR
LIVES GOING TO BE IMPROVED
SUBSTANTIALLY, BUT ALSO THEY'RE
GOING TO BE CONTRIBUTING
CITIZENS TO THE SOCIETY THAT --
THAT WE LIVE IN.
IT'S AMAZING AND OFTEN
NEGLECTED.
I ASK FOR SOME INDICATION OF
WHAT HAPPENS --
I ASKED FOR SOME INDICATION OF
WHAT HAPPENS AT SCHOOL.
CHILDREN ARE BEAUTIFUL.
FIRST OF ALL, THOSE THOSE
I NEVER SAW TO MANY BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN IN MY LIFE.
NOW, I'M A PROFESSIONAL
GRANDFATHER.
I HAVE 13 GRANDCHILDREN.
MY WIFE BROUGHT THREE TO THE
MARRIAGE AND I HAD TEN.
AND WHAT I LEARNED -- AND I SEE
IT -- THERE'S NOTHING LIKE
SEEING A -- A 1 1/2-YEAR-OLD
LEARNING, A 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD -- A
2-YEAR-OLD LEARNING.
AND WHAT THEY FOUND OUT IS BY
AGE 1, MOST CHILDREN BEGIN
LINKING WORDS TO MEANINGS.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE NAMES USED
TO LABEL FAMILIAR OBJECTS --
BODY PARTS, ARMS, LEGS, ANIMALS,
PEOPLE.
AT ABOUT 18 MONTHS,
MADAM PRESIDENT, CHILDREN ADD
NEW WORDS TO THEIR VOCABULARY AT
THE ASTOUNDING RATE OF ONE EVERY
TWO HOURS.
BY AGE 2, MOST CHILDREN HAVE A
VOCABULARY OF SEVERAL HUNDRED
WORDS AND CAN FORM SIMPLE
SENTENCES, SUCH AS "GO OUT," OR
STRACIALTRADITIONAL "ALL GONE."
BETWEEN 24 TO 30 MONTHS,
CHILDREN SPEAK IN LONGER
SENTENCES.
FROM 30 TO 36 MONTHS, KIDS CAN
USUALLY RECITE THE ALPHABET AND
COUNT FROM 1 TO 10.
AND THE FACT IS THAT THEY ARE
LEARNING SOMETHING.
BY KINDERGARTEN, KIDS ARE
BEGINNING TO TURN PAGES IN THE
BOOK AND THEY START LEARNING TO
READ BY ABOUT FIVE YEARS OF AGE.
AND THERE'S A REAL REWARD FOR
THE COUNTRY WHEN THEY DO THAT.
IT -- THE -- OUR SOCIETY
RECEIVES NEARLY $9 IN BENEFITS
FOR EVERY $1 INVESTED IN HEAD
START CHILDREN.
IT LEADS TO INCREASED
ACHIEVEMENT AND LOTS OF GOOD
THINGS.
AND I LEARNED A LITTLE BIT THE
HARD WAY, MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT
WHAT HEAD START MEANS.
WHEN I AND A BUSINESS PARTNER OF
MINE WENT BACK TO A SCHOOL THAT
WE WENT TO AS KIDS, WE WENT TO
THE SIXTH GRADE AND OFFERED A
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO KIDS IN
THE -- THE YOUNGSTERS IN THE
SIXTH GRADE TO PICK UP A LARGE
PART OF THEIR COLLEGE TUITION.
28 YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CLASS.
THAT WE WOULD CONTRIBUTE AGAIN A
LARGE PART OF THEIR COLLEGE
TUITION IF THEY WERE ACCEPTED AT
ANY ONE OF 30 COLLEGES PICKED AT
RANDOM.
AND WE HAD COUNSELORS.
WE BROUGHT THEM DOWN HERE.
I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THEM ON A
VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE
VICE PRESIDENT DAN QUAYLE WAS
VERY GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME.
AND THE -- AND TOOK THEM TO THE
COMPANY THAT I WAS RUNNING SO
THEY COULD SEE THAT.
NOT ONE OF THEM PASSED --
SENATOR,
ALL TIME DEDICATED TO THE
MAJORITY HAS EXPIRED.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
WE SAY ALL TIME.
IS THERE NO TIME LEFT ON OUR
SIDE FOR PRESENTATION?
WELL, I'LL WRAP THIS UP VERY
QUICKLY, IF I MIGHT.
JUST A COUPLE WORDS.
IS THERE
AN OBJECTION TO THE SENATOR
CONTINUING?
IF THE SENATOR IS
TRULY GOING TO WRAP IT UP, I
DON'T OBJECT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND
MAINE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
VERY SIMPLY,
THAT WE NOW SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM
WAS.
WE ANALYZED IT THOROUGHLY.
THE PROBLEM WAS WE STARTED TOO
LATE.
IN THE SIXTH GRADE, IT WAS TOO
LATE TO GET A LEARNING HABIT.
AND NOW WHEN WE SEE THESE LITTLE
TOTS AND HOW QUICKLY THEY LEARN,
HOW QUICKLY THEY -- THEY TALK
AND HOW QUICKLY THEY ADAPT.
SO, MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
FULL -- MY FULL SPEECH BE
INCLUDED IN THE RECORD.
AND WITH THAT, I THANK MY
COLLEAGUE FROM MAINE FOR THE
COURTESY, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM MAINE.
THANK YOU,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I RISE TO
EXPRESS MY DEEP CONCERN THAT THE
SENATE HAS YET TO CONSIDER THE
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2011.
AS THE PRESIDING OFFICER IS WELL
AWARE, WE SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED
WORK ON THIS BILL AND EVERY
OTHER APPROPRIATIONS BILL BEFORE
OCTOBER 1 OF LAST YEAR.
BUT WITH THE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE, THIS IS BECOMING
INCREASINGLY PROBLEMATIC.
FOR THIS REASON, MADAM PRESIDENT
MADAM PRESIDENT, ALONG WITH TWO
MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP, SENATOR ALEXANDER
AND SENATOR BARRASSO, I HAVE
FILED AN AMENDMENT TO THE PATENT
REFORM BILL THAT WOULD FUND THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
NOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST THINK
WHAT WE HAVE DONE THE LAST THREE
WEEKS.
WE TOOK UP AN F.A.A.
REAUTHORIZATION BILL.
THEN WE WENT ON RECESS FOR A
WEEK.
AND NOW WE'RE ON A PATENT REFORM
BILL.
NOW, MADAM PRESIDENT, I DON'T
MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT F.A.A. AND
PATENT REFORM ARE NOT IMPORTANT.
CERTAINLY WE COULD HAVE GONE
WITHOUT HAVING A RECESS.
BUT BOTH OF THOSE BILLS PALE IN
COMPARISON TO THE URGENCY OF
PROVIDING OUR SERVICEMEN AND
WOMEN WITH THE RESOURCES THAT
THEY NEED TO CARRY OUT THEIR
MISSION.
SECRETARY GATES, ADMIRAL MULLEN
AND OTHER MILITARY LEADERS HAVE
REPEATEDLY AND CLEARLY WARNED US
ABOUT THE DANGERS OF FAILING TO
PASS A FULL-YEAR DEFENSE FUNDING
BILL.
IT IS HURTING OUR NATIONAL
READINESS.
SECURITY AND HARMING OUR
SAYING -- QUOTE -- "THE
SECRETARY GATES PUT IT BLUNTLY,
CONTINUING RESOLUTION REPRESENTS
A CRISIS AT OUR DOORSTEP."
DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WILLIAM LYNN TESTIFIED THAT A
YEARLONG C.R. WILL DAMAGE
NATIONAL SECURITY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IN NO TIME IN
RECENT MEMORY HAS CONGRESS
FAILED TO PASS A DEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A YEAR-LONG
CONTINUING RESOLUTION FOR MOST
OF THE GOVERNMENT DURING FISCAL
YEAR 2007, THE CONGRESS PASSED A
SEPARATE BILL FUNDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
WITH TROOPS IN HARM'S WAY, NOW
IS NOT THE TIME TO BREAK WITH
THAT PRECEDENT.
IF WE DO NOT PROVIDE THE
AUTHORITY FOR THE AIR FORCE TO
BUY UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES TO
TO -- VEHICLES, SUPPLY COMBAT
AIR PATROLS OVER AFGHANISTAN,
THE FIGHTING THERE WILL NOT BE
HALTED UNTIL WE DO SO.
IF WE DO NOT ACT TO PROVIDE THE
$150 MILLION THAT HAS BEEN
REQUESTED TO MEET THE VERY
SPECIFIC AND URGENT REQUIREMENTS
OF OUR SPECIAL FORCES, WE WILL
BE FAILING THOSE WHO ARE TRULY
ON THE FRONTLINES.
SECRETARY GATES HAS MADE IT
CLEAR -- MILITARY READINESS WILL
SUFFER BECAUSE OF FEWER FLYING
HOURS FOR OUR PILOTS, FEWER
STEAMING DAYS FOR OUR SHIPS, AND
CUTBACKS IN TRAINING FOR HOME
STATIONED FORCES.
A FULL-YEAR C.R. WILL ALSO DELAY
MUCH-NEEDED MODERNIZATION OF OUR
MILITARY EQUIPMENT.
THIS WOULD COME AT A TIME WHEN
OUR NAVY IS AT ITS SMALLEST SIZE
SINCE 1916 AND AT A TIME WHEN
THE AIRCRAFT IN OUR AIR FORCE
INVENTORY ARE OLDER THAN AT ANY
CREATED.
TIME SINCE THE AIR FORCE WAS
THE NAVY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
PROCURE A SECOND VIRGINIA CLASS
SUBMARINE NOR DDG-51 DESTROYER
NEEDED TO KEEP COSTS DOWN AND TO
ACHIEVE THE MINIMUM SIZE FLEET
FLEET -- 313 SHIPS -- THAT THE
NAVY HAS STATED IS THE ABSOLUTE
MINIMUM.
OPERATING UNDER A FULL-YEAR C.R.
ALSO MEANS THAT THE TAXPAYERS
ARE GOING TO END UP PAYING MORE
FOR LESS.
THE NAVY WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO
RENEGOTIATE SOME OF ITS
PROCUREMENTS.
THE ARMY HAS ALREADY SHUT DOWN
WORK ON THE STRIKER MOBILE GUN
SYSTEM AND LIKELY WILL INCUR
ADDITIONAL COSTS TO RESTART.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IT'S ALSO
IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AT A
TIME WHEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS
MOST CONCERNED ABOUT JOBS AND
THE ECONOMY, THE DEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL PROVIDES
FUNDS THAT ARE THE SOURCE OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES, JOBS THAT WILL BE
LOST OR AT LEAST DEFERRED.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY HAS
SAID THAT THE COMBINED EFFECTS
OF FAILING TO FUND THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT
THE STRENGTH OF THE INDUSTRIAL
BASE AND THAT MORE THAN 10,000
PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS AT
SHIPYARDS, FACTORIES, AND NAVY
AND MARINE CORPS FACILITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE
JEOPARDIZED.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I COULD GO ON
AND ON LISTING THE WAYS THAT OUR
SERVICE MEMBERS AND OUR D.O.D.
CIVILIAN WORK FORCE AND THE
PRIVATE-SECTOR CONTRACTORS WOULD
BE -- WILL BE AFFECTED BY OUR
FAILURE TO ACT.
THERE SIMPLY IS NO EXCUSE FOR
THIS SENATE NOT TO HAVE ACTED
LAST YEAR ON A DEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
SURELY WE SHOULD TURN OUR
ATTENTION TO FOCUS ON THE NEEDS
OF OUR MILITARY IMMEDIATELY AND
WE SHOULD HEED THE WARNING OF
SECRETARY GATES WHO SAID, "THAT
IS HOW YOU HOLLOW OUT A MILITARY
MILITARY, WHEN YOUR BEST PEOPLE,
YOUR VETERANS OF MULTIPLE COMBAT
OPERATIONS BECOME FRUSTRATED AND
DEMORALIZED AND, AS A RESULT,
BEGIN LEAVING MILITARY SERVICE."
MADAM PRESIDENT,
LET'S DO WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT
AND LET'S DO IT NOW.
LET'S PASS THE DEFENSE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK THE RANKING
MEMBER OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
SENATOR SESSIONS, FOR YIELDING
ME TIME.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I WANT TO SHARE SOME REMARKS
ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WOULD NOTE
HOW PLEASED I'VE BEEN TO WORK IN
THIS PAST YEAR WITH THE
PRESIDING OFFICER ON SOME
LEGISLATION THAT I THINK HAD WE
HAD JUST A COUPLE MORE VOTES, WE
WOULD HAVE MADE OUR PROGRESS AND
DONE SOMETHING WORTHWHILE TO
HELP ENSURE THAT OUR SPENDING
DOES NOT RAGE ABOVE OUR BUDGET,
AS TOO OFTEN HAS BEEN THE CASE
IN OUR COUNTRY.
THE FACT IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
BY LARGE NUMBERS OF POLLING DATA
BELIEVE WE'RE ON THE WRONG
TRACK.
AND THE INTELLIGENCE I CAN'T,
WITNESSES WE'VE HAD BEFORE THE
BUDGET COMMITTEE -- I'M RANKING
MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE -- KEEP
TELLING US WE'RE ON AN
UNSUSTAINABLE PATH.
WITNESSES CALLED BY THE
DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS, THE
PROFESSIONAL C.B.O. WITNESSES
FROM ALL WALKS OF INTELLECTUAL
AND BUSINESS LIFE SAY WE'RE ON
AN UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT PATH.
AND THEY'RE NOT KIDDING.
THEY MEANT THAT.
THE WORDS MEAN SOMETHING.
DOING.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE WHAT WE'RE
ADMIRAL MULLEN, THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF,
RECENTLY SAID, "I BELIEVE THAT
OUR DEBT IS THE GREATEST THREAT
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.
IF WE AS A NATION, A COUNTRY DO
NOT ADDRESS OUR FISCAL
IMBALANCES IN THE NEAR TERM, OUR
NATIONAL POWER WILL ERODE AND
THE COST TO OUR ABILITY TO
MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN INFLUENCE
COULD BE GREAT."
HE SAID IF WE DO NOT ADDRESS IT
IN THE NEAR TERM.
NOT JUST IN THE LONG TERM.
IN THE NEAR TERM.
RECENTLY, ON FEBRUARY 17,
SECRETARY GEITHNER, THE
SECRETARY OF TREASURY, APPEARED
BEFORE THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND
BUDGET.
WE WENT OVER THE PRESIDENT'S
HE WAS, I'LL HAVE TO SAY, MORE
CANDID THAN WAS O.M.B. DIRECTOR
JACK LEW.
AND I WAS ASKING HIM ABOUT THE
SITUATION WE'RE IN AND THE
EFFECT OF THE BUDGET THAT ALLOWS
THE DEBT TO DOUBLE IN THE NEXT
TEN YEARS.
CAUSES THE DEBT TO DO SO.
AND HE SAID "IT'S AN EXCESSIVELY
HIGH INTEREST BURDEN."
I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT
THE MONEY WE BORROW, THE DEBT WE
ASSUME, WE HAVE TO PAY INTEREST
ON IT.
"IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
WITH THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN, EVEN
IF CONGRESS WERE TO ENACT IT AND
EVEN IF CONGRESS WERE TO HOLD TO
IT AND REDUCE THOSE DEFICITS AS
A PERCENTAGE OF G.D.P. OVER THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS, WE WOULD STILL
BE LEFT WITH A VERY LARGE
INTEREST BURDEN AND
TIME."
UNSUSTAINABLE OBLIGATIONS OVER
SO I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR
THAT WE'RE ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE
PATH, AND IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE EXACTLY
CORRECT.
WE'RE ON THE WRONG TRACK.
WE'RE HEADED THE WRONG WAY.
WE NEED TO GET OFF OF THAT.
SO WHAT IS IT THAT WE'VE BEEN
PRESENTED WITH?
WE'RE PRESENTED WITH A PLAN, WE
CALL IT A BUDGET BUT IT'S REALLY
THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN FOR
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO COLLECT AND
SPEND OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.
THEY CAN PLAN TO RAISE TAXES.
THEY CAN PLAN TO CUT SPENDING.
THEY CAN PLAN TO INCREASE
SPENDING AND BORROW MORE MONEY.
THEY CAN PLAN.
THAT'S THEIR PLAN.
SO WE GOT A PLAN, I GUESS, TWO
WEEKS AGO.
AND IN THAT, THE PRESIDENT TOLD
US THIS: "WHAT MY BUDGET DOES IS
PUT FORWARD SOME TOUGH CHOICES,
SOME SIGNIFICANT SPENDING CUTS,
SO THAT BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS
DECADE OUR ANNUAL SPENDING WILL
MATCH OUR ANNUAL REVENUES.
WE WILL NOT BE ADDING MORE TO
THE NATIONAL DEBT."
PRETTY CLEAR STATEMENT; RIGHT?
IT'S AN ACTUALLY BREATHTAKING
STATEMENT TO ME BECAUSE I KNOW
HOW HARD IT IS TO DO THAT.
BUT HE SAID IT FLATLY AND
PLAINLY OUR ANNUAL SPENDING WILL
MATCH OUR ANNUAL REVENUES.
WE WILL NOT BE ADDING MORE TO
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
J. TAPER, THE ABC REPORTER AT A
WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, ASK
MR. CARNEY ABOUT THIS DRAMATIC
STATEMENT.
HE SAID -- I ASKED HIM IF HE
THOUGHT -- QUOTE -- "WE WILL NOT
BE ADDING TO THE NATIONAL DEBT
IS A STATEMENT THAT WILL
ABSOLUTELY.
WITHSTAND SCRUTINY:" MR. CARNEY:
ABSOLUTELY.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORLD
PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN.
ARE WE COMMUNICATING IN ENGLISH
OR SOME OTHER LANGUAGE?
THIS BUDGET THAT'S PRESENTED TO
US COMES NOWHERE CLOSE TO LIVING
WITHIN OUR MEANS, MATCHING
EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES AND
NOT ADDING MORE TO THE DEBT.
LOOK AT THIS CHART.
THESE ARE THE PRESIDENT'S
NUMBERS, THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE
BEEN PUT OUT HERE, AND THIS IS
WHAT WE'VE BEEN BEEN ASKED TO
PASS.
COMMITTEE.
THIS IS BEFORE THE BUDGET
I WISH IT WEREN'T SO, WHAT WE'VE
GOT.
I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY TO ALTER
THESE NUMBERS.
I KNOW SENATOR McCASKILL KNOWS
THAT.
SHE'S LOOKED AT IT.
WE'VE GOT TO BEGIN TO ALTER THEM
A LOT, I THINK.
IN 2010 OUR TOTAL DEBT, THE
GROSS DEBT OF THE UNITED STATES
WAS $13.5 TRILLION.
IN TEN YEARS, UNDER THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET, THESE ARE
NUMBERS IN HIS BUDGET DOCUMENT
THAT HE SUBMITTED TO US, $26.3
TRILLION -- DID I SAY BILLION?
INTEREST DOLLARS.
IN TEN YEARS.
NOT PROJECTING A WAR, NOT
PROJECTING A RECESSION.
WE'RE LIVING ON THE ABSOLUTE
EDGE.
ACTUALLY WE'RE ALMOST OVER THE
NEGLIGENCE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN
SPENDING.
IT'S $13 TRILLION IN NEW DEBT.
AND LET ME MAKE THIS POINT.
NOT ONE YEAR BETWEEN NOW AND
2021, THE TENTH YEAR, DOES THE
ANNUAL DEFICIT FALL BELOW $600
BILLION.
THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE NUMBER.
PRESIDENT BUSH WAS HAMMERED.
HE HAD A $450 BILLION BUDGET,
HIS HIGHEST, AND HE WAS
CORRECTLY CRITICIZED FOR THAT.
THE LOWEST THAT'S PROJECTED OVER
TEN YEARS IS $26.3 BILLION.
AND LAST YEAR'S BUDGET DEFICIT
WAS 1.3.
THE DEFICIT WE EXPECT THIS YEAR
IS GOING TO BE SEPTEMBER 30 --
WHEN SEPTEMBER 30 ROLLS AROUND,
THE ESTIMATES ARE THAT THE TOTAL
ANNUAL DEFICIT THIS YEAR WILL BE
$1.6 TRILLION, THE HIGHEST WE'VE
EVER HAD IN THE HISTORY OF THE
REPUBLIC.
NOTHING EVER SEEN LIKE IT.
AND IT DOES DROP DOWN SOME, AS
ALL THE PROJECTIONS HAVE BEEN
DROP-DOWN.
SHOWING, IT WILL SHOW SOME
BUT THEY'RE HEADING BACK UP IN
THESE OUT YEARS, AND THE BUDGET
DEFICITS WILL KEEP GOING UP
THERE.
BUDGET.
SO THIS IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE
IT'S NOT A SUSTAINABLE PATH FOR
US TO BE ON AS A NATION.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE ON THIS PATH.
IT IS A GREAT THREAT TO US.
AND THIS WEEK CHAIRMAN CONRAD, A
VERY ABLE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN OF
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
KNOWLEDGEABLE AND FAIR, HAS BEEN
HAVING HEARINGS.
WE'VE HAD THE SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION, THE SECRETARY OF
ENERGY, THE SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION TESTIFY TO US
ABOUT THEIR PORTION OF THIS
OVERALL BUDGET, THIS BUDGET THAT
WOULD TRIPLE -- DOUBLE THE DEBT
IN TEN YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK EDUCATION IS
ASKING FOR?
WHAT ARE THEY ASKING FOR FOR
EDUCATION?
WELL, THINK BACK ABOUT YOUR
STATES, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN READING
ABOUT CITIES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS
AND COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND
STATES CUTTING BUDGETS, HAVING
TO DO FOR LESS, REDUCING COSTS,
REDUCING TEACHERS, REDUCING
COSTS IN REALLY ANY WAY THAT
THEY CAN.
THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF
THINGS THAT THEY'VE HAD TO DO.
SOME OF THEM ARE PROBABLY GOING
TO MAKE THAT SYSTEM STRONGER IN
THE FUTURE, BUT THEY'RE NOT
EASY.
YOU'D RATHER NOT HAVE TO MAKE
TOUGH CHOICES.
AMERICA.
BUT THEY'RE DOING IT ALL OVER
OUR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, HOWEVER, DEMANDS AN
11% INCREASE THIS YEAR.
AFTER TWO SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES
THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS.
I THINK IT'S 38% INCREASE IN
THREE YEARS FOR THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION.
THIS CAN'T BE CONTAINED?
WE CAN'T HAVE LEVEL FUNDING FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION?
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE AN INCREASE OF
11% ON 2% INFLATION?
FIVE TIMES THE INFLATION RATE
AFTER TWO PREVIOUS YEARS.
THIS IS LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS
WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NEXT
YEAR A DEFICIT OF OVER $1
TRILLION?
AND ENERGY CAME IN YESTERDAY,
DR. CHU.
HE WANTS A 9.5 % INCREASE IN
SPENDING.
BASICALLY ALL I CAN SEE THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOES IS
TAKE MONEY, TRY TO MANDATE
PROGRAMS TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO
USE MORE EXPENSIVE ENERGY AND
PARTICIPATE, I GUESS, WITH THE
INTERIOR DEPARTMENT IN LOCKING
STATES.
UP ENERGY SOURCES IN THE UNITED
SO WE OUGHT TO BE UNLOCKING AND
CREATING JOBS AND PROSPERITY AND
WEALTH FOR AMERICA.
THEY NEED TO GET THEIR ACT
TOGETHER.
THE PRICE OF GASOLINE IS GOING
UP.
I TRAVELED MY STATE LAST WEEK.
I WOULD FINISH A TALK AND A HAND
WOULD GO UP ABOUT GASOLINE
PRICES.
YOU KNOW, YOU LEARN SOMETHING
AROUND.
WHEN YOU'RE OUT TRAVELING
THIS IS ON PEOPLE'S MINDS AND
THEY DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
STOP AT $3.40.
SENATOR MURKOWSKI, FORMER
CHAIRMAN, NOW RANKING ON THAT
COMMITTEE, KNOWS MORE THAN I.
AND THEN TRANSPORTATION TODAY,
SECRETARY LaHOOD, WELL, YOU'VE
GOT TO LIKE SECRETARY LaHOOD,
HE'S A DELIGHTFUL MAN.
HE BELIEVES IN ROADS AND
HOLD YOUR HAT.
TRANSPORTATION.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET IS
GOING TO INCREASE THIS YEAR IF
THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET IS
62%.
APPROVED.
I JUST -- I'M FLABBERGASTED.
62%?
IS THERE A STATE IN AMERICA
THAT'S SHOWING HARDLY ANY
INCREASE IN THEIR STPWH-PBLGS
AND WE'RE HAVING A -- IN THEIR
BUDGETS?
AND WE'RE HAVING A 62% INCREASE.
IT'S AN INVESTMENT IN THE
FUTURE.
AN INVESTMENT, INVESTMENT,
INVESTMENT.
GIVE ME A BREAK.
IT'S SPENDING, SPENDING,
SPENDING, SPENDING AND DEBT,
DEBT, DEBT, DEBT.
WELL, IT IS A PRETTY SERIOUS
PROBLEM WE'RE DEALING WITH.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NEEDS
TO BE DOING SOME DIFFERENT
THINGS, I THINK, INSTEAD OF JUST
SPENDING MONEY, THEY NEED TO BE
FIGURING OUT HOW CHILDREN LEARN.
WE'VE GOT TO QUIT DEFINING OUR
COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION ON HOW
MUCH MONEY WE THROW AT THE
PROBLEM, HOW MANY NEW BUILDINGS
WE BUILD.
WE'VE GOT TO ASK ARE CHILDREN
ACTUALLY IMPROVING?
ARE THEY LEARNING BETTER?
AND TOO OFTEN THAT'S NOT THE
CASE.
CANADA SPENDS -- OUR NEIGHBOR TO
PUPIL.
THE NORTH -- $7,500 PER YEAR PER
WE SPEND $11,500.
AND THEY GET BETTER RESULTS.
SO IS THAT AN INVESTMENT?
IT'S NOT A GOOD INVESTMENT IF
WE'RE SPENDING MORE AND GETTING
SUBSTANTIALLY LESS.
SO WE NEED THE SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION TO BE FIGURING OUT HOW
TO HELP EDUCATION GET BETTER,
NOT SEE HOW MUCH MORE MONEY WE
CAN SPEND, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THE MONEY.
THIS YEAR WE WILL SPEND $3.5
INTEREST.
WE WILL BRING IN AN INCOME TO
THE UNITED STATES $2.2.
THAT'S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S UNDISPUTED.
3.5 WE SPEND.
WE BRING IN 2.2.
40 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR WE
SPEND THIS YEAR IS BORROWED.
THAT'S WHY THE EXPERTS TELL US
WE HAVE A POTENTIAL DEBT CRISIS.
MOODY'S, THE BOND RATING AGENCY,
WROTE IN DECEMBER THAT, A LETTER
WARNING THAT THEY COULD
DOWNGRADE OUR DEBT WITHIN THE
NEXT TWO YEARS IF WE DON'T GET
OFF THIS UNSUSTAINABLE PATH.
SO WE NEED EDUCATION TO HELP GET
BETTER EDUCATION, NOT SEE HOW
MUCH MORE MONEY THEY CAN SPEND.
ENERGY.
WE NEED ENERGY TO HELP PRODUCE
WE NEED TRANSPORTATION TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO USE THEIR MONEY
WISELY.
AND
JUST BRIEFLY I WOULD SAY ALL OF
THIS IS ABOUT THE ECONOMIC
HEALTH AND GROWTH OF AMERICA.
THE FACT IS, ACCORDING TO THE
GREAT STATE OF ROGOFF AND RIEN
HART, WHICH SECRETARY OF
TREASURY GEITHNER SAID HE AGREED
WITH, AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE
MAIN FINDING THAT ACROSS BOTH
ADVANCED COUNTRIES AND EMERGING
MARKETS HIGH DEBT TO G.D.P.
LEVELS, 90% OR ABOVE, ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH NOTABLY LOWER
GROWTH OUTCOMES.
70 COUNTRIES SIMPLY GROW THEIR
WAY OUT OF DEEP DEBT -- SELDOM
DO COUNTRIES SIMPLY GROW THEIR
WAY OUT OF DEEP DEBT BURDENS.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A 3%
GROWTH THIS YEAR AND YOU GET 2%,
THAT'S A LOT OF DIFFERENCE.
3% WOULD BE A GOOD GROWTH.
IF YOU GET 2%, YOU'RE NOW GOING
TO GET 1% BECAUSE WE'RE BEING
DRAGGED DOWN BY OUR DEBT.
AND, IN ADDITION, MR. GEITHNER
SAID THIS TO US, NOT ONLY DOES
HE AGREE THAT IT REDUCES GROWTH,
HE -- HE SAYS THAT IT PUTS US IN
A POSITION WHERE WE COULD MORE
READILY HAVE A DEBT CRISIS IF
SOMETHING HAPPENED AROUND THE
WORLD.
ANOTHER DEBT CRISIS COULD SPREAD
HERE AND WE COULD SLIP BACK INTO
A RECESSION.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS.
TO CREATE A HEALTHY, GROWING
ECONOMY AND GET THIS DEBT BURDEN
OFF OF IT.
TO CREATE JOBS, EMPOWER THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
AND, BY THE WAY, WHAT PERCENT OF
G.D.P. ARE WE?
WE'RE 94 NOW AND ARE PROJECTED
TO BE 100% OF G.D.P. BY
SEPTEMBER 30th OF THIS YEAR.
OUR GROSS DEBT WILL BE 100% OF
G.D.P. BY SEPTEMBER 30th THIS
YEAR.
THAT PUTS US WAY INTO THE DANGER
ZONE.
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
AND WHAT DO WE HAVE FROM THE
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET?
A BUDGET THAT INCREASES SPENDING
EVERY YEAR.
THAT IT'S HAAS -- HAS ITS LOWEST
ANNUAL DEFICIT, $600 BILLION, BY
I THINK $600 BILLION WOULD BE
THE HIGHEST DEFICIT THE EVER
ACHIEVED PRIOR TO PRESIDENT
OBAMA BECOMING PRESIDENT.
WILL DOUBLE THE DEBT IN 10 YEARS
AND INTEREST ON OUR DEBT WILL GO
FROM UNDER $200 BILLION LAST
YEAR -- HOLD YOUR HAT -- TO
TO $844 BILLION IN THE TENTH
YEAR.
WE WILL BE PAYING INTEREST THIS
YEAR $844 BILLION.
HOW MUCH IS THAT.
PEOPLE SAY, THEY DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
BUDGET, THIS YEAR, THE BASELINE
BUDGET, WAS $40 BILLION,
EDUCATION, I THINK, IS
0 BILLION -- $60 BILLION MUCH
YOU SEE, WE'RE GOING TO
TO $800 BILLION IN INTEREST FOR
WHICH WE GET NOTHING AND THAT IS
SENT TO PLACES LIKE CHINA AND
SAUDI ARABIA AND WE'RE HAVING TO
PAY THEM INTEREST.
NOT GOOD.
SO WE'RE ON THE WRONG PATH, IT'S
TRUE.
WE'VE GOT TO CHANGE AND I
APPRECIATE THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IS GOING TO SEND
US A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT
BEGINS TO TAKE SOME STEPS
PATH WE ARE ON.
TOWARDS REDUCING THE DANGEROUS
THAT'S JUST A FIRST STEPPED.
THINGS.
WE'VE GOT TO DO A LOT MORE
IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN DO
THEM, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
HAVE AN EFFORT IN WHICH ALL OF
US JOIN TOGETHER, FIRST IN
RECOGNITION, THAT WE ARE FACING
A GRAVE THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY AND, SECOND, A GRAVE
THREAT TO OUR ECONOMY.
BUT ONE THAT WE CAN MEET.
I'VE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS.
EASY.
I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
BUT IF WE TAKE THE TOUGHER PATH,
THE HARDER PATH, MAYBE THE PATH
LESS TRAVELED, IT IS THE PATH TO
PROSPERITY AND TO A REBOUND IN
AMERICAN STRENGTH AND VITALITY.
I THANK THE CHAIR AND YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
WE HAD AN ELECTION A
FEW MONTHS AGO.