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PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS IS ONE
ASSET WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BORROW
AGAINST.
I THANK THE CHAIR AND WOULD
YIELD THE FLOOR.
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
I ASK FOR AN
ADDITIONAL MINUTE.
I CONGRATULATE MY COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR WYDEN, ON HIS WORK ON
THIS LEGISLATION AND ALSO WOULD
THANK HIM FOR HIS EFFORTS TO
REACH A -- AN AGREEMENT TO
IMPROVE OUR TAX CODE.
IT IS A BIG DEAL.
OF ALL THE EXPERT WITNESSES WE
HAVE HAD IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, AS SENATOR WYDEN IS A
MEMBER OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE,
HAVE TOLD US THAT PROPERLY
IMPROVING OUR TAX CODE COULD
IMPROVE GROWTH, CREATE JOBS AND
MAKE AMERICA STRONGER.
SO SENATOR WYDEN, I -- I
APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND AM
LOOKING AT YOUR PROPOSAL AND
THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING
POSITIVELY TO THE DEBATE.
I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON.
JUST BEFORE HE LEAVES
THE FLOOR, LET ME TELL SENATOR
SESSIONS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE
THE KIND WORDS AND ENJOY WORKING
WITH HIM.
WE SERVE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE
TOGETHER AND TALK OFTEN ABOUT
ECONOMIC ISSUES.
I WANT TO TELL MY COLLEAGUE THAT
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
HIM ON TAX AND BUDGET ISSUES IN
THE DAYS AHEAD ESPECIALLY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE STAFF BE GRANTED FLOOR
PRIVILEGES DURING THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE GENERALIZED
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES ACT --
DEREK RIGGINS, CHRIS ARNISON,
MIRANDA DELPIAS, NICK MALUNAK,
COSIMO FALLEY, STEVEN McGRAW
AND CLAIRE GREEN.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT
I'D LIKE TO DO NOW IS TAKE A
COUPLE OF MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
DISTINGUISHED REPUBLICAN
LEADER, SENATOR McCONNELL,
TO EXTEND TRADE PROMOTION
AUTHORITY, WHAT IS KNOWN AS
T.P.A., FOR TWO YEARS.
I AM CERTAINLY INTERESTED IN
WORKING WITH THE LEADER ON
THIS, CERTAINLY CHAIRMAN BAUCUS
HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE
WORK ON
McCONNELL AMENDMENT THIS
AFTERNOON.
WHY.
THE LAST TIME THE CONGRESS
PASSED TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY
WAS IN 2002.
ESSENTIALLY ALMOST A DECADE AGO.
THE McCONNELL AMENDMENT WOULD
SIMPLY CONTINUE THE CONGRESS'
INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE
FORMULATED BACK THEN.
AS I SAID, ALMOST A DECADE AGO.
BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS,
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY HAS CHANGED
DRAMATICALLY SINCE T.P.A. WAS
ADOPTED LAST.
AND THE OVERSEAS TRADE BARRIERS
HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.
AND YET THE McCONNELL
AMENDMENT SIMPLY HASN'T KEPT UP
WITH THE TIMES.
AND WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JUST
OUTLINE A FEW EXAMPLES OF AREAS
WHERE WE FACE VERY DIFFERENT
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS VERY BRIEFLY
IN THE SENATE FINANCE
COMMITTEE, IT WAS RAISED BY THE
RANKING MINORITY MEMBER ON OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE, SENATOR THUNE,
AND SO IT'S CLEAR THERE IS AN
INTEREST IN THE FINANCE
ISSUE.
BUT TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY IS
A HUGELY IMPORTANT AND
COMPLICATED ISSUE WHEN IT WAS
THE LAST TIME, MR. PRESIDENT,
THERE WERE EXTENSIVE HEARINGS IN
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, MANY
AMENDMENTS WERE OFFERED, THERE
WAS CONSIDERABLE TIME DEVOTED TO
THAT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE AT
ALL WITH RESPECT TO
REAUTHORIZATION AND IT'S WHY IN
PARTICULAR I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT WHEN THE CONGRESS NEXT
DEALS WITH TRADE PROMOTION
AUTHORITY WE DEAL WITH SOME OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT CHALLENGES.
I'M JUST GOING TO OUTLINE A FEW
OF THOSE, DIGITAL GOODS AND
WOULD BE A SPECIAL
CONCERN WE HAVE LOOKED AT IN OUR
COMMITTEE, DIGITAL GOODS, AN
EXAMPLE WOULD BE SOFTWARE,
DIGITAL SERVICES WOULD BE
HIGHLIGHT CLOUD COMPUTING, I
KNOW SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN OF
GREAT INTEREST IN MINNESOTA.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE INTERNET
PLAYING AN INCREASING ROLE IN
THE AMERICAN AND THE GLOBAL
ECONOMY.
IT'S A PLATFORM FOR GLOBAL
MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE THE
INTERNET REPRESENTS THE SHIPPING
LANE OF THE 21st CENTURY.
IT IS THE SHIPPING LANE FOR
GOODS AND SERVICES.
AND THE 2002 VERSION OF TRADE
PROMOTION AUTHORITY REALLY
DOESN'T HAVE THE KINDS OF
POLICIES THAT ARE NECESSARY TO
ADDRESS TODAY'S CHALLENGES THAT
AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO EXPORT
AMERICAN GOODS AND DIGITAL
SERVICES.
A SECOND EXAMPLE WOULD BE, MR.
PRESIDENT, THE QUESTION OF
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
STANDARDS WITH RESPECT TO OUR
TRADE GOALS, AND INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY PROTECTION FOR
PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS.
IN MAY OF 2007, CONGRESSIONAL
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS GOT
TOGETHER ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS
TO UPDATE TRADE GOALS WITH
RESPECT TO KEY ISSUES LIKE LABOR
AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION
AS IT RELATED TO PHARMACEUTICAL
DRUGS AND THERAPIES.
THESE AGREEMENTS, THESE
AGREEMENTS THAT WERE ENTERED
INTO IN 2007, AREN'T REFLECTED
IN THE 2002 VERSION OF TRADE
PROMOTION AUTHORITY.
SO EXTENDING THE 2002 VERSION OF
TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY IS
ANOTHER AREA WHERE IF WE SIMPLY
SUPPORT THE McCONNELL
AMENDMENT THIS AFTERNOON, TRADE
POLICY HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH THE
TIMES.
AND FINALLY, MR. PRESIDENT,
I'D JUST LIKE TO MENTION CHINA
AND THE FACT IS IN 2002 WE HAD A
RELATIVELY SHORT EXPERIENCE WITH
CHINA AT THE WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION, AND MORE THAN
EVER BEFORE, STATE-OWNED
ENTERPRISES PLAY A GLOBAL --
PLAY A ROLE IN GLOBAL COMMERCE,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE RISE OF
I THINK ALL OF US AGREE THAT OUR
TRADE AGENDA OUGHT TO INCLUDE
PROMOTING DISCIPLINES SO THAT
STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES DO NOT
UNDERMINE THE AMERICAN PRIVATE
SECTOR.
THAT REQUIRES RECONSIDERING
AGAIN THE PROVISIONS FOUND IN
THE 2002 VERSION OF TRADE
PROMOTION AUTHORITY.
SO WHAT IT REALLY COMES DOWN
TO, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT
THIS ISSUE DESERVES MORE
CONSIDERATION THAN A FLOOR
AMENDMENT WITH JUST A MODEST
SENATORS EVEN BEING
AWARE OF THE HISTORY AND THE
ISSUES AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE
ISSUES.
IN FACT, I THINK IT WOULD BE
FAIR TO SAY, MR. PRESIDENT,
THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE WEREN'T EVEN A MEMBER OF
THIS BODY BACK WHEN TRADE
PROMOTION WAS CONSIDERED LAST IN
SO WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO FOR
ME, MR. PRESIDENT, IS AMERICAN
TRADE POLICY IS JUST TOO
IMPORTANT TO CONSTRUCT ON THE
BACK OF A GALLOPING HORSE AND
THAT IN MY VIEW WOULD BE WHAT
THE SENATE WOULD BE DOING IF IT
SIMPLY ADOPTED THE McCONNELL
AMENDMENT.
CHAIRMAN BAUCUS IS OPPOSED TO
THIS AMENDMENT.
HE, LIKE MYSELF, HAS MADE IT
CLEAR THAT HE IS INTERESTED IN
WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS ON THIS ISSUE,
IMPORTANT PART OF THE
ROLE OF BOTH EXECUTIVE BRANCH
AND THE CONGRESS IN TERMS OF
LOOKING AT TRADE POLICY.
AND IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
RIGHT NOW WHEN IN A HOST OF
OTHER EXAMPLE.
I CITED ALREADY DIGITAL GOODS
AND ENVIRONMENTAL LABOR
STANDARDS AND STATE-OWNED
WE HAD A VERY VALUABLE HEARING
IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRADE AND
FINANCE ON FISHING ISSUES WHICH
ARE ALSO PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY
IMPORTANT GLOBAL ROLE IN TRADE
AGREEMENTS AND TRADE POLICY.
THAT ALSO REALLY WAS NOT PART OF
ANY DISCUSSION BACK IN 2002.
THOSE ISSUES AND OTHERS NEED TO
BE AIRED, THEY ODD TO BE AIRED
ON -- OUGHT TO BE AIRED ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS.
I THOUGHT SENATOR THUNE WHEN WE
WERE IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
WAS RIGHT TO ASK ABOUT THIS,
THIS ISSUE, THERE'S GOING TO BE
DAYS AHEAD TO WORK
ON THIS.
CHAIRMAN BAUCUS HAS MADE IT
CLEAR THAT HE WANTS TO WORK WITH
COLLEAGUES ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS
ON TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY.
I DO AS WELL.
I ALREADY MADE THAT PLEDGE TO
THE RANKING MEMBER OF OUR
SUBCOMMITTEE, SENATOR THUNE,
WHO HAS BEEN VERY EASY TO WORK
WITH ON A HOST OF THESE TRADE
HE HAS MADE SOME PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT POINTS WITH RESPECT TO
DIGITAL GOODS AND SERVICES AND
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR
HIGH-TECH SECTOR, WROTE A GOOD
ARTICLE ON IT JUST A COUPLE OF
DAYS AGO.
SO SUFFICE IT TO SAY THERE IS A
LOT OF INTEREST ON OUR SIDE OF
THE AISLE IN WORKING ON THIS
ISSUE.
BUT I WOULD URGE COLLEAGUES TO
RESIST THE McCONNELL AMENDMENT
THIS AFTERNOON WHEN IT COMES UP
FOR A VOTE FOR THE REASONS THAT
I'VE OUTLINED, AND THERE WILL
OF DEBATE
ON TRADE PROMOTION THAT I THINK
IS APPROPRIATE, ONE THAT REALLY
REFLECTS THE OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES OF AN ECONOMY IN 2011
THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE
ONE WE WERE ADDRESSING WHEN WE
LAST DID TRADE PROMOTION
AUTHORITY IN 2002.
AND MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT I
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR AT THIS
TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM THERE'S AN EFFORT TO COME
UP WITH A UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT CAN RESOLVE THE
QUESTION OF THE UPCOMING VOTES
AND BY JUST SAY TO SENATORS ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT
CERTAINLY THE NEXT HOUR WOULD BE
A VERY GOOD TIME FOR SENATORS
WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE
CASEY-BROWN-BAUCUS AMENDMENT OR
THE McCONNELL AMENDMENT.
AND WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT,
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM MONTANA.
TEST TIFTED A ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
RATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
TEST TIFTED A ASK FOR UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO BE IN MORNING
OBJECTION.
DARG A TRIP TO
BAGHDAD THIS PAST JANUARY I HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE MONTANA
NATIONAL GUARD'S 163rd
COMBINED ARMS BATTALION.
I TOLD THEM I WAS PROUD OF EACH
AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, FROM UNIT
COMMANDER HULK AND SERGEANT
THE LINE.
THROUGH COURAGEOUS SERVICE TO
OUR COUNTRY, THEY WERE MAKING
TREMENDOUS SACRIFICES ON OUR
AND THEY WERE REPRESENTING THE
VERY BEST OF MONTANA.
THIS MONTH THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN
COMING BACK HOME TO MONTANA FROM
THEIR DEMOBILIZING STATION IN
WASHINGTON STATE.
TODAY I JOIN THEIR FAMILIES AND
THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR
NEIGHBORS IN WELCOMING THE LAST
GROUP OF THOSE CITIZEN SOLDIERS
BACK TO MONTANA.
JOB WELL DONE, SOLDIERS.
AND I THANK YOU.
FOR NEARLY A YEAR THESE 600
MONTANANS SERVED IN SOME OF THE
HASHEST CONDITIONS IMAGINABLE,
ESCORTING NUMEROUS CONVOYS
ACROSS DANGEROUS TERRAIN AND
CONDUCTING OTHER CRITICAL
SECURITY MISSIONS THROUGHOUT
AT ONE POINT OVER THE 124R569
MONTHS THIS UNIT ACCOUNTED FOR
MORE THAN HALF OF MONTANA'S BEST
AND BRIGHTEST SERVING OVERSEAS.
THEY GAVE UP THE COMFORTS OF
THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR HOMES,
THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BRING
TO A NATION ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.
THROUGH IT ALL, THEY SHOWED
COURAGE IN DIFFICULT TIMES.
THEY REMAINED STRONG AND THEY
WERE ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND
NOW THEY'RE HOME.
IT IS OUR DUTY TO CONTINUE OUR
SUPPORT BY PROVIDING THE
BENEFITS, THE QUALITY OF CARE,
AND SERVICES THEY NEED AS THEY
TRANSITION BACK TO THEIR
FAMILIES, TO THEIR JOBS, AND TO
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
MANY IRAQI VETERANS MAKE THAT
TRANSITION A SUCCESS, COMING
HOME TO GOOD JOBS AND WELCOMING
FOR OTHERS, MAYING THAT FRAN
SIGNIFICANCE IS NO EASY TAFNLGT
IT'S NO SECRET THAT THERE IS A
POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER RATES OF
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, HIGHER DIVORCE
RATES, HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT
RATES, THE EFFECTS OF
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY CAN
IMPACT ENTIRE FAMILIES.
THANKFULLY, VETERANS OFTEN LOOK
AFTER EACH OTHER.
WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THE
IMPORTANT ROLE OF AMERICA'S
VETERANS' SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO HELP
WITH THAT TRANSITION.
IN MONTANA -- MONTANA WAS ONE OF
THE FIRST STATES IN THE NATION
TO ADOPT THE BEYOND THE YELLOW
RIBBON PROGRAM.
IT INVOLVES THE ENTIRE PROGRAMS
-- THE NATIONAL GUARDS,
SOLDIERS, AND AIRMEN, PROVIDING
THEM FOR THE CHANGES THAT COME
BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER
DEPLOYMENT.
BEYOND THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM
IS A SUCCESS, AND I'M PLEASED
THAT IN THE LAST CONGRESS MY
COLLEAGUES GAVE ALL STATES THE
RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT IT.
FURTHERMORE, I WILL DO MY BEST
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP UP OUR
END OF THE BARGAIN.
WHETHER IT IS COLLEGE EDUCATION,
HEALTH CARE, OR COMPENSATION FOR
AN INJURY SUFFERED ON THE FIELD
OF BATTLE, WE WILL HONOR OUR
COMMITMENT TO OUR HEROES.
WE MAKE THIS PROMISE TO THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE 163rd AND TO
MONTANANS WHO MAKE UP THE MANY
OTHER UNITS OF THE MONTANA
NATIONAL GUARD THAT WERE
DEPLOYED THIS YEAR.
AND TO THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE PART
OF MONTANA'S RED HORSE SQUADRON
NOW IN AFGHANISTAN.
TO OUR RESERVISTS AND TO THE
FOLKS SERVING IN THE BEING ACTIVE DUTY
MILITARY TODAY, WE MAKE THE SAME
COMMITMENT, EVEN AS WE MAKE THIS
COMMITMENT, MANY FOLKS IN
MONTANA ARE WONDERING WHAT
SHOULD HAPPEN NEXT IN IRAQ.
SINCE 12003, OUR NATION HAS SENT
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG
MEN AND WOMEN TO FIGHT IN IRAQ.
WE HAVE DONE SO AT AN ENORMOUS
COST.
4,474 AMERICANS HAVE GIVEN THEIR
LIVES AND MORE THAN 32,000 HAVE
BEEN WOUNDED.
AND WE CAN'T PUT A NUMBER ON
THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM THE
INJURIES THAT ARE UNSEEN.
AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE PRICE
TAG OF THIS WAR THAT WAS PUT ON
OUR CHILDREN WAS IS QUICKLY
APPROACHING $1 TRILLION.
AND THEN THERE'S THE TENS OF
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN WASTE AND
FRAUD.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE WAR IN IRAQ
STARTED WITH POLITICAL LEADERS
WHO HAD THEIR OWN AGENDA.
THEY WENT THERE LOOKING FOR
WEAPONS THAT NEVER EXISTED.
BUT THROUGH THIS ALL THE
PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR MILITARY
NEVER FALTERED.
THEY PROVIDED SECURITY AND
DEMOCRACY TO A NATION THAT HAD
NEVER KNOWN IT.
BUT FOR FAR TOO LONG IRAQI
POLITICIANS DID NOTHING TO
SECURE THEIR OWN FIEWVMENT I
FIRST WENT TO IRAQ IN 2007 AND
RETURNED THERE AGAIN THIS PAST
I WAS STRUCK BY HOW MUCH HAD
CHANGED IN THOSE FOUR YEARS.
IRAQ WAS FINALLY MOVING FORWARD
AFTER TOO MANY WASTED YEARS, TOO
MANY WASTED DOLLARS, AND TOO
MANY LIVES LOST.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THE
CHANGE.
THE IMPROVED SECURITY FROM OUR
MILITARY AND THE TRAINING
PROVIDED BY OUR TROOPS PLAYED A
BIG ROLE.
BUT AMERICAN DIPLOMATS AND
MILITARY LEADERS TOLD ME THAT
THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THE
PROGRESS IN IRAQ WAS THIS:
THE IRAQIS WERE TOLD IN NO
UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THE UNITED
STATES WAS LEAVING.
OUR MILITARY PRESENCE WOULD END
ON DECEMBER 31 OF THIS YEAR.
THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, WAS WHAT
GALVANIZED IRAQI POLITICIANS TO
TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN
TODAY I AM SENDING A LETTER TO
THE PRESIDENT CALLING ON HIM TO
STAND BY HIS COMMITMENT TO PULL
ALL U.S. OPERATION NEW DAWN
TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ BY THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
WE SHOULD BRING THE LAST OF THEM
HOME ON SCHEDULE.
U.S. MARINES WILL STILL GUARD
OUR EMBASSIES, AS THEY ALWAYS
HAVE.
AND WE WILL STILL MAINTAIN A
STRONG DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN
DESPITE THIS YEAR'S DEADLINE, I
KNOW THERE'S TALK OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF KEEPING A SIZABLE
FORCE OF U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ
THROUGH NEXT YEAR.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT'S NOT
GOOD.
WE CANNOT AFFORD MOVING THE GOAL
OF POST.
ACROSS MONTANA AND THIS NATION,
PEOPLE ARE SAYING, COME HOME,
AND COME HOME NOW.
I KNOW THE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE IN
IRAQ WILL CONTINUE.
WE SHOULD NOT BE ASKING AMERICAN
TROOPS TO REFEREE A CENTURY-OLD
CIVIL WAR.
THAT IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE IN
THE FUTURE REGARDLESS OF OUR
IRAQ HAS THE TOOLS TO SECURE ITS
PEOPLE AND ITS ECONOMY.
IRAQ'S NEW LEADERS MUST SOLVE
THEIR PROBLEMS FOR THEIR OWN
KEEPING THOUSANDS OF U.S. TROOPS
IN IRAQ WOULD NEEDLESSLY PUT
THEM IN MORE DANGER, IT WOULD
COST AMERICAN TAXPAYERS MORE
MONEY, AND IT WOULD FURTHER
DISTRACT US FROM OUR CORE
NATIONAL SECURITY OBJECTIVES OF
PROTECTING AMERICAN CITIZENS AND
FURTHER DISMANTLING AL QAEDA AND
OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS.
THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS NEEDS TO
BE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M SAYING, LET'S
END THIS WAR FOR GOOD.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK
AS IN MORNING BUSINESS FOR ABOUT
FIVE MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
RISE TODAY TO REMEMBER A FALLEN
HERO, U.S. MARINE CORPS SERGEANT
JOSHUA J. ROBESON OF DOUGLAS,
NEBRASKA.
SERGEANT ROBINSON WALLS KILLED
WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON AUGUST
7, 2011, WHILE CONDUCTING PATROL
OPERATIONS IN HELMAND PROVINCE
OF AFGHANISTAN.
HE WAS IN HIS THIRD TOUR OF
HIS STORY OF SERVICE COMES TO US
AT A TIME WHEN MANY ARE
REFLECTING ON THE 10th
ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 AND
ITS TERRORIST ATTACKS.
A FITTING TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE
PATRIOTISM OF A FALLEN HERO.
SERGEANT ROBINSON ENLISTED IN
THE MARINE CORPS IN 2003, A TIME
WHEN "OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM"
WAS IN THE BEGINNING STAGES AND
MANY WERE UNSURE OF WHAT WAS TO
COME.
HE FELT THE CALL TO SERVE AND
WAS RIGHTFULLY PROUD OF HIS
COMMITMENT TO DEFEND AND TO
PROTECT HIS COUNTRY.
SERGEANT ROBINSON'S LOVE OF THE
OUTDOORS PROVIDED HIM WITH MANY
BE THE
BEST MARINE HE COULD BE.
SADLY, HIS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT
TOOT SOON AND THE ROBINSON
FAMILY LAID THEIR MARINE TO REST
IN HASTINGS, NEBRASKA, ON AUGUST
16, 2011.
SERGEANT ROBINSON RETURNED TO
HIS BIRTHPLACE WITH VALOR AND
HONOR HAVING BEEN AWARDED THE
PURPLE HEART, THE COMBAT ACTION
MEDAL, THE IRAQ CAMPAIGN MEDAL,
THE AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL,
THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM
EXPEDITIONARY MEDAL, AND MANY
OTHER DECORATIONS DURING HIS
MILITARY CAREER.
HE DIED A BRAVE AND A MOST
HONORABLE DEATH.
WE ARE PROUD TO CALL HIM ONE OF
OUR OWN.
THE TRADITION OF MILITARY
SERVICE IS STRONG IN OUR GREAT
STATE OF NEBRASKA, BUT STRONG
SOLDIERS ARE NOT POSSIBLE
WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF FAMILY.
THAT NEBRASKANS
WILL RALLY AROUND SERGEANT
ROBINSON'S FAMILY DURING THIS
MOST DIFFICULT TIME.
HE IS MOURNED BY HIS WIFE, TWO
SONS, MOTHER, AND STEPFATHER,
SISTERS AND SO MANY OTHERS.
IT IS THE STRENGTH OF HIS WIFE,
RHONDHA, THAT WILL REMIND WYATT
AND KODIAK OF THE LOVE THEIR
FATHER HAVE FOR HIM AND FOR HIS
COUNTRY.
HIS MOTHER, MISSY, PROVIDED
INSIGHT INTO HER SON'S DECISION
TO SERVE WHEN SHE SAID -- AND I
THE LINE.
IT TAKES YOUNG MEN LIKE JOSH TO
ENLIST AND PROTECT THE UNITED
UNQUOTE.
I KNOW HIS FAMILY'S PROUD OF HIM
AND WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS
SPIRIT, HIS COMPETITIVENESS AND
HIS ENTHUSIASM FOR ADVENTURE.
MAY GOD BLESS THE ROBINSON
FAMILY AND ALL OF OUR FIGHTING
WOMEN IN HARM'S WAY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM DELAWARE.
*** I RISE TODAY TO MARK --
*** *** I --
MR. ***:MADAM PRESIDENT --
THE
SENATE IS IN A QUORUM CALL.
USUAL I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT PRO EDINGS UNDER
THE -- PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
I RISE TODAY FOR A MOMENTOUS
DAY, THE END OF DON'T ASK, DON'T
TELL MARKS A BEGINNING OF THE
END OF AN ERA FOR OUR NATION.
IT'S BEEN 60 DAYS SINCE
PRESIDENT OBAMA CERTIFIED THE
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WERE
READY FOR THE REPEAL OF DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL.
AND AFTER 18 LONG YEARS TODAY,
THAT POLICY FINALLY COMES TO AN
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DAY,
MADAM PRESIDENT, A GOOD DAY.
TODAY'S A GOOD DAY BECAUSE OUR
NATION, IN MY VIEW, IS TAKING A
MAJOR STEP FORWARD NOT JUST IN
THE PURSUIT OF EQUAL RIGHTS BUT
RESPONSIBILITY.
TODAY'S A GOOD DAY BECAUSE WE
ALWAYS TALK ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS,
BUT WITH DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AMERICANS
WHO SOUGHT EQUAL RESPONSIBILITY,
AMERICANS WHO WANTED TO SERVE
THEIR NATION.
NEARLY 14,000 LGBT AMERICANS
WANTED TO SERVE THEIR NATION IN
THEIR MILITARY BUT WERE DEEMED
UNFIT TO SERVE NOT BECAUSE OF
WHAT THEY DID, BUT BECAUSE OF
WHOM THEY LOVED.
AS IF LOVING ANOTHER MAN WOULD
MAKE A SOLDIER UNTAOEUBL AIM A
RIFLE OR -- UNABLE TO AIM A
RIFLE OR UNWILLING TO DIE FOR
HIS COUNTRY.
FOR AS MANY SERVICE MEMBERS
DRUMMED OUT BOTH LITERALLY AND
FIGURATIVELY UNDER DON'T ASK,
DON'T TELL, I CAN'T WONDER HOW
MANY MORE SERVED IN SILENCE,
PROUD OF THEIR UNIFORM BUT MADE
TO FEEL ASHAMED OF THE PERSON
UNDERNEATH.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL CHARLES
GEORGE SERVED 28 YEARS AS A
COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE
UNITED STATES ARMY.
HIS UNIFORM IS DECK -- DECORATED
WITH MEDALS AND RIBBONS.
WHEN HE GRADUATED IN 1980,
CHARLIE'S BOYFRIEND WAS THERE.
HE WROTE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE.
HE SAID I SAT NEXT TO CHARLIE'S
MOTHER KEEPING QUIET SO I
WOULDN'T DRAW ATTENTION IN ANY
WAY TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
DURING HIS ACTUAL PINNING, MY
EYES NEVER LEFT HIS.
I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM, AT ONE
MOMENT HIS EYES FOUND ME IN THE
AUDIENCE AND WE SMILED.
I STILL REMEMBER THAT MOMENT.
THAT WAS THE LAST OF THOSE
MOMENTS THEY WOULD HAVE.
IN 30 YEARS, IN 30 YEARS OF
DEDICATED SERVICE, THAT CEREMONY
WAS THE ONLY MILITARY ACTIVITY
OF CHARLIE'S THAT DENNIS WOULD
BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF.
CHARLIE WAS DETERMINED TO SERVE
OUR NATION SO THEY HAD TO KEEP
THEIR RELATIONSHIP A SECRET.
CHARLIE ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS
TO FIRST THRAOUPBT, THEN CAP --
TO FIRST LIEUTENANT AND
ULTIMATELY TO MAJOR COLONEL.
THESE WERE PROUD MOMENTS BUT
DENNIS COULDN'T BE IN THE ROOM
FOR ANY OF THEM.
QUOTE -- THE ONLY THING BEING IN
THE ROOM WITH A SOLDIER IS
LOVING ONE.
I OFTEN HEARD ANYTHING HARDER
THAN LOVING A SOLDIER WOULD HAVE
TO BE TO KEEP THAT A SECRET FOR
LIKE SO MANY MILITARY FAMILIES
THEY DISCUSS THEIR NOW UNCERTAIN
IF CHARLIE DIED IN THE SERVICE
OF HIS COUNTRY, THERE WOULD BE
NO CALL ON DENNIS' PHONE FROM
THE ARMY, NO KNOCK ON HIS DOOR.
DENNIS WOULD RECEIVE NO CRISPLY
BY A
MILITARY HONOR GUARD.
DENNIS WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO BE
BURIED NEXT TO CHARLIE AT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
FOR 31 YEARS THEY KEPT THEIR
RELATIONSHIP AND THEIR LOVE A
SECRET.
COLONEL GEORGE RETIRED THIS
YEAR, A MILESTONE HE WILL
CELEBRATE NEXT MONTH AT HOME IN
RE HOE -- IN DELAWARE.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT
CEREMONY MORE THAN THREE DECADES
EARLIER, DENNIS WILL BE THERE
PROUDLY LOOKING ON.
NO MORE SECRETS, NO MORE HIDING.
JUST THE RESPECT AND DIGNITY
THEY DESERVE.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF CHARLIE'S
LONG AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO
THE UNITED STATES ARMY OR
BECAUSE OF DENNIS' SILENT
SACRIFICE BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE
I WAS PROUD TO COSPONSOR THE
REPEAL OF DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL
LAST FALL.
IT.
THREE MONTHS AGO I WAS ONE OF 13
U.S. SENATORS TO RECORD A VIDEO
TELLING THE GAY AND LESBIAN AND
BISEXUAL AUDIENCE THAT IT GETS
AS A NATION OUR ACTIONS HAVE IN
SO MANY WAYS FAILED TO LIVE UP
TO THESE BRAVE WORDS.
OUR PROMISE WAS TO THIS
GENERATION OF AMERICANS, TO THE
GENERATION OF MY CHILDREN, A
PROMISE THAT WE ARE WORKING TO
BUILD AN AMERICA FREE OF LEGAL
DISCRIMINATION, FREE OF
DISCRIMINATION IN OUR SOCIETY,
THAT LGBT YOUTH HAVE A FUTURE IN
THIS COUNTRY WHERE THEY WILL BE
ENTITLED TO THE SAME RIGHTS,
PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
AS EVERY OTHER AMERICAN.
BIT BY BIT WE'RE GOING TO TEAR
DOWN THESE WALLS OF
DISCRIMINATION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS IS HOW WE
MAKE IT BETTER.
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL WAS
SIMPLE.
BUT TODAY IT IS NO MORE.
TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
BEING FROM OKLAHOMA, I CAN
REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN
THEY CALLED OKLAHOMA, SOUTHERN
KANSAS, NORTHERN TEXAS, AND
SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI TORNADO
I SAY TO MY GOOD
FRIEND FROM OREGON, I HAVE BEEN
IN AVIATION FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS.
I KNOW PEOPLE WHO WON'T EVEN FLY
AIRPLANES THROUGH WHAT THEY CALL
TORNADO ALLEY.
BUT NOW I THINK THEY KNOW THAT
TORNADOES -- AS MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES ARE FULLY AWARE OF,
ARE A DAILY THREAT TO AMERICANS
EACH SPRING AS SEVERE WEATHER
ROLLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
IN THE PAST 30 YEARS, OVER
34,000 TORNADOES HAVE TOUCHED
DOWN SOMEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY,
WHICH MEANS THAT ONE TOUCHES
DOWN ON AN AVERAGE OF EVERY
EIGHT HOURS OF EACH DAY.
NOW, THIS CHART RIGHT HERE, EACH
GREEN DOTS
REPRESENTS A -- A TORNADO, BUT
THEY WITNESSED EACH SPRING, MANY
OF THEM GROW INTO THE VORACIOUS
AND SIGNIFICANT STORMS THAT
BRING SIGNIFICANT HARM TO
PROPERTY AND LIFE.
THIS YEAR 57 SUCH TORNADOES
STRUCK 14 STATES AND CLAIMED 550
LIVES.
ALABAMA WAS THE HARDEST.
I REMEMBER WHEN OKLAHOMA HAS
BEEN RANKED AS THE HARDEST.
THEY HAD OVER 240 KILLED.
MISSOURI -- I MIGHT SAY TO MY
GOOD FRIEND FROM MISSOURI ON THE
FLOOR HERE -- ALSO SUFFERED
PEOPLE IN JOPLIN.
I SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM
MISSOURI, I WAS UP IN JOPLIN
RIGHT AFTER THAT HAPPENED, DOWN
CLOSE TO THE OKLAHOMA BORDER.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO
WITNESS BEFORE YOU UNDERSTAND
IN MY STATE OF OKLAHOMA WHERE WE
HAVE MORE THAN OUR FAIR SHARE OF
TORNADOES THIS SPRING, THE
STORMS RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF
14 PEOPLE AND THE INJURY OF MANY
OTHERS.
UNTIL YOU HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN
AND YOU GO ON SITE -- WHICH I
ALWAYS MAKE IT A POINT TO DO
AFTER EACH TORNADO IN OKLAHOMA,
YOU GO DOWN AND TALK TO THE
YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF LITTLE
KIDS LOOKING FOR THEIR TOYS AND
THIS TYPE OF THING, THAT THEY
ARE GONE AND GONE FOR GOOD.
WHILE THIS YEAR HAS SEEN A LARGE
NUMBER OF FATAL TORNADOES, THERE
ARE A NATIONWIDE THREAT EACH
SPRING.
SINCE 1980, 734 DEADLY TORNADOES
HAVE CLAIMED 2,400 LIVES IN AT
LEAST 37 DIFFERENT STATES,
INCLUDING 126 IN MY STATE OF
OKLAHOMA.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE
LOST LIVES COULD HAVE BEEN
AVOIDED HAD STORM SHUTTERS BEEN
MORE WIDELY USED.
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, A NUMBER
OF OKLAHOMANS HAVE ASKED ME IF
THERE IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT
TORNADO STORM SHELTERS.
THEY OBSERVED THAT THOSE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE THESE STORM
SHELTERS, THEY LIVED THROUGH IT,
AND THEY MAY LOSE THEIR
PROPERTY, BUT THEY LIVED THROUGH
IT, SO THEY THINK WELL, THE
GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IN ALL
THESE PROGRAMS.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO TO
HELP US ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
BUILD STORM SHELTERS?
WHEN I LOOKED INTO IT, I CAME UP
EMPTY-HANDED, DESPITE THE FACT
THAT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ARE OBLIGATED EACH YEAR
MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF
NATURAL DISASTERS.
SINCE DEATH IS ONE OF THE WORST
EFFECTS OF NATURAL DISASTERS,
YOU WOULD THINK THE TORNADO
STORM SHELTERS, WHICH ARE REALLY
THE SAFEST WAY TO RIDE OUT
TORNADOES, WOULD BE A HIGH
PRIORITY, BUT ONLY LIMITED FUNDS
THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE IN
THE PAST, AND IT HAS BEEN
SPORADIC AND POORLY ALLOCATED.
MOST OF THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN MADE
AVAILABLE THROUGH FEMA'S
HAZARDOUS MITIGATION GRANT
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A MANDATORY
PROGRAM THAT ALLOCATES FUNDS TO
STATES TO HELP THEM BETTER
PREPARE FOR FUTURE DISASTERS.
STATES ARE ABLE TO DIRECT SOME
OF THIS MONEY TO RESIDENTIAL
STORM SHELTER CONSTRUCTION, BUT
TO DO THIS, THEY HAVE TO GO
THROUGH A LOT OF HOOPS, THROUGH
A LENGTHY PROCESS OF
COORDINATING A PROGRAM WITH
FEMA, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY IT'S A
BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE AND
HUGELY EXPENSIVE.
OKLAHOMA DID THIS AFTER THE
DEVASTATING TORNADOES OF MAY 3,
PEOPLE DIED AND MANY OTHERS
WERE INJURED THAT DAY, AND AS
THE RECOVERY EFFORT TOOK HOLD,
IT BECAME CLEAR TO PUBLIC
LEADERS THAT STAGGERINGLY FEW
OKLAHOMANS HAD STORM SHELTERS
BECAUSE OF THIS, OKLAHOMA'S
DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT WORKED WITH FEMA TO
CREATE A TEMPORARY REBATE
PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS
TO INSTALL STORM SHELTERS IN
THEIR HOMES.
THE REBATE WAS WORTH $2,000, AND
THE FUNDING CAP WAS SET
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROGRAM
DIDN'T GET -- DIDN'T PERFORM AS
WELL AS THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED.
IT WAS A POPULAR PROGRAM, AND
THE FUNDING DEPLETED QUICKLY.
BECAUSE OF THE REBATE AMOUNT,
ONLY 3,000 HOMEOWNERS WERE ABLE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
PROGRAM, DESPITE ITS $6 MILLION
IN FUNDING LEVEL.
NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
FURTHERMORE, BECAUSE THIS
PROGRAM IS RUN THROUGH FEMA, IT
HAD A LOT OF PAPERWORK
REQUIREMENTS AND WAS TIME
STATE TO
ACTUALLY FORMERRIZE.
FURTHERMORE, THE ULTIMATE
DECISION OF WHO RECEIVED THE
REBATE RESTED WITH FEMA AND THE
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, AND THEY DECIDED WHO
RECEIVED THE REBATE AND WHO DID
NOT.
NOW, IF YOU ASK ME, THAT'S A
PRETTY EXPENSIVE, POORLY
DESIGNED PROGRAM, BUT THAT'S
GENERALLY THE WAY THAT FEMA
STRUCTURES THESE PROGRAMS WHEN
STATES GO TO THE TROUBLE OF
REQUESTING THEM.
ALL TOLD, FEMA'S SPORADIC HAZARD
HITGATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR
RESIDENTIAL STORM SHELTERS HAS
SUPPORTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF
ONLY 15,000 STORM SHELTERS AT A
STAGGERING COST OF $35 MILLION.
THAT'S $2,000 FOR EACH STORM
SHELTER.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH IS NEEDED
TO ENCOURAGE A WIDER GROUP OF
PEOPLE TO INSTALL TORNADO STORM
SHELTERS, AND THIS WILL HELP
TORNADOES.
GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY.
I HAVE 20 KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.
MY FIRST CONCERN EVERY TIME I
HEAR OF A TORNADO COMING IS FOR
THEM.
INTRODUCED THIS BILL CALLED THE
STORM SHELTER TAX RELIEF ACT.
IT PROVIDES A TAX DEDUCTION OF
UP TO $2,500 TO ANY INDIVIDUAL
THAT INSTALLS A QUALIFIED STORM
SHELTER.
THE COST OF THIS DEDUCTION IS
FULLY OFFSET, WHICH I WILL
EXPLAIN IN JUST A MINUTE WHERE
IT'S COMING FROM, AND THERE ARE
SPENDING.
FIRST, THE DEDUCTION CAN BE
CLAIMED BY ANY TAXPAYER.
IF SOMEONE IN OKLAHOMA, KENTUCKY
OR TENNESSEE DECIDES THAT THEY
NEED A STORM SHELTER AT THEIR
HOUSE, THEY CAN PAY TO HAVE ONE
INSTALLED AND THEN CHAIRMAN THE
INCENTIVE BY DEDUCTING UP TO $2,
500 FROM THEIR INCOME WHEN THEY
FILE THEIR TAXES.
CLAIMING THIS INCENTIVE WOULD
NOT REQUIRE DEALING WITH A BIG
YOU DON'T HAVE TO FILL OUT THE
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL
THE RED TAPE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
PEOPLE DON'T DO IT UNDER THE
EXISTING PROGRAM.
AS I SAID BEFORE, PREVIOUS
PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN
ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE FEMA
PLACE THE POWER OF THE SHELTER
INCENTIVE INTO THE HANDS OF AN
AGENCY AND NOT A FAMILY, NOT
INDIVIDUALS.
THE AGENCY THEN DECIDES WHO DOES
AND DOES NOT RECEIVE THE
INCENTIVE.
I THINK IT IS BEST WHEN THE
MIDDLEMAN CAN BE AVOIDED AND A
TAX DEDUCTION DOES THAT.
THE TAX CODE IS BLIND AND
PROVIDES THE INCENTIVE TO ANYONE
WHO DECIDES IN THEIR BEST
JUDGMENT THAT THEY NEED A STORM
SHELTER.
LASTLY, AND PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANTLY, THE TAX DEDUCTION
IS BETTER ALLOCATED OF SCARCE
TAXPAYERS' RESOURCES, A REBATE
THAT COVERS A LARGE PORTION OF A
SHELTER'S COST AS THE OKLAHOMA
PROGRAM DID CAN FOSTER MORAL
WHAT I MEAN IS THAT WHEN FREE
MONEY IS ON THE TABLE, PEOPLE
WILL GENERALLY TAKE IT.
IN THIS CASE, PEOPLE MAY TAKE
THE REBATE TO BUY A STORM
SHELTER BECAUSE IT'S FREE, NOT
NEED.
A TAX DEDUCTION DOESN'T ALLOW
THIS BECAUSE THE ACTUAL
INCENTIVE IS MUCH LOWER IN
VALUE.
NO ONE IS GOING TO GO OUT AND
SPEND $2,000 OR MORE ON A STORM
SHELTER JUST BECAUSE THEY GET TO
WRITE THAT AMOUNT OFF ON THEIR
TAXABLE INCOME.
NOBODY DOES THAT.
A RATIONAL INDIVIDUAL WOULD ONLY
GO OUT TO BUY A SHELTER IF THEY
KNOW THEY NEED ONE, AND THEN IT
HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF BEING
DEDUCTIBLE FROM THEIR INCOME.
SO IT'S A MUCH BETTER WAY OF
APPROACHING IT.
ON THE AGGREGATE LEVEL, THIS
ALLOWS A LOT MORE PEOPLE TO GET
THE INCENTIVE AT THE SAME COST
COMPARED TO THE REBATE PROGRAMS
THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE PAST.
THE TAX DEDUCTION PROVIDES A
NUDGE TO TAXPAYERS TO TAKE
PRACTICAL STEPS TO STAY SAFE IN
COMMON.
IT'S A COMMONSENSE APPROACH AND
A BETTER WAY TO USE TAXPAYER
RESOURCES.
FURTHERMORE, THIS PROPOSAL'S
PROPOSAL'S $41 MILLION COST IS
FULLY PAID BY RESCINDING FUNDS
AUTHORIZED FOR STORM SHELTER
CONSTRUCTION GRANTS THROUGH THE
PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED THROUGH
H.U.D.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE DOING THIS
PROGRAM AND PROVIDING COUNTLESS
MORE OF THE SHELTERS AT A
MUCH -- AT A COST THAT WOULD
MERELY MEAN A TAX DEDUCTION, AND
IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE
PROGRAM.
IT MEANS THAT EXISTING UNSPENT
H.U.D. FUNDS THAT ARE
DUPLICATIVE OF OTHER FEMA
SPENDING WILL BE REDIRECTED TO A
MORE EFFECTIVE POLICY IN ORDER
TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME GOAL,
ENCOURAGE THE INSTALLATION OF
STORM SHELTERS TO SAVE LIVES
FROM DEADLY TORNADOES.
MANY MAY WONDER WHY THIS IS
SOMETHING OF A -- WHETHER THIS
GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DOING.
IN REALITY, THIS FALLS SQUARELY
WITHIN THE PURPOSE OF THE HAZARD
MITIGATION PRIORITIES OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
FEMA DEFINES HAZARD MITIGATION
AS -- QUOTE -- "A SUSTAINED
ACTION TAKEN TO REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE LONG-TERM RISK OF LIFE
UNQUOTE.
AND THAT PROGRAM, THE
REGULATIONS STATE THAT PROJECTS
RETROFITTING STRUCTURES TO
MINIMIZE DAMAGES FROM HIGH
WINDS, EARTHQUAKE, FLOODS,
WILDFIRE AND OTHER NATURAL
DISASTERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE
EXPENDITURE OF SUCH PROGRAM.
THE MAIN GOAL OF ALL THIS
SPENDING IS TO REDUCE THE
LIKELIHOOD OF LOSSES OF LIFE AND
PROPERTY AND RETROFITTING
BUILDINGS TO LESSEN THE
LIKELIHOOD OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY
TORNADOES, AND THAT'S AN
THAT'S WHAT THIS TAX DEDUCTION
DOES.
FURTHERMORE, THE THREAT -- WE
HAVE ANOTHER CHART HERE -- THE
THREAT OF DEADLY DANGER
STRETCHES FAR ACROSS THE NATION.
YOU SAW THE FIRST MAP, BUT THIS
ONE SHOWS IT'S NOT JUST THE
ALLEY I REFERRED TO RIGHT HERE.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE
MOUNTAINOUS AREA HERE, IT'S ALL
ACROSS AMERICA.
NOT SURPRISINGLY, OKLAHOMA IS
RIGHT IN THE CENTER, BUT WHEN
YOU LOOK AT WHERE DEADLY
TORNADOES HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE
PAST 30 YEARS, IT'S SPREAD
ACROSS THE ENTIRE EASTERN HALF
THE COUNTRY.
ALL OF THE STATES IN RED HAVE
HAD AT LEAST ONE DEADLY TORNADO
EVERY OTHER YEAR SINCE 1980, AND
MOST OF THEM HAVE HAD EVEN MORE.
THIS MAY BE SURPRISING TO SOME,
BUT THE THREAT IS REAL.
IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
MANY TORNADO STORM SHELTERS NEED
TO BE CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE
COUNTRY.
THE FEDERAL POLICIES ENCOURAGING
THIS NEED TO BE CHANGED.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE INTRODUCING THE
STORM SHELTER TAX RELIEF ACT.
THE NUMBER OF THIS, I SAY TO MY
COLLEAGUES, IS S. 1583.
IT WAS JUST INTRODUCED TODAY.
I THINK THOSE OF US WHO HAVE
LIVED IN THESE TORNADO-PRONE
AREAS, I COULD TELL YOU STORIES
ABOUT TORNADOES PICKING UP A
HORSE AND REPLACING IT, DROPPING
IT SOMEPLACE.
IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, MY
WIFE WAS AFTER ME -- THIS WAS
ABOUT 50 YEARS AGO.
HI A PLACE UP IN THE COUNTRY,
STILL HAD THE SAME PLACE, AND I
HAD A RED JEEP.
THAT RED JEEP IS ONE THAT WE
HAVE HAD FOR A LONG TIME.
SHE SAID HOW COME YOU DON'T HAVE
THAT INSURED?
I SAID WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO A RED
JEEP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
COUNTRY IN OKLAHOMA?
WELL, A TORNADO CAME ALONG,
PICKED UP A TREE AND DROPPED IT
RIGHT ON TOP OF MY RED JEEP.
IT CUT IT IN HALF.
THEY ARE TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE.
I CAN TELL YOU STORY, AND MORE
IN OKLAHOMA, WHEN WE HAD OUR
1999 TORNADO WHERE EVERYTHING
WAS DEVASTATED ON ONE SIDE OF
THE STREET, NOTHING WAS TOUCHED
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET.
SO IT'S AN ART TO UNDERSTANDING
WHERE THESE ARE COMING FROM.
WE NOW HAVE DEVELOPED THAT ART.
THERE IS NOT A PERSON WHO COULD
BE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO THAT
DOESN'T HAVE THE FACILITIES AND
THE RESOURCES TO SEE WHAT IS OUT
THERE AND WHERE IT'S COMING.
WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE IS A WAY,
IF IT'S UNAVOIDABLE, TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES IF IT HITS THEM.
THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS A STORM
SO I HOPE -- I APPRECIATE MY --
THE SENATOR WHO IS GOING TO
SPEAK NEXT FROM MISSOURI
COSPONSORING THIS BILL, AND WE
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE
WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF
GETTING THIS PASSED.
YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MISSOURI.
I AM PLEASED TO
INHOFE.
BETWEEN HE AND I, WE MAY HAVE
BEEN TO THE SCENES OF MORE
TORNADOES THAN ALMOST ANYBODY
ELSE IN AMERICA WHO IS NOT A
STORM CHASER BECAUSE OF WHERE WE
LIVE AND WHAT WE HAVE DONE.
WE HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE
THE AFTERMATH OF MANY TORNADOES,
AND UNLIKE THE FLOODS THAT WE
HAVE DEALT WITH IN OUR STATE AND
THE HURRICANE -- THIS YEAR AND
THE HURRICANES WE DEALT WITH IN
OTHER STATES RECENTLY, THE
TORNADOES THERE AND YOU DON'T
GET MUCH WARNING AND THAT STORM
SHELTER NEEDS TO BE CLOSE IF YOU
WANT A CHANCE TO GET INTO IT.
THE BILL THAT HE HAS DRAFTED AND
I'M PROUD TO COSPONSOR WITH HIM
PROVIDES THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET
THAT STORM SHELTER NEARBY.
I WANT TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES
TODAY ABOUT THE BILL THAT'S ON
THE FLOOR, THE AMENDMENT, IN
TO THE GENERAL SYSTEM OF
TRADE PREFERENCES BILL.
THAT AMENDMENT IS TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE, AND
FRANKLY, MADAM PRESIDENT, IT'S
NOT A BILL THAT I WOULD HAVE
DRAFTED ON MY OWN BUT MY GUESS
IS NEITHER WOULD THE TWO PEOPLE
THAT NEGOTIATED THE BILL.
THIS IS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN
CHAIRMAN CAMP AND THE SENATE AND
THE GENTLEMAN FROM MONTANA HERE.
IT'S A COMPROMISE THAT REFLECTS
EXACTLY THAT.
IT'S NOT WHAT EITHER ONE OF THEM
MAY HAVE COME UP WITH.
CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I WOULD HAVE
COME UP WITH, BUT BASED ON THE
PRESIDENT'S DETERMINATION, IT'S
ESSENTIAL TO MOVE ON TO THE
THREE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN WAITING TO BE VOTED ON FOR
THREE YEARS
NOW.
I INTEND TO VOTE FOR THIS.
I'M LOOKING CAREFULLY AT THE
AMENDMENTS AND I'M SUPPORTIVE OF
THE TWO AMENDMENTS WE'LL VOTE ON
TODAY, BUT IF THEY WOULD
DISRUPT THE BALANCE OF THIS
AGREEMENT THAT'S BEEN MADE, I'M
GOING TO LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT
THAT AS THESE VOTES ARE CAST.
CERTAINLY I'D LIKE FOR THIS
PRESIDENT AND ALL OF HIS
SUCCESSORS TO HAVE TRADE
PROMOTION AUTHORITY.
WE'VE SEEN THE DIFFICULTY OF THE
PRESIDENT BEING ABLE TO
NEGOTIATE A TREATY AS AN
AGREEMENT, A TRADE AGREEMENT,
THAT WOULD COME TO THE SENATE,
THAT COULD BE AMENDED BY THE
SENATE THAT TAKES TWO-THIRDS OF
THE SENATE TO APPROVE.
THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.
AND BEFORE TRADE PROMOTION
AUTHORITY, WE HAD ESSENTIALLY
GOTTEN OUT OF THE TREATY
AGREEMENT ON TRADE BECAUSE WHO
WANTS TO MAKE THAT KIND OF
WHO WANTS TO GET INTO A ROOM AND
NEGOTIATE A TRADE AGREEMENT ONLY
TO SEE THE THING THAT MAYBE THEY
THOUGHT WAS THE BIGGEST THING
THAT THEY HAD GIVEN UP OR THE
BIGGEST THING THAT THEY HAD
GOTTEN TAKEN OUT OF THE
AGREEMENT BEFORE THE SENATE
VOTES ON IT?
YES
YES-OR-NO MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE TRADE PROMOTION
AUTHORITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I WISH WE HAD AN AGREEMENT
THAT THIS PRESIDENT WANTED RIGHT
NOW AND THAT THE NEXT
PRESIDENT, WHOEVER THAT IS AND
WHENEVER THAT IS, WOULD HAVE
THE ABILITY TO CONTINUE BECAUSE
SINCE WE RAN OUT OF THE --
TRADE PROMOTION AUTHORITY LAW,
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY AGREEMENTS
AND IN FACT, THE THREE THAT WE
HAVE NEGOTIATED NOW, I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE, BUT
THEY'VE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR THREE
YEARS.
AND I AM EAGER FOR THE PRESIDENT
TO SEND THEM UP.
AND THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT THIS
T.A.A. ISSUE, THIS TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE ISSUE HAS
TO BE UNDERSTOOD TO BE COMPLETED
AND WILL BE COMPLETED OR AT
LEAST HE HAS TO BE ASSURED IT
WILL BE COMPLETED BEFORE WE GET
THOSE THREE AGREEMENTS.
AND IT WILL BE FINE WITH ME IF
COULD ADJUST THIS SOME.
I'D LIKE TO SEE MY GOOD FRIEND
FROM OREGON WHO IS ON THE
FLOOR, MR. WYDEN, HIS BILL
THAT I'VE COSPONSORED ON
TRANSSHIPMENT WHERE WE, MANY OF
US IN THIS BODY HAVE PROBLEMS IN
OUR STATE.
I'VE GOT TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT
I COULD TALK ABOUT FOR A LONG
TIME, BUT I WON'T TODAY, WHERE
THE PROPER AUTHORITY HAS LOOKED
AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AND THEY
SAID NO, YOU'VE GOT UNFAIR
TRADE PRACTICES SO THERE'S A
PENALTY ON THE COUNTRY THAT
IS -- THAT IS USING THOSE
UNFAIR PRACTICES TO COMPETE,
BUT THEN WHAT THAT COUNTRY DOES
IS THEY JUST START LABELING THE
PRODUCT AS IF IT WERE FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE AND THEY MAY SHIP
THE PRODUCT THROUGH THAT OTHER
COUNTRY AND GET IT LABELED THERE
AND THEY MAY SHORT CIRCUIT IT
AND PUT THE LABEL ON IN THEIR
OWN COUNTRY AND I SEAU IT'S MADE
SOMEWHERE ELSE SO WHEN IT COMES
THAT PENALTY.
AND WHETHER THAT'S RELABELING OR
THINK AS MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
OREGON CALLS IT MERCHANDISE
LAUNDERING.
WHERE YOU JUST MAKE THE
MERCHANDISE APPEAR TO BE
SOMETHING THAT IT'S NOT SO YOU
NO LONGER PAY THE PENALTY.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT ON A BILL
HERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THE OTHER SENATOR FROM OREGON
AND I HAVE A BILL ON AFFORDABLE
FOOTWEAR THAT HAS TRADE IMPACT
THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE ON A BILL.
AND THIS IS A BILL THAT
POTENTIALLY MIGHT HAVE
JURISDICTION TO GO ON, BUT
THAT'S NOT THE AGREEMENT THAT'S
BEEN MADE BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND
THE SENATE.
AND I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING
THAT AGREEMENT AND NOT DOING
ANYTHING THAT MAKES IT
IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO GET THESE
THREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, AND I
AM ABSOLUTELY BANKING ON THE
COMMITMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES THAT IF THIS
HAPPENS, THE THREE TRADE
AGREEMENTS COME TO THE CONGRESS.
AND WHEN THEY COME TO THE
CONGRESS, I BELIEVE THEY PASS
THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THEY
GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
AMERICAN WORKERS TO SEND THEIR
PRODUCTS TO OTHER COUNTRIES.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THESE
AGREEMENTS THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR
A LONG TIME IS THE AGREEMENT
WITH COLOMBIA.
AND COLOMBIA ALREADY IS ABLE TO
SHIP ITS PRODUCTS IN HERE
WITHOUT TARIFF UNDER SOMETHING
THAT ROUTINELY PASSES THE
CONGRESS CALLED THE-AND---
AND -- THE ANDEAN PREFERENCES
THEIR PRODUCTS ALREADY COME
THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER U.S.
WORKERS ARE GOING TO HAVE EVERY
POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE IN COLOMBIA.
THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER
CATERPILLARS MADE IN THE UNITED
STATES OR JOHN DEERE TRACTORS OR
MOVING EQUIPMENT MADE IN THE
UNITED STATES HAVE THE SAME
ADVANTAGE IN COLOMBIA THAT THE
SAME PIECE OF EQUIPMENT MADE IN
CANADA HAS.
RIGHT NOW, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT
ADVANTAGE.
DO.
OR IN KOREA WHERE THE EUROPEAN
UNION NEGOTIATED A TRADE
AGREEMENT LONG AFTER WE
NEGOTIATED THIS AGREEMENT, BUT
IT WENT INTO EFFECT THE FIRST OF
JULY AND THE YEAR-TO-YEAR
COMPARISON JULY TO JULY IS I
THINK 38% BIGGER, THIS JULY
THAN IT WAS LAST JULY, AND THE
ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THIS JULY AND
LAST JULY IS THE TRADE
AGREEMENT.
AND THESE ARE ALL THREE
COUNTRIES THAT ALL OF THEIR
TRADING HISTORY, ALL OF THEIR
BUYING HISTORY, PANAMA BEING
THE THIRD OF THE FREE --,
THREE, WOULD BE GIVEN THE
CHOICE OF AN AMERICAN PRODUCT TO
BUY OR A PRODUCT ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, WE
THE DEFICIT AND THE
DEBT IN THE LONG TERM, WE HAVE
TO FOCUS ON JOBS IN THE SHORT
TERM.
HIS PLAN ENSURES THAT
MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS GET THE
JOBS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY
NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE AHEAD.
AND IT ALSO MAKES SURE THAT WE
HAVE A FAIR TAX SYSTEM IN PLACE
SO EVERYONE PAYS HIS OR HER OWN
FAIR SHARE.
NOT TOO MUCH, NOT TOO LITTLE,
BUT FAIR.
SO THIS APPROACH IS WELCOME.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I WELCOME
IT.
BECAUSE THE APPROACH OUTLINED BY
PRESIDENT OBAMA, DEFICIT AND
DEBT REDUCTION, INVESTMENTS IN
JOBS, THAT WAS THE SAME VISION
THAT WORKED BEFORE WHEN BILL
CLINTON WAS THE PRESIDENT AND I
HAD THE HONOR OF BEING HERE IN
THIS BODY TO SUPPORT THOSE
POLICIES.
PEOPLE FORGET THAT WHEN BILL
CLINTON BECAME PRESIDENT, THERE
WERE DEFICITS AND DEBT AS FAR AS
THE EYE COULD SEE.
AND THIS COUNTRY WAS GOING ON
THE WRONG PATH.
AND WHAT HE DID WAS TO MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYONE PAID HIS OR HER
OWN FAIR SHARE SO THAT WE HAD
THE REVENUES WE NEEDED TO MAKE
THE INVESTMENTS WE NEEDED TO
CREATE THE JOBS WE NEEDED.
SO IN THOSE YEARS, THE
INVESTMENTS WERE IN HIGH-TECH
AND BIOTECH, AND WE REALLY
BROKE THROUGH ON THE GLOBAL
SCENE, 23 MILLION JOBS WERE
DEFICITS WERE
TURNED INTO SURPLUSES.
AND I REMEMBER LOOKING BACK AT
THE RECORD, SOME OF MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES WHO WERE
STILL -- ARE STILL HERE TODAY
SAID THE CLINTON APPROACH IS
GOING TO LEAD TO, YOU KNOW, THE
WORST DEBT, THE WORST
DEFICITS, NO JOB CREATION AND
THEY WERE INCORRECT.
SO WE LIVED THROUGH IT, AND WE
KNOW THAT THAT VISION OF CUTTING
SPENDING ON WHAT DOESN'T WORK,
INCREASING SPENDING ON
INVESTMENTS, EVERYONE PAYING
THEIR FAIR SHARE, ALL THAT
TURNED INTO PROSPERITY,
23 MILLION JOBS, AND WHAT PER
COMPLEXES ME -- PERPLEXES ME IS
MY COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE WANT TO GO BACK TO
THE BUSH YEARS, TRICKLE-DOWN
ECONOMICS, MORE ARE TAX BREAKS
FOR MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES, NO INVESTMENTS SO
WE EVEN LOSE FUNDING FOR OUR
TEACHERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS,
OUR NURSES, AND EVEN OUR
TRANSPORTATION STAKEHOLDERS.
WE PASSED AN
EXTENSION OF THE HIGHWAY BILL
FOR SIX MONTHS BUT BELIEVE ME,
WE FACE PERILS AHEAD BECAUSE THE
HOUSE CUTS THAT BILL BY A THIRD
AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE
1.8 MILLION JOBS ARE AT STAKE.
SO I'M PERPLEXED THAT MY
REPUBLICAN FRIENDS, ALL THE --
ONLY EVIDENCE COMPASSION AND
CONCERN FOR THE MILLIONAIRES AND
THE BILLIONAIRES BUT NOT FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
THEIR COMPASSION FOR THE
WEALTHIEST IS OVERWHELMING.
THEIR EXPRESSIONS OF CONCERN FOR
BILLIONAIRES, MIND-BOGGLING.
THEY CALL THEM THE JOB CREATORS
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT THE ONES
CREATING THE JOBS.
THE JOBS ARE BEING CREATED, IF
THEY ARE AT ALL BY THE WAY, BY
THE SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE.
62% OF NEW JOBS, THE CREATION
COMES FROM SMALL BUSINESS.
THEY DON'T EARN A MILLION
WAY.
SO THEY CALL MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES JOB CREATORS, WHICH
THEY'RE NOT, AND THEY CRY BITTER
TEARS THAT WE MIGHT ASK A
MILLIONAIRE OR A BILLIONAIRE TO
PAY A FAIR SHARE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS YOUNG --
THIS IS GOING TO DATE ME --
FORGIVE -- MAYBE I SHOULDN'T,
BUT I WANT TO TELL THE TRUTH
HERE -- THERE WAS A SHOW ON
TELEVISION CALLED "DRAGNET," AND
THE STAR OF IT WAS JOE FRIDAY.
AND JOE FRIDAY US USED TO SAY,
SCWTION "JUST THE FACTS, LET'S
LOOK AT THE FACTS."
SO LET'S LOOK AT FACTS.
WHY ARE MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
DEFENDING THE WEALTHIEST AMONG
US?
SINCE 1995, THE WEALTHIEST 400
AMERICANS HAVE SEEN THEIR TAXES
FALL BY 40% WHILE THEIR AVERAGE
INCOME QUADRUPLED.
LET ME SAY IT AGAIN.
FAMILIES SAW
THEIR INCOME GO UP BY FOUR TIMES
AND THEIR TAXES WENT DOWN BY
40%.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO CRY FOR THAT
SITUATION?
WHY THE TEARS?
HERE'S ANOTHER FACT:
THE WEALTH -- MADAM PRESIDENT,
THIS IS AMAZING.
THE WEALTHIEST 400 FAMILIES ARE
WORTH MORE THAN 50% OF AMERICAN
FAMILIES.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
THE WEALTHIEST 400 FAMILIES IN
AMERICA ARE WORTH MORE THAN 50%
OF AMERICA'S FAMILIES.
BERNIE SANDERS -- SENATOR
THAT FACT TO US.
WHY THE TEARS FOR THOSE 400
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE,
WARREN BUFFETT, CAME FORWARD --
BLESS HIS HEART.
HE SAID, HIS EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
SECRETARY'S.
HIS EFFECTIVE TAX RATE IS LOWER
THAN HIS SECRETARY'S.
WHY ARE WE CRYING FOR PEOPLE WHO
EARN MILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND
PAY A LOWER TAX RATE EFFECTIVELY
THAN THEIR SECRETARIES?
I THANK WARREN BUFFETT FOR
COMING FORWARD, AND OTHERS --
OTHER MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES HAVE COME FORWARD,
HERE'S WHAT HE SAID.
"MY FRIENDS AND I HAVE BEEN
CODDLED LONG ENOUGH BY A
BILLIONAIRE-FRIENDLY CONGRESS.
IT IS TIME FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO
SACRIFICE."
I THINK HE IS RIGHT.
WHY SHOULD A MILLIONAIRE OR
BILLIONAIRE PAY A LOWER
EFFECTIVE TAX RATE THAN
FIREFIGHTERS, WHO RISK THEIR
LIVES EVERY DAY, THEN NURSES WHO
SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY, THAN THEIR
OWN ASSISTANTS AND SECRETARIES
WHO ARE SO IMPORTANT IN RUNNING
THEIR ENTERPRISES?
THE PRESIDENT, OUR PRESIDENT
OBAMA, HAS SUGGESTED THAT
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES
PAY THE SAME EFFECTIVE TAX RATE
AS THEIR EMPLOYEES.
THAT SHOULD BE EMBRACED, NOT
ATTACKED AS CLASS WARFARE.
AND I ASK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT,
IS IT CLASS WARFARE TO SAY TO A
MILLIONAIRE OR A BILLIONAIRE
THEY SHOULD PAY THE SAME
EFFECTIVE TAX RATE AS THEIR
SECRETARY?
OR IS THAT JUST THE MORAL THING
TO DO?
IT'S THE MORAL THING TO DO.
IS IT THE FAIR THING TO DO?
IT'S THE FAIR THING TO DO.
OUR COUNTRY NEEDS EVERYONE TO
HELP US, AS WE TACKLE THE
DEFICIT.
WHY THE TEARS?
WHY THE TEARS?
THESE ARE NOT THE JOB CREATORS.
THESE ARE NOT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
GIVEN THE LAST TEN YEARS.
WE HAVE SEEN THEIR INCOMES RICE
EXPONENTIALLY AND THEIR TAXES GO
DOWN.
SO I DON'T THINK IT'S CLASS
WARFARE AT ALL.
IT'S JUST A TALKING POINT FOR
REPUBLICANS.
BUT SINCE THEY'VE RAISED IT, I
SAY THIS:
I DON'T THINK IT'S CLASS WARFARE
TO ASK MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES TO PAY THE SAME
RATE AS THEIR SECRETARIES -- TAX
RATE.
BUT I THINK THAT REPUBLICAN
POLICIES REALLY ARE CLASS
WARFARE ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.
LOOK AT THEIR POLICIES:
THEY WOULD END MEDICARE AND PUT
MIDDLE-CLASS SENIOR CITIZENS IN
JEOPARDY, THEY WANT TO PRIVATIZE
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PUT
MIDDLE-CLASS SENIORS IN JEOPARDY
JEOPARDY; THEY WOULD TO CUT
ONE-THIRD OF THE FUNDS FROM
TRANSPORTATION WHICH WOULD MEAN
600,000 LAYOFFS OF MIDDLE-CLASS
WORKERS; THEY STOPPED US FROM
HELPING SMALL BUSINESS BY
BLOCKING SENATOR LANDRIEU'S
SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION ACT;
THEY BLOCKED THE E.D.A., THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT, WHICH
WOULD HAVE CREATED A MILLION
JOBS OVER FIVE YEARS; THEY HAVE
TAKEN NO ACTION ON THE F.A.A.
BILL; THEY HAVE NOT APPOINTED
CONFEREES, AND WE'RE CAN'T GET
THAT BILL DONE, AND THAT'S
HUNDREDS OF JOBS THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
WHEN THE REPUBLICANS TOOK
CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, GROSS
DOMESTIC PRODUCT HAD GROWN AT AN
AVERAGE OF 2.5%.
NOW IT'S DOWN TO 0.7%.
FROM 2.5% GROWTH TO 0.7.
THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS PUT THE
BRAKES ON JOB CREATION AND THAT
IS A STRONG REASON AS TO WHY
THIS ECONOMY HAS SLOWED.
AND NOW EVEN BEFORE THEY'VE READ
THE FINE PRINT IN PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S PROPOSAL, THEY SAY IT'S
DEAD ON ARRIVAL.
SO LET'S BE CLEAR.
AGAIN, ASKING MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES TO PAY THE SAME AS
WARFARE.
IT'S MORAL.
MARK KUBIN, THE OWNER.
DALLAS MAVERICKS, SAYS "IT'S THE
MOST PATRIOTIC THING YOU CAN
OKAY?
COIN STEAD OF CRYING FOR
MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES,
OF
KLEENEX TISSUES OVER THERE TO
PAUL RYAN, WHO IS LAMENTING THIS
BILLIONAIRES.
POOR THINGS.
POOR GUYS, POOR GALS.
INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, LET'S
FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS
AROUND HERE.
LET'S GET OUR ARMS AROUND
DEFICIT REDUCTION BY ASKING
EVERYONE WHO CAN TO PAY THEIR
FAIR SHAIMPLET AND BY THE WAY,
LET'S GIVE TAX BRAINGS BREAKS TO
THE MIDDLE CLASS.
DO YOU KNOW THAT THESE SAME
REPUBLICANS WHO ARE CRYING THEIR
TEARS FOR THE MILLIONAIRES AND
BILLIONAIRES SAY THEY DON'T WANT
TO GIVE A TAX BREAK TO WORKING
PEOPLE, THEY'RE AGAINST THE
PAYROLL TAX PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD
SUSPEND THAT PAYROLL TAX FOR A
PERIOD OF TIME.
STOP BLOCKING BILLS THAT WOULD
STOP BLOCKING TAX BREAKS FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS.
STOP GOING AFTER MIDDLE-CLASS
STOP CRYING FOR BILLIONAIRES.
HELP US PASS ELEMENTS OF THE
OBAMA JOBS PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES
BIPARTISAN PROPOSALS THAT ALL OF
US HAVE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.
AND I THINK THAT IS CRITICAL.
WE DID IT BEFORE WITH BILL
CLINTON.
WE CREATED JOBS.
WE STRENGTHENED THE MIDDLE
WE CREATE SURPLUSES BY ASKING
SHARE.
REMEMBER, WHEN OUR PRESIDENT
TOOK OVER, THIS COUNTRY WAS
BLEEDING 700,000 JOBS A MONTH.
I REMEMBER THAT.
700,000 JOBS.
WE WERE ON THE VERGE OF LOSING
OUR AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
THIS PRESIDENT TOOK ACTION.
IT.
THAT'S OKAY.
THERE'LL BE TIME TO SPELL IT
BUT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK
BACK TO THOSE DAYS.
CREDIT WAS FROZEN.
YOU REMEMBER THAT, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
CAPITALISM WAS COMING TO AND HE.
THIS PRESIDENT ACTED.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS:
I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THOSE
DAYS OF BLEEDING 700,000 JOBS A
MONTH.
I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THE
DAYS OF CREDIT FREEZES.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE THESE
DEFICITS CONTINUE.
I WANT EVERYONE TO PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE.
AND, MOST OF ALL, I WANT JOBS
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
SO IF WE CAN STOP CRYING TEARS
FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE IT ALL
AND GET TO WORK AND ROLL UP OUR
SLEEVES AND WORK TOGETHER FOR
THE MIDDLE CLASS, WE'RE GOING TO
STRENGTHEN THIS NATION.
WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE OUR
PROBLEMS JUST AS WE DID WHEN
BILL CLINTON WAS PRESIDENT.
WE HAVE THE ROAD MAP.
OBAMA HAS TAKEN THAT ROAD MAP.
WE KNOW THAT IT WORKS.
WE WILL GET THESE DEFICITS DOWN.
WE'LL GET THE DEBT DOWN.
WE WILL HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS.
AND, YES, THE WEALTHIEST AMONG
US WILL PAY THE SAME TAX RATE,
SECRETARIES.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF WE DO THAT, DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT
THIS COUNTRY AGAIN.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND LET'S
NOT SAY NOW THAT WE CAN'T ASK
BILLIONAIRES TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE AND LET'S NOT KEEP THE
MIDDLE CLASS FROM GETTING THEIR
TAX CUTS AND THEIR JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.
MUCH.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEADERS ON
THIS ISSUE FOR LETTING ME HAVE
THIS TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS
MIDDLE-CLASS ATTACK THAT WE SEE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM UTAH.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
