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VOTING IS SCHEDULED FOR 3 P.M.
EASTERN.
LIVE COVERAGE OF THE U.S. SENATE
LIVE HERE ON C-SPAN2.
AMENDMENT I
INTRODUCED ON FRIDAY CUTS $52
BILLION FROM THE DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING REQUEST SUBMITTED BY
THE PRESIDENT FOR FY 2011.
IF THIS AMENDMENT WERE AGREED
TO, AS WRITTEN, IT WOULD MEAN
THAT WE WOULD APPROPRIATE $51
BILLION LESS THAN THE PRESIDENT
FELT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT ITS
DUTIES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I DO NOT AGREE
WITH EVERY ITEM IN THIS
PRESIDENT OR ANY PRESIDENT
REQUEST ON THIS BUDGET, BUT I
ALSO KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
BUDGET REQUEST DID NOT CONTAIN
$51 BILLION IN FRIVOLOUS OR
WASTEFUL SPENDING.
THE CUTS ARE NECESSARY TO REACH
THE $51 BILLION LEVEL REQUIRE
DIFFICULT CHOICES.
THIS AMENDMENT MAKES REAL CUTS
TO REAL PROGRAMS.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS
WILL FEEL THE DIRECT IMPACT OF
THE PROPOSED CUTS.
BUT THE CUTS INCLUDED IN THIS
AMENDMENT ARE BASED ON HEARINGS,
TESTIMONY, AND A THOROUGH
ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT NEEDS OF
EVERY AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT THAT
THE COMMITTEE FUNDS.
BY CONTRAST, THE REPUBLICANS IN
THE HOUSE HAVE THROWN TOGETHER A
PROPOSAL BASED NOT ON BUDGETS,
NOT ON HEARINGS, NOT ON THE
DEMONSTRATED NEEDS OF AGENCIES
AND DEPARTMENTS BUT, RATHER,
BASED ON THE CAMPAIGN PROMISE TO
REDUCE SPENDING BY $100 BILLION.
H.R. 1 SHOWS CLEARLY WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN YOU WRITE A BILL
BASED NOT ON ANALYSIS BUT ON
CAMPAIGN SPEECHES.
THEREFORE, TODAY THE SENATE
FINDS ITSELF RESPONDING TO
DRACONIAN CUTS THAT WOULD LEAD
TO FURLOUGHS, DISRUPTED DELIVERY
OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
SERVICES, AND HARM AMERICA'S
CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS, OUR
WORKING CLASS, AND OUR SENIORS.
AN ESTIMATED 700,000 JOBS WOULD
BE LOST.
ALL OF THIS PAIN DELIVERED IN
THE NAME OF DEFICIT REDUCTION
AND THE GROWING ECONOMY.
YET, MR. PRESIDENT, THE FACTS
ARE CLEAR.
THIS IS THE WRONG DIRECTION FOR
OUR NATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE FACE OUR
CURRENT FISCAL SITUATION
PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF FALLING
REVENUES BROUGHT ABOUT BY UNPAID
TAX CUTS ESPECIALLY FOR THE
WEALTHIEST AMERICANS AND BECAUSE
OF EVER-RISING ENTITLEMENT
COSTS.
EVERY NONPARTISAN REPORT ON
FINDING A SOLUTION TO OUR
CURRENT FISCAL CRISIS STRESSES
THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE
SOLUTION, A SOLUTION THAT
INCLUDES CUTS IN DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING, BOTH DEFENSE AND
NON-DEFENSE, AS WE WILL AS CUTS
IN ENTITLEMENT SPENDING AND,
YES, THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL
REVENUES.
JUST YESTERDAY "THE NEW YORK
TIMES" PUBLISHED A STORY ABOUT
THE EFFORTS OF THE JUNIOR
SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA AND THE
SENIOR SENATOR FROM GEORGIA WHO
HONESTLY EXAMINE WHAT IT WILL
TAKE TO SOLVE OUR FISCAL
ACCORDING TO THAT STORY, EVEN IF
CONGRESS CUT DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING TO ZERO, THE SENIOR
SENATOR FROM GEORGIA WAS QUOTED
AS SAYING, "WE STILL COULD NOT
SOLVE THE PROBLEM."
MR. PRESIDENT, I COULD NOT AGREE
MORE.
THE SOLUTION TO DEFICIT
REDUCTION WILL NOT COME FROM
HUGE CUTS TO A SMALL PORTION OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT
IS WHAT THE HOUSE IS PROPOSING.
WHAT H.R. 1 WILL DO INSTEAD IS
JEOPARDIZE THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY
WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS DEMOCRATIC
ALTERNATIVE ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE
BEST OF A VERY BAD SITUATION.
THE TOPLINE NUMBERS TELL A
IN THIS AMENDMENT WE ARE $23
BILLION BELOW THE PRESIDENT'S
REQUEST FOR NONSECURITY SPENDING
SPENDING, AND WE ARE $28 BILLION
BELOW HIS ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR
SPENDING RELATED TO OUR NATION'S
SECURITY.
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ALONE WE HAVE REDUCED SPENDING
BY $19.4 BILLION, INCLUDING A
REDUCTION OF $2.1 BILLION FOR
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND $17.3
BILLION FOR IT THE REST OF THE
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.
AT THIS LEVEL, THE BILL IS
NEARLY $3 BILLION BELOW THE
AMOUNTS PROPOSED BY THE HOUSE
FOR THESE ACTIVITIES.
THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNTS WILL
COVER OUR DEFENSE REQUIREMENTS
IN THIS CONSTRAINED FISCAL
ENVIRONMENT.
HOWEVER, MY COLLEAGUES SHOULD
ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WITH OUR
TROOPS STILL SERVING IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN, THIS IS NOT THE
TIME TO BE LOOKING TO DEFENSE
FOR ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I FEAR THAT NOT
ALL MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH
OF THE CUTS THAT WERE MADE TO
GET $351 BILLION UNDER THE
REQUEST -- TO GET $51 BILLION
UNDER THE REQUEST.
IT SHOULD BE ADVISED, FOR
EXAMPLE, THAT THE SENATE
AMENDMENT CUTS $355 MILLION FOR
STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
GRANTS.
THIS WILL REMAIN -- RESULT IN
SOME 1,400 FEWER LOCAL AND
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOBS.
IN ADDITION, THE AMENDMENT CUTS
$526 MILLION FROM F.B.I.
SALARIES AND EXPENSES.
THESE CUTS WILL HALT NEW
NATIONAL SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS
INTENDED TO IMPROVE OUR
INTELLIGENCE AND
COUNTERTERRORISM CAPABILITIES,
TO PROTECT U.S. INFORMATION AND
TECHNOLOGY NETWORKS FROM CYBER
ATTACKS, AND TO ASSIST IN
LITIGATION OF INTELLIGENCE AND
TERRORISM CASES.
THIS AMENDMENT CUTS SCIENCE
FUNDING BY $573 MILLION AT THE
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND
BY $165 MILLION AT THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND
TECHNOLOGY AND, AS A RESULT,
MR. PRESIDENT, THE NATION WILL
LOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROMISING
RESEARCH IN EMERGING FIELDS LIKE
CYBERSECURITY AND
NANOTECHNOLOGY.
INSTEAD OF TAKING A LEAD, AS WE
HAVE ALWAYS DONE, WE WILL SLOW
DOWN, ALLOWING THE REST OF THE
WORLD TO CATCH UP.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE CRITICAL
AREA OF EDUCATION, THE SENATE
AMENDMENT ELIMINATES 17
INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS,
TOTALING $370 MILLION.
IT CUTS ALL FEDERAL FUNDING
SPECIFICALLY TARGETED TO
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY, GIFTED AND
TALENTED INSTRUCTION, A AND
FAMILY LITERACY.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, THE LIST
GOES ON AND ON, BUT AS
SIGNIFICANT AS THESE CUTS ARE,
THEY STAND IN STRONG CONTRAST TO
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN BILL, WHICH
INCLUDES SUCH SEVERE MEASURES
THAT THE BILL WOULD UNDERMINE
OUR SECURITY, ENDANGER OUR
ECONOMY, WHILE COSTING HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN JOBS.
H.R. 1 WOULD CUT TRANSIT
SECURITY GRANTS BY 66%.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE
BEEN OVER 1,300 ATTACKS KILLING
OR INJURING OVER 1-R8,000 PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE ON TRAINS AND SUBWAYS
OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, THE
SENATE BILL WOULD A MAINTAIN THE
FISCAL YEAR 2010-ENACTED LEVEL
OF $300 MILLION.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN C.R. CUTS
DISCRETIONARY FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS BY $1
BILLION COMPARED TO THE FY
2010-ENACTED LEVEL.
THIS CUT WOULD PREVENT ANY NEW
CLINIC FROM OPENING.
IT WOULD ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR
127 CLINICS CURRENTLY OPERATING
IN 38 STATES AND REDUCE CURRENT
SERVICES AT ANOTHER 1,096
CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
MORE THAN 2.8 MILLION PEOPLE
WILL LIKELY LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR
CURRENT PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER,
AND OVER 5,000 HEALTH CENTER
STAFF WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS.
THE SENATE BILL RESTORES THE $1
BILLION CUT, PROVIDING BOTH THE
VITAL SERVICES BEING PROVIDED
TODAY AND THE PLANNED EXPANSION
OF CENTERS ESTIMATED TO TREAT
OVER 7.5 MILLION NEW PATIENTS
THIS YEAR.
THE HOUSE C.R. WOULD ELIMINATE
ALL FUNDING FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT
GENERATING ECONOMIC RECOVERY
TARGET GRANT PROGRAM.
TARGET GRANTS ARE HIGHLY
COMPETITIVE AND FUND THRPTION
PROJECTS THAT MAKE A SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATION, A
REGION, OR METROPOLITAN AREA.
THE HOUSE PROPOSAL WOULD TAKE
FUNDING AWAY FROM 75 PROJECTS IN
40 STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BASED ON THE INFORMATION FROM
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT,
CUTTING A TOTAL OF $1.2 BILLION
FROM THE TARGET PROGRAM WILL PUT
33,360 JOBS AT RISK.
H.R. 1 CUTS FUNDING FOR THE
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES BY $125
MILLION BELOW THE 2010 LEVEL.
THIS WOULD CAUSE THE S.S.A. TO
FREEZE HIRING ARE ACROSS THE
AGENCY AND POSSIBLY FURLOUGH
EMPLOYEES AT A TIME WHEN THE
NUMBER OF AMERICANS FILING FOR
DISABILITY AND RETIREMENT
BENEFITS IS AT RECORD LEVELS.
THE SENATE BILL, BY CONTRAST,
PROVIDES $600 MILLION MORE THAN
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL.
COMPARED TO THE HOUSE C.R., IT
WILL ALLOW S.S.A. TO PROCESS
ABOUT 300,000 MORE INITIAL
DISABILITY CLAIMS AND 150,000
MORE DISABILITY HEARINGS AND
PREVENT DELAYS IN NEW
BENEFICIARIES RECEIVING THEIR
RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
THE HOUSE BILL SLASHES TITLE 1
EDUCATION FUNDING BY NEARLY $700
MILLION, MEANING 2,004 SCHOOLS
SERVING DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS
WOULD LOSE FUNDING AND
APPROXIMATELY 10,000 TEACHERS
AND AIDES WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS.
AT A TIME WHEN SCHOOLS ACROSS
THE NATION ARE ALREADY
STRUGGLING WITH BUDGET CUTS, THE
TITLE 1 GRANTS PROGRAM SERVES AS
A FOUNDATION OF FEDERAL
ASSISTANCE TO ELEMENTARY AND
SECONDARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, PROVIDING FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 90% OF
OUR NATION'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
FINALLY, WITH REGARD TO OUR
NATION'S SECURITY INTERESTS, THE
DEVASTATING FUNDING CUTS IN
H.R. 1 UNDERMINE OUR ABILITY TO
STABLIZE AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN,
AND IRAQ AND TO SUPPORT GENERAL
PETRAEUS'S STRATEGY.
H.R. 1 PROVIDES $5.71 BILLION
FOR ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUND, A 27%
CUT FROM THE FY 2011 REQUEST.
AS BOTH SECRETARY GATES AND
SECRETARY CLINTON HAVE MADE
CLEAR IN TESTIMONY BEFORE
CONGRESS, CUTS OF THIS MAGNITUDE
WILL SERIOUSLY IMPEDE EFFORTS TO
STABLIZE AFGHANISTAN AND TO
TRANSITION RESPONSIBILITY FOR
U.S. OPERATIONS IN IRAQ FROM
MILITARY TO CIVILIAN.
MR. PRESIDENT, THERE ARE MANY
MORE EXAMPLES OF DAMAGE THAT
WOULD COME FROM, SHOULD H.R. 1
BE ENACTED INTO LAW, WHICH IS
WHY THE PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED A
VETO AND WHY I KNOW MY
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES WILL
REJECT IT WHEN IT COMES UP TO A
VOTE.
THE SENATE AMENDMENT THAT I
OFFER TAKES A RESPONSIBLE
APPROACH TO FUNDING THE
GOVERNMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF
THE FISCAL YEAR, MAKING
DIFFICULT DECISIONS BUT ALSO
ENSURING MINIMAL DISRUPTIONS FOR
THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE ARE NOW ALMOST
HALFWAY THROUGH FY 2011, AND IF
WE ARE TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF
AVOIDING ANOTHER SERIES OF
CONTINUING RESOLUTIONS FOR FY
2012, WE SIMPLY MUST FINISH OUR
WORK ON THE THIRD TIER AND MOVE
PAST THIS ISSUE.
THEREFORE, MR. PRESIDENT, I
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES
TO SUPPORT MY AMENDMENT AS A
PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE TO THE HOUSE
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM NEVADA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
START BY ASKING UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT SPEAKERS ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE BE LIMITED TO
TEN MINUTES EACH WITH SENATOR
COBURN CONTROLLING UP TO 25
MINUTES.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'VE
COME TO SPEAK ON THE TWO
PROPOSALS, THE DEMOCRAT PROPOSAL
AND THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL FROM
THE HOUSE, KNOWN AS H.R. 1.
I'M GOING TO RELUCTANTLY SUPPORT
IT REDUCES GOVERNMENT SPENDING
BY ABOUT $61 BILLION BELOW LAST
YEAR'S LEVELS.
THE REASON I'M RELUCTANTLY
SUPPORTING IT IS BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK IT GOES FAR ENOUGH.
WE'VE HEARD THE OTHER SIDE RAIL
THAT THE CUTS ARE TOO LARGE, BUT
LET ME JUST -- A FEW QUOTES
THIS IS FROM ADMIRAL MIKE
MULLEN, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.
JUST GOING TO READ THE YELLOW
PORTION HERE.
HE SAID THAT, "I BELIEVE THAT
OUR DEBT IS THE GREATEST THREAT
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY."
WELL, WE KNOW THAT OUR NATIONAL
DEBT IS OVER $14 TRILLION NOW
THIS.THIS YEAR WE'RE SPENDING IN
EXCESS OF WHAT WE TAKE IN OVER
$1 -- $ALMOST $1.6 TRILLION.
AND ALL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN
THAT HOUSE BILL THAT GOT SENT
OVER HERE IS REDUCING THAT
AMOUNT BY $61 BILLION, A VERY
PALTRY AMOUNT.
A FEW OTHER QUOTES THAT I WANT
TO TALK ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS FROM TREASURY SECRETARY
TIM GEITHNER.
HE SAID, FEBRUARY 17, "IT IS AN
EXCESSIVELY HIGH INTEREST
BURDEN," TALKING ABOUT OUR DEBT.
HE SAID, "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" -- AND THIS IS
THE IMPORTANT PART -- "WE WOULD
STILL BE LEFT WITH A VERY LARGE
INTEREST BURDEN AND
UNSUSTAINABLE OBLIGATIONS OVER
THAT'S THE SECRETARY --
SECRETARY OF TREASURY.
HE ALSO SAID THAT "OUR DEFICIT
ARE TOO HIGH.
THEY ARE UNSUSTAINABLE."
I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES.
AND HE SAID, "IF LEFT
UNAADDRESSED, THESE DEFICITS
WILL HURT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
MAKE US WEAKER AS A NATION."
WELL, THE BILLS THAT WE HAVE
BEFORE US, ONE BILL STARTS TO
ADDRESS IT.
THE OTHER BILL VIRTUALLY IGNORES
THE DEFICIT.
THE NEXT QUOTE -- THIS IS FROM
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, "WHAT MY
BUDGET DOES IS TO 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."
HE SAID, "WE WILL NOT BE ADDING
MORE TO THE NATIONAL DEBT."
IT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE THAT
THE PRESIDENT COULD MAKE SUCH A
COMMENT BY LOOKING AT HIS
BUDGET.
HIS BUDGET TAKES US FROM
$14 TRILLION IN DEBT TO $27 TRIL
ONIN DEBT OVER THE NEXT
DECADE -- $27 TRILLION IN DEBT
OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
DEBT.
AND HE SAYS WE'RE GOING TO BE
LIVING WITHIN OUR MEANS?
HERE'S A GRAPH OF THAT.
IN 2010, WE ARE ABOUT
YOU SEE OVER THE DECADE, WE GO
UP FURTHER, FURTHER, FURTHER.
DOWN HERE, 2021, $26.3 TRILLION.
THIS IS VIRTUALLY A DOUBLING OF
OUR NATIONAL DEBT.
THAT'S WHY WHEN TIMOTHY GEITHNER
SAID IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE, OUR
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,
APPOINTED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA, HE
SAYS IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
WE ALL AGREE IT'S UNSUSTAINABLE,
SO WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL?
WE LITERALLY, WE HAVE TO QUIT
SPENDING MONEY THAT WE DO NOT
HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE BANKRUPTING
THE VERY FUTURE OF AMERICA.
I WANT TO QUOTE JUST A FEW OF
THE SENATORS FROM THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE.
SENATOR JOE MANCHIN SAID, "THE
MOST POWERFUL PERSON IN THESE
NEGOTIATIONS, OUR PRESIDENT, HAS
FAILED TO LEAD ON THIS DEBATE OR
OFFER A SERIOUS PROPOSAL FOR
SPENDING CUTS."
HE ALSO SAID, THE DEMOCRATIC
BILL, THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE,
"UTTERLY IGNORES OUR FISCAL
REALITY, THAT OUR NATION IS
BADLY IN DEBT AND SPENDING AT UN
-- ABSOLUTELY UNSUSTAINABLE AND
OUT-OF-CONTROL LEVELS.
WE MUST TURN OUR FINANCIAL SHIP
AROUND, BUT THE SENATE PROPOSAL
CONTINUES TO SAIL FORWARD AS IF
THERE'S NO STORM ON THE HORIZON
THAT'S A QUOTE FROM ONE OF OUR
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HERE FROM
WEST VIRGINIA.
THE BILL THAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED
BY THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY FAILS
TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A
FISCAL CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY
AND IT IS A PROBLEM OF SPENDING.
SENATOR CLAIRE McCASKILL OF
MISSOURI SAID, ANOTHER DEMOCRAT,
"I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE CUTS
ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH.
TALKING ABOUT THIS BILL.
ANOTHER SAID, "WE NEED SO SEND
SOME SORT OF A SHOCK WAVE ACROSS
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT THIS
TIME WE REALLY MEAN IT."
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SPENDING
CUTS.
HE WAS TALKING ABOUT GETTING
SERIOUS ABOUT DEFICIT REDUCTION.
WELL, MR. PRESIDENT THE HOUSE
BILL DOESN'T DO ENOUGH BUT AT
LEAST IT'S HEADED MORE IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION ABOUT GETTING
SPENDING UNDER CONTROL.
WHILE I MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH
EVERY ONE OF THE SPENDING CUTS
IN IT, THE DIRECTION IT IS GOING
IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A CONGRESS
CONGRESS.
THE BILL THAT THE MAJORITY HAS
PUT BEFORE US IS REALLY SHOWING
A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF HOW
SERIOUS THIS DEFICIT AND THIS
DEBT -- HOW SERIOUS OF AN ISSUE
THAT THIS IS FOR OUR COUNTRY.
NOW, A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT I
WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
I WANT TO PUT ALL OF THIS
DEFICIT REDUCTION THAT THIS IS
BEING CALLED INTO SOME SORT OF
CONTRACT -- OF CONTEXT.
THIS YEAR THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE SAYS THAT WE'RE
GOING TO SPEND $1.5 TRILLION
MORE THAN WHAT WE TAKE IN.
THAT'S WHAT THE DEFICIT IS THIS
YEAR.
ACCORDING TO THE PRESIDENT, IT'S
OVER $1.6 TRILLION.
THOSE ARE THEIR ESTIMATES.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, WE ARE
SPENDING ABOUT 40 CENTS MORE PER
DOLLAR THAN WHAT WE TAKE IN.
NOW, THESE SPENDING PROPOSALS
THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US, THIS IS
HOW MUCH THE DEFICIT IS.
THE HOUSE BILL WILL REDUCE THAT
DEFICIT BY THIS TINY SLICE OF
THE PIE.
THE DEMOCRAT MAJORITY'S BILL
WILL REDUCE IT BY THIS LITTLE,
TINY SLICE OF THE PIE RIGHT
HERE.
SO THE HOUSE BILL IS A SMALL
SLICE BUT AT LEAST IT'S A LARGER
SLICE THAN WHAT THE DEMOCRAT
MAJORITY HAS PUT OUT.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THIS IS
PATENT SYSTEM THEY AND I CAN
THIS WILL DO -- THIS IS PATHETIC
AND THIS WILL DO NOTHING TO PUT
US ON A SUSTAINABLE FISCAL PATH
WHERE WE CAN START LIVING WITHIN
OUR MEANS AND QUIT SPENDING MEAN
WE DO NOT HAVE.
THE HOUSE BILL ITSELF IS
ACTUALLY JUST A 4% REDUCTION IN
THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE
JUST A 4% REDUCTION.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS YEAR
YEAR, SINCE WE'RE BORROWING 40
CENTS OUT OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT
WE SPEND, TO PUT THAT IN TERMS
THAT MAYBE A FAMILY WOULD
UNDERSTAND, IT WOULD BE LIKE A
FAMILY MAKING $60,000 A YEAR AND
YET IT'S GOING TO SPEND $100,000
WELL, ANY FAMILY IN AMERICA
WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S
UNSUSTAINABLE.
YOU COULDN'T CONTINUE ALONG THAT
PATH.
AND IF THAT SAME FAMILY WAS TO
DECREASE THEIR SPENDING HABITS
BY THE SAME AMOUNT THAT THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE PROPOSED OUT OF
THAT $100,000, THEY WOULD REDUCE
THEIR SPENDING HABITS BY $168.
THAT'S ALL.
THAT'S HOW PATHETIC THIS
SPENDING REDUCTION IS BY THE
OTHER SIDE.
WE HAVE TO GET SERIOUS.
RECENTLY, SENATOR COBURN
REQUESTED A GENERAL
ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT
THAT CAME BACK AND SAID THEY
IDENTIFIED OVER $100 BILLION IN
DUPLICATIVE AND WASTEFUL
SPENDING PROGRAMS.
$100 BILLION PER YEAR IN
WASTEFUL AND DUPLICATIVE
SPENDING PROGRAMS.
THIS G.A.O. REPORT UNDERSCORES
THE GREAT NEGLIGENCE OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES
TO MANAGING HARD-EARNED TAXPAYER
DOLLARS.
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF
FACTS FROM THAT REPORT.
IT SAYS THAT THE GOVERNMENT
SPENDS $18 BILLION ON 47
DIFFERENT JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS
AND YET THE PRESIDENT EVEN
REQUESTED ANOTHER $400 MILLION
FOR A NEW PROGRAM THAT WILL
REPLICATE PROVEN STRAT STRATEGIES TO
PROGRAMS.
DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE
JOB-TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE
MEASURED FOR EFFECTIVENESS OUT
OF THE 47?
ZERO ARE MEASURED FOR
ZERO.
AND YET WE'RE GOING TO CREATE
MORE INSTEAD OF ELIMINATING A
LOT OF THE PROGRAMS AND DOING
OUR PROPER OVERSIGHT THAT THIS
CONGRESS SHOULD BE DOING.
THERE ARE 80 PROGRAMS PROVIDING
TRANSPORTATION TO DISADVANTAGED
PERSONS IN EIGHT DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS.
THE G.A.O. FOUND THAT $2 BILLION
IN COSTS FOR JUST 29 OF THESE
PROGRAMS BUT THE EXTENT OF
FRAGMENTATION IN THIS AREA WAS
UNABLE TO IDENTIFY TOTAL COST
FOR THE OTHER 51 PROGRAMS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THEY COULDN'T
EVEN IDENTIFY WHAT THE TOTAL
COSTS WERE FOR THESE OTHER
PROGRAMS, THAT'S HOW MESSED UP
IT IS.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ALSO SPENDS
ABOUT $63 BILLION ON 18
DIFFERENT DOMESTIC FOOD AND
NUTRITION PROGRAMS AND ABOUT
PROGRAMS.
AND THE REPORT NOTES -- AND I'M
QUOTING -- "THIS CAN CREATE
UNNECESSARY WORK FOR BOTH
PROVIDERS AND APPLICANTS AND MAY
RESULT IN THE USE OF MORE
NEEDED."
LET ME TRANSLATE THAT.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE TOO MUCH
BUREAUCRACY AND TOO MUCH
WASTEFUL SPENDING SO THE MONEY
DOESN'T ACTUALLY GET TO THE
PEOPLE IT'S INTENDED TO HELP.
IT GETS SPENT IN THE
BUREAUCRACY.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER ALMOST
$60 BILLION SPENT ON OVER 100
DUPLICATED AND FRAGMENTED
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS.
A HUNDRED OF THEM.
AND SO WHILE I'M TROUBLED THAT
THE $61 BILLION FROM THE HOUSE
JUST ISN'T ENOUGH TO TACKLE THE
PROBLEM, I AM ASTOUNDED BY WHAT
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE HAS
DONE.
IT ALSO CONTINUES MANY OF THE
WASTEFUL PROGRAMS THAT WE TALK
ABOUT: THE CORPORATION FOR
PUBLIC BROADCASTING HAS CO
UNDER FIRE, OBVIOUSLY, NPR, THIS
MORNING THEIR C.E.O. RESIGNED.
THEY'VE WEAN THE CONTROVERSIES
THERE.
WE'VE SEEN THE CONTROVERSIES
BUT THIS BILL ALSO SPENDS
$20 BILLION TO HELP UNIONS
ORGANIZE OVERSEAS, NOT EVEN IN
AMERICA, OUR UNIONS -- HELPING
UNIONS ORGANIZE OVERSEAS.
IS THAT WHAT WE WANT TO BE DOING
WITH AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS?
WELL, TODAY'S VOTE ARE A CHOICE
BETWEEN MODEST PROGRESS AND
MAKING THE PROBLEM --
EXCUSE
ME, THE SENATOR HAS USED TEN
MINUTES.
I WOULD ASK FOR AN
ADDITIONAL ONE MINUTE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE HOUSE BILL NEEDS
TO BE THE FLOOR FOR WHAT WE
ACCOMPLISH OUT OF THIS PROCESS.
AND AS I SAID, THE HOUSE BILL
ISN'T NEARLY ENOUGH AND WE CAN'T
ALLOW THIS PROCESS TO CAPTURE A
MODEST IMPROVEMENT IN THE NAME
OF COMPROMISE BY WATERING IT
DOWN TO A COMPLETE ABDICATION OF
LEADERSHIP.
THE STAKES ARE REALLY JUST TOO
SO TODAY I WILL BE RELUCTANTLY
SUPPORTING H.R. 1, THE HOUSE
BILL, WHICH CUTS $61 BILLION
FROM LAST YEAR'S SPENDING.
IT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, A MODEST STEP.
THE OTHER SIDE HAS PUT FORWARD A
PROPOSAL THAT SHOULD BE REJECTED
OUT OF HAND BECAUSE IT IS
NOT HAVE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TWO
MINUTES AND FOR SENATOR LEAHY TO
BE RECOGNIZED FOLLOWING MY
REMARKS FOR TEN MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, AND
I WOULDN'T MIND THE CHART FROM
MY FRIEND FROM NEVADA STAYING
UP, BECAUSE IT MAKES MY POINT
THAT I'LL MAKE IN A MINUTE.
IN A FEW HOURS, THE SENATE WILL
HOLD AN UP-OR-DOWN VOTE ON H.R.
1, THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
SCORCHED-EARTH SPENDING PROPOSAL
THAT COUNTS AMONG ITS CASUALTIES
SUCH CRITICAL PRIORITIES AS
BORDER SECURITY, CANCER RESEARCH
AND FOOD SAFETY INSPECTORS.
THE HOUSE G.O.P. PROPOSAL IS A
TROAJTROJAN HORSE AND WE WILL NOT BE
FOOLED BY IT.
IT SPEAKS IN THE NAME OF DEFICIT
REDUCTION BUT THE DIRTY LITTLE
SECRET ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN
SPENDING PLAN IS THAT ONCE THE
DUST HAS SETTLED, IT WOULD ONLY
DECREASE THE DEFICIT BY
$5 BILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2011.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE C.B.O.
SCORE OF THE CONTINUING
RESOLUTION WE'RE OPERATING UNDER
AND COMPARE THAT TO THE HOUSE
SPENDING BILL, THE DIFFERENCE BY
C.B.O. AND BUDGET OUTLAYS ONLY
AMOUNTS TO $5 BILLION IN FISCAL
YEAR 2011.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A
DIFFERENCE OF $1.36 TRIL TRILLION IN
BUDGET OUTLAYS UNDER THE CURRENT
C.R. VERSUS $1.355 TRILLION IN
OUTLAYS UNDER THE REPUBLICAN
PROPOSAL, MUCH LIKE MY COLLEAGUE
FROM NEVADA'S CHART HAS SHOWN.
IN OTHER WORDS, ALL OF THE CUTS
THE REPUBLICANS ARE CURRENTLY CURRENTLY
PROPOSING WILL SHAVE A GRANT
TOTAL OF .3% FROM THE DEFICIT.
SOME MIGHT SAY, WELL, IT'S A
START, BUT IN RELATION TO THE
DAMAGE THESE CUTS WILL DO, IT'S
A MEANINGLESS START.
THE CUTS TO DOMESTIC
DISCRETIONARY WILL DO NOTHING TO
CREATE JOBS OR SPUR SHORT-TERM
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
IN FACT, THE REVERSE IS TRUE.
AS NUMEROUS INDEPENDENT
ECONOMISTS POINT OUT, WE WILL
SEE A REDUCTION IN ECONOMIC
GROWTH ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IF
H.R. 1 IS ENACTED, AND THESE
CUTS WILL HARM OUR ABILITY TO
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE BECAUSE
THEY GUT THE VERY PRIORITIES WE
NEED TO BE INVESTING IN TO HELP
OUR ECONOMY GROW -- EDUCATION --
THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
CONSENT I BE GIVEN TWO
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY,
AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
IF ALL THESE CUTS WON'T IMPROVE
THE ECONOMY IN THE NEAR TERM AND
WON'T CUT THE DEFICIT, THEN
EXACTLY WHAT WILL THEY DO?
THEY'LL SATISFY A VERY SMALL BUT
VOCAL SEGMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
THAT'S ALL.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S TIME FOR
A RESET.
THIS MORNING, I CALLED FOR A
RESET OF THIS BUDGET DEBATE.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
AFTER TODAY'S VOTES, BOTH SIDES
IN THE DEBATE TAKE A DEEP,
COLLECTIVE BREATH.
WE SHOULD ALL TAKE STOCK OF HOW
THE DISCUSSION UP TO NOW HAS
BECOME DISTORTED AND SEEK TO
RESET THE TERMS OF THE DEBATE.
IT MAY NOT HAPPEN TOMORROW, BUT
IN THE COMING WEEKS AS
NEGOTIATIONS LED BY THE WHITE
HOUSE RECONVENE, WE SHOULD
APPROACH THE TALKS WITH FRESH
EYES AND A NEW MINDSET.
RATHER THAN CONTINUING THE
FIXATION ON DOMESTIC
DISCRETIONARY CUTS, WHICH AT THE
SAME TIME DO HUGE DAMAGE AND CUT
THE DEFICIT VERY LITTLE JUST
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE
SPENT, THE NEXT OFFER AND
COUNTEROFFER SHOULD INCLUDE
MANDATORY CUTS AND REVENUE
RAISERS LIKE OIL ROYALTIES INTO
THE MIX.
WE WILL ONLY PUT A DENT IN THE
DEFICIT THROUGH SHARED
SACRIFICE.
FOCUSING SIMPLY ON DOMESTIC
DISCRETIONARY AND EVEN LEAVING
OUT THE MILITARY WILL NOT
ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF DEFICIT
REDUCTION, INCLUDING MANDATORY
CUTS AND REVENUE RAISERS LIKE
OIL ROYALTIES WILL.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: THE
BLAME FOR THE CURRENT BREAKDOWN
IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS RESTS
WITH OUR FAILURE TO THINK BIG.
A BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE SIMPLY
WILL NOT BE FOUND IN
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING CUTS
WE MUST BROADEN THE PLAYING
THE SOLUTION WILL ONLY COME FROM
PUTTING OTHER KINDS OF CUTS AS
WELL AS REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS ON
DOING THIS WILL ALSO SET THE
TABLE FOR THE LARGER BUDGET
DISCUSSIONS STILL TO COME.
I SEE MY COLLEAGUE FROM VERMONT
IS HERE, SO I'M READY TO YIELD
THE FLOOR TO HIM.
I -- I APPRECIATE
THAT, BUT I THINK WHAT THEY'RE
GOING TO DO IS TRY TO GO BACK
AND FORTH.
WELL, I YIELD THE
FLOOR IN ANY CASE.
SENATOR SESSIONS WILL
GO, BUT I APPRECIATE THE
YORK.
I WOULD YIELD WITH THE -- AND
WITH THE CONSENT THAT I THEN BE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA'S SPEECH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I -- I THANK THE DISTINGUISHED
CHAIRMAN OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE AND CONGRATULATE HIM
ON A VERY SUCCESSFUL PATENT BILL
VOTE.
I WAS PLEASED TO WORK WITH HIM
ON THAT AS A PARTNER FOR TWO
YEARS WHEN I WAS RANKING MEMBER
OF THAT COMMITTEE, AND I THINK
IT'S A GOOD DAY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'LL SOON BE
MOVING TOWARD A VOTE ON THE
CONTINUING RESOLUTION.
THERE ARE APPARENTLY GOING TO BE
TWO OPTIONS GIVEN TO US, AND THE
QUESTION I WOULD POSE TO OUR
COLLEAGUES AND TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE IS DO WE HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING OR CAN WE DO NOTHING?
IS NOTHING AN OPTION?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE
DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL IS, NOTHING,
ZERO, NADA.
SO WE HAD IN THE BUDGET
COMMITTEE, OF WHICH I AM THE
RANKING MEMBER NOW, THE
TESTIMONY YESTERDAY OF ALLEN
SIMPSON ANDER SKIN -- AND
ERSKINE BOWLES, PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S CHIEF OF STAFF AND A
WELL-KNOWN BUSINESS AND
DEMOCRATIC LEADER.
THIS IS WHAT THEY TOLD US
YESTERDAY IN THEIR WRITTEN
STATEMENT, BOTH OF THEM PUT THIS
IN TO US.
"WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE DO NOT
TAKE DECISIVE ACTION, OUR NATION
FACES THE MOST PREDICTABLE
ECONOMIC CRISIS IN HISTORY."
CLOSE QUOTE.
THEY HAVE SPENT MONTHS WRESTLING
WITH THESE NUMBERS.
THEY REACHED A MAJORITY OF THE
MEMBERS VOTED FOR THE REFORMS
THEY PROPOSED, AND THEY GAVE A
LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO IT.
I DIDN'T THINK THEY WENT FAR
ENOUGH IN SOME OF THE AREAS, BUT
I WOULD SAY THEY MADE A REAL
SIGNIFICANT ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH
THE CRISIS WE FACE.
AND IN THEIR TESTIMONY
YESTERDAY, THEY WENT EVEN
WHY DO WE MEAN A CRISIS?
WE HAD A CRISIS IN 2007 THAT PUT
US IN THE DEEPEST RECESSION
WE'VE HAD IN DECADES.
GREECE HAS HAD A CRISIS.
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THEY'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
40% OF EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND IS
BORROWED, AND SENATOR CONRAD,
OUR CHAIRMAN, OUR DISTINGUISHED
DEMOCRATIC LEADER ASKED THEM
WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR JUDGMENT TO
THE UNITED STATES IF WE FAIL TO
GET AN AGREEMENT IN THE RANGE OF
WHAT THE COMMISSION CONCLUDED IS
THE COMMISSION PROPOSES A
A $4 TRILLION REDUCTION IN OUR
DEFICIT SPENDING OVER THE NEXT
TEN YEARS.
IT SHOULD BE MORE.
THAT'S WHAT THEY PROPOSE.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S BUDGET SAYS IT
REDUCE IT IS BY $1 TRILLION, BUT
WHEN THE COB SCORES IT, THEY'RE
GOING TO FIND IT'S FILLED WITH
GIMMICKS AND THERE WILL NOT BE
ANY REDUCTION, I PREDICT, IN THE
DEFICIT IN THE OBAMA BUDGET,
WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY
DISAPPOINTING.
IT'S A DO NOTHING ABOUT THE DEBT
PROBLEM BUDGET.
MR. BOWLES, SO WHAT'S GOING TO
MR. BOWLES -- QUOTE -- "THIS
PROBLEM IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT IS A PROBLEM.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FACE UP
IN MAYBE TWO YEARS, MAYBE A
LITTLE LESS, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE
CLOSE QUOTE.
AND MR. SIMPSON, HE -- HE
COMMENTED."
I THINK IT WILL COME BEFORE TWO
YEARS."
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CRISIS.
"I'M JUST SAYING AT SOME POINT
WITHIN A YEAR, I THINK AT THE
END OF A YEAR.
IF THE PEOPLE WHO HOLD OUR DEBT
JUST THOUGHT YOU'RE PLAYING WITH
FLUFF, 5%, 6% OF THIS HOLE,
THEY'RE GOING TO SAY I WANT SOME
MONEY FOR MY PAPER.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING MONEY GUYS
LOVE, IT'S MONEY, AND MONEY GUYS
WHEN THEY START LOSING MONEY
WILL.
IT WON'T MATTER WHAT THE
GOVERNMENT DOES.
THEY'LL SAY I WANT MY MONEY.
I'VE GOT A BETTER PLACE FOR IT.
JUST SAY FROM ME IT WON'T BE A
YEAR BEFORE WE HAVE A CRISIS."
WELL, THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER.
IT'S NOT A DO-NOTHING
SO WE HAVE A SIMPLE CHOICE TO
MAKE TODAY.
DO WE TAKE A STEP, EVEN A SMALL
STEP THAT SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE
WORLD THAT WE INTEND TO TAKE
ACTION TO PREVENT THE CRISIS,
NOT ACT AFTER A DISASTER HITS?
OR WE CAN DO NOTHING, AS THE
DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL IS.
THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL WILL
IMMEDIATELY LOWER SPENDING BY
THE YEAR.
THAT'S A REDUCTION OF ABOUT 6%
OF THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
BUDGET.
MOST STATES, CITIES AND COUNTIES
IN AMERICA HAVE HAD BIGGER
REDUCTIONS THAN THAT.
AND THEY'RE STILL HERE.
THEY HAVEN'T CEASED TO EXIST,
AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO CEASE TO
EXIST IF WE REDUCE SPENDING 6%,
BUT IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THAT AMOUNTS TO 4% OF THE TOTAL
DEBT, AND AS I WILL SHOW IN A
MOMENT, MR. PRESIDENT, IT MEANS
A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROPOSAL
PROPOSES $6 BILLION, BUT IT'S
REDUCTION.
THAT'S LESS THAN .5% REDUCKS IN
THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
LESS THAN .5%.
NOW, THIS $61 BILLION IS NOT
GOING TO BREAK US.
G.A.O. RECENTLY FOUND THAT THE
GOVERNMENT SPENDS $18 BILLION ON
47 DIFFERENT JOB TRAINING
PROGRAMS, 47 DIFFERENT JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY ABILITY TO
SAVE MONEY AND DO MORE WITH LESS
IN THIS COUNTRY?
NO BUSINESS WOULD RUN THE WAY WE
RUN THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT, AND THIS IS JUST ONE
OF THE TYPICAL KIND OF
DUPLICATION AND WASTE THAT GOES
ON IN OUR GOVERNMENT.
WE ARE LIVING IN A FANTASY WORLD
IF WE THINK WE CAN'T FIND
FIND $61 BILLION TO REDUCE OUT
OF MORE THAN $1 TRILLION IN A
DISCRETIONARY BUDGET.
UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING INCREASED
24% IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
IT'S ALREADY GONE UP 24%.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE CAN'T TAKE A
6% REDUCTION?
WE'RE FACING A CRISIS, A DEBT
CRISIS.
FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE
TRIMMING THEIR BUDGETS.
THEY'RE DOING SO EVERY DAY.
WASHINGTON JUST KEEPS ON
GROWING.
WE HAD THE EDUCATION SECRETARY
WEEK.
THEY PROPOSED AN 11% INCREASE IN
EDUCATION SPENDING THIS YEAR,
11%.
ENERGY WAS IN, 9.5% INCREASE
THIS NEXT YEAR FOR ENERGY, THEY
AND HOLD YOUR HAT, THE SECRETARY
OF TRANSPORTATION WAS IN AND
PROPOSES A 62% TRANSPORTATION
BUDGET INCREASE.
NOW, THIS IS WHERE WE WERE OVER
OVER $3 TRILLION, AND WE JUMP
NOW TO $3.7 TRILLION.
WELL, HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE -- SO
THAT'S A 24% INCREASE.
I'M NOT MAKING THESE NUMBERS UP.
WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE DEFICIT
NUMBERS?
THIS YEAR, WE SPEND
SPEND $3.7 TRILLION, MAYBE
WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH OUR
REVENUE IS THIS YEAR?
$2.2 TRILLION.
I KNOW IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PROBABLY
JUST CANNOT IMAGINE THAT WE ARE
SPENDING $3.8 TRILLION AND
TAKING IN $2.2 TRILLION, BUT IT
40 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE
SPEND IS BORROWED.
THIS IS WHY MR. BOWLES AND
MR. SIMPSON AND EVERY ECONOMIST
THAT'S EVER TESTIFIED HAS SAID
WE'RE ON AN UNSUSTAINABLE PATH,
A PATH THAT CANNOT BE CONTINUED.
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW.
THIS ISN'T ENOUGH, BUT IT'S A
I THINK IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO
THE WORLD FINANCIAL MARKETS, THE
BOND VIGILANTES THAT THE UNITED
STATES IS ON THE ROAD TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SPENDING
THAT WE'RE IN.
OUR DEBT WILL SOON BE LARGER
THAN THE ECONOMY.
IT WILL EXCEED 100% OF G.D.P. BY
THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AMAZINGLY SURGING DEBT LOAD FOR
THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
WE -- WE CANNOT KEEP SPENDING
WHAT WE DON'T HAVE, BORROWING
WHAT WE CANNOT PAY BACK.
WE CANNOT DO THIS.
OUR CRUSHING -- CRUSHES DEBT
BURDEN IS LIKE AN ANCHOR
DRAGGING ON OUR ECONOMY.
IT SLOWS GROWTH.
AS ROGOFF AND REINHARDT'S STUDY
SHOWED, AS SECRETARY OF TREASURY
GEITHNER ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE
COMMITTEE, IT'S ALREADY SLOWING
OUR GROWTH, AND ALSO HE ADDED
IT'S WORSE THAN THAT BECAUSE IT
PUTS US AT RISK AS MR. BOWLES
AND SIMPSON SAY FOR SOME SORT OF
DEBT CRISIS.
IT'S UNPREDICTABLE WHEN AND HOW
IT MIGHT OCCUR.
THAT'S PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY.
THE
MEMBER'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
SO WE CAN'T KEEP
DELAYING.
WE CAN'T KEEP PROMISING TO DO
SOMETHING TOMORROW.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A VOTE.
WE'LL HAVE A VOTE TODAY.
WE NEED TO ACT TODAY.
A VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PROPOSAL IS A VOTE TO DO
IT'S A VOTE TO STAY IN DENIAL.
IT'S A VOTE THAT SAYS DEFICITS
DON'T MATTER.
WE CAN JUST KEEP ON, BUT
DEFICITS DO MATTER.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED.
THEY ALWAYS WILL MATTER, AND
SOME SAY YOU CAN'T REDUCE, SAY,
MAKING ANY SAVINGS FROM REDUCING
DEFICIT SPENDING.
LET ME SHOW YOU THIS CHART.
I THINK THE FIRST ONE, BECAUSE
BECAUSE $61 BILLION REDUCTION IS
A REDUCTION OF THE BASE LINE.
AND WHEN YOU REDUCE THE BASE
YOU SAVE THAT AMOUNT EVERY
YEAR, EVEN IF YOU HAVE GROWTH IN
UP.
IT'S KIND OF GEOMETRICAL
REDUCTION IN SPENDING AND DEBT
THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE, AND IT'S
BEEN WORKING THE OTHER WAY.
WE HAVE BEEN INCREASING
DRAMATICALLY, AND YOU KNOW FROM
YOUR BUSINESS ACCOUNTING THAT 7%
RETURN ON YOUR MONEY DOUBLES
YOUR MONEY IN TEN YEARS.
WE GOT 24% THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS
SIZE.
THIS WOULD SHOW, ACCORDING TO
OUR BUDGET STAFF AND THE
CALCULATOR, IF YOU REDUCE THE
BASE LINE $61 BILLION OF
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING ALONE, HE
WOULD SAVE $862 BILLION IN
DEFICIT REDUCTION OVER TEN
YEARS, AND IF YOU WERE TO FREEZE
THAT BASE LINE IN FOR JUST FIVE
YEARS, NOT ONLY WOULD YOU SAVE
SAVE $860 BILLION, BUT
BUT $1.65 TRILLION.
ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE A REAL
DIFFERENCE.
IN JUST ONE LITTLE ACT OF $61
BILLION, THE REDUCTION OF
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.
I THANK THE PRESIDENT AND WOULD
YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. PRESIDENT, ONE,
I WOULD NOTE, I APPRECIATE THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA'S HELP ON
THE PATENT BILL WHICH PASSED
LAST NIGHT.
AND IT IS ONE THING THAT WILL
HELP US INCREASE JOBS AND NOT
ADD ANYTHING TO THE DEFICIT.
I DO -- YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO
THINK OF THE REVENUE THAT COMES
IN.
WE HAD A WHAT I THINK WAS A
TERRIBLE MISTAKE, WHEN THE
CONGRESS VOTED TO SUPPORT GOING
TO WAR IN IRAQ, AND I WAS ONE OF
THE 22 TO VOTE AGAINST THAT WAR,
BUT THEN VOTED TO CUT TAXES AND
BORROW THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE
WAR IN IRAQ.
WE BORROWED $1 TRILLION, PAID
FOR A WAR THAT HAS NOT MADE US
SAFER, HAS CREATED THOUSANDS OF
AMERICANS' DEATHS AND TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS AND
OTHERWISE.
IT HAS ACCOMPLISHED ONE THING:
IRAQ DID POSE A THREAT TO IRAN,
AND WE'VE REMOVED THAT THREAT TO
IRAN, WHICH I'M SORRY TO SAY WAS
AN ADDED MISTAKE.
WE ALSO WENT INTO AFGHANISTAN IN
AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH OSAMA BIN
LADEN.
WHEN HE WAS SURROUNDED, OUR
C.I.A. AND SPECIAL FORCES WERE
YANKED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN TO GO
INTO IRAQ AND HE SIMPLY ESCAPED
INTO PAKISTAN.
THERE.
AGAIN, BORROWED THE MONEY FOR
THOSE TWO WARS, ONE THAT WENT
WAY BEYOND WHATEVER IT WAS
SUPPOSED TO DO, THE OTHER ONE WE
SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST
PLACE, BUT WE BORROWED THE
MONEY, AND WE ALSO CUT TAXES ON
OIL COMPANIES AND MILLIONAIRES
AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
NOT THE BEST WAY TO SHOW SHARED
HARDSHIPS FOR THAT WAR.
IT'S ONLY THE BRAVE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO ARE OVER THERE WHO
HAVE THE HARDSHIP, NOT THE REST
OF US.
AND THIS -- WHEN -- LET ME TALK,
THOUGH, ABOUT HOW THE SENATE
C.R. AND H.R. 1, HOW THAT
FUNDING WOULD AFFECT THE DEBT --
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND
FOREIGN OPERATIONS.
THESE BOTH COME UNDER A
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT I CHAIR IN
APPROPRIATIONS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE
HOUSE C.R. -- PERHAPS MOST
IMPORTANTLY, WHAT'S NOT IN THE
HOUSE C.R.
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS
NONSECURITY SPENDING, EVEN
THOUGH THE INTEGRAL PART THEY
BOTH PLAY IN PROTECTING OUR
SECURITY AROUND THE GLOBE.
IT IGNORES THE VIEWS OF
SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON,
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GATES,
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS
ADMIRAL MULLEN, FORMER CHAIRMAN
GENERAL POWELL, GENERAL PETRAEUS
PETRAEUS, PRESIDENT OBAMA,
FORMER PRESIDENTS GEORGE H.W.
BUSH AND HAVE BEEN HAVE BEEN AND
EVERY FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY
THEY'VE ALL MADE CLEAR THAT
THESE INVESTMENTS DO DIRECTLY
PROTECT U.S. SECURITY
INVESTMENTS.
THE INVESTMENTS THE HOUSE SAY
INTERESTS.
EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE I'VE
NAMED SAY IT DIRECTLY AFFECTS
OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS,
NOT ONLY ON THE FRONT LINES OF
AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, IRAQ, BUT
AROUND THE WORLD.
PRESIDENT REAGAN, FORMER
HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR RIDGE
ALSO RECOGNIZE THE CONNECTION.
SECURITY ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS
DIRECTLY ENHANCES THE SECURITY
OF THE UNITED STATES.
SECRETARY RIDGE SAID, "THE
PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET ARE
AS ESSENTIAL TO OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY AS DEFENSE PROGRAMS."
SECRETARY GATES SAID, "I NEVER
MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CALL FOR
MORE FUNDING FOR EMPHASIS ON
DIPLOMACY AND DEVELOPMENT."
THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER
EXAMPLES FROM BOTH REPUBLICAN
AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS THAT SEEM
TO HAVE FALLEN ON DEAF EARS IN
OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS IN THE
HOUSE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE CAN'T
COUNTER THE INFLUENCE OF
AL QAEDA AND OTHER VIOLENT
EXTREMISTS THROUGH MILITARY
FORCE ALONE.
THEY SHOULD KNOW THAT HELPING
DUNCE LIKE SOUTHERN UDAN OR
BUILDING STABLE DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS IN COUNTRIES LIKE
EGYPT OR PREVENTING THE
TRAFFICKING OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL
AND OTHER WEAPONS IN THE FORMER
SOVIET UNION OR EDUCATING AND
PROVIDING JOBS FOR THE YOUTH
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE FODDER
FOR TERRORIST RECRUITERS IN THE
MIDDLE EAST OR IMAGHT THE
CORROSIVE INFLUENCE OF ORGANIZED
CRIME IN CENTRAL AMERICA OR
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DEADLY
VIRUSES IN AFRICA AND ASIA,
VIRUSES THAT ARE ONLY ONE
AIRPLANE RIDE AWAY FROM THE
UNITED STATES, OR SUPPORTING
NATO, OR SUPPORTING THE
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY
AGENCY OR U.N. PEACEKEEPING --
THESE ARE ALL PARTS OF ASH
NATIONAL SECURITY, AND THE
DIPLOMATS HERE AND ABROAD AND
THE FUNDS THEY ADMINISTER THAT
MAKE IT POSSIBLE, THAT MAKE THE
UNITED STATES PART OF THE WORLD
COMMUNITY.
THE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE CLAIMS
IT ADEQUATELY FUNDS OPERATIONS
AND PROGRAMS IN AFGHANISTAN,
PAKISTAN, AND IRAQ.
THAT'S EMPTY RHETORIC.
SECRETARY CLINTON HAS SAID THE
HOUSE C.R. WILL UNACCEPTABLY
HARM U.S. INTERESTS IN THOSE
COUNTRIES.
THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.
THE HOUSE C.R. SLASHES FUNDING
FOR REFUGEES AND OTHER VICTIMS
OF DISASTER BY 40%, AT THE SAME
TIME THAT MEMBERS ON THE OTHER
SIEFTDZ IERL ARE RIGHTLY URGING
THAT WE HELP THE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF LIBYANS WHO'VE FLED
THEIR HOMES.
WE SAY WE SHOULD BE HELPING
THESE LIBYANS -- THESE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE FLED THEIR HOMES.
WE SHOULD HELP THE EGYPTIANS WHO
ARE NOW REFUGEES IN LIB YAVMENT
I AGREE WITH THEM.
EVERYBODY AGREES WITH THEM.
BUT, OH, BY THE WAY, WE'RE GOING
TO CUT ALMOST IN HALF YOUR
BUDGET FOR REFUGEES.
YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE
OTHER.
THE HOUSE C.R. PROVIDES NO
FUNDING FOR THE GLOBAL FOOD
SECURITY FUND.
THAT PREVENTS HUNGER AND FAMINE
IN AFRICA AND ASIA AND IMPROVES
AMERICA'S STANDING.
IT ELIMINATES FUNDING FOR THE
CLEAN TECHNOLOGY FUND WHICH
SUPPORTS EXPORTS OF SOLAR, WIND,
TECHNOLOGY.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES IT
BECAUSE WE REMOVE IT, WE REMOVE
A MAJOR COMPETITOR TO CHINA.
THEY'RE FUNDING -- THEY ARE
FUNDING THESE TECHNOLOGIES.
WE HAVE FIERCE COMPETITION FROM
THEY ARE DELIGHTED TO SEE US
STEP BACK SO THESE JOBS ARE NOT
IS GOING TO BE IN TECHNOLOGY IN
THE UNITED STATES, WE'RE NOT
GOING TO BE EXPORTING THIS,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
WORLD.
CHINA WILL TAKE OVER.
HOW SHORTSIGHTED CAN THIS BE?
THIS IS LIKE YOU OWN A BUSINESS
AND YOU GOT A COMPETITOR ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND YOU
SAY, WE WILL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO
ADVERTISE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO CARRY
UP-TO-DATE GOODS.
WE'RE PEA ONLY GOING TO BE OPEN
A COUPLE DAYS A WEEK.
I HOPE THAT COMPETITOR DOESN'T
DRIVE US OUT OF BUSINESS.
IT DRASTICALLY REDUCES FUNDING
TO OPERATE OUR EMBASSIES AND
CONSULATES, WHICH EVERY AMERICAN
TRAVELING, WORKING OR STUDYING
OVERSEAS DEPENDS UPON.
EVERY ONE OF US AS MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS KNOWS THAT IF THERE IS
A PROBLEM OVERSEAS, THEY GO TO
OUR EMBASSIES OR CONSULATES
ABROAD.
THE HOUSE C.R. WOULD SHARPLY CUT
FUNDING FOR GLOBAL HEALTH
PROGRAMS.
H.I.V., AIDS, MALARIA AND OTHER
DEADLY DISEASES.
DENYING SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AND
CONDEMNING WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD TO
DEATH.
RENEGE ON OUR TREATY OBLIGATIONS
TO THE U.N., TO THE
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS.
OUR CARPET,CHINA, -- OUR
COMPETITORS, CHINA, IS
PARTICULARLY EAGER TO PURCHASE.
AT A TIME WHEN CHINA IS
EXPANDING ITS INFLUENCE
GLOBALLY, THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE
US PULL BACK AND SAY, HERE, YOU
GUYS TAKE OAMPLET YOU CAN BE THE
FACE -- YOU GUYS TAKE GUYS TAKE OAMPLET
YOU CAN BE THE FACE THAT THESE
GUYS WILL SEE, NO, NOT THE UNITED
STATES.
EVEN BRITAIN'S CONSERVATIVE
GOVERNMENT IS EXEMPTING, EVEN
INCREASING INTERNATIONAL AID
BECAUSE UNLIKE OUR REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS IN THE HOUSE, THEY
RECOGNIZE A MATTER OF NATIONAL
SECURITY.
YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT SAY ALSO THE
IMPACT OF H.R. 11 EQUALLY
DEVASTATING ON OUR DOMESTIC
PROGRAMS.
OUR FOREIGN PROGRAMS ARE PART OF
THERE.
HERE.
THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET, THE
PROGRAMS THAT EXPAND AND
MAINTAIN OUR COUNTRY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE GOING TO
BE SLASHED.
AND NUMEROUS COMMENTS FROM
BERNANKE AND MARK ZANDI
RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF THE
THE LOSS OF HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS JUST AT A TIME
WHEN OUR ECONOMY IS STARTING TO
I HEAR THIS DAILY FROM MY FELLOW
VERMONTERS.
A MOTHER CAME INTO MY OFFICE A
FEW WEEKS AGO EXPLAINING HOW THE
HEAD START PROGRAM CHANGED THE
DIRECTION OF HER LIFE.
NOT ONLY DID HEAD START PROVIDE
A RELIABLE, SAFE EDUCATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT FOR HER CHILDREN, IT
MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR HER TO
PURSUE A COLLEGE EDUCATION, BE A
STRONG TAX-PAYING PART OF OUR
SOCIETY.
BUT H.R. 1 WOULD DENY MORE THAN
300 VERMONT CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES THESE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES.
FOR THOSE UNMOVED BY CUTS TO
HEAD START IT WOULD ALSO
DEVASTATE ONE OF OUR BEST
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS:
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM.
I ASK MY FULL STATEMENT BE MADE
PART OF THE PRORD AND I'D ASK TO
CONTINUE FOR 30 SECONDS MORE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATE C.R.
PROVIDES $1.68 BILLION FOR
REFUGEE ASSISTANCE, WHICH IS
EQUAL TO FISCAL YEAR 2010, AND
H.R. 1.
I HAVE MANY, MANY OTHER
EXAMPLES.
WE OUGHT TO LISTEN TO FORMER
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS AND
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS, FORMER
REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE
NEED FOR THIS.
I THANK THE CHAIR, AND I THANK
MY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND, THE
SENIOR CITIZEN FROM NEW MEXICO
FOR HIS COURTESY.
SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO.
MR. PRESIDENT,
FIRST I'D -- I HAVE SIX
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS FOR
COMMITTEES TO MEET DURING
TODAY'S SESSION OF THE SENATE.
THESE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE
MAJORITY AND THE MINORITY
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THESE REQUESTS BE AGREED TO AND
THAT THESE REQUESTS BE PRINTED
IN OF THE RECORD.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I'D ASK CONSENT TO SPEAK FOR UP
TO TEN MINUTES AS IF IN MORNING
BUSINESS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
RISE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE
DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE DONE IF
H.R. 1 WERE TO BECOME LAW AND,
SPECIFICALLY, TO TALK ABOUT A
FEW AREAS THAT I HAVE BEEN
PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO:
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, FOR ONE;
PARTICULARLY RELATED TO ENERGY,
ENERGY POLICY; SECOND, BORDER
SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT;
AND ALSO EDUCATION.
TO ME, THIS IS NOT A QUESTION OF
WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE CUTS IN
OUR FEDERAL BUDGET.
CLEARLY, THERE SHOULD BE CUTS.
BUT THE REAL ISSUE HERE IS
WHETHER WE SHOULD BE SMART ABOUT
WHERE WE MAKE THOSE CUTS.
TO ME, IT'S CLEAR THAT H.R. 1
DOES NOT REPRESENT SMART POLICY
ABOUT WHERE TO MAKE THOSE CUTS.
IT HELPS A PLAN TO MINDLESSLY
CUT FUNDING DURING THE REMAINING
FIVE MONTHS OF THE CURRENT
FISCAL YEAR IN ORDER TO SEND
SOME KIND OF MESSAGE TO THE
WORLD THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT
DEFICIT REDUCTION.
AND MY -- IN MY VIEW, H.R. 1
SENDS A MESSAGE, BUT IT IS NOT
THE RIGHT MESSAGE.
THE MESSAGE IT SAYS SENDS IS
THAT WE IN FACT ARE NOT WILLING
TO LOOK AT SERIOUS DEFICIT
REDUCTION AT THIS POINT.
THE FIRST AREA OF CUTS THAT I
WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ARE
CONTAINED IN H.R. 1 THAT WILL
SEVERELY IMPACT OUR NATION FOR
YEARS TO COME AND HAVE AN EFFECT
ON HOW MANY JOBS WE CAN ACTUALLY
CREATE, THAT IS THE AREA OF
SCIENCE AND ENERGY INNOVATION.
LAST DECEMBER THIS CONGRESS
PASSED A REAUTHORIZATION OF WHAT
WE CALL THE AMERICA COMPETES
AFNLGTCOMPETE ACT.AND I WAS PRIVILEGED TO WORK
WITH MY COLLEAGUE FROM
TENNESSEE, SENATOR ALEXANDER, ON
HELPING GET THAT LEGISLATION
ENACTED.
ITS PURPOSE WAS TO AUTHORIZE
FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY'S OFFICE OF SCIENCE, FOR
THE NATIONAL CONSIGNS
FOUNDATION, AND -- NATIONAL
CONSIGNS FOUNDATION AND FOR THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF STANDARDS
AND TECHNOLOGY, FOR THE NEXT
THREE YEARS SO THAT BY FISCAL
YEAR 2016 WE WOULD HAVE
COMPLETED A TEN-YEAR DOUBLING OF
THE FUNDING FOR THOSE AGENCIES.
I'D LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS
EFFORT WAS FIRST STARTED DURING
THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
IT HAS BEEN CARRIED FORWARD
ADMINISTRATION.
UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE
EFFORT HAS ENJOYED STRONG,
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND GARNERED
ENDORSEMENTS FROM LEADING
INDUSTRY GROUPS SUCH AS THE U.S.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE
BUSINESS ROUND TABLE, COUNSEL ON
COMPETITIVE -- COUNCIL ON
COMPETITIVENESS.
THESE ORGANIZATIONS RECOGNIZE
THAT THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION
DEPENDS ON THE STRONG SCIENTIFIC
BACK SPH BONE THAT -- BACKBONE
THAT WE NEED FOR OUR WORKFORCE
IN ORDER TO OUTINNOVATE OUR
COMPETITORS AROUND THE WORLD.
SO IT COMES AS A SURPRISE TO
NOTICE SEE LARGE CUTS BEING
PROPOSED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES IN THEIR FISCAL
YEAR 2011 FUNDING BILL TO THE
VERY PROGRAMS THAT ALL OF US
SEEMED TO AGREE ARE NEEDED TO
KEEP US COMPETITIVE IN THE YEARS
AHEAD.
WHAT CUTS AM I TALKING ABOUT?
LET ME GIVE AN EXAMPLE.
ONE EXAMPLE IS IN THE OFFICE OF
SCIENCE.
THIS IS THE NATION'S LARGEST
SUPPORTER OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES
AND THESE ARE THE VERY AREAS BY
WHICH WE INTEND TO SUPPLY A NEW
STREAM OF SCIENTISTS AND
ENGINEERS TO COMPANIES SUCH AS
INTEL AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND
MANY OTHERS.
THE HOUSE BILL PROPOSES TO CUT
THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE BUDGET BY
$1.1 BILLION OR 22%.
THE RESULT IS AN ESTIMATED
REDUCTION OF 4,500 FULL-TIME
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WORKING
ON BASIC ENDEAVORS IN THE AREA
OF ENERGY SCIENCE.
IT WILL TERMINATE THE EARLY
CAREER RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR
YOUNG FACULTY AND ONGOING
SCIENCES.
NATIONAL USER FACILITIES THAT
THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE RUNS FOR
UPWARDS OF 27,000 RESEARCHERS
FROM INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA WILL
BE SHUTTERED OR PUT INTO A
STANDBY STATUS.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOUR NANO
SCIENCE CENTERS ACROSS THE
UNITED STATES THAT HAVE HAD
BREAKTHROUGH DISCOVERIES TO
PROPEL OUR INDUSTRIES FORWARD IN
THE AREAS OF SOLID STATE
LIGHTING AND NEW DRUGS AND
MICROELECTRONICS.
LET ME TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE
OTHER PROGRAMS IMPACTED IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
THE OFFICE NUCLEAR ENERGY.
THIS IS LEADING THE WAY TO A NEW
GENERATION OF SMALLER, LESS
COSTLY REACTORS AT PLACES SUCH
AS OAK RIDGE AND IDAHO NATIONAL
LABORATORIES.
THIS EFFORT WILL SUFFER.
THE ABILITY TO MOVE THIS
BIPARTISAN PROGRAM FORWARD WILL
CEASE.
IN THE OFFICE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, EER&E, AS
IT'S REFERRED TO IN THE
DEPARTMENT.
THE HOUSE BILL WILL RESULT IN
OVER 31,000 HOMES THAT WILL NOT
BE WEATHERIZED, AND, BY JULY 1,
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SOMETHING
LIKE 8,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE
EXPECTED TO PERFORM THIS WORK
WILL BE OUT OF JOBS.
THE PROGRAM TO MIX COAL WITH
BIOMASS -- THIS IS A PROGRAM
THAT SHOWS GREAT PROMISE -- WILL
BE ELIMINATED, AS WILL PROGRAMS
TO FUND OFFSHORE WIND.
LET ME CITE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES
OF THE DAMAGE THE HOUSE BILL
WILL HAVE ON OTHER AGENCIES IN
THE COMPETES ACT.
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
WILL HAVE REDUCTIONS LEADING TO
A LOSS OF 10,000 UNIVERSITY
STUDENTS.
BEING SO LATE IN THE YEAR -- AND
I INDICATED WE'VE GOT ABOUT FIVE
MONTHS LEFT IN THIS FISCAL YEAR
YEAR -- THE EFFECT WILL TO BE
REDUCE THE PROGRAM TO TRAIN
TEACHERS IN MATH AND SCIENCE BY
53% AT A TIME WHEN IT IS WIDELY
RECOGNIZED THAT OTHER NATIONS
ARE OUTPERFORMING US IN STUDENT
TEST SCORES IN THESE SUBJECTS.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO ENTER
INTO THE RECORD TWO LETTERS, THE
FIRST BY THE COUNCIL ON
COMPETITIVENESS, SIGNED BY SAM
ALLEN, WHO'S CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O.
OF THE DEER COMPANY, MIKE
SPLINTER, CHAIRMAN AND C.E.O. OF
APPLIED MATERIALS, CHAD
HOLLODAY, CHAIRMAN OF THE BANK
OF AMERICA, WILLIAM HITE,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
ASSOCIATION OF PLUMBERS AND PIPE
FITTERS, AND DEBORAH WYNN SMITH,
THE PRESIDENT OF THE C.E.O.
COUNSEL.
THE LETTER SUCCINCTLY STATED
THAT -- QUOTE -- "SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCHERS AND SKILLED WORKERS
ARE THE BASIS FOR NEW IDEAS, NEW
TECHNOLOGIES, NEW PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES, NEW COMPANIES, EVEN
ENTIRELY NEW INDUSTRIES.
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY CANNOT
COMPETE AND GROW IF WE NEGLECT
OUR CAPACITY TO INNOVATE."
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE OTHER LETTER IS FROM 175
UNIVERSITIES, INDUSTRIES, AND
LABORATORIES, INCLUDING THE U.S.