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OVER THERE AT 2:00 AND WILL TAKE
ANY QUESTIONS COME EVEN IF YOU
HAVE INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS FOR
INTERVIEW REQUESTS.
REPUBLICAN SENATE LAWMAKERS
EARLIER TODAY DISCUSSING THE
HEALTH CARE LOT AND NOW BACK TO.
THE SENATE FLOOR
MORNING
BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO
S. 2204, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT.
MOTION TO PROCEED
TO THE CONSIDERATION OF S. 2204,
A BILL TO ELIMINATE UNNECESSARY
TAX SUBSIDIES AND PROMOTE
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY
CONSERVATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THAT THE TIME UNTIL 3:30 BE
TWIEDED BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS
OR THEIR DESIGNEES.
359:30, THE SENATE ADOPT THE
TO VOTE ON THE
MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE ON THE
MOTION TO PROCEED TO S. 1789.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
WITH ALL OF THE VERY
WELL-DESERVED STATEMENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT OUR
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR BARBARA
MIKULSKI, I WANTED TO RAISE MY
VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THAT
MILESTONE SHE HAS ACHIEVED HERE
IN CONGRESS.
A PERSONAL WORD I WANT TO ADD,
AND THAT IS THAT SHE HAS BEEN SO
SUPPORTIVE AND SUCH A LEADER IN
OUR NATION'S SPACE PROGRAM AS
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, SHE
HAS TO BE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR
WITH THE DETAILS AND THE
APPROPRIATE WAY TO ALLOCATE THE
FUNDS IN ORDER THAT THIS
NATION'S CIVILIAN SPACE PROGRAM
CAN GO FORWARD IN THE VISIONARY
AND FRONTIER-BREAKING MANNER
THAT IT ALWAYS HAS.
AND I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR
HER LEADERSHIP, AND I WANTED TO
ADD THIS TO THE ACCOLADES THAT
SHE SO WELL DESERVES AND HAS
COLLEAGUES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
MR. PRESIDENT,
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE SENATE
THIS WEEK IS EXHIBIT A IN WHAT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE JUST DON'T
LIKE ABOUT CONGRESS.
GAS PRICES HAVE MORE THAN
DOUBLED UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA
AND THE DEMOCRAT CONTROL OF THE
SENATE.
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS
EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN, DRIVES UP
THE COST OF EVERYTHING FROM
COMMUTING TO GROCERIES.
AND WHAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC
RESPONSE?
WELL, IT'S LEGISLATION THAT EVEN
THEY ADMIT WON'T DO A THING TO
PUMP.
WE'VE GOT SEVEN DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS ON RECORD SAYING THIS
BILL DOESN'T DO A THING TO LOWER
GAS PRICES.
ONE OF THEM HAS ACTUALLY CALLED
YET, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE
PROPOSING HERE THIS WEEK AT A
TIME WHEN GAS PRICES AT A
NATIONAL AVERAGE ARE NEARLY $4 A
THIS IS WHAT PASSES FOR A
RESPONSE TO HIGH GAS PRICES FOR
WASHINGTON DEMOCRATS, A BILL
THAT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT.
I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO
ILLUSTRATE HOW TOTALLY OUT OF
TOUCH AND IRRESPONSIBLE THE
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY HAS BECOME.
LOOK, DEMOCRATS KNOW THEY HAVE
TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THIS
SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE
TAKING A PAGE OUT OF THE
PRESIDENT'S PLAY BOOK AND
BLAMING SOMEBODY ELSE.
THAT'S WHAT THIS ENTIRE EXERCISE
IS ABOUT: BLAMING SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND, FRANKLY, THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF IT.
IF DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO DO
ANYTHING TO LOWER GAS PRICES,
JUST GO AHEAD AND ADMIT IT.
IF SENATE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE
ANY INTEREST IN LOWERING GAS
PRICES, THEN JUST SAY SO.
BUT DON'T WASTE THE PUBLIC'S
TIME BY USING THE SENATE FLOOR
TO TALK UP A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION, THE ONLY PURPOSE OF
YOU DO.
IF THE PRESIDENT DOESN'T WANT
THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE, WHY
DOESN'T HE JUST ADMIT IT.
BUT DON'T INSULT THE PUBLIC BY
SHOWING UP AT A RIBBON-CUTTING
FOR ONE PART OF IT THAT YOU HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH WHILE
LOBBYING AGAINST THE MOST
TIME.
AMERICANS ARE TIRED OF THE
POLITICAL GAMES AND THE
DOUBLE-TALK ON THIS ISSUE.
THEY'RE TIRED OF THE CONSTANT
CAMPAIGN.
THEY SENT US HERE TO ACTUALLY
PROBLEMS, NOT AVOID THEM.
AND ON THIS ISSUE, THERE'S A LOT
WE COULD BE DOING TO MAKE THINGS
A WHOLE LOT BETTER.
AND SO REPUBLICANS ARE HAPPY TO
USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
WHO KNOWS, MAYBE MORE DEMOCRATS
WILL DECIDE IT'S LONG PAST TIME
THEY JOINED US IN ACTUALLY
SUPPORTING AND IMPROVING SOME OF
THESE PROPOSALS.
BUT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IF
DEMOCRATS INSIST ON USING THE
SENATE TO MAKE SOME POLITICAL
POINT INSTEAD OF ACTUALLY MAKING
A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF
WORKING AMERICANS AT A MOMENT OF
URGENCY LIKE THIS.
AND WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE KEEP
FLITTING FROM ONE ISSUE TO
WE'RE NOW HEARING THAT THE
DEMOCRATS WANT TO MOVE OFF THIS
TAX HIKE LEGISLATION.
MAYBE IT DIDN'T MAKE THE
INTENDED POLITICAL POINT AS
FORCEFULLY AS THEY WANTED.
TO MOVE ON TO POSTAL REFORM E.
DENTALLY THE SENATE SCHEDULE IS
DRIVEN NOT BY THE NEEDS OF THE
PUBLIC BUT BY THE DEMOCRATS'
PERCEIVED POLITICAL NEEDS.
WE SEEM TO CHANGE FROM MINUTE TO
MINUTE AROUND HERE.
WELL, I WOULD SUGGEST THE
DEMOCRATS LEARN TO PRIORITIZE.
LET'S STICK WITH ONE THING AND
ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING.
STICK WITH ONE THING AND
ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING.
AS I SAID, THERE IS MUCH WE CAN
DO TO ADDRESS GAS PRICES.
WHY DON'T WE STICK WITH THAT?
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MATTERS
TO EVERY AMERICAN.
POSTAL REFORM IS IMPORTANT, BUT
WE ALL KNOW NOTHING IS GOING TO
GET DONE ON IT UNTIL AFTER WE
RETURN FROM THE EASTER RECESS
LET'S MAKE THAT THE PENDING
BUSINESS WHEN WE RETURN AND PUT
FIRST THINGS FIRST.
WE WERE SENT HERE TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS, NOT AVOID THEM.
AND THE REFUSAL TO COME TOGETHER
ON COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS LIKE
THE ONES WE'RE PROPOSING ON GAS
PRICES IS PRECISELY THE KIND OF
WASHINGTON.
AND THEY'RE PERFECTLY RIGHT TO
DO SO.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT OUR
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE
RETHINK THE STRATEGY OF THEIRS
AND JOIN US.
WHY DON'T WE JUST TRY DOING THE
RIGHT THING.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT FOR
THE NEXT TEN MINUTES I WILL
SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTES, SENATOR
BOXER FOR EIGHT MINUTES AND THEN
SENATOR MURKOWSKI FOR TEN
MINUTES.
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I RISE TODAY TO STRESS THE
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
ACROSS OUR NATION AND URGE THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT
QUICKLY AND PASS THE SURFACE
TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT WE
PASSED IN THE SENATE WITH AN
OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN VOTE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT
WE'VE NEGLECTED THE ROADS,
BRIDGES AND MASS TRANSIT THAT
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS RELY ON
FOR FAR TOO LONG.
I KNOW THAT.
A BRIDGE COLLAPSED,
MR. PRESIDENT, JUST A FEW BLOCKS
FROM MY HOUSE.
IT WASN'T JUST A BRIDGE.
IT WAS AN EIGHT-LANE HIGHWAY.
13 PEOPLE DIED, DOZENS OF CARS
SUBMERGED IN THE RIVER.
AS I SAID THAT DAY A BRIDGE
DOESN'T JUST FALL DOWN IN THE
MIDDLE OF AMERICA.
WELL, IT DID THAT DAY AND I AM
HIGHWAY BILL.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR JOBS.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR
CONGESTION, FOR DRIVERS WHO SIT
IN CONGESTION.
AMERICANS SPEND A COLLECTIVE 4.2
BILLION HOURS A YEAR STUCK IN
TRAFFIC AT A COST TO THE ECONOMY
OF $78.2 BILLION.
THE SOLUTION?
PASS THIS HIGHWAY BILL.
IT REDUCES THE NUMBER OF HIGHWAY
PROGRAMS FROM OVER 100 DOWN TO
AROUND 30.
IT DEFINES CLEAR NATIONAL GOALS
FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION POLICY.
PERMITTING.
I SPOKE TO 75 HIGHWAY
CONTRACTORS TODAY.
THEY ARE READY TO GO.
THEY WANT THIS BILL TO PASS.
COMPANIES LIKE CATERPILLAR
EMPLOY 750 PEOPLE AT ITS ROAD
PAVING EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING
FACILITY IN MINNESOTA.
I VISITED THAT COMPANY IN
AUGUST.
CATERPILLAR EMPLOYEES ARE THE
KIND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE
ON THE FRONT LINES OF AMERICAN
INDUSTRY, WHO WANT TO BUILD
WHO ARE BUILDING
THE PRODUCTS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
MADE IN AMERICA, THAT'S WHAT
THEY'RE DOING.
I WOULD ALSO SAY, MR. PRESIDENT,
WITH THE SHORT CONSTRUCTION
SEASON FOR STATES LIKE
MINNESOTA, MY FRIEND FROM
CALIFORNIA MAY NOT QUITE HAVE
THE SITUATION, BUT FOR WINTER
STATES THAT HAVE A SHORT
CONSTRUCTION SEASON, WE CANNOT
DELAY, DELAY, DELAY ON THIS
HIGHWAY BILL.
WE CANNOT STOP THESE
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THEIR
TRACKS.
WE CANNOT STOP THESE JOBS IN
THESE TRACKS.
IT IS TIME TO PASS THE SENATE
HIGHWAY BILL, BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT, 74 OUT OF 100 SENATORS
VOTED FOR THAT BILL.
REPRESENTATIVES TO QUICKLY PASS
THIS BILL, TO GET THIS DONE
WITHOUT DELAY.
IT MEANS JOBS.
IT MEANS SAFETY.
AND IT MEANS A FUTURE FOR
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
I WANT TO THANK MY
FRIEND FROM MINNESOTA.
HER THAT HER
LEADERSHIP WHEN SHE WAS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE WAS AMAZING.
WE MISS HER LEADERSHIP THERE.
BUT SHE'S WORKING SO ***
OTHER COMMITTEES.
BUT SHE STILL CARRIES IN HER
HEART A GREAT UNDERSTANDING THAT
IF ANYTHING IS BIPARTISAN AROUND
HERE, IT'S THE HIGHWAY BILL.
IT'S THE TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAMS.
WE PROVED IT HERE.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IT.
SO I THANK HER.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT BIG OIL AND THIS CRYING
ABOUT BIG OIL BY MY REPUBLICAN
FRIENDS HERE.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO SEGWAY TO
THE TPWAOLGTS PASS A
TRANSPORTATION BILL -- TO A
BATTLE TO PASS A TRANSPORTATION
BILL AND THE THREE MILLION JOBS
THAT HANG IN THE BALANCE.
FIRST I HAVE TO SAY I LISTENED
VERY HARD TO THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER, SENATOR McCONNELL,
TALK ABOUT WHAT A USELESS THING
IT IS TO TRY AND SAY TO BIG OIL,
WHO'S HAD THESE BIG SUBSIDIES
FOR SO LONG, DECADE AFTER
DECADE, STARTED WHEN THEY WERE
YOUNG COMPANIES, THAT WHAT A
TERRIBLE THING IT WOULD BE TO
TAKE AWAY THOSE SUBSIDIES,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHEN THEY
ARE MAKING MULTIMULTIBILLION
DOLLARS, AND THEY'RE ROBBING US
PROFIT.
AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT
MONEY BE USED FOR ALTERNATIVE
FUELS, FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT CARS
SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY
SO MUCH IF THE PRICE OF GAS GOES
UP A PENNY IF WE'RE GETTING 50,
60 MILES TO A GALLON.
I DRIVE A HYBRID CAR, AND I
COULD TELL YOU THAT I DON'T
VISIT THE GAS STATION THAT OFTEN
BECAUSE WE GET ABOUT 50 MILES TO
THE GALLON, SO THE SHOCKS THAT
COME WITH THE INCREASE IN GAS
ARE A LITTLE BIT MUTED.
BUT HERE'S THE STORY.
AMERICANS HAVE MADE SACRIFICES.
THEY ARE PAYING MORE AT THE
PUMP.
THEY ARE TOLD BY BIG OIL, WE ARE
SO SORRY, AMERICANS.
YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE AT THE PUMP
BECAUSE THERE'S INSTABILITY IN
THE WORLD.
YOU HAVE TO PAY MORE AT THE PUMP
BECAUSE OUR REFINERIES ARE DOWN.
AND WE'RE REALLY SORRY.
WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS
THEY'RE EXPORTING THE OIL THAT
THEY FIND IN AMERICA TO OTHER
COUNTRIES.
WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS THEY
ARE POCKETING THE PROFITS THAT
YOU ARE PAYING.
THEY ARE POCKETING THE PROFITS.
IN 2010, THE FIVE BIGGEST OIL
COMPANIES MADE $80 BILLION
BETWEEN THEM.
IN 2011, THEY MADE $140 BILLION
BETWEEN THEM.
SO NO ONE CAN STAND HERE, NOT
EVEN THE ESTEEMED REPUBLICAN
LEADER, AND TELL ME THAT BIG OIL
IS MAKING SACRIFICES JUST LIKE
ORDINARY AMERICANS.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING AWAY
WITH OUR MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING
AT THE PUMP ARE BIG OIL AND THE
SPECULATORS ON WALL STREET WHO
ARE PLAYING AROUND WITH THE
INSTABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
ON FUTURES.
ON COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING.
SO IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING,
LET'S TAKE AWAY THOSE SUBSIDIES
FROM THESE BIG OIL COMPANIES WHO
ARE JUST MAKING LIFE MISERABLE
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
BUT OH NO, OUR FRIENDS ON THE
OTHER SIDE PUT UP A FIGHT, AND
THEY CITE A COUPLE OF FOLKS ON
OUR SIDE WHO AGREE WITH THEM
BECAUSE THEY COME FROM BIG-OIL
STATES.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT LET'S
STAND UP FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
NOW ANOTHER WAY WE CAN STAND UP
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS TO SPEAK WITH
ONE VOICE AND ASK THE HOUSE TO
TAKE UP THE SENATE BIPARTISAN
TRANSPORTATION BILL THAT PASSED
THIS SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING TOWARD A
SHUTDOWN.
EXTENSIONS ARE DANGEROUS.
SO MY STORY ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL IS A
BEAUTIFUL STORY OF COMPROMISE,
WORKING TOGETHER HERE IN THE
SENATE AND A VERY UGLY STORY
ABOUT WHAT THE HOUSE IS DOING,
WHICH IS DITHERING AROUND,
PLAYING WITH FIRE, AND I TELLING
YOU EXTENSIONS ARE DEATH BY
HE THEY THINK THEY SHALL JUST
SEND -- THEY THEY THINK THEY CAN
JUST SEND OVER AN EXTENSION AND
FEEL THEY'VE DONE THEIR JOB.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE FOUND
OUT TODAY FROM THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND
TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS KNOWN
AS ASHTO.
THESE ARE FOLKS IN ON THE GROUND IN
OUR STATES.
I SPOKE TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF
TRANSPORTATION TODAY FROM NORTH
MICHIGAN.
REPRESENT CALIFORNIA.
AND I'LL BE BACK WITH ALL THE
DETAILS.
SENATOR FEINSTEIN IS TALKING TO
TODAY.
BUT THE REASON I'M TALKING ABOUT
THESE FOUR STATES IS BECAUSE
THEY HAVE ALREADY CALCULATED THE
JOB LOSSES THAT HAVE ALREADY
BEGUN, BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS
DITHERING AND WILL NOT PASS OUR
BIPARTISAN TRANSPORTATION BILL.
STATE.
I SPOKE TO JEAN CONDY, SECRETARY
OF THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION TODAY.
YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID?
HE HAS DELAYED THE REMAINING
2012 PROJECT AWARDS TOTALING
$1.2 BILLION IN PROJECTS THAT
EMPLOY 41,000 PEOPLE.
NOW, THE HOUSE IS RIGHT DOWN THE
THERE.
I HOPE THEY'RE HEARING THIS
WHILE THEY DEBATE AN EXTENSION.
AN EXTENSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS
NOT BENIGN.
AN EXTENSION OF THIS PROGRAM IS
DAMAGING.
AN EXTENSION OF THIS PROGRAM
MEANS JOB LOSSES.
41,000 IN NORTH CAROLINA.
I SPOKE WITH SCOTT RAWLINGS
TODAY, DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND CHIEF
ENGINEER OF THE NEVADA
HE'S HOLDING UP ADVERTISING FOR
FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS UNTIL
THERE IS A REAUTHORIZATION BILL
COMMITTING FEDERAL FUNDS.
HE IS REQUIRED
HE IS REQUIRED TO SLOW DOWN
FUTURE PROJECTS AND HE WILL NOT
REAUTHORIZATION.
AND RIGHT NOW TODAY, ASHTA, THE
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF HIGHWAY
AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS,
TELL ME 4,000 JOBS ARE AT RISK
NOW, WHAT THE NEVADA PEOPLE TELL
ME IS THAT IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS
WHEN THEY WERE IN A BOOM, THE
STATE COULD COME FORWARD AND
TAKE THESE EXTENSIONS IN STRIDE.
THEY HAD THE FUNDING TO
FRONTLOAD THEIR PROJECTS AND NOT
WORRY ABOUT THE FEDERAL
THEY THOUGHT THAT REIMBURSEMENT
WOULD COME.
A, THEY'RE VERY WORRIED ABOUT
REIMBURSEMENT.AND, B, BECAUSE OF
THE RECESSION, IT HAS HIT SOME
OF OUR STATES VERY HARD BECAUSE
OF CONSTRUCTION SLOWDOWN IN
HOUSING, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
FUNDS TO FAST FORWARD ANY OF
THESE PROJECTS.
SO NORTH CAROLINA, 41,000 JOBS
AT RISK.
NEVADA, 4,000.
MARYLAND.
SHE TALKED ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY
AND SHE WENT INTO FOUR OR FIVE
DIFFERENT THINGS SHE'S TRYING TO
DO NOW SHE CANNOT DO BECAUSE THE
HOUSE IS DITHERING AND THEY
WON'T TAKE UP THE BIPARTISAN
SENATE BILL AND PASS IT.
4,000 JOBS ARE AT RISK IN
MARYLAND BECAUSE PROJECTS ARE
BEING DELAYED.
THE
STEIDEL.
HE SAYS SEVERAL LARGE
CONSTRUCTION --
THE
SENATOR HAS CONSUMED EIGHT
MINUTES.
I WOULD ASK FOR JUST
30 SECONDS AND I'LL TURN IT
RIGHT OVER TO MY FRIEND.
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
MICHIGAN, SAME STORY, 3,500
SO I AM SAYING TO MY THE HOUSE
TODAY -- AND I ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES -- I KNOW THE SENATOR
SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE
BIT LATER ABOUT THIS.
COME TO THE FLOOR WITH THE
STORIES ABOUT YOUR STATES.
THESE EXTENSIONS ARE DANGEROUS.
THEY WILL LOSE JOBS.
TELL THE HOUSE TO PASS THE
BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL.
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
SENATOR FROM ALASKA.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
WHAT A GOOD DISCUSSION ON THE
FLOOR TODAY.
I WILL JOIN WITH MY COLLEAGUE
FROM CALIFORNIA IN URGING THAT
THE HOUSE ALSO MOVE ON THE
TRANSPORTATION BILL.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M RISING
THIS AFTERNOON.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE
LEGISLATION THAT IS BEFORE US.
THIS IS THE MENENDEZ PROPOSAL TO
RAISE TAXES, RAISE TAXES ON
AMERICAN ENERGY COMPANIES AND
INNING INEVITABLY PRICES TO
IT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS
SOMETHING ELSE, BUT I WOULD
SUGGEST TO YOU THAT ANY EFFORT
TO INCREASE THE TAXES ON -- ON
THE ENERGY COMPANIES THAT ARE
PROVIDING A RESOURCE SO US IS --
OUR ENERGY COMPANIES.
AND AS WE TAX THOSE ENERGY
COMPANIES, IT'S SURE NOT GOING
TO MAKE THEM PRODUCE THINGS THAT
ARE MORE AFFORDABLE, MORIBUND
NOT.
IN FACT, IT WILL --
MORE ABUNDANT.
IN FACT, IT WILL HAVE THE
NEGATIVE RESULT, IT WILL IMPACT
PRICES NEGATIVELY TO AMERICAN
CONSUMERS.
THIS LEGISLATION WE HAVE BEFORE
US, THIS IS NOT A NEW IDEA.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN
I THINK THAT THE NUMEROUS TIMES
THAT WE HAVE REJECTED IT LEADS
ME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT
STILL REMAINS A BAD IDEA.
IT'S A MESSAGING BILL THAT HAS
FAILED OVER AND OVER AND OVER
AND I THINK IT DESERVES TO SEE
THAT SAME FATE AGAIN.
THIS VERY CONGRESS JUST A LITTLE
LESS THAN A YEAR AGO REJECTED
THIS SAME TAX HIKE.
ANYBODY WHO'S CURIOUS TO SEE
WHAT IT IS THAT WE DID BACK THEN
NUMBER 72.
THIS WAS BACK IN MAY OF LAST
YEAR.
JUST TO SEE HOW ALL 100 MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE VOTED.
NOW, SOME HAVE ACCUSED
REPUBLICANS AS USING THIS
OPPORTUNITY WHEN -- WHEN GAS
PRICES ARE -- ARE HIGH TO PUSH
OUR CAUSE, IF YOU WILL, TO PUSH
OUR CAUSE FOR INCREASED SUPPLY
AND -- AND THAT SOMEHOW OR OTHER
WE WELCOME THE ASPECT OF -- OF
HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES.
AND IT WAS ACTUALLY THE
PRESIDENT HIMSELF WHO SAID THAT
SOME SEE A POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY
TO CALL FOR GREATER DOMESTIC
ENERGY PRODUCTION.
AND WITH OIL SITTING AT OVER A
HUNDRED DOLLARS A BARREL, I
THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT
THERE IS IMPACT OUT THERE.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU FOR A FACT,
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT MY
CONSTITUENTS DON'T VIEW THIS AS
A POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY.
I GET A WEEKLY SUMMARY OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH GAS PRICES AROUND
MY STATE.
RIGHT NOW, THE AVERAGE PRICE OF
A GALLON OF UNLEADED HERE IN THE
U.S. IS -- IS JUST A LITTLE SHY
OF -- OF $4.
WELL, IN -- IN MY HOMETOWN IN
ANCHORAGE, WE'RE PAYING $4.14.
IN JUNEAU, WHICH IS OUR STATE
CAPITAL WE'RE, PAYING $4.24.
IN BARROW, TOP OF THE WORLD
THERE, THEY'RE AT $5.75.
BETHEL IS PAYING $6.33.
THEY LONG FOR THE DAY THEY WOULD
BE PAYING CLOSER TO $4.
WE ARE SO FAR BEYOND T
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
THEY DON'T VIEW HIGHER GASOLINE
PRICES AS ANY KIND OF A
POLITICAL OPPORTUNITY.
WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR IS THAT
THEY DO MORE.
IN FACT, THERE IS AN IMPERATIVE
THAT WE HERE IN CONGRESS DO MORE
TO -- TO ADDRESS PRICES.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO
QUESTION, THERE IS NO QUESTION
THAT WE CAN BRING ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES ON-LINE, THAT WE CAN
BRING SEVERAL MILLION ADDITIONAL
MARKET.
AND THERE'S NO QUESTION BUT WHAT
IT WOULD DO.
IT'S GOING TO HELP TO CREATE
WE KNOW THAT FOR A FACT.
REVENUES.
IT WILL BETTER INSULATE OUR
NATION FROM THE INSTABILITY THAT
WE HAVE WITH THE GLOBAL PRICE
AND THAT'S -- WE KNOW THAT'S
WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
EVERY TIME IRAN IS MENTIONED,
EVERYTHING GETS A LITTLE SHAKY
OUT THERE.
AND WE KNOW THAT THIS -- SO MUCH
OF THIS IS DUE, IN FACT, TO THE
FACT THAT THERE IS LITTLE SPARE
CAPACITY IN THE GLOBAL MARKETS.
SO LET'S -- LET'S LOOK CLOSER TO
WHAT DO WE HAVE CLOSER TO HOME?
THE PRESIDENT HAS SUGGESTED TIME
AND TIME AGAIN THAT WE'VE ONLY
GOT 2% OF THE WORLD'S RESERVES.
WELL, IN FACT, THIS -- THIS MYTH
ABOUT THE U.S. SCARCITY IS JUST
EXACTLY THAT.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROVEN
RESERVES, IN FACT, IT IS A MUCH
SMALLER PIECE OF THE PIE,
RESERVES.
BUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE UNDERSTOOD,
AND UNFORTUNATELY IT DOESN'T
MAKE A GOOD BUMPER-STICKER, IS
THAT WHAT WE HAVE AS A NATION
DEMONSTRATES INCREDIBLE,
INCREDIBLE NATIONAL RESERVES.
205.6 BILLION BARRELS OF
TECHNICALLY RECOVERABLE
WE DON'T EVEN COUNT THE 800
BILLION-PLUS BILL BARRELS OF OIL
SHALE THAT ARE OUT THERE.
SO YOU MIGHT ASK THE QUESTION,
WHY AREN'T WE GOING AFTER THE
REST OF THE PYRAMID, THE PART IN
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING IS
THAT SO MUCH OF THIS IS PUT
OFF-LIMITS, IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE.
AND IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE BECAUSE
OF OUR GOVERNMENT POLICIES.
NOW, I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS
MORE TO A -- A POLICY WHEN IT
COMES TO AN ENERGY POLICY THAN
JUST DRILLING, JUST INCREASED
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, BUT IT MUST
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND IT
MUST BE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF
THE SOLUTION IF WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT TRUE NORTH AMERICAN
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.
WE -- WE MUST DO MORE WHEN IT
COMES TO CONSERVATION AND
EFFICIENCY.
WE NEED TO BUILD OUT TOWARD THE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES OF THE
FUTURE.
IT -- IF YOU WANT TO HAVE THE
BUMPER-STICKER, IT'S "FINDS
MORE, USE LESS."
IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE.
AND THE CHART LETS US KNOW THAT
WE TRULY CAN FIND MORE HERE.
BUT WHAT WE'RE FACING WITH THE
MENENDEZ BILL THAT'S IN FRONT OF
US TAKES US IN A COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
WHAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP ARE
PROPOSING CANNOT, BY ITS OWN
PRICES.
IF ANYTHING, WE'RE JUST GOING TO
SEE THEM PUSHED HIGHER.
AND MY CONSTITUENTS BACK HOME
JUST CAN'T -- THEY CAN'T AFFORD
TO SEE THEM PUSHED HIGHER WHEN
YOU'RE PAYING ABOVE $5, ABOVE $6
PER GALLON AT THE PUMP.
SOME PRETTY BASIC
ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES ARE AT PLAY
HERE.
TAXING SOMETHING DOES NOT MAKE
IT CHEAPER AND MORE ABUNDANT.
AND WE KNOW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE, DUE TO A FAILED
EXPERIMENT WITH THE WINDFALL
PROFITS TAX THAT HARMED DOMESTIC
OIL PRODUCTION, COLLECTED FAR
FEWER REVENUES THAN WAS
WE KNOW THAT THIS HAS TAKEN US
IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
NOW, AGAIN, OUR PROBLEM IS HIGH
FUEL PRICES AND THEIR EFFECT ON
AVERAGE AMERICANS.
I HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYONE
EXPLAIN TO ME HOW RAISING TAXES
IS GOING TO LOWER PRICES.
AND EVEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
SUBSIDIES THAT ARE -- ARE
EXTENDED IN THE MENENDEZ BILL,
NOT EVEN HALF OF THESE ARE
RELATED TO THE TRANSPORTATION
FUELS.
THE FIRST SECTION HERE IN HIS
BILL IS EXTENSION OF CREDIT FOR
HOMES.
WELL, I'M ALL FOR THAT, BUT TELL
ME THOUSAND TIES IN SOMEHOW OR
OTHER TO OUR TRANSPORTATION
IN TERMS OF COSTS, IT'S
EVEN MORE UNBALANCED.
SO I'M -- I'M LEFT AT A LOSS
HERE TO UNDERSTAND HOW PORM NENT PERMANENT
TAX INCREASES FOR OIL AND GAS
PRODUCERS IN EXCHANGE FOR
ANOTHER YEAR OF SUBSIDIES FOR
EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
IS -- IS GOING TO MAKE ANY KIND
OF A REASONABLE OR MEANINGFUL
DIFFERENCE.
IT KIND OF SAYS SO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, WELL, THAT -- THAT $4
THAT YOU'RE PAYING AT THE BUMP,
TOO BAD ABOUT THAT.
BUT HOW ABOUT A GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED
I'M JUST -- THAT -- THAT JUST
DOESN'T WORK.
SOME WILL ALSO COME HERE TO
ARGUE THAT INCREASING TAXES WILL
HAVE NO 0 EFFECT ON PRODUCTION.
AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I'D
LIKE TO SUBMIT TWO NEWS STORIES
FROM LAST WEEK FOR THE RECORD.
THESE ARE NEW STORIES, THESE
AREN'T EDITORIALS.
ONE IS FROM PLATTE'S ENERGY.
THE OTHER IS FROM 9 "WALL STREET THE "WALL
STREET JOURNAL."
AND BOTH DETAIL AN ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT
IT IS GOING TO REVERSE ITS OWN
TAXES ON THE OIL COMPANIES.
YEAR, ENGLAND DECIDED TO DO
ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS BEING
PROPOSED HERE WITH THE MENENDEZ
BILL.
THEY WERE RESPONDING TO HIGH OIL
PRICES.
AND SO WHAT THEY DID WAS THEY
MOVED TO INCREASE TAXES ON THE
INDUSTRY.
WELL, THE RESULT, MR. PRESIDENT,
SURPRISE.
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT MADE IT LESS
ECONOMICAL TO PRODUCE OIL BY
HIKE THEIR TAX RATES, COMPANIES
STOPPED PRODUCING AND THEY THEY WERE
ELSEWHERE.
IN THE YEAR SINCE GREAT BRITAIN
IMPOSED ITS TAX HIKES, ITS
PRODUCTION DECLINE HAS TRIPLED,
FROM 6% TO 18%.
NOW, LET ME JUST REPEAT THAT.
IN THE YEARS SINCE GREAT BRITAIN
IMPOSED TAX INCREASES ON OIL
PRODUCERS, PRODUCTION DECLINES
ACCELERATED FROM 6% A YEAR TO
178% A YEAR.
AND NOW BRITAIN IS IN PROCESS OF
DOING ABSOLUTELY AN ABOUT-FACE.
THEY'RE LIKELY GOING TO OFFER
$5.5 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF TO
THE OIL COMPANIES TO TRY TO
BRING THE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS --
THE PRODUCTION BACK.
NOW, I'M SURE THAT SOME HERE
WOULD REFER TO THAT TAX CUT AS A
SUBSIDY AND IGNORE THE
INCONVENIENT FACT THAT HIGHER
TAX LEVELS LEAD TO LOWER
PRODUCTION.
THEY DON'T LEAD TO CHEAPER FUEL,
THEY LEAD TO LOWER PRODUCTION.
AND YET EVEN IN THE FACE OF HIGH
FUEL PRICES AND COMPELLING
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, THE PROPOSAL
IN FRONT OF US IS GOING TO TAKE
US DOWN THE EXACT SAME PATH THAT
GREAT BRITAIN WENT DOWN LAST
YEAR.
IT WOULD MAKE THE CLEAR MESS
STICK OF DRIVING PRODUCTION AWAY
WHEN I THINK WE NEED IT MOST.
THE OUTCOME IN ENGLAND JUST
HELPS PRODUCE THIS IS A
SERIOUSLY DEFECTSIVE YESTERDAY I
THINK AND A DANGEROUS ONE.
SO YOU JUST NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT
THERE.
IF THE SENATE WAS REALLY SERIOUS
ABOUT ADDRESS BASS LEAN PRICES,
WE'D BE TAKING THE LONG OVERDUE
STEPS --
THE
SENATOR HAS CONSUMED 10 MINUTES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
QUEUE.
IFQUEUE.
IF I MAY HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE TO
WRAP UP.
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
IF WE WERE REALLY SERIOUS HERE
IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN
TERMS OF INCREASING OUR LONG
OVERDUE REQUIREMENT TO UP OUR
OIL RESOURCES, OUR OIL
PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY, WE KNOW.
WE'VE GOT OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR
NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH IN CANADA
WITH THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE.
WE CLEARLY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN
ALASKA FROM THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF, FROM THE
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST.
WE STILL IMPORT ABOUT HALF OF
OUR OIL SUPPLY AND ABOUT HALF OF
THAT IS FROM OPEC.
AND ONE LAST CHART,
MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY.
RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 47% IS OPEC.
NON-OPEC IS 53%.
IF WE WERE TO ADD TO OUR MIX
HERE IN THIS COUNTRY WHAT WE
COULD GET FROM KEYSTONE, THAT'S
THE MIDDLE PIE.
LETBUT LOOK WHERE WE WOULD BE AS A
NATION IF WE WERE TO PLUS UP OUR
ACTIVITY WITH DOMESTIC
PRODUCTION, BRING ON KEYSTONE
AND WITH OUR EXISTING --
EXISTING RESOURCES, OUR IMPORTS
FROM OPEC ARE REDUCED TO SUCH A
MINIMAL AMOUNT.
WE COULD -- WE TALK ABOUT ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE, NORTH AMERICAN
ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, AND WE
TRULY COULD BE IN THAT POSITION
WHERE WE ARE NOT VULNERABLE, NOT
VULNERABLE TO THE VOLATILITY OF
THE MARKETS, NOT VULNERABLE TO
THE VOLATILITY THAT COMES FROM
OPEC SETTING THE PRICES AS THEY
DO.
NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE WE ARE
SPENDING MILLIONS AND BILLIONS
OF DOLLARS TO IMPORT A RESOURCE
THAT WE NEED BUT THAT WE HAVE AS
A NATION.
CONGRESS -- WHY THE CONGRESS
WOULD WANT TO DRAIN OUR ECONOMY
BY RAISING TAXES ON THE VERY
BUSINESSES THAT HELP MINIMIZE
OUR FOREIGN DEPENDENCE, HELP
CREATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS FOR OUR
FAMILIES, AND HAVE TRULY HELPED
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO -- TO
AMERICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY IN
THE LONG RUN.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'M GOING TO YIELD
IN JUST TWO MINUTES BECAUSE I
KNOW SENATOR SANDERS IS HERE.
I REALLY FEEL I NEED TO RESPOND
BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO
NOTE THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA UNDER
HIS LEADERSHIP FOR DECADES WE
HAVEN'T DRILLED AS MUCH AS WE'VE
DRILLED NOW.
WE HAVE MORE WELLS PUMPING THAN
AT ANY TIME IN RECENT MEMORY.
AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY
IMPORTANT POINT.
OF COURSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO
DRILL OFF THE COAST OF SOME OF
OUR PRECIOUS AREAS BECAUSE WE
HAVE TO SUPPORT INITIALING
INDUSTRY, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT
RECREATION INDUSTRY, TOURIST
INDUSTRY.
BUT ALL THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT
DRILL, BABY, DRILL, AND WE'LL
SOLVE EVERYTHING, DOESN'T WORK.
BECAUSE YOU THREATEN JOBS WHEN
YOU GO TO CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE
PRISTINE AND A VERY IMPORTANT
SOURCE OF ECONOMIC INCOME FOR
OUR STATES.
PLUS IF YOU ASK MY COLLEAGUES ON
THE OTHER SIDE, THEY WILL NOT
SUPPORT KEEPING THE OIL HERE IN
THEY WILL NOT.
AND WE ARE EXPORTING MORE OIL
THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE.
SO THIS THING GETS VERY
INTERESTING WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK
AT IT.
AND STILL IN ALL, THE BIG OIL
COMPANIES AS WE ALL MAKE OUR
SACRIFICES AT THE PUMP, THEY'RE
BRINGING IN RECORD, RECORD,
RECORD PROFITS, AND THEY ASK US
TO MAKE SACRIFICES BECAUSE THIS
INSTABILITY IN THE WORLD, BUT
THEY'RE POCKETING THOSE
INCREASES.
AND YET OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS
CRY BITTER TEARS BECAUSE WE WANT
TO SUGGEST THAT SUBSIDIES THEY
GOT DECADES AGO SHOULD KEEP ON
UNDISSTUSHED -- UNDISTURBED,
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHEN WE
WOULD LIKE TO THESE THOSE FUNDS
GO TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR
AMERICA'S FAMILIES TO BUY MORE
FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS, TO FIND
ALTERNATIVE FUELS, ETC., ETC.
WHEN I COME BACK TO THE FLOOR
AFTER THIS DISCUSSION ON POSTAL
REFORM, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT
MORE ABOUT THE HIGHWAY BILL.
THE HOUSE IS ABOUT TO VOTE ON A
LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S
DANGEROUS.
AND I HOPE COLLEAGUES OVER THERE
WILL NOT DO THAT BECAUSE I GOT
TO TELL YOU EVERY DAY WE EXTEND
THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND, EVERY
DAY WE EXTEND IT FOR A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME WE LOSE JOBS AND
WE NEED CERTAINTY.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND I'M HAPPY TO YIELD THE FLOOR
AT THIS TIME.
THE
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. PRESIDENT,
LATER THIS AFTERNOON, ACTUALLY
IN A FAIRLY SHORT WHILE, WE'RE
GOING TO BE VOTING ON WHETHER TO
PROCEED WITH THE POSTAL REFORM
BILL, AND I HOPE WE VOTE YES.
HAVE A STRONG
BIPARTISAN VOTE TO GO FORWARD.
I WILL TELL YOU WHY.
MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT NINE OR
TEN MONTHS AGO, THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL CAME UP WITH A PROPOSAL
FOR THE POST OFFICE, AND IN MY
VIEW, THAT -- THAT PROPOSAL
FROM THE POSTMASTER GENERAL IS
AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER FOR OUR
COUNTRY AND ESPECIALLY FOR RURAL
AMERICA.
AND THIS IS WHAT HIS ORIGINAL
PROPOSAL OUTLINED.
WHAT HE PROPOSED WAS THE
SHUTTING DOWN OF MORE THAN
3,600, MOSTLY RURAL POST
OFFICES.
AND IF YOU LIVE IN A RURAL STATE
LIKE MINE, ONE KNOWS HOW
IMPORTANT RURAL POST OFFICES ARE
AND THEIR FUNCTION IS BEYOND
BEING JUST A POST OFFICE.
IN MANY SMALL COMMUNITIES
THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, POST
OFFICES ARE THE CENTER OF THE
TOWN.
TOGETHER.
IT'S WHAT DEVELOPS A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY.
IN SOME CASES, IT IS WHAT THAT
SMALL RURAL TOWN IS ALL ABOUT.
YOU SHUT DOWN THAT RURAL POST
OFFICE, AND IN SOME INSTANCES
YOU ARE LITERALLY SHUTTING DOWN
THAT TOWN.
AND WE SHOULD ALSO UNDERSTOOD
THAT -- UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE
MIDST OF THE SERIOUS FINANCIAL
PROBLEMS FACING THE POSTAL
SERVICE, SHUTTING DOWN 3,600
MOSTLY RURAL POST OFFICES WOULD
SAVE THE POST OFFICE ONE QUARTER
OF 1% OF THEIR BUDGET.
SO THE ORIGINAL PLAN, WHICH HAS
SINCE BEEN MODIFIED, WAS SHUT
DOWN 3,600 RURAL POST OFFICES,
AND I WOULD SUGGEST WHETHER YOU
ARE A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN OR
A PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT, THAT
IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR STATE, NOT
GOOD FOR AMERICA.
IN ADDITION, THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL'S ORIGINAL HE PROPOSAL
SHUTTING DOWN 2,200
MAIL PROCESSING FACILITIES ALL
OVER THIS COUNTRY, THAT'S
APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF OF THE
MAIL PROCESSING PLANTS, AND IF
HE DID THAT, THAT WOULD END
OVERNIGHT DELIVERY STANDARDS FOR
FIRST-CLASS MAIL.
MR. PRESIDENT, AT A TIME WHEN
THE POSTAL SERVICE IS FACING
EXTREME COMPETITION FROM EMAIL
AND THE INTERNET, IN MY VIEW
THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IN
THIS COUNTRY IS TO SLOW DOWN
MAIL SERVICE.
AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR MANY
MEMBERS OF THE SENATE WHO SAY
THAT YOU MOVE IN THAT
DIRECTION, MAKING MAIL DELIVERY
SLOWER, YOU ARE BEGINNING THE
DEATH SPIRAL FOR THE POSTAL
SERVICE, MANY BUSINESSES, MANY
CONSUMERS WILL BE SAYING SORRY,
I'M GOING TO LOOK ELSEWHERE TO
GET MY PACKAGES, GET MY MAIL
DELIVERED.
FURTHERMORE, THE ORIGINAL
PROPOSAL FROM THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL WAS TO SHUT DOWN
SATURDAY MAIL DELIVERY, AND IN
PROCESS REDUCE THE WORK
FORCE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE IN
THE MIDST OF THE WORST RECESSION
SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION BY
OVER 200,000 JOBS.
NOW, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS THAT
SENATORS LIEBERMAN, CARPER,
SENATOR COLLINS, SCOTT BROWN,
THE RANKING MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE, CAME TOGETHER AND
MADE -- PUT TOGETHER A BILL
WHICH WAS SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER
THAN WHAT THE POSTMASTER GENERAL
HAD PROPOSED.
NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.
SOME OF US FELT THAT THE
BILL DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH, AND
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
CHAIRMEN OF THE COMMITTEES TO
TRY TO IMPROVE THAT BILL, AND I
THINK WE HAVE MADE SOME SUCCESS.
AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT THE
MANAGER'S AMENDMENT, YOU'LL SEE
STRONGER GUARANTEES TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE NOT SHUTTING DOWN
RURAL POST OFFICES ALL OVER
AMERICA, THAT IF WE SHUT DOWN
PROCESSING PLANTS, THEY WILL BE
A SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER NUMBER
THAT WAS -- THAN WAS ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED, AND THAT ALSO WE
WOULD MAINTAIN STRONG MAIL
DELIVERY STANDARDS, IF NOT AS
STRONG AS I WOULD LIKE, AT
LEAST STRONGER THAN WHAT THE
POSTMASTER GENERAL ORIGINALLY
PROPOSED.
NOW, IF -- HERE IS MY FEAR,
THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL IS RARING TO GO.
NOW, IF HE PROCEEDS AND THE
BOARD OF POSTAL COMMISSIONERS
PERCEIVE THAT THE UNITED STATES
CONGRESS CANNOT ACT, THEY'RE
GOING TO GO FORWARD AND BRING
FORTH A PROPOSAL WHICH WILL NOT
BE AS STRONG IN PROTECTING POST
OFFICES AND WORKERS AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AS WE CAN DO.
SO WHAT WE MANAGED TO DO BACK IN
DECEMBER IS GET A FIVE-MONTH
MORATORIUM TO PREVENT THE
SHUTTING DOWN OF RURAL POST
OFFICES AND PROCESSING PLANTS.
THAT EXPIRES IN -- MAY 15.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE BEGIN
THE PROCESS WE VOTE TO PROCEED
WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR, THAT WE
BRING THAT BILL TO THE FLOOR,
THAT THERE IS AN OPEN PROCESS BY
WHICH PEOPLE, INCLUDING
MYSELF, WILL BRING FORTH
AMENDMENTS TO MAKE THE BILL EVEN
STRONGER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD POINT OUT TO MY
COLLEAGUES THAT IN TERMS OF THE
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS FACING THE
POST OFFICE, CLEARLY THEY HAVE
GOT TO DEAL WITH THE SERIOUS
PROBLEM, THE VERY REAL PROBLEM
THAT FIRST-CLASS MAIL HAS GONE
DOWN VERY SIGNIFICANTLY, BEING
REPLACED BY E-MAIL.
THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT IS A
REAL LEGITIMATE PROBLEM.
BUT WHAT IS NOT A LEGITIMATE
PROBLEM IS THAT THE POSTAL
SERVICE UNIQUELY IN AMERICA --
NOT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE
GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL AGENCIES,
OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE
POSTAL SERVICE ALONE IS BEING
ASKED TO PUT $5.5 BILLION EVERY
SINGLE YEAR INTO THEIR FUTURE
RETIREE HEALTH BENEFIT PROGRAM.
ACCORDING TO THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL OF THE U.S. POST
OFFICE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT
THERE ARE SOME $44 BILLION IN
THAT FUND ALREADY WITH INTEREST
RATES ACCRUING, WE DO NOT NEED
TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT
THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT
THAT THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS
OVERPAID INTO THE FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM,
SOME $10 BILLION OR $11 BILLION
INTO THE CIVIL SERVICE
RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AT LEAST A
COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS, AND
PERHAPS A LOT MORE.
SO BOTTOM LINE HERE IS THIS: IF
WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING
RURAL AMERICA, IF WE ARE
SERIOUS ABOUT PROTECTING 3,600
RURAL POST OFFICES, IF WE
BELIEVE THAT THE POST OFFICE
MUST CONTINUE BEING AN IMPORTANT
PART OF WHAT AMERICA IS ABOUT,
TO OUR ECONOMY AND
TO SMALL BUSINESSES, AND WE DO
NOT WANT TO DELAY MAIL SERVICE,
SLOW DOWN MAIL SERVICE, WE DO
NOT WANT TO SHUT DOWN HALF OF
THE MAIL PROCESSING PLANTS IN
THIS COUNTRY, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE BEGIN THAT
DEBATE AND VOTE FOR CLOTURE.
AND WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM CONNECTICUT.
I THANK CHAIR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TO URGE
OUR COLLEAGUES TO VOTE FOR
CLOTURE TO PROCEED TO THE POSTAL
SERVICE BILL.
AND I'D JUST SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY.
THIS IS A GREAT AMERICAN
INSTITUTION, RIGHT THERE FROM
THE FOUNDING OF OUR COUNTRY.
IN FACT, IN THE CONSTITUTION TO
PROVIDE POST OFFICES.
AND IT IS AN INSTITUTION THAT IS
TODAY IN TROUBLE.
LAST YEAR, IT LOST ALMOST $10
WHY?
PART OF IT IS THE ECONOMIC
RECESSION, BUT THE REAL
THAT MAIL VOLUME
HAS DROPPED 21% IN THE LAST FIVE
YEARS, AND MOSTLY THAT'S
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USING THE
INTERNET AND EMAIL INSTEAD OF
TRADITIONAL MAIL.
AND YET THE POSTAL SERVICE NOT
ONLY ITSELF PROVIDES A GREAT
SERVICE, BUT IT FACILITATES
INVESTIGATORS -- VARIOUS
SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY THAT
EMPLOY SEVEN MILLION PEOPLE,
MAILERS, MAIL ORDER
CATALOGUES, AND THE LIKE.
OUR COMMITTEE WHEN CONFRONTED
WITH THIS CRISIS AND THE
STATEMENT FROM THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL DON AHOE IF NOTHING WAS
DONE, WE HAVE TO BEGIN
CURTAILING OPERATIONS SOMETIME
THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ESSENTIALLY
RUN OUT OF ENOUGH MONEY TO
OPERATE THE POST OFFICE AS IT
WE TRIED TO GET TOGETHER AND
WORK ON A BALANCED PROGRAM.
WE REPORTED OUT A BIPARTISAN
BILL.
SOME PEOPLE SAID IT WAS TOO
MUCH, SOME PEOPLE SAID IT WAS
TOO LITTLE.
WE THINK IT WAS JUST ABOUT
RIGHT.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DIALOGUE
WITH SENATOR SANDERS AND
THE AISLE.
WHEN WE TAKE THIS UP, AND I
SURE HOPE IT'S WHEN AND NOT IF
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW WE
COULD JUST TURN AWAY FROM THIS
PROBLEM AND ESSENTIALLY SAY TO
THE POSTMASTER WE'RE NOT GOING
TO PROVIDE YOU ANY HELP, YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO HANDLE THIS,
AND WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO IS
CLOSE A LOT OF POST OFFICES, IN
MY OPINION, CLOSE A LOT OF MAIL
PROCESSING FACILITIES, RAISE
PRICES TO THE EXTENT HE CAN
UNDER EXISTING LAW.
THIS IS A BALANCED PROGRAM.
IT CREATES SOME PROTECTIONS FOR
SMALL AND RURAL POST OFFICES
BEFORE THEY CAN BE CLOSED, IT
CREATES NEW STANDARDS OF
DELIVERY OF MAIL SO THAT THE
POSTMASTER WILL, IN HIS
WISDOM, BE ABLE TO THIN OUT
EMPLOYMENT AT SOME OF THE MAIL
PROCESSING FACILITIES, PERHAPS
CLOSE SOME OF THEM BUT NOWHERE
NEAR WHAT HE WANTED TO DO
EARLIER.
THE POSTMASTER ASKED US FOR
AUTHORITY TO GO FROM SIX DETAILS
OF DELIVERY OF MAIL TO FIVE DAYS
OF DELIVERY OF MOST MAIL, AND
WE ESSENTIALLY SAID YOU MAY HAVE
TO DO THAT, MR. POSTMASTER,
BUT DON'T DO IT FOR TWO YEARS,
SEE IF THE OTHER THINGS WE'RE
AUTHORIZING YOU TO DO ENABLE YOU
TO GET THE POST OFFICE BACK IN
FISCAL BALANCE, BUT IF NOT,
AFTER THE TWO YEARS WITH THE
PROCESS WE ORDAIN, THEY'LL HAVE
TO GO TO FIVE DAYS OF DELIVERY.
HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE: WE'RE
TRYING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SAVE
THIS GREAT INSTITUTION.
IT REALLY ISN'T A RELIC.
IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE
MODERN ECONOMY.
AND IT HAS SOME GREAT RESOURCES.
FIRST IS ITS PRESENCE ALL OVER
THE COUNTRY, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS WE ARE DOING, WE WORKED
ON THIS WITH SENATOR SANDERS AND
OTHERS, IN THE SUBSTITUTE WE
WILL CREATE A -- AN ADVISORY
COMMISSION, A NEW COMMISSION
WHICH WILL BE CHARGED WITH THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF NOT ONLY
REVIEWING THE OPERATIONS OF THE
POST OFFICE TO MAKE SURE IT'S
BEING MANAGED AND RUN MOST
EFFICIENTLY, BUT FOR
LOOKING -- FOR A NEW BUSINESS
MODEL.
FOR NEW WAYS TO USE THE GREAT
ASSETS OF THE POST OFFICE.
ONE, THAT IT'S ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY, AND THE POST OFFICES,
AND TWO, THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN
COVER THE LAST MILE OF DELIVERY
TO EVERYBODY'S HOUSE OR BUSINESS
IN THE COUNTRY, REGARDLESS OF
WHERE YOU LIVE, INCLUDING THE
ICONIC BURROS WHO DELIVER MAIL
IN THE GRAND CANYON AND MAILMEN
ON SNOWSHOES WHO DELIVER IT IN
RURAL PARTS OF ALASKA.
RIGHT NOW FED EX, U.P.S. AND
OTHERS USE THE SERVICE OF THE
LAST MILE TO COMPLETE THEIR --
THEIR DELIVERY TO THEIR
CUSTOMERS, AND WE WANT TO SEE
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW THE
POST OFFICE CAN MAKE MORE MONEY
SO IT CAN STAY ALIVE.
AMERICAN
INSTITUTION, WHICH I BELIEVE
HAS A GREAT FUTURE BUT IT'S NOT
GOING TO HAVE IT UNLESS WE HELP.
HERE WE'RE CHALLENGED AGAIN.
ARE WE GOING TO FALL INTO
IDEOLOGICAL RIGIDITY OR PARTISAN
CONFLICT AND LET THIS GREAT
INSTITUTION SLIDE, AND FALL
INTO A DEEP CRISIS, OR ARE WE
GOING TO WORK TOGETHER AS I
BELIEVE OUR COMMITTEE HAS, TO
PREVENT A BIPARTISAN SOLUTION
WHICH WILL GUARANTEE IN A VERY
DIFFERENT TIME IN AMERICAN
HISTORY THAT THE POST OFFICE,
THE UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE, CAN PLAY AS VITAL A
ROLE AS IT HAS THROUGHOUT ALL
THE REST OF OUR HISTORY.
I
-- I THANK THE CHAIR AND I YIELD
THE FLOOR.
I SUGGEST, MR. PRESIDENT, THE
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
MAJORITY LEADER.
WITHOUT OBJECTION, UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THE MOTION TO
PROCEED TO S. 2204 IS AGREED TO.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT IF CLOTURE IS
INVOKED ON THE MOTION TO PROCEED
TO S. 1789, WHICH IS THE POSTAL
REFORM BILL, AND THE MOTION TO
PROCEED IS LATER ADOPTED --
ORDER.
YES.
THE SENATE WILL BE IN ORDER,
PLEASE.
WE'LL START OVER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT IF
CLOTURE IS INVOKED ON THE MOTION
TO PROCEED TO S. 1789, THE
POSTAL REFORM BILL, AND THE
MOTION TO PROCEED IS LATER
ADOPTED, THE SENATE RESUME
OF S. 2204, WHICH
IS THE REPEAL BIG OIL SUBSIDIES
BY THE MAJORITY LEADER FOLLOWING
CONSULTATION WITH THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER.
IS THERE
OBJECTION TO THE REQUEST?
RESERVING THE
RIGHT TO OBJECT.
THE
DEMOCRATIC LEADER -- THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
I SHARE THE
MAJORITY LEADER'S VIEW THAT WE
OUGHT TO TURN TO THE POSTAL
REFORM BILL, SO WHAT I INTEND TO
DO IS TO ASK THE CONSENT THAT WE
MODIFY THE CONSENT THAT THE
MAJORITY LEADER JUST OFFERED,
MODIFY HIS REQUEST SO THAT ON
MONDAY, APRIL 16, WE PROCEED TO
CONSIDERATION OF S. 1769, THE
POSTAL REFORM BILL.
THAT WOULD GIVE US AN
OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DEBATE
AND DISCUSS THE MENENDEZ
PROPOSAL WHICH WE JUST INVOKED
CLOTURE ON YESTERDAY FOR THE
BALANCE OF THE WEEK.
SO I OBJECT.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
LEADER.
OBJECT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK MOST
PEOPLE KNOW I WORKED HERE AS A
POLICE OFFICER FOR MOST OF THE
TIME I WAS GOING TO LAW SCHOOL,