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WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT BOTH AMENDMENTS, SUPPORT
THE UNDERLYING BILL, AND I WOULD
FLOOR.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
I ASK THAT PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, HOW
MUCH TIME IS REMAINING ON THE
TWO AMENDMENTS OFFERED BY THE
SENATOR FROM MARYLAND?
SIX
MINUTES FOR THE MAJORITY ON
15 MINUTES IN OPPOSITION.
FOR AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2141, 11
MINUTES IN FAVOR AND 15 IN
OPPOSITION.
WELL, MR. PRESIDENT,
I WILL SPEAK ON THE TIME ON THIS
FIRST OF ALL, THE AMENDMENT 2125
WILL HELP ENSURE THAT HEALTH
CARE PROVIDERS, PATIENTS AND
PAYERS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
BENEFITS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH DRUGS, ESPECIALLY WITH
RESPECT TO THOSE DRUGS BY
UNDERREPRESENTED SUB
I BELIEVE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
AND NONCONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENT.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THIS
AMENDMENT.
ON THE OTHER ONE, THE 2141,
WHICH IS THE SMALL BUSINESS
REPORT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT F.D.A. GIVE SMALL
BUSINESSES A HELPING HAND.
I UNDERSTAND THAT EACH F.D.A.
CENTER HAS A SMALL BUSINESS
OFFICE AND THAT EACH OF F.D.A.'S
FIVE REGIONAL OFFICES HAS A
SMALL BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE,
THAT THIS REPORT THAT F.D.A.
WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT ON THE
BASIS OF THE AMENDMENT OFFERED
BY SENATOR CARDIN WOULD PROVIDE
CONGRESS WITH MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW F.D.A. USES ITS
RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
TO HELP ENCOURAGE SMALL
COMPANIES, AND AGAIN I THINK
IT'S ANOTHER VALUABLE ADDITION
TO OUR BILL AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN
SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION, THAT
SO I THANK THE SENATOR FROM
MARYLAND FOR HIS OFFERING THESE
TWO AMENDMENTS AND FOR WHAT I
CONSIDER TO BE IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE UNDERLYING BILL.
I THANK HIM VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, AGAIN, I
WOULD JUST SAY TO ANYONE IN
THEIR OFFICES THAT WE STILL HAVE
SOME EXTRA TIME HERE BEFORE --
BEFORE WE WILL BE ADJOURNING
THIS EVENING.
AGAIN, I SAY TO SENATORS THAT --
THAT AT 2:00 TOMORROW, THE BELL
RINGS AND WE WILL BE MOVING TO
VOTING, AT LEAST BY THAT TIME IF
NOT BEFORE, AND SO ANY SENATORS
THAT HAVE AMENDMENTS THAT THEY
WISH TO BRING UP AND TALK ABOUT,
I WISH THEY WOULD COME OVER TO
THE FLOOR AND DO THAT NOW.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD
SUGGEST THE -- I WOULD YIELD,
FIRST OF ALL -- I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM WYOMING.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD
JUST ECHO THE COMMENTS OF THE --
CHAIRMAN, AND I THANK THE
SENATOR FOR HIS AMENDMENTS.
I THINK EVERYBODY APPRECIATES
BOTH OF THOSE AMENDMENTS AND
THIS.
I APPRECIATE ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE COME AND SPOKEN ALREADY.
I ITALY THERE ARE PROBABLY A
COUPLE OF CONTROVERSIAL
AMENDMENTS THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT
TO COME OVER AND SPEAK ON.
THEN WE MIGHT HAVE THE
THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT TOMORROW
SO THAT WE CAN GET THIS BILL
FINISHED UP EXPEDIENTLY.
SO I -- I HOPE IF YOU HAVE AN
USE YOUR TIME.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE A FEW
MINUTES IN OPPOSITION PERHAPS TO
TWO OF THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE
BEEN DEBATED SO FAR, BUT THAT'S
IT SO FAR, AND I THINK THERE ARE
THREE CONTROVERSIAL ONES THAT
DEBATED.
ONE OF THOSE HAS A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOCATED TO IT,
BUT THE OTHERS ARE LIMITED TO
THE 30 MINUTES EQUALLY DIVIDED.
SO I HOPE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE
OF SOME MORE OF THOSE THIS
ON VOTES
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THAT THE TIME BE DIVIDED
EQUALLY.
OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
NUMBER 2143.
THE
SENATE IS IN A QUORUM CALL.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT WE DISPENSE WITH
THE QUORUM CALL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE QUORUM CALL IS
DISPENSED WITH.
I'D LIKE TO CALL UP
AMENDMENT 2143.
WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
KENTUCKY, MR. PAUL, PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 2143.
AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE --
I ASK THAT THE READING
OF THE AMENDMENT BE WAIVED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE READING IS
WAIVED.
MR. PRESIDENT, TODAY
I'M OFFERING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
F.D.A.
I'M TROUBLED BY IMAGES OF ARMED
AGENTS, ARMED F.D.A. AGENTS
RAISING AMISH FARMS AND
PREVENTING THEM SELLING MILK
DIRECTLY FROM THE COW.
I THINK WE HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS
IN OUR COUNTRY THAN SENDING
FAFD F.D.A. AGENTS INTO
PEACEFUL FARMERS' LAND AND
TELLING THEM THEY CAN'T SELL
MILK DIRECTLY FROM THE COW.
MY AMENDMENT HAS THREE PARTS.
FIRST, IT ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE
F.D.A.'S OVERZEALOUS REGULATIONS
OF VITAMINS, FOOD AND
SUPPLEMENTS BY CODIFYING THE
FIRST AMENDMENT PROHIBITION ON
PRIOR RESTRAINT.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?
THE FIRST AMENDMENT SAYS YOU
CAN'T PREVENT SPEECH, EVEN
COMMERCIAL SPEECH, IN ADVANCE
OF THE SPEECH.
YOU CAN'T TELL CHEERIOS THAT
THEY CAN'T SAY THERE'S A HEALTH
BENEFIT TO THEIR CHEERIOS.
UNDER OUR CURRENT F.D.A. LAWS,
THE F.D.A. SAYS IF YOU WANT TO
MARKET PRUNE JUICE, YOU CAN'T
SAY THAT IT CURES CONSTIPATION.
YOU CAN'T MAKE A HEALTH CLAIM
ABOUT A FOOD SUPPLEMENT OR ABOUT
A VITAMIN, YOU CAN DO IT ABOUT
A PHARMACEUTICAL BUT YOU'RE NOT
ALLOWED TO DO IT ABOUT A HEALTH
SUPPLEMENT.
I THINK THIS SHOULD CHANGE.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COURT
CASES THAT SHOWS THIS GOES
AGAINST NOT ONLY THE SPIRIT BUT
THE LETTER OF THE LAW OF THE
FIRST AMENDMENT.
SO THIS AMENDMENT WOULD CHANGE
THAT.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD STOP THE
F.D.A. FROM SENSE YOU'RING
CLAIMS ABOUT CURATIVE,
MITIGATIVE EFFECTS OF DIETARY
SUPPLEMENTS AND STOP THE F.D.A.
FROM PROHIBITING DISTRIBUTION OF
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES AND
PUBLICATIONS REGARDING THE ROLE
OF NUTRIENTS IN PROTECTING
AGAINST DISEASE.
DESPITE FOUR COURT ORDERS
CONDEMNING THE PRACTICE AS A
VIOLATION OF THE FIRST
AMENDMENT, THE F.D.A. CONTINUES
TO SUPPRESS CONSUMERS' RIGHT TO
BE INFORMED AND TO MAKE INFORMED
PARTICULAR INFORMATION.
IT'S TIME FOR CONGRESS TO PUT AN
END TO F.D.A. SENSORSHIP --
SENS ORSHIP.
SECOND, MY AMENDMENT WOULD
SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED
YOU SHOULDN'T BE.
WE HAVE NEARLY 40 FEDERAL
AGENCIES THAT ARE ARMED.
NOT AGAINST HAVING POLICE,
I'M NOT AGAINST THE ARMY, THE
MILITARY, THE F.B.I., BUT I
THINK BUREAUCRATS DON'T NEED TO
BE CARRYING WEAPONS AND I THINK
IF THERE IS AN FEERMD AN ARMED
POLICEMAN TO BE THERE, THE
F.B.I., WHO ARE TRAINED TO DO
THIS SHOULD DO IT BUT I DON'T
THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO BE
ARMING BUREAUCRATS TO GO ON THE
FARM TO, YOU KNOW, -- WITH
ARMS TO STOP PEOPLE FROM SELLING
MILK FROM A COW.
I THINK WE HAVE TOO MANY ARMED
FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND THAT WE
NEED TO PUT AN END TO THIS.
CRIMINAL LAW SEEMS TO BE
INCREASING, INCREASINGLY IS
USING A TOOL OF OUR GOVERNMENT
BUREAUCRACY TO PUNISH AND
CONTROL HONEST BUSINESSMEN FOR
SIMPLY ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A
LIVING.
HISTORICALLY CRIMINAL LAW WAS
INTENDED TO PUNISH ONLY THE MOST
HORRIBLE OFFENSES THAT EVERYONE
AGREED WERE WRONG OR EVIL,
OFFENSES LIKE ***, ***,
THEFT, ARSON BUT WE'VE
FEDERALIZED THOUSANDS OF
CRIMES.
IF BUREAUCRATS NEED TO INVOLVE
THE POLICE, LET'S HAVE THEM USE
THE F.B.I. BUT I SEE NO REASON
TO HAVE THE F.D.A. CARRYING
WEAPONS.
TODAY THE CRIMINAL LAW IS USED
TO PUNISH BEHAVIOR SUCH AS EVEN
FISHING WITHOUT A PERMIT,
PACKAGE A PRODUCT INCORRECTLY OR
SHIPPING SOMETHING WITH AN
IMPROPER LABEL.
SIMPLY SAID, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S GONE TOO FAR.
THE PLAIN LANGUAGE OF OUR
CONSTITUTION SPECIFIES VERY FEW
FEDERAL CRIMES.
IN FACT, THE CONSTITUTION ONLY
HAD FOUR FEDERAL CRIMES AND NOW
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL
WE'VE MOVED BEYOND THE ORIGINAL
INTENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.
WE DON'T HAVE A LIST OF ALL THE
FEDERAL CRIMES.
IT'S ESTIMATED THERE ARE OVER
4,000, BUT NO ONE HAS AN EXACT
NUMBER.
FINALLY, MY AMENDMENT WILL
REQUIRE ADEQUATE MENS REA
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVE A
CRIME YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PROVE
THE INTENT.
INTENDED TO
TO HARM ON SOME SOME ONE, CAN'T
BE A SITUATION WHERE YOU DIDN'T
INTEND TO HARM SOMEONE.
IF YOU WANT TO PUT SOMEONE IN
JAIL, IT SHOULD BE A MENS REA
REQUIREMENT.
IT COMES OUT OF OUR COMMON LAW
TRADITION.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD FIX THIS
PROBLEM BY STRENGTHENING THE
MENS REA COMPONENT BY INCLUDING
THE WORDS "KNOWING" AND"
WILLFUL" BEFORE WE ADDRESS AND
ACCUSE SOMEONE OF A CRIME.
THIS I THINK WOULD GIVE
PROTECTION TO FOLKS WHO ARE
GUILTY OF INADVERTENTLY GUILTY
OF BREAKING A REGULATION AND
WOULD KEEP FROM OVERFLOWING OUR
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF VIOLENT
CRIMINALS WITHOUT PUTTING PEOPLE
IN FOR HONEST BREACHES OF
REGULATIONS.
IF CONGRESS IS GOING TO
CRIMINALIZE CONDUCT AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL AS IT DOES WITH
THE F.D.A. ACT, THE LEAST IT
AN ADEQUATE
MENS REA REQUIREMENT.
MY AMENDMENT WILL ATTEMPT TO DO
THIS.
THE RULES OUGHT TO BE
REASONABLE.
WE OUGHT TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO
MARKET VITAMINS.
THERE'S NO EARTHLY REASON
SOMEBODY MARKETS PRUNE JUICE
CAN'T ADVERTISE IT HELPS WITH
CONSTY TY PAITION.
WE'VE GOT -- CONSTIPATION.
WE'VE ABROGATED THE FIRST
AMENDMENT AND WE NEED TO TELL
THE F.D.A. THAT THE COURTS HAVE
RULED THAT THE FIRST AMENDMENT
DOES APPLY TO COMMERCIAL SPEECH
AND THE F.D.A. HAS BEEN
OVERSTEPPING THEIR BOUNDS.
I HOPE THIS AMENDMENT WILL PASS
AND I ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
ASK THE YEAS AND NAYS
I ASK THE YEAS AND
NAYS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I ASK THAT FURTHER
PRIDINGS ON THE QUORUM CALL BE
DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
I RISE IN OPPOSITION
TO THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY, AND I
OPPOSE IT FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE COURT OF
EQUITY NOW.
I'VE COME WITH CLEAN HANDS,
BECAUSE I AM ONE OF THE AUTHORS
OF THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT AND
HEALTH EDUCATION ACT ALONG WITH
SENATOR HATCH IN 1994.
WE WORKED IN TAN GUNMEN DEM
TANDEM TO GET THE
LEGISLATION THROUGH, A LOT OF
COMPROMISES WERE MADE AT THAT
TIME, NOT ONLY HERE IN THE
SENATE BUT BUT ALSO WITH THE
HOUSE WHEN WE WENT TO
CONFERENCE, AND I BELIEVE THE
RIGHT BALANCE WAS STRUCK.
AND I THINK IT'S PROVEN ITS
WORTH OVER THE YEARS.
NOW, WE'VE DONE SOME MINOR
MODIFICATIONS TO IT OVER THE
YEARS AS I'VE OFTEN SAID, YOU
DON'T WANT TO -- WHEN WE WRITE
LAWS, THEY'RE NOT CHISELED IN
STONE FOR ALL ETERNITY.
THEY'RE NOT THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS, THEY'RE LAWS AND
SOMETIMES THEY NEED TO BE
MODIFIED AND CHANGED A LITTLE
BIT, USUALLY TWEAKING.
BUT THIS AMENDMENT BASICALLY
TURNS THE WHOLE LAW THAT WE HAD
SINCE 1994 ON ITS HEAD.
WE HAVE A PROCESS NOW WHERE THE
F.D.A. REGULATES THE SUPPLEMENTS
AS FOODS.
DRUGS.
SO AS WE HAMMERED THIS AGREEMENT
OUT, SUPPLEMENTS CAN MAKE
NUTRIENT, STRUCTURE, FUNCTION
CLAIMS WITHOUT ANY F.D.A.
PREAPPROVAL.
NOW, IF THEY WANT TO MAKE A
HEALTH CLAIM, THEN IT HAS TO BE
APPROVED BY F.D.A., AND F.D.A.
HAS TO FIND THAT IT IS SUPPORTED
BY APPROPRIATE SCIENTIFIC
EVIDENCE.
SO UNDER THIS AMENDMENT,
SUBSTANCES THAT TODAY ARE
CONSIDERED DRUGS AND USED TO
TREAT SPEEZ DISEEZS AS
SERIOUS -- DISEASES AS SERIOUS
AS CANCER OR H.I.V. COULD BE
MARKETED WITHOUT ANY RIGOROUS
F.D.A. REVIEW, THAT WE HAVE
HEARD FROM MANY SPEAKERS HERE
TODAY THAT'S THE GOLD STANDARD
OF DRUG REGULATIONS THROUGHOUT
THE WORLD.
IT WOULD TURN OUR CURRENT SYSTEM
OF DRUG REGULATION ON ITS HEAD.
IT WOULD BE A HUGE SETBACK FOR
HEALTH, IT WOULD FOSTER A
SYSTEM RIFE WITH POTENTIAL FOR
HEALTH FRAUD.
THE BIG LOSERS WOULD BE
PATIENTS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, AS SOMEONE
WHO IS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE
DIETARY SUPPLEMENT HEALTH AND
EDUCATION ACT, AND ONE OF I
WOULD SAY ALONG WITH SENATOR
HATCH, HAS BEEN ONE OF ITS
PROTECTORS FOR ALL OF THESE --
ALL THESE YEARS, I DARE SAY THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE SENATOR
FROM KENTUCKY WOULD DESTROY,
WOULD DESTROY DSHEA, WOULD
DESTROY IT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT
DESTROYED BECAUSE I THINK IT'S
DOING A LOT OF GOOD FOR A LOT OF
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.
IT'S WORKING WELL.
CONSUMERS HAVE ACCESS TO A WIDE
RANGE OF SAFE PRODUCTS.
THERE'S NO REASON TO UPSET ITS
SUCCESS.
BECAUSE THIS AMENDMENT WOULD DO
THAT.
TO
TO THINK THAT SOMEHOW YOU COULD
JUST GO OUT AND MAKE ANY HEALTH
CLAIM YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, BACK
SNAKE OIL
THIS ELIXIR WILL DO EVERYTHING,
IT WILL CURE EVERY AILMENT YOU
HAVE AND TURN THE CLOCK BACK 20
YEARS, YOU KNOW, AND PEOPLE
WOULD BUY IT, AND WHAT WAS IT?
IT WAS 80% ALCOHOL AND 20%
WATER, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THEY MADE ALL THESE CRAZY
CLAIMS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO -- WE'RE
GOING TO MOVE TO THAT KIND OF A
SYSTEM NOW?
AND THE ONLY -- THE ONLY
RECOURSE WOULD BE TO TAKE THEM
TO FEDERAL COURT AND THEN HAVE A
TRIAL AND GO THROUGH ALL THAT
AND THEN, OKAY, THEN THEY --
THEN THEY APPEAL IT AND THEN
FINALLY YOU FIND OUT, WELL,
OKAY, THE COURT SAYS NO, THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
TO WARRANT THAT SO YOU'VE ON THE
TO TAKE THAT PRODUCT OFF THE
MARKET.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT FOR EVERY
ONE OF THE THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS
THAT ARE OUT THERE?
WHAT A MESS THIS WOULD BE.
FIRST OF ALL, THE FEDERAL COURTS
WOULD NOT HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL
TO DO EVERY ONE OF THOSE.
SECONDLY, WHO'S GOT THE MONEY TO
TO COURT?
AND IT WOULD LITERALLY DESTROY,
BRING DOWN -- BRING DOWN -- I
THINK AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS DONE
WELL IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT INDUSTRY,
THE VITAMINS AND MINERALS
INDUSTRY IN THIS COUNTRY, I
THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB
IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT
RUINED.
AND THIS WOULD RUIN IT.
LASTLY, THE SENATOR FROM
KENTUCKY TALKED ABOUT INCREASING
THE MEN SREA -- YOU KNOW, IN LAW
SCHOOL, WHAT'S YOUR MENTAL
PROCESS WERE, WHAT WAS YOUR
INTENT?
IT WOULD INCREASE IT.
THAT WOULD BE NEED TO BE JOIN TO
ENJOIN THE FOOD, DRUG AND
COSMETIC ACT.
I JUST THINK THAT SOMEHOW WE
WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO ENFORCE
A PUBLIC HEALTH STATUTE HARDER
TROUBLING.
SEE NO LEGITIMATE REASON TO DO
THIS.
THE GOAL OF THIS AMENDMENT IS
CLEARLY TO RENDER THE F.D.A.
VIRTUALLY INCAPABLE OF
ADDRESSING INDUSTRY ABUSES.
SO I THINK THIS AMENDMENT WOULD
HAVE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS ON THE
DIETARY HEALTH AND SUPPLEMENT
EDUCATION ACT AND THE INDUSTRY
BUT ALSO ON F.D.A.'S ABILITY TO
REGULATE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
I MEAN, YOU CAN JUST ABOUT SAY
ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT YOUR -- YOUR
HEALTH CLAIMS WOULD BE ON ANY
KIND OF A PRODUCT AND YOUR ONLY
RECOURSE, AS I SAID, WOULD BE TO
GO TO FEDERAL COURT.
WELL, AGAIN, THIS IS NOT A
WE HAVE BUILT A VERY BROAD
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS
F.D.A. USER FEE BILL.
IT IS MUST-PASS LEGISLATION.
WE CANNOT JEOPARDIZE THAT
AND FOR THOSE REASONS, I OPPOSE
THE AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOTE THE
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I ASK THAT FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE QUORUM
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, HOW
MUCH TIME IS LEFT ON THE
SENATOR FROM MARYLAND, SENATOR
CARDIN'S AMENDMENT?
ON
AMENDMENT 2141, THERE ARE 11
MINUTES REMAINING IN SUPPORT AND
15 MINUTES IN OPPOSITION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THE SENATOR FROM COLORADO, HOW
MUCH TIME DOES THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO WANT?
A SENATOR: I'D LIKE TO TRY FOR
TEN MINUTES BUT IF I CAN DO IT
SHORTER I WILL.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THAT 10 MINUTES OF THAT TIME OF
2141 BE YIELDED TO THE SENATOR
FROM COLORADO.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM COLORADO.
YOU.
I THANK THE SENATOR FROM IOWA,
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HELP
COMMITTEE, FOR HIS INDULGENCE.
MR. PRESIDENT, YESTERDAY I SPOKE
ABOUT SOME OF THE PROCESS AND
THE IMPORTANT ISSUES OF DRUG
SAFETY IN MAKING SURE THERE'S A
GOOD SYSTEM FOR SAFER DRUGS,
BOTH IN PREPARATION AND
DISTRIBUTION, AND I KNOW WE SEEM
TO GET CLOSE TO REACHING A
RESOLUTION, WHICH IS
TREMENDOUS -- I'VE HEARD MANY OF
MY COLLEAGUES PRAISE DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE BILL, WHICH I WILL
DO AS WELL IN A MINUTE.
BUT I WANT TO JUST TAKE ONE MORE
MINUTE AGAIN WHILE THE CHAIRMAN
AND THE RANKING MEMBER ARE ON
THE FLOOR TO -- TO RECOGNIZE
WHAT AN ENORMOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT
THEIR LEADERSHIP HAS RESULTED
IN, IN GETTING THIS BILL TO A
AND AS I SAID YESTERDAY, I THINK
THE WORK OF THE HELP COMMITTEE,
BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS,
WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
CHAIRMAN AND THE RANKING MEMBER
REALLY IS A MODEL FOR THIS
CONGRESS.
AND IT'S THE REASON WHY THE
QUALITY OF THIS BILL IS SO HIGH.
WE'VE STILL GOT A FEW VOTES TO
GO TOMORROW, BUT PEOPLE FORGET
THAT IT'S RARE TO BE WORKING ON
A FULL EXTENSION OF ANYTHING
HERE.
YOU KNOW, THIS -- THIS HAS
BECOME THE LAND OF FLICKERING
LIGHTS, WHERE WE KEEP THINGS ON
FOR ONE MORE MONTH OR TWO MORE
MONTHS.
AND HERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
FIVE-YEAR EXTENSION OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE WORKING IN
SUCH A BIPARTISAN AND
BUSINESSLIKE FASHION.
AND IT IS NOT LOST ON ME ABOUT
HOW MUCH WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO
THE BILL BY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE
HELP COMMITTEE, INCLUDING THE
PRESIDING OFFICER, OR THE HELP
COMMITTEE STAFF.
SO I JUST TO WANT REITERATE MY
THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO THE WORK
ON THE BILL.
IT WILL TRULY HELP PATIENTS AND
AMERICAN FAMILIES GET THE
MEDICAL PRODUCTS THEY NEED, WHEN
THEY NEED IT.
WHICH BRINGS ME, MR. PRESIDENT,
TO THE SUBJECT OF MEDICAL
COLORADO IS THE SIXTH LARGEST
MEDICAL DEVICE SECTOR IN THE
COUNTRY WITH OVER 600 BIOSCIENCE
COMPANIES OVERALL.
WE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO STRIKE A
BALANCE AS WE THINK ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION, BECAUSE AS WE SPEED
THE F.D.A. TO INCREASE -- TO
SPEED APPROVALS, WE'VE GOT TO
ENSURE DEVICES ARE SAFE.
YEAR HAS REPRESENTED A
GOOD-FAITH BIPARTISAN EFFORT
AMONG MEMBERS ON AND OFF THE
HELP COMMITTEE TO FIND POLICIES
THAT WILL EMPOWER THE F.D.A. TO
ENSURE SAFER DEVICES AND ALSO
ENSURE OUR COMPANIES ON THE
GROUND HAVE MORE REGULATORY
CERTAINTY AND PREDICTABILITY.
THE F.D.A. HAS BEEN UPFRONT
ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THE DEVICE
SECTOR FACES: REVIEWER TURNOVER,
YOUNG, LESS EXPERIENCED
REVIEWERS AND MANAGEMENT
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE HEARD
FROM VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTORS
THAT REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY AT
THE F.D.A. IS THE REASON THEY'VE
BEEN HESITANT ABOUT CONTINUED
INVESTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES
AND HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT FUTURE
INVESTMENT IN ASIA AND EUROPE.
THE NEW MEDICAL DEVICE USER FEE
WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD
ENSURING THE F.D.A. HAS THE THE
RESOURCES TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE
MEDICAL DEVICES IN LESS TIME AND
WITH MORE PREDICTABILITY.
WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO CRAFT
POLICIES ON INNOVATION AND
SAFETY.
THIS INCLUDES REPUBLICAN FORCING
REGULATIONS IN PLACE SINCE 1997
THAT REQUIRE THE F.D.A. TO TAKE
THE LEAST BURDENSOME APPROACH BY
NOT ASKING COMPANIES FOR
UNNECESSARY OR UNRELATED
I SEE THE THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA
ON THE FLOOR.
I THANK HER FOR HER LEADERSHIP
ON THAT BEES THAT PIECE OF LILINGS.
IT ALSO INCLUDES PROVISIONS TO
PROVIDE TRACKING SO IF THERE IS
A PROBLEM, DOCTORS CAN QUICKLY
THAT WORKS.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO
SAY A WORD ABOUT DRUG SHORTAGE,
DISCUSSION ISSUE THAT EVERY
MEMBER IS HEARING ABOUT IN THEIR
STATES AND THE F.D.A. IN JUST
THE LAST YEAR WAS NOTIFIED OF
ABOUT 220 DRUG SHORTAGES.
WE KNOW THAT THE AMOUNT OF
PATIENTS THIS AFFECTS IS
FOR CANCER ALONE, OVER 550,000
PATIENTS HAVE BEEN CURRENTLY
AFFECTED BY OUR NATIONAL DRUG
SHORTAGE CRISIS.
I CAN TELL YOU OUR
PATIENTS AND PROVIDERS ARE
EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED.
A PHARMACIST AT ST. MARY'S
HOSPITAL IN GRAND JUNCTION HAS
SAID HE KEEPS A TWO-PAGE LIST OF
50 DRUGS -- 50 DRUGS THAT HE
CAN'T GET OR CAN BARELY GET
AHOLD OF, INCLUDING 12
CHEMOTHERAPY DRUGS.
I WANTED TO SHARE A COUPLE OF
CONSTITUENTS' STORIES FROM MY
HOME STATE BEFORE I SIT DOWN.
DON GIBBS WROTE, "DEAR SENATOR
BENNET, I AM CONTACTING YOU TO
INFORM YOU OF MY GRAVE CONCERN
OF THE NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF THE
PRESERVATIVE-FREE CANCER DRUG
I AM A SURE I GOT THAT WRONG BUT
FOR THE RECORD WE'LL CLEAN IT
UP.
"MY 2-YEAR-OLD COUSIN RECEIVES
THIS DRUG FOR HER NEWLY DYING
NOTIONED LEUKEMIA.
HER DOCTORS HAVE TOLD HER THEY
ONLY HAVE A TWO-WEEK SUPPLY LEFT
AT THE CLINIC.
THIS DRUG KEEPS HER LEUKEMIA
FROM TRAVELING TO HER BRAIN.
THE SHORTAGE IS LIFE-THREATENING
TO HER, AND THE 3,000 LIKE HER
WITH THIS CANCER.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE
IN THIS MATTER.
I KNOW THAT MY LITTLE 2-YEAR-OLD
COUSIN CANNOT SPEAK OUT ON HER
OWN BEHALF, SO I AM HONORED TO
BE HER VOISMS I FEEL MY VOICE
WILL NOT BE ENOUGH ALONE TO MAKE
A DIFFERENCE AND HOPE THAT YOU
WILL BE OUR VOICE."
I CAN TELL YOU TONIGHT, DON'S
VOICE IS BEING HEARD ON BEHALF
OF HER COUSIN JUST AS PATIENTS
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE
LENDING THEIR VOICES TO THIS
IMPORTANT DEBATE.
CAROL GILL FROM MORRISON,
COLORADO, WROTE, "DEAR SENATOR
CANCER.
MY CURRENT TREATMENT REGIMEN IS
DOING A FINE JOB OF KEEPING THE
DISEASE STABLE.
THIS REGIMEN INCLUDES A BIWEEKLY
INFUSION OF TWO GENERIC DRUGS:
PATENT.
I RECEIVED TREATMENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HOSPITAL.
MY ONCOLOGIST HAS CALLED ME TO
SAY THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF
COLORADO HOSPITAL IS OUT OF
TODAY ONCOLOGISTS AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HOSPITAL
ARE DID CALLING THEIR PATIENTS TO
TELL THEM SOME OR ALL OF THEIR
SUSPENDED.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS
SERIOUSLY AND TAKING IMMEDIATE
STEPS TO CORRECT IT."
CAROL GILL.
MY HOPE IS THAT THE SENATE BILL
CAN GIVE SOME REPRIEVE TO THESE
COLORADANS IN DESPERATE NEED OF
THEIR LIFESAVING DRUGS.
THE SENATE BILL WOULD GIVE THE
FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION THE
MUCH-NEEDED AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE
DRUG MANUFACTURERS REPORT ANY
DISCONTINUANCE, INTERPRETATION,
OR OTHER ADJUSTMENT THAT WOULD
LIKELY RESULT IN A SHORTAGE,
ESPECIALLY THOSE DRUGS NEEDED TO
PROVIDE EMERGENCY CARE.
I'D ALSO IMMEDIATELY CREATE A
TASK FORCE THAT WOULD DEVELOP A
STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS DRUG
SHORTAGES AND SUBMIT
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS AS
WELL AS STUDY THE EFFECT THAT
SHORTAGES.
THE PEOPLE IN MY HOME STATE NEED
US TO PROVIDE SOLUTIONS TO THESE
PROBLEMS YESTERDAY,
MR. PRESIDENT.
THEY CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER NOR
SHOULD THEY, AND I WILL SAY
AGAIN, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE
OF THE TWO PEOPLE
SITTING HERE -- THE RANKING
MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE AND THE
CHAIRMAN OF OUR COMMITTEE --
THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS
BILL TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THAT VOTE
TOMORROW AND MOVE FORWARD ON
BEHALF OF PATIENTS ALL ARE
ACROSS -- ALL ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY AND IN THE BIOSCIENCE
WITH THAT, I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM I WOULD WIEVMENT.
I WANT TO THANK THE
SENATOR FROM COLORADO FOR HIS
COMMENTS, BUT HE SOLD HIMSELF
THIS BILL.
HE'S WORKED DRAMATICALLY ON
EVERY PORTION OF THIS BILL AND
MADE SOME SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTIONS THAT ARE NOW A
PART OF THE BILL, SO HE DIDN'T
HAVE TO DO AMENDMENTS AT THIS
POINT BECAUSE HE GOT THEM ALL IN
BEFORE.
AND THAT'S -- THAT WAS A VERY
IMPORTANT ACROSS-THE-AISLE WORK
THAT YOU DID, WORKING WITH A
UMIN OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES --
WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND
BEING REAL FAITHFUL IN HAVING
MEMBERS AT STAFF
MEETINGS THAT WERE HELD ON
FRIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS BILL WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOUR EFFORTS,
TOO.
SO WE THANK YOU.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
HARASS MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
I WANT TO JOIN
SENATOR ENZI THANKING SENATOR
SENATORRETTE FORTHANKING BENNET FORALL THE WORK HE DID ON THIS
IT IS A GREAT BIPARTISAN BILL,
GREAT BIPARTISAN SPOWMPLET I
THANK HIM FOR ALL OF HIS WORK ON
OUR WORKING GROUPS, ESPECIALLY
THE DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN.
AND THIS IS A KEY PART OF THIS
BILL.
WE'RE NOW -- WHERE NOW THE
F.D.A. WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY
AND WHEREWITHAL TO GO BACK UP
THE CHAIN TO WHERE THESE DRUGS
COME FROM.
I THINK THE SENATOR IS THE FIRST
ONE TO POINT OUT TO ME ON THE
COMMITTEE THAT ABOUT 80%, I
THINK, OF ALL OF THE GREEFNTSES
THAT GO INTO OUR -- OF ALL OF
THE INGREDIENTS THAT GO INTO OUR
DRUGS IN THIS COUNTRY COME FROM
OUTSIDE THIS COUNTRY.
BUT WE HAD NO REAL IDEA OF
WHERE, HOW THEY WERE DOING, A
UNDERSTANDAND SO NOW WE CAN INSIST ON GOOD
MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.
SO I WOULD SAY THIS IS A
SINGULAR EDITION TO THIS BILL
THAT CAN BE TRACED RIGHT BACK TO
THE SENATOR FROM COLORADO.
I THANK HIM VERY MUCH FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND
HELPING US GET THIS BILL TO
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
I THANK THE SENATOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM IOWA.
THE SENATOR FROM
MINNESOTA, I'D LIKE TO YIELD TEN
MINUTES OFF OF THE OPPOSITION
GRASSLEY AMENDMENT 21231 TO THE
SENATOR FROM -- 21231 TO THE --
23121 TO THE SENATOR FROM
MINNESOTA.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT
LEADERSHIP ON THIS BILL.
THIS BILL MEANS SO MUCH TO MY
STATE.
EARLIER TODAY ABOUT THE
NEED TO IMPROVE THE APPROVAL
PROCESS AT THE F.D.A.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS BILL WILL
SPEAK THAT UP WITH THE AGREEMENT
REACHED BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND THE
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
LEADERSHIP ON THAT.
WE HAVE LITERALLY TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES IN OUR
STATE THAT HAVE INCREDIBLY GOOD
JOBS IN THE HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY.
THIS IS A HUGE POTENTIAL EXPORT
-- ALREADY IS AN EXPORT BUT EVEN
MORE COULD COME IF WE DO THIS
RIGHT, AS WE LOOK AT THE GROWING
MIDDLE CLASS IN COUNTRIES LIKE
CHINA AND INDIA THAT ARE GOING
TO HOSPITAL, THAT ARE USING
MEDICAL DEVICES, SO THIS BILL
SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS BUT
STILL KEEPING THOSE IMPORTANT
SAFETY STANDARDS IN PLACE
COULDN'T BE MORE IMPORTANT AS
WELL AS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE
BEEN WAITING FOR LIFESAVING
TREATMENTS.
SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I ALSO THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING,
AS SENATOR BENNET REFERENCED, MY
DRUG SHORTAGE PROVISION IN HERE
YEARS.
WE GATHERED SUPPORT AS THE YEARS
WENT ON -- SENATOR HARKIN, THANK
YOU FOR THE HEARING WE HAD ON
AND FOR YOUR WORK OF
YOUR STAFF IN BRINGING PEOPLE
TOGETHER, THAT WE GOT SENATOR
CASEY AND SENATOR CAL LINS AND
MY PROVISIONS IN THIS BILL.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING
ON.
SEVERAL SENATORS HAVE MENTIONED
IT.
BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
4-YEAR-OLD BOYCE WITH LOU KEEP
INLEUKEMIAWHOSE PARENTS FIND OUT THEY HAVE
NO CANCER TREATMENT DRUG AND ARE
PUT INTO A PANIC TRYING TO BOOK
FLIGHTS TO CANADA SO THE CHILD
CAN CONTINUE ITS TREATMENT.
OR A LITTLE WOMAN WHO HAS CANCER
WHO HAS TO CALL AROUND FOR DOXIL
ADS ALL AROUND OUR STALE
OUT-OF-STATE AND THEN -- ALL
AROUND OUR STATE.
THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND THIS EARLY NOTIFICATION OF
THE F.D.A. WILL, AS WE'VE SEEN,
BEEN VERY POSITIVE, OVER 200
DRUG SHORTAGES AVERTED BECAUSE
OF THE EARLY NOTIFICATION WITH
ORPHAN DRUGS AND OTHERS IN THE
LAST FEW YEARS.
SO THIS PROVISION WILL TRULY
THAT.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT
ANOTHER MATTER WHICH THE TWO OF
YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
THESE ARE BILLS THAT SENATOR
SCHUMER, SENATOR GRASSLEY, AND I
-- WE EACH HAD ONE OF THREE
BILLS THAT COVERED DIFFERENT
SYNTHETIC DRUGS.
MY DRUG BILL COVERED T.C.E.,
WHICH IS A SYNTHETIC
HALLUCINOGEN.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT A YOUNG
MINNESOTA.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A ***
PROSECUTION BECAUSE OF IT.
AND THIS JUST AGAIN WE'VE SEEN
IT GO WYCHE WILDFIRE THROUGH OUR
STATE WITH THESE SYNTHETIC
SENATOR PORTMAN AND MYSELF AND
SENATOR SCHUMER AND SENATOR
GRASSLEY WILL BE OFFERING THIS
AMENDMENT, AND I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON IT AS WELL.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT, AND I
HOPE IT WILL PASS
OVERWHELMINGLY.
AS MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, SENATOR GRASSLEY AND
SENATOR SCHUMER AND I HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS, AS I MENTIONED,
FOR YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS FROM
STATES -- EVERY STATE IN THE
COUNTRY OF PEOPLE ACTING
VIOLENTLY WHILE UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF THESE DRUGS,
LEADING TO DEATHS OR INJURIES TO
THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.
WHILE TAKING THESE DRUGS, PEOPLE
CAN EXPERIENCE ELEVATED HEART
RATES AND BLOOD PRESSURE, HAS
LEWIS NATIONS, SEIZURES AND
EXTREME AGITATION.
THEY ARE DANGEROUS, BUT THEY ARE
ALSO DANGER TO US TO THEMSELVES.
UP IN MOOREHEAD, PIN MOORHEAD, MINNESOTAEN, WE
DID A FORUM AND A GROUP OF
PEOPLE WERE SITTING IN THE FRONT
ROW TO SUPPORT OUR PROVISIONS
BECAUSE THEY HAD LOST A LOVED
ONE WHO WAS TAKING SOMETHING HE
CONSIDERED TO BE SYNTHETIC MAYOR
WASN'T NAVMENT TURNED OUT TO BE
VERY DIFFERENT, TURNED OUT TO BE
MUCH STRONGER.
THESE ARE THE CASES AND THEY
WERE SOBBING TELLING THEIR
STORIES.
UNTIL 2006 I WAS THE HENNEPIN
COUNTY ATTORNEY IN MINNESOTA.
DURING MY TIME I CAN TELL YOU
THAT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THIS AS
AN ISSUE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW
QUICKLY IT'S CHANGED.
LISTEN TO THESE NUMBERS.
IN 2011, POISSON CONTROL CENTERS
RECEIVED NEARLY 13,000 CALLS
ABOUT SYNTHETIC CALLS.
HOW MANY DID THEY GET IN 2010?
ONLY 3,200.
LOOK AT THAT.
3,200 TO 13,000 IN JUST ONE
YEAR.
IN MINNESOTA THERE WERE A TOTAL
OF 392 CALLS TO POISSON CONTROL
RELATING TO SING THETIC DRUGS.
IN 2011 COMPARED TO 107 IN 2010.
A TRIPLING OF CALLS ABOUT THIS
PROBLEM IN JUST ONE YEAR.
THIS ALL HIT HOME IN MY STATE
WITH THE TRAGIC DEATH OF A
19-YEAR-OLD MAN, TREVOR ROB
INSON,, WHO OVERDOSED ON 2-C-E.
ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WAS THOUGHT TO
SHOOT HIMSELF.
I INTRODUCED BILL WHICH WOULD
ADD 2-CE, THE DLAWG KILLED THIS
YOUNG PLAN, AND SIMILAR DRUGS TO
THE BANNED SUBSTANTIALS LIST SO
THEY WILL BE TREATED IN THE SAME
BANNED DRUGS.
THAT THEY CLAIM TO REPRESENT.
I'M ALSO A COSPONSOR OF THE TWO
BILLS AUTHORED BY SENATORS
GRASSLAND SCHUMER.
ALL THREE OF THESE BILLS ARE
CONTAINED IN THE AMENDMENT THAT
WE'RE OFFERING WITH SENATOR
PORTMAN.
THESE DRUGS CAN KILL AND IF WE
DON'T TAKE, A, ACTION, THEY WILL
BECOME MORE AND MORE PREVALENCE.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE ON THE
INTERNEVMENT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT HAS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE ILLEGAL FL BEAM BUY
THESE DRUGS THAT HAVE NUMBERS
LIKE 2-CE.
THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY
ARE.
THEY GET THEM AND THEY TURN OUT
TO BE DEADLY.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN BLAINE,
I HOPE WE BAN THESE DRUGS AS
PART OF OUR DEBATE ON THE BILL.
WE KNOW THAT THE D.E.A. HAS BEEN
TAKE ACTION ON ITS OWN AND
THEY'VE TEMPORARILY BANNED SOME
OF THESE DRUGS.
BUT MOST OF THE SUBSTANCES
COVERED IN OUR THREE BILLS HAVE
NOT BEEN BANNED INCLUDING ALL
THE STAWNSES IN MY BILL.
THAT IS WHY IN FACT WE ARE
OFFERING THIS AMENDMENT OF ON
THE STATE LEVEL, ROUGHLY 40
STATES HAVE BANNED SOME
SYNTHETIC DRUGS INCLUDING MY
STATE WHERE A MAJOR LAW
REGARDING SYNTHETIC DRUGS TOOCT
EFFECT IN JULY.
WE NEED A FEDERAL LAW.
THIS CROSSES THE STATE LINE.
A LOT IS DONE ON THE INTERNET.
WE CAN'T HAVE THIS STATE BY
STATE AND PASSING A FEDERAL LAW
WILL HELP CREATE THE PARTNERSHIP
WE NEED TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE
THAT WE NEED TO ERADICATE THESE
STANSZ.
I'M VERY PLEASED THAT THIS
AMENDMENT IS BEING OFFERED.
WE NEED TO GET IT DONE NOW, BAN
THESE DRUGS, AND MAKE A CLEAR,
CLEAR STATEMENT THAT THESE DRUGS
ARE ILLEGAL.
I AGAIN WANT TO THANK SENATOR
HARKIN AND SENATOR ENZI FOR
WORKING THIS OUT SO WE CAN OFFER
THIS AMENDMENT AND ALSO MY
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR PORTMAN,
SCHUMER, AND GRASSLEY FOR THEIR
HARD WORK.
I KNOW WE ARE COMMITTED TO
GETTING THIS DOFNLT I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON.
I SPEAK FOR SPEAK
FOR 15 MINUTES IN MORNING
BUSINESS AND NOT TO TAKE TIME
AWAY FROM THE BILL.
THERE OBJECTION?
MR. PRESIDENT, IT
WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL EVENT
TONIGHT THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE
OUT OF HERE AT 6:00. SO, I'M NOT SURE WHAT
LEADERSHIP HAS IN MIND AT THIS
POINT, BUT I --
--
I HAVE --
IS
THERE OBJECTION TO THE STPHAR'S
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, NEXT WEEK
AMERICANS ARE GOING TO SPEND
TIME HONORING AND COMMEMORATING
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DIED
FIGHTING FOR OUR GREAT COUNTRY.
MEMORIAL DAY IS A DAY TO REFLECT
ON AND GIVE THANKS FOR THE
SACRIFICES MADE BY THOSE WHO
MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
BUT IT'S ALSO A DAY TO LOOK
FORWARD AND TO THINK ABOUT WHAT
WE ALL CAN DO TO HELP OUR
VETERANS WHO ALSO SACRIFICE SO
MUCH AND WHO DESERVE OUR SUPPORT
WHEN THEY COME HOME.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I COME TO THE
FLOOR TODAY TO DISCUSS AN ISSUE
THAT, QUITE FRANKLY, DEFIES
COMMON SENSE.
THE HIGH RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
AMONG RECENTLY SEPARATED
VETERANS IS AN ISSUE THAT
CONTINUES TO MAKE THE TRANSITION
HOME FOR VETERANS HARDER THAN
EVER.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR
VETERANS HAVE THE LEADERSHIP
ABILITY AND THE DISCIPLINE AND
TECHNICAL SKILLS TO NOT ONLY
FIND WORK BUT TO EXCEL IN THE
WORKFORCE OF THE 21st CENTURY,
OUR VETERANS CONTINUE TO
STRUGGLE.
DESPITE THE SKILL AND TALENT AND
TRAINING OF OUR VETERANS,
STATISTICS HAVE CONTINUED TO
PAINT A GRIM PICTURE.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR, YOUNG VETERANS BETWEEN
THE AGES OF 18 AND 24 IS AN
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT IS NEARLY
ONE IN FIVE OF OUR NATION'S
HEROES CAN'T FIND A JOB TO
SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY, DON'T HAVE
AN INCOME THAT PROVIDES
STABILITY, AND DON'T HAVE WORK
THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH THE
SELF-ESTEEM AND PRIDE THAT'S SO
CRITICAL TO THEIR TRANSITION
HOME.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE KNOW THIS
SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE.
WE SHOULDN'T LET THE SKILLS AND
TRAINING OUR NATION'S VETERANS
HAVE GO TO WASTE.
AND THAT'S WHY ALL OF US JOIN
TOGETHER TO OVERWHELMINGLY PASS
MY VOW TO HIRE HEROES ACT HERE
IN THE SENATE LATE LAST YEAR.
AMONG MANY THINGS, THAT LAW WILL
PROVIDE TAX INCENTIVES TO
ENCOURAGE BUSINESSS TO HIRE
VETERANS, MAKES PARTICIPATION IN
THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM MANDATORY FOR MOST
SEPARATING SERVICE MEMBERS AND
EXPANDS THE EDUCATION AND
TRAINING WE PROVIDE
TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS.
THANKS TO THAT LEGISLATION, WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE REAL
CONCRETE STEPS TOWARDS PUTTING
OUR VETERANS TO WORK.
THE TAX CREDIT IS WORKING, AND
V.A. IS SET TO BEGIN ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS FOR A RETRAINING
PROGRAM THAT WILL BENEFIT
VETERANS AGES 35 TO
WORK.
BUT THAT BILL IS ONLY THAT: A
FIRST STEP.
TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE
NEXT STEP, AND THAT STEP IS TO
BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH PRIVATE
BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL ALL
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY TO HIRE OUR
NATION'S HEROES.
MR. PRESIDENT, RECENTLY I WAS UP
IN NEW YORK WHERE I PARTICIPATED
IN A LIVELY ROUND TABLE
DISCUSSION HOSTED BY THE ROBIN
HOOD FOUNDATION.
THE DISCUSSION ON VETERANS'
EMPLOYMENT WAS MODERATED BY TOM
BROKAW ON THE U.S.S. INTREPID
AND BROUGHT TOGETHER PEOPLE OF
VARIOUS BACKGROUND INCLUDING
FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIEFS ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN AND
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
SECRETARY SHAUN DONOVAN TO TALK
ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.
WHAT IS VERY APPARENT IS THAT
THERE IS MOMENTUM TO BUILD
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
WHAT ALSO IS APPARENT IS THERE'S
A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN
THIS AREA.
NOW I WANT TO FIRST MAKE CLEAR
THAT A LOT OF COMPANIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ARE FAR AHEAD OF
CURVE ON THIS.
IN FACT, MANY PRIVATE-SECTOR
COMPANIES HAVE ALREADY JOINED
OUR EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING THIS
CRITICAL ISSUE.
J.C. PENNEY, ONE OF AMERICA'S
LARGEST RETAILERS, JOSEPH
ABBOUD, A CLOTHING COMPANY
PARTNERED WITH IRAN AND IRAQ TO
LAUNCH THE WELCOME HOE JOE,
THANKS A MILL PROGRAM, TO
PREPARE -- THAT THINKS A MILLION
PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES 5,000
VETERANS WITH CERTIFICATES TO
PURCHASE BUSINESS ATTIRE.
FOR THE LAST DECADE WE'VE
EXPECTED OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN
IN UNIFORM TO PREPARE FOR THE
BATTLEFIELD.
IN THE PROCESS THEY HAVE BECOME
ACCUSTOMED TO WEARING COMBAT
BOOTS AND BATTLE-DRESS UNIFORMS.
NOW THEY'RE EXPECTED TO WEAR A
SUIT AND TIE FOR JOB INTERVIEWS,
SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES SEEMS
PRETTY FOREIGN TO THEM.
BUT THANKS TO THIS PROGRAM,
THOUSANDS OF TRANSITIONING
VETERANS CAN NOW HANG UP THEIR
BATTLE-DRESS UNIFORMS AND DRESS
FOR THEIR NEXT CHALLENGE.
OTHER COMPANIES LIKE SCHNEIDER
NATIONAL, ONE OF AMERICA'S
LARGEST TRUNKING COMPANIES ARE
REALIZING THE VETERANS GAINED
THE LAST DECADE OF WORK ARE
DIRECTLY APPLICABLE TO THEIR
BUSINESS.
SCHNEIDER NATIONAL RECOGNIZES
THAT A VETERAN WHO HAS DRIVEN A
SEVEN-TON TRUCK ACROSS
AFGHANISTAN'S DANGEROUS AND
RUGGED TERRAIN IS MORE THAN
QUALIFIED TO DRIVE A FREIGHT
TRUCK ACROSS OUR NATION'S ROAD.
AND IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING
MANY VETERANS WITH NEW JOBS,
SCHNEIDER NATIONAL ALSO PROVIDES
NEWLY SEPARATED VETERANS WITH ON
THE JOB TRAINING THROUGH THEIR
MILITARY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM VETERAN
EMPLOYEES ARE ELIGIBLE TO EARN A
MONTHLY BENEFIT EDUCATION CHECK
FROM THE V.A. IN ADDITION TO A
PAYCHECK.
SCHNEIDER NATIONAL SERVES AS A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW COMPANIES
CAN HIRE VETERANS THAT HAVE
PROVEN THAT THEY CAN PERFORM ON
THE JOB BUT LACK PROPER
EMPLOYMENT.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR
LAUNCHING ITS HIRING OUR HEROES
INITIATIVE WHICH HAS SPONSORED
150 HIRING FAIRS IN 48 OF OUR
STATES.
AT ONE OF THESE HIRING FAIRS,
GENERAL ELECTRIC, THE EMPLOYER
OF 10 THOUSAND VETERANS,
TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM G.E. HAS
VOWED TO HIRE 1,000 ADDITIONAL
VETERANS EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS AND PROVIDES
JOB-SEEKING VETERANS WITH
ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING SESSIONS.
THOSE SESSIONS HELP
TRANSITIONING VETERANS IMPROVE
RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEWING
TECHNIQUES SO THEY CAN
CAPITALIZE OPBD SKILLS THEY
DEVELOPED -- ON THE SKILLS THEY
SERVICE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IS A
FRACTION OF THE WORK BEING DONE
BY OUR NATION'S EMPLOYERS.
THERE ARE MANY SUCCESS STORIES
AT BIG COMPANIES, COMPANIES LIKE
SMALL DEPOT AND SMALL COMPANIES
LIKE GENERAL PLASTICS IN MY HOME
STATE WHICH CREATED A PIPELINE
AT ITS
AEROSPACE COMPOSITE FACTORIES.
ALL THESE COMPANIES ARE NOT ONLY
EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS STORIES,
THEY ALSO CREATED A ROAD MAP
ABOUT HOW BEST TO FIND, HIRE AND
TRAIN VETERANS.
AND IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE THOSE
LESS -- MAKE SURE THOSE LESSONS
ARE BEING HEARD.
TODAY I WANT TO BE HERE ON THE
FLOOR TO LAY OUT A FEW THINGS
THAT ALL BUSINESSES, LARGE AND
SMALL, CAN DO TO BRING OUR
NATION'S HEROES INTO THEIR
FIRST, GET THE WORD OUT TO
COMPANIES TO EDUCATE THEIR HUMAN
RESOURCES TEAMS ABOUT THE
BENEFITS OF HIRING VETERANS AND
HOW SKILLS THAT THEY LEARN IN
THE MILITARY TRANSLATE TO THE
WORK A COMPANY DOES.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW OFTEN I
HEAR FROM VETERANS WHO TELL ME
THE TERMS THAT THEY USE IN
INTERVIEWS AND ON RESUMES FAIL
TO GET THROUGH TO THE INTERVIEW.
SECOND, HELP OUR COMPANIES
PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND
RESOURCES FOR TRANSITIONING
SERVICE MEMBERS.
THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE SEEN
DONE AT LARGE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
AMAZON AND MICROSOFT, BUT ALSO
AT SMALLER COMPANIES IN
CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL COLLEGES.
SUCCESSFUL OF
THESE PROGRAMS CAPITALIZE ON
SKILLS DEVELOPED DURING MILITARY
SERVICE BUT ALSO UTILIZED
ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.
THIRD, LET BUSINESS LEADERS KNOW
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO PUBLICIZE
JOB OPENINGS WITH OUR VETERANS
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AT LOCAL
MILITARY BASES SO WE CAN HELP
CONNECT VETERANS WITH JOBS AND
TO WORK WITH LOCAL ONE-STOP
CAREER CENTERS.
FOURTH, DEVELOP AN INTERNAL
VETERANS GROUP WITHIN YOUR
COMPANY TO MENTOR RECENTLY
DISCHARGED VETERANS.
AND FINALLY, IF YOU CAN, PLEASE
REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES TO HELP DEVELOP A
PIPELINE OF THE MANY, MANY
VETERANS THAT ARE USING G.I.
BENEFITS TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT IN
YOUR PARTICULAR AREA.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF WE CAN SPREAD
THE MESSAGE ON JUST A FEW OF
THESE STEPS, I'M CONFIDENT WE
WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO
BUILD ON THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD
IN HIRING VETERANS.
BUT, MR. PRESIDENT, THERE IS ONE
OTHER EVEN MORE IMPORTANT STEP
WE HAVE TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT
BUSINESSES ARE TAKING.
IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DIFFICULT
ISSUE OF THE INVISIBLE WOUNDS OF
WAR THAT SOME POTENTIAL
EMPLOYEES FACE.
NOW I HAVE HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM
VETERANS, THEY DO NOT PUT THEIR
MILITARY SERVICE ON THEIR RESUME
THEM.
THEY FEAR THAT THOSE WHO HAVE
NOT SERVED SEE THEM ALL AS
DAMAGED OR UNSTABLE.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES ARE AND
WHAT THEY ARE NOT.
AS WE SEEK TO EMPLOY MORE
VETERANS, WE NEED FUTURE BOSSES
AND COWORKERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT
ISSUES LIKE POST TRAUMATIC
STRESS OR DEPRESSION ARE NATURAL
RESPONSES TO SOME OF THE MOST
STRESSFUL EVENTS A PERSON CAN
WE NEED THEM TO UNDERSTAND THESE
VETERAN.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED THEM
TO UNDERSTAND FOR THOSE THAT ARE
AFFECTED BY THESE ILLNESSES,
THEY CAN GET HELP.
THEY CAN GET BETTER.
AND THEY CAN GET BACK TO THEIR
LIVES.
WE NEED TO LET BUSINESSES KNOW
IF THEY DO HAVE A VETERAN WHO IS
FACING SOME CHALLENGES, THEY
SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND
ENCOURAGE HIM OR HER TO GET
HELP.
THEY NEED TO KNOW IT'S OKAY TO
HELP THEM TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE
EXCELLENT HELP THAT THE V.A. IS
CAPABLE OF PROVIDING.
THE VETERAN WILL BE BETTER AND
THEY WILL BE AN EVEN STRONGER
MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, THOSE ARE
SOME STEPS THAT OUR EMPLOYERS
CAN TAKE, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT OUR VETERANS ARE
TAKING STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY STAND OUT AS CANDIDATES.
YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, TOO
OFTEN OUR VETERANS DON'T SEE HOW
THE SKILLS THAT THEY LEARNED IN
THE MILITARY TRANSLATE FROM THE
BATTLEFIELD TO THE WORKING
WORLD.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS FOR
THAT IS THAT OFTEN OUR VETERANS
DON'T UNDERSTAND THE VERNACULAR
OF THE WORKING WORLD.
YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, JUST A
FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS AT HOME IN
WASHINGTON STATE TALKING ABOUT
MET A WOMAN
NAMED ANN SPURTY.
ANN IS A VETERAN.
SHE HELPS LOCAL VETERANS FIND
WORK THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION
CALLED THE UNFINISHED MISSION.
ANN TOLD ME HOW OFTEN SHE'S
HEARD FROM VETERANS WHO TOLD HER
THEY WERE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THE
JOBS THEY HAD SEEN ONLINE OR IN
THE PAPER.
REPEAT LID THEY TOLD --
REPEATEDLY THEY TOLD HER THEY
DIDN'T SEE HOW THEIR EXPERIENCES
MATTERED TO EMPLOYERS IN THE
SO ONE DAY IN FRONT OF A WHOLE
GROUP OF VETERANS, ANN PULLED
OUT THIS JOB ADVERTISING FROM
BOEING FOR A POSITION AS A
FABRICATION SPECIALIST.
AND ANN COULD ONCE AGAIN SENSE
THAT THE VETERANS WHO SAT THERE
AND READ THIS AD THOUGHT THEY
WEREN'T QUALIFIED FOR THIS
MANUFACTURING JOB THAT IS LISTED
IN BOEING SPACE EXPLORATION
DIVISION.
THEN ANN CONCENTRATED ALL THE
VETERANS IN THE ROOM ATTENTION
ON THE COMPETENCIES AND
QUALIFICATION SECTION LISTED IN
THAT ADVERTISEMENT AND SHE ASKED
ALL OF THEM DID YOU SPEND TIME
IN THE SERVICE WORKING TOGETHER
TO REMOVE OBSTACLES TO HELP THE
DID YOU WORK TO FULLY INVOLVE
OTHERS ON THE TEAM IN DECISIONS
AND ACTIONS?
WERE YOU HELD RESPONSIBLE?
DID YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR
COMMITMENT TO THE TEAM?
AROUND THE ROOM ALL THESE
VETERANS, HEADS WERE NODDING AS
SHE READ VERBATIM FROM THE
BOEING JOB ANNOUNCEMENT.
EVERY VETERAN UNDERSTOOD THEY
HAD THE CORE SKILLS EMPLOYERS
LIKE BOEING WERE LOOKING FOR.
THEY JUST DIDN'T REALIZE IT.
WHAT ANN MADE THOSE VETERANS
COME TO UNDERSTAND WAS THAT
TRANSLATION.
AND WHAT MANY OF THEM NEEDED TO
DO WAS SIMPLY ARTICULATE THEIR
EXPERIENCES IN A WAY THAT
EMPLOYERS COULD UNDERSTAND.
SO TODAY I WANT TO REITERATE TO
ALL OF OUR VETERANS THAT NO
MATTER WHAT BRANCH YOU SERVED IN
YOU SERVED OR HOW LONG
YOU SERVED, THE SKILLS YOU
LEARNED ARE VALUABLE.
AND IT'S UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE
EMPLOYERS SEE THAT.
YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, OUR
VETERANS DON'T ASK FOR A LOT.
OFTENTIMES THEY COME HOME AND
SACRIFICES.
MY OWN FATHER NEVER TALKED ABOUT
HIS TIME FIGHTING IN WORLD WAR
II.
IN FACT, I NEVER SAW HIS PURPLE
HEART OR KNEW THAT HE HAD WALLET
WITH SHRAPNEL IN IT FROM WHEN HE
WAS HIT OR A DIARY THAT DETAILED
HIS TIME IN COMBAT UNTIL AFTER
HE DIED AND MY FAMILY GATHERED
TO START SORTING THROUGH HIS
BUT OUR VETERANS SHOULDN'T HAVE
TO ASK.
WE SHOULD KNOW TO PROVIDE FOR
THEM.
WHEN MY FATHER'S GENERATION CAME
HOME FROM THE WAR, THEY CAME
HOME TO OPPORTUNITY.
MY FATHER CAME HOME TO A
COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTED HIM.
HE CAME HOME TO COLLEGE AND A
JOB, A JOB THAT GAVE HIM PRIDE
AND HELPED HIM START A FAMILY
AND ONE THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO
ME STARTING MY OWN.
THAT IS THE LEGACY OF
OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO LIVE UP
TO TODAY'S VETERANS.
MR. PRESIDENT, TOGETHER WORKING
WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WE CAN
ENSURE THAT BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO HAVE WORN OUR UNIFORM HAVE
THAT REAL OPPORTUNITY.
WE CAN MAKE SURE THEY GET A FAIR
SHOT FROM AMERICA'S EMPLOYERS,
THAT THEY'RE NOT MEASURED BY
THEIR FEAR OR STIGMA, BUT BY
WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHAT THEY HAVE
DONE, AND WHAT THEY WILL DO.
I WANT TO THANK THOSE COMPANIES
THAT ARE LEADING THE WAY TO EASE
OUR VETERANS' TRANSITION FROM
MILITARY SERVICE TO THE CIVILIAN
WORKFORCE.
THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
THAT I CHAIR, OUR WEB SITE HAS A
LIST OF SOME OF THOSE COMPANIES
THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS
I WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR COLLEAGUES
TO VISIT THAT WEB SITE AND
SUGGEST COMPANIES THAT CAN BE
ADDED TO OUR LIST.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
ALL OF THEM AND MANY MORE OF OUR
NATION'S BUSINESSES ON THIS
IMPORTANT NEXT STEP IN BRINGING
OUR VETERANS HOME TO
AND AS WE CELEBRATE OUR FALLEN
HEROES ON MEMORIAL DAY NEXT
WEEK, LET'S ALL KEEP THINKING
ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SURE OUR
VETERANS ARE GETTING EVERYTHING
THEY NEED AFTER THEY HAVE GIVEN
SO MUCH.
AND, MR. PRESID
-- MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE I YIELD
THE FLOOR, I WANT TO JUST TAKE A
MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A YOUNG
MARINE RESERVIST, AN AFGHANISTAN
COMBAT VETERAN WHO HAS BEEN
WORKING PART TIME ON MY VETERANS
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE STAFF FOR THE
LAST YEAR.
CARLOS FUENTES IS A
HARD-WORKING, WELL-LIKED YOUNG
MAN, GRADUATED FROM AMERICAN
UNIVERSITY EARLIER THIS MONTH.
HE HAS REALLY HELPED OUR
COMMITTEE GET A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR
VETERANS ARE FACING WHEN THEY
ARE LOOKING FOR WORK.
I WANT TO REALLY THANK HIM FOR
HIS CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR
NATION.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST NEED
TO NOTE THAT CARLOS IS GOING TO
BE GETTING MARRIED THIS WEEKEND,
AND I DO WANT TO WISH HIM AND
HIS BRIDE MANY, MANY HAPPY YEARS
TO COME.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
ROLL.