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FROM 12:30-2:15 EASTERN THE
SENATE WILL RECESS FOR THE
WEEKLY PARTY LUNCHES.
NOW TO LIVE COVERAGE OF THE U.S.
SENATE HERE ON C-SPAN2.
LET US PRAY.
ETERNAL GOD,
WHO FULFILLS THE DESIRES
OF THOSE WHO HAVE REVERENCE
FOR YOUR NAME,
LET YOUR WILL BE DONE TODAY
ON CAPITOL HILL.
GIVE OUR SENATORS
A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING
OF YOUR PROVIDENTIAL PURPOSES
SO THAT THEY WILL NOT DEVIATE
FROM YOUR DESIRED PLAN.
INSPIRE THEM
TO SEEK YOUR GUIDANCE
AND DEPEND ON YOU
TO BRING THEM THROUGH
THE MYRIAD CHALLENGES
OF OUR TIME.
INFUSE THEM
WITH A SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION
THAT WILL BREAK DOWN
DIVISIVE WALLS,
BRINGING HARMONY
AND COOPERATION.
STRENGTHEN THEM
FOR THIS DAY'S JOURNEY,
AS YOUR SPIRIT EMPOWERS THEM
TO FAITHFULLY HONOR YOU
IN THEIR THOUGHTS,
WORDS AND DEEDS.
WE PRAY IN YOUR SACRED NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION
UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
RULE 1, PARAGRAPH 3,
OF THE STANDING RULES
OF THE SENATE,
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
JEANNE SHAHEEN, A SENATOR FROM
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, TO
PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I WOULD NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM
BE TERMINATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL BE IN
MORNING BUSINESS FOR AN HOUR.
FIRST HALF.
THE MAJORITY WILL CONTROL THE
FINAL HALF.
THE REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE
FOLLOWING THAT MORNING BUSINESS,
THE SENATE WILL RESUME
CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTION TO
PROCEED TO H.J. RES. 66.
THIS LEGISLATION IS THE VEHICLE
FUNDING.
THAT WE NEED TO DO THE FEMA
THE SENATE WILL RECESS, AS WE
ALWAYS DO, ON TUESDAYS, FROM
12:30 UNTIL 2:15 FOR OUR WEEKLY
CAUCUS MEETINGS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS WEEK, THE
REPUBLICANS SENT A MESSAGE TO
VICTIMS OF DEVASTATING
HURRICANES, WILDFIRES AND
TORNADOES.
TOUGH LUCK.
LAST NIGHT, WE TRIED TO MOVE
FORWARD ON A MEASURE THAT WOULD
GRANT THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT AGENCY ADDITIONAL
FUNDING TO HELP COMMUNITIES
DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTERS.
THIS OUGHT TO BE THE LEAST
POLITICAL ISSUE WE HAVE.
WHETHER TO REACH OUT A HELPING
HAND TO OUR FRIENDS AND
NEIGHBORS IN TIME OF NEED.
THESE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE HAVE
LOST FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES,
THEY HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES,
BUSINESSES AND LIVELIHOODS, AND
THEY HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY ACTS
OF GOD.
I DON'T SEE THAT IN ANY WAY TO
BE -- I WENT OVER THIS WITH MY
WIFE LAST NIGHT.
SHE SAID WHY WOULD YOU USE A
TERM LIKE THAT?
WELL, IN THE LAW, THAT'S WHAT
THESE FLOODS, THESE TERRIBLE
WIND STORMS, THESE FIRES, THEY
ARE ACTS OF GOD.
WE CAN'T PLAN FOR THEM.
THEY JUST HAPPEN, AND IN THE
LAW, THAT'S THE TERM OF ART THAT
WE USE.
THESE PEOPLE LOST LOVED ONES AND
FRIENDS AND PROPERTY, ARE UNDER
WATER OR REDUCED TO RUBBLE
LITERALLY.
IT'S IN OUR POWER TO HELP THEM.
IT'S AN OBLIGATION WE HAVE TO
HELP THEM.
LAST NIGHT, REPUBLICANS
OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO PREVENT
US FROM COMING TO THEIR AID.
THEY PREVENTED US FROM GETTING
DISASTER AID TO AMERICAN
FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THAT
NEED IT NOW.
THESE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE, I
REPEAT, DON'T NEED THE HELP
NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH OR SIX
MONTHS FROM NOW.
THEY NEED IT NOW.
TODAY.
IT'S TRULY UNTHINKABLE
REPUBLICANS WOULD WASTE TIME
CATERING TO THE RADICAL TEA
PARTY WHILE THE VICTIMS OF
DISASTERSED BY THEIR TIME.
ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE TEA
PARTY, A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES HAS SAID VERY
PUBLICLY THAT FEMA, WE SHOULD
GET RID OF IT.
BUT MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS IS
NOT A NATION THAT STANDS IDLY BY
SUFFER.
WHILE OUR FEMALEO AMERICANS
WE'RE A NATION OF ACTION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN.
WHEN IT IS IN OUR POWER TO AID A
FELLOW CITIZEN, WE ALWAYS HAVE
DONE WHAT IT TAKES.
WE'VE DONE IT WITHOUT POLITICS,
WITHOUT PANDERING, WITHOUT A
MOMENT'S DELAY.
UNTIL TODAY.
THIS YEAR, THE UNITED STATES
HAS DEALT WITH MORE THAN ITS
DISASTERS.
USUAL SHARE OF TERRIBLE NATURAL
HURRICANE IRENE IS ESTIMATED TO
BE ONE OF THE MOST COSTLY
COUNTRY.
DISASTERS EVER TO HIT THIS
IT CAUSED FLOODING AND WIND
DAMAGE FROM FLORIDA TO MAINE.
THAT'S A LONG WAYS.
IT'S A HUGE COASTLINE.
BUT ITS DAMAGE WAS NOT WITH ONLY
THE COASTLINE.
INTERIOR STATE LIKE VERMONT
SUFFERED TERRIBLE DAMAGE.
HUNDREDS OF BRIDGES, HUNDREDS,
PLURAL, I REPEAT, IN VERMONT.
SCORES OF BRIDGES IN THE
PRESIDING OFFICER'S STA STATE OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CROPS WERE DROWNED ALL OVER THE
NORTHEAST.
RARELY, RARELY HAS THIS EVER
HAPPENED.
JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO, AN
EARTHQUAKE THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD
IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY FOR
65 YEARS OCCURRED.
THE EPICENTER WAS IN VIRGINIA.
IT WAS FELT BY TENS OF MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE
EASTERN UNITED STATES.
AND DAMAGED BUILDINGS IN
RICHMOND AND CLOSED THE
WASHINGTON MONUMENT, THE
NATIONAL CATHEDRAL HAD SOME OF
ITS SPIRES DAMAGED, IT'S CLOSED
NOW, THE 9/11 CELEBRATION WAS
TO TAKE PLACE THERE, HAD TO
MOVE IT TO THE KENNEDY CENTER.
THE MORMON TEMPLE THAT WE SEE AS
WE DRIVE DOWN THE BELTWAY,
SPIRES WERE KNOCKED OUT, SOME
OF THE SPIRES WERED KNOCKED OFF
THAT.
RECORD FLOODING IN THE
MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI RIVERS
HAS COST LIVES AND DEVASTATED
FARMLAND.
TO GET A PICTURE OF THE
DEVASTATION, THREE MILLION
ACRES OF FARMLAND IS UNDER WATER
NOW.
THIS ISN'T RICE THAT GROWS
THERE.
THESE ARE CROPS THAT NEED TO BE
ABLE TO BE AWAY FROM THAT MUCH
WATER.
IT'S DEVASTATED THE FARMLAND IN
THAT PART OF THE COUNTRY.
IN FEBRUARY, A MASSIVE BLIZZARD
BURIED THE NORTHEAST -- I'M
SORRY, THE MIDWEST AND
NORTHEAST WITH AS MUCH AS THREE
FEET OF SNOW.
PARALYZING THE CITY OF CHICAGO,
AND 36 PEOPLE DIED.
EVEN NOW, FIREFIGHTERS ARE
BATTLING TERRIBLE WILDLIFE THAT
WILDFIRES THAT HAVE RAGED FOR
TEXAS.
WEEKS AND WEEKS ACROSS CENTRAL
THOSE FIRES HAVE KILLED PEOPLE
AND DRIVEN RESIDENTS FROM THEIR
HOMES THAT THEY'LL NEVER SEE
AGAIN.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN TEXAS, 2,000
HOMES HAVE BEEN BURNED TO THE
GROUND.
SINCE JANUARY, TEXAS HAS
REPORTED -- THIS IS NOT A
MISSTATEMENT -- 20,000 FIRES
SINCE JANUARY.
SOME OF THE SMALL FIRES
DEVELOPED INTO BIG FIRES.
BURNING ALMOST FOUR MILLION
ACRES OF LAND.
STATE FOREST SERVICE IN TEXAS
RESPONDED TO 19 NEW FIRES ON
SUNDAY ALONE, IN 24 HOURS,
ALMOST A NEW FIRE AN HOUR IN
TEXAS.
THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS
ISSUED DISASTER DECLARATIONS IN
48 STATES AND IT'S ONLY
SEPTEMBER.
SOME STATES HAVE HAD MULTIPLE
DISASTERS.
THE UNITED STATES HAS HAD
$10 BILLION DISASTERS, WE'VE
HAD -- WE'VE HAD TEN
BILLION-DOLLAR DISASTERS ALREADY
THIS YEAR.
IT'S NO WONDER THAT THERE IS
LIMITED MONEYS LEFT IN FEMA'S
DISASTER RELIEF FUND.
FEMA HAS SPENT ABOUT
$400 MILLION IN THE LAST TWO
WEEKS ALONE MAKING WHOLE
AMERICAN FAMILIES AFTER
HURRICANE IRENE AND LEE, THE
TAX REFORM AND THE TORNADO --
THE TROPICAL STORM AND THE
TORNADO, I'M SORRY, THE
HURRICANE.
FEMA'S FUNDS ARE SO LOW FEMA
STOPPED REBUILDING JOPLIN,
MISSOURI, WHERE 2 507B HEAP
HAVE DIED AFTER THE TORNADO.
THEY HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE THEY'RE
REBUILDING THE SCHOOLS AND SOME
OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT ARE
SO NECESSARY.
THEY WANTED TO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
TO DO THE FOOD, WATER AND
EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR VICTIMS OF
HURRICANE IRENE SO THEY PULLED
OUT OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI.
AND WE'VE SEEN THE PICTURES,
HARD TO COMPREHEND, BUT WINDS
BLOWING ALMOST 300 MILES AN
HOUR, IT JUST ELIMINATES
EVERYTHING ON THE GROUND, ANY
STRUCTURE, ELIMINATED.
THIS IS NOT SOME REPUBLICAN --
I'M SORRY, SOME DEMOCRATIC IDEA
THAT'S COME ABOUT, WE NEED TO
FUND FEMA.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ARE
DESPERATE FOR MONEY.
THEY'VE SEEN THE DEFICIT
REDUCTION FIRSTHAND.
I'M PICK JUST TWO, THE GOVERNOR
OF NEW JERSEY, GOVERNOR
CHRISTIE, SAID THIS, AND I
QUOTE, "OUR PEOPLE ARE
SUFFERING NOW AND THEY NEED
SUPPORT NOW."
GOVERNOR McDONALD OF VIRGINIA
SAID "MY CONCERN IS THAT WE HELP
PEOPLE IN NEED."
AND HE RESPONDED IN THAT WAY
BECAUSE THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
LEADER OF THE HOUSE SAID WE
DON'T -- WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS
MAKE SURE THESE EMERGENCIES ARE
PAID FOR BY TAKING MONEY FROM
PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOW IN
EXISTENCE.
WE CANNOT BE HELD HOSTAGE IN
THIS ISSUE TO APPEASE THE TEA
PARTY.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
IN DISASTER RECOVERY PROJECTS
ARE ON HOLD.
I MENTIONED JOPLIN, MISSOURI AS
JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
NO MATTER HOW OFTEN WE WISH FOR
A CRYSTAL BALL, THE PROCESS OF
GUESSING HOW MUCH MONEY WE'LL
NEED FOR NATURAL DISASTERS ISN'T
PERFECT.
WE TRY, BUT THIS HAS BEEN A
VERY, VERY DEVASTATING YEAR.
EACH YEAR, CONGRESS ESTIMATES
HOW MUCH IT WILL COST THIS
COUNTRY TO RECOVER FROM
INEVITABLE STORMS, WILDFIRES
AND FLOODS AND THEN REACTS TO
WAY.
WHAT MOTHER NATURE SENDS OUR
NOW IS THE TIME TO REACT.
IT'S TIME TO SHOW AMERICANS AS
WE DID IN THE WAKE OF
SEPTEMBER 11 THAT WHEN DISASTER
STRIKES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WILL BE THERE TO HELP REBUILD.
ISSUES.
THESE ARE VERY HARD, PERSONAL
HERE IN VIRGINIA, A SUBURB OF
WASHINGTON, A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY
WAS OUT WATCHING IT RAIN.
HE WAS SWEPT OFF HIS BACK STEP
AND HE'S DEAD.
SCORES OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
KILLED JUST WITH LEE AND IRENE.
IT'S TIME FOR REPUBLICANS TO
PROVE THIS CONGRESS, FOR ONE OF
THE FIRST TIMES THEY'RE WILLING
TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE FOR THE
GOOD OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FEMA IS AN ISSUE THAT IS
BIPARTISAN IN NATURE.
DEMOCRATS.
THOSE STORMS DON'T JUST HIT
THEY DON'T JUST HIT REPUBLICANS.
THEY DON'T JUST HIT -- THE
INDEPENDENTS, THEY HIT US ALL
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO REACT
AND HELP EVERYBODY IN AMERICA
BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS BEEN HURT.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
LAST WEEK
PRESIDENT OBAMA UNVEILED A
STIMULUS BILL HE'S CALLING A
JOBS PLAN AND YESTERDAY THE
WHITE HOUSE EXPLAINED HOW THEY'D
LIKE TO PAY FOR IT.
THE FIRST THING TO SAY ABOUT
THIS PLAN IS IT'S NOW OBVIOUS
WHY THE PRESIDENT LEFT OUT THE
SPECIFICS LAST WEEK.
NOT ONLY DOES IT REVEAL THE
POLITICAL NATURE OF THIS BILL,
IT ALSO REINFORCES THE GROWING
PERCEPTION THAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION ISN'T ALL THAT
INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC POLICIES
THAT WILL ACTUALLY WORK.
BUT NONE OF THIS IS REALLY NEWS.
OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, PRESS
REPORTS HAVE MADE IT PERFECTLY
CLEAR THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS
MORE OF A RE-ELECTION PLAN THAN
A JOBS PLAN.
IT'S AN OPEN SECRET WHICH
DEMOCRATS ALL OVER WASHINGTON
HAVE BEEN ACKNOWLEDGING TO
REPORTERS SINCE THE MOMENT THE
PRESIDENT REVEALED IT.
THEY'VE SAID THAT DESPITE THE
PRESIDENT'S CALLS TO PASS THIS
BILL IMMEDIATELY, THE REAL PLAN
IS TO LET IT HANG OUT THERE FOR
A WHILE SO DEMOCRATS CAN USE IT
AS AN ISSUE ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL.
WHAT'S MORE, THE PRESIDENT KNEW
AS WELL AS I DID WHEN HE
UNVEILED THIS PLAN THAT
DEMOCRATS IN THE SENATE HAD
ALREADY SCHEDULED A FULL SLATE
OF LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS FOR THE
NEXT FEW WEEKS.
SO UNLESS THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS
TO ADMIT THAT IT HAS NO REGARD
FOR ITS OWN PARTY'S LEGISLATIVE
BUSINESS IN CONGRESS, THE EEPT
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION WAS
CLEARLY LITTLE MORE THAN
RHETORICAL FLOURISH.
BUT THE SPEECHES WE GOOD GOTH
YESTERDAY ONLY REINFORCED THE
IMPRESSION THIS WAS LARGELY A
POLITICAL EXERCISE.
FOR ONE, THEY UNDERMINE THE
PRESIDENT'S CLAIM THAT IT'S A
BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL BECAUSE MUCH
OF WHAT HE'S PROPOSING HAS
ALREADY BEEN REJECTED ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS.
THE HALF A TRILLION-DOLLAR TAX
HIKE THE WHITE HOUSE PROPOSED
YESTERDAY WILL NOT ONLY FACE A
TOUGH ROAD IN CONGRESS AMONG
REPUBLICANS BUT FROM DEMOCRATS,
TOO.
THE CENTRAL TAX HIKE INCLUDED IN
THIS BILL CAPPING DEDUCTIONS FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
WAS ALREADY DISMISSED BY A
FILIBUSTERPROOF
DEMOCRATIC-CONTROLLED SENATE IN
2009.
ANOTHER IDEA FLOATED BY THE
WHITE HOUSE YESTERDAY, A TAX ON
INVESTMENT INCOME HAS BEEN
VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED BY THE NUMBER
THREE DEMOCRAT IN THE SENATE,
AMONG OTHERS.
AND A PROPOSAL TO RAISE TAXES ON
THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY WAS
REJECTED AS A JOB DESTROYING TAX
HIKE BY BOTH DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS JUST A FEW MONTHS
AGO.
AND FOR GOOD REASON.
SINCE THE NONPARTISAN
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
TELLS US IT WOULD ONLY RAISE GAS
PRICES AND IT WOULD ALSO IN
ADDITION TO RAISING GAS PRICES
MOVE JOBS OVERSEAS.
SO CLAIMING THIS BILL IS
BIPARTISAN MAY SOUND GOOD IF
YOU'RE OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL, BUT SURELY THE PRESIDENT
COULD COME UP WITH SOME
PROPOSALS THAT BOTH SIDES HAD
NOT ALREADY REJECTED.
HERE'S HOW ONE PROMINENT
LEFT-LEANING ANALYST PUT IT
YESTERDAY: "THESE AREN'T NEW
POLICY IDEAS, HE WROTE, THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN
LOOKING TO CAP ITEMIZED
DEDUCTIONS SINCE THE 2009
BUDGET, NOR ARE THEY BIPARTISAN
POLICY IDEAS.
IS THE SPECIFICS WE GOT
YESTERDAY WERE DISAPPOINTING FOR
ANOTHER REASON AS WELL.
NOT ONLY HAVE THEY FAILED TO
ATTRACT WIDE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT
IN THE PAST, EVEN IF THEY DID,
ENJOY BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, THEY
WOULDN'T CREATE ANY JOBS.
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS RAISING
TAXES IS THE LAST TINGE YOU WANT
TO DO TO SPUR JOB CREATION.
HE SAID SO HIMSELF.
YET THAT'S BASICALLY ALL HE'S
PROPOSING HERE, TEMPORARY
STIMULUS TO BE PAID FOR LATER BY
PERMANENT TAX HIKES SO THAT WHEN
THE DUST CLEARS AND THE ECONOMY
IS NO BETTER OFF THAN IT WAS
AFTER THE FIRST STIMULUS, FOLKS
FIND THEMSELVES WITH AN EVEN
BIGGER TAX BILL THAN TODAY.
NOW, THE PRESIDENT CAN CALL
THIS BILL WHATEVER HE WANTS.
BUT IN REALITY, ALL HE'S DOING
IS JUST PROPOSING A HODGEPODGE
OF RETREAD IDEAS AIMED AT
CONVINCING PEOPLE A TEMPORARY
FIX IS REALLY PERMANENT AND THAT
IT WILL CREATE PERMANENT JOBS
AND THEN DARING REPUBLICANS TO
VOTE AGAINST IT.
WELL, I THINK MOST PEOPLE SEE
THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
I THINK MOST AMERICANS ARE
SMARTER THAN THAT.
I THINK THEY KNOW OUR ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES ARE MORE SERIOUS THAN
THIS AND THAT THEY ROIR SERIOUS
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
REALIZE WE CAN DO A LOT BETTER.
I'VE TALKED WITH A LOT OF JOB
CREATORS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS
INCLUDING MANY IN EYE OWN STATE.
IT'S NO SECRET WHAT THEY NEED TO
CREATE JOBS.
EVERY ONE OF THEM SAYS THE SAME
THING AND YET THE PRESIDENT
REFUSES TO DO ANY OF IT.
IF THE PRESIDENT IS TRULY
INTERESTED, TRULY INTERESTED IN
GROWING THE ECONOMY AND PUTTING
AMERICANS BACK TO WORK, THEN
HE'LL LEAVE THE TEMPORARY
PROPOSALS AND THE HALF MEASURES
AND THE TAX HIKES ASIDE, HE'LL
CONSULT WITH BOTH PARTIES AND
WORK WITH US ON A PLAN THAT
INDICATES HE'S LEARNED SOMETHING
FROM THE FAILURES OF THE PAST
TWO YEARS.
AND WHICH ACTUALLY HAS A CHANCE
OF ATTRACTING BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
HE COULD START WITH A PERMANENT
REFORM OF OUR BROKEN TAX
SYSTEM, REDUCING OUT-OF-CONTROL
FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AND BY
PASSING THE TRADE BILLS THAT
HAVE BEEN SITTING ON HIS DESK
SINCE INAUGURATION DAY, 2009.
ALL OF THIS IS DOABLE.
ALL OF IT SHOULD ATTRACT
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
AND ALL OF IT WOULD ACTUALLY
CREATE JOBS.
NOW, THAT WOULD BE A JOBS PLAN
WORTHY OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE
MOMENT.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, WHAT THE
PRESIDENT PROPOSED SO FAR IS NOT
SERIOUS.
AND IT'S NOT A JOBS PLAN.
AFTER WHAT WE LEARNED
YESTERDAY, THAT SHOULD BE CLEAR
TO EVERYONE.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER THE LEADERSHIP
TIME IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS FOR ONE HOUR
WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES
EACH WITH THE TIME EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BY
BETWEEN THE TWO LEADERS FOR
THEIR DESIGNEES WITH THE
MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE FIRST
HALF AND THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FINAL HALF.
THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
LISTENED CAREFULLY TO THE
LEADER.
STATEMENT MADE BY THE REPUBLICAN
I NOTICED FOR THE LAST FEW DAYS
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN VERY
QUIET AND CALM AND CIRCUMSPECT
IN THEIR REACTION TO THE
PRESIDENT'S SPEECH TO A JOINT
SESSION OF CONGRESS LAST
THURSDAY NIGHT.
THE PRESIDENT OF COURSE CAME TO
US AND SAID THIS ECONOMY NEEDS A
HELPING HAND.
SOMETHING.
WE'VE GOT TO STEP IN AND DO
WE'VE GOT TO ACT AND ACT NOW.
AND HE CAME UP WITH A LIST OF
PROPOSALS THURSDAY NIGHT THAT I
THINK REALLY DO ADDRESS WHAT
AMERICA NEEDS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO CREATE
JOBS.
THAT'S THE NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY.
THE PRESIDENT SAYS WE'LL DO THIS
BY CREATING TAX INCENTIVES FOR
SMALL BUSINESSES IN PARTICULAR
TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN
EMPLOYED AND GIVE RAISES TO
THOSE WHO CURRENTLY WORK.
HE KNOWS THAT FAMILIES ARE
STRUGGLING ACROSS AMERICA, WORK
FORCE, MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES,
MANY OF THEM LIVING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK.
MADAM PRESIDENT, A RECENT POLL
ASKED WORKING FAMILIES IN
AMERICA HOW MANY COULD COME UP
WITH $2,000 IN 30 DAYS.
EITHER
EITHER FROM SAVINGS OR BORROWING
TO MEET A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, FOR
EXAMPLE.
IT TURNS OUT BARELY HALF OF
AMERICANS CAN DO SO.
WORKING FAMILIES, BARELY HALF OF
THEM, COULD COME UP WITH $2,000.
IT'S A REMINDER TO MANY OF US
WHO HAVE A COMFORTABLE LIFE THAT
THE VAST MAJORITY OF WORKING
FAMILIES STRUGGLE EVERY SINGLE
MONTH TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
PRESIDENT OBAMA UNDERSTANDS
THAT, AND THAT'S WHY HE'S
PROPOSED A PAYROLL TAX CUT THAT
WILL PUT MORE MONEY IN THE HANDS
OF WORKING FAMILIES.
IN ILLINOIS, IT WILL BE AN
AVERAGE OF ABOUT $1,400 A YEAR.
I WISH IT WERE MORE, BUT IT'S A
RECOGNITION BY THE PRESIDENT
THAT TO GET THIS ECONOMY MOVING
AGAIN, PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE MORE
CONFIDENCE IN THEIR OWN
SITUATION AT HOME AND MORE
CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE.
GIVING WORKING FAMILIES THIS
SPENDING POWER CAN MAKE THAT
DIFFERENCE.
THE PRESIDENT ALSO UNDERSTANDS,
AND I'M SURE THE PRESIDING
OFFICER UNDERSTANDS AS WELL,
THAT MANY OF THE FAMILIES THAT
ARE UNEMPLOYED NOW ARE
DESPERATE.
I VISITED WITH MANY OF THEM
DURING THE JANUARY -- PARDON ME,
THE AUGUST RECESS.
GOING TO THE ELGIN WORK CENTERS,
TO OTHERS IN McHENRY COUNTY.
I SAT DOWN WITH THESE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR
MONTHS, SOME OF THEM YEARS, AND
ASKED WHAT IS YOUR DAY LIKE?
THEY COME TO THESE JOB CENTERS,
THEY SIT DOWN, THEY WORK ON
THEIR RESUMES, THEY POUR THROUGH
ALL OF THE WANT ADS, THEY POUR
THROUGH ALL OF THE INFORMATION
ABOUT PEOPLE SEEKING NEW
EMPLOYEES AND THEY SEND OUT
THEIR RESUMES AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE, AND OF COURSE VERY FEW
OF THEM GET ANY RESPONSE AT ALL.
IT'S A DESPERATE SITUATION.
HOMES.
SOME OF THEM HAVE LOST THEIR
SOME OF THEM ARE SEEING THEIR
KIDS RETURNING BACK FROM COLLEGE
UNABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES
BECAUSE DAD'S OUT OF WORK.
SOME OF THE MARRIAGES THAT HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED HAVE BEEN STRAINED
AND SOME HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF
THIS ECONOMIC HARDSHIP.
THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS THAT,
AND I HOPE WE DO, TOO.
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION IS
ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AS A
LIFELINE TO THESE FAMILIES, AND
THE PRESIDENT MAKES THAT PART OF
THIS PACKAGE.
WHEN I HEAR THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER CALL THESE SUGGESTIONS A
HODGEPODGE, I DON'T THINK HE'S
FAIR AND I DON'T THINK HE'S
JUST.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS.
INCENTIVES FOR BUSINESSES TO
HIRE NEW WORKERS, PAYROLL TAX
CUTS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FOR
MORE SPENDING MONEY IN HAND,
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR
THOSE WHO ARE OUT OF WORK SO
THEY CAN SURVIVE.
THE PRESIDENT ALSO FOCUSES ON
CRITICAL PEOPLE.
HOW MANY OF US IN THE LAST 48
HOURS HAVE GIVEN A SPEECH
SOMEWHERE AT HOME OR HERE
TALKING ABOUT THE GREAT FIRST
RESPONDERS OF 9/11.
THE POLICEMEN, THE FIREFIGHTERS,
THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO
LITERALLY RISK AND -- RISKED AND
SOME EVEN GAVE THEIR LIVES IN
RESPONSE TO THAT NATIONAL
EMERGENCY.
AMERICA.
WE KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS
MANY OF THESE POLICEMEN AND
FIREFIGHTERS ARE LOSING THEIR
JOBS, ALONG WITH TEACHERS.
THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS THAT,
AND HE PUTS RESOURCES IN TO
SAVING SOME OF THOSE JOBS SO
THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PROTECTION
WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THE
TEACHERS WE NEED FOR THE NEXT
GENERATION OF WORKERS.
AND PRESIDENT OBAMA BELIEVES AND
I AGREE THAT WE NEED TO INVEST
IN AMERICA.
WHEN WE BUILD AMERICA, WHEN WE
BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
WILL SERVE US IN THE 21st
CENTURY, WE CREATE GOOD-PAYING
JOBS RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
THESE AREN'T JOBS YOU ARE GOING
TO SHIP OVERSEAS.
PRESIDENT OBAMA UNDERSTANDS
THAT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S A MAJOR PART OF
HIS PROPOSAL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HIGHWAYS AND
BRIDGES AND AIRPORTS AND PORTS
AND WATERWAYS AND SCHOOLS.
THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS THAT
THAT INVESTMENT IN AMERICA NOT
ONLY HELPS US TODAY IN
INVIGORATING THE ECONOMY BUT
COME.
WILL PAY OFF FOR GENERATIONS TO
MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE WERE VERY
FEW LINES THE PRESIDENT GAVE AT
HIS SPEECH THAT DREW STANDING
APPLAUSE FROM THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE.
I FELT AT ONE POINT THAT THE
TEMPERATURE ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE OF THE AISLE, THE HOUSE
CHAMBER, WAS 40 DEGREES BELOW
THAT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
IT WAS COLD OVER THERE.
THERE WAS ONE LINE THAT THEY
FINALLY, FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED,
AND THAT WAS WHEN THE PRESIDENT
SAID FOR GOODNESS SAKES, WE OWE
IT TO OUR VETERANS WHO HAVE COME
HOME TO PUT THEM TO WORK, TO
KNOW THAT 10% OF THOSE PEOPLE
WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES FOR
AMERICA AND ARE NOW BACK HOME OR
IN UNEMPLOYMENT LINES IS
ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, AND
PRESIDENT OBAMA RECOGNIZES THAT
IN WHAT HE HAS CALLED FOR TO GET
THIS ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD.
I DON'T THINK THE REPUBLICAN
HODGEPODGE.
LEADER IS FAIR IN CALLING THIS A
I THINK IT IS A CAREFULLY
CONSTRUCTED PLAN TO GET THIS
ECONOMY MOVING FORWARD.
WHAT REALLY TROUBLES THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER -- AND I KNOW
HE SAID AS MUCH THIS MORNING --
IS THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA PAYS FOR
IT.
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WE HEAR
FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, DON'T
ADD TO THE DEFICIT, PAY FOR WHAT
YOU DO, THE PRESIDENT CAME OUT
YESTERDAY WITH HIS PROPOSALS FOR
HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
AND HOW DOES HE PAY FOR IT?
FOR ONE, HE TAKES AWAY THE
SUBSIDY TO THE OIL COMPANIES.
A FEDERAL SUBSIDY THAT COMES
RIGHT OUT OF THE TREASURY, GOING
TO OIL COMPANIES ACROSS AMERICA
THAT ARE RAISING GASOLINE PRICES
TO THE ROOF AND ENJOYING THE
BIGGEST BUSINESS PROFITS IN THE
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
ISN'T IT TIME TO PUT -- CUT BACK
ON THAT SUBSIDY AND USE THOSE
RESOURCES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S
FORWARD?
PLAN TO GET THE ECONOMY MOVING
AND YES, THE PRESIDENT DOES
LIMIT THE TAX DEDUCTIONS AND
CREDITS FOR THOSE IN HIGHER
INCOME CATEGORIES.
I JUST FIND IT HARD TO
UNDERSTAND WHY THE REPUBLICAN
POSITION IS WE CANNOT ASK THOSE
WHO ARE WELL OFF, THE MOST
COMFORTABLE PEOPLE IN AMERICA,
TO PAY ONE PENNY MORE IN TAXES.
THEIR POSITION IS ABSOLUTE.
NOT ONE PENNY MORE IN TAXES FOR
THE WEALTHIEST IN AMERICA.
I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO LIMIT
THE TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHIEST
SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE TAX CUTS
FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
THAT TO ME IS SENSIBLE.
IT'S NOT ONLY MORALLY RIGHT,
IT'S ECONOMICALLY RIGHT, AND IT
TROUBLES ME WHEN I HEAR THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER REJECT THAT
OUT OF HAND.
IT APPEARS THAT THE WARMTH OF
THE AUGUST SUN IS COOLING NOW IN
SEPTEMBER, AND THOSE WHO WENT
HOME AND HEARD HOW UNHAPPY
AMERICA IS WITH CONGRESSIONAL
ROADBLOCKS AND OBSTRUCTION, THEY
HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT LESSON, THEY
HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT THEY HEARD.
THEY'RE COMING BACK NOW AND
SAYING ONCE AGAIN WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE A FACEOFF AND A
CONFRONTATION.
THERE IS ONE OTHER AREA I WANT
TO SPEAK TO.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE FROM NEW
SHORTLY.
YORK WILL BE ON THE FLOOR
THE AREA I WANT TO SPEAK TO IS
DISASTER RELIEF.
I STRONGARY SUPPORT -- STRONGLY
SUPPORT THE DISASTER RELIEF
FUNDING BILL.
AS AMERICANS UNDERTAKE THE
PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY
DIFFICULT TASK OF REBUILDING,
CLEANING UP AND RECOVERING FROM
HURRICANES AND FLOODING AND EVEN
EARTHQUAKES, WE MUST SEE THAT
DISASTER FUNDS ARE THERE SO THAT
THEY CAN GET BACK TO THEIR OWN
LIVES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
2011 HAS BEEN A RECORD YEAR WHEN
IT COMES TO NATURAL DISASTERS.
THE COST OF RECOVERY FROM
HURRICANE IRENE ALONE COULD
REACH $1.5 BILLION.
IN ILLINOIS, WE HAVE SEEN IT
THIS YEAR, IT'S BEEN TOUGH.
FROM CHICAGO TO CAIRO IN THE
SOUTHERN PART OF OUR STATE.
WE HAVE HAD BLIZZARDS AND FLOODS
AND TORNADOES AND TROUBLES ALL
AROUND.
OUR STATE, LIKE MOST OTHER
STATES, HAS SEEN THE DAMAGE, HAS
FELT IT PERSONALLY.
PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO PUT THEIR
HOMES BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.
HERE'S A PHOTO WHICH I SAW IN
PERSON WHEN I VISITED MY STATE
EARLIER THIS SPRING AROUND
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, IN THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE STATE.
IT WAS AN AWFUL SITUATION.
WE HAD FLOODING ALONG THE OHIO
RIVER, WHICH TROUBLED, BOTHERED
THE FOLKS THAT LIVED IN SOUTHERN
ILLINOIS AS WELL AS KENTUCKY AND
ADJOINING STATES AND MISSOURI,
AND SOME OF OUR TOWNS LIKE CAIRO
WERE LITERALLY THREATENED WITH
BEING INUNDATED.
THEY HAD TO BLOW LEVIES WHICH --
LEVEES WHICH BASICALLY MEANS
FLOW.
OPEN UP A PLACE FOR THE WATER TO
THAT FLOODED LAND IN MISSOURI
AND ILLINOIS.
WE HAVE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THE
FACT THAT THERE WERE REAL LOSSES
THERE THAT NEEDED TO BE PAID
FOR.
THAT RECORD FLOODING REALLY
SLAMMED THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR
STATE.
THE DEVASTATION WAS FELT IN THE
ENTIRE REGION.
THE DAMAGE WASN'T JUST THERE,
THOUGH.
I HEAR FROM PEOPLE THROUGHOUT
THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE
WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TODAY
BECAUSE OF THIS FLOODING.
ANTHONY MILES IN URBANDALE,
ILLINOIS, IS AN EXAMPLE.
FLOODING FROM THE OHIO RIVER
ROSE SO HIGH AT HIS HOME THAT HE
COULDN'T EVEN FIND HIS LAWNMOWER
IN THE FRONT YARD.
ALL HE COULD SEE WAS RIVER
WATER.
IN METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS, MY
FRIEND, MAYOR BILLY McDANIEL,
SAYS PEOPLE ARE STILL TRYING TO
GET THE FLOODWATER DAMAGE
LATER.
REPAIRED IN THAT TOWN MONTHS
THE HARRAH'S CASINO, WHICH IS A
MAJOR ATTRACTION IN THAT AREA,
COMPLETELY INUNDATED WITH WATER
AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS OF REPAIRS THAT NEEDED
TO BE DONE.
NOW, THERE ARE SOME WHO ARGUE
THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THESE
DISASTERS, WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
HELP PEOPLE IN AMERICA.
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE
GUIDING PRINCIPLE AND MOTTO OF
THE TEA PARTY IN AMERICA IS
THIS -- JUST REMEMBER, WE'RE ALL
IN THIS ALONE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR OVER AND
OVER FROM THEM.
WHENEVER WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM
FACING US IN AMERICA WHERE WE
COME TOGETHER AS A FAMILY TO
SOLVE IT, THE TEA PARTY STANDS
ON THE SIDELINES AND SAYS DON'T
DO IT.
LET THEM FAIL.
SENATOR REID THIS MORNING QUOTED
A LEADING TEA PARTY ADVOCATE IN
THE HOUSE WHO SAID THE FEDERAL
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS.
I WONDER WHERE HE LIVES.
I WONDER IF HIS HOME HAS BEEN
SPARED.
I WONDER IF HE HAS SEEN PEOPLE
WHO THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR
OWN HAVE LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE
OF A DISASTER.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS IN AMERICA, WE
STEP UP AND HELP ONE ANOTHER.
WE DON'T GET TIED UP IN SOME
POLITICAL DEBATE.
WE DON'T FIND OURSELVES
COMPLETELY STOPPED FROM STEPPING
FORWARD AND DOING THE RIGHT
THING, AND WE CAN'T LET IT
HAPPEN THIS TIME EITHER.
THOSE WHO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO
CUT OTHER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
AND EDUCATION, MEDICAL RESEARCH,
FOR EXAMPLE, TO PAY FOR
DEVASTATION, WHETHER IT'S FROM
HURRICANE IRENE OR FLOODING OR
EARTHQUAKES OR TORNADOES, I JUST
DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT
GOVERNMENT SPENDING THAT HAVE
THERE ARE CRITICAL AREAS OF
BEEN CUT BACK ALREADY, AND TO
CUT THEM EVEN FURTHER WOULD
JEOPARDIZE THE FUTURE OF THIS
COUNTRY AND THE WELL-BEING OF
MANY, MANY FAMILIES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I WANT TO SHOW
A CHART HERE WHICH DEMONSTRATES
THE AMOUNT REQUESTED BY THE
ADMINISTRATION OVER THE YEARS BY
DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS FOR THE
DISASTER RELIEF FUND.
IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE
CASES, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT
WAS A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION
OR REPUBLICAN, HOW MUCH OF THESE
FUNDS DO YOU THINK WERE OFFSET
WITH FUNDS FROM OTHER ACCOUNTS
IN THE FEDERAL BUDGET?
NONE, ZERO.
IN 2000, WHEN MORE THAN
THAN $3.5 BILLION WAS
APPROPRIATED FOR DISASTER
RECOVERY, HOW MUCH WAS OFFSET?
NONE.
IN 2005 AND 2006, WHEN
COMMUNITIES ALL OVER THE SOUTH
WERE RECOVERING FROM HURRICANE
KATRINA AND MORE THAN $2 BILLION
WAS APPROPRIATED IN EACH OF
THESE TWO YEARS FOR RECOVERY,
HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS OFFSET?
NONE.
UNDER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTS LIKE
PRESIDENT BUSH, AS WELL AS
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS LIKE CLERK
AND -- LIKE PRESIDENT CLINTON
AND OBAMA, WE HAVE NOT REQUIRED
OFFSETS IN THE REST OF THE
BUDGET WHEN WE HAVE LITERALLY
FACED A DISASTER.
WE HAVE STEPPED UP, PROVIDED THE
MONEY AND MOVED FORWARD.
THE NUMBER AND COSTS OF
DISASTERS HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
I DON'T WANT TO ENGAGE THE
SENATE IN THE DEBATE ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT PEOPLE GET RED IN THE FACE
AND WANT TO COME TO THE FLOOR
AND TELL US THEIR POLITICAL
VIEWS OF THE SCIENCE OF THIS
QUESTION, BUT I WILL TELL YOU
THIS.
THE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY
INSURANCE INDUSTRY OF AMERICA
TESTIFIED BEFORE MY COMMITTEE
RECENTLY AND SAID THEY SEE
WHAT'S COMING -- MORE DISASTERS
AND MORE COSTS THAN WE EVER
IMAGINED.
ONE OF THE EXPERTS SAID BE
PREPARED TO SAY EVERY SUMMER OF
YOUR LIFE FROM THIS POINT
FORWARD, THIS IS THE HOTTEST
SUMMER I CAN EVER REMEMBER.
THAT'S WHAT THE FUTURE'S GOING
TO HOLD.
AND AS THESE TEMPERATURE SWINGS
GET WORSE AND WORSE, THEY
PRECIPITATE THESE TERRIBLE
STORMS.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON MUCH, BUT I
AM PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF AN
EXPERT AFTER ALMOST 30 YEARS OF
FLYING 48 ROUND TRIPS A YEAR
BETWEEN ILLINOIS AND WASHINGTON
AIRPLANES.
ON FLYING ON COMMERCIAL
I THINK I KNOW A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE
THAN MOST.
THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
REMEMBER.
ROUGHEST PERIODS I CAN EVER
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE
STORMS AND TURBULENCE HAVE BEEN
GREATER THAN I COULD EVER
RECALL.
I HOPE IT'S AN ANOMALY.
I HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.
WE'RE TOLD BY THE EXPERTS IT'S
LIKELY TO CONTINUE.
IT MEANS MORE STORMS, MORE
DAMAGE, MORE DISASTERS, AND WE
DON'T HAVE A FUND SITTING
SOMEWHERE IN WASHINGTON WAITING
TO PAY FOR IT.
WE HAVE GOT TO STEP UP AS THE
NEED ARISES AND MEET OUR
OBLIGATION TO THE FAMILIES AND
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN
NEGATIVELY AFFECTED.
WE KNOW
THAT THIS DAMAGE WHICH I SHOWED
IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE
STATE REACHES ALL OVER THE
STATE.
THIS IS AN EAR OF GALENA,
ILLINOIS, HOMARE OF GENERAL
GRANT, PRESIDENT ULYSSES S.
GRANT AND THIS AREA IN THE
NORTHWESTERN PART OF MY STATE
HAS BEEN FLOODED CAUSING EXTREME
DAMAGE TO THE PEOPLE AND THE
AREA.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH.
IF WE FREEZE THE MONEY FOR
DISASTER RELIEF AS SOME HAVE
SUGGESTED, IT MEANS THAT
REPAIRS BEING MADE TO RECOVER
FROM FLOODS AND STORMS FROM
APRIL AND MAY WON'T BE
REIMBURSED.
FROM METROPOLIS, ILLINOIS AND
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, THEY ARE
FACING DAMAGE THERE THAT NEEDS
TO BE REPAIRED, THE CITY OF
CARMA AS WELL.
ON FRIDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA
REQUESTED $5 BILLION OF NEW
DISASTER FUNDING, $500 MILLION
IN SUPPLEMENTAL MONEY FOR 2011.
THE PRESIDENT RECOGNIZES 2011
HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR FOR
NATURAL DISASTERS AND THAT
RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE IRENE
ALONE COULD TAX FEMA WAY BEYOND
WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF PROVIDING
WHO ARE TRYING TO CLEAN UP AND
PUT THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE DISASTER RELIEF FUND.
LET'S HELP OUR FELLOW AMERICANS
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
A QUORUM.
FLOOR AND SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE
SENATOR FROM NEBRASKA.
I RISE TO HONOR
STAFF SERGEANT HAMBURGER, WHO
SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS A FLIGHT
ENGINEER WHILE MOBILIZED WITH
THE ARMY AIR NATIONAL GUARD.
STAFF SERGEANT HAMBURGER AND 29
FELLOW SOLDIERS PAID THE
ULTIMATE PRICE IN SUPPORT OF
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM ON
AUGUST OF, 2011.
HE WAS THE CREW CHIEF ON THE
CHINOOK HELICOPTER THAT WAS
AFGHANISTAN.
DOWNED BY ENEMY FIRE IN
IT IS THROUGH EXTRAORDINARY ?IES
SACRIFICES LIKE HIS THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO ENJOY THE FREEDOMS WE
HAVE TODAY.
STAMM SERGEANT'S SHAMBURG'S
DEVOTION AND PRIDE IN HIS
COUNTRY WENT BEYOND THE TIME HE
SPENT IN UNIFORM.
PATRICK LIVED TO HELP OTHERS.
FROM HIS CHILDHOOD IN LINCOLN TO
MENTORING FELLOW SOLDIERS,
THOSE THAT KNEW HIM RECALL THAT
HE WAS ALWAYS LOOKING OUT FOR
OTHERS.
PATRICK'S BROTHER, CHRIS,
REMEMBERED HIS KIND SPIRIT BY
STATING -- AND I'M QUOTING --
HE DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT HIMSELF
HALF AS MUCH AS HE WORRIED ABOUT
EVERYONE ELSE.
YOU COULD HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE
STRANGER AND IF HE COULD HAVE
HELPED YOU, HE WOULD HAVE DONE
IT, UNQUOTE.
13 YEARS AGO, THAT MENTALITY
AND SENSE OF PATRIOTISM LED A
YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TO TAKE
AN OATH TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND THE STATE OF
NEBRASKA AGAINST ALL ENEMIES,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC.
THAT OATH BROUGHT OPPORTUNITIES
FOR STAFF SERGEANT HAMBURGER TO
SHARE HIS MECHANICAL TALENT WITH
HIS FELLOW SOLDIERS.
THOSE CLOSES TO HIM WILL TELL
YOU THAT HIS PRIDE AND JOY WERE
WITH HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS,
IN THE V-DAY EXPRESS, THE
CHINOOK HELICOPTER HE
MAINTAINED.
HE LOVED ACTION SOLDIER AND HE
COOK GREAT PRIDE IN HIS SERVICE.
THE DECORATIONS AND BADGES
EARNED DURING HIS 13 YEARS AND
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE SPEAK TO
HIS DEDICATION AND TO HIS SKILL.
THE BRONZE STAR, THE PURPLE
HEART, THE ARMY RESERVE
COMPONENT ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL,
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE MEDAL, THE
AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM SERVICE
MEDAL, THE ARMED FORCES RESERVE
MEDAL, THE NONCOMMISSIONED
OFFICER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
RIBBON, THE ARMY SERVICE
RIBBON, THE NATO MEDAL, THE
COMBAT ACTION BADGE, THE SENIOR
AVIATION BADGE, THE NEBRASKA
NATIONAL GUARD HOMELAND DEFENSE
RIBBON, THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL
GUARD EMERGENCY SERVICE MEDAL,
THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD
SERVICE MEDAL, AND THE
CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD
COMMENDATION MEDAL.
THESE MEDALS, AS WELL AS
SERGEANT HAMBURGER'S WILLINGNESS
TO SERVE OTHERS IN NEED, SPEAK
CLEARLY TO HIS COMMITMENT TO
UPHOLDING THE VALUES AND IDEALS
THAT ALL NEBRASKANS HOLD DEAR.
WE NEBRASKANS ARE PROUD OF HIS
CHARACTER AND THE WAYS IN WHICH
HE REPRESENTED OUR STATE OF
NEBRASKA.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN THE
COMING MONTHS NEBRASKANS WILL
SURROUND AND UPLIFT THIS FAMILY
AND FRIENDS AS THEY MOURN THE
LOSS OF A TRULY REMARKABLE SON,
A BROTHER, AND A FRIEND.
TODAY, AS WE ALL BOW OUR HEADS
WITH THE FAMILY, I ASK THAT GOD
PROTECT OUR SERVICE MEMBERS BOTH
HERE AND OVERSEAS.
WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE
SERVICE AND SACRIFICE MADE BY
FAMILIES.
THOSE IN UNIFORM AND THEIR
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
I WOULD NOTICE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: