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AND IT CAN START BY PICKING UP
THINGS THAT WE KNOW HAVE
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
ROLL.
QUORUMHE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
MORNING BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CALL.
CONSENT TO CALL OFF THE QUORUM
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MORNING BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO S.
7691 WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT.
A BILL TO PUT
WORKERS BACK ON THE JOB WHILE
REBUILDING AND MODERNIZING
.
AMERICA.
THE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE
REBUILD AMERICA JOBS ACT
ADDRESSES TWO OF OUR MOST
FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
FIRST, THE NEED TO RESPOND TO
THE URGENT JOBS CRISIS,
TO CREATE
THE PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK FOR
ECONOMIC GROWTH NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE.
THERE SHOULD BE NO DEBATE ABOUT
OUR DUTY TO FULFILL THOSE TWO
RESPONSIBILITIES AND YET ONCE
AGAIN WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE
THE REFUSAL OF OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES TO COMPROMISE EVEN ON
CONSIDERATION OF MEASURES THAT
THEY'VE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST
PREVENTS US FROM ACTING ON
BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I AM ENCOURAGED BY REPORTS THAT
PERHAPS FINALLY THE NEED TO ACT
HAS CONVINCED SOME OF OUR
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE TO
AT LEAST CONSIDER ALLOWING THE
LEGISLATION.
SENATE TO DEBATE THIS
I HOPE FOR THE SAKE OF MILLIONS
OF PEOPLE IN MICHIGAN AND IN
EVERY OTHER STATE WHO ARE
WAITING FOR US TO ACT THAT AT
LEAST SOME OF OUR REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES WILL RELENT AND ALLOW
MEASURE.
TO US AT LEAST DEBATE THIS
NOW, WHAT WOULD THIS BILL
ACCOMPLISH?
SIMPLY PUT, IT SEEKS TO CREATE
JOBS NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.
DOES SO BY FUNDING A WIDE
ARRAY OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
INCLUDING ROADS, BRIDGES, RAIL
TRANSPORT, MASS TRANSIT,
AIRPORT FACILITIES AND UPDATED
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS.
THESE PROJECTS WOULD PUT
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ON THE JOB
IMMEDIATELY.
THEY WOULD, ACCORDING TO
ESTIMATES BY MOODY'S, BOOST
ECONOMIC GROWTH BY MORE THAN A
DOLLAR AND A HALF FOR EVERY
DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND, AND THE
BENEFITS WOULD CONTINUE INTO THE
FUTURE.
AS AMERICAN COMPANIES AND
AMERICAN WORKERS BENEFIT FROM
THE INCREASED COMPETITIVENESS
THAT MODERNIZED INFRASTRUCTURE
PROVIDES.
IN MY HOME STATE OF MICHIGAN
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD RESULT IN
MORE THAN $900 MILLION GOING TO
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, IT
WOULD CREATE ABOUT 12,000 JOBS.
RESIDENTS OF MY STATE ARE KEENLY
AWARE OF THE NEED TO ACT AND TO
ACT NOW ON THE JOBS CRISIS.
KEENLY AWARE OF THE
TERRIBLE COSTS THAT WE PAY IF WE
ALLOW OUR ECONOMIC COMPETITORS
TO ESTABLISH ADVANTAGES OVER OUR
WORKERS.
IN MY STATE, NEARLY A THIRD OF
OUR BRIDGES ARE STRUCTURALLY
DEFICIENT AND FUNCTIONALLY
OBSOLETE.
MORE THAN A THIRD OF OUR MAJOR
ROADS ARE IN POOR OR MEDIOCRE
CONDITION.
ABOUT 49% -- EXCUSE ME, ABOUT
40% OF OUR MAJOR URBAN ROADWAYS
ARE CONGESTED.
THE PEOPLE OF MICHIGAN WANT TO
US ACT ON JOBS, THEY WANT TO US
ACT NOW TO MAINTAIN AMERICA'S
COMPETITIVE EDGE.
THESE ARE NOT CONTROVERSIAL
IDEAS.
AT LEAST THEY HAVE NOT BEEN IN
THE PAST.
SUPPORT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IS
TRADITIONALLY BIPARTISAN.
IT WAS A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT,
DWIGHT EISENHOWER, WHO LAUNCHED
THE INTEREST RATE -- INTERSTATE
HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
THIS BILL INCLUDES A
INFRASTRUCTURE BANK BASED ON A
BIPARTISAN IDEA ONCE SUPPORTED
BY THE U.S. -- ONE SUPPORTED BY
THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY,
DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, FIGHTS
FOR ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE
SPENDING FOR THEIR STATE.
WHY, THEN, FACED WITH THE DUAL
CHALLENGES OF A JOBS CRISIS AND
INCREASINGLY OUTDATED
INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD WE HAMPER
OUR ABILITY TO GROW NOW AND IN
THE FUTURE BY NOT ALLOWING A
DEBATE ON THIS BILL AND ADOPTING
THIS BILL?
NOW, PERHAPS SOME OF MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES OBJECT TO
THE WAY THIS BILL IS PAID FOR.
AS HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH
PREVIOUS JOBS BILLS, THIS
LEGISLATION WOULD NOT ADD A
DOLLAR TO THE DEFICIT, IT WOULD
PAY FOR THESE MUCH-NEEDED
INFRASTRUCTURE EFFORTS BY ASKING
THOSE WITH INCOMES OF MORE THAN
A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO PAY
A FRACTION OF A PERCENTAGE POINT
OF THEIR INCOME ABOVE A MILLION
DOLLARS A YEAR IN ADDITIONAL
TAXES.
AGAIN, OUTSIDE THE HALLS OF
CONGRESS THIS IS NOT A
CONTROVERSIAL NOTION.
A STRONG MAJORITY OF AMERICANS,
INCLUDING A MAJORITY OF RANK --
RANK AND FILE REPUBLICANS
SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF ASKING THE
WEALTHIEST AMONG US TO
CONTRIBUTE TO SOLVING OUR JOB
CRISIS.
AND I MIGHT SAY,
MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT IN TERMS
OF INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE,
A RECENT CNN POLL SHOWS THAT 72%
OF AMERICANS SUPPORT INVESTING
IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE
JOBS.
WE KNOW FROM THIS POLL THE HUGE
MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WANT TO US
INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY
WANT TO US INVEST IN
INFRASTRUCTURE NOW TO CREATE
JOBS, AND THAT IS MIRRORED BY
OTHER POLLS WHICH SHOW THAT A
VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS
BELIEVE THAT THE FAIR WAY TO PAY
FOR THIS INVESTMENT IS FOR THE
A
SMALL FRACTION OF INCOME THAT
THEY MAKE ABOVE A LEVEL SUCH AS
A MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH IS
WHAT IS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS
BILL.
NOW, MAKE NO MISTAKE: IF
REPUBLICANS REJECT THIS
LEGISLATION BECAUSE OF THE
FUNDING MECHANISM, THEY ARE
VOTING DIRECTLY IN OPPOSITION TO
THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND AGAINST THE CONCEPTS OF
BASIC FAIRNESS THAT SHOULD GUIDE
OUR ACTIONS.
AND FINALLY, RELATIVE TO THIS
PAY-FOR, THERE IS ONLY ONE
GROUP OF AMERICANS THAT HAVE
DONE WELL FINANCIALLY IN THE
LAST FEW DECADES, AND THAT IS
THE WEALTHIEST 1%.
THE REST OF AMERICANS,
MIDDLE-INCOME AMERICANS HAVE
EITHER LOST GROUND OR GOTTEN
NOWHERE.
BUT THE WEALTHIEST 1% OF
AMERICANS HAVE DONE EXCEEDINGLY
WELL AND THEIR PROPORTION OF THE
NATIONAL INCOME HAS GROWN
DRAMATICALLY.
AND SO TO SAY THAT INCOME ABOVE
A MILLION DOLLARS SHOULD PAY A
SMALL FRACTION OF A PERCENT IN A
SURCHARGE TO HELP PAY FOR THINGS
THAT THIS COUNTRY DESPERATELY
NEEDS AND WOULD CREATE JOBS,
FLIES RIGHT AGAINST THE FEELINGS
AND BELIEFS OF THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NOW, FINALLY THE VOTE THAT
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IN THE NEXT
COUPLE DAYS IS NOT EVEN A VOTE
ON THE BILL.
THIS IS A VOTE ON ENDING A
REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER OF A
MOTION TO PROCEED TO THE BILL.
IT'S A MOTION WHICH WOULD ALLOW
US TO BEGIN TO DEBATE A BILL.
NOW, I'VE BEEN CONTINUALLY
SURPRISED, MADAM PRESIDENT, AT
THE LOCK STEP OPPOSITION OF
REPUBLICANS TO EVEN BEGINNING TO
DEBATE ON THESE MATTERS.
AND I WOULD MAKE A SIMPLE
REQUEST, AND A NUMBER OF US
HAVE DONE THE SAME.
LET'S DEBATE THIS LEGISLATION.
ALLOW US TO DEBATE THE
LEGISLATION, AND IF THE
LEGISLATION CAN BE IMPROVED,
OFFER IDEAS TO IMPROVE IT.
IF THERE'S A BETTER IDEA, OFFER
THE BETTER IDEA.
I BELIEVE REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE
A VERY RECEPTIVE AUDIENCE IF
THEY'D PROPOSE IDEAS FOR WHICH
THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE OF
BENEFITS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
JOB CREATION.
BUT UNTIL WE CAN GET A JOB
CREATION MEASURE TO THE FLOOR OF
THIS SENATE, WE CAN'T EVEN
DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES IN A
LEGISLATIVE SETTING.
WE CAN ONLY HERE DEBATE ABOUT
WHETHER WE OUGHT TO BE ALLOWED
TO DEBATE THOSE ISSUES.
A BIPARTISAN VOTE TO BEGIN TO
DEBATE ON JOBS LEGISLATION WOULD
SEND AN IMPORTANT SIGNAL TO THE
PEOPLE WE ALL REPRESENT, A
SIGNAL THAT WE ARE READY TO PUT
ASIDE PARTISANSHIP AND ADDRESS
THE PROBLEMS THAT OUR PEOPLE
FACE.
END
THE FILIBUSTER SO THAT WE CAN
ADOPT THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD
THIS JOBS BILL.
OF A QUORUM.
THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE ABSENCE
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
CALL:
OREGON.
I ASK THAT THE
QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
I RISE TODAY TO ADDRESS OUR
NATION'S JOB CRISIS AND TO SHARE
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHY IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT WE PROCEED TO
DEBATE ON THE REBUILD AMERICA
JOBS ACT.
IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO
SOME ACROSS THE NATION THAT AT
THIS POINT THIS CHAMBER IS NOT
DEBATING THE REBUILD AMERICA
JOBS ACT BUT THAT WE'RE DEBATING
WHETHER TO DEBATE IT.
ONLY IN THE SENATE COULD WE BE
ENGAGED IN THAT TYPE OF QUESTION
WHEN ACROSS AMERICA MILLIONS OF
FOLKS WANT TO SEE US ACT, WANT
TO SEE US CREATE JOBS.
IT WAS ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO WE
HAD A SIMILAR DEBATE, AND THAT
DEBATE WAS OVER THE AMERICA JOBS
ACT, A BROAD PORTFOLIO OF
MEASURES TO PUT OUR ECONOMY BACK
ON TRACK AND CREATE JOBS FOR
AMERICANS.
AND TO GET THE CLOSURE ON
WHETHER TO DEBATE, WE HAD TO GET
A SUPERMAJORITY UNDER THE RULES
OF THE SENATE.
AND MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE
AISLE OPPOSED THAT, AND WE COULD
NOT GET TO THE DEBATE OF THE
BILL ON HOW TO CREATE JOBS.
NOW WE HAVE BEFORE US A SMALLER
SEGMENT OF THAT BILL, ONE THAT
FOCUSES ON THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY.
AND AGAIN, WE FIND OURSELVES
HERE DEBATING WHETHER TO DEBATE
AND CREATING JOBS.
RATHER THAN GETTING DOWN TO WORK
SO I HOPE THIS TIME THE OUTCOME
WILL BE QUITE DIFFERENT.
THE JOBS CRISIS HAS HIT HARD
THIS NATION, ESPECIALLY
HARD IN MY HOME STATE IN OREGON,
LOWER.
WHERE THE JOB RATE HAS BEEN
THAT IS UNEMPLOYMENT HAS BEEN
HIGHER THAN IN MOST STATES
ACROSS THIS NATION.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT
OREGON IS HURTING IS BECAUSE OUR
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, OUR
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS FLAT ON
ITS BACK.
MORE THAN 40,000 CONSTRUCTION
JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST IN OREGON
SINCE 2007, AND THOUSANDS MORE
HAVE BEEN LOST IN RELATED
INDUSTRIES LIKE FOREST PRODUCTS
AND NURSERY STOCK AND GRASS
SEED, ALL OF WHICH ONLY THRIVE
AMERICA.
WHEN WE'RE BUILDING HOMES IN
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE NOT
BUILDING HOMES IN AMERICA.
SO WE NEED A BOOST TO GET THE
AGAIN.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MOVING
AND IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME,
JUST LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE IN THE
STATE OF OREGON.
A FEW WEEKS AGO I ASKED MY
CONSTITUENTS TO WRITE IN AND
SHARE THEIR STORIES, AND TODAY
TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE
STORIES WITH ALL OF YOU.
CAROLINE FROM MARION COUNTY
WRITES IN AND SAYS, "I AM A
CONSTRUCTION COST ACCOUNTANT
WITH 47 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND
TWO MASTERS DEGREES.
I HAVE BEEN WIDOWED SINCE 1996.
I AM 69 YEARS OLD.
I FULLY SUPPORT MY 67-YEAR-OLD
SISTER, WHO HAS DIE MEN WHICH A
AND IS IN -- WHO HAS DIM MEN
WHICH A AND IS IN REMISSION FROM
COLON CANCER.
WALL STREET HAS WIPED OUT A
LIFETIME OF SAVINGS.
MY RETIREMENT NEST EGG.
I HAVE TO WORK OR WE WILL BE
HOMELESS IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
I DRIVE A 16-YEAR-OLD VEHICLE
THAT IS ON ITS LAST LEGS.
I HAVE AGING PARENTS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR FARM.
THOSE ARE THE FACTS.
IN LATE 2008, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN MY CAREER, I WAS LAID OFF
FROM MY CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNTING
JOB.
SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE BEEN
UNABLE TO FIND ANOTHER JOB IN MY
FIELD DESPITE MY GOOD
REFERENCES.
CURRENTLY I WORK PART TIME FOR A
START UP DOT-COM.
MY PROGNOSIS FOR CONTINUED
EMPLOYMENT IS SHAKY.
BANKS WON'T LOAN MONEY TO A
START-UP.
THIS SUMMER I WENT WITHOUT A
PAYCHECK OF ANY KIND.
LAST WEEK I APPLIED FOR A JOB AT
WAGE.
WAL-MART FOR OREGON MINIMUM
I'LL PROBABLY GET HIRED, BUT I'M
NOT KIDDING MYSELF ABOUT JOB
SECURITY.
THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE FOR
MOST OF US.
SENATOR, THE WORST THING ABOUT
ALL OF THIS IS OUR DO-NOTHING
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS LOST TOUCH
WITH AMERICA."
HER WORDS RING POWERFULLY IN
THIS CHAMBER.
SHE, LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHER
AMERICANS, ARE SAYING THAT THIS
ECONOMY IS TOUGH.
FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ROUGH.
AND WHY DOESN'T CONGRESS GET
DOWN TO WORK AND DEBATE AND PASS
JOB-CREATING LEGISLATION?
SHE'S FRUSTRATED WITH THIS
DO-NOTHING CONGRESS, AND HERE WE
ARE DEBATING WHETHER TO DEBATE A
JOBS BILL.
I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
COUNTY.
LISTEN TO CAROL ANN FROM MARION
LET'S GET PAST THIS POINT AND
GET DOWN TO DEBATING THE JOBS
BILL.
HANK FROM MARION COUNTY WRITES,
"THREE YEARS AGO I WAS AT THE
TOP OF MY MORE THAN 35-YEAR
CAREER IN CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT, WORKING AS A SENIOR
PROJECT MANAGER ON A LARGE
PROJECT.
AS THE ECONOMY TANKS, TODAY I AM
UNEMPLOYABLE.
I AM LEFT ABLE, WILLING AND
HIGHLY EXPERIENCED, YET
UNDESIRED.
OUR FARM WAS FORECLOSED AND MY
BANKRUPTCY.
WIFE AND I HAD TO FILE
CURRENTLY OUR MORTGAGE LENDER
REFUSES TO COMPLETE A HOME LOAN
MODIFICATION, ALTHOUGH THEY
QUALIFIED TWAOUS YEARS AGO FOR
THE -- QUALIFIED US TWO YEARS
AGO FOR THE PROGRAM AND SINCE
THEN WE HAVE BEEN MAKING THE
REQUIRED PAYMENTS EACH MONTH
EVEN WITHOUT A FINAL AGREEMENT.
WE HAVE MET WITH COMMUNITY
GROUPS, WRITTEN LETTERS, MADE
CALLS, YET NOTHING SEEMS TO
HAPPEN.
IN ANOTHER YEAR WHEN THE
BANKRUPTCY PERIOD ENDS, WE FEAR
THE BANK WILL SIMPLY FORECLOSE
AGAIN AND WE WILL LOSE OUR
FARM."
AGAIN ANOTHER VOICE FROM A
FAMILY DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE
COLLAPSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY AND A CALL TO US TO
HELP PUT IT BACK ON ITS FEET.
BRIAN FROM YEMM HILL COUNTY
WRITES, I HAVE WORKED IN THE
35 YEARS.
IN 2009, I WAS LAID OFF FOR 11
MONTHS.
DID I GO BACK TO WORK IN JUNE,
ONLY BE CUT AGAIN AFTER ONLY
FIVE DAYS OF WORK.
I WENT BACK TO WORK IN DECEMBER
FOR THE SAME COMPANY.
IN SEPTEMBER 2010 THERE WAS A
CUT - BACK.
MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE LOST THEIR
I WAS LUCKY.
JOBS.
I MADE THE CUT, BUT MY PAY WAS
REDUCED BY NEARLY $5 AN HOUR.
I WENT FROM DRIVING A FORKLIFT
TO A CLEANUP POSITION.
SIX MONTHS WENT BY, AND THEN
ANOTHER CUT.
THIS TIME ANOTHER 60 PEOPLE LOST
THEIR JOBS.
I WAS LUCKY AGAIN, AND I WORKED
IN A NEW POSITION FOR NEARLY A
YEAR UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2011, AND
THEN CAME ANOTHER CUT.
THIS TIME I WAS ONE OF 42 PEOPLE
CALL-BACK.
TO BE LAID OFF WITH NO CHANCE OF
NOW THERE ARE RUMORS OF THE
ENTIRE PLANT CLOSING.
I'VE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR ONE
AND IN MY JOB SEARCH
I HAVE BEEN RUNNING INTO THE
SAME THING EVERYWHERE I GO: NO
WORK AVAILABLE.
EVERY INDUSTRIAL AREA I GO INTO,
I SEE MANY BUILDINGS WHERE
BUSINESS.
COMPANIES HAVE GONE OUT OF
WINDOWS AND DOORS BOARDED UP.
I WANT CONGRESS TO DO THE JOB
THEY ARE BEING PAID TO DO SO I
CAN GO BACK TO WORK."
AND THAT'S THE LINE HE CLOSES
ON.
THAT WE HERE IN THIS CHAMBER
SHOULD DO THE JOB WE ARE
ASSIGNED, THAT IS TO TAKE ON,
AMEND AND PASS JOB-CREATING
LEGISLATION, SO HE CAN FIND A
JOB, SO HE CAN GO BACK TO WORK.
AND I THINK HIS SENTIMENT IS
ECHOED BY MILLIONS OF AMERICAN
FAMILIES.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A
JOB, NO PROGRAM CAN COME
CLOSE TO THE IMPORTANT
ROLE A JOB PAYS AND THE PERSONAL
SATISFACTION AND THE STRUCTURE
IT GIVES NEWS OUR LIFE AND THE
KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING A
ROOF OVER YOUR FAMILY'S HEAD AND
TABLE.
YOU'RE PUTTING FOOD ON THE
NO PROGRAM CAN SUFFICE.
A JOB IS AT THE HEART OF THE
SUCCESS OF OUR FAMILIES.
AND YET, HERE WE ARE FIDDLING
WHILE ROME BURNS.
OR IN THIS CASE, FILIBUSTERING
WHILE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS GO
WITHOUT JOBS.
IT'S NOT RIGHT.
SO I SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES, I
PARTICULARLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE
MY COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE
WHO FILIBUSTERED THE LAST EFFORT
FLOOR.
TO PUT THE JOBS BILL ON THE
STOP, TALK TO THE FOLKS IN YOUR
HOME STATE THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED,
WHO EXPECT TO YOU DO WHAT EVERY
AMERICAN WORKER EXPECTS US TO
DO, WHICH IS TO DEBATE AND PASS
JOB-CREATING LEGISLATION.
ON WHICH WE ARE
DEBATING WHETHER TO DEBATE, THE
REBUILD AMERICA JOBS ACT, IS A
COMMONSENSE STRATEGY TO PUT
PEOPLE BACK TO WORK IN AN
INDUSTRY THAT NEEDS IT.
MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT OUR
COUNTRY WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOONER
OR LATER ANYWAY.
ONE IN FOUR BRIDGES IN AMERICA
IS RATED DEFICIENT.
WE GET A D GRADE ON OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE FROM THE AMERICAN
SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
THIS IS NOT THE AMERICA WE KNOW.
IT'S NOT THE AMERICA WE WANT.
LET'S BUILD THE AMERICA THAT
WILL HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO
DRIVE OUR ECONOMY POSITIVELY IN
THE FUTURE.
THESE INFRASTRUCTURES ARE NOT AN
OPTION, THEY ARE A NECESSITY.
WE CAN BUILD THEM NOW WHEN
INTEREST RATES ARE LOW AND JOBS
ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED, OR WE
CAN SPEND MORE LATER WHEN THEY
DETAXPAYER -- DETERIORATE
FURTHER AND IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE
TO DO SO.
EARLIER, CREATING JOBS, LOWERING
INTEREST RATES, MORE CHEAPLY,
MORE COST-EFFECTIVE, MORE ***
FOR THE BUCK, OR LATER, MORE
EXPENSIVE, MORE DIFFICULT,
HIGHER INTEREST PRICE TAG.
CHOICE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A DIFFICULT
IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A
DIFFICULT CHOICE AS TO WHETHER
WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE ON THE
BILL DEBATING IT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I KNOW THAT
MANY FOLKS ARE COMING TO THE
FLOOR, THE CHAMBER, TO ADDRESS
THE QUESTION OF HOW WE GET A
CHAMBER.
JOBS BILL ACTUALLY BEFORE THIS
I HOPE THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
WILL GET ON THE LINE WITH FOLKS
BACK HOME, GO TO THAT TOWN
MEETING, AND SAY DO YOU WANT US
TO DEBATE A BILL OR DO YOU WANT
ME TO KEEP STALLING AND
PREVENTING A DEBATE ON HOW TO
CREATE JOBS?
I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT NINE
OUT OF TEN PEOPLE IN THE ROOM,
OUT OF TEN, ARE GOING
STALLING.
TO STAND UP AND SAY QUIT
LET'S GET TO WORK HERE SO
AMERICA CAN GET BACK TO WORK.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT FLOOR
PRIVILEGES BE EXTENDED FOR THE
BALANCE OF THE DAY TO MY INTERN
INDIA WADE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
CONSENT THE QUORUM BE DISPENSED
WITHOUT
WITH.
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU, MADAM
PRESIDENT.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, MADAM PRESIDENT, TODAY I
WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE JOBS
BILL WE'RE CURRENTLY DEBATING
AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE
PASS THIS RIGHT AWAY.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RESPOND TO THE
MINORITY LEADER'S REMARKS THIS
MORNING IN WHICH HE TRIED TO
DENY THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF
THIS PROPOSAL AND INSTEAD SOUGHT
TO DIVERT THIS CHAMBER TOWARDS A
HODGEPODGE OF BILLS TAKEN UP BY
THE HOUSE.
MR. PRESIDENT, MADAM PRESIDENT,
ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN
OUR STATE OF NEW YORK FROM
POUGHKEEPSIE TO BUFFALO, THERE
BRIDGES AND SEWER
SYSTEMS IN NEED OF SERIOUS
REPAIR.
AND IN EACH OF THESE PLACES,
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES
DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR WORK.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES, THE
BACKBONE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS IN
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES, IN NEW
YORK AND AROUND THE COUNTRY,
THERE IS 25%, 30%, 40%
UNEMPLOYMENT, AND THAT'S TRUE
FOR MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ON
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT IN PREVIOUS
RECESSIONS, 60% OF THE NEW JOBS
WERE IN CONSTRUCTION.
THAT'S BECAUSE THEY WOULD LOWER
HOUSING.
INTEREST RATES AND BUILD MORE
NOW THERE IS NO MORE LOWER
INTEREST RATES BECAUSE WHEN THE
RECESSION BEGAN, THEY WERE
ALREADY VERY LOW, AND OF COURSE
THERE IS A SURPLUS OF HOUSING
RIGHT NOW IN AMERICA.
BUT THIS WEEK, BY VOTING TO PASS
THE REBUILD AMERICA JOBS ACT,
THE SENATE CAN GET THOUSANDS OF
THOSE AMERICANS OFF THE
LINE AND BACK INTO
THE WORK FORCE, AND BECAUSE THEY
GET PAID GOOD SALARIES, THE
MONEY THEY GET FLOWS INTO THE
ECONOMY AND CREATES A MULTIPLIER
EFFECT AND CREATES OTHER JOBS.
THESE ARE GOOD, SOLID,
HIGH-SKILLED AMERICAN JOBS, JOBS
THAT WE NEED.
AND INVESTING IN OUR ROADS,
BRIDGES AND SEWER SYSTEMS
COULDN'T BE MORE URGENT.
MORE THAN ONE IN FOUR OF OUR
NATION'S BRIDGES ARE EITHER
STRUCTURALLY DEFICIENT OR
OBSOLETE.
I PUT OUT A LIST OF THOSE IN NEW
YORK STATE AND IT WAS ASTOUNDING
IN EVERY PART OF OUR STATE, AND
WE ALL KNOW AS WE GET CLOSER TO
WINTER, OUR DETERIORATING ROADS
WILL PLACE A HEAVY BURDEN ON
COMMUTERS AND ON LOCAL
TAXPAYERS.
OUR LOCAL TOWNS AND VILLAGES AND
COUNTIES AND CITIES, THEY CAN'T
AFFORD THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK
THAT'S NEEDED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
OF TIGHT BUDGETS AND BUDGET
CUTBACKS AT THE FEDERAL, STATE
AND LOCAL LEVELS.
PAST WEEKEND'S STORM
MADE CLEAR, INVESTING IN OUR
CRUMBLING SEWER SYSTEMS HAS
NEVER BEEN MORE ESSENTIAL AS UP
AND DOWN THE NORTHEAST OLD SEWER
SYSTEMS GIVE WAY TO SERIOUS
FLOODING.
NOW, WE CAN MAKE A DOWN PAYMENT
ON THESE PRIORITIES BY PASSING
THIS BILL, AND WE SHOULD DO SO
IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.
WHEN I TRAVEL ACROSS NEW YORK
STATE, TWO OF THE FIRST THINGS
PEOPLE BRING UP TO ME ARE JOBS
AND FIXING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS BILL DOES BOTH.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER THE
PEOPLE ARE DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN,
INDEPENDENT -- UPSTATE,
DOWNSTATE, MEN, WOMEN, LIBERAL,
SERVIVE.
THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING AND
OPINION.
WE SEE THIS REFLECTED IN PUBLIC
A RECENT CNN POLL SHOWED THAT
NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF
AMERICANS SUPPORT ADDITIONAL
FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE.
YES, THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE
AND OUR LONG-TERM FISCAL
HEALTH.
BUT THEY KNOW WE CAN'T CUT OUR
SEED CORN.
INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT
CREATE JOBS AND HELP AMERICA
GROW ECONOMICALLY.
BILL:
HERE'S THE BEST PART OF THIS
IT INVESTS IN PROJECTS THAT
CREATE JOBS, BUT IT'S FULLY PAID
FOR BY ASKING THE WEALTHIEST
AMONG US -- THOSE WHO HAVE
INCOMES -- INCOMES -- OF OVER $1
MILLION -- TO PAY A PRAKS ON
MORE OF THEIR TAXES AND THEY PAY
THAT NOT ON THEIR ENTIRE INCOME
BUT JUST ON THE PART THAT'S
BEFORE $1 MILLION.
SO IF A MILLIONAIRE, SOMEONE
WORTH A LOT OF MONEY, IF
SOMEBODY HAS AN INCOME OF $1.1
MILLION, THEY ONLY PAY THIS
SMALL .7% INCREASE ON THE
$100,000 THAT'S OVER A MILLION.
THEIR FIRST MILLION DOESN'T
CHANGE.
THE TAX POLICY DOESN'T CHANGE.
NOW, OVER THE LAST DRKD THE
MIDDLE CLASS HAS TAKEN A PUNCH
IN THE GUT.
THE COST OF SENDING KIDS TO
COLLEGE HAS GONE WAY UP, THE JOB
MARKET IS TOUGHER AND TOUGHER.
MIDDLE-CLASS INCOMES ARE
DECLINING WHILE MIDDLE-CLASS
COSTS ARE RISING.
IT IS SO HARD AS A FAMILY -- THE
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILY SITTINGS
AROUND THE DINNER TABLE FRIDAY
NIGHT TO FIGURE OUT THOUSAND PAY
ALL THOSE BILLS AND PROVIDE A
GREAT LIVE FOR THE FUTURE AND
FOR THE CHILDREN.
THE VERY WEALTHY, THE VERY, VERY
WEALTHY HAVE DONE VERY WELL OVER
THE LAST DECADE.
A LOT OF THOSE WEALTHY PEOPLE
LIVE IN OUR STATE OF NEW YORK.
WE SAY, GOD BLESS THEM.
THEY'VE STARTED SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESSES, DONE WELL OVER THE
LAST DECADE, AND SO, TO PAY FOR
THIS BILL, WE'RE JUST ASKING
THEM TO PAY A SLIVER MORE -- .7%
MORE OF EACH DOLLAR THEY EARN
OVER $1 MILLION, AND THIS ONE
THEY CAN'T SAY, WELL, WE'RE
AFRAID THE MONEY WILL BE WASTED
BECAUSE IT GOES TO
INFRASTRUCTURE, DIRECTLY TO
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THERE IS NO -- THE WAY THIS
IS SET UP, THERE'S NO POLITICS
IN THE PROCESS.
IT'S THE MOST NEEDED PROJECTS
THAT WORK.
LET ME GIVE YOU A FACT, FOLKS.
RIGHT NOW -- I KNOW MANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES JOINED WITH ME AND
SENATOR BROWN, SENATOR STABENOW,
SENATOR CASEY IN SAYING CHINA
HAS GOT TO PLAY FAIR.
WE'RE ALL WORRIED THAT CHINA
WILL GET AHEAD OF US
ECONOMICALLY.
WELL, RIGHT NOW CHINA IS
SPENDING FOUR TIMES AS MUCH ON
INFRASTRUCTURE AS THE UNITED
STATES -- FOUR TIMES AS MUCH.
THAT'S NOT FOUR TIMES PER CAPITA
AS MUCH.
THAT'S FOUR TIMES AS MUCH.
AND HERE'S THE REAL KICKER:
ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY OF
1,400 BUSINESS LEADERS IN 142
COUNTRIES, THE U.S. RANKS NUMBER
24 IN OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE
QUALITY.
IS THAT A SHAME?
WE'RE BEHIND COUNTRIES LIKE
BARBADOS AND OMAN.
IN ROADS,
BEHIND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
AND LIBYA.
29th IN PORTS, BEHIND
MALAYSIA, BAHRAIN AND PANAMA.
AND 31st IN AIR TRANSPORTATION
INFRASTRUCTURE, BEHIND CHILE,
AND MALTA.
HOW CAN IT BE?
THESE GREAT UNITED STATES WHICH
WE DEARLY LOVE, WHICH ALWAYS WAS
AT THE TOP IN CREATING ROADS AND
BRIDGES AND TUNNELS AND GREAT
WATER SYSTEMS.
THE THIRD WATER TUNNEL IN NEW
YORK IS BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW.
IT IS AN ENGINEERING WONDER.
IT STARTED IN THE 1950'S, THE
PLANNING FOR IT I BELIEVE.
AND NOW WE'RE NUMBER 31 IN
TRANSPORTATION, 22 IN PORTS, 20
IN ROADS, IN THOSE CATEGORIES
BEHIND COUNTRIES LIKE THE UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES, PORTUGAL,
MALAYSIA, THAILAND, CHILE?
IF THAT ISN'T A WAKE-UP CALL, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET OUR
GLOBAL COMPETITORS GET THE EDGE.
SO THIS BILL REBUILDS OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE, WILL SEND A SHOT
INTO THE ARM OF AN ECONOMY THAT
DESPERATELY NEEDS IT, AND PAYS
FOR IT ONLY BY TAXING THOSE WITH
AN INCOME OVER $1 MILLION OF
THOSE WHO ARE VERY, VERY WEALTHY
AND HAVE DONE VERY WELL IN OUR
SOCIETY.
HOW CAN WE VOTE AGAINST
SOMETHING LIKE THIS?
WELL, ONE WOULD THINK MAYBE THE
ONLY HAVEN'T BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE
DON'T WANT THE ECONOMY TO GROW
AND PROSPER.
I HATE TO THINK THAT, BUT
INFRASTRUCTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A
BIPARTISAN ISSUE IN THIS BODY,
AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE.
NOW LET ME RESPOND DIRECTLY TO
THE MINORITY LEADER'S COMMENTS
THIS MORNING.
HE DERIDED THE PROPOSAL ON THE
FLOOR AS SOMETHING THAT HAD
ALREADY BEEN TRIED, SOMETHING
THAT HAD NO CHANCE OF PASSING,
BIPARTISAN.
WAS NOT
WELL, FIRST, ALREADY BEEN TRIED?
OH, YEAH.
IS THE MINORITY LEADER SAYING
BECAUSE WE BUILT THE EERIE CANAL
OR THE HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE
1950'S WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYMORE
INFRASTRUCTURE?
IT MAKES NO SENSE.
MAKES NO SENSE.
AND EVERY STUDY SHOWS THAT THE
INFRASTRUCTURE PART OF THE
STIMULUS BILL CREATED LOTS OF
JOBS AND THEN LEFT US WITH
BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE.
NOW, THEN HE SAID -- AS I
MENTIONED -- NOT JUST WAS IT IS IT
TRIED ALREADY, BUT IT WAS NOT
BIPARTISAN.
WELL, WE KNOW THAT THE NEED FOR
ECONOMY.
INFRASTRUCTURE IS A BIPARTISAN
BECAUSE THE MINORITY LEADER MAY
BE IMPOSING A TOP-DOWN STRATEGY
THAT BARS ANYONE ON HIS SIDE
FROM VOTING FOR ANY PROPOSAL
OFFERED BY THE PRESIDENT TO
IMPROVE THE ECONOMY DOESN'T MEAN
THESE PROPOSALS AREN'T
BIPARTISAN.
JUST YESTERDAY THE FORMER
REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM OHIO, A
FISCAL CONSERVATIVE IF THERE
EVER WAS ONE, SENATOR VOINOVICH,
WAS QUOTED SAYING HE BELIEVED
THE NEED TO REPAIR OUR ROADS AND
BRIDGES WAS SO GREAT THAT HE
THOUGHT PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD
BE RAISING THE GAS TAX TO FUND
THOSE INVESTMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF I AGREE WITH HIM
ON THAT SPECIFIC SOLUTION, BUT,
MR. PRESIDENT, ISN'T THAT
REMARKABLE?
A REPUBLICAN SENATOR CALLING FOR
REVENUE INCREASES TO PAY FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO IN THIS BILL,
MADAM PRESIDENT.
AND LET ME JUST SAY ONCE AGAIN,
HE'S NOT IN THE SENATE RIGHT
NOW, SO HE'S FREE TO PRETTY MUCH
DO WHAT HE WANTS.
I WOULD HOPE OTHER SENATORS WHO
ARE HERE IN THE SENATE WOULD
JOIN IN THAT CALL BECAUSE I
BELIEVE THEY KNOW IN THEIR HEART
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT
WE PROPOSEED AND SENATOR
VOINOVICH PROPOSED IS THAT
INSTEAD OF ASKING MIDDLE-CLASS
AMERICANS TO PAY MORE AT THE
PUMP, WE ASK THOSE WHOSE INCOME
IS ABOVE $1 MILLION TO PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE TO HELP PUT
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS BACK ON THE
JOB.
THAT SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT SET OF
PRIORITIES TO ME.
SO THE MINORITY LEADER IS
CLEARLY WRONG WHEN HE SAYS THIS
CONCEPT ISN'T BIPARTISAN.
ANOTHER FORMER SENATOR, CHUCK
HAGEL FROM NEBRASKA, HAS BEEN A
LEADER IN CALLING FOR AN
INFRASTRUCTURE BANK, WHICH IS IN
THIS BILL.
SENATOR HAGEL SPONSORED ONE OF
THE FIRST PIECES OF LEGISLATION
CREATING AN INFRASTRUCTURE BANK
AND HAS CONTINUED TO CALL FOR IT
SINCE LEAVING THE SENATE.
SO THERE ARE LOTS OF REPUBLICANS
OUT IN THE COUNTRY WHO SUPPORT
THIS MEASURE.
THE POLLING SHOWS A LARGE, LARGE
NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT
THE KIND OF PROPOSAL WE HAVE ON
THE FLOOR.
BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND
HAVING THOSE WHO MAKE OVER $1
MILLION PAY FOR IT SO WE DON'T
INCREASE THE DEFICIT.
THAT IS A BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, LET'S NOT
HEAR FROM THE MINORITY LEADER OR
ANYBODY ELSE -- MADAM PRESIDENT,
LET'S NOT HEAR FROM THE MINORITY
LEADER OR ANYBODY ELSE THAT THE
PROPOSAL ON THE FLOOR ISN'T
BIPARTISAN.
JUST THIS MORNING THE TOP
REPUBLICAN ON THE ENVIRONMENT
AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE IS
QUOTED DISCUSSING THE PROGRESS
THAT HE AND THE CHAIRWOMAN OF
THAT COMMITTEE ARE MAKING ON A
BILL.
TWO-YEAR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
THIS IS GREAT NEWS.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THEY'RE CLOSE
TO ADVANCING THAT BILL.
BUT IF YOU BELIEVE
INFRASTRUCTURE IS ENOUGH OF A
PRIORITY THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT A
LONG-TERM HIGHWAY BILL, WHY
WOULD YOU OBJECT TO SPEEDING UP
1078SOME OF THAT INVESTMENT NOW SO
WE CAN PUT MORE IN AMERICANS TO
WORK QUICKLY?
MADAM PRESIDENT, -- YOU'RE
CLEARLY MADAM PRESIDENT -- THIS
BILL IS BIPARTISAN FOR SURE.
THE MINORITY LEADER JUST HAS A
POLITICAL STRATEGY TO BLOCK ALL
OF OUR PRESIDENT'S INITIATIVES
TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY.
NOW, WHAT HAS THE MINORITY
LEADER CALLED FOR INSTEAD?
HE'S CALLED FOR THE SENATE TO
TAKE UP A HODGEPODGE OF BILLS
SENT OVER BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS
THAT EVEN WHEN TAKEN TOGETHER
DON'T DO ENOUGH TO TACKLE THE
JOBS PROBLEM.
WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT THIS
HODGEPODGE OF BILLS WILL DO MORE
FOR JOBS THAN THE TRADITIONAL
WAY WE GET OUT OF RECESSIONS:
INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING.
MINORITY LEADER HAVE NEXT TO
MOST OF THE IDEAS CITED BY THE
NOTHING TO DO WITH JOBS AT ALL.
MANY OF THESE IDEAS BELONG MORE
ON A LOBBYISTS' WISH LIST RATHER
THAN ANY SERIOUS JOBS AGENDA.
IT'S A STRETCH TO CALL MANY OF
THESE BIPARTISAN.
MANY OF THESE BILLS ARE ITEMS
THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD BE
SEEKING TO PASS EVEN IF WE WERE
EMPLOYMENT.
IN A BOOM AND HAD FULL
MANY ARE JUST IDEOLOGICAL
JOB
SOLUTIONS.
IT'S LAUGHABLE FOR THE HOUSE
LEADERSHIP TO ACT LIKE THESE
PROPOSALS WOULD ADDRESS THE JOBS
CRISIS WHEN THEY ARE SIGNATURE
ON REAL SOLUTIONS LIKE THE CHINA
CURRENCY BILL.
I WOULD SAY TO THE SPEAKER AND
MAJORITY LEADER OVER IN THE
HOUSE WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT JOBS AND ARE WORRIED ABOUT
THE TWO HOUSES NOT WORKING
TOGETHER, WE HAD A LARGE
BIPARTISAN MAJORITY -- 65 VOTES
-- SAYING WE'RE GOING TO FORCE
CHINA TO PLAY FAIR ON CURRENCY.
THEIR FAILURE TO DO SO CAUSES
MILLIONS OF JOBS, GOOD
MANUFACTURING JOBS PRIMARILY,
NOT EXCLUSIVELY, TO LEAVE THIS
COUNTRY.
THERE IS NOTHING CONGRESS CAN DO
MORE THAT WOULD UPLIFT OUR
MANUFACTURING SECTOR THAN
CONFRONT CHINA'S UNFAIR TRADE
PRACTICES.
BUT SPEAKER BOEHNER, MAJORITY
LEADER CANTER SIT ON THAT BILL
AND NOW TELL US TO TAKE UP THIS
ITEMS?
AUTOGRAPHOUR BILL PASSED, THE CHINA
CURRENCY BILL WITH A BIPARTISAN
SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE.
THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP CONTINUES
TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES WHILE
CHINA TAKES ADVANTAGE OF US, AND
THE CHINA EXRENCY CURRENCY BILL IS
LANGUISHING IN THE HOUSE FOR NO
GOOD REASON.
SPEAKER BOEHNER, HEED THE WILL
OF YOUR CHAMBER AND PUT THAT
BILL ON THE FLOOR.
AND THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE
SENATE WOULD BE WELL-SERVED TO
STOP PRETENDING THAT THESE
PIECES OF THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS
BILL ARE NOT BIPARTISAN JUST
BECAUSE HE IS WITHHOLDING HIS
SUPPORT IN SERVICE TO PERHAPS A
STRATEGY THAT OUTLINES HIS
NUMBER-ONE GOAL: THE DEFEAT OF
THE PRESIDENT.
IT'S TIME TO STOP THE GAMES AND
ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING THAT CAN
CRISIS.
MAKE A REAL DENT IN THE JOBS
I SAY TO MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
PASS THIS
BILL, REBUILD OUR AILING AND
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, CREATE
JOBS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE
DO HERE DOES NOT REDUCE THE
DEFICIT BY HAVING THOSE WHOSE
INCOME EXCEEDS $1 MILLION PAY A
SMALL, LITTLE INCREASE TO PAY
FOR IT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR, AND I NOTE
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: