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OF INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS FOR
THE HOUSE AT 2 P.M. ON C-SPAN
AND NOW TO THE SENATE HERE ON
C-SPAN2.
THE SENATE WILL COME TO
ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN, DR. BARRY BLACK, WILL LEAD THE
SENATE IN PRAYER.
LET US PRAY.
LORD GOD, YOU ARE HOLY AND
PEOPLE.
WE'RE THANKFUL THAT THOSE WHO
SEEK YOU WILL NOT LACK ANY GOOD
THING.
HELP US TO MAKE YOU OUR SOURCE
OF HOPE DEPENDING ON YOUR
PROVIDENCE AND TRUSTING YOUR
MIGHTY ARMS TO SAVE US.
AS OUR LAWMAKERS SEEK TO SERVE
YOU BY MAKING CHOICES THAT HONOR
YOU, PURIFY THEIR INTENTIONS
THAT THEY WILL SAY WHAT THEY
BELIEVE AND WILL ACT
CONSISTENTLY WITH THEIR SPEECH.
KEEP THEM AWARE OF HOW THEIR
WORDS AND DEEDS AFFECT THE GOOD
NEED.
OH GOD, YOU ARE OUR HIDING
PLACE, AND IN THESE CHALLENGING
DAYS WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU TO
TROUBLE.
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO PUTS THE
SONGS OF DELIVERANCE IN OUR
WE PRAY IN YOUR STRONG NAME.
AMEN.
THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG.
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION TO THE
WASHINGTON D.C.,
SEPTEMBER 7, 2011.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
THE HONORABLEKIRSTEN E.
GILLIBRAND,
STATE OF NEW YORK,
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE
CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
MAJORITY LEADER.
FOLLOWING LEADER
REMARKS, IF ANY, THERE WILL BE
AN HOUR OF MORNING BUSINESS WITH
THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
FIRST HALF, REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FINAL HALF.
FOLLOWING THAT MORNING BUSINESS
THE SENATE WILL RESUME
CONSIDERATION OF THE MOTION TO
PROCEED TO THE AMERICA INVENTS
THE SENATE WILL RECESS FROM
12:30 UNTIL 2:15 FOR WEEKLY
PARTY CONFERENCES.
AT 2:30 THERE WILL BE 30 MINUTES
FOR TRIBUTES TO THE LAKE SENATOR
MARK HATFIELD OF OREGON, AND I
WOULD INDICATE IF PEOPLE ARE
UNABLE TO COME DURING THAT 30
MINUTES, I WOULD SOLICIT THEIR
STATEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN PUT
THEM TOGETHER AS WE OFTEN DO IN
THESE SITUATIONS SO THEY'RE IN A
NICE LITTLE BOOK LET THAT PEOPLE
CAN LOOK AT AT A LATER TIME.
I WOULD SAY, MADAM PRESIDENT, I
HAD THE GOD FORTUNE -- THE GOOD
FORTUNE OF BEING ABLE TO SERVE
WITH MARK HATFIELD.
A TREASURE OF A MAN.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE FROM
OREGON -- THEY HAVE HAD GREAT
LEADERS FROM OREGON -- BUT HE IS
EQUAL TO ANY OF THEM, A MAN WHO
WAS NOT BOUND BY PARTY.
I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO
TRAVEL.
HE LED A CODEL.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRIP LED BY
THIS GREAT STATESMAN, WENT INTO
THE SOVIET UNION, MONGOLIA, TO
FIND -- THIS GREAT GLACIAL LAKE,
LAKE BICALL IS ONE THINGS THE
SOVIETS DIDN'T RUIN.
ANYWAY, MET WITH THE LEADERS.
IT WAS A TRIP I'LL ALWAYS
REMEMBER NOT ONLY WHERE WE WENT
BUT WHO WAS ON THAT TRIP.
I'LL GIVE A MORE COMPLETE
STATEMENT AT A LATER TIME
REGARDING MARK HATFIELD, A MAN I
HAD GREAT, GREAT RESPECT AND
ADMIRATION FOR.
HE WAS REALLY A ROLE MODEL IN MY
MIND FOR WHAT A SENATOR SHOULD
WE EXPECT TO BE IN CONSIDERATION
OF THE PATENT BILL TODAY.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE
THAT.
IT'S TOO BAD THAT WE HAD TO MOVE
TO PROCEED TO IT, BUT WE DID.
I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE
FULL 30 HOURS ON THAT BEFORE --
I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO FILE
CLOTURE ON IT AGAIN.
I HOPE WE CAN GET RID OF THIS
BILL AS EARLY AS TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO DO THIS WORK
HIGHWAY BILL, PATENT BILL, FEMA,
TRADE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO
DEAL WITH.
AND THOSE MATTERS WE NEED TO
COMPLETE BEFORE WE LEAVE HERE IN
JUST A FEW WEEKS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE
OF THE HOLIDAYS THAT COME TOWARD
THE END OF THIS MONTH.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I UNDERSTAND
H.J. RES. 66 IS AT THE DESK AND
DUE FOR SECOND READING.
THE
CLERK WILL READ THE TITLE OF THE
BILL FOR THE SECOND TIME.
H.J. RES. 66
APPROVING THE RENEWAL OF THE
DEMOCRACIES ACT OF 2003.
I WOULD OBJECT TO
FURTHER PROCEED -GDZ WITH
RESPECT TO THIS RESOLUTION.
OBJECTION IS HEARD.
MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
BILL WILL BE PLACED ON THE
CALENDAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE
MADAM PRESIDENT,
YESTERDAY MORNING A MAN WALKED
INTO A PANCAKE HOUSE IN CARSON
CITY, NEVADA, OUR CAPITAL, AND
PROCEEDED TO, WITH, I'M TOLD
IT'S AN AK-47.
HE FIRST SHOT SOME POOR WOMAN
OUTSIDE THE PANCAKE HOUSE,
KILLED HER; WALKED INSIDE AND
STARTED SHOOTING WITH THIS
AUTOMATIC WEAPON.
KILLED THREE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN,
KILLED ANOTHER INNOCENT PERSON,
WHO ARE IN THE HOSPITAL.
WE HOPE THAT NO MORE DIE.
WE'RE STILL LEARNING THE DETAILS
OF THIS TRAGEDY.
WE DO KNOW THAT FIVE ARE DEAD.
HE KILLED HIMSELF FOLLOWING THAT
RAMPAGE THAT HE WENT ON.
THE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN, AS I
UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS FIVE OF
THEM, THEY WERE HAVING BREAKFAST
PRIOR TO THEIR DUTIES, AND THIS
MADMAN WALKED IN TO KILL THEM.
THESE THREE PEOPLE WHO, ONE OF
THEM IS A WOMAN WHO -- ONE OF MY
OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES WHO IS A
COLONEL IN NEVADA ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD, AN AIRMAN, SHE WAS HIS
ASSISTANT WHEN HE DOES HIS DUTY
OUT THERE.
KILLED HER.
IT'S SAD THAT THIS VIOLENCE IS
AROUND US EVEN IN LITTLE CARSON
CITY, NEVADA.
CITIZEN SOLDIERS SACRIFICING
THEIR TIME TO DEFEND OUR COUNTRY
ARE KILLED HAVING PANCAKES AT A
LITTLE RESTAURANT IN CARSON
MY THOUGHTS GO TO THE VICTIMS,
AND I APPRECIATE THEIR
COUNTRY.
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY,
MADAM PRESIDENT, THAN YOUR HEART
GOES OUT TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING THROUGH SUCH A, SUCH
TURMOIL TODAY TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHY DID THIS HAPPEN.
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE SUCH A
THING TAKING PLACE IN THIS QUIET
LITTLE TIME.
THERE'S NOT MUCH GOING ON IN
CARSON CITY, NOT AS YOU HAVE IN
THE CAPITAL WHEN THE LEGISLATURE
IS IN SESSION.
I SPENT THREE LEGISLATIVE
SESSIONS IN CARSON CITY.
MY KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL IN CARSON
CITY WHEN I WAS A LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR.
I DO WISH ALL THE CITIZENS OF
CARSON CITY WELL AS THEY BEGIN
THE PROCESS OF HEALING AFTER
THESE SHOCKING EVENTS.
THIS FALL, MADAM PRESIDENT,
WE'RE HOPING, DEMOCRATS ARE
HOPING TO FIND REPUBLICAN ALLIES
WILLING TO REACH ACROSS THE
AISLE FOR THE SAKE OF CREATING
JOBS IN AMERICA, FOR THE SAKE OF
PUTTING PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
FOR EIGHT MONTHS NOW THE
REPUBLICANS HAVE WASTED OUR TIME
ON PARTISAN POLITICS.
EACH ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SO
SIMPLE, LIKE FUNDING THE
GOVERNMENT FOR LAST YEAR.
WE WERE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THAT
FOR MONTHS.
AND THEN WHEN WE FINISHED THAT,
WE WENT TO DO SOMETHING THAT
AROUND HERE, NOT THAT IT'S
UNIMPORTANT BUT THERE'S NO
REASON FOR OUR COUNTRY TO
DEFAULT ON THE DEBTS WE HAVE.
EXTENDING THE DEBT CEILING
DOESN'T ALLOW US TO SPEND THINGS
ON -- MONEY DOESN'T GO TO
THINGS.
ALL IT DOES IS ALLOW TO US PAY
OUR DEBT.
TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, RONALD
RONALD REAGAN IS SOMEBODY
REPUBLICANS IDOLIZE, AND I HAVE
NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
HE WAS A GOOD PRESIDENT AND DID
SOME GOOD THINGS FOR OUR
COUNTRY, LOTS OF GOOD THINGS.
I LIKED HIM VERY MUCH AS A
PERSON AND AS A PRESIDENT.
HE ASKED US 18 DIFFERENT TIMES
TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING, AND
WE DID IT EVERY TIME.
EVERY TIME.
BUT THIS TIME NO THANKS,
REPUBLICANS FORCED US TO SPEND
MONTHS ON RAISING THE DEBT
CEILING.
AND THEY'VE USED UNRELATED
AMENDMENTS AND PROCEDURAL STALL
TACTICS TO KILL GOOD PIECES OF
LEGISLATION THAT HAVE ALWAYS HAD
THE SUPPORT OF DEMOCRATS AND
TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, THEY
BLOCKED THAT; SOMETHING THAT HAS
CREATING JOBS.
THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION ALONE
WOULD HAVE CREATED 314,000 JOBS.
THEY KILLED IT.
THE A.D.A. HAS WORKED WITH LOCAL
BUSINESSES, UNIVERSITIES IN
ECONOMICALLY CHALLENGED AREAS TO
CREATE JOBS, I SAID FOR THREE
DECADES.
IT'S FOUR AND A HALF DECADES.
FOR NEARLY TWAOL MONTHS THEY --
NEARLY TWO MONTHS THEY HELD UP
EFFORTS ON THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION AND RESEARCH
PROGRAM BEFORE FINALLY KILLING
IT ALTOGETHER.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD HELP
SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES, WHICH HAVE
INVENTED EVERYTHING FROM AN
ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH TO HOW TO
VEHICLE.
THESE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION
LOANS WERE TERRIFIC FOR BRINGING
OUT THE INNOVATION CREATIVITY OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, CREATING
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOBS.
THEY FORCED THAT BILL OFF THE
THE FATE OF THESE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION ALONE COSTS MORE
THAN HALF A MILLION JOBS, MORE
THAN 500,000 JOBS.
BUT NOT ONLY DID IT TAKE AWAY
THESE TWO PIECES OF
LEGISLATION -- THERE ARE MANY
OTHERS -- BUT THESE TWO, BUT
THEIR OBSTRUCTIONISTIC TACTICS
ALSO COST US LOTS OF TIME.
FOR EVERY MOMENT WASTED ON
PROCEDURAL HURDLES -- AND WE
SPENT MONTHS -- OR THESE USELESS
AMENDMENTS IS A MOMENT WE
WEREN'T CREATING JOBS.
AS REPUBLICANS HELD UP THE WORK
OF CONGRESS FOR MONTHS IN HOPES
OF DEFEATING THE PRESIDENT --
UP.
MY COUNTERPART, THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER, SAID THAT'S HIS
NUMBER-ONE ISSUE, MAKING SURE
REELECTED.
BUT THIS EFFORT TO DEFEAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ALSO HELD UP
OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WE SAW THE TOTAL LAST MONTH'S
JOB REPORT WHICH SHOWED
UNEMPLOYMENT HOLDING STEADY.
FOR THE EIGHTH MONTH IN A ROW
THAT WE'VE CREATED JOBS,
PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS, WE DIDN'T
CREATE MANY LAST MONTHS -- IT
WAS ABOUT 20,000.
BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON
REPUBLICANS' AUSTERITY PROGRAM,
THERE ARE LOTS OF GOVERNMENT
JOBS BEING CUT.
EACH OF US IN NEW YORK,
ILLINOIS, NEVADA, WE'VE HAD
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS REALLY BEING
CUT TO THE BONE.
POLICE AND FIRE.
THE JOBS THAT ALSO
PEOPLE NEED VERY, VERY MUCH.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I HOPE THAT
THEY'VE GOTTEN THE STALLING
TACTICS OUT OF THEIR SYSTEM AND
REALLY WILL WORK WITH US TO
CREATE JOBS.
HOPEFULLY THE SENATE'S NOW
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PATENT
BILL, AMERICA INVENTS ACT.
THIS BILL WILL REFORM THE
NATION'S OUTDATED SYSTEM THAT
HAS ABOUT ALMOST A MILLION
PATENTS WAITING TO BE LOOKED AT.
ANY ONE OF THOSE PATENTS COULD
BE THE NEW THING, SOMETHING THAT
WOULD CREATE JOBS AND ALLOW
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUCH GREAT
INGENUITY IN AMERICA TO PUT
THEIR PRODUCT ON LINE.
WE'RE TOLD THIS REFORM OF OUR
NATION'S OUTDATED PATENT SYSTEM
WILL ALLOW TO US CREATE ALMOST
300,000 JOBS AND WILL CLEAR A
THREE-YEAR BACKLOG OF PATENT
APPLICATIONS, SO INVENTORS, AS
I'VE INDICATED, THEY MIGHT BE
ABLE TO INVENT THE NEXT iPOD
OR ELECTRIC CAR OR WHATEVER
THING THAT MAKES AMERICA SO
GREAT.
I HOPE THE SPIRIT OF
BIPARTISANSHIP COMES TO BEING
NOW BECAUSE CONGRESS AND THIS
COUNTRY CANNOT AFFORD TO WASTE
ANY MORE TIME.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS WE CAN DO
RIGHT AWAY TO CREATE LOTS OF
JOBS.
FIRST, EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION
OF THE F.A.A. BILL.
MADAM PRESIDENT, LET ME EXPLAIN
WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
WE PASSED AN F.A.A. BILL HERE, A
GOOD BILL, PASSED
REPUBLICANS.
IT WENT TO THE HOUSE AND THEY
PUT IT IN SOME DARK HOLE OVER
THERE, AND FINALLY THEY GAVE US
A BILL BACK.
IT'S DIFFERENT THAN OUR BILL.
HERE'S HOW IT'S DIFFERENT.
THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD SET
A NEW RULE.
IT'S SOMETHING CALLED DEMOCRACY.
WHAT IT MEANS IS IN A LABOR
ELECTION, MAJORITY WINS.
UNDER REPUBLICAN DOMINANCE IN
YEARS PAST, IF YOU HAD A GROUP
OF PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO BE
UNIONIZED -- LET'S SAY THERE ARE
A THOUSAND OF THEM -- AND THAT'S
HOW MANY WERE IN THE WORK UNIT
AND THERE WAS AN ELECTION HELD
AND 600 PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR
THAT ELECTION.
450 VOTED YES, WE THINK WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO COLLECTIVELY
BARGAIN WITH OUR EMPLOYER.
UNDER THE OLD RULES, THAT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
450 OUT OF THE 600 IS NOT
ENOUGH.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET A MAJORITY
OF THE PEOPLE IN THE UNIT.
AND I ASKED MY FRIEND FROM NEW
YORK, THE PRESIDING OFFICER, AND
MY FRIEND FROM ILLINOIS BECAUSE
I HAVE ASKED MYSELF UNDER WHAT
RULES -- UNDER RULES LIKE THAT,
NONE OF US WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE IN NEW YORK AND ILLINOIS
AND THE THREE MILLION PEOPLE IN
NEVADA, I GOT -- I WON BY 5%
LAST ELECTION.
I GOT A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE REGISTERED TO VOTE.
THAT'S HOW YOU WIN IN AMERICA.
NOT A MAJORITY OF EVERYONE IN
THE STATE, BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD
BE ELECTED IF THAT WERE, IN
FACT, THE CASE.
BUT THAT'S HOW THE REPUBLICANS,
THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE RULES.
THEY WANT TO GO BACK AND SAY
THAT IT'S -- A SIMPLE MAJORITY
OF THOSE VOTING IS NOT ENOUGH.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF
EVERYBODY IN THE UNION.
AS I INDICATED, BASED ON OUR
ELECTIONS, IT WOULD MEAN THAT
EACH OF US COULD HAVE TO GET A
MAJORITY OF EVERYONE IN THE
STATE.
SO THEY STUCK THAT PROVISION IN
THE BILL, SAYING NO, MAJORITY IS
NOT ENOUGH.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF
EVERYONE IN THE UNIT.
IT'S KIND OF AN ANTIDEMOCRATIC
THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT OUT.
THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WILLING TO DO
IF WE CAN REFORM OUR ANITY
ANTIQUATED -- ANTIQUATED AIR
TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM THAT WILL
BRING US INTO THE MODERN WORLD.
WE ARE DEPENDING ON RADAR AND WE
CAN MOVE INTO THE MODERN WORLD
LIKE ALMOST ALL COUNTRIES HAVE
WHERE WE HAVE G.P.S., IT WILL
CREATE LOTS AND LOTS OF JOBS,
MADAM PRESIDENT, HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF JOBS WHICH ARE SO
BADLY NEEDED.
RAY LaHOOD, SECRETARY OF
TRANSPORTATION, THINKS THIS IS
ESSENTIAL THAT WE GET THIS DONE
FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF
OUR NATION, AND CERTAINLY CREATE
LOTS AND LOTS OF JOBS.
SECOND, WE MUST AUTHORIZE
FEDERAL SPENDING FOR THE
NATION'S HIGHWAYS.
ABOUT 1.8 MILLION CONSTRUCTION
JOBS ON HIGHWAY AND MASS TRANSIT
JOBS NATIONWIDE ARE AT STAKE.
IF WE DON'T EXTEND THIS BILL,
THAT WILL BE GONE, ALMOST TWO
MILLION JOBS.
SO WE WILL BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER
A BIPARTISAN IDEA TO GET THE
ECONOMY HUMMING AGAIN.
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT TWO THINGS.
HERE ARE TWO IDEAS REPUBLICANS
SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.
PAYROLL TAX CUTS AND AN
EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE, EXTENDING THE PAYROLL
TAX CUT COULD SAVE 972,000
AMERICAN JOBS NEXT YEAR ALONE.
EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC
TIMES WOULD SAVE 528,000
AMERICAN JOBS.
THEY HAVE AGREED TO THESE IN THE
SPEAKER BOEHNER AND LEADER
CANTOR WROTE TO THE PRESIDENT
YESTERDAY AND THEY SAID -- QUOTE
-- "OUR DIFFERENCES SHOULD NOT
PRECLUDE US FROM TAKING ACTION
ON AREAS WHERE THERE IS A COMMON
GROUND."
I HOPE THAT THEY WOULD AGREE.
TENDING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
AND CUTTING THE PAYROLL TAX ARE
AGREEMENTS THAT ARE COMMON
SENSE.
SO I AGREE WITH THEM.
OUR DIFFERENCES SHOULD NOT STOP
US FROM TAKING ACTION WHERE
THERE IS COMMON AGREEMENT.
LET'S START WITH THE FOUR
COMMONSENSE MEASURES THAT I HAVE
TALKED ABOUT.
THE F.A.A. BILL.
WE OF COURSE HAVE TO DO THE
EXTENSION OF THE PAYROLL TAX
DO THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE
AND OF COURSE F.A.A.
SO, MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD
HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON
THESE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
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 TEN MINUTES
EACH WITH THE TIME EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN
THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES, WITH THE MAJORITY
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE
SECOND HALF.
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
UNDER MORNING BUSINESS, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK FOR
TEN MINUTES.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
AND I SEE THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE IS
HERE AND ASK THAT SHE BE
PERMITTED TO SPEAK IMMEDIATELY
AFTER I HAVE CONCLUDED.
MADAM PRESIDENT, TOMORROW NIGHT
WE'LL HEAR A SPEECH FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US IN
AMERICA.
IT AFFECTS MILLIONS IN A
PERSONAL WAY AND ALL OF US
IT'S THE STATE OF OUR ECONOMY.
IT'S AN ECONOMY THAT HAS BEEN
RACKED BY A RECESSION WHICH HAS
GONE ON WAY TOO LONG.
EVEN THE PRESIDENT CONCEDES THAT
WE HAD HOPED THAT WE WOULD HAVE
EMERGED AT THIS POINT BUT WE
STILL HAVE NOT.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US
TO FOCUS ON THE REALITY OF LIFE
EVEN FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN
AMERICA.
TOO MANY WORKING FAMILIES TODAY
ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE
PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
OVER THE LAST 10 OR 20 YEARS, WE
HAVE SEEN A DECLINE IN THE RATE
OF GROWTH IN REAL WAGES, WHICH
MEANS THAT FAMILIES, EVEN
WORKING FAMILIES AREN'T EARNING
OF LIVING.
THEY ARE FALLING A LITTLE BIT
BEHIND EACH YEAR.
THEY RECENTLY SURVEYED WORKING
FAMILIES ACROSS AMERICA AND
ASKED THEM A BASIC QUESTION.
THEY SAID IF YOU HAD AN
EMERGENCY IN YOUR FAMILY AND
NEEDED TO COME UP WITH $2,000 IN
THE NEXT 30 DAYS, COULD YOU FIND
THAT $2,000 EITHER IN YOUR
SAVINGS OR BORROW IT?
47% OF WORKING FAMILIES SAID
THEY COULD NOT COME UP WITH
WITH $2,000 IN 30 DAYS.
$2,000 IS THE COST OF AN
UNEVENTFUL TRIP TO AN EMERGENCY
IT'S AN INDICATION OF THE
VULNERABILITY OF FAMILIES ALL
ACROSS AMERICA.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE
FACT THAT AS YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE
ECONOMY, WE KNOW THAT MANY
FAMILIES ARE DOING THE RIGHT
THING, TRYING TO SHED DEBT.
WE SEE THE CREDIT CARD DEBT IN
AMERICA DECLINEING AS FEWER AND
THEIR CREDIT CARDS,
UNDERSTANDING THE INTEREST RATES
THEY ARE GOING TO PAY ARE WAY
TOO HIGH AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO
KEEP UP WITH YOUR DEBT IF YOU
PILE IT ALL ON CREDIT CARDS.
PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO PURCHASE
BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF DEBT
AND VULNERABLE WITH THE THOUGHT
OF LOSING THEIR JOBS, OR PERHAPS
SEEING A DECLINE IN THEIR WAGES.
THAT'S THE REALITY OF LIFE FOR
WORKING FAMILIES ACROSS AMERICA.
IT'S A REALITY THAT I HAVE SEEN
IN ILLINOIS AND A REALITY THAT
REALLY AFFECTS US NATIONWIDE.
THE PRESIDENT WILL ADDRESS THAT
TOMORROW NIGHT, AS HE SHOULD.
I THINK THERE ARE WAYS TO DEAL
WITH IT, BUT HERE IS THE CAUTION
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD.
WE ARE FIXED ON THE THEME OF OUR
NATION'S DEFICIT AND DEBT, AND
WE SHOULD BE, BECAUSE AS WE
BORROW 40 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR
WE SPEND, WE CREATE AN
UNSUSTAINABLE SITUATION FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THAT'S A FACT.
I HAVE BEEN PARTY TO THE
BOWLES-SIMPSON COMMISSION WHERE
I VOTED FOR THEIR REPORT.
SIX.
A BIPARTISAN EFFORT IN THE
SENATE WHICH HAS MORE THAN 30
SENATORS SHOWING AN INTEREST IN
THIS APPROACH, SO I REALLY
SERIOUSLY BELIEVE THAT THIS
DEFICIT AND DEBT ARE A PROBLEM
FOR US IN THE LONG TERM.
BUT I MIGHT REMIND MY COLLEAGUES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT
BOWLES-SIMPSON, THIS BIPARTISAN
PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION,
CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD NOT HIT
THE BRAKES ON SPENDING, SHOULD
NOT HIT THE BRAKES ON GOVERNMENT
RECESSION.
IN FACT, THEY RECOMMENDED THAT
WE WAIT ANOTHER YEAR WITH A
SERIOUS EFFORT TO REDUCE THE
RECESSION.
THE LOGIC BEHIND IT IS OBVIOUS.
IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
BALANCE THE BUDGET OF THE UNITED
STATES WITH 14 MILLION PEOPLE
OUT OF WORK.
YOU NEED TO PUT AMERICANS BACK
TO WORK, EARNING A GOOD
PAYCHECK, PAYING THEIR TAXES,
AND THEN YOU CAN START BUILDING
THIS ECONOMY AND BUILDING TOWARD
I HOPE THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND
FACING.
AS WE TRY TO CREATE A CLIMATE TO
CREATE MORE JOBS IN AMERICA.
IT IS INTERESTING TO ME THE
PRESIDENT WILL PROPOSE TO EXTEND
THE PAYROLL TAX CUT FOR WORKING
FAMILIES ACROSS AMERICA.
IT ACCOUNTS FOR 2% OF INCOME.
THAT TO ME IS SENSIBLE.
PUT SPENDING POWER IN THE HANDS
OF WORKING FAMILIES, LOWER AND
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
WE HAVE DONE THAT.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THE CRITICISM FROM THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE AISLE IS
NO, YOU SHOULDN'T ALLOW A TAX
CUT FOR MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES
AND THOSE IN LOWER INCOME
CATEGORIES UNLESS YOU PAY FOR
IT.
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THAT'S
EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE POSITION
FROM WHAT THEY TOOK WHEN THEY
WERE TALKING ABOUT TAX CUTS FOR
THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS.
WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WANTED TO
SEE TAX CUTS FOR THOSE MAKING
OVER $250,000 A YEAR, THEY SAY
WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM,
BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAX CUTS
FOR WORKING FAMILIES, MIDDLE
INCOME FAMILIES, ALL OF A SUDDEN
THEY BECOME DEFICIT HAWKS AND
SAY YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE
TAX CUTS.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE
THE 2% PAYROLL TAX CUT TO HELP
WORKING FAMILIES.
I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
I ALSO THINK WE OUGHT TO EXTEND
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
I SPENT MY TIME IN AUGUST IN
ILLINOIS VISITING UNEMPLOYMENT
OFFICES WHERE I MET A LOT OF
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO APPLY FOR JOBS.
SOMETIMES FOUR AND FIVE
APPLICATIONS A DAY.
AND MANY TIMES WITHOUT SUCCESS.
THEY ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO
PICK UP NEW SKILLS AT COMMUNITY
COLLEGES AND TRAINING COARSES.
THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR
RESUMES LOOK A LITTLE MORE
ATTRACTIVE, WORKING TO DO SO,
AND THEY ARE RUNNING INTO A
BRICK WALL TIME AFTER TIME.
SOME ARE IN EXTREMELY DESPERATE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
EXTENDING UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION AT THIS MOMENT IN
OUR ECONOMY IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL.
IT IS THE RIGHT AND CARING AND
HUMANE THING TO DO, AND IT ALSO
INJECTS MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY.
THE PRESIDENT WILL CALL FOR
THIS, AND I THINK HE'S RIGHT.
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID WE
HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
AGAIN, IT IS HARD TO FOLLOW
THEIR LOGIC AS THEY OFFER
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TAX
RELIEF FOR THE WEALTHIEST
PEOPLE, REFUSE TO END THE TAX
CUTS AND BENEFITS FOR THE MOST
PROFITABLE OIL COMPANIES IN
AMERICA, AND WHEN IT COMES TO
HELPING THE UNEMPLOYED AND
MIDDLE INCOME, THEN THEY BECOME
DEFICIT HAWKS.
THEY ALSO TALK ABOUT THE
CORPORATE INCOME TAX.
THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX RATE IN
AMERICA IS 35%, AND THEY SAY
WORLD.
THAT'S TRUE, BUT IT'S AN
EFFECTIVE RATE VERSUS THE
NOMINAL RATE.
THE NOMINAL RATE IS 35%.
THE EFFECTIVE RATE IS MUCH
LOWER.
TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPORT
THAT JUST CAME OUT THAT PUTS
THIS IN PERSPECTIVE.
THERE WAS A REPORT THAT COMPARED
THE SALARIES FOR THE C.E.O.'S,
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, OF
MAJOR AMERICAN CORPORATIONS.
25 OF THE 100 HIGHEST PAID
CORPORATE EXECUTIVES IN THE
UNITED STATES EARNED MORE IN PAY
THAN THEIR COMPANY PAID IN TAXES
IN THE YEAR 2010.
THAT'S RIGHT.
OUR TAX CODE IS SO EASY ON
CORPORATIONS, THEY PAY THEIR TOP
EXECUTIVES MORE THAN THEY PAY IN
FEDERAL TAXES EACH YEAR.
IT'S A STARTLING FACT.
IT'S A REPORT RELEASED BY THE
INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES.
IF YOU LOOK THROUGH THE REPORT,
YOU WILL SEE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
NAMES IN CORPORATE AMERICA.
LOOK AT GENERAL ELECTRIC.
THEY MADE WAVES WHEN IT WAS
REPORTED THAT THEY PAID ZERO,
TAXES LAST YEAR.
IN FACT, G.E. GOT A REFUND FROM
THE GOVERNMENT OF OVER
OVER $3 BILLION.
THE TOP EXECUTIVE AT GENERAL
ELECTRIC WAS COMPENSATED TO THE
TUNE OF $15.2 MILLION.
CONSIDER THAT FOR A MOMENT WHEN
WE TALK ABOUT THE UNFAIRNESS OF
THE BIGGEST MULTINATIONAL
CORPORATIONS IN AMERICA ARE
ESCAPING THE 35% RATE, SOME ARE
ACTUALLY GETTING MONEY BACK, AND
THEY ARE PAYING THEIR EXECUTIVES
MONEY IN REWARD FOR COMING UP
WITH THESE TAX STRATEGIES UNDER
OUR CURRENT TAX CODE.
YOU WANT TO CLEAN UP THE TAX
CODE?
STOP IMPOSING THE HIGHEST
CORPORATE TACK RATE ON MIDDLE
AND SMALL BUSINESSES AND IMPOSE
IT ON THE LARGE CORPORATIONS,
THE MOST PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS
IN AMERICA.
THE OTHER IDEA IS THIS
REPATRIATION TAX HOLIDAY.
WE SHOULD TAKE CARE HERE.
BEFORE WE ALLOW MAJOR
CORPORATIONS TO BRING THEIR
PROFITS BACK INTO THE UNITED
STATES TAX FREE OR AT LOWER TAX
RATES, WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE
ASKING FOR, LOOK AT WHAT
HAPPENED WHEN WE TRIED THAT
UNDER THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
$362 BILLION IN EARNINGS
REPATRIATED UNDER THE HOLIDAY.
$312 BILLION QUALIFIED FOR THE
TAX BREAK, BUT WE DIDN'T SEE A
CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN
EMPLOYMENT IN THOSE
THEY BROUGHT BACK THE MONEY THEY
EARNED IN PROFITS OVERSEAS AND
DECLARED IT AS DIVIDENDS AND
PROFITS AND GAVE IT COMPENSATION
BONUS TO THEIR EXECUTIVES.
THEY DID NOT CREATE JOBS.
NOW THE REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING
FOR THAT SAME STRATEGY.
THEY WANT TO GIVE THIS TAX
HOLIDAY TO THESE MAJOR
CORPORATIONS WITH NO STRINGS
I THINK WE HAVE LEARNED OUR
LESSON UNDER THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION.
IF THAT MONEY IS COMING BACK TO
AMERICA, IT SHOULD BE DEDICATED
TO GROWING THE CORPORATIONS IN
AMERICA AND GROWING GOOD-PAYING
JOBS RIGHT HERE AT HOME, AND IT
SHOULDN'T GO OUT THE DOOR IN
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION DIVIDENDS
AND PROFITS.
THE TAX CODE IS UNFAIR.
IT'S PRIMARILY UNFAIR TO WORKING
FAMILIES.
WE HAVE GOT TO DO EVERYTHING WE
CAN TO MAKE IT FAIR FOR THEM,
AND SECONDLY, WE HAVE GOT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE ELIMINATE SOME
OF THE LOOPHOLES THAT ARE
STACKED IN THE TAX CODE TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF TAX
REFORM AND THINK IT'S AN
ESSENTIAL PART OF FAIRNESS IN
AMERICA, GETTING THE ECONOMY
MOVING FORWARD AND DEALING
RESPONSIBLY WITH OUR DEFICIT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
AS YOU KNOW SO WELL, AS THE
SENATOR FROM NEW YORK, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY THIS WEEKEND
AMERICANS EVERYWHERE WILL GATHER
TO COMMEMORATE THE TENTH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC EVENTS
THAT TOOK PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 11,
2001.
FAMILIES FROM EVERY TOWN, FROM
EVERY CITY AND STATE WILL MARK
THIS DAY IN THEIR OWN SOLEMN WAY
AND TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER
AND HONOR THE NEARLY 3,000
VICTIMS OF THOSE SENSELESS
MORE THAN ANY EPISODE IN RECENT
AMERICAN HISTORY, THE EVENTS OF
9/11 WERE EXPERIENCED ON A VERY
PERSONAL LEVEL ALL ACROSS THIS
NO ONE WAS UNTOUCHED BY THE
TRAGEDY OF THAT DAY.
ALL OF US CAN REMEMBER EXACTLY
WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE HEARD THE
WE REMEMBER THOSE FRANTIC HOURS
AS WE TRIED TO CALL LOVED ONES.
WE REMEMBER THE SILENCE IN OUR
SKIES AS OUR NATION'S ENTIRE AIR
SYSTEM SHUT DOWN.
WE REMEMBER MOURNING THE LOSS OF
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
AND WE REMEMBER THE FEAR AND
UNCERTAINTY AS WE WONDERED IF
MORE ATTACKS WERE COMING.
WE REMEMBER THE SIGHT WE ALL
WATCHED ON TELEVISION AGAIN AND
AGAIN, THE SICKENING SIGHT OF
THE FALLING TOWERS OF THE TRADE
IT'S A VISION THAT'S BEEN
FOREVER SEARED INTO EVERY
AS GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AT
THE TIME, I WAS ACTUALLY HERE IN
WASHINGTON FOR A NATIONAL
GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION EVENT ON
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
I WILL NEVER FORGET LOOKING OUT
OF MY HOTEL AND SEEING THE SMOKE
RISING FROM THE PENTAGON.
THE ATTACKS OF 9/11 FOREVER
CHANGED US AS A NATION.
OUR ENTIRE NOTION OF SECURITY
WAS TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
OUR GOVERNMENT CHANGED.
OUR POLICIES CHANGED.
CHANGED.
FOR OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN ESPECIALLY, THIS
BECAME ONE OF THE DEFINING
EVENTS OF THEIR GENERATION AND
HAS LEFT AN INDELIBLE MARK ON
THEIR WORLD VIEW.
AS WE GATHER THIS WEEKEND, ALL
OF US IN OUR OWN WAY WILL TAKE A
MOMENT TO RECALL THOSE FEELINGS
OF SADNESS AND ANGER AND TO
HONOR THE MEMORIES OF THOSE WE
LOST.
BUT THAT LOSS IS NOT THE END OF
THE STORY, AND GRIEF IS NOT THE
TRUE LEGACY OF 9/11.
WE'RE NOT DEFINED BY WHAT
HAPPENS TO US BUT BY HOW WE
RESPOND WHEN WE'RE FACED WITH
SEPTEMBER 11 DIDN'T CRIPPLE US
AS A NATION.
INSTEAD IT BROUGHT OUT THE BEST
IN ALL OF US.
OUR STORY IS REALLY HOW WE
RESPONDED IN THE FACE OF THIS
ATTACK, WITH COURAGE, RESOLVE
AND UNITY.
IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER
11, WE SHOWED THE WORLD THE TRUE
MEANING OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.
THE STORY OF AMERICA'S RESPONSE
TO 9/11 STARTS ON THAT VERY DAY
WITH THE W ACCOUNTS OF HEROISM
THAT WE COULD NEVER HAVE
WE REMEMBER THE FIREFIGHTERS AND
THE OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS
CLIMBING UP THE STAIRWELLS OF
THE BURNING WORLD TRADE CENTER
WHILE OTHERS FLED DOWN AND HOW
THEY PAID THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
FOR THEIR SELFLESSNESS.
WE REMEMBER THE COURAGEOUS
PASSENGERS ON UNITED AIRLINES
FLIGHT 93 WHO TOOK AWAY THE
TERRORISTS' GREATEST WEAPON --
FEAR -- BY FIGHTING BACK, EVEN
THOUGH IT MEANT THEIR LIVES.
AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY LIVES
THEY SAVED WHEN THEY STOPPED
THAT ATTACK.
IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, ALL
THEY COULD.
RED CROSS CENTERS WERE
OVERWHELMED WITH VOLUNTEER BLOOD
MILLIONS OF US DONATED MONEY AND
OFFERED UP PRAYERS.
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, DAYS AFTER THE
ATTACK, I REMEMBER JOINING A
CROWD OF HUNDREDS FOR A PRAYER
SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH IN
WE CAME TOGETHER TO HONOR THE
VICTIMS AND TO COMFORT EACH
OTHER, AND THE RESPONSE WAS
THE CROWD SPILLED OUT INTO THE
STREETS WITH MANY WAVING
AMERICAN FLAGS AND HOLDING
CANDLES SINGING "GOD BLESS
AMERICA."
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, OUR STATE
GOVERNMENT AND OUR EMPLOYEES
TERRORIST THREAT.
WE KEPT THE STATE WORKING ON
SEPTEMBER 11.
I WON'T FORGET THE MORE THAN 100
FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS NEW
HAMPSHIRE WHO CALLED OUR STATE
FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE TO OFFER
SERVICE FOR NEW YORK OR THE
VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE THEMSELVES
NOTICE.
AND OF COURSE WE CAN'T TELL
AMERICA'S STORY WITHOUT TELLING
THE STORY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN
IN OUR MILITARY WHO SPENT THE
LAST DECADE TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT AN ATTACK LIKE THIS NEVER
HAPPENS AGAIN.
SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, MORE THAN 5
MILLION MEN AND WOMEN HAVE
VOLUNTARILY JOINED THE ARMED
FORCES TO PROTECT AMERICA AND
DEFEND HER FREEDOM ABROAD.
MORE THAN 6,200 AMERICANS,
INCLUDING 37 TROOPS FROM NEW
HAMPSHIRE, HAVE GIVEN THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN OUR
NATION'S DEFENSE.
OVER 45,000 MORE HAVE BEEN
WOUNDED OR INJURED AND RETURNED
HOME WITH LASTING SCARS.
MILLIONS OF TROOPS AND THEIR
FAMILIES HAVE SUSTAINED THE
TOUGHEST, MOST DEBILITATING
TEMPO OF DEPLOYMENTS IN OUR
NATION'S HISTORY OFTEN BEING
DEPLOYED INTO WAR FIVE OR SIX
TIMES, ENDURING CONSTANT MENTAL
AND PHYSICAL STRAINS IN SERVICE
TO OUR COUNTRY.
THE RESOLVE OUR TROOPS HAVE
DEMONSTRATED SINCE 9/11 HAS
YIELDED A STRING OF SUCCESSES ON
AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX
BATTLEFIELD.
OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM
HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT HAS
BEEN ASKED OF THEM.
OSAMA BIN LADEN HAS BEEN BROUGHT
TO JUSTICE.
COUNTLESS OTHER HIGH-LEVEL
TERRORIST OPERATIVES, INCLUDING
THE MASTERMIND OF THE 9/11
ATTACKS, HAVE BEEN KILLED OR
CAPTURED, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S
BASES IN AFGHANISTAN AND
PRESSURE.
AL QAEDA AND ITS EXTREMIST
AFFILIATES' DEADLY IDEOLOGY IS
BEING QUESTIONED AROUND THE
GLOBE AND THE REMNANTS OF AL
QAEDA'S DIMINISHING LEADERSHIP
ARE DISORGANIZED AND STRUGGLING
TO REESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE
FACE OF AN AGGRESSIVE U.S.
OFFENSIVE.
AS OUR CURRENT SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE LEON PANETTA HAS
REMARKED, WE ARE -- QUOTE --
"WITHIN REACH OF STRATEGICICALLY
DEFEATING AL QAEDA."
ALTHOUGH WE CAN'T BE KPHRAEUS
SENT AND WE -- COMPLACENT AND WE
MUST REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR
PURSUIT OUR MILITARY SHOULD BE
HONORED FOR THE GAINS MADE
AGAINST THE TERRORIST WHO
ATTACKED US ON SEPTEMBER 11.
IN NEW HAMPSHIRE OUR AIR
NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ATTACKS
AND ETCHED SINCE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001 -- AND EVERY DAY SINCE
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 HAVE BEEN
PROVIDING FUEL COVERAGE FOR
AIRMEN IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER WHEN
FLIGHTS RESUMED AFTER 9/11.
AS WE WALKED THROUGH, PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE STOPPED WHAT THEY
WERE DOING TO APPLAUD THE
NATIONAL GUARD FOR THEIR EFFORTS
TO KEEP THE PEOPLE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE SAFE.
IN THE DECADE SINCE THE ATTACKS,
AMERICANS HAVE FOUND NEW
APPRECIATION FOR THE SERVICE
THESE CITIZEN SOLDIERS PROVIDE.
AND AMERICANS OUTSIDE THE
MILITARY HAVE LEARNED THAT THEY
HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY TOO.
WITH THE HEROES OF UNITED 93 AS
THEIR INSPIRATION, EVERY DAY
AMERICANS HAVE STOPPED A NUMBER
OF TERRORIST PLOTS FROM
SUCCEEDING.
PASSENGERS AND FLIGHT PERSONNEL
STOPPED THE DECEMBER 2001
BOMBER, THE ATTEMPT BY SHOE
BOMBER RICHARD REID.
THEY STOPPED THE CHRISTMAS DAY
2009 ATTEMPT ON BOARD THE
NORTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT, THE
ATTEMPTED TIMES SQUARE BOMBING
LAST YEAR, AS YOU REMEMBER, WAS
IN PART AVERTED BY AN ALERT NEW
YORK CITY STREET VENDOR.
PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, AS WE
REMEMBER AMERICA'S 9/11 STORY
THIS WEEKEND, WE SHOULD ALL
REFLECT ON THE UNITY WE
DEMONSTRATED IN THE FACE OF THIS
TERRIBLE ATTACK.
ON SEPTEMBER 11, WE WEREN'T
REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, BLACK
OR WHITE, RICH OR POOR.
WE WERE ALL AMERICANS.
THE ATTACK FOCUSED OUR ATTENTION
ON OUR COMMON BONDS AND ON THE
DEAR.
WE WERE DETERMINED TO PROVE THAT
DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WOULD
PERSEVERE AND ENDURE.
AND WHILE WE HAVE NOT ALWAYS
MAINTAINED THAT SENSE OF UNITY
IN THE YEARS SINCE, OUR MEMORY
OF IT HAS INSPIRED US AND
CONTINUALLY REMINDED US OF WHAT
IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE REACH FOR
THE BEST WITHIN OURSELVES.
WHEN THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE
WRITTEN AND AMERICA'S 9/11 STORY
IS TOLD TO THE GENERATIONS TO
FOLLOW, I HOPE IT WILL TELL OF
HOW WE CAME TOGETHER TO REMIND
THE ENTIRE WORLD OF WHAT THIS
COUNTRY STANDS FOR AND WHO WE
ARE AS A PEOPLE, HOW AFTER OUR
DARKEST DAY WE ROSE UP WITH NEW
DETERMINATION; HOW INSTEAD OF
TURNING INWARD, WE CHOSE TO
CONFRONT THE EVIL THAT HAD
VISITED OUR SHORES AND TO FIGHT
ON; AND HOW WE CONTINUE TO BE
THE BEACON OF HOPE, LIBERTY, AND
OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN TO THE WORLD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
A SENATOR: MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM WYOMING.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
PRESIDENT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I COME TO THE
FLOOR TODAY BECAUSE THIS WEEK,
PRESIDENT OBAMA IS GOING TO
PRESENT HIS NEW JOBS PLAN TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE, TO ALL OF US.
AND I AM CERTAIN THAT WE WILL
PROMISES.
NOW, I REMEMBER WHEN FORMER
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI
FAMOUSLY ANNOUNCED IN 2010 IN
OUR WHITE HOUSE HEALTH CARE
SUMMIT -- I SAT AROUND THE TABLE
AT THAT SUMMIT, AND THE
DISCUSSION -- IN THE DISCUSSION,
SHE SAID THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
NEW HEALTH CARE LAW, SHE SAID,
WOULD CREATE FOUR MILLION JOBS.
FOUR MILLION JOBS.
HERE'S EXACTLY WHAT FORMER
SPEAKER PELOSI PROMISED ON
FEBRUARY 25, 2010.
SHE SAID -- QUOTE -- "THIS BILL
IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE HEALTH
SECURITY OF AMERICA, SHE WENT ON
TO SAY, IT'S ABOUT JOBS.
SHE SAID IN ITS LIFE, IT WILL
CREATE FOUR MILLION JOBS,
400,000 JOBS, SHE SAID, ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK TODAY
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?
THE FACT IS THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
HEALTH CARE LAW DIDN'T CREATE
JOBS.
AS A PHYSICIAN, I HAVE COME TO
THE FLOOR EVERY WEEK SINCE THE
HEALTH CARE LAW HAS BEEN SIGNED
AND HAVE GIVEN A DOCTOR'S SECOND
OPINION ABOUT THIS HEALTH CARE
LAW AND WHY I BELIEVE IT'S BAD
FOR PATIENTS, BAD FOR PROVIDERS,
THE NURSES AND THE DOCTORS WHO
TAKE CARE OF THOSE PATIENTS, AND
TERRIBLE FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
SO HERE WE ARE 17 MONTHS AFTER
THE PRESIDENT SIGNED HIS HEALTH
CARE PLAN INTO LAW, AND THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE YET TO SEE
JOB GROWTH ANYWHERE, ANYWHERE
NEAR THE FIGURES PROMISED BY
NANCY PELOSI.
IN FACT, THE BUREAU OF LABOR
STATISTICS REPORTED LAST WEEK
THAT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
GENERATED A WHOPPING ZERO JOBS
ZERO.
THIS IS SOBERING NEWS WHEN WE
HAVE 9.1% UNEMPLOYMENT IN
AMERICA.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" SEPTEMBER 3
HAD AN EDITORIAL CALLED THE JOBS
CRISIS, AND LET ME READ FROM IT.
IT SAYS THAT THE AUGUST
EMPLOYMENT REPORT RELEASED ON
FRIDAY -- THIS IS "THE NEW YORK
TIMES" -- IS SAYING IS BLEAK ON
ALL COUNTS, BUT AT LEAST IT
LEAVES NO DOUBT THAT THE UNITED
STATES IS IN THE GRIP OF A
SEVERE AND WORSENING JOB CRISIS,
SEVERE AND WORSENING.
IT SAID THIS SHOULD LEND A SENSE
OF URGENCY TO THE SPEECH ON JOBS
THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA PLANS TO
DELIVER THIS WEEK, AND OF COURSE
THE SPEECH IS SCHEDULED FOR
TOMORROW NIGHT.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" GOES ON TO
SAY THE ECONOMY ADDED NO JOBS IN
AUGUST, ZERO, AND THE ANEMIC
NUMBERS FOR JUNE AND JULY WERE
REVISED DOWNWARD.
DOWNWARD, MADAM PRESIDENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS STUCK
AT 9.1%, AND THEN IT GOES ON TO
SAY IT WOULD BE 16.2% IF IT
INCLUDED THE SWELLING RANKS OF
THOSE WHO FIND ONLY PART-TIME
WORK AND THE MILLIONS WHO HAVE
GIVEN UP LOOKING FOR JOBS THAT
SIMPLY DO NOT EXIST.
SO HERE WE ARE, MADAM PRESIDENT,
LOOKING AT THIS SOBERING NEWS,
AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HEALTH
CARE LAW AND THE JOBS MARKET IN
AMERICA IS THAT THE JOB
CREATORS, THE PEOPLE THAT CREATE
JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY MADE IT
VERY CLEAR THAT THEY CAN'T
AFFORD THE PRESIDENT'S NEW
HEALTH CARE LAW.
MONTH AFTER MONTH, WE HEAR FROM
MORE PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR WHO EXPLAIN THAT THEY
WILL EITHER HAVE TO FIRE PEOPLE
OR STOP PROVIDING COVERAGE IN
ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE
SIGNIFICANT EXPENSES OF THE NEW
HEALTH CARE LAW.
LET ME REPEAT, THIS LAW
ENCOURAGES JOB CREATORS NOT TO
CREATE JOBS BUT TO FIRE WORKERS,
NOT TO HIRE WORKERS.
WELL, TO GET AROUND THIS PROBLEM
IN THE SHORT TERM, THE
ADMINISTRATION BEGAN DOING
SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T
ANTICIPATE WHEN THE HEALTH CARE
LAW WAS SIGNED.
THEY BEGAN TO GRANT WAIVERS FROM
THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
THEY SAID OH, IT DOESN'T APPLY
TO YOU, IT DOESN'T APPLY TO YOU.
COME AND APPLY FOR A WAIVER.
WELL, DURING THE MONTH OF
AUGUST, THIS PAST MONTH, THE
ADMINISTRATION ONCE AGAIN
BRANDED ANOTHER ROUND OF WAIVERS
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE
LAW.
ANOTHER 73 WAIVERS ALLOWING
ANOTHER 105,000 PEOPLE TO GET
OUT OF THE MANDATES OF THE OBAMA
HEALTH CARE LAW.
SINCE OCTOBER, 2010, THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION HAS GRANTED OVER
1,500 ANNUAL BENEFIT LIMIT
WAIVERS.
NOW THEY ARE GRANTING THEM FOR
THREE YEARS, AND THESE WAIVERS
NOW COVER OVER 3.4 MILLION
AMERICANS, SO THE LAW AND THE
MANDATES DON'T HAVE TO APPLY TO
THEM WITH REGARD TO THE
BENEFITS.
NOW, OVER 50% OF THESE WAIVERS,
WHO HAVE THEY GONE TO?
THEY HAVE GONE TO UNION PEOPLE,
PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THEIR
HEALTH CARE THROUGH A UNION
HEALTH PLAN.
THESE ARE THE VERY SAME PEOPLE
WHO LOBBIED FOR AND SUPPORTED
THE PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
IT'S STARTLING THAT EVEN UNIONS
CAN'T AFFORD THE PRESIDENT'S
REMEMBER NANCY PELOSI SAYING
FIRST WE HAVE TO PASS IT BEFORE
YOU GET TO FIND OUT WHAT'S IN
WELL, AS MORE AND MORE AMERICANS
HAVE FOUND OUT WHAT'S IN THE
HEALTH CARE LAW, WE SAY WE DON'T
WANT THIS TO APPLY TO US.
IN FACT, THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES
INTERNATIONAL UNION SAID THAT
THE LAW WOULD BE FINANCIALLY
IMPOSSIBLE, FINANCIALLY
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO COMPLY
WITH.
WELL, I DON'T THINK ANY JOB
CREATOR OR AMERICAN FAMILY
SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR FINANCIALLY
IMPOSSIBLE COSTS BECAUSE OF THE
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
EACH TIME THIS ADMINISTRATION
RELEASES YET ANOTHER ROUND OF
ITS HEALTH CARE LAW WAIVERS, IT
REMINDS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOW
NEW LAW IS.
NOW, AS THE PRESIDENT PREPARES
FOR HIS SPEECH TOMORROW NIGHT,
HE NEEDS TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT
HIS HEALTH CARE LAW.
HE NEEDS TO FACE THE UNFORTUNATE
REALITY THAT HIS LAW ACTUALLY
MAKES IT HARDER AND MORE
EXPENSIVE FOR THE JOB CREATORS
PEOPLE.
WE NEED TO MAKE IT EASIER AND
CHEAPER FOR THE JOB CREATORS OF
THIS COUNTRY TO CREATE PRIVATE
SECTOR JOBS, BUT YET THE
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW
MAKES IT HARDER AND MORE
EXPENSIVE.
TOMORROW NIGHT, THE PRESIDENT
NEEDS TO CHANGE DIRECTION.
INSTEAD OF GIVING WAIVERS TO
BUSINESSES AND UNIONS, HE SHOULD
ANNOUNCE THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN
GET A WAIVER FROM HIS HEALTH
NOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT I
IMMEDIATELY.
MY BILL WILL ALLOW ANY
INDIVIDUAL, ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN
TO SUBMIT A WAIVER APPLICATION
SEEKING RELIEF FROM ANY OR ALL
OF THE HEALTH CARE LAWS'
WAIVERS WILL BE GRANTED TO
HEALTH CARE LAW IS EITHER
INCREASING THEIR HEALTH CARE
PREMIUMS OR DECREASING THEIR
ACCESS TO BENEFITS.
THE BILL IS SIMPLE, IT'S
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT'S SENATE BILL 1395.
IT'S CALLED THE WAIVE ACT AND
THERE ARE 16 COSPONSORS IN THE
SENATE.
IT BASICALLY SAYS IF YOUR COSTS
GO UP OR YOUR BENEFITS GO DOWN,
THEN YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM, THE
FREEDOM TO GET OUT OF THE
PRESIDENT'S HEALTH CARE LAW.
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS HAVE
RISEN 19% SINCE PRESIDENT OBAMA
TOOK OFFICE.
TOMORROW NIGHT, THE PRESIDENT
SHOULD ANNOUNCE THAT HE WILL
ALLOW ALL AMERICANS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO OPT OUT OF HIS
HEALTH CARE LAW.
IF HE DID, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF
THE BEST STEPS THAT HE COULD
TAKE TO HELP AMERICA'S ECONOMY.
AND THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, IS
WHY I COME TO THE FLOOR WEEK
AFTER WEEK WITH A DOCTOR'S
SECOND OPINION ABOUT A HEALTH
CARE LAW THAT I BELIEVE IS
HURTING OUR COUNTRY.
THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR AND SUGGEST
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
HE.
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
I ASK THAT THE