Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
BRING ABOUT A CREDIBLE PLAN TO
MANAGE OUR NATIONAL DEBT.
AND WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR AND
SUGGEST THE AN -- BEFORE I DO
THAT, I WOULD SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
ASK CONSENT THE
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH
AND CONSENT TO SPEAK IN MORNING
BUSINESS.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
THIS MORNING'S "WALL STREET
JOURNAL" HAS A HEADLINE THAT I
HOPE AMERICA WILL PAY CLOSE
ATTENTION TO.
RAIDERS PUT U.S. ON NOTICE.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS
A CREDIT RATING, MUCH AS WE DO
AS INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES DO
AND FAMILIES, AND A CREDIT
RATING IN THE UNITED STATES IS
AAA, THE VERY BEST.
AT DOES IT MEAN? THOSE WHO DO
BUSINESS IN AMERICA THINK IT'S
BEST TO DO BUSINESS.
RELIABLE ECONOMY, THE RULE OF
LAW, TRANSPARENCY, IT SAYS GOOD
THINGS ABOUT AMERICA AND IT
TRANSLATES INTO THE LOWEST
INTEREST RATES CHARGED WHEN
AMERICA BORROWS MONEY, AND
THAT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE WE
BORROW A LOT OF MONEY.
THIS TRIPLE-A RATING IS
GUARANTEED.
SOMETHING THAT IS NOT
YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD NOW,
PARTICULARLY IN EUROPE, ARE
STRUGGLING AND FAILING
ECONOMICALLY.
SOME IN WORSE SHAPE THAN OTHERS.
IN
IN THE "IRISH TIMES" YESTERDAY
THEY REFERRED TO WHAT THEY
CALLED THE PIGS.
BEFORE.
I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT TERM
IT REFERS TO PORTUGAL, IRELAND,
GREECE AND SPAIN, AND THEY SAID
THIS WEEK THAT ITALY WAS JOINING
THE "PIGS," THE SEVENTH LARGEST
ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, ROYALING
IN EURO DEBT, BEING CALLED ON TO
TRANSFORM AND CHANGE THEIR
ECONOMIES AND THEIR GOVERNMENT
TO DEAL WITH THEIR NATIONAL DEBT
DEBT.
IT'S A TOUGH TIME IN THE
EUROPEAN UNION AND THE JURY IS
STILL OUT ABOUT ANY ONE OF THOSE
COUNTRIES AND HOW THIS WILL END.
THE UNITED STATES IS NOT IN THAT
SITUATION, THANK GOODNESS.
OUR COUNTRY HAS ITS PROBLEMS, WE
KNOW THAT.
9.2% OF OUR WORK FORCE
UNEMPLOYED, A SITUATION WHERE
MANY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE STILL
STRUGGLING, WHERE FAMILIES
STRUGGLE, MANY OF THEM PAYCHECK
TO PAYCHECK TO GET BY.
BUT STILL THE FACT THAT WE HAVE
TO GUARD OUR BORDERS TO KEEP
PEOPLE FROM COMING HERE IS AN
INDICATION OF WHAT AMERICA'S
PROMISE MEANS TO THE REST OF THE
WORLD.
THIS NOTICE FROM THE RATING
AGENCIES THAT NOW WE ARE ON A
WATCH, A CREDIT WATCH, AS TO
WHETHER OUR AAA CREDIT RATING IN
AMERICA SHOULD BE DIMINISHED IS
SERIOUS.
SECRETARY OF TREASURY TIM
GEITHNER MEETS WITH US WHEN WE
GO DOWN TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO
TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT
NEGOTIATION OVER THE DEBT
CEILING.
WHAT HE TOLD US YESTERDAY WAS
THAT THIS RATING IS THE PRODUCT
OF TWO THINGS.
FIRST, THERE IS NO CLEAR PATH
AVAILABLE TO INDICATE THAT
CONGRESS IS ABLE TO EXTEND THE
DEBT CEILING OF THE UNITED
STATES ON AUGUST 2.
AND, SECONDLY, THERE IS NO CLEAR
INDICATION THAT CONGRESS AND THE
PRESIDENT ARE REALLY WORKING
TOGETHER TO DEAL WITH OUR
NATIONAL DEFICIT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, SECRETARY
GEITHNER SAID THIS RATING HAS
COME OUT AND THAT IS THE REALITY
OF WHAT WE FACE.
CEILING.
FIRST, A WORD ABOUT THE DEBT
WHAT IS IT?
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, AND IT'S
UNDERSTANDABLE, BECAUSE IT
DOESN'T GET MUCH ATTENTION,
ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG
TIME.
THE DEBT CEILING WAS CREATED IN
1939.
IT WAS CREATED BECAUSE CONGRESS
DECIDED THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO
VOTE EVERY TIME WE ISSUED A
NATIONAL BOND OR SOME OTHER NOTE
NOTE.
WE WOULD RATHER GIVE TO OUR
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY THE
AUTHORITY TO ISSUE DEBT
OBLIGATIONS UP TO A CERTAIN
DOLLAR LEVEL.
AND AS THE DEBT OF THE UNITED
STATES INCREASED AND THE NEED TO
BORROW INCREASED, THAT LEVEL
INCREASED AS WELL.
BETWEEN 1939 AND TODAY, WE'VE
EXTENDED THE DEBT CEILING IN
AMERICA 89 TIMES.
55 TIMES UNDER REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTS, 34 TIMES UNDER
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTS, AND
VIRTUALLY WITHOUT NOTICE.
WHO IS THE NUMBER-ONE PRESIDENT
IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED
STATES TO EXTEND THE DEBT
CEILING AND TO INCREASE
AMERICA'S DEBT?
RONALD REAGAN.
FAR AND AWAY.
DID IT 18 TIMES.
AND DURING THE COURSE OF HIS
EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE, RAISED
THE NATIONAL DEBT CEILING BY
199%.
THEN YOU GO TO THE NEXT
PRESIDENT WHO RAISED IT 90% IN
DEBT, PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH.
SO IT'S A BIPARTISAN
UNDERTAKING, AND WHAT IT MEANS
IS THAT, WHEN NEEDED, THE
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
AUTHORIZES THE PRESIDENT TO
BORROW THE MONEY NECESSARY TO
COVER WHAT WE HAVE SPENT IN
APPROPRIATIONS FROM CONGRESS, IN
OUR ENTITLEMENT AND MANDATORY
PROGRAMS -- SOCIAL SECURITY,
MEDICARE AND THE LIKE -- WE HAVE
TO BORROW MONEY.
IN FACT, WE BORROW 40 CENTS FOR
EVERY DOLLAR WE SPEND IN
WASHINGTON, FOR EVERYTHING.
40 CENTS FOR EVERY DOLLAR.
SO WE ARE LOOKING TO PEOPLE TO
LOAN US MONEY ON A REGULAR BASIS
BASIS.
THE NUMBER-ONE CREDITOR OF THE
UNITED STATES AMONG COUNTRIES IS
CHINA.
IRONIC.
OUR NUMBER-ONE CREDITOR, OUR
NUMBER-ONE COMPETITOR, AN
INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP.
SO NOW THE DEBT CEILING COMES
DUE AUGUST 2.
AND AS IT HAS BEEN ROUTINELY
EXTENDED TIME AND TIME AGAIN,
THIS TIME IS DIFFERENT.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
HAS SAID, WE REFUSE TO VOTE TO
EXTEND THE DEBT CEILING OF THE
UNITED STATES UNLESS WE SEE
DEFICIT REDUCTION.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DIDN'T
EXTEND THE DEBT CEILING?
WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU
DIDN'T MAKE YOUR MORTGAGE
PAYMENT?
I THINK I KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.
TO LORETTA AND ME IN
WE MIGHT HEAR FROM OUR BANK, AND
OUR BANK MIGHT SAY, "AH,
MR. DURBIN, YOU KNOW, THE MONTH
OF JULY HAS COME AND GONE AND
YOU DIDN'T PAY YOUR MORTGAGE ON
YOUR HOME IN SPRINGFIELD.
WHAT'S UP?"
AND IF YOU SAID, "I'M JUST NOT
GOING TO PAY IT THIS MONTH."
THEY WOULD SAY, "THAT ISN'T WHAT
YOU SIGNED UP FOR.
OBLIGATION.
YOU SIGNED UP TO MEET YOUR
SO IF YOU DON'T PAY IT, YOU FACE
FORECLOSURE."
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WHAT YOU
HAVE DONE UNDER THOSE
HAVE DONE, WHAT MY FAMILY WOULD
CIRCUMSTANCES, IS TO JEOPARDIZE
OUR CREDIT RATING.
THE NEXT TIME MY FAMILY WOULD
WANT TO BORROW MONEY FOR A HOME,
THE BANK WOULD SAY, NOT SURE
YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD RISK, YOU
MISSED YOUR MORTGAGE PAYMENT.
OR IF THEY LOANED US MONEY, IT
RATE.
WOULD BE AT A HIGHER INTEREST
SO THAT IS THE REALITY OF WHAT
HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T EXTEND THE
DEBT CEILING.
THIS SITUATION, WHEN IT COMES TO
AMERICA, IS GRAVE.
IT ISN'T JUST ABOUT AMERICA
PAYING A HIGHER INTEREST RATE TO
BORROW MONEY.
IT'S ABOUT THE INTEREST RATE
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY BEING
AFFECTED.
DOWN AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE, BEN
BERNANKE AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE
BOARD OF GOVERNORS IS DOING
EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO KEEP
INTEREST RATES LOW BECAUSE WE
WANT BUSINESSES TO EXPAND, TO BE
PROFITABLE AND TO HIRE PEOPLE.
WHEN INTEREST RATE COSTS GO UP,
BUSINESSES FIND IT MORE
EXPENSIVE TO BORROW AND BORROW
LESS.
INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES FIND IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO BUY THE CAR, THE
HOME, THE APPLIANCES THAT THEY
MIGHT NEED.
SO WITH INTEREST RATES GOING UP
AS A RESULT OF OUR FAILURE TO
EXTEND THE DEBT CEILING, WE'RE
DOING EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF
WHAT THE AMERICAN ECONOMY NEEDS
TODAY.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO SERIOUS.
IN FACT, COULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
JUST A FEW MINUTES WE'RE GOING
TO HAVE THE TREASURY SECRETARY,
TIM GEITHNER, WHO'S GOING TO
COME BEFORE US AND TALK ABOUT
THE IMPACT OF FAILURE TO EXTEND
THE DEBT CEILING.
I'VE BEEN ASKED TO DO A LITTLE
HOMEWORK HERE SO,
MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK THAT THE
RECORD REFLECT THIS REQUEST AT
THE END OF MY REMARKS.
ASK CONSENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT AT
12:20 P.M., THE SENATE PROCEED
TO THE CONSIDERATION OF H.R.
2055, THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION-VETERANS AFFAIRS
AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATION BILL.
FURTHER, THAT FOLLOWING THE
MANAGERS OF THE BILL, SENATOR
OPENING REMARKS OF THE TWO
SESSIONS BE RECOGNIZED TO RAISE
A 303C BUDGET ACT POINT OF
ORDER, THAT SENATOR JOHNSON BE
RECOGNIZED TO WAIVE THE
APPLICABLE PORTIONS OF THE
BUDGET ACT AND THAT THERE BE
FOUR HOURS OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDED BETWEEN SENATORS JOHNSON
AND SESSIONS OR THEIR DESIGNEE
PRIOR TO A VOTE ON CLOTURE ON
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT IF
THE MOTION TO WAIVE.
CLOTURE IS INVOKED, THE SENATE
IMMEDIATELY PROCEED TO A VOTE ON
THE MOTION TO WAIVE WITH NO
INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
RESUMING MY REMARKS.
THAT MEANS I HAVE EIGHT MINUTES
AND I MAY NOT USE ALL OF THEM.
WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE WHITE
HOUSE TODAY IS NEGOTIATING WITH
LEADERS IN CONGRESS, DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS, AND THE
PRESIDENT TO EXTEND THE DEBT
CEILING BECAUSE MANY OF US
BELIEVE IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS
IF WE WOULD DEFAULT ON OUR DEBT.
FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE UNITED
WE'D CALL INTO QUESTION THE FULL
STATES OF AMERICA AND AT THE END
OF THE DAY FIND OURSELVES WITH A
SELF-INFLICTED WOUND TO THE
AMERICAN ECONOMY, RAISING
INTEREST RATES, AND MAKING IT
MORE DIFFICULT TO COME OUT OF
THIS RECESSION.
WE'RE TRYING TO REACH AN
AGREEMENTANAGREEMENT AND IT'S BEEN HARD
GOING.
WE'VE HAD FIVE
FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS.
IT'S BEEN REPORTED IN THE NEWS
THAT IT'S BEEN CONTENTIOUS AND
IT IS.
THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES IT IS IN
OUR INTEREST TO GET AMERICANS
BACK TO WORK.
WE SHOULD NOT DO ANYTHING IN THE
COURSE OF OUR BUSINESS THAT
WOULD MAKE THAT MORE DIFFICULT.
I COULDN'T AGREE WITH HIM MORE.
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN AMERICA
IS PUTTING AMERICANS BACK TO
HERE AT HOME.
WORK IN GOOD-PAYING JOBS RIGHT
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN AMERICA
IS ALLOWING SMALL BUSINESSES TO
EXPAND TO, DO MORE BUSINESS AND
HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE
IF WE FAIL TO EXTEND THE DEBT
CEILING, IT MAKES IT MORE
DIFFICULT TO REACH THOSE GOALS.
I LISTEN AS PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES OF THE OTHER PARTY IN
IOWA SAY IT DOESN'T MATTER.
DEFAULT ON THE DEBT.
LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THAT IS THE MOST -- LET ME THINK
OF A GOOD WORD HERE -- NAIVE
COMMENT ON OUR ECONOMY THAT I
CAN IMAGINE.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING IT
HAVE NO BUSINESS ASPIRING TO THE
HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND.
WE NEED TO ACCEPT THIS
RESPONSIBILITY AND DEAL WITH
THIS DEBT CEILING HONESTLY.
WE NEED TO EXTEND IT SO THERE'S
NO QUESTION ABOUT THE CREDIT
RATING AND FULL FAITH AND CREDIT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND SECONDLY, WE NEED TO GET
SERIOUS ABOUT THIS DEFICIT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I KNOW YOU HAVE
STRONG PERSONAL FEELINGS.
YOU INTRODUCED LEGISLATION
DEALING WITH THIS DEFICIT AND
HOW WE CAN COPE WITH IT HERE IN
THE SENATE AND IN THE HOUSE.
I'VE BEEN PART OF THE
PRESIDENT'S DEFICIT COMMISSION.
I'VE BEEN ENGAGED WITH
COLLEAGUES OF BOTH POLITICAL
PARTIES ON HOW TO TAKE IT
FURTHER.
OUR GOAL IS VERY SIMPLY STATED.
I BELIEVE, AND THOSE WHO ARE
ENGAGED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS
BELIEVE, WE CAN REDUCE THE DEBT
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BY UP TO $4 TRILLION OVER THE
NEXT TEN YEARS.
WE CAN DO IT IN A SENSIBLE,
THOUGHTFUL WAY, WITH SHARED
SACRIFICE ACROSS AMERICA.
WE NEED TO PUT EVERYTHING --
UNDERLINE THE WORD
"EVERYTHING" -- ON THE TABLE.
SPEND PROGRAMS START.
THAT'S THE START.
WE GO TO THEM AND ROUTE OUT WHAT
WE CONSIDER TO BE WASTEFUL,
UNNECESSARY, FRAUDULENT AND
ABUSIVE PRACTICES IN OUR
SPENDING, WHETHER IT'S IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR IN ANY
OTHER AGENCY OF GOVERNMENT.
WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
CAME BEFORE THE BOWLES-SIMPSON
COMMISSION, WE ASKED THEM HOW
MANY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WORKED
FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,
AND THEIR ANSWER WAS, "WE HAVE
NO IDEA."
GIVE US A RANGE, WE SAID.
THE RANGE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
ONE MILLION AND NINE MILLION
PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, MAYBE.
THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
WE CAN DO BETTER.
OUR BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN IN
UNIFORM DESERVE BETTER AND THE
TAXPAYERS DESERVE BETTER.
SO WE PUT ALL SPENDING ON THE
TABLE.
REDUCING SPENDING WHERE WE CAN,
WHERE WE MUST TO MOVE TOWARD $4
TRILLION IN DEFICIT REDUCTION.
THEN WE PUT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS
ON THE TABLE, AND THIS IS WHERE
MANY DEMOCRATS GET NERVOUS
BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THINGS THAT MEAN A LOT TO US:
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID, FOR EXAMPLE.
I AM AS COMMITTED TO THOSE
PROGRAMS AS ANY MEMBER OF THE
SENATE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN
PROTECT THE BASIC BENEFITS UNDER
THOSE PROGRAMS AND STILL FIND
WAYS TO MAKE THEM STRONGER AND
LONGER.
SOCIAL SECURITY UNTOUCHED WILL
MAKE EVERY PROMISED PAYMENT WITH
COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS FOR
THE NEXT 25 YEARS.
WASHINGTON.
YOU CAN'T SAY THAT ABOUT MUCH IN
YOU CAN'T SAY IT ABOUT ANY
PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON OTHER THAN
SOCIAL SECURITY.
BUT WE CAN DO BETTER BY MAKING
MINOR, SMALL CHANGES IN SOCIAL
SECURITY TODAY AND PUTTING THE
SAVINGS BACK IN SOCIAL SECURITY,
WE CAN SAY THAT IT WILL LAST FOR
75 YEARS, WHICH MEANS EVERYBODY
GOING TO THE WORKPLACE, STARTING
THEIR WORK CAREER IN AMERICA
WILL KNOW YOU CAN COUNT ON
SOCIAL SECURITY TO BE THERE WHEN
YOU NEED IT.
GOAL.
THAT, I THINK, IS AN ATTAINABLE
AND IF WE FACE IT HONESTLY, WE
CAN DO IT.
WHEN I GOT ELECTED IN 1982, CAME
TO OFFICE IN 1983, WE WERE
FACING BANKRUPTCY IN SOCIAL
SECURITY.
WE CAME TOGETHER WITH A
BIPARTISAN APPROACH AND WE
PASSED IT, AND WE BOUGHT
LITERALLY 52 YEARS OF SOLVENCY
FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.
NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF CONGRESS
LOST THE NEXT ELECTION BECAUSE
WE DID IT IN A BIPARTISAN
FASHION, DETERMINED TO MAKE
SOCIAL SECURITY STRONGER.
WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
MEDICARE, SAME STORY.
MEDICARE, WHICH OF COURSE
PROVIDES HEALTH CARE FOR THE
ELDERLY AND DISABLED IN AMERICA,
IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE
HEALTH CARE COSTS KEEP GOING UP.
ARE THERE WAYS FOR US TO REDUCE
THE COST OF MEDICARE SO THAT THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE DESERVING OF
CARE, THE SENIORS AND DISABLED,
WILL HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO THEM?
MADAM PRESIDENT, ON JANUARY 1 OF
THIS YEAR, 9,000 AMERICANS
TURNED THE AGE OF 65.
ON JANUARY 2, ANOTHER 9
THOUSAND,000 AND EVERY DAY
SINCE, AND EVERY DAY FOR THE
NEXT 19 YEARS.
THE BOOMERS HAVE ARRIVED, AND
THEY PAID INTO MEDICARE AND
SOCIAL SECURITY THEIR ENTIRE
LIVES AND THEY EXPECT AMERICA TO
KEEP ITS PROMISE, AND WE WILL.
BUT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT
MEDICARE AND FIND WAYS TO MAKE
EFFICIENT.
THAT PROGRAM MORE COST
ARE OBVIOUS.
THERE ARE CERTAINLY WAYS THAT
UNDER THE MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION
DRUG PROGRAM, WE CURRENTLY DON'T
HAVE A MEDICARE OPTION.
ALL WE HAVE ARE PRIVATE HEALTH
INSURANCE COMPANY OPLGSS.
LET MEDICARE BARGAIN WITH
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES, BRING
DOWN BY BUYING IN BULK AND
QUANTITY THE COST OF DRUGS FOR
SENIORS ACROSS AMERICA, THUS,
REDUCING THEIR COST OUT OF
POCKET AND OUR COST AS
TAXPAYERS.
THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
HATES THAT LIKE THE DEVIL HATES
HOLY WATER.
BUT THE FACT IS WHEN YOU PUT
MEDICARE IN THERE, LIKE THE
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IS IN
THERE, IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THERE ARE WAYS FOR US TO MOVE
FORWARD, AND WE NEED TO MOVE
FORWARD TO INCLUDE SPENDING
ENTITLEMENTS AND REVENUE.
I HOPE WE CAN DO THIS ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS, AND I YIELD
THE FLOOR.
MORNING
BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER THE
SENATE WILL PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 205 WHICH
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
CALENDAR NUMBER 91,
H.R. 2055, AN ACT MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION, THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
I MOVE TO TERMINATE
THE QUORUM CALL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M
PLEASED TO PRESENT THE FISCAL
YEAR 2012 MILITARY CONSTRUCTION,
V.A. AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS BILL TO THE
SENATE.
THIS BILL WAS UNANIMOUSLY
REPORTED OUT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
JUNE 30.
IT IS A DISCIPLINED AND
BIPARTISAN MEASURE AND I HOPE
ALL SENATORS WILL SUPPORT IT.
I THANK MY RANKING MEMBER,
SENATOR KIRK, FOR HIS
CONTRIBUTIONS IN CRAFTING THIS
BILL.
HE HAS TAKEN A VERY ACTIVE ROLE
ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND IT HAS
BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH HIM
HIM.
I ALSO THANK SENATOR -- CHAIRMAN
INOUYE AND VICE CHAIRMAN
COCHRAN, AS WELL AS LEADER REID
AND MINORITY LEADER McCONNELL
FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE
IN MOVING THIS BILL FORWARD.
THE MILCON-V.A. APPROPRIATIONS
BILL PROVIDES CRUCIAL
INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR OUR MILITARY, INCLUDING
BARRACKS AND FAMILY HOUSING,
MISSION CRITICAL TRAINING, AND
OPERATIONAL FACILITIES, SCHOOLS
AND HOSPITALS, AND CHILD-CARE
AND SUPPORT CENTERS.
IT ALSO FULFILLS THE NATION'S
PROMISE TO OUR VETS BY PROVIDING
THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR THEIR
MEDICAL CARE AND BENEFITS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE BILL BEFORE
THE SENATE TODAY TOTALS
$142 BILLION, OF WHICH $
$2.5 BILLION -- $72.5 BILLION IS
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.
WE'RE ALL MINDFUL OF THE SEVERE
ECONOMIC PROBLEMS FACING THIS
NATION AND THIS BILL REFLECTS
THAT REALITY.
IT IS $1.25 BILLION BELOW THE
BUDGET REQUEST AND IS
$618 MILLION BELOW THE FY 2011
ENACTED LEVEL.
I CAN ASSURE MY COLLEAGUES THAT
THERE ARE NO CONGRESSIONAL
EARMARKS IN THE BILL.
AS ALWAYS, PROTECTING ESSENTIAL
SERVICES FOR VETS TOPS MY LIST
OF PRIORITIES.
WITH AN AGING POPULATION OF VETS
REQUIRING INCREASED SERVICES AND
A SURGE OF COMBAT VETS FROM THE
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS
ENTERING THE SYSTEM, THE DEMAND
FOR V.A. HEALTH CARE SERVICES
HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN
RECENT YEARS.
THIS BILL PROVIDES $58.6 BILLION
FOR V.A. DISCRETIONARY FUNDING,
$2.3 BILLION OVER CURRENT
FUNDING.
THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES
$52.5 BILLION IN FY 2013
ADVANCED APPROPRIATIONS FOR
VETS' MEDICAL CARE.
ONE OF THE VERY FEW AREAS IN
WHICH THIS BILL PROVIDES AN
INCREASE IN FUNDING IS V.A.
MEDICAL RESEARCH, WHICH IS
$72 MILLION OVER THE BUDGET
REQUEST TO RESTORE FUNDING TO
THE CURRENT LEVEL.
WITH LITTLE ROOM TO MANEUVER ON
THE V.A. SIDE OF THE LEDGER, THE
VAST MAJORITY OF THE SAVINGS IN
THE BILL COMES FROM INCREMENTING
OR DEFUNDING CERTAIN MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THE BILL PROVIDES $13.7 BILLION
FOR MILITARY CONSTRUCTION,
$1 BILLION BELOW THE REQUEST.
THE MILCON REDUCTIONS IN THE
BILL ARE RESTRICTED TO THE
ACTIVE-DUTY COMPONENTS.
THE GUARD AND RESERVE
COMPONENTS, FAMILY HOUSING,
BARRACK AND OTHER ACCOUNTS ARE
FULLY FUNDED AT THE PRESIDENT'S
REQUEST.
EVERY MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT FUNDED IN THIS BILL IS
AUTHORIZED IN THE SENATE DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL, WHICH WAS
UNANIMOUSLY REPORTED OUT OF THE
SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
ON JUNE 16.
IN FACT, IF YOU DO THE MATH, 52
SENATORS IN THIS CHAMBER HAVE
ALREADY VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE
MILCON PORTION OF THIS BILL.
IN ADDITION TO MILCON AND THE
V.A., THE BILL PROVIDES
$221 MILLION FOR SEVERAL RELATED
AGENCIES, INCLUDING ARLINGTON
NATIONAL CEMETARY AND THE
AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS
COMMISSION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WILL SUBMIT A
MORE DETAILED STATEMENT FOR THE
RECORD BUT I AGAIN THANK MY
RANKING MEMBER FOR HIS SUPPORT
IN CRAFTING THIS BILL.
I ALSO THANK THE STAFF OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE, CHRISTINA EVANS,
CHAD SOCUM, AND EDDIE VAN
LINDINGHAM ON MY STAFF, DENNIS
BALKAM AND DIANE DETRY ON THE
MINORITY STAFF AND FORMER
MINORITY STAFFER BEN HAMMOND FOR
THEIR MONTHS OF HARD WORK AND
COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO PRODUCE
THIS BILL.
AGAIN, THIS IS A WELL-BALANCED
AND BIPARTISAN BILL.
IT ADDRESSES RESOURCES VIOLATES
TO THERESOURCES VITAL TOOUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILY AND
TO THE MILLIONS OF VETS WHO HAVE
NATION.
SERVED AND SACRIFICED FOR THE
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK THAT THE
FULL TEXT OF MY REMARKS BE
INCLUDED IN THE RECORD AS IF
READ, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
WITHOUT
MADAM PRESIDENT?
OBJECTION.
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I
FIRST CAME TO CAPITOL HILL IN
1984 DURING RONALD REAGAN'S
FIRST TERM.
I BELIEVE IT WAS CHAIRMAN
HATFIELD RUNNING THE COMMITTEE
ON THE SENATE SIDE AND JAMIE
WITTEN ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
I CARE VERY MUCH ABOUT THE
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AND THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE BECAUSE
I THINK WE SPEND LESS WITH A
HIGHER DEGREE OF TRANSPARENCY
WHEN WE CONSIDER APPROPRIATIONS
BILLS IN REGULAR ORDER, AS THIS
ONE NOW IS.
THIS BILL FUNDS OUR VETERANS
PROGRAMS AND OUR MILITARY
CONSTRUCTION NEEDS MAINLY FOR
THE ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE
AMERICANS WHO WEAR THE UNIFORM
OR WORE THE UNIFORM, UPON WHICH
ALL OF OUR FREEDOMS AND THE
DEPENDS.
INDEPENDENCE OF OUR COUNTRY
TODAY THERE ARE OVER 20 MILLION
VETERANS AND THIS BILL CARES FOR
THEM IN A BIPARTISAN WAY.
WE OWE THESE VETERANS JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE
AND FREEDOM AND THIS BILL CARES
FOR THEM.
NOW, WHY IN THIS DIFFICULT AND
PARTISAN TIME IS THIS BILL
COMING UP IN THIS WAY?
AND WHY IS IT THAT WE HAVE EVERY
REPUBLICAN ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE
AND THE FULL COMMITTEE IN FAVOR
OF THIS LEGISLATION?
IT'S BECAUSE THE CHAIRMAN MADE
THE DECISION THAT I STRONGLY
SUPPORTED TO MARK TO THE HOUSE
LEVEL.
AND WHEN WE MARKED TO THE HOUSE
LEVEL, WE OPENED THE DOOR FOR A
FULL BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS
NEEDED BILL.
WE PRESENT TO THE SENATE THIS
BILL FOR FULL CONSIDERATION,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE
REQUESTS OF MEMBERS IN THEIR
BUDGET SUBMISSION.
BUT LET ME EMPHASIZE, NOT ONLY
ARE WE SLIGHTLY BELOW THE HOUSE
SPENDING LEVEL IN DISCRETIONARY
BUDGET AUTHORITY, BUT THERE ARE
NO EARMARKS IN THIS BILL,
REFLECTING THE NEW WAVE OF
REFORM THAT HAS COME TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, BOTH
HOUSE AND SENATE.
NOW, WE HAVE MADE A TOUGH SET OF
SPENDING DECISIONS IN THIS BILL.
WE HAVE COME IN $1.2 BILLION
BELOW PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPENDING
REQUEST.
WE CAME IN $620 MILLION BELOW
LAST YEAR'S LEVEL.
AND I WAS A BIT SURPRISED THAT
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THIS, AND WE
COULD, WE ARE EVEN $2.6 MILLION
BELOW THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN
APPROVED LEVEL AND THE BILL PUT
TOGETHER BY CHAIRMAN CULVERSON.
NOW, THIS BILL SPENDS IN
DISCRETIONARY BUDGET AUTHORITY
LESS THAN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AND I WILL JUST
POINT OUT THAT WHEN THE HOUSE
TOOK UP THIS LEGISLATION, OVER
400 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS, SUPPORTED THIS
LEGISLATION AND ONLY FIVE
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE VOTED
AGAINST THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT'S WHY THIS LEGISLATION
ENJOYS SUCH TREMENDOUS
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON OUR SIDE.
NOW, THIS BILL WOULD NOT BE
POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE OUTSTANDING
WORK OF CHAIRMAN JOHNSON AND HIS
STAFF.
HIS MILITARY EXPERIENCE, MO
IMPORTANTLY HIS SON'S MILITARY
EXPERIENCE -- AND ON BEHALF OF
THE VETERANS OF HIS STATE HE HAS
DONE A VERY GOOD JOB WITH MY
FULL SUPPORT.
WE TAKE CARE OF OUR VETERANS AND
THEIR BENEFITS, THEIR HEALTH
CARE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF
MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THIS
LEGISLATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, MANY --
MADAM PRESIDENT, MANY VETERANS
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS BUT ALSO A
GREAT MANY LIVE IN RURAL AND
EVEN HIGHLY RURAL AREAS, AND
THIS BILL PAYS ATTENTION TO
THEIR NEEDS THANKS TO THE
CHAIRMAN AND ALSO I WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF THE
SENATOR FROM ALASKA, LISA
MURKOWSKI, IN THE DECISIONS WE
MADE IN THIS BILL TO MAKE SURE
THAT VETERANS WHO LIVE IN THE
STATE OF ALASKA, MAY NOT IN MANY
CASES NOW NEED TO LEAVE THE
STATE FOR THEIR VETERANS CARE.
WE HAVE ALSO WORKED DILIGENTLY
WITH OUR VETERANS SERVICE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND I WOULD
HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS BILL HAS NOW
BEEN ENDORSED BY THE VETERANS OF
FOREIGN WARS, BY AMVETS, BY THE
PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA,
THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS,
AND THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN
VETERANS OF AMERICA.
I TAKE THE LAST ENDORSEMENT VERY
CLOSELY, HAVING AS A RESERVIST
SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN MYSELF.
NOW, CHAIRMAN JOHNSON
HIGHLIGHTED THE FUNDING LEVELS
IN THIS BILL, WHICH I THINK ARE
QUITE IMPORTANT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT
BILL.
SEVERAL POLICY ISSUES IN THIS
NUMBER ONE, ORIGINALLY THE
ADMINISTRATION, OUR COMMANDER IN
SOUTH KOREA, PUT FORWARD AN IDEA
TO BRING ALMOST 50,000 AMERICAN
DEPENDENTS TO SOUTH KOREA TO
BUILD HOMES AND HOSPITALS AND
SCHOOLS, BUT THE COST COULD BE
UPWARDS OF OVER $20 BILLION TO
TRANSFER THIS MANY AMERICANS TO
THE KOREAN PENINSULA.
GIVEN THE TIME OF DEFICITS AND
DEBT, GIVEN THIS ENORMOUS BILL,
I THINK D.O.D. IS RETHINKING
PROPOSAL, AS THEY WISELY
SHOULD, AND I THINK THIS BILL
LAYS OUT A SET OF CONCERNS OVER
WHERE WE GO WITH SUCH A SPENDING
DECISION.
WITH REGARD TO GUANTANAMO, VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME, ORIGINALLY
THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO TRANSFER
THE AL QAEDA CORE OF TERRORISTS
ILLINOIS.
TO MY STATE, TO THOMPSON,
THIS BILL WISELY CONCLUDES THE
OVERWHELMINGLY PROVISION
PROHIBITING CONSTRUCTION OR
RENOVATION OF ANY FACILITY IN
THE UNITED STATES OR ITS
TERRITORIES FOR INDIVIDUALS
DETAINED AT GUANTANAMO BAY.
WITH REGARD TO GUAM, WHILE THE
NAVY IS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE MORE
THAN 17,000 MARINES AND THEIR
FAMILIES FROM OKINAWA TO GUAM,
THE PLAN THAT CHAIRMAN JOHNSON
AND I HAVE SEEN HAS SERIOUS
PROBLEMS AND, THEREFORE, THERE
ARE NO PROJECTS IN THIS BILL
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VERY
COMPLICATED MOVE.
WE DID FUND THE AIR FORCE
REQUEST FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO
THE STRIKE CAPABILITY FOR THE
BEDDOWN OF STRIKE AND
INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES, BUT
THE REST WE ARE LOOKING FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION ON.
ALSO WITH REGARD TO OUR MILITARY
INFRASTRUCTURE IN GERMANY, WE
BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER NEED
FOR ACCOUNTING AND FUNDS AND
THAT WE PROVIDE FOR FACILITIES.
AS A RESULT, WE CUT ABOUT $37
MILLION FROM REQUESTED PROJECTS.
WITH REGARD TO CHARTER SCHOOLS,
IMPROVING EDUCATION FOR OUR
MILITARY FAMILIES, THE CHILDREN
OF SERVICE MEMBERS, WE THINK,
HAVE A UNIQUE SITUATION AND
FEWER CHOICES WHEN CHOOSING
SCHOOLS, AND SO WE'VE ASKED THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO CONDUCT
A STUDY AND TELL THIS COMMITTEE
WHERE CHARTER SCHOOLS COULD MAKE
A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT HERE MY WORK
WITH MY FELLOW SENATOR, SENATOR
DURBIN, OR POTENTIAL CHARTER
SCHOOL OPERATIONS SERVING THE
MEN AND WOMEN AND THE FAMILIES
OF THE GREAT LAKES COMMUNITY IN
NORTHERN ILLINOIS.
I RAISED THE ONE PARTICULAR
ISSUE IMPORTANT TO ME, WHICH IS
THAT OVER TIME WE ARE PLANNING
ON SPENDING UPWARDS OF $20
BILLION, AS WE SHOULD, ON A NEW
FACILITIES FOR GUAM.
BUT I THINK THAT IF WE ARE GOING
TO MAKE THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT
IN GUAM, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT THOSE FACILITIES ARE THERE
WHEN THE UNITED STATES NEEDS
THEM MOST IN A MILITARY
CAPACITY, WHICH IS DURING
COMBAT.
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO ESSENTIAL TO
PROVIDE ALSO FOR THE MISSILE
DEFENSE OF GUAM.
I WOULD SAY FOR THE MISSILE
DEFENSE OF GUAM ON PLATFORMS
THAT CANNOT BE SUNK.
AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE CALLING ON
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NOT TO
IGNORE PLANS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE
MISSILE DEFENSE OF GUAM, AND I
WOULD SAY TO EMPHASIZE, A
LAND-BASED SOLUTION THAT'S MORE
SURVIVABLE.
WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED MORE
SCRUTINY ON THE BUDGET REQUEST,
ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO
FUNDING FOR GENERAL OFFICERS
QUARTERS.
I WILL SAY THAT IN MY REVIEW,
ALONG WITH THE CHAIRMAN, WE SAW
A DISCIPLINED BUDGET REQUEST
LARGELY BY THE AIR FORCE AND THE
NAVY TO HOUSE OUR AIR FORCE
GENERALS AND ADMIRALS, BUT I'VE
BEEN DISAPPOINTED WITH THE ARMY
THAT ORIGINALLY CAME FORWARD
WITH A REQUEST FOR $1.4 MILLION
TO UPGRADE A GENERAL'S GARDEN IN
GERMANY.
LUCKILY THE ARMY HAS PULLED BACK
THAT REQUEST, AND WE'RE LOOKING
FOR FURTHER SCRUTINY TO MAKE
SURE THAT GENERAL OFFICER
QUARTERS BUDGET REQUESTS ARE IN
LINE WITH THE PRACTICE AND THE
SISTER SERVICES OF THE AIR FORCE
AND THE NAVY.
THIS BILL ALSO HANDLES ISSUES
WITH REGARD TO THE V.A.,
ESPECIALLY ON INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY, AND THIS BILL FULLY
FUNDS THE ACCOUNT AND ENCOURAGES
THE DEPARTMENT TO PURSUE
OPEN-SOURCE, OFF-THE-SHELF
TECHNOLOGY FOR ELECTRONIC HEALTH
RECORDS, AND I THINK THAT'S
CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING COST
CONTAINMENT AS WE GO FORWARD.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT WE HAVE
BEEN URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS TO
COME UP WITH ONE COMMON
ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD.
DIVISION HERE IS THAT WHEN AN
AMERICAN JOINS THE U.S. MILITARY
THAT THAT RECORD THEN FOLLOWS
THAT SERVICE MEMBER THROUGH, AT
MINIMUM, FOR EXAMPLE, A
THREE-YEAR ENLISTMENT, AND THEN
A 60- TO 90-YEAR TIME AS A
VETERAN.
IT SHOULD BE A COMMON RECORD,
AND I HOPE THE TWO SECRETARIES,
PANETTA AND SHINSEKI MOVE TO
MAKE SURE THAT BECOMES A
REALITY.
WITH REGARD TO THE CONTINGENCY
FUND IN THIS BILL, THE
DEPARTMENT REQUESTED AT THE V.A.
A CONTINGENCY FUND IN THE EVENT
FUNDS.
THAT THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL
WE DO NOT SUPPORT ESTABLISHING
THIS FUND BUT DID ALLOW THE
DEPARTMENT TO KEEP $664 MILLION
THAT IT RECEIVED LAST YEAR IN
ADVANCE OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR
NOW PROHIBITED PAY RAISES.
THIS SHOULD BE ADEQUATE TO
ENSURE OUR VETERANS ARE NOT ONLY
CARED FOR BUT WILL GIVE THE V.A.
SOME FLEXIBILITY DURING A PERIOD
AFGHANISTAN.
OF CONFLICT IN IRAQ AND
THIS BILL ALSO EMPHASIZES
CAREGIVERS WHO GIVE CARE TO OUR
WOUNDED VETERANS, VETERANS WHO
LIVE IN RURAL AREAS, AND
VETERANS WHO ARE SENT TO
FACILITIES A LONG DISTANCE FROM
THEIR HOME, AS I MENTIONED, IN
THE STATE OF ALASKA.
WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE ISSUE OF
CLAIMS PROCESSING SO THAT OUR
VETERANS CAN FINALLY RECEIVE THE
COMPENSATION THEY DESERVE IN A
REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
I WANT TO ECHO THE CHAIRMAN'S
THANKS TO THE STAFF, ESPECIALLY
LED BY TINA EVANS ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE AND DENNIS
BALKAM ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
BILL.
IN SHORT, THIS IS A VERY GOOD
IT REPRESENTS THE SENATE MOVING
FORWARD ON THE REGULAR ORDER.
IT REPRESENTS GREATER
TRANSPARENCY TO THE
APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO
HIGHLIGHT WE HAVE CUT OR REDUCED
FUNDING IN 24 SEPARATE MAJOR
AREAS, AND THESE WERE HARD
CHOICES TO MAKE.
AND WE DID THEM IN LINE WITH THE
DECISIONS MADE BY THE
AUTHORIZING COMMITTEE UNDER
CHAIRMAN LEVIN AND McCAIN'S
LEADERSHIP.
WE DETPHAOEULD FUNDING FOR A
PROPOSED BRAND-NEW BUILD TO
HOUSE THE COURT OF VETERANS
APPEALS.
BUT IN THIS TIME OF DEFICIT AND
DEBT, I THINK WE SHOULD HOLD
OFF.
IN SUM, THIS BILL REPRESENTS
COOPERATION BETWEEN REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS.
THIS BILL REPRESENTS BUDGET
CONTROL AND COOPERATION BETWEEN
HOUSE AND SENATE.
THIS BILL REPRESENTS COOPERATION
AND COORDINATION BETWEEN THE
AUTHORIZING ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE AND THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE.
AND THIS BILL UNDERLINED WITH
THE ENDORSEMENT OF MAJOR
VETERANS SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS
REPRESENTS A COMMITMENT TO OUR
VETERANS.
I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD.
I KNOW LATER WE WILL CONSIDER A
POINT OF ORDER WITH REGARD TO
NOT TAKING UP A BILL PRIOR TO
THE ADOPTION OF A FORMAL BUDGET.
I WOULD HOPE THAT COMMON SENSE
WOULD PREVAIL HERE.
THAT BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF
THOSE RARE MEASURES WHERE WE'RE
MARKING UP TO THE HOUSE LEVEL
THAT ONLY FIVE MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE VOTED AGAINST THIS BILL AT
THAT LEVEL, THAT ALL OF THE
REPUBLICANS AND ALL OF THE
DEMOCRATS ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE
VOTED FOR THIS LEGISLATION, AND
JUST YESTERDAY 89 MEMBERS VOTED
IN OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN
FASHION FOR CLOTURE TO BRING
THIS BILL UP, THAT WE CAN GET
THE SENATE MOVING AGAIN, THAT WE
CAN GET THE APPROPRIATIONS
PROCESS MOVING AGAIN, THAT WE
CAN STAND BY OUR MEN AND WOMEN
IN UNIFORM THAT NEED THESE
FACILITIES, AND OUR VETERANS.
AND THAT, YES, WE CAN CONTROL
SPENDING IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BUT
STILL MOVE THE SENATE FORWARD.
AND, MADAM PRESIDENT, WITH THAT,
THE
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
MADAM PRESIDENT,
I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THEIR
EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.