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THANK ALL THEM FOR ALL THEIR
HARD WORK, ALL OF SENATOR
COLLINS' STAFF AS WELL, AS WELL
AS OUR CHAIRMAN, SENATOR INOUYE,
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
EVENING.
PASSAGE OF THIS BILL THIS
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
BE TERMINATED.
CONSENT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE
WOULD YIELD BACK WHATEVER TIME
WAS LEFT HERE WITH THE -- ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE TIME IS YIELDED
BACK ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE
GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK
TOMORROW ON THE D.O.D.
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN TOLD BY THE
TWO MANAGERS OF THIS BILL IF
THEY HAVE AMENDMENTS, THEY
SHOULD OFFER THEM.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE ENERGY AND
WATER BILL.
WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS ON THAT
WITH SENATORS FEINSTEIN AND
LAMAR ALEXANDER.
WE HAVE SOME NOMINATIONS WE'RE
WORKING ON.
THE NEXT VOTE WILL BE 5:30 P.M.
ON NOVEMBER 28.
TOMORROW.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D
YIELD BACK THE REPUBLICAN TIME.
ALL TIME
BACK.
IS YIELDED BACKMENT -- YIELDED
THE QUESTION IS --
IS THERE A SUFFICIENT SECOND?
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THERE IS.
THE QUESTION IS ON THE ADOPTION
OF THE CONFERENCE REPORT.
TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 2112.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
VOTE:
VOTE:
ARE THERE
ANY OTHER SENATORS WISHING TO
VOTE OR TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE?
IF NO, ON THIS VOTE THE YEAS
ARE 70, THE NAYS ARE 30.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER
REQUIRING 60 VOTES FOR THE
ADOPTION OF THIS CONFERENCE
REPORT, THE CONFERENCE REPORT
IS ADOPTED.
A SENATOR: MOVE TO RECONSIDER
THAT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF I
COULD HAVE ORDER.
THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE, A NUMBER OF SENATORS
HERE WHO WANT TO OFFER THEIR
AMENDMENTS, MAKE THEM PENDING
TONIGHT AND THAT'S FINE WITH US.
THE
SENATOR IS CORRECT, THE SENATE
IS NOT IN ORDER.
WILL THE SENATORS PLEASE TAKE
THEIR CONVERSATIONS OUT OF THE
CHAMBER.
THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
SENATORS WHO HAVE AMENDMENTS
THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO CALL UP
TONIGHT, MAKE THEM PENDING AND
THEN SET THEM ASIDE AND THEN IF
THEY HAVE SPEECHES, I WOULD
SUGGEST THAT THEY WITHHOLD
SPEECHES UNTIL EVERYBODY WHO HAS
AMENDMENTS HERE CAN OFFER THEM
AND SET THEM ASIDE SO THAT WE
CAN ALLOW PEOPLE TO LEAVE AND
THEN HAVE THE SPEECHES COME, IF
THERE ARE SPEECHES TONIGHT,
AFTER ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO MAKE
OPPORTUNITY.
THEIR AMENDMENT PENDING HAS THAT
THAT'S THE PROCESS I WOULD
SUGGEST.
SENATOR McCAIN IS
SUPPORTIVE OF THAT PROCESS.
SO THAT'S MY SUGGESTION.
THAT THE CHAIR RECOGNIZE
PEOPLE, AS THE CHAIR WISHES,
CALL UP YOUR AMENDMENT, SET IT
ASIDE, LET THE NEXT PERSON CALL
UP THE AMENDMENT, SET IT ASIDE
AND IF THERE'S ANY SPEECHES,
THAT THEY COME AFTER EVERYBODY
WHO IS RECOGNIZED TO CALL UP
OPPORTUNITY.
THEIR AMENDMENTS HAVE THAT
NOW, ONE OTHER THING: THIS
RELATES TO WHAT WILL HAPPEN
HOPEFULLY TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.
AND THAT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
TRY TO CLEAR AMENDMENTS, IF WE
CAN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW.
WE'LL BE HERE 9:00 AND WE'RE
GOING TO TRY TO CLEAR AS MANY
AMENDMENTS AS WE CAN BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE PROGRESS ON
THIS BILL AND I WANT TO THANK
SENATOR McCAIN FOR ALL HE'S
DOING TO HELP THAT PROCESS AND
HELP OUR LEADERS.
THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
I UNDERSTAND WE
HAVE A COUPLE OF AMENDMENTS
ALREADY FROM SENATOR CARDIN, I
AND 1188.
I SEE THE SENATOR FROM
LOUISIANA, HE IS ALSO PROBABLY
READY FOR HIS AMENDMENTS.
IS THAT CORRECT?
ARE HIS TWO AMENDMENTS CLEARED
ON YOUR SIDE, DO YOU KNOW?
WE'VE CLEARED ONE.
WE SHOULD,
MOMENTARILY.
MOMENTARILY.
ALL RIGHT.
THE
SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
PENDING AMENDMENTS BE SET ASIDE
IN ORDER TO CALL UP AMENDMENTS
1125 AND 1126.
I FURTHER ASK THAT SENATOR LEAHY
LEAHY, DURBIN AND UDALL OF
COLORADO BE LISTED AS COSPONSORS
OF BOTH AMENDMENTS.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA, MRS. FEINSTEIN,
PROPOSES EN BLOC AMENDMENTS
NUMBERED 1125 AND 1126.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM COLORADO.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
PENDING AMENDMENT BE SET ASIDE
AND AMENDMENT 1107 BE CALLED UP.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
COLORADO, MR. UDALL, PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1107.
STRIKE SUBTITLE 2 OF TITLE 10
AND INSERT THE FOLLOWING.
SUBTITLE D, DETAINEE MATTERS.
SECTION 1031, REVIEW OF
AUTHORITY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF
THE UNITED STATES.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'D
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
READING OF THE AMENDMENT BE
WAIVED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK TO MAKE PENDING OR TO SET
ASIDE THE PENDING AMENDMENTS AND
TO CALL UP AMENDMENT NUMBER 1015
AND I ASK TO MAKE IT PENDING ON
BEHALF OF MYSELF, SENATOR SNOWE.
AND I APPRECIATE THE
COSPONSORSHIP OF SENATORS
SHAHEEN, BROWN AND KERRY, IF WE
COULD CALL UP THE AMENDMENT.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
LOUISIANA, FOR HERSELF AND MRS.
SNOWE, PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT
NUMBERED -- 1115.
AT THE END, ADD THE FOLLOWING.
I ASK CONSENT
TO DISPENSE WITH THE READING.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE
TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
RESEARCH PROGRAMS OF THE SMALL
BUSINESSES OF THIS COUNTRY.
I THANK YOU.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SET
ASIDE THE PENDING AMENDMENT AND
1197.
CALL UP MY AMENDMENT NUMBERED
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
MINNESOTA, MR. FRANKEN, PROPOSES
AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1197.
AT THE END OF SUBTITLE E OF
TITLE 8 --
MR. PRESIDENT, I
AMENDMENT BE WAIVED.
ASK THAT FURTHER READING OF THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MARYLAND.
CARDIN: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE PENDING AMENDMENT BE
SET ASIDE SO THAT I MAY OFFER
AMENDMENT 1073.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
MARYLAND, MR. CARDIN, FOR
HIMSELF AND MS. MIKULSKI,
PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT NUMBERED
1073.
AT THE END --
I ASK THAT
CONSTITUTE THE READING OF THE
AMENDMENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ALSO ASK CONSENT THAT THAT
AMENDMENTAMENDMENT NOW BE SET ASIDE SO I
CAN OFFER AMENDMENT NUMBER 1188.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
MARYLAND, MR. CARDIN, FOR
HIMSELF AND OTHERS, PROPOSES AN
I ASK UNANIMOUS
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1188.
CONSENT THAT BE CONSIDERED THE
READING OF THE A.M.
WITHOUT-- THE READING OF THE AMENDMENT.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
DON'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE ON THE
FLOOR.
I'M SORRY, THERE IS ONE.
COMMITTEE.
I YIELD TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
THE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
MR. PRESIDENT, ON
1188, I BELIEVE THAT THIS
AMENDMENT HAS BEEN CLEARED AND
THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PASS IT.
NO.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS AMENDMENT
HAS BEEN CLEARED ON BOTH SIDES
AND WE COULD ACTUALLY PASS 1188
TONIGHT.
RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF --
IS THERE
FURTHER DEBATE ON THE AMENDMENT?
IF NOT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
OPPOSED, NO.
THAT'S 1188.
THAT'S
CORRECT.
THE AYES APPEAR TO HAVE IT.
THE AYES DO HAVE IT.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
MOVE TO LAY THAT ON
THE TABLE.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM ALASKA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
CONSENT THAT THE CURRENT
AMENDMENT BE SET ASIDE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TO CALL UP
AMENDMENT NUMBER 114 TO SENATE
BILL 1867, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM
ALASKA, MR. BEGICH, FOR HIMSELF
AND OTHERS, PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1114.
AT THE END OF SUBTITLE E OF
TITLE 3 OF THE --
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
TO WAIVE THE READING.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
CONSENT THAT THE CURRENT
AMENDMENT BE SET ASIDE FOR ONE
MORE.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
LET ME GIVE YOU THE
NUMBER.
1149.
SENATE BILL, AMENDMENT NUMBER
THE SENATOR FROM
ALASKA, MR. BEGICH, PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1149.
AT THE END OF SUBTITLE C OF
TITLE --
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THE WAIVING OF THE READING.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM MARYLAND.
MR. PRESIDENT, IF
THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT IS --
WISHES TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT AT
BRIEF -- I UNDERSTAND THE
THIS TIME, I WAS GOING TO MAKE A
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE
WISHES TO --
LET ME YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM
NEW HAMPSHIRE, IF I MIGHT.
THANK YOU.
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SET
ASIDE THE PENDING AMENDMENT AND
TO CALL UP AMENDMENT NUMBER 1120
1120.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE SENATOR FROM NEW
HAMPSHIRE, MRS. SHAHEEN, FOR
HERSELF AND OTHERS, PROPOSES AN
AMENDMENT NUMBERED 1120.
AT THE END OF SUBTITLE B OF
TITLE 7, ADD THE FOLLOWING:
SECTION 714.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
DISPENSED WITH.
READING OF THE AMENDMENT BE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MARYLAND.
MR. PRESIDENT,
FIRST, LET ME THANK SENATOR
LEVIN AND SENATOR McCAIN IN
REGARDS TO THE AMENDMENT 1188,
WHICH WAS HOTELS FOR HEROES.
I'M GOING TO BE VERY, VERY
BRIEF.
HOTELS FOR HEROES FOLLOWS ON THE
HERO MILES, A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM
WHERE OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS ARE
ABLE TO GET THEIR FAMILIES
TOGETHER USING FREQUENT FLYER
MILES THAT ARE DONATED.
I WANT TO COMPLIMENT MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE,
CONGRESSMAN RUPERSBURGER.
THIS EXPANDS THAT PROGRAM FOR
HOTEL MILES SO THAT THE FAMILY
CAN USE THE DONATED HOTEL MILES
IN ORDER TO HAVE HOUSING SO THEY
CAN VISIT THEIR WOUNDED WARRIORS
IN OUR -- AT OUR FACILITIES.
I WANT TO COMMENT VERY BRIEFLY
ON THE OTHER AMENDMENT THAT I
FILED WHICH IS SENATE AMENDMENT
1073 THAT I FILED WITH SENATOR
MIKULSKI.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD PROHIBIT
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA'S
NATIONAL GUARD FROM OPERATING OR
EXPANDING ITS YOUTH CHALLENGE
PROGRAM IN ANN ARUNDLE COUNTY,
BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY A BETTER
ALTERNATIVE IN PLACE.
THE D.C. NATIONAL GUARD
CURRENTLY PARTNERS WITH THE
MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD TO
PROVIDE VALUABLE SERVICE TO
AT-RISK CHILDREN THROUGH THE
YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM AT
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS IN
HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND.
I HAVE VISITED THAT SITE AND
THAT'S THE SITE WHERE I THINK
EXPANSION.
IT'S LOGICAL TO SEE AN -- AN
THE PROBLEM WITH THE OAK HILL
FACILITY, WHICH IS WHAT THIS
AMENDMENT DEALS WITH, IS THAT IT
BORDERS THE NATIONAL SECURITY
AGENCY.
THIS IS FEDERAL PROPERTY LOCATED
IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT IS
VALUABLE FOR OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY.
IN THE 1920'S, THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA GOT PERMISSION FROM
CONGRESS TO PLACE ON THAT
PROPERTY -- AND I'M QUOTING FROM
THE AUTHORIZING LANGUAGE -- IT
WAS A FACILITY FOR -- FOR
CHILDREN THAT ARE FEEBLEMINDED.
AUTHORIZATION.
THAT'S THE EXACT QUOTE FROM THE
SINCE THAT TIME, THE DISTRICT,
WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE, CONSTRUCTED A
JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS
TO SAY, LOOK, WE HAVE A PLACE
WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
WE SHOULDN'T BE USING OTHER
FEDERAL LAND IN THE STATE OF
MARYLAND FOR EXPANSIONS WITHOUT
WORKING WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL
OFFICIALS.
I HOPE THAT THIS AMENDMENT CAN
GET CLEARED BUT I WANTED TO
EXPLAIN THE REASON WHY I FILED
IT.
AND I THANK THE CHAIR FOR YOUR
ATTENTION AND I THANK THE
CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER.
AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
1197 --
AMENDMENT I OFFERED, NUMBER
THE
SENATOR FROM MR. McCAIN:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA HAS THE
FLOOR.
WOULD YOU LIKE THE
FLOOR?
THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
I WILL JUST SAY
MAINE.
THAT WE HAVE THE SENATOR FROM
WE -- I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO
GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
PENDING AMENDMENTS BEFORE WE
SPOKE.
I THINK THE SENATOR'S AMENDMENT
IS ALREADY PENDING.
IT IS.
I THOUGHT BECAUSE THE SENATOR
FROM MARYLAND SPOKE TO HIS
AMENDMENT, I THOUGHT THAT
PROCESS WAS OVER.
I APOLOGIZE.
NOT AT ALL.
IT'S NO BIG DEAL AT ALL.
MAYBE THE SENATOR FROM MAINE
COULD MAKE HER AMENDMENT
PENDING.
I YIELD TO THE
SENATOR FROM MAINE.
THE
SENATOR FROM MAINE IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUES,
MR. PRESIDENT.
A SENATOR: WOULD THE SENATOR
YIELD?
THE
SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN.
I JUST WANT TO THANK
THE SENATOR FROM MINIMUM FOR HIS
COURTESY BECAUSE HE HAD NO WAY
OF KNOWING THAT THE SENATOR FROM
AMENDMENTS.
MAINE WAS HERE TO OFFER HER
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE
SENATOR.
I'D LIKE TO THANK
THE SENATOR FROM MICHIGAN FOR
THANKING ME.
MR. PRESIDENT, NOW
THAT EVERYONE'S PROPERLY
RECOGNIZED AND THANKED, I WOULD
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
PENDING AMENDMENT BE SET ASIDE
AND I WOULD CALL UP TO MAKE
PENDING EN BLOC AMENDMENT NUMBER
1105, 1155, 1158, AND 1180,
WITHOUT
WHICH ARE AT THE DESK.
OBJECTION.
THE CLERK WILLTHE CLERK WILL REPORT EN BLOC.
THE SENATOR THE SENATOR FROM
MAINE, MRS. COLLINS, PROPOSES
ENBLOC AMENDMENTS NUMBERED 1105,
THANK YOU,
1155, 1158, AND 1180.
MR. PRESIDENT.
I THANK THE RANKING MEMBER AND
THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SET THE PENDING
AMENDMENT ASIDE FOR THE PURPOSE
CONSIDERATION OF TEN
AMENDMENTS EN BLOC AND I WILL
READ THESE.
NUMBER 1094, 1095, 1096, 1097,
1098, 1099, 1100, 1101, 1102,
AND 1190 -- 1093.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR FROM
THE CLERK WILL REPORT EN BLOC.
OKLAHOMA, MR. INHOFE, PROPOSES
EN BLOC AMENDMENTS NUMBERED
1094, 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098,
1099, 1100, 1101, 1102, AND
I ASK UNANIMOUS
1103.
CONSENT TO DISPENSE WITH THE
READING.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE
AMENDMENT I OFFER, NUMBER 1197,
WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.
SMALL BUSINESSES OFTEN SERVE AS
SUBCONTRACTORS OR SUPPLIERS TO
LARGE CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE A
PRIMARY GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
MY AMENDMENT WOULD HELP
GUARANTEE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
GET PAID BY THESE LARGE
CORPORATION NASA TIMELY WAY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, MY AMENDMENT
WOULD REQUIRE THE OFFICE OF
MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO ISSUE
REGULATIONS IN THE NEXT YEAR TO
DO THIS.
THIS AMENDMENT SOUNDS SIMPLE.
THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO
HERE TODAY THAT WILL OFFER REAL
AND SIGNIFICANT HELP FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES.
IT'S GOING TO OFFER
PREDICTABILITY AND CERTAINTY TO
THEM.
WHO OWNS A SMALL BUSINESS
WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY CAN'T
HIRE MORE PEOPLE OR PLAN FOR THE
FUTURE IF THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN
THEIR NEXT PAYCHECK IS COMING.
GETTING THEIR MONEY MORE
PREDICTABLY AND QUICKLY WILL
ENABLE THEM TO MAKE INVESTMENTS
THAT THEY NEED TO GROW, THRIVE
AND HIRE MORE PEOPLE.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
RECOGNIZED THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES OUR
ECONOMY.
ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CENSUS
BUREAU, SMALL BUSINESSES CREATE
AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ALL
NEW JOBS.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ALSO
RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCING HALF
THE PRIVATE SECTOR G.D.P.
GIVEN THIS, IT MAKES SENSE THAT
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
MAKE SURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
ARE GETTING PAID ON TIME.
O.M.B. RECOGNIZES THIS AND JUST
ISSUED A NEW POLICY STATEMENT
THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL FEDERAL
AGENCIES TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO
THEIR SMALL BUSINESS CONTRACTORS
WITHIN 15 DAYS OF RECEIVING AN
A LOT
OF SMALL BUSINESSES SERVE AS
SUBCONTRACTORS TO DIRECT PRIME
CONTRACTORS.
IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT WE
SHOULD REQUIRE OUR LARGE PRIME
CONTRACTORS TO PLAY BY THE SAME
RULES THAT WE PLAY BY AND TO PAY
MANNER.
THEIR SUPPLIERS IN A TIMELY
WHEN CONGRESS PASSED THE PROMPT
PAYMENTS ACT BACK IN 1983,
RECOGNIZING THAT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT NEEDED TO LEAD BY
EXAMPLE AND THAT WE SHOULD BE
PAYING ALL OF OUR CONTRACTORS IN
NO MORE THAN 30 DAYS AFTER THE
CONTRACTORS SENT AN INVOICE OUR
WAY AND CONGRESS WENT BACK IN
1988 TO CREATE AN OBLIGATION ON
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS IF THEY
PAY THEIR SUPPLIERS WITHIN SEVEN
DAYS OF THE GOVERNMENT PAYING
THEM, BUT NO OTHER CONTRACTORS
WERE UNDER THE SAME COMMONSENSE
OBLIGATION.
I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE THAT WE
SHOULD CORRECT, ESPECIALLY AS WE
ARE POURING BILLIONS AND
GOVERNMENT DOLLARS
INTO CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
OVERSEAS AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER
PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO
WITH CONSTRUCTION.
ALL SUPPLIERS WORKING WITH THESE
CONTRACTORS DESERVE TO BE PAID
ON TIME, AND I AM HOPING ONE DAY
WE CAN TACKLE THIS PROBLEM FOR
ALL SUBCONTRACTORS, NOT JUST
SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE
SUBCONTRACTORS.
BUT FOR NOW, MY AMENDMENT TAKES
A MODEST APPROACH AND FOCUSES ON
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM -- CREATING
CERTAINTY AND PREDICTABILITY FOR
SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS.
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES RECENTLY
CONDUCTED A SURVEY, AND THEY
FOUND THAT NEARLY 40% OF FIRMS
REPORTED THAT RECEIVABLES ARE
COMING IN AT A SLOWER PACE.
I HAVE HEARD STORIES FROM
COMPANIES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
PAID IN 90 DAYS OR 120 DAYS
AFTER BEING INVOICEED -- OR
AFTER THEY HAVE INVOICED.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
THESE SORTS OF DELAYS AFFECT
CASH FLOW FOR THESE SMALL
TOUGH FOR
THESE BUSINESSES TO MEET PAYROLL
OBLIGATIONS AND PAY THEIR OTHER
BASIC BILLS LIKE THEIR RENT.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL A PERSONAL
STORY THAT JUST RELATES TO SMALL
BUSINESSES AND HOW IMPORTANT
THIS IS TO THEM JUST TO BE PAID
ON TIME OR HOW IMPORTANT CASH
FLOW IS.
MY UNCLE LIONEL KUNTZ WAS A
SMALL BUSINESSMAN.
HE DIED IN 1994.
I WENT TO HIS FUNERAL.
AT THE FUNERAL, A NUMBER OF HIS
BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, PEOPLE WHO
SUPPLIED HIM -- HE MADE FABRIC,
HE MADE QUILTING.
PEOPLE WHO SUPPLIED HIM AND
PEOPLE WHOM HE SUPPLIED, ONE
AFTER ANOTHER GOT UP AND
TESTIFIED TO HOW QUICKLY HE PAID
PAY ON
TIME, THAT HE WOULD CUT THEM
SOME SLACK.
THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO
THEM.
MY UNCLE WAS A MENSCH.
IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
IT WAS A BIG DEAL.
ABOUT THIS.
THESE GUYS GOT UP AND ALL TALKED
THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD DO, WE
SHOULD DO FOR THESE SMALL
BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS, JUST
MAKE SURE THEY GET PAID ON TIME.
THAT'S ALL.
THIS IS A SENSIBLE AND SIMPLE
SOLUTION, MR. PRESIDENT, TO A
REAL PROBLEM THAT SMALL
BUSINESSES ARE CONFRONTING.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
ME IN THIS EFFORT.
I THANK -- THANK YOU AND I YIELD
MR. PRESIDENT.
THE FLOOR.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT MY DEFENSE FELLOW
HADLEY BE GIVEN
FLOOR PRIVILEGES DURING THE
CONSIDERATION OF THIS BILL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
I ASK THAT THE QUORUM
CALL BE VITIATED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I WOULD FIRST OF ALL LIKE TO
THANK CHAIRMAN LEVIN AND RANKING
MEMBER McCAIN FOR THEIR WORK