Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
THOSE CAPS WHICH PASSED INTO LAW
LAST YEAR AS PART OF THE
FINANCIAL OVERHAUL BILL ARE DUE
TO GO INTO EFFECT NEXT MONTH.
AND IT WOULD HAVE DELAYED THEM
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
NOW LIVE COVERAGE OF THE U.S.
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.
ALMIGHTY GOD, LIFE OF OUR LIFE,
YOU HAVE GIVEN US THIS NATION
FOR OUR HERITAGE.
TODAY, WE ASK THAT YOU WILL KEEP
US MINDFUL OF YOUR FAVOR AND
GLAD TO DO YOUR WILL.
USE THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY TO
UPHOLD THE PUBLIC INTEREST, TO
LABOR FOR JUSTICE, TO LOVE
MERCY, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH
YOU.
GIVE THEM THE WISDOM TO USE
THEIR POWER FOR THE HEALING OF
OUR LAND.
KEEP THEIR GOALS HIERKS THEIR
VISION CLERKS AND THEIR MINDS
KEEN.
AND, LORD, WE ASK YOUR CHOICEST
BLESSINGS UPON OUR DEPARTING
PAGE CLASS.
WE PRAY IN YOUR RIGHTEOUS NAME.
AMEN.
PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, D.C,
JUNE 9, 2011.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, OF THE STANDING
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
APPOINT THE HONORABLE TOM UDALL,
A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW
MEXICO, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES
OF THE CHAIR.
SIGNED: DANIEL K. INOUYE,
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MAJORITY LEADER IS RECOGNIZED.
REID FOLLOWING ANY LEADER
REMARKS THE SENATE WILL BE IN A
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS FOR
ONE HOUR, WITH THE REPUBLICAN
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
FINAL HALF.
FOLLOWING MORNING BUSINESS, THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY FIVE
AMENDMENTS PENDING TO THE BILL.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS AN
IMPORTANT BILL.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BILL
WE'VE EVER DONE?
THE ANSWER IS, OF COURSE NOT.
BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
THE ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION ACT
IS CENTRAL.
WHAT ARE THE CENTRAL POINTS OF
THIS LEGISLATION?
THE E.D.A. HAS HELPED CREATE
JOBS AND GROWTH IN ECONOMICALLY
HARD-HIT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS
NATION.
THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THIS
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION WILL HELP
ENSURE THAT AGENCIES ARE ABLE TO
CONTINUE CREATING JOBS AND
INVESTING IN DISTRESSED
COMMUNITIES.
SINCE 2005, THE E.D.A. HAS
INVESTED ABOUT $1.2 BILLION, AND
THESE GRANTS HAVE CREATED MORE
THAN 300,000 JOBS, PRECISE LIST
314,000 JOBS.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS
INVESTED IN E.D.A., WE GET $7'
WORTH OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
THAT'S WHY THESE JOBS ARE
CREATED.
BETTER.
THIS LEGISLATION MAKES IT
IT IS A BIPARTISAN BILL.
SENATOR BOXER AND INHOFE AND
THEIR COMMITTEE HAVE WORKED TO
GET THIS TO THE SENATE FLOOR.
IT INCREASES FLEXIBILITIES FOR
GRANT YEAR, IT LOWERS THE
THROASH HOLD REQUIREMENTS FOR
GRANTEES TO RECEIVE AN INCREASED
FEDERAL SHARKS MAKES MORE
INVESTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR
ASSISTANCE.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE TRYING
TO MOVE THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION
LEGISLATION.
SENATOR SNOWE OFFERED AN
AMENDMENT.
SHE HASN'T COME TO UTTER A
SINGLE WORD ABOUT THIS
AMENDMENT.
THE AMENDMENT WAS OFFERED
YESTERDAY.
THIS IS THE SAME PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT HELD UP OUR
SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION ACT.
WE'VE HAD OTHER SENATORS WHO
AMENDMENTS.
HAVE COME AND OFFERED
I DON'T PARTICULARLY LIKE THE
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE JUNIOR
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT
HE CAME AND SAID, I WANT TO
OFFER THIS AMENDMENT.
I'LL AGREE TO A TIME LIMIT ON
IT.
SENATOR PAWCIALG THE JUNIOR
SENATOR -- SENATOR PAWCIALG THE
JUNIOR SENATOR FROM KENTUCKY,
SAID HE HAD AN AMENDMENT HE
WOULD LIKE TO OFFER.
I DIDN'T ASK FOR TIME AGREEMENTS
ON THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
I SHOULD NOT ACT AS THE PERSON
WHO DETERMINES WHAT AMENDMENTS
ARE OFFERED AN WHICH AMENDMENTS
AREN'T OFFERED.
BUT WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS AN
AMENDMENT, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
WORK IT TO A CONCLUSION.
AND THIS BILL, AS I'VE
INDICATED, IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE
OF LEGISLATION.
WE NEED TO MOVE THROUGH THIS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT TO
THE BEV OF OUR ABILITY.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF VOTES TODAY.
WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO MOVE
THROUGH THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION SO WE CAN MOVE TO
OTHER THINGS.
DO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN
AND WE CAN WORK ON BIPARTISAN
PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
THAT'S MY HOPE TODAY.
I WOULD NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE
MR. PRESIDENT,
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
I WOULD JUST SAY TO MY --
I'D SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER IS RECOGNIZED.
I ASK THAT
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
WITHOUT
QUORUM CALL BE DISPENSED WITH.
OBJECTION.
I I WAS JUST
DISCUSSING WITH THE MAJORITY
LEADER PRIVATELY THE COMMENTS HE
MADE PUBLICLY ABOUT GETTING
VOTES, AND I HAVE ASKED MY
MEMBERS AND I UNDERSTAND HE
INDICATED MOST OF OUR MEMBERS
WHO HAVE AMENDMENTS ARE WILLING
TO TAKE SHORT TIME AGREEMENTS,
AND WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
FORWARD AND HAVE VOTES AND THE
SENATE FUNCTION IN THE WAY THAT
IT SHOULD.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH EACH PASSING
DAY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GROW
MORE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR
NATION'S FUTURE.
THE WASHINGTON POST/ABC NEWS
POLL THIS WEEK SAID BY 2 TO 1,
AMERICANS BELIEVE WE ARE ON THE
WRONG TRACK AND NINE OUT OF TEN
RATE THE ECONOMY NEGATIVELY.
AND YESTERDAY A CNN POLL FOUND
THAT MANY AMERICANS EXPECT
ANOTHER GREAT DEPRESSION.
IT'S IN THIS CONTEXT THAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS STARTED
TALKING ABOUT HOW CONCERNED HE
IS ABOUT JOBS.
THIS WEEK THE PRESIDENT SAID HE
WAKES UP EVERY MORNING AND ASKS
HIMSELF WHAT HE CAN DO TO SPUR
JOB CREATION.
AND EVERY MORNING THIS WEEK I'VE
COME TO THE FLOOR WITH SOME
SUGGESTIONS FOR HIM.
THE FACT IS, MANY AMERICANS HAVE
A HARD TIME BELIEVING THE
PRESIDENT IS FOCUSED ON JOBS
WHEN SO MANY OF HIS POLICIES
SEEM TO BE DESIGNED TO DESTROY
THEM.
AND IN SOME KEY AREAS LIKE
TRADE, ENERGY, AND DEBT, THE
PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A REVERSAL OF
HIS POLICIES WOULD CREATE JOBS
AND SPUR RECOVERY.
LET'S START WITH TRADE.
HOPING TO SOUND LIKE HE HAD A
PLAN FOR JOB CREATION, THE
PRESIDENT USED THE GIANT
PLATFORM PROVIDED BY HIS ANNUAL
STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE IN
JANUARY TO DECLARE THAT HE'D
FINALIZED A TRADE AGREEMENT WITH
SOUTH KOREA THAT WOULD SUPPORT
AT LEAST 70,000 AMERICAN JOBS.
YET NEARLY FIVE MONTHS LATER HE
SENT HIS AIDES OUT TO SAY THAT
HE WON'T SIGN THEM INTO LAW
UNLESS CONGRESS APPROVES
BILLIONS MORE IN GOVERNMENT
SPENDING FIRST.
ON ENERGY, THE PRESIDENT HAS
ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRESSURE THAT
REGULATIONS PUT ON JOB CREATORS.
THAT'S WHY HE ORDERED A REVIEW
OF THEM IN JANUARY.
YET BY ONE ESTIMATE, THE
NATIONAL ENERGY TAX HIS
ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO PASS
THROUGH THE E.P.A. COULD COST,
BY SOME ESTIMATES, MILLIONS OF
JOBS -- MILLIONS.
AND WHILE THE PRESIDENT HAS
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IN ORDER TO
SUSTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND
CREATE JOBS, AS HE PUT IT LAST
YEAR, WE'D NEED TO HARNESS
TRADITIONAL SOURCES OF ENERGY,
HIS CONTINUED REFUSAL TO REISSUE
DRILLING PERMITS IN THE GULF HAS
AN A DEVASTATING ECONOMIC
EFFECT.
ON THE DEBT, THE PRESIDENT
HIMSELF HAS SAID, AND I QUOTE,
"IF WE DON'T HAVE A SERIOUS PLAN
TO TACKLE THE DEBT AND THE
DEFICIT THAT COULD FUELLY END UP
BEING A BIGGER DRAG ON THE
ECONOMY THAN ANYTHING ELSE."
END QUOTE.
AND YET UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP,
THE NATION'S NATIONAL DEBT HAS
SKYROCKETED 35% FROM $10.
5 TRILLION TO $14.2 TRILLION.
OUR DEFICIT IS THREE TIMES
BIGGER THAN THE BIGGEST ANNUAL
DEFICIT DURING THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION AND THE PRESIDENT
REFUSES TO PUT FORWARD A SERIOUS
PLAN TO DO ANYTHING TO BRING THE
DEBT OR THE DEFICIT DOWN.
SO THERE'S A PATTERN HERE.
THE PRESIDENT LIKES TO SAY THAT
HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY
AND JOBS, BUT HIS POLICIES TELL
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY.
HE CAN TALK ALL HE WANTS, BUT HE
CAN'T WALK AWAY FROM WHAT HE'S
DONE, AND THE THINGS HE'S
FAILING TO DO RIGHT NOW TO
CREATE PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS, AND
TO GET OUR ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN.
CHIEF AMONG THEM IS HIS REFUSAL
TO DO ANYTHING TO LOWER THE DEBT
AND DEFICITS HE'S DONE SO MUCH
TO CREATE.
RIGHT NOW THE U.S. BUSINESSES
ARE SEEING SIGNATURE ON NEARLY
$-- ARE SITTING ON NEARLY $2
TRILLION IN CASH.
MOST OF THEM WOULD LOVE TO
INVEST THIS CASH IN NEW PRODUCTS
AND VENTURES AND EMPLOYEES, AND
YET THEY'RE HOLDING BACK.
WHY?
WELL, ITS EATS NOT JUST THE
RESOLUTIONS -- WELL, IT'S NOT
JUST THE REGULATIONS AND MIX
SIGNALS THEY'RE GETTING ON
TAXES, ITS EATS ALSO THE
FUTURE.
UNCERTAINTY SURROUNDING OUR
HOW CAN BUSINESSES BE CONFIDENT
ABOUT THE FUTURE AND HIRE NEW
WORKERS TO BUILD THAT FUTURE IF
THE DEMOCRATS WHO RUN THE WHITE
HOUSE AROUND WILLING TO DO
ANYTHING -- ANYTHING AT ALL --
ABOUT OUR DEFICIT AND OUR DEBT?
INVESTMENT FOLLOWS CERTAINTY.
THAT'S ONE THING THIS WHITE
HOUSE REFUSES TO PROVIDE.
AND THIS ONGOING UNCERTAINTY IS
PARALYZING OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY
AND SERIOUSLY HINDERING JOB
CREATION.
ONE RECENT STUDY SUGGESTS THAT
ANY NATION WHICH CARRIES A
PUBLIC DEBT LOAD AT OR ABOVE 90%
OF ITS ECONOMY LOSES ONE POINT
OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, WHICH THE
ADMINISTRATION'S OWN ECONOMISTS
HAVE SAID IS EQUIVALENT TO 1
MILLION JOBS.
SO WHY WON'T THEY PROPOSE A
SERIOUS PLAN TO LOWER IT?
WHEN WILL THE ADMINISTRATION
FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT IF KNOWS
IT HAS TO DO TO SPUR JOB GROWTH?
THE SOLUTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT,
ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
THE ADMINISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGES
THAT FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS,
EXSPANDLING DOMESTIC ENERGY
EXPLORATION, CUTTING
REGULATIONS, PROVIDING TAX
SERNGHTS AND REDUCING THE DEBT
WILL LEAD TO A DRAMATIC INCREASE
IN JOBS.
SO WHY WON'T IT FOLLOW THROUGH?
TOO OFTEN, UNFORTUNATELY, THE
ANSWER IS POLITICAL.
WANT TO CROSS SOME
SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP, WHETHER
IT IS THOSE WHO DON'T LIKE TRADE
AGREEMENTS OR THOSE WHO DON'T
LIKE THE PRIVATE COMPANIES LIKE
D. LIKE THE WAY PRIVATE
COMPANIES LIKE BOEING RUN THEIR
BUSINESSES OR THOSE WHO JUST
DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP A SINGLE,
SOLITARY PENNY OF FEDERAL
SPENDING.
BUT THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GOALS OF
SOME POLITICAL INTEREST GROUP.
WE HAVE TO REIN IN OUR DEBT, CUT
SPENDING, REDUCE TAXES, REFORM
ECONOMY.
ENTITLEMENTS, AND GROW THIS
THIS ADMINISTRATION KNOWS THIS
AS WELL AS I DO.
IT'S TIME TO ACT.
SO LOOKING AHEAD, THE KEY TO
SUCCESS, IN MY VIEW AND IN THE
JUDGMENT OF OTHERS, INCLUDING
MOODY'S, IS FOR EVERYONE
INVOLVED TO VIEW THE UPCOMING
DEBT LIMIT VOTE AS AN
OPPORTUNITY -- AN OPPORTUNITY --
AN OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE
WASHINGTON SPENDING NOW AND TO
SAVE THE TAXPAYERS TRILLIONS OF
DOLLARS OVER THE LONG-TERM.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT OUR
FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER AND
PREVENT THE FISCAL CRISIS THAT
WE ALL KNOW IS COMING.
WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
THE TIME TO DO IT IS NOW.
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
LEADERSHIP TIME IS RESERVED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL BE IN A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS FOR ONE HOUR
WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
EACH, WITH THE TIME EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED BETWEEN
THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES, WITH THE REPUBLICANS
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE MAJORITY CONTROLLING THE
FINAL HALF.
THE SENATOR FROM IOWA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
COME TO THE FLOOR TO INTRODUCE A
PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I HAVE
INTRODUCED MANY TIMES IN PAST
CONGRESSES, MAKE SOME PROGRESS
ON THE GOALS THAT I SEEK BUT NOT
GETTING 100% FINALITY OF THE
POLICIES THAT I WANT.
AND I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO DO THIS
WITH A BIPARTISAN PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
TODAY I DO IT WITH SENATOR
JOHNSON OF SOUTH DAKOTA.
I'LL LET SENATOR JOHNSON SPEAK
FOR HIMSELF.
I WANT TO GIVE THE REASONS THAT
I'M INTRODUCING THIS BILL IN MY
REMARKS FOR TODAY.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT ON
MOST FARM POLICY -- AND THIS
DEALS WITH FARM POLICY -- THAT
THE SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA,
MR. JOHNSON, AND I AGREE ON MOST
EVERYTHING ON FARM POLICY.
AND THIS IS A PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT'S PROBABLY
GOING TO COME UP NOT SO MUCH
STAND-ALONE AS WHEN WE DISCUSS
THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FARM
BILL, WHICH GENERALLY COULD
START THIS YEAR AND PROBABLY GO
INTO NEXT YEAR.
BUT I WANT MY COLLEAGUES TO KNOW
THAT THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT I'M
NOT GIVING UP ON.
IT DEALS WITH THE ISSUE OF HOW
MUCH ONE INDIVIDUAL FARMER
SHOULD GET FROM THE FARM
PROGRAM.
AND SO MY APPROACH IS TO PUT
WHAT YOU CALL A HARD CAP ON THE
AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT ONE FARMER
CAN GET.
MY REMARKS WILL EXPLAIN WHY.
ALSO, THOUGH, IN A TIME WHEN WE
HAVE GREAT BUDGET DEFICITS,
PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT I'M
INTRODUCING THIS BILL JUST
BECAUSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE
BUDGET DEFICIT, BECAUSE THIS
BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL SAVE
ABOUT $1.5 BILLION.
BUT THAT'S NOT MY MAIN PURPOSE
FOR DOING IT.
MY MAIN PURPOSE IS TO HAVE THE
HISTORICAL BASIS FOR A SAFETY
NET FOR FARMERS TO -- THE
PRINCIPLE THAT OUR SAFETY NET
OUGHT TO BE TARGETED TOWARDS
SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZE FARMERS.
SO TODAY SENATOR JOHNSON AND I
ARE INTRODUCING THE RURAL
AMERICAN PRESERVATION ACT.
AMERICA'S FARMERS PRODUCE THE
FOOD THAT FEEDS OUR FAMILIES.
THE BILL HELPS ENSURE THAT OUR
FARMERS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE A
SAFE, ABUNDANT AND INEXPENSIVE
FOOD SUPPLY FOR CONSUMERS AROUND
THE WORLD WHILE MAINTAINING THE
SAFETY NET THAT ALLOWS SMALL AND
MEDIUM-SIZE FARMERS TO GET
THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.
EVERYBODY SEES TOUGH TIMES THAT
ARE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL, BUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FARM
SAFETY NET CAN BE SEEN NO
FARTHER THAN THE DINNER TABLE
THAT EACH OF US SIT AROUND AS
RECENTLY AS LAST NIGHT.
STOP TO THINK, IF YOU WERE
UNABLE TO FEED YOUR CHILDREN FOR
THREE DAYS -- BECAUSE THERE IS
AN OLD ADAGE THAT SAYS SOMETHING
LIKE THIS, THAT YOU'RE ONLY NINE
MEALS AWAY FROM A REVOLUTION.
MAYBE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, IF
YOU LOVE YOUR CHILDREN, MAYBE
YOU WON'T THINK THIS HAPPENS TO
YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE THE
ABUNDANCE OF FOOD SO MUCH IN
AMERICA.
BUT YOU'RE AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT IN A LOT OF COUNTRIES THEY
DO HAVE FOOD RIOTS WHEN THERE IS
A SHORTAGE OF FOOD.
SO YOU MIGHT DO JUST ABOUT
ANYTHING: STEALING, RIOTING,
WHATEVER IT TAKES, TO GIVE THOSE
CHILDREN THE FOOD THAT YOU WANT
THEM TO HAVE TO KEEP THEM ALIVE
AFTER MAYBE NOT HAVING FOOD FOR
THREE STRAIGHT DAYS.
SO, THE COHESION WITHIN OUR
SOCIETY, SOCIAL COHESION THAT
IS, IS ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S
VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE
MAINTAIN A FARM PROGRAM THAT
WILL MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S
READILY AVAILABLE FOOD SUPPLY.
ANOTHER REASON I'M NOT GOING TO
GO INTO IN THESE REMARKS IS THAT
FOOD IS VERY ESSENTIAL TO THE
COUNTRY.
NATIONAL SECURITY OF OUR
IN OTHER WORDS, THE DEFENSE OF
OUR COUNTRY.
AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS RELY
UPON AN OLD ADAGE THAT NAPOLEON
USED TO SAY IS THAT AN ARMY
MARCHES ON ITS BELLY.
ALSO MORE RECENTLY, YOU CAN LOOK
AT THE FARM PRAEPLS IN GERM --
FARM PROGRAMS IN GERMANY AND
JAPAN WHERE THEY HAVE IN THEIR
MIND THE MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE
FOR THEIR WAR EFFORT IN WORLD
WAR II -- THANK GOD THEY DIDN'T
SUCCEED, BUT ANYWAY THEY DID NOT
HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR
MILITARY PEOPLE.
SO I ALSO WANT TO THINK OF SHORT
SUPPLY OF FOOD NOT ONLY FOR
SOCIAL COHESION, BUT ALSO FOR
NATIONAL SECURITY PURPOSES.
TO ENSURE THAT THE FAMILY FARMER
REMAINS ABLE TO PRODUCE A FOOD
SUPPLY FOR THIS COHESIVE AND
STABLE SOCIETY THAT I'VE TALKED
ABOUT, WE NEED TO GET THE FARM
SAFETY NET BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL
INTENT TO HELP SMALL AND
MEDIUM-SIZE FARMERS GET OVER THE
UPS AND DOWNS OF FARMING THAT
ARE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL.
AND THAT COULD BE NATURAL
DISASTER.
IT COULD BE GRAIN EMBARGOES PUT
ON BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
IT COULD BE, IN THE CASE OF
NIXON, FREEZING PRICES OF BEEF
AND RUINING THE BEEF INDUSTRY OF
THE MIDWEST, AS AN EXAMPLE.
YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER, THE
ORIGINAL INTENT OF FEDERAL FARM
PROGRAMS WAS NOT TO HELP FARMERS
GET BIGGER AND BIGGER, BUT THE
SAFETY NET HAS VEERED SHARPLY
OFF COURSE.
AND THAT'S WHY I TALK ABOUT THE
NECESSITY FOR A HARD CAP ON ANY
ONE FARMER GETTING HELP FROM THE
FARM PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE'RE NOW
SEEING ONLY 10% -- ONLY 10% OF
THE LARGEST FARMERS ACTUALLY
GETTING NEARLY 70% OF THE TOTAL
FARM PROGRAM COMING OUT OF THE
TREASURY OF THE UNITED STATES.
THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH A FARMER
GROWING LARGER IN HIS OPERATION.
SO LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR, IF
YOU WANT TO GET BIGGER AND
BIGGER IN AMERICA, THAT'S AN
AMERICAN RIGHT TO DO IT.
BUT THE TAXPAYER SHOULD NOT HAVE
TO SUBSIDIZE THAT EFFORT.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING
TODAY.
THERE COMES A POINT WHERE SOME
FARMS REACH LEVELS THAT ALLOW
THEM TO WEATHER THE TOUGH
FINANCIAL TIMES ON THEIR OWN.
SMALLER FARMERS DO NOT HAVE THAT
SAME LUXURY.
BUT THESE SAME SMALL FARMERS
PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN PRODUCING
THE NATION'S FOOD.
I'VE BEEN APPROACHED TIME AND
TIME AGAIN BY FARMERS CONCERNED
ABOUT WHERE'S THE NEXT
GENERATION OF TPAERPLGS --
FARMERS COMING FROM WHEN THE
PRICE OF FARMLAND IS SHOOTING
UP, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE
FEDERAL TAXPAYERS ARE
SUBSIDIZING THAT EFFORT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP
YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE FARM SO THAT
THEY CAN TAKE THE LEAD IN
PRODUCING OUR FOOD WHEN THE
OLDER GENERATION OF FARMERS IS
READY TO TURN OVER THE REINS.
BUT, THE CURRENT POLICIES THAT
ALLOW 10% OF THE LARGEST FARMERS
TO RECEIVE NEARLY 70% OF THE
TOTAL FARM PROGRAM PAYMENTS
CREATES A REAL BARRIER FOR
BEGINNING FARMERS.
THE CURRENT SYSTEM PUTS UPWARD
PRESSURE ON LAND PRICES, MAKING
IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SMALL AND
BEGINNING FARMERS TO BUY A FARM
OR TO PAY CASH RENT.
THIS ALLOWS THEN THE BIG FARMERS
TO GET EVEN BIGGER.
AND THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY
STATE OF IOWA.
I'M SURE IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO THE
STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, WHERE MY
COSPONSOR FRIEND, SENATOR
JOHNSON, COMES FROM.
THIS UPWARD PRESSURE ON LAND
PRICES IS OCCURRING IN MANY
STATES.
IT IS SIMPLY GOOD POLICY TO HAVE
A HARD CAP ON THE AMOUNT A
SINGLE FARMER CAN RECEIVE IN THE
FARM PROGRAM PAYMENTS.
WE WILL KEEP IN PLACE A
MUCH-NEEDED SAFETY NET FOR THE
FARMERS WHO NEED IT THE MOST.
AND IT WILL HELP REDUCE THE
NEGATIVE IMPACT FARM PAYMENTS
HAVE ON LAND PRICES AND CASH
RENT.
OUR BILL SETS THE OVERALL CAP AT
$250,000 FOR MARRIED COUPLES.
NOW PEOPLE LISTENING HERE IN THE
SENATE OR PEOPLE LISTENING BACK
HOME ON TELEVISION PROBABLY
THINKS THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO HAVE
A FIGURE THAT HIGH AND CALL IT A
HARD CAP.
BUT -- BUT, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS NATIONAL POLICY AND MAY
NOT BE APPLICABLE JUST TO MY
STATE, AND IT'S NECESSARY TO
REACH SOME SORT OF COMMON GROUND
HERE IN THE CONGRESS.
BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT AGRICULTURE
CAN LOOK DIFFERENT AROUND THE
COMPROMISE.
COUNTRY, SO THIS IS A
JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SETTING THE
PAYMENT LIMITS IS THE TIGHTENING
ENGAGED.
OF THE MEANING OF ACTIVELY
AND SINCE I'VE USED MY TIME UP,
I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO WHAT
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IS ABOUT.
BUT IT MEANS IF YOU'RE A FARMER,
YOU OUGHT TO BE A FARMER AND NOT
A CITY SLICKER FROM NEW YORK
CITY BENEFITTING FROM THE FARM
PROGRAM.
I'LL PUT THE REST OF MY
STATEMENT IN THE RECORD,
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, AND I YIELD THE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
AND I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
--
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
RECOGNIZED.
SENATOR FROM SOUTH DAKOTA IS
LAST WEEK I HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL MY STATE
OF SOUTH DAKOTA AS I THINK MOST
SENATORS WHO WERE HOME OVER THE
BREAK DID.
DURING THE WEEK I WAS ABLE TO BE
PART OF A COUPLE OF EVENTS IN MY
GENERAL DAVID WALKER.
STATE WITH FORMER COMPTROLLER
I THINK MOST PEOPLE HERE ARE
ACQUAINTED WITH MR. WALKER.
HE HAD A TEN-YEAR RUN AS THE
COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF THIS
COUNTRY.
HE HAS SINCE STARTED AN
ORGANIZATION CALLED COME BACK
AMERICA INITIATIVE AND HAS BEEN
TRAVELING THE COUNTRY TRYING TO
EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THE ISSUES
SURROUNDING OUR NATIONAL DEBT,
HIGH FEDERAL SPENDING LEVELS AND
FUTURE.
THEIR EFFECT ON OUR NATION'S
I WOULD ADD THAT HE IS SOMEONE
WHO TAKES BOTH PARTIES TO TASK.
CRITIC.
HE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
HE IS VERY BIPARTISAN IN HIS
CRITICISM OF THE OUT-OF-CONTROL
SPENDING THAT EXISTS HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
BUT HE DID POINT OUT,
MR. PRESIDENT, THE TREMENDOUS
GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS
OCCURRED IN THE COURSE OF OUR
NATION'S HISTORY.
IN FACT, WHEN OUR COUNTRY WAS
FOUNDED, IF YOU GO BACK THAT
MANY YEARS TO THE FORMATIVE
YEARS OF OUR COUNTRY -- AND HE
USES THE YEAR 1800 AS AN
EXAMPLE -- THAT GOVERNMENT
SPENDING MADE UP JUST 2% OF OUR
ENTIRE ECONOMY.
2% OF OUR G.D.P. WAS REPRESENTED
BY GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
AND TODAY IT MAKES UP ALMOST
25%, AND WE ARE ON A TRIM LINE,
TRAJECTORY WHERE THAT WILL RISE
TO 39% BY THE YEAR 24040.
SO YOU HAVE -- BY THE YEAR 2040.
YOU HAVE SEEN THIS UPWARD SPIKE
OF OUR FEDERAL SPENDING AS A
PERCENTAGE OF ECONOMIC OUTPUT.
THE REASON FOR THAT, AS HE
NOTES, IS PRIMARILY ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'VE GOT
MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SOCIAL
SECURITY WHICH NOW REPRESENT
ABOUT 43% IN 2010 THOSE THREE
PROGRAMS REPRESENTED 43% OF OUR
TOTAL FEDERAL SPENDING.
THAT NUMBER IS GEARED OR SET TO
REALLY SPIKE AS WE HEAD INTO THE
FUTURE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT WE'RE SET TO
SPEND MORE ON MANDATORY PROGRAMS
THAN WE WILL TAKE IN IN REVENUE
IN 2011.
SO THIS CURRENT YEAR WE WILL
SPEND MORE ON MANDATORY
PROGRAMS, WHICH INCLUDE THOSE I
JUST MENTIONED -- MEDICARE,
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICAID --
THAN ALL THE REVENUE THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE IN.
SO THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WE CAN'T
EVEN AFFORD TO PAY OUT THE
PROGRAMS, THE MANDATORY SPENDING
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR
BUDGET, NOT TO MENTION THOSE
DISCRETIONARY PROGRAMS WHICH ARE
THE OTHER PART OF OUR FEDERAL
BUDGET.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN TERMS
OF HOW MUCH WE SPEND A DAY AND
HOW MUCH WE BORROW, WE ARE
BORROWING ABOUT 42 CENTS OUT OF
EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND.
THAT'S THE REALITY THAT WE'RE
FACED WITH.
IT'S CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO MAKE
SOME REFORMS, MR. PRESIDENT,
PARTICULARLY THE ENTITLEMENT
PROGRAMS TO, PUT THEM ON A MORE
SUSTAINABLE FOOTING.
FURTHER, MR. WALKER SHARED THE
RESULTS OF HIS FISCAL FITNESS
INDEX WHICH PUTS THE UNITED
STATES AT 28th OUT OF 34
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, JUST BEHIND
ITALY AND JUST TWO PLACES IN
FRONT OF IRELAND.
28th OUT OF 34 COUNTRIES
AROUND THE WORLD, DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES, IN TERMS OF OUR
FISCAL FITNESS.
MR. WALKER'S MESSAGE OBVIOUSLY
IS NOT A FUN ONE.
IT'S NOT A MESSAGE THAT YOU
WOULD EXPECT PEOPLE TO LIKE TO
HEAR.
IT'S NOT A MESSAGE THAT PROMISES
MORE SPENDING ON PEOPLE'S
PREFERRED PROGRAMS.
YET, MY CONSTITUENTS WERE EAGER
TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE.
WHY IS THAT, MR. PRESIDENT?
WELL, ONE, HE WAS HONEST.
HE WAS HONEST ABOUT THE SIZE OF
OUR PROBLEM, ABOUT THE SCOPE OF
OUR UNFUNDED LIABILITIES, ABOUT
THE CAUSES OF THIS DEFICIT --
THAT IT IS PRIMARILY, PRIMARILY
A SPENDING-DRIVEN CRISIS; ABOUT
THE EFFECT OF THE HEALTH CARE
LAW AND HEALTH CARE SPENDING IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND ABOUT THE
MEASURES THAT ARE NEEDED TO CUT
SPENDING AND TO BRING THE BUDGET
BACK INTO BALANCE.
SUNLIGHTS APPRECIATE THAT KIND
OF HONESTY, MR. PRESIDENT.
THEY APPRECIATE SOMEONE TELLING
THEM THE TRUTH, NOT CONTINUING
KEPT.
TO MAKE PROMISES THAT CANNOT BE
AND, TWO, THEY WERE EAGER TO
HEAR HIS MESSAGE BECAUSE HIS
MESSAGE OFFERED HOAVMENT HE
POINTED OUT THAT IF THE COUNTRY
ADOPT ADD FISCAL PLAN THAT WOULD
BRING DOWN OUR DEFICITS ON A
LEVEL THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THE
PRESIDENT'S FISCAL COMMISSION'S
PLAN, OUR NATION, OUR NATION'S
RATING ON HIS FISCAL FITNESS
INDEX, WOULD JUMP FROM 28th
CLEAR UP TO 8th PLACE.
HE SHOWED THE ATTENDEES THAT
THERE ARE A SERIES OF STEPS THAT
WE CAN TAKE TO FIX SOCIAL
SECURITY, MEDICARE, AND
MEDICAID.
TO PRESERVE THESE PROGRAMS
WITHOUT BANKRUPTING OUR COUNTRY.
AND HE SHOWED US THAT IF WE
START NOW, WE HAVE TIME TO MAKE
THESE CHANGES WITHOUT BEING
FORCED TO MAKE DRACONIAN CUTS OR
TO HIKE TAX RATES.
THIS HOPE THAT WE CAN FIX THESE
PROBLEMS IS REAL, AND IT GIVES
THE GENERAL PUBLIC SOMETHING
THAT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND, AND
THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE,
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH SUNLIGHTS
LAST WEEK.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS ANOTHER
EVENT THAT OCCURRED LAST WEEK,
AND THAT WAS THE RELEASE OF THE
UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.
AND THOSE NUMBERS DID NOT
REFLECT HOPE BUT INSTEAD
INDICATED THAT WE HAVE A LONG
WAY TO GO TOWARD FIXING OUR
ECONOMY.
THESE NUMBERS SHOW THAT
UNEMPLOYMENT HAD RISEN TO 9.1%.
FURKTS THE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED
INCREASED TO 6.2 MILLION
PEERNLINGS AS THOSE WHO ARE OUT
OF WORK ARE TAKING LONGER TO
FIND JOBS.
THIS LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT IS
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS.
ONE, THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO
SUFFER FROM LONG-TERM
UNEMPLOYMENT OFTEN EXHAUST
GOVERNMENT AND PERSONAL
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEVMENT
AS A RESULT, THEY ARE AT GREATER
RISK OF FALLING INTO POVERTY.
FURTHERS, IT INDICATES THAT OUR
ECONOMY IS SUFFICIENTLY DYNAMIC.
THESE INDIVIDUALS COULD HAVE
SKILL MISMATCHES OR THERE SIMPLE
ECONOMY.
MAY NOT BE ANY JOBS IN THEIR
THEY MAY SEE THEIR SKILLS DID HE
MINUTISH AND BEING LESS AND LESS
ATTACHED TO THE WORKFORCE.
IT WILL BECOME HARDER AND HARDER
FOR THESE PEOPLE TO FIND A JOB
AS THEY NO LONGER KNOW THE LATE-
LATEST TECHNOLOGIES OR NO LONGER
HAVE THE SKILLS THEY DEVELOPED
BY YEARS OF PRACTICE.
THIS CREATES LONG-TERM
CHALLENGES FOR OUR ECONOMY TO BE
ABLE TO FIND THESE INDIVIDUALS
JOBS.
SO THE QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT,
IS HOW -- HOW DO WE CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT WHERE BUSINESSES AND
INDIVIDUALS CAN BE CREATING
JOBS?
WE WILL, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
-- WELL, WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO
CUT SPENDING AND TO CUT
UNNECESSARY REGULATIONS N A
RECENT PRESENTATION TO THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, NOBEL
LAUREATE ROBERT LUCAS POINTED
OUT THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF
HIGHER TAXES, THE UNCERTAINTY OF
REGULATIONS, AND THE INCREASING
ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
IN HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF THE
HEALTH CARE LAW ARE ALL
CONTRIBUTORS TO OUR SLOW
ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
LIKEWISE, DR. LUCAS SPECULATED
THAT OUR ECONOMY MAY CONTINUE TO
GROW AT A SLOWER RATE BECAUSE OF
THE INCREASED REGULATION,
TAXATION, AND SPENDING THAT IS
MOVING US CLOALSER TO A EUROPEAN
-- CLOSER TO A EUROPEAN WELFARE
STATE.
DR. LUCAS NOTES THAT THESE
EUROPEAN ECONOMIES HAVE INCOMES
THAT ARE 20% TO 30% LESS PER
CAPITA BECAUSE OF THESE IRCHES
DIFFERENCES IN THE SIZE OF
GOVERNMENT IS.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS WOULD EVEN
FURTHER INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT IF
WE CONTINUED TO MOVE ALONG THIS
PATH.
WE CAN'T JUST CONTINUE,
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THE STATUS
QUO.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT THE SIZE OF
OUR DEBT IS COSTING US ONE
PERCENTAGE POINT IN GROWTH EVERY
YEAR, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE
WHITE HOUSE'S OWN ECONOMISTS IS
JOBS.
THE EQUIVALENT OF 1 MILLION
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE SUCCESS
STAINT KIND OF DEBT LOAD THAT WE
HAVE TODAY, OUR GROSS DEBT AS A
PERCENTAGE OF OUR G.D.P., OUR
ENTIRE ECONOMIC OUTPUT IS OVER
90%, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE
LOSING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND THAT
MEANS THAT WE'RE LOSING JOBS --
WE'RE SHEDDING JOBS AS A
CONSEQUENCE OF THIS HIGH LEVEL
OF DEBT AND HIGH LEVEL OF
SPENDING.
SO WE NEED TO GROW THE PRIVATE
ECONOMY, SHRINK GOVERNMENT
SPENDING AND CUT OUR DEFICITS
AND DEBTS.
THIS IS THE PATH THAT WILL HELP
US ON A RECOVERY, HELP OUR
ECONOMY RECOVERY AND ALLOW IT TO
CREATE JOBS THAT ARE NECESSARY
TO LOWER THAT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THIS.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REFORMS
AND SPENDING CUTS THAT WE ARE
PUSHING TO ATTACH TO THE DEBT
LIMIT THAT'S UNDER DISCUSSION
RIGHT NOW THAT WE -- SO THAT WE
CAN MAKE IT EASIER AND CHEAPER
FOR INDIVIDUALS TO CREATE THE
JOBS THAT ARE SO NECESSARY TO
GET OUR ECONOMY BACK ON TRANGDZ
TO GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
NOW, I WOULD SIMPLY MENTION,
MR. PRESIDENT, IT THAT THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT CAN BE
DONE AND SHOULD BE DONE.
OBVIOUSLY, SPEND AND DEBT AND
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE
TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS, NOW
THE TH 1.3 TRILLION DEBT, WE
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
WE'VE AN OPPORTUNITY AS NOTED BY
THE LEADER THIS MORNING TO DO
THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS DEBT
HAVE.
LIMIT DEBATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO
WE SHOULD VIEW THIS, BOTH SIDES,
AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO
SOMETHING MEANINGFUL ABOUT
SPENDING AND DEBT AND TO PUT OUR
COUNTRY ON A PATH, A MORE
SUSTAINABLE PATH, FISCAL PATH,
FOR OUR FUTURE.
BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
THINGS THAT IMPACT THE ECONOMY
TODAY THAT SHOULD BE DONE.
ONE IS, WE HAVE THREE PENDING
TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT WERE
AGO.
NEGOTIATED THREE TO FOUR YEARS
THEY HAVE BEEN LANGUISHING HERE
BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE WILL NOT
SEND THOSE TRADE AGREEMENTS UP
HERE FOR CONGRESS TO ACT ON.
NOW, JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF
WHAT THAT MEANS TO AN
AGRICULTURAL STATE LIKE SOUTH
DAKOTA, COLOMBIA SOMEONE OF
THOSE THREE TRADE AGREEMENTS --
COLOMBIA, PANAMA, AND SOUTH
KOREA, ALL OF WHICH PRESENT
MARKETS FOR SOUTH DAKOTA
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
BUT AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS ARE A
BIG PART OF COLOMBIA'S -- OUR
TRADE RELATIONSHIP WITH COLOMBIA
N200 L WE HAD AN 81% MARKET
SHARE IN COLOMBIA.
TODAY THAT IS A 27% MARKET
SHARE, MR. PRESIDENT.
WE NEED -- COULD I -- I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR AN
ADDITIONAL MINUTE TO WRAP UP.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
WE NEED THOSE TRADE
AGREEMENTS, MR. PRESIDENT,
APPROVED TO CREATE JOBS AND GROW
THIS ECONOMY.
I WOULD HOPE THAT THE WHITE
HOUSE WOULD FOLLOW THROUGH ON
THEIR RHETORIC AND ACTUALLY SEND
THOSE TRADE AGREEMENTS UP HERE
SO WE CAN ACT ON THEM.
IT HAS BEEN 771 DAYS SINCE
BEESED A BUDGET IN THIS COUNTRY,
MR. PRESIDENT, AND WE TALK ABOUT
-- THE ADMINISTRATION TALKS
ABOUT THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT SPEND AND DEBT AND YET
HERE WE ARE HAVING GONE 771 DAYS
BUDGET.
WITHOUT EVEN HAVING PASSED A
IF WE'RE SERIOUS ABOUT SPEND AND
DEBT WE NEED A BUDGET THAT SETS
A BLUEPRINT FOR A MORE FISCALLY
COUNTRY.
SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THIS
AND WE NEED ENERGY POLICIES THAT
ALLOW US TO DEVELOP ENERGIES TO
GET AMERICAN ENERGY TO GET FUEL
COSTS URCHEDZ CONTROL, WHICH
ALSO IMPACTS IN A VERY DIRECT
WAY OUR ECONOMY RAND OUR ABILITY
TO CREATE JOBS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE SOLUTIONS ARE
OUT THERE.
THEY ARE A VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD,
VERY SIMPLE.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE WILL TO MOVE
FORWARD AND TO ADDRESS THESE
ISSUES.
I HOPE THAT WE WILL BECAUSE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE EXPECT AND
DESERVE THAT WE WILL.
AS DR. WALKER POINTED OUT LAST
WEEK IN MY STATE OF SOUTH
DAKOTA, IF WE DON'T, WE ARE
HEADED FOR A FISCAL TRAIN WRECK.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM CUT RECOGNIZED.
I ASK FOR NAFF TIME
TO GIVE MY REMARKS THIS MORNING
ANDZY FOR AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT
OF TIME TO BE GIVE TONIGHT OTHER
SIEVMENTD.
IS
THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I HOPE I CAN STAY
WITHIN THE TIME CONSTRAINTS, BUT
I AM NOT SHIEWMPLET I AM PROUD
TO RISE AND OFFER WITH MY GOOD
FRIEND, THE SENIOR SENATOR FROM
CONNECTICUT, SENATOR LIEBERMAN,
A CONTINUING RESOLUTION WHICH
REAFFIRMS OUR NATION'S STEADFAST
AND UNSHAKABLE COMMITMENT TO THE
SECURITY OF ISRAEL.
SPECIFICALLY, THROUGH THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF SECURE,
BORDERS.
RECOGNIZED, AND DEFENSIBLE
I AM ALSO PROUD THAT THIS --
PLEASED THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS
SUPPORTED BY APEC,.
IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I FEEL
COMPELLED TO OFFER SUCH A
RESOLUTION.
FOR YEARS BOTH REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS HAVE
RECOGNIZED THAT THAT ISRAEL'S
BOUNDARIES OF JUNE 1967 ARE
INDEFENSIBLE AND IF
REESTABLISHED WILL CREATE A
STRATEGIC MILITARY VULNEBILITY
FOR OUR STAUNCH ALLY ISRAEL.
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IS WHY
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S RECENT
COMMENTS WERE SO DUMBFOUNDING.
THE PRESIDENT'S PREPARED AND
THOR ROAR ROWLY CONSIDERED
REMARKS CALLED FOR THE STARTING
POINT OF NEGOTIATIONS TO BE WHAT
WE ALL KNOW ARE THE MILITARILY
INDEFENSIBLE 1967 LINES.
REMEMBER, IF ISRAEL RETURNS TO
THE 1967 LINES, IT'S TERRITORY
WILL IN SOME LOCATIONS BE ONLY
NINE MILES WIDE.
AS PRIME MINISTER BINYAMIN
NETANYAHU CORRECTLY STATED IN A
FRIENDLY AND APPROPRIATE
CORRECTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S
REMARKS, THE 1967 LINES ARE NOT
BOUNDARIES OF PEACE; THEY ARE
BOUNDARIES OF REPEATED WAR.
ISRAEL WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THE
GOLAN HEIGHTS, THE STRATEGIC
ELEVATED LOCATION WHICH
DOMINATES NORTHERN ISRAEL.
DOES THE PRESIDENT NOT REMEMBER
DURING THE 1973 WAR THE SYRIANS
LAUNCH ADD MASSIVE ARMORED
ATTACK ON THE GOLAN HEIGHTS,
WHICH ALMOST SUCCEEDED?
THIS RAISE THE THE QUESTION OF
WHO PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS
ATTEMPTING TO APPEASE WITH HIS
ILL-ADVISED STATEMENTS WHICH
UNNECESSARILY DROVE A WEDGE
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
ISRAEL.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE FACT IS THE
NATIONAL SECURITY INTERESTS OF
THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL ARE
LINKED.
THE THREATS ISRAEL FACES ARE
THREATS THE UNITED STATES FACES.
WHETHER IT IS HEZBOLLAH IN
LEBANON, HAMAS IN THE GAZA
STRIRNTION OR THOSE -- OR THESE
GROUPS BENEFACTOR IRAN, WE SHARE
A COMMON FOE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT FOE, I,
APPEARS TO BE GROWING STRONGER
AND MORE CAPABLE.
IRAN HAS REPEATEDLY STATED IT
WISHES TO WIPE THE UNITED STATES
AND ISRAEL OFF THE MAP.
IRAN'S OBVIOUS SAME TO ESTABLISH
STRATEGIC DOMINANCE OVER THE
ENTIRE REGION.
THEIR RELENT LINGS PURSUIT OF
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC
MISSILE TECHNOLOGY IS OF GRAVE
CONCERN.
MR. PRESIDENT, MUCH HAS BEEN
SAID ABOUT IRAN'S NUCLEAR
PROGRAM BUT MUCH LESS HAS BEEN
ARTICULATED ABOUT ITS BALLISTIC
MISSILE PROGRAM.
NO TOURED ACHIEVE ITS STRATEGIC
OBJECTIVES, IRAN HAS EMBARKED ON
A SIGNIFICANT BALLISTIC MISSILE
PROGRAM.
IRANIAN OFFICIALS HAVE BOASTED
THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO
PRODUCE A BALLISTIC MISSILE WITH
A 1,250 RANGE.
IN 2009, THE IRANIANS WERE ABLE
TO LAUNCH A MULTISTAGE
SPACE-LAUNCHED VEHICLE THAT THE
AIR FORCE CONCLUDED -- QUOTE --
"CAN SERVE AS A TEST BED FOR
LONG-RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE
TECHNOLOGIES."
UNQUOTE.
NOW, EVEN MORE TROUBLING, THE
IRANIANS APPEAR TO BE DEVELOPING
A NEW LONG-RANGE MULTISTAGE
SOLID ROCKET MOTORED MISSILE.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
IF THE IRANIANS SUCCESSFULLY
FEEL THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY,
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LAUNCH
ALMOST INSTANTANEOUSLY MISSILES
DISTANCES.
WHICH CARRY WARHEADS OVER GREAT
WITH THESE OMINOUS DEVELOPMENTS
EMANATING FROM ISRAEL'S AND THE
UNITED STATES'S COMMON FOES, DO
WE REALLY WANT TO BE SEEN AS
DISTANCING OURSELVES FROM ONE OF
ASH STAUNCHEST ALLIES,
ESPECIALLY ON SUCH A PIVOTAL
ISSUE AS ISRAEL'S BORDERS?
THIS ISSUE OF THESE BORDERS IS
ONLY UNDERSCORED BY THE CONSTANT
ATTACKS ON ISRAEL'S BORDERS BY
IRAN'S SURROGATES, HEZBOLLAH AND
HAMAS.
BELIEVE THIS CONCURRENT
MR. PRESIDENT, THAT IS I DIDN'T
RESOLUTION IS SO IMPORTANT.
IT REAFFIRMS THE LONG-HELD
BIPARTISAN POLICY OF THE UNITED
STATES THAT WE WILL -- QUOTE --
"SUPPORT AND FACILITATE ISRAEL
IN MAINTAINING DEFENSIBLE
BORDERS AND THAT IT IS CONTRARY
TO UNITED STATES POLICY AND OUR
NATIONAL SECURITY TO HAVE THE
BORDERS OF ISRAEL RETURN TO THE
ARMISTICE LINES THAT EXIST ON
JUNE 4, 1967."
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, THE UNITED
STATES HAS NO GREATER FRIEND
THAN ISRAEL AND ISRAEL HAS NO
GREATER FRIEND THAN THE UNITED
STATES.
ISRAEL TOO OFTEN FINDS HERSELF
ALONE IN THE WORLD, UNJUSTICELY
SINGLED OUT BY THE WORLD WITHOUT
THE AUTHORITY TO DEFEND ITSELF.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ISRAEL DOES
NOT NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE
FOR DEFENDING ITSELF AGAINST
THOSE WHO WOULD DO HER HARM, AND
I WILL ALWAYS STAND BY ISRAEL AS
SHE SEEKS TO PROTECT HER
CITIZENS AGAINST TERRORISTS &
THEIR STATE SPONSORS.
HAVING SAID THAT I ALSO BELIEVE
IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR
AUDIENCE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG
PEOPLE, WHO DO NOT FULLY
APPRECIATE THE CURRENT REGIME
THAT IS, I THINK, DEVASTATING
IRAN AND CAUSING SUCH PROBLEMS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
WE MUST SUPPORT THOSE PEOPLE WHO
ARE SEARCHERS FOR FREEDOM.
NOW, THE SECURITY OF BOTH OUR
NATIONS IS IRREVOCABLY LINKED
THIS.
BIPARTISAN CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
REMOVES ANY HARMFUL AMBIGUITY
THE PRESIDENT'S REMARKS A WHILE
AGO MIGHT HAVE CAUSED.
THE UNITED STATES SIMPLY MUST
STAND BY ISRAEL.
WITH HIS REMARKS LAST WEEK,
PRESIDENT OBAMA UNDERMINED HER.
ISRAEL FACES CONSISTENT,
UNPROVOKED AGGRESSION BY
LONGTIME SUPPORTERS OF
TERRORISM.
BUT ISRAEL IS NOT A VICTIM.
ALL SHE ASKS SENIOR SENATOR THE
ABILITY IS THE -- ALL SHE ASKS
HERSELF.
IS THE ABILITY TO DEFEND
THIS IS NO TIME FOR THE UNITED
ISRAEL.
STATES TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM
AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING TOIK
AFFIRM ISRAEL'S TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY AND ABILITY TO PROTECT
HER CITIZENS AGAINST THE
UNPROVOKED ATTACKS OF TERRORISTS
AND STATE ACTORS.
AND BECAUSE ISRAEL IS A TRUE
FRIEND, I AM NOT SURPRISED THAT
THIS RESOLUTION HAS STRONG
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
MY COLLEAGUE, SENATOR LIEBERMAN,
AND I WILL BE JOINED BY MEMBERS
OF BOTH PARTIES WHO WANT TO
REMIND THE WORLD THE UNITED
STATES IS STEADFASTLY COMMITTED
TO THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL AND
ESPECIALLY OUR ALLIES' ABILITY
TO MAINTAIN SECURE, RECOGNIZED,
AND DEFENSIBLE BORDERS.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME ADD
SOME ADDITIONAL REMARKS TO PAY
TECHNICAL SERGEANT
CHRISTOPHER M.SOLSBY.
TECHNICAL SERGEANT SALSBY WAS
FILLED IN AFGHANISTAN.
MR. PRESIDENT, TECHNICAL
COURAGEOUS MAN.
SERGEANT SOLSBY WAS A BRAVE AND
RETURNING TO THE FIELD OF BATTLE
THREE TIMES, TWICE IN IRAQ AND
THE FINAL TOUR IN AFGHANISTAN,
HE VOLUNTEERED FOR ONE OF THE
MOST DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS IN
THE WAR ON TERRORISTS.
HE WAS AN EXPLOSIVE ORDINANCE
DISPOSAL TECHNICIAN.
NOW, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME
THAT A MEMBER OF HILLS E.O.D.
FLIGHT HAD BEEN KILLED WHILE
PROTECTING HIS FELLOW SERVICE
MEMBERS FROM IMPROVISED
EXPLOSIVE DEVICES.
IN
EARLY 2007 THREE OTHER MEMBERS
OF THE 75th SQUADRON WERE ALSO
KILLED.
DESPITE THIS TRAGEDY, TECHNICAL
SERGEANT SOLSBY ALWAYS RETURNED
TO DUTY.
I BELIEVE ONE OF UTAH'S LARGEST
NEWSPAPERS, THE STANDARD
EXAMINER, PAID HIM THE HIGHEST
TRIBUTE WHEN IT STATED -- QUOTE
-- "CHRISTIAN M. SOLSBY DIED
DOING WHAT HE LOVED: SAVING
LIVES."
I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER
DEFINITION OF A TRUE HERO.
FOR THOSE WHO KNEW HIM BEST --
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FELLOW
SERVICE MEMBERS -- THEY
DESCRIBED HIM AS SMART AND
HIGHLY ENERGETIC.
GROWING UP HE LOVED MODEL
ROCKETS AND AIRPLANES.
DURING HIS 11-YEAR CAREER IN THE
SERVICE, HIS FELLOW AIRMEN CAME
PROFESSIONALISM.
TO RELY UPON HIM AND HIS
INDEED, THERE IS A BROAD
CONSENSUS AMONG HILLS E.O.D.
TECHNICIANS THAT HE WAS THE
BENCHMARK BY WHICH ALL OTHERS
WERE JUDGED.
HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ALSO
DID NOT GO UNRECOGNIZED.
TECHNICAL SERGEANT SOLSBY WAS
THE RECIPIENT OF THE BRONZE STAR
MEDAL WITH VALOR DEVICE, THE AIR
FORCE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL,
PURPLE HEART MEDAL.
AIR FORCE ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL WITH
ONE OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THE AIR
FORCE COMBAT ACTION MEDAL.
I KNOW THAT GOD WILL BE WATCHING
OVER THE FAMILY OF THIS
ADMIRABLE MAN.
HE GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT OTHERS
MIGHT LIVE.
TECHNICAL SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER
M. SOLSBY WILL NEVER BE
FORGOTTEN.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
RECOGNIZED.
SENATOR FROM VIRGINIA IS
I ASK PROCEEDINGS
DISPENSED WITH.
UNDER THE QUORUM CALL BE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT,
ONCE AGAIN I COME TO THE FLOOR
TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF OUR FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES.
I DO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS
BECAUSE WHILE WE DEBATE THE
ISSUES OF THE DAY AND GRAPPLE
WITH ISSUES AROUND DEBT AND
DEFICIT, ISSUES THAT WILL
REQUIRE US TO CUT BACK ON
GOVERNMENT SPENDING, I THINK
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER
THAT THERE ARE LITERALLY
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WHO WORK
IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER FOR OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT DAY IN
AND DAY OUT, FROM OUR ARMED
SERVICES TO FOLKS WHO WORK
WITHIN THIS CAPITOL COMPLEX, TO
FOLKS WHO WORK WITHIN HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES, WHO WORK IN
RESEARCH, WHO MAKE ENORMOUS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION.
WE SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF
THOSE FACTS AS WE GRAPPLE WITH
ISSUES AROUND DEBT AND DEFICIT
AND A HOST OF OTHER ISSUES THAT
WE DEAL WITH IN THIS BODY.
SO TODAY I RISE TO HONOR ANOTHER
GREAT FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, RAFAT
ANSARI.
MR. ANSARI IS A SENIOR SCIENTIST
AND LEADING INNOVATOR AT NASA'S
GLENN RESEARCH CENTER IN
CLEVELAND.
HE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR
DEVELOPING A SAFE, NONINVASIVE
LASER DEVICE THAT COULD
DRASTICALLY IMPROVE THE EARLY
DETECTION OF CATARACTS AND
IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THE
PROCESS.
CATARACTS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE
OF VISION LOSS AND BLINDNESS IN
THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD.
THEY AFFECT OVER 22 MILLION
AMERICANS OVER THE AGE OF 40,
AND OVER 6.8 -- $6.8 BILLION IS
SPENT ANNUALLY IN THE UNITED
STATES ON CATARACT TREATMENT.
MR. ANSARI WAS MOTIVATED TO
TREAT CATARACT PATIENTS AFTER
HIS FATHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH
THE DISEASE.
HE REALIZED THAT RAT A RACQUETS
ARE -- CATARACTS ARE CAUSED BY
PROTEINS IN THE LENS THAT
CLUSTER ABNORMALLY, A PROCESS
SIMILAR TO WHAT HE WAS STUDYING
IN HIS SPACE EXPERIMENTS.
LACKING THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL
RESOURCES, HE BEGAN CONDUCT
RESEARCH IN HIS HOME KITCHEN
USING A LIGHT-SCATTERING DEVICE
WHICH WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY
CLUSTERED PROTEINS IN THE EYE
LENS.
THESE KITCHEN EXPERIMENTS
ULTIMATELY LED MR. SANSARI'S
INVENTION OF AN INNOVATIVE
EYE-SCANNING DEVICE AND
PROCEDURE THAT IS AT LEAST TWO
OR THREE TIMES STRONGER THAN ANY
DEVICE ON THE MARKET.
HIS INVENTION ALSO HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY
IMPROVE THE ABILITY TO DETECT
EARLY SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S,
PARKINSON'S, DIABETES, AND MANY
OTHER DISEASES.
THE PROCEDURE IS CURRENTLY USED
BY NASA TO STUDY THE LONG-TERM
CONSEQUENCES OF SPACE TRAVEL ON
THE VISION OF ASTRONAUTS.
MR.ANSARI'S TEST MENT TO ALL
THAT MAKES OUR NATION GREAT.
BORN IN STACK STAN, HE ALWAYS
DREAMT OF WORKING FOR N.A.S.
SAVMENT NOT ONLY WAS HE ABLE TO
REALIZE HIS DREAM BUT IN THE
PROCESS HE HAS MADE DISCOVERIES
THAT COULD HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON
THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE,
NOT ONLY HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES BUT AROUND THE WORLD.
I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN
ME IN HONORING MR. ANSARI AS
WELL AS THOSE OTHER GREAT
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AT NASA
FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
TO OUR NATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, ONE MORE TIME, I
WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOT ONLY
MR. ANSARI BUT ALL OF OUR
FEDERAL WORKERS.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, AS
SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN VERY
INVOLVED IN HOPING TO DO
SOMETHING ON THIS ISSUE OF DEBT
AND DEFICIT, WE WILL HAVE TO
MAKE SOME CUTBACKS ON HOW WE
OPERATE, BUT I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AS WE TALK
ABOUT SOME OF THESE CUTS THAT WE
ARE AFFECTING AFFECTING THE LIVES OF
MILLIONS OF GOOD AMERICANS WHO
TRY TO KEEP THIS GOVERNMENT WORK
ON AN EFFICIENT, HONEST AND
ETHICAL BASIS DAY IN AND DAY
OUT.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR AND NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: