Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
QUORUM CALL:
I THANK THE
PRESIDING OFFICER.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE 12
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS FOR
THE
SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA IS
NOTIFIED THE SENATE IS IN A
QUORUM CALL.
THE PRESIDING
OFFICER IS PRECISELY CORRECT.
THE SENATOR FROM WEST VIRGINIA
ASKS UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
RESCIND, CALL OFF AND TERMINATE
THE QUORUM CALL.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT FOR 12
COMMITTEES TO MEET DURING
TODAY'S SESSION OF THE SENATE.
THEY HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE
MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THESE REQUESTS BE AGREED TO AND
THAT THESE REQUESTS BE PRINTED
IN THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
OFFICER SPHWER THE SENATOR FROM
CALIFORNIA IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK THAT THE QUORUM CALL BEING
DISPENSED WITH.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
JUST CAME BRIEFLY TO THE FLOOR
HERE TO VOICE MY VERY STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THIS F.A.A.
REAUTHORIZATION BILL AND TO
THANK MY CHAIRMAN, JAY
ROCKEFELLER, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID THIS, BUT
IT'S WORTH REPEATING:
THIS IS A JOBS BILL.
THE F.A.A. REAUTHORIZATION ACT
IS GOING TO MODERNIZE OUR AIR
TRANSPORT SYSTEM, AND AS MANY
HAVE SAID FAR MORE ELOQUENTLY
THAN I COULD EVER SAY, WE'RE
LOOKING AT A SYSTEM THAT HAS
REALLY GOTTEN ITS ROOTS IN THE
1940'S AND 1950'S AND WE NEED TO
MOVE BEYOND THIS AND GET A
21st CENTURY SYSTEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT NEXTGEN IS GOING
TO DO.
GIVE US A WAY BETTER WAY TO
HANDLE ALL THOSE FLIGHTS, ALL
THAT CONGESTION.
IT'S GOING TO BE ALSO, IN
ADDITION TO A JOBS BILL, 280,000
JOBS NATIONWIDE, IT'S ALSO GOING
TO BE A BILL THAT FOCUSES IN ON
SAFETY.
THE GROWTH THAT WILL BE SPURRED
ON BY THIS BILL IS CRUCIAL
BECAUSE THIS INDUSTRY ALSO
ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY 11 MILLION
JOBS AND MORE THAN 5% OF OUR
U.S. G.D.P.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO ISSUES
THAT I HAVE A GREAT STAKE IN FOR
THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA AND,
FRANKLY, FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS
AND THE FIRST -- THE FIRST ISSUE
IS A PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS.
AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO OUR
LEADER ON THE COMMITTEE, SENATOR
ROCKEFELLER, AND HIS RANKING
MEMBER, KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON,
FOR ENSURING THAT THIS
BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION -- I
WROTE IT WITH SENATOR SNOWE --
IS INCLUDED IN THE F.A.A. BILL.
WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE HORROR
STORIES OF TRAVELERS TRAPPED FOR
HOURS, WITHOUT ADEQUATE FOOD OR
WATER, SOME NOT EVEN ABLE TO
ACCESS THEIR MEDICINES, PLANES
FILLED WITH SCREAMING KIDS,
UPSET PASSENGERS, AND UNSANITARY
CONDITIONS, FROM OVERFLOWING
TOILETS.
IN FACT, IT'S A SITUATION THAT,
IF ANYONE HAS EVER BEEN IN IT,
IT MAKES AN INDELIBLE MARK.
AND FRANKLY, IT MAKES YOU LESS
LIKELY TO WANT TO FLY IN THE
AMERICAN SKIES BECAUSE YOU HAVE
A CHANCE AT BEING ONE OF THESE
UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE TO GET
TRAPPED IN A SITUATION LIKE
I WANT
TO THANK KATE ANAYE, WHO IS A
CONSTITUENT OF MINE FROM
I WOULD YIELD MY FRIEND.
THE
MAJORITY LEADER IS RECOGNIZED OF
THE MR. REID: I APPRECIATE MY
FRIEND CALIFORNIA YIELDING.
WE HAVE A BRIEFING BY THE
SECRETARY OF STATE.
WE HAVE VOTES SCHEDULED, AS I
UNDERSTAND, AT 10 UNTIL 12:00
NOON, ABOUT, SO I WOULD ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT VOTE BE
EXTENDED TO 10 AFTER THE HOUR OF
THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO LISTEN
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND
STILL MOVE THIS BILL ALONG.
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I'VE TALKED TO THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
HE KNOWS I'VE ASKED THIS
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
THAT THE MAJORITY LEADER'S
REMARKS BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY
AFTER MY COMMENTS IN THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
SO WHERE WAS I?
I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR
A PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS AND I
WAS THANKING KATE ANAYAE, A
CONSTITUENT OF MINE THAT WAS
DRAPPED IN ONE OF THESE --
TRAPPED IN ONE OF THESE AIRCRAFT
FOR HOURS IN THE TARMAC AND GOT
OFF THAT PLANE AND SAID I NEED
DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
AND SHE IS THE ONE WHO REALLY
LOBBIED VERY HARD, A CITIZEN'S
OF RIGHTS.
NOW, I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT THE
UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA TOOK THE
FIRST STEP BY ADOPTING KEY
ELEMENTS OF OUR PASSENGER BILL
OF RIGHTS THROUGH REGULATION
LAST YEAR.
SECRETARY LaHOOD, WHO HEADS
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION, SENT A STRONG
MESSAGE AND BASICALLY SAID
AIRLINES MUST GIVE PASSENGERS
THE OPTION OF DEPLANING IF
THEY'VE BEEN STRANDED ON THE
TARMAC FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS
HOURS.
ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF
TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS, THERE
HAVE ONLY BEEN 12 TARMAC DELAYS
OF MORE THAN THREE HOURS FROM
MAY TO OCTOBER 2010 AFTER THE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PUT
IN THIS RULE, AND YOU COMPARE
THOSE 12 TO 500-PLUS IN THE SAME
TIME PERIOD A YEAR EARLIER.
SO JUST BY PUTTING IN A
REGULATION THAT SAYS TO THE
AIRLINES, YOU CANNOT KEEP PEOPLE
ON THE PLANES PAST THREE HOURS,
AND IF YOU DO, YOU HAVE TO GIVE
THEM AN OPTION TO GET OFF THAT.
HAS TURNED THINGS AROUND AND
WE'VE SEEN 12 TARMAC DELAYS
COMPARED TO 500.
BUT WE WANT TO CODIFY THESE
CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.
WE WANT A LAW.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT
PRESIDENT WILL DO.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
WE NEED A LAW THAT SAYS YOU
CANNOT KEEP PEOPLE ON AN
HOURS UNLESS YOU'RE ABOUT TO
TAKE OFF IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES
OR THE PILOT SAYS THERE'S A
DANGER TO TAKING THEM BACK TO
THE GATE.
WE HAVE VERY COMMONSENSE
LOOPHOLES THERE.
BUT BASICALLY WE DON'T HAVE ANY
LOOPHOLE TO THIS.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE ADEQUATE WATER,
FOOD, AND ACCESS TO CLEAN
RESTROOMS IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF
DELAY.
WE ALSO SET UP A CONSUMER
COMPLAINT HOTLINE WITHIN THE
D.O.T. WHICH WILL GIVE
PASSENGERS THE MEANS TO
COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE
AGENCY ABOUT DELAYS.
SOMEONE WILL BE ON THE OTHER END
WHEN PEOPLE ARE EXHAUSTED AND
UPSET AND NEED TO HAVE REDRESS.
THIS PASSENGER BILL OF RIGHTS
HAS BROAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
IT PASSED THE SENATE 93-0 LAST
MARCH AND WE BELIEVE WE NOW HAVE
TO SEE IT THROUGH.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND SOME OF MY
FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
CAPITOL IN THE HOUSE HAVE SAID
PERIOD.
IS THAT RIGHT?
AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT
HARD FOR IT, BECAUSE THE BOTTOM
LINE IS, IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN
END TIME, WE COULD GO BACK TO
THE SAME DELAYS.
AND SO THE LAST ISSUE I WANTED
TO BRING BEFORE THE SENATE
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT NOT ONLY
TO MY STATE BUT TO EVERY STATE
IS THE ISSUE OF HAVING MORE
DIRECT FLIGHT OPTIONS INTO
WASHINGTON, D.C., REAGAN
NATIONAL AIRPORT, THAN WE HAVE
NOW FOR MANY, MANY, MANY CITIES
ACROSS THIS GREAT NATION.
WE HAVE NOW 38 MILLION PEOPLE IN
CALIFORNIA.
38 MILLION PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT'S ABOUT
THE SEVENTH LARGE NEST THE
WORLD -- LARGEST IN THE WORLD IN
WE HAVE ONE DIRECT FLIGHT FROM
LOS ANGELES INTO WASHINGTON
NATIONAL AIRPORT.
SO IF YOU LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO,
SACRAMENTO, SAN DIEGO, SAN JOSE,
FRESNO, OR ANY OTHER CITY IN OUR
GREAT STATE, YOU DO NOT HAVE AN
OPTION OF FLYING DIRECTLY INTO
OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS OR
JOBS IN CALIFORNIA.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS OR
JOBS IN WASHINGTON OR VIRGINIA.
NOW, WE NEED TO BE ENCOURAGING
MORE DOMESTIC TOURISM.
THAT CREATES JOBS FOR OUR
TOURISM IN MY STATE GENERATED
$90 BILLION AND SUPPORTED
881,000 JOBS IN 2009 ALONE.
AND, FOLKS, IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE FLYING INTO OUR
AIRPORT RIGHT HERE IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WHEN YOU COULD BE AT THE CAPITOL
IN 15 MINUTES DEPENDING ON
TRAFFIC, 20, COMPARED TO GETTING
OUT IN DULLES -- GREAT AIRPORT
BUT, LET ME TELL YOU, NOT EASY.
ONCE YOU GET OFF THE PLANE, YOU
HAVE TO GET INTO A SPECIAL TRAIN
AND YOU WALK AND YOU GO UP
ESCALATORS AND YOU GO ON MOVING
WALKS.
AND IT'S QUITE GOOD FOR EXERCISE
EXERCISE.
BUT IT IS NOT GOOD IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN GETTING SOMEWHERE
IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
AND THEN THE DRIVE COULD BE
ANYWHERE ON A GOOD NIGHT 50
MINUTES TO AN HOUR AND A HALF.
THAT IS A DIFFERENCE TO
TRAVELERS, PARTICULARLY
TRAVELERS WHO ARE WORKING AND
THEY HAVE WORK IN THIS AREA.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A COMPROMISE
THAT MY CHAIRMAN AND RANKING
MEMBER HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, ON
HOW TO OPEN UP SOME MORE SLOTS
SO WE CAN GET SOME MORE OPTIONS
IN OUR STATE AND OTHER STATES
WHO ARE LIKEWISE DEPRIVED AND
I'M GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THAT
COMPROMISE.
IT'S CRUCIAL.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE A BILL THAT
INCLUDES INCREASING SERVICE FOR
CITIES BEYOND THIS KIND OF
ARTIFICIAL PERIMETER THAT WAS
SET UP, AND WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
WAIT ANY LONGER, AS OPPORTUNITY
LIES IN THE BALANCE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO OVERRUN
WASHINGTON NATIONAL.
NOBODY WANTS TO DO THAT.
WE JUST WANT TO DO SOME THINGS
THAT MAKE SOME SENSE AND ALLOW
MORE FREEDOM FOR THE AIRLINES TO
PICK THE ROUTES THEY REALLY HAVE
THE DEMAND FOR.
AS I SAID, WE HAVE ONE DIRECT
FLIGHT INTO ALL OF CALIFORNIA.
ONE.
AND, BOY, YOU CAN NEVER GET ON
THAT EITHER.
IT'S JUST -- IT JUST DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE FLIGHTS OUT OF
DULLES.
AND SO THERE'S NOT A BALANCE
THERE AT ALL.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS A JOBS BILL,
THIS IS A CONSUMER BILL, THIS IS
A BILL THAT'S GOING TO HELP
COMMERCE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT IT.
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
SENIOR SENATOR FROM WEST
VIRGINIA IS RECOGNIZED.
I THANK THE
PRESIDING OFFICER.
I SIMPLY WANTED TO THANK SENATOR
BOXER.
THE
SENATOR IS NOTIFIED WE'RE IN A
YES, I NOTE --
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE
ORDER OF THE QUORUM CALL BE
RESCINDED.
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR DISTINCT GUIDANCE, HELPFUL
APPROACH TO THE RULES OF THE
SENATE.
SENATOR BOXER -- AND NOT
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS -- BUT SHE
REALLY IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BILL
OF RIGHTS FOR PASSENGERS.
IT'S BEEN JUST A TOTAL OBSESSION
OF HERS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT HELPING AIRLINES.
THAT.
IT'S ABOUT HELPING HUMAN BEINGS.
AND THAT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS
ON THE COMMITTEE.
IT'S IN THE BILL.
IT'S A VERY, VERY GOOD PART.
AND REALLY, SHE'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR ALL OF THAT.
SECONDLY, WHEN SHE -- WHEN
SENATOR BOXER TALKS ABOUT MORE
FLIGHTS TO THE WEST, SHE ECHOES
MY DEEPEST THINKING.
I MEAN, THIS IS -- THIS IS --
IT'S HARD SOMETIMES FOR PEOPLE
TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE'RE IN
THE EAST AND YOU GET THE FEELING
THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THE
EAST, BUT THE FACT IS THAT THE
WEST IS GROWING AND THE EAST IS
NOT.
AND ALL OF OUR SORT OF SLOTS ARE
PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT
EVERYBODY LIVES IN THE EAST AND,
YES, THERE'S SOME PEOPLE OUT
WELL, THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE
OUT WEST, AND LOS ANGELES IS
JUST HUGE BEYOND BELIEF.
THAT HAPPENS TO BE SENATOR
BOXER'S HOME.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF, A LOT OF
OF -- A LOT OF CITIES OUT THERE
WHICH DON'T GET SERVICE WHO
SHOULD HAVE SERVICE.
AND WE HAVE TRIED TO ADDRESS
THAT IN THIS BILL.
THE SLOTS ISSUE HAS BEEN A VERY
DIFFICULT ONE IN THE BILL, BUT
WE'VE TRIED ADDRESS THAT.
AND WE'VE ALSO TRIED TO ADDRESS
THAT BY ALLOWING THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION TO SAY, ALL
RIGHT, WELL, NOW, ARE THEY
IS D.C. OVERCROWDED?
OR IS IT NOT?
AND IF IT ISN'T, THEN THEY ALLOW
MORE TO COME ON.
BUT I JUST -- I JUST ENORMOUSLY
APPRECIATE SENATOR BOXER IN
GENERAL.
SHE CHAIRS AN ENORMOUS COMMITTEE
BUT SHE COMES TO OUR HEARINGS,
ALWAYS MAKES ENORMOUS
CONTRIBUTIONS, AND ON THIS BILL
OF RIGHTS, SHE IS THE AUTHOR,
WHICH PUTS HER RIGHT UP THERE I
GUESS WITH THE FOUNDING FATHERS.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
UNDER THE QUORUM CALL BE
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN
A FEW MINUTES I WILL ASK THE
SENATE TO PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF S. 380.
S. 380 EXTENDS THE ANDEAN TRADE
PREFERENCE ACT.
BUT, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A
FEW COMMENTS ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF THIS TRADE
PREFERENCE ACT.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I'M VERY
AWARE THAT A LOT OF THINGS ARE
GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND
THERE'S UPHEAVAL IN THE MIDDLE
EAST AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON
SPENDING AND I'M VERY AWARE OF
WHAT HAS DOMINATED THE NEWS AND
THE ATTENTION OF THE CONGRESS
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I WANT TO TALK FOR A FEW MINUTES
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT AND
THE NEED TO REAUTHORIZE IT.
I REMIND MY COLLEAGUES THAT THE
ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT WAS
FIRST ENACTED BY PRESIDENT
GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BAWSHES A
WAY TO -- AS A WAY TO BOOST THE
ILLICIT ECONOMIES OF SEVERAL
ANDEAN NATIONS THAT WERE MAJOR
PRODUCERS OF ILLICIT -- OF
ILLEGAL DRUGS.
OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES, THIS
PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY
PRESIDENTS.
IT'S BEEN REAUTHORIZED IN
DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN
CONGRESSES AND IT HAS BEEN
WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS A SUCCESS,
CREATING JOBS FOR WORKERS WHO
CAN SELL CHEAPER IMPORTS TO
AMERICAN CONSUMERS AS A RESULT
OF THESE TRADE PREFERENCES WHILE
ALSO SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGICALLY
IMPORTANT COUNTRIES IN OUR
ONE OF THESE COUNTRIES IS
WE'VE LISTEN RIGHTLY FOCUSED ON
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD OVER
THE PAST DECADE.
BUT ONE OF THE UNTOLD SUCCESS
STORIES IS COLOMBIA'S
TRANSFORMATION FROM A FAILED
STATE TO A THRIVING DEMOCRACY
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WORLD'S
GREAT STORIES.
AND ONE OF THE GREATEST
BIPARTISAN TRIUMPHS OF U.S.
FOREIGN POLICY IN RECENT MEMORY.
THROUGH THE COURAGE AND
PERSEVERENCE OF THE COLOMBIAN
PEOPLE, THE GOVERNMENT AND ARMED
FORCES OF COLOMBIA TOOK THEIR
COUNTRY BACK FROM TERRORISTS AND
KRUG DRUG TRAFFICKERS -- DRUG
TRAFFICKERS AND WARLORDS AND
SOLD OUR SOCIETY WITH ILLEGAL
WE WERE WITH THEM EVERY STEP OF
THE WAY.
IT WAS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON,
TOGETHER WITH A REPUBLICAN
CONGRESS, THAT FIRST ENACTED
PLAN COLOMBIA.
AND IT WAS PRESIDENT GEORGE W.
BUSH WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS
THAT EXPANDED PLAN COLOMBIA.
OVER THE PAST DECADE, THE UNITED
STATES TAXPAYER HAS INVESTED
MORE THAN $8 BILLION TO HELP
COLOMBIA WIN ITS WAR.
AND IT'S BEEN SOME OF THE BEST
MONEY WE'VE EVER SPENT ON A
NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM.
AND, REMEMBER, THE PLAN COLOMBIA
AND THE WAR THAT WE HELPED THE
COLOMBIANS TAKE BACK THEIR
COUNTRY FROM FARC AND THE
TERRORIST AND DRUG DEALERS WAS
TO PREVENT DRUGS FROM COMING TO
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WHERE THE DEMAND WAS CREATED.
SO I'M PROUD THAT AS AN ACTIVE
ACTIVE -- ACT OF GENEROSITY AND
HELP OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT
IT WAS AMERICA'S NATIONAL
SECURITY INTEREST TO SEE
COLOMBIA NOT BECOME A FAILED
STATE, WHICH IT ALMOST WAS 10
YEARS AGO.
THE ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT
HAS BEEN A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF
THIS EFFORT.
IT'S PROVIDED COLOMBIA, ALONG
WITH OTHER ANDEAN NATIONS,
ESSENTIAL OPEN ACCESS TO OUR
MARKETS THAT HAS THEIR SUCCESS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE
PRODUCTS THESE COUNTRIES ARE
EXPORTING TO US ARE THINGS THAT
AMERICANS BARELY PRODUCE AT ALL
SUCH AS CUT FLOWERS.
SO IT PROVIDES A HUGE BENEFIT
FOR OUR PARTNERS WITH LITTLE
COMPETITION OR DISPLACEMENT FOR
OUR WORKERS.
UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER THE LONG
RECORD OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR
THE SUCCESSFUL AND VITAL
PROGRAM, THE LAST CONGRESS DID
SOMETHING DEEPLY SHORTSIGHTED
AROUND TERRIBLE.
RATHER THAN EXTEND THE TRADE
PREFERENCES, AS PREVIOUS
CONGRESSES HAVE DONE, IT MADE
THEIR PASSAGE AND THE PASSAGE OF
OTHER VITAL FREE TRADE MEASURES
CONDITIONAL ON THE SENGS OF A --
EXTENSION OF A WHOLE ARRAY OF
GOVERNMENT SPENDING.
SPENDING THAT OUR COUNTRY CAN'T
AS A RESULT THE ANDEAN TRADE
PREFERENCE ACT EXPIRED LAST
WEEKEND AND WITH IT THE VITAL
ACCESS KEY SO SO MANY COLOMBIAN
PARTERS IN.
WE'RE FAILING COLOMBIA AT THE
WORST OF ALL POSSIBLE TIMES AS
IT IS STRUGGLING TO RECOVER FROM
MASSIVE FLOODING.
I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES THE
MASSIVE FLOODING WHERE HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
DISPLACED.
THEY HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED.
THE ESTIMATED COST TO REBUILD IS
SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS.
BUT IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN THAT.
NOT ONLY HAS THIS CONGRESS
DENIED COLOMBIANS VITAL TRADE
PREFERENCE AT THIS TIME WHEN
THEIR COUNTRY IS UNDER WATER, IT
HAS A CONTINUED FAILURE TO
RATIFY THE COLOMBIAN FREE TRADE
THIS AMENDMENT MAINLY BENEFITS
US, LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD
FOR WORKERS SEEKING ACCESS TO
COLOMBIAN MARKETS.
WITHBUT THE SIGNAL OF THE STRATEGIC
COMMITMENT THAT IT SENDS TO
COLOMBIA CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED.
BY FAILING FOR FIVE STRAIGHT
YEARS NOW TO PASS THE COLOMBIA
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT, WE ARE
SENDING THE OPPOSITE SIGNAL THAT
THE UNITED STATES IS AN
UNRELIABLE AND UNTRUSTWORTHY
ALLY.
THAT WE SEEM TO BE INCAPABLE OF
RISING ABOVE OUR OWN DOMESTIC
POLITICAL DIFFERENCE TOSS
CONSOLIDATE OUR STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF OUR BEST
FRIENDS IN THE WORLD.
NO TRADE AGREEMENT.
A TIME OF GREAT NEED DUE TO A
NATURAL DISASTER.
AND HOW HAS THE CONGRESS
RESPONDED AND THE
ADMINISTRATION?
BY FAILING TO EXTEND CRITICAL
TRADE PREFERENCES FOR COLOMBIA
AND OUR OTHER ANDEAN FRIENDS.
THEY KICKED AN ALLY WHILE THEY
ARE DOWN, RIGHT WHEN THEY NEED
US MOST.
COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS TELL ME THAT
WITHOUT THESE TRADE PREFERENCES,
THEIR CUT FLOWER INDUSTRY, WHICH
IS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE
COLOMBIAN ECONOMY, WOULD
CONTRACT BY 15% TO 20% IN THE
COMING WEEKS.
WRONG.
NOW IS THE TIME TO COME TOGETHER
AND EXTEND THE TRADE PREFERENCE
ACT BY ITSELF ON ITS OWN AND ON
ITS MERITS, JUST AS CONGRESSES
BEFORE US HAVE DONE.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL DO THAT.
IT WILL EXTEND THE PRIVILEGE
MARKET ACCESS FOR OUR ANDEAN
FRIENDS UNTIL NOVEMBER 30 OF
NEXT YEAR.
AFTER WE HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH
IN THE SUCCESS OF THE ANDEAN
REGION, INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE
EARNED US ENORMOUS GOODWILL AND
GRATITUDE, WHY WOULD WE DO
ANYTHING TO CALL OUR FRIENDSHIP
INTO QUESTION?
WHY WOULD WE DO ANYTHING THAT
HARMS OUR ALLIES?
WE CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO EXTEND
THE ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT.
LET ME ALSO EXPLAIN TO MY
COLLEAGUES, JUST BEFORE WE WENT
OUT OF SESSION LAST YEAR, WE
MADE AN AGREEMENT, AND THE
SENATOR FROM OHIO WHO I SEE ON
THE FLOOR WAS ONE OF THE
NEGOTIATORS, THAT THE TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE WOULD BE
EXTENDED ALONG WITH THE ANDEAN
TRADE PREFERENCE ACT.
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT
EXTENSION IS THAT IT WAS NOT
ONLY AN EXTENSION OF THE TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE AS IT WAS
PRIOR TO THE STIMULUS BEING
PASSED, BUT ALSO AFTER.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE HAD GONE
BACK -- HAD GONE UP TO SOME
SOME $2.6 BILLION.
AN ADDITIONAL $620 MILLION FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
SO IT'S IN EXISTENCE TODAY WITH
A BILLION DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON
VARIOUS PROGRAMS, AND THERE IS A
G.A.O. STUDY THAT -- THAT
SEVERELY QUESTIONS THESE
MULTIPLE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN BEING
TODAY.
THEY TALK ABOUT THE $18 BILLION
SPENT TO ADMINISTER 47 PROGRAMS,
AN INCREASE OF THREE PROGRAMS
AND ROUGHLY $5 BILLION SINCE
THEY LAST REPORTED.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING MY COLLEAGUES
WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE T.A.A.
WAS -- IS TO AGREE TO AN
EXTENSION OF THE ANDEAN TRADE
PREFERENCE AGREEMENT IN RETURN
FOR A -- OUR EXTENSION, OUR
AGREEMENT TO EXTEND THE TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE AT THE
LEVEL OF PRESTIMULUS.
THE STIMULUS WAS SUPPOSEDLY AND
ADVERTISED AS A ONE-SHOT DEAL.
SO WHY SHOULD WE INCREASE TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE IN KEEPING
WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THE
STIMULUS PACKAGE?
CAN'T WE GO BACK NOW THAT THE
STIMULUS IS SUPPOSEDLY OVER,
CAN'T WE GO BACK TO PREVIOUS
LEVELS OF ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE?
AND I WANT TO MAKE THE RECORD
PERFECTLY CLEAR, WE ARE NOT IN
THIS PROPOSAL KILLING OFF TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
IT IS IN BEING AS WE SPEAK
TODAY.
WE ARE SAYING WE DON'T WANT THE
INCREASE THAT WAS PUT IN IN 2009
AS A RESULT OF THE STIMULUS
PACKAGE.
YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, WE
DON'T -- THINGS ARE NOT GREAT IN
OUR WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
WE HAVE GOT A RETURN OF DANNY
ORTEGA TO NICARAGUA.
WE HAVE HUGO CHAVEZ CONTINUING
VENEZUELA.
WE ARE SEEING NATIONS, AND I
WON'T ENUMERATE THEM, THAT ARE
BECOMING MORE AND MORE
DICTATORIAL, TOTALITARIAN AND
SO WHEN WE DON'T EXTEND THE
ATPA, A SIGNAL TO OUR FRIENDS
AND OUR ADVERSARIES IN THE
REGION IS VERY CLEAR.
YOU CAN'T COUNT ON THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA TO KEEP ITS
SOLEMN AGREEMENTS NEGOTIATED AND
RATIFIED BY REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRAT PRESIDENTS AND
CONGRESSES.
I -- I UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE
AND RESPECT THE SENATOR FROM
OHIO, THE SENATOR FROM
PENNSYLVANIA, THE SENATOR FROM
MONTANA AND THEIR DEDICATION TO
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE.
T.A.A.
WE ARE SEEKING TO LEAVE T.A.A.
AT ITS PREVIOUS LEVEL PRIOR TO
THE STIMULUS PACKAGE BEING
I DON'T UNDERSTAND, I DON'T
UNDERSTAND WHY THAT SHOULDN'T BE
SUFFICIENT IN THIS ERA OF HUGE
DEFICITS AND DEBTS.
SO I WOULD ASK MY FRIEND FROM
OHIO AND THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE AISLE WHO OPPOSE A
LONG-TERM -- WHO OPPOSE THE
ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE ACT
BEING EXTENDED, THAT WE WOULD
AGREE, WE WOULD AGREE TO THE
EXTENSION OF THE TRADE
ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE ONLY AT
THE LEVEL THAT IT WAS BEFORE.
ISN'T THAT REASONABLE?
ISN'T THAT REASONABLE?
IT'S A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
IT'S A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
THAT'S GOING TO BE ALLOWED UNDER
THE T.A.A.
SO I -- I ALSO AGAIN, AS I BEGAN
MY COMMENTS, I UNDERSTAND THERE
IS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON IN
THE WORLD, THERE IS A LOT OF
THINGS GOING ON DOMESTICALLY,
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENING, BUT SHOULDN'T WE --
SHOULDN'T WE PAY ATTENTION TO
OUR FRIENDS, OUR LITTLE FRIENDS
WHO HELPED US SO MUCH IN THIS
WAR ON DRUGS, WHO IF THEY HAD
BECOME AS THEY NEARLY DID TEN
YEARS AGO A FAILED STATE, THE
CONS TO UNITED STATES NATIONAL
SECURITY WOULD HAVE BEEN
PROFOUND?
WE ARE WATCHING THE VIOLENCE IN
MEXICO AND WE ARE ALARMED BY IT,
INCLUDING THE DEATH OF A D.E.A.
AGENT AND WOUNDING OF ANOTHER
ONE JUST THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS
IN MEXICO.
MY FRIENDS, THAT WAS A SUNDAY
SCHOOL PICNIC COMPARED WHO WAS
GOING ON IN COLOMBIA BEFORE PLAN
COLOMBIA, BEFORE WE HELPED THEM
WITH THE ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE
AGREEMENT, AND I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES TO PLEASE CONSIDERATE
LEAST A SHORT-TERM EXTENSION OF
THIS ATPA AND ALONG WITH THE
BAICIAL T.A.A., AT LEAST TO GIVE
THESE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
RECOVER FROM THE DEVASTATION
THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.
SO I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE SENATE PROCEED TO THE
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF S.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND
PASSED, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER
BE LAID UPON THE TABLE, AND THAT
ANY STATEMENTS RELATING TO THE
RECORD.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
MADAM PRESIDENT,
RESERVING THE RIGHT TO OBJECT.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I