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RERESCINDED.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I RISE TODAY WITH
A DEEP SENSE OF HONOR AND A DEEP
SENSE OF SADNESS TO SPEAK
BILLION OF THE LATE-SENATOR
CHARLES HARING HERESY OF
ILLINOIS, WHO PASSED AWAY THIS
PAST DISAIT WITH HIS FAMILY
COMPLETELY SURROUNDING HIM.
BEFORE I BEGIN, THOUGH, I ALSO
WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT TWO OTHER
LOSSES TO THE SENATE FAMILY
WHICH GRIEVE ME GREATLY.
ONE OF COURSE IS SARAH KEN DIRK
THE BELOVED DAUGHTER OF SENATOR
TED KENNEDY, AND ALSO ELEANOR
MONDALE, THE BELOVED DAUGHTER OF
THE VICE PRESIDENT AND SENATOR
MONDALE.
EACH OF THESE TWO WONDERFUL
PEOPLE DIED AT THE AGE OF 51.
AND IT'S INCOMPREHENSIBLE, IT'S
TERRIBLE, THEY'RE FAR TOO YOUNG
TO BE TAKEN FROM US, THE PERCY
AND ROCKEFELLER FAMILY LOVE
FLOWS TO THEIR FAMILIES.
MR. PRESIDENT, SENATOR CHUCK
PERCY WAS BLESSED TO LIVE A LONG
AND ACCOMPLISHED LIFE.
HE LIVED TO BE 91.
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT
SENATOR PERCY WAS A
DISTINGUISHED REPUBLICAN MEMBER
OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR
18 YEARS.
THAT BEING FROM 1967 TO 1984,
WHICH WAS THE YEAR THAT I CAME
INTO THE SENATE.
HE WAS CHAMBER, AS PEOPLE KNOW,
OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE AND MAN WITH AN
ABSOLUTELY VAST -- VAST --
TALENT THAT HE POURED INTO EVERY
ASPECT OF HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AND
HIS PRIVATE BUSINESS CAREER
ALSO.
AND HE WAS JUST EXTRAORDINARY IN
THAT WAY.
HE HAD BRAINS, HE HAD VISION, HE
HAD STEM IN A, HE HAD -- HE HAD
HE HAD ENERGY, HE WAS
TERRIBLY ATHLETIC.
HE COULD DO ANYTHING FOR ANY
AMOUNT OF TIME AND UNDER ALL
THIS WAS BUILT THIS INCREDIBLE
DISCIPLINE THAT MADE HIM DO IT
ALL.
MOST IMPORTANTLY TO THE SENATOR,
THE ONE SPEAKING, CHUCK PERCY
WAS MY FATHER-IN-LAW FOR MORE
THAN FOUR DECADES.
SINCE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO
MARRY HIS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL
DAUGHTER SHARON PERCY, WHO I
MIGHT SAY AT THIS POINT HAS MANY
OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND
NATURES AND HABITS HABITS OF SENATOR
PERCY THAT I'M GHG TO TALK
ABOUT.
IT JUST WORKED OUT THAT WAY.
SHE HAS THOSE CHARACTERISTICS.
HE EXTENDED TO ME IN EVERY WAY
THE GREAT GIFT OF JOINING THAT
FAMILY THAT HE NURTURED AND
WATCHED OVER AND CARED FOR,
PROTECTED ALL OF HIS LIFE.
AND FOR THAT, OBVIOUSLY, I'M
FOREVER GRATEFUL.
I WANT TO SHARE A FEW
REMEMBRANCES OF SENATOR PERCY
WITH MY COLLEAGUES BECAUSE MANY
OF OUR COLLEAGUES HERE DIDN'T
KNOW HIM.
A FEW DID, BUT MOST DID NOT.
ALSO WITH THE PEOPLE OF
ILLINOIS, THE TWO SENATORS FROM
ILLINOIS WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY
ON THAT, WHO PUT THEY ARE TRUST
IN HIM AND WITH ALL THE FAMILY
AND FRIENDS WHO ARE HURTING FROM
THE NEWS OF HIS LOSS.
CHUCK PERCY WAS ABSOLUTELY
UNSHAKABLE IN HIS BELIEF IN THE
FUTURE.
HE BELIEVED IN OUR COUNTRY, AND
HE BELIEVED IN OUR ABILITY TO
MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER CHANCE,
IF WE WOULD ONLY PUT OUR MINDS
AND WILL AND DISCIPLINE TO IT.
AVENUES BELIEVER AND HE -- HE
WAS A BELIEVER AND HE SAW NOT
THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY BUT
THROUGH A GLASS BRIGHTLY.
IT WAS HIS NATURE.
MORE BY WHAT
WAS RIGHT THAN BY PARTY LABEL.
IN 2008, THEN-SENATOR BARACK
OBAMA NOTED THAT HIS HOPE WAS
THAT MORE REPUBLICANS WOULD LOOK
AT CURRENT MEMBERS OF THEIR
PARTY FOR INSPIRATION AND THEN
COMPARE THEM TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN
AND CHUCK PERCY, TWO PRETTY GOOD
REPUBLICANS, HE SAID.
WHAT MADE CHUCK SO MAGNETIC AND
SO SUCCESSFUL WAS HIS DETERMINE
INITIAL SHARE HIS APARTMENT MIX,
TO SHARE HIS SENSE OF PROMISE
WITH EVERYONE AROUND HIM, EVEN
AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
CHUCK PERCY BEGAN HIS BUSINESS
CAREER NOT AT MELLON HOWE WHERE
IN FACT AT THE AGE OF 29 HE
BECAME THE YOUNGEST C.E.O. AND
PRESIDENT OF ANY MAJOR COMPANY
IN AMERICA, BUT IN FACT HE DID
FOUR.
IT YEARS EARLIER AT THE AGE OF
HIS FAMILY WAS IMPOVERISHED.
THEY HAD BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE
GREAT DEPRESSION.
THEY WERE IN BANKRUPTCY.
THEY WERE LIVING AND SHIFTED
FROM PLACE TO PLACE IN SOME OF
CHICAGO.
THE MOST DIFFICULT PARTS OF
SO CHUCK PERCY AT THE AGE OF
FOUR WANTED TO HELP.
AND HE KNEW HOW TO HELP.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL INSTINCT AND
SO HE TOOK COOKIES, BAKED
PRESUMABLY AT HOME, AND SOLD
THEM ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO
FOR A VERY LITTLE AMOUNT OF
MONEY, BUT HE MADE MONEY FROM
THAT, WHICH HE THEN TURNED OVER
TO THE FAMILY.
HE HELPED HIS IMPOVERISHED
FAMILY WEATHER THE GREAT
DEPRESSION AND PUSHED HIMSELF BY
FORCE OF WILL.
TO GET AN EDUCATION, ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF
CHICAGO ON SCHOLARSHIP.
BEFORE HIS BUSINESS CAREER TOOK
OFF, LIKE MANY MEN OF HIS
GENERATION, CHUCK PERCY WENT OFF
TO WAR SERVING HIS COUNTRY FOR
THREE YEARS AS A NAVAL OFFICER
DURING WORLD WAR I I UPON
RETURNING HOME, HE REJOINED BELL
& HOWELL AND LED THAT COMPANY
FROM 1949 TO 1964, THROUGH AN
ASTOUNDING 32-FOLD INCREASE IN
THE EXPANSION OF SALES.
IN WHAT WERE THEN CUTTING-EDGE
FILM PRODUCTS.
IT WAS A VERY FAMOUS COMPANY
THEN.
HE LAUNCHED HIS POLITICAL CAREER
IN MARCH, PART TO GET BACK INTO
PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE HE MISSED
IT, HE YEARNED FOR IT.
ONE COULD ARGUE THAT BUSINESS
MIGHT HAVE BEEN HIS REAL CALLING
OR MAYBE PUBLIC SERVICE WAS, BUT
TO HIM HE WAS INTERESTED IN
EVERYTHING AND WANTED TO DO
EVERYTHING.
SO HE HAD A CHANCE TO GET BACK
INTO PUBLIC SERVICE.
BUT HE HAD NO GRAND AMBITION.
HE SIMPLY WANTED TO FIND WAYS TO
CHALLENGE HIMSELF, ALWAYS THAT,
MAKE THE COUNTRY
BETTER.
CHUCK PERCY HAD A SERIOUSNESS OF
PURPOSE.
AS A YOUNG MAN HE RESOLVED TO
READ ALL OF THE GREAT BOOKS, AND
I MEAN THAT.
IN TOMES.
HE HAD A PROFESSOR -- AND I CAN
REMEMBER WATCHING HIM DO THAT
LISTENING TO SOME OF THE
DISCUSSIONS -- WHERE HE READ THE
GREAT BOOKS OF HIS GENERATION,
GENERATIONS THAT PRECEDED, THE
MASTER WORKS AS WELL AS THE
CONSTITUTION, THE BILL OF
RIGHTS, "THE FEDERALIST" PAPERS,
AND HE NOT ONLY READ THEM BUT HE
DISCUSSED THEM OUGHT WITH HIS
PROFESSOR, AND IT WAS A
STUNNING, AGAIN, EMPHASIS TO
DRIVE HIMSELF TO INCREASE HIS
KNOWLEDGE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL
POSSIBLE.
BUT CHUCK ALSO HAD A SENSE OF
FUN AND OF SPORT.
HE LOVED TO BE ACTIVE.
HE LOVED TO SKI, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, AND AS FATE WOULD HAVE
WHEN
THEN-PRESIDENT EISENHOWER CALLED
HIM IN 1959 TO SEE IF HE COULD
BE PERSUADED TO WORK ON A
PROJECT TO REINVIGORATE THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY BY LEADING A
COMMISSION ON NATIONAL GOALS.
IT WAS AN AMBITIOUS TASK, AND
RIFE WITH POLITICAL RISK.
FOR CHUCK.
BUT CHUCK DIDN'T HESITATE.
HIS WORK HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR
HIS ELECTION, IN FACT, TO THE
SENATE, IN 1966, NOT BY DESIGN
BUT BECAUSE OF ITS EXCELLENCE
AND BECAUSE OF THE DEPTH OF HIS
WANTING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE
HAD TO BE READY FOR BY OUR
200th BIRTHDAY IN 1976.
BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, HIS
REPORT SERVED AS A TEMPLATE THAT
I'VE MENTIONED FOR THE
REFLECTION, FOR THE
SOUL-SEARCHING THAT WENT ON IN
THIS COUNTRY AHEAD OF THAT 1976
BICENTENNIAL.
HE REALLY CARED ABOUT THE
200th ANNIVERSARY OF AMERICA.
EVERYBODY DID.
BUT HE REALLY DID.
AND HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WE
COULD DO BETTER, WHAT WE COULD
DO MORE OF, AND THAT'S WHAT HE
USED THAT COMMISSION FOR.
HE WANTED AMERICA TO BE A BETTER
NATION.
AS A SENATOR, CHUCK PERCY TOOK A
STRONG INTEREST IN THE ECONOMY
AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
HE TRAVELED THE GLOBE, GOING TO
COUNTRIES WHOSE NAMES ARE STILL
HARDLY KNOWN AT A TIME WHEN VERY
FEW SENATORS WERE EVEN TRAVELING
AT ALL.
HE COULD DO THAT AS CHAIRMAN OF
FOREIGN RELATIONS, BUT HE WANTED
TO DO THAT.
AND THE HE WAS GOOD AT IT.
AND HE WOULD GET INTO THE
TINIEST CRACK OF A LITTLE, SMALL
VILLAGE TO TRY AND MEET PEOPLE,
MAYBE EVEN BREAKING CULTURAL
HABITS BY TRYING TO SHAKE HANDS
WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ALLOWED
SHAKE HANDS BECAUSE THEY WERE
CONSIDERED TOO IMPOVERISHED.
NOTHING DISCOURAGED HIM, AND HE
WANTED TO MAKE HIMSELF A BETTER
PERSON AND A BETTER SENATOR.
CHUCK WAS ON A TRIP TO INSPECT
THE BATTLEFIELDS OF VIETNAM,
EVEN THOUGH HE WAS VERY
SKEPTICAL OF THAT WAR.
HE WAS ON A HELICOPTER WHEN HIS
AIRCRAFT TOOK FIRE FROM VIET
CONG IN A HAMLET ABOUT 90 MILES
NORTH OF SAIGON.
THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF FOR
SAFETY, BUT LEFT CHUCK WITH FOUR
OTHER MEN AND JUST TWO GUNS
BETWEEN THEM TO HUDDLE AGAINST
THE GROUND AS MORTAR SHELLS
EXPLODED 15 FEET AWADE AND
SMALL-ARM FIRES WHIZZED
OVERHEAD.
WELL, THEY CAME BACK AND THEY
ON.
RESCUED THEM AND THE STORY WENT
HE WAS FEARLESS.
CHUCK, WHEN HE CAME TO THE
SENATE, HE REALLY TOOK ON THE
CULTURE OF THE SENATE.
HE DIDN'T LIKE A LOT OF WHAT HE
SAW.
AND I'M LOOKING, AS HE SPEAK
NOW, AT PAGES.
HE THOUGHT THERE WAS NO REASON
WHY GIRLS COULD NOT BE SENATE
PAGES, JUST AS EASILY AS BOYS.
BUT THAT WAS THE CUSTOM THEN.
GIRLS WERE NOT DEEMED TO BE ABLE
TO DO THAT.
THERE WAS AN ATTITUDE HERE IN
THE SENATE THEN THAT THE
OPPORTUNITY OF BEING A PAGE WAS
SUITED FOR BOYS.
AND DURING THE DEBATE,
INTERESTINGLY, SOME SENATORS
WORRIED ABOUT GIRL PAGES NOT
BEING ABLE TO CARRY COPIES OF
THE "CONGRESSIONAL RECORD" TO
THE SENATE DESKS.
HE COSPONSORED THE EQUAL RIGHTS
AMENDMENT AND SPENT THE BETTER
PART THE OF HIS CAREER ARGUING THAT
WOMEN SHOULD HAVE THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES AS MEN.
BUT SENATOR PERCY NEW FIRSTHAND
FROM THE REMARKABLE WOMEN IN HIS
OWN LIFE, HIS OWN FAMILY, AND
IN HIS OFFICE
THAT WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING THAT
MEN CAN DO AND PERHAPS BETTER.
IN FACT SENATOR PERCY WAS
FURIOUS WHEN HE FOUND OUT THE
TEXTBOOKS PAID FOR BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INCLUDED
SENTENCES LIKE -- QUOTE --
"GIRLS SHOULD BE NURSES AND
SECRETARIES WHILE BOYS SHOULD BE
DOCTORS AND BUSINESS MERN."
CLOSE QUOTE.
CHUCK PERCY ALSO CARED DEEPLY
ABOUT HELPING LESS FORTUNATE
AMERICANS.
PLEASE REMEMBER -- PEOPLE THINK
OF HIM AS ALWAYS HAVING BEEN
VERY RICH.
NO, HE WAS VERY POOR.
HIS FAMILY WAS EVEN PEER.
HE STRUGGLED.
THEA'S HE STRUGGED FOR A LONG --
HE STRUGGLED FOR A LONG, LONG
TIESM HE WAS PUSHED THE FIRST
LEGISLATION TO CREATE
HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR LOW-INCOME
AMERICANS.
HE FOCUSED ON OLDER AMERICANS.
HE WROTE A BOOK BACK IN 1974
DAUNTING PROCESS OF
GROWING OLD IN AMERICA.
THIS IS BACK IN 1974.
JUST NINE YEARS AFTER MEDICARE.
AND THE SHAMEFUL LIVING
CONDITIONS AND HOSPITAL
CONDITIONS THAT THE ELDER POOR
HAD TO FACE.
HIS BOOK WAS A CALL TO ACTION
AND A MORAL IMPERATIVE TO
RESTORE DIGNITY TO AGING.
CHUCK FAVORED OPEN GOVERNMENT
AND SUNSHINE LAWS.
AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS NOT
POPULAR.
HE FELT STRONGLY THAT A
DEMOCRACY -- IN A DEMOCRACY THE
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT SHOULD BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND ANSWER
SPECIFICALLY TO CIVILIAN
LEADERS.
HE ALSO OPPOSED FOR THE MOST
PART WAR AND TOOK MANY POSITIONS
THAT UNDOUBTEDLY HURT HIM WITHIN
HIS PEAMPLET BUT IN FACT HE
DEFIED PARTY LABELS,
MR. PRESIDENT, ADESCRIBING
HIMSELF AS -- QUOTE -- "FERVENT
"FERVENTLY MODERATE."
DID HE SEEK OUT
EVEN-HANDED N.A.S. IT WAS KNOWN
BY THOSE WHO KNEW HIM THAT AT
HIS DINNER PARTIES AT HIS HOUSE,
AT ABOUT WIDE FIVE A WEEK -- I
GUESS NOT DURING A SESSION --
THEY WERE ALWAYS EQUALLY DIVIDED
BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, SPECIFICALLY, ONE
DEMOCRAT AND ONE REPUBLICAN, AND
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
EVERYTHING.
GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS AND
IT WAS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE TO
HIM.
HE WANTED TO HEAR ALL SIDES.
THOUGH HE WAS ABSOLUTELY
MIND.
RESOLUTE WHEN HE MADE UP HIS
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT
WAS MOST CAPTIVATING ABOUT CHUCK
WAS THE FERVOR WITH WHICH HE
HELD HIS BELIEFS.
SENATOR PERCY'S DESIRE TO BE
PRESIDENT BECAME TO BE WELL
KNOWN.
AND HE WROTE ACTUALLY ABOUT IT
PUBLICLY.
BUT THE TIMING WAS NEVER QUITE
HAPPEN.
RIGHT, AND SO THAT DIDN'T
HE LOST HIS RACE FOR A FOURTH
SENATE TERM IN 1994, JUST WHEN
WAS COMING IN TO
THE SENATE, AND WAS ONE OF
SEVERAL VERY DIFFICULT TIMES
THAT CHUCK PERCY FACED WITH HIS
GRACE.
LIFE WITH COURAGE AND WITH
EARLY IN HIS LIFE, NUMBER ONE,
HIS FAMILY WAS LITERALLY
PENNILESS WHEN HIS FATHER LOST A
JOB, ALL OF THEIR SAVINGS, AND
THEN LATER AT MIDPOINT OF HIS
CAREER HE LOST A BELOVED
DAUGHTER, SHARON'S TWIN SISTER
VALERIE, IN AN UNSPEAKABLE AND
LETHAL CRIME THAT STILL TEARS AT
THE SOUL OF OUR FAMILY.
AND THEN IN HIS FINAL YEARS, HE
WAS STRUCK DOWN BY ALZHEIMER'S
FOR A DECADE OR MORE.
ALZHEIMER'S.
THERE IS NO CURE FOR
THE END WAS FATED.
NEVER DOWNCAST.
HE WAS ALWAYS, UNTIL HE NO
LONGER COULD, TRYING TO READ,
WALK, DO SOMETHING, PLAY TENNIS,
HAVE MEALS OUTDOORS, WHATEVER.
BUT IT WAS THROUGH THE HAVEL HIS
DIE -- THROUGH THE HALL OF HIS
DYNAMIC AND FULL LIFE THAT CHUCK
PERCY BECAME THE MAN I'VE BEEN
PRIVILEGED TO KNOW, ADMIRE AND
LOVE DEEPLY.
CHUCK WARMED TO A CHALLENGE.
HE LEANED IN TO LIFE IN EVERY
WAY, INSISTING FOR HIMSELF, HIS
CHILDREN AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN
THAT THE BEST PART OF LIVING
CONSISTS OF LEARNING, OF
IMPROVING, AND TRYING TO DO
BETTER EACH DAY.
HIS ENERGY AND HIS FOCUS ON THIS
PROCESS, FUELED IN PART BY
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.
IT WAS AMAZING, UNMATCHED, AS
FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
HE WAS AN INCOMPARABLE FATHER TO
HER SIBLINGS.
HE LIVED WHAT HE BELIEVED.
VERY SIMPLE.
NEVER WAVERED IN HIS
UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT AND LOVE
AND SOUGHT AND CREATED TRUTH.
AMERICA BENEFITED GREATLY FROM
HIS LIFE AND FROM HIS SERVICE,
AND THE ENTIRE PERCY AND
ROCKEFELLER FAMILIES HAVE BEEN
INCREDIBLY AND INDELIBLY SHAPED
BY HIS LEGACY AND BY HIS LOVE.
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
BUT FIRST I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT A STATEMENT FROM
THE PERCY AND ROCKEFELLER
FAMILIES BE SUBMITTED TO THE
"CONGRESSIONAL RECORD" AND
PLACED JUST AFTER MY STATEMENT
AS IF READ.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
I THANK THE
PRESIDING OFFICER.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
FIRST LET ME
EXTEND MY SYMPATHY TO MY
COLLEAGUE JAY ROCKEFELLER OF
WEST VIRGINIA, SON-IN-LAW OF THE
LATE CHUCK PERCY, OF COURSE HIS
WIFE AND SENATOR PERCY'S
DAUGHTER SHAURPB.
THEY ARE GREAT TPREBDZ --
DAUGHTER SHARON.
THEY ARE GREAT FRIENDS.
I KNOW THIS LOSS, THOUGH THEY
ALL FOUND IT INEVITABLE, STILL
BRINGS PAIN TO THEIR LIVES.
I HOPE THE REFLECTION OF SO MANY
PEOPLE ON THE GREATNESS OF CHUCK
PERCY ON THE CONTRIBUTION TO
ILLINOIS AND TO AMERICA WILL
HELP TO IN SOME WAYS ALLEVIATE
THE PAIN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.
I JOIN MY COLLEAGUE SENATOR KIRK
TODAY IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO OUR
FALLEN COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND,
SENATOR CHARLES PERCY, WHO DIED
ON SATURDAY.
HE SERVED ILLINOIS AND OUR
NATION FOR 18 YEARS HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
ALTHOUGH HE RAN AGAINST THE TWO
MEN WHO WERE MY GREATEST
POLITICAL INSPIRATIONS --
SENATOR PAUL DOUGLAS AND SENATOR
PAUL SIMON -- I ALWAYS REGARDED
SENATOR PERCY AS A FRIEND AND AS
AN HONEST, HONORABLE
ILLINOIS.
REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR STATE OF
IT'S A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT
CHUCK PERCY THAT HE WAS NEAR
SIGHTED IN ONE EYE AND
FAR-SIGHTED IN THE OTHER.
THAT UNUSUAL VISION WAS A GOOD
METAPHOR FOR HIS POLITICS AS
WELL.
HE DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS
FERVENTLY MODERATE, A
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN.
HE SAID HE WAS -- QUOTE -- "A
CONSERVATIVE ON MONEY ISSUES BUT
A LIBERAL ON PEOPLE ISSUES."
END OF QUOTE.
HE USED THE WORD LIBERAL IN THE
DAYS WHEN YOU COULD GET AWAY
WITH IT.
CHARLES HARTING PERCY WAS BORN
IN 1919 IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
HIS FAMILY MOVED TO THE CHICAGO
ROGERS PARK NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN HE
WAS A BABY.
HIS FATHER WORKED AS A BANK
CLERK, HIS MOTHER TAUGHT VIOLIN.
THE BANK AT WHICH HIS FATHER
WORKED FAILED IN THE DEPRESSION
AND PERCY FAMILY WAS FORCE D
INTO BANKRUPTCY.
CHUCK PERCY GOT HIS FIRST JOB AT
THE AGE OF FIVE SELLING
MAGAZINES TO HELP HIS FAMILY.
HE SOLD HIS MOTHER'S HOME MADE
COOKIES DOOR TO DOOR, ROSE AT
3:30 IN THE NEWSPAPER TO DELIVER
NEWSPAPERS AND PARKED CARS AND
WORKED AS A JANITOR WHILE IN
HIGH SCHOOL.
HE WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH THE
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ON A
HALF-TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AND
ALONG THE WAY HAD AN ECONOMICS
PROFESSOR, DR. PAUL DOUGLAS.
IN 1936, WHILE CHUCK PERCY WAS
STILL IN COLLEGE, HIS SUNDAY
SCHOOLTEACHER ENCOURAGED HIM TO
ENTER A TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE
MAN'S COMPANY, THE COMPANY WAS
BELL&HOWELL, A SMALL
MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF HOME
MOVIE CAMERAS.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS WITH A
DEGREE IN ECONOMICS, HE WENT TO
HOWELL.
WORK FULL TIME AT BELL AND
AT 23 HE WAS ELECTED TO THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AT AGE 29 HE WAS NAMED BELL AND
HOWELL PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER, THE YOUNGEST
PERSON TO HEAD A MAJOR AMERICAN
CORPORATION UP TO THAT TIME.
IN 14 YEARS UNDER CHUCK PERCY'S
LEADERSHIP, BELL AND HOWELL
EXTENDED ITS REACH IN THE
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MARKET.
ITS NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
INCREASED 12 FOLD AND ITS ANNUAL
SALES CLIMBED FROM $13 MILLION
TO $160 MILLION.
IN 1964 CHUCK PERCY WAS A
DELEGATE TO THE REPUBLICAN OF
NATIONAL CONVENTION, THE SAME
YEAR HE RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR
GOVERNOR FOR ILLINOIS.
TWO YEARS LATER CHUCK PERCY
CHALLENGED THAT FORMER
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PROFESSOR,
PAUL DOUGLAS FOR HIS SEAT IN THE
UNITED STATES SENATE.
I KNEW ALL ABOUT THAT CAMPAIGN.
IT WAS MY FIRST.
I WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT AND AN
INTERN TO SENATOR DOUGLAS AND
WEFPBT BACK TO WORK ON HIS --
WENT BACK TO WORK ON HIS
CAMPAIGN IN ILLINOIS WHEN CHUCK
PERCY CHALLENGED HIM.
IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF THAT
CAMPAIGN I WAS WITH SENATOR
DOUGLAS IN MY HOMETOWN OF EAST
ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.
HE WAS STAYING AT THE HOLIDAY
INN AND HE RECEIVED WORD EARLY
IN THE MORNING THAT CHUCK
PERCY'S DAUGHTER VALLEY HAD BEEN
MURDERED IN THEIR HOME.
SENATOR DOUGLAS, I REMEMBER THIS
TO THIS DAY, SAW A CHURCH ACROSS
THE STREET FROM THAT HOLIDAY
CHURCH.
INN, ST. HENRY'S CATHOLIC
AND THOUGH DOUGLAS WAS A QUAKER
AND LATER UNITARIAN, HE SAID I'M
GOING TO THAT CHURCH TO PRAY.
HE WENT IN AND HE PRAYED FOR THE
PERCY FAMILY.
HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR AND HE
SAID IN QUIET TONES TO HIS
STAFF, THIS CAMPAIGN IS OVER
UNTIL CHUCK PERCY ANNOUNCES IT
WILL RESUME.
AND WE WILL SAY NOTHING ABOUT
THIS TRAGEDY OTHER THAN TO
EXPRESS OUR SYMPATHY TO HIS
FAMILY.
POLITICS.
WHAT A DIFFERENT DAY IN AMERICAN
BOTH CANDIDATES DECLARED A HALT
TO THE CAMPAIGN.
IT LASTED NEARLY ONE MONTH.
IT WAS THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
THAT DECISION SHOWED A HUMANITY
AND RESPECT WHICH IS MISSING IN
POLITICS.
TOO MANY OCCASIONS FROM TODAY'S
CHUCK PERCY WENT ON TO WIN THAT
CAMPAIGN.
IN THE SENATE HE BACKED CONSUMER
PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL
EFFORTS, SUPPORTED INTERNATIONAL
NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION.
WHEN YOU LISTEN TO HIS AGENDA OF
PRIORITIES, YOU FIND IT HARD TO
PLACE IT IN TODAY'S VERY
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN AGENDA.
A NAVY VETERAN, HE WAS AN
OUTSPOKEN OPPONENT OF THE WAR IN
VIETNAM.
IT'S AN ACT OF POLITICAL COURAGE
THAT EARNED HIM A PLACE ON
LIST.
RICHARD NIXON'S INFAMOUS ENEMY'S
HE WAS THE FIRST SENATOR TO CALL
FOR AN INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR TO
INVESTIGATE WATERGATE.
1970 HE JOINED THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
A DECADE LATER WHEN HE ROSE TO
CHAIR THAT COMMITTEE, HE
EXPLAINED HIS VIEWS ON FOREIGN
POLICY THIS WAY -- AND I QUOTE
-- "I DON'T WANT FOREIGN POLICY
DEVELOPED JUST BY ONE PARTY AND
PARTY.
RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER THE OTHER
HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I MUCH MORE VALUE A BILL THAT
THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMITTEE
ACHIEVED IN WORLD WAR II,
ACHIEVED IN THE MARSHALL PLAN."
CHUCK PERCY WAS REELECTED TO THE
SENATE IN 1972 BY MORE THAN ONE
MILLION VOTES THE LARGEST
PLURALITY OF ANY SENATOR IN THE
NATION THAT YEAR.
HE WON A THIRD TERM IN 1978,
RUNNING FOR A FOURTH TERM IN
1984, HE WAS CHALLENGE TPHAD
BITTER PRIMARY BY AN ARCH
CONSERVATIVE, A MAN WHOSE MONEY
CAME FROM OUT OF STATE AND WAS
NEVER REALLY TRACED.
ALTHOUGH HE WON THAT PRIMARY, HE
WOULD GO ON TO LOSE THE GENERAL
ELECTION TO MY FRIEND, SENATOR
PAUL SIMON, WHO WON WITH 50.1%
OF THE VOTE.
THAT SAME YEAR SENATOR PERCY'S
SON-IN-LAW, OUR COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER, WAS
ELECTED TO THE SENATE FROM WEST
VIRGINIA.
AFTER LEAVING THE SENATE,
SENATOR PERCY SAID HIS PROUDEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT IN OFFICE HAD
BEEN PUSHING FOR MORE
OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN IN THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
HIS LASTING LEGACY GOES WAY
BEYOND THAT.
IN 1970 IT WAS SENATOR CHUCK
PERCY WHO PERSUADED RICHARD
NIXON TO NOMINATE ONE OF SENATOR
PERCY'S FORMER CLASSMATES FOR A
SPOT ON THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR
THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT.
FIVE YEARS LATER THAT FORMER
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CLASSMATE,
JOHN PAUL STEVENS, WAS ELEVATED
TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WHERE
HE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION UNTIL
HIS RETIREMENT LAST YEAR.
I CAN RECALL WHEN SENATOR PERCY
WAS IN OFFICE.
I HAD BACKED HIS OPPONENT,
SENATOR DOUGLAS, WHOM HE
DEFEATED IN 1966.
AND I CONTACTED HIS OFFICE.
I WAS A STUDENT AT GEORGETOWN
LAW SCHOOL.
WE HAD A GROUP OF DEMOCRATS AND
I THOUGHT I WILL TAKE A FLIER
HERE.
LET ME CALL HIS OFFICE AND SEE
IF HE'LL MEET WITH US.
OF COURSE HE SAID YES AND THE
TEN
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER
YOUNG DEMOCRATS WERE SITTING IN
CHUCK PERCY'S OFFICE.
HE KNEW IT AND WE HAD A GOOD
TIME, A GOOD EXCHANGE.
THAT'S THE KIND OF PERSON HE
WAS.
PRACTICED.
THAT'S THE KIND OF POLITICS HE
THAT'S A REMINDER OF WHAT LIFE
WAS LIKE NOT THAT LONG AGO.
AFTER LEAVING OFFICE, SENATOR
PERCY BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS TRAINED CONSULTANT,
BOARD CHAIRMAN OF AN
ORGANIZATION THAT ADMINISTERS
EDUCATION AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE
PROGRAMS.
TWO YEARS AGO HIS DAUGHTER
SHARON, PERCY ROCKEFELLER
ALZHEIMER'S.
ANNOUNCED THAT HER FATHER HAD
SENATOR PERCY HAD BEEN
STRUGGLING WITH THE DISEASE FOR
MORE THAN A DECADE.
EVEN OUT OF OFFICE, HE WOULD
CALL ME FROM TIME TO TIME
USUALLY WITH A REQUEST ABOUT
WASHINGTON, D.C.
ILLINOIS WAS HIS LOVE AND
CHICAGO AREA ALWAYS HIS
HOMETOWN.
BUT HE HAD A PASSION AND LOVE
FOR WASHINGTON TOO AND HE WORKED
HARD TO MAKE THIS A BETTER CITY.
I WANT TO OFFER MY DEEPEST
CONDOLENCES TO SENATOR PERCY'S
WIFE OF MORE THAN 60 YEARS
LORRAINE, TO SHARON AND JAY
ROCKEFELLER AND ALL THE PERCY
CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN AND
GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
I FEEL HONORED TO HAVE BEEN
SCHOOLED IN POLITICS IN ILLINOIS
DURING THIS ERA, TO HAVE KNOWN
SUCH EXTRAORDINARY MEN WHEN I
WAS JUST A YOUNGSTER, A COLLEGE
STUDENT STARTING OUT.
KNOWING ALL OF THEM AND WATCHING
THEM IN PUBLIC SERVICE GAVE ME
AN IMPRESSION AND AN IDEAL OF
ABOUT.
WHAT THIS JOB SHOULD BE ALL
WHEN I HEARD OF SENATOR PERCY'S
DEATH, I KNOW THAT HIS FAMILY
HAD ANTICIPATED IT BUT IT
BROUGHT BACK MANY MEMORIES OF
THE FINE CONTRIBUTION HE MADE TO
ILLINOIS AND TO THE NATION.
WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE MEN LIKE
HIM SUCCESSFUL IN SO MANY WAYS
DEVOTING A MAJOR PART OF THEIR
LIVES TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
WE'RE ALSO FORTUNATE THAT THEY
DID IT WITH SUCH A FEELING OF
RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY TO THEIR
STATE AND NATION, BUT ALSO TO BE
PUBLIC SERVANTS IN THE BEST
SENSE OF THE WORD, WORKING WITH
EVERYONE TO TRY TO FIND
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.
IT'S A LESSON WE NEED TO RELEARN
TODAY.
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO SUSPEND WITH THE TIME
LIMITATION AND CONTINUE FOR 8
TPHOPBTS EULOGIZE -- 8 MINUTES
TO EULOGIZE SENATOR PERCY.
SPOEUP WITHOUT --
THE PRESIDING OFFICER:.
I WANT TO EULOGIZE
SENATOR PERCY WHO WE LOST ON
SATURDAY, GREAT AND ONE OF THE
MOST SUCCESSFUL ILLINOIS
SENATORS.
SENATOR PERCY DEDICATED MUCH OF
HIS LIFE TO SERVING OUR NATION
FIRST IN THE U.S. NAVY AND THEN
FOR 18 YEARS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
I THINK I'M THE ONLY MEMBER OF
THE SENATE WHO ACTUALLY VOTED
FOR SENATOR PERCY AND
VOLUNTEERED IN HIS CAMPAIGN
ALONG WITH MY MOM WHEN I WAS
ONLY 12 YEARS OLD.
SENATOR PERCY, WE KNEW, WAS A
FOCUSED AND DISCIPLINED LEADER
WHO SUCCEEDED AT NEARLY
EVERYTHING THAT HE PUT HIS MIND
TO.
HE GRADUATED FROM MY ALMA MATER,
NUTURE HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO
LIVED IN KENILWORTH, ILLINOIS,
MY HOMETOWN.
CHICAGO.
HE LATER WENT TOUR OF DUTY OF
AFTER GETTING A BACHELORS DEGREE
IN ECONOMICS, HE JOINED A SMALL
CAMERA COMPANY CALLED BELL &
HOWELL.
HE THEN LED BELL & HOWELL
STARTING AT THE AGE OF 29,
MOVING THE COMPANY TO MAKING
MILITARY CAMERAS AND MOVIE
PROJECTORS AND THEN A NEW
PRODUCT CALLED MICROFILM, AS THE
LEADER OF BELL &HOWELL, HE WAS
ONE OF OUR GREATEST JOB ENGINES
OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
EMPLOYMENT GREW 12 TIMES UNDER
HIS LEADERSHIP AND EARNINGS 32
TIMES.
BUT CHARLES PERCY WANTED TO DO
MORE FOR HIS COUNTRY.
AS WE HEARD, AT THE REQUEST OF
PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, HE HELPED
WRITE BETTER DECISIONS FOR
AMERICA AS PART OF THE
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM OF 1960.
PERCY RAN FOR GOVERNOR
IN 1964, BUT HE LOST THAT
ELECTION.
IN
THE NOT SO PROUD TRADITION OF
ILLINOIS, THAT GOVERNOR THEN
WENT TO JAIL AND PERCY BECAME
SEEN AS A CORRUPTION FIGHTER IN
OUR STATE.
NOW, JUST TWO YEARS AFTER THAT
DEFEAT, CHARLES PERCY WAS
ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF
ILLINOIS TO REPRESENT THEM IN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE,
DEFEATING PAUL DOUGLAS.
NOW, DURING THAT CAMPAIGN, HIS
DAUGHTER VALERIE WAS MURDERED IN
MY HOMETOWN AND HIS HOMETOWN OF
KENILWORTH, ONE OF OUR TOWN'S
ONLY MURDERS.
IT WAS THROUGH THIS TRAGEDY THAT
WE SAW SO CLEARLY CHARLES
PERCY'S QUIET DIGNITY.
IN THE SENATE, PERCY WAS FIRST
KNOWN AS A PROPONENT OF A
FOUNDATION TO BACK HOMEOWNERSHIP
FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
THIS TOWN IN
THE 196 0'S, DESCRIBED BY "THE
NEW YORK TIMES" AS THE HOTTEST
POLITICAL ARTICLE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY.
HE EVEN LED POLLS IN 1968 FOR
THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR
PRESIDENT.
SENATOR PERCY, THOUGH, WAS AT
HEART AN INDEPENDENT WHO TOOK ON
CORRUPTION IN HIS OWN STATE AND
ESPECIALLY HIS OWN PARTY.
HE MOVED TO THE FIRST RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT
PROSECUTOR ON THE WATERGATE
SCANDAL.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTED --
QUOTE -- "NIXON FUMED TO HIS
CABINET THAT HE WOULD DO ALL HE
COULD TO MAKE SURE MR. PERCY,
WHO ALREADY VOTED AGAINST TWO
NIXON NOMINEES FOR THE SUPREME
COURT, WOULD NEVER BECOME
PRESIDENT."
SENATOR PERCY FOUGHT CORRUPTION
WHEREVER HE SAW IT, AND IN 1977,
HE TOOK ON WHITE HOUSE BUDGET
DIRECTOR BURT LANCE FOR BACK
DEDUCTIONS.
GAIN TAX
LANCE LATER RESIGNED.
SENATOR PERCY WAS BEST KNOWN FOR
HIS WORK AS THE CHAIR OF THE
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE.
DURING HISTORIC TIMES, WHEN THE
UNITED STATES RECOVERED ITS
NERVE, IT STARED DOWN THE SOVIET
OUTRIGHT.
UNION AND IT WON THE COLD WAR
HE WAS A GENTLE MAN, DISCIPLINED
IN SWIMMING EVERY DAY AND A
DEVOUT CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST WHO
READ THE BIBLE EACH EVENING.
SENATOR PERCY WAS A STRONG,
HONEST AND PRINTED MAN WHOSE
INTEGRITY REMAINED UNCOMPROMISED
IN NEARLY 20 YEARS IN THE U.S.
SENATE.
HE BELIEVED THAT ACCOUNTABILITY,
CHECKS AND BALANCES AND
TRANSPARENCIES SHOULD BE THE
DRIVING FORCE OF GOVERNMENT.
WE WILL MISS HIS MODERATE,
FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE BRAND OF
POLITICS.
HIS LEGACY IS ONE OF GENTEEL,
FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN THE
THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP, AND HIS
STATE OF ILLINOIS IS SORELY
MISSED TODAY.
I SEND MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO
SENATOR PERCY'S WIFE LORRAINE
AND HIS CHILDREN SHARON AND
ROGER AND GAIL AND MARK AND
THEIR SPOUSES, INCLUDING OUR
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR ROCKEFELLER.
AND TO THE GRANDCHILDREN AND
GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND MANY
FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WILL
MARK HIS PASSING AT THE FUNERAL
ON WEDNESDAY.
SENATOR PERCY WAS ONE OF THE
BEST-REMEMBERED ILLINOIS
SENATORS.
HE REPRESENTS A TRADITION IN
SOME SENSE FOLLOWED BY ME, AND
AS A FORMER VOLUNTEER FOR HIS
CAMPAIGN AND VOTER FOR HIM, WE
MARK HIS LOSS TODAY.
WITH THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD BACK.
MORNING
BUSINESS IS NOW CLOSED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF THE MOTION TO PROCEED TO H.R.
2832, WHICH THE CLERK WILL
REPORT.
MOTION TO PROCEED TO
CALENDAR NUMBER 166, H.R. 2832,
AN ACT TO EXTEND THE GENERALIZED
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THE TIME UNTIL
5:30 P.M. WILL BE DIVIDED AND
CONTROLLED BETWEEN THE SENATOR
FROM MONTANA, MR. BAUCUS, AND
THE SENATOR FROM UTAH,
MR. HATCH, OR THEIR DESIGNEES.
THE SENATOR FROM MONTANA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
MIGHT SAY TO MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
ALABAMA, I DON'T PLAN TO TAKE A
LONG TIME.
MAYBE ABOUT TEN MINUTES TOTAL.
I WILL KEEP MY GOOD FRIEND WELL
INFORMED OF WHERE WE ARE AT THIS
POINT.
CONSENT THAT THE FOLLOWING
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
MEMBERS OF MY STAFF BE GRANTED
FLOOR PRIVILEGES DURING THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE GENERALIZED
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES ACT.
IS THERE
OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THEY INCLUDE JANE
BEARD, SARAH BABCOCK, MADELEINE
FORBES, STEVEN SIMPSON, JONATHAN
GOLDMAN.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN 1934,
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO
ROOSEVELT SAID, AND I QUOTE --
QUOTE -- "NO COUNTRY, HOWEVER
RICH, CAN AFFORD THE WASTE OF
ITS HUMAN RESOURCES.
DEMORALIZATION CAUSED BY VAST
EXTRAVAGANCE."
UNEMPLOYMENT IS OUR GREATEST
END QUOTE.
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT SAID THESE
WORDS AT A FIRESIDE CHAT NEARLY
80 YEARS AGO.
OUR ECONOMY WAS SLOWLY ON THE
PATH TO RECOVERY AFTER SUFFERING
THE WORST NATIONAL CRASH IN
AMERICAN HISTORY.
AND ROOSEVELT HAD TURNED HIS
FOCUS TO HELPING THE PERMANENT
ARMY OF UNEMPLOYED.
THOSE ARE AMERICANS THAT DIDN'T
HAVE JOBS.
HIS RESULTING INVESTMENT IN
AMERICA'S HUMAN RESOURCES PUT
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
SIMILAR
SITUATION.
AFTER A SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL
CRISIS, OUR ECONOMY IS IN TOUGH
SHAPE, OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS
FRAGILE BUT IMPROVING.
HOUSING FORECLOSURES HAVE
SLOWED.
INVESTORS ARE LOOKING FOR NEW
OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
14 MILLION AMERICANS ARE STILL
14 MILLION.
LOOKING FOR WORK.
THAT'S JUST UNEMPLOYED.
IF YOU ADD THE UNDEREMPLOYED,
20 MILLION.
IT'S PROBABLY CLOSER TO
MAYBE MORE THAN THAT.
LIKE PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, WE
MUST BOLSTER OUR INVESTMENT IN
AMERICA'S HUMAN RESOURCES,
BECAUSE AS IN 1934, AMERICA'S
STRENGTH IS IN ITS PEOPLE.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE DENIED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, THEY ARE
DENIED THE DIGNITY THAT COMES
WITH THAT WORK LET ALONE INCOME,
FAMILY.
THEIR
TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE OR
T.A.A. IS THE RIGHT INVESTMENT
IN AMERICA'S WORKERS.
T.A.A. PROVIDES TRAINING,
PROVIDES INCOME TO SUPPORT
THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS SO THEY
CAN GET A GOOD-PAYING JOB RIGHT
HERE AT HOME IN OUR OWN COUNTRY.
T.A.A. HELPS THEM EARN THAT
DIGNITY THAT COMES FROM PUTTING
IN A GOOD DAY OF WORK.
I WORKED WITH MY FRIEND, WAYS
AND MEANS CHAIRMAN DAVE CAMP OF
MICHIGAN, GOOD MAN.
WE WORKED TOGETHER ON A T.A.A.
AGREEMENT THAT IMPROVES THE
ACCESSIBILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS
OF THE PROGRAM.
I HEARTILY RECOMMEND DAVE CAMP.
OUR STAFFS WORKED CLOSE OVER AND
OVER AGAIN TO TRY TO FIND A
COMMON AGREEMENT FOR
ASSISTANCE.
REAUTHORIZING TRADE ADJUSTMENT
WE WORKED TO SCALE BACK THE COST
OF THE PROGRAM WHILE MAINTAINING
THE IMPORTANT SUPPORT AND
TRAINING THAT HELPS WORKERS
HOME.
SECURE GOOD-PAYING JOBS HERE AT
THE AMENDMENT WE'RE OFFERING
TODAY IS THE AGREEMENT I MADE
WITH CHAIRMAN CAMP ON T.A.A., IT
EXTENDS COVERAGE TO WORKERS IN
THE SERVICE SECTOR, WHICH MAKES
UP 80% OF OUR ECONOMY.
IT WASN'T THERE BEFORE, AT LEAST
NOT BEFORE 2009.
EXTENDING THIS COVERAGE MEANS
MANUFACTURING WORKERS AS WELL AS
COMPUTER PROGRAMS AND AIRLINE
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS HAVE
EQUAL ACCESS TO THE T.A.A.
PROGRAM.
IT ALSO EXTENDS T.A.A. TO ALL
WORKERS.
CURRENT LAW DOES NOT COVER EIGHT
OF OUR TOP TEN TRADE PARTNERS,
INCLUDING CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA.
OUR AMENDMENT REMOVES THIS
GEOGRAPHIC LIMITATION AND
EXPANDS T.A.A.'S BENEFITS TO
COVER TRADE WITH ALL COUNTRIES.
JOB TRAINING IS THE HEART OF
T.A.A.
TRAINING.
THIS TRAINING HAS A PROVEN TRACK
RECORD OF PROVIDING WORKERS THE
SKILLS THEY NEED TO SECURE THEIR
NEXT JOB, AND WE KNOW THAT IT
WORKS.
IT WORKS WELL IN MY HOME STATE
COUNTRY.
OF MONTANA AND ACROSS THE
AL DRAVIS WORKED AT A LUMBER
MILL IN MONTANA.
IN JANUARY, 2009, AL WAS LAID
OFF.
WITH A YOUNG FAMILY, HE NEEDED
TO QUICKLY FIND A NEW JOB, BUT
AFTER HE SPENT MONTHS SENDING
HIS RESUME AROUND, HE REALIZED
THAT HE NEEDED TO UPDATE HIS
SKILLS.
IF HE'S GOING TO GET A JOB, HE
HAD TO GET BETTER SKILLS.
SO WHAT DID HE DO?
HE SIGNED UP FOR T.A.A. AND
BEGAN TRAINING IN RECREATION
POWER EQUIPMENT REPAIR.
FOLLOWING HIS CLASSROOM
TRAINING, T.A.A. PARTNERED WITH
HIM, PARTNERED WITH AL AND
PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL EMPLOYER,
S.&S. SPORTS WHICH SPECIALIZED
IN ALL MOTOR VEHICLES AND JET
SKIS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT TO A
LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTRY,
AND THEY ARE A LOT OF FUN, I
MIGHT ADD.
AL DID SUCH A GREAT JOB IN THE
T.A.A. JOB TRAINING THAT THE
COMPANY HIRED HIM FULL TIME.
BECAUSE OF T.A.A. JOB TRAINING,
AL NOW HAS THE SECURITY AND
DIGNITY THAT COMES WITH A FULL
DAY'S WORK AND CAN CONTINUE
SUPPORTING HIS FAMILY.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING
ESSENTIAL JOB TRAINING, OUR
T.A.A. AMENDMENT ALSO HELPS
AMERICAN WORKERS MAINTAIN HEALTH
INSURANCE FOR THEMSELVES AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
T.A.A. ELIGIBLE WORKERS HAVE
ACCESS TO THE HEALTH COVERAGE
TAX CREDITS.
THAT PROVIDES A 72.5% TAX CREDIT
SUBSIDY TO MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE
AFFORDABLE.
OTHERWISE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE
HEALTH INSURANCE.
WITH NEARLY 50 MILLION UNINSURED
AMERICANS, THIS BENEFIT IS MORE
IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
AND FINALLY, THE T.A.A.
AGREEMENT STRENGTHENS PROGRAMS
THAT HELP AMERICAN SMALL
BUSINESSES AND SMALL FARMERS.
THESE PROGRAMS, T.A.A. FOR
FARMERS, PROVIDE TARGETED,
INTENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND
FARMERS IMPROVE THEIR BUSINESS
AND THEY PROVIDE SEED
MONEY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE PLANS.
THIS BILL ALSO PROVIDES
DUTY-FREE ACCESS TO THE U.S.
MARKET FOR IMPORTED PRODUCTS
FROM CERTAIN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
G.S.P.
THE GENERALIZED SYSTEM OF
PREFERENCES, G.S.P., LOWERS THE
COSTS ON INPUTS FOR AMERICAN
EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS USE
G.S.P. IMPORTS -- AGAIN, THESE
ARE IMPORTS FROM DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES.
THE TARIFFS ARE REDUCED SO THAT
THOSE IMPORTS CAN COME IN MORE
EASILY FOR AMERICANS.
AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS USE
G.S.P. IMPORTS TO BUILD CARS,
PRODUCE STEEL AND MANUFACTURE
EXAMPLE.
HYDROPOWER TURBINES, FOR
SINCE G.S.P. EXPIRED LAST YEAR,
AMERICAN COMPANIES HAVE PAID
NEARLY $400 MILLION IN TARIFFS
ON THESE IMPORTS.
IT'S BEEN AN ADDED COST TO
$400 MILLION.
AMERICAN BUSINESS.
BY REAUTHORIZING AND EXTENDING
G.S.P., WE ENSURE THAT THESE
AND WORKERS IN 129
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN THE
DIGNITY OF WORK.
SO THIS AMENDMENT IN SHORT HELPS
SAVE AND CREATE AMERICAN JOBS.
IT HELPS AMERICANS KEEP THEIR
JOBS BY PROVIDING THE LOW-COST
INPUTS THAT U.S. MANUFACTURERS
NEED.
IT HELPS AMERICANS WHO LOSE
THEIR JOBS.
IT HELPS THEM BY GETTING THE
SKILLS THEY NEED TO SECURE A NEW
JOB AND EARN THE DIGNITY THAT
WORK PROVIDES.
AND THE AMENDMENT IS FULLY
OFFSET AND DOESN'T ADD A DIME TO
OUR DEFICIT.
THIS AMENDMENT INVESTS IN
AMERICA'S HUMAN RESOURCES, JUST
AS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
ENVISIONED.
IT ENSURES THAT OUR WORKERS ARE
NOT DEMORALIZED BY UNEMPLOYMENT,
AND IT ENSURES THAT THEY ARE
ENERGIZED BY THE HOPE AGAIN OF
STANDING ON THEIR OWN TWO FEET.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT
IT.
THE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I
THANK THE CHAIRMAN FOR HIS HARD
WORK ON THIS BILL.
I HAVE SUPPORTED HIM SO MANY
TIMES IN THE PAST AND HOPE THAT
OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT
WE HAVE DISCUSSED MY LITTLE
PROBLEM IN HAILEYVILLE, ALABAMA,
THAT SOME AGREEMENT COULD BE
REACHED, BUT THE TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE WHO TALKS
SYMPATHETICALLY AND DOES NOTHING
AND THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
SEEM TO BE OF THE VIEW THAT ANY
CHANGE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT
THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO DO, IS
SOMEHOW NOT POSSIBLE, AND WE
SHOULD MAKE CHANGES IN OUR TRADE
LAWS.
SO I HAVE OBJECTED TODAY TO
GOING TO THIS BILL BECAUSE I'D
LIKE TO SEE SOME MODEST CHANGES
MADE IN IT.
IN
AMERICA, AS MY COLLEAGUE HAS
SAID.
MORE THAN 25 MILLION AMERICANS
ARE UNEMPLOYED, ARE
UNDEREMPLOYED.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE REMAINS
ABOVE 9%, AND IN MY STATE,
ALABAMA, UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOW
HIGHER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE.
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE WERE
BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
IN TIMES LIKE THESE, CONGRESS
OUGHT TO CONSIDER OPTIONS THAT
CREATE A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT
FOR GOOD BUSINESSES WITHOUT
ADDING MORE TO THE DEBT BY
SPENDING MONEY TO TRY TO
STIMULATE AN ECONOMY.
ONE SUCH MEASURE WOULD BE A
SMALL CHANGE IN THE GENERALIZED
SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES, G.S.P.,
WHICH THE SENATE IS CONSIDERING.
SOME BACKGROUND.
THE G.S.P. WAS ENACTED IN 1974
TO GIVE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
DUTY-FREE ACCESS TO OUR MARKETS
WHILE STILL PROTECTING AMERICAN
INDUSTRIES.
IMPORTANTLY, IT'S
KEY CONCEPT TO THE PLAN OF
G.S.P. WAS THAT IF A PRODUCT IS
MADE IN AMERICA, THAT TYPE OF
GOOD WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED,
G.S.P. PREFERENCE --
PREFERENCES, WOULD NOT ALLOWED
TO BE IMPORTED DUTY-FREE IF WE
HAVE AN ONGOING MARKET.
BUT IN SOME INSTANCES WE DID NOT
HAVE ONGOING PRODUCTION AND SO
WE ALLOWED POORER COUNTRIES TO
IMPORT DUTY FREE BECAUSE IT DID
NOT LAY OFF AMERICAN JOBS.
IMPORTERS ARE NOT ALLOWED A
PREFERENCE -- THE LOWER RATE
UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE UNITED
STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE HAS
CONCLUDED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO
OTHERWISE AND MADE AN EXCEPTION
STRAYING FROM THIS ORIGINAL
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE.
AND IT THREATENS THE SLEEPING
BAG AMERICAN TEXTILE INDUSTRY
AND THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT
SUPPORT IT.
IN 1992 THE U.S. TRADE
REPRESENTATIVE ADDED SLEEPING
BAGS TO THE LIST OF G.S.P.
ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS A SPECIAL
EFFORT TO SUPPORT, IT APPEARS,
AT THAT TIME THE TEXTILE
INDUSTRY IN THE -- IN
CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
BUT APPARENTLY CZECHOSLOVAKIA
NEVER PRODUCED TEXTILES AND THAT
CASE WENT BY, NEVER PRODUCED A
SLEEPING BAG.
IT APPARENTLY WAS A POLITICAL
DEAL, WANTED TO HELP CHECK
CHECK -- CZECHOSLOVAKIA AFTER
THE FALL OF THE WALL.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT YOU SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING,
SOME POLITICAL PART OF THE
GOVERNMENT WORRYING ABOUT
FOREIGN POLICY DECIDES THAT WE
DON'T CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT
AMERICAN SLEEPING BAGS OR
WHATEVER, WE WANT TO MAKE
FRIENDS 0 OUR COUNTRY SO WE
AMERICAN JOBS FOR FOREIGN
JOBS IN A WAY TO WIN FAVOR WITH
THOSE COMPANIES -- THOSE
COUNTRIES.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S NEVER
GOOD.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WHEN YOU DO
THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, YOU
BEGIN TO CONCEDE TOO MUCH OF
AMERICAN WEALTH AND JOBS.
SO G.S.P. WAS IN EFFECT IN
1974, AND IT WAS TO HELP THOSE
COUNTRIES.
AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN CHANGED.
THE COMPANY BEGAN BUT A FEW
YEARS AGO, A CHINESE COMPANY
BEGAN TO PRODUCE SLEEPING BAGS
AND IMPORT THEM INTO THE UNITED
STATES.
THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE A
G.S.P. LOW-COST, DUTY-FREE
SHIPPER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A
POORER NATION THAT QUALIFIES
UNDER THE G.S.P.
TO IMPORT INTO
THE UNITED STATES.
SO WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE
GOT A GOOD AMERICAN COMPANY THAT
CAN COMPETE EFFECTIVELY AGAINST
THEM THEY REALIZED THERE WAS A
LOOPHOLE OUT THERE THAT
BANGLADESH COULD QUALIFY FOR
THIS LOOPHOLE SO THEY MOVED
THEIR PLANT OVER TO BANGLADESH,
AT LEAST IN NAME 1993 MOVED
IT --, THEY MOVED IT,
CONTINUED TO SUPPLY THE
MATERIALS TO BANGLADESH WHERE
THE SLEEPING BAGS ARE PRODUCED
AND THEY ARE IMPORTED DUTY-FREE
UPPED THIS LOOPHOLE THAT SHOULD
NEVER HAVE BEEN CREATED.
IT'S PUT AMERICANS OUT OF WORK.
SO WITH REGARD TO CHINA, I JUST
HAVE TO NOTE THAT IT'S NOT A
PRINCIPLED FREE TRADE COUNTRY.
THEY'RE OUT AGGRESSIVELY TO
ADVANCE THEIR INTEREST AND THE
INTEREST OF THEIR COMPANIES.
AND TO SELL EVERYTHING THEY CAN
SELL ABROAD FOR IT.
TO ADVANCE THEIR INTERESTS.
AND REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY
AMERICANS ARE PLACED OUT OF
WORK.
SO I THINK OUR LEADERS HAVE GOT
TO BEGIN TO BE SENSITIVE TO
THESE PRACTICES.
WHEN WILL WE START TOUGH
NEGOTIATIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR
WORKERS INSTEAD OF RESISTING
EFFORTS TO HELP OUR WORKERS BE
COMPETITIVE, INSTEAD OF
STANDING UP AND TOUGH TO JEFF
SESSIONS, THE UNITED STATES
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA, THEY NEED
TO BE STANDING UP TOUGH TO
ME.
PEOPLE IN BEIJING, IT SEEMS TO
SO I BELIEVE IN FREE TRADE.
MY VOTING RECORD PROVES THIS.
VIRTUALLY EVERY FREE TRADE
AGREEMENT WE'VE HAD, I'VE
SUPPORTED.
BUT FREE TRADE IS NOT FREE IF WE
ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE
EXPLOITED, IF WE HAND UNFAIR
ADVANTAGE TO OTHER NATIONS.
HALEYVILLE IS A SMALL TOWN.
OF WINSTON,
KNOWN AS THE FREE STATE OF
WINSTON.
WINSTON COUNTY CLAIMS, AND I
THINK IN EFFECT DID SECEDE FROM
ALABAMA WHEN ALABAMA SECEDED
FROM THE UNITED UNION.
THERE ARE THERE NAMED EWE LITTLE
CEASE RIGHT NOW AFTER GRANT.
IT'S A REMARKABLE COUNTY.
AN HOUR AND A HALF FROM
BIRMINGHAM, THE CLOSEST
CENTER, VERY RURAL, 15,000,
25,000 PEOPLE, ALSO MARION
COUNTY IN THE SAME AREA.
THEY HAVE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT,
ABOUT 14% UNEMPLOYMENT IN THAT
AREA.
THESE 100 OR SO JOBS ARE
IMPORTANT.
I JUST WOULD TELL YOU, I WENT
THERE A FEW MONTHS AGO.
HAD THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL BAND
PLAY, AND THEY WELCOMED ME,
ALL THE EMPLOYEES WERE THERE AND
THEY PLEADED WITH ME TO DO WHAT
I COULD TO HELP THEM SAVE THEIR
JOBS.
AND I PROMISED TO DO SO.
AND I'M AFRAID WE ARE IN THE
MOOD OF THIS COUNTRY, THE BILL
IS MOVING, AND WE'LL JUST MOVE
IT THROUGH AND PEOPLE WILL
FORGET THOSE PEOPLE BACK HOME IN
HALEYVILLE, BUT I'M NOT
FORGETTING THEM.
I BELIEVE THEY HAVE A LEGITIMATE
REQUEST TO MAKE TO THEIR
GOVERNMENT, THAT THE TRUE
PRINCIPLES OF G.S.P., THAT YOU
DON'T GET THE IMPORT EX TILES
INTO THE UNITED STATES IF THERE
IS A DOMESTIC MANUFACTURER WHO
WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.
YOU CAN IMPORT THEM BUT YOU PAY
THE 9% TARIFF THAT OTHER
COUNTRIES PAY ON THE TEXTILES.
SO I'M AFRAID WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN HALEYVILLE, SADLY, IS A
SYMBOL OF OUR BROKEN SYSTEM.
THIS TRADE LOOPHOLE CONTRADICTS
G.S.P. PRINCIPLES.
I BELIEVE IT'S INDEFENSIBLE.
IT IS A BENEFIT TO CHINA PAID
FOR DIRECTLY BY AMERICAN
WORKERS.
IS.
THIS COMPANY IN ALABAMA PAYS
TAXES, OBEYS THE REGULATIONS,
THEY PLAY BY THE RULES AND ASK
FOR NOTHING MORE THAN A FAIR
SHAKE.
AND HOW DO OUR LAWS REWARD THEM?
OUT OF THE BLUE, THEY FIND THEY
HAVE COMPETITION NOW FROM A
FOREIGN IMPORT.
SO WE GIVE BANGLADESH THE
ABILITY TO SKIP ALL THE TAXES
OTHER IMPORTERS PAY AND REALLY
ON BEHALF AND PRIMARY TO THE
BENEFIT OF A CHINESE COMPANY,
SO THEY CAN UNDERSELL THE PLANT
IN ALABAMA.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
PRESIDENT'S PLEDGE FROM JUST
LAST WEEK?
HE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WAS TO
MAKE SURE MORE PRODUCTS, HE
SAID ARE STAMPED WITH THREE
WORDS, QUOTE, "MADE IN
AMERICA."
THE G.S.P. IS SUPPOSED TO
EXCLUDE BENEFITS TO
AMERICAN-MADE TEXTILES AND
IMPORT-SENSITIVE PRODUCTS.
A LOOPHOLE AND A
RULING BY THE USTR, SLEEPING
BAGS ARE NOT EVEN CONSIDERED A
TEXTILE.
IF SLEEPING BAGS ARE NOT A
TEXTILE, WHAT ARE THEY?
THEY'RE NOT FOOD.
THEY'RE NOT A WATER PUMP.
THEY'RE NOT A PIECE OF
MACHINERY.
THEY'RE NOT A WRENCH.
THEY'RE MADE OF FABRIC AND
FIBERS, THEY'RE CLEARLY A
TEXTILE.
FOR THIS REASON, SOME SECTIONS
OF THE UNITED STATES CODE
INCLUDING THE BARRY AMENDMENT
DESIGNATES SLEEPING BAGS AS
TEXTILES EXPLICITLY.
IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THE
GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE SLEEPING
BAGS AS TEXTILES UNDER SOME
SECTIONS BUT NOT OTHERS.
ALL I'M PROPOSING IS TO BRING
UNIFORMITY TO THE LAW AND FOLLOW
THE INTENT OF THE G.S.P.
INITIALLY -- AS INITIALLY
PASSED.
EXPORTS FROM BANGLADESH ARE
THREATENING SLEEPING BAGS FROM
THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT'S GROWN
STATES.
EXCEL OUTDOORS, REALLY A
CALIFORNIA COMPANY, EMPLOYS
NEARLY A HUNDRED PEOPLE IN THE
COUNTY, BUT ALREADY EXCEL HAS
SEEN A 20% DECREASE IN ITS
SALES.
IF THE APPROPRIATE CHANGES ARE
NOT MADE, THEN THIS FACTORY
WILL CLOSE AND A HUNDRED
AMERICAN WORKERS IN ALABAMA WILL
LOSE THEIR JOBS.
OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL
LOSE THEIR JOBS.
LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT EXCEL.
THEY CAME UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP IN
2005, THE NEW OWNER HAD PLANNED
TO CLOSE THE FACTORY AND SEND
THE JOBS TO MEXICO TO TRY TO
BUILD A PLANT IN MEXICO.
INSTEAD, HE REALIZED THE
COMPETITIVENESS OF BEING IN
ALABAMA AT THIS PLANT, HE MET
THE PEOPLE, HE LIKED THE PEOPLE
IN HALEYVILLE.
THEY SURPRISED HIM.
HE THOUGHT HE COULD TRY IT.
HE WOULD GIVE IT A SHOT.
BACK FROM
MEXICO, AND CHINA, AND SINCE
THEN, THEY'VE PROSPERED.
CREATING QUALITY SLEEPING BAGS
RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
EXCEL USES SUPPLIERS IN NEW YORK
STATE, NEW JERSEY, NORTH
CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND
MISSISSIPPI.
THIS IS HOW A MANUFACTURING
SYSTEM WORKS IN A COUNTRY LIKE
THE UNITED STATES.
IT HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS FAR BEYOND
WHAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.
I MET ONE OF THE GREAT
INDUSTRIALISTS IN GERMANY
RECENTLY, INVESTING IN ALABAMA
AND HE TOLD ME WE'VE GOT TO HAVE
A RENAISSANCE IN MANUFACTURING
IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED FIRST
WORLD.
AND HE WAS VERY SINCERE ABOUT
THIS.
HIGHLY INTELLIGENT,
ACCOMPLISHED MAN.
THIS
MAP, THIS LITTLE PLANT HERE IN
ALABAMA IS SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN
MISSISSIPPI, ATLANTA,
GEORGIA, VOLUNTEER THREAD IN
NASHVILLE, WIGGLY'S IN
TENNESSEE, THEY MAKE SLEEPING
BAGS.
I'VE GOT A LETTER FROM THEM
SAYING THEIR BUSINESS WILL BE
THREATENED THERE, TOO.
CONSOLIDATED FIBERS IN
CHARLOTTE, ROYAL SLIDE IN NEW
JERSEY, POLARTEK IN
MASSACHUSETTS, PENNSYLVANIA,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, VERMONT,
COLORADO, CALIFORNIA.
SO THESE THINGS HAVE
RAMIFICATIONS.
INDEED, I WAS TALKING TO A
PERSON WITH DEEP EXPERIENCE BY
CHANCE RECENTLY IN THE TEXTILE
INDUSTRY, AND HE TOLD ME
THEY'RE BECOMING MORE
COMPETITIVE.
HE SAYS I THINK WE'RE ACTUALLY
GAINING BACK AND WINNING BACK
JOBS FROM ABROAD.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WAS
HAPPENING HERE.
THIS MAN MADE A GAMBLE.
HE BET ON THE UNITED STATES.
HE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WOULD FIGURE
OUT A WAY TO GO TO BANGLADESH
AND UNDERCUT HIM.
SO THIS CARVEOUT CREATED FOR
CZECHOSLOVAKIA DISCOVERED AND
USED BY CHINESE COMPANY IS
CREATING JOBS ABROAD AND NOT IN
THE UNITED STATES.
SO THE PROPOSED FIX THAT I HAVE
SUGGESTED IS NOT SOME SORT OF
CORPORATE WELFARE, IT WOULD NOT
LOWER TAXES FOR ANY BUSINESS.
INDEED, IT WOULD ENSURE THAT WE
COLLECT A LITTLE TARIFF DUTY ON
BANGLADESH.
PRODUCTS COMING IN FROM
THEY COULD SHIP THEM IN BUT
THEY'D HAVE TO PLAY -- PAY THE
NORMAL TARIFF OF 9% ON IMPORTED
TEXTILES AND IT WOULD NOT ADD
ONE CENT TO THE DEFICIT OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND GIVE NO LOAN
GUARANTEES, NO SUBSIDIES, NO
HANDOUTS.
STLI DECLARES THAT
SLEEPING BAGS ARE WHAT THEY
ARE, TEXTILES.
AND SUBJECT TO THE RULES OF
TEXTILES ON THE G.S.P.
REALLY IT WOULD ENSURE THAT
EXCEL AND THE OTHER COMPANIES IN
THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE SAME
COMPETITIVE POSITION THEY HAD
BANGLADESH.
BEFORE THIS PLANT WAS MOVED TO
EARMARK.
SO SOME ARE CALLING THIS AN
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE OR
FAIR THING TO SAY.
EARMARKS GIVE DIRECT FINANCIAL
BENEFIT TO AN ENTITY THROUGH TAX
BENEFITS OR GOVERNMENT GRANTS.
THIS IS NOT A GRANT, DOES NOT
ELIMINATE TARIFFS, SO EXIL WILL
PAY LESS TAXES, IT DOESN'T GIVE
A BURDEN -- DIRECT BENEFIT TO
EXCEL.
IT DOES NOT COST THE UNITED
STATES ONE CENT.
WHAT IT DOES IS ELIMINATE AN
THAT ALREADY
ALLOWS A CHINESE-RUN COMPANY TO
PURCHASE RAW MATERIALS
WORLDWIDE, TAX-FREE,
MANUFACTURE SLEEPING BAGS AT A
BANGLADESHI FACTORY AND THEN
IMPORT THEM INTO THE UNITED
SO I REPEAT.
STATES DUTY-FREE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO STRIP AN
EARMARK.
I'M TRYING TO ACTUALLY STRIP AN
EARMARK FROM CHINA FROM THE BILL
THAT'S BEFORE US.
MR. PRESIDENT, I'M ASKING THAT
WE UPHOLD THE VALUES AND RULES
AND THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO LAW,
I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS THING WAS
CHANGED AFTER CONGRESS PASSED IT
IN 1974, THAT SAID IF YOU
IMPORT TEXTILES, YOU HAVE TO
PAY A TARIFF UNLESS THERE'S NO
OF THAT
COMPETING.
TEXTILE AGAINST WHOM YOU'RE
HOW THAT GOT CHANGED, I'M NOT
SURE.
I ASK THAT WE ELIMINATE THE
SPECIAL BENEFIT THAT'S BEEN
PROVIDED TO THIS COUNTRY AND
THIS ONE TEXTILE.
EX
EXCEL IS JUST ONE COMPANY THAT'S
CURRENTLY BEING HAMMERED BY THIS
UNFAIR LOOPHOLE.
THEY ARE INDEED IN FINANCIAL
THREAT.
THEY WERE SUPPLYING 30% OF THE
SLEEPING BAGS IN THE UNITED
STATES.
THEY'VE SEEN A DECLINE OF 20%
ALREADY IN THEIR PRODUCTS.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD
OFFER INTO THE RECORD A LETTER
FOR A NUMBER -- FROM A NUMBER OF
COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT MY
EFFORTS HERE.
STEIN FIBERS OF CHARLOTTE SAYS
-- QUOTE -- "EXCEL HAS BEEN A
SOLID CUSTOMER OF STEIN FIBERS
FOR MANY YEARS.
FIBER FILL
FOR SLEEPING BAGS MADE AT THEIR
PLANT IN HALEYVILLE."
WRIGLEY INC., THEY SAY THAT,
BANGLADESH HAS ALSOLY ENTERED
THE U.S. MARKET AND SUPPLIED
OVER 700,000 SPLEEPG BAGS LAST
YEAR."
AND THEY MAKE SLEEPING BAGS,
WIGLY'S DOES IN GRAND JUNCTION,
COLORADO.
THEY'VE COPIED THEIR SENATORS
AND THEY'VE ASKED THAT WE
SUPPORT MY EFFORT HERE.
RUSKIN CORRUGATED CONTAINERS IN
COLEMAN, ALABAMA, SUPPLIES THE
SHIPPING PACKAGES FOR THESE
PACKAGES AS THEY'RE SHIPPED.
DUNLAP INDUSTRIES IN
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ALSO SAY
THEY ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST
SUPPLIERS OF THREAD IN THE
ARE --
EXCEL IS A CUSTOMER OF THEIRS.
CORPORATION, TUPELO,
MURFIT STONE CONTAINER
MISSISSIPPI, IS ALSO A SUPPLIER
OF EXCEL.
ROYAL SLIDE SALES COMPANY, INC.,
OF GARFIELD, NEW YORK, SAYS --
QUOTE -- "ROYAL SLIDE PROVIDES
SLEEPING BAG CASES FOR THE
FACTORY RESULTING IN -- THE
RESULTING DECREASE IN THEIR
BUSINESS FROM THIS SURGE OF
DUTY-FREE IMPORTED
SYNTHETIC-FILLED SLEEPING BAGS
IS LEADING TO A REDUCTION IN OUR
BUSINESS."
THEY SUPPORT REFORM.
MARTEX FIBERS SAY "WE ARE A
EXCEL OUTDOORS.
MAJOR SUPPLIER OF FIBER FILL TO
WE HAVE BEEN PROUD TO WATCH ONE
OF THE LAST" -- THEREON THIS.
"WE HAVE BEEN PROUD TO WATCH ONE
REMAINING AMERICAN
SLEEPING BAG FACTORIES KEEP
GOING STEADILY EVEN AS VIRTUALLY
ALL OF ITS COMPETITORS MOVE
COUNTRIES."
THEIR FACILITIES TO OTHER
CLOSE QUOTE.
AND THEY GO ON TO SAY EXCEL IS
ENTITLED TO RELIEF LEAVE.
CONSOLIDATED FIBERS OF
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, SAYS
THE IMPACT ON OUR COMPANY WILL
BE GREAT, IF EXCEL OUTDOORS
FACTORY IS FORCED OUT OF
BUSINESS BY THESE FOREIGN
IMPORTS WITHOUT DUTY.
WE SUPPLY A GREAT DEAL OF FIBER
FILL DIRECT SALE ON AN ONGOING
BASIS.
SO I'D SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD,
MR. PRESIDENT -- I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THESE LETTERS BE MADE A
PART OF THE RECORD.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
ALABAMA COMPANIES, AS I SAID IN
NORTH CAROLINA, NEW JERSEY,
TENNESSEE, COLORADO, MISSISSIPPI