starttime 1241718313.4959
LIVE COVERAGE ON C-SPAN2.
THE CLERK: NOMINATION, EXECUTIVE
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, R. GIL
KERLIKOWSKE OF WASHINGTON TO BE
DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL DRUG
CONTROL POLICY.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE TIME
UNTIL 2:00 IS EQUALLY DIVIDED.
MRS. MURRAY: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON.
MRS. MURRAY: MR. PRESIDENT, OUR
NATION'S NEXTRUG CZAR IS GOING
TO FACE A NUMBER OF KEY CHALLENGES.
THE OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL
POLICY IS GOING TO PLAY A
LEADING ROLE IN ADDRESSING THE
DRUG-RELATED VIOLENCE IN MEXICO
AND ALONG
AN AREA WHERE IF WE DON'T TAKE
THE RIGHT STEPS TO TACKLE
PROBLEMS TODAY WE WILL MOST
CERTAINLY SEE THE SPREAD OF
VIOLENCE AND DRUGS INTO TOWNS
AND NEIGHBORHOODS THOUSANDS OF
MILES FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER.
WE ALSO KNOW FROM HISTORY THAT
AS THE ECONOMY FALLS,
RISES, AND THAT CRIME IS GROWING
AT THE SAME TIME THAT LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY FACE PAINFUL CUTBACKS
AND GREATER STRAINS ON THEIR
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES.
IT IS THEREFORE INCUMBENT UPON
THE NEXT DRUG CZAR TO HEN SURE
THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AT ALL
LEVELS IS WORKING SMARTER
FORGING NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND
LEVERAGING THE RESOURCES THEY
HAVE.
WE WILL HAVE TO
AND -- IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
ABUSE, THE CONTINUED SCOURGE OF
METHAMPHETAMINE USE AND THE
OUR COMMUTIES DUE TO DRUG TRAFFICKING.
MR. PRESIDENT, SEATTLE POLICE
CHIEF GIL KERLIKOWSKE IS THE
RIGHT MAN TO ADDRESS THESE BIG
CHALLENGES.
CHIEF KERLIKOWSKE BRINGS A
FRESH, NEW PERSPECTIVE TO THE
JOB AS THE NATION'S DRUG CZAR.
HE IS A COP'S COP, AND
PERSPECTIVE WA SHAPED
PATROLLING THE STREETS IN
FLORIDA, NEW YORK, AND WASHINGTON STATE.
ALONG THE WAY HE HAS HELPED
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOUCHED BY
VIOLENCE AND DRUGS.
HE AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS THAT HE HAS LED HAVE
BEEN ON THE FRONTLINES OF OUR
NATION'S WAR AGAINST ILLICIT
NARCOTICS AND IN KEEPING OUR
COMMUNITIES SAFE.
AND I KNOW THAT HE WILL BRING
THIS HANDS-ON PERSPECTIVE TO HIS
JOB AS OUR NATION'S DRUG CZAR.
CHIEF KERLIKOWSKE ALSO
UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN ONDCP AND
OUR STATE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE HE'S BEEN ON
THE LOCAL LEVEL.
AS THE HEAD OF THE MAJOR CITY'S
CHIEF ORGANIZATION, WHICH
REPRESENTS THE 63 LARGEST POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED
STATES, HE SEES THE COMMON
PROBLEMS FACING CITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
I'VE SEEN THIS WORK FIRSTHAND AS
SEATTLE POLICE CHIEF.
THIS PAST DECEMBER UNDER CHIEF
KERLIKOWSKE'S LEADERSHIP IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN COP RATION
WITH FEDERAL AND COUNT --
COOPERATION WITH FEDERAL AND
OTHER COUNTIES, HE WAS ABLE TO
BREAK A DRUG RING THAT STRETCHED
FROM
AND CHIEF KERLIKOWSKE WORKED
COOPERATIVELY TO REACH A
RESPONSE FOR GANG VIOLENCE.
HE BUILT A COALITION WITH THE
KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
WITH THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS AND THE A.T.F.
AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS TO
TACKLE PERSISTENT GANG VIOLENCE
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
THESE MULTIAGENCY FEDERAL LOW
PARTNERSHIPS REQUIRE COOPERATION
AND COMPROMISE AND THEY REQUIRE
A LEADER WITH CHIEF
KERLIKOWSKE'S EXPERIENCE TO
BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER.
LOCAL POLICE CHIEFS AND SHERIFFS
HAVE TOLD ME THEY ARE SORRY TO
SEE HIM GO.
BUT THE NATION IS GAINING A TRUE
INNOVATOR IN GIL KERLIKOWSKE.
I KNOW THAT HE'S GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WORK ON THESE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THIS APPROACH WILL MAKE ALL
OF OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER.
MR. PRESIDENT, CHIEF KERLIKOWSKE
ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT THE DRUG
WAR WILL NOT ONLY BE WON ON THE
STREETS BUT IN OUR COURTROOMS AN
HOMES.
FOR -- AND OUR HOMES.
HE HAS BEEN WITH FIGHT PRIME,
INVEST IN KIDS.
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF CHIEF
KERLIKOWSKE, THIS GROUP HAS
FOCUSED ON PREVENTION BY
FIGHTING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
INTERVENTION FUNDING,
AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.
CHIEF KERLIKOWSKE KNOWS THE BEST
WAY TO END THE USE OF DRUGS AND
SPREAD OF CRIME IS TO PREVENT IT.
AND HE WILL BRING THAT
COMMONSENSE APPROACH TO ONDPP.
GIL KERLIKOWSKE HAS SERVED OUR
STATE WELL AND HE WILL SERVE THE
NATION WELL.
I AM SO PROUD TO SUPPORT HIS
CONFIRMATION.
IN A FEW SHORT MINUTES THE
SENATE WILL VOTE ON HIS
CONFIRMATION, AND I'M VERY PROUD
TO STAND HERE TODAY TO TELL MY
COLLEAGUES THEY WILL
THAT THEY VOTED WITH US TO
CONFIRM
I YIELD THE FLO
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORU
THTHE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR
MRS. MURRAY:
BE CHARGED EQUALLY SIDES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATE IS IN A QUORUM CALL. MRS. MURRAY: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE
LIFTED.
AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE QUORUM CALL WILL BE DIVIDED
EQUALLY BETWEEN BOTH SIDES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MRS. MURRAY: I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
A SENATO
THE PRESIDING OF
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
MR. LEAHY: M
CONSENT THAT THE CALL OF THE
QUORUM BE DISPENSED WITH.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. LEAHY: MR. PRESIDENT, TODAY
AT LAST THE SENATE IS
CONSIDERING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
NOMINATION OF CHIEF GIL
KERLIKOWSKE TO BE DIRECTOR OF
NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY.
HE'S A HIGHLY QUALIFIED NOMINEE.
WE MET WITH HIM SOME TIME AGO.
HE HAS DRAWN WIDESPREAD SUPPORT
FROM DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS.
ALSO FROM STATE AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF THE LAW
ENFORCEM
SUPPORT HIM AND
CAREFULLY TO THEIR
RECOMMENDATION.
I ACTUALLY HOPED THAT THE SENATE
WOULD HAVE CONFIRMED HIM BEFORE
OUR LAST RECESS.
I'M SORRY THAT SOME ON THE OTHER
SIDE HELD HIM UP.
I LOOK FORWARD
CONFIRMED TODAY AND I BELIEVE HE
SUPPORT.
CHIEF KERLIKOWSKE HAS ALMOST 40
YEARS OF EXPERIE
ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING HIS
CURRENT ROLE AS CHIEF OF POLICE
WITH THE SEATTLE POLICE
DERTMENT.
HIS LONG CAREER OF PUBLIC
SERVICE, HE DEMONSTRATED
COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF NARCOTICS ISSUES.
HE
OF THE MAJOR CITIES CHIEF ASSOCIATION.
SO I WISH TO THANK THE SENATORS
FROM WASHINGTON STATE, SENATOR
MURRAY AND SENATOR CANTWELL, FOR
THEIR STRONG ENDORSEMENT OF THIS
OUTSTANDING NOMINEE AT OUR
APRIL 1st HEARING, AND THEIR
CONTINUED EFFORT IN SUPPORT OF HIS NOMINATION.
AS THE FORMER PROSECUTOR -- AS A
FORMER PROSECUTOR, I ALWAYS
ADVOCATED VIGOROUS PUNISHMENT OF
THOSE WHO COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIME.
PUNISHMENT ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE
THE PROBLEMS OF DRUG AND
VIOLENCE IN OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
I'M PLEASED THAT THE CHIEF
SUPPORTS
CRIME WITH ALL OF THE TOOLS AT
OUR DISPOSAL.
INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT,
PREVENTION.
I CONGRATULATE GIL KERLIKOWSKE
AND HIS FAMILY ON WHAT WILL
HIS CONFIRMATION IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING WITH
HIM IN THE YEARS
I ASK THAT MY STATEMENT BE
PLACED IN THE RECORD AS IF READ.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
MR. LEAHY: WHAT IS THE
PARLIAMENTARY SITUATION? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATE IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE
2:00 P.M. ON THE NOMINATION OF
MR. KERLIKOWSKE.
MR. LEAHY: HAVE THE YEAS AND
NAYS BEEN ORDERED?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THEY HAVE
NOT.
MR. LEAHY: I ASK FOR AND NAYS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE
A SUFFICIENT NECKE
THERE APPEARS TO BE.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE R
MR. LEAHY: IT WILL BE AT 2:0
I YIELD THE FLOOR. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WHO
YIELDS TIME?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, ALL TIME IS YIELDED
BACK.
THE YEAS AND NAYS HAVING BEEN
ORDERED, THE CLERK WILL CALL THE
ROLL.
VOTE:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ARE THERE
ANY OTHER SENATORS WISHING TO
VOTE OR TO CHANGE THEIR VOTE?
IF NOT, ON THIS VOTE, THE
ARE 91 AND THE NAYS ARE
THE NOMINATION IS CONFIRMED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID
UPON THE TABLE
WILL BE
NOTIFIED OF THE SENATE'S
MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT AT 3:00 P.M. MONDAY, MAY
11, THE SENATE PROCEED TO
CALENDAR NUMBER 55, H.R. 627 AND
ONCE THE BILL IS REPORTED,
SENATOR DODD OR HIS DESIGNEE
RECOGNIZED TO OFFER THE
DODD-SHELBY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT
AND THE CLOTURE MOTION ON THE
MOTION TO PROCEED BE WITHDRAWN.
THE PRESID
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT,
SENATOR DODD AND SHELBY HAVE
DONE VERY GOOD WORK ON THIS
BILL.
THIS IS A BILL THAT PASSED T
HOUSE WITH SOME 377 VOTES.
IT'S A VERY UPON PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S BIPARTISAN IN NATURE.
I HAD A PRECEDENT -- PRESS EVENT
THIS MNING, ACTUALLY, AT 12:30
WITH SENATOR DURBIN, SCHUMER,
AND SENATOR MURRAY.
THERE I MADE THE BEST CASE I
COULD TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET DONE WITH
THE HELP OF THE REPUBLICANS.
WE'VE DONE SOME REALLY GOOD WORK.
AND MORE INDICATION
WHAT WE HE BEEN ABLE TO DO
WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION
IT IS IMPORTANT WE GET
DONE, WE FINISH
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO TO TOBACCO
UNTIL WE COME BACK.
WE'RE GOING TO FINISH THE WORK
WE HAVE TO SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
WE HOPE TO GET SOME NOMINATIONS DONE.
BUT WE'VE HAD SOME REAL GOOD
WORK HERE.
I'M VERY, VERY HAPPY WITH THE
WAY WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER.
WE GOT A LOT MORE WORK TOGETHER
WE NEED TO DO.
BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY A
TREMENDOUS STEP IN THE R DIRECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT, I NOW ASK CONSENT
THE SENATE PROCEED TO A PERIOD
OF MORNING BUSINESS WITH
SENATORS ALLOWE ALLOWED IT SPEAK FOR UP
TO TEN MINUTES EACH.
THIS IS THE LAST VOTEF THE
WEEK AND WE WILL INHE HAVE
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MR. BURRIS: ARE WE IN MORNING BUSINESS?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATE
MR. BURR: THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND
CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
RECOGNIZE
"NATIONAL TRAIN DAY."
IT IS A C
OF COAST TO COAST RAIL TRAVEL IN
THE UNITED STATES.
I RISE TO COMMEMORATE T PROUD
HISTORY OF AMERICA'S RAILWAYS.
BUT ALSO TO MARK THIS AS A TIME
FOR MORE THAN CELEBRATION.
WE MUST SEE THIS OCCASION AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AHEAD, TO
REINVEST
INFRASTRUCTURE AND BEGIN A FRESH
CHAPTER IN HIGH-SPEED RAIL
SERVICE.
IN MAY OF 1869 THE CENTRAL
PACIFIC AND THE UNION PACIFIC
RAILROADS WERE JOINED IN THE
REMOTE UTAH DESERT CONNECTING
THE EAST AND WEST COASTS OF THE
UNITED STATES AND COMPLETING
THIS VERY FIRST
RAILROAD IN OUR NATION'S
HISTORY.
WE ARE ALMOST A CENTURY AND A
HALF SINCE, TRAINS HAVE
ANSFORMED THE WAY GOODS ARE
TRANSPORTED AND INNER CITY
PASSENGERS REACH THEIR
DESTINATIONS.
FROM THE MOMENT
AMERICA'S RAILROADS HAVE
REPRESENTED OUR EFFORT TO MEET
THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITI
OF LIVING IN A NATION
A CONTINENT.
THE RAILS THAT CONNECT THE
ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC BECAME
THE BACKBONE UPON WHICH THIS
GREAT AMERICA COMMERCE -- THIS
GREAT AMERICAN COMMERCE AND ITS INGENUITY.
IN MANY WAYS, THEY DEFINED THE
FABRIC OF
THE FOUNDATION THAT ALLOWS OUR
CIVILIZATION TO
FRONTIERS WESTWARD.
EVERY YEAR, AMTRAK TRANCE SPORTS
58 MILLION
STATES AND IT IS MORE ENERGY
EFFICIENT THAN AIR TRAVEL AND
25% MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT THAN
AUTOMOBILES.
MAKING THE MODERN LOCOMOTIVE ONE
OF THE MOST REFINED AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
TECHNOLOGIES IN AMERICA'S
HISTORY.
I'VE S
MR. PRESIDENT.
MY EARLY
BY THE GREAT AMERICAN RAILWAY.
I WAS RAISED IN
ILLINOIS, A SMALL TOWN VERY MUCH
CENTERED AROUND THE RAILROADS.
WE LIVED ALONG A MAJOR LINE
ORIGINATING IN CHICAGO AND THE
DMAIS' TRANSPORTATION HUB
SHIPPED GOOD AND PASSENGERS AND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO EVERY
COMMUNITY IT TOUCHESFTER THE
TRAINS SLID OUT ACROSS THE
AMERICAN HEARTLAND.
LIKE MANY IN
FATHER, GRANDFATHER, AND FOUR
GREAT UNCLES WORKED MANY YEARS
FOR THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL
RAILROAD.
GIVING US ALMOST 300 YEARS OF
SERVICE TO THE RAILROAD
INDUSTRY.
I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THE
LEGACY THA HE AND MANY OTHERS
HELPED TO CREATE IN ILLINOIS AND
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
A LEGACY THAT CONTINUES TO SHAPE
US
BUT NOW THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
WHAT GIVES DEFINITION T THIS
COUNTRY IS BADLY IN NEED OF REPAIR.
THE TIME HAS COME ONCE AGAIN TO
REINVEST IN RAIL TRAVEL.
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER I HAVE
SUPPORTED HIGH-SPEED RAIL
TECHNOLOGY WHICH
POLLUTION AND EASE CROWDING ON
OUR ROADS AND IN OUR SKIES.
NOW UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
LEADERSHIP WE HAVE THE CHANCE TO
MAKE THIS DREAM A REALITY.
BY MAKING A SUBSTANTIAL
INVESTMENT IN CLEAN, SAFE
HIGH-SPEED RAIL WE CAN RENEW THE
DEEP CONNECTION THAT BINDS OUR
CITIES AND STATES TO ONE ANOTHER
AND OUR SHARED NATIONAL DESTINY.
WE HAVE CREATED JOBS,
REVITALIZED OUR ECONOMY,
PROTECTED OUR ENVIRONMENT AND
CONTINUE THE PROUD CONDITION OF
OUR NATIONAL
I ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN REAFFIRMING THIS COMMITMENT
TO MODERN
I'M GLAD THAT SO MANY RECOGNIZE
THE IMPORTANCE OF RAILROADS AND
SHAPING THE PAST WE SHA.
BUT THIS YEAR, ON "NATIONAL
TRAIN DAY," WE SHOULD CELEBRATE
OR PAST BY LOOKING TO OUR FUTURE.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
I SAY THERE IS A
QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OF?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON. MR. WYDEN: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO VACATE THE QUORUM
CALL, MR. PRESIDENT, AND SPEAK
AS IF IN MORNING BUSINESS FOR UP
TO 15 THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. WYDEN: MR. PRESIDENT, THE
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON
WHICH I SERVE -- THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM OREGON IS
RECOGNIZED. MR. WYDEN: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON
WHICH I SERVE IS ABOUT TO TAKE
UP THE TOUGHEST ISSUE IN THE
DEBATE ABOUT HEALTH CARE
AND THAT IS THE QUESTION OF HOW
TO PAY FOR IT.
TO BE CREDIBLE, THAT MEANS
SHOWING THAT YOU AREN'T GOING TO
SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR YEARS
AND YEARS TO START
COSTS, BUT IN FACT YOU'RE GOING
TO START GENERATING SAVINGS IN
THE $2.5 TRILLION THAT OUR
COUNTRY SPENDS ON HEALTH CARE QUICKLY.
AND YOU MUST DO IT IN A
BIPARTISAN FASHION THAT'S
ACCEPTABLE TO OUR PEOPLE.
SO TODAY, MR. PRESIDENT, I OFFER
THE FOUR PILLARS OF IMMEDIATE
HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT,
AND EACH ONE OF THESE
MR. PRESIDENT, IS AN IDEA THAT
IS SUPPORTED BY INFLUENTIAL
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS AND
INFLUENTIAL REPUBLICAN SENATORS
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.
MR. PRESIDENT, THE FIRST PILLAR
OF IMMEDIATE HEALTH CARE COSTS
CONTAINMENT REQUIRES THAT THERE
BE TAX RELIEF FOR THE MIDDLE
CLASS BUT NO ME TAX SUBSIDIES
FOR DESIGNERS SMILES.
IT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE, BUT TODAY
HARD-WORKING MIDDLE-CLASS FOLKS
WHO ARE UNINSURED OR
UNDERINSURED EVERY DAY WATCH
THEIR TAXES GO TO SUBSIDIZE
DESIGNER SMILES FOR THE MOST
AFFLUENT THAT WOULD BE WORTHY OF HOLLYWOOD.
THE FIRST PILLAR OF HEALTH CARE
COST CONTAINMENT: START SAVING
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IMMEDIATELY
BY TAKING AWAY UNNEEDED TAX
BREAKS AND BEEFING UP HEALTH
CARE
WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THE SECOND PILLAR OF IMMEDIATE
HEALTH CARE COST
MEANS
CARE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
AMERICANS ARE DROWNING IN HEALTH
CARE RULES AND ADMINISTRATIVE HASSLES.
NOW YOU CAN JUNK
BUREAUCRACY BY DOING EVERYTHING
JUST ONCE.
SIGNING UP FOR THE HEALTH CARE
THAT YOU WANT, PAYING FOR IT
THROUGH THE WITHHOLDING SYSTEM
YOU USE WITH EVERY PAYCHECK,
KEEPING WHAT YOU HAVE IF YOU
LEAVE YOUR JOB OR YOUR JOB
LEAVES YOU, AND EASILY FINDING
OUT ABOUT THE COSTS AND QUALITY
OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT ARE
NEAR YOU AND DOING IT ON LINE.
HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS EVERYBODY IS
PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE? YOU CANNOT LOWER HEALTH CARE
COSTS IN THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT
GOOD-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE
COVERAGE FOR ALL.
IF YOU TKOEFRPBT COVER
EVERYONE -- IF YOU DON'T COVER
EVERYONE, THERE'S TOO MUCH COST
SHIFTING AND NOT ENOUGH
PREVENTION.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS JUST
AS IMPORTANT.
AMERICANS
UNLESS EVERYONE SECURES BASIC
COVERAGE WITH EXTRA HELP FOR
FOLKS WHO WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY
AFFORDING THAT.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, MORE THAN 11
MILLION PEOPLE WITH INCOMES OF
WELL OVER
BASIC HEALTH INSURANCE.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE
THAT THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY
ROOMS ARE SO BUSY IN AMERICA.
CUTTING HEALTH CARE COSTS MEANS
GETTING EVERYBODY IN THE SYSTEM,
AND IT MEANS EVERYONE WOULD BE
PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE.
AND FINALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, THE
FOURTH PRINCIPLE OF IMMEDIATE
HEALTH CARE COST CONTAINMENT IS
A
INSURANCE.
TODAY HEALTH INSURANCE IS ABOUT
CHERRY-PICKING.
THE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES
SCOUR YOUR HEALTH HISTORY, AND
THEY WANT YOU IF YOU ARE HEALTHY
AND WEALTHY.
SICK PEOPLE, ON THE OTHER HAND,
ARE SENT TO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
MORE FRAGILE THAN THEY ARE.
HOLDING DOWN COSTS SOON MEANS
CHANGING THIS, PROHIBITING THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM
DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THOSE
WITH ILLNESSES AND REQUIRING A
SYSTEM THAT FEATURES REAL
COMPETITION.
REAL COMPETION WHERE THE
INSURANCE INDUSTRY DOESN'T
COMPETE TO SEE WHO IS THE BEST
AT LEAVING OUT THOSE WHO HAVE
HE
BUT COMPETION THAT'S BASED ON
HEALTH -- EXCUSE ME -- ON
BEFIT AND QUALITY AND PRICE.
THAT'S NOT GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH
CARE, MR. PRESIDENT.
THAT'S OLD-FASHIONED
COMPETITION, THE KIND OF BEDROCK
PRINCIPLES OF COMPETION THAT
OUR COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS.
WHEN INSURANCE COMPANIES COMPETE
ON THE BASIS OF PRICE, BENEFIT
AND QUALITY, THAT IS ABOUT AS
PURE AS THE TYPE OF COMPETION
AS YOU COULD HAVE IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND IT WOULD REVOLUTIONI
HEALTH INSURANCE BUSINESS IN OUR
COUNTRY.
NOW EACH ONE OF THESE FOUR
PILLARS OF IMMEDIATE HEALTH CARE
COST CON CANEMENT IS SUPPORTED
BY INFLUENTIAL DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE.
IF THESE FOUR PRINCIPLES WERE ADOPTED, THE UNITED STATES
SENATE COULD GO TO THE COUNTRY
AND SHOW
HEALTH ISSUE THAT THEY CARE
ABOUT THE MOST, WHICH IS
CONTAINING COSTS, THE UNITED
STATES UNITED STATES SENATE HAS
A PLAN FOR COST CONTAINMENT THAT
WILL KICK IN
NEXT FEW YEARS, NOT SOMETNG
THAT YOU HAVE TO WAI
YEARS FROM NOW.
AND CERTAINLY THERE ARE A LOT OF
CHANGES IN THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM THAT OUGHT TO
BECAUSE THEY WILL SAVE PHOPB IN
10 OR 15 -- SAVE MONEY IN 10 OR
15 YEARS.
BUT THE FOUR PILLARS OF
IMMEDIATE HEALTH CARE COST
CONTAINMENT THAT I OUTLINED THIS
AFTERNOON: TAX RELIEF FOR THE
MIDDLE CLASS AND NO MORE TAX
BREAKS FOR DESIGNER SMILES, TAKE
AN AX TO HEALTH CARE
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
EVERYBODY IN THE
EVERYONE PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE.
AND A REVOLUTION IN THE HEALTH
INSURANCE BUSINESS.
THOSE ARE IDEAS, MR. PRESIDENT,
THAT ARE NOW SPONSORED --
SPONSORED -- BY DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS HERE IN
STATES SENATE
HEALTH CARE COSTS SOON.
THEY WILL REDUCE HEALTH CARE
COSTS AND DO IT QUICKLY SO THAT
THE SENATE CAN BE CREDIBLE WITH
THE COUNTRY ON THIS ISSUE OF
HEALTH CARE REFORM.
NOW, THERE ARE OTHER
PRINCIPLES TO THIS QUESTION OF
GETTING HEALTH CARE ON TRACK.
CHAIRMAN BAUCUS, IN MY VIEW, HAS
DONE YEOMEN
SESSIONS TO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS
ISSUES: DELIVERY AND COVERAGE.
I HAVE MADE THE INDICATE,
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH
PAION ON THE COVERAGE
QUESTIONS THAT I THINK AMERICANS
WANT ON THE COVERAGE ISSUE
COVERAGE THAT IS AS LEAST AS
GOOD AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE
AND THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET
OFFICE HAS SAID IT IS POSSIBLE
TO PAY FOR THAT, AGAIN, WITH THE
KINDS OF PRINCIPLES OF COST CON
CANEMENT I HAVE OUTLINED HERE,
AND OTHER COLLEAGUES, I'M SURE
WILL HAVE OTHER VIEWS WITH
RESPECT TO WHAT THE BASIC
BENEFIT PACKAGE OUGHT TO BE ABOUT.
I ALSO THINK IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY IMPORTANT TO SEND A
STRAIGHTFORWARD MESSAGE TO THOSE
WHO HAVE COVERAGE THAT THERE ARE
CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS FOR THEM
IN REFORM
WE'VE TALKED ON THIS FLOOR
BEFORE, DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, ABOUT MAKIN
THAT EVERYBODY CAN
COVERAGE THEY HAVE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SENATORS
HEAR ABOUT AT EVERY MEETING THEY
HAVE WHEN THEY DISCUSS HEALTH CARE.
AND THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE
100 UNITED STATES SENATORS
VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE
THAT ALL ARE
ABLE TO KEEP THE COVERAGE
HAVE.
BUT THERE ARE TWO OTHER WORDS
THAT I THINKHOSE PEOPLE WITH
COVERAGE ARE LOOKING FOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, YOU AND I HAVE
HAD SOME DISCUSSION ON THIS BEFORE.
THOSE FOLKS WITH COVERAGE WANT
TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING
TO BE WEALTHIER AND HEALTHIER
WITH THE HEALTH CARE REFORM
LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE PASSED
IN THE CONGRESS.
AND ON THIS ISSUE THE
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION
BE ABOUT INCREASING THE CHOICES
THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE FOR THEIR COVERAGE.
AND I HAVE NOT SPOKEN ABOUT THIS
ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE IN
THE PAST, BUT WAS JUST
FLABBERGASTED TO LEARN THAT
THOSE WHO ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO
HAVE EMPLOYER-BASED COVERAGE IN
THIS COUNTRY, OF THAT
OF THEM GET NO CHOICE AT ALL.
THEY GET ONE PACKAGE, AND THAT'S IT.
SO YOU'VE GOT 85% OF THE PEOPLE
IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE LUCKY
ENOUGH TO HAVE HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE, THEY DO NOT GET WHAT
THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM
COLORADO, FROM OREGON AND
EVERYONE ELSE GET.
WE OF COURSE GET A FULL MENU OF
HEALTH CARE CHOICES.
AND OF COURSE THAT'S A BIG
FACTOR IN HOLDING DOWN HEALTH
CARE
YOU HAVE SOME COMPETION.
IF ONE COMPANY DOESN'T DO WELL
IN 2009, EVERYBODY'S OFF IN 2010
AND CHOOSING SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY
IMPORTANT TO SHOW THOSE WITH
COVERAGE, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE
HEALTHIER AND WEALTHIER AFTER
HEALTH CARE REFORM IS PASSED,
THAT ONE OF THE WAYS TO GET SOME
ADDITIONAL MONEY IN YOUR POCKET
BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE ONLY ONE,
OF COURSE, THERE REALLY AREN'T
THE KIND
AT WORK IN YOUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM THAT EVEN MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS HAVE.
SO WHAT I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED
IN IS SAYING THAT IF YOU WANT TO
STAY WITH YOUR EMPLOYER'S
PACKAGE, ABSOLUTELY. DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HERE
IN THE SENATE ARE COMMITTED TO
DOING THAT.
BUT IF YOU, FOR EXAMPLE, WANT TO
CHOOSE ONE OF THE PRIVATE
ALTERNATIVES THAT WOULD BE
ESTABLISHED IN HEALTH REFORM
LEGISLATION AND WOULD BE
CERTIFIED BY YOUR STATE AS
PROTECTING CONSUMERS, YOU OUGHT
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.
AND IF IN MAKING THAT CHOICE YOU
SAVE MONEY RELATIVE TO WHAT IT
MIGHT COST FOR YOUR EMPLOYER
PACKAGE, YOU GET TO GET THOSE SAVINGS.
AND WITHOUT OFFENSE TO COLORADO,
YOU CAN USE THE MONEY TO GO
FISHING IN OREGON BECAUSE WE'VE
CREATED A MARKETPLACE.
SO I WANTED TO COME TODAY AND
LAY OUT THE FOUR IMMEDIATE
PRINCIPLES
CON CANEMENT.
BUT I ALSO -- COST CONTAINMENT.
I ALSO WANTED TO SAY I THINK
THERE WILL BE OTHER CENTRAL
QUESTIONS LIKE THE ISSUE OF
COVERAGE AND THE QUESTION OF HOW
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SENATE
KEEPS FAITH WITH THE 160 MILLION
PEOPLE, ABOUT 160
GIVEN DAY WHO HAVE
EMPLOYER-BASED COVERAGE AND
WOULD LIKE TO KEEP WHAT THEY HAVE.
THEY'VE LIKE TO BE HEALTHIER AND
WEALTHIER.
FINALLY, IF THEY WANT TO LEAVE
THEI
THEM, THEIR COVERAGE OUGHT TO BE
WITH THEM.
FINALLY,
MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME NOTE
I THINK CHAIRMAN BAUCUS AND
SENATOR GRASSLEY ARE LEADERS ON
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ARE DOING
AN ESPECIALLY GOOD --
EXCEPTIONALLY SCHOOL AND
EXCEPTIONALLY FAIR -- GOOD AND
EXPTIONALLY FAIR JOB IN
TACKLING HAVE ISSUE.
THE FACT OF THE MATTERA IS THAT
HEALTH CARE REFORM AND
PARTICULARLY FINANCING IT IS
A SUBJECT FOR THE FAINT HEART.
THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS ISSUE
HAS BEEN TOUGH TO TACKLE SINCE
THE DAY
YEARS AGO.
BUT UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
CHAIRMAN BAUCUS AND
GRSLEY IN THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE, AND I THINK I CAN
SPEAK FOR SENATORS ON BOTH SIDES
OF THE AISLE THAT WERE VERY
APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT CHAIRMAN
KENNEDY AND SENATOR ENZI ARE
DOING IN THE "HELP" COMMITTEE.
THE FOUR OF THEM ARE OUR
COMMITTEE LEADERS, OUR CHAIRS
AND
I FEEL THAT THIS TIME AFTER 60
YEARS OF WORKING ON THIS ISSUE
IT CAN
I MEAN THE FACT IS THAT FOR
HEALTH REFORMERS THE HISTORY OF
TRYING TO FIX HEALTH CARE IS
ALMOST THE STORY OF LOVE.
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THIS ISSUE
ALMOST 15 YEARS, REFORMERS SAY
THAT THIS IS THE TIME, I'VE
FINALLY FOUND T
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY DREAMS REALIZED.
AND, OF COURSE, IT HAS BEEN
EXACTLY 15 YEARS SINCE THE LAST
EFFORT, 1994, DURING THE CLINTON YEARS.
AND HARRY AND LOUISE PRETTY MUCH
SOURED THAT ROMANCE IN 1993 1994.
BUT I DO THINK, MR. PRESIDENT,
LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE GOOD WORK
BEING DONE BY CHAIRMAN BAUCUS
AND CHAIRMAN GRASSLEY AND
SENATOR ENZI, THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT.
A LOT OF COLLEAGUES ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE MOVED
TOWARD AN APPROACH THAT I THINK
WILL ALLOW US TO COME
THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN RIGHT ON THE
PROPOSITION THAT TO FIX THIS,
YOU HAVE TO COVER EVERYBODY.
IF
HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE
COVERAGE, YOU HAVE THAT COST
SHIFTING I SPOKE ABOUT,
INADEQUATE ATTENTION TO PREVENTION.
I THINK THERE IS A RECOGNITION
THAT COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE AISLE IN THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY ARE MAKING
VALID POINTS AS WELL.
THERE OUGHT TO BE PRIVATE
CHOICES.
IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO
INNOVATION.
OUGHT TO STAY CLEAR OF PRICE
CONTROLS.
SO THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW
WITH THE SENATE BEING LED BY TWO
VERY FINE CHAIRS AND RANKING
MINORITY MEMBERS TO GET THIS DONE.
I'LL CLOSE, MR. PRESIDENT, WITH
AN OBSERVATION FROM A NUMBER OF
ECONOMISTS.
OUR COUNTRY CLEARLY IS CONCERNED
ABOUT THE COSTSF THE BAILOUTS
AND THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS IN
THE BANKING AND HOUSING SECTOR.
MOST OF THOSE FOLKS BELIEVE THAT
THE ASTOUNDING SUMS THAT ARE
BEING SPENT ON FINCIAL
BAILOUTS, THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK
LIKE A
CARE IS NOT FIXED.
SO THE STAKES ARE VERY, VERY
HIGH.
FIXING THE ECONOMY MEANS FIXING HEALTH CARE.
AND WITH THE PRINCIPLES THAT I
OUTLINED TODAY, THE FOUR
IMMEDIATE PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH
CARE COST CONTAINMENT, I THINK
THAT THE SENATE CAN GET OFF ON
THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST
DIFFICULT ISSUE OF HEALTH
CONTAINING COSTS AND DO IT IN A
BIPARTISAN WAY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WITH THAT, I
WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR.
AND I WOULD NOTE, ALSO, THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CAL
QUORUM CALL:
MR. NELSON: THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
MR. NELSON:
THE QUORUM CALL BE THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE SENATOR FROM FLORIDA.
MR. NELSON: MR. PRESIDENT, A
COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO SENATOR
MARTINEZ AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF INTRODUCING CRAIG FUGATE,
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOMINEE FOR
THE HEAD OF FEMA.
AND THAT WAS TO INTRODUCE HIM TO
THE COMMITTEE, THE SENATE
HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
AND THEN THE COMTTEE PROMPTLY
REPORTED HIM RIGHT OUT.
AND IT'S BECAUSE HE'S SO
UNIQUELY QUALIFIED.
CRAIG
OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN OUR
STATE SINCE 2001 AND HE'S
OVEREING THE RESPONSE TO 11
PRESIDENTIAL DECLARED DISASTERS
IN OUR STATE.
HE'S ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED
LEADERS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
IN THE COUNTRY AND HE'S THE ONE,
IF YOU WANT A PRO'S PRO, HE HAS
THE EXPERIENCE AND
THAT FEMA NEEDS AT THIS
LOOK AT HOW HE CAME UP: A FORMER
FIREFIGHTER, A PAR MEDIA, A FIRE
RESC
RESCUE MANAGER, ALL OF THAT IS
IN ALACHUA COUNTY, WHICH IS
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.
AND HE SPENT 15 YEARS WORKING IN
LOCAL
BEFORE HE WENT UP TO THE
EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER AT
THE STATE LEVEL AND SINCE HE HAS
BECOME THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT, HE'S HANDLED THE
RESPONSES TO THE LANDFALL OF
FIVE MAJOR HURRICANES IN
FLORIDA, AND THAT WAS WITHIN A
TWO-YEAR TIME PERIOD.
AND I'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN
HURRICANE CHARLIE CAME BARRELING
UP THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST,
AND IT WAS HEADEDTRAIGHT FOR
TAMPA BAY AND SUDDENLY AT THE
LAST MINUTE IT TOOK A RIGHT-HD
TURN AND IT WENT RIGHT UP
CHARLOTT
PUNGORA, FLORIDA.
PEOPLE EVACUATED TAMPA AND HAD
COME TO THE HOTELS, ESPECIALLY
IN PUNTGORDA, AND THEY WERE IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.
THAT STORM WAS SO INTENSE THAT
IT BLEW THE ROOF OFF OF THE
CHARLOTTE COUNTY OPERATIONS
CENTER.
THEY HAD TO EVACUATE THE E.O.C.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM.
I GOT THERE LATER THAT DAY WHEN
THE STORM HIT THAT MORNING AND
I'LL NEVER FORGET SEEING CRAIG
IN THE MOBIL
OPERATION CENTER THAT THE STATE
OF FLORIDA HAD BROUGHT IN AS HE
WAS TAKING OVER AND DIRECTING
OPERATIONS IN THE MIDST OF THAT
CHAOS.
AND BECAUSE OUR FLORIDA
DISASTERS WITH A SENSE OF
URGENCY AND EFFICIENCY, IT HAS
EMERGED AS A ROLE MODEL FOR
DISASTER PREPARATION AND
DISASTER RESPONSE.
AND THAT
IN LARGE PART HAS BEEN AS A
RESULT OF THE LEADERSHIP OF
CRAIG FUGATE.
IT'S ALSO VERY INTERESTING WHEN
YOU RESPOND TO THESE
NATURAL DISASTERS TT YOU HAVE
TH COOPETION BETWEEN
CIVILIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND,
OF COURSE, THE FLORIDA NATIONAL
GUARD IS THE BEST IN THE
BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW
TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS WHEN IT
COMES TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO
HURRICANES.
AND UNDER CRAIG'S LEADERSHIP,
FLORIDA HAS BECOME THE FIRST
STATE TO RECEIVE FULL
ACCREDITATION FOR ITS EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
CRAIG NOT ONLY HAS THE
CREATIVITY BUT HE HAS A SENSE OF
HUMOR, AND HE JUDGES
AFTER A HURRICANE BY THE WAFFLE
HOUSE TEST.
AND HE
IS OPEN AFTER THE HURRICANE,
THEN THAT MEANS
AND THERE'S WATER, SO YOU KEEP GOING.
IF THE WAFFLE HOUSE IS CLOSED,
THINGS ARE PRETTY BAD.
A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN SHUT
DOWN.
AND IF THE WAFFLE HOUSE IS OPEN
AND THEY H
THEN IT MEANTHAT THE POWER HAS
BEEN OUT FOR WHILE BECAUSE
EVERYTHING IN THEIR FREEZER HAS
MELTED AND IT'S SPOILED.
I THINK CRAIG'S EXEMPLARY
SERVICE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, AND,
MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO PUT
INTO THE RECORD A NUMBER OF
DOCUMENTS, A LETTER FROM OUR
GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR CRIST, A
LETTER FROM HOST OF
ORGANIZATIONS ALL THE WAY FROM
THE
AMERICAN RED CROSS -- I WON'T
LIST THEM ALL BUT IT GOES ALL
THE WAY THROUGH THE NATIONAL
WILDLIFE FEDERATION AND THE
AMERICA.
I HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE
COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS.
EVERYBODY SINGING CRAIG FUGATE'S
PRAISES. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. NELSON: AND IT IS MY HOPE
THAT THE HOLD THAT IS ON CRAIG
FOR AN ISSUE UNRELATED TO CRAIG,
RELATED TO THE QUESTION OF FEMA
PUTTING A FLOOD
ON SOME ARE OF NEW ORLEANS,
IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN
THAT AND GET
ALL, THIS IS NOW ONE WEEK INTO
THE MONTH OF
AND REMBER, HURRICANE SEASON
OFFICIALLY STARTS JUNE THE
1st.
AND WE
IN PLACE SO THAT FEMA IS READY
TO
WHEN THERE IS ANOTHER CHALLENGE
FACING THE GULF COAST AND THE
ATLANTIC COAST AND EVEN
POTENTIALLY THE PACIFIC COAST.
SO I HOPE THE
AC QUICKLY ON HIS CONFIRMATION. MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR, AND I SUGGEST THE ABSENCE
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. DURBIN: MADAM PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE MAJORITY WHIP.
MR. DURBIN: I
CONSENT THE QUORUM CALL BE@ SUSPENDED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. DURBIN: AND CONSENT TO
SPEAK AS IN MORNING BUSINESS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. DURBIN: MADAM PRESIDENT,
YESTERDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA
ANNOUNCED THAT HE
INEZ TANNE BAUM AS THE NEW CHAIR OF THE COMMISSION.
THE PRESIDENT ANNOU
RESTORE THIS COMMISSION FROM A
THREE-TO A FIVE-COMMISSIONER
BODY AND PROVIDE A 71% INCREASE
IN THAT BUDGET OVER PRESIDENT
BUSH'S REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007.
I SHARE PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
COMMITMENT TO CONSUMER SAFETY
CPSC TO PROMINENCE AS OUR
NATION'S PREMIER CONSUMER WATCH
WATCHDOG
FAR TOO LONG IT WAS HINDERED BY
A LACK OF FUNDING AND
LEADERSHIP.
WE ALL REMBER WHAT HAPPENED??
AFTER THAT.
FOLEY
KILLED INFANTS, MAGNETIC TOYS
THAT WHEN SWALLED CAUSED
SERIOUS INJURIES AND EVEN A
CHILD'S DEATH.
MOST AMERICANS WERE SHOCKED WHEN
THEY READ THESE STORIES.
THEY ASSUMED THAT IF THEY PUT IT
ON
AMERICA, SOMEBODY TOOK A LOOK AT IT.
WELL, THAT ISN'T ALWAYS THE CASE.
SADLY, THIS AGENCY WHICH HAD A
SPECIAL
DANGEROUS PRODUCTS, HAD FALLEN
INTO A STATE OF DISREPAIR NOT
JUST IN TERMS OF ADEQUATE
STAFFING AND
UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION NOT ADEQUATE
COMMITMENT.
THERE WAS A
TO CONTINUE TO BE A SMALL AND
VIRTUALLY UNHEARD
TIME WHEN EXPORTS INTO THE
UNITED STATES WERE FLOODING THE
MARKET.
IF THERE WAS EVER A TIME WHEN WE
NEED A CONSUMER WATCHDOG, IT
WAS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS AS
MORE AND MORE OF THESE IMPORTS
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES CAME INTO
OUR SHORES.
WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY.
WE LEARNED WITH PET FOOD FROM
CHINA THAT HAD BEEN SPIKED WITH
THAT ENDED UP KILLING A LOT OF
DOGS AND CATS THAT PEOPLE DEARLY LOVED.
WE LEARNED IT TH THE TOYS WITH
WERE DANGEROUS.
WE LEARNED THIS AGENCY WASN'T UP
TO THE TASK.
I REMBER MEETING WITH SOME OF
THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED THERE AND
SOME OF THEM WERE GOOD,
HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.
BUT WHEN I MET WITH THE MAN
WHOSE NAME WAS BOB WHO WAS THE
TOY TESTER, I FOUND THAT HIS
LABORATORY FOR
EXPORTED TO THE UNITED STATES
LOOKED ABOUT AS BAD AS MY
WORKBENCH IN MY BASEMENT AT
HOME.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE DIDN'T
HAVE ANY KIND OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT.
WHAT BOB HAD DONE
COUPLE MARKS ON THE WALL.
ONE WAS AT ABOUT FOUR FEET,
ANOTHER AT ABOUT SIX FEET.
BOB WOULD TAKE THE TOY AND DROP
IT FROM FOUR FEET TO SEE IF IT
FELL APART INTO LITTLE PIECES
KIDS MIGHT SWALLOW.
IF IT MADE THAT TEST, BOB
IT UP TO SIX FEET AND DROPPED IT
AGAIN.
THAT WAS THE FEDERAL TOY TESTING
PROGRAM FOR
AMERICA.
WELL, WE LEARNED THE HARD WAY
WHEN A LOT OF DANGEROUS TOYS
WERE SOLD AND A LOT OF THEM WENT
UNTESTED THAT IT HAD TO CHANGE.
SO WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF ONE OF
MY COLLEAGUES FROM ARKANSAS,
SENATOR MARK PRYOR, WE EMBARKED
ON A REAUTHORIZATION OF THIS
AGENCY AND GAVE IT
AUTHORITIES AND NEW
SADLY, SOME OF THE HOLD OVERS
ONE COMMISSIONER FROM A PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION COMPLAINED, SAID
SHE D
NEED TO DO THIS, THAT WE WERE
GOING TOO FAR IN GIVING MORE
POWER TO THIS AGENCY.
IT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE MIND-SET
OF THE AGENCY OF THE OLD DAYS.
WE MATCHED THAT WITH
APPROPRIATIONS FUNDS FROM AN
APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE THAT
I CHAIR TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD
ENOUGH MONEY TO HIRE TESTERS AND
BUY EQUIPMENT AND MAKE CERTAIN
THEY COULD TAKE A LOOK AT
PRODUCTS BEFORE THEY ARRIVED IN
THE WAREHOUSES OF AMERICA AND ON
THE TOY SHELVES AND ON THE
SHELVES TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT
THEY WERE SAFE BEFORE THEY CAME
IN.
WELL, IT
BECAUSE THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP
WASN'T AT
WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS SWORN
IN, ONE OF MY FIRST CALLS WAS TO
URGE HIM TO FILL THE
THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION WITH TRUE CONSUMER ADVOCATES.
OUR PASSAGE OF THE CONSUMER
PRODUCT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT,
WHICH PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNED INTO
LAW BY AN OVERWHELMING VOTE OF
89-# IN THE SENATE --
THE SENATE WAS ISSUE.
IT MADE SURE THAT THE PRODUCTS
MET NATIONAL STANDARDS
AUTHORIZED A DOUBLING OF THE
CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY
COMMISSION BUDGET AND
STRENGTHENED THE COMMISSION'S
ABILITY TO PROTECT AMERICANS.
YESTERDAY PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THESE
VACANCIES BEING FILLED BUILDS ON
THAT EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THE
COMMISSION HAS
LEADERSHIP IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT
A LAW IN A COMPREHENSIVE YET
COMMONSENSE
INEZ TANNENBAUM WAS THE FORMER
SAOURPL TEN DENT OF EDUCATION
IN -- SUPERINTENDENT OF
EDUCATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
UNDER HER TENURE, STUDENT
ACHIEVEMENT IN
IMPROVED THE FASTEST IN THE NATION.
ROBBED ADLER, CONSUMER ADVOCATE
WAS A PROFESSOR AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
WHERE HE WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON CONSUMER PROTECTION AND
LIABILITY.
HE SERVED AS ATTORNEY AND
ADVISOR TO PREVIOUS CPSC COMMISSIONERS.
I SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S
NOMINEES.
I'M GLAD HE'S GOING TO BRING
ABOUT A NEW DAY AT THIS AGENCY.
IT'S LONG OVERDUE.
OF FAMILIES AND
ON THIS AGENCY TO MAKE SURE WHEN
THE PRODUCTS MAKE THE SHELVES IN
AMERICA'S CONSUMERS.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I ASK CONSENT
THAT THE NEXT STATEMENT
IN A SEPARATE PORTION OF THE
"CONGRESSIONAL RECORD." THE PRESIDING OFFIR: WITHOUT
MR. DURBIN: EARLIER THIS YEAR
PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED A NEW
POLICY FOR AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN, BEGINNING TO REALLY
FOCUS IMPORTANT RESOURCES AND
ATTENTION ON THOSE COUNTRIES,
RESOURCES THAT WERE TRAGICALLY
DIVERTED DURING THE WAR IN IRAQ.
I WILL SUBMI THIS STATEMENT IN
THE RECORD.
I WAS INVITED TO A LUNCHEON WITH
THE PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT WH
THEY ARE STARTING TO DO THINGS
THAT IHOUGHT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DONE A LONG
WHEN I
LITTLE OVER -- A LITTLE OVER A
YEAR AGO.
WE KNOW THAT THAT COUNTRY WHICH
WAS ONCE A PROLIFIC
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS HAS NOW
DESCENDED TO A POINT WHERE THE
MAJOR EXPORT IS POPPY AND HE
HEROIN.
WELL, TO LEARN THAT WE HAVE
FEWER THAN 10 AGRICULTURAL
EXPERTS
AFGHANISTAN TO TRY TO CHANGE
THIS WAS DISAPPOINTING.
THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE NEW
OBAMA
COMMITMENT TO RAISE THAT NUMBER
TO OVER 50 IN A HURRY AS THEY
SHOULD SO THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO
COUNSEL THOSE IN AGRICULTURE IN
AFGHANISTAN ABOUT
PROFITABLE CROPS THAT WON'T BE FEEDING TERRORISM.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
NOT JUST THE MILITARY SIDE, BUT
THE ECONOMIC SIDE AS WELL.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT SECRETARY
CLINTON HAS SAID AS MUCH THAT IF
WE'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN, WE
HAVE TO BRING THIS EFFORT DOWN
TO GROUND LEVEL.
NOT JUST TO SUPPRESS THE
VIOLENCE, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT
WE BUILD A CIVIL ECONOMY AND A
CIVIL GOVERNMENT THAT
SUSTAIN DEMOCRATIC AND FREE
GROWTH IN THOSE TWO
I WAS GLAD TO BE PART OF THAT
EFFORT TODAY.
DO.
I JOIN WITH SENATORS
MISSOURI, SENATOR MURRAY AND
CHRIS DODD AND SHELDON
WHITEHOUSE OF RHODE ISLAND WITH
A BILL CALLED INCREASING THE
GLOBAL CAPACITY ACT TO UNDERTAKE
GLOBAL ACTIVITIES.
IT WOULD TRIPLE
SERVICE OFFICERS BY 2012.
IF WE IMPLEMENT
IN THREE YEARS USAID WILL HAVE
3,000 TALENTED,
AMERICANS SERVING IN THE WORLD'S
MOST DIFFICULT LOCATIONS HELPING
TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS
AND SHOW THE WORLD WHAT AMERICA
IS ALL ABOUT.
I WOULD MUCH RATHER BEEF UP THE
US-AID THAN RUN THE RISK OF
SENDING MORE AMERICAN SOLDIERS
TO FACE THE DANGERS OF WAR IN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
I THINK THAT W
OVER THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD
HAVE THE RIGHT AMERICAN
AMBASSADORS IN A CIVILIAN
CAPACITY USING DIPLOMACY AND
DEVELOPMENT AS MAJOR TOOLS.
I HOPE THAT THIS BILL WILL BE
CONSIDERED BY MY COLLEAGUES AND
PASSED.
I URGE THE SUPPORT OF T
LEGISLATION.
I ASK THAT MY ENTIRE STATEMENT
BE MADE PART OF THE RECORD.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. DURBIN: AND I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: M
THE PRESIDIN
SENATOR FROM GEORGIA.
MR. CHAMBLISS: MADAM PRESIDENT,
I RISE THIS AFTERNOON TO
E BENEFITS OF NUCLEAR POWER TO
OUR
LAST WEEK
TO VISIT THE SAVANNAH RIVER
SITE, ALONG WITH THREE OF MY
OTHER COLLEAGUES, THE OTHER
SENATOR FROM
ISAKSON, AND OUR TWO SOUTH
CAROLINA COLLEAGUES, SENATOR
GRAHAM
TO WATCH THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY EMPLOYEES THERE CARRY OUT
THEIR MISSION.
THIS SITE HAS BEEN SAFELY
OPERATING SINCE THE 1950'S
REFINING MATERIALS FOR NUCLEAR
WEAPONS.
IN MORE THAN HALF A DECADE --
EXCUSE ME.
IN MORE THAN A HALF
THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SINGLE
NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT THE SAVANNAH
RIVER SITE PROVING THAT IT'S
POSSIBLE TO SAFELY OPERATE AND
MAINTAIN OUR NUCLEAR FACILITIES.
BUT IN THE PAST DECADE THE PLACE
THAT HAS HELPED BOLSTER
AMERICA'S STANDING IN THE ATOMIC
AGE AND HAS BEEN A WATCH AND
WARD FOR AMERICAN NUCLEAR MIGHT
HAS ALSO
FORCES FOR PEACEFUL PURPOSES TO
BRING LIGHT AN HEAT INTO
AMERICAN HOMES.
-- AND HEAT INTO THE AMERICAN HOMES.
THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE HAS LED
THE WAY IN DISPOSING OF NUCLEAR
MATERIAL.
FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS THE
FACILITY HAS BLENDED WEAPONS
GRADE HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM TO
USE LOW ENRICHED URANIUM THAT IS
REACTOR FUEL.
IT EXPANDED ITS MISSION TO HAVE
EXCESS WEAPONS GRADE PLUTONIUM
FROM DECOMMISSIONED NUCLEAR
WEAPONS AND WILL BECOME A
CONSOLIDATION POINT FOR ALL
WEAPONS-GRADE PLUTONI IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THIS WILL DEVELOP I
FOR COMMERCIAL POWER REACTORS.
MATERIALS THAT ONCE TIPPED OUR
ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR WARHEADS ARE
NOW BEING USED TO PROVIDE THE
LIGHTY WHICH GEORGIANS EAT
DINNER, DO THEIR HOMEWORK, AND
THE POWER BY WHICH THEY HEAT
THEIR HOMES IN WINTER AND COOL
THEM IN IN OUR HOT SUMMERS.
ONE-FIFTHS OF THE GEORGIA
GENERATING POWER -- ENERGY COMES
FROM NUCLEAR POWER.
IT PROVIDES SOME OF THE LOWEST
COST OF ELECTRICITY IN OUR STATE.
THE POWER THEY GENERATE IS SAFE
AN RELIABLE AND MOST SIGNIFICANT
IN THE NATIONAL DEBATE ON
CLIMATE CHANGE, EMISSIONS FREE
AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE.
DESPITE THOSE CLEAR ADVANTAGES
IN AMERICA AT-LARGE, NUCLEAR
POWER PRODUCES SOME 20% OF THE
NATION'S ENERGY.
COMPARE THAT TO FRANCE WHERE THE
NUCLEAR POWER SOURCES PROVIDE
NEARLY 80% OF THAT COUNTRY'S
POWER.
INTRIGUINGLY IN TERMS OF
NATIONAL SECURITY, THE
RIVER SITE IS PLAYING A ROLE IN
AMERICA'S NUCLEAR
NONPROLIFERATION
THE NUCLEAR POWER GENERATED FROM
PRODUCING OUR NUCLEAR STOCKPILE
AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER SITE IS
COMING FULL CIRCLE.
IN ITS CON
TO NUCLEAR FUEL IS HELPING
AMERICA'S DEPENDENCE ON
ENERGY SOURCES OFTEN FROM
COUNTRIES THAT DON'T LIKE US AND
DON'T HAVE OUR BEST INTEREST AT
HEART.
ADDITIONALLY THE WORK CONDUCTED
AT SAVANNAH RIVER SITE HELPS
MAINTAIN AMERICA'S TECHNICAL AND
SCIENTIFIC NUCLEAR BASE
PRESERVING THE EXPERTISE TO
EXPAND COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR ENERGY
AS WELL AS THE EXPERTISE TO
MODERNIZE OUR EXISTING NUCLEAR
WEAPONS ARSENAL.
I WAS I
AND EXPERTISE OF SAVANNAH RIVER EMPLOYEES.
I MET -- WHO ARE SOME OF THE
LEADING NUCLEAR EXPERTS IN THE WORLD.
HOWEVER, THEY ARE AN ENDANGERED
BREED, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE
UNLESS AMERICA COMMITS TO
EXPANDEDUCLEAR ENERGY AND
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE KNOW THAT AMERICA'S ENERGY
CONSUMPTION WILL INCREASE.
WE KNOW THAT THE INCREASED
DEMAND WILL DRIVE THE NEED FOR
MORE BASE-LOAD CAPACITY.
DEMOGRAPHERS PREDICT THAT 40% OF
THE U.S. POPULATION WILL LIVE IN
THE SOUTHEAST.
GEORGIA IS SLATED TO HAVE FOUR
MILLION NEW RESIDENTS DURING THAT TIME FRAME.
IF WE'RE TO MEET THE GROWING
ENERGY NEED OF GEORGIA AND OF
OUR NATION IN KEEPING WITH
AMERICA'S NATIONAL SECURITY
INTERESTS, THE INGENUITY OF
EMPLOYEES AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER
SITE AND OTHER SUCH FACILITIES
ARE KEY T
I APPLAUD THEIR GREAT WORK AND I
LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE YEARS
OF EXPANSION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT IS BEING DEVELOPED TO
DISPOSE OF OUR NUCLEAR WASTE AS
WASTE AN REUSE THAT WASTE -- AND
REUSE OUR WASTE.
WITH, THAT MADAM PRESIDENT, I
WOULD YIELD THE
SUGGEST THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM C
QUORUM CALL:
OFFICER THE GORM.
MR. REID: ASK CONSENT THAT
CALL OF E QUORUM BE TERPTED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED
TO THE CONSIDERATION OF CALENDAR
NUMBER 57.
S. RES. 84.
THE PRESIDINOFFICER: THE
CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE CLERK: CALENDAR NUMBER
S. RES. 84, URGING THE
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TO END THE
COMMERCIAL SEAL HUNT.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE SENATE WILL
PROCEED TO THE MEASURE.
CONSENT THAT THE RESOLUTION BE
AGREED TO, PREAMBLE PREANAL, THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON
THE TABLE, THERE BE NO
INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE AND
ANY STATEMENTS BE PLACED IN THE
RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE
AS IF GIVEN.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. REID: MADAM PRESIDENT,
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
COMMERCE COMMITTEE BE DISCHARGED
FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF S.
RES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE CLERK: S. RES.
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT AND
RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL TRAIN
DAY, MAY 9, 2009.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE COMMITTEE IS
DISCHARGED AND THE SENATE WILL
PROCEED TO THE MEASURE.
MR. REID: I ASK CONSENT THAT
THE RESOLUTION BE AGREED TO, THE
PREAMBLE BE AGREED TO, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON
THE TABLE EN BLOC, ANY
STATEMENTS RELATING TO THIS
MATTER APPEAR AT
PLACE IN THE RECORD AS IF GIVEN.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. REID: I ASK CONSENT WE NOW
PROCEED TO S. RES. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
CLERK WILL REPORT.
THE CLERK: S. RES. 138,
HONORING CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS.
FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO
FAMILY
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
THE LINE OF DUTY. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE SENATE WILL
PROCEED TO THE MEASURE.
PRIED REID I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE RESOLUTION BE
AGREED TO, THE PREAMBLE BE
AGREED TO, AND T
RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE APPOINTMENT AT THE
DESK APPEAR SEPARATELY IN THE
RECORD AS IF MADE BY THE CHAIR.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. REID: MADAM PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WHEN
THE SENATE COMPLETES ITS
BUSINE TODAY, IT ADJOURN UNTIL
2:00 P.M., MAY 11.
FOLLOWING THE PRAYER AND PLEDGE,
THE JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE
APPROVED TO DATE, THE MORNING
HOUR BE RESERVED FOR THEIR USE
LATER IN THE DAY.
UNTIL 3:00 WITH SENATORS
PERMITTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO 10
MINUTES EACH.
FOLLOWING MORNING BUSINESS, THE
SENATE PROCEED TO THE
CONSIDERATION OF PREVIOUS ORDERED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION. MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER
CALENDAR NUMBER 110 TO 128, ALL
NOMINATIONS ON THE SECRETARY'S
DESK THE AIR FORCE, ARMY, MARINE
CORPS, NAVY, ALL NOMINATIONS
BEING CONFIRMED EN BLOC, THE THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON
THE TABLE EN BLOC, NO FURTHER
MOTIONS BE IN ORDER, ANY
STATEMENTS RELATING TO THE
NOMINATIONS APPEAR IN THE RECORD
AS IF READ, THE PRESIDENT BE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
SENATE'S ACTION AND THE SENATE
THEN RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
MR. REID: MADAM PRESIDENT,
THERE WILL BE NO ROLL CALL VOTES
ON MONDAY.
THE NEXT VOTE IS EXPECTED TO
OCCUR ON TUESDAY, MAY 126789 THE
MANAGERS OF THE BILL ON CREDIT
CARDS WILL BE HERE MONDAY
AFTERNOON TO START THE OPENING
STATEMENTS ON THIS MATTER.
ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ON
CREDIT CARD LEGISLATION WOULD BE
ADVISED TO COME AND DO THAT
SOMETIME MONDAY NIGHT.
AS WE GET INTO THE LEGISLATION
ITSELF, THE TIME FOR OPENING
STATEMENTS MAY NOT BE
APPROPRIATE OR TIMELY.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT SOME WOULD
CONSIDER DOING THAT MONDAY TO
GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE SNAT SENATE,
I ASK THAT WE ADJOURN UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, FOLLOWING THE
REMARKS OF THE DISTINGUISHED REPUBLICAN LEADER.
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
THE CLERK WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. McCONNELL:
MADAM PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
MR. McCONNELL: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT FURTH
UNDER THE QUORUM CALL BE
DISPENSED WITH.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. McCONNELL:
MADAM PRESIDENT, THE NATION SAYS
ITS LAST FAREWELL TO
TOMORROW AFTERNOON BUT AMERICANS
WILL LONG REMEMBER
OUR LES AND ON OUR POLITICS.
SO TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO
VOICE TO THE MANY OTHERS WHO
HAVE SPOKEN WELL OF THIS GOOD
MAN.
THE ARC OF JACK'S LIFE IS WELL
KNOWN.
MIDDLE-CLASS SON OF A SMALL
BUSINESSMAN AND WIFE.
JACK NEVER WANTED TO BE ANYING
BUT A PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
PLAYER, AND HE WORKED VERY HARD
AT IT, GOOD ENOUGH TO B DRAFTED
BY THE LIONS BUT NOT QUITE GOOD
ENOUGH TO MAKE THE TEAM.
JACK DUG IN,
THROUGH A FEW FOOTBALL TEAMS
BEFORE BEING SIDELINED BY AN
INJURY AND ENDING UP WITH THE
BUFFALO BILLS WHERE HE BECAME
ONE OF THE GREAT QUARTERBACKS OF
ALL TIME.
JACK SHOWED HIS SKILLS EARLY ON
WITH THE BILLS.
IN HIS VERY FIRST GAME, HE
COMPLETED 21 OF 35 PASSES,
INCLUDING TWO TOUCHDOWNS, FOR 230 YARDS.
BY THE TIME HE RETIRED IN 1969,
HE WOULD RANK FIRST IN PASSES,
COMPLETIONS, AND PASSING YARDAGE
AMONG ALL AMERICAN FOOTBALL
LEAGUE QUARTERBACKS.
BUT JACK'S RESTLESS MIND WAS
STIRRING EVEN BEFORE HE LEFT THE
FID, AND TEAMMATES WOULD LATER
RECALL THAT ON LONG PLANE RIDES
WHILE THEY WOULD BE READING PLAY
BOOKS, JACK WOULD BE READING
ECONOMIC THEORY OR THE LATEST
NATIONAL REVIEW.
DURING THE OFFSEASON JACK
VOLUNTEERED ON POLITICAL
CAMPAIGNS INCLUDING THE
GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN OF RONALD REAGAN.
IT WAS ALL THE TRA NEED.
AFTER RETIRING FROM PRO
FOOTBALL, HIS PATH TO POLITICS
WAS AS SURE AS HIS TEN-YARD
PASS.
AND SO WAS HIS PATH TO SUCCESS.
ARMED WITH A KINETIC
PERSONALITY, A SHARP MIND, A
PASSION FOR IDEAS AND FOR
PEOPLE, JACK SET ABOUT WITH THE
ZEAL OF A PREACH TORE SPREAD HIS
CONVICTION -- OF A PREACHER TO
SPREAD HIS CONVICTION ABOUT
SHARP TAX CUTS.
HE WAS SO CONVINCING THAT TAX
CUTS BECAME THE CENTERPIECE OF
HIS PARTY PLATFORM IN 1980, THE
BASIS OF ITS REVIVAL AND THE
CAUSE OF THE PROSPERITY OF THE
NEXT TWO DECADES.
GROWING UP, JACK WAS THE CAPTAIN
OF EVERY TEAM HE EVER PLAYED FOR.
THAT DIDN'T CHANGE WHEN HE
TO
HE WAS CALLING THE PLAYS HERE
NOW, AND PEOPLE WERE
LLOW
HE WAS AS LIKABLE AS HE WAS
PERSUASIVE.
ALL THE MORE SO BECAUSE HE
DIDN'T SEEK OUT POPULARITY.
HE WAS ALWAYS DRIVEN BY
SOMETHING ELSE.
AT HIS CORE, JACK WAS MOTIVATED
BY NOTHING MORE THAN A DEEP
DESIRE TO SEE AMERICA LIVE UP TO
ITS FOUNDING PROMISE OF A
QUALITY FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS
OF COLOR, RELIGION, OR BACKGROUND.
THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY
JACK'S CONSUMING PASSION.
LIKE EVERYONE WHO GREW UP
PLAYING SPORTS, HE KNEW
FIRSTHAND THAT WINNING BALL
GAMES HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH COLOR.
BUT AS A QUARTERBACK, HE
APPRECIATED THIS MORE THAN MOST.
THE CROWDS MAY HAVE CHEERED FOR
JACK, BUT HE KNEW THAT EVERY
TIME HE THREW A PASS OR RAN FOR
A TOUCHDOWN, AN
STOOD GUARD.
MANY OF THEM
AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
THESE WERE HIS TEAMMATES, HIS
FRIENDS, AND HE WITNESSED THE
DISCRIMINATION THEY ENCOUNTERED MANY
BUT THERE WAS ONE MOMENT IN
THOSE DAYS THAT ALWAYS LIVED IN JACK'S MEMORY.
IT WAS IN
JACK WAS PLAYING FOR THE CHARGERS AT THE TIME.
THEY WERE IN HOUSTON FOR THE
A.F.L. CHAMPIONSHIP AND DURING
THE PLAYING OF THE NATIONAL
ANTHEM, JACK LOOKED OVER TOWARD
HIS FATHER AT THE 50-YARD LINE.
THE FATHER OF HIS COCAPTAIN,
CHARLIE MCNEIL, WASN'T THERE.
HE LATER FOUND OUT MR. MCNEIL
HAD BEEN FORCED TO SIT IN A
SECTION OF THE END
OFF FORLACKS.
IT WAS ONE OF TERRIBLE INDIG
DIGNITIES THAT WOULD MAKE JACK
A PROMOTER OF EQUALITY
THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
A SELF-DESCRIBED BLEEDING HEART
CONSERVATIVE, JACK'S CHILD-LIKE
LOVE FOR AMERICA AND ALL IT
PROMISED WAS EVIDENT UNTIL THE END.
IN A LETTER TO HIS GRANDCHILDREN
JUST THIS PAST NOVEMBER, JACK
SAID HIS FIRST THOUGHT UPON
LEARNING THAT AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HAD WON THE
PRESIDENCY WAS, IS THIS A GREAT
COUNTRY OR NOT?
JUST THINK, HE WROTE, LITTLE
OVER 40 YEARS AGO, BLACKS IN
AMERICA HAD TROUBLE EVEN VOTING
IN OUR COUNTRY, MUCH LESS
THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR THE
HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND.
JACK WAS NOT YOUR AVERAGE
POLITICIAN, BUT HE WAS A
NECESSARY ONE, CONSTANTLY
CHALLENGING THE ESTABLISHMENT.
HE WAS A POLITICAL ENTREPRENEUR,
RESTLESS TO GET THINGS DONE.
COLLEAGUES REMBER HOW CABINET
MEETINGS WERE ALL LIVELIER WITH
JACK THERE, WHETHER HE WAS
ROLLING HIS E
OR SQUIRMING IN HIS CHAIR, NO
ROOM EVER SEED BIG ENOUGH TO
CONTAIN HIM.
SOMETIMES WHEN CONGRES
LEADERSHIP WOULD MEET OVER IN
THE WHITE HOUSE, JACK'S FORMER
COLLEAGUE AND LOTT -- WOULD HAVE TO KICK HIM
UNDER THE TABLE TO KEEP HIM FROM
SAYING SOMETHING HE MIGHT REGRET
LATER ON.
CONVENTION JUST NEVER SUITED HIM.
AND THE NATION AND OUR PARTY WAS
ALWAYS A LOT BETTER BECAUSE OF IT.
WE'LL MISS JACK'S INSISTENCE,
HIS PASSION, HIS ENERGY.
AND WE'LL MISS SEEING HIM, THE
BROAD SMILE, THE SNOW-WHITE
HAIR, PLOWING INTO A CROWD,
BOUNDING UP ON
HURLING AN IMAGINARY FOOTBALL
OFF INTO THE DISTANC
JACK WAS A HAPPY,
E-- EVANGELIST WITH IDEAS THAT
SHAPED THE NATION AND REVIVED A
POLITICAL PARTY.
HE BELIEVED THAT CONSERVATIVE
IDEAS WERE UNIVERSAL THAT, IF
THEY APPLIED TO ONE GROUP, THEY
APPLIED TO ALL GROUPS.
AND HE ROLLED UP HIS SLEEVES TO
PROVE IT, WHETHER AS A CANDIDATE
FOR VICE PRESIDENT, A CABINET
SECRETARY SPENDING THE NIGHT IN
A PHILADELPHIA HOUSING PROJECT
OR IN THESE LAST YEARS AS AN
ADVOCATE FOR MANY OF THE CAUSES
HE BELIEVED IN.
A SPEAKER, A WISE PARTY ELDER,
AND ABOVE ALL, A DEVOTED HUSBAND
TO HIS BELOVED JOANN, FATHER AND GRANDFATHE
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE SOMEONE OF
JACK'S ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM
SUCCOMBING TO ANYTHING.
HE WAS ALWAYS SO FULL OF LIFE,
THE VITAL CENTER OF EVERY ROOM
HE ENTERED AND EVERY DEBATE.
WE WILL MISS HIS PASSION.
WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL FOR HIS GOODNESS.
AND AS WE SAY OUR FINAL GOODBYE
TO JACK KEMP, WE'RE CONSOLED BY
THE THOUGHT THAT AFTER A PAINFUL
ILLNESS, HE HAS BROKEN AWAY NOW
LIKE A WIDE RECEIVER FROM THE
PACK INTO THE WELCOMING EMBRACE
OF A LOVING GOD.
MADAM PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WILL
THE SENATOR WITHHOLD HIS REQUEST?
MR. McCONNELL: I WITHHOLD MY
REQUEST. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE
STANDS ADJOURNEDNTIL