starttime 1275055211.42316
SENATE HERE ON CSPAN2.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
THE CHAPLAIN DR. BARRY BLACK
WILL LEAD THE SENATE IN PRAYER.
GOD OF OUR FOREBEARS, WHOSE
ALMIGHTY HANDS LEAD FORTH IN
BEAUTY ALL THE STARRY BANDS.
AS MEMORIAL DAY APPROACHES, WE
REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE MADE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICES FOR OUR
FREEDOM.
LORD, POUR YOUR RICHEST
BLESSINGS ON OUR SERVICE MEN AND
WOMEN AND THE MEMBERS OF THEIR
FAMILIES SURROUNDING THEM WITH
YOUR SHIELD OF PROTECTION.
TEACH US, LORD, THIS DAY THROUGH
ALL OUR EMPLOYMENTS TO SEE YOU
WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE
WHO LOVE YOU.
DELIVER OUR LAWMAKERS FROM ALL
DEJECTION OF SPIRIT AND FREE
THEIR HEARTS TO GIVE YOU
ZEALOUS, ACTIVE AND CHEERFUL
SERVICE.
MAY THEY VIGOROUSLY PERFORM
WHATEVER YOU COMMAND, THANKFULLY
ENDURING WHATEVER YOU
HAVE CHOSEN FOR THEM TO SUFFER.
GUARD THEIR DESIRES
SO THAT THEY WILL NOT DEVIATE
FROM THE PATH OF INTEGRITY.
WE PRAY IN YOUR GREAT
AMEN.
E PRESIDING OFFICER: PLEASE
JOIN ME IN RECITING THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION
UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
CLERK WILL READ A COMMUNICATION
TO THE SENATE.
THE CLERK: WASHINGTON, D.C.,
MAY 28, 2010.
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
RULE 1, PARAGRAPH 3,
OF THE STANDING RULES
OF THE SENATE,
I HEREBY APPOINT THE HONORABLE
MARK R. WARNER, A SENATOR FROM
THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE
CHAIR. SIGNED: ROBERT C. BYRD, PRESIDENT
PRO TEMPORE.
MR. REID:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
MR. REID: FOLLOWING LEADER
REMARKS, THE SENATE WILL BE IN A
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS.
SENATORS WILL BE ALLOWED TO
SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES EACH.
THERE WILL BE NO ROLL CALL VOTES
TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- OUR FIRST
VOTE WILL BE A WEEK FROM MONDAY
AT ABOUT 5:30.
WE WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF VOTES,
WE HOPE TWO OR THREE, BUT AT
LEAST WE'LL HAVE ONE.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE FINISHED A
VERY DIFFICULT BILL YESTERDAY,
THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
IT WAS TEDIOUS BUT IT WAS DONE
VERY WELL.
SENATORS INOUYE AND COCHRAN DID
AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
MEMBERS FROM BOTH SIDES WITH
STRONG FEELINGS WERE ABLE TO
COMPROMISE ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES
AND ALLOWED US TO FINISH THIS
BILL.
THE SAME THING HAPPENED, IT JUST
TOOK A LITTLE LONGER IN THE WALL
STREET REFORM BILL.
BOTH OF THOSE PIECES OF
LEGISLATION ARE NOW IN
CONFERENCE.
WE ARE GOI TO WAIT THE ACTION
OF THE HOUSE BEFORE WE CAN
DETERMINE THE DIRECTION OF WHAT
WE DO WITH THE EXTENDERS BILL,
THE JOBS BILL.
I WILL HAVE SOME MEETINGS DURG
THIS COMING WEEK TO DETERMINE
HOW WE WILL CHANGE THE BILL WE GET FROM THE HOUSE.
I THINK THE CHANGES SHOULD NOT
BE MAJOR, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME
CHANGES AND WE'LL HAVE TO WORK
THROUGH THAT.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE REPUBLICAN
LEADER.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS.
IT SHOULDN'T BE A LARGE NUMBER
OF AMENDMENTS, BUT WE NEED TO
WORK THROUGH THAT BECAUSE THE
NEXT WORK PERIOD IS RELATIVELY
SHORT.
WE HAVE NOT MANY SPEAKERS COMING
TODAY, SO THE SESSION SHOULD BE
RELATIVELY SHORT.
I WOULD ASK THE CHAIR TO
ANNOUNCE MORNING
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THE LEADERSHIP
TIME IS RESERVED.
THERE WILL NOW BE A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS WITH SENATORS
PERMITTED TO SPEAK THEREIN FOR
UP TO TEN
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
SENATOR UDALL OF NEW MEXIC BE
AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE
ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 5128.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM MISSISSIPPI.
A SENATOR: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE CALL FOR THE
QUORUM CALL BE B
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. WICKER: AND THAT I BE
ALLOWED TO SPEAK IN MORNING BUSINESS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. WICKER: MR. PRESIDENT, AND
MEMBERS OF THEENATE, YESTERDAY
THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE COMPLETED ITS MARKUP
OF THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL.
NORMALLY SENATORS ARE ASKED TO
WAIT FOR A PERIOD OF DAYS UNTIL
THE REPORT CAN BE ISSUED AND THE
SPECIFICS ARE MADE PUBLIC, BUT
THE CHAIRMAN YESTERDAY CLEARLY
UNDERSTOOD WHEN WE WERE -- WHEN
WE WERE FINISHED WITH BUSINESS
THAT THERE WERE TWO ITEMS
DEALING WITH SOCIAL POLICY THAT
WOULD BE WIDELY KNOWN
IMMEDIATELY, AND SO I SPEAK ON
THOSE TOPICS TODAY WITH THE
CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT THE
CHAIR KNOWS THAT THESE ITEMS
WILL BE TALKED ABOUT, AS AN
EXCEPTION TO THE GENERAL RULE.
YESTERDAY THE COMMITTEE, I
BELIEVE, MADE A VERY GRAVE
MISTAKE WITH REGARD TO THE
PROVISION INVOLVING A REPEAL OF
THE DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL
POLICY.
THIS HAD BEEN THE POLICY SINCE
THE DAYS OF THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION.
IT HAS WORKED REASONABLY WELL,
AND I AM OPPOSED TO THE REPEAL
OF THE DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL
POLICY.
BUT IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR,
SECRETARY GATES ANNOUNCED THAT A
SURVEY WOULD BE CONDUCTED WITH A
VIEW TOWARD ASSESSING WHETHER OR
NOT THIS POLICY SHOULD BE CHANGED.
THERE WAS A WORKING GROUP THAT
WAS GOING TO BE ESTABLISHED, A
SURVEY OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES WOULD BE
CONDUCTED, AND THIS SURY WOULD
REPORT -- THIS WORKING GROUP
WOULD REPORT THE RESULTS OF THIS
ASSESSMENT BY DECEMBER OF THIS
YEAR.
AT THAT POINT THE CONGRESS AND
THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT HOW
TODAY'S SERVICE MEMBERS AND
THEIR FAMILIES WOULD FEEL ABOUT
THE -- ABOUT A CHANGE WHICH
WOULD ALLOW GAYS AND LESBIANS TO
SERVE OPENLY IN THE MILITARY.
THIS WOULD OF COURSE BE A
DRAMATIC CHANGE, BUT THAT WAS THE POLICY.
A NUMBER OF US WERE SKEPTICAL
ABOUT IT, BUT THAT WAS THE
ANNOUNCED POLICY.
NOW, SOMEHOW IN THE LAST FEW
DAYS THAT HAS CHANGED, AND A
SO-CALLED COMPROMISE HAS BEEN
PUT FORWARD AND ADOPTED NOW BY
THE COMMITTEE AND APPARENTLY BY
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ALSO THAT WOULD SAY WHILE THE
ASSESSMENT IS GOING ON, WHICH,
AS I SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, TO END
IN DECEMBER THAT WE WOULD VOTE
IN THIS BILL THIS SUMMER,
POSSIBLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,
TO GO AHEAD AND REPEAL THE DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY AND THEN
TO ALLOW THE PRESIDENT, THE
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF
STAFF TO REVIEW THE ASSESSMENT
IN DECEMBER AND SEE WHETH
INDEED THE ENACTMENT OF THE
SENATE AND HOUSE SHOULD GO
FORWARD.
THIS SEEMS TO BE GETTING THE
CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SEVERAL
POINTS HERE.
THIS SO-CALLED COMPROMISE IS NOT
A COMPROMISE I.
IT IS EFFECT, FOR ALL INTENTS
AND PURPOSES, A REPEAL OF THE
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY.
GIVING THE PRESIDENT AND THE TWO
MILITARY PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST
ANSWERABLE TO HIM THE AUTHORITY
TO MAKE THIS DECISION AND
PRETEND THAT THEY MIGHT DECIDE
AGAINST IT IS A MOCKERY AND IT'S
A FIG LEAF.
DOES ANYONE DOUBT WHAT THEIR
DECISION WOULD BE?
AFTER ALL, THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES CAMPAIGNED THAT HE
WANTED TO DO AWAY WITH THE DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY.
NO QUESTION THAT HE FAVORS THIS.
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ANSWERS
DIRECTLY TO HIM.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS
OF STAFF ANSWERS DIRECTLY TO THE
PRIDENOF THE UNITED STATES.
IT'S FOOLHARDY FOR ANYONE IN THIS SENATE TO SUGGEST THAT
THERE WILL BE ANY DECISION OTHER
THAN THE REPEAL OF THE DON'T
ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY.
IT IS SAID THAT THESE THREE
PEOPLE WILL WAIT FOR THE
ASSESSMENT TO SEE WHAT MILITARY
MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES
THINK.
I THINK CONGRESS HAS THE
AUTHORITY TO DO THIS.
CONGRESS SHOULD WAIT FOR THE ASSESSMENT.
WE MIGHT BE SURPRISED.
WE MIGHT BE TROUBLED BY WHAT THE
ASSESSMENT SHOWS.
BUT IT IS, AS I SAID, A MOCKERY
TO MAKE THE DECISION NOW IN MAY
OR JUNE OR JULY AND THEN LOOK
FORWARD TO AN ASSESSMENT WHICH
IS DUE IN DECEMBER.
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
I WOULD ASK MY FELLOW MEMBERS,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHAT HAS CHANGED?
WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS SUDDEN
COMPROMISE OVER THE PAST
WEEKEND, ATTACHING THIS BIT OF
SOCIAL ENGINEERING TO THE
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
BILL, I THINK, FRANKLY, A LOT OF
AMERICANS, MR. PRESIDENT, ARE
GOING TO CONCLUDE THAT POLITICS CHANGED.
YOU CAN LOOK AT REAL CLEAR
POLITICS THAT ESTIMATES THAT
REPUBLICANS MAY GAIN SIX SEATS
IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
THAT WOULD BE BEFORE THE
DECEMBER ASSESSMENT IS DUE.
SOME PEOPLE SAY REPUBLICANS MAY
GAIN EIGHT TO TEN SEATS.
THAT WOULD CHANGE ATTITUDES
CONSIDERABLY WITH REGARD TO
DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL.
IT WOULD ALLOW THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES TO BE HEARD ON
THIS ISSUE.
AND I THINK AMERICANS ARE
JUSTIFIED IN CONCLUDING THAT
WITH THIS ELECTION LOOMING,
THAT'S WHAT CHANGED.
THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE
NATIONAL SECURITY NEEDS TO RUSH
THIS PROCESS AHEAD AND MAKE
TH-- GET THE CART BEFORE THE
HORSE AND MAKE THE DECISION
BEFORE THE ASSESSMENT IS MADE.
NOW, THE POINT OF VIEW OF THOSE
OF US IN THE COMMITTEE WHO VOTED
AGAINST THE LIEBERMAN AMENDMENT
YESTERDAY IS SUPPORTED BY THE
HEADS OF THE FOUR BRANCHES OF
OUR SERVICE.
THEY SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL PLAN
OF SECRETARY GATES ANNOUNCED IN
FEBRUARY TO DO AN ASSESSMENT AND
THEN TO MAKE A DECISION BAS ON
WHAT WE FIND OUT IN THE
ASSESSMENT.
HERE'S A LETTER DATED MAY 26,
2010, TO SENATOR JOHN McCAIN
FROM GEORGE CASEY, GENERAL
UNITED STATES ARMY, THE CHIEF OF
STAFF OF THE ARMY.
IN THIS, HE SAYS TO SENATOR
McCAIN THAT HIS VIEWS HAVE NOT
CHANGED SINCE HIS TESTIMONY.
AND I QUOTE DIRECTLY -- "I
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE REVIEW
AND TIME LINE OFFERED BY
SECRETARY GATES.
I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT IT IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO GET A
BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE
OUR SOLDIERS AND FAMILIES ARE ON
THIS ISSUE."
YESTERDAY, IN THEIR WISDOM,
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE DECIDED THAT THEY KNEW
BETTER THAN OUR SOLDIERS AND OUR
FAMILIES.
GENERAL CASEY SAID WE NEED TO
KNOW WHETHER THIS IMPACTS ON
READINESS AND UNIT COHESION.
HE CONCLUDES BY SAYING, "I ALSO
BELIEVE THAT REPEALING THEAW
BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF THE
REVIEW WILL BE SEEN BY THE MEN
AND WOMEN OF THE ARMY AS A
REVERSAL OF OUR COMMITMENT TO
HEAR THEIR VIEWS BEFORE MOVING
FORWARD."
ADMIRAL GARY RUFFHEAD, THE CHIEF
OF NAVAL OPERATIONS IN A LETTER
TO SENATOR McCAIN DATED MAY 26
SAYS, AMONG OTHER THINGS --
QUOTE -- "I
FEBRUARY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THAT
BEGAN IN MARCH.
AND IS NOW WELL UNDER WAY WITHIN
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
WE NEED THIS REVIEW TO FULLY
ASSESS OUR FORCE AND CAREFULLY
EXAMINE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF A
CHANGE IN THIS LAW.
THE MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
SERVICES COMMITTEE MR. PRESIDENT, YESTERDAY SAID
NO, WE DISAGREE WITH ADMIRAL
RUFFHEAD, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.
WE DON'T NEED THIS REVIEW.
WE AS THE ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 50 STATES
ARE GOING TO PUNT THAT DECISION
TO SOMEONE WHOSE MIND IS ALREADY
MADE UP.
THE ADMIRAL GOES ON TO SAY, "I
HAVE SPOKEN WITH SAILORS AND
FELLOW FLAG OFFICERS ALIKE ABOUT
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONDUCTING THE
REVIEW IN A THOUGHTFUL AND
DELIBERATE MANNER.
IN THIS QUICK REVERSAL THAT
OCCURRED JUST YESTERDAY IN THE
ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, WE
ABANDONED THE THOUGHTFUL REVIEW.
NOW, GENERAL JAMES T. CONWAY,
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS,
SAID TO SENATOR McCAIN IN A
LETTER OF 2010, "DURING
TESTIMONY I SPOKE OF THE
CONFIDENCE I HAD AS A SERVICE
CHIEF IN THE D.O.D. WORKING
GROUP THAT SECRETARY GATES LAID
OUT IN THE WAKE OF PRESIDENT
OBAMA'S GUIDANCE ON DON'T ASK,
DON'T TELL.
I FELT THAT AN ORGANIZED AND
SYSTEMATIC APPROACH ON SUCH AN
IMPORTANT ISSUE WAS PRECISELY
THE WAY TO DEVELOP THE BEST
MILITARY ADVICE."
HE GOES ON TO SAY, "I ENCOURAGE
THE CONGRESS TO LET THE PROCESS
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CREATED
RUN ITS COURSE.
THE COMMANDANT OF -- RUN ITS COURSE."
THE COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
FINALLY A LETTER BY NORTON A.
SCHWARZ, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE
AIR FORCE, SAYS, "MY POSITION
REMAINS THAT D.O.D. SHOULD
CONDUCT A REVIEW THAT CAREFULLY
INVESTIGATES AND EVALUATES THE
FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, THE
POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS, THE
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS AND
POTENTIAL MITIGATIONS TO
REPEALING THIS LAW."
ALL FOUR OF OUR SERVICE HEADS
WERE EXPLICIT IN ASKING THE
COMMITTEE TO LET THE PROCESS
CONTINUE, AND YET IN OUR WISDOM,
WITH AN ELECTION LOOMING, THE
COMMITE VOTED WITH A MAJORITY
VOTE TO GO AHEAD AND SAY WE
REALLY DON'T CARE TO HEAR WHAT
THE ASSESSMENT SAID.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO LET THREE
PEOPLE MAKE THAT DECISION ON
THEIR OWN.
I HAVE THIS QUESTION FOR MEMBERS
OF THE SENATE WHO WILL BE ASKED
TO VOTE ON THIS AFTER THE BREAK.
WHAT IF THE ASSESSMENT COMES
BACK AND SAYS THAT SOLDIERS AND
MARINES IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
ARE NOT WILLING TO CONTINUE IN A
VOLUNTARY SERVICE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS?
WHAT IF THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE
ASSESSMENT, THAT IT WILL BE TOO
LATE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE
HOUSE AND SENATE TO MAKE A
CHANGE IN THIS POLICY?
THE TIME TO TAKE A PAUSE AND THE
TIME TO SEE WHAT OUR MEMBERS
ACTUALLY THINK IS NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN FORCE THIS ON
THE SERVICES, BUT IN A VOLUNTARY
ARMED FORCE, WE CANNOT FORCE
MEMBERS TO ENLIST.
WE CANNOT FORCE MARINES WHO ARE
PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE
AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE AND FOR OUR
FREEDOM AND FOR THE SECURITY OF
ALL AMERINS, WE CAN'T FORCE
THEM TO RE-ENLIST WHEN THEIR
TIME IS UP.
WE NEED TO KNOW IF THEY ARE
GOING TO BE WILLING TO STAY IN
THE SERVICE AND TO MAKE THAT
COMMITMENT AND TO PUT THEMSELVES
IN HARM'S WAY UNDER THIS VERY
DRASTIC, DRAMATIC CHANGE.
WE SHOULD NOT SUBSTITUTE OUR
JUDGMENT FOR WHAT THE MEMBERS OF
THE SERVICE AND THEIR FAMILIES
THINK.
AND I -- I REGRET THAT WE HAVE
GONE THIS FAR AND REGRET THE
ACTION OF THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.
THERE IS ONE OTHER ISSUE THAT --
THAT WAS REGRETTABLY VOTED ON IN
THE AFFIRMATIVE BY THE COMMITTEE
YESTERDAY, AND THAT'S WITH
REGARD T ABORTION POLICY.
SINCE 1996, WE HAVE HAD A POLICY
THAT ABORTIONS -- ELECTIVE
ABORTIONS WILL NOT BE PERFORMED
ON OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
THIS IS A POLICY THAT WAS PASSED
BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND
SIGNED INTO LAW BY A DEMOCRATIC
PRESIDENT, BY PRESIDENT CLINTON.
AND FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS, IT
HAS BEEN OUR POLICY THAT
ELECTIVE ABORTIONS WILL NOT BE
PERFORMED IN OUR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
THE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY DECIDED
TO REVERSE THIS LONG-STANDING
POLI AND TO SAY THAT INDEED
ABORTIONS, FOR WHATEVER REASON,
WILL BE PERFORMED IN THESE
FACILITIES THAT ARE PAID FOR BY
TAXPAYER EXPENSE THAT ARE THERE
FOR THE CARE OF OUR SERVICE
MEMBERS TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND
TO REPAIR THEIR INJURIES.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE
FACILITIES FOR ELECTIVE
ABORTIONS.
IF THIS AMENDMENT STANDS -- AND
I GUARANTEE YOU IT WILL BE
CHALLENGED ON THE FLOOR OF THE
HOUSE AND SENATE, WITH SEPARATE
AMENDMENTS.
MEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE
TO VOTE ON THIS SEPARATE ISSUE.
BUT IF THIS STANDS, OUR MILITARY
INSTALLATIONS, FORT BRAGG,
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, KIESLER
AIR FORCE BASE IN MY HOME STATE
OF MISSISSIPPI, THEIR MEDICAL
FACILITIES WILL BE ABLE TO BE
USED FOR ABORTIONS PERFORMED
LATE TERM, ABORTIONS PERFORMED
FOR PURPOSES OF SEX SELECTI,
ABORTIONS PERFORMED FOR ANY REASON.
ABORTION AT WILL WILL BE THE
REQUIREMENT FOR OUR MILITARY
INSTALLATIONS AND THE MEDICAL
FACILITIES ON THOSE
INSTALLATIONS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER PIECE OF SOCIAL
ENGINEERG, ANOTHER VAST AND
SERIOUS AND CONSEQUENTIAL
DEPARTURE FROM LONG-STANDING
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY.
I REGRET THESE TWO POSITIONS.
I CALL ON MY COLLEAGUES,
MR. PRESIDENT, DURING THIS
MEMORIAL DAY BREAK WHEN WE'RE
TALKING TO THOSE WHO HAVE
SERVED, PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S
WAY, WE'RE TALKING TO THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE WHO
PROVIDED -- WHO HAVE GIVEN THE
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, THAT WE
SERIOUSLY CONSIDER WHETHER THE
COMMITTEE HAS MADE THE RIGHT
DECISION, AND THAT WE COME BACK
TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH A
DETERMINATION TO REVERSE THESE
TWO VERY HARMFUL AND, IN MY
VIEW, MISTAKEN ACTIONS BY THE
ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT, I WISH MY FRIEND, THE
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE
SENATE, A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS
MEMORIAL DAY, AND I
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE PRESIDIN
WILL CALL THE
QUORUM CALL:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
MR. REED: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
QUORUM BE DISPENSED WITH.
THE
OBJECTION.
MR. REED: THANK YOU.
MR. PRESIDENT, IN MARCH, MY
STATE WAS HIT BY BACK-TO-BACK
HISTORIC FLOODS THAT COST
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF DAMAGE IN RHODE ISLAND.
I WANT TO THANK THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE,
SENATOR INOUYE, AND THE RANKING
MEMBER, SENATOR COCHRAN, AND MY
COLLEAGUES ON THE COMMITTEE ESPECIALLY WHO HAVE RECOGNIZED
THE NEEDS OF RHODE ISLAND IN THE
APPROPRIATIONS BILL WE RECENTLY
COMPLETED.
WE ARE STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME
THE EFFECTS OF THE WORST
FLOODING IN CENTURIES IN THE
MIDST OF THE WORST ECONOMIC
ENVIRONMENT WE'VE SEENINCE THE 1930'S.
INDEED, RHODE ISLAND WAS AMONG
THE FIRST STATES TO SINK INTO
THIS LATEST RECESSION.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS RHODE
ISLAND HAS CONSISTENTLY RANKED
AMONG THE TOP THREE STATES IN
UNEMPLOYMENT, WITH AS MANY AS
13% OF OUR WORKFORCE WITHOUT
JOBS.
BY THE LATEST ESTIMATES, 12.5%
OF THE STATE IS OUT OF WORK, AND
THIS IS NOT INCLUDING THE JOBS
THAT HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE
FLOODI.
OUR MAJOR COMMERCIAL MALL IN
WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, HAS BEEN
CLOSED SINCE MARCH.
HUNDREDS, PERHAPS EVEN 1,000 OR
MORE JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST.
THEY ARE RAPIDLY TRYING TO
REOPEN THIS FACILITY UNDER THE
INCREDIBLE LEADERSHIP OF THE
OWNER, ARREST RAN GARABIANIN.
BUT TODAY WE'VE OPENED ONE
STORE.
SOON WE HOPE TO OPEN ANOTHER.
FOR THOSE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE,
THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS AND
ARE WAITING TO GO BACK TO WORK.
THE REACH OF THE FLOOD WAS
WIDESPREAD, COVERING EVERY
COUNTY OF THE STAEUFPLT IN THE
SPACE OF TWO WEEKS, THERE WERE
RIVERS THAT WENT ABOVE FLOOD STAGE.
INTERSTATE 9 5, THE MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH ROUTE IN THE
NORTHEAST OF THIS COUNTRY, WAS
CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS.
IT'S NEVER BEEN CLOSED FOR THAT
LENGTH OF TIME.
THE LAST TIME I CAN RECL IT
BEING CLOSED WAS IN 1978 DURING
A HUGE BLIZZARD WHICH SHUT DOWN
TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT A DAY OR SO.
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND FEMA ISSUED
MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATIONS FOR
THE ENTIRE STATE, AND I THANK
THE PRESIDENT.
HE MOVED VERY QUICKLY AND VERY
AGGRESSIVELY.
AND I THANK FEMA ALSO.
THEY DISPATCHED IMMEDIATELY
THEIR DEPUTY FOR DISASTER OPERATIONS.
THEY HAD ON THE GROUND WITHIN,
IT SEEMED, HOURS KEY PERSONNEL
WHO WERE THERE.
AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO
RECOGNIZE GRACIA CZECH, AN
INCREDIBLE WOMAN WHO, FRANKLY,
LEFT RHODE ISLAND TO BE SENT
DOWN TO THE NEXT GREAT FLOOD IN
TENNESSEE.
SENATOR ALEXANDER AND SENATOR
CORKER HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THEIR
PROBLEMS.
SO I WANT TO THANK BOTH THE
PRESIDENT AND FEMA FOR AN
INCREDIBLE RESPONSE.
BUT WHAT YOU FIND IN A FLOOD
LIKE THIS -- AND ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE BEEN SUBJECT
TO THEM -- FRANKLY, THIS IS A
PHENOMENON USUALLY FOUND IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
BUT WHAT YOU FIND IN A FLOOD IS
THE WATER RECREEDS, THE SUN --
THE WATER RECEDES BUT THE DAMAGE REMAINS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 2,000 HOUSEHOLDS
STILL NOT ABLE TO LIVE IN THEIR HOMES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS
CAUSED TREMENDOUS SHOCK TO OUR
ECONOMY AND TO OUR WORKFORCE AND
TO THE PEOPLE OF RHODE ISLAND.
AFTER TWO MONTHS, HOMEOWNERS AND
BUSINESSES IN MUCH OF THE STATE
ARE STILL STRUGGLING.
FLOODING CAUSED JOB LOSS IN MUCH
OF THE SECTORS.
I MENTION THE WARWICK MALL.
ACTUALLY IT APPEARS ABOUT 1,100
PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOB
BECAUSE OF THE SHUTDOWN OF THAT
COMMERCIAL CENTER.
HEALTH, EDUCATION, ARTS,
RECREATION, MANUFACTURING, ALL
EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT JOB LOSSES.
AS MY COLLEAGUES KNOW, RHODE
ISLAND HAS BEEN FORTUNATE FOR
MANY DECADES TO HAVE AIDED
THIS KIND OF NATURAL DISASTER,
PARTICULARLY FROM FLOODING.
THE LAST MAJOR NATURAL DISASTER
IN THE STATE WAS HURRICANE BOB
IN 1952.
IT ROARED UP AND IT HIT OUR
STATES LIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE
NORTHEAST AND WE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.
BUT IN THAT TIME WE'VE BEEN RATHER FORTUNATE.
BUT OUR FORTUNE RAN OUT WITH
THESE FLOODS THIS SPRING.
THERE'S BEEN NO QUESTION ABOUT
THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE OF
RHODE ISLAND OF MY COLLEAGUES
AND THIS DELEGATION WHEN THIS
TYPE OF DISASTER HITS ELSEWHERE.
THE MIDWEST FLOODING, KATRINA
AND LOUISIANA ALONG THE GULF
COAST, WE'RE THERE BECAUSE WE
KNOW, ONE, AMERICANS, OUR
NEIGHBORS, ARE SUFFERING.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE ALL HAVE TO
PULL TOGETHER AND HELP THEM.
AND WE ALSO KNOW TOO AND EXPECT
THAT WHEN IT HAPPENS IN OUR HOME
STATE THAT THAT SAME SPIRIT O
PULLING TOGETHER, OF HELPING
OUT, OF GETTING PEOPLE BACK IN
THEIR HOMES AND OPENING UP
BUSINESSES WOULD BE SOMETHING
WE'D EXPERIENCE AND WE'D SEE
TOO.
AND I'M GRATEFUL AGAIN IN THE
MIDST OF THIS CHALLENGING FISCAL
ENVIRONMENT THE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS HAS INCLUDED ASSISTANCE FOR
RHODE ISLAND AND FOR TENNESSEE.
THEY HAVE
RESPONDED AS THEY HAVE SO MANY
TIMES BEFORE TO THE NEEDS OF
PEOPLE WHO LOST HOMES, LOST JOBS.
ONE THING THEY DON'T WANT THEM
TO LOSE IS HE.
SO THEY STEPPED FORWARD TO
PROVIDE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY
TO BEGIN THE DIFFICULT TASK OF REBUILDING.
I WANT TO THANK, AGAIN, CHAIRMAN
INOUYE AND VICE CHAIRMAN COCHRAN
, GENTLEMEN OF
EXTRAORDINARY KINDNESS BUT
EXTRAORDINARY FAITHFULNESS TO
THE CORE VALUES OF THIS COUNTRY
AND ONE OF THE BASIC VALUES IS
WHEN DIFFICULT TIMES AFFECT
PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO LOOK AWAY.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO HELP THEM.
THEY HAVE DONE IT AGAIN FOR
RHODE ISLAND AND TENNESSEE.
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
TO RECOVERY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO
WORK WITH THE CHAIRMAN AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEES AS WE
GO FORWARD, BUT THEIR EFFORTS
WILL PROVIDE MEANINGFUL AND
MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THE PEOPLE
OF RHODE ISLAND, AND I THANK
THEM VERY MUCH.
NOW, THIS IS A MOMENT ALSO AS WE
REFLECT UPON THE DAMAGE CAUSED
BY THE FLOOD TO ONCE AGAIN
UNDERSCORE THE DAMAGE THAT HAS
BEEN CAUSED FOR NOW SEVERAL
YEARS BY AN ECONOMY THAT'S NOT
PRODUCING JOBS, IN FACT, UNTIL
VERY RECENTLY IN RHODE ISLAND
HAS BEEN CLAIMING JOBS.
FEW STATES, AS I MENTIONED
BEFORE, HAVE FELT THE IMPACT OF
THIS JOB LOSS MORE SEVERELY THAN
RHODE ISLAND.
IF WE FAIL TO ACT ON
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION BEFORE
JUNE 2 -- AND I AM SO DISAPPOINTED.
IT SEEMS, QUITE OBVIOUSLY, WE
WILL NOT ACT EFFECTIVELY --
WE'RE GOING TO ONCE AGAIN PUT
THOUSANDS OF RHODE ISLANDERS,
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR
WORK AND CAN'T FINDT IN
JEOPARDY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO AT
LEAST GET SOME UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.
ALL THE ECONOMIC ARGUMENTS ABOUT
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION ARE
OBVIOUS BUT BEAR REPEATING.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SORT OF
PROGRAMS THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR
WE INVEST, WE GET MORE IN TERMS
OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THE
COUNTRY.
SO IT IS PART OF OUR RECOVERY
PACKAGE AS WELL AS PART OF
KEEPING FAITH WITH PEOPLE WHO
HAVE WORKED HARD, PAID THEIR
DUES LITERALLY AND NOW ARE
LOOKING FOR THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM.
IN MARCH, THE SENATE PASSED ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS WITH SIX OF MY
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES AN EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS AS PART OF AN EARLY
EXTENDERS PACKAGE THROUGH THE
END OF THE YEAR, 62-36.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT EXTENSION AS IT
WAS THEN AND H BEEN IN THE
PAST, IT WAS UNPAID FOR.
IT WAS DEEMED EMERGENCY
SPENDING.
I FIND IT IRONIC AND INTERESTING
THAT WE CAN DEEM BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS AS AN EMERGENCY TO
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND,
FRANKLY,ART OF THAT SUPPORT IS
NOT SIMPLY TO BUY AMMUNITIONS
AND FUEL PRODUCTS AND HUMVEES
FOR AMERICAN TROOPS.
IT'S TO GIVE OUR COMMANDERS SURF
MONEY SO THEY CAN GO INTO THE
COMMUNITIES COMMUNITIES OF
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ AND PUT
PEOPLE TO WORK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GO BACK
TO RHODE ISLAND AND TELL PEOPLE
IT'S AN EMERGENCY TO PUT PEOPLE
IN ACCOUNTABLE TO WORK, PEOPLE
IN KANDAHAR TO WORK, PEOPLE IN
BASRA AND BAGHDAD TO WORK, BUT
IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY TO PUT
OPLE TO WORK IN BOISE, NOT AN
EMERGENCY TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK
IN KEELHOOK, IOWA, AND CERTAINLY
IN PLACES LIKE PRODENCE,
CRANSTON, ALL THROUGH MY STATE.
IT'S TRULY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE
ARE NOW AT THIS JUNCTURE IN A
POSITION WHERE THESE BENEFITS
FOR WHICH A LONG-TERM EXTENSION
HAS BEEN PASSED SEPARATELY IN
BOTH HOUSES WILL LAPSE.
THAT IS REGRETTABLE, TO SAY THE LEAST.
IN FACT, IT'S DEPLORABLE.
NOW, I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT WE WILL
AS IN THE PAST -- WHEN WE COME
BACK AFTER THIS MEMORIAL DAY
RECESS, WE'LL CRAFT AN EXTENSION.
I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO BE A
SHORT-TERM EXTENSION.
I'M AFRAID ONCE AGAIN,
THOUSANDS, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
ARE GOING TO BE LIVING MONTH TO
MONTH WITH AN OCEAN OF I HAVE
BENEFITS BUT HOW LONG CAN I KEEP
THEM?
THAT'S UN-- THAT UNCERTAINTY IS
WE CAN DO BETTER.
WE HAVE DONE IT INDIVIDUALLY BY EXTENDING BENEFITS AT LEAST
UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT.
IF WE DON'T EXTEND THEM AT LEAST
FOR A SHORT PERIOD, MILLIONS OF
UNEMPLOYED WORKERS WILL LOSE
BENEFITS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY,
INCLUDING 2,000 RHODE ISLANDERS.
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF LAST YEAR'S
RECOVERY ACT, I WOULD POINT OUT
THERE HAVE BEEN EIGHT
FILIBUSTERS OF LEGISLATION TO
EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
NOW, I THINK THE PEOPLE IN THIS
COUNTRY THAT NEED HELP,OT JUST
POINTLESS DEBATE, ARE THOSE WHO
ARE OUT OF WORK, LOOKING FOR IT
AND NEEDING THE SUPPORT OF
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT TO LAPSE
TWICE THIS YEAR.
THE WEEKS HAVE GONE BY AS THEY
WILL GO BY, UNFORTUNATELY, IN
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WHERE THERE
IS UNCERTAINTY AND DOUBT ABOUT
PAYMENTS BEING MAINTAINED.
NOW, I JUST THINK IT'S
OUTRAGEOUS THAT HAVING MY
COLLEAGUES ON THIS SIDE
REPEATEDLY APPROVE BUDGETS SENT
BY PRESIDENT BUSH THAT WERE
UNPAID FOR.
NOT EN AN ATTEMPT TO PAY FOR
THEM THAT PROVIDED TAX CUTS FOR
THE WEALTHIEST CITIZENS, THAT
CONDUCTED TWO MAJOR MILITARY CON
FLICTS WITHOUT PAYING FOR THEM
NOW SUDDENLY FEEL THEY HAVE TO
PAY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
FOR WORKERS IN AMERICA.
WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON THIS DEFICIT.
THAT'S CORRECT.
LET ME REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, WE
DID FOCUS ON
IN THE 1990'S WHEN I WAS A
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, WE FOCUSED
ON IT TO THE EXTENT THAT WE
REVERSED THE DEFICIT AND CREATED
A SURPLUS.
CRITICAL VOTES UNDER PRESIDENT
CLINTON WITHOUT ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, WHEN
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE RHETORIC BUT
IT'S ABOUT STANDING UP AND DOING
TOUGH THINGS TO ELIMINATE THE
DEFICIT, MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES
ON THE OTHER SIDE ARE MISSING IN ACTION.
WE CAN AND WE MUST REVERSE THIS DEFICIT.
IT WILL TAKE DIFFICULT VOTES,
NOT RHETORIC ALONE.
BUT AT THIS JUNCTURE TO ONCE
AGAIN ENGAGE IN RHETORICAL
DEBATE RATHER THAN ACTIVELY
HELPING OUR COUNTRYMEN AND OUR
CONSTITUENTS IS MISSING THE
POINT.
I THINK WE HAVE TO GO FORWARD.
I THINK WE MUST GO FORWARD TO
PROVIDE THESE SHORT-TM
BENEFITS, AND TO DO IT IN A WAY
THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR
HISTORY AND OUR VALUES.
WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH, YES, WE'VE
ALWAYS TALKED AUT THE DEFICIT
AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT WE HAVE
REACHED OUT AND HELPED OUR
CITIZENS WHO NEED THIS KIND OF HELP.
CONGRESS HAS NEVER ENDED
EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS,
THOSE BENEFITS THAT ARE NOT PAID
FOR UNTIL UNEMPLOYMENT HAS
DECLINED TO AT LEAST 7.4%.
IN THIS NATION, IN RHODE ISLAND,
AT LEAST, IT'S 12.5%.
WE HAVE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO
BEFORE WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE
WE CAN TALK ABOUT A
SELF-CORRECTING ECONOMY.
AND IF YOU LOOK
THROUGH EVERY ADMINISTRATION,
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCTS, WHEN
WE HAD UNEMPLOYMENT AT THIS
LEVEL AFFECTING SO MANY
AMERICANS, AFFECTING NOT JUST
THEIR WALLETS BUT THEIR FUTURE
AND THEIR HOPES FOR A FUTURE, W
HAVE EXTENDED ALMOST
AUTOMATICALL EMERGENCY
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
THE RATE TODAY IS 9.9%
NATIONALLY, 12.5% IN RHODE
ISLAND.
WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE
WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT THIS
UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS AS SOMETHING
OF THE PAST.
WE NEED TO EXPAND UNEMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS, AT LEAST THROUGH THE
END OF THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE GOT TO DO IT BECAUSE WE
NEED TO HELP PEOPLE AND GIVE
THEM THE CERTAINTY OF THAT HELP.
WE HAVE TO MOVE.
WE HAVE TO ACT.
IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT
WE WILL DO, AND I THINK WE
SHOULD DO IT NOW.
I THINK WE SHOULD PUT ASIDE THE
POSTURING AND EXTEND BENEFITS
AND THEN GET ON TO THE REALLY DIFFICULT WORK.
NOT JUST THE EASY TALK BUT THE
DIFFICULT WORK OF DEFICIT REDUCTION.
I'VE DONE THAT WORK.
I HAVE LISTENED TO COMPLAINTS IN
CAMPAIGNS REPEATEDLY ABOUT TOUGH
VOTES WE TOOK IN THE 1990'S.
BUT BECAUSE WE TOOK THOSE TOUGH
VOTES, BY 2000 WE HAD AN ECONOMY
THAT WAS PRODUCING JOBS, NOT LOSING THEM.
WE HAD A BUDGET THAT WAS IN
SURPLUS, NOT IN DEFICIT.
WE HAD THE WHEREWITHAL TO MAKE
INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION, IN
ENERGY, IN HEALTH CARE THAT
WOULD MAKE US EVEN MORE
PRODUCTIVE AND MORE SUCCESSFUL
AND MORE EQUITABLE IN TERMS OF
THE BENEFITS OF THIS COUNTRY.
BUT MANY OF THE SAME PEOPLE THAT
ARE NOW TALKING ABOUT THE
DEFICIT SORT OF CAVALIERLY SAID
LET'S CUT TAXES FOR THE RICH.
LET'S ENGAGE IN A MILITARY --
MILITARY OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT
PAID FOR.
AND SO FROM 2000-2008, THE
ECONOMY COLLAPSED, THE DEFICIT
SOARED, OPPORTUNITIES NARROWED,
UNEMPLOYMENT GREW.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S COINCIDENCE.
LET'S GET BACK T BUSINESS.
LET'S FIRST GIVE PEOPLEHO NEED
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, GIVE THEM
THOSE BENEFITS AND LET'S TAKE
THOSE TOUGH SPS.
AND IT WON'T BE EASY TO REDUCE
THE DEFICIT.
DON'T USE THE DEFICIT AS AN
EXCUSE TO BREAK FAITH WITH THE
AMERICAN PUBLIC.
AND ONE ARTICLE OF FAITH IS WHEN
WE HAVE UNEMPLOYMENT LEVELS THAT
ARE OVER 10% OR AT LEAST 10%
NATIONALLY, WE HAVE NEVER FAILED
TO EXTEND IN A ROUTINE FASHION
EMERGENCY UNEMPLOYMENT
COMPENSATION.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO WHEN WE GET BACK,
AND I'M SORELY DISAPPOINT THAD
WE COULD NOT CONCLUDE THIS WORK
BEFORE WE LEFT.
I WOULD YIELD THE FLOOR A
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE
QUORUM CALL:
MR. SESSIONS: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM ALABAMA.
MR. SESSIONS: I WOULD ASK THAT
THE QUORUM CALL BE
WITH. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION. MR. SESSIONS: MR. PRESIDENT,
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF VOTES THIS
WEEK, INCLUDING ONE LAST NIGHT
IN THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE,
CONCERNING WHETHER OR NOT TO
UTILIZE THE NATIONAL GUARD TO
CONFRONT THE RAGING ILLEGALITY
THAT'S OCCURRING PARTICULARLY IN
THE ARIZONA, TUCSON SECTOR.
IT IS A NATIONAL CRISIS.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FULLY
UNDERSTAND THAT.
PRESIDENT OBAMA ANNOUNCED WITH
SOME FANFARE THAT HE WOULD SEND
1,200 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO
THE BORDER.
AND TO SOME, THAT MAY HAVE
SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD THING.
AND I GUESS IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A
BAD THING.
BUT THE TRUTH IS PRESIDENT BUSH
HAD 6,000 AT THE BORDER AT ONE
POINT, AND THEY MADE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
THE IMMIGRATION AND BORDER
PATROL PEOPLE WERE VERY
COMPLIMENTARY OF THE NATIONAL
GUARD.
THEY REPEATEDLY STATED HOW MUCH
IT HELPED THEM DO THEIR JOB.
AND SINCE THAT PERIOD OF TIME, A
LOT OF DEVELOPMENTS HAVE
OCCURRED ON THE BORDER THAT HAVE
PUT US IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION
TO BE EFFECTIVE IN ENDING THIS
MASSIVE ILLEGALITY THAN HAD BEEN
THE CASE PREVIOUSLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE COME CLOSE
NOW TO COMPLETING THE FENCING
THAT WAS MANDATED BY CONGRESS,
AND PRESIDENT BUSH RELUCTANTLY
GOT STARTED WITH DOING THAT, AND
HE WENT AHEAD, AND MUCH OF IT
HAS BEEN COMPLETED NOW.
WE STILL NEED SOME MORE FENCING.
BUT THAT HAS REALLY MULTIPLIED
THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
IN ADDITION, THE OPERATION
STREAMLINE CONCEPT THAT HAD
BEGUN UNDER THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION IN CERTAIN
SECTORS OF THE BORDER ARE
WORKING SUPERBLY AND BEING VERY
VALUABLE.
OTHER STEPS HAVE BEE TAKEN,
INCLUDING INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF BORDERATROL AGENTS WE
AUTHORIZED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
THEY'RE JUST NOW COMING ON LINE
AND HAVING BEEN TRAINED, AND SO
WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE AT THE BORDER.
THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEING
ARRESTED AT THE BORDER REMAINS
UNACCEPTABLE, BUT IT IS BETTER
THAN IT HAS BEEN.
THE NUMBERS ARE DOWN, AND IN
SOME SECTIONS THEY'RE DOWN
DRAMATICALLY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE TUCSON
SECTOR, ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE WERE
ARRESTED LAST YEAR -- EXCUSE
ME -- IN THE YUMA SECTOR OF
ARIZONA, ABOUT 5,000 PEOPLE WERE
ARRESTED AT THE BORDER TRYING TO
ENTER THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.
THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT -- AND
IT IS A LOT -- BUT IT IS MUCH
LESS THAN HAS BEEN SO IN THE PAST.
BUT IN THE TUCSON SECTOR, WHERE
WE DON'T HAVE THE FENCING AND WE
DON'T HAVE THE OPERATION
STREAMLINE IN EFFECT, 240,000
WERE ARRESTED LAST YEAR, A
STUNNING NUMBER.
OVER A MILLION POUNDS OF
MARIJUANA ARE SEIZED AS PART OF
THAT ENFORCEMENT EFFORT IN THE
TUCSON SECTOR.
AND IT'S IN THAT -- THAT IS WHAT
HAS CAUSED SUCH A PUSH BACK BY
THE GOOD PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.
SO T PRESIDENT AND WASHINGTON
SAYS WELL, IT'S OUR JOB TO END
ILLEGALITY AT THE BORDER.
YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE NO JURISDICTION.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO
ANYTHING, WHICH IS NOT CORRECT
LEGALLY.
I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH ON THAT.
A LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
CAN STOP AND DETAIN -- HE CAN
DETAIN A PERSON THAT HE
IDENTIFIES AS BEING IN THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AND TURN THEM
OVER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
R THE CRIME OF ENTERING THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AND FOR THE
CRIME OF ANY OER
OFFENSE THAT THEY ASCERTAIN.
THIS IS CLASSICAL LAW, AND IT'S
WELL RECOGNIZED, AND THERE'S
JUST NO DISPUTEBOUT IT.
BUT THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA
RIGHTLY HAVE JUST GOTTEN A BELLY FULL.
THEIR HOSPITALS ARE BEING OVERRUN.
CRIME IS UP.
PHOENIX IS NOW THE
SECOND-LEADING KIDNAPPING CENTER
IN THE WORLD.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SECOND
MEXICO CITY IN KIDNAPPINGS APPARENTLY.
SO IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
IT IS A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND IT'S THE PRESIDENT'S
RESPONSIBILITY, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES IS THE CHIEF
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
THE ICE AGENTS, BORDER PATROL
AGENTS, HOMELAND SECURITY, THE
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT ARE UNDER THE
EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF WHICH THE
PRESIDENT IS THE HEAD.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I MADE A SPEECH BEFORE THE LAST
ELECTION AND WENT INTO DETAIL
ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO END
THE ILLEGALITY OF THE BORDER.
AND IT'S NOT HARD.
IT CAN BE DONE.
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE
PRESIDENT COMMITTED.
CONGRESS CAN PASS LAWS AND WE
CAN SEND MONEY AND THAT KIND OF
THING AND FORCE IT ON THE
DEPARTMENT, BUT IF THEY'RE NOT
WILLING TO UTILIZE IT AND TO
APPLY IT IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY,
THEN WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS.
THEY CAME UP
HAVING A VIRTUAL FENCE, MAYBE WE
WANT -- WE'RE NOW SPENDING $1
BILLION TO CREATE THIS VIDEO
SYSTEMS AND ALL OF THAT, AND IT
DIDN'T WORK.
BUT YOU BUILD A FENCE WITH A
GOOD RESPONSE TIME FROM BORDER
PATROL AGENTS, MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
GO TO YUMA IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANS.
I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THE
PRESIDENT NEEDS TO LEAD.
WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT TO HAPPEN?
I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THE NORMAL
NATURAL THING IS THAT THE
PRESIDENT WOULD COME TO
CONGRESSES AND SAY, LOOK, THE
BORDERS ARE WIDE OPEN.
WE'VE GOT 240,000 PEOPLE
ARRESTED IN ARIZONA ALONE IN THE
TUCSON SECTOR.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
I NEED A, B, C, AND D, CONGRESS.
GIVE IT TO ME, AND WE'LL END
THIS.
HE SHOULD BE TELLING US WHAT HE
NEEDS UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU
VE NO REAL DESIRE TO END
ILLEGALITY, WHICH IS THE CASE. WHY?
BECAUSE OF POLITICS APPARENTLY
AND SOME PROMISE, IT SEEMS TO
ME, MUST HAVE BEEN MADE
SOMEWHERE IN THIS LAST CAMPAIGN
THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO
ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT AT THE
BORDER UNTIL THOSE PEOPLE IN
CONGRESS GIVE US AMNESTY.
THAT'S WHAT COMPREHENSIVE IS IN
THE MINDS OF THE PRO-IMMIGRATION
CROWD, IS THAT WE USE -- WE SAY
WE WON'T FIX THE BORDER UNTIL
YOU AGREE TO GIVE US AMNESTY.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
SEEN THAT BEFORE.
THAT DOESN'T WK.
WE DID THAT IN 1986.
IF YOU DON'T END THE ILLEGALITY
AND YOU GRANT AMNESTY, THIS
SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE
WORLD.
WHAT MESSAGE IS IT THAT IT SENDS?
IF YOU CAN GET INTO THE UNITED
STATES, YOU CAN BURROW IN A
LITTLE BIT AND HOLD ON, PRETTY
SOON YOU'RE GOING TO GET AMNESTY TOO.
YOU COME IN, YOU GET TO WORK,
NOBODY COMPLAINS IF YOU'RE
WORKING, AND YOU HANG ON AND
HANG ON, AND YOU GET YOUR
AMNESTY.
THIS EVISCERATES THE AMERICAN
LEGAL SYSTEM.
IT JUST MAKES A MOCKERY OF LAW.
IT SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE
WORLD, COME ON DOWN, COME ON
INTO OUR COUNTRY, AND YOU CAN,
YOU CAN -- WE'LL WELCOME YOU AND
EVENTUALLY WE'LL MAKE YOU A
CITIZEN.
THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO COME
LAWFULLY, WELL, IT TAKES --
YOU'VE GOT TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK
AND YOU'VE GOT TO WAIT.
AND IF YOU'VE GOT A RELATIVE
WITH THE RIGHT DEGREE, YOU CAN
GET IN.
BUT IF YOU GRADUATED THE TOP OF
YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CLASS IN
HONDURAS AND YOU LEARNED ENGLISH
AND YOU'VE GOT A YEAR OF COLLEGE
NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE A RELATIVE
OR WHATEVER, YOU CAN'T GET IN
UNLESS OF COURSE YOU COME IN AND
ENTER ILLEGALLY.
THIS IS A DYSFUNCTIONAL LEGAL
SYSTEM.
WE CONTINUE TO SEE THESE THINGS
DEVELOP THAT INDICATE TO ME THAT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THEIR
VIEWS, WHICH ARE SO SOUND AND SO
REASONABLE, THEY JUST WANT A
LAWFUL SYSTEM OF IMMIGRATION.
THEY'RE NOT AGAINST IMMIGRATION.
THEY'RE NOT AGAINST IMMIGRANTS,
BUT THEY'RE TIRED OF THIS
MASSIVE ILLEGALITY.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT
BEING LISTENED TO BY THE POLITICIANS.
THE POLITICIANS HAVE -- ARE
SAYING THINGS THAT ARE INCORRECT.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID HE CARES
ABOUT WORKPLACE ENFORCEMENT, BUT
WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER HE
TOOK OFFICE?
APPARENTLY A RAID PLANNED MAYBE
BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE IN WASHINGTON STATE OF A COMPANY
THAT HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF
ILLEGAL WORKERS THERE OCCURRED
WHAT
THE ANTI -- THE PRO-IMMIGRATION
CROWD, THE LA RAZA, THE
ACTIVISTS, THEY ALL WENT UP IN
ARMS.
BASICALLY YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAID?
THEY BASICALLY SAID YOU PROMISED
US YOU WOULDN'T DO THIS,
MR. PRESIDENT.
NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.
SO I THOUGHT WE HAD ALL THE
CANDIDATES SAYING WE NEED TO DO
BETTER ENFORCEMENT IN THE
WORKPLACE.
THE JOBS MAGNET DOES ATTRACT
PEOPLE INTO OUR COUNTRY.
BUT DID THEY HAVE A SECRET
AGREEMENT SOMEWHERE?
AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?
SECRETARY NAPOLITANO SAID SHE
WAS GOING TO HAVE AN
INVESTIGATION AND GET TO THE
BOTTOM OF IT.
WAS SHE INVESTIGATING THE
COMPANY THAT HAD HIRED PEOPLE
ILLEGALLY? NO.
SHE WAS INVESTIGATING THE I.C.E.
AGENTS WHO CONDUCTED THE RAID.
YOU THINK THAT DIDN'T SEND A
MESSAGE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
UNITED STATES WHAT THIS
ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY IS ABOUT
AGGRESSIVE WORK SITE ENFORCEMENT?
THAT WAS THE POLICY OF THE
UNITED STATES ESTABLISHED AT THAT POINT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT IN ANY
EFFECTIVE WAY.
IT'S INDISPUTABLE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.
WELL,HIS KIND OF DUPLICITY IS
GOING TO COME HOME TO ROOST.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT
GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT UP WITH
IT, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO
VOTED AGAINST SENATOR McCAIN'S
AMENDMENT TO PUT 6,000 PEOPLE ON
THE NATIONAL -- NATIONAL GUARD
ON THE BORDER TO END THIS
VIOLENCE AND ILLEGALITY THAT'S
OCCURRING AND THREATENING THE
VERY VIABILITY OF THE STATE OF
ARIZONA, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO,
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER
FOR THOSE VOTES.
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL
ABOUT.
WELL, ALL OF WHICH LEADS ME TO
AN ARTICLE, I GUESS, YESTERDAY
AND A REPORT FROM WASHINGTON.
THIS IS WHAT THE NEWS ARTICLE
SAYS, "U.S. NATIONAL GUARD
TROOPS BEING SENT TO THE BORDER
WILL BE USED TO STEM THE FLOW OF
GUNS AND DRUGS ACROSS THE
FRONTIER AND NOT TO ENFORCE U.S.
IMMIGRATION LAWS, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAID YESTERDAY."
WELL, YOU KNOW, FOOL ME ONCE,
SHAME ON YOU.
FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME.
SO I THOUGHT THE PRESIDENT WAS
SAYING HE WAS SENDING 1,200
TROOPS TO THE BORDER TO HELP END
LOWELLITY AT THE BORDER.
BUT OH, NO, THEY'RE NOT DOING THAT.
WE WANT TO BE SURE EVERYBODY
UNDERSTANDS IT'S ONLY GOING TO
BE FOR GUNS AND DRUGS.
WHO DO THEY WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS?
DO THEY WANT THE MEEMP
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IT?
I DON'T THINK SO.
THE NEXT SENTENCE IN THE
ARTICLE, AND I QUOTE FROM IT --
HE CLARIFICATION CAME AFTER
THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT URGED
WASHINGTON NOT TO USE THE TROOPS
TO GO AFTER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS,"
CLOSE QUOTE.
PHILLIP CROWLEY, A STATE
DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON, A FLAK
FROM THE ESTATE DEPARTMENT, TOLD
REPORTERS -- QUOTE -- "IT'S NOT
ABOUT IMMIGRATION" -- CLOSE
QUOTE.
"WE HAVE EXPLAINED THE
PRESIDENT'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO AND THEY
TRULY UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE
BEHIND IT, MR. CROWELEY SAID.
OBAMA'S ANNOUNCEMENT CAME LESS
THAN A WEEAFTER A STATE VISIT
TO WASHINGTON BY MEXICAN
PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON WHO
ASKED FOR GREATER U.S. BACKING
ON DRUG CARTELS."
WELL, I MEAN, WHO ARE WE
REPRESENTING HERE, MR. CALDERON
AND THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT OR
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
IS THIS ANOTHER FLIMFLAM VIEW?
I'M AFRAID IT IS.
I CAN SAY IT APPEARS QUITE
CLEARLY THAT IT IS.
IT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE.
SO I THINK CONGRESS IS GOING TO
HAVE TO ACT.
THEY DIDN'T WANT THE FENCE.
PRESIDENT BUSH REALLY DIDN'T
WANT THE FENCE, BUT
AFTER THE SITUATION GOT SO BAD
THAT WE APPROPRIATED THE MONEY
AND DIRECTED IT BE BUILT, IT HAS
HAD A GREAT AND POSITIVE BENEFIT
WHEREVER THE FENCE HAS BEEN.
WE KNOW THE HISTORY IN SAN DIEGO
WHEN THERE WAS MASSIVE VIOLENCE,
MASSIVE ILLEGALITY GOING ON AT
THE BORDER.
WE KNOW THAT OCCURRED AND WE
BUILT THE FENCE THERE, AND THE
VIOLENCE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
BORDER WENT DOWN, ECONOMIC
GROWTH ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
BORDER WENT UP.
DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION AND OTHER
KIND OF ILLEGALITIES ENDED AND
SOLID PROSPERITY BEGAN TO RECUR.
YOU CAN'T OPERATE EFFECTIVELY IN
AN AREA OF VIOLENCE AND
ILLEGALITY AND DRUGS.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, THE FLOW OF
GUNS IS A MEXICAN COMPLAINT THAT
TOO MANY GUNS ARE BEING BOUGHT
IN THE UNITED STATES AND TAKEN
TO MEXICO.
AND I DON'T DISPUTE THAT WE
SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN ENFORCING
THOSE LAWS, BUT I WOULD SUGGEST,
HAVING BEEN A -- HAVING
PROSECUTED MORE FEDERAL GUN
VIOLATIONS THAN ALL OTHER
MEMBERS OF THIS SENATE PUT
TOGETHER, THAT THE NATIONAL
GUARD IS NOT THE KIND OF FOLKS
YOU NEED TO PROSECUTE GUNS GOING INTO MEXICO.
THAT SHOULD BE DONE BY A.T.F.
AND THE BORDER PATROL.
THE -- SO TO SAY THAT -- SO WHAT
DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE DECISION
THAT THE PRESIDENT SAID HE'S
GOING TO DEPLOY 1,200?
I SAY IT'S JUST FURTHER PROOF
THAT IT'S NOT A SERIOUS
COMMITMENT IN ANY WAY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING
TO BE DOING.
I DON'T SEE HOW THEY CAN BE
HELPFUL IN THIS, AND I'M NOT
BEING TAKEN IN BY WHAT APPEARS
TO BE A RUSE.
SO THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
USED FOR IMMIGRATION.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE USED FOR
DRUGS AND GUNS, WHICH I THINK
THEY WON'T BE THAT PARTICULARLY
EFFECTIVE ABOUT.
THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GUNS GOING
FROM THE UNITED STATES TO
MEXICO, SO THOSE ARE THE
QUESTIONS I HAVE ABOUT THIS.
WHAT CONGRESS NEEDS TO DO, WHAT
THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO
MAKE A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT
ILLEGALITY AT OUR BORDER WILL END.
WE WILL DO WHAT IT TAK TO END
IT.
IT'S WITHIN OUR POWER TO DO SO.
WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS
ALREADY.
WE HAVE ABOUT HALF AS MANY
ARRESTS TODAY ALONG THE WHOLE
BORDER AS WE DID JUST THREE OR
FOUR YEARS AGO BECAUSE
ENFORCEMENT IS MUCH BETTER THAN
IT WAS, AND WE'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE THAT AND WE'RE GOING TO
DRIVE
ILLEGALITY AND WE'RE GOING TO
EFFECTIVELY IMPROVE OUR
IMMIGRATION LEGAL SYSTEM AND SO
PEOPLE CAN HAVE SOME CERTAINTY
ABOUT THAT AND CREATE A SYSTEM
THAT SERVES OUR NATIONAL
INTEREST IN THE PROCESS, AND
WE'RE GOING TO TELL EVERYBODY IN
THE WORLD DON'T COME TO THE
BORDER EXPECT TO GO WALK IN.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE
SUCCESSFUL, AND IT WILL STOP.
IT WILL GO DOWN DRAMATICALLY.
IT ALREADY HAS IN CERTAIN SECTORS.
THE WORD GETS OUT.
THE WORD IS OUT, WAS OUT THAT
THE BORDER WAS WIDE OPEN AND
ANYBODY COULD ENTER.
WHEN THE WORD GS OUT THAT THE
BORDER IS CLOSED, PEOPLE WILL
STOP TRYING.
SO WE'LL HAVE A MASSIVE
REDUCTION IN THE AMENDMENTS
ENTER, LEAVING FEWER PEOPLE FOR
THE BORDER PATROL TO APPREHEND,
AND WE'LL BE HAVING A SPIRAL IN
THE RIGHT WAY INSTEAD OF THE
WRONG WAY.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE MORE VOTES.
I THINK PEOPLE WHO CAST A VOTE
IN OPPOSITION TO SENATOR
McCAIN'S AMENDMENT, SENATOR
KYL'S AMENDMENT, SENATOR
CORNYN'S AMENDMENT TO TAKE THE
STEPS THAT CAN ACTUALLY WORK TO
ELIMINATE ILLEGALITY AT THE
BORDER NEED TO BE ANSWERING TO
THEIR CONSTITUENTS.
LAST NHT IN THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE, WHICH I AM A MEMBER,
SENATOR McCAIN IS OUR RANKING
REPUBLICAN, HIS STATE IS IN
SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES AND HE MADE
A STRONG PLEA FOR THE
AUTHORIZATION OF TROOPS TO THE BORDER.
IT WAS VOTED DOWN ON A PRETTY
PARTY-LINE VOTE.
SO I THINK IT'S TIME FOR
CONGRESS TO STEP UP, TOO.
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT STEPPING UP.
CONGRESS WAS ABLE TO MAKE REAL
PROGRESS A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE
BUILT THE FENCE AND DID SOME
OTHER THINGS THAT I WORKED VERY
HARD ON.
I BELIEVE WE CAN MAKE PROGRESS AGAIN.
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
A WAY EVENTUALLY OF HAVING THEIR
VOICES HEARD, AND I THINK WE'RE
GOING TO HEAR THOSE VOICES MORE
LOUDLY, WITH MORE CLARITY IN THE
FUTURE, AND SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, I
BELIEVE THE COUNTRY -- I BELIEVE
THE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO COME
AROUND TO AFFIRM LEGITIMATE
DEMANDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE BEEN RIGHT FROM THE
BEGINNING.
THEIR INSTINCTS, THEIR CHARACTER
SHOULDN'T BE QUESTIONED.
THEY SIMPLY WANT AN EFFECTIVE
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, A LAWFUL
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, AND THEY
BELIEVE IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT
AND A DISGRACE TO OUR COUNTRY TO
HAVE MASSIVE ILLEGALITY GOING ON
AS IT IS TODAY.
I WOULD THANK THE CHAIR AND
YIELD THE FLOOR A
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL
QUORUM CALL: QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CAL
QUORUM CALL:
CAN.
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE CALL OF THE QUORUM
BE TERMINATED. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT, AS IF
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ON
MONDAY, JUNE, AT 4:30 P.M., THE SENATE PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE
SESSION TO CONSIDER THE
FOLLOWING NOMINATIONS ON THE
CALENDAR, THAT THEY BE DEBATED
UNTIL 5:30 P.M., WITH THE TIME
EQUALLY DIVIDED AND CONTROLLED
BETWEEN SENATORS SESSIONS AND
LEAHY OR THEIR DESIGNEES.
NUMBER 730, AUDREY FLISIG, 731,
LUCY COE, JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA,
759, JANE MAGNUS STENSON,
DISTRICT COURT JUDGE INDIANA.
AT 5:30 P.M., THE SENATE VOTE ON
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE
NOMINATIONS LISTED. THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID
ON THE TABLE BE MADE, LAID UPON
THE TABLE, THE PRESIDENT BE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
SENATE'S ACTION.
AFTER THE FIRST VOTE, THERE BE
TWO MINUTES OF DEBATE EQUALLY
DIVIDE AND THE SUCCEEDING VOTES
BE 10 MINUTES EACH.
UPON DISPOSITION, THE SENATE RESU LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. REID: I NOW ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER
EN BLOC THE FOLLOWING
NOMINATIONS:
909, 910, 911, 913, 914, 915,
918, -9D 19, 920, 921, AND 9223.
ALL NOMINATIONS ON THE
SECRETARY'S DESK IN THE AIR
FORCE, ARMY, FOREIGN SERVICE,
MORE THAN CORPS AND NEAVMENT THE
NOMINATIONS BE CONFIRMED EN
BLOC, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID ON THE TABLE, AND LAID
UPON THE TABLE EN BLOC, ANY
STATEMENTS RELATED TO THE NOMINATIONS APPEAR AT THE
APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE RECORD
AS IF READ AND THE PRESIDENT BE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
SENATE'S ACTION AND THE SENATE
THEN RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
CONSENT THAT THE RECORD REMAIN
OPEN UNTIL 1:30 P.M. TODAY FOR
THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION,
SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS AND
COSPONSORSHIPS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THATURING THE
RECESS/ADJOURNMENT OF THE
SENATE, THE COMMITTEE-REPORTED
BUSINESS ON FRIDAY, JUNE 4 FROM
THE HOURS 126:00 NOON TO
2:00 P.M. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. REID: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT WHEN THE SENATE
COMPLETES ITS BUSINESS TODAY, IT
ADJOURN UNTIL 2 CLOCK P.M. ON
MONDAY, JUNE 7.
FOLLOWING THE PRAYER AND PLEDGE, THE JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS BE
APPROVED TO DATE, THE MORNING
HOUR BE DEEMED EXPIRED AND THE SENATE PROCEED TO A PERIOD OF
MORNING BUSINESS WITH SENATORS
PERMITTED TO SPEAK UP TO 10
MINUTES EACH.
FURTHER THAT AT 4:30 P.M., THE
SENATE PROCEED TO EXECUTIVE
SESSION AS+ PROVIDED UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION. MR. REID: UNDER THE PREVIOUS
ORDER, THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF
VOTES AT 5:30 P.M. ON THE
CONFIRMATION OF NOMINATION OF
THREE DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ON
THE AMONG DAY THAT WE GET BACK,
A WEEK FROM MONDAY.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE, I ASK THAT IT ADJOURN UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, AND
PURSUANT TO THE -- H. CON. RES.
282, THE SENATE STANDS ADJOURNED