starttime 1252432827.55566
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATE WILL COME TO ORDER.
WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER.
DR. BLACK.
THE CHAPLAIN: LET US PRAY.
O MERCIFUL LORD, WE THANK YOU
FOR THE REFRESHMENT AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR TIME AWAY
AND FOR YOUR CLEAR, SHINING
INWARD LIGHT THAT DIRECTS OUR STEPS.
MAY THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY
FEEL YOUR PEACE AND POWER TODAY.
RESTRAIN WANDERING THOUGHTS AND
BREAKING PIECES, THOSE
TEMPTATIONS THAT LEAD THEM AWAY
FROM YOUR WILL.
LORD, JOIN OUR SENATORS TO
YOURSELF WITH AN INSEPARABLE
BOND OF LOVE.
FOR YOU ALONE TRULY SATISFY.
GRANT THAT THEIR LOVE MAY ABOUND
MORE AND MORE IN KNOWLEDGE AND
DEPTH OF INSIGHT SO THAT THEY
MAY BE ABLE TO DISCERN WHAT IS
BEST AND MAY BE PURE AND
BLAMELESS WHEN THEY STAND BEFORE
YOU.
LORD, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN
WILL CONVENE WITHOUT SENATOR
EDWARD KENNEDY AS ONE OF ITS
MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR HIS LIFE AND
LEGACY.
WE PRAY IN YOUR SOVEREIGN
AMEN.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: PLEASE
JOIN ME IN REC
OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND TO THE REPUBLIC
FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR
ALL.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
SENATE.
THE CLERK: WASHINGTON, D.C,
SEPTEMBER 8, 2009,
TO THE SENATE:
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 1,
PARAGRAPH 3, O
RULES OF THE SENATE, I HEREBY
APPOINT THE HONORABLE TOM CARPER,
A NATOR FROM THE STATE OF
DELAWARE, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES
OF THE CHAIR. SIGNED: ROBERT C. BYRD, PRESIDENT
PRO TEMPORE.
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
MAJORITY LEAR.
MR. REID: THE SENATE ARE WILL BE
IN PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 40:30.
SENATORS PER MID TO --
TO SPEAK UP TO 10 MINUTES EACH.
FOLLOWING THE MORNING BUSINESS,
THE SENATE WILL PROCEED
S. 1073.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I DESIGNATE
SENATOR DORGAN CONTROLLING THE
TIME ON OUR SIDE.
AT 5:30 THE SENATE WILL PROCEED
TO A CLOTURE VOTE ON THE DORGAN
AMENDMENT 1347 TO THE TRAVEL
PROMOTION ACT UNDER AN AGREEMENT
REACHED PRIOR TO THE RECESS.
IF CLOTURE IS INVOKED
TIME YIELDING BACK, THE DORGAN
ENDMENT WOULD BE AGREED TO AND
SENATE W
THAT VOTE IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR
TOMORROW.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WELCOME MY
COLLEAGUES BACK TO SENATE AFTER
AN AUGUST WORK PERIOD THAT SAW
PROFOUND SADNESS ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
WE HEARD FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS
OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
IN NEVADA, I HEARD FROM CITIZENS
ACROSS MY STATE WHO ARE READY
FOR US TO PICK UP WHERE WE OFF.
READY FOR US TO GET BACK TO THE
HARD WORK OF LEGISLATING.
READY FOR US TO WORK FORWARD ON
ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUES
OF OUR TIME AND OUR LIFE'S CAUSE
OF OUR LATE COLLEAGUE SENATOR
TED KENNEDY.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
SENATE
SILENCE IN MEMORY OF OUR FRIEND
AND DEPARTE
SENATOR EDWARD KENNEDY.
ORDERED.
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
MAJOTY LEADER.
MR. REID: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AS I CAME INTO
THE CHAMBER THIS
CAME UPON SENATOR KENNEDY'S
DESK, WHICH IS COVERED WITH THE
TRADITIONAL BLACK VELVET
COVERING WITH THE VASE OF
THE DESK, ONE
POEMS, A TEAR OR TWO CAME TO MY EYE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I CHERISHED THE
TIME I HAD TO -- I GET TO SPEND
WITH THE PEOPLE I NEVADA WHEN I
GET TO GO HOME, LISTENING TO
THEM, TALKING TO THEM AND
LEARNING FROM THEM.
THE PEOPLE OF NEVADA FEEL AS
ACUTELY AS ANYONE IN AMERICA
ABOUT THE VOLATILITY OUR TURBULENT ECONOMY.
THE NEVADANS SEE AS CLEARLY AS
ANYONE IN AMERICA THAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD.
IN FACT, WE'RE
OUR FEET AFTER LONG YEARS OF NEGLECT.
THEY WATCHED US
WENT WILD,ORECLOSURES REACHED
RECORD HIGHS AND JOBS VANISHED
INTO THIN AIR.
TH
PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE HARD WORK
OF THE CONGRESS, AND T
UNWAVERING DETERMINATION OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS, THEY NOW SEE THE
WOUNDS BEGINNING TO HEAL.
THIS SENATE HAS RISEN TO THE
CHALLENGE WE
FACE OF UNPRECEDENTED
CONDITIONS, WE RESPONDED WITH
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.
WE ARE PROUD OF OUR IMPORTANT
EFFORTS TO REVIVE OUR ECONOMY,
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, DEMAND
ACCOUNTABILITY, PROMOTE EQUALITY
AN
IN THE FIRST MONTHS OF THIS YEAR
WE PASSED AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY
PLAN THAT HAS CREATING JOBS AS
WE SPEAK.
STRENGTHENED THE MIDDLE CLASS
AND INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.
JUST LAST WEEK "THE WALL STREET
JOURNAL" ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE
PLAN
RECOVER FROM THE RECESSION
FASTER THAN EXPECTED.
THAT'S THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL".
WE ALSO PUT PEOPLE AHEAD OF BIG
BUSINESS BY PROTECTING CREDIT
CARD USERS AND ROUTEING OUT
CO
WE HELPED MILLIONS OF CHILDREN
TO STAY HEALTHY BY MAKING IT
EASIER TO GET THE HEALTH CARE
THEY NEED, THAT IS
PROGRAM BY MAKING IT HARDER FOR
TOBACCO C KIDS.
WE MADE IT EASIER FOR AMERICANS
TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, LIKE OUR
HEROES OF GENERATIONS PAST
PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC LANDS FOR
GENERATIONS TO COME.
WE PASSED APPROPRIATION BILLS,
NEW APPROPRIATION BILLS AND AN
HONEST RESPONSIBLE BUDGE
MAKES SOUND INVESTMENTS IN EVERY
PART OF OUR
THIS CONGRESS MADE HISTORY BY
PURSUING JUSTICE AND ENSURING
EQUALITY FOR EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN.
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF
THEIR RACE, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AND STOOD UP FOR
THOSE WHO ARE TARTS OF
DISCRIMINATION -- TARGETS
DISCRIMINATION BECAUSE OF THEIR GENDER.
AND THE SENATE CONFIRMED
PRESIDEN
NOMINEE FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
SONIA SOTOMAYOR WILL BECOME THE
FIRST HISPANIC AND THIRD WOMAN
TO SIT ON THE HIGST BENCH IN
THE LAND.
TODAY -- I THINK MAYBE TOMORROW
THE FIRST ARGUMENT SHE'LL
PARTICIPATE IN WILL TAKE PLACE.
THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE RECORD FOR
ANY CONGRESS, AN IMPRESSIVE RES.
MAY FOR ANY -- CONGRESS.
I'M PARTICULARLY PROUD THAT WE
ACCOMPLISHED THIS IN ALL OF SIX
MONTHS.
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
WE DID EACH CRITICAL THING
BECAUSE WE FOUND OURSELVES IN
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE FACED DAWBTING PATHS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
HOW WE GOT HERE.
I'M NOT INTERESTED, MR.
PRESIDENT, IN LOOKING BACKWARDS
OR POINT FINGERS.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO LEARN FROM
PAST MISTAKES SO WE DON'T REPEAT
THESE MISTAKES.
AS I SEE IT THERE ARE TWO
PRIMARY REASONS WE FOUND
OURSELVES IN A DEEP HOLE.
FOR FAR TOO LONG WE PUT OFF
TODAY'S PROBLEMS UNTIL TOMORROW.
SECOND, TOO MANY FOCUS ONLY ON
WHERE WE
AGREE.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THE LUXURY OF
DOING
ONLY BY WORKING TOGETHER, NOT AS
DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS, BUT AS
AMERICANS, NOT AS PARTISANS, BUT
JOBLESS BACK TO WORK, MAKE SURE
EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO STAY
HEALTHY AND CREATE A NEW
CLEAN-ENERGY ECONOMY FOR THIS
NEW CENTURY.
HEALTH CARE, MR. PRESIDENT,
LEARNING THESE TWO LESSONS THAT
WE CAN NO LONGER PUT OFF TODAY'S
PROBLEMS UNTIL TOMORROW AND THAT
WE CANNOT AFFORD TO
ON WHERE WE DISAGREE WILL BE THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REFORMING
HEALTH INSURANCE IN A
WAY OR
AND SCARE TACTICS HOLD US BACK.
THANKS TO CHAIR BAUCUS AND
SENATOR DODD, WE MADE PROGRESS
TOWARD PASSING COMPREHENSIVE
THERE ARE REPORTED BILLS THAT
WILL SOON SEEN THE -- SEE THE
SAME FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WHILE MANY IMPORTANT CHOICES
REMAIN, WE'RE AS COMMITTED AS
EVER TO A PLAN THAT WILL PROTECT
WHAT WORKS, FIX WHAT DOESN'T AND
HELP THE MIDDLE CLASS GET
WE'LL STABLIZE HICK FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE IT -- HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE IT AND HELP
TO SECURE FOR
WE'LL HELP TO KEEP THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY HONEST AND LOWER COSTS
TO ENSURE THAT EVERY AMERICAN
CAN STAY HEALTHY AND WE'RE
DETERMINED TO PASS A GOOD
BIPARTISAN BILL AND DO IT THIS YEAR.
I LISTENED TO
NEVADANS ACROSS THE STATE.
THEY KNOW THE
THE MISINFORMATION SPREAD BY
AOPPONENTS OF PROGRESS AND THE
REALITY THAT OUR VISION OF
REFORM NEEDS PATIENCE AND ONLY
DOCTORS
ABOUT THEIR MEDICAL CARE.
THAT BELONG TO THE PEOPLE, NOT
TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNOWS THAT
REFORM MEANS KEEPING INSURANCE
COMPANIES HONEST AND NOT LETTING
THEM DENY YOU CARE BECAUSE OF
YOU ARE A PREEXISTING CONDITION.
IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING FROM HEART
DISEASE TO HIGH
HAY FEVER, YOU MAY BE OUT OF LUCK.
THAT IS JUST NOT RIGHT.
THEY KNOW OUR VISION RF REFORM
MEANS NOT ALLOWING HEALTH
INSURANCE COMPANIES TO DROP YOUR
COVERAGE IF YOU'RE SERIOUSLY ILL.
IF YOU
YOU WILL HAVE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS OPTIONS TO COVER YOUR FAMILY.
THEY KNOW THAT
FOR REFORM THAT WILL MAKE
QUALITY AFFORDABLE CARE
AVAILABL TO EVERY SINGLE
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
IT IS EASY TO FOCUS ON THE PART
OF THE ROAD WE HAVE YET TO GO.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO
COMMON GROUND THAT WE ALREADY SHARE.
WE HEARD A LOT FROM THE
PROPONENTS OF PROGRESS.
THEY THINK THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD
HEALTH INSURANCE
MY RESPONSE IS THAT WE CAN'T
AFFORD NOT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
LIVE HEALTHY IN AMERICA.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE
REJECTED THOSE
THINGS ARE FINE THE WAY THEY
ARE.
THEY KNOW UNLESS WE GET THIS
DONE, THEY COULD LOSE THEIR
HEALTH CARE AND SO MUCH MORE
ALONG WITH THE HEALTH
LOSE.
AND THEY KNOW THAT AMERICA IS NO
PLACE FOR THOSE WHO HOPE FOR FAILURE.
INACTION IS NOT AN OPTION.
I'VE ALREADY
WHEN WE DO NOTHING.
OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS OF
INACTION THE COST OF HEALTH CARE
ROSE TO RECORD LEVELS.
AND THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO
CAN'T AFFORD INSURANCE DID THE
SAME.
FOR THE MILLIONS O FAMILIES WHO
FILED FOR FORECLOSURE BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T AFFORD BOTH THEIR
HOUSE AND THE HEALTH CARE, NOT
ACTING IS NOT AN OPTION.
FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WHO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE
THEIR MEDICAL BILLS GROW HIGHER
AND HIGHER, NOT ACTING IS NOT AN OPTION.
FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WHO SKIP DOCTORS' VISITS OR THE
TREEPTS THEY NEED TO STAY
HEALTHY OR NEVER FILL A
PRESCRIPTION THAT THEIR DOCTORS
GIVE THEM BEC
TOO EXPENSIVE, NOT ACTING IS NOT
AN OPTION.
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS NOT
HEALTHY.
AMERICA'S FISCAL HEALTH IS AT
STAKE AND NOT ACTING IS NOT AN
OPTION MUCH WE HAVE TO WORK IN
GOOD FAITH.
THIS PAST APRIL, MR. PRESIDENT,
I SENT MY REPUBLICAN COUNTERPART
A LETTER OUTLINING OUR
PRIORITIES FOR THE HEALTH CARE
DEBATE.
I WROTE, OF COURSE, THAT
DEMOCRATS ARE COMMITTED TO
LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS,
EXPANDING ACCESS AND IMPROVING
THE QUALITY OF CARE.
I SAID IN THAT LETTER THAT WE
LOOK FORWARD TO A DIALOGUE OF
HOW TO REDUCE DISEASE AND
ENCOURAGE EARLY DETECTION AND
EFFECT TREATMENTS THAT
LIVES.
IN A LETTER OF FOUR
I SAID TO HELP STRUGGLING
AMERICANS, WE CANNOT DROWN IN
DISTRACTIONS AND DISTORGSES.
I MADE CLEAR THAT BIPARTISAN
MEANS REPUBLICANS DEMON
A SINCERE INTEREST IN
LEGISLATING OFFERING
CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS AND THAT
WORKING GETHER IS OUR COMMON
INTEREST RATHER THAN AGAINST
EACH OTHER AND AGAINST TRILLIONS
INTERESTS OF THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE.
I STAND BY THAT ASSESSMENT AS
STRONGLY AS I DID THIS SPRING, FOUR MONTHS AGO.
AND IT IS PAINFULLY CLEAR TO
EVERYONE WHO HAS SEEN THIS
DEBATE, DISTURBING TURNS AND
DISHONEST TACTICS, THAT
THAN EVER WE NEED PEOPLE WILLING
TO WORK TOGETHER IN GOOD FAITH.
TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY SINCE
JANUARY 2, 1953, THAT A MAN
NAMED
DESK ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE OR IN THE OVAL
OFFICE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
GROUNDBREAKING PROGRESS WE'VE
MADE OVER THOSE 56 1/2 YEARS --
CIVIL RIGHTS, EDUCATION, HEALTH
CARE, AND AMERICA'S GLOBAL
LEADERSHIP -- I KNOW WE
CHOICE BUT T
NOW IS NO TIME TO LET UP.
TOMORROW NIGHT, THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WILL STAND ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF
AND TELL A JOINT SESSION OF
CONGRESS HIS VISION FOR THE
HEALTH CARE DEBATE THAT'S ENSUING.
HE'LL DO THAT AND
COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS, WE WILL
CONTEMPLATE AND THINK ABOUT WHAT
HE
IT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT THAT
PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL SPEAKING --
WILL BE SPEAKING TO SUCH A
GATHERING WE'L.
WE'LL COME TOGETHER IN JOINT
SESSION BECAUSE WE SHARE A JOINT
FUTU
WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER:
PUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS.
EVERY AMERICANITIZEN AND EACH
THEIR REPRESENTATIVES HERE,
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, SENATORS,
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
SENATOR TED KENNEDY SAID LAST
DECEMBER, JUST MONTHS AGO -- AND
I QUOTE -- "WE KNOW THE FUTURE
WILL OUTLAST ALL OF US, BUT I
BELIEVE THAT ALL OF US WILL LIVE
ON IN THE FUTURE WE MAKE."
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS A
HISTORIC MOMENT.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO
FUTURE.
WE STAND CLOSE TO A REAL HEALTH
INSURANCE REFORM THAN EVER
BEFORE.
WE'RE CLOSER THAN EVER TO GETTING THIS RIGHT.
WE WILL NOT GIVE UP, WE WILL NOT
BET ON FAILURE, WE WILL NOT LET
THE OBSCURE FACTS, WILL NOT LET
FEAR, I'M SORRY, OBSCURE THE
FACTS, AND
PRIORITIES OF THE PARTISAN
OVERPOWER, WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
WE WILL NOT LET THE PRIORITIES
OF THE PARTISAN OVERPOWER THE
PRIORITIES OF THE PEOPLE.
THE GOAL LINE'S AHEAD OF US,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I SAY TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER,
A MEMBER OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE, WE HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO JOIN
TOGETHER TO DO HEALTH CARE
REFORM THAT'S MEANINGFUL TO THIS
COUNTRY.
I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE IN
NEVADA AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR
EVERYONE ON THIS SE OF THE
AISLE, AND I'M CONFIDENT
FRIEND, THE DISTINGUISHED
REPUBLICAN LEADER, AGREES
MEN IT.
MR. McCONNELL: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER.
MR. McCONNELL: MR. PRESIDENT,
THE SENATE GRIEVES OVER THE LOSS
OF ONE OF ITS GIANTS
OUR GREAT FRIENDS.
ALL OF US WERE, OF COURSE, MOVED
BY THE MANY TRIBUTES THAT HAVE
POURED IN SINCE SENATOR
KENNEDY'S PASSING AND WE'LL MAKE
TIMEATER IN THE
SENATORS, INCLUDING MYSELF, TO
DELIVER TRIBUTES OF OUR OWN HERE
ON THE SENATE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I PREVIOUSLY HAD
AN OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME MY
FRIEND, THE MAJORITY LEADER,
BACK AND WELCOME ALL OF OUR
OTHER COLLEAGUES FROM AN ACTIVE
MONTH IN AUGUST.
I KNOW WE ALWAYS ENJOY SPENDING
THIS TIME
AND HEARING THEIR PARTICULAR
CONCERNS.
THIS YEAR, MOST OF US REALLGOT
AN EARFUL.
AND I HOPE THE EXPERIENCE HAS AN
AFFECT ON OUR WORK HERE AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
HEALTH CARE REFORM IS CLEARLY A
CRITICAL ISSUE FOR MANY
OBLIGATION TO SHOW THEM WE'VE
BEEN LISTENING CLOSELY TO THEIR
CONCERNS.
AT THIS POINT, THERE REALLY
SHOULD BE NO DOUBT ABOUT WHERE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STAND.
THE STATUS QUO IS NOT ACCEPTABLE
BUT NEITHER ARE ANY OF THE
PROPOSALS WE'VE SEEN FROM THE
WHITE
CONGRESS SO FAR.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ATTEMPTED TO
RETOOL ITS MESSAGE ON HEALTH
CARE MANY TIMES.
IT SHOULD BE CLEAR BY NOW THAT
THE PROBLEM ISN'T THE SALES PITCH.
THE PROBLEM IS WHAT THEY'RE
SELLING.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I
VISITED A LOT OF DOCTORS,
NURSES, SENIORS, HOSPITAL
WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSMEN AND
WOMEN
CITIZENS ACROSS KENTUCKY AND,
FOR THAT MATTER, THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
NONE OF THEM WOULD CALL OUR
CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
PERFECT.
BUT ALL OF THEM ARE WORRIED
ABOUT SO-CALLED REFORMS THAT
WOULD UNDERMINE THE THINGS THEY
LI
CARE SYSTEM.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE ASKING
US TO START OVER.
THEY WANT REFORMS BUT THEY WANT
THE RIGHT REFORMS, NOT SOME
GRAND SCHEME THAT INCASES THE
NATIONAL DEBT, EXPANDS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, RAISES
TAXES, CUTS SENIORS' BENEFITS,
AND FORCES AMERICANS OFF THE
PLANS THEY CURRENTLY
LIKE.
THEY WANT REFORMS THAT WO
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN
THE WEEKS AHEAD,UT THESE PAST
FEW WEEKS HAVE GIVEN US ALL
SOMETHING VALUABLE.
THEY'VE GIVEN US REAL CLARITY
ABOUT THE DIRECTION AMERICANS
WANT
AND JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THE
DIRECTION THEY DON'T WANT US TO
TAKE.
NOW IT'S OUR
WE'VE BEEN LISTENING AND TO ACT. MR. PRESIDENT, I SUGGEST THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENA
MR. ALEXANDER: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: AND WE'RE
IN A QUORUM CALL. MR. ALEXANDER: THANK YOU.
THANK
WITHOUT MY EVEN
QUORUM CALL HAS BEEN VITIATED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE SENATOR IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. ALEXANDER: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE I HAVE
15 MINUTES AND I WOULD ASK THE
CHAIR TO LET ME KNOW WHEN TWO IS
REMAING.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. ALEXANDER: THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO
SPEECHES BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES TODAY A
TOMORROW.
THE ONE TODAY IS TO T SCHOOLCHILDREN OF AMERICA.
THE ONE TOMORROW NIGHT IS TO US,
TO A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
AND TO THE COUNTRY.
FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS,
THERE'S BEEN A SMALL
ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH TO
SCHOOLCHILDREN AND IN SOME WAYS
THAT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE
THE COUNTRY'S VERY WARY RIGHT
NOW OF MORE WASHINGTON TAKEOVERS.
WE'VE SEEN TAKEOVERS OF BANKS
AND INSURANCE COMPANIES AND --
AND CAR COMPANIES AND STUDENT
LOANS AND EVEN FARM PONDS AND
HEALTH CARE AND ALL OF A
SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE THOUGHT
THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS INTENDING
TO TAKE OVER THE CLASSROOMS OF
AMERICA AS WELL.
AND THAT WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE
FACT THAT THE EARLY LESSON
PLANS, PROBABLY DRAWN UP BY
SOMEONE EITHER IN THE WHITE
HOUSE OR WAN DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, MADE THE SPEECH
MORE ABOUT THE PRESIDENT THAN
ABOUT THE CHILDREN AND INVITING
THE CHILDREN TO HELP THE
PRESIDENT FULFILL HIS GOAL THE
WAY HE WANTS TO TRANSFORM
AMERICA.
WELL, ALL THAT'S BEEN CHANGED.
THE LESSON PLAN HAS BEEN ALTERED ALTERED.
THE PRE
OF HIS SPEECH.
I READ IT THIS MORNING IN
TENNESSEE ON MY WAY COMING UP.
IT'S A GOOD SPEECH.
IT'S ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
STUDYING AND EDUCATION.
IT'S ABOUT HOW THE PRESIDENT
GREW UP, WHICH IS AN INSPIRING
STORY, AS IS THE CASE WITH
ALMOST ALL OF OUR PRESIDENTS.
AND SO I'M GLAD THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS SPOKEN TO
SCHOOLCHILDREN OF THIS COUNTRY.
OF COURSE THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES OUGHT TO BE ABLE
TO SPEAK TO THE SCHOOLCHILDREN
OF AMERICA.
PRESIDENT REAGAN DID IT NOT LONG
AFTER HE WAS ELECTED, HE TALKED
ABOUT HOW OUR COUNTRY WAS
FOUNDED.
WHEN I WAS EDUCATION SECRETARY
IN 1991, THE FIRST PRESIDENT
BUSH DID IT.
HE TALKED PRIMARILY ABOUT --
ABOUT DRUGS AND AS A WARPING
ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG --
WARNING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF
DRUG OF COURSE PRESIDENTS SHOULD
SPEAK TO OUR STUDENTS.
BUT, OF COURSE, PARENTS AND
TEACHERS SHOULD DECIDE WHETHER
THE CHILDREN HEAR THE SPEECH AND
IN WHAT CONTEXT THEY HEAR IT.
TOMORROW NIGHT, WHEN THE
PRESIDENT ADDRESSES THE COUNTRY,
NO ONE HAS TO LISTEN TOIM
EXCEPT THOSE OF US VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE IN THE
UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
WE'LL BE HERE.
BUT MILLIONS WILL LISTEN OUT OF
RESPECT TO THE OFFICE, BUT SOME
COULD TURN OFF THEIR TELEVISIONS.
SOME COULD JUST READ ABOUT IT.
SOME COULD LISTEN TO THE MANY
COMMENTATORS TALK ABOUT IT.
SOME COULD WATCH PARTS OF IT ON THE WEB.
ADULTS HAVE THOSE
CHILDREN ARE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION.
THEY'RE CAPTIVES IN THEIR
CLASSROOMS AND THEY'RE
INEXPERIENCED, SO WE RELY ON
RENTS AND T
THEIR GOOD JUDGMENT TO DECIDE
WHETHER ANY SPEECH IS
APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN TO HEAR
AND IN WHAT CONTEXT.
NOW, IF I WERE A TEACHER, I'D
JUMP AT THE CHANCE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS -- OF THIS SPEECH.
I BELIE
PICTURE OF REAGAN AND ONE OF
F.D.R. AND ONE OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN.
AND I WOULD TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENCY.
AND I'D TALK ABOUT HOW HE IS THE
AGENDA SETTER AND HOW -- HOW THE
PRESIDENT'S ELECTION, THIS
PRESIDENT AND OTHER PRESIDENTS,
REPRESENTS THE UNIQUE
CHARACTERIST
POSSIBLE FOR ANY AMERICAN OF ANY
BACKGROUND.
AND I WOULD POINT OUT THAT
THERE'S A CONGRESS AS WELL, AND
THE CONGRESS OFTEN DISAGREES
WITH THE PRESIDENT.
AND THEN I WOULD PUT UP A
PICTURE OF THE LEADER OF NORTH
KOREA AND I WOULD SAY
THE DEAR LEADER OF NORTH KOREA.
IF YOU CRITICIZE HIM, YOU GO TO JAIL.
YOU CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES, YOU HAVE A
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO DO THAT.
I THINK WE NEED MORE TEACHING OF
IN OUR CLASSROOMS SO OUR
CHILDREN CAN GROW UP LEARNING
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN.
THE LOWEST SCORES THAT HIGH
SCHOOL SENIORS HAVE IN AMERICA
ARE NOT IN MATH.
THEY'RE NOT IN SCIENCE
THEY'RE IN UNITED STATES
HISTORY.
AND SO WE OUGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ILDREN TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY
AND ABOUT CIVICS.
BUT PARENTS AND TEACHERS OUGHT
TO BE IN CHARGE OF IT. THEY SHOULD DECIDE IN WHAT
CONTEXT IT'S DONE, AND I HOPE A
GREAT MANY HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE
THAT HAVE AND WILL TAKE
ADVANTAGE.
THERE'S A SECOND SPEECH,
MR. PRESID
WHICH -- TO WHICH THE COUNTRY IS
LOOKING FORWARD TO AND THAT'S
ABOUT HEALTH CARE.
HERE ARE MY HOPES FOR THAT
SPEECH.
FIRST, RESPECTFULLY, I WOULD SAY
TO THE PRESIDENT, I HOPE HE
SAYS, "MY FELLOW AMERICANS,
LET'S START OVER."
IT'S OBVIOUS WE NEED HEALTH CARE
REFORM, BUT IT'S ALSO OBVIOUS
THAT MOST AMERICANS, OR
WITH THE DIRECTION IN WHICH
WE'RE GOING.
SO SINCE THIS AFFECTS 17% OR 18%
OF OUR ECONOMY, SINCE IT AFFECTS
THE 250 MILLION AMERICANS WHO
HAVE
START OVER.
THIS HAS GONE FROM BEING AN
ISSUE TO BEING SOMETHING PEONAL.
OR AS WE SAY IN
THEY'VE GONE FROM PREACHING TO MEDDLING.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD AT THE TOWN
MEETINGS THAT WOULD NORMALLY
ATTRACT 30 PEOPLE A THOUSAND
PEOPLE,
AT ISSUE AND THEY WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO IT'S A VERY HEALTHY THING FOR
PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND ASK
QUESTIONS, AND I HOPE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE -- THE PRESIDENT
HAS HEARD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AND WE WILL START OVER.
NEXT, I HOPE H SAYS WE'LL START
WITH THE COST, THE COSTS TO YOU,
MR. AND MISS AMERICAN, AND THE
COST TO YOUR GOVERNMENT.
HEALTH CARE COSTS TOO MUCH FOR
YOU TO BUY YOUR POLICY AND IT'S
ABOUT TO BANKRUPT THE GOVERNMENT
UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE WILL
START.
THIRD, I HOPE THE PRESIDENT WILL
SAY, ONE OF THE LESSONS I THINK
WE'VE LEARNED NOT JUST DURING
THE LAST SEVERAL
HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT, IF I WERE
PRESIDENT OBAMA, BUT IN
PRESIDENT BUSH'S TIME AND BEFORE
THAT,
COMPREHENSIVE VERY WELL.
WE FOUND THAT IN
WE HAD A BIPARTISAN EFFORT HERE
IN IMMIGRATION.
WE TRIED HARD TO SOLVE A PROBLEM
THAT ONLY THE CONGRESS CAN SOLVE
AND WE FAILED.
THE TIME IT CAME FOR A VOTE, IT
JUST FELL AROUN
WE'VE TRIED IT WITH HEALTH CARE.
WE'VE TRIED TO BITE OFF THE
WHOLE THING AT ONCE AND IT'S
MORE THAN WE CAN CHEW, I THINK.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING IT WITH
CLIMATE CHANGE AND IT LOOKS LIKE
WE'RE BITING OFF MORE THAN WE
CAN CHEW THERE AS WELL.
THAT SHOULD BE NO BIG SURPRISE.
THIS IS A HUGE COUNTRY.
300 MILLION PEOPLE, AN ECONOMY
TH
WEALTH IN THE WORLD, SO DIVER
THAT IF WE WERE T
ALL IN ONE ROOM, IT WOULD
SUPPLIED, WHICH IS WHY IT'S SUCH
A GOOD REASON WE HAVE SUCH A BIG
COUNTRY.
SO I HOPE THE PRESIDENT WILL
SAY, WE DON'T DO COMPREHENSIVE WELL.
WE'VE HEARD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
SO LET'S S
A FEW THINGS.
LET'S GO STEP BY STEP IN THE
RIGHT
GOOD WAY TO GET WHERE YOU WANT
TO GO.
STEP BY STEP TO REEARN THE TRUST
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE STARTING
WITH HEALTH
I CAN THINK OF SOME THINGS THAT
I BELIEVE WE HA
AGREEMENT ON IN THE SENATE WHICH
WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH INSURANCE,
ALLOWING BUSINESSES -- SMALL
BUSINESSES TO POOL THEIR
RESOURCES.
IT'S BEEN ESTIMATED YOU COULD
OFFER INSURANCE TO A MILLION
MORE WORKERS AT A LOWER COST.
THAT'S ONE THING.
TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE
NOT TO LOSE THEIR
THEY HAVE -- TO BE ABLEO BUY
INSURANCE, TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE
FOR THEM TO BUY INSURANCE IF
THEY HAVE A PREEXISTING HEALTH
WE COULD PBABLY
ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUY INSURANCE
ACROSS STATE LINES
THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND I WERE
BOTH GOVERNOR.
WE'RE VERY JEALOUSLY PREROGATIVE OF STATE RESPONSIBILITIES AND
RIGHTS, BUT MAYBE WE NEED TO
ALLOW INSURANCE TO BE BOUGHT
MORE OFTEN ACROSS STATE LINES.
NEIGHBOR WOULD MAKE IT AVAILABLE
TO MORE PEO
EXPENSIVE.
JUNK LAWSUITS AGAINST DOCTORS.
THAT EITHER INCREASES THE COST
OF HEALTH CARE FROM 1% TO 10%,
DEPENDING UPON WHO YOU BELIEVE,
BUT WE COULD TAKE THAT STEP,
IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND YOU AS FAR AS THOSE WHO ARE
UNINSURE
WHO ARE UNINSURED ARE ALREADY
WE COULD
WAYS TO THEM THEM SIGN UP FOR
PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
STEP BY STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION TO HELP US GET WHERE
WE NEED TO GO IN HEALTH CARE.
STEP
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FOURTH, I WOULD HOPE THE
PRESIDENT WOULD SAY, DO THIS IN
A BIPARTISAN WAY.
THERE'S SOME TALK OF JUST
RAMMING THIS THROUGH THE SENATE
WITH A BARE MAJORITY OF VOTES.
I HOPE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
IT WOULD BE BAD FOR THE COUNTRY
T. WOULD BE BAD FOR THE MAJORITY
PARTY, IF I MAY SAY.
SO THE REASON TO WOULD BE BAD
FOR THE COUNTRY, IT WOULD BE A
BAD BILL.
THE WAY OUR RULES
PARLIAMENTARIAN, WHO'S A VERY
WISE INDIVIDUAL, WOULD END UP
WRITING THE HEALTH CARE
BECAUSE HE'D HAVE TO MAKE ALL
THESE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS
GERMANE, WHAT FIT IN THE BILL.
AND FOR EXAMPLEE MIGHT HAVE TO
SAY, WELL, YOU CAN'T PUT A
PROVISION ABOUT PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS IN THE BILL UNDER
SENATE RULES BUT ONLY WHETHER TO
RAISE TAXES OR CUT MEDICARE.
THAT WOULD BE AN UNAPPETIZING
VOTE FOR MANY MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE AND IT WOULD BE A VERY
BAD HEALTH CARE BILL WHICH WOULD
CAUSE ME TO THINK THAT SUCH AN
APPETIZING VOTE WOULD BE BAD
MEDICINE FOR THOSE WHO INSISTED
ON RAMMING IT THROUGH.
BUT IT WO
ANOTHEANOTHER REASON, IT WOULD BE
THUMBING OUR NOSE AT THE PEOPLE
OF AMERICA WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING
TO SAY TO YOU, WAIT, SLOW DOWN.
THIS IS MY HEALTH CARE YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S MAKE SURE WE DO THIS RIGHT.
START OVER.
AND LET'S TAKE IT STEP BY STEP.
THE HEALTH CARE IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE.
HEALTH CARE IS THE ENTRY INTO A
LARGER ISSUE WHICH IS TOO MANY
TAKEOVERS, TOO MUCH DEBT, TOO
MANY CZARS, AND THE AMERICAN
SETTLE DOWN AND DEAL WITH THIS
ISSUE.
SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID
OVERHE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT; THEY
THOUGHT THERE WEREN'T ANY REAL
ISSUES.
I'M AFRAID THAT'S WRONG, MR. PRESIDENT.
WEAPON YOU HAVE THE MAYO CLINIC
AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS AND
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
TELLING YOU YOU ARE HEADED IN
THE WRONG DIRECTION, MAYBE YOU ARE.
WHEN YOU
TRILLION DEBT ADDED TO, ALREADY,
A DEBT THAT'S GOING TO DOUBLE IN
THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS
MAYBE YOU ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
WHEN THE "NEW YORK
EDITORIAL SAYS THAT THE NEW
PROGRAM'S GOING TO BE PAID FOR,
ABOUT
MEDICARE, THAT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE
FOR THE 40 MILLION PEOPLE ON
MEDICARE.
177 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE EMPLOYER
INSURANCE AND THEY WORRY THAT
THEY MIGHT
INSURANCE.
THEY MIGHT BE DUMPED IF THEY ARE
LOW INCOME INTO MEDICAID, THAT
40% OF THE DOCTORS WON'T SEVEN
BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDERPAID OR
THEY MIGHT BE DUMPED INTO A NEW
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM OF THE MIDDLE
INCOME OR THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE
DUMPED INTO A GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM.
THERE'S WORRY THAT, ESPECIALLY
AMONG OLDER AMERICANS, SOMEONE
MIGHT SAY, YOU ARE 70 YEARS OLD
AND YOU CAN'T HAVE A HIP REPLACEMENT.
AND
RECESSION ARE NOT INTERESTED IN
PAYING MORE OF AN EMPLOYER TAX.
AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS AND
THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS SAID,
DON'T SEND US MORE COSTS FOR
MEDICAID OR WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
AFFORD IT HERE.
WE'LL HAVE TO RAISE TAXES.
AND FEDERAL TAXES WOULD GO UP.
THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES.
THOSE AREN'T MADE
THOSE ARE ALL PART OF THE BILLS
MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH
CONGRESS AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE
ARE SAYING WAIT.
FINALLY, MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE
THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL S,
I'M THE PRESIDENT, I AM THE
AGENDA SETTER AND I WILL TAKE
CHARGE OF THIS DEBATE.
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS TEAM ARE
VERY SMART.
WE ADMIRE THEM VERY MUCH.
BUT IN SOME WAYS IT
OF A HARVARD LAW REVIEW MEETING
WITH EVERYONE SITTING AROUND
THINKING OF THE BRIGHT IDEAS AND
KNOWING GETTING ANYTHING DONE.
WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH A
GREAT BIG COMPLEX ISSUE LIKE
HEALTH
TO CLEAR THE DECKS, SET THE
AGENDA, TELL US WHAT TO DO, AND
SIT DOWN WITH THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADER AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADER
AND SAY, WHAT CAN WE DO."
AND THEN THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO
SAY, AS PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
DID, HALF A CENTURY
SAID, "I SHALL GO TO KOREA,"
PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD SAY, I
RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST, "HEALT
CARE IS THE ISSUE; I'M THE
PRESIDENT; HERE'S WHAT I THINK
WE S
STAY ON THIS ISSUE UNTIL IT'S
DONE."
NOW, A GOVERNOR
PRESIDENTS KNOW THAT IF THEY SAY
THAT AND DO THAT, AND STICK TO
IT FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES THEY
CAN USUALLY WEAR EVERYBODY ELSE.
NOW HE MAY NOT GET EXACTLY WHAT
HE WAN.
OF COURSE, HE PROBABLY WON'T.
BUT THERE MIGHT BE IMPROVEMENTS
TO THE BILL.
WHEN THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITIES
IN TENNESSEE IMPROVED MY
PROPOSAL I COULD ATTACK THEM OR
SAY, YOU HAVE IMPROVED MY PROPOSAL.
AND I USUALLY SAID YOU HAVE
INCREASED MY PROPOSALS AND GAVE
THEM
NEXT ISSUE.
SOX MR. PRESIDENT, ALL OVER
AMERICA, PEOPLE ARE ALARMED,
SOME ARE EVEN SCARED ABOUT
WASHINGTON TAKEOVERS, ABOUT DEBT
DOUBLING AND TRIPLING.
I SOUTH RIGHT COURSE FOR US
WOULD BE -- I WOULD SUGGEST THE
RIGHT COURSE FOR US IS
STEP BY STEP.
CAREFUL STEPS IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION ARE A GO WAY TO GET
I HOPE HE TELLS US EXACTLY WHAT
THOSE STEPS SHOULD BE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT
REMARKS, A STATEMENT I MADE ON
THE 75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE
GREAT
PARK LAST WHEN, OUR MOST VISITED NATIONAL PARK.
SE
DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB ONLY
EXCEED BY DOLLY PAR TON WHO
MADE US ALL IRRELEVANT BY HER
PERFORMANCE THERE.
BUT, TO HAVE THAT GREATARK FOR
75 YEARS IN THE EAST WERE UNITED THE EASTERN UNITED
STATES, WHERE NINE MILLION
PEOPLE VISIT, THREE TIMES AS
MANY VISITING OUR GREAT WESTERN
PA
SECRETARY TO COMING AND I LIKE
TO INCLUDE FOR THE RECORD MY REMARKS. I YIELD THE FLOOR.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATE WILL PROCEED TO A PERIOD
OF MORNING BUSINESS UNTIL 4:30
P.M. WITH SENATORS PERMITTED TO
SPEAK THEREIN FOR UP TO 10 MINUTES EACH.
THE SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
MR. DURBIN:
MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT 45 MINUTES
AGO EXACTLY HISTORY WAS MADE IN
AMERICA.
JUST ACROSS THE STREET NOT FAR
FROM THE STEPS OF STATES SENATE.
IF YOU GO TO THOSE STEPS AT
MOMENT AND LOOK DIRECTLY TO THE
EAST YOU WILL SEE THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT BUILDING
AND AT 2:00
BUILDING, THE 111th JUSTICE APPOINTED TO THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT RECEIVED HER
OFFICIAL
GREAT HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
BECAUSE THE ELEVATION OF SONYA
SOTOMAYOR TO SERVE ON THE UNITED
STATES SUPREME COURT
FIRST TIME IN OUR HISTORY THAT A
PEN OF HISPANIC DESCENT WILL --
DECENT WERE SERVE ON THE HIGHEST
COURT OF THE LAND.
IN THE COURSE OF OUR HISTORY
WITH 111 SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
MY MEMORY SENATORS ONLY FOUR
HAVE NOT BEEN WHITE MALES.
TWO
WOMEN.
NOW JUS JUSTICE SOTOMAYOR
THE CARE MOAFN WAS VERY SHORT.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WAS THERE, THE VRNTION A
NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
AND OF COURSE ALL OTHER EIGHT
SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND
RETIRING JUSTICE SOUTER.
AND IT WAS A VERY STATELY,
DIGNIFIED, GRACIOUS PRESENCE
THE CONSIDERATE WAS CONVENED.
AND AFTER ACRE HOLDER, THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL, READ THE
COMMISSION, WHICH
INVEST TOUR OF JUSCE
SOTOMAYOR, THE OATH WAS
ADMINISTERED TO HER BY THE
COMEEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME
COURT JOHN ROBERTS.
THE SUIRE CEREMONY TOOK FOUR MINUTES.
ONE OF
NECK TO ME, MEL MARTINEZ, WHO
WILL RETIRE FROM THE SENATE THIS
WEEK, SAID H IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN LONGER I
CAMERAS HERE.
THOSE OF US WHO SERVE IN THE SENATE AND HAVE SERVED IN THE
HOUSE KNOW WHAT HE SPEAKS OF.
THE FACT
PERIOD OF TIME
TURNED IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
U'RE OFFERING AN OPPORTUNI
NO
SUPREME COURT, IMMENSELY
QUALIFIED, A PERSON WITH GREAT BACKGROUND IN HER LIFE AND
ACHIEVEMENT, TO SERVE ON THE HIGHEST COURT OF THE LAND.
AND ACROSS AMERICA IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND TOWNS, IN
COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS, PERHAPS
A CHILD WILL LOOK UP AND WHEN
THEY LERNER OF THE ASCENSION AND
APPOINTMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, REALIZE
THAT THE GREAT PROMISE OF
AMERICA CONTINUES.
THIS STILL IS A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY AND THAT DOOR TO
OPPORTUNITY WAS OPENED A LITTLE
WIDER JUST ACROSS THE STREET AT
THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
ABOUT 45 MINUTES AGO.
34R-7
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WENT BACK TO SCHOOL.
HE WENT TO A LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL
IN THE DISK AREA TO GIVE A
SPEECH IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS
SPEECH BECAME CONTROVERSIAL.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT OVER THE
WEEKEND BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I
WENT DOWN TO
VIRGINIA.
IT WAS A TRIP
BECAUSE THE FIRST TRIP WE WENT
DOWN THERE WHEN I WAS A COLLEGE
STUDENT AND DROVE DOWN DL IN MY
V.W. BUG IN THE 160'S, I GOT
THERE TO FIND OUT I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ADMISSION.
I ALWAYS TOLD HER WE'D GET BACK HERE SOMEDAY.
TOURING THE GROUNDS THERE, AS WE
LEARNING CENTER, LEARNING A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR FIRST
PRESIDENT, YOU REALIZE WHAT AN
OPPORTUNITY HE
ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THEY ASKED OF GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS,
WHAT DO WE CALL YOU?
YOUR EXCELLENCY, YOUR
HE SAID JUST CALL ME MR. PRESIDENT.
THAT CREATED A TRADITION.
NOT JUST THE FORMAL TRADITION, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A TRADITION
OF HOW WE VIEW THE PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
HE HAD NOT ROYALTY, NOR IS TO BE
TREATED AS ROYALTY.
HE IS TO BE TREATED AS ANOTHER
AMERICAN BUT
MOMENT IN
HIGH OF THE COURT OF THE LAND,
THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND, I SHOULD SAY.
AND SO GEORGE WAG
STANDARD, A STANDARD OF RESPECT
BUT NOT ALL WHEN IT COMES TO THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT.
I THOUGHT THAT HAVE OVER THE
YEARS.
HE WAS A PRESIDENT I GENERALLY
ADMIRED. THERE WERE OTHERS I WAS MORE CRITICAL OF.
BUT I ALWAYS FELT THAT THE OFFICE DESERVED RESPECT, WHOEVER
OCCUPIES IT.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND NATION, THE
ELECTION OF A PERSON TO THAT
OFFICE AT LEAST, AT THE LEAST,
SHOULD GATHER THE RESPECT THAT
EACH REMINDER OWES TO THE OFFICE
AND SO THIS PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED
THAT HE WANTED TO PEEK TO THE
SCHOOLCHILDREN OF AMERICA TODAY
ON WHAT IS ROUGHLY THE FIRST DAY
OF SCHOOL H. SCHOOL ACROSS OUR
NATION.
HE WASN'T THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO
MAKE THAT SUGGESTION.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN OFFERED
A SPEECH TO THE CHILDREN OF
AMERICA.
PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH THE SAME.
I CAN'T RECALL ANY CONTROVERS
CONTROVERSYIAL WITH THE
ADDRESSES OF EITHER OF THOSE PRESIDENTS.
FOR REASONS THAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND, CRITICS CAME FORWARD
CRITICIZING PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR
WANTING TO SPEAK TO OUR SCHOOLCHILDREN.
EVEN IN MY HOME STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE PR
STATE, SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS
MADE A CONSCHUSS DECISION THAT THEY WOULD NOT BROADCAST OR MAKE
AVAILABLE SPEECH.
OTHERS ALLOWED CHILDREN TO OPT OUT IF THEIR PARENTS DIDN'T WANT
TO HEAR THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH
ITS A UNFORTUNATE AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THERE ARE THOSE OF BOTH
POLITICAL PARTIES WHO HAVE SAID
THAT.
SENATOR LAMAR ALEXANDER,
REPUBLICAN, WAS JUST ON THE
FLOOR, OUR FORMER SECRETARY OF
EDUCATION, HE FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.
HE SPOKE OUT AND SAID OF COURSE
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BEING
ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO SCHOOLCHILDREN ACROSS AMERICA.
LAURA BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY,
SAID THAT THIS MORNING.
OTHERS HAVE SAID THE SAME.
I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND TWO
THINGS: FIRST, RESPECT FOR THE
INSTITUTION OF THE PRESIDENCY,
AND, SECOND, THE FACT THAT THE
PRESIDENT SPEAKING MAY HAVE SOME
IMPACT ON PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA.
WELL, SPEECH AND I HOPE HIS CRITICS
HAVE BEEN SILENCED BECAUSE AS A
PARENT AND NOW AS A GRANDPARENT,
AS
EVERY KID IN AMERICA TO HEAR IT
AS HE EXPLAINED HIS OWN
BACKGROUND, THE TOUGH TIMES THAT
HE WENT THROUGH GROWING UP, THE
SACSACRIFICED MADE BY HIS SINGLE
MORNLINGS THE FACT THAT HIS
FATHER LEFT AT AN EARLY AGE, THE
FACT THAT IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR LIVES
EVEN AS THEY TRAVELED AROUND THE
WORLD AND THE PRESIDENT USED TO
TELL THE STO
HIS MOTHER WAKING HIM UP EARLY
WHEN THEY LIVED OVERSEAS AND
SAYING, LET'S GET READY FOR
SCHOOL.
WHEN HE'D WHINE AND CRY AT ABOUT
5:30 IN THE MORNING, HIS MOM
WITH A
ME EITHER, BUDDY."
AS IF A PARENT WHO CARED, A
MOTHER WHO CARED, AND A SON WHO
PROFITED FROM HER CARING.
WHEN I READ HIS
THE PRESIDENT SPOKE THESE WORDS
TO THE STUDENTS OF AMERICA.
IN THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT
DECIDE THAT THEIR CHILDREN
SHOULD NOT HEAR THIS, THEY OUGHT
TO STOP AND REFLECT WHETHER THAT WAS THE RI
WHEN THE
THE END OF THE DAY, THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT
YOU LOOK LIKE, WHERE YOU COME
FROM, HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE WHAT YOU'VE THE G.A.O. GOING ON
AT HOME, THOSE WHO EXCUSE FOR NEGLECTING YOUR HOMEWORK OR
HAVING A BAD ATTITUDE, THAT'S NO EXCUSE FOR AC TALKING BACK TO
THEIR TEACHER OR CUTTING CLASS
OR DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL,
THAT'S NO EXCUSE FOR NOT TRYING, WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW DOESN'T
ARE TO DERMINE WHERE YOU'LL
END UP," THE PRESIDENT SAID. "NO ONE'S WRITTEN YOUR DESTINY
FOR YOU.
HERE IN AMERICA YOU RIGHT YOUR OWN DESTINY.
YOU WILL MAKE YOUR HONE HE TALKED TO THESE STUDENTS, NOT
ONLY ABOUT DOING THEIR HOMEWORK
AND READING, GETTING INVOLVED IN
CENTER CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES,
VOLUNTEERING IN THEIR
DECIDING TO STAND UP FOR KIDS BEING TE
OF WHO THEY ARE OR WHO THEY LOOK, BECAUSE HE BELIEVE, "LIKE
I DO, THAT ALL KIDS DESERVE A
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TO STUDY AND LERNER."
THE PRESIDENT WENT TON SAY, "NO
ONE IS BORN BEING GOOD AT THINGS.
YOU BECOME GOOD AT THINGS
THROUGH HARD WORK."
THEN HE SAID, "AND EVEN WHEN
YOU'RE STRUGGLE, DISCOURAGED,
FEEL LIKE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE
GIVEN UP ON YOU, DON'T EVER GIVE
UP ON YOURSELF BECAUSE WHEN YOU
GIVE UP ON ON YOU ARE SE
YOU GIVE UP
THE STORY OF AMERICA IS NOT
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO QUIT WHEN
THINGS GOT TOUGH. IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE WHO TRIED
HARDER, WHO LOVED THEIR COUNTRY
TOO MUCH TO DO ANYTHING LESS
THAN THE BEST."
MR. PRESIDENT,
PRESIDENT OBAMA TO THE
SCHOOLCHILDREN OF AMERICA WAS A
POSITIVE THING, A GOOD THING.
SOME SAID IT WAS A WAY TO
PROMOTE HIS SOCIALIST AGENDA.
IT WAS POLITICAL I FIND NOTHING POLITICAL ABOUT
THESE COMMENTS.
THESE
CHILD, ANY STUDENT ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND I'M GLAD THE
PRESIDENT TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO USE WHATEVER INFLUENCE HE HAS OVER THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TOUIDE
THEM ON ROO THE RIGHT PATH AS THEY
START OUT IN THEIR SCHOOL YEAR. MR. PRESIDENT, THE LAST ISSUE
I'D THRIEWK ADDRESS FOR A MOMENT
IS THE AUGUST RECESS
AUGUST IS A BLAZING
THE MIDWEST, WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY,
THGH THEY WERE TEMPERED A
LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, A LITTLE
COOLER THAN USUAL, A LITTLE
WETTER THAN IEWRKS BUT WE HAD
OUR HOT DAYS.
BUT THE HOTTEST DAYS ARE
RESERVED FOR THE POLITICAL SCENE
BECAUSE P IN TOWN MEETINGS
ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND ACROSS
THE NATION MANY TIMES TEMPERS
FLARED, THERE WAS SHOVELING AND
SHOUTING GOING ON AT THESE TOWN MEETINGS.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE
POLITICAL SCENE, YOU KNOW THERE
ARE MOMENTS WHEN THE MEIGSS ARE
RAISED TO A HIGH-FEEFERREDZ
PITCH.
FORTUNATELY FOR US, THE REASON
FOR THIS INTEREST WAS GENUINE.
WE ARE
THE CHANGE OF THE HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM
TERALLY AFFECTS EVERY RSON IN OUR COUNTRY.
IT'S RARE THAT WE WOULD TACKLE
AN ISSUE THAT IS THAT
ALL-EMBRACING, THAT TOUCHES
EVERYBODY, AND ITS AND HABLE
THAT PEOPLE HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IF MEANS TO
THEIR LIVES, AND I FOUND THE SAME THING IN ILLINOIS.
I TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE.
I MET WITH DOCTORS AND NURSES
AND HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS,
FOLKS, PATIENTS, STRUGGLING WITH ILLNESS AND DISEASE, THOSE WHO
HAD BEEN TURNED DOWN BY HEALTH
INSURANCE COMPANIES, AVERAGE
PEOPLE COMING UP TO
RESTAURANTS AND FOLKS AT THE
AIRPORT TALKING TO ME ABOUT
THEIR LIFE'S EXPERIENCE WHEN IT
CAME TO HEALTH CARE.
IT
COMMON, AN ISSUE WE ALL CARE
ABOUT.
BUT SADLY THERE WAS AN ORGANIZED
EFFORT TO DISRUPT MANY OF THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.
THESE WEREN'T PEOPLE WHO WANTED
TO EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION TO
ANY PENDING LEGISLATION SO MUCH
AS TO END THE MEETING, TO TRY TO
RAISE THEIR VOICES ABOVE ALL
OTHERS AND
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AS PART OF
THIS.
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT POINT OF
VIEW REVEILED AT THE END OF THE DAY.
THERE ARE
QUESTIONS ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM.
QUESTIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE
ANSWERED DIRECTLY AND HONESTLY.
AS WE PROCEED IN THIS DEBAT
BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY
MIND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT
WE NEED TO MAKE SOME NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
THE COST OF HEALTH CARE IS GOING UP THRETIMES FASTER
THAN THE WAGES OF WORKING AMERICANS.
IT'LL REACH A POINT WHERE AND
MORE OF YOUR TAKE-HOME PAY WILL
SADLY WILL NOT PROVIDE AS MUCH
COVERAGE NEXT YEAR IT IS A DID
THIS YEAR. WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE
FIND OUT I IT IS NOT THERE BH THEY NEED IT.
I RAN INTO THAT. A GENTLEMAN IN QUINCY, ILLINOIS,
AT ONE OF DAY, HE AND HIS WIFE BOTH HAD
LOST THEIR JOBS. 19 YEARS HE'D BEEN WITH WITH THE
LOCAL BANK WITH HEALTH INSURANCE
AND HE LOST HIS JOB. BECAUSE HE AND HIS WIFE HAD A
SPECIAL-NEED CHILD, THEY PAID
THE COBRA PREMIUM, WHICH, IF YOU
UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS, ONCE
YOU HAVE A LOST A JOB YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE IF
YOU WILL PAY THE EMPLOYER AND
EMPLOYEE PORTIONS.
EVEN THOUGH WE'VE MADE THAT MORE
REASONABLE IN COST, IT'S STILL VERY EXPENSIVE.
BUT BECAUS
CHILD, HE DECIDED HE AND HIS
WIFE HAD TO DIP INTO THEIR SAVES
TO KEEP THE HEALTH INSURANCE
COVERING THEIR
FAMILY EVEN WHILE THEY'RE UNEMPLOYED.
SADLY, DURING THIS PERIOD OF
TIME OF UNEMPLOYMENT, HIS SON
FELL DOWN THE STAS AND NEEDED BRAIN SURGERY.
THEY SHIPPED HIM ACROSS THE
RIVER INTO IOWA WHERE HE WAS
SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED ON.
THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS HERE.
AND THEN THE FATHER DPEPT
LOOKING FOR A JOB ONLY TO
THAT
GOING TO DENY THEIR CLAIM FOR
THIS BRAIN SURGERY. WELL, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. IT WOULD BE -- IF THE IN
COMPANY FAILED TO PAY.
NOW THIS MAN, UNEMPLOYED LOOK
FOR A JOB, WITH A HAVE THOSE SPECIAL NEEDS AND A
WIFE W IS TRYING TO SUBSTITUTE TEACHING JOBS TO HELP
OUT, HAS TO SPEND A GOOD PART O
HIS
INSURANCE COMPANY OVER WHETHER HIS SON IS GOING TO BE COVERED
NOR THAT EMERGENCY SURGERY.
IT'S NOT RARE.
IN FACT, ITS EATS TOO COMMON. THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON WHEN
THEY NEED THE COVERAGE OF HEALTH INSURANCE FINDS OUT THAT THEY'RE
IN A BATTLE.
NOT WITH
WITH SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR A
HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY WHO SAYS NO. THAT'S GOT TO CHANGE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE BOTH SIDES AGREE ON --
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS -- IS
THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT B HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING
CONDITION. YOU SHOULDN'T BE
DENIED HEALTH INSURANCE WHEN IT
TURNS OUT YOU'RE SICK AND NEED IT.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR
HEALTH INSURANCE FROM ANOTHER.
YOU SHOULDN'T SHAH CAP ON THE
TOTAL AMOUNT OF COVERAGE LIFETIME.
YOUR CHILDREN SHOULDN'T BE HIGH
COMPLETELY UNPROTECTED.
THESE ARE THE THINGS WHICH MOST
PEOPLE AGREE SHOULD BE PART OF
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM AND I
HOPE WE CAN MAKE IT PART OF
COMMON BIPARTISAN EFFORT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
THERE'S ANOTHER ISSUE, AND IT'S
ONE THAT I'LL ADDRESS AS I TALK
ABOUT THIS ISSUE LATER IN THE
WEEK, AND I THINK
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
THAT 47 MILLION AMERICANS TODAY
HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE HAVE ABOUT 300 MILLION PEOPLE
IN OUR COUNTRY.
ABOUT
UNDER SOME SORT OF GOVERNMENT
HEALTH PLAN: MEDICAID FOR THE
POOR AND DISABLED, MEDICARE FOR
THOSE IN ADVANCED YEARS, WHICH
I'M SOON
COVERED BIVENS HEALTH CARE
AND -- COULD HAVE HAD BY
VETERANS HEALTH CARE AND THOSE
COULD HAVE HAD BY
HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS.
TAKE THOSE
HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS ASIDE AND
THE REMAINING IN AMERICA HAVE NO
HEALTH INSURANCE.
THEY ARE NOT THE POOREST PEOPLE
IN AMERICA.
THEY ARE NOT
OURSELVES WHO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK EVERY
SINGLE D AND HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE.
I MET PLENTY OF THEM AS I
TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND -- I DO
UNDERSTAND BUT I CERTAINLY SYMPATHIZE WITH THE SITUATION
WHERE YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING
AND LOOK AT THOSE CHILDREN IN
THAT BED AS A FATHER AND REALIZE
THEY'RE ONE ACCIDENT OR ONE
DIAGNOSIS AWAY FROM A MEDICAL
CATASTROPHE THAT COULD THREATEN
THEIR LIVES AND WIPE OUT YOUR SAVINGS.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WITH HEALTH
INSURANCE FACE -- WITHOUT HEALTH
SO IN ADDITION TO THE COST, IN
ADDITION TO WHETHER THE HEALTH
INSURANCE IS THERE WHEN WE NEED
IT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT EVERYBODY
IN AMERICA SHOULD BE DRAWN IN
UNDER THE PROTECTION OF HEALTH
INSURANCE.
I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD.
THE PEOPLE WITHOUT HEALTH
INSURANCE, WHEN THEY REACH A
CRITICAL TIME IN THEIR LIVES AND
ARE DESPERATE, SHOW UP AT HOSPITAL.
AND OUR HOSPITALS TREAT THEM AND
THEN PASS ALONG THE EXPENSE OF
TREATING THEM TO EVERYONE ELSE.
IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER IN??
AMERICA FOR US TO
COVERAGE AND PROTECTION FOR
EVERYONE AND TO HELP THOSE IN
THE LOWEST-INCOME CATEGORIES PAY
FOR THAT PROTECTION.
I THINK THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY JUST.
IT IS
IT IS GOOD, SOUND POLICY.
SO THAT THIS HAVE AND HAVE-NOT
SITUATION WOULDN'T APPLY TO
CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE OR DEATH,
WHICH IS THE WAY IT DOES TODAY.
AND FINALLY, WE HAVE TO FIND A
WAY TO CHANGE THIS HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM WHEN IT INCENTIVES.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE SOMETHING
CALLED FEE FOR SERVICE, WHICH
HOSPITAL COMES UP WITH A NEW
PROCEDURE OR A NEW SERVICE, THEY
ARE PAID MORE.
IT CREATES AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE
TO DO MORE THAN MAYBE NECESSARY.
WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.
AND I THINK WE CAN.
WE HAVE TO TRY TO STRESS
PREVENTIVE
WE DON'T DO ENOUGH OF THAT.
INSTEAD OF JUST THIS RESCUE CARE
AND SICKNESS, WHICH IS THE
HALLMARK OF OUR CURRENT SYSTEM.
PREVENTIVE CARE AND WELLNESS
MEANS HAVING ACCESS TO CLINICS
AND PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS
ACROSS THE UNITEDTATES.
I WANT
FAMILY PHYSICIANS.
THEY JOIN ME IN EVERY TOWN IN ME STATE.
THEY FULLY SUPPORT THIS.
THEY UNDERSTAND HEALTH CARE
REFORM IS ESSENTIAL TO FAMILIES
WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE A FIGHTING
CHANCE FOR GOOD HEALTH CARE.
THOSE ARE THE BASICS IN THE DEBATE.
THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF SEPARE
QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC OPTION
AND INDIVIDUAL MANDAS AND MANY
OTHER ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH.
SENATOR ALEXANDER OF TENNESSEE,
WHO I MENTIONED EARLIER IN MY
COMMENTS,
AGO, IT'S TIME FOR US TO START
OVER WHEN IT
CARE DEBATE AND ENGAGE BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE IN THE DEBATE.
I WOULD SAY TO SENATOR
ALEXANDER, WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF
TIME LEARNING A LOT OF THINGS,
ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE CHALLENGES
OF AMERICA AND HOW TO REACH A
WAY TO DEAL WITH THEM.
WE HAVE KEPT THE DOOR OPEN FOR
THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE WHO ARE WILLING TO C
FORWARD
SOME HAVE SAID NO, THEY'RE NOT
INTERESTED FOR A VARIETY OF
AND TO DATE, ONLY THREE HAVE
STEPPED IN TO BIPARTISAN
CONVERSATION -- THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS.
I HOPE MORE WILL.
IT WILL BE HEALTHY AND POSITIVE.
THE WORST THING WE CAN DO,
MR. PRESIDENT, IS TO WALK AWAY
FROM THIS ISSUE, TO S
BECAUSE SOME TOWN MEETINGS WERE
DISRUPTED OR SOME PEOPLE HAVE
STRONG EMOTIONAL FEELINGS ABOUT
THIS ISSUE, THAT WE NEED TO WALK
AWAY FROM IT.
BECAUSE THE CURRENT HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM IN AMERICA IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
IT IS T
WE SPEND TWICE AS MUCH PER
PERSON FOR HEALT
AMERICA AS ANY NATION ON EARTH.
AND THOSE THERE ARE POSITIVE
THINGS TO POINT TO IN TERMS OF
OUR HEALTH CARE IN OUR COUNTRY,
SOME COUNTRIES SPENDING FAR LESS
GET MUCH BETTER RESULTS IN MANY AREAS.
WE CAN DO
SECONDLY, WHO WOULD
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM?
I WOULD HOPE EVERYONE
UNDERSTA
THE DAY THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WE SHOULD DO THAT ON A
BIPARTISAN BASIS.
I HOPE THERE ARE THOSE WHO FEEL
WE SHOULD CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THOEGS WHO ARE UNINSURED --
FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNINSURED TO
HAVE BASIC INSURANCE PROTECTION.
THOSE WHO CRITICIZE THE COST OF
HEALTH CARE REFORM OVERLOOK THE
OBVIOUS.
IF WE DON'T HELP LOW-INCOME
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN
AMERICA PAY FOR HEALTH
INSURANCE, THEY WON'T HAVE IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THAT
COVERAGE, WE'LL BE RIGHT WHERE
WE ARE TODAY.
WITH ONE-FOURTH OF THOSE NOT
COVERED BY GOVERNMENT PLANS
HAVING NO HEALTH INSURANCE
PROTECTION WHATSOEVER.
AND WE NEED TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM
TO FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND
WELLNESS.
THAT MEANS ENCRAGING MORE
PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS AND
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO
REACH OUT TO FAMILIES AND
COMMUNITIES ACROSS ILLINOIS AND
ACROSS THE NATION.
IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT
THIS, I'M NOT SURE THAT WE CAN
SUSTAIN THE SYSTEM MUCH LONGER.
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO ONE OUT OF
THREE PEOPLE FILING FOR
BANKRUPTCY IN
BECAUSE OF MEDICAL COSTS.
ONE OUT OF THREE.
TODAY IT'S TWO OUT OF THREE.
TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE PERSONAL
BANKRUPTCIES IS OVER M COSTS.
AND LISTEN TO THIS: 78% OF THE
PEOPLE FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY
BECAUSE OF MEDICAL COSTS, 78% OF
THEM HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
IT ISN'T VERY GOOD.
IT DOESN'T PROTECT THEM WHEN
THEY NEED IT.
IT LEFT THEM HIGH AND DRY WHEN
MAJOR MEDICAL BILLS CAME THROUGH.
SO, THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS
DEBATE
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE AND I'M SORRY SOME
PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING, BUT I'M OKAY.
I'M COVERED.
SHOULD PAUSE AND REFLECT FOR A
MOMENT THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE
IN BANKRUPTCY COURT TODAY
BANKRUPTCY AND THE LOSS OF
VIRTUALLY ALL THEIR ASSETS WERE
INSURANCE AND WHO ALSO, IN
BELIEF -- THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MR. DURBIN: WE HAVE A CHANCE
IN THE COMING WEEKS TO COME
TOGETHER ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.
I HOPE THAT REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS WHO LISTEN CAREFULLY
AT HOME UNDERSTAND THAT DESPITE
THE
THAT WE CANNOT LEAVE THE CURRENT
SYSTEM AS IT IS.
IF WE DON'T MAKE A POSITIVE
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
MR. DeMINT: MR. PRESIDENT, WELCOME BACK.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
IF YOU WERE LIKE ME, YOU
PROBABLY HAD A NUMBER OF TOWN HALLS.
I KNOW A NUMBER
COLLEAGUES OVER THE HOLIDAYS DID.
I SAW A NUMBER OF THEM ON
TELEVISION AND SAW THE MANY
THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS WHO CAME
TO TOWN HALLS, AS THEY DID TO
MI, WHO WERE VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF OUR COUNTRY.
FRANKLY, IN SOUTH
HAD SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE COME
TO DIFFERENT TOWN HALL MEETINGS,
ALL WITH A VERY VIEW.
THAT THOUGHT THIS GOVERNMENT HAD
GOTTEN TOO BIG, WAS SPENDING TOO
MUCH MONEY OR WERE TAXING TOO
MUCH AND TAKING OVER TOO MUCH OF
OUR ECONOMY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE
CONCERNED NOT JUST ABOUT HEALTH CARE.
I CAN AGREE WITH THE SEN
THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE NEED TO
DO, BUT THE LAST THING WE SHOULD
DO IS HAVE THIS GOVERNMENT TAKE
IT OVER, AND MANY THINGS WE CAN
DO TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET MORE
INSURED.
PEOPLE WHO CAME TO OUR TOWN
HALLS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
MANY, MANY OTHER TOWN
WERE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ISSUE.
THEY LOOKED BACK OVER THE LAST
YEAR, OVER REPUBLICAN AND
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, TO SEE TWO
FAILED STIMULUS BLS, TWO
BAILOUTS WHICH MANY BELIEVED
WERE
PROPOSED TAKEOVER OF THE ENERGY
AND HEALTH CARE INDUSTRIES, AND
THE ACTUAL TAKEOVER OF BANKS AND
INSURANCE COMPANIES AND CARMAKERS.
PEOPLE ARE FED UP.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SIMPLY
TOO BIG.
THE DEBTS WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW
FOR OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN
AND OUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE TRULY UNSUSTAINABLE.
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE
MONEY'S COMING FROM.
THEY WONDER WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.
AND THE A
WHAT WE SAW OVER THE BREAK, THE
GENUINE OUTRAGE AND CONCERN
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE VERY
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON IN THIS
SENATE TODAY, AFTER THE AUGUST
BREAK, IS TO VOTE TO START
ANOTHER GOVERNMENT PROGR, TO
SPEND $400 MILLION TO INCREASE
TAXES TO GET THE FEDERAL
GO
PRIVATE-SECTOR BUSINESS.
WHAT DID WE LEARN OVER OUR
SUMMER VACATION?
IF WE VOTE TO PASS THIS BILL,
OBVIOUSLY LEARNED VERY LITTLE.
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS T
TRAVEL
MANY OF YOU HERE IN THE GALLERY
AND AROUND THE COUNTRY THINK I'M
PROBABLY MAKING THIS UP.
THAT AFTER WHAT WE SAW
AMERICA, THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY
HAVE THE SERVE TO BRING UP A
BILL THAT FORMS A NEW
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISE,
A LA FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE A
GENERAL -- A
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISE
THAT PROMOTES TRAVEL AND TOURISM
IN AMERICA.
I GUESS WE CAN CALL IT FANNIE
TRAVEL.
LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE IDEA, BECAUSE THE IDEA
IS THAT TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN
AMERICA IS A VERY IMPORTANT
INDUSTRY -- WHICH IT IS.
IT'S THE NUMBER-ONE INDUSTRY IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.
IT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST
PROSPEROUS.
THAT'S THE MAIN REASON WE DON'T
WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
GET INVOLVED WITH
GOING TO CHARGE A $10 FEE FOR
EVERYONE W COMES TO VISIT
AMERICA IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THIS
ADVERTISING PROGRAM THAT WILL
PROMOTE AMERICAN PEOPLE ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
ALL THESE FEES WOULD BE POOLED,
AND THEY WOULD BE MATCHED BY
SOME OF THE MAJOR TOURISM
INDUSTRIES SUCH AS DISNEY.
AND WE WOULD HAVE A
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISE
THAT'S PROMOTING TOURISM.
BUT THEY'RE SAYING IT REALLY
WON'T COST AMERICANS ANYTHING
BECAUSE THIS IS A TAX ON
FOREIGNERS COMING TO THIS COUNTRY.
BUT I'VE GOT A LETTER IN MY
OFFICE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
AND OTHER ALLIES OF THIS COUNTRY
THAT SAYS THAT THIS IS VIOLATING
AGREEMENTS WE HAD W
AND IF WE DO THIS, THEY'RE GOING
TO ADD A SIMILAR FEE TO
AMERICANS VISITING THEIR
COUNTRY.
WE'RE
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS THAT WILL
ULTIMATELY END UP COSTING
AMERICANS MONEY.
IT WILL CREATE ANOTHER
GOVERNMENT ENTITY.
AND, FOLKS, IT'S NOT
THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE
EMERGENCIES THAT WE HAVE TO DO
THIS WEEK.
WHY, WHEN WE HAVE ALL OF THIS
DEBT, WOULD WE CREATE ANOTHER
PROGRAM AND ANOTHER TAX THAT
THIS FEDERAL
TO RUN?
MAYBE IT'S FANNIE TRAVEL.
MAYBE IT'S CASH FORRISM.
THE PROBLEM -- CASH FOR TOURISM.
THE PROBLEM WITH TOURISM IN
AMERICA IS NOT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
WE'RE HERE.
THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE GOT ONE OF
THE MOST UNFRIENDLY IMMIGRATION
SERVICES IN THE WORLD.
WE ALSO ARE ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT COUNTRIES TO GET A VISA FOR.
I HAVE A
WHO REGULARLY NEEDS TO BRING
PEOPLE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE
WORLD TO TRAIN AMERICAN WORKERS,
BUT THEY CAN'T GET VISAS, SO
THEY SEND AMERICAN WORKERS TO
OTHER COUNTRIES TO GET THE
TRAINING THEY NEED BECAUSE IT'S
SO MUCH TROUBLE TO GET THE VISAS
TO GET THEM IN HERE.
MAJOR INDUSTRIES HAVE TRADE
SHOWS OUTSIDE OF THIS COUNTRY
BECAUSE YOUAN'T GET THE VISAS
FOR CUSTOMERS COMING IN LOOKING
AT OUR
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW WE'RE HERE.
IT'S JUST THAT THE GOVERNMENT
INVOLVEMENT THAT'S ALREADY
INVOLVED WITH TOURISM AND TRAVEL
IN OUR COUNTRY IS NOT DOING A
GOOD JOB.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH
THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRODUCT, THE
LAST THING YOU
PRICES AND INCREASE ADVERTISING,
WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT DOING WITH THIS BILL.
THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE MOST
FRIENDLY AND EFFICIENT CUSTOM
SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, AND THAT
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
COUNTRY CAN GET A VISA AND A
VERY QUICK BACKGRO
WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO COME IN HERE ARE SAFE.
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE
THOSE PROBLEMS WITH HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF
ADVERTISING AND A NEW GOVERNMENT
AGEN
CORPOR COUNTRY.
TOURISM IS TOO IMPORTANT TO TURN
OVER TO THE
WH??
-- WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT WHEN WE LOOK
AROUND THE COUNTRY AND THE LEVEL
OF DEBT
TH'RE CONCERNED THAT WE'RE
IGNORING THE CONSTITUTIONAL
PRINCIPLES THAT WE SWEAR AN OATH TO.
THEY'RE GOING TO ASK US WHEN WE
VOTE ON THIS BILL, WHERE IN THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES DO WE FIND THE AUTHORITY
TO RUN TRAVE
THIS COUNTRY?
YOU KNOW, MAJOR TOURISM
COMPANIES LIKE DISNEY ARE NOT
HAVING TROUBLE.
IN FACT, I THINK DISNEY JUST
REPORTED A $4 BILLION PROFIT
FROM LAST YEAR AND THEY JUST
BOUGHT
FOR $4 BILLION.
OUR ECONOMY HAS PUT A STRAIN ON TOURISM, BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS THE LAST ENTITY
THAT NEEDS TO TRY TO OUT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BORROW
MONEY OR TAX SOMEONE TO CREATE
THIS NEW GOVERNMENT PROGRAM.
BUT THIS IS A DEBATE THAT
BACK TO WHAT
CONSTITUTION ALLOW US TO DO?
AND ARE YOU CAN'T READ THE
CONSTITUTION WITHOUT SEEING SOME
VERY SEVERE LIMITS ON WHAT IS
EXPECTED OF THIS FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
AND, CERTAINLY, THE
THE CASH FOR CLUNKERS AND THIS
NEW TRAVEL AND TOURISM AGENCY
THEY'RE STARTING HAS NOTHING TO
DO WITH OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
FUNCTIONS HERE.
FOLKS, WE'VE
OVER $11 TRILLION IN DEBT
ALREADY IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE'RE PROJECTING TO ALMOST
DOUBLE THAT OVER THE NEXT 10
YEARS WITH WHA
ON THE BOOKS.
WITH SOCIAL SECURITY AND
MEDICARE ALONE, THE UNFUNDED
LIABILITY THAT WE HAVE OUT MANY,
MANY YEARS IS LIK LIKE $100 TRILLION.
WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE'RE
GOING TO GET ALL OF THIS MONEY.
HOW CAN WE EVEN DISCUSS STARTING
A NEW GOVERNMENT ENTITY WHEN THE
ONES THAT WE'VE STARTED ARE
REALLY AT HEART OF OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS?
YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND OUR ECONOMY
WITHOUT SEEING FANNIE MAE AND
FREDDIE MAC PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN
BRINGING THE WORLDWIDE ECONOMY
TO ITS KNEES.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK BACK BUT
ONE MONTHS TO SEE
GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WE CREATED IN
CASH FORLUNKERS DID.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A $1 BILLION
SIX-MONTH PROMOTION AND SELL A
LOT OF CARS.
WE WERE OUT OF MONEY IN ONE WEEK
AND VOTED TO PASS
ANOTHER $2 BILLION AND
OF WEEKS LATER THEY CANCELED THE PROGRAM.
WE THE CAN'T RUN THE TRAVEL AND
PROMOTION INDUSTRY FROM
WASHINGTON, D.C.
FOLKS, I HAVE TO DRAW A VERY
DIFFICULT CONCLUSION, THAT ANY
OF MY FELLOW SENATORS WHO VOTE
FOR
UNDERSTAND THE SEVERITY OF OUR
ECONOMIC AND FISCAL PROBLEMS OR
THEY JUST DON'T CARE.
THEY CERTAINLY DENY HEAR
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS SPEAKING
OVER THE AUGUST BREAK IN TELLING
US THAT WE WANT -- THEY WANT US
TO GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF A
CONSTITUTIONAL FORM OF
GOVERNMENT AND STOP TRYING TO
WIN THEIR VOTES BY BRINGING HOME
THE BACON, WASTEFUL
EARMARKS AND NEW GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS AND ALL OF THESE FALSE,
EMPTYROMISES BASED ON GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS.
I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE MY
COLLEAGUES, LET'S GET THE REST
OF THE YEAR STARTED OFF IN A
REASONABLE
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW TO FIX
HEALTH CARE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW TO CREATE
JOBS IN AMERICA.
BUT, FOR
DON'T CREATE A NEW GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM AS THE FIRST VOTE WE TAKE IN THE SENATE.
I THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA.
MR. McCAIN: MR. PRESIDENT,
TODAY, AS WE ALL
FRURNS THEUGUST RECESS --
RETURNS FROM THE AUGUST RECESS,
AND PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ISSUES OF RECENT TIME
AFFECTING ONE-SIXTH OF AMERICA'S
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND
RISING TO AS MUCH AS ONE-FIFTH
IS HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH CARE
REFORM WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER,
INCLUDING A HIGHLY UNUSUAL
APPEARANCE TOMORROW NIGHT BEFORE
A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
THE LAST TIME, A
SUCH A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS
WAS CALLED
REGULAR ONE, WAS BY FORMER
PRESIDENT BUSH CONCERNING THE
EVENTS SURROUNDING THE ATTACKS
ON THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
OF 9/11.
DURING
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, A VERY
BUSY SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS AND
ADDRESSING VARIOUS ISSUES,
INCLUDING TRAVEL TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
AND THAT VISIT WILL BE SUB --
THE SUBJECT OF OTHER STATEMENTS
ON THE FLOOR.
BUT
HALL MEETINGS WITH MY CONSTITUENTS.
I ALSO ATTENDED MEETINGS AND
FORUMS WITH HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS IN MISSOURI, NORTH
CAROLINA, AND FLORIDA, SO THAT I
COULD -- ALONG WITH MY
COLLEAGUES -- BETTER UNDERST
AMERICA'S THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ON
REFORMING OUR NATION'S HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE
THAT THERE IS A PEACEFUL
REVOLUTION GOING ON OUT IN AMERICA.
I HAVE NOT SEEN IN THE YEARS
THAT I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF
CONGRESS SUCH ANGER AND
DISSATISFACTION WITH THE WAY
THAT THE CONGRESS AND, WE IN
WASHINGTON, ARE DOING BUSINESS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT'S
APPROVAL NUMBERS FALL.
AND THE UNRULY AND SOMETIMES
DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR AT TOWN HALL
MEETINGS HAS BEEN AN EXHIBIT OF
THE ANGER AND DISSATISFACTION
THAT AMERICANS FEEL.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I
THINK THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS
SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITH RESPECT.
THEY SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN A
WAY THAT IS AN AMERICAN
TRADITION THAT ALL AMERICANS
BE HEARD FROM AS WELL AS THEIR
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.
BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE
ATTENDED TOWN HALL MEETINGS
NEVER BEFORE IN THEIR LIVES HAD
BEEN ENGAGED IN ANY DEBATE IN AMERICA.
AND THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON
OUT THERE.
I CERTAINLY GOT THE MESSAGE AND
I HOPE THAT THE MAJORITY OF MY
COLLEAGUES DID AS WELL.
AND IT'S MORE CLEAR TO ME THAT
WE HAVE TO REFORM THE WAY THAT
COUNTRY, BUT WE? HAVE TO DO
THE RIGHT WAY WITHOUT A
GOVERNMENT
THE PROBLEM WITH HEALTH CARE IN
AMERICA IS NOT THE QUALITY OF
HEALTH CARE.
THE PROBLEM WITH HEALTH CARE IN
AMERICA IS
CARE THAT ALMOST OR NET DOUBLE
DIGIT INFLATION THAT TAKES PLA
ANNUALLY WHICH DEPRIVES MORE AND
MORE AMECANS THEIR ABILITY TO
ACQUIRE AND KEEP HEALTH
INSURANCE.
NOW, AMONG OTHER PLACES I
SITED RECENTLY, ONE OF THEM
WAS A PLACE CALLED M.D.
ANDERSON, A CANCER TREATMENT
FACILITY IN
THERE WERE PATIENTS FROM 90
COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
WHY?
BECAUSE IT'S THE HIGHEST QUALITY
HEALTH
SO THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE
THAT WE HAVE HERE BETWEEN THOSE
OF US WHO WANT TO REFORM HEALTH
CARE TO REDUCE THE COSTS AND
MAINTAIN THE QUALITY IS THE
ARGUMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT AND
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
THAT THEY WANT A -- QUOTE --
"GOVERNMENT OPTION" THAT THEY
REFUSE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM, THAT
THEYEFUSE TO ALLOW SOMEONE TO
GO ACROSS STATE LINES AND
ACQUIRE THE HEALTH INSURANCE OF
THEIR CHOICE, THAT THEY CONTINUE
TO ALLOW PRACTICES TO GO ON THAT
BREED
MEDICARE, WHICH ARE WELL
DOCUMENTED TO THE TUNE OF
HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
A YEAR.
WE MUST REFORM HEALTH
WE CAN'T DO IT
SOLUTION THAT IS ADVOCATED BY
THE OTHER
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN UNABLE
TO REACH AN AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE
HAVE TWO
PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN OURSELVES AND THOSE WHO
WANT TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT
OPTION, WHO WANT TO HAVE GREATER
AND GREATER INTERVENTION IN THE
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, AND I
ON THE WAY OVER FROM THE A.P.
READ THIS -- THAT IT SAYS THAT
UP TO $3,800 FINE FOR FAILURE TO
GET HEALTH INSURANCE.
WASHINGTON A.P., A TOP SENATOR
IS CALLING FOR FINES UP T
TO $3,800 ON FAMILIES WHO FAIL
TO GET MEDICAL INSURANCE AFTER A
HEALTH CARE OVERHAUL GOES INTO EFFECT.
MY FRIENDS, DO WE
THAT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?
A $3,800 FINE?
AND THAT'S WHY WE ALSO NEED
STEP BACK AND EXAMINE THE
600-PAGE BILL WE PASSED TOUGH
THE "HELP" COMMITTEE WITHOUT THE
FINANCING PROVISION,
MANY THOUSAND PAGE -- THOUSAND
PAGE ORA?O BILL THAT WAS PASSED
THROUGH THE HOUSE JUST BEFORE
THEY LEFT AND FIG
ELSE WE HAVE ADDED IN THIS BILL.
SO WHY ARE AMERICANS ANGRY AND
UPSET?
THEY'RE A
PRESIDENT, BECAUSE OF THIS --
BECAUSE WE SPENT $778 BILLIO
THE STIMULUS
IS $1.1 TRILLION WITH
INTEREST, $700 BILLION ON TARP
TARP, $410 BILLION WITH 9,000
EARMARKS IN IT IN
APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
$3.5 TRILLION IN THE BUDGET
RESOLUTION.
$83 BILLION TO BAIL OUT AUTO
COMPANIES.
$33
CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE
PROGRAM.
AND A $1 TRILLION TO $2 TRILLION
COST ASSOCIATED WITH
COMMITTEE'S PLAN THAT WENT
THROUGH THE "HELP" COMMITTEE
ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE, WHICH WOULD NOT
BEND THE CURVE ACCORDING TO THE
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE.
AND WHAT HAVE WE GOTTEN FOR ALL
OF THIS?
MY FRIENDS, WE'VE GONE FROM 8%
TO 9.7% -- WE'VE GONE TO 9.7% UNEMPLOYME
AFTER THE PRESIDENT AND ALL OF
HIS ECONOMIC ADVISERS SAID IF WE
PASS THE STIMULUS BILL,
UNEMPLOYMENT WILL BE A MAXIMUM
OF 8%.
AS THEY SAY, YOU CAN LOOKT UP.
IT'S NOW
THE PUBLIC DEBT I
IS $11.7 TRILLION AND SOMETIME
IN OCTOBER WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO INCREASE THE FEDERAL DEBT
LIMIT WHICH IS GOING TO GO
AND I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT
WE'RE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT
WE SAY IN 2006 THE CURRENT
PRESIDENT SPOKE IN OPPOSITION TO
RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT
TO $9 TRILLION SAYING -- QUOTE
-- "WASHINGTON IS SHIFTING THE
BURDEN OF BAD CHOICES TODAY ON
TO THE BACKS OF OUR CHILDREN AND
GRANDCHILDREN.
AMER
FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP." UNQUOTE.
THAT WAS FROM A QUOTE FROM THE
THEN SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS, NOW
PRES
SO WHERE DID WE GO?
WH
TO 12 AND A FEW WEEKS AGO A
SMALL ROUNDING ERA, OVER A
10-YEAR DEFICIT WAS FRO
FR
JUST A $2 TRILLION ROUNDING
ERROR.
SO THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
ABOUT.
THE COMMISSION OF GENERATIONAL
THEFT ON OUR CHILDREN GRANDCHILDREN.
AND NO ONE -- NO ONE HAS A
IN THE ADMISSION FOR BRINGING A
BUDGET BACK INTO BALAN
NO ONE.
I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AT
LEAST DESERVE IT.
YESTERDAY THE PRESIDENT SPOKE IN
FRONT OF HIS UNION ALLIES AND A
PART -- I
STYLE SPEECH WHERE THE PRESIDENT
QUESTIONED THE MOTIVES OF THOSE
WHO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT T
MUCH GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER OUR
HEALTH CARE ECONOMY AND INSTEAD
WRONGLY CRITICIZED OUR SIDE FOR
HAVING NO IDEAS OF OUR OWN.
WE'VE GOT -- WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF
IDEAS, MR. PRESINT.
NONE OF THEM HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED IN THE "HELP"
COMMITTEE OR BY THE UNITED
STATES SENATE OR
REPRESENTATIVES.
THE "HELP" COMMITTEE BILL WAS
WRITTEN ONLY BY THE DEMOCRATS.
THERE WAS NO INPUT FROM THIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE.
EVERY MEANINGFUL AMENDMENT THAT
WAS PROPOSED WAS REJECTED,
INCLUDING MALPRATICE REFORM.
HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY -- HOW C
YOUOSSIBLY LOOK THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE IN THE -- IN THE FACE AND
SAY -- WE'RE GOING TO BRING DOWN
THE COST OF HEALTH CARE WITHOUT
ASK ANY PHYSICIAN.
ASK ANY PHYSICIAN -- ASK ANY
PHYSICIAN AND THEY'LL TELL YOU
THAT PHYSICIANS ARE REQUIRED TO
PRACTICE DEFENSIVE MEDICINE
BECAUSE OF THE FEAR OF BEING
SUED.
UNNECESSARY TESTS AND PROCEDURES
ARE PERFORMED TIME AFTER TIME
AFTER TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WAS IN MIAMI AT
THE PALM
I ASKED ONE OF THE SURGEONS, I
SAID, HOW DO YOU AFFORD YOUR
HEALTH
HE SAID, I DON'T.
WE DON'T.
WEAON'T KEEP INSURANCE ANYMORE
CAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.
AND WE'RE PROBABLY NOT
GET SUED BECAUSE THEY KNOW WE
ONLY HAVE SO MUCH IN ASSETS.
SO NOW WE ARE -- WE ARE PUTTING
PHYSICIANS AND CARE PROVIDERS IN
A POSITION WHERE THEY BASICALLY
CANNOT AFFORD NOR
HEALTH -- MALPRACTICE INSURANCE
BECAUSE THE PREMIUMS ARE SO HIGH
AND THEY ARE TARGETS F THE
TRIAL LAWYERS.
NOW, AS I SAID, WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF ALTERNATIVES, AND MOST OF
THEM ARE MARKET BASED.
MOST OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH
PRESERVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH
CARE INA AMERICA YET BRINGING
DOWN THE COSTS, W
OUR GOAL.
WHY DON'T W
REFORMS TO IMPROVE
THAT MEANS SOMEONE CAN GO ACROSS
STATE LINES.
IF I WANT TO -- IF A CITIZEN OF
ARIZONA WANTS TO GO TO NORTH
DAKOTA
THERE, WHY CAN'T HE?
WHY CAN'T THAT FAMILY DO THAT?
WHY CAN'T THEY?
THEY CAN'T TODAY.
WHY IS IT THAT WE -- WE HAVE --
WE CAN'T REFORM MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE?
LET'S HAVE TAX REFORMS.
LET'S HAVE INCENTIVES TO
PURCHASE INSURANCE, EITHER IN
THE FORM OF THE TAX CREDITS FOR
FAMILIES IN AMERICA, OR -- OR --
WHY DON'T WE JUST GIVE THE SAME
TAX TREATMENT TO FAMILIES THAT
BUSINESSES
HEALTH INSURANCE.
WHY DON'T WE HAVE REAL
COMPETITION IN THESE UNITED
STATES S
UP THE RISK POOLS THAT ARE
NECESSARY TO INSURE THOSE WHO
ARE PREVIOUSLY UNINSURABLE --
ARE UNINSURABLE OR -- QUOTE --
"PREEXISTING CONDITIONS."
LET'S SET UP THOSE RISK POOLS.
YES, THAT WILL TAKE SOM
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND WHY DON'T
WE ALLOW THE INSURANCE COMPANIES
TO COMPETE TO SO THAT THEY
CAN -- SO THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE
INSURANCE, SO THAT WE CAN
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE
HEALTH CARE TO ALL AMERICANS?
WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT COST REDUCTIONS?
WHY DON'T WE LOOK AT INCENTIVES
FOR WELLNESS AND FITNESS?
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CORPORATIONS IN AMERICA RECENTLY
IS SAFEWAY.
WE'VE HEARD FROM THAT C.E.O.
THEY REWARD PEOPLE FINANCIALLY
FOR WELLNESS AND FITNESS, AND
GUESS WHAT?
THEIR COSTS OF HEALTH CARE HAVE
GONE DOWN THERE ARE INCENTIVES
TO DO SO.
WHY DON'T WE
SMALL IDEA.
WHY DON'T WE SEE WHAT THE SCHL
LUNCH PROGRAM IS IN YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL.
WHY DON'T WE SEE WHAT THE
PHYSICAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
ARE INUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT?
WHY DON'T PARENTS DO THAT?
I WAS APPALLED -- AND I'M SURE
MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL EARNS
WERE -- TO SEE RECENTLY THERE'S
ONE SENATE AMERICA WHERE
ONE-THIRD OF THE POPULATION
HAS -- SUFFERS FROM OBESITY.
WE KNOW WHAT OBESIA DOES TO
HEALTH CARE COS, NOT TO
MENTION THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS
INDIVIDUALS.
SO WHY DON'T WE ALSO LOOK AT
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND
BEFORE AND OUTCOME TREATMENT OFA PATIENTS.
A PATIENT HAS DIABETES,
PAY THAT PROVIDER A YEAR OR SIX
MONTHS OR TWO YEARS AND SAY,
OKAY, HERE'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
MONEY, HERE'S THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY, AND IF YOU KEEP THAT
PATIENT WELL, YOU WILL RECEIVE A
REWARD AT THE E
TREATMENT PERIOD, RATHER THAN
PAY FOR EVERY SINGLE TEST AND
PROCEDURE THAT IS REQUIRED.
AND, MY FRIENDS, THERE ARE CASES
OF ABUSE OF MEDICARE THAT
STRETCH INTO THE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
WE HAVE TO GO AFTER THESE PEOPLE
THAT ABUSE HEALTH CARE --
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.
AND WHAT -- AND A PRACTICAL
QUESTION.
SUPPOSE WE
PASS THROUGH THE "HELP"
COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THE
THEY INCREASE DRAMATICALLY
MEDICAIDAYMENTS TO THE STATES.
WHAT STATES CAN FORD THE
ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF --
ADDITIONAL BURDEN OF MEDICAID
THAT IS ENVISIONED BY THIS LEGISLATION?
NOT MANY.
NOT MANY, MY FRIENDSA
SO WE DO HAVE LEGITIMATE,
WORKABLE, DOABLE, VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO THE GOVERNMENT
OPTION.
AND WHA THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES STANDS UP AND SAY
WE DON'T,E EITHER IS
PAYING ATTENTION WHATE'RE
SAYING, WHICH HAS BEEN ONE OF
THE BIG PROBLEMS WITH THIS
DEBATE, OR HE WILLFULLY IGNORES
THE FACT THAT THERE ARE
SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN MOVE
FORWARD AND REDUCE HEALTH CARE
COSTS IN
THE QUALI
I'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT
ABOUT THE SO-CALLED CO-OP
APPROACH.
MYA FRIENDS, YOU CAN CALL IT THE
GOVERNMENT OPTION, YOU CAN CALL
IT THE CO-OP, YOU CAN CALL IT A
BANA, BUT THE FACT IS, IS IT
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION INTO THE
FREE MARKETPLACE WHICH WILL LEAD
TO CROWDING OUT, WHICH WILL OVER
TIME -- OVER TIME WILL LEAD TO GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF HEALTH
CARE IN AME
A CO-OP CAN EXIST TODAY.
A CO-OP DOESN'T -- THEY DON'T
HAVE TO WAIT FOR
THEY CAN EXIST TODAY.
YET VERY FEW DO.
IF THERE WAS A PRESSING NEED FOR
MORE CO-OPS, WOULDN'T MORE OF
THEM HAVE?EEN CREATED?
UNDER THE CO-OP APPROACH, THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD DESIGN,
FUND AND FOSTER THEIR CREATION,
BUT DON'T KID OURSELVES.
CREATING A
GOVERNMENT PLAN DESIGNED IN
INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH CARE.
AND IF WE DIDN'T LEARN ANY
LESSONS FROM FANNIE MAE AND
FREDDIE MAC, CO-OP CO-OPS, NOBODY'S
BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.
NOW, LET ME JUST TALK ABOUT THE
TRIGGER SECTION -- A SECOND.
PUBL OPTION- THE TRIGGER IN
THE BILL
PUBLIC
INSURANCE COMPANIES FAILED
MEET CERTAIN BENCHMARKS, SUCH AS
LOWERING OVERALL HEALTH SPENDING
OR SHRINKING THE NUMBER OF THE UNINSURED.
THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" STATED
YESTERDAY, "LIBERALS SHOULD LOVE
THE IDEA" -- I QUOTE. "LIBERALS SHOULD LOVE THE IDEA
BECAUSE A TRIGGERSN'T A
SUBSTANTIVE CONCESSION.
IT MERELY ENSURES THAT THE
PUBLIC OPTION WILL ARRIVE EVENTUALLY INSTEAD OF
IMMEDIATELY.
DEMOCRATS WILL TWEAK THE TEST SO
THAT THE PRIVATE INSURERS CAN'T
POSSIBLY MEET THEM, MAINLY BY
IMPOSING NEW REGULATIONS AND
OTHER COSTLY BURDENS.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS TRIGGER
APPEARS TO
PATENTLY VIOLATE THE
CONSTITUTION'S DELEGATION OF
LAWMAKING POWERS TO CONGRESS AND
NOT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.
WE MUST DECIDE WHETHER TO
IMPLEMENT EQUAL GOVERNMENT
OPTION OR NOTTISM VOT NOT.
I VOTE TO NOT DO SO AND SO NOT
ABDICATE ANY OF MY DUTIESAS A
LALAWMAKER AND ALLOWS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO CREATE A --
QUOTE -- "GOVERNMENT OPTION"
BASED ON A MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THE "WALL STREET
JOURNAL" COLUMN ENTITLED "WOAH,
TRIGGER" -- GOOD NAME -- BE
INCLUDED IN THE RECORD AT THIS TIME.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDEREDMT WITHOUT
OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. McCAIN: SO, MR. PRESIDENT,
LET ME JUST SUMMARIZE.
I COME BACK FROM THIS RECESS,
AND I SEE MY COLLEAGUE ALSO
ARIZONA, BOTH OF US COME -- AS A
LOT OF OUR COLLEAGUES DO -- IN
THE FACE OF EXTREME UNEASE,
ANGER AND FRUSTRATION ON THE
PART OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
NOT JUST OVER THE ISSUE OF
HEALTH CARE BUT OVER THE ISSUE,
AS I POINTED OUT, OF THIS
MASSIVE SPENDING AND DEBT AND
DEFICIT THAT WE HAVE LAID ON
FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICA.
AND THEY WANT US TO ACT IN THEIR INTEREST.
SO WOULDN'T IT BE FOR THE
PRESIDENT TOMORROW NIGHT, IF I
MAY BE
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, THE
CITIZENS HAVE SPOKE.
THEY WANT US TO SIT DOWN
TOGETHER AND THEY WANT US TO DO WHAT'S DOABLE.
THEY WANT US TO FIX THIS COST
ESCALATION OF HEALTH CARE IN
AMERICA WHICH MAKE -- WHICH ISA?
MAKING IT LESS AND LESS
AFFORDABLE TO ALL AMERICANS BUT
THE MESSAGE WE'VE GOTTEN IS THAT
THEY'RE VERY SCEPTAL ABOU
A -- Q
HEALTH
GOVERNMENT OPTION."
BUT, THOUGH THE PRESIDENT SAYS,
IF YOU LIKE YOUR INSURANCE
PRESENTLY, YOU CAN KEEP IT. THAT'S NOT TRUE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE EITHER.
BECAUSE IF YOU HAD A GOVERNMENT
EXPOPTIO ATTRACT --
OPTION AND IT LOOKED MORE
ATTRACTIVE TO YOUR EMPLOYMENT
AND YOUR EMPLOYER DECIDED TO
SELECT THE GOVERNMENT OPTION
RATHER THAN THE INSURANCE POLICY
THAT Y
CAN'T KEEP IT.
SO IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE THAT
UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OPTION,
THAT YOU CAN
YOURSELF HEALTH INSURANCE
POLICY, YOU CAN KEEP IT.
BUT THE PNT IS -- THE REAL
POINT IS, WHY DON'T WE SIT DOWN,
WHICH WE DIDN'T DO -- WE DIENT DIDN'T
DO AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PROCESS -- AND SIT DOWN WITH THE
SMARTEST PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE AND SAY,
CAN WE GET DONE?
WHAT CAN WE GET DONE HERE TOGETHER?
AND GO TO
AND SAY, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN
ELIMINATING THIS PROBLEM OF
RE IN AMERICA.
MR. PRESIDENT, I RECALL WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE CONGRESS OF
THE UNITED STATES, IT WAS PRETTY
PARTISAN THEN.
RONALD REAGAN HAD ONLY BEEN
ELECTED A COUPLE YEARS BEFORE
AND SOCIAL SECURITY
GO BROKE.
SOCIAL SECURITY WAS GOING BROKE
AND TWO OLD IRISHMEN, TIP
O'NEILL, A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT FROM
MASSACHUSETTS, AND THE
CONSER
SAT DOWN TOGETHER AND SAID,
OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO SIT
TOGETHER, WE'RE GOING TO FIX
SOCIAL SECURITY AND THEY DIDMENT THEY DID.
AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WERE NOT BENEFITED.
LET'S GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
LET'S SIT DOWN TOGETHER AND GET
THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. MR. ESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
MR. KYL: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
REPUBLICAN MR. KYL: THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK
IN MORNING BUSINESS FOR NOT TO
EXCEED 15 M MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, WOULD
THE SENATOR YIELD FOR
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST?
MR. KYL: YES.
MR. DORGAN: I WONDER IF THE
SENATOR WOULD YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
I WOULD MAKE A REQUEST THAT FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION OF
THE SENATOR FRO
THAT I BE RECOGNIZED
SENATOR WHITEHOUSE, AND THAT
SENATOR INHOFE BE RECOGNIZED
FOLLOWING MY PRESENTATION.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?
WITHOUT OBJECTION, SO ORDERED.
MR. KYL: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I THANK MY COLLEAGUE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO SPEAK
TO THE SAME ISSUE MY COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR McCAIN, JUST SPOKE TO
IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
BUT FIRST I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME
BRIEF COMMENTS ABOUT TWO OF OUR
COLLEAGUES WHO WILL NO LONGER BE
WITH US.
OF COURSE, OUR FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR MARTINEZ.
LET ME FIRST OF ALL SPEAK TO
SENATOR KENNEDY'S DEPARTURE FROM
THIS BODY DUE TO HIS UNTIMELY
DEATH.
DURING HIS FIVE DECADES OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, SENATOR KENNEDY
SERVED WITH DILIGENCE, TIRELESS
PASSION, AND, OF COURSE, VIGOR.
THE WORD IMMEDIATELY EVOKES THE
KENNEDY SP
HE KENNEDY SPIRIT.
BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS, HE COULD
ARE GOTTEN BY WITHOUT A LOT OF
HARD WORK, BUT THAT WAY.
HE BELIEVED DEEM, SO HE WORKED
HARD, AS HARD AS ANY SENATOR I'VE KNOWN.
ONE THING THAT'S BEEN COMMENTED
ON BY MANY WHO WORKED WITH
SENATOR KENNEDY WAS HIS
WILLINGNESS TO
I'VE CHARACTERIZED SENATOR
KENNEDY AS A LEGISLATOR'S
LEGISLATOR.
OFTEN A RESULT-ORIENTED
PRAGMATIST WHO
BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES ARE
INEVITABLE AND, IN FACT, AN
INTEGRAL PART OF OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM.
AND THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO
REACH ACROSS THE AISLE IF YOU
REALLY WANTED TO GET THINGS DONE.
HE BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE WITH
DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT POINTS OF
VIEW COULD USUALLY FIND SOME
COMMON
WHILE SENATOR KENNEDY AND I DID
NOT SHARE A PERSPECTIVE ON VERY
MANY ISSUES AND HE WAS ALWAYS
READY TO MAKE AN IDEOLOGICAL OR
POLITICAL POINT, MY COLLEAG
AND I APPRECIATED HIS EFFORTS TO
ACTUALLY LEGISLATE AS WELL.
HIS DEDICATION, HIS HARD WORK,
HUMOR, AND HIGH SPIRIT WILL
ALWAYS BE REMBERED.
MY W
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO HIS
FAMILY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I ALSO WANTED TO
SAY A COUPLE WORDS ABOUT OUR
COLLEAGUE, MEL MARTINEZ FROM
FLORIDA, WHO WILL BE LVING THE
SENATE ON
HE'S BEE AN ADMIRABLE PUBLIC
SERVANT, BOTH IN THIS BODY AND
AS SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND
URBAN
TO EACH POSITION, HE BROUGHT HIS
CONSIDERABLE TALENT AND DEVOTED
HIMSELF TO SOLVING PROBLEMS IN
PRACTICAL,HOUGHTFUL, AND
BIPARTISAN WAY.
SENATOR MARTINEZ NEVER SOUGHT
THE LIMELIGHT.
HE SIMPLY WANTED TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
HE WAS DISAPPOINTED, I KNOW,
THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE
IMMIGRATION REFORM FORWARD, BUT
WE WILL TRY APPLY WHAT HE HAS
TAUGHT US ABOUT THAT
HIS POSITIVE INFLUENCE HERE IN
WASHINGTON WILL BE GREATLY
MISSED.
A FAIR TWOAL SENATOR MARTINEZ WOULDN'T --
A FAREWELL TO SENATOR MARTINEZ
WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A
NOTE ABOUT HIS COMPELLING WIFE
STORY AND ABOUT HIS WIFE KITTY.
AS A CUBAN EMIGRE WHO CAME TO
MARTINEZ REPRESENTS ONE OF THE
MOST INSPIRING ASPEC AMERICAN LIFE.
THAT TALENT AND HARD WORK UNLOCK
HE'S NOT FORGOTTEN THOSE WHO
HELPED HIM, JUST AS ALL OF US
WILL NOT FORGET HIM.
HIS WIFE KITTY HAS LIKEWISE MADE
MANY FRIENDS IN WASHINGTON AND
WILL ALSO
ALTHOUGH I KNOW HE WON'T NEED
IT, I WISH HIM ALL THE BEST IN
HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS, AND I KNOW
THAT HE WILL REMAIN AN IMPORTANT
POSITIVE VOICE IN OUR PARTY AND
ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO
AMERICANS.
MR. PRESIDENT, MY COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR McCAIN, HAS JUST
SPOKEN TO THE ISSUE THAT IS ON
THE MINDS OF ALL AMERICANS TODAY
AND WHICH THE SENATE AND HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL AGAIN
TAKE UP AS
AUGUST RECESS AND THAT IS HOW TO
DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT
CONFRONT US IN THE DELIVERY OF
HEALTH CARE TODAY WITHOUT DOING
DAMAGE TO THE CARE AND TO THE
COVERAGE THAT MOST
HAVE AND BELIEVE SER
WELL.
THE APPROACH THAT I HEARD FROM
COLLEAGUES -- FROM MY
CONSTITUENTS OVER THE RECESS WAS
VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT SENATOR
McCAIN HAS JUST SPOKEN ABOUT,
WHICH SHOULDN'T BE A BIG -- SEEM
TO BE A BIG COINCIDENCE SINCE WE
REPRESENT THE SAME STATE.
AND ON ONE OCCASION, WE CALLED
ABOUT 50 THOWP ARIZONA --
ABOUT 50,000 ARIZONANS, HAD THEM
ON THE TELEPHONE FOR ABOUT AN
HOUR AND A HALF, AND ASKED FOR
THEIR VIEWS AND GAVE OUR
THOU
QUESTIONS, AND WHAT I'VE BEEN
STRUCK BY IS THE CONSISTENCY OF
THE VIEWS THAT HAVE BEEN
EXPRESSED IN THE VARIOUS FORUMS
THAT I HAD AROUND THE STATE,
CONSISTENT WITH THE
MEETINGS THAT SENATOR McCAIN
HAD RIGHT IN THE HEART OF T PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA, VIEWS
THAT PEOPLE EXPRESSED T
LOCATION, FROM THE DOCTOR'S
OFFICE THAT I WENT TO, TO PEOPLE
MEETING WITH WITH ME IN MY
OFFICE, TO VOX AT CHURN
-- TO FOLKS AT CHURCH.
THE MESSAGE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY
MUCH THE SAME.
AND I THINK SENATOR McCAIN
ARTICULATED IT WELL WHEN HE
CHARACTERIZED IT AS EXCITE AND
CONCERN.
ONE OF --
AS
ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID HE
NOTED IN HIS CONSTITUENTS IN
THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS REAL
FEAR, AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NOTED
TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE HEALTH
CARE DELIVERY IN THIS COUNTRY,
MOST PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO
SURVEYS, HAVE
BELIEVE THAT WHAT THEY HAVE
SERVES THEM VERY WELL OR AT
LEAST WELL.
OUR GOAL, THEREFORE; TO TRY TO
SOLVE THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT
EXIST WITHOUT DOING HARM TO THE
SYSTEM THAT TREATS THE OTHERS.
AND AS I SAID A LOT OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS WERE VERY FEARF
THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY
MUCH MORE IN TAXES; THAT THEIR
DEBT BURDEN WILL BE INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF THE
COSTS OF THE HEALTH CARE REFORM
THAT HAVE BEEN PROPOSED; THA
THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP THE
INSURANCE THEY HAVE EVEN IF THEY
LIKE IT; THAT THE WAY THEY
RECEIVE CARE AND
GET FROM THEIR DOCTORS ABOUT
WHAT THEIR FAMILY NEEDS ARE,
WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE
RESPECTED IF
A LARGE ROLE IN DECIDING WHAT TO
PAY FOR AND WHAT NOT TO PAY
AND, GENERALLY, THAT THE
GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUED TAKEOVER,
PIECE BY PIECE, OF THE AMERICAN
ECONOMY WILL NOT SERVE
INDIVIDUAL AMERICANS WILL. WELL.
TO BE SURE, THEY AGREED THAT
SOME HEALTH CARE
GROWING TOO FAST AND NEE TO BE
CONTROLLED.
THAT THERE ARE SOME AMERICANS
WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH COVERAGE
AND REALLY DOPE HAVE A WAY TO
GET IT WITHOUT PUBLIC
THOSE ARE THE TWO KEY AREAS IN
WHICH THEY RECOGNIZE THERE IS A
ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT TO PLAY IN REFORM.
BUT THEY ALSO WONDER WHY CERTAIN
PROBLEMS ARE NOT BEING TACKLED.
THE PROBLEM, FOR EXAMPLE, OF
CHARACTERIZED AS
JUSTICE," WHERE TRIAL LAWYERS
BRING LAWSUITS
BIG REWARDS BUT FREQUENTLY
SETTLE THE CASES AND THE NET
RESULT IS THAT THE MEDICAL
PROFESSION IN THIS COUNTRY,
DOCTORS PRIMARILY BUT HOSPITALS
AND OTHERS, SPEND AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF MONEY
AT LEAST $100 BILLION A YEAR
DEFENSIVE MEDICINE.
THAT IS TO SAY, DOING THINGS,
ORDERING TESTS, REFERRING
PATIENTS TO OTHER PHYSICIANS AND
SO ON, ALL OF WHICH ARE REALLY
UNNECESSARY FOR THE CARE AND
TREATMENT OF THE PAINT BUT WHICH
WILL PROTECT
EVENT THAT THERE'S A CLAIM OF
MEDICAL
THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THE LAWYERS
INVOLVED GET SO-CALLED EXPERT
WITNESSES WHO COM
TELL THE JURY THAT THE STANDARD??
OF CARE IN THE COMMUNITY IS IF
THE CHILD FALLS DOWN ON THE LAY
GROUND AND GETS A BUTCH ON THE
HEAD YOU ORDER A CAT SCAN.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER OR NOT
HE CAN SEE THE CHILD, REALLY, IF
THE PAINTS JUST WATCHED
CAREFULLY, SHOULD BE JUST FINE.
NO, TO PROTECT HIMSELF OR
HERSELF AGAINST MEDICAL
LIABILITY OR MALPRACTICE CLAIMS
YOU ORDER A CAT SCAN.
THE NET RESULT IS AN EXPENSE OF
OVER $100 BILLION A YEAR IN
UNNECESSARY MEDICAL TESTS AND PROCEDURES.
THE COSTS OF THOSE ITEMS, OF
COURSE, ARE PASSED ON TO ALL OF
THE REST OF US.
ANOTHER ESTIMATE IS THAT 10% OF
EVERY HEALTH CARE DOLLAR IS
SPENT ON THE PREMIUMS THAT
PHYSICIANS SPEND FOR THEIR
MALPRACTICE INSURANCE.
SOME OF US AS LAWYERS KNOW YOU
HAVE TO PAY SOME MONEY FOR
MALPRACTICE INSURANCE BEFORE YOU
CAN START WORK ON JANUARY 1.
THAT'S FAIR.
BUT HOW ABOUT $200,000 IN
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
A NEUROSURGEON, FOR EXAMPLE, OR
IF YOU ARE AN OB-GYN, FOR EXAMPLE.
THIS ESTIMATE OF 10% OF HEALTH
CARE DOLLARS SPENT ON PREMIUMS
MEANS THAT IF WE COULD REDUCE
THE INCIDENCE OF MALPRACTICE
CLAIMS WE COULD REDUCE THAT
PREMIUM COST THE PHYSICIANS
WOULDN'T HAVE TO PASS IT ON TO
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES,
WOULDN'T HAVE TO PASS IT ON TO
US.
AGAIN, OUR HEALTH CARE COULD BE CHEAPER.
SO, BOTH BECAUSE OF THE PREMIUM
COST AND BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICE
OF DEFENSIVE MEDICINE, THIS
"JACKPOT J
SERVED US WELL.
ONE WOULD THINK IF WE'RE
INTERESTED IN CONTROLLING COSTS,
IF WE'RE MAKING INSURANCE MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES -- FOR BIG BUSINESSES
FOR THAT ARE MATTER -- AND FOR
US AS INDIVIDUALS AND WE WANT TO
ENCOURAGE MORE PHYSICIANS TO
STAY IN PRACTICE, WE WOULD TACKLE THIS PROBLEM.
IS THIS ONE WORD ABOUT MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE REFORM
A BILL OUT OF THE "HELP"
COMMITTEE IN THE SENATE?
THE BILL IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE?
OR THE BILL THAT CAME OUT OF THE
COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES?
THE ANSWER TO THAT IS "NO," NOT
A WORD ABOUT MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
REFORM.
HOWARD DOON, THE FORMER
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF VERMONT
CHAIRMAN, WAS VERY HONEST ABOUT
THIS AUGUST 17 IN A TOWN HALL
MEETING WITHIN REPRESENTATIVE
MORAN
REASON IS, YOU WRITE WIG DEAL
YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE ON TOO
MANY SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THE
PEOPLE WHO WROTE THIS DID NOT
WANT TO TAKE ON THE TRIAL LAWYERS. THAT'S THE TRUTH.
AND IT IS THE TRUTH.
BUT THE REAC REALITY IS, IF THE 39 IS
GOING TO ASK EVERYONE ELSE TO
SACRIFICE SENIORS TAKING A $4
BILLION TO $5 BILLION CUT IN
MEDICARE -- LESS CARE FOR
THEM -- IF SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE
TO PAY A TAX ON EVERY EMPLOYER
TO MAKE SURE THEY GET COVERED
WITH INSURANCE, IF THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO PONY UP I HAVE
FORGOTTEN HOW MANY HUNDRED
MILLION FORCE MORE DRUGS FOR
SENIORS, IF
SACRIFICES WHY CAN'T WE ASK THE
POOR TRIAL LAWYERS TO GIVE UP A
LITTLE BIT?
WE ARE N SAYING MALPRACTICE
THAT'S THE WAY THAT DOCTORS AND
HOSPITALS AND OTHERS ARE KEPT
HONEST.
YOU HEADACHE A
TO PAY FOR IT.
BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE THE SYSTEM
WORKS TO PREVENT THE KIND OF
JACKPOT JUSTICE I TALKED ABOUT.
THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT KINDS
OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORMS
THAT WORKED.
ONE WAS OFFERED IN THE "HELP"
COMMITTEE BY SENATOR ENZI CALLED
"HEALTH COURTS."
THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE STATE
OF ARIZONA HAVE BOTH ADOPTED
CERTAIN KINDS OF MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE REFORMS.
IN ARIZONA IT HAS BEGUN TO WORK
AND IN TEXAS SOMETHING LIKE
7,000 DOCTORS HAVE MOVED
THE STATE; SOMETHING LIKE THE
PREMIUMS BEING REDUCED EITHER BY
21% OR 23%.
IN OTHER WORDS, MEDICAL
MALPRACTICE CAN REDUCE THE COST
TO PROVIDE CARE.
BY REDUCING THAT COST, PEOPLE'S
PREMIUMS CAN BE CUT.
AND THAT WILL MAKE INSURANCE
MORE AFFORD ACKNOWLEDGE.
AFFORDABLE.
MY POINT IS TO SAY THIS, WHAT WE
FOD AS WE
CONSTITUENTS W A FEAR THAT IN
ORDER TO SOLVE TWO OR THREE VERY
DISCREET PROBLEMS, THAT THERE
WERE PEOPLE HERE IN WASHINGTON
THAT WANTED TO REMAKE THE WHOLE
SYSTEM, THROW OUT WHAT WE HAVE,
AND IMPOSE ON IT, A
REGULATORY REGIME.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A
GOVERNMENT OPTION OR GOVERNMENT
INSURANCE PLAN IS ONLY PART OF
THE ISSUE.
THE PROBLEM IS, THERE'S
GOVERNMENT CONTROL OF EVERYBODY
IRRESPECTIVE OF THAT.
AND PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED AS A
RE
RASRATIONED AND THEIR TAXES AND
PREMIUMS WILL GO UP.
HOW WILL THAT BE?
I GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
I TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE
RELATIVELY YOUNG AND RELATIVELY
HEALTHY.
AND THEY ARE SENIOR AWARE THAT
IF THEY ARE PUT IN THE SAME POOL
WITH EVERYBODY ELSE WITH THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE SICKER AND OLDER,
AND THEY'RE ALL PUT INTO ONE POT
AND YOU
THE BASIS OF HEALTH CONDITION
AND WE DO BELIEVE PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS SHOULD BE
ABLE TO GET INSURANCE, THEN,
NATURALLY, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
YOUNGER AND HEALTHIER ARE GOING
TO BE PAYING MORE FOR THEIR
INSURANCE THAN THEY WOULD I
THEY WERE IN A CATEGORY BY THEMSELVES.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE ACTUARY DATA
SHOWS US.
SO IT MIGHT MAKENSURANCE MORE
AFFORDABLE FOR SOMEONE OLDER AND
SICKER BUT WILL RAISE
SOMEONE YOUNGER AND HEALTHIER.
THERE HAS TO BE
THAT OUT.
THERE OUGHT TO BE A WAY TO
ENSURE THAT MUCH I EVERYONE IN THIS
COUNTRY CAN GET AFFORDABLE,
QUALITY HEALTH INSURANCE WITHOUT
TAXING ALL EMPLOYERS, ESPECIALLY
SMALL BUSINESSES,
ENTIES THAT WE ARE COUNTING ON
TO BRING US OUT OF THIS
RECESSION.
WE KNOW THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE
JOBS CREATED IN THIS COUNTRY IN
THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS WERE
CREATED BY SMALL BUSINESS.
LARGE BUSINESSES LOST -- IN
FACT, WE LOST ABOUT THREE
MILLION JOBS IN
THIS RECESSION.
THREE MILLION JOBS HAVE BEEN LOST.
HOW AREHOSE J BACK?
IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH SMALL
BUSINESS, THAT'S WHERE OVER 80%
OF THE JOSHES CREATED AND THAT
IS WHERE THEY WILL BE RE-CREATED
TO GET US OUT OF THE RECESSION.
WHY WOULD WE WANT TO TAX THE
PEOPLE TO SAY IF YOU WANT TO
HIRE SOMEBODY IT WILL COST YOU
"X" AMOUNT MORE.
WHY GIVE THEM AN INCENTIVE TO
HIRE MORE PEOPLE, NOT GIVE THEM
AN DISINCE TAXATION.
AND WHY RAISE THE TAXES OF ALL
BUSINESSES-INCLUDING RAISES
TAXES ON INSURANCE COMPANIES.
YES, INSURANCE COMPAES ARE FUN
TO PICK ON BUT DO THEY PASS ON
THE COST OF THE TAX TO THE
PREMIUM HOLDERS?
OF COURSE.
WE END UP -- THERE IS LUNCH.
WE PAY THE TAXES.
THE NET RESULT IS THAT WITHIN
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
ECONOMY, NUMBER ONE, ABOUT OUR
RISING DEBT, ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
THEY WILL BE TAXED AND ABOUT THE
NEED TO RE-CREATE JOBS, WHAT
THEY'RE TELLING EXPUS WHAT
TOLD ME IS, SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS
FIRST, AND WHEN YOU GET THAT
SOLVED AND YOU WANT TO LOOK AT
HEALTH CARE GO AHEAD BUT IN THE
PROCESS DO NOT THROW OUT THE
BABY WITH THE BATH WATER.
DON'T THROW OUT A SYSTEM THAT
IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PROBLEM,
WORK OUT SOLUTIONS.
YOU CAN C
NEED INSURANCE, AND YOU CAN BUY
THEM ALL INSURANCE WITH THE
SAVINGS YOU GET WITH MALPRACTICE
REFORM.
WHY DON'T WE DO THAT?
THERE IS A PROBLEM BOTH THIS
JACK POT JUSTICE
PROBLEM IN AND OF ITSELF AND YOU
HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE SOME
PEOPLE CANNOT AFFORD SKINS WE
NEED TO HELP THEM GET IT.
THE MONEY SAVED FROM ONE CAN
HELP SAVE FOR THE OTHERS.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO CHANGE THE
ENTIRE
DELIVERY IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
SINCE MUCH KNOWS THAT MEDICARE
IS IN TROUBLE
IT IN FURTHER TROUBLE BY CUTTING
IT BY $500 BILLION AND
THAT SAVINGS INSTEAD TO MAKE
MEDICARE
MONEY.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
THEY SEE IT IS TOO BIG, TOO MUCH.
PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO DO IT TOO
FAST.
IN FACT, ONE ASKED, WHY WERE
THEY TRYING TO RUSH THIS BILL
THROUGH BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST
WHEN IT DOESN'T EVEN TAKE
IN MOST
REAR 2013?
IF QUESTION.
IT
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE H A
CHAPS TO CONSIDER THIS AND WE
HAVE HAD A
A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT.
HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE,
MR. PRESIDENT: REPUBLICANS HAVE
A LOT OF ALTERNATIVES.
SENATOR McCAIN TALKED ABOUT
MALPRACTICE REFORM, GETTING RID
OF WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE;
SELLING INSURANCE ACROSS STATE
LINES; PROVIDING ASSOCIATION
HEALTH PLANS SO SMALL BUSINESSES
CAN COMPETE WITH THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES IN THE SAME WAY THE
BIG BUSINESSES COMPETE.
THESE ARE IDEAS THAT CAN BE PUT
INTO PLAYS TO SOLVE SPECIFIC
PROBLEMS AND 59 THE END OF THE
DAY -- AND AT THE END
WE WILL HAVE REDUCED THE
OF HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS AND THE
COST OF HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYBODY, AND, AT THE SAME
TIME, WE WILL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO,
WIT SAVINGS, PROVIDE
COVERAGE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED IT
AND CANNOT GET IT.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SCRAP
EVERYTHING WE
WHOLE NEW SYSTEM WHERE THE
GOVERNMENT TAKES OVEHEALTH
CARE AS IT HAS INSURANCE, BANKING AND AUTOMOBILES AND
EVERYTHING ELSE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
AND I HOPE AS WE ARE REENGAGED
IN THIS DEBATE WE WILL
ONE FUNDAMENTALHING OUR
FOUNDING FATHERS HAD IN MIND
WHEN THEY SET UP THE KIND OF
SYSTEM WE
TO OUR CONSTITUENTS, NEVER
FORGETTING THEY ARE OUR BOSSES.
WE WORK FOR THEM.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER:
SENATOR FROM RHODE ISLAND.
THE SMALL NORTHEAST STATES CAN
BE HARD TO TELL APART.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: BEEN
THERE MYSELF.
MR. WHITEHOUSE: MR. PRESIDENT,
MAY I SPEAK FOR UP TO 15
MINUTES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. WHITEHOUSE: MR. PRESI
WHY ARE WE WORKING SO HARD ON
HEALTH CARE REFORM?
RIGHT NOW?
BECAUSE THE PRESENT SYSTEM IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
THIS IS THE COST CURVE OF OUR
NATIONAL HEALTH EXPENDITURES.
IN 2009 IT HIT
IT WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP TO THE
POINT WHERE RIGHT NOW IT IS
ESTIMATED THAT IN THE YEAR
2016 -- WHICH IS IN THE TOO FAR
FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW --
IN THE YEAR
FAMILY POLICY, ON AVERAGE, IN
RHODE ISLAND, WILL COST
FAMILY $26,000 A YEAR.
MR. PRESIDENT, A MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILY
AFFORD
HEALTH
SOMETHING URGENT HAS TO BE DONE.
NOW, IN THE EIGHT YEARS OF THE
BUSH ADMINISTRATION IT PROBABLY
INCREASED BY NEARLY $1 TRILLION
AND NHING GOT DONE.
OUR FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THE AISLE WERE HAPPY AS CLAMS
WITH THAT STATE OF AFFAIRS.
NOW, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, WITH MORE
PROGRESS
THAN ANY TIME SINCE BACK WHEN
THE CLINTONS TRIED IT, WE
ONCE AGAIN, THE CAT CALLS AND
THE CRITICISMS FROM OUR
COLLEAGUES.
ANYTHING
PROGRESS.
BUT THAT IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
THAT OUR COUNTRY FACES
ECONOMICALLY, WELL, THERE'S BEEN
SOME CRITICISM OF THE STIMULUS
BILL, THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
REINVESTMENT ACT.
THIS IS IT RIGHT HERE.
.8 TRILLION AND YOU WOULD THINK
THIS DWARFED, SHADOWED THE
FISCAL HEALTH OF THE REPUBLIC.
BUT, INCOME, IT'S A TINY SLIVER
COMPARED TO THE DEBT RUN UP
DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION:
$8.9 TRILLION IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHAT THE NONPARTISAN
C.B.O. PROJECTED WHEN PRESIDENT
BUSH TOOK OFFICE IF PRESIDENT
CLINTON AND WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH
LEFT US WHEN HE WAS DONE $8.9
TRILLION AND THIS DOESN'T EVEN
COUNT THE BUSH
THE SPENDING THAT PRESIDENT
OBAMA HAS HAD TO DO TO HELP SAVE
THE BANKS, TO HELP SAVE THE
FINANCIAL SYSTEM AND TO HELP
SAVE THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY.
HE CAMPAIGNE
-- HE CAMPAIGNED ON NONE OF THAT.
NORTHERN US WANTED TO DO THAT.
WHEN CATASTROPHE ASSERTED
ITSELF, WE HAD TO RESPOND.
THE CATTROPHE TOOK PLACE NOT
ON OBAMA'S WATCH BUT BEFOREHAND
PHS HE HAVE THE FIREFIGHTER WHO
HAD TO HELP PUT OUT
BUT THE BIG RISK HER IS $38
TRILLION IN UNFUNDED LIABILITY
FOR JUST MEDICARE ALONE.
THAT IS PART OF THAT
COST PICTURE THAT IS DRIVING US
OUT OF CONTROL.
NOW, OF THAT, THE
THE LEWIN GROUP IS PRETTY
RESPECTED AROUND THESE PARTS FOR
THEIR OPINIONS ON HEALTH CARE --
THEY SAY THAT THE EXCESS COSTS
IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ADD TO
ABOUT $
$1 15 51 BILLION FOR EXCESS
COSTS FROM INCENTIVES AND
OVEREVER YOAFER USE USE
SERVICES, FOR $$519
COSTS FOR POOR CARE MANAGEMENT
OF AND LIFESTYLE FACTOR,, $135
FORECLOSURE SUCCESS COSTS DUE TO
COMPETITION AND REGULATORY
FACTORS, $203 BILLION A YEAR
FROM EXCESS COSTS DUE TO
TRANSACTIONAL
WE CAN REFORM THIS HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT IMPROVES
THE QUALITY OF CARE WHILE
ADDRESSING
IN EXCESS COSTS, WHICH IS
ACCORDING TO GEORGE BUSH'S
FORMER TREASURY SECRETARY PAUL
O'NEILL, WHO RAN THE PITTSBURGH
REGIONAL HEALTH
KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT HEALTH
CARE, "THE $1 TRILLION OF ANNUAL
WASTE IS ASSOCIATED WITH PROCESS
FAILURES."
PROCESS FAILURES CAN BE
CORRECTED.
ONE OF THE WAYS YOU CAN CORRECT
THEM IS WITH A COMPETITIVE
PUBLIC OPTION.
WE HAVE HAD A LOCK IN THE MAIN
MIDDLE MARKET OF HEALTH CARE BY
THE PRIVATE INSURANCE MARKET FOR
ALL THESE YEARS, AND THIS IS
WHAT WE'RE LEFT WITH,
TRILLION IN WASTE FROM PROCESS
FAILURES.
OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE FAILED AT THE JOB.
THEY A CATASTROPHICALLY,
INDISPUTABLY FAILED AT THE JOB.
ALL WE ASK IS TO PUT A
OPTION IN SIDE BY SIDE TO
COMPETE WITH THEM.
IN THE SAME WAY THAT A PUBLIC
OPTI IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION
INSURANCE COMPETES IN SENATOR
CAIN'S HOME STATE OF
ARIZONA, WITH THE PRIVATE
INSURANCE PROVIDERS IN
COMPENSATION AND I DON'T HEAR
ANY COMPLAINTS ABOU
HIS WORKERS COMMUNITY.
IN THE HOME STATE OF
MEMBER ON THE "HELP" COMMITTEE,
SENATOR ENZI, THERE IS
A SINGLE-PAYER OPTION.
AND HIS EMPLOYERS SEEM
ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH T SO IT IS
NOT AS IF IT IS SOME STRANGE,
BIZARRE IDEA OUT OF THE FRINGES.
IT IS THE WAIF DOING BUSINESS IN
SOME OF THE HOME STATES OF ITS
WORST OPPONENTS.
NOW, OUR COLLEAGUES AND THEIR
PREDECESSORS IN THIS CHAMBER
OPPOSED MEDICARE WHEN IT WAS
FIRST PROPOSED, AND NOW IT'S
PROBABLY THE MOST POPULAR
PROMISE IN THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE SEEN
FIGHTING AGAINST CHILDREN'S
HEALTH INSURANCE, AND IT WAS
ONLY THANKS TO OUR BELOVED
COLLEAGUE, SENATOR KENNEDY,
COMING BACK HERE FROM HIS SICK
BED TO COST THE T
VOTE THAT WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE
TO WIN THAT AGAINST REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.
THE IDEAS THAT THEY HAVE SEEM TO
ME TO BE OBJECTJECT FAILURES.
ONE IS -- SEEM TO ME TO BE
ABJECT FAILURES.
LOOK WHERE IT GOT US?
THAT'S CLEARLY NOT A SIGN OF
SUCCESS.
SENATOR McCAIN INDICATED THAT
IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO CROSS
STATE LINES AND BUY INSURANCE
FROM OUT OF STATE INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
YEAH, LOOK HOW WELL THAT TURNED
OUT FOR US WITH THE CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY.
WE'VE JUST HAD TO PASS
LEGISLATION, PATH-BREAKING
LEGISLATION, THANKS TOHAIRMAN
DODD, TO REIN IN THE ABUSIVE
PRACTICE OF THE CREDIT CARD
INDUSTRY BECAUSE YOU CAN GO TO,
VERY UNREGULATED STATES AND GET
CREDIT CARDS THERE THAT DON'T
HAVE BASIC CONSUMER PROTECTIONS.
WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT IN
HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE WANT CAREFUL, THOUGHTFUL
LOCAL REGULATION OF HEALTH
INSURANCE.
WE HAVE 100,000 PEOPLE KILLED
EVERY YEAR BY MEDICAL ERRORS.
WHO KNOWS HOW MANY INJURED.
AND THE SOLUTION THAT OUR
FRIENDS ACROSS THE AISLE SEE IS
TO TAKE AWAY THE DAMAGES THAT
TH WORST-INJURED AMERICANS ARE
ENTITLED TO.
THAT'S THE WAY THE REFORM THAT
THEY PROPOSED IN THE "HELP"
COMMITTEE WORKS.
IT CUTS DAMAGES, CAPS THEM,
MEANING IT ONLY WOULD AFFECT THE
PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE DAMAGES ARE
THE
WORST, WHO WOULD
DISPROPORTIONATELY BE WOMEN,
BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT WAS
ORGANIZED,
DAMAGES, NONECONOMIC DAMAGES.
SO IF YOU TAKE A SYSTEM WHERE
YOU KILL 100,000 AMERICANS EVERY
YEAR BECAUSE OF MEDICAL ERRORS
AND INJURE, WHO KNOWS HOW MANY
MORE, AND YOUR SOLUTION TO THE
PROBLEM IS TO PUT THE COST OF OF
IT ENTIRELY ON THE BACK OF THE
WORST VICTIMS OF THAT ERROR AND
INJURY, I THINK THAT'S A MISTAKE.
WE WOULD
AND I THINK AS RATIONAL PEOPLE,
TO REDUCE THE INCIDENTS OF
MALPRACTICE AND ERROR, REDUCE
THE INCIDENCE OF MALPRACTICE
CLAIMS BY REDUCG THE INCIDENCE
OF MALPRACTICE AND ERROR.
AND WE PUT ENORMOUS EFFORT IN
THIS BILL INTO PUTTING
STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO ALLOW
THAT TO HAPPEN.
AND IN TERMS OF THE REAL FEAR
THAT PEOPLE HEARD WHEN THEY WEN
HOME, WELL, IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS FOR OUR FRIENDS TO
TALK ABOUT REAL FEAR WHEN A LOT
OF THAT REAL FEAR WAS IMAGINARY,
WHIPPED UP BY THEIR COLLEAGUES
WITH TOTALLY FALSE STATEMENTS
ABOUT DEATH PANELS IN THE
LEGISLATION, ABOUT HOW THIS WAS
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, AND ABOUT
HOW A BUREAUCRAT WAS GOING IT
JUMP IN BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR
DOCTOR IF THE BILL PASSED.
PATENTLY FALSE, SPREAD LIKE
WILDFIRE, OBVIOUSLY GENERATED
FEAR -- WHO WOULDN'T BE AFRAID
OF THOSE THINGS? -- AND THOUSAND
THEY OBSERVE THAT THERE'S REAL
FEAR OUT THERE.
WELL, I ALSO HAD THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL AROUND
MY HOMSTATE DURING THIS
LIKE MANY OF MY CLERKS AND I SAT
DOWN WITH MY CONSTITUENTS AND
HEARD WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY ABOUT
HEALTH CARE REFORM.
WITH HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES, WITH
PEDIATRICIANS, WITH OB-GYN'S,
WITH FAMILY PHYSICIANS, WITH
CRITICAL CARE DOCTORS, WITH THE
STATE MEDICAL S
HEALTH INSURERS, WITH C.V.S. --
THE BIG PHARMACEUTICAL CHAIN
THAT MAK ITS HOME IN RHODE
ISLAND -- WITH THE RHODE ISLAND
M.S. CHAPTER, WITH BUSINESS
COMMUNITY
OF
INSTITUTE, REFORMING HEALTH CARE
AT THE STATE LEVEL, WITH GREAT
LEADERSHIP FOR OUR COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW, WITH MEMBERS OF ALL SORTS
-- ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE
COME
TIRELESSLY TO HELP BUILD OUR
STATES'
TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE WERE HELPFUL CONVERSATIONS
TO ME, MR. PRESIDENT, AND I
LERNER ADD GREAT DEAL FROM AWFUL
THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND
INSTITUTIONS.
BUT I LERNERED A GREAT DEAL ALSO
AT TWO COMMUNITY DINNERS THAT I
HELD IN
ISLAND AND JOHNSTON, RHODE
ISLAND, WHERE HUNDREDS C
TO JOIN ME AND OUR SENIOR
SENATOR JACK READ -- NOT ONLY
FOR SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS -- I
THINK I MAY BE THE ONLY SENATOR
TO INTRODUCE MEATBALLS INTO THE
TOWN HALL FORMULA AND IT WORKED
JUST FINE.
THERE WAS SERIOUS AND
DEBATE ON THE STATE OF OUR
CURRENT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND
IT BROUGHT OUT SOME STORIES THAT
I WANT TO SHARE THIS AFTERNOON.
THE FIRST STORY IS CHRISTINE'S,
A WIFE AND MOTHER FROM COVENTRY,
RHODE ISLAND.
HER FAMILY STRUGGLED TO MAINTAIN
HEALTH INSURANCE AND LEFT HER
AND HER HUSBAND WITH VY
DIFFICULT CHOICES AND FEW
OPTIONS.
IN 2007, CHRISTINE WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND
SHORTLY AFTER THAT SHE LOST HER
JOB.
SHE WAS SHIFTING THE FAMILY'S
COVERAGE TO HER HUSBAND'S
EMPLOYERS WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS
LAID OFF AS WELL.
THAT
HUSBAND AND THEIR 6-YEAR-OLD SON
WITH NO HEALTH
STILL REELING FROM THOSE BITS OF
BAD NURKS CHRISTINE AND HER
HUSBAND WERE FACED WITH
DECISIONS THAT NO ONE SHOULD BE
FORCED TO MAKE.
WITHOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE, WITH
NO AFFORDABLE OPTIONS FOR HEALTH
COVERAGE BECAUSE OF CHRISTINE'S
PREEXISTING CONDITION, THEY
FACED THE CHOICE NOW OF LEAVING
THEIR HOME -- THINK ABOUT THAT.
THEY HAVE A 6-YEAR-OLD SON WHO
MIGHT LOSE HIS HOME -- OR THAIG
POUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
AT THE MOMENT THEY CAN'T SEE A
WAY TO MANAGE BOTH.
AS CHRISTINE TOLD ME, "I DON'T
WANT ANY HANDOUTS.
UNFORTUNATELY LIFE HAS HANDED
MOO AND MY FAMILY A DIFFICULT
PATH AND RIGHT NOW MY FAMILY
NEEDS A LITTLE HELP.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE 10 MAKE A
DECISION BETWEEN OUR HEALTH AND
OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY."
UNTIL HER HUSBAND FINDS A JOB,
CHRISTINE SAYS THAT EVERY DAY
THEY JUST HOLD THEIR BREATH AND
PRAY THAT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN
BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THAT OUR
BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM NOW
HAS TO OFFER THEM.
I ALSO MET ANNA FROM JOHNSTON,
RHODE ISLAND, WHO SHARED THE
STORY OF HER SISTER TINA.
AS IS THE STORY OF SO MANY
AMERICAN FAMILIES TODAY, TINA'S
HUSBAND LOST HIS
THEIR ONLY OPTION FOR HEALTH
INSURANCE
AT $1,500 A MONTH ON TOP OF
MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, CAR PAYMENTS
AND GROWS RIRKS TINA KNEW THAT
FINANCIALLY THIS COVERAGE WAS
UNSUSTAINABLE.
FINALLY SHE HAD TO GIVE IT UP.
SHORTLY AFTER DROPPING CONCHTS,
TEEN INTO BEGAN TO LOSE WEIGHT.
ANNA EXPLAINED THAT AT FIRST SHE
THOUGHT THAT HER SISTER'S WEIGHT
LOSS WAS A REACTION TO THE
STRESS OF THE FAMILY FINANCIAL
SITUATION.
BUT THEN THE WEIGHT LOSS
CONTINUED AND THEY REALIZED THAT
SOMETHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG.
DESPITE URGING FROM HER FAMILY,
TINA RESISTED GOING TO
DOCTOR BECAUSE SHE WAS FRAID
THAT THE MEDICAL BILLS WOULD
MAKE THEIR DIFFICULT FINANCIAL
SITUATION UNBEARABLE.
EVENTUALLY TEEN INTO FELL SO
SICK THAT THEY CALLED THE
AMBULANCE AND SHE WAS TAKEN TO
THE HOSPITAL.
TINA DIED THREE DAYS LATER OF A
HEART ATTACK COMPLICATED BY BOTH
BONE CANCER AND DIABETES.
WHEN ANNA TALKED TO THE DOCTORS
WHO TREATED TINA, THEY ASKED THE
FAMILY WHY TINA HAD AVOIDED
COMING TO
LONG.
BECAUSE WITH PROPER EARLY
INTERVENTION, HER SISTER'S CONDITIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN
TREATABLE.
ANNA TOLD ME THAT SHE
UNDERSTANDS THAT P
AND DIE, BUT THE MANNER IN WHICH
HER SISTER PASSED AWAY WAS
TRAGIC BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE TO
OVER THE AUGUST RECESS I ALSO
HEARD FROM
THROUGH THE HEALTH CARE STORY
BOARD I RUN ON MY WEB SIEVMENT
TWO OF THESE STORIES ARE PRETTY
REMARKABLE AS WELL.
THE FIRST IS FROM KEN, A RECENT
RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE GRADUATE
FROM GREENVILLE, RHODE ISLAND.
KEN WORKED HARD, DREAMING THAT
HE WOULD BE THE FIRST IN HIS
FAMILY TO ACHIEVE A COLLEGE DEGREE.
NOW A YEAR AFTERRADUATION, KEN
HAS THAT COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT HE
CAN'T FIND A FULL-TIME JOB WITH
HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS.
IN THIS DIFFICULT ECONOMY, HE
WORKS TWO PART-TIME JOBS AT
MINIMUM WAGE AND HE HAS NO
HEALTH BENEFITS.
KEN WASN'T LOOKING TO MAKE A
SIX-FIGURE SALARY AFTER
GRADUATION, BUT HE WAS LOOKING
TO BE ABLE TO GET BY.
ON HIS CURRENT INCOME, KEN HAS
DIFFICULTY MAKING ENDS MEET WITH
HIS DAY-TO-DAY EXPENSE AND SAYS
AT THIS RATE IT WILL TAKE HIM
YEARS TO PAY OFF HIS STUDENT LOANS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR'S TIME HAS SPYDER.
MR. WHITEHOUSE: MAY I HAVE
FIVE MINUTES LONGER?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER:ITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. WHITEHOUSE: ON HIS CURRENT
INCOME HE HAS DIFFICULTY MACK
ENDS MEET DAY
AND IT'LL TAKE HIM YEARS TO PAY
OFF HIS STUDENT LOANS.
ON SUCH A LIMITED INCOME AND IN
HIS SITUATION, HEALTH INSURANCE
IS SIMPLY NOT AN OPTION FOR KEN.
HE'S DISCOURAGED AND HE'S
FRUSTRATED, DESPITE HARD WORK
AND ACHIEVEMENT, HE KNOWS THAT
AT ANY MOMENT HE IS ONE SICKNESS
OR ONE INJURY AWAY FROM
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT OR
RUINED CREDIT THAT WOULD AFFECT
HIS CHANCES FOR A PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
KEN NOTES THAT HE'S WORKED FOR
EVERYTHING HE'S EARNED, BUT
HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE SO HIGH
THAT HE'S SC
FUTURE IF NOTHING IS DONE TO FIX
OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
LAST IS BETH, A SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER IN TROUGH DENSE.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND HAVE TWO
FULL-TIME AND TWO P
EMPLOYEES AND SO THEY FIND
THEMSELVES AT THE BHIM OF
INSURANCE COMPANIES, BECAUSE
THEY DON'T HAVE THE BARGAING
POWER TO NEGOTIATOR THE TERMS
THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE PACKAGE.
THEY'VE SEEN 41% INCREASES IN
THEIR INSURANCE RATES FOR TWO
YEARS IN A ROW NOW.
BETH TOLD ME THAT THE COST OF
HEALTH INSURANCE IS BREAKING THE
BACKS OF SMALL ENTREPRENEURS,
THOSE CRITICAL DRIVERS OF
INNOVATION AND BUILDING BLOCKS
OF OUR NATION'S ECONOMY.
SHE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW OR
WHY ANYONE COULD START THEIR OWN
BUSINESS UNDER THE DEEP
FINANCIAL BURDENS IMPOSED ON
SMALL BUSINESS BY OUR CURRENT
HEALTH INSURANCE SYSTEM.
BETH ALSO CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH
INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR HER TWIN
3-YEAR-OLD GIRLS.
SHE ADMITS SHE IS TERRIFIED
ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM
WITHOUT THE SAFETY NET HEALTH
INSURANCE OFFERS.
SHE URGES US TO WORK QUICKLY
TOWARDS REFORM SO OTHER DON'T
HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE SAME
FEAR AND FRUSTRATION AS HER
FAMILY. MR. PRESIDENT, THE SENATE HAS
BEEN WORKING
REFORM LEGISLATION SINCE THE
VERY BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
THE PROCESS IS TRYING AND TIRING
AND EXTMELY COMPLEX.
AS WE TURN UP THE HEAT EVEN MORE
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND BECOME
MIRED IN THE INTENSE PROCESS OF
DRAFTING A FINAL BILL AND
GETTING IT TO THE FLOOR, I URGE
MY COLLEAGUES TO REMBER THE
HEALTH CARE REFORM IS NOT ABOUT
THE INTEREST GROUPS, IT'S NOT
ABOUT PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES,
IT'S NOT ABOUT SECRET MEETINGS
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT C.B.O. SCORES.
REFORMING OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
IN AMERICA IS ABOUT CHRISTINE
AND TINA AND BETH AND KEN AND
THOUSANDS LIKE THEM IN EVERY ONE
OF OUR STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND IT MEANS INJECTING SOME
FAIRNESS AND SOME REASON INTO A
SYSTEM THAT HAS PUNISHED THE
SICK, REWARDED THE GREED
KWRAOERB
WHO -- GREEDY, AND DISCOURAGED
THOSE WHO TRIED TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
FOR ME, THESE STORIES REINFORCE
THE URGENCY OF WHAT WE NEED TO
GET DONE HERE IN THE SENATE.
I'M FULLY COMMITTED TO
COMPLETING THIS TASK, AS I KNOW
THE PRESIDING OFFICER I
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING IT DONE
OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
IN CLOSING, LET ME JUST SAY THAT
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE
SPOKEN ON THE SENATE FLOOR SINCE
OUR COLLEAGUE,
HAS LEFT US.
HIS DESK IS THREE DOWN FROM ME.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAMERA SHOWS
IT NOW, BUT THERE'S A BLACK
DRAPE OVER IT AND SOME FLOWERS
AND A COPY
"THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED."
I KNOW THAT THIS POEM MEANT A
LOT TO HIM, AND HE CERTAINLY
MEANT A LOT TO ME AS A VERY
GRACIOUS MENTOR, WITH VAST
EXPERIENCE, WHO COULD EASILY
HAVE IGNORED A NEW COLLEAGUE.
BUT HE TOOK AN INTEREST, AND I
WILL NEVER FORGET HIS KINDNESS
TO ME.
WE ALL WILL MISS HIS BOOMING VOICE.
HE COULD FILL THIS CHAMBER WITH HIS VOICE.
WE WILL MISS HIS ROLL -- HIS
GOOD HUMOR.
NO ONE ENJOYED LIFE AND HIS
COLLEAGUES MORE THAN THE S
SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
WE WILL MISS HIS LEGISLATIVE
SKILLS AS WE TRY TO WORK OUR WAY
THROUGH THE OBSTRUCTIONS THE
OTHER SIDE WILL BE THROWING UP
AGAINST PROGRESS ON HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
HIS COUNSEL WILL BE MISSED.
FINALLY, WE WILL MISS HIS LION'S
HET.
HE KNEW WHEN THE FIGHT WAS RIGHT.
HE KNEW WHEN IT WAS WORTH
FIGHTING FOR.
AND HE WAS IN IT TO WIN IT.
TED, GOD BLESS
WE MISS
I YIELD THE FLOOR. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, LET
ME ASK CONSENT TO SPEAK IN
MORNING BUSINESS FOR 15 MINUTES.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, LET
ME
REMARKS, MY COLLEAGUE FROM RHODE
ISLAND HAS
THE END OF HIS REMARKS THE LOSS
OF OUR COLLEAGUE AND
SENATOR TED KENNEDY.
THE DESK THAT IS NOW CLOAKED IN
BLACK AND ADORNED WITH FLOWERS
IS A DESK ONCE OCCUPIED BY
SENATOR JOHN F. K
OCCUPIED BY SENATOR ROBERT
KENNEDY, AND FOR MANY, MANY
YEARS OCCUPIED BY SENATOR TED
KENNEDY.
HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY FRIEND
TO ALL OF US, A REMAR LEGISLATIVE.
THIS IS NOT A CASE OF THE SENATE
JUST LOSING ONE SENATOR.
HE WAS SUCH A MUCH LARGER
PRESENCE THAN THAT IN
LIFE -- PUBLIC LIFE OF OUR
COUNTRY, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE
WORKINGS OF THIS CONGRESS.
MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS HAVE
BEEN WITH TED KENNEDY AND HIS
FAMILY OVER THE
MONTHS AS HE HAS BATTLED THE
BRAIN CANCER, AND NOW SINCE HIS
DEATH WE HAVE A
WHAT HE MEANT TO US AND TO THIS COUNTRY.
AGAIN TODAY, IT SEEMS
INAPPROPRIATE TO TAKE THE FLOOR
OF THE SENATE WITHOUT AT LEAST
ACKNOWLEDGING THE ABSENCE OF
FRIEND, TED KENNEDY, AND TO SEND
OUR PRAYERS TO HIS FAMILY.
MR. PRESIDENT, WHEN HE WOULD
COME TO THE FLOOR WITH A BOOMING
VOICE,
ISSUE, IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY
THING TO WATCH AND TO LIS
HE HAD THAT KIND OF PASSION.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE
A LOT OF THINGS FOR US TO BE
PASSIONATE ABOUT, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I HAVE TALKED ABOUT
ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE IS
THE WASTE AND THE FRAUD A
ABUSE I
ALL OF US BELIEVE IN INVESTING
IN PROGRAMS THAT WORK TO TRY T
HELP MAKE LIFE BETTER IN THIS
COUNTRY AND ADVANCE THE
INTERESTS OF THIS COUNTRY.
BUT IT MAKES ME FURIOUS TO SEE
THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I SEE
FROM TIME TO TIME THAT
RE
ABUSE AND UNBELIEVABLE INCOMPETENCE.
LET ME DESCRIBE JUST ONE.
AND WE KNOW THIS NOT BECAUSE
SOME EXTRA BODY.
WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE OF SOME
EXTRAORDINARY WORK BY C.J.
CHIVERS AND
"NEW YORK TIMES" BECAUSE THEY
WROTE A STORY ABOUT IT.
I'M SURE IT MAKES EVERY AMERICAN
AS
THIS IS A PICTURE OF EPHRAIM
DEVROLY, 22 YEARS OLD, C.E.O. OF
A FIRM AWARDED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN U.S. CONTRACTS TO
PROVIDE A
AND GUNS TO THE AFGHAN FIGHTERS.
YES, THAT'S RIGHT, A 22-YEAR-OLD
MAN USING A COMPANY, A
CORPORATION, SHELL CORPORATION
ESTABLISHED BY
WORKING OUT OF AN UNMARKED DOOR
IN MIAMI, GOT $300 MILLION IN
CONTRACTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE.
HE WAS THE C.E.O.
BY THE WAY, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE
OF ANY OTHER EMPLOYEES EXCEPT
HIM AND
YES, HIS VICE PRESIDENT WAS
OLDER -- 25 YEARS OLD AND
MASSAGE THERAPIST.
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE GAVE
$300 MILLION IN CONTRACTS TO A
22-YEAR-OLD C.E.O. OF A COMPANY,
A COMPANY THAT WAS RUN BY A
22-YEAR-OLD C.E.O. AND A
25-YEAR-OLD VICE PRESIDENT
MASSAGE
NOW, WHY DO I TELL YOU THIS TODAY?
BECAUSE A NEWS STORY JUST
RECENTLY DESCRIBED THE FACT THAT
MR. DEVROLY PLED GUILTY TO A
FRAUD CONSPIRACY CHARGE RELATING
TO THE $300 MILLION IN U.S.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS.
HE FACES UP TO FIVE YEARS IN ISON.
I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT THIS MAN AND
THIS CIRCUMSTANCE PROBABLY THREE
OR FOUR TIMES ON THE FLOOR OF
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.
TO ASK THE QUESTION: HOW ON
EARTH COULD THIS
LET ME JUST SHOW, IF I MIG,
WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT.
THIS WAS ABOUT PRODUCTS.
NOT STAPLERS OR REAMS OF PAPER.
THESE WERE KILLER PRODUCTS,
AMMUNITION, AMMUNITION THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED TO THE
AFGHAN FIGHTERS, AND IT TURNS
OUT AMMUNITION THAT SPILLS OUT
OF BOXES.
AND HERE ARE SOME OTHER
EXAMPLES.
THESE ARE BULLETS, BY THE WAY,
OF 40-YEAR-OLD CHINESE-MADE CARTRIDGES.
THEY WERE FOUND SOMEWHERE IN THE
WORLD AND SENT THEM OVER TO
AFGHANISTAN AND THE AFGHAN FIGHTERS.
HERE YOU CAN SEE SPILLING OUT OF
BOXES, 42-YEAR-OLD CHINESE
AMMUNITION THAT WAS WHAT WAS
DELIVERED IN
THESE TWO FOLKS.
NOW, THE PICTURE THAT I USED OF
THE 22-YEAR-OLD C.E.O. WITH WHOM
BOTH DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT DID BUSINESS,
BY THE WAY.
HE HAD PREVIOUS CONTRACTS WITH
THE STATE DEPARTMENT THAT WERE
UNSATISFACTORY.
DESPITE THAT, HE GOT $300
MILLION IN CONTRACTS FROM DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.
THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS FROM 2007.
THAT'S WHEN HE GOT THE $300
MILLION DEFE
THIS PHOTOGRAPH HAPPENS TO BE A
POLICE PHOTOGRAPH BECAUSE HE WAS
ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING A
PARKING LOT ATTENDANT. AT THE TIME HE WAS FOUND TO HAVE
A FORGED DRIVERS LICENSE WHICH
MADE HIM OUT TO BE FOUR YEARS
OLDER THANE WAS.
HE SAID HE FORGED THE LICENSE
AND DIDN'T NEED IT ANY LONGER
SINCE HE WAS 21 BECAUSE HE ONLY
WANTED TO BUY ALCOHOL IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS COMPANY CALLED A.E.Y., THAT
A 22- AND 25-YEAR-OLD RAN AND
GOT $3 HUNDRED MILLION IN
DEFENSE CONTRACTS AFTER THEY GOT
CONTRACTS
DEPARTMENT AND JUDGED TO HAVE
BEEN UNSATISFACTORY.
BY THE WAY, THEY RAN THIS -- I DON'T HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH.
I THOUGHT I DID -- OUT OF THE
BUILDING IN MIAMI, AND IT WAS AN
UNMARKED DOOR.
MIAMI BEACH BUILDING, AN
MARKED DOOR, THAT'S ALL YOU
COULD SEE.
THE ONLY EVIDENCE THAT EXISTS
SUGG
WITH TWO PEOPLE.
MR. PACKHOUSE, THE 25-YEAR-OLD
MASSEUR, HAS ALSO PLED GUILTY.
SO BOTH HAVE NOW PLED GUILTY.
I'VE SHOWN YOU
ARMS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO
HAVE BEEN PROCURED
AFGHAN FIGHTERS.
AND WHEN THEY WERE DELIVERED,
THE AFGHAN FIGHTERS CALLED
JUNK -- JUNK -- STUFF MADE IN
THE 1960'S IN CHINA.
THE WAY THEY PURCHASED THIS
SO-CALLED JUNK VIOLATED U.S. LAW
IN THE FIRST PLACE.
"THE NEW YORK TIMES" ORIGINALLY
PUBLISHED THIS STORY.
THAT'S WHEN I SAW IT.
THAT'S WHEN I CAME TO THE FLOOR
OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND
ASKED A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION:
HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
HOW ON EARTH COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED?
WHO'S MINDING THE STORE?
IF THE ARMY HAD MADE THE
SLIGHTEST EFFORT TO LOOK INTO
THE BACKGROUND
AND MR. P
WOULD HAVE GRANTED CONTRACTS TO
THEM.
THE AWARD WAS MADE IN 2007 --
JANUARY 2007 -- BY THE ARMY
STAINMENT COMMAND.
ON MAY 7 OF 2008, I MET WITH
ARMY LIEUTENANT MORTONSON.
I DECIDE, IF I COULD -- TO FIND
CONTRACTS IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE.
MR. MORTONSON WAS A THREE-STAR
GENERAL, GENERAL M
SINCE RETIRED.
HE WAS COMPLETELY UNA POLL
GENTLEMEN PARTICULAR ABOUT THIS.
HE --
LOOKED FINE.
IF THEY LOOKED, THEY WOULD HAVE
FOUND OUT THIS IS NOBODY TO
CONTRACT WITH.
HE TOLD ME NOBODY IN THE ARMY
THOUGHT TO LOOK THROUGH THE
BACKGROUND OF MR. DIVEROLL AND
MR. PACKHOUSE, EVEN THOUGH THIS
WAS A COMPANY THAT CONSISTED OF
JUST TWO PEOPLE.
HE TOLD ME THAT
CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ARMY WOULD
PROBABLY MAKE THE SAME DECISION
AGAIN AND GIVE CONTRACTS TO SUCH
PEOPLE AGAIN.
AND THEN HE TOLD ME THAT IF
MR. DIVEROLL AND MR. PACKHOUSE
WERE
GO BACK TO DOING BUSINESS WITH
THEM.
WELL, IF GENERAL MORTONSON HAD
WAED TO KNOW A LITTLE
ABOUT WITH WHOM THEY WERE DOING
BUSINESS, TO THE TUNE OF
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
HE COULD HAVE GONE TO MYSPACE.
MR. DIVEROLL HAD A PAGE ON MYSPACE.
HE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A SUPER NICE GUY.
HE SAID ON MYSPACE -- HE SAID I
HAD PROBLEMS IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO
I WAS FORCED TO WORK AND
PROBABLY GREW UP WAY TOO FAST.
HE SAYS BASICALLY I'M JUST
CHILLIN' WITH MY BOYS.
AND HE LIKES TO GO CLUBBING AND
GO SEE MOVIES.
SO HE COULD HAVE CHECKED, OF
COUR
HE COULD HAVE CHECKED PERHAPS A
CRIMINAL RECORD AND FINAL
FOUND -- FOUND HE HAD BEEN
CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND DRUNK
HE COULD HAVE GOOGLED HIS NAME
AND FOUND THE VICE PRESIDENT
MASSAGE THERAPIST, WAS A
PROFESSIONAL SONG WRITER.
WITH THESE KINDS OF BACKGROUND,
I'M JUST WONDERING, WHERE IS
THERE THIS?
WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY?
I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE TWO
ENTERPRISING REPORTERS FOR "THE
NEW YORK TIMES" BROKE THIS
STORY -- AND WE PROBABLY
WOULDN'T KNOW IT NOW BECAUSE
THIS DIDN'T COME FROM OVERSIGHT
HEARINGS, DIDN'T COME FROM A
TRUMAN COMMITTEE THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE IN
INVESTIGATING THESE THINGS.
BUT IT WAS ENTERPRISING
REPORTING THAT DID THIS; I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WE'VE GOT A
COUPLE OF PEOPLE CHARGED CRIMINALLY.
THE QUESTION I ASK IS THIS:
WHERE'S
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR
DECIDING THEY WERE GOING TO MOVE
$300 MILLION TO THE HANDS OF
THESE TWO?
WHO DID THAT?
WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
WERE THEY ASKED TO ACCOUNT FOR
IT AND TO ANS
AMERICAN TAXPAYER AND TO THE
GOVERNMENT FOR WHICH THEY WORKED?
THE ANSWER IS NO, AND THAT'S
WHAT'S WRONG.
IT'S WHY I'VE COME TO THE FLOOR
TO RECITE AGAIN, THERE'S SOME
GOOD NEWS HERE THAT FINALLY WE
HAVE CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT HAVE
BEEN ADJUDICATED AND THE FACT IS
TWO PEOPLE HAVE PLED GUILTY.
BUT WILL THIS BE HAPPENING TODAY
SOMEWHERE IN THE
WILL IT?
DID IT HAPPEN WH
WAS SENT BY A CONTRACTOR TO ALL
THE MILITARY BASES IN
NONPOTABLE WATER THAT HAS MORE
CONTAMINATION THAN RAW WATER
FROM THE EUPHRATES RIVER?
THE ARMY SAID NO.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AT MY
REQUEST INVESTIGATED AND SAID
YES, IT DID
I COULD GO ON AT LENGTH ABOUT
DOZENS AND DOZENS OF SIMILAR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE QUESTION IS: WHO'S
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE SPENDING OF
THIS MONEY?
WHO'S BEEN MADE TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE?
WHO HAD TO ANSWER FOR IT?
I ASKED THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
AND OTHERS, IS THERE SOMEBODY
THAT'S MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THIS?
I
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THESE TWO
PEOPLE.
BUT IS THERE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
THE PEOE WHO DECIDED TO EMPLOY
THEM, DESPITE ALL OF THE
EVIDENCE THAT THIS MADE NO SENSE
FOR OUR COUNTRY?
I ASKED THAT QUESTION FOR A VERY IMPORTANT REASON.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEBATE
ABOUT AFGHANISTAN.
I HAVE VERY STRONG FEELING
ABOUT THAT AS WELL W. BUT WHAT
WE ARE -- AS WELL.
WHAT
CONTRACTING BEING DONE IN
AFGHANISTAN JUST AS THE
RATCHETING UP OF CONTRACTS OCCURRED IN IRAQ.
MORE AND MORE AND MORE CONTRACTING.
WHO'S MINDING THE STORE?
WHAT KIND OF OVERSIGHT CAN WE
EXPECT?
OR WILL WE A WEEK FROM NOW, A
MONTH FROM NOW OR A YEAR FROM
NOW READ ANOTHER STORY BY A
COUPLE OF GOOD REPORTERS WHO DUG
IT OUT TO SAY SOMETHING HAPPENED
HERE THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE, AND
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GOT DEFRAUDED TO THE TUNE OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, OR IN THIS
CASE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
ALL OF US HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES
AT THIS POINT TO MAKE
ACCOUNTABLE THOSE THIS SORT OF
THING TO
AND NOT JUST IN THIS CASE.
I'VE DONE 20 HEARINGS NOW AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE
AND I'VE PRODUCED VIRTUALLY
BOOKS OF THI
FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
WELL, MR. PRESIDENT, I -- I KNOW
MY C
PATIENTLY WAITING, AND I WANT TO
GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY SPEAK.
I ONLY WANT TO SAY THIS.
THIS IS THE CONCLION WITH
CRIMINAL CHARGES AND GUILTY
PLEAS WITH RESPECT TO THIS
ISSUE, WHICH I THINK
METAPHOR FOR A MUCH
OF PROBLEMS THAT WE IN THE
CONGRESS AND IN THE -- IN THE
ADMINIST
RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS AND TO
ADDRESS IT
THIS ISSUE OF BIG FEDERAL BUDGET
DEFICITS
THEY'RE UNSUSTAINABLE AND DANGEROUS.
ONE OF THE AREAS TO DEAL WITH
THEM IS TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS AND
CUT PENDING WHERE SPENDING IS WASTED.
THIS WAS
TO THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY.
MY HAT'S OFF TO THE REPORTERS
WHO EXPLORED IT.
I'M AT LEAST ABLE TO SAY THAT
GUILTY PLEAS HAVE BEEN R
MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR.
A SENATOR: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM
MR. INHOFE: MR. PRESIDENT, I'VE
BEEN HERE THIS AFTERNOON HOPING
TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME,
BUT WE'RE GETTING -- RIGHT NOW
WE'RE INTO THE FINAL DEBATE ON
THE VOTE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT
5:30.
THE SENATOR FROM NEVADA, SENATOR
ENSIGN, HAS AGREED TO LET ME
HAVE 10 MINUTES, SO I ASK
UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO SPEAK
10 MINUTES AS IF IN MORNING
BUSINESS.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, COULD
WE SIMPLY POINT OUT THAT WE'RE
TO GO T
DISCUSSED THY COLLEAGUE THAT
WE HAVE 30 MINUTES ON EACH SID
ON THE BILL, IF WE COULD GO TO
THE BILL AND HAVE MY COLLEAGUE
SPEAK ON HIS SIDE'S PORTION OF
THE BILL, I THINK THAT WOULD BE
THEIGHT APPROACH.
MR. INHOFE: ALL RIGHT.
MR. PRESIDENT, I WAS GOING TO --
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER THE SENATE WILL
RESUME CONSIDERA
THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA IS
RECOGNIZED FOR 10 MINUTES.
MR. INHOFE: OK.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
FIRST OF ALL, I HAD A
STORIES THAT I WAS GOING TO TELL
ABOUT MY VERY GOOD FRIEND WHO'S
DECEASED NOW, SENATOR KENNEDY.
IF THERE'S TIME BEFORE MY TIME
EXPIRES, I WILL GET INTO THAT.
BUT I HAVE A FEELING THIS IS
GOING
LET ME JUST MENTION ONE THING, I
THINK ITS SO FRESH ON OUR
MINDS NOW HAVING COM
A RE S., THE -- RECESS, THE
AUGUST RECESS.
I DID MY TOWN MEETINGS IN
SMALLER COMMUNITIES IN OKLAHOMA,
IN STIGLER, GROVE, LAWSUITEN,
AND I DID THIS BECAUSE --
LAUTON, AND I DID THIS BECAUSE
SO MANY TIMES THE SMALLER
COMMUNITIES ARE LEFT OUT.
AND I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT KIND
OF RESPONSE THEY HAD.
I MADE A COMMENT IN GROVETON,
OKLAHOMA, THE INSTITUTIONS THAT
HISTORICALLY SET ASIDE AMERICA
FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY,
THE REST OF THE WORLD, ARE THE
ONES
ATTACK BY THIS ADMINISTRATION.
I'M TALKING ABOUT FREE
ENTERPRISE, I'M TALKING ABOUT
THE FACT THAT LITTLE GOVERNMENT,
BIG PEOPLE, AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.
AND AS I HAD THESE HEARINGS,
SINCE MY JUNIOR SENATOR, SENATOR
COBURN, WHIS ONE OF THE TWO
MEDICAL DOCTORS IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE, I DECIDED TO TALK
ABOUT THE OTHER ISSUES.
MY FEAR IS THIS, MR. PRESIDENT,
THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THIS
PRESIDENT WANTS TO DO
HEALTH ISSUES IN AMERICA.
AND WE'RE FORGETTING THERE ARE
OTHER VERY SERIOUS ISSUES, AND
SO I COVERED THESE AS OPPOSED TO
THE -- THE HEALTH PROBLEMS.
BECAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH
THAT ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT IN THE
SENATE IN THE NEXT -- IN THE
NEXT FEW DAYS OR WEEKS.
E OF THEMS THE CAP-AND-TRADE.
ONE OF THE THEM IS THE
CAP-AND-TRADE ISSUE THAT IS --
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AT SOME
LENGTH, AND I WILL GET INTO THAT
IN A MINUTE.
THE OTHER IS THE CLOSING OF
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL -- OR
GITMO, AS IT'S KNOWN TO MOST
PEEP.
AND THE OTHER IS WHAT HAS
HAPPENED TO OUR MILITARY.
SO LET ME REAL BRIEFLY GET INTO
THESE AREAS.
THESE ARE THE THREE AREAS THAT I
WILL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP.
THESE ARE THE AREAS OF SPECIALTY
THAT I HAVE, AND I'M VERY MUCH
CONCERNED ABOUT.
FIRST OF ALL, I POSITION IN
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE GATES CAME
OUT WITH HIS ANNOUNCEMENT AS TO
THE -- THE -- THE -- THE PORTION
OF THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
DEALING WITH DEFENSE.
BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS
OPPOSED TO IT AND I THOUGHT THAT
WOULD GIVE ME A NATIONAL FORUM,
AND IT DID.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH
THINGS AS THE F-22.
RIGHT NOW THE ONLY FIFTH
GENERATION FIGHTER WE HAVE IS AN
F-22.
INITIALLY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 750 OF THEM.
WE NOW HAVE 187, AND THE
PRESIDENT IN HIS BUDGET STOPPED
IT RIGHT THERE.
NOW, HE DIDN'T SAY TERMINATE,
BUT I WILL USE THE WORD
TERMINATE, BECAUSE YOU WHEN YOU
SUSPEND SOMETHING FOR AN
UNDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME, I
THINK IT IS TERMINATED.
WE KNOW THAT CHINA IS NOW
WORKING ON THEIR J-12'S, RUSSIA
ON THEIR PAC--FA'S, AND THESE
ARE FIFTH GENERATION FIGHTERS
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO USE TO
EXPORT TO COUNTRIES THAT COULD
BE -- COULD BE POTENTIAL ENEMIES
OF OURS.
I LOOKED AT THE C-17 PROGRAM,
STOPPING THAT PROGRAM.
THE FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEM THAT WE
HAVEN'T IT I
THE TRANSITION OF GROUND
CAPABILITY IN SOME TIME, ABOUT
60 YEARS, SO WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THE FUTURE COMBAT SYSTEM.
THAT SYSTEM HAS BEEN TERMINATED.
I THINK THE ONE THAT PROBABLY
HAS THE GREATEST DANGER ON LIVES
OF AMERICANS COULD PROBABLY BE
THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAD
NEGO
OF POLAND AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC.
THE CZECH REPUBLIC, WE ASKED
THEM IF THEY
A RADAR SYSTEM TO SEE IF ANY
KIND OF MISSILE THAT MIGHT HAVE
BEEN COMING FROM IRAN, AND THE
-- AND THEN -- AND THEY AGREED
TO DO THAT AND POLAND
HAVE AN INTERCEPTION CAPABILITY
IN POLAND THAT WOULD KNOCK DOWN
SUCH A MISSILE COMING FROM IRAN.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYONE IN
AMERICA THAT DOESN'T REALIZE
THAT IRAN WILL HAVE THEIR
NUCLEAR CAPABILITY AND
DELIVERING SYSTE JUST AS SOON AS THEY CAN.
AND FOR THE SAKE OF WESTERN
EUROPE AND EASTERN UNITED
STATES, I THINK IT'S CRITICAL
THAT WE ARE -- PUT OURSELVES IN
A POSITION TO HAVE THAT
CAPABILITY.
HE STOPPED THAT.
WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR
QUITE SOME TIME.
GITMO -- I THINK THAT MOST
PEOPLE REALIZE THAT GUANTANAMO
BAY IS SOMETHING TT WE'VE --
AN ASSET WE'VE HAD SINCE 1903.
IT HAS ALL KINDS OF CAPABILITIES.
IT'S THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD
YOU CAN PUT TERRORIST DETAINEES,
WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A SECURITY
BUILT FOR
SEVEN DEGREES OF SECURITY.
A SYSTEM FOR THEM TO USE
MILITARY TRIBUNALS AND I WILL
NEVER UNDERSTAND WHY PRESIDENT
OBAMA IS OBSESSED WITH BRINGING
THESE DETAINEES SOMEWHERE IN THE
UNITED STATES EITHER FOR TRIAL
OR INCARCERATION.
FOR TRIAL IT WOULD BE THE WORST
THING IN THE WORLD.
BECAUSE BY DEFINITION A
TERRORIST TRAINS PEOPLE TO
BECOME TERRORISTS.
WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE THE
TERRORISTS IN OUR PRISON
TEACHING OTHER PEOPLE HOW TO
BECOME TERRORISTS.
THE -- SOME OF THE PLACE THAT'S
HE TALKED ABOUT SENDING THEM
WERE INCLUDED -- INCLUDED IN MY
STATE FORT SILL, AND WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THAT AT LENGTH SOME OTHER TIME.
I DO THINK WHEN
OF DAYS AGO THE RELEASE OF
MUHAMMAD JIAD FROM GITMO, NOBODY
KNOWS AND I SHOULD KNOW BEING
THE SECOND RANKING MEMBER ON THE
ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, AS TO
WHY HE WOULD BE RELEASED.
AND WE ALSO
MULLAHAK HE IR KILLING MARINES
FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME WAS
RELEASED IS NOW BACK.
HE WENT INTO GITMO AND -- IN
2006, THEY RELEASED HIM IN 2008.
HE'S BACK NOW, WE HAVE EVIDENCE
THAT IS CONCLUSIVE THAT HE IS
FIGHTING WIT
TALIBAN.
AND SO YOU CAN'T TURN THESE GUYS LOOSE.
AND THE THIRD AREA THAT I WAS
CONCENTRATING ON IS ONE -- I'LL
GO BACK, MR. PRESIDENT, EIGHT
YEARS, REDEMPTION IS KIND OF
GOOD FOR THE
EIGHT YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS
LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE ON THE
IDEA THAT THE NOTION THAT
MANMADE GASES, Co2, CAUSING
GLOBAL WMING WAS SOMETHING
THAT EVERYONE BELIEVED AND,
FRANKLY, ONCE I LOOKED INTO THE
SCIENCE, I BELIEVED IT TOO.
NOW THE SCIENCE IS NOT THERE.
AND I MADE
YEARS AGO THAT PERHAPS THOSE
LIBERALS, MOSTLY FROM HOLLYWOOD
AND THAT TYPE OF MENTALITY, WHO
WANT US TO BELIEVE IN THE NOTION
THAT MANMADE GASES CAUSE GLOBAL
WARMING IS THE MOST SIGNIFICA
HOPE EVER PERPETRATED ON THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.
AN
FEWER PEOPLE UPSET WITH THE
STATEMENT I MADE EIGHT YEARS AGO
THAN MADE TODAY.
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS
REALLY -- REALLY CRITICAL.
I -- I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH THAT.
BUT, FIRST OF ALL, I MENTIONED
THAT THERE IS A DOCUMENT THAT IS
TOO LONG TO PUT INTO THE RECORD.
IT IS 60 SOME -- 65 PAGES.
I WILL HAVE IT ON MY WEBSITE.
IT IS
ABOUT THE ENERGY CRISIS AND WHAT
WE CAN DO IN THE UNITED STATES
TO RESOLVE THE ENERGY CRISIS.
SUCH COMMONSENSE THINGS SUCH AS
CONTINUE TO SERVE AND SUPPORT
THE FREE MARKET,
CAP-AND-TRADE TAXES, WHICH I
WILL TALK ABOUT IN A SECOND,
OPPOSE THE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SUBSIDIES BECAUSE WE
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP -- TO SUPPLY
ENERGY FOR AMERICA WHILE WE'RE
DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY, SO WE
NEED TO CONTINUE COAL POWER
GENERATION, WE NEED FAST TRACK
OIL GAS EXPLORATION AND
NATURAL GAS WISELY.
SO IT INCLUDES NUCLEAR PLANTS
AND I WOULD SUGGEST ANYONE
INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO THE
BEST PIECE I HAVE SEEN ON THIS
SUBJECT GO TO MY WEBSITE
INHOFE.SENATE.GOV AND WE HAVE A
LOT OF INFORMATION ON THERE.
HE DOES HAVE ONE
THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS CAUSED BY
MANMADE GASES, AND I THINK IT IS
DONE IN A WAY THAT IS VERY, VERY
UNDERSTANDABLE BY PEOPLE WHO ARE
NOT NECESSARILY
DON'T HAVE A BACKGUND IN IT.
SO I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS --
THIS DOCUMENT CALLED "ENERGY
PRESENT AND FUTURE" BY ROBERT P.
SMITH, TO THE READING OF THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE OR ANYONE WHO IS
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
NOW, THE LAST THING, I REALLY
BELIEVE -- AND
PRIOR TO THE REPUBLICANS LOSING
THE MAJORITY IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE, I WAS
CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE.
THE THAT CHAIRMAN IS NOW SENATOR
BARBARA BOXER, AND SHE HAS,
SINCE SHE TOOK OVER THE
COMMITTEE FROM MY
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATO USED.
MR. INHOFE: I UNDERSTAND THAT I
HAVE AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES
GIVEN FROM OUR SIDE. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. INHOFE: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO -- AND I WILL CONCLUDE WITH THIS.
BUT ALL OF THE HEARINGS --
30 HEARINGS
HAS HAD ON THE SUBJECT -- BOXER
HAS HAD ON THE SUBJECT OF GLOBAL
WARMING WERE TAKING PLACE, AND
IT WAS NOT REALLY THE
REPUBLICANS, BUT A TOTAL
TURNAROUND AND THE DEMOCRATS
STARTING TO LOOK INTO
REALIZING THAT THE DEMOCRATS, AS
A PARTY WHO ALWAYS SUPPORTED
CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEMS, SUCH AS
THE 2001 BILL AND
AND THE 2008 BILL ARE LKING AT
IT AND CUTTING TO THE CHASE.
LY GIVE YOU QUOTES FROM
DEMOCRATS -- I WILL GIVE YOU QUOTES.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID ELECTRICITY
PRICES WOULD NECESSARILY
SKYROCKET.
DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVE JOH
DINGELL FROM MICHIGAN SAID THAT
CAP-AND-TRADE IS A TAX AND ADD
GRADE BIG ONE.
DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE PETE
DEFA RCH SIO SAID THAT
CAP-AND-TRADE IS
WITHOUT GUARANTEE OF GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSION REDUCTION.
THE BEST IS MY GOOD FRIEND FROM
NORTH DAKOTA, BYRON DORGAN WHEN
HE SAID THAT CAP-AND-TRADE, THE
WALL STREET CROWD CAN'T WAIT TO
SINK THEIR TEETH INTO A NEW
TRILLION DOLLAR TRADING MARKET
WHERE HEDGE FUNDS WOULD
SPECULATE ON CARBON CREDITS AND
SECURITY.
I AGREE WITH BYRON DORGAN.
SENATOR CANTWELLINGS -- QUOTE --
"A CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM
ALLOW WALL STREET TO DISTORT
TRADE FOR ITS OWN PROFITS."
AND WE LEARNED THAT
IS THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY.
I ASKED HER THE QUESTION INHE
PUBLIC HEARING, I SAID IF WE
SHOULD PASS THE MARKEY BILL IN
THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND
SIGN IT INTO LAW, WOULD THIS
REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS IN THE
WORLD AND SHE'D SAID, NO.
LOGICALLY, OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S RIGHT.
IF WE DRIVE OUR JOBS OVERSEAS TO
-- TO PLACES LIKEHINA AND
INDIA WHERE THEY HAVE NO
INTENTION OF
REQUIREMENTS, THAT WOULD
INCREASE, NOT DECREASE THE
AMOUNT OF EMISSIONS IN THE AIR.
SENATOR KERRY SAID THERE'S NO
WAY THAT THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA ACTING ALONE CAN SOLVE
THIS PROBLEM SO WE HAVE TO HAVE
CHINA AND WE HAVE TO HAVE INDIA.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE, I SAY,
CHINA AND INDIA.
SENATOR McCASKILL SAID IF WE
GO TOO FAR WITH THIS, THIS
CAP-AND-TRADE, THEN WE'RE ALL
GOING TO DO -- CHASE OUR JOBS TO
CHINA AND INDIA WHERE THEY'VE
BEEN PUTTING UP COAL-FIRE PLANTS
EVERY 10 MINUTES. NOT QUITE TRUE.
I SAY TO MY GOOD FRIEND SENATOR
McCASKILL, IT IS TWO COAL-FIRE
GENERATION PLANTS BUILT EVERY WEEK IN CHINA.
WE THE H YEARS HERE.
WE KNOW WHAT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE.
WE HAD ALL OF THESE
RECOGNIZED THAT THE TIME -- THAT
THINGS HAVE CHANGED NOW AND YOU
LOOK AT THE GROUPS NOW.
YOU HAVE THE AGRICULTURE
COMMUNITY AND THE AMERICAN FARM
BUREAU, A VAST MAJORITY OF THE
AGRICULTURE GROUPS OPPOSE
G.A.O. SAID THAT IT WILL SEND
OUR JOBS TO CHINA AND THE
ELOQUENT CHAIRMAN DID A GREAT
JOB OF TESTIFYING BEFORE THE
CHOIT SAID THAT IT WOULD DESTROY
OVER TWO MILLION JOBS.
THE E.P.A. AND HE
THAT IT WOULD NOT REDUCE OUR
RELIANCE ON
IT WILL NOT REDUCE GLOBAL TEMPERATURES.
WHEN IT IS ALL
SAID AND DONE, I HAVE TO SAY
THIS WAS A BE AGREED TO OF FRESH
AIR TO LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, STANDING UP IN THE TOWN
HALL MEETINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY
AND IN MY 12 OR 14 MEETINGS I
HAD IN THE STA OF OKLAHOMA.
PEOPLE KNOW THE RIGHT THING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
WE
WITH THAT, I WILL THANK THE
SENATOR FROM NEVADA FOR ALLOWING
ME TO HAVE 15 MINUTES OF HIS TIME.
I YIELD THE FLO
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: MORNING
BUSINESS IS CLOSED.
UP THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
SENATE WILL RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF S.
REPORT
THE CLERK: CALENDAR NUMBER 71,
NONPROFIT CORPORATION TO
COMMUNICATE UNITE
POLICIES ANDTHERWISE PROMOTE
LEISURE, BUSINESS, AND SCHOLARLY
TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: UNDER THE
PREVIOUS ORDER, THE TIME UNTIL
5:30 P.M. WILL BE EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND CON
THE LEADERS OR THEIR DESIGNEES.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I
WANT TO BEGIN THE DISCUSSION AND
THEN I BELIEVE MY COLLEAGUE,
SENATOR ENSIGN WHO HAS WORKED
HARD ON THIS LEGISLATION, WILL
FOLLOW, AND THEN SENATOR
KLOBUCHAR, WHO ALSO HAS QUITE A
SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THIS WILL
FOLLOW WITH COMMENT
IF OTHS ARRIVE, OF COURSE, WE
WANT THEM TO INVOL
IN THE DEBATE.
AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH
DISCUSSION ABOUT PARTISANSHIP
AND HOW TNGS DON'T WORK SO
WELL THIS LEGISLATION WE WILL
VOTE ON, A CLOTURE PETITION WE
VOTED ON
UNLIKE SOME OTHER DISCUSSIONS
ABT PARTISANSHIP THIS IS
BIPARTISAN.
THIS LEGISLATIONS CALLED THE
TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT OF
IT HAS 53 COSPONSORS.
MANY REPUBLICANS.
MANY DEMOCRATS.
COSPONSORING THIS PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
AND, BY THE WAY, JUST TODAY THE
UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, HAS SCIENTIST A LETTER
TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
SAYING THEY STRONGLY SUPPORT
THIS LEGISLATION, THE CHAMBER
URGES MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE
LEGISLATION AND TO VOTE FOR
CLOTURE.
LET ME TALK JUST FOR A MOMENT
ABOUT WHAT THIS IS.
FIRST OF ALL AT A TIME WHEN WE
NEED JOBS, THIS ABOUT JOBS.
AT A TIME WHEN WE NEED TO FIND
WAYS TO ADDRESS BUDGET DEFICITS
THIS IS ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT IS NOT BINNING TO COST
MONEY.
IN FACT, THE CONGRESSIONAL
OFFICE SCORES
REDUCTION IN DEFICITS OVER THE TEN-YEAR-PERIOD.
SO, LET ME SAY AGAIN, PRETTY
UNUSUAL,
DOESN'T COST MONEY, ACTUALLY
SAVED MONEY.
AND DRESSES ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL AREAS OF OUR NEED AND
THAT IS JOBS.
SO WHAT IS THE TVEL PROMISE MOTION ACT?
LET ME DESCRIBE IT THIS WAY: WE
ALL KNOW THAT TRAVEL AND
PROMOTING TRAVEL AND TOURISM IS
JOB CREATING.
IT CREATES JOBS IN MANY, MANY AREAS.
YES, HOTELS.
AND GAS STATIONS AND RESTAURANTS
AND TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.
COUNTRY MEANS PEOPLE ARE
SPENDING MONEY AND IT CREATES A
LOT OF
AND SO LET ME TALK ABOUT
ESPECIALLY THE ISSUE OF
INTERNATIONAL OR FOREIGN TRAVEL
TO THE UNITED STATES.
DID YOU KNOW THAT FOREIGN TRAVEL
IS UP VERY DRAMATICALLY IN THIS
WORLD.
THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF FOREIGN
TRAVEL OF 48 MILLION MORE
OVERSEAS TRIPS TAKEN
THAN WERE TAKEN IN 2000?
SO IN EIGHT YEARSING THE NUMBER
OF OVERSEAS TRIP -- YEARS, THE
NUMBER OF OVERSEAS TRIPS
INCREASED BY 48 MILLION BUT IN
THE UNITED STATES IT DECREASES,
STATES.
WE HAD 633,000 FEWER FOREIGN
VISITORS TO THE UNITED STATES.
IT -- MEANS A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING BUT SINCE
THE
IN OUR SHARE OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
BECAUSE WHEN AN OVERSEAS TRAVELERS COMES TO THIS COUNTRY
ON AVERAGE THEY SPEND ABOUT
$4,500 AND
OF DISWROBS AND A LOT OF
BUSINESSES I
SO WHY DO
FEWER FOREIGN VISITORS TO THE
UNITED STATES?
WELL, IN 2001, WITH THE
TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST OUR
COUNTRY, WE TIGHTENED UP VISA
REQUIREMENTS AND SO ON AND THE
IRAQ WAR OCCURRED AND A LOT OF
CONCERN BY PEOPLE
UNITED STATES DOESN'T WANT US TO COME.
THEY HAVE TIGHTENED UP VISA REQUIREMENTS.
WE ARE UPSET AUT TS OR THAT
OR THE OTHER THING AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN WE DISCOVERED MORE PEOPLE
ARE TRAVELING OVERSEAS BUT THEY
ARE NOT TRAVELING HERE.
AND INCIDENTALLY, THE TOURISM
THAT IS HAPPENING
INTERNATIONALLY IS NOT ACCIDENTAL.
MOST OTHER COUNTRIES ARE VERY
AGGRESSIVELY AFTER
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELER.
SAYING, COME TO OUR COUNTRY.
LET ME GO THROUGH A LIST OF JUST
A FEW OF THOSE.
HERE'S A TRAVEL PROMOTION
CAMPAIGN THAT TALKS ABOUT "COME
TO AUSTRALIA."
"ARRIVE
AND DEPARTED WITH AN ADVENTURE
YOU WILL NEVER FORGET."
BIG
SAYING "COME TO IRELAND, GO
WHERE IRELAND TAKES YOU."
AND THE LIST GOES ON.
VIRTUALLY EVERY COUNTRY IS
SAYING, WE WANT FOREIGN
TO COME TO OUR COUNTRY.
SWEET SECRETS FROM JAPAN --
AND VISIT JAPAN.
WE'VE
COUNTRIES ARE AGGRESSIVE.
"COME TO FRANCE."
WELL, I CAN'T READ THE FRENCH
PIECE DOWN HERE BUT
IT SAYS, IT
THE TOWER, COME HERE AND BE PART
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND, APPROACH
"WHERE FUN IS IN ALWAYS IN
FASHION, VISIT BELGIUM."
FINALLY, INDIA, ONE SPECIAL
REASON TO VISIT INDIA, ANY TIME
IS A GOOD TIME TO VISIT THE LAND
OF
VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IS SAYING
"COME VISIT US," BUT WE'RE NOT.
WE PROPOSE WE DO.
IT WILL CREATE A LOT O JOBS AND
WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE AND
EXPERIENCE WHAT THIS COUNTRY IS
ABOUT, THEY
WONDERFUL IMETION ABOUT WHAT
AMERICA IS.
A WONDERFUL IMPRESSION ABOUT
WHAT AMERICA IS.
WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER A
BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION
THAT IS FUNDED BY AND LARGE WITH
AN ENTRY EXIT FEE IMPOSED,
IMPOSED BY MOST OTHER COUNTRIES,
BY THE WAY, A $10 FEE ON VISA
WAIVER COUNTRIES,
COME FROM THOSE COUNTRIES TO
IT IS A MINIMAL FEE COMPARED TO
WHAT MANY ARE CHARGING AND WE
ESTABLISH WITH THAT FEE A
CORPORATION FOR TRAVEL
PROMOT
NONPROFIT CORPORATION GOVERNED
BY AN 11-MEMBER BOARD OF
DIRECTORS APPOINTED BY THE
SECRETARY OF COMMERCE SETTING UP
THE TRAVEL PROMOTION FUND,
FINANCED BY PUBLIC-PRIVATE
MATCHING PROGRAM.
IN SHORT, THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE
PROPOSITION.
IT WILL NOT ONLY CREATE A LOT OF
NEW JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY AT A
TIME WHEN WE DESPERATELY NEED
NEW JOBS BY SAYING TO FOREIGN
TRAVERS, COME TO
BE PART OF WHAT AMERICA HAS TO OFFER.
SEE OUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY
EXPERIENCE WHAT AMERICA IS
ABOUT.
WE KNOW, WE KNOW WHEN THEY
LEBANESE THIS COUNTRY THEY WILL
HAVE AN UNBELIEVE BY GOOD
IMPRESSION OF WHAT THEY HAVE
JUST SEEN.
GREATEST DEMOCRACY ON THE FACE
OF THIS PLANET, BY FAR, AND THEY
EXPERIENCE THE IMAGINIC AND THE
WONDERS -- THE MAGIC AND THE
WONDERS OF THIS COUNTRY.
WE'RE
WHEN TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD IS
UP, THAT IS, VISITORS TO OTHER
COUNTRIES, AND OURS IS DOWN,
LET'S SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, LET'S
DO IT WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK.
THIS WILL THOUGHT COST MONEY. THIS WILL SAVE MONEY.
DO IT BY WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY ON ONE OF THE SIGNIFICANT
PROBLEMS WE FACE IN AMERICA AND
THAT IS THE
NOW, LET ME SCWFT SAY, IN CASE
CASE -- JUST SAY, IN CASE
SOMEONE THINKS ONLY A FEW OF
THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA HERE
E EXAMPLE OF OTHERS WHO THINK
THIS IS GREAT.
"DALLAS MORNING NEWS," THIS IS A
SENSIBLE FIRST STEP ON PUTTING
OUT THE WELCOME MAP ON AMERICA'S DOORSTEP.
"LOS ANGELES TIMES" "CONSIDERING
THE U.S. SPENDS H
MILLIONS ON PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
WITH POOR RESULTS AND NOTHING ON
PROMOTING TOURISM IT COULD BE TO
WOO TRAVELERS."
WE NEED TO RECLAIM OUR STATUS AS
A GLOBAL COUNTRY FOR TRAVELERS
AND WE CAN DO THAT BY PASSING
THE ACT.
"IDEAS TO BOLSTER ECONOMIC
RECOVERY WITHOUT PLUNGING THE
NATION INTO DEEPER DEMOCRAT IS
WELCOMED BY TAXPAYERS FROM COAST
TO COAST."
"DETROIT FREE PRESS," DON'T IT
MAKE SENSE TO ENCOURAGE AT NO
VISITORS TO LEAVE US SOME OF
THEIR MONEY?
THERE IS NO GOOD REASON NOT TO
PASS THIS BILL.
WELL, I NEED NOT GO ON.
THIS IS NOT ROCKET
THIS IS SOMETHING OUR COUNTRY
IF, IN FACT, IN A SMALLER AND
SMALLER WORLD, MORE AND MORE
PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING, THEN WHY
SHOULD FEWER PEOPLE TRAVEL TO
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
THIS OUGHT TO BE ONE OF THE
GREAT DESTINATION PLACES ON THE
ENTIRE PLANET.
I WOULD EXPECT AND HOPE THAT
MOST PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO THIS
CUP.
THIS -- THIS COUNTRY AND SEE
WHAT AMERICA HAS TO OFFER BUT I
THINK THAT POST-STEMBER 11TH,
WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH VISAS
WHICH WE ARE NOW CORRECTING AND
HAVE CORRECTED, BY AND LARGE,
LONGER WAITING TIMES HAVE BEEN
MADE SHORTER, THERE WAS A
SOMEHOW THAT THE WELCOME MAT DOESN'T EXIST.
WE ARE CHANGING THAT.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CAN
WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE THAT.
THIS LEGISLATION I LEGISLATION.
AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL
JOIN ME TODAY IN VOTING FOR
CLOTURE AND MOVING THIS BILL AS
SOON
SENATE, THROUGH THE HOUSE,
TO THE PRESIDENT FOR SIGNATURE.
AND WHEN WE DO, THOSE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HAD TO COME HOME TO SAY TO
THEIR SPOUSE, HONEY, I'VE LOST
MY JOB, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, SOME
OF THEM WILL BE ABLE TO COME
HOME AND SAY I HAVE A NEW JOB,
THERE IS NEW ACTIVITY GOING ON
IN OUR STATE AND I HAVE A NEW
JOB THAT RELATES TO THE
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TO THE
UNITED STATES.
NOW, THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING
FOR OUR COUNTRY.
SO AS THE PRINCIPAL AUTHOR ALONG
WITH SENATOR ENSIGN OF THIS
LEGISLATION, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT THAT WORKS ON TOUR
IM, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR, I'M
REALLY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO
WORK TOGETHER WITH MY COLLEAGUES
TO GET THIS LEGISLATION
COMPLETED
MR. PRESIDEN I RESERVE THE
REMAINDER OF MY TIME.
MR. ENSIGN: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM ARIZONA. NEVADA.
MR. ENSIGN: FIRST, MR.
PRESIDENT, I THANK THE COAUTHOR
OF THIS LEGISLATION, SENATOR
DOAN, FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON
RECOGNIZING HOW IMPORTANT THIS
LEGISLATION IS TO OUR COUNTRY
ESPECIALLY AT THIS CRITICAL TIME
WHEN WE NEED
ALL OF US JUST WENT BACK TO OUR
HOME STATES AND REALIZED THAT
THERE ARE A
TRULY HURTING OUT THERE AND IT'S
NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY
LOST THEIR JOBS BUT THERE'S A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID
THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOBS.
THERE'S PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID TO
VEST IN CREATING JOBS.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE NUMBER ONE
EMOTION I HEARD DURING THE
AUGUST RECESS WAS
IT IS FEAR OF WHAT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN IN THIS
SENATOR DORGAN, I THINK,
ELOQUENTLY PUT THAT THIS BILL IS
REALLY ABOUT JOBS.
AND IT'S ABOUTREATING JOBS
WITHOUT ADDING TO THE FEDERAL DEBT.
ANOTHER THING I
THE STATE OF NEVADA, PEOPLE ARE
VERY CONCERNED ABOUT FEDERAL
SPENDING AND THE DEFICITS, THIS
YEAR, THAT WE'RE FACING IN THIS
LOOMING FEDERAL DEBT THAT PEOPLE
REALLY THINK IS A THREAT TO THE
FUTURE OF THE UNITED
WAY, HELPS CREATE JOBS WITHOUT
ADDING TO THE DEFICIT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT,
WILL DO -- BECAUSE IT'S PAID FOR
THROUGH CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE
PRIVATE SECTOR PLUS AN ENTRY TEE
INTO THE UNITED STATES -- ENTRY
FEE INTO THE UNITED STATES,
SMALL, $10, FOR THOSE COUNTRIES
WHO PARTICIPA
WAY, IT'S CHEAPER FORE THOSE
COUNTRY WHOSE HAVE THE VISA
WAIVER PROGRAM SO THE LITTLE $10
IS CHEAPER THAN IF YOU GOT A
FULL VISA.
THE $10 THAT MOST COUNTRIES
CHARGE MUCH HIGHER PRICES WILL
NO
THE UNITED STATES BUT THE MONEY
WILL LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE
OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT -- I'M,
OBVIOUSLY, FROM A TOURIST-DRIVEN STATE.
WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY
ADVERTISING WHETHER LAS VEGAS OR??
RENO OR
LOT ADVERTISING TO OTHER PLACES
INCLUDING INTERNATIONALLY TO COME TO OUR CITY.
WE DO IT A LOT OF THE LAS VEGAS
CONVENTION VISITORS AUTHORITY,
PRIVATE BUSINESSES DO
IT WORKS
WELL, WHAT WE'RE SAYING WITH
THIS BILL IS, LET'S DO IT AS A COUNTRY.
LET'S SAY, WE HAVE SO
AMAZING PLACES TO SEE
THE REST OF THE WORLD ABOUT I
AND IF YOU DO
SAYING, IF YOU BUILD IT THEY
WILL COME.
IT'S WILL NOT ONLY IF YOU BUILD
IT, WE HAVE ALREADY BUILT IT OR
GOD BUILT IT WITH O NATURAL
RESOURCES YOU HAVE TO LET THEM
KNOW THEY'RE WELCOME AND THAT
IT'S EASY TO COME HERE
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SAYING WITH
THIS LEGISLATION.
PLUS, WHEN YOU TELL THEM ABOUT
IT IT PAINTS A MENTAL PICTURE IN
THEIR MIND WHEN THEY'RE THINKING
ABOUT WHERE TO SPEND THEIR NEXT HOLIDAY OR VACATION.
THEY
IT I
I ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO THE
UNITED STATES.
MAY THEY WANT TO SEE OUR NATUR
WONDERS, WHETHER
YELLOWSTONE, THE GRAND CANYON,
ALASKA, HAWAII, MY HOME STATE
HAS
BEAUTIFUL ALPINE LAKES IN T
ENTIRE WORLD -- I ARGUE THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL ALPINE LAKE IF THE
ENTIRE ROOM.
ERE ARE
THAT ARE MANMADE IN THIS
COUNTRY: WASHINGTON, D.C.,
OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE CITIES IN
THE WORLD
WE TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT AND THEY
CAN COME AND THEY LEARN ABOUT
OUR HISTORY AND OUR DEMOCRACY.
THEY MAY HAVE A BETTER
THE PEOPLE AND OF THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE UNITED STATES THAN THEY
CURRENTLY HAVE.
STATISTICS ARE VERY CLEAR.
PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE UNITED
STATES HAVE A MUCH MORE
FAVORABLE VIEW OF THE UNITED
STATES.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF OR PLACES TO
SEE WHETHER IT'S GOING TO NEW
YORK CITY AND
IN NEW YORK CITY OR SOME OF THE
OTHER CITIES LIKE CHICAGO, MY
MY HOMETOWN OF LAS VEGAS
OBVIOUSLY IS A
DESTINATION OBVIOUSLY WITH SOME
OF THE MOST AMAZING RESTAURANTS
THAT THERE IS ON THE PLANET.
YOU CAN GO TO THE BEACHES ON
CALIFORNIA AND THE EAST COAST.
SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING GOLF
DESTINATIONS, WHETHER IT'S
HILTON HEAD, SOUTH
MONTEREY PENINSULA OUT IN
CALIFORNIA, REALLY HAVE SOME
AMAZING PLACES TO SEE.
AND IF WE TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT,
THEY'LL COME
THE STUDIES ARE FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANT ON THIS.
YOU SPEND MONEY TO BRING PEOPLE
AND THEY ACTUALLY WILL COME.
AND EN THEY COME, THEY'LL
BRING THEIR MONEY.
SENATOR DORGAN TALKED ABOUT IT.
THE AVERAGE VISITER WHO COME
FROM OVERSEAS, WHO COME
LONG WAYS AWAY -- NOT
CANADA OR MEXICO -- BUT WHEN
THEY COME FROM A LONG WAY AWAY,
THEY SPEND ON AVERAGE OF $4,500
IN THE UNITED STATES.
AND IF WE CAN ATTRACT SOME OF
THOSE 58 MILLION NEW
INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE TRAVELING
WORLDWIDE NOW SINCE THE YEAR
2000, WE CAN ATTRACT EVEN A
SMALL PIECE OF THAT, IT'S GOING
TO CREATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
JOBS IN THE UNITED
AND WHO AROUND HERE DOESN'T
THINK WE NEED JOBS?
CLARKE COUNTY IS WHERE LAS VEGAS IS LOCATED.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS 14%
NOW.
TOURISM, WHEN YOU TOTAL IT ALL
TOGETHER, IS THE NUMBER-ONE
INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATE
WELL, WE OUGHT TO DO SOMET
TO PROMOTE IT.
AND THAT'S WHY THIS LEGISLATION
I BELIEVE IS SO IMPORTANT.
THIS
BIPARTISANSHIP.
WE HAVE A PLACE.
IT'S CRYING OUT FOR JOBS
WE HAVE A PLACE.
IT'S SAYING, DON'T ADD TO THE DEFICIT.
WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.
THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS BILL
MAKES SO MUCH SENSE AT THIS TIME
IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS,
WE'RE GOING TO BE DEBATING THIS BILL.
TONIGHT'S JUST A PROCEDURAL VOTE
TO GET ON THE BILL.
I BELIEVE
SHOULD -- SHOULD SUPPORT IT.
WHEN WE GET ON THE BILL, WE'LL
HAVE A LOT MORE TO SAY ABOUT IT,
A LOT MORE EXAMPLES OF WHY THIS
IS A GOOD PIECE OF LEGISLATION. SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I APPRECIATE
THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE
WILL YIELD THE FLOOR HERE IN
JUST A SECOND TO ALLOW THE
SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN TO SPEAK
SPEAK, SENATOR KLOBUCHAR.
SHE'S DONE GREAT WORK ON THIS
BILL AND WE APPRECIATE HER
SUPPORT AS WELL.
BUT THIS IS A BIPARTISAN PIECE
OF LEGISLATION THATHIS COUNTRY
NEEDS RIGHT NOW.
IT NEEDS ANYTHING THAT'S GOING
TO CREATE JOBS AND NOT ADD TO
THE DEFICIT.
FLOOR.
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF OUR TIME.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. DORGAN: I YIELD TEN MINUTES
ON OUR TIME TO
KLOBUCHAR. MS. KLOBUCHAR: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA.
MS. KLOBUCHAR: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
JUST AS THE SENATOR FROM NEVADA
WAS DISCUSSING, ALL OF US WERE
HOME IN THE LAST MONTH, HEARD A
LOT ABOUT HEALTH CARE -- AND I
KNOW WE'LL BE HAVING AN
EXTENSIVE DEBATE AND DOING SOME
VERY IMPORTANT WORK IN THIS
AREA -- HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE ECONOMY.
WELL, THIS BILL IS ABOUT AN
INDUSTRY THAT ONE OUT OF EIGHT
AMERICANS IS EMPLOYED IN.
ONE OUT OF EIGHT AMERICANS.
AND IF THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN
DO, WHICH WE KNOW WE CAN DO WITH
THIS BILL, TO HELP PROMOTE MORE
JOBS IN THIS INDUSTRY WITHOUT
COSTING TAXPAYERS ANY
THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
I WANT TO FIRST THANK SENATOR
DORGAN, THE SENATOR FROM NORTH
DAKOTA, FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK
FOR YEARS ON THIS BILL.
I WAS LISTENING AS SENATOR
ENSIGN WENT THROUGH ALL OF T
WONDERS OF NEVADA, AND WE ALL
KNOW THERE'S SOME GREAT TOURISM
THERE, BUT HE FAILED TO MENTION
TEDDY ROOSEVELT PARK IN NORTH
DAKOTA, A PLACE THAT I HAVE
VISITED
I HOPE MANY PEOPLE HAVE COME TO
THE ML OF AMERICA IN MINNESOTA
AS WELL AS A LOT OF OUR
BEAUTIFUL FORESTS AND LAKES.
EVERY STATE HAS SOMETHING TO
PROUD OF WHEN IT COMES TO
TRAVEL.
TODAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
HELP THIS INDUSTRY WITH THE
TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT, AND WE
SHOULD NOT LET IT GO TO WASTE.
AS MENTIONED, I'M THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMERCE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT
DEALS WITH TOURISM, BUT I ALSO
COME FROM A STATE THAT VALUES
COMMON SENSE, AND SUPPORTING
LEGISLATION THAT WILL CREATE
JOBS, GENERATE SPENDING, AND
REDUCE THE DEFICIT, ALL
COST TO THE TAXPAYERS, IS THE
DEFINITION OF COMMON SENSE.
JUST LOOK AT THE NUMBERS.
THIS BILL IS EXPECTED TO BRING
IN 1.6 MILLION NEW INTERNATIONAL
SITORS EACH 1.6 MILLION.
AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THEY SPEND, MR. PRESIDENT?
THEY SPEND $4,500 ON AVERAGE
WHEN THEY COME HERE.
YOU CAN DO THE MATH.
1.6 MILLION NEW
$4,500 EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN THIS COUNTRY.
IN FACT, SOME ECONOMISTS EXPECT
THE BILL TO GENERATE $4 BILLION
IN NEW SPENDING AND $321 MILL MILLION
IN NEW TAX REVENUE.
IT'S ESTIMATED TO CREATE 41,000
NEW JOFNLTZ THE CONGRESSIONAL
BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES THAT
THIS BILL WILL REDUCE THE BUDGET
DEFICIT BY $425
NEXT TEN YEARS.
REMEMBER THOSE NUMBERS.
$4,500 PER PERSON FOR EVERY
VISIT,
EVERY YEAR COMING TO OUR
COUNTRY, $4 BILLION IN NEW
SPENDING, 40,000 IN NEW JOBS,
COST TO THE TAXPAYER, ZERO.
DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC
TIMES, HOW COULD WE NOT PASS
THIS BILL, HOW COULD WE NOT PASS
IT RIGHT NOW WHEN WE KNOW IT
WOULD DO SO MUCH GOOD?
ALONG WITH MY FAMILY, MANY AREAS
IN OUR STATE AND WE DID TOURISM
HEARINGS AND VARIOUS EVENTS
AROUND THIS BILL IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
I'LL BE HONEST, AT FIRST I
THOUGHT, WELL, THEY WANT
TOURISM, IT'S A BIG INDUSTRY IN
OUR STATE, BUT DO THEY REALLY
CARE ABOUT THIS BILL?
AND THAT'S WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT
THEY DREEL CARE ABOUT THIS BILL
SO -- THEY R
THIS BILL BECAUSE SO MANY
VISITORS TRADITIONALLY HAVE COME DOWN FROM CANADA.
AND SO MANY BARRIERS OF GETTING
THE VISAS
BARRIERS AT THE BORDER, HAVE
AFFECTED TOURISM IN
MINNESOTA IN PLACES LIKE GRAND
MARET, INTERNATIONAL FALLS, AND
THE BRAYNARD LAKES
THE STATUE OF PAUL BA BUNION AND
BABE, THE BLUE OX.
MINNESOTA SHARES THIS BORDER
WITH CANADA AND I WAS VERY MUCH
SURPRISED IN HOW MUCH INTEREST
THERE WAS IN GETTING THIS BILL PASSED.
THEY UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO
PROMOTE OUR COUNTRY
INTERNATIONALLY, JUST LIKE OTHER
COUNTRIES WHICH SENATOR DORGAN
AND SENATOR ENSIGN HAVE POINTED
OUT, HAVE DONE FOR SO LONG.
BUT THEY ALSO WANT TO MAKE IT
EASIER TO PROCESS THESE VISAS.
AS YOU KNOW, MR. PRESIDENT, THIS
PROBLEM STARTED WAY BEFOR THE
ECONOMY STARTED HAVING TROUBLES.
IT OCCURRED AFTER 9/11, WHERE
FOR VERY GOOD REASONS, THERE
WERE SOME TIGHTER VISA
REQUIREMENTS PUT IN PLACE.
IS PROBLEM, IS
BEHIND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO
ARE LIVING IN, SAY, FRANCE, THEY
HAVE TO THINK, WELL, AM I GOING
TO AMERICA WHERE MAYBE IT'S
GOIN
MY VISA, OR MAYBE I'LL JUST GO
OVER TO ENGLAND OR MAYBE I'LL
JUST GO TO JAPAN.
AND SO WE NEED TO SPEED UP THE PROCES
WE KNOW THAT TOURISM CREATES
GOOD JOBS THAT CAN'T BE OUTSOURCED.
IT INCREASES SALES FOR LOCAL
BUSINESSES AND IT BRINGS IN TAX
REVENUE FOR LOCAL AND STATE
ECONOMIES.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXAMPLES IS
DULUTH.
IT'S NOT LAS VEGAS BUT LISTEN TO
THIS START.
DULUTH IS A PORT CITY THAT WAS
HIT HARD BY
1970'S AND THE EARLY 1980'S.
MY DAD IS FROM NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
WE GO UP THERE A LOT AND I COULD
SEE HOW MUCH THAT COMMUNITY WAS
HURTING DURING THAT TIME.
AND AT ONE POINT IT WAS SO BAD
THAT THEY PUT A BILL BOARD, A
FAMOUS
TANNED THATOWN THAT SAID, "WILL THE LAST
ONE OUT, PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS."
WELL, THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON IN
DEEXPLEUT THERE'S AS BRIGHT AS
EVER, AND A LOT HAS TO DO WITH TOURISM.
THE CITIE HAS
THE BEAUTIFUL
WELCOMING 4 MILLION VISITORS
EACH YEAR WITH A ANNUAL ECONOMIC
IMPACT OF OVER $700 MILLIONMENT
NOW,00 MILLION.NOW, WE KNOW THE TOURISM
INDUSTRY IS FEELING THE EFFECTS
OF T
ON TOP OF THAT, AS I MENTIONED,
THE U.S. HAS SEEN ITS DECLINE I
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN THE PAST
DECADE.
AS WE SEE HERE, THE U.S. SHARE
OF T
DECREASED BY NEARLY 20%, COSTING
US HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS
AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE.
WHEN A TRAVELER DECIDES TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE BESIDES T
UNITED STATES, THERE'S A RIPALLY
EFFECT THROUGHOUT OUR ECONOMY.
UN, YOU THINK --
A RIPPLE AFFECT THROUGHOUT OUR ECONOMY.
YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT THE
HOTELS AND AIRLINES.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHO ELSE YOU
SHOULD THINK ABOUT?
YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE
PERSON WHO'S WORKING MAKING BEDS
IN THE HOTEL OR THE WAITRESS
WHO'S WORKING IN A RESTAURANT
THEIR DRIVE UP, OR YOU THINK
ABOUT THE FLORIST WHO'S GETTING
THOSE FLOWERS READY FOR THE BUSINESS CONFERENCE.
THOSE ARE ALL JOBS.
THOSE ARE ALL JOBS IN THIS
ECONOMY.
LAST YEAR, NEARLY 200,000
TRAVEL-RELATED JOBS WERE LOST
AND THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT
PREDICTS THAT WE'LL LOSE
247,000 JOBS THIS YEAR.
WELL, WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
WE CAN BRING IN MORE TRAVELERS.
WE CAN CREATE MORE JOBS, AND WE
CAN BOOST OUR ECONOMY.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO PASS THE
TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT.
FIRST, THIS BILL WILL CREATE A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO
PROMOTE THE UNITED STATES AS
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DESTINATION
AND FINALLY ESTABLISH A
COORDINATED NATIONAL PROGRAM.
SENATOR DORGAN HAD SOME AMAZING
BLOWUPS OF SOME OF THE WORK THAT
YOU'VE SEEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
INDONESIA HAS THEIR OWN
PROGRAM.
BAHAMAS ENTICING PEOPLE TO GO
THERE.
SCOT
AUSTRALIA WITH THEIR KANGAROO.
WHAT DO WE HAVE RIGHT? NOTHING.
CITIES ARE GOING OUT THERE,
PLACES LIKE NEW
LIKE LAS VEGAS.
WELL, IT'S NOT AS EASY FOR SOME
SMAL
NORTH DAKOTA OR VERMONT OR NEW
HAMPSHIRE TO DO THAT, BUT THIS
IS A CHANCE WHERE WE CAN
ACTUALLY PROMOTE OUR COUNTRY
INTERNATIONALLY.
AND WE ARE IN MAJOR COMPETION
FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS BUT
WE ARE NOT COMPETING.IN
GREECE SPENT MORE THAN
$150 MILLION ON TRAVEL
PROMOTION.
FRANCE SPENT $63 MILLION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST.
IT'S TIME FOR THE U.S. TO CATCH
UP TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO PLAY ON AN
EVEN PLAYING FIELD.
SECOND, THE BILL WILL ESTABLISH
THE OFFICE OF TRAVEL PROMOTION
IN THE DEP
WORK WITH THE CORPORATION FOR
TRAVEL PROMOTION AND THE
SECRETARIES OF STATE AND
HOMELAND SECURITY TO MAKE SURE
THAT INTERNATIONAL VISITORS ARE
PROCESSED EFFICIENTLY.
IT IS TIME TO CUT THROUGH THE
RE
PEOPLE IN ARE GOING TO THESE
COUNTRIE TO COME TO OUR COUNTRY COUNTRY.
WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A COUNTRY
THAT HAS OPENED OUR ARMS TO
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME AND
VISIT.
WE'VE BEEN PROUD OF THAT BEC
WE KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T ONLY
ALSO HAS A DIPLOMATIC BENEFIT.
PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE UNITED
STATES ARE 74% MORE LIKELY TO
HAVE A FAVORABLE OPINION OF OUR
COUNTRY THAN THOSE WHO HAVE NOT VISITED.
AS WE ENTER A NEW ERA IN
INTERPRET RELATIONS, TRAVEL CAN
PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN
AMERICANS AND PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE.
FINALLY, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER,
THIS LEGISLATION WILL NOT COST
TAXPAYERS A DIME.
I THINK SENATOR DORGAN, IT IS A
VERY GOOD WAY TO BEGIN THIS
SESSION, TO BEGIN IT BY LOOKING
AT SOMETHING THAT IS PAID FOR BY
A COMBINATION OF PRIVATE-SECTOR
CONTRIBUTIONS AND A SMALL FEE ON
INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS, NON-U.S. TAXPAYERS WHO ARE
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.
THIS IS COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION.
AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE POSITIVE
RIPPLE EFFECT THAT WILL HAPPEN
AS MORE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
IT WILL INCREASE SALES
BUSINESSES RANGING FROM AIRLINES
TO HOTELS TO THOSE THE FLOWER SHOPS.
IT WILL INCREASE REVENUES IN OUR
LOCAL ECONOMY AND IT WILL INCREASE JOBS.
THE U.S. IS HOME TO SOME OF THE
WORLD'S WONDERS, AND THE TRAVEL
PROMOTION ACT WILL GIVE US THE
TOOLS WE NEED TO PROMOTE
UNITED STATES AS A PREER
TRAVEL DESTINATION.
AS CHAIR OF THE COMMERCE
SUBCOMMITTEE THAT INCLUDES
TOURISM, I'VE SEEN HOW IMPORTANT
TOURISM IS TO COMMUNITIES, BOTH
SMALL AND LARGE, ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BOOST
TRAVEL AND BOOST OUR ECONOMY
AND WE JUST CAN'T LET THAT GO TO WASTE.
I'M GLAD THAT
THIS BILL TODAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS VOTE
AND THE DAYS THAT WE HAVE HERE
TO FOCUS ON THIS.
BUT I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT THIS.
THEY'VE BEEN HOME.
THEY KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE CRYING
OUT FOR JOBS.
THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING
AT NO COST TO THE TAXPAYER,
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WHICH WILL
HELP TO GET THRUST.
LET'S GET THIS DONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
I YIELD THE FLOOR. MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, HOW
MUCH TIME REMAINS?
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: 8
MINUTES, 15 SECONDS.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, FIRST
OF ALL, LET ME THANK SENATOR
KLOBUCHAR FOR HER WORK AND SENATOR ENSIGN.
I THINK THEY'VE SAID WHAT
TO BE SAID.
IF 48 MILLION MORE PEOPLE ARE
NOW TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY,
FOREIGN TRAVELERS MOVING AROUND
THE WORLD, 48 MILLION
600,000 FEWER
THE UNITED STATES AS FOREIGN
TRAVELERS, THEN SOMETHING IS WRONG.
AND WE NEED TO FIX IT.
I WANT TO MARKET THIS COUNTRY TO FOREIGN TROOFERLZ SAY, COME TO
ALL OF AMERICA.
YES, COME TO THE -- SEE THE
STATUE OF LIBERTY AND COME TO
SEE NEW YORK CITY AND ITS
VIBRANCY AND THE EMPIRE STATE
BUILDING AND LAS VEGAS AND
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS IN LOS ANGELES
AND THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND,
IN MY STATE, THE PEMINAU GORGE,
THE RED RIVER VALLEY AND THE BADLANDS.
I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE
FOREIGN TOURISM COME TO
EXPERIENCE THE
CULTURE AND THE VALUES OF ALL OF
OUR COUNTRY.
I'VE TOLD THE STORY BEFORE ON
THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE ABOUT
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT WAS IN HIS
HOME IN NEW YORK, WHEN ON THE
SAME DAY ON DIFFERENT FLOORS OF
HIS HOME, HIS MOTHER DIED AND
HIS WIFE DIED.
IN HIS
HAD HIS DIARY FOR THAT DAY,
THERE WAS A BIG MARK.
THERE IS A
LOST BOTH HIS WIFE AND HIS
MOTHER THE SAME DAY, DIFFERENT
FLOORS OF THIS HOUSE.
A BROKEN SPIRIT.
HE WENT TO WHAT IS NOW NORTH
DAKOTA, WHAT WAS THEN NORTH
DAKOTA, AND BEGAN TO RANCH IN
THE BADLANDS OF NORTH DAKOTA,
WHAT IS NOW THE THEATER
ROOSEVELT NATIONAL
I WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURAGE
FOREIGN TIEFORTS TO COME TO THE
HEARTLAND OF AMERICA, THE
NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS, AND SEE
WHAT RESTORED THE SPIRIT OF
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
WHAT A GREAT WAY TO UNDERSTAND
AND SEE THE HISTORY AND THE
CULTURE AND THE VALUES OF THIS
COUNTRY.
BUT ISN'T IT INTERESTING -- AND
ALARMING, I MIGHT SAY -- THAT 48
MILLION MORE PEOPLE ARE
TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD
FOREIGN TOURISTS AND 600,000
FEWER ARE TRAVELING IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
WHICH SHOULD IN MY JUDGMENT BE
"THE" PREMIER DESTINATION FOR
TRAVEL OF ANYWHERE ON THIS
EARTH.
AND YET WE'RE
633,000 FEWER FOREIGN TRAVELERS
THAN WE HAD NINE YEARS AGO.
AND THERE'S SOMETHING
CONNECTED HERE.
SO WE PROPOSED TO CONNECT IT
WITH SOMETHING THAT IS
BIRTISAN, SOMETHING THAT
DOESN'T COST MONEY BUT SOMETHING
THAT IN FACT
BUDGET DEFICIT, SOMETHING THAT
CREATES JOBS WHEN WE'VE LOST SO
MANY JOBS, AND SO TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT, WORKING TOGETHER, TO
SAY HERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN
AGREE ON, HERE'S SOMETHING THAT
WE THINK
ECONOMIC STRENGTH, HERE'S
SOMETHING BELIEVE WOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING NEW JOBS
IN OUR COUNTRY, AND, MOST
IMPORTANTLY FOR ME,
SOMETHING THAT WHEN PEOPLE COME
TO OUR COUNTRY AND LEAVE WILL
ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE AMERICA WITH
A VERY POSITIVE IMPRESSION ABOUT
WHO
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE, WHAT THEY
BELIEVE, WHAT THEY PRACTICE.
I MEAN, THIS IS A REMARKABLE PLACE.
AND TO COME HERE AND THEN LEAVE
HERE AND HAVING VISITED AMERICA
IS TO EXPERIENCE, IN MY
JUDGMENT, ONE OF THE GREAT
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES ON THIS PLANET.
AND SO
PROBLEM AND SEE THAT SOMETHING
IS NOT WORKING RIGHT, THE
QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU
PHILADELPHIA IT?
I'VE SAID SO OFTEN
WANT TO SAY IT AGAIN, BECAUSE
WE'VE HAD SOME OPPOSITION
THINK MISCHARACTERIZES IT, BUT
MARK TWAIN WHEN ASKED IF HE
WOULD ENGAGE
WAS BEING
COURSE AS LONG AS I CAN TAKE THE
NEGATIVE SIDE.
BUT WE HAVEN'T TOLD WHAT YOU THE
SUBJECT IS.
OH, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THE
PREPARATION AT AWVMENT SO IT IS
WITH LEGISLATION.
IT IS SO MUCH EASIER WITH NO
PREPARATION TO COME AND SAY, I'M
OPPOSED IT THIS.
I DON'T SUPPORT THIS.
THIS WON'T WORK.
YOU KNOW, BUT THE FACT IS THOSE
WHO ARE CREATING, TRYING
WAYS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND IN
THIS CASE FINDING A WAY TO SOLVE
A PROBLEMHAT I THINK HURTS
THIS COUNTRY, THAT IS LOSING OUR
SHARE OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
AT A TIME WHEN MORE PEOPLE ARE
TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD,
FINDING FEWER PEOPLE TRAVELING
TO OUR COUNTRY, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
AND WE CAN FIX THAT IN A WAY
THAT DOESN
INCREASE THE FEDERAL BUDGET
DEFICIT, BUT ATTRACTS MORE
PEOPLE TO THIS COUNTRY, CREATES
MORE JOBS.
WHAT A REMARKABLE PIECE OF
LEGISLATION THAT I THINK IS A
GOOD INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF
THISOUNTRY.
WE'VE A LOT TO BE PROUD BEFORE
THIS COUNTRY, ALL OF US, AND WE
TAKE IT FOR GRNTSED EVERY DID I
-- FOR GRANTED EVERY DAY BECAUSE
WE WAKE UP IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT WE WANT TO SHOW IT OFF TO
FOREIGN VISITORS AND SINCE
THERE'S BEEN A NOTION THAT --
AND SIN
NOTION THAT IT'S HARDER TO COME
TO AMERICA.
IT'S NOT A HASSLE.
WE INVITE YOU T COME HE, COME
HERE AND EXPERIENCE.
HERE'S WHAT WE SEE IN "THE
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD," "COMING
TO AMERICA ISN'T EASY."
IN "THE
MORE HASSLE THAN IT'S
"THE SUNDAY TIMES," "TRAVEL TO AMERICA?
NO THAIFNTLE" THESE HEADLINES.
WE WANT TO SAY, THIS COUNTRY HAS
A WELCOME MAT OUT FOR YOU.
COME HERE RS EXPERIENCE WHAT WE
HAVE FOR YOU IN AMERICA.
WENVITE YOU TO BE PART
WE WANT YOU TO COME TO THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERIC WHEN
YOU'RE TRAVELING
INTERNATIONALLY. THAT'S WHAT THIS LEGISLATION IS
ABOUT.
THIS IS NOT ECONOMY INDICATED.
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
IT IS THE REASON THERE ARE SO
MANY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
WHO HAVE JOINED TOGETHER IN
SOMETHING WE THINK WILL
STRENGTHEN THIS COUNTRY.
MR. PRESIDENT, I Y
AND RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY
MR. ENSIGN: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM NEVADA.
MR. ENSIGN: MR. PRESIDENT,
JUST A COUPL OTHER POINTS
BEFORE THE VOTE THAT
MAKE.
SOME FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONED WHY
WE NEED THE TRAVELROMOTION
ACT.
THEY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, TOURISM
WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF AND
THAT THIS IS NOT A ROLE FOR THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
ONE OF THE REASONS I REMBER
FOR YEARS WHY I WANTED TO GO TO
AUSTRALIA WAS BECAU
ADVERTISED IN THE UNITED STATES,
TALKING ABOUT THE VARIOUS
PLACES, WHETHER IT WAS THE GREAT
BARRIER REEF AND THE CUBE ABOUT
A DIVE, S
WORLD, OR SHOWING SYDNEY AN
SOME OF THE SIGHTS OF SYDNEY
AUSTRALIA OR CARE YAWS OTHER --
THE GORGEOUS BEACHES THEY HAVE IN AUSTRALIA.
BUT THE UNITED STATES AND OUR
RESOURCES HERE ARE SO VAST FOR
PEOPLE TO COME AND SEE, TO
TELL FOLKS OF T
HAVE HERE AND -- OR TO REMIND
THEM OF WHAT WE HAVE, I THINK,
IS A DIS
BECAUSE IF WE REMIND THEM, IF WE
SHOWED THEM THE PICTURES, AND
WHETHER IN BROCHURES OR IN
INTERNET ADVERTISING OR IN
TELEVISION ADVERTISING, WHATEVER
THE ADVERTISING MEDIA THAT WE
CHOOSE, WE WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE
HERE.
THERE'S NO
OF FOLKS AROUND THE WOR WOULD
LOVE TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES.
IT MAY JUST TAKE A
PRODDING, A LITTLE SPARK TO T
THEM TO REALIZE THAT, YOUNOW,
THAT IS SOMEPLACE I WANTED TO GO.
I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.
HEY, HONEY, LET'S TAKE THE KIDS.
LET'S GO TO AMERICA.
LET'S SEE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE
SIGHTS.
WE HAVE HARDER ABOUT THE GRAND
CANYON. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT SOME OF THE
NATIONAL PARKS THAT ARE THERE.
WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE
WASHINGTON, D.C., AND SEE THE
CAPITOL, THAT BEACON OF
DEMOCRACY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
LET'S
OF THINGS WE HAVE HERE IN NEW
YORK CITY,
HERE, NOT ONLY WILL THEY BRING
THEIR MONEY AND CREATE JOBS, BUT
I BELIEVE, VERY IMPORTANTLY,
PEOPLE WILL COME AWAY FROM
AMERICA WITH A
ATTITUDE
THEY'LL COME AWAY WITH TALKING
ABOUT AN AMERICA THAT IS -- IT'S
DIFFERENT THAN MAYBE THEY GET
TOLD ABOUT IN
IF YOU ARE IN EUROPE AND OTHER
PLACES IN THE WORLD, THEIR NEWS
MEDIA ISN'T NECESSARILY KIND TO
THE UNITED STATES.
BUT WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE
THEY MEET AMERICANS, AND THEY
SEE OUR PLACES THAT WE HAVE AND
THEY LERNER SOME OF THE HISTORY
OF OUR COUNTRY,
WITH A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE.
AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TODAY WHEN
AMERICA NEEDS FRIENDS IN THE WORLD.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE
THIS LEGISLATION IS IMPORTANT,
NOT ONLY FOR THE JOBS THAT IT
WILL CREATE BUT FOR AMERICA'S
IMAGE IN THE WORLD, AND THIS
LEGISLATION REALLY IS NEEDED AT
THIS POINT.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE PAST,
BACK IN 1996 W WE
THAT WAS ABOUT -- WE ELIMINATE
ADD PROGRAM THAT WAS ABOUT
TRAVEL IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE'VE HAD PRIVATE PROGRAMS AND
PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND NEITHER ONE
OF THEM WORKED VERY WELL, JUST
ON THEIR OWN.
PRIVATELY BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
GET THE FUNDING NECESSARY.
ON THE PUBLIC SIDE, IT WAS
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T
RUN THOSE THINGS VERY WELL.
THIS IS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIP THAT I BELIEVE CAN
WORK, AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT
I'M SUPPORTING THIS.
IT IS THE REASON THAT I THINK
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, SOME
OF THE PUBLIC FUNDING MATCHED
WITH THE PRIVATE
WITH THE PRIVATE'S EXPERTISE,
CAN BRING MORE TOURISTS TO THE
UNITED STATES.
SENATOR KLOBUCHAR MENTIONED THAT
1.6 TO
WILL COME TO THE UNITED STATES
BECAUSE OF THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT CREATES A LOT OF JOBS.
THAT BRINGS A LOT OF REVENUE.
THAT ALSO CREATES A LOT MORE
PEOPLE THAT HAVE VFTED HER WHO
WILL -- THAT HAVE VISITED HERE
WHO WILL GO BACK AND TALK
POSITIVELY ABOUT THE UNITED
STATES BECAUSE THE VAST MAJORITY
OF OUR PEOPLE -- I BELIEVE IN
THE COUNTRY, I BELIEVE IN THE
GOOD INFORMS OUR COUNTRY.
WHEN THEY ARE EXPOSED TO THAT I
BELIEVE THEY WILL GO HOME AND
TALK ABOUT THE GOODNESS OF NOT
ONLY OUR COUNTRY BUT THE
GOODNESS OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO,
MR. DORGAN: WILL THE SENATOR
YIELD FOR A QUESTION?
MR. ENSIGN: I WOULD BE HAPPY
TO YIELD.
MR. DOAN:
REID ALONG WITH SENATOR ENSIGN
HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE ON
WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION.
OBVIOUSLY BOTH COME FROM A STATE
THAT RELIES A GREAT DEAL ON TOURISM. I DON'T.
MY STATE -- TOURISM IS SECOND IN
OUR STATE.
IT'S -- IT PLAYS VEA LARGE ROLE
IN EVERY STATE BUT WE DON'T HAVE
THE MECCA OF TOURISM AS PERHAPS
LAS VEGAS, R EXAMPLE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SENATOR
EARLY ON TALKED ABOUT HOW
COMPANIES ADVERTISE BECAUSE
ADVERTISING WORKS.
AND IT IS THE CASE, IT SEEMS TO
ME, THAT COMPANIES ADVERTISE ON
BEHALF OF THEIR COMPANY.
AND I JUST DESCRIBED
CIRCUMSTANCES OF SHOWING YOU
THAT THERE A VERY AGGRESSIVE
EFFORTS OUT THERE FOR COUNTRIES
TO ADVERTISE ON COUNTRIES.
SAYING COME TO I THINKLY,
EXPERIENCE WHAT ITALY HAS TO OFFER.
COME TO FRANCE, COME TO I
UNDERSTAND YAVMENT AND SO THE --
COME TO FRANCE, COME TO
AND SO THE COUNTRIES ARE VERY AGRESSSIVE.
IF Y'RE THINKING ABOUT
TRAVELING AROUND THE PLANET,
THINK ABOUT THIS.
CO TO SEE THE EIFFEL
WE ARE A JUST NOT INVOLVED IN
TRYING TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE TO
SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE WELCOME IN THIS COUNTRY.
YOU'VE GOT SO MUCH TO OFFER, SO
MUCH TO SEE.
WE WANT YOU TO COME HERE TO
IT IS THE CASE IT SEEMS TO ME
THAT WHEN THE SENATOR FROM
NEVADA SAID, COMPANIES ADVERTISE.
THIS CREATES A
PARTNERSHIP IN WHICH OUR COUNTRY
WILL ADVERTISE TO THE WORLD TO
SAY, COME TO AMERICA.
I MEAN, ISN'T THAT THE CASE WITH
RESPECT TO ADVERTISING OF
MR. ENSIGN: I WOULD SAY TO MY
FRIEND FROM NORTH DAKOTA, IT IS
ABSOLUTELY THE CASE.
IT HAS BEEN PROVEN TIMED AND
TIME AGAIN.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, T COUNTRIES, I DON'T BELIEVE,
WOULD CONTINUE TO SPEND THE
MONEY IF IT
THAT'S
WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO SPEND THE
MONEY IF THEIR ADVERTISING
DOLLARS WEREN'T WORKING TO BRING
MORE PEOPLE, FOR INSTANCE, TO
VYIN
MOST AMERICANS HAVE HEARD THE
ADVERTISING -- THE
"WHAT HAPPENS IN VAGUE AS STAYS
I
IT IS THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS.
EVERYTHING THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE
TO COME.
IF A COUNTRY ADVERTISES LIKE THE
UNITED STATES -- IF WE
ADVERTISE, WE HAVE THE DWRSTY OF
TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE CAN --
THE DIVERSITY OF TYPES OF THINGS
THAT WE CAN DO BRING PEOPLE HERE.
IF THEY COME TO
CANYON, MOST PEOPLE WILL ALSO
GOES TO CALIFORNIA OR LAS VEGAS
SOMEPLACE ELSE.
SO WHEN WE -- WHEN FOLKS COME
FROM OVERSEAS, THEY USUALLY
DON'T JUST
THEY COME TO SEVERAL PLACES.
SO WE CAN -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE
THE DISNEY EFFECT.
THE MIC CASTLE -- OKAY?
THE MAGIC
IN, BUT AS THEY DREW PEOPLE IN
THROUGH MAIN STREET, GUESS WHAT?
MAIN STREET BENEFITED.
IF WE DRAW PEOPLE
OF THE ICONIC PLACES THAT WE
HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES, OTHER
PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY WILL
BENEFIT.
AND THAT'S WHY A NATIONAL
ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, I BELIEVE,
IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS
COUNTRY.
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, IF
THE SENATOR WOULD YIELD FURTHER,
THE FACT IS WE'RE LOSING --
WE'VE LOST A LOT O JOBS IN THE
EPEST DEPRESSIO RECESSION SINCE THE GREAT DEPRESSION.
ALL OF US
PE
THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE SOME BIG
BANG THEORY.
WE CAN DO THIS
WE SHOULD.
WE NEED MANUFACTURING TOURISM.
TOURISM IS A SIGNIFICANT JOB CREATOR.
IT IS NOT SOME BIG HOTEL IN MOST CASES.
IT IS A SMALL
THAT'S STRUGGLING TO MAKE A
LIVING, RUNNING A HOTEL AT SOME
ATRAFNTLE SO IT IS A LOT OF
SMALL BUSINESSES, RENTAL CARS
AND SO ON.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH FAITH
THAT IF WE DO WHAT WE SAY WE CAN
DO IN THIS LEGISLATION, WE'LL
PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK TWORK.
-- BACK TO WORK.
MS. KLOBUCHAR: IF THE SENATOR
WOULD YIELD
EN YES, I YIELD.
MS. KLOBUCHAR: AS SENATOR
DORGAN WAS JUST DISCUSSING, IT
SEEM
ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THE RIPPLE
EFFECT OF THESE.
NEVADA HAS SUFFERED BECAUSE OF
SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN
HERE WITH TOURISM.
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE
SEEN IN TERMS OF OTHER
BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LOST
BUSINESS WHEN WE DON'T PROMOTE
TOURISM LIK
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALWAYS ABOUT.
THEY THINK ABOUT THE BIG
AICIALTION THE
THEY DON'T THINK ABOUT THE
RIPPLE EFFECT ON SOME OF THE
OTHER JOBS THAT MATTER IN THIS
COUNTRY.
MR. ENSIGN: TOURISM, BEING
SUCH -- I THIN THANK THE SENATOR FOR
HER QUESTION.
TOURISM BEING SUCH A HUGE PART
OF OUR ECONOMY TODAY, IF THE
PERSON WHO'S WORKING IN THE
TOURISM INDUSTRY -- FOR
INSTANCE, SOMEBODY CLEANING THE
HOTEL ROOMS -- IF THEY DON'T
HAVE THAT JOB, THEY DON'T HAVE
THAT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO GO
TO A FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT OR GO
TO A STORE TO BUY CLOTHES OR
WHATEVER IT IS.
THEY HAVE TO
AND EVEN IF HAVE THE JOB, IF
THINGS HAVE BEEN CUT BACK -- IN
THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, A LOT OF
PEOPLE WORK FOR TIPS.
AND AS THOSE TIPS HAVE GONE
DOWN, THAT RIPPLE EFFECT HAS
HAPPENED THROUGH THE ECONOMY
LITERALLY ACROSS AMERICA TODAY.
MY STATE HATS FELT
MORE THAN ANY OTHER STATE.
MORE THAN OTHER STATE.
IT AFFECTS RESTAURANTS.
I'M A VETERINARIAN.
IT AFFECTS THE VETERINARY
BUSINESS.
IT AFFECTS DENTISTS.
IT AFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
ECONOMY.
IT AFFECTS INDUSTRY.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE A NEGATIVE
RIPPLE EFFECT WHEN THOSE JOBS
ARE BEING LOST IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
WHAT WRE TRYING TO HAVE IS A
POSITIVE RIPPLE EFFECT, WHERE WE
CREATE TOURIST JOBS
START CREATING OTHER JOBS IN OTHER SECTORS.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION ON
THE RIPPLE EFFECT WITH
TOURIST IND
MR. DORGAN: LET ME MENTION
AGAIN THE U.S.
COMMERCE SENT A LETTER IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF THIS PRECISELY
BECAUSE OF THE JOB-CREATING
NATURE OF THIS LEGISLATION.
MR. ENSIGN: MR. PRESIDENT, I
YIELD THE FLOOR, AND I GUESS ALL
TIME HAS
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ALL
TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UNDER THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE
MOTION TO PROCEED TO THE MOTION
TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE BY WHICH
CLOTURE WAS NOT INVOKED TO
SENATE AMENDMENT 1347 IS AGREED
TO, THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS
AGREED TO AND THE SENATEILL
VOTE ON THE MOTION TO INVOKE CLOTURE.
THE CLERK WILL REPORT THE MOTIO
TO
THE C
SENATORS IN A
PROVISIONS OF RULE 22 OF THE
STANDING RULES OF THE SENATE
HEREBY MOVE TO BRING TO A CLOSE
THE DEBATE ON THE DORGAN
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1347 TO
S. 1023, THE TRAVEL PROMOTION
ACT OF SENATORS.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: BY
UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THE MANDATORY
QUORUM CALL IS WAIVED.
THE QUESTION IS: IS IT THE
SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT DEBATE
BY THE SENATOR FROM NEVADA,
MR. REID, TO S. 1023, THE TRAVEL
PROMOTION ACT OF 2009, SHALL BE
BROUGHT TO A
THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE MANDATORY
UNDER THE RULE.
THE CLERK WI
VOTE:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: ON THIS
VOTE
CHAMBER WANT TO VOTE OR CHANGE
THEIR VOTE?
ON THIS VOTE, UNITED STATES ARE
80, THE NAYS ARE 19.
THREE-FIFTHS OF THE SENATORS
DULY CHOSEN AND SWORN HAV
VOTED IN THE
MOTION IS AGREED TO.
CLOTURE HAVING BEEN INVOKED, THE
MOTION TO RECOMMIT FALLS.
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?
MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM NEVADA.
MR. REID: COULD WE HAVE ORDER.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: CAN WE
PLEASE HAVE ORDER. ORDER, PLEASE.
THE MAJORITY LEADER.
MR. REID: THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
MR. PRESIDENT.
OUR COLLEAGUE, FRANK LAWSUIT
BERKS HAS GIVE -- FRANKLAUTENBERG, HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO
HIS COUNTRY.
FRANK'S PARENTS SETTLED AS
IMMIGRANTS IN EASTERN EUROPE.
AND IF THERE WERE EVER AN
EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME
FROM THE MOST BASIC
CIRCUMSTANCES TO A MAN OF WEALTH
WEALTH, A MAN OF
FRANK LAUTENBERG.
HE HAS DONE IT ALL.
HE FOUGHT
II, PUT HIMSELF THROUGH COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY WITH THE G.I. BILL OF
RIGHTS, AFTER HAVING EARNED THAT
WITH HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY
IN WORLD WAR II.
AS I'VE MENTIONED, HE HAD GREAT
SUCCESS IN BUSINESS.
HE HAS A MIND THAT IS VERY INCISIVE.
HE SEES ALWAYS THE BIG PICTURE
AND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO
SUCCEED IN A BUSINESS THAT NOW A
LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SUCCEEDING IN,
BUT HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
THERE.
HE, AFTER HAVING, IN OUR GREAT
FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, DONE
WELL, DECIDED TO TURN TO PUBLIC
SERVICE AND HE
THE STATE O
UNITED STATES SENATE.
HE LEFT IN 2000 BUT CAME BACK
WHEN HIS STATE ASKED HIM TO
SERVE ONCE AGAIN.
WE NEEDED FRANK LAUTENBERG.
HE CAME BACK AND HE'S SERVED
WITH SUCH REMARKABLE STATURE
SINCE THEN.
I -- WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE
SENATE, I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE
TO SERVE WITH HIM ON THE
ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
HIS LOVE OF THE MATTERS WITHIN
THE JURISDICTION OF THAT
COMMITTEE ARE SIGNIFICANT.
HE IS -- HE
HEART BUT IT'S ALWAYS BACKED UP
WITH HIS BRILLIANT MIND THAT HE
HAS.
HE WAS -- HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF
OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE.
JUST WEEKS AGO,
RECORD FOR CASTING THE MOST
VOTES BY ANY UNITED STATES
SENATOR IN THE HISTORY OF THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
LIKE ANY GREAT LEGISLATOR,
SENATOR LAUTENBERG SURELY -- HIS
RECORD IS BEST UNDERSTOOD NOT BY
THE NUMBER OF TIMES HE HAS SAID
"AYE" O
LAWS SAY ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT TO
THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY AND ALL
AMERICANS.
HE WAS A LEADER IN ESTABLISHING
THE DISCIPLINE THRESHOLD FOR
DRUNK DVING, SAVING COUNTLESS
LIVES.
HIS WORK AS HELPED CLEAN UP TO
COMETOXICSITES IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE
STATE AND COUNTRIES, KEPT OUR
DRINKING WATER SAFE AND MADE OUR
ENERGY FOR MISHT.
MR. PRESIDENT, FOR ME
PERSONLY, WHAT I WILL LOOK AT
FRANK LAUTENBERG FOR HAVING DONE
IS TAKE CARE OF ONE OF MY
CHILDREN.
ONE OF MY BOYS WAS ALLERGIC TO
TOBACCO SMOKE AND WHEN WE WOULD
FLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THEY HAD
THOSE ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS, YOU
CAN'T SMOKE PAST THIS LINE T.
DIDN'T MATTER,
WENT EVERY PLACE, AND EVERY ONE
OF THOSE TRIPS MY BOY, KEY, WAS
MISERABLE, MADE HIM SICK.
BECAUSE.
BECAUSE OF FRANK LAWSUIT BERKS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE
PROTECTED FROM SECONDHAND SMOKE.
HE WROTE THE LAW
ON AIRPLANES.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, IN ADDITION
TO BEING SUCH A GOOD FRIEND, I
COMMEND AND APPLAUD THE PEOPLE
OF NEW JERSEY
GOOD MAN TO THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.
HE IS SOMEONE WHO IS DESERVING
OF ALL THE ACCOLADES THAT CAN BE
GIVEN TO
I'M VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO WORK WITH
YEARS. A SENATOR: WOULD THE MAJORITY
LEADER YIE
MR. REID: I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
MR. LEADER.
I APPRECIATE YOU YIELDING.
I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY SAY T
WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD IN NEW
JERSEY TO HAVE FRANK LAUTENBERG
AS OUR UNITED STATES SENATOR.
MR. MENENDEZ: IT'S NOT JUST THE
NUMBER OF VOTES T
IT'S WHAT HE HAS STOOD UP FOR.
SENATOR LAUTENBERG HAS BEEN
KNOWN AS STANDING UP FOR NEW
JERSEY FIRST.
BUT I THINK HE'S STOOD UP FOR
FAR MORE THAN NEW JERSEY.
HE HAS STOOD UP FOR THE NATION.
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE I
THINK SINCE HE PASSED THE BAN ON
SMOKING ON AIRLINES THAT -- AND
WHAT HE'S DONE ON SUPERFUND
SITES AND WHAT HE HAS DONE ON
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ABUSERS WHO NO
LONGER CAN POSSESS A GEUN AFTER
THEY'VE BEEN -- A GUN AFTER
THEY'VE BEEN CONVICTED OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO USE THAT
GUN ON A LOVED ONE, WHO ARE
ALIVE TODAY AS A RESULT OF
SENATOR LAUTENBERG'S WORK, IN
NEW JERSEY AND ACROSS THE NATION.
SO THE LEGISLATION THAT HE HAS
OVER HIS CAREER IN THE UNITED
STATES SENATE IS JUST EXEMPLARY,
AND I
THIS TRIBUTE BECAUSE IT'S NOT
THE NUMBER OF VOTES, IT'S THE
TYPE OF EFFECT THAT HE HAS HAD
ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN NEW
JERSEY AND ACROSS THE
AND WE SALUTE HIM. [APPLAUSE]
MR. LAUTENBERG: THANK
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
IF I MIGHT HAVE
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. LAUTENBERG: I THANK MY
FRIEND AND
HIS KIND REMARKS AND FOR THE
LEADERSHIP THAT HE'S PROVIDED
FOR ALL OF US.
THE -- I NEVER DREAMED THAT I
WOULD BE HERE THIS LONG.
HAD 30 YEARS IN BUSINESS BEFORE
I GOT TO THIS PLACE.
BUT HARRY REID
SOMETHING ABOUT WEALTH.
THE WEALTH T
BEING HERE IN THIS PLACE, BY
BEING ABLE TO SAY TO MY COUNTRY
THAT I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO GIVE
BACK FOR THE WONDERFUL GOOD
FORTUNE THAT HAS BEFALLEN OUR
LIVES, MY CHILDREN, MY PARENTS,
IF THEY COULD SEE THIS
SAID, MY MOTHER WAS CRITICAL
WHEN I RAN FOR THE SENATE
SHE EXPRESSED A LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENT.
AND I SAID, MOM, HOW CAN THAT BE?
SHE SAID, BECAUSE I THOUGHT
YOU'D BE RUNNING FOR [LAUGHTER]
IN ANY EVENT, MY DAD WOULDN'T
HAVE BELIEVED IT, BUT HE WOULD
HAVE ENCOURAGED IT,
NEVERTHELESS.
AND I THANK ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FOR THE PATIENCE SOMETIMES THAT I
EXHAUST ON MY FRIENDS AND
PARTICULARLY MY FRIEND AND
COLLEAGUE, BOB MENDEZ, WITH
WHOM I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF
SERVING WHILE HE WAS LEADER --
IN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE BUT
ESPECIALLY SIN HE'S BEEN HERE
AND GOTTEN THE IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE.
SO IT'S A GOOD DAY.
I'M GLAD TO BE BACK HERE TO G
WITH THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS, AND
I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND FRIENDSHIP, PARTICULARLY OUR MAJORITY
LE
AND I THANK YOU ALL.
THANKS.
[APPLAUSE]
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
MAJORITY LEADER.
MR. REID
OF A QUORUM. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
MR. REID: MR. PRESIDENT?
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, I'M
VERY GREATFUL THAT WE HAVE MOVED
FORWARD ON A VERY IMPORTANT BILL
FOR THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S THE 8 TRAVEL PROMOTION
ACT -- THAT'S THE TRAVEL
PROMOTION ACT.
I MEND AND APPLAUD SENATOR
DORGAN FOR HIS GOOD WORK ON THIS
LEGISLATION.
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
HE WAS A REAL ADVOCATE, AS HE IS
ON ISSUES OF WHICH HE SINKS HI
TEETH INTO.
-- SINKS HIS TEETH INTO.
TRAVEL AND TOURISM GENERATES A
TRILLION DOLLARS IN
EVERY
WHETHER IT'S THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA, NEVADA, PICK ANY OF
THE STATES, TOURISM IS THE
NUMBER ONE, TWO ORHREE MOST
IMPORTANT DRIVING ECONOMIC
FACTOR IN THOSE STATES.
AND THIS YEAR, TOURISM WILL
CREATE 40,000 NEW JOBS.
THE BILL WILL ALSO CUT OUR
DEFICIT BY
NEXT TEN YEARS. SIGNIFICANT.
WE WOULD BE TAKING THE
STRATEGIES THAT HAVE MADE LAS
VEGAS
THEM TO OUR ENTIRE NATION'S
TOURISM INDUSTRY.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL IS BASED ON.
THE COUNTRY ACE TOURISM HAS BEEN
HIT BY SLOWING WORLDWIDE
ECONOMY.
AND WHEN TOURISM IS HURT, NEVADA
HURTS, THE ENTIRE STATE SUFFERS.
HARD-WORKING PEOPLE HAVE LOST
THEIR JOBS AS THE STATE'S BUDGET
HAS TAKEN A MAJOR HIT BECAUSE
THAT BUDGET IS LARGELY FUNDED BY
TOURISM.
FUNDING FOR VIOLENT PROGRAMS IN
OUR
OUR STATE ARE AT RISK WHEN WHEN
TOURISM SLOWS.
AS I MENTIONED, MR. PRESIDENT,
THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE.
TOURISM IS ONE OF THE TOP
INDUSTRIES IN EVERY STATE, AND
I'VE MENTIONED THAT.
THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS SO
IMPORTANT.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOT
TO GIVE AMERICAN TOURISM A BOOST.
IT IS ONE OF THE MAN
WORKING TO CREATE JOBS AND HELP
OUR ECONOMY TO RECOVER.
NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROL
MR. BROWN: MR. PRESIDENT? THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM OHIO.
MR. BROWN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
VITIATE THE QUORUM CALL.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. BROWN: MR. PRESIDENT, OVER
THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I STOOD IN
THIS CHAMBER AND READ LETTERS
SENT TO ME BY OHIOANS ALL OVER
MY STATE, STORIES EXPLAING HOW
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS ARE
THREATENING THE ECONOMIC
STABILITY OF MIDDLE-CLASS
FAMILIES.
THES
CHALLENGES FACING OUR NATION'S
MIDDLE CLASS
STATE'S WORKERS.
THE FIGHT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
REFORM IS PART OF A LARGER
EFFORT TO PUT OUR NATION
NEW PROGRESSIVE PATH THAT
INVESTS IN OUR LABOR FORCE, THAT
HONORS OUR INDUSTRIAL AND
MANUFACTURING TRADITIONS, AND
THAT HELPS REBUILD OUR MIDDLE CLASS.
YESTERDAY, I JOINED PRIDENT
OBAMA IN CINCINNATI AT THE
LARGEST LABOR DAY PICNIC IN THE
COUNTRY TO HONOR THE ACHIEVEMENT
AND THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE AMERICAN WORKER.
LABOR DAY'S AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN TRADITION THAT
RECOGNIZES THE COURAGE OF
GENERATIONS OF WORKERS AND
ACTIVISTS WHO DEMANDED A
STANDARD OF LIVING
ALL AMERICANS.
IN OHIO, THE TRADITION OF LABOR
DAY BEGAN IN 1891 WHEN
CLEVELAND'S FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAWYER,
PATTERSON GREENE, IN OHIO'S
FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN STATE
SENATOR INTRODUCED LABOR DAY IN
OHIO IN 1890 TO CELEBRATE THE
CONTRIBUTION OF WORKERS.
THE BILL PASSED THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY ON APRIL 28, 1890, FOUR
YEARS BEFORE CONGRESS DECLARE
LABOR DAY A N
IT'S EASY TO SURMISE FROM THIS
THAT LABOR DAY HAD ITS
LABOR DAY BEGAN IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
AS A FATHER OF LABOR DAY, LABOR
DAY IN OHIO, JOHN PARTISAN
GREENE, WHO -- JOHN PARTISAN
GREE WHO DEFENDED PIONEERS AND
SITTING PRESIDENTS ALIKE,
EXEMPLIFIES HOW SIMPLE
RECOGNITION CAN GIVE POWERFUL
MEANING TO WORKING
WOMEN.
YESTERDAY IN CINCINNATI DURING
THE ANYTHING'S LARGEST LABOR DAY
PICNIC, PRESIDENT OBAMA SPOKE TO
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES GATHERED IN SUPPORT OF
POLICIES THAT PUT AMERICAN
WORKERS AND AMERICAN BUSINESSES FIRST.
THE PRESIDENT REMINDED US -- I
QUOTE -- "MUCH OF WHA WE TAKE
FOR GRANTED, THE 40-HOUR WORK
WEEK, THE MINIMUM WAGE, HEALTH
INSURANCE, PAID LEAVE, PENSIONS,
SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE
BEAR THE UNION LABEL.
SO EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A UNION
MEMBER,
EVERY AMERICAN OWES SOMETHING TO
AMERICA'S LABOR MOVEMENT.
AT LABOR DAY EVENTS ACROSS THE
STATE, WORKERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
GATHERED TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF
PROFESSION, ELE
COMMUNICATION WORKERS,
STEELWORKERS AND TEACHERS, TRUCK
DRIVERS AND LABORERS, TO
CELEBRATE ALL WORKING MEN AND WOME
THAT'S WHAT LABOR DAY IS.
LABOR DAY CELEBRATIONS BROUGHT
TOGETHER THE FAMILY OF UNION
EXPWROARS SISTEBROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO FIGHT
FOR EACH OTHER -- THAT'S WHAT
THE LABOR MOVEMENT IS ALL
ABOUT -- WHO GATHER TO CELEBRATE
LEGACY AND PROGRESS, TO SPEAK
OUT FOR HEALTH CARE THAT WORKS
FOR WORKER.
THAT'S WHY THIS LABOR DAY IS EVER MORE MEANINGFUL.
I RECENTLY BEFORE LABOR DAY
VISITED OPEN-M, A FREE HEALTH
CLINIC IN AKRON, WHERE
CHRISTINE WHO REPRESENTS A SMALL
GIFT BASKET DELIVERY SYSTEM BY
HERSELF BUT CANNOT AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE.
14 YEARS AGO WHILE WORKING,
CHRISTINE WAS SIOUSLY INJURED
IN A CAR ACCIDENT, LEAVING HER WITH MULTIPLE KNEE SURGERIES,
BACK AND FOOT PROBLEMS AND A
CANE TO HELP HER WALK.
SHE HAD TO PAY ALL OF THESE
EXPENSES OUT OF POCKET, DRAING
HER SAVINGS AND COMPROMISING HER
ECONOMIC SECURITY.
LAST WEEK, I SPOKE AT THE CENTER
FOR WORKING-CLASS STUDIES AT
YOUNGSTOWN STATE, ONE OF THE
NATION'S FIRST AND CERTAINLY THE
NATION'S PREMIER ACADEMIC
PROGRAM DEVOTED TO THE MANY
FACES TO DEAL WITH THE AMERICAN WORKER.
THE FACTORY WORKER IN
YOUNGSTOWN, THE HOME CARE WORKER
IN NILES, THE TRUCK DRIVER IN
BORGMAN.
THE CENTER TELLS THE STORY OF
WORKING-CLASS COMMUNITIES TO A
NATION THAT IT HELPED BUILD.
OHIOANS FROM ACROSS THE MAHONEY
VALLEY SHOWED UP TO LISTEN WHILE
OTHERS SHOWED UP TO TELL THE
STORY OF A WORKING-CLASS FAMILY
STRUGGLING WITH THE CRUSHING
COSTS OF HEALTH CARE.
JOHN FROM CHAMPION, OHIO,
DESCRIBED HOW HIS SICK NEPHEW
LACKS HEALTH INSURANCE AND
AFFORD THE NEUROLOGIST HE'S
SUPPOSED TO SEE.
JOHN SAID IF HEALTH REFORM
DOESN'T PASS SOON, HIS NEPHEW
PROBABLY WON'T LIVE LONG ENOUGH
TO RECEIVE THE CARE THAT HE SO
DESPERATELY NEEDS.
MICHELLE FROM YOUNGSTOWN ASKED
THE QUESTION AT THE ROOT OF ALL
THE STRUGGLES HAVE
PROGRESSIVE LABOR MOVEMENT.
MICHELLE, IN HER EARLY 30'S, IS
ONE OF THE NEARLY 50 MILLION
AMERICANS WHO'S UNINSURED.
SHE ASKED: ISN'T HEALTH REFORM A
MORAL ISSUE, WHERE PEOPLE IN
NEED AND DESERVE CARE SHOULD
HAVE ACCESS TO IT?
THE QUESTION OF MORALITY,
WHETHER COAL MINERS' LIVES
SHOULD BE
SAFETY SHOULD BE -- OR FOOD
SAFETY SHOULD BE ESSENTIAL, OR
THE RIGHT TO
BE ABSOLUTE, HAS LONG DEFED
THE LABOR
MISSION.
THE PASSING OF SENATOR KENNEDY,
WHO SAT JUST TWO DESKS AWAY, A
CHAMPION OF THE AMERICAN WORKER,
REMINDS ALL OF US
GOVERNMENT CAN AND SHOULD DO IN
BEHALF OF AMERICAN
THE HISTORY OF OUR
THAT OUR WORKERS HELPED
TRANSITION OUR NATION FROM ONE
INDUSTRY TO THE NEXT, DRIVING
INNOVATION, CREATING ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY FOR WORKERS AND
COMMUNITIES AND INDUS
CREATING THE MIDDLE CLASS.
THE HTORY OF OUR NATION SHOWS
THOSE WHO WORK HARD AND PLAY BY
THE RULES HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW
FOR IT: A SECURE AND GOOD-PAYING
JOB THAT SUPPORTED FAMILY AND
GAVE MEANING.
TODAY, THE AMERICAN WORKER IS
CONFRONTED WITH ECONOMIC
CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN TO
UNDERMIND OUR
WORKERS FROM LORAIN TO
WILMINGTON, TO ZANESVILLE
DESERVE A GOVERNMENT THAT DOES
MORE AND DOES BETTER FOR THEM.
TODAY, PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MANY
OF US IN CONGRESS ARE WORKING TO
ENSURE WORKERS BE JUSTLY
REWARDED FOR THEIR LABOR.
AS OHIOANS UNDERSTAND,
MANUFACTURING RECOGNIZES THE
VALUE OF AN HONEST DAY'S PAY FOR
AN HONEST DAY'S WORK.
WE KNOW MANUFACTURING IS A
TICKET TO THE MIDDLE-CLASS AND
WE KNOW A STRONG MIDDLE-CLASS
MAKES A STRONGER NATION.
THAT'S WHY AMERICANS DESERVE A
MANUFACTURING POLICY THAT WORKS
FOR THEM.
MANUFACTURING
THAN
AND NEARLY WE THREE-FOURTHS OF
OUR NATION'S INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH.
MANUFACTURING JOBS PAY 20% MORE
ON AVERAGE THAN SERVICE JOBS.
FOR EVERY MASSIVE AUTO PLANT YOU
SEE DRIVING FROM EAST TO WEST
ALONG
YOUNGSTOWN PAST TOLEDO THERE ARE
DOZENS OF M
COMPONENT PARTS AND SERVICES FOR
EMERGING INDUSTRIES IN CLEAN
ENERGY AND AEROSPACE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY.
I APPLAUD THE ADMINISTRATION'S
DECISION TO TAP
DIRECT A NATIONAL STRATEGY TO
HELP MANUFACTURERS TRANSITION TO
THE 21st CENTURY ECONOMY.
IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK BUT ONE
THAT REQUIRES HARD WORK AND
PROGRESSIVE VISION.
BUT IN NO UNCERTAIN
NATION MUST ESTABLISH A NATIONAL
POLICY THAT ONCE AGA INVESTS
IN OUR MOST IMPORTANT AMERICAN
ASSET: THE AMERICAN WORKER.
THE ECONOMIC SUBCOMMITTEE POLICY
THAT I CHAIR WE HAVE LOOKED AT
THE ELEMENTS OF A NATIONAL
MANUFACTURING STRATEGY.
INVESTING IN INNOVATION,
STRENGTHENING OUR COMPONENT PART
SUPPLY LINE, CONDUCTING WORKERS
WITH JOBS IN EMERGING
INDUSTRIES, IMPROVING ASSISTANCE
FOR DISTRESSED COMMUNITIES AND
REVAMPING HOW OUR NATION DOES TRADE.
DROP RIGHT WE CAN REINVEST IN
THE CAPACITY TO BUILD THE NEXT
GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGIES AND
REBUILD OUR NEXT GENERATION OF
MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES AND CREATE
NEW INDUSTRY, WE CREATE
GOOD-PAYING JOBS AND SECURE JOBS.
DONE RIGHT, WE ENSURE THE FUTURE
OF OUR NATION'S GLOBAL ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
MR. PRESIDENT, LET'S HONOR THE
STORY OF THE AMERICAN WORKER WHO
BUILT THIS COUNTRY, WHO
SUSTAINED OUR MIDDLE-CLASS BY
REINVESTING IN THEM.
LABOR DAY IS A TIME TO HONOR A
MOVEMENT THAT RESPECTS OUR
DIGNITY OF WORK AND REFLECTS ON
DECENCY AND DEDICATION OF OUR WORKERS.
THIS YEAR LABOR DAY COMES AT A
HISTORIC TIME IN THE PROGRESSIVE
LABOR MOVEMENTS ONGOING MARKET
TO ECONOMIC SECURITY AND A NEW
ERA
NATIONAL MANUFACTURING POLICY,
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM MUST BE
PART OF THIS NATION'S LEGACY OF
GIVING MEANING TO WORKERS AND
GIVING HOPE TO THE MIDDLE-CLASS.
THE VOTE ON HEALTH INSURANCE
REFORM WILL BE NEXT TO MY VOTE
IN OPPOSITION TO THE IRAQ WAR,
SIX YEARS AGO AS A MEMBER OF THE
VOTE WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT
VOTE I CAST IN THIS CHAMBER.
I HOPE AT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR I
WILL BE READING THE STORIES OF
OHIO WORKERS WHO LIVE WITH THE
HK THEY DESERVE AND THE DIGNITY
THEY HAVE EARNED.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I YIELD THE FLOOR. I NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM
A SENATOR:
CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE VITIATED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
A SENATOR: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE SENATE PROCEED TO
MORNING BUSINESS WITH SENATORS
PERPTED TO SPEAK FOR UP TO TEN
MINUTES EACH.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED
TO THE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
OF H. CON. RESOLUTION
DESK AND JUST RECEIVED FROM THE HOUSE.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
CLERK WILL
THE CLERK: H.
PROVIDING FOR A JOINT SESSION OF
CONGRESS TO RECEIVE A MESSAGE
FROM THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE SENATE WILL
PROCEED TO THE MEASURE.
MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION BE AGREED
TO AND THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER
BE LAID UPON THE TABLE.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
PRESIDINGFFICER OF TH
BE AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT A
COMMITTEE ON THE PART OF THE
SENATE TO JOIN THE LIKE
COMMITTEE ON THE PAR
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO
ESCORT THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES INTO THE HOUSE
CHAMBER FOR THE JOINT SESSION TO
BE HELD 8:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT APPOINTMENTS
WERE MADE DURING THE ADJOURNMENT
OF THE SENATE AND I ASK CONSENT
THEY BE PRINTED IN THE RECORD. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THOUT
OBJECTION. MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
DURING THE PERIOD THAT SENATOR
MIKULSKI IS CONFINED TO A
WHEELCHAIR THAT A MEMBER OF HER
STAFF BE PERMITTED ON THE FLOOR
THE SENATOR'S MOVEMENT.
THE PR OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: MR. PSIDENT,
NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE
CLERK WILL CALL THE
QUORUM CALL:
MR. UDALL: THPRESIDING OFFICER: THE
SENATOR FROM COLORADO.
MR. UDALL: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE QUORUM CALL BE LIFTED.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT THAT THE SENATE PROCEED
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER
CALENDAR ITEM 302, GEORGE
MADISON FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
TREASURY, THE NOMINATION BE
CONFIRMED, MOTION TO RECONSIDER
BE LAID UPON THE TABLE, THAT NO
FURTHER MOTIONS BE IN ORDER,
THAT ANY
THE NOMINATION APPEAR AT THE
APPROPRIATE PLACE IN THE RECORD
AS IF READ, THAT THE PRESIDENT
BE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OF THE
SENATE'S ACTION AND
RESUME LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, I
ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
SENATE PROCEED TO THE IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION OF SENATE
RESOLUTION 255 SUBMITTED EARLIER
THE PRESIDING
CLERK WILL
MR. UDALL: SENATE RESOLUTION
255, RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF
THE HONORABLE EDWARD MOORE
KENNEDY, A SENATOR FROM THE
CO THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE SENATE WILL
PROCEED TO THE
MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THE
RESOLUTION BEGREED TO, THE
PREAMBLE AGREED TO, AND THE
MOTION TO RECONSIDER
ON THE TABLE, THAT ANY
STATEMENTS RELATING TO THE MEASURE APPEAR AT THE
APPROPRIATE PLACE IN T
AS IF R
INTERVENING ACTION OR
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: M PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT WHEN
THE SENATE COMPLETES ITS
BUSINESS TODAY IT ADJOURN UNTIL
10:00 A.M. TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 9.
THAT FOLLOWING THE PRAYER AND
PLEDGE THE JOURNAL OF
PROCEEDINGS BE APPROVED TO DATE,
THE MORNING HOUR BE DEEMED
EXPIRED, THE TIME FOR THE TWO
LEADERS BE RESERVED FOR THEIR
USE LATER IN E DAY AND THERE
THEN WILL BE A PERIOD OF MORNING
BUSINESS FOR ONE HOUR WITH
SENATORS PERMITTED TO SPEAK
THEREIN FOR UP TO TEN MINUTES
EACH, WITH THE TIME EQUALLY
DIVIDED AND C
THE TWO LEADERS OR THEIR
DESIGNEES WITH THE MAJORITY
CONTROLLING THE FIRST HALF AND
THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE
SECOND HALF.
THAT FOLLOWING MORNING BUSINESS,
THE SENATE RESUME CONSIDERATION
OF S. 1023, THE TRAVEL PROMOTION
ACT POSTCLOTURE.
FURTHER, I ASK THAT TIME
ANY ADJOURNMENT, RECESS OR
PERIOD OF MORNING BUSINESS COUNT
AGAINST THE POSTCLOTURE TIME.
FINALLY I ASKHAT THE SENATE
RECESS FROM 12:30 P.M. UNTIL
2:15 P.M. TO ALLOW FOR THE
WEEKLY CAUCUS LUNCHES. THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. UDALL: MR. PRESIDENT, THE
PO CLOTURE
AT 4:30 P.M. TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
WE HOPE WE'LL BE ABLE TO YIELD
SOME OF THE TIME AND
PASSAGE OF THE BILL BEFORE
4:30 P.M.
SENATORS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN
THAT VOTE IS SCHEDULED.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THE SENATE, I ASK
THAT IT ADJOURN UNDER THE
PROVISIONS OF SENATE RESOLUTION
255 AS
TO THE MEMORY OF OUR LATE
COLLEAGUE,
KENNEDY. THE PRESIDING OFCER: UNDER
THE PREVIOUS ORDER, THE SENATE
STANDS ADJOURNED UNTIL
10:00 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 9, 2009, AND DOES SO
AS A MARK OF FURTHER RESPECT TO