Floor Statements

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 312, S. 1925, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

Mr. President, regular order. Under the order that was entered, the Senator from Vermont is to be recognized.

Regular order, Mr. President.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I wish to honor Temple Sinai in Reno, NV, which has stood for 50 years as a place of worship for the Jewish people of northern Nevada. It is comprised of approximately 120 households who come together to form a strong community where the Jewish faith is celebrated. Temple Sinai has been a consistent presence for Reform Judaism in northern Nevada, a place where Jewish teaching, tradition, and spiritual inquiry is nurtured.

The important 50th anniversary, ``Shanah Shel Zahav'' in Hebrew, or Golden Year, is testament to the resiliency of the Temple Sinai congregation. It traces its humble beginnings to a small group of Reform Jewish residents in Reno offering High Holy Day services, soon expanding to Sabbath Services and Bar/Bat Mitzvah training. Many of these sacred rituals were performed in the private homes of congregation members who realized the importance of building a sanctuary. It is through their sacrifice and determination that this holy place of worship was built.

Temple Sinai has had many homes since its founding 50 years ago. Initially located in the Virginia City Room of the Masonic Temple in downtown Reno, the Temple was forced to find a new location after a devastating fire. Temple Sinai congregants then came together to offer the skills and capital necessary to construct a permanent location. Ground broke in February 1970, and the Temple has continued to grow since then, adding classrooms, a social hall, and a library. As recently as 2008, Temple Sinai expanded the available space and updated the Temple for the 21st century.

I have personally experienced the welcoming warm hospitality of Temple Sinai. I was honored to share in a Shabbat dinner with members of the Temple, as well as attend Evolution Weekend. In visiting the congregation over the years, I have always been impressed by the rich spiritual life and intellectual openness exhibited there.

I would like to congratulate Temple Sinai for its important role in bringing Reform Judaism to northern Nevada and on its important 50th anniversary. While I cannot be in Reno to share in their celebration, I would be remiss if I did not offer my words of support.

Mr. President, I wish to honor Ms. Jan Gilbert, who has spent more than 30 years dedicated to the advocacy of income equality, human rights, and women's health. Ms. Gilbert will be retiring from her current position at the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, PLAN, in May and has been named by the White House as a Champion of Change. Today, I am proud to honor her service and leadership as an advocate for a just and fair Nevada.

Jan Gilbert's work in Nevada began in 1982, serving Nevada's communities through the League of Women Voters of Nevada as president of the Carson City chapter, empowering citizens to become active participants in their government. Jan's commitment to lifting communities prompted her to cofound PLAN, an important organization that offers a cohesive force for social, environmental, and economic justice in Nevada. Jan spearheaded critical reports on civil rights, both in 2009 and 2011; she authored the Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity: Facing Race; and coauthored the 2002 Wider Opportunities for Women's Self Sufficiency Standard for Nevada. She also served as the cofounder of Nevada's Empowered Women's Project, representing low- income women.

Ms. Gilbert has been instrumental in promoting social justice among Nevadans as the chair of the Child Abuse Prevention, Respite and Family Support Subcommittee of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. Everyone who works with Jan is touched by her contagious spirit and smile. Throughout the years, her noble efforts have been recognized by a number of distinguished awards, including the Mike O'Callaghan Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Hannah Humanitarian Award, the Public Citizen of the Year Award, and the Women's Role Model Award.

I am pleased to stand today to recognize the indelible mark she has left on Nevada in making it a more just place for all. I congratulate Jan and her family on a well-earned retirement. PLAN is losing a giant, but I am sure her love for service and helping those in need will continue to benefit the Silver State in new ways.

Mr. President, due to a clerical error, the printout of amendment No. 2000, which was filed at the desk last evening, had missing pages.

I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be modified with the additional pages at the desk; further, that the cloture motion filed earlier today with respect to amendment No. 2000 be applicable to amendment No. 2000, as modified.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to S. Res. 420.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 421.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 422, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 423, which was submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statement related to the measure be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until Wednesday, April 18, at 9:30

a.m.; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following any leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, with the first hour equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority control controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans the second 30 minutes.

Mr. President, today cloture was filed on the substitute amendment to the postal reform bill and the underlying bill. If no agreement is reached, the first cloture vote will be Thursday morning. I hope that agreement can be reached.

For the information of all Senators, the filing deadline for first- degree amendments to the substitute, as modified, is 1 p.m.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Mr. President, as millions of Americans prepare to file income tax returns, the Senate will consider one of the basic unfair provisions in the Tax Code. Today the wealthiest 1 percent takes home the highest share of the Nation's income since the early twenties, the Roaring Twenties. But while their bank accounts have grown, their tax bills have become smaller. The wealthiest Americans now pay the lowest tax rate in more than five decades. The rich pay less than they have for more than 50 years. This unfair system has turned a gap between the richest few and everyone else into a gulf, not a gap. Over the last few decades, a small number of Americans have seen their incomes skyrocket by almost 300 percent, but for the rest of Americans wages have barely moved. They have not kept pace with the price of a modest home, college, or, of course, a secure retirement.

Times are tough for many middle-class American families, but millionaires and billionaires are not sharing the pain or the sacrifices--not one bit. Last year there were 7,000 millionaires who did not pay a single penny in Federal income taxes. Seven thousand millionaires did not pay a single penny in taxes. Instead, ordinary Americans footed the bill. That is not fair. In recent years some Americans earning north of $110 million a year paid a lower tax rate than millions of middle-class families. That is also not fair. That is how someone like our friend Warren Buffett winds up paying a lower tax rate than his secretary, which also is not fair.

When the richest few are making more than ever before, they can afford to shoulder their fair share of the burden and make this country prosper. And they should not be allowed to hide behind tax loopholes that rig the system in their favor. The Paying a Fair Share Act, known as the Buffett rule, would restore fairness to a system that has favored the interests of the wealthy for far too long. This legislation would ensure that Americans who earn more than $1 million a year pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes. The bill would hold harmless nearly every small business in America. In fact, more than 99 percent of small businesses would be held harmless. It would maintain the deduction for charitable giving. It would be a small but important step toward restoring fiscal responsibility as our Nation makes difficult choices about where to spend and what to cut.

Three-quarters of Americans believe millionaires and billionaires should contribute more. Two-thirds of millionaires say it is time to even the playing field. Yet, everywhere, all Republicans except those within the beltway believe that is not the case. Republicans in Congress would rather end Medicare as we know it, set forth in the so- called infamous Ryan budget. They would rather slash education funding, as set forth in that same infamous budget, than ask the richest of the rich to contribute even a penny to make education more meaningful and to continue maintaining Medicare as we know it. As the Senate Democrats work to make our tax system fair for all Americans, Republicans in the House continue to pursue a budget that would hand more tax breaks to the wealthiest few--the so-called Ryan budget I was just talking about.

At its heart, this important debate and the Buffett rule are about setting priorities. America can build a world-class education system that will prepare our children and our grandchildren to compete in the industries of tomorrow. We can honor our commitment to a generation of young men and women who put their lives on the line to serve and protect our freedom, and we can ensure that seniors who worked hard all their lives look forward to a secure retirement and quality, affordable health care or we can keep protecting special tax rates for the richest of the rich. We cannot do both. We must make smart choices.

President Franklin Roosevelt once said:

In our personal ambitions we are individualists. But in our

seeking for economic and political progress as a nation, we

all go up or else all go down as one people.

I hope my Republican colleagues will join Democrats this evening as we choose a path toward economic fairness that allows all Americans to rise together as one people.

Mr. President, H.R. 5 is at the desk. It is due for a second reading.

Mr. President, I object to any further proceedings at this time.

Mr. President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 2240, the Paying a Fair Share Act. At 4:30 today the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 460, Stephanie Dawn Thacker, of West Virginia, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, with up to 60 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of that time--at about 5:30--there will be a rollcall vote on the confirmation of the Thacker nomination. There will be a second rollcall vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2230, the Paying a Fair Share Act.