Floor Statements

There will be three votes starting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The first vote will be on confirmation of the judge I previously mentioned. The second vote will be on the passage of S. 1619, the China currency bill. Finally, there will be a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S. 1660.

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

I note the absence of a quorum, Madam President.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, following leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour. Republicans will control the first half and the majority will control the final half.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S. 1619. As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the bill last night. As a result, the filing deadline for first-degree amendments is 1 p.m. today. Unless an agreement is reached, the vote on cloture will occur tomorrow morning. The Republican leader and I have had a number of discussions, and we will decide if there will be amendments on the China trade legislation. It is my understanding that both Democrats and Republicans will offer some amendments, and certainly we can do that even though there is a cloture motion that has been filed.

Madam President, Franklin Roosevelt said that no man can truly be free without economic security. With 14 million people unemployed--out of work--in America, there are far too many people living in the richest Nation in the world, yet unable to enjoy the full freedom and independence for which America stands. So this Congress has no greater challenge--none--and no more important responsibility than to enact the policies that help American businesses flourish and grow, put American citizens to work, and get our struggling economy back on track to prosperity. So I was disappointed yesterday when my Republican friends chose to play political games with not one but two pieces of important job-creating legislation.

The bill before the Senate will even the odds for American workers and manufacturers in the global marketplace by stopping unfair currency manipulation by the Chinese Government. It would support 1.6 million American jobs, and it has the support of Democrats, Republicans, labor leaders, and business groups. We should pass it quickly so we can move on to other important work facing the Senate this month. But yesterday Republicans threatened to derail this legislation, even though they overwhelmingly support it, and allow China to continue to tilt the playing field.

Also up for debate this work period, which ends in 2 weeks, is commonsense jobs legislation proposed by the President of the United States. President Obama's plan would invest in roads, bridges, dams, and other construction efforts to create jobs. It would put construction crews back to work building and renovating schools. It would extend unemployment insurance for Americans who are still struggling to find work. In that regard, Mark Zandi, who certainly is no Democratic spokesperson--in fact, he was the economic adviser for John McCain's Presidential

election--said there is no more important stimulus for the economy than giving an unemployment check to somebody who is out of work. President Obama's legislation would expand the payroll tax credit, which has been very popular. It is a tax credit that will provide immediate relief to middle-class families and businesses. This legislation would revitalize communities that have been devastated by foreclosures.

The President's plan includes some ideas proposed by Republicans and others offered by Democrats. No matter what, this legislation is fully paid for. We may have different ideas on how to pay for it, but we know the President's legislation is a smart, effective way to spur job creation.

Democrats have listened to the American people, and they have been very clear. The American people believe it is time for millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share to help this country thrive. Americans from every corner of the country and every walk of life agree. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents agree. Asked if they support a plan that would require people who make more than $1 million a year to contribute a little more to ensure this country's economic success, the results were resounding, stunningly strong: Nearly 80 percent of Americans said yes. Wealthy Americans agree. Two-thirds of the people making more than $1 million a year said they would gladly contribute more. A supermajority of Republicans agree, with two-thirds saying they supported the idea. And even a majority--52 percent--of the tea party members agree. So when Democrats bring this commonsense jobs legislation to the floor, we will ask Americans who make more than $1 million a year to contribute a little more to help this country reduce its jobs deficit.

I am sure my Republican colleagues would like the opportunity to debate how this Congress tackles the most important issue facing our Nation today: the unemployment crisis. So I will happily work with the Republican leadership to ensure a fair process that gives Senators the opportunity to be heard. That is why I was so disappointed yesterday when my friend the Republican leader attempted to snuff out debate and prevent a bipartisan discussion about how to move the American Jobs Act forward. Rather than debating this bill on the floor as we usually do, he wants to tack this important job creator onto an unrelated measure simply as an afterthought.

I was willing to proceed to debate on the legislation yesterday, but the Republicans blocked that request. They even blocked that. Instead, they demanded an immediate up-or-down vote, with no opportunity for debate, discussion, or amendments. Again and again during the last few weeks, Republicans have rejected an all-or-nothing approach to this legislation. So imagine my surprise when they were unwilling to engage in the thoughtful debate this bill deserves. Instead, they took the very all-or-nothing approach they were so concerned about only a few hours earlier.

This Nation's unemployment crisis is very serious business, but Republicans are more interested, it seems, in partisan games much of the time and political stunts than serious legislating. Fourteen million unemployed Americans deserve better. We live in a nation founded on the principle that every American has a right to personal liberty. But if Franklin Roosevelt was correct that no man is free who lacks economic security--and I am confident he was right--then we must do better as a Congress and as a country. I assure everyone within the sound of my voice that Democrats will do whatever we can to heal our ailing economy, even if it means the richest of the rich in America have to contribute a little bit more tomorrow than they do today.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent we move to a period of morning business with Senators allowed to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the extraordinary work of Daniel Nichols who served the U.S. Capitol Police with great distinction for 28 years.

Chief Nichols entered duty with the U.S. Capitol Police in 1983. After training, his first duty assignment was providing security and law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol, and in 1984, he was transferred to street patrol duties within the Capitol Complex and the adjoining neighbourhoods.

In 1986, Chief Nichols was appointed as the first dedicated public information officer for the department. As spokesperson, he managed all media interaction during events and incidents occurring within the Capitol Complex. Most notably, he represented the U.S. Capitol Police with great poise and unwavering calmness during key events that attracted intense, widespread media attention including the 1998 shooting at the Capitol that claimed the lives of two police officers; the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the 2001 anthrax attack against Congress.

In 2002, after being promoted to lieutenant, Chief Nichols was given command of the canine section. His accomplishments include expanding the training program, increasing the number of explosive detection teams to 43, reintroducing the street police service dog program, and creating a K-9 search and rescue team to locate victims of building collapses. In addition, he overhauled the concept of operations for the Off-Site Delivery Center. He also created the department's first horse mounted unit.

In August of 2004, he was promoted to captain and named chairman of the 2005 U.S. Capitol Police Inaugural Task Force. As such, then Captain Nichols managed the overall planning, coordination, logistics, and execution of the U.S. Capitol Police responsibility for the 2005 swearing-in ceremony. This task was particularly challenging due to the fact that this was the first inauguration to take place in a post 9/11 threat environment. He worked closely with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the Capitol Police Board, and multiple law enforcement and public safety agencies to ensure the safety and security of the Nation's leaders and the public. While serving as chairman, Chief Nichols was promoted to the rank of inspector.

In February 2005, Chief Nichols assumed command of the House division and led a team of over 400 police officers who provided law enforcement and security operations at the House office buildings, the Capitol Powerplant and the House Page Dorm. In 2006, he was transferred to the Capitol division where he managed over 450 police personnel who perform various security, law enforcement, and emergency response duties to protect the Capitol, the Capitol Visitors Center, and the House and Senate Chambers and leadership offices.

In January 2007, Chief Nichols became the assistant chief of police and served as the chief of operations, providing great leadership to the department. Chief Nichols provided operational support to the department, responsible for the Uniformed, Operations, Protective, and Security Services Bureaus; overseeing the Office of Plans, Operations, and Homeland Security and serving as acting chief when the chief of police was unavailable.

Chief Nichols is recognized as an accomplished leader who builds effective teams, has strong communication skills, and uses innovative approaches to improve the protection of the Capitol, the congressional community, and visitors. He also works to develop the skills and capabilities of the department's personnel and was a key proponent of sending managers and officers to the Police Executive Leadership Program. A native of Fort Washington, MD, Chief Nichols holds a bachelor's and master's degree in management from the Johns Hopkins University.

Chief Nichols is a notable member of the law enforcement community and a fine citizen. On behalf of the U.S. Senate, I congratulate him on his retirement and salute his distinguished career.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to S. Res. 287.

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

Mr. President, I am told that S. 1660 is at the desk and due for its first reading.

I ask for a second reading of this matter but object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2011; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, and 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 S. 1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act, with the time until 10:30 a.m. equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

The second-degree filing deadline for amendments to S. 1619 is at 10 a.m. tomorrow. There will be a rollcall vote at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow on the motion to invoke cloture on S. 1619, the China currency bill.

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