Floor Statements

Following leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for 1 hour, with the majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1619.

The Senate will recess from 12:30 to 2:15 today to allow for our weekly caucus meetings.

At 2:30, the Senate will begin consideration of S. 1619, the China currency legislation, which is how it is referred to. Rollcall votes are possible during today's session. We will notify Senators when they are scheduled. I hope Senators, both Democrats and Republicans, who wish to offer amendments will contact the managers of the bill. We need to get these amendments moving as quickly as possible. Hopefully, on most of them, we can do time agreements. This is important legislation, and we need to expedite it as much as possible.

This is a busy work period, and we have a couple of important holidays. We have Yom Kippur, which starts Friday at sundown, which is the highest of all of the holidays of the Jewish faith, and then we have Columbus Day, which is Monday. So we have a couple of short weeks.

Madam President, last night the Senate held an overwhelming bipartisan vote to move forward with legislation preventing continued currency manipulation by the Chinese Government. This unfair practice, which gives Chinese exports an unmerited advantage in the global marketplace, injures the American economy, it hurts American manufacturers, and it costs American jobs, lots of them.

In 1990, America's trade deficit with China was $10 billion. Twenty years later, thanks to currency manipulation that gives an edge to Chinese exporters, that trade deficit has soared to $273 billion--from $10 billion to $273 billion. That trade deficit has fueled the loss of about 3 million American jobs, including 2 million manufacturing jobs, in just the last 10 years alone. In Nevada, we have lost more than 14,000 jobs to China trade, and it is all because of currency manipulation. The eight hardest hit States have lost 1.4 million positions total, and 17 States have lost more than 2 percent of their jobs.

Manufacturers simply can't compete when the Chinese Government gives its exporters advantages other countries don't get. American workers and manufacturers work as hard and are as ingenious as any in the world. They don't need special advantages to succeed; they just need a fair shot. This important jobs legislation will give them that fair shot.

Putting an end to China's deliberate actions to undervalue its currency will even the playing field. It will also support 1.6 million American jobs. Demanding a fair playing field will pump $300 billion into our economy in just a few short years.

But don't take my word for it. Just ask American manufacturers. The Alliance for American Manufacturers called this jobs bill the ``deficit-reducing, job-creating, no-cost stimulus that

is desperately needed.'' Business groups have lined up to testify to the adverse impacts of currency manipulation on U.S. corporate interests. The American Iron and Steel Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, and even the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have said the problem pits American and Chinese manufacturers against one another in an unfair fight.

But this issue has also forged some strange alliances. The AFL-CIO has also called for swift action to level the playing field. The chamber of commerce and the AFL-CIO are together on this issue.

This is what the AFL-CIO said:

The single most important job-supporting trade measure that

Congress . . . can take is to address the Chinese

government's manipulation of its currency.

Business and labor groups agree that American workers and manufacturers aren't getting a fair shake, and they agree on what action Congress should take to give them that fair shake. We all know that doesn't happen very often.

Here in the Senate we have heard the message loudly and clearly. We can't ignore blatant, unfair trade practices that put American workers at a disadvantage.

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart once said: ``Fairness is what justice really is.'' This week, the Senate is demanding justice for American companies and their employees.

I know a few of my Democratic colleagues don't support this legislation but very few. There are some Republicans who don't support this legislation but very few. Even though there are a few on each side who don't support this bill, I think this is the mark of a good piece of legislation--garnering a significant number of votes from each party. That is what bipartisanship is all about. With millions of Americans' livelihoods at stake, I am pleased to see the Senate working on a truly bipartisan bill.

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

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

The bill having been reported, Mr. President, I have an amendment at the desk.

I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment.

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

I have a motion to commit the bill with instructions that is also at the desk.

I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment.

I have an amendment to the instructions.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I am not going to do a long dissertation on stimulus 1, the jobs bill that, in effect, did so much good for our country. I can't talk about the other 49 States, but I can talk about what the Recovery Act did for the State of Nevada. It basically saved the State of Nevada from going into bankruptcy, hundreds of millions of dollars to help State government stop massive layoffs of teachers and create tens of thousands of jobs in areas such as renewable energy. So that is enough on the American Recovery Act. I thought it was extremely important for Nevada. Other Senators can come and talk about how their own States benefited.

``Right away'' is a relative term. The President has been calling for a vote on his jobs bill and rightfully so. Why did he start calling for a vote on his jobs bill? Because there was again one of the long obstructions that took place in the Senate and in the House on an issue that was fairly simple. What was that? Funding the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These devastating floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires had created a situation where FEMA was about to go broke. You would think we could move quickly past that, but, no, we couldn't because something we agreed on in late July--that we would fund the government for the rest of the year--was again brought to the forefront and because the Republicans were threatening to close down the government again. So of course the President was calling for his jobs bill. He recognized that what was going on here in the Senate and in the House was a waste of time; that is, why were we spending time unnecessarily on funding one of the essentials of government; that is, taking care of people who have been devastated by these terrible storms and other calamities.

We have moved very quickly, after we got through that slog caused by the

Republicans, to get FEMA funded and to get the CR extended for 6 weeks. We are now on something that is long overdue: China currency. China has been manipulating its currency for a long time. In the last 10 years, we have lost 2 million jobs because of this. If there were ever a jobs bill, it is this we are doing on the floor right now.

I sponsored the President's bill. I am the one who brought it to the floor. I have announced in a number of speeches I have given out here that I believe we should move to this jobs bill. We need to move to this right away, there is no question about that, but to tack this onto the China currency manipulation legislation is nothing more than a political stunt. We all know that. If we don't, we should know. I am telling everyone. I said I will bring the American Jobs Act to the floor this work period. We have 2 more weeks left in this work period.

Obviously, the Republican leader, my friend, the Senator from Kentucky, wants to do something about the jobs bill. I am glad he does. He wants us to move this forward. So my suggestion would be to modify my friend's unanimous consent request and suggest that we have the permission, for lack of a better word, of the Republicans here in the Senate to immediately move--the motion to proceed would be unnecessary. We could move to that as soon as we finish--you have two choices: either as soon as we finish the China currency legislation or we finish the trade legislation, which Senator McConnell and I have talked about finishing next week. So I would move to modify my friend the Republican leader's consent agreement that we move immediately to the legislation I have introduced on behalf of the President either after we finish the China currency legislation or after the trade bill, whatever my friend would rather do.

I have asked that it be modified.

Mr. President, further reserving my right to object, there are 14 million people in this country who are out of work.

What a charade we have going on here. We are in the midst of some of the most important legislation we have done this entire year--China currency manipulation--and we now have a proposal that is ridiculous on its face; that is, we vote with no debate on the President's jobs bill. This is senseless. It is unfair to bring this up in this form. We are going to get to this, and we are going to do it either as soon as we finish this China currency or after we finish the trade bills, whatever I can work out with my Republican colleague so that I can move to it. It takes 60 votes to get to this legislation.

The American people, I am sure, can see through this very clearly, that this is nothing more than a political stunt. It is clear we need a full debate on this--we don't need a filibuster--and that time will come very soon, so I object.

Mr. President, the President introduced his jobs bill. Immediately, the Republicans continue their obstruction on issues very simple but maintain the floor. There are things going on here. You just can't automatically move to legislation. We know the Senate procedure takes 60 votes to get on a piece of legislation.

The President was calling upon Congress, and especially the Republicans in Congress, to allow his jobs bill to move forward. As I indicated, we were hung up here on issues that had very little to do with the jobs bill. In fact, we should not have been doing it. All the time, I repeat, we have been hung up on FEMA funding, on the continuing resolution, which should have been approved quickly because we agreed to that last July, but they reneged on that even, and threatened to shut down the government unless FEMA was paid for the way they wanted. We were able ultimately to win that debate, but it took a long time.

So when the President said he wants to move to his legislation right away, he was absolutely candid and forthright. He wanted to clear the unimportant things off the floor--the stalling tactics on the floor-- and move to his bill, and that is what we are going to do.

What I would be willing to do, if my friend would be agreeable--would the Republican leader agree to a vote on the motion to proceed to the jobs bill? We could do that. We could interrupt this legislation right here. We could interrupt the trade bills. We could vote on a motion to proceed to the jobs bill.

I think if the Republican leader is interested in the subject, I could put it in proper form, but we get the point. To get it on the floor, it needs 60 votes. I would be happy to, if the Republican leader would agree to a vote on a motion to proceed to the jobs bill.

Mr. President, I am sure that in the immediate future-- right away--the American people will see, once again, the Republicans are filibustering measures they shouldn't be filibustering--this time, the jobs bill.

Mr. President, I heard my friend say that, and I didn't want to get into a long dissertation about bipartisan opposition. There are 53 of us. A majority of Democrats will support the President's jobs bill.

Mr. President, I know I only have in my head the math I learned from Mrs. Picker at Searchlight Elementary School. But I do know, when we have 53--and I have told everyone here we will get a majority of the Senate--a majority of the Senate, not a majority of the Democrats, a majority of the Senate--that is not very bipartisan opposition to this bill.

The American people will see very soon that a majority of the Senate supports the President's jobs bill.

I note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum under rule XXII be waived.

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 ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 4, 2011, at 10 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on October 4, 2011, at 3 p.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Nominations.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 4, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 4, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Costs of Prescription Drug Abuse in the Medicare Part D Program.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs' Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 4, 2011 at 3 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Consumer Protection and Middle Class Wealth Building in an Age of Growing Household Debt.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on October 4, 2011, at 10 a.m. in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``America's Agricultural Labor Crisis: Enacting a Practical Solution.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Water and wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on October 4, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen 406 to conduct a hearing entitled ``Nutrient Pollution: an Overview of Nutrient Reduction Approaches.''

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 361; that the Senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from the following post office naming bills en bloc and the Senate proceed to their consideration en bloc: H.R. 771 and H.R. 1632.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read a third time and passed en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and any related statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Finance Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 266 and the Senate proceed to its consideration.

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 any statements relating to this resolution be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, October 5, 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 be in a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the Republicans controlling the first half and the majority controlling the final half; and that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.

Mr. President, cloture was filed tonight on S. 1619. Unless an agreement is reached, this vote will occur Thursday morning an hour after we come in session. The filing deadline for first-degree amendments to S. 1619 is 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday. Votes on amendments to the bill are possible during Wednesday's session.

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, following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 3:30 p.m. today. At 3:30, the Senate will begin consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1619, which is the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act.

At 4:30, the Senate will be in executive session to consider several judicial nominations.

At 5:30, there will be two rollcall votes. The first vote is on the confirmation of Henry Floyd, of South Carolina, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. The other vote will be on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the currency exchange matter.

Mr. President, today the Senate begins another very busy work period. I am confident this work period will be productive.

Tonight, the Senate will vote to begin debate on legislation to curb China's unfair currency manipulation. I expect strong bipartisan support to move this legislation forward. There have been conversations between the bipartisan supporters of this legislation in the House of Representatives and the administration. My colleagues--both Democrats and Republicans--agree that China's deliberate actions to devalue its currency give its goods an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace. Their goods do not deserve that. That is not fair. It hurts our economy and it costs American jobs. In the last decade alone, we have lost more than 1 million American jobs to China because of this trade deficit fueled by currency manipulation. A massive trade deficit is one of the reasons for our unsustainable unemployment rate. This legislation we are going to move to will even the playing field and help American goods compete in a global market and help keep American jobs here at home.

Democrats believe there is no problem facing this Nation that deserves our attention more than the jobs crisis. This bill is part of the effort to get our economy back on track and put Americans back to work. If China stops the practices that artificially tip the scales in its favor, it would create 1.6 million American jobs fairly quickly. I hope this legislation will motivate China to stop devaluing the yuan on its own. I also know it will send a strong message to the Chinese that Americans will no longer ignore their blatant, unfair trade practices.