Floor Statements

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

Madam President, I had a good conversation with Senator- elect Scott Brown yesterday. He is coming to Washington today. I look forward to visiting with him. We have a time set for him to come by my office.

In my conversation with him, he seemed very pleasant and excited about coming to Washington, which I am sure he is. We talked about his daughter going to Syracuse and the fact that Joe Biden graduated from Syracuse, and he knew that. I look forward to our meeting with him.

Madam President, I will speak briefly on the statement of my friend, the senior Senator from Kentucky, about the Nigerian terrorist.

The one thing we need not do is politicize the fight against terrorism. John Brennan did testify yesterday in our classified briefing. It was classified. The things that took place there should be classified. People should not be talking about it. The reason that is the case is that we want people who come to classified briefings to be able to speak freely.

We have had a long history in our country of people who commit crimes on our territory in the United States being tried in the United States, including Richard Reid, the shoe bomber. It isn't as if this is the first time something like this happened. Even though they are proceeding under civil courts, they can always drop back and fall into the category of war criminals if, in fact, that choice is made. Just because they are going forward in this manner today doesn't mean they cannot drop back in some other manner at a subsequent time.

Even though I don't like to discuss what went on in a closed briefing, in a classified setting, I was there from the very beginning to the very end of Mr. Brennan's presentation. I never heard him refuse to answer. In fact, he answered the question that was asked in a number of different ways by my friend, the Republican leader, and another Republican Senator. So if there are any questions about anything that Mr. Brennan had to say, I hope that those questions will be asked directly to him. We have had some open hearings.

My point is that there is a war on terror taking place now. I tried to be as supportive of President Bush during his years as President when this was going on after 9/11. I hope my Republican colleagues will be supportive of President Obama. This is not a partisan issue.

Madam President, this morning, following leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business for an hour, with Senators allowed to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. That time will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. The Republicans will control the first half; the majority will control the final half. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.J. Res. 45, a joint resolution increasing the statutory limit on the public debt. Currently, we have three amendments pending. We hope we can reach short time agreements so we can schedule votes on these amendments.

Madam President, I understand that S. 2939, which was introduced by Senator DeMint, is at the desk and is due for a second reading.

Madam President, I object to any further proceedings on this bill at this time.

Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business for 1 hour, with Senators allowed to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The time will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to executive session to consider the nomination of Beverly Baldwin Martin of Georgia to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Eleventh Circuit. Debate on the nomination is limited to 1 hour, equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Sessions or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of the time, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of that nomination.

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

We expect to consider H.J. Res. 45, a joint resolution increasing the statutory limit on the public debt, under a previous agreement later today.

Mr. President, it is my understanding there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

Mr. President, I object to further proceedings with respect to these two bills.

Mr. President, visiting with Nevadans, as I have done during these past several weeks, it is impossible not to be motivated to get back to the business of legislating. It is impossible to ignore their grief over growing foreclosures or the uncertainty of unemployment or the frustration of fighting insurance companies for their families' health.

It is just as evident that the people of Nevada and the Nation need us to work toward sensible solutions rather than drown once again in the partisan bickering that consumed much of last year.

Some elections go your way; some elections go the other way. It is the nature of democratic politics in a very diverse Nation. But regardless of an outcome of an election, as I have said many times, the American people demand that we work together as partners, not partisans, to improve their lives. That is as true after Republican victories as it is after Democratic victories.

In the first half of the 111th Congress, even with the minority's minimal help,

we made significant progress. While last year's final few months were dominated by a debate over health insurance reform that will save lives, save money, and save Medicare, that historic step was only one of many accomplishments that we are proud to have passed last year.

We began this Congress determined to strengthen and stabilize the economy for working families. That is why we immediately cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses. That is why we immediately started the Lilly Ledbetter legislation to equalize pay for women in America. That is why we started the process of creating good-paying jobs here at home and investing in our future.

Just last week, the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that as many as 2 million Americans have the stimulus to thank for their jobs, as does the growing gross domestic product. But there is more to do, that is for sure.

We protected consumers by cracking down on abusive credit card companies, and we have been trying to do that for a long time. Last year, we were able to get it done, finally--to get under control the abuses credit card companies have been doing to the American people for so long. We cracked down on mortgage fraud scams, the scams that take place when times are tough. We changed the law. We rooted out corporate fraud. But there is more to do.

We started to thaw our frozen credit markets so Americans can get the loans they need to buy a car, send a child to college, or start a new business. But there is more to do.

We are helping responsible homeowners keep their homes, and helped more homeowners to keep the equity in their homes. We helped more families to buy their first home. A lot of people can claim the idea for the first-time home buyer tax credit. The idea came, as far as I know, from Johnny Isakson of Georgia. It was a tremendously important program that is still going on. We extended that. But even though we have done that, there is more to do.

We helped millions of children stay healthy by expanding CHIP. We extended it by about 14 million children who can go to the doctor when they are sick or to the hospital when they are hurt. We made it easier by far for these kids to get the help and care they need.

We made it harder for tobacco companies to prey on these children. We learned, and we have known for some time, that the tobacco habit starts, most of the time, when you are a teenager. With this legislation we had been trying to pass for decades, we were finally able to get it done--to focus on tobacco companies and why there has to be control placed on them. Even though we have done that, there is more to do.

We extended unemployment insurance for millions and extended COBRA subsidies so those struggling to find work can feed their families, fuel our economy, and afford decent medical care. But there is more to do.

We supported the travel and tourism industries, which will create tens of thousands of jobs and cut our deficit by hundreds of millions of dollars. Even after having done that, there is more to do.

We helped hundreds of thousands of drivers afford more fuel-efficient cars and trucks. It was such a good idea--cash for clunkers--that now I heard on the news that Japan is going to do it. That will be a boon for American car manufacturers because Japan said those Japanese people who decide to use the Cash for Clunkers Program can buy American cars. Even though we have done that, there is more to do.

With the national service bill named for Senator Kennedy, we made it easier for more Americans to serve their country like our heroes of generations past. With one of the most important conservation bills in many decades, we protected public lands for generations to come. But there is more to do.

We have given our troops, veterans, and their families the support they deserve, including better battlefield equipment, better care for our wounded warriors, and a well-earned pay raise. We also cut waste and fraud in the Pentagon's purchase of military weapons. But there is more to do.

This Congress also made history by pursuing justice and ensuring equality for every single American. With a hate crimes bill that bears Emmett Till's name, we stood up for those who were victims of violence because of their race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. With the fair pay bill in Lilly Ledbetter's name, we stood up for those who are targets of discrimination in the workplace because of their gender or background.

We passed overdue appropriations bills, new appropriations bills, and an honest, responsible budget that makes sound investments in every part of our country. The Senate confirmed President Obama's outstanding nominee for the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor.

It is a long list of accomplishments, but I assure the Senate that we are just getting started. We have a lot more to do.

In the coming year, we will ensure all Americans can access affordable health care, and we will deny insurance companies the ability to deny health care to the sick, and we will slash our deficit in the process.

We will help more Americans keep their homes and their jobs, and we will continue to help our economy not only recover but prosper once again.

We will continue to create new jobs, including good-paying clean energy jobs that can never be outsourced. You can see throughout the country that happening. A week ago Monday, 2 days ago, I was in a place about 35 miles outside of Las Vegas at the Harry Allen plant that is going to be the most clean natural gas facility for producing electricity in America. About 700 men and women were working on that construction project. At that construction project, there were people walking and running and doing the jobs they needed to do, with trucks moving back and forth.

The reason we were there is because the Western Area Power Administration, WAPA, under the stimulus bill we passed, had the ability to do loans that were very low-interest loans. We were there to announce a public-private partnership between WAPA and others, which will bring electricity from the northern part of the State to the southern part of Nevada for the first time in Nevada's history.

We became a State in 1864. Why is that important? It will allow Nevada to be energy independent in 2\1/2\ to 3 years. Just as important, we also will be able to produce far more electricity than Nevada needs because now, with this power line that will create hundreds and hundreds of jobs, we will also have a lot of energy projects for that full 250-mile area. They will be able to do solar, wind, geothermal and bring that onto the power line. That is only the first phase. After that, it has been agreed by WAPA that they can do stage 2, which will bring electricity from the Northwest into Nevada and, of course, California and the whole Southwest. That is a good project and an example of good-paying clean energy jobs that can never be outsourced.

We will tackle our daunting energy and climate challenges, and by doing that we will strengthen our national security, our environment, and our economy.

We need to look no further than Boone Pickens, who talks about this every day of his life. We will have a more secure Nation, and we will lessen our dependence on foreign oil. We will use the resources we have, among which are wind, Sun, geothermal, and now we are the largest holder of natural gas of any country in the world. That is what Boone Pickens is talking about--using our own energy, not continuing importing oil.

As we do all these things, we will continue to leave a seat at the table for our Republican colleagues. Whether their caucus comprises 40 or 41 members, each composes this body of 100. Our individual caucuses--one that will have 59 and one that will have 41--should all be united within the walls of this Chamber and not defined by the aisle that divides the desks.

Today is the first anniversary of the first time our President addressed our Nation as our President. One year ago today, standing on steps just a short distance from here, he reflected that our Nation had chosen ``unity of purpose over conflict and discord.'' He asked us to put aside the differences and dogmas that paralyze our politics.

We can answer that call this year--not just because President Obama requested it but because the American people justly demand it.

By and large, those in the minority have shown, so far, far too little interest in working with us. More important, they have shown far too little interest in working on the interests of their constituents.

Mr. President, I called my office early this morning and asked my faithful assistant, Janice Shelton, to arrange a call for me to talk to the new, soon-to-be Senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown. I look forward to visiting with him. I look forward to welcoming him to the Senate and asking him that he work with us. It is certainly a conversation I look forward to.

I hope in this new year we will resolve to leave partisan political motivation behind. I hope we will share and renew the motivation to get to work, to legislate for the good of this country.

Mr. President, first let me take a minute to express my appreciation on behalf of the entire Senate to a number of people, not the least of which is ADM Barry Black who every morning leads this institution in prayer. His prayers are meaningful. They are beautiful. He is a brilliant man and adds so much to the Senate family.

I wish to offer my appreciation to the Parliamentarians who have been through a very intense, difficult decisionmaking time the last several months. Alan Frumin, Elizabeth MacDonough, Peter Robinson, and Leigh Hildebrand, we all appreciate you very much.

To the journal clerks led by Scott Sanborn, we appreciate your work. The legislative clerk, Kathie Alvarez, and all of her assistants; very difficult, tense times, and we appreciate what you do for us every day.

I also wish to express my appreciation to the court reporters, the doorkeepers, and the Sergeant at Arms. Chief Gainer is a good person. He does a wonderful job with the many responsibilities he has. But I do say this--and there is a lot of personal pride in this--as good as he is, he is better as a result of one of my former staffers, Drew Willison, who we all know is the Assistant Sergeant at Arms and does a remarkable job at protecting this institution.

Nancy Erickson, a wonderful person, is the Secretary of the Senate. She is someone I have great admiration and respect for. But again, with some personal pride, I suggest that one reason she has done such a good job is because of her assistant, the Assistant Secretary of the Senate, Sheila Dwyer, who again is one of my proteges.

I say with pride the tremendous, terrific, powerful work that has been done by Lula Davis, the Secretary of the Majority. There have been, as with all of us, a lot of difficult times, and she has held up remarkably well, giving me and the entire Senate the information they ask for constantly. She is assisted by Tim Mitchell. Of course, this place would not run as well without her working with the Secretary of the Minority, David Schiappa and his entire crew. They are wonderful people to work with. Even though sometimes this place becomes very partisan, the work done by Lula Davis and David Schiappa is never partisan as it appears to the American public.

Finally, Mr. President, I wish to say a word about the people who work in the cloakrooms. They are the people who are unseen but instrumental to the operation of the Senate. I say finally, but I have to say with a lot of pride, having been one of them, how much I appreciate and acknowledge the attention and the protection of the Capitol Police. They are throughout this building. Some are in uniform, some aren't. But with all of the evil in the world, they have a very difficult job and they do extremely well.

Mr. President, we are happy to see the Vice President of the United States here in his capacity as President of the U.S. Senate. For 36 years you have graced these halls with your brilliance and I think it is fair to say that we miss you very much, but we are glad you are where you are.

Mr. President, following any leader remarks, the time until we finish our remarks will be divided between my counterpart and my friend from Kentucky, the senior Senator from Kentucky, and after we complete our remarks, we will proceed to a series of two rollcall votes in relation to the following items: passage of H.R. 3590, the health care reform legislation; and passage of H.R. 4314, an act to permit continued financing of government operations.

Mr. President, like so many endeavors that have benefited so many Americans, making health insurance more affordable and health insurance companies more accountable is a process. It is one that has required us to find common ground, as we should. That is why we have a piece of legislation that over the next decade will reduce the deficit by $132 billion and, over the next decade, as much as $1.3 trillion.

Everyone knows we have had votes in the middle of the night and on Christmas Eve because the Republicans wouldn't allow us to have votes at any other hour. It is true when we go home we are going to hear an earful. I am going to hear an earful I bet from young Caleb, a boy who was born with legs that stopped here, right above his knees, who has needed a set of new prosthetic devices because the rest of his body is growing, but the insurance company says no because he had a preexisting disability. I will get an earful from Caleb and especially his parents--an earful of joy and happiness. Because, you see, from this day forward, insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage because of a preexisting disability. For people such as Caleb and parents who have children with diabetes and other problems, it is over. So, yes, we will hear an earful, but it is going to be an earful of wonderment and happiness that people have waited for for a long time.

This morning is not the end of the process. It is merely the beginning. We will continue to build on this success to improve our health system even more and to further ease the terrible burdens on American families and businesses.

But that process cannot begin unless we start today. The American people and the American economy cannot afford for us to wait for the next time because, you see, there may not be a next time.

Nearly 65 years ago, Harry Truman condemned a system that condemns its citizens to the devastating economic side effects of sickness. Nearly 65 years later, we still suffer from the same. Just months after World War II came to a close, President Harry S. Truman wrote in a letter to Congress to this body:

We should resolve now that the health of this Nation is a

national concern; that financial barriers in the way of

attaining health

shall be removed; that the health of all of its citizens

deserves the help of all the Nation.

Decades have passed and these financial barriers have grown taller, but we will never solve the problem unless we find the resolve which we haven't found until today.

This is how long we have waited. Think of those who were 1 year old in 1945, the day Truman issued his call to this body for action, of those--and there are many, far too many--who have lived their entire lives without the ability to afford any type of health care--any type of health care. Coverage got more and more expensive each year. Insurance companies found more and more excuses to leave them out in the cold. For those who worked in a small business or owned one or moved from job to job, the peace of mind health care can provide was merely a dream.

Today, on the verge of the year 2010, those Americans are finally just months away from qualifying for Medicare. That is a long time for a citizen to wait for health care in the greatest and richest Nation the world has ever known. How much longer? How much longer can we afford to put this off or ask the uninsured for their patience? Until health care costs consume not just a sixth of our economy, but a third, or a half? Until premiums consume more than half of a family's income?

We certainly don't have the luxury of waiting until America becomes the only developed Nation on Earth where you can die for lack of health insurance. We already bear that blemish. That is why we are bringing security and stability to millions who have health insurance and bringing health insurance to millions who have none.

What we will do is ensure consumers have more choices and insurance companies face more competition.

We will stand up to those greedy insurance companies that deny health care to the sick and drive millions into bankruptcy, foreclosure, and sometimes even worse.

We will add years to the life of Medicare, which will add years to the life of our seniors.

We will trade a system that demands you pay more and get less for one in which you will pay less and get more.

As we do all this, we will slash our children's deficit in dramatic fashion. We may not completely cure this crisis today or tomorrow, but we must start toward that end. We must strive for progress and not surrender for want of purity. Our charge is to move forward. This is a tradition as old as this Republic, one that has always comprised interests and opinions as diverse as the people who populate it. Our Founding Fathers did not promise to form an infallible new Nation; they promised instead to promote the general welfare as we move toward a more perfect Union. They valued progress.

Our Nation's earliest leaders promised not absolute happiness but only the pursuit of that goal. They valued opportunity. Similar to other new programs that improve the lives of many and were since strengthened to improve even more--programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security--progress and opportunity are what this historic bill represents.

To those who so admirably care so much for their fellow man that they demand more, I say: This is just the beginning. With Senator Ted Kennedy's voice booming in our ears--with his passion in our hearts--we say as he said: The work goes on, the cause endures.

Opponents of this bill have used every trick in the book to delay this day, this moment. Yet here we are, minutes away from doing what many have tried but none have ever achieved.

We are here because facts will always defeat fear. Although one might slow the progress, they can't stop it, and although one might slow the speed of progress, its force cannot be stopped.

I am sorry to say that, for the first time in American history, a political party has chosen to stand on the sidelines rather than participate in great--and greatly needed--social change.

I am sorry to see that many on the other side have resorted to myths and misinformation and continue to rely on them long after they were debunked.

It is regrettable they view our citizens' health care crisis through a political lens, because affording to live a healthy life isn't about politics or partisanship or polling.

It is about people. It is about life and death in America. It is a question of morality, of right and wrong. It is about human suffering. Given the chance to relieve this suffering, we must take this chance and deliver on a promise the American people have deserved for six and a half decades.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. President, the minority leader and I have some things to discuss, so I ask unanimous consent that we recess subject to the call of the Chair.

I want to speak today about S.2799, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009. This important piece of legislation, which combines legislation written by Senator Dodd with legislation introduced by Senators Bayh, Lieberman and Kyl, was passed by the Banking Committee earlier this month. It would impose new sanctions on Iran's refined petroleum sector and tighten existing U.S. sanctions in an effort to create new pressure on the Iranian regime and help stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

I know that Senator Kerry, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, has been working hard, along with other colleagues, to get a UC agreement so we can get this legislation passed. I understand that we are making good progress towards reaching that goal.

As we move forward with these negotiations, I want everyone to know that I am committed to getting this legislation to the floor sometime after we return in January.

Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the health care legislation. The time until 7:18 this morning is equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. The Senate will then proceed to a series of three rollcall votes--they will be stacked--in relation to the Reid motion to table the Reid amendment No. 3278, the Reid-Baucus-Dodd- Harkin amendment No. 3276, and a motion to invoke cloture on the Reid substitute No. 2786. If cloture is invoked, the majority leader will then be recognized, and then the time until 9:30 will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. Beginning at 9:30 a.m. and until 5:30 p.m. today, the time will be controlled in alternating 1-hour blocks of time, with the Republicans controlling the first hour. The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:30 p.m. today for the weekly conferences.

Mr. President, tensions have been high because of this legislation which has been on the floor for a considerable period of time. I hope everyone understands that this part of the session is winding down, and I hope everyone will go out of their way to be thoughtful and considerate to those on both sides of the aisle. This is not the time for any personal attacks or anything that is acrimonious. It is time to figure out a way to leave here in a peaceful nature. We have the Christmas holiday coming, and we know how important that is to families. I hope everyone will work toward getting us out of here and back to our families as quickly as we can.

I designate the time the Democrats have remaining to Senator Durbin, the majority whip.

Mr. President, has all time expired?

I yield back that time.

Mr. President, I move to table amendment No. 3278, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, it is my understanding that the second- degree

amendment has been withdrawn; is that right?

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on amendment No. 3276.

Mr. President, I ask the clerk to call and report amendment No. 2878.

I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be waived.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I now ask the clerk to report amendment No. 3292.

Mr. President, it is my understanding--Senator McConnell and I have agreed--I should not say I understand--we have agreed that the time until 9:30 will be equally divided and controlled between the two leaders, and at 9:30 we will go, as we have worked in recent days, into having blocks of time until our caucuses, until 12:30.

Mr. President, I ask everyone to acknowledge that we have our regular weekly caucuses at 12:30. We will come back at 2:30, and we will be going back to blocks of time until 5:30 this evening.

Mr. President, I said when the Senate opened today and I will say again, because of the long hours we have spent here for weeks now, there is a lot of tension in the Senate. Feelings are high, and that is fine. Everybody has very strong concerns about everything we have done and have to do. But I hope everyone would go back to their gentlemanly ways. I was trying to figure out how to say this-- gentlemanly ways. We used to say in the House gentlewomen, so I guess it is the same here.

Anyway I hope everyone has--I have said to a number of people--Rodney King--let's all just try to get along. That is the only way; we need to do it. This is a very difficult time in the next day or so. Let's try to work through this.

For those of the Christian faith we have the most important holiday, and that is Christmas.

I would hope everyone would keep in mind that this is a time when we reflect on peace and the good things in life. I would hope everyone would kind of set aside all the personal animosity, if they have any in the next little bit, and focus on the holiday.