Floor Statements

Madam President, I understand there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading.

Madam President, one is the drug reimportation legislation that has been around for a number of years. We are trying to move forward on that legislation. Senators Dorgan, McCain, Snowe, and a number of people are very interested in that legislation. We are going to try to work it out and have this on the Senate floor on the earliest possible date. The other one is the so-called cash for clunkers bill.

I object to any further proceedings with respect to these bills en bloc.

Madam President, yesterday, this city and our country experienced a terrible and horrifying tragedy. A man by the name of Stephen Johns went to work every day for the last 6 years at one of our Nation's most moving museums--a living memorial to one of our world's most horrific atrocities--the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

While standing guard yesterday at that U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Mr. Stephen Johns was killed while protecting thousands of others who were inside the building from the same fate that he suffered. His death has shocked, upset, and angered the Senate, our Nation, and all who detest such senseless bloodshed.

Mr. Johns was murdered in a place built to memorialize humanity's most unspeakable murders. He was a victim of violence and hatred in a place dedicated to teaching us the evils of violence and hatred. He was a target of intolerance in a place created for reflection on the consequences of intolerance. His death reminds us that we have much more work to do.

Stephen Johns was just 39 years old. He had a wife and a son. He grew up in Temple Hills, MD, just a few miles south and east of where I stand today. He still lived in that community. Mr. Johns started working at the Holocaust Museum after spending a year in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Those who knew Mr. Johns called him ``Big John'' and ``a gentle giant.'' Those who knew him describe him as caring, polite, friendly, and helpful. Even those who didn't know him are deeply saddened by his loss and inspired by his heroism.

In the spirit of the museum where every day he so bravely reported for duty, it is our duty to keep alive his memory. Today, the Holocaust Museum is closed. Its flags fly at half staff. When it opens tomorrow, it will continue to serve as one of our Nation's most poignant reminders of the inexcusable racism, hatred, violence, and cruelty that we must never stop trying to erase from our world. When it opens tomorrow, and every day thereafter, Stephen Johns' courage and courtesy will be missed.

Madam President, our plan to fix America's broken health care system is based on a simple premise: when it comes to keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy, people--not corporations--should be in the driver's seat.

We have a plan to right that wrong. That plan is guided by three goals: One, lower the high costs of health care; two, ensure every American has access to that quality, affordable care; three, let people choose their own doctors, hospitals, and health plans.

One of those choices should be a public option. This has two primary benefits: First, people can choose to get their insurance from someone other than a greedy private insurance company; second, the very existence of that public option means there is more competition in the market. As a result, the private options will have to serve their customers even better.

The Republicans often like to pretend the government will force you to take the public option. Every time you hear them say that, you know they are not interested in honest debate. After all, it is right in the name; it is a public ``option.'' So talking about government forcing anybody to do anything is simply unfair and not accurate. It is a public option, meaning you have choices.

If you have coverage, and you like it, you can keep it. You should be able to choose the best coverage for your family. You should be able to compare benefits and prices instead of surrendering to out-of-control corporations. You, the individual, should be in control of your own family's health decisions.

I am confident that both private insurance companies and the option of a public plan can live in harmony. When you send a birthday present to a relative--say, I want to send something to one of my children in Nevada--the products that I choose can be sent by FedEx, UPS, DHL, or you can choose the U.S. Postal Service. The Postal Service may not be perfect, but because that public option is there, the private companies--FedEx, UPS, and DHL--know they cannot overcharge, rip you off, or slack in their service.

Just like our proposal for the health care system, you don't have to choose the Postal Service. But it is good to know it is there. For some, it is all they can afford. I hear every day from Nevadans who are asking for our help. They are people turned down for health coverage by insurance providers who care more about profits than people; people who lost their health coverage when they lost their jobs and now have no means of getting it back; people who play by the rules and rightly demand our health care system be guided by common sense.

Nearly two-thirds of all bankruptcies are caused by medical problems and the exorbitant bills that ensue. Many of the foreclosures are both a cause and an effect for the global credit crisis and can be traced back to health insurance costs.

If you agree we already have enough economic problems on our hands, if you agree we cannot wait another year while 50 million Americans live without any options to stay healthy, then you will agree now is the time for action, not partisan games.

Insurance companies are holding Americans' health hostage. Far too many people cannot afford the ransom. If we are going to fix our broken health care system, we are going to have to return control to the people who need that care.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, this will be the last vote of the week. We have a lot of work going on in the committees and that will continue on Monday. The next vote will be Tuesday morning. I will confer with the distinguished Republican leader as to what time we will do that and what it is going to be on for sure. We think we know, but there will be a vote Tuesday morning.

Everyone has been notified, but to make sure that people understand, when we come back after the July 4 recess, we are going to be in session for 5 weeks. The House will be in session for only 4 weeks. We have 5 weeks and we are going to work very hard during that period of time. I have had requests from the managers of the bill, the health care bill, Senator Baucus and Dodd, that we need every day of that break so there is only going to be 1 day that there will be no votes-- Mondays and Fridays there will be votes--which is Friday, July 17.

The first day we get back we are going to have a Monday morning vote, to show everybody we are serious about this. So the day we get back there will be a Monday morning vote. We have a tremendous amount of work to do. We not only have health care, which is going to take so much of our time, but we are in the appropriations process. The House is going to pass all their appropriations bills by the end of the July recess. I don't know if we can meet that schedule--it is somewhat doubtful--but we are going to pass some bills. We are going to try to get to one this work period.

Without going into more detail, the next work period is going to be extremely long, arduous, and extremely important.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

I withhold.

Mr. President, I know my friend, the distinguished Senator from Texas, wishes to speak for up to 20 minutes, is that right?

We have Senators on this side. What I would ask consent to do is have Senator Bingaman be recognized for up to 3 minutes, Senator Cornyn be recognized for up to 20 minutes, and then I will be recognized following his statement. Following me, Senator Dorgan be recognized.

I ask we proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes, with the exceptions I noted.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 71, S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, and I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that on Tuesday, June 16, following a period of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S. 1023 and there be 1 hour of debate prior to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed, with the time equally divided and controlled between the leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the Senate proceed to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed, with the mandatory quorum waived.

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

Mr. President, I walked in the Chamber and saw you presiding. And I said to Lula Davis, who helps us so much here, what a terrific addition

you have been to the Senate. That is really true. The people of Alaska are so fortunate to have you in the Senate.

You are very constructive. You protect the State of Alaska like no one I have ever seen look out for the interests of a State.

And I think everyone in the Senate recognizes what a fine person you are, and as the days go on, you are going to get even better. So on a personal note, I appreciate all of your good work.

I ask unanimous consent that on Thursday, June 18, following a period of morning business, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Con. Res. 26, a concurrent resolution submitted earlier today, and relating to slavery apology; that the concurrent resolution be held at the desk; that there be 60 minutes for debate with respect to the concurrent resolution, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees; that no amendments be in order to the concurrent resolution or preamble; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on adoption of the concurrent resolution; that upon adoption, the preamble be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc.

Mr. President, we expect this resolution to be voted on by voice.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 183.

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

I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 184.

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 ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 1:45 p.m., Monday, June 15; 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 the day, and there be a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, earlier today I filed a cloture motion on the motion to proceed to S. 1023, the travel promotion legislation. That cloture vote will occur prior to the recess for the caucus luncheons on Tuesday, June 16. As previously announced, there will be no rollcall votes next Monday.

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 leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for up to 1 hour, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first 30 minutes and the majority will control the second 30 minutes.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the tobacco legislation. There will then be up to 1 hour for debate only, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees. This morning, we hope to reach an agreement to dispose of the pending Lieberman amendment and several additional amendments. Upon the use or yielding back of the debate time on the bill--that is 1 hour--and disposition of the Lieberman amendment, the substitute amendment will be agreed to and the Senate will proceed to a cloture vote on the underlying tobacco bill; therefore, Senators should expect a vote at around 11:30.