Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, there are many paths to the Senate. It is fair to say the path that brought our new colleague from Illinois to us was unique, and that is an understatement.

Whatever complications surrounded his appointment, we made it clear from the beginning, both publicly and privately, that our concern was never with Mr. Burris. I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Burris until last week. I found now-Senator Burris to be engaging, gracious, and he was very firm in his commitment to become a good and effective Senator.

Given the uncertainty around his appointment, all of his statements and actions, again both publicly and privately, reflected a strong character that will serve him well as he begins his service for the people of Illinois.

I also say to my friend, Dick Durbin, the senior Senator from Illinois, how much I appreciate working with him on this and the other matters we have worked on over the years. We have been in Washington together going back a long time, 1982. The people of the State of Illinois have been so well served by so many different people. I am confident that when the history books are written, even though Illinois has had some of the best of the best, my friend Dick Durbin will be right there with them.

So to Senator Burris, on behalf of all Senators, Democrats and Republicans, we welcome you as a colleague and as a friend.

Madam President, it is in times of unusual strain and challenge that we are called upon to prove ourselves, as people, as Senators, as a country. With our economy struggling and the American people suffering, most Senators have risen to the challenge.

I would like to take a minute, though, to particularly speak of Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman Dodd of the Banking Committee. He and his staff spent seemingly endless days and nights, working on the rescue plan we passed last year. We thought that would be all for a while. But now that we are in this state of crisis again, Senator Dodd is the face and voice of our response to this financial crisis. I have such admiration and respect for Senator Dodd as one of the fine orators of the Senate, and that is something everyone sees. But what we do not see is his skill as a legislator, behind doors, in his committee and working with us. And he has done a great job working with Senator Shelby. They don't always also agree, but they treat each other civilly, and they set the standard for the rest of us. Senator Dodd is to be recognized, as I do, for yeoman's work on this legislation.

On the Republican side, it is important to focus on Senator Judd Gregg. He deserves enormous credit as well during these last few weeks, working on this extension of Troubled Asset Relief Program.

I have been tremendously impressed with President-elect Obama. As his campaign wore on--and it was a long campaign--the American people came to realize this was a unique individual, somebody extremely brilliant academically, someone who could communicate very well, and someone who worked hard and developed the trust of the American people. I have been impressed with his campaign but also with his team and their efforts to secure the second half of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP. If the actions of the President-elect on TARP are any indication, a new day is dawning in Washington, DC, and a good day, a bright day.

President-elect Obama didn't have to take the step he did. This was a test of leadership at a time when leadership is desperately needed in our country. In this early test whether our new President will stand for what is right, not just for what is easy, President-elect Obama passed with flying colors. He and his economic team came to Capitol Hill repeatedly these past weeks, not just for a photo opportunity but to engage in real negotiations. The Obama administration generally sought the involvement of Democrats and Republicans, treating them not as adversaries or roadblocks to progress but as partners in the legislative process.

I appreciate the willingness of Republicans to work with him and to work with us to pass this legislation. I do not know how many votes we are going to get from the Republicans, but we will get some votes and every one of them is needed and I appreciate that.

I understand the legitimate concerns of Members over the way the first half of the Troubled Asset Relief Program funds have been spent. We in Congress must never forget the funds we allocate to this program belong to the American taxpayers. It is not our money, it is their money, and we must wisely spend and carefully account for every penny, as every family would, to plan their budget to make the current paycheck last until the next paycheck that they hope comes in.

We need transparency, we need openness, we need oversight. With our economy battered and further damage possibly still to come, we must give our new President every tool to try to fix this economy. Barack Obama has made it clear that he understands the mistakes of the prior administration and will not repeat them. President-elect Obama has, in person and in written communications, agreed to commit substantial resources to foreclosure mitigation, as he should.

Barack Obama has also said there will be transparency, there will be oversight, and Barack Obama has said the disbursal of TARP funds will require his signoff; not a Secretary, not somebody in some clerk's office, not a group of people, but every penny will require Barack Obama's personal signoff.

This vote is going to be close. As many of my colleagues decide how to vote, I ask them to think about the challenges our freezing financial markets are causing their constituents. It doesn't matter if it is Minnesota or Nevada or Arizona or New Hampshire, without financial markets that are functional, families cannot buy a home, borrow to pay for college tuition, replace the family car or simply decide what they are going to do this weekend, because they have no money. Businesses of all sizes cannot make payroll for employees or invest in expansion to create new jobs. That is what this vote is all about. This vote is about local governments not being able to build schools but, instead, lay off teachers, lay off police officers. They are trying to pave roads and protect the public health of their citizens.

We should all be angry at the titans of Wall Street, angry because of their excesses. But inaction now would not punish the wrongdoer, it would punish the American people who are already suffering.

None of us, me included, are happy we have to take this vote. I wish we didn't have to. But given the potentially devastating alternative, I trust my colleagues will act with sound judgment and for the long-term good of our country and in this moment of crisis.

This is one of those rare times. I voted thousands and thousands of times, but over the years I have been here since 1982, there are probably only 15 or 20 votes that are memorable. This is a memorable vote. I believe this is the road to recovery for our country.

Let's trust Barack Obama. I look back at a book I read called ``The Master of the Senate.'' It was about Lyndon Johnson. There is a chapter in that book that I think is so revealing as to today. Lyndon Johnson became the Democratic leader. The President of the United States at that time was Dwight Eisenhower. Dwight Eisenhower was the most popular President in the history of the country. Over an 8-year period of time, his popularity averaged 65 percent--over 8 years. So Lyndon Johnson said: I think what the guy is trying to do is the right thing so I am going to get as many of my Senators as I can, all my Democratic Senators, to join with Dwight Eisenhower to accomplish what he thinks should be accomplished.

I ask my Republican colleagues, look at Barack Obama since he has been elected. Has he set a pattern for moderation? Has he set a pattern for people coming into his Cabinet who are good no matter their party? The answer is yes. The American people are impressed with what he has tried to do to move this country forward. I ask my friends to reflect back to Dwight Eisenhower, to look now to Barack Obama. This is the time we need to move forward as Democrats and Republicans, as Americans, and do what is right. I believe this is one of those votes historians are going to record as important. I think, when some of those chapters are written in that book, they are going to say this is the beginning of the economic recovery for our country.

Madam President, is there time remaining?

I yield that back and start the vote now. We will extend it, if necessary.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that all postcloture time be yielded back and the Senate adopt the motion to proceed; that upon adoption of the motion, the Senate then proceed to the consideration of S. 181; that once the bill is reported, Senator Hutchison be recognized to offer an amendment; that no amendments be in order to the Hutchison amendment prior to a vote in relation to the amendment.

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

Mr. President, over the course of the past several months, we have been working to complete negotiations on making our committee assignments so that all the new members will be able to attend committee meetings and be active participants. In some instances, I understand that chairmen have invited new Members to attend meetings and be involved in the process.

I am happy to report that earlier this week, the Republican leader and I agreed to what the committee ratios will be for the 111th Congress. This process of give and take is tedious, and the giver always feels that they have given more, while the taker believes that they deserve more. We had to increase the size of some of the committees during these deliberations. In any event we have reached agreement on ratios, and I ask unanimous consent that a copy of that agreement be printed in the Record.

Committee Ratio Agreement

Agriculture........................................................12/9 Judiciary..........................................................11/8 Appropriations....................................................17/13 Intel...............................................................8/7 Armed Services....................................................15/11 Aging..............................................................12/9 Banking............................................................12/9 Budget............................................................13/10 Commerce..........................................................14/11 Indian Aff..........................................................9/6 Energy............................................................13/10

With respect to the Democratic membership, we have had a meeting of our Democratic Steering Committee and they have ratified the proposed membership slate. Additionally, the Democratic Caucus has also given its stamp of approval to the slate.

Therefore, Mr. President, the majority is ready to proceed ahead with Senate action on considering an organizational resolution which appoints committee membership. However, I understand from the Republican leader that they still need to complete their process. So, I fully expect that when we return after the inauguration, the Senate will act on an organizational resolution.

I concur with the remarks of the Republican leader. The baseline was not reduced for Democratic staff in the 108th Congress and this agreement allows for a similar accommodation for the Republicans in the 111th Congress.

I ask unanimous consent that a joint leadership letter be printed in the Record.

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

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 14.

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

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 273.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to this bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on January 15, 2009, by President Bush: Tax Convention with Malta, Treaty Document No. 111-1. I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first

time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's message be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I apologize to all of the staff--we have had a long, hard week--for keeping everybody around, but we have had some very important business Senator McConnell and I have been working on for 3 days and we just could not leave without completing that. I know it is tough to be out here and have a quorum call and not getting things done, but when we are not out here, it does not mean we are not doing things. So I apologize to the Presiding Officer and the wonderful staff, but I appreciate your patience.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 10 a.m. tomorrow, January 16; 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 allowed to speak for up to 10 minutes each. I further ask consent that Senator Salazar be recognized to speak following leader remarks in order to give his farewell remarks.

Mr. President, at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning, Senator- appointee Ted Kaufman will take the oath of office and become a U.S. Senator, replacing our soon-to-be Vice President, Joe Biden.

There will be no rollcall votes tomorrow.

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

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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