Floor Statements

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, as I rise today, I wish to talk about the economy and the need to create an economic climate that strengthens the middle class.

Before I do, I wish to acknowledge, as have many of my colleagues, and to comment on the tragedy that occurred here at the Washington Navy Yard yesterday.

We are going to debate a lot of issues. The business of the country goes on and the business of the Senate goes on, but for the families of the victims of that tragedy yesterday, things stand still. It is important for all of us to take a moment to mourn with them the loss they have experienced and to extend our thoughts and prayers to their families and their loved ones. It is a horrible tragedy. As we continue the back-and-forth we have on the issues of the day, we will remember and keep those families in our thoughts and prayers.

The Economy

Mr. President, I wish to speak on the economy. The President has yet again this week--in fact, he gave a speech yesterday where he was pivoting back to the economy, a topic that millions of unemployed Americans haven't had the luxury of pivoting away from.

For most Americans, they are living this economy every single day in their personal lives. When the President talks about pivoting back to the economy, this has been a repivot, and a repivot many times. He talks about something else for a while and then talks about coming back to the economy. For the American people, the American economy is, was, has been, and will continue to be the issue for them and their families.

As the President steps up his rhetoric to try and convince a skeptical public that his policies have somehow helped our economy, I think it is important to point out that the President's policies, according to facts, simply aren't working.

The reality is participation in the labor force continues to decline. The August job numbers report a labor participation rate of 63.2 percent. This is the lowest participation rate since August of 1978, 35 years ago when President Carter was President.

What this means is if thousands of Americans haven't given up looking for work, the unemployment rate would be over 10 percent. We talk about the reported unemployment rate, which is 7.3 or 7.4--it has hovered around that range for a long time--but the real unemployment rate should include those who have quit looking for work. When you add that number in, the unemployment goes up to 10.6 percent.

In August the number of long-term unemployed--those people who have been jobless for 27 weeks or more--remained roughly at 4.3 million people. Those individuals accounted for 37.9 percent of the unemployed. We are not seeing any improvement in the area of people who have been without jobs for a long period of time.

Worse yet, 60 percent of the jobs created this year were part-time jobs. We continue to see evidence that the President's policies, President Obama's policies, are leading to not the creation of full- time jobs but the creation of part-time jobs. In other words, Americans are having to work more than one job to make ends meet, therefore reducing the take-home pay for them and their families. This is another thing we have seen. Take-home pay has gone down in this President's time in office.

The American people understand the President's economic policies have fallen short. That is why, as you look at these various polls, most Americans--the majority of Americans--disapprove of the President's handling of the economy. The reality remains that this administration's policies are hurting jobs in our economy. The President's signature health care law is probably as much to blame for that as anything else.

As I talk to employers in my State of South Dakota and across the country, the recurring theme is the mandates, the requirements, all the new redtape associated--and the higher taxes with the President's health care law--are meaning higher taxes and fewer hours for American workers. According to Americans for Tax Reform, there are 20 new or higher taxes in ObamaCare that will hit American families and small businesses. As a result of these taxes and other policies in ObamaCare, the President's signature health care law significantly impacts what matters most to people, and that is their jobs and their ability to provide for their families. It is no secret that a good job is a critical part of the American dream, but this President's policies are putting that dream farther and farther out of reach for many Americans.

In fact, in selling the law, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared at the time:

This bill is not only about the health security of America,

it's about jobs. In its life, it will create 4 million jobs--

400,000 jobs almost immediately.

The former Speaker's claims run completely contrary and counter to what we are seeing. People are working fewer hours. As the numbers I have presented before demonstrate, fewer people are actually even participating in the labor force. Americans are discouraged by the lack of economic growth and by ObamaCare's impact on

employers. Their ability to offer quality jobs is taking its toll on our investment.

Only last week Investor's Business Daily reported that due to ObamaCare at least 258 employers cut work hours or jobs so far. Meanwhile, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 71 percent of small businesses say the law makes it harder to hire workers.

According to the July Fed Beige Book, the health care law has been cited as a job market concern. They quote from that report: ``Several retailers reported that the Affordable Care Act would lead to more part-time and temporary versus full-time hiring.''

The President's health care law is smothering employers in bureaucratic redtape, uncertainty, and taxes. Already more than 20,000 pages of regulations have come from the 2,700-page law. The time and cost of complying with these regulations places a serious burden on the ability to spend time and energy creating new jobs. Time and money that would be spent opening a new store, increasing hours, upgrading equipment, which would create more jobs, is instead being spent on lawyers and consultants who have to help small businesses interpret all of the regulations, all the requirements, and all the mandates created by this administration's health care law.

Poll after poll has shown that ObamaCare is extremely unpopular among a majority of Americans. According to a recent CNN poll conducted by ORC International, nearly 60 percent of Americans said they oppose the Democratic signature law. I would hope the President would begin to be honest with the American people about what this law truly means for jobs and our economy, and I would hope he would begin to listen to Americans. If he does, he will find what most of us have discovered a long time ago; that is, the American people don't want this and American employers and small businesses believe it will lead to fewer jobs and lower take-home pay for the people they employ.

I hope in the days ahead, as we focus on the economy--and if the President is sincere about his pivot back to the economy, he will take into consideration what really ails the economy; that is, excessive taxes, regulations, redtape, bureaucracy, mandates and requirements, many of which are associated with his signature achievement, which is the ObamaCare health care legislation.

What the country does not need right now is another tax increase. What the country needs right now is policies that will expand and grow the economy, that will reform our Tax Code in a way that lowers rates and makes us more competitive in the global marketplace and unleashes American energy in a way that gives us a competitive advantage over our foreign competitors. We can do all of that. All the President has to do is sign off, for example, on the Keystone Pipeline, which would create thousands of jobs immediately and many more once it is fully built and working.

It would also mean we do away with the onerous, burdensome requirements of the ObamaCare legislation and replace it with policies that make sense, that actually focus on what will give Americans more access to affordable health care in this country.

We need to reduce spending here in Washington, DC, and quit looking at every problem as an opportunity to raise taxes. That seems to be the Democratic solution for everything. Their budget proposed a $1 trillion tax increase. The leader of the Democrats here in the Senate has said tax reform has to include $1 trillion in new taxes. It is not revenue that is the problem here in Washington, it is spending. If we look at revenues, they are up $284 billion in the first 11 months of this year. We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. We don't need another tax increase, we need policies that will lower the rates, that will get rid of the redtape and the regulations that are strangling our economy and allow our small businesses to create jobs that will make lives better for middle-class Americans and improve the take-home pay for every family in the country.

The job-killing mandates in ObamaCare are harmful to our economy, they are harmful to jobs, and it is time we delay or repeal it and replace it with commonsense alternatives. We believe that discussion needs to occur, and I hope the President will allow it to occur. It is time to focus on comprehensive, revenue neutral tax reform of our broken tax system, repeal the mandates in Obamacare, and get rid of a lot of the government redtape and regulations that are making it more difficult and more expensive for employers in this country--for small businesses--to grow jobs.

Those are the types of things that will get the economy unleashed, that will expand and grow the economy and create more jobs for ordinary working-class Americans who are out of work and will raise the take- home pay for families in this country, which would allow the quality of life and the standard of living to improve for every American family.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I recognize Alayna Ackerman, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Alayna is a graduate of St. Thomas More High School in Rapid City, SD. Currently, she is attending University of South Dakota, where she is majoring in criminal justice and political science. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Alayna for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Tara Al-Haj, a page in the United States Senate, for all of the hard work she has done for the Senate and its staff.

Tara is currently attending Stevens High School in Rapid City, SD, where she will be entering her junior year this fall. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of this unique experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Tara for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Erika Bachmeier, an intern in my Aberdeen, SD, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Erika is a graduate of Central High School in Aberdeen, SD. Currently, she is attending the University of North Dakota, where she is majoring in occupational therapy. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Erika for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Madison Blake, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Madison is a graduate of Liberty High School in Liberty, MO. Currently, she is attending the University of Missouri, where she is majoring in health

sciences. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Madison for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor Bethany Buell of the University of South Dakota, USD, for becoming the first NCAA Division I National Champion in school history. Buell captured the National Championship by pole vaulting 14 feet, 7.25 inches on June 7, 2013 at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR.

Bethany Buell has had a terrific season for the USD Coyote's, earning All-American honors before ultimately capturing the D-I NCAA National Championship. Buell's record-breaking season was almost cut short after tearing ligaments in her shoulder after setting the highest national mark of 14 feet, 7.5 inches on March 29th. Buell returned from injury to compete on May 9th at the Summit League Championships. Buell was also named the NCAA Division I Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association.

Bethany Buell is a redshirt junior from Rockwood Summit High School, in St. Louis, MO. Bethany, the daughter of Bill and Kerry Buell, is currently majoring in psychology with a minor in anthropology. Buell's career at USD has been record-breaking; as a true freshman, Bethany won the pole vault at the GWC Indoor Championships and broke the school record in the event twice. In 2011, Buell became the first USD Coyote to qualify for the NCAA D-I National Championships, where she would finish 13th and earn 2nd team All-America honors. In 2012, Bethany continued her ascent as one of the Nation's top pole vaulters becoming the first Coyote to earn All-American First-Team honors. She later finished 3rd at the NCAA D-I National Championships.

As a graduate of the University of South Dakota, I am honored to recognize Bethany Buell for her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the University of South Dakota and to the State of South Dakota. Congratulations to Bethany, and to the Coyote Track and Field Team for a great season. Go Yotes!

Mr. President, today I wish to honor Skye Dearborn of Sioux Falls Lincoln High School for being South Dakota's first representative in the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. Dearborn played the trombone for the inaugural Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestra.

Before Dearborn performed in the National Youth Orchestra she played trombone in Lincoln High School's symphonic band, jazz band, marching band, and was part of the South Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra. Dearborn also participated in the concert orchestra, won first place in the Young Musicians Concerto Competition, and was an AP Scholar at Lincoln High School. In the future, Skye plans on attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she will major in trombone performance.

2013 marks the inaugural tour for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America in modern history. The NYO-USA is comprised of 120 of the finest youth musicians from across the United States and is conducted each year by a different celebrated conductor. The conductor for the 2013 orchestra is Valery Gergiev, the principal director of the London Symphony Orchestra. The NYO-USA performed in New York, NY, Washington, DC, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and London.

The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America performed on tour July 11 through July 21 around the globe. I am honored to recognize Skye Dearborn for her accomplishments and contributions to this prestigious group of young people.

Mr. President, today I recognize Jenna Headrick, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work she has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Jenna is a graduate of Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, SD. Currently, she is attending the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities, where she is majoring in political science and sociology. She is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of her internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Jenna for all of the fine work she has done and wish her continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Matthew Reeves, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Matthew is a graduate of Sioux Falls Christian in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, he is attending the University of Arkansas, where he is majoring in international relations and political science. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Matthew for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Samuel Reuland, an intern in my Sioux Falls, SD, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Samuel is a graduate of White Lake High School in White Lake, SD. Currently, he is attending the University of South Dakota, where he is majoring in political science and history. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Samuel for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I recognize Owen Shay, an intern in my Sioux Falls, SD, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Owen is a graduate of Sunshine Bible Academy in Miller, SD. Currently, he is attending South Dakota State University, where he is majoring in history. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Owen for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater Center's 100th Anniversary. Opening their doors in 1913, The Orpheum Theater Center was built to serve the City of Sioux Falls as a venue for theatrical presentations. Over the past 100 years, the Orpheum Theater has grown to become a cherished location for South Dakotans to enjoy quality entertainment.

The Orpheum Theater was built for the Solari Brothers and opened on October 3, 1913, as a vaudeville house and seated 1,000 audience members. Tickets for the opening night were sold for $5 each and acts included features such as ``An Evening in Honolulu,'' two different comedy acts, and the Orpheum Concert Orchestra.

In 1919, the theater was sold to a major theater management firm. It remained as a vaudeville house until 1927, when it was sold and became a second run and B movie theater. It was not until the Sioux Empire Community Playhouse purchased the building in 1954 that it was restored to its original theater space.

The City of Sioux Falls purchased the Orpheum and neighboring buildings in 2002 and has since named the entire facility The Orpheum Theater Center.

The Orpheum Theater Center has provided quality entertainment to many generations of South Dakotans. It attracts over 100,000 visitors each year with events that include plays, concerts, community events, and private events. Known for its superb acoustics, it is the oldest theater in

Sioux Falls. In 1983, the Orpheum Theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

I am honored to congratulate the Sioux Falls Orpheum Theater Center on their 100th Anniversary and wish them another 100 years of success.

Mr. President, today I recognize Adam Timmerman, an intern in my Washington, DC, office, for all of the hard work he has done for me, my staff, and the State of South Dakota.

Adam is a graduate of Sioux Falls Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, he is attending University of Kansas, where he is majoring in environmental studies. He is a hard worker who has been dedicated to getting the most out of his internship experience.

I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Adam for all of the fine work he has done and wish him continued success in the years to come.

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