Floor Statements

Mr. President, I am here with my fellow freshmen Senators because we are united in our determination to pass health insurance reform this year. Our late and giant colleague Senator Ted Kennedy said it best when he called health reform ``the great unfinished business of society.''

We are presented this fall with a historic opportunity to finally succeed, and, for me, failure is not an option. The cost of inaction is too great, both for American families and for our economy. We have a bloated $12 trillion Federal debt which is being fed every day by growing health care costs. Every day, small and large businesses are laying off workers and slashing benefits to their employees. Those Americans who have coverage still do not have the peace of mind that comes from knowing insurance companies will keep their promises. Premiums are rising at three times the rate of wages. The number of uninsured is growing at a faster rate every day. In my State of Colorado, nearly one in four is uninsured in some areas. The Treasury Department recently released a study showing that one out of every two Americans will lose coverage at some point over the next 10 years. We can't allow this to become America's future, but it will if we don't act now.

There are many reasons health care reform cannot wait, but there is one that I know strikes a chord with many Coloradans; that is, the lack of freedom our current system provides. Workers across our country are afraid to leave their jobs for fear they won't be able to provide health care to their families.

That lack of freedom affects our economy because fostering the growth of small business is one of the keys to economic success. In our current system, Americans are afraid to follow their dreams and start a small business or travel to go to work for a new company. Small businesses run on thinner margins than their big-company counterparts, and they are being hit hardest by the rise in health care costs. In Colorado, we have a disproportionate share of small businesses. As a result, we have more citizens who are uninsured. Those who do offer benefits are finding themselves increasingly facing no-win decisions. They are faced with either hiring fewer employees or slashing benefits or dropping coverage completely or, in some cases, going out of business forever.

The proposals in front of us are tailor-made to help small businesses. The ideas in place would provide tax credits and create a simplified, well-regulated, pooled marketplace to help small businesses find cheaper and higher quality coverage. It is estimated that reform will save small businesses more than $500 billion over 10 years or more than $3,500 per worker. That is real money that can be reinvested in business growth and adding additional jobs to fuel our economic recovery.

The burden on individuals is only one of the culprits preventing economic growth. Our deepening Federal deficit and long-term fiscal outlook are also closely linked to a broken system. As President Obama said in his address to Congress 2 weeks ago: Our Nation's health care problem is our deficit problem. Just think, we spend $2 trillion on health care per year. That is more than $1 out of every $5 spent in the economy, more than twice what any other industrialized nation spends. I think we would all agree we are not twice as healthy for our money. If this number continues to grow, there is no hope for reining in long- term deficits.

Health insurance reform is a golden opportunity to begin to control our deficit. We can and we need to grab this opportunity and make health care the springboard from which we clean up our long-term fiscal mess. The President reminded us that the growth of health care costs, if slowed by one-tenth of 1 percent a year, would help bring down the deficit by $4 trillion.

There are many excellent ideas on the table to help us get there--by ensuring Medicare's solvency, reforming Medicare's payment structure to bring down cost growth in the long-term, and discouraging overgenerous health plans which encourage overutilization of the system.

As Senator Warner and others have pointed out, many of the proposals being discussed are politically difficult to support. But not facing politically difficult decisions head-on is what has caused so much of the inertia that has brought us to where we are today. We don't all agree on exactly the best way forward, but we do agree it is time for every Member of Congress and every Member of the Senate to think about

health insurance reform for what it is: a huge and necessary step to putting our economy back on track and finally providing stability, security, and freedom to the people. If we do this, I know we can find common ground. We must because the cost of inaction is too great.

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. I am introducing this bill with the support of Senator Risch, and I thank my colleague for joining me in this bipartisan effort.

This bill would provide funding flexibility to the States to help construct and maintain needed shooting ranges--safe and designated areas where people can sharpen their marksmanship and enjoy recreational shooting.

For a variety of reasons, the number of places where people can safely engage in recreational shooting and target practicing has steadily dwindled. This includes areas on our national public lands. In an effort to establish, maintain and promote safe and established areas for such activities, this legislation would allow States to allocate a greater proportion of their Federal wildlife funds for these purposes.

Currently, states are allocated funds for a variety of wildlife purposes under the Pittman-Robertson Act. This Act, which established a 10 percent excise tax on sporting equipment and ammunition, distributes these funds to States for specific purposes. One of these purposes includes hunter safety programs and the development and maintenance of shooting ranges. However, the Act currently contains certain limitations on the use of these funds for the purpose of shooting ranges.

The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act would amend the Pittman-Robertson Act by adjusting the funding limitations so that States have more funds available for the creation and maintenance of shooting ranges. Specifically, the bill would do a number of things.

First, it would authorize States to charge up to 90 percent instead of the current 75 percent of the costs for acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range on Federal or non- federal land to its allotted Pittman-Robertson allocations, and therefore States would only need to find 10 percent match, as opposed to 25 percent.

Second, it would allow the Pittman-Robertson funds allotted to a State to remain available for 5 fiscal years, instead of the current 1 fiscal year, for use in acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range on Federal or non-federal land.

Third, it would limit the liability exposure to the Federal land agencies, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, regarding the use of Federal land for target practice or marksmanship training.

Fourth, it would encourage the Federal land agencies, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, to cooperate with State and local authorities to maintain target ranges on Federal land so as to encourage their continued use.

To be clear, the bill would not allocate any new funding to the construction of shooting ranges, it would not raise any fees or taxes, nor would it require States to apply their allocated Pittman-Robertson funds to shooting ranges. Instead, by reducing the State matching requirements--and allowing States to ``bank'' these funds for 5 years, the bill allows States to use their Pittman-Robertson funds as they think best while also allowing them to

extend their existing license fee revenue and other State generated funds on other important programs, such as wildlife habitat.

I would like to thank the following groups who have expressed support for this legislation: the National Rifle Association, the National Governing Body for the Olympic Shooting Sports, the Colorado Firearms Coalition, the Colorado Wildlife Federation, the Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society.

I believe that hunting and recreational shooting are legitimate activities--activities that also are appropriate where not prohibited on our public lands. This bill is designed to maintain these activities in a save and convenient manner. It is my hope that the public lands agencies continue to work with the States, sportsmen and hunters, the recreational shooting interests, nearby communities, and others so that these opportunities are safe and available.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today I am introducing the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act. I am introducing this bill with the support of Senator Risch, and I thank my colleague for joining me in this bipartisan effort.

This bill would provide funding flexibility to the States to help construct and maintain needed shooting ranges--safe and designated areas where people can sharpen their marksmanship and enjoy recreational shooting.

For a variety of reasons, the number of places where people can safely engage in recreational shooting and target practicing has steadily dwindled. This includes areas on our national public lands. In an effort to establish, maintain and promote safe and established areas for such activities, this legislation would allow States to allocate a greater proportion of their Federal wildlife funds for these purposes.

Currently, states are allocated funds for a variety of wildlife purposes under the Pittman-Robertson Act. This Act, which established a 10 percent excise tax on sporting equipment and ammunition, distributes these funds to States for specific purposes. One of these purposes includes hunter safety programs and the development and maintenance of shooting ranges. However, the Act currently contains certain limitations on the use of these funds for the purpose of shooting ranges.

The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act would amend the Pittman-Robertson Act by adjusting the funding limitations so that States have more funds available for the creation and maintenance of shooting ranges. Specifically, the bill would do a number of things.

First, it would authorize States to charge up to 90 percent instead of the current 75 percent of the costs for acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range on Federal or non- federal land to its allotted Pittman-Robertson allocations, and therefore States would only need to find 10 percent match, as opposed to 25 percent.

Second, it would allow the Pittman-Robertson funds allotted to a State to remain available for 5 fiscal years, instead of the current 1 fiscal year, for use in acquiring land for, expanding, or constructing a public target range on Federal or non-federal land.

Third, it would limit the liability exposure to the Federal land agencies, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, regarding the use of Federal land for target practice or marksmanship training.

Fourth, it would encourage the Federal land agencies, the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, to cooperate with State and local authorities to maintain target ranges on Federal land so as to encourage their continued use.

To be clear, the bill would not allocate any new funding to the construction of shooting ranges, it would not raise any fees or taxes, nor would it require States to apply their allocated Pittman-Robertson funds to shooting ranges. Instead, by reducing the State matching requirements--and allowing States to ``bank'' these funds for 5 years, the bill allows States to use their Pittman-Robertson funds as they think best while also allowing them to

extend their existing license fee revenue and other State generated funds on other important programs, such as wildlife habitat.

I would like to thank the following groups who have expressed support for this legislation: the National Rifle Association, the National Governing Body for the Olympic Shooting Sports, the Colorado Firearms Coalition, the Colorado Wildlife Federation, the Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society.

I believe that hunting and recreational shooting are legitimate activities--activities that also are appropriate where not prohibited on our public lands. This bill is designed to maintain these activities in a save and convenient manner. It is my hope that the public lands agencies continue to work with the States, sportsmen and hunters, the recreational shooting interests, nearby communities, and others so that these opportunities are safe and available.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to give tribute to Senator Edward Kennedy.

It is impossible to sum up Senator Ted Kennedy in words or a speech. His life and work touched so many diverse interests and issues. Senator Kennedy was larger than life. He was a champion for the underdog--those in our society who just needed a hand up. For close to five decades, Senator Kennedy championed policies for American workers, minorities, parents, immigrants, gays and lesbians, people with disabilities and illnesses, among others. And I think I can safely say he was the greatest legislator in the history of the Senate.

In the words of Senator John McCain during his presidential bid, ``I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate . . . because he remains the single most effective member . . . if you want to get results.''

While he was known as a champion for liberal causes, Senator Kennedy's hallmark was to reach across the aisle, passing legislation with his Republican friends, such as Orrin Hatch and John McCain. He never let partisanship stop him from doing what is right for the American people.

But his most important role was that of the patriarch of the Kennedy family a family that faced tragedy that most of us never will experience and can never fathom. Despite the loss of three brothers, taken long before their time, and the loss of a nephew a rising star, Ted Kennedy rose above the burdens of life and became the rudder of the Kennedy ship, the driving force of the family a family dedicated to public service. Fortunately for all of us, that dedication has been passed on to the next generation and it has influenced families across our Nation, including mine.

The Kennedy family and my own family first crossed paths decades ago, and our family stories continue to be intertwined. My dad, Mo Udall, and uncle, Stewart Udall, supported John Kennedy in his race for President. Ted Kennedy was JFK's man on the ground in the southwest states.

In fact, the Udalls have been called the ``Kennedys of the West.'' And as my Aunt Elma says, ``we are flattered'' by that comparison.

In many ways we are as different as they come. Kennedys are the East. Kennedys are the ocean. Kennedys are Catholic immigrants. Udalls are the West. Udalls are the desert. Udalls are Mormon dirt farmers.

But it is true that my family was drawn to the Kennedys' deep commitment to religious freedom and dedication to public service. My family also shares a commitment to public service. My Uncle Stewart served as President

Kennedy's Secretary of the Interior. And my father ran for and won in a special election in 1960 Uncle Stewart's congressional seat. Some claim that his race was a referendum on the fledgling Kennedy administration, and that his victory was an affirmation of America's support for the goals of his presidency.

Whether that is true, it has proved to be a connection that would keep our families close for decades. And what binds the two families are the friendships that have been fostered over decades since friendships that cross generations and hopefully will continue into the next.

In 1971, my father ran for majority leader of the House of Representatives and lost. The same year, Senator Kennedy lost his bid for Senate whip. Soon after came a note to my father from Senator Kennedy which said, ``Mo, as soon as I pull the liberal knives out of my back, I'll help you dig out the liberal buckshot from your backside.''

My dad supported Ted Kennedy in his primary bid to become President in 1980.

He and Ted were friends for many decades, and in many ways, they were kindred spirits. They loved the outdoors, national parks, skiing in Colorado, and family touch football. We all will remember the photographs of Ted on his sailboat with his family his love of the ocean and boating and sharing it with generations of Kennedy children.

A few years after my dad lost his battle with Parkinson's disease, Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona sponsored legislation to establish the Morris K. Udall Foundation. Senator Kennedy joined in sponsoring the measure. In speaking about my dad, he noted: ``He will rank as one of the greatest Members of the House of Representatives of all time, and also as one of the most beloved . . . Somehow, for 30 years, whenever you probed to the heart of the great concerns of the day, you found Mo Udall in the thick of the battle, championing the rights of average citizens against special interest pressures, defending the highest ideals of America, and always doing it with the special grace and wit that were his trademark and that endeared him to Democrats and Republicans alike.''

If my dad were alive today, I think he would use the same words to describe Senator Kennedy. They both brought people together to do what is right for our country.

Recently, as I have thought about Senator Kennedy's legacy, I have remembered my dad's 1980 speech at the Democratic National Convention. After a tough primary battle, the Democrats were digging in and fighting among themselves. They needed to set aside their differences and join together to win the election. My dad rose to give the keynote address to remind Democrats that they were in this fight together. ``We do fight and we kick and yell and scream and maybe even scratch a bit, but we fight because we are a diverse party and because we've always tried to listen up to new ideas.''

He concluded the speech with these comments: ``This nation that we love will only survive, if each generation of caring Americans can blend two elements: change and the ability to adjust things to the special needs of our times; and second, stability, the good sense to carry forward the old values which are just as good now as they were 200 years ago.''

These elements epitomize Ted Kennedy's legacy. He knew when a person or group of people needed a change in their circumstances.

His strong Catholic faith was the compass that guided his life. It was the driving force that led him to fight to make a difference in other people's lives, particularly those who were less fortunate.

Ted Kennedy's legislative successes are numerous and unquestionably have changed lives for the better. He fought to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. In the 1990s, he labored to pass the Family and Medical Leave Act. And he and Senator Hatch worked across the aisle to pass the Ryan White CARE Act. And it is his lifelong battle for universal health care coverage for Americans that he is best known for today.

The Kennedy and Udall ideals can live on through the younger generation. My cousin Tom and I served in the House of Representatives with Patrick Kennedy. Not only were we colleagues, but we are friends. We grew up in political families and from an early age, public service was a way of life. I was a proud supporter of Patrick's crusade to pass mental health parity legislation in the House. Fortunately, Senator Kennedy lived to see his son's work come to fruition, keeping faith with the special Kennedy credo: aid those who need a helping hand.

Tom, Patrick and I, as well as the rest of the Kennedy and Udall family members, have big shoes to fill. Whether we can actually fill them remains to be seen, but we must certainly push the trail blazed by our aunts and uncles, fathers and mothers as far as our endurance allows.

Senator Ted Kennedy surely will be missed not only on the Senate floor, but in our lives. I deeply regret I will not serve with him in the Senate. He was a champion, a fighter, and a friend. I want to say ``goodbye'' not only for me, but for my dad his friend. And I send my thoughts and prayers to Vicki, Patrick, and the rest of the Kennedy family.

Mr. President, today I acknowledge an increasingly popular event that celebrates a truly unique aspect of western history and culture in Pueblo, CO. Fifteen years ago, Pueblo's Chamber of Commerce created a festival highlighting the anthropological significance of regionally important foods: chile and beans. Although one might think that this festival is just a celebration of an agricultural harvest of two crops, it is much more. These foods have been part of southern Colorado's history for centuries. From 1842 to 1854--in the same location this festival takes place today--French and American traders, native peoples, and Spanish and Mexican settlers traded these staples and several other goods, making the lower Arkansas River Valley in Colorado a major trading hub during Western settlement.

Now in its 15th year, the 3-day Chile and Frijole Festival celebrates and fortifies a vibrant and rich culture through traditional regional music and distinctive regional dishes, which truly makes Pueblo, CO, a cultural gateway to the American Southwest. It also emphasizes the importance of southern Colorado's agricultural community, which supplies the locally grown green chile and produce that is the center of this event.

Pueblo and southern Colorado have historically played an integral role in Colorado's economic and cultural development. From the days when native tribes traded with Hispanic, French and American settlers from Bent's Fort to Fort Pueblo, to more contemporary days as an industrial and agricultural powerhouse of Colorado, Pueblo and southern Colorado continue to evolve and contribute positively to Colorado's growth. The Chile and Frijole Festival in Pueblo is a true testament to the region's continuing contributions to our State.

I congratulate the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and the city of Pueblo for another year of celebrating the region's heritage and future.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H. Con. Res. 179, at the desk and just received from the House.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Presiding Officer of the Senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on the part of the House of Representatives to escort the President of the United States into the House Chamber for the joint session to be held at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

Mr. President, I understand appointments were made during adjournment of the Senate, and I ask unanimous consent they be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that during the period that Senator Mikulski is confined to a wheelchair, a member of her staff be permitted on the floor as is necessary to facilitate the Senator's movement.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 302, the nomination of George Madison to be general counsel for the Department of the Treasury; that the nomination be confirmed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that no further motions be in order; that any statements be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 255, submitted earlier today.

Mr. President, 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, and that any statements be printed in the Record.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9; 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 then be 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 majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the second half; that following morning business, the Senate resume consideration of S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act, postcloture; further, I ask the time during any adjournment, recess or period of morning business count against the postcloture time; finally, I ask that the Senate recess from 12:30 to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Mr. President, the postcloture debate time expires at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. We hope we will be able to yield back some of the time and vote on passage of the bill before 4:30 p.m. Senators will be notified when that vote is scheduled.