E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 159 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013 No. 47 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was Senator from the Commonwealth of Massa- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- called to order by the Honorable WIL- chusetts, to perform the duties of the Chair. pore. Objection having been heard, the LIAM M. COWAN, a Senator from the PATRICK J. LEAHY, bills will be placed on the calendar. President pro tempore. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. f Mr. COWAN thereupon assumed the PRAYER chair as Acting President pro tempore. IMPACTS OF SEQUESTER The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- f Mr. REID. Mr. President, for many fered the following prayer: RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY months now my Republican friends Let us pray. LEADER have promised the impacts of the se- quester’s arbitrary cuts would be mini- Almighty God, take from us any- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- mal—don’t worry about them. When thing that doesn’t honor You. Remove pore. The majority leader is recog- they voiced any concern at all about covetousness, pride, anger, or anything nized. that is unlike You. Replace our nega- the sequester cuts, it was over the po- f tives with positives, making us lowly, tential impact on the U.S. military. peaceable, patient, and kind. SCHEDULE The impact on middle-class families Lord, fill our lawmakers with faith, a Mr. REID. Mr. President, following and the national economy wouldn’t be firm hope, and a charity, that they leader remarks the Senate will resume that drastic, they promised in Feb- love nothing that displeases You. Raise consideration of the motion to proceed ruary and in March. them up to be seated with You in heav- to the gun safety legislation. The first Well, now it is April and contrary to enly realms, as they strive to be in- hour will be equally divided with the Republican promises, Americans in struments of Your purposes. Republicans. They will control the first communities from Massachusetts to Thank You for being rich in mercy half, and we will control the final half. Nevada, from coast to coast, in red and for Your grace that never gives up Last evening I filed cloture on a mo- States and in blue States, are begin- on us. tion to proceed to that legislation. ning to feel the pinch of those across- We pray in Your merciful Name. Hopefully, today we can reach an the-board cuts. Amen. agreement to begin debate on this In the District of Columbia, tourists bill—even today. traveling from home to here for the f We also hope to formalize an agree- National Cherry Blossom Festival ex- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ment for the confirmation of Sarah perienced long lines to go through air- Jewell to be Interior Secretary. port security because of these fur- The Honorable WILLIAM M. COWAN led loughs. Coming home from Nevada on the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: f Sunday there were mobs of people. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the MEASURES PLACED ON THE When anyone sits down to talk to any United States of America, and to the Repub- CALENDAR—S. 680 AND S. 691 of them, they will speak about how lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am told— indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. miserable it is getting through secu- and I believe this is right—there are rity checks at airports all over the f two bills at the desk due for a second country. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING reading. In Murray, UT, a food pantry that The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE feeds more than 1,000 people every pore. The Senator is correct. month has closed because of these cuts. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The clerk will read the bills by title In Durham, NC, scores of employees at clerk will please read a communication for a second time. a medical research facility will get The assistant legislative clerk read to the Senate from the President pro pink slips. In central Maine fewer sen- as follows: tempore (Mr. LEAHY). ior citizens will be able to participate The assistant legislative clerk read A bill (S. 680) to rescind amounts appro- with Meals on Wheels. In Bethlehem, the following letter: priated for fiscal year 2013 for the Depart- ment of Defense for the Medium Extended PA, more than 100 children are going to U.S. SENATE, Air Defense System, and for other purposes. be kicked off Head Start. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, A bill (S. 691) to regulate large capacity Now, maybe my Republican friends Washington, DC, April 10, 2013. ammunition feeding devices. To the Senate: don’t feel this, but I guarantee my col- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Mr. REID. Mr. President, I object to leagues the parents of these little chil- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby any further proceedings with respect to dren in Bethlehem, PA, feel it. People appoint the Honorable WILLIAM M. COWAN, a these two bills. waiting in these airport lines feel it.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.000 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2512 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 Why, at this medical research facility, The overwhelming majority of Amer- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- should these people get pink slips? Are icans wanted us to compromise before pore. Without objection, it is so or- they unnecessary? Of course not. If the their friends and family members got dered. food pantry in Utah closes, are the peo- pink slips or furloughed or were told THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET ple still hungry? Of course they are— there is no more treatment for them Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, in about more of them than before this cut took even though they have cancer. For an hour the President of the United place. some it is already too late. But we can States will release his budget—65 days In central Nebraska emergency re- repair that damage, perhaps, and we after the statutory deadline of Feb- sponse times have increased signifi- should do it immediately, to put Amer- ruary 4, the first Monday in February. cantly since the local airport control icans back to work—no more fur- Since taking office, President Obama tower closed. In southern Ohio the di- loughs. has raised taxes roughly $1.7 trillion— rector of the local public defender’s of- To give our economy a foundation for a number that I know none of us can fice—a man by the name of Steve growth, we must replace the sequester actually comprehend. But now he Nolder—fired himself. He did that rath- with a balanced approach to deficit re- wants to raise taxes once again. er than lay off other members of his duction. A balanced approach is one I heard the majority leader on the staff. He figured: I am one; I can save that asks the richest among us to con- floor this morning advocating for an- the jobs of three people. And that is tribute a little bit more—their fair other tax increase. The President’s pro- what he did. That is quite unbelievable, share—to deficit reduction. The rich posed budget will ask for another $800 but it is true. He has worked there for are willing to do this. If we did this, we billion, and that is on top of $600 bil- 18 years in the public defender’s office. would avert cuts that hurt American lion that was the subject of the fiscal I repeat, he gave up his job so three families, harm our military readiness, cliff negotiations at the end of last could keep theirs. and hinder our economic recovery. year. Perhaps most concerning of all, com- I want everyone within the sound of The President’s budget, which will be munity cancer centers around the my voice to doublecheck my statistics, released in an hour but which we have country are facing difficult choices. but I heard on the radio on the way to heard a lot about already, will never, For the people who have experienced work the Pentagon has decided that ever actually balance. Every household cancer or experienced cancer in their one-third of all of our aircraft simply in America, 49 States, every munici- families, this is something that is will not be used because they don’t pality, county government, everyone noted. Community cancer centers have enough resources to fuel them. So else in America has to live within their around the country are facing a very that training just will not go forward. means but not the Federal Govern- difficult choice: send Medicare patients That is what I heard on the radio, and ment. away or just close their doors. The someone can doublecheck what I heard, The President’s budget, as I said, Washington Post reports that because does not purport to live within our fis- of the sequester cuts to Medicare reim- but I am confident that is right. In the House and in the Senate, both cal means, and it does not balance, but bursements, cancer centers around the Republicans and Democrats voted to the President says this is a com- country can no longer afford to admin- impose these cuts quite a long time promise. I heard his spokesman on tele- ister many common drugs. For people ago, so it is going to take Republicans vision say this is not the President’s who have watched loved ones have and Democrats working together to ideal budget; this is what he views as a chemotherapy—it was just a few avert them. That is what we need to compromise. But here is the simple re- months ago when people worried about ality: America cannot afford this budg- whether they were going to be able to do. It is senseless to go on as we are get the chemo drugs because there was done with these cuts that are done with et, and America cannot afford the a shortage. Well, now it is widespread. a meat cleaver, not a scalpel. President’s so-called compromise. The Post reports, I repeat, because of f Let’s review some recent history. In November and December of last the sequester cuts to Medicare, reim- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME year, Republicans were asking the bursements for these cancer centers Mr. REID. Mr. President, would the around the country have to make a President to embrace serious entitle- Chair announce the business of the day choice: close or change their hours, ment reform. Everyone who has looked this Wednesday. at Medicare and Social Security real- which is tough on patients. These clin- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ics, where two-thirds of the cancer pa- izes that both of those programs are on pore. Under the previous order, the tients receive treatments, would lose a path to insolvency and that they will leadership time is reserved. so much money so quickly they could not be there for future generations. have to go out of business. So providers f And we asked for some smart reduc- are sending cancer patients to over- SAFE COMMUNITIES, SAFE tions in Federal spending—what we crowded hospitals instead, not to the SCHOOLS ACT OF 2013—MOTION have come to know as wasteful Wash- cancer centers. For patients in clinical TO PROCEED ington spending—in exchange for more revenue. The President refused, citing trials for these new cancer drugs—life- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- saving experiments—the situation is the need for a ‘‘balanced’’ approach. pore. Under the previous order, the But I do not want anyone to confuse really dire. Some in these clinical Senate will resume consideration of trials are going to have to travel across that with a balanced budget; the Presi- the motion to proceed to S. 649, which dent calls for a ‘‘balanced’’ approach the country, to Washington, DC, Bos- the clerk will report. ton, or New York. People can’t afford but never a balanced budget. The assistant legislative clerk read Meanwhile, his Treasury Secretary that, especially when they are sick. as follows: As I said last month, the effects of made clear that the White House was Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 32, S. the so-called sequester didn’t break absolutely prepared to go over the fis- 649, a bill to ensure that all individuals who cal cliff—this was in December—unless over us like a big wave, they sneaked should be prohibited from buying a firearm up on us like a rising tide, and that are listed in the national instant criminal Republicans agreed to raise taxes. tide is here now. But the effects are background check system and require a Well, we did not have much choice be- devastating, even though we didn’t feel background check for every firearm sale, and cause after the expiration of the so- them immediately, and there is more for other purposes. called Bush tax cuts, they were going pain to come. That is the sad part Mr. REID. I note the absence of a to go up by operation of law. But now, about it. quorum. after getting more than $1 trillion in In the coming months, meat inspec- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- new tax revenue as part of ObamaCare tors, FBI officers, and Border Patrol pore. The clerk will call the roll. and after getting a separate $620 billion agents will be furloughed. We haven’t The assistant legislative clerk pro- tax increase on January 2, which I have even begun to see the worst of the job ceeded to call the roll. just talked about, as a result of the fis- losses. There will be 750,000 jobs lost Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask cal cliff negotiations, the President is because of sequester across the coun- unanimous consent that the order for back for more. It seems as though that try. the quorum call be rescinded. is his knee-jerk solution to every fiscal

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.001 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2513 issue: more taxes, more spending, and basketball team for an impressive na- something needs to be done to save en- more debt. tional championship win. Today I titlements from their inevitable slide Not only would his proposed budget would like to recognize Coach Walz and toward bankruptcy. I am glad to see raise taxes by more than $800 billion, it the Lady Cardinals for playing their him begin to come to grips with the would increase annual spending by $2 hearts out last night. You know, these math. It is well past time for reform, trillion by 2023 and increase our na- women were the lowest seeded team to and it is something the President tional debt even more, by $8 trillion. make it all the way to the title game ought to want to do because he pre- For those keeping score, our gross debt in decades—and that is really quite an sumably cares about saving entitle- has already increased by more than $6 achievement. ment programs, not just because he trillion since the President was sworn So my sincere congratulations to wants yet another excuse to raise into office. It is already larger than our you, Lady Cards. Keep up the hustle for taxes. entire gross domestic product—in other next year’s tournament. And to the As we start to think about reforming words, our entire economy—and we are Connecticut Huskies, congratulations entitlement programs, we should think already spending more than $200 billion on your hard-fought victory last night. about reform this way: Will the a year just on interest payments. You earned it. changes we make help modernize enti- Here is the risk—one of the risks—of THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET tlements over the long term in order to this huge overhang of debt: If interest Mr. President, later today we will re- eventually meet the needs of a rapidly rates were just to go up by 1 percent- ceive the President’s budget. Like aging population in a realistic way or age point that we had to pay our credi- nearly every one of his budgets so far, will they just kick the can down the tors, such as China, to buy our debt, it is late—really late. In the extra 2 road without actually solving the prob- that would be $1.7 trillion in additional months he has kept the country on lem? Remember, kicking the can down interest we would have to pay on the hold, both the House and the Senate the road is how we got to this point in debt for each percentage point over a have actually already passed their own the first place. So we need to have the 10-year period of time. So you can budgets. So it is hard to see what the courage to finally make the tough de- begin to see very quickly how payment White House plans to accomplish. I cisions Americans sent us here to of interest and payment of mandatory want to believe the intention is not to make. programs would quickly crowd out ev- purposely blow up the budget process If the President and his allies care erything else, including national de- so the President can campaign against about Social Security and Medicare— fense expenditures. the very budget process he blew up, but and I take them at their word that A serious long-term fiscal plan must from the reports we are seeing, it is they do—then they need to prove that include three elements: progrowth tax getting harder and harder not to draw commitment by proposing ambitious, reform, which we stand ready to do; that conclusion. After all, the docu- forward-leaning structural reforms to structural Medicare reform, which we ment headed our way does not appear save them. This budget is their chance stand ready to do because we believe designed to bridge the differences be- to do that, and I hope they will. But if we need to preserve and protect Medi- tween the House- and Senate-passed they choose to continue using these care for future generations; and, No. 3, budgets. That is the role Americans programs as campaign weapons in- a realistic strategy for reducing our would expect the President to play at stead, then the math points to a clear long-term debt burden before we expe- this stage. But his budget simply does outcome: The entitlement programs so rience a European-style debt crisis. Un- not represent some grand pivot from many Americans rely upon will go fortunately, President Obama’s budget left to center; it is really just a pivot bankrupt, and today’s Washington does none of that. from left to left. Democrats will have to live with that Last year, speaking about America’s I mean, if these reports we are seeing legacy. We cannot get to that point. national debt, President Obama’s are correct, it is mostly the same old But Republicans only control a tiny Treasury Secretary told the Repub- thing that we have seen year after year sliver of the Federal Government, so lican chairman of the House Budget after year, and that is really too bad there really is not much we can do Committee: because it is not as if we do not know until the President and his allies get We’re not coming before you to say we the kinds of things that need to be serious about reform. It is way past have a definitive solution to our long-term done to get our budget back to balance time they did. [debt] problem. What we do know is we don’t and Americans back to work. We need We do not need another reheated like yours. to provide families and businesses a budget. We have had enough of those in Since that time, our national debt fairer and flatter Tax Code so they can the past few years. We need a serious has grown by $1.4 trillion. Now more save for the future and create jobs. We reform-oriented budget. Sadly, I do not than ever, America needs a definitive do not need a budget that piles on tax believe we will see that one today. solution to our debt problem. Now increase after tax increase. We need to Mr. President, I yield the floor. more than ever we need a balanced get government out of the way so the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- budget amendment to the U.S. Con- private sector can actually grow again. pore. The Senator from Ohio. stitution, like one that has been co- We do not need a budget that spends Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, today, sponsored by every Member on this more money we do not have. We need a finally, we are going to see the Presi- side of the aisle. Now more than ever, balanced budget that encourages dent’s budget—so we are told. When we amid the longest stretch of high unem- growth and job creation. We do not look over the history of the last few ployment—the highest unemploy- need an extreme, unbalanced budget decades, never has there been a budget ment—since the Great Depression, we that will not balance in your lifetime submitted so late. The budget is due in need innovative, progrowth tax reforms or mine. February, as we know. With the excep- that encourage investment and pri- The White House initially made some tion of the first year of a President’s vate-sector job creation. Yet the Presi- fantastic claims about the amount of term, when a new President comes in, dent is still offering more of the same— deficit reduction supposedly contained when we give that new administration more taxes, more spending, and more in its budget. But when you cut some time to put together its own debt. To paraphrase a famous diplomat, through the spin and get to the facts, it budget, this will be the latest budget it seems the President never misses an looks as though there is less than $600 submission in decades. opportunity to miss an opportunity. billion worth of reduction in there— I hope the wait will have been worth RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER and that is over a decade—all of it it. In other words, I hope what the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- coming, not surprisingly, from tax in- President submits today is something pore. The Republican leader is recog- creases. In other words, it is not a seri- serious, that helps us address the cen- nized. ous plan—for the most part, just an- tral challenge of our time. I see there CONGRATULATING THE LADY CARDINALS other leftwing wish list. Let me clarify: are some young pages on the floor. I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, yes- a wish list, actually, with an asterisk. also met with lots of young people terday I was proud to congratulate The President seems prepared to fi- from the Ohio State University this Coach Pitino and the Louisville men’s nally concede this time that at least morning. I told them the same thing I

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.003 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2514 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 will say today, which is their future is This year we are told we can expect commend the President for putting it at stake. a deficit of $1 trillion again or more. in the budget, as I am told he will. But It is about our economy, but it is also This is the fourth year in a row. Never having said that, this is just one step truly about the future. Are we going to in the history of our country have we in the right direction. get control of the record debt and defi- had debts and annual deficits of $1 tril- Unfortunately, even with that pro- cits and begin to turn our country to- lion. Yet the President’s budget, it ap- posal, Social Security will continue to ward the America that has been some- pears, will not fundamentally change have these enormous shortfalls. On the thing we so much have taken for grant- the course we are on. I think from health care side, I am told the Presi- ed over the past century, which is an what I have heard from the media re- dent may make a proposal to reduce America that is growing, that is pros- ports and so on, it is likely to add some spending in health care. That is a pering, where wages are going up, about $7 trillion to our debt over the good thing but again not adequate to where we have the ability to chart our next 10 years, putting our debt that is the task before us. I am told it will be own course and are a beacon of hope already at over $16 trillion, again, at a $400 billion. We can argue about where and opportunity for the rest of the level where it is at the entire size of that $400 billion comes from. But it world? Or, are we going to continue the our economy, where we have unfortu- looks like most of it will come out of slide we are on now, where wages have nately continued economic doldrums providers; in other words, the people actually gone down, where America’s because we cannot get out of this huge who are providing health care to lower deficit and debt continue to grow at overhang of debts and deficits. their reimbursement at a time when unacceptable levels, where we risk a fi- It is time to make a change. It is a more and more providers are saying, nancial crisis as we have seen in South- moment for truth. It is an opportunity we are not interested in providing care ern Europe, in countries such as to address the challenge. My fear is the under Medicare and Medicaid because Greece, places where they did not President’s budget will not be adequate the reimbursement is already too low. watch what was happening in terms of to meet the challenge. So we need to be careful how it is There are some things in the budget their fiscal house. done. But let’s assume we could agree These countries allowed their debts I think will be positive. I want to say on the $400 billion. What would that and deficits to grow to such a large ex- that. I understand the President is mean? That would mean that instead tent that they became as large as the likely to propose a more accurate of rising 110 percent over the next ten entire economy of those countries. measure of inflation, when we are talk- years, Federal health care expenses Guess what? As of this year, we are ing about how to adjust for cost of liv- would go up 100 percent. The point is we have a challenge in told our debt—our gross debt in this ing and our programs, including the important and vital but unsustainable front of us that requires a much more country—is now the size of our entire program Social Security. aggressive approach. It requires us to economy. There are studies out there Social Security this year is actually be honest with the American people. It that indicate that when we get to that in deficit, meaning that $77 billion is requires us to tell the American people: kind of a level, there is a big impact on projected to be spent for benefits in So- things are not going well. We are not economic growth. We are certainly see- cial Security greater than the amount turning the corner because these in- ing it, are we not? of payroll taxes coming in. So people credible debts and deficits do not en- We are living through the weakest who say Social Security is OK, it is in able us to do that. It is a shadow over economic recovery since the Great De- fine shape—a $77 billion shortfall is not the economy. It is a wet blanket on the pression, whether it is measured in OK. Also, we are told the disability economy today. Unfortunately, for the terms of our economic growth or trust fund will be insolvent, bankrupt, young people listening today, it is whether it is measured in terms of belly up by 2016. That is just a few going to affect their futures in very jobs. We just had a very disappointing years from now. More people have gone significant ways if we do not address report last month on the jobs front on disability, unfortunately, than have the problem. showing that we only gained about been added to the work rolls in the last We will see what happens with this 88,000 jobs, disappointing all the projec- 4 years. Yet this trust fund is going budget proposal today. I am hopeful it tions. bankrupt in just a few years. will have more in terms of savings than But significantly, one-half million Even if we include all the IOUs in the has been suggested in the media. Those people—almost 500,000 people left the trust fund for the Old-Age and Sur- savings that are in there, I think we workforce. We now have the lowest vivors Trust Fund, the fundamental ought to support, as Republicans and labor participation rate—meaning that trust fund for Social Security, that Democrats alike, and then encourage as a percentage of people working or will be insolvent by 2033. That is not the President to work with us on tak- seeking work—that we have had since that long from now. Folks who are re- ing it to the next level, to truly ad- the days of Jimmy Carter. That is over tiring today, many of whom are likely dress this challenge. three decades. In some ways, the poli- to live to that point, in other words, On the tax side, we are told the cies of Jimmy Carter have been rep- for retirees today, they are looking at President is likely to recommend addi- licated over the last few years in the the possibility of this trust fund going tional increases in tax. Remember, sense of larger government, more bankrupt. taxes were increased about $620 billion taxes, more regulations. What happens under law when that already this year, just a few months What we are seeing is, frankly, an goes bankrupt? There is a 25-percent ago. So the ink is barely dry on that economy that is starting to resemble cut in benefits. That is the law. So huge tax increase—some would argue what happened back in the Carter days. with this hemorrhaging every year, the largest tax increase in the history That is unacceptable. We need to pro- this year again about $77 billion with of our country. Yet the President is ap- vide opportunities for Americans who these trust funds heading toward insol- parently likely to recommend taxes at are on that first rung of the economic vency, Social Security does have to be about that level again, $600 billion or ladder to get to the second and to the addressed. I commend the President for more. Some say it is more like $1.5 tril- third and to the fourth. Those are the saying let’s use the right measure of lion, which was in the Democratic one folks who are being hurt the worst with inflation. It also happens to affect the offered on the Senate floor. But I am this economic malaise we have with benefit side and the tax side. So it ac- told maybe it is more like $600 billion. this anemic economic growth, with tually increases taxes as well because But whatever it is, we have to ac- these job numbers that are so dis- there will not be the same adjustment knowledge that increasing taxes again appointing. for the rates for indexing on the in- is going to hurt the economy. There is They do relate back to the budget come tax side. So there is both revenue no question about it. The question is deficit and debt. There is a study by a gained through this proposal and also whether it is appropriate to have a couple economists named Rogoff and there are some savings on the pro- higher level of taxation in our econ- Reinhart that indicate we would have grammatic side because the more accu- omy. about 1 million more jobs this year rate measure of inflation is used. Let’s think about that for a moment. alone if we did not have debt at these This is a controversial issue among We are told by the Congressional Budg- incredibly high levels. some folks. I understand that. Again, I et Office, which is the nonpartisan

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.011 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2515 group that analyzes all these budget and action that must take place in the There is the good, the bad, and the proposals, that currently we have taxes next several months. ugly. I would prefer to say there is the as a percent of our economy, which is We have wide differences on of how good, the not so good, and the why are probably how you ought to look at it, we need to get to where we need to ar- we doing this in the first place. How- at levels in 2015 which would be below rive, but at least now we have some- ever we categorize this, first of all, our historic average. So in a few short thing from which to work. I urge my let’s give the President some credit for years, we are looking at taxes that colleagues and the President to work taking that first small step toward they say are 19.1 percent of the econ- together to achieve what is necessary raising the issue of mandatory spend- omy. What does that mean? Typically, to put this country on a path to fiscal ing. My understanding is the President it is about 18.3 percent. So it is higher health. It may be over a period of will suggest a modification of the Con- than the average. We are already, years. It may be measured out in terms sumer Price Index, which is used to under current law, looking at higher of where we are now in the economy, provide for increases each year in these taxes, partly because of the fiscal cliff what needs to be applied now versus various programs. agreement and the $620 billion in new what needs to be applied later. Once again we get this doomsday taxes that were raised over 10 years. I have said over and over from this warning: You can’t touch this. This is The spending, on the other hand, platform and others, if we do not incor- an index which is not correctly applied. which is already at levels higher than porate discipline in our spending, we We are still simply trying to bring this the historic average—which is about 20 will have clearly out-of-control spend- in line with the actual cost of living for percent, today it is at about 23 per- ing which will continue to grow year our seniors. cent—is projected to go up and up and after year. This will also grow the def- Suggesting this gets the printing up. In fact, over the next three decades, icit and lead to more borrowing each presses rolling and all of the interest according to the Congressional Budget year, putting our country in an ever- groups saying to send us $10 to save So- Office, it goes from 20 percent to, on an more difficult position. If we do not in- cial Security and everything else. Even average over the last 50 years, about 39 clude disciplined spending within this this correction which the President has percent. budget, we will not achieve what we proposed is being criticized, which is Then, frankly, they stop counting be- need to achieve. beyond description in terms of how cause they cannot imagine spending at Secondly, if we do not address our people try to take advantage of our that level because we have no sense of out-of-control mandatory spending, we seniors and those on these programs. how to get revenue at that level. No will never achieve what we wish to Let’s give the President credit for one is talking about taxes that would achieve and we will continue to find putting this in play. It is a small step. be increased that high. It would be tri- ourselves in ever deeper holes. The pre- It is not nearly as far as we need to go. pling the taxes, at least. So these are vious speaker, Senator PORTMAN of There are other structural reforms we issues we need to talk about as a coun- Ohio, spoke about the need to make need to address. Let’s at least acknowl- structural reforms in mandatory try. How much taxation do we want to edge the President has come forward spending programs. have on our economy? How much with something sustentative as a mod- To those who say: You can’t touch est first step. spending do we want to have? I think this. This has been promised to the Next is the not so good, the call for what we ought to do is come up with a American people and we cannot even new spending, new stimulus. We have plan. Ten years from now, where do we begin to address this issue because been through this. We have had nearly want to be? Republicans are calling for these programs should be exempt— $1 trillion of stimulus, about nine- a balanced budget. We think true bal- those individuals are immune to the re- tenths of which is now documented as ance means we balance the budget. We ality of the current situation which stop spending more than we take in. stands before us. The situation is these not stimulating. It is turning out to be Democrats would like to see more programs are going broke. Spending on a poor, government-selected, so-called taxes and fewer spending reductions. these programs is unsustainable. investment in the future, which the We need to come up with something Those organizations—and I will not market has basically said doesn’t that makes sense for the American name them here, but I will at some work. people. We need to acknowledge the point in time; we all know who they We have solar manufacturing plants fact that our issue is not the revenue. are—are flooding seniors with mailings closing all over the world. We see wind The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- saying: Don’t let them touch your So- farms being raised through subsidies. pore. The Senator’s time has expired. cial Security. Don’t let them touch one Yet they cannot connect to the grid. It Mr. PORTMAN. Instead, it is the dime of your Medicare. You deserve ignores the new discoveries in natural spending. That must be addressed. I every penny. gas and fossil fuel reserves in America. say to my colleagues on both sides of They are lying to those people. They The cost-to-benefit ratio is way out of the aisle, let’s work together to get are simply telling them they will be in balance. I now hear the word ‘‘invest- America back on track, to solve this a situation where their benefits are ment,’’ not ‘‘stimulus.’’ ‘‘Investment’’ problem which, if we do not deal with going to need to be reduced dramati- is another code word for ‘‘stimulus.’’ it, will not allow our economy to pros- cally a few years down the line in order That means it is a code for we will de- per. It will not allow America to con- to keep the programs from going insol- cide where this money goes. tinue to be that beacon of hope and op- vent. The problem is the political animal portunity for the rest of the world. If we really want to care for and look puts its hands around it and the money The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- out for those who are depending on So- goes to beneficiaries or supporters for pore. The Senator from Indiana. cial Security and Medicare for their political reasons. Anyway, government THE BUDGET later years, we need to stand up now, shouldn’t be in this business. Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I find my- tell them the truth, and do what is nec- This is the not so good of the presi- self echoing the words of the previous essary to protect those programs. dent’s budget because it includes $1.5 speaker, my good friend from Ohio. I Standing by and doing nothing, trillion of additional net Federal could have given his speech and he standing by and listening to outside in- spending. At a time when our spending probably could give mine because we terest groups who are trying to scare is out of control, how can we come for- are both on the same track. them to death means we are denying ward with a budget which adds more This is an important day. The Presi- those people the future income benefits than $1.5 trillion of new spending and dent will release his budget for 2014. they are receiving under Social Secu- call it investment when it is really just While it is late, it is welcome. We now rity and Medicare. Let’s have the cour- stimulus? We have been there and done have three budgets in place. The Sen- age to stand up and do what is right, that. It doesn’t work, so why are we ate has voted on a budget, the House and do what is right for the very people going there again? has voted on a budget, and the Presi- who are being told we are trying to Lastly, why are some of these pro- dent will be bringing his budget before take something away from them. posals in this budget, such as the new us. We now have the outlines of the be- Someone said on this budget coming taxes which were suggested by my col- ginning of a discussion and a debate forward—we don’t have all the details. league from Ohio? This budget contains

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.012 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2516 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 well over $1 trillion of new taxes on the many of my colleagues on the Senate The question is, Are we going to do American people, after we went floor with me here today. anything about it or will we just sit on through this 3 months ago with one of I wish to start with the unpleasant our hands as we have for 20 years and the largest tax increases in history. part. I think it is important for all of accept the status quo with respect to Has anyone ever seen an increase in my colleagues to understand why we everyday gun violence and these in- the economic growth through an in- are having this debate this week and creased incidences of mass shooting? If crease in taxes? Leaving less money in next week about gun violence, why for we are really serious about doing our people’s paychecks, would this result the first time in decades we were able jobs, we can. in more consumer spending which helps to break the logjam to do something Outside the beltway this isn’t a de- our economy? about the waves of gun violence which bate; this isn’t a discussion. Eighty- Adding new taxes, a new tax burden have plagued this Nation. It is easy to seven percent of Americans think we to the American economy, when has avert our eyes from the horror of what should have universal background that ever created a job? We have stag- happened in Newtown. It is just easy to checks. Everybody who buys a gun gering numbers of people who are drop- close our ears and pretend it didn’t should prove he or she is not a crimi- ping out of the workforce and giving up happen. nal. Two-thirds of Americans think we the search to find jobs. Our unemploy- We can’t ignore the reality because it should restrict these high-capacity am- ment rate, our so-called official rate, is is here. On a disturbingly regular basis munition clips. Seventy-six percent of phony, absolutely phony. it is here—in Columbine, Tucson, Au- Americans believe we should crack People are withdrawing from the rora, and Sandy Hook. The next town’s down on people who buy guns legally workforce because they have given up name is just waiting to be added to the and then go out and sell them in the on ever finding a job. They are simply list if we do nothing. Here is what is community illegally. changing the numbers to make it look happening. The American public knows we need as if we are making progress, but as a Sometime in the early morning hours to do something. Why have we been result we are not making progress. of December 14, a very disturbed, reclu- stuck for so long? First, it is because I notice the majority leader has come sive young man named Adam Lanza Members of Congress have been listen- to the floor. I wish to conclude by say- went into his mother’s room and shot ing to the wrong people. We should be ing we are in a historic time. We are at her dead in her sleep. A few minutes listening to gun owners. They are com- a crossroads in terms of the future of later, maybe hours later, he took his prised of a lower percentage of Ameri- this country. This is the time when we mother’s car and drove to Sandy Hook cans than 30 years ago. need to put aside partisan interests, Elementary School. By 9:35 he shot his About one-third of Americans today political interests, special interest way through locked doors with an AR– own guns, and they are very important groups, and stand up to do what is 15 semiautomatic rifle, which was constituents. The problem is the NRA right for the future. doesn’t speak for gun owners like it What is the future? As someone fa- owned by his mother. He began a methodical 10-minute used to. Yet we listen to that organiza- mously said: The future is now. The fu- rampage which left 20 children, all 6 tion more than we should. ture is now for all of those people out Ten years ago the NRA came here and 7 years old, and six adults who of work. The future is now for all of and argued for universal background cared for them, dead. In 10 minutes, those college kids graduating without checks in the wake of Columbine. Adam Lanza shot off 154 rounds from a a job to go to. The future is now for our Today they oppose those background gun which could shoot up to six bullets senior citizens who have seen some of checks even though 74 percent of NRA a second. This high-powered gun as- their savings eroded through this re- members support universal background sured every single child Adam Lanza cession we experienced. The future is checks. I don’t know the exact reason shot died. Lanza shot most kids mul- now for doing what is necessary to put for that, but maybe it is because in- this country on the right track to pros- tiple times. Noah Pozner was shot 11 creasingly the NRA is financed not by perity. times alone. its members—by everyday, common- The State’s veteran medical exam- Let’s work together. I am willing. I sense gun owners—but by the gun in- iner, who had been on the job for dec- informed the President and my col- dustry. Tens of millions of dollars leagues that I am willing to work with ades, said he had never seen anything come into the NRA from the gun indus- them. I know we will have to make such as this. try—a program that actually allows Several children did escape. Six kids some compromises. the NRA to make a couple bucks off of were courageously hid in a classroom The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- every gun sold in many gun stores pore. The time of the Senator has ex- closet by their teacher, Victoria Soto, across the country. We are not listen- pired. who shielded her kids from the bullets ing to gun owners. If we were, this Mr. COATS. Let’s seize this oppor- and died that day. Five other kids ran wouldn’t be a debate in this Chamber. tunity. out of the room when Lanza had trou- But secondly, and maybe most im- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ble reloading. Five kids are alive today portantly, we have really botched a pore. The Senator from Connecticut. because the shooter needed to stop and conversation in this place about rights, Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, it goes switch ammunition magazines. Wheth- and rights really are at the core of this without saying we all do our jobs here er it is because he had trouble reload- debate. When I am back home in Con- and we seek a seat in the Senate for a ing again or because the police were necticut, I hear a lot of people talking reason. We decided to run for this high coming into the building at about 9:45, about the right to bear arms as an office because of issues which deeply Lanza turned one of his weapons on ‘‘unalienable right’’ or a ‘‘God-given motivated us, whether it be more af- himself and the massacre ended, but right,’’ and of course the Constitution fordable health care, better housing, or not before 26 people were dead. makes no such claim. The idea of an lower taxes. In a job like this we are This is reality. The worst reality is if unalienable right is actually found in driven to find the issues which move we don’t do something right now, it is the Declaration of Independence, and it us. Then sometimes there are issues going to happen again. is a phrase we know very well. which find us. It is happening every day. To this We hold these truths to be self-evident, When I was elected to the Senate last country, which has become so callously that all men are created equal, that they are November, I never imagined my maid- used to gun violence, it is raindrops, endowed by their Creator with certain en speech would be about guns or about background noise. The reality is the unalienable rights, that among these are life, gun violence. I could have never imag- one in which we are losing 30 Ameri- liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ined I would be standing here in the cans a day to gun violence. But liberty isn’t just about having wake of 20 young children dying in This chart illustrates how many peo- any gun you want anytime you want it; Sandy Hook or the six adults who pro- ple have died since December 14 and it liberty has to also be about the right tected them. Sometimes issues find is almost unreadable because it is a to be free from indiscriminate violence. you. cast of thousands. This reality is just I mean, what kind of liberty did these Here I am, pleased to have the major- as unacceptable as what happened in kids have in that classroom in New- ity leader, the majority whip, and so Sandy Hook that day. town, being trapped by an assault

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.005 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2517 weapon-yielding madman? And maybe As to the first argument, Newtown is piano virtuoso. He had already done a more importantly, what kind of liberty part of the answer. Nancy Lanza prob- recital when he was 6 years old. But does a kid just up the street from here ably owned guns for a variety of rea- what he really loved was playing out- in Washington, DC, have when he fears sons, but one of the reasons was that side with his older brother Nate. They for his life every time he wants to walk she was divorced, she lived alone, and loved to play soccer together. The to the corner store or walk home from she wanted guns to protect herself. She morning he was killed, he told his school? That is not the kind of life, lib- was alone a lot of the time. The guns mom, as they were leaving for school, erty, and pursuit of happiness our Nancy Lanza used weren’t used to fire he wanted to be a paleontologist when Founding Fathers talked about. upon intruders into her home; they he grew up. He said, ‘‘That’s what But even if we do accept that part of killed her, and they killed 26 other Nate’s going to be, and I want to do ev- liberty is owning and using a gun, then boys and girls and parents. That is not erything that Nate does.’’ we have to ask ourselves these ques- just an anecdote, that is a reflection of So that is our task—to beat back all tions: To what degree are our liberties a statistical trend. If you have a gun in the naysayers who say that we can’t do really infringed upon if we just suggest your house, it is four times more likely this, that we won’t change the way there are a handful of weapons that are to be used in an accident than it is things are. I believe we can. I believe too dangerous to own? To what extent against an intruder. If you own a gun, we are good enough to drown out the are our freedoms trampled upon by just it is much more likely to be used to voices of the status quo and the lobby- saying you are going to need to reload kill you than it is to kill someone try- ists and the political consultants. I your semiautomatic weapon after ing to break into your home. think that in the next couple of weeks every 10 bullets rather than after every As to the second argument, as author we are good enough to change the way 30 bullets? How gravely do we really Dennis Henigan once put it, guns don’t things are. risk tyranny when we just moderately kill people; they just enable people to Finally, I want to tell you one last restrain the size of a legally purchas- kill people. Guns are employed in only story to explain why I know we are able clip? about 4 percent of felonies, but they good enough. I believe that when we If liberty is really our chief concern, are used in 20 percent of all felonies in- see people in need, when we see chil- then preserving and protecting the life volving bodily injury. Guns enable vio- dren stripped of their dignity, we are of little kids has to weigh pretty favor- lence that is vastly more violent. too compassionate a people to close our ably against marginally restraining a How do we know this? Well, we know eyes. I know sometimes we wonder weapon’s payload. If we can’t agree on it by what happened at Sandy Hook what we really are inside. Are we truly that, what can we agree on? that day, but more importantly we good or is goodness a learned behavior? If we accept this balance, then the know it by what happened on that very And it may sound strange, but after policy prescriptions are pretty simple: same day on the entire other side of December 14, I just know the former to First, guns should be available, but the world. On the same day that 20 kids they should be available to people of be true, because after enduring the died in Newtown, in Henan, China, a sound mind with no criminal record. shooting, as if to swallow up those 10 We have believed that for a long time. madman walked into a school and at- minutes of evil, millions of acts of infi- Since the Brady bill was passed, we tacked 23 schoolchildren with a deadly nite kindness rained down on Newtown, have had about 2 million people who weapon. The same day—20 kids in New- from the teachers who protected those were stopped from buying guns because town, 23 kids in China. In Newtown, all kids, to the firefighters who didn’t they were legally prohibited from 20 kids who were attacked died; in leave that firehouse for days afterward, doing so. The Brady bill has worked. China, all 23 kids who were attacked to the millions of actions of humanity The problem is that 40 percent of weap- lived. Why? Because in Henan, the as- and gifts and phone calls that came in ons sold in this country don’t go sailant had a knife, not a gun that from the rest of the world. through background checks. I hope we could spray six bullets a second. And because of Anne Marie Murphy. will have some good news by the end of So forgive me if I dismiss those—like Anne Marie was a special education the day on this front, but that is a the president of the NRA—who choose teacher charged with the care of Dylan pretty easily accepted premise—crimi- to ignore the effect of the laws we are Hockley, this little boy, a wonderful, nals shouldn’t own guns. debating this week and next week. He gentle little 6-year-old boy who was Second, a small number of guns are said all we are talking about here is living with autism but doing great at just too dangerous for retail sale. We feel-good legislation. Well, he is right Sandy Hook Elementary School. Anne have always accepted that premise as about one thing: It would feel really Marie loved Dylan, and Dylan loved well. We have always drawn a line and good if Daniel Barden got on the bus Anne Marie back. There was a picture said some weapons are reserved for this morning to go to school. Daniel on his refrigerator of Anne Marie, and military hands, and others can be in was an immensely compassionate little almost every day he would point to the hands of private citizens. We know kid. He was always sitting next to the Anne Marie with pride to his parents. assault weapons kill, and we know kids in school who sat alone. He never Nicole, his mom, who is here this what happened when we banned them left a room without turning the lights week, said at Dylan’s funeral that the last time: Gun homicides dropped off. When his family would go to the when she realized Dylan wasn’t going by 37 percent, and nonlethal gun grocery store, they would leave the to show up at the firehouse that day crimes dropped by an equal percentage. store and get halfway across the park- with all the other kids who were re- Third, some ammunition too easily ing lot and turn around and Daniel turning from the school, she hoped she enables mass slaughter. What legiti- wouldn’t be there because he was still would see Mrs. Murphy, but she knew mate reason is there for somebody to holding the door open for people who she wouldn’t. She knew Anne Marie be able to walk into a movie theater or needed a way out. And he loved wouldn’t leave Dylan’s side if he was in a religious institution or a school with s’mores. danger. And she didn’t. When the bul- a 100-round drum of ammunition? Why It would feel really good if Ana lets started flying, she brought Dylan do we need that—100 rounds, never Marquez Greene could still sing all into her arms. She held him tight in- mind 30 rounds? That doesn’t sound too those songs she loved. She sang and side that classroom. And that is just radical, does it? performed everywhere she went. She how the two of them were found. So what does the gun lobby tell us came from a very musical family. Her On Monday, Nicole flew down here to about these ideas? What do they say is mom said that she didn’t walk any- Washington with President Obama and wrong with this approach that is where, that her preferred mode of me to try to make the case that things grounded in data and supported by peo- transportation was dancing. She loved need to change for Dylan, for Anne ple all across the country? Well, spe- most to sing and dance in church. She Marie, and for the thousands of other cifically we hear two things over and loved it when her parents read to her people before and after who have been over again: First, the only way to stop from the Bible. killed by guns. a bad guy with a gun is to have a good It would feel really good if Ben As Nicole and the other parents guy with a gun, and second, guns don’t Wheeler got to enjoy this beautiful walked up the steps of Air Force One, really kill people, people kill people. spring day outside today. He was a one mom raised a piece of paper above

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.007 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2518 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 her head with a note she had scribbled have worked hard together to bring us ten, the Connecticut effect is not going on it that day, and the cameras caught to a very promising and profoundly away. This resolve is not dissipated. the moment. The note simply said constructive turning point in this proc- We will keep faith with them. ‘‘Love Wins.’’ I believe today more ess. I want to thank also our leader, Out of the tragedy, the unspeakable than I ever have before that if we are Senator HARRY REID, for his deter- loss, the unimaginable horror of that truly doing our job in this Chamber, mination and resolve. day and the days since then and the then love has to win every single time. On the morning of December 14, par- days to come, we resolve that this Mr. President, I yield the floor. ents throughout Connecticut and New- country will be better and safer. And so The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- town and Sandy Hook brought their as we begin this debate, as colleagues pore. The Senator from Connecticut. children to school. Thinking of the rest of ours at this moment announce a Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I of their days. When they would have very promising compromise that may wish to congratulate and thank my play dates and snack breaks, holiday lead us forward, provide us with a path colleague from Connecticut, Senator parties, Christmas and Hanukkah toward bipartisan action—and it MURPHY, on his profoundly eloquent present wrapping, paper angels, ginger- should be bipartisan; there is nothing and powerful statement to our col- bread, songs and poems. Those are the Republican or Democratic about law leagues and join him in calling atten- memories. And the futures they enforcement or about law enforcement tion to the horrific tragedy that has brought with them. Just hours later, I saving people’s lives. We should resolve brought us to this point in the debate was at Sandy Hook as 20 families of to go forward as one country. I’ve been on gun violence. His very eloquent and those children emerged from a fire- working on this issue for many years. I powerful summary of our losses, I house, and I will never forget the cries helped to author and support Connecti- think, is a way to begin a potential of pain and grief I saw on that day. I cut’s first assault weapons ban in the turning point after Newtown has given went there as a public official because early 1990s. I went to court to defend it us a call to action. Newtown is a tip- I felt a responsibility to be there. But when it was challenged constitu- ping point in this debate, and my col- what I saw was through the eyes of a tionally, argued in the trial and then league from Connecticut and I have parent, as all America did on that day. in the State supreme court to uphold spent literally days and weeks with And I saw the families also of six he- our law. I have worked with law en- that community and have seen the roic educators who perished trying to forcement colleagues for three decades. courage and strength they have save their children. Those sights and And I know they support these meas- brought to this town and to our col- sounds changed America. We are dif- ures. Our State and local police, our leagues, because they have been meet- ferent today than we were before prosecutors around the country sup- ing with our colleagues and they are Sandy Hook. This problem is with us, port a ban on illegal trafficking. They indeed here today. the problem of gun violence is the same support a national background check Benjamin Andrew Wheeler, who was 6 problem that has existed for decades, system. They support school safety and years old—his father David is here but we are different. Because we know they support bans on military-style today. Ana Grace Marquez-Greene, age we can and must do something about weapons that are simply designed to 6—her mother Nelba is here today. it. kill and maim innocent people and Dylan Hockley, age 6—his mother Ni- There was evil that day at Sandy they support a ban on high-capacity cole is here. Daniel Barden, age 7—his Hook, but there was also great good- magazines because they know, those mother Jackie and his father Mark are ness. The goodness of the first respond- are the weapons of war. They enable here. Jesse Lewis, age 6—his father ers who stopped the shooting through criminals to outgun them. They put Neil Heslin is here. Mary Sherlach, one their bravery. When they appeared at their lives at risk. And so I listen to of the six heroic educators killed at the school, the shooter turned the gun my colleagues in law enforcement who Sandy Hook—her husband Bill is here on himself. They saved lives. The tell me we need to do something about today. knowledge and courage and bravery of gun violence. I listen to the people of We can draw inspiration not only the clergy. Father Bob, Monsignor Bob, Newtown who say: Can’t we do some- from the memories of those children Robert Weiss, who that evening con- thing about the guns? And I respect the and great educators who were killed ducted a vigil that we attended, when rights of gun owners, the second but from their strength and resilience many resolved to light candles instead amendment is the law of the land, and and resolve in coming to the Halls of of curse the darkness. The greatness of none of these proposals would take this building, meeting with our col- leadership demonstrated by many of guns out of the hands of responsible leagues. Indeed, at this very moment, our public officials, beginning with Pat and lawful gun owners. But there are they are with one of our colleagues, Llodra, the First Selectwoman of New- some people who should not have them. looking him in the eyes and saying to town, the legislators who passed in There are some guns that should not him: How can you not approve a bill Connecticut a measure that will pro- be in use, and there are some weapons that stops illegal trafficking, strength- vide a model for the country in attack- of war, high-capacity magazines, that ens school safety, and imposes a re- ing the problem of gun violence and the should not be sold in this country. In quirement for criminal background leadership of our Governor, Dannel half the mass killings, high-capacity checks? How can you not stop assault Malloy. And, of course, the great good- magazines enabled the shooting that weapons and high-capacity magazines ness of the educators who threw them- occurred so rapidly and so lethally. In that were integral to that killing in selves at bullets, cradled the young Newtown, the changing of a magazine Newtown? How can you not do some- people seeking to save them, and hero- by the shooter enabled children to es- thing about gun violence that has ically gave their lives. Their models of cape. In Tucson, the killing of a 9-year- caused more than 3,000 deaths since courage and leadership should inspire old girl, Christina Taylor-Green, by the then? How can you not allow a vote? us at this critical moment. They 13th bullet, would not have happened if How can you deprive the American peo- should inspire us to think better and that magazine had been limited to 10 ple of a vote on a measure that is so es- do better and resolve that we will not rounds because the shooter was tackled sential to their safety, their well-being, let this moment pass, we will seize this as he tried to change magazines. The the futures of their children, and their opportunity and we will demonstrate high-capacity magazines enabled Adam communities? the kind of leadership the majority of Lanza to fire 154 bullets in 5 minutes. As the President of the United States Americans expect and deserve and need So these kinds of commonsense meas- has said so eloquently—and his leader- at this point. ures may not prevent all these trage- ship has been so important to this The majority of Americans want dies. They may not enable us to stop cause—the victims of Newtown, of Tuc- commonsense measures to stop gun vi- all the 3,000 killings that have occurred son, Aurora, Virginia Tech, they de- olence. The majority of Americans since Newtown. We cannot look back serve a vote. The likelihood of a vote want a vote and they want action from and say with certainty that Newtown has been increased by the leadership of this body. And we need to keep faith would not have occurred if these meas- my colleagues, Senator SCHUMER, Sen- with them but also with the victims. ures had been in place, but the likeli- ator MANCHIN, Senator TOOMEY, who The victims who should not be forgot- hood would have been reduced, some or

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.008 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2519 all of those children might be alive There has been no impact to the drink- any section of the pipeline can be iso- today, some of those heroic educators ing water, and the oil did not enter any lated remotely thereby closing any of could be in their classrooms now. And lake or waterway. Fourteen vacuum the hundreds of valves on the system the challenge here is to save lives, to trucks and sixteen storage tanks are within minutes. do something to stop the carnage and on site. The claim’s hotline has been After four environmental impact killing on our streets, in our neighbor- established for residents affected by statements and 5 years of review, the hoods, in communities such as New- the spill to register claims and for any- State Department has determined that town, a quintessential New England one who wants information. As of the Keystone XL Pipeline will create town. If it could happen in Newtown, it today about 140 claims have been made. no significant impacts to the environ- could happen anywhere in America. ExxonMobile is paying for the cleanup ment. Again, they have determined it As we go forward in this debate, I and they have committed to honor any will create no significant impacts to hope we will listen to those brave and valid claims. So that is the Arkansas the environment, and that is why sev- resilient and resolved families who are spill that much is being made about by eral weeks ago 62 Senators supported here today. Listen to them when they opponents of approving the Keystone an amendment that was sponsored by say to us that we must keep faith. Lis- XL Pipeline. myself, Senator BAUCUS, and other ten to Nicole Hockley and what she The other one they talked about is in Senators. Again, 62 Senators went on said when the President of the United West Columbia, TX, and that is a pipe- record approving the Keystone XL States visited Connecticut just a cou- line owned by Shell Oil. Let’s talk Pipeline project. Furthermore, 66 Senators, two-thirds ple days ago. She said: about that project for just a minute. But now there is no going back for me. There was approximately 950 barrels of the Senators, voted against an There is no way. If you want to protect your of oil spilled, and 50 barrels of that oil amendment that was put forward by Senator BOXER that would have further children, if you want to avoid this loss, you entered the waterway. All 50 barrels will not turn away either. delayed the project and added more re- have been cleaned up. Let me repeat strictions to the project. Two-thirds of I ask my colleagues, let us face this that: All 50 barrels have already been this body went on record opposing reality. Let us not turn away. Let us cleaned up. The company is now work- more delays and more restrictions; 62 resolve to go forward and keep faith ing to clean up the remaining 900 bar- with the children and the educators Senators then voted to approve the rels of oil that is located on land. project. That is why 70 percent of who, by their example, provide us with This pipeline is an oil-gathering pipe- Americans in a recent poll said they an enormous and historic opportunity line that gathers oil from the gulf. It is to make America safer and better. The want the Keystone XL Pipeline ap- not an oil sands pipeline. The Keystone proved. Nation that we love, the Nation that XL Pipeline, of course, would be an oil we all believe is the greatest in the his- This project is about more energy sands pipeline, and that is not what and more jobs for this country. This tory of the world and will be greater this is. Furthermore, Shell believes the still after we move forward to make it pipeline project is about growing our break in this pipeline happened be- economy and producing tax revenues to safer and better. cause a contractor was working in this I yield the floor. help with our debt and deficit, not by I suggest the absence of a quorum. area and perforated the pipe. There was raising taxes but by growing the econ- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. not a default in the pipe or the pipe omy and stimulating more economic HEITKAMP). The clerk will call the roll. leaking. They believe the injury to the activity. This project is about elimi- The legislative clerk proceeded to pipeline was caused by a worker in that nating our dependence on oil from call the roll. area. places such as the Middle East and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Let’s consider some basic pipeline Venezuela. That is a national security ator from North Dakota. safety facts. Pipelines are the safest issue. Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I and most efficient way to transport oil It is vital that when we are working ask unanimous consent that the and gas. Let’s compare accidents at on important issues, we deal with the quorum call be rescinded. pipelines to accidents for trucks, for facts, and those are the facts. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without barges, or for rail. Accidents are 1,000 I thank the Chair, and I note the ab- objection, it is so ordered. times more likely to occur with a sence of a quorum. KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE truck hauling oil versus a pipeline. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I What was that number? Accidents are clerk will call the roll. rise this morning to speak in regard to 1,000 times more likely to occur when The assistant legislative clerk pro- the Keystone XL Pipeline project. moving oil by truck than by pipeline. ceeded to call the roll. Much has been made recently about An oilspill is 13 times more likely to Mr. LEE. Madam President, I ask pipeline spills in Arkansas and in occur when it is moved by a barge unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. Texas. These spills are being used by versus a pipeline. Oilspills are five The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without times more likely if it is moved by rail opponents of the Keystone XL Pipeline objection, it is so ordered. project as examples or reasons to not than by pipeline. Mr. LEE. Madam President, for sev- approve the Keystone Pipeline. Now, Using a pipeline to transfer oil will eral weeks now Washington and the no one ever wants a spill of any kind, result in 1,000 fewer spills compared to rest of the country have been debating but let’s deal with the facts rather moving it by truck, 13 times fewer several new gun control proposals. than misperception or emotion. This is spills than moving it by barge, and five Along with a number of my colleagues, an important project, and it is impor- times fewer spills than moving it by including the minority leader, I have tant that we deal with the facts. rail. Those are the safety statistics on declared my intention to resist an im- The Exxon spill in Arkansas involves pipelines versus alternative methods of mediate vote on any new restrictions a pipeline known as the Pegasus pipe- moving oil. that would serve primarily to limit the line. This pipeline was built in the The Arkansas pipeline was built in freedoms of law-abiding citizens rather 1940s—1947 and 1948. Approximately the 1940s, so actually the incident high- than reduce violent crime in America. 5,000 barrels of oil were spilled. The lights the need to build new infrastruc- Unfortunately, the current gun con- EPA considers that a major spill be- ture using the latest technology. The trol proposals would do just that. More cause anything above 250 barrels is Keystone XL Pipeline is one of the than 2 weeks ago, we informed the ma- considered a major spill. Emergency most advanced and most studied pipe- jority leader that we will exercise our response personnel were on the ground line projects in our country’s history. procedural right to require a 60-vote within 30 minutes of the leak being de- For example, the Keystone XL Pipeline threshold in order to bring this legisla- tected. Approximately 640 cleanup peo- will be monitored through a central- tion to the floor. We have taken this ple have responded to the incident in ized high-tech center 24 hours a day, step under our Senate rules and proce- addition to Federal, State, and local 365 days a year. Satellite technology dures for three principal reasons. responders. will send data every 5 seconds from First, the Senate serves an important There has been no impact to the 21,000 data points to the monitoring function in our Republic by encour- drinking water. I will repeat that: center. If a drop in pressure is detected, aging deliberation and making it more

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:04 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.009 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 difficult for a temporary majority to Right before we have set the vote for THE BUDGET impose its will unilaterally. Unlike the the motion to proceed to the bill, we Mr. THUNE. Madam President, at House of Representatives, the Senate’s still do not know what these critical long last today we have received the rules and procedures allow for mean- components look like. We have no leg- President’s budget. It is several weeks ingful debate and help ensure that a islative text to evaluate the so-called actually months—overdue. It was sup- bare majority of Senators cannot im- compromise language on background posed to have been out on February 4. pose controversial legislation on the checks. We have no sense of what It is generally used to steer or guide American people without robust de- amendments, if any amendments at all, the budget debate we have in Wash- bate, discussion, and broad-based and might be allowed to be offered. ington, DC. In this case, it is going to bipartisan consensus. So requiring a 60-vote threshold helps be a reaction to. It is going to be an Contrary to the statements made by us solve some of those problems. It after-the-fact discussion of the budget, the President and by some of my helps us ensure that we have a mean- as the House and the Senate have both friends across the aisle and even a few ingful debate rather than a series of passed theirs; the Senate for the first from within my own caucus, we have backroom deals to push controversial time in 4 years and the House has no intention of preventing debate or legislation through Congress with sole- passed their budget every year on time. votes. Quite the opposite. By objecting ly a bare majority to back it up. One would wish the President’s budget to the motion to proceed, we guarantee Finally, many of the provisions we would serve as a bridge between the that the Senate and the American peo- expect to see in the bill are both con- House and the Senate. In this point of ple would have at least 3 additional stitutionally problematic and would the process it is so much after the fact days to assess and evaluate exactly serve primarily to limit the freedoms and late in the game the President’s how this particular bill might affect of law-abiding American citizens. Some budget has come to us. the rights of law-abiding citizens and of the proposals—for example, uni- Regrettably, much of the President’s whether it might have any significant versal background checks—would allow budget is going to rely on the same for- impact on violent crime. the Federal Government to surveil law- mula the Senate Democratic budget Already we have seen consensus abiding citizens who exercise their con- did, which is to double down, to in- against passing any new gun legisla- stitutional rights. crease spending, significantly and sub- tion—at least not without broad bipar- One of the provisions we expect to stantially raise taxes, and add massive tisan support. see in the bill, based on what we saw in amounts to the debt. It never balances. During the recent budget debate, I of- the Judiciary Committee on which I The budget which was passed by the fered an amendment to establish a two- sit, would allow the Attorney General House of Representatives did balance. thirds vote requirement for the passage of the United States to promulgate reg- It balanced in 10 years. of any new gun legislation. Six Demo- ulations that could lead to a national The budget which was passed by the cratic Senators voted with a nearly registry system for guns, something Senate did not balance in 10 years. It united Republican caucus to support my constituents in Utah are very con- never balanced. There was a real con- my amendment by a vote of 50 to 49. cerned about, and understandably so. trast in terms of trying to get to a bal- That vote demonstrated that a bare anced budget over a period of time, You see, the Federal Government has majority of Senators, including at knowing full well it will not happen no business monitoring where or how least six Democrats, believe that new overnight. We got into a very big hole often we go to church, what books and gun legislation should have broad bi- over a number of years, and it will take newspapers we read, whom we vote for, partisan support in the Senate before it us a while to get out. our health conditions, what we ate for is passed and before it has the oppor- Nevertheless, the House budget did breakfast, and the details of our pri- tunity to become law. balance in a 10-year window and 10- vate lives, including our lawful exer- A 60-vote threshold will help ensure year timeframe. The Senate Demo- cise of rights protected by the second that new gun laws are not forced cratic budget never balances, nor does amendment and other provisions of the through the Senate with the narrow the budget we received this morning Bill of Rights. support of just one party. from the President. Second, this debate is about a lot Such limitations may, of course, at For a lot of reasons this budget de- more than just magazine clips and pis- times make it harder for the govern- bate is important, not the least of tol grips. It is about the purpose of the ment to do what it believes it needs to which is it is a vision, a blueprint for second amendment and why our con- do. But we have to remember, the Con- the future of the country. This is true stitutionally protected right to self-de- stitution was not written to maximize for each of the respective parties in the fense is an essential part of self-gov- or protect the convenience of our gov- Congress, as well as the President, ernment. ernment. The Constitution was written about where they wish to lead the At its core, the second amendment to protect individual liberty, and country. helps ensure that individuals and local thankfully so. We must not narrow the I mentioned yesterday on the Senate communities can serve as the first line application of constitutional protec- floor I thought the basic criteria which of defense against threats to our per- tions in haste, nor should we allow a should be used to evaluate a budget, sons and our property. Any limitation bare majority to jeopardize the basic the question which should be asked is, on this fundamental right of self-de- rights of the American people, rights What will this budget do to grow the fense makes us more dependent on our protected in the first ten amendments economy, create jobs, and increase the government for our own protection. to the Constitution. take-home pay of middle-class Ameri- Government cannot be everywhere at The Senate and the American people cans? What can we do, in other words, all times, so the practical effect of lim- are engaged in an important debate. I in terms of a budget process here and a iting our individual rights is to make look forward to this debate. I hope oth- budget itself which actually takes us in us less safe. This is troubling to many ers will join me and my colleagues in a direction which would enable more Americans. Any legislation that would demanding that our discussions take Americans to work and enable the restrict our basic rights to self-defense place in full view of the American peo- economy to grow and expand again. deserves serious and open debate. Fur- ple. This would make these fiscal issues ther, as we have seen just today, Wash- I suggest the absence of a quorum. look much smaller by comparison. ington sometimes prefers to negotiate The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Last week we received employment backroom deals made in secret far BALDWIN). The clerk will call the roll. data statistics which were due. The un- from the eyes of the American people The assistant legislative clerk pro- employment rate as a percentage actu- rather than engaging in thorough, ceeded to call the roll. ally dropped to 6.7 percent but only be- open, and transparent debate right on Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask cause another half million people quit the Senate floor. unanimous consent that the order for looking for work. If we look at the real The day before the majority leader the quorum call be rescinded. unemployment rate—which is to in- has set the vote to proceed, the bill’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without clude the people who actually have critical components are still not there. objection, it is so ordered. stopped looking for work, people who

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.013 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2521 are working part-time because they tory spending, the part of the budget growing government at a slower rate can’t find full-time employment—the which is on autopilot. It includes enti- and moving it back into a more reason- actual unemployment rate is 13.8 per- tlement programs such as Social Secu- able level. This would actually achieve cent. This is 21.7 million Americans. rity, Medicare, and Medicaid. Cur- $5 trillion in savings over the next dec- This is how many people who are either rently, this includes about three-fifths ade in terms of what the Federal Gov- out of work, quit looking for work, or of all Federal spending. At the end of ernment was spending. This is the way are looking for work part-time because the 10-year window it will represent the House approached their budget. they simply can’t find full-time em- about 91 percent of all Federal spend- What the Senate Democrats and the ployment. This is a great number of ing. That is how fast those programs President have both done is called for people. are growing—two to three times the massive new tax increases. The only This is a big part of our economy. A rate of inflation. deficit reduction which will occur lot of folks are out of the workforce The President’s budget doesn’t do under the President’s budget will be today who couldn’t find jobs. Many anything significant or meaningful to cut because of tax increases. He wipes have actually just given up looking for address that crisis. It is flatout serious. out the $1.2 trillion in spending cuts jobs. Having said that, there were some which were in place as a result of se- What this has done, because there are what I would call incremental steps quester. so many Americans who have given up taken. I call them baby steps. The He replaces those and achieves some- looking for jobs out of frustration, is it President agreed in his budget to ad- where on the order of $600 billion in has lowered the labor participation dress the issue of chained CPI, which deficit reduction. This deficit reduc- rate to a rate we haven’t seen, lit- recalculates the formula under which tion would be entirely accomplished by erally, since 1979. The last time the certain government programs are cal- tax increases, raising taxes yet again labor participation rate was at the low culated. It achieves a certain level of after we put in place tax increases on level we saw in the month of March, savings over time. the fiscal cliff on January 1. The Presi- 63.3 percent, was 1979. They assume some savings in Medi- dent received a huge tax increase, In fact, if we had a labor participa- care, most of which, again, are by re- something he had been wanting for for tion rate which was equal to what it ducing payments to providers. We have some time, $620 billion in new taxes. was when the President took office in already cut payments to providers to Add this to the more than $1 trillion in January 2009, the unemployment rate the point many physicians and other new taxes which are in the ObamaCare today would not be 7.6 percent, it health care providers these days are bill passed a couple of years ago and would be 11 percent. This is how many saying they are not going to serve this President, on his watch, has signed people have quit looking for work as a Medicare or Medicaid patients because into law more than $1.7 trillion in new result of this slow and sluggish econ- we keep cutting those reimbursements. taxes. omy. This is not the way to save and pro- This is not a revenue problem, this is The President’s budget, one would tect these programs for future genera- a spending problem. What we need to hope, would try to answer in an affirm- tions. We must restructure or reform be focused on is what do we need to do ative way the question: Does this grow these programs in a way which aligns to rein in out-of-control Federal spend- the economy? Does this create jobs? those programs with the future demo- ing. How are we going to reform and re- Does this increase the take-home pay graphics of this country. Unfortu- structure these programs in a way of working Americans? nately, the President’s budget fails on which protects and saves them, not Unfortunately, rather than growing that account. only for people who depend upon them the economy, the President’s budget, In terms of the direction these var- today but for those who will need them instead, grows the government. Unfor- ious budgets are headed, the Senate’s in the future. This is really the ques- tunately, this is what we have seen in Democratic budget, because it didn’t tion before the House. the budget which was passed by the balance in 10 years, nor does the Presi- Today we receive the President’s Senate a couple of weeks ago. dent’s, both use similar assumptions budget. It will be the latest point at I say this simply because I think about spending. If we look at the new which the President has submitted a there are two very different ideas debt which is piled up by the Presi- budget. Literally, it has been 100 years, about how to solve the fiscal crisis we dent’s budget, he adds $8.2 trillion to let’s put it that way. Around the early face. One includes expanding and grow- the debt over the next decade. 1900s was the last time the President ing government, raising taxes, and add- The Senate Democratic budget added submitted a budget to this Congress at ing even more to the debt. One really $7.3 trillion to the debt over the next this late date. Again, having already focuses on the issue which plagues our decade. Both have net spending in- acted in the House and Senate, I am fiscal house in Washington, DC: not creases. The spending amount over the not sure what meaning it has other that we tax too little but we spend too 10-year period in both the President’s than to perhaps give the President the much. It goes after the spending prob- budget proposal and the Senate Demo- luxury to be able to say he actually at lem we have in Washington, DC, the cratic proposal is on the order of $46.5 least presented a budget. But on most addiction to spending. We have seen trillion. This is the amount of money, of the criteria we ought to be looking this as the percentage of our economy the amount of taxpayer money, the at, in terms of evaluating this budget, grow consistently over the last several Federal Government would spend over that I mentioned earlier, it is not a se- years since this President has been in the next decade under the budgets pro- rious attempt. It doesn’t do anything office. posed by the Senate and House Demo- to rein in these out-of-control pro- The House budget recognized this and crats. grams that are growing at two to three does balance in 10 years. It does it The House budget, passed largely by times the rate of inflation, it has a without increasing taxes. The House of the House Republicans, spends about $5 massive tax increase, a $1 trillion tax Representatives actually produced a trillion less than that over the same increase on top of the $1.7 trillion in budget which balances in 10 years and time period. How does it do that? It new taxes the President has already doesn’t raise taxes. In fact, it calls for does so by reducing the rate of growth signed into law, and it adds $8.2 trillion tax reform. Many of us believe this of Federal spending. If we limit the to the debt over the next decade. So for would do wonders in terms of rate of growth in Federal spending to that reason I think it fails the funda- unleashing economic growth in this 3.4 percent, as opposed to a 4.6-percent mental test of fiscal responsibility, but country, lowering rates, reducing number in the Senate Democratic more important perhaps even than rates, and broadening the base. It also budget or the 5.2 percent-increase in that, it fails to answer the question I takes on what really drives Federal mandatory spending called for in the posed earlier, which was: Does the spending, what really contributes to President’s budget, we may achieve President’s budget grow the economy, the debt crisis we have in this country, significant savings over a period of does it create jobs, and does it increase its runaway spending. time. take-home pay for middle-income This is true for particular areas of This is not cutting government but Americans? The answer to that is sim- the budget, the areas we call manda- simply slowing the rate of growth by ply no.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.015 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2522 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 When you are raising taxes consist- home pay for middle-class Americans. measures that will stop gun violence in ently—raising taxes on the people who That ought to be the criteria we use. this country that has killed 3,000 or create the jobs in our economy—it I would hope before this is all said more people since Newtown. The epi- makes the economy grow at a slower and done, people in this city would re- demic of gun violence is stoppable and rate, we have more sluggish growth, alize we don’t have a taxing problem. we will have a vote in this body that which is what we have seen now for the The problem isn’t that we tax too lit- makes sure all of us are held to answer past several years. When we are grow- tle, it is that we spend too much, and to the American people. The majority ing at 11⁄2 to 2 percent as opposed to 3 that is what needs to be addressed. I of the American people favor these to 4 percent, it makes a huge difference hope we can reconcile these budgets, measures. Ninety percent or more say in terms of the number of people in but it will require the President to be they want a national criminal back- this country who are employed, the engaged on a level he hasn’t dem- ground check. Their voice deserves a number of jobs that are created, and, onstrated so far. I hope he gets to what vote, and I am confident we will have obviously, it makes a huge difference this real issue is and wants to get seri- it. in terms of the fiscal imbalance, be- ous about reining in out-of-control gov- I am confident, in part, because of cause when the economy is growing at ernment spending and we can make the bipartisan compromise that has a faster rate, it means more people are some headway yet. I have not lost been announced today. I am going working and investing and, therefore, hope. There were some incremental through the details, listening to my making money and paying taxes. So gains, some baby steps the President colleagues in law enforcement, the tax revenues go up when the economy took in this, but it is far short of what mayors, and others who have been so is growing and expanding. needs to be done to get our economy responsible and resolute in working That ought to be the goal. That back on track and get government over years and decades for these kinds ought to be our goal—not only to get spending back under control. of measures. And I’m listening to the those 21.7 million Americans who are I yield the floor. families from Newtown. And we will out of work back to work but also to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- make sure this compromise vindicates get the fiscal imbalance we face in a ior Senator from Connecticut. and upholds the vital law enforcement more manageable place. If we are going Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam Presi- and safety interests these measures are to get our fiscal house in order, we dent, I am honored to stand again on designed to vindicate and uphold. And I have to do those two things: We have the floor of the Senate, as I will be am confident this compromise is a to restrain Federal spending and we doing, along with my colleague Sen- positive and constructive step toward have to put policies in place that grow ator MURPHY and others who are allied our having a vote, ending unlimited de- the economy. in this effort to make America safer bate on this bill, achieving cloture, and There is a relationship between the and to stop the scourge of gun violence stopping a filibuster, as we have a re- two. It has been well documented, well that has plagued this country for dec- sponsibility to do. studied, well researched that when we ades and has been dramatized so And I want to focus for the moment have spending that is out of control, horrifically and tragically by the on one aspect of these measures I con- when we have a debt as a percentage of nightmarish, unspeakable tragedy that sider critically important. A ban on our GDP that exceeds a certain level, it occurred in Newtown. I stand here on high-capacity magazines—all maga- harms economic growth. It reduces the behalf of the families, but they are zines, all clips that hold more than 10 amount the economy grows on an an- speaking much more eloquently and bullets—that I will be introducing on nual basis and, in so doing, also re- powerfully than I could ever do, as behalf of Senator LAUTENBERG, work- duces the number of jobs created. So they go around to the offices of my col- ing with Senator FEINSTEIN and others, this is the question that should be leagues and look them in the face and to make sure this measure has a vote, asked. Again, when we compare or say: whether it’s as an amendment or a sep- stack up the President’s budget against How could you not favor a ban on il- arate bill. I wish to thank Senator that question—does it grow the econ- legal trafficking and straw purchases? LAUTENBERG for his leadership on this omy, does it create jobs, does it in- How could you not support strength- issue. He has championed it here for crease the take-home pay for middle- ening school safety? How could you not some time, and I will be working with class Americans—the answer is simply favor a national criminal background him and others to make sure this no. check? measure I have introduced has a vote, I would compare again the budget As one police chief told me, a na- and my colleague Senator MURPHY will that was passed by both the House and tional background check makes sure be working with me in this effort. Senate. In the case of the Senate, a we do not put criminals on the honor The statistics show the terrible im- study was done that suggested it would system. Without a criminal back- pact of high-capacity magazines. A re- cost 800,000 jobs a year, again because ground check, criminals are on an cent study of 62 mass shootings since of the tax increases that are included honor system to not buy weapons. 1982 shows that half involved high-ca- and the higher level of Federal spend- What kind of a guarantee of safety pacity magazines. Statistics also show ing. Simply raising taxes to fuel yet would that be? And how could you not bans on high-capacity magazines actu- more Federal spending does nothing to be in favor of banning the kind of ally work. The 1994 ban on these de- grow the private economy. What we weapon that killed the children and vices reduced their use dramatically. A want to see is a smaller Federal econ- educators of Newtown or the high-ca- study of gun violence in Virginia omy and a bigger private economy pacity magazine that enabled and fa- showed just 10 percent of guns recov- where the real good-paying jobs are cilitated that killing to take place? 154 ered by police in 2004 used high-capac- created. Clearly, this budget relies bullets fired in 5 minutes, tearing apart ity magazines, but after the ban was heavily—doubles down on Federal those beautiful, innocent children and allowed to sunset, the prevalence of spending, adds more to the debt, six great educators who perished trying high-capacity magazines more than doesn’t achieve balance, increases to save them. doubled. Garen Wintemute, head of the taxes by $1 trillion, and takes us in ab- We are on the cusp of success in this Violence Prevention Research Program solutely the wrong direction. critical first step, and I am increas- at the University of California at Davis I hope before this is all said and done, ingly hopeful—in fact, I am confident School of Medicine, said: ‘‘I was skep- the House of Representatives and the that we will have a vote in this body on tical that the ban would be effective, Senate—both of which have passed gun safety measures. We will have a and I was wrong.’’ He said the database budgets and now that we have the vote in the United States Senate to im- analysis offers ‘‘about as clear an ex- President’s budget—can somehow sit pose sensible and commonsense meas- ample as we could ask for of evidence down together and figure out how we ures to stop gun violence. We will have that the ban was working.’’ And the get a proposal that would actually deal a vote in the Senate in a matter of limitation I am proposing—that I will with out-of-control spending and would days that will enable America to hold be working on with Senator LAUTEN- focus on growing the economy, cre- accountable its elected representatives BERG and Senator FEINSTEIN and Sen- ating jobs, and increasing the take- here on this floor in the Senate for ator MURPHY and others who have

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.017 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2523 championed this cause—would be even Catholic Charities USA the larger capacity magazines were more le- more effective. Because unlike the 1994 Catholics United thal. law, it will prohibit imports of high-ca- Faiths United To Prevent Gun Violence The fact is that Adam Lanza had Jewish Council for Public Affairs pacity magazines, not just production National Council of Churches smaller capacity magazines that were here but imports of these high-capacity National Episcopal Health Ministries found in his home at the time a search magazines. More than ten rounds, we Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Office of was conducted. He left those behind. He need to say no. Public Witness used the 30-round clips. He brought We also have to implement a United Methodist Church with him three 30-round magazines for buyback program for the existing high- OTHER ORGANIZATINS that AR–15 because he knew he could capacity magazines in use and circula- American Bar Association fire more bullets more rapidly, more tion today. The proposal I’m advo- Grandmothers for Peace International lethally, with a 30-round clip. David cating allows for better grant funding NAACP Wheeler, who is also here today and is Sierra Club to be used for exactly that purpose. It the father of Benjamin Andrew Wheel- doesn’t require, doesn’t mandate own- LOCALITIES er, said the following: ers of high-capacity magazines partici- U.S. Conference of Mayors National League of Cities. The more bullets you can get out the end pate in a buyback program, but it gives of that gun in the least amount of time, that them that option. And over time, this Mr. BLUMENTHAL. This provision is is the single area that I believe affects measure will reduce the number of supported as well by educators, the lethality. And the size of the magazine high-capacity magazines out there. The civil rights community, health care placed in that weapon is a direct contributor provision I am spearheading was part providers and others. It is a proposal to that—a direct contributor to that factor. that is eminently sensible, reasonable. There is a place for 30-round magazines, in of legislation actually offered by Sen- the military, on the battlefield. ator FEINSTEIN in the Judiciary Com- It’s a matter of common sense. A ma- mittee, approved by that committee on jority of Americans have consistently The families of Sandy Hook have March 14. It’s supported by a long list supported a ban on high-capacity mag- shown tremendous courage and of mayors as well as organizations rep- azines. A poll in January of this year strength. Their resolve and resolute- resenting law enforcement. showed 65 percent of Americans, in- ness are an inspiration and a source of I ask unanimous consent to have cluding 55 percent of gun owners, sup- strength to all of us who have spent time with them, who have come to that list printed in the RECORD. port such a ban. There being no objection, the mate- But the most powerful argument for know them, the privilege of knowing rial was ordered to be printed in the a ban on high-capacity magazines them. They have come here to talk about something no one would want to RECORD, as follows: comes from the experience of Newtown, where the changing of magazines en- talk about, and they have done it so This legislation has been approved by, among others, the following groups: abled children to escape. When the that no mother, no father, no husband, shooter changed magazines, it allowed no wife ever has to again experience LAW ENFORCEMENT time for the children to evade his the unspeakable and unimaginable hor- International Association of Campus Law nightmarish slaughter. ror and tragedy that has befallen them. Enforcement Administrators International Association of Chiefs of Po- In Tucson, we know from CAPT Mark We owe it to them to vote on this lice Kelly, husband of Gabby Giffords, who measure. I’m confident there will be a Major Cities Chiefs Association testified before the Judiciary Com- vote. I’m proud to offer this measure National Association of Women Law En- mittee, that the limitation on that banning high-capacity magazines to re- forcement Executives magazine enabled spectators and by- duce the scourge of gun violence. There National Law Enforcement Partnership to standers to tackle the shooter. If there is no turning back, as Nicole Hockley Prevent Gun Violence had been only 10 rounds in that maga- has said so eloquently. There is no National Organization of Black Law En- zine he was using, Christina-Taylor turning back from a proposal to ban forcement Executives Police Executive Research Forum Green, shot by the 13th bullet, would be high-capacity magazines. Police Foundation alive today. We know high-capacity Madam President, I yield the floor. Women in Federal Law Enforcement magazines enable and facilitate these The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- HEALTH CARE mass killings. They don’t cause them. ator from Florida. American Academy of Nursing They don’t compel them. They enable Mr. NELSON of Florida. Madam American Academy of Pediatrics them. High-capacity magazines al- President, I wish to talk about the American College of Surgeons lowed Adam Lanza to fire more than issue of gun violence. American Congress of Obstetricians and 150 rounds of ammunition in 5 minutes. Our hearts are still heavy from the Gynecologists And we know from men and women reminders of what happened in Con- American Medical Association who have lost loved ones that these de- necticut, and I want to say that I come American Public Health Association to this issue from a position of modera- Association for Ambulatory Behavioral vices are part of the attacks too often. Healthcare Bill Sherlach, the husband of Mary tion and common sense. I come to this Doctors for America Sherlach, who has come to Washington issue having grown up in the country National Association of School Nurses this week to speak out against gun vio- as a hunter. I grew up on a ranch. I National Physicians Alliance lence, had this to say about high-ca- have had guns all my life. I am very fa- Physicians for Social Responsibility pacity magazines. And his wife Mary is miliar with guns. And to this day I still EDUCATION AND CHILD WELFARE with us in this picture today. enjoy hunting quail and pheasant with American Federation of Teachers It’s just simple arithmetic. If you have to my son. But is there anybody who real- Child Welfare League of America change magazines 15 times instead of five istically doesn’t believe we ought to Children’s Defense Fund times, you have three times as many inci- have a criminal background check for National Association of Social Workers dents as where something could jam, some- the person who is purchasing a gun? National PTA thing could be bobbled. You just increase the I am very encouraged to hear that National Education Association time for intervention. You increase the time- Save the Children frame where kids can get out. And there’s 11 Senator MANCHIN and Senator TOOMEY have come together to find a way to GUN SAFETY kids out there today that are still running around on the playground pretty much now close the gun show loophole. That is in- Arizonans for Gun Safety structive. Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence at lunchtime. Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Another Sandy Hook family member In my State of Florida, years ago we Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence who is with us today, Nicole Hockley, amended the State constitution with Mayors Against Illegal Guns mother of Dylan Hockley, said the fol- an overwhelming vote of the people in Newtown Action Alliance lowing: Florida, and then there were ways that RELIGIOUS [W]e looked at the search warrants . . . in practice had been found to subvert African Methodist Episcopal Church and know that [the shooter] left the smaller the law that was the will of the people Alliance of Baptists capacity magazines at home. That was a in our State—that you can’t purchase a American Friends Service Committee choice that the shooter made. He knew that gun at a gun show without having a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:53 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.018 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2524 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 criminal background check. What they ment. I just gave you my history of is a failure of our responsibility to do do is they say: I will consider you a growing up in the country with guns, something about it. So I am going to personal friend, and therefore that is having guns all my life and still having spend some time down on the Senate an exception to doing a background a number of guns in my home today. I floor in between others giving speeches check on you. So Senator MANCHIN and support the second amendment. I do so today and tomorrow and next week to Senator TOOMEY have come to an in light of the circumstances in our so- talk about these victims, to just tell agreement to find a way to close that ciety today that have changed. you a little bit about who they are—es- gun show loophole, and that proposal My final comment is that in all of pecially for the little ones, maybe who will also establish a commission to bet- this it is moderation and common they were going to be. ter understand the root causes of how sense that are so much the solution to Let me start in Newtown. Let me to prevent mass violence. facing the issues that confront us start in Sandy Hook. We can put up There is simply no reason we today, and here is another example. some pictures of just a handful of the shouldn’t be able to do a criminal Let’s use a little common sense. victims from Sandy Hook and from cit- background check, which is one way to Madam President, I yield the floor. ies across this country. Let me start find out the intention of somebody who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- with the little guy in the middle, Dan- is buying a gun. If you bring it back to ator from Connecticut. iel Barden. I talked about him this basics, it is all about common sense, Mr. MURPHY. Madam President, I morning. and it is especially so given the cir- thank my colleague from Florida for Daniel was a pretty amazing little cumstances in which we find ourselves those very thoughtful remarks and, of boy. His parents talked about the unbe- where people are slaughtering children. course, my colleague, the senior Sen- lievable compassion he had. I talked Is there anybody who thinks we need ator from Connecticut. about it this morning. He never failed ammunition clips for 60 rounds? That We are here on the floor today to to turn off a light when he left a room. is not common sense. When I go hunt- help lead a discussion about how this He was always the kid in school who ing, if it is quail, I usually have two Nation can finally own up to its re- was sitting with the kid who did not shotgun shells in the gun. If you are sponsibility to take on the scourge of have anybody to sit with. When his going to give the quail a chance and if gun violence that has certainly been parents would leave a grocery store it is hunting instead of killing, then highlighted by the massacre in Sandy they would get halfway across the gro- let’s see how good a marksman you Hook that I spoke about earlier today cery store parking lot, turn around, are. So I can’t see any reason that in my first speech before this Chamber. and Daniel wasn’t with them because common sense would dictate that we But it has, frankly, become too routine he was still holding the door open for would have more than 10 rounds in a throughout the streets of this country, other people who were leaving the clip. Yet people want to go out and buy with 3,000 to 4,000 people having lost store. He was a pretty amazing little clips for 60 rounds. I think that is tell- their lives to gun violence since Sandy kid. He loved to spend time with his ing us something about their intention. Hook happened. family. He loved riding the waves at I voted on this back in 2004, to extend Lost in a lot of the debate here about the beach. You can see with that long the existing law that came out of the the particular policy prescriptions we hair he was a beach bum. 1990s. We said in that legislation that are talking about, whether it be uni- He played drums in a band with his 10 and fewer is OK. Now, is that not versal background checks supported by brother James and sister Natalie. His reasonable? Is that not common sense? 90 percent of Americans or a ban on family is very musical, so on that So if we don’t reasonably have a need high-capacity magazines supported by morning his father, who is a profes- for more than 10, then that is where we two-thirds of Americans or a Federal sional musician—he is here this week, ought to draw it in the law. law ending illegal gun trafficking sup- actually—taught him how to play Jin- Then there is another element of ported by three-fourths of Americans, gle Bells. common sense; that is, why assault lost amidst all of the political back- He woke up very early that morning. weapons? I served, wearing the uniform and-forth over negotiations between It was funny because he was the last of of this country. The U.S. military has Republicans and Democrats and the the three kids to go to school. They assault weapons. People are going out pronouncements of the NRA and of gun were all in separate schools. His par- and buying these AK–47s that are a de- control groups, lost amidst all of that ents thought it was strange that on rivative of the same weapon that was debate about politics and policy are the that morning he woke up early. In fact used by the North Vietnamese against victims. The victims are the people— it was the first day all year—this was us in the Vietnam war. And I simply boys and girls, men and women, moth- December 14, so they had been in ask this question: Are these guns for ers and fathers, brothers and sisters— school for months—it was the first day hunting or are they for killing? And if who die every single day in this coun- in the entire year that Daniel had the legitimate answer is that they are try. I described it this morning—like awaken before his oldest sibling went not for hunting or for some collector’s raindrops. It is just background noise to school. purposes, then they have another pur- to this country now, the number of As the oldest sibling was walking pose. Obviously, that is what they were people who are dying every day. down the driveway to go to school, designed for—as an assault-type weap- I decided after having given my Daniel ran after him to tell him that on in a combat circumstance. maiden speech this morning that I he loved him. The first time, he had So how do we approach the legiti- would come back to this floor—not to never done that all year. It just shows mate recognition of the second amend- occupy the floor or commandeer the what a compassionate little kid Daniel ment, the right to bear arms, with as- floor, but to the extent that there is was. I actually wear a bracelet for Dan- sault weapons? And I don’t think we time today and tomorrow and next iel. It is a bracelet that links to a can. It seems that among people of week, to spend time on this floor tell- Facebook page called ‘‘What Would good will, using common sense and ing the stories of the victims, telling Daniel Do?’’ It has 16,000 ‘‘likes.’’ The moderation, that we can come to some the stories of the individual people point of this page is people can hear definitions that would ban these types whose lives were tragically cut short about a lot of these kids. The families of assault weapons. Now, we are prob- by guns—because it happens here more have done a lot of amazing things to ably not going to have the votes to so than almost every other nation in try to spread the word about who these pass it here, but we need to take the the world. More people lose their lives, kids were and what they were going to vote and we need to see how everybody more people have their lives ended pre- be. Daniel’s page is, ‘‘What Would Dan- feels about this issue. maturely because of guns here than al- iel Do?’’ It is a forum for people to in- I wish to conclude by saying that most any other corner of the world. vest in little acts of kindness to try to those of us who are portrayed, by tak- It is time that we do something live up to the inspiration this little 6- ing this position of moderation and about it. Yes because of the aggregate year-old set for his family and his common sense, as if we were not for numbers, yes because of the horror in neighborhood. the second amendment, that is false. Of Sandy Hook, but also because every So people posted stories on that Web course I support the second amend- single additional life that is cut short site for the last several months about

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.021 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2525 these little kind acts they performed: Let me tell a little about Charlotte kids with autism. There were a number For example, the woman who bought Bacon, 6 years old. I lost count of the of kids in these classrooms who had au- coffee and donuts for a firehouse in her number of funerals and wakes that I tism. They were doing great because of home State of New York, the Missouri went to, but I do remember Charlotte’s the work of people like Rachel and woman who helped restock a food pan- funeral. She had this crazy head of Anne Marie Murphy, who reached out try in Daniel’s honor, the Illinois curly red hair. She was described by to work with these kids. woman who paid for a stranger’s meal her family as sweet and outgoing and Rachel was exceptional because she and on the back of the bill wrote: exuberant, someone who was willing to integrated these kids into her daily ‘‘Love, from Daniel Barden.’’ argue for whatever she believed in, life. She brought the kids to her home. Daniel was going to grow up to be an even at 6 years old. She loved the color She involved the kids in her family. amazing young man. He loved life. He pink, and she loved animals—any ani- She treated the kids like family and did amazing things for people. But we mal she met—but she really loved her they matured. They did better under did not get to know Daniel Barden golden retriever. She wanted to become her care. later in life because he was gunned a veterinarian. A lot of these kids we She probably didn’t know it when she down that day in Sandy Hook. will hear about today knew what they died, but her best friend and her boy- Let me tell the story of someone wanted to do with their lives. These friend, Tony, was about to propose to equally amazing whom we got to know were ambitious kids, in part because her. In fact he had already gone to her for 20 more years than the kids that they had special parents as well. parents to ask permission to ask to she was charged with looking after. She was really looking forward to marry her. He was going to do it on Her name is one that you might know, Christmas because she wanted to show Christmas Eve, just 10 days after the and that is Victoria Soto. Victoria off this new pink dress and pink boots incident. He didn’t get to ask for Ra- Soto was 27 years old. She was a teach- she had gotten. It was a Christmas out- chel’s hand in marriage. Instead, the er at Sandy Hook Elementary School. fit, so she was waiting until Christmas wedding ring he had planned to present That is what she wanted to do. She had to be able to show it off. But on the to her was placed on her finger before wanted to be a teacher, her mom said, morning of December 14—again, an- she was buried. since she was 3 years old. Imagine other theme we will hear is that these Rachel was an amazing teacher, an knowing what you want to do when strange things happened that morn- amazing person who invested herself in you are 3 years old and sticking with ing—that morning she woke up and she these kids, day in and day out. It would it. A lot of people think they know wanted to wear that pink dress. She have been great to know what Rachel what they want to do when they are 3, wanted to wear those pink boots, and Davino would have become as she ma- but they change their minds. She did her mother let her do it. She wore that tured as an educator. not. She worked every day from the special pink dress and those boots to This is just a sampling of the stories time she was 13 to get ready to be a school on Friday, December 14. from 1 day in Newtown, CT. Fewer kids teacher. As early as 13 she was charting Her family has established a non- and adults died in Newtown that day out her classes so she could ultimately profit called Newtown Kindness. The than die every day across this country. be a teacher. Even when she got to organization is comprised of commu- We think how exceptional it was and Sandy Hook Elementary School she nity members who were trying to bring how awful and how horrific that we made time for night classes at South- positivity and strength back to the lost 20 kids and 6 adults—and, by the ern Connecticut State University Newtown community. I talked this way, 2 others in Adam Lanza and his where she was getting her master’s de- morning about the fact that for many mother—yet that number is less than gree in special education. of us who have lived through this trag- the average number of people who are A mentor of hers said she was the edy—not anywhere close to the way in killed every day by gun violence across last one who would have wanted hero which the victims’ families have—but this country. So I want to talk about status, but nobody was surprised to what we see Newtown defined by is not them too. I want to talk about just hear what she did in that classroom the 10 minutes of violence and evil, but over the last couple of weeks and that day. When Adam Lanza walked all the millions of acts of humanity months what we have witnessed across into her classroom, Victoria Soto was that have spilled forth from inside the this country. the only person he saw. Why? Because community and from outside the com- I want to talk about Hadiya Pen- she had ushered her special education munity in the days and weeks since, dleton in Chicago. We have heard a lot teacher, Anne Marie Murphy, and sev- and this is what Newtown Kindness is about her because she was here for the eral of her kids under a desk. She had about. It is encouraging children to do Presidential inauguration. She was pushed a number of other kids into a their own acts of kindness like Char- performing with her school’s majorette closet to hide them. Lanza came into lotte did and submit their stories team in the President’s inauguration the classroom, he faced her and killed through drawings and letters to the or- festivities. She loved performing. She her. Then he killed the kids who were ganization. Newtown Kindness is going was an honor student at King College under the desk. The kids who hid in the to show some light on all these little Prep High School in Chicago. She was closet, many of them lived. Many of wonderful things that kids do every 15 years old. them survived—they were discovered day in the same way that Charlotte did She is remembered by her friends as after the incident—because of the he- for the kids she loved and the family somebody who was always raising her roic actions of this one 27-year-old members she loved and for the animals hand in class. She had all the right an- teacher. she loved. swers in that chemistry class. She wore Imagine what she could have done Let me talk a little bit about another bright lip gloss that made her stand with the rest of her life. Students loved teacher, Rachel Davino. Rachel was out. She loved to dance. She danced on her. Parents loved her. She was made very much like Victoria, in that she the Praise Dance Ministry in her for teaching. Think of all of the im- knew she wanted to work with kids. church, and she was a member of her pact. She probably had 30 more years She had a lot of interests, Rachel cheerleading team as well. She liked in the classroom. She had hundreds if Davino did. She was born in Water- Chinese food, she loved Fig Newtons. not thousands of kids she still could bury, received her undergraduate de- She was thinking about going to col- have touched with her life—gone. Vic- gree from Hartford, she got her mas- lege, thinking about either journalism toria Soto’s genius as a teacher will no ters from Post University. She loved or pharmacology, two pretty different longer be able to be realized because of animals. That is probably why she con- things. Either way, she wanted to go to what happened that day. nected with a lot of these kids. She Harvard. She knew where she wanted If we do not do something about it, loved baking and photography and ka- to go. Victoria Soto will not be the last rate. She drew lots of things, loved to She was 15 years old. She was shot teacher who is going to be gunned draw animals—dogs, frogs, anything and killed while standing with her down. If we don’t take some steps here with scales or feathers or fur she loved friends in a park in Chicago after she this will not be the last selfless educa- to draw. But her passion was working took her final exams, just days after tor we will mourn on the Senate floor. as a behavioral therapist, working with she came back from Washington, DC,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.025 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2526 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 probably one of the most amazing expe- giving. He worked in McDonald’s. He Joey is what she was called by her fam- riences in her life. could not have had a lot of money to go ily. She was a kid with an indomitable I watched some of that parade, and I out and buy gifts for coworkers. He spirit. She was autistic, as were a always think to myself whether I saw worked at that place for a decade. Be- handful of these kids, but she was still her performing with her majorette cause of his generous nature with social. She was very affectionate. She team. She was 15 years old. She was whatever money he had, that he was getting very good care from some going to go to Harvard. She was going scraped together, he made sure people of these paraprofessionals who were to become a journalist or a great danc- knew he loved them. there. er. All the things we missed just be- He was 28 years old when he died ear- She grew up—actually not too far cause she was standing in the way of a lier this week in Akron, OH. from here—in Maryland with a house bullet at a park with her friends after This stuff is happening every day. I full of Ravens fans. Josephine fell in she took her final exams. mean, I will keep on going through love with the color purple. I don’t I think about Lavanial Williams, who them, but this is happening every day know if she bought into the Ravens as in January of this year, was visiting throughout this country. People are a team yet, but she loved the color pur- with his mother and two sisters in dying on our streets by casual gun vio- ple. She had a great sense of humor; Marin City, CA, to celebrate his 17th lence while bringing garbage to a she smiled all the time. birthday. He was checking in on his dumpster outside a McDonald’s, walk- She loved hugs even though she par- sister April to make sure she was fine ing down the stairs to check out some ticipated in rigorous therapy for her because there was some suspicious ac- commotion at a sister’s housing com- disability. She had treatment on a tivity going on in the housing complex plex, and pulling into a driveway after daily basis. She did it without com- that day. He went downstairs to check dropping their kids off at school. These plaining. She loved her Barbie dolls, out the commotion, and moments later were not people who were going out her iPad, and her computer. She loved he was shot dead just because he and looking for trouble. These were to sing and swim and be anywhere her walked down some stairs to check out people who were just doing their reg- sisters were. Joey Gay was killed that some commotion. ular everyday business. day at age 7 in Sandy Hook Elemen- The deputies who arrived on the President Obama came to Con- tary School. scene found a group of people trying to necticut on Monday, and he told the I want to talk about Avielle revive the teenager by CPR, but he was story of a mother who was so frus- Richman. I have gotten to know pronounced dead at the scene. He had trated at the phrase regarding her Avielle’s parents pretty well over the been hit by several bullets. He was daughter’s death due to gun violence course of the last few months. Frankly, there visiting his mother and two sis- that her daughter was ‘‘in the wrong I have gotten to know a lot of these ters to celebrate his 17th birthday. place at the wrong time.’’ She just hap- families over the last few months. Lavanial Williams died on January 11, pened to be in the way of a stray bul- Avielle’s parents have done some- 2013. let. Her mother’s point was, no; she thing remarkable, which I will men- If we talk about the connection to was in the right place at the right tion, but first I will talk about Avielle. the background checks piece of this time. She was walking to school. Guess what color Avielle loved. She discussion, we could talk about This guy was bringing garbage to the loved the color pink. She loved to wear Annemarie Bautch. She returned home dumpster. Anne Marie was coming her pink cowboy boots and adored after dropping off her kids at school on home after dropping off her kids. riding her pony Betty. She turned 6 April 8—just a week or so ago—in Mil- Lavanial was just looking out for his years old just about 2 months before waukee. Her live-in boyfriend pulled in sister. They were not in the wrong the tragedy. behind her in a taxicab he drove for place at the wrong time, they were She moved from Connecticut a few hire. He walked to her van’s window doing what they were supposed to be years ago from San Diego. She loved and shot her in the head. He then took doing. Yet they were gunned down. We San Diego. She was barefoot all the his gun and turned it on himself. have no answer? After 20 years of this, time. She would run on the beaches of He was on probation for recent do- we are not able to step up and do some- San Diego until the Sun went down. mestic violence incidences involving thing about it? It is like raindrops. It Her relatives used to joke about how his daughter. He had beaten up his has just become routine. hard it was to get shoes on Avielle even daughter. He had firearms arrests Let me go back to Newtown and talk after moving to Connecticut. When she going back 20 years. He was a convicted more about these kids. Olivia Rose lived in San Diego, she never used to felon, and he was prohibited from car- Engel was a bright-eyed, brunette, 6- wear shoes, so she certainly was not rying weapons. I don’t have in front of year-old girl. She loved school. She going to wear them even in a colder cli- me why he had the weapon that day or particularly loved reading and math, mate like Connecticut. how he got it, but he was not supposed which is good because a lot of what She had curly brown hair and an in- to have it. He had a long rap sheet first graders do is reading and math. If fectious smile. Her parents kept a blog when it came to convictions regarding you love reading and math, you are about her. They called her their little firearms. probably in good shape. hummingbird. She loved horseback He was ordered to undergo anger Her favorite stuffed animal was a riding, swimming, ice skating, and management training after his most lamb, and her favorite colors were—a superhero adventures. She loved pre- recent conviction, but it is unclear as theme we will hear often—pink and tending to be a superhero. She loved to whether that ever happened. He is purple. She was set to play an angel in the movie ‘‘Brave,’’ and Avielle tried not here to answer those questions and her church’s nativity play on the night out archery, which is a brave thing for neither is his girlfriend Annmarie who of the tragedy. She laughed a lot, and her parents to do as well. She tried out died that day at the age of 39 after her parents said she just lit up a room archery because of her love for the dropping her kids off at school. when she walked in. movie. Earlier this week in Akron, OH, there Olivia played soccer and tennis, and Before her life was taken that De- was a 28-year-old man who was fatally she took art classes. She loved swim- cember, Avielle was obsessed with an shot while taking garbage to a trash ming and ballet classes, and she took Easy Bake Oven she was hoping to get bin in the parking lot of a McDonald’s hip-hop dance lessons. She was also in- for Christmas. restaurant at which he worked. He was volved in her Daisy Girl Scouts. Every Her parents are scientists, and in the taking garbage to a trash dump and he night when they gathered for dinner, wake of Avielle’s death, they started a was shot and died. His name has not her family would have Olivia say grace. nonprofit to raise money to try to get been released, but he had been working She was a great big sister. Olivia to the root cause of the illness that at that McDonald’s for 10 years. His co- really loved her little 3-year-old broth- caused someone like Adam Lanza to workers said: ‘‘He was the kind of per- er Brayden. She was killed that day in pick up a gun. That is an amazing son who would give you his last dol- Sandy Hook Elementary School. thing for the Richmans to do. I talked lar.’’ He would give his coworkers gifts Josephine Gay celebrated her seventh about a number of efforts that have on holidays—Christmas and Thanks- birthday just 3 days before the tragedy. been taken, whether it is a Facebook

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.026 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2527 page for Daniel Barden, a Web site to Teachers, little girls, and little boys ties. She said that Ross’s wit, humor, try to encourage kids to engage in acts who could have been great people, and insightfulness made him so much of kindness, or what Avielle’s parents great educators—they could have been fun to be around, but his caring for did. This is an amazing thing for them dancers and singers. Daniel Barden said others was also always present. Ross to do. While they are grieving, they are he wanted to be a paleontologist just was one of the 32 victims killed during trying to find a silver lining in all of like his older brother. He could have the Virginia Tech massacre on April 16, this. done great things, but he is gone. 2007. The Richmans’ hope is that they can This isn’t the first massacre we have Christopher James Bishop—‘‘Jamie’’ use the memory of their precious 6- seen. Daniel Barden and Ana Marquez- Bishop—was a German teacher who year-old daughter to go out and raise Green and Dylan Hockley and Ben- was shot at the age of 35. He was a money to try to research the causes of jamin Wheeler—these are all kids who dedicated husband and son. He was a the illness that led to this tragedy. It were killed in Newtown, CT, but unfor- gentle colleague. He was a really gen- is an illness. We talk about it in terms tunately Newtown is just the latest in erous friend. of evil, and I have certainly used that a line of mass shootings. Forty percent He had a long ponytail that he wore. term. It is really illness masquerading of the mass shootings that have hap- That was kind of Jamie’s signature. as evil. pened in this Nation’s history have But he didn’t keep the ponytail for The Richmans are going to do their happened since the assault weapons long because once he grew it, he would part to raise money to try to do a bet- ban expired. Forty percent of all of the regularly cut his hair and donate it to ter job to figure out what is going on in mass shootings in this Nation’s history Locks of Love. He was doing it for the brain to cause someone to leave have happened in the last 8 years—8 style reasons, I am sure, but he saw his their parents’ home, drive to an ele- years—since the assault weapons ban ponytail as a means to donate to other mentary school, and start shooting, or expired. I am not an expert in cause people who needed some help. walk up to a McDonald’s employee as and correlation, but that cannot be a He was another techno guru. He knew they are delivering garbage to the coincidence. It can’t be a coincidence a lot about complicated gadgets, and dumpster and shoot them. It is a dif- because we also know that during one of those was cameras. He was a ferent kind of illness, I suppose, but it those 10 years of the assault weapons great technician with a camera, but he deserves examination nonetheless. ban, along with a ban on high-capacity was also a very avid photographer. The Richmans are heroic in the fact magazines that was in effect, we saw a Jamie leaves behind a lot of wonderful that they have decided to reach out 37-percent decrease in gun violence. We art that captured the intensity and the and try to make this discovery. beauty that surrounded him in Another teacher to talk about is saw a two-thirds decrease in the crimes committed with assault weapons. Blacksburg. Lauren Rousseau. She wanted to be a He hailed from a very small town— teacher so badly. She was 30 years old. Those are real numbers, real reduc- Pine Mountain, GA—and he was a big Up to the point she was hired as a full- tions in overall gun violence and in gun fan of the Atlanta Braves, so he would time substitute teacher at Sandy Hook violence perpetrated with these dan- probably be pretty excited about the Elementary, she spent 6 years working gerous assault weapons. But the start the Atlanta Braves have had this at part-time jobs just to make ends minute that ban was lifted, a dramatic year. meet so she could substitute teach dur- increase in these mass shootings oc- He was a foreign language teacher. ing the day. During that 6-year period curred. He was a tough teacher—‘‘Herr Bishop’’ of time, she was looking for a full-time Newtown was the second worst school is what they called him—but he really job, and she finally found it. That Oc- shooting. It is seared in our memories believed that understanding language tober she had been hired in Newtown to in a different way because these were was a way for people to engage in the be a full-time substitute teacher. It is precious, young, little kids, and we world. It was a joy, but it was really just what Lauren wanted to do, and she can’t help but grieve in a fundamen- fundamental to understanding human- was really good at it. She was literally tally different way for 6- and 7-year- ity. If people understand languages, on the verge of realizing that 6-year olds. But Virginia Tech was worse. dream when her life was taken. Still to this day, Virginia Tech saw the they understand different cultures and She was very bubbly and outgoing. highest number of people gunned down. they understand something more about She spent the morning of December 14 So I wish to talk about a few of those what it means to be a human being in looking forward to a movie she was people. this world. Jamie believed in what he going to see that night with her friends Ross Alameddine was a Virginia Tech did not just because he wanted to teach and her boyfriend, ‘‘The Hobbit.’’ She sophomore. He loved computer games, kids German but because he wanted to was a huge fan of Tolkien, so it was a and he actually played a lot of them teach kids about the world. He died at big deal to see ‘‘The Hobbit’’ that competitively. He was very much into Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007, at the evening, and that is what she was talk- home computer repair, and it was age of 35. ing about that morning. something he wanted to do with his Brian Bluhm was a graduate student. She loved animals too. She was pas- life. His customers always loved him He was a TA at Virginia Tech. He cared sionate about doing something about because they would bring their com- about water resources—something we child poverty. Part of the reason she puters to him and he was one of the few actually are going to be talking about went into education was she believed people who knew how to fix them. here pretty soon—something not a lot she needed to live her life in a way that He did a lot of stuff outside of his fas- of graduate students think about. He was going to reach out and eradicate cination with computers. He loved cared deeply about a just distribution the scourge of child poverty. rollerblading, whether it was in be- of water assets across the country, and Purple was her favorite color, and so tween classes or going out for long that is what he was working on at Vir- everybody at her funeral wore the color rollerblading expeditions on nice days. ginia Tech. purple. He loved movies, and he loved music. But his real love was for God. He was She was a huge UConn basketball He played the piano, and he actually dedicated to building a relationship fan. In particular, she was a big fan of sang at a local coffeehouse. He had a through his church with his God. the UConn women’s basketball team. fondness for language. He had strong He was one of the friendliest guys So if Lauren is looking down from up opinions too. He was part of the debate one could ever meet, his friends said. above, she is very happy because her club at Austin Prep, where he went to He had a smile for everybody. UConn women are national champions school. He talked in every single one of He was a big sports fan. Brian grew again. She would have been watching these classes. We know these kids who up with a passion for sports, particu- that game last night, and hopefully she always have something to say, and larly baseball, and his favorite team was. Ross was definitely one of them. was the Detroit Tigers. He was one of Lauren Rousseau was right there. He loved life. He sought to make these guys who follow everything Her dream was within her grasp, what other people laugh. He used his music about their favorite team. He watched she had worked for all of her life, and to do that. One of his classmates, Liz all the games, but when the Tigers in an instant it was gone. Hardwick, remembered his many quali- weren’t playing in the winter and in

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.028 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 the early spring, he would be analyzing themselves. But I want to make sure and Dylan and Benjamin who are—and every statistic from the past season guns stay in the ‘‘legal’’ category and Jesse, there is Jesse—who are alive and getting ready for the next season. don’t leach into the ‘‘illegal’’ category. today because Adam Lanza had to He also loved Virginia Tech sports, es- That is why 90 percent of Americans switch clips. He only had to do it about pecially football and basketball. He think we should have a law in this Na- 6 times to get off 154 bullets. We don’t was one of those people others would tion that provides for universal, man- exactly understand why, but he didn’t see on TV who came to all of the games datory background checks for every- actually discharge all of his 30-round with the colors on their chests to show body who buys a gun. That is a really clips. Sometimes he only shot about 10 their support. simple thing to do. or 15 bullets before he switched, but His family says he will be remem- This is just a sampling of the lives some of them he went straight bered for his love of God, family, that could have been protected. The through. He only had to switch clips we friends, the Detroit Tigers, and Vir- gun used in Newtown went through a think about 6 times to get off 154 bul- ginia Tech. He was lost that day, April background check, but so many of the lets in 10 minutes. 16, 2007, as well. guns used to kill boys and girls and If we had on the books today a law Ryan Christopher Clark was known young adults and men and women in such as the law we had back in the to his friends as ‘‘Stack.’’ He main- our cities don’t go through background 1990s and early 2000s that restricted tained a 4.0 GPA when he was a student checks. We think about 40 percent of ammunition clips to 10 rounds—an at Virginia Tech, and he was a kid who guns sold across this country don’t go amendment Senator BLUMENTHAL and I had a mastery of science. He had a tri- through background checks. will bring to the floor next week, ei- ple major. I didn’t even know one could One of the tragedies in this long line ther an amendment or in a separate have a triple major, but Stack had a is directly relevant to this bill. At Col- bill—that shooter would have had to triple major in psychology, biology, umbine High School, the gun used was change ammunition clips 15 times—9 and English. Can my colleagues imag- bought outside of the background more opportunities for kids to run out ine what Stack was going to be able to check system, and the friend of the of the classroom. I know we can’t guar- do with his life? Can we imagine what shooter’s who bought the gun said after antee that things would have been dif- he would have been able to contribute the incident that the reason she bought ferent, but let me tell my colleagues in his life with a triple major? it with the method she did was because there are an awful lot of parents in He was a leader on campus. He played had she gone to a gun store, it wouldn’t Newtown who believe their sons or baritone in the Marching Virginians have passed the background check. daughters might likely be alive today university band, and he was a resident That is the gun show loophole. What had we continued to have a restriction adviser. So he was doing great things has it been—a decade-plus since Col- limiting ammunition clips to 10 on campus and passing along a lot of umbine, and we still haven’t closed the rounds. knowledge to kids underneath him. gun show loophole? We still haven’t What we know is that in Tucson, peo- His friends said: He was a wonderful made the collective decision that we ple would be alive today because that part of our baritone section. He was should make sure criminals don’t buy incident absolutely stopped when the fun. He was loving. He was a delightful guns? She said she couldn’t have shooter switched clips. It was during person to be around. He cared so much bought the gun if she went to a li- the transfer of ammunition magazines for other people. He would befriend censed gun dealer because it would that he was tackled. We know that if anyone. He was a light and he was a have been prohibited. So a bunch of he had 10 rounds rather than a higher joy. kids died at Columbine High School. number, there would still be people Ryan Christopher Clark was going to Someone could make the argument alive there. do great things with his life. He was a that if the gun hadn’t gotten in their We know what happened in the movie student leader. At his young age, he hands that way, it might have gotten theater in Aurora. That guy walked had already shown a compassion for his in their hands another way. I get it. into the movie theater with a 100-round fellow students by being a resident ad- Nothing we are talking about guaran- drum. What on Earth is the reason why viser. He had shown a talent for music tees that another Sandy Hook isn’t somebody needs a 100-round drum? It by going out and performing in the going to happen, and it certainly can’t jammed because these guys are ama- band, and he was a triple major who guarantee that our streets are going to teurs. They have not done this before. was probably going to do something all of a sudden be safer overnight. But People say: It is not going to make a great in the scientific field in this if we make it a little bit harder to get difference—10 rounds, 30 rounds—be- country. But Stack didn’t get to live that gun, if we make it a little bit cause it takes 3 seconds to switch clips, that dream because, along with so more difficult for a criminal to get his so it is not going to provide any dif- many others, he was gunned down that hands on a weapon, the chances look a ferent outcome. day at Virginia Tech. whole lot better to survive on the For a professional shooter, it takes 3 Virginia Tech, Newtown, Aurora, streets of our cities or in our schools seconds. But for a nervous 21-year-old Tucson—these are just the mass shoot- and mosques and movie theaters. kid, hyped up on adrenaline, it is a dif- ings. I will keep on going, but these As Senator BLUMENTHAL pointed out, ferent thing. Five kids escaped in New- victims just don’t end. Stack on top of I can absolutely make the case that if town; the shooting stopped in Tucson; that 40, 50, 60 people every day being we had stronger laws on the books the shooting stopped when the gun killed on our streets. It is important to today, Newtown may not have hap- jammed upon exchange of magazines in talk about these victims. That is why I pened, and even if it did happen, some Aurora. People are alive today because wanted to come to the floor today to of these kids would be alive today. there is something that happens when do this, because if we don’t do some- What happened in one of those class- you have to exchange magazines in thing in the next 2 weeks, these lists rooms is instructive. A handful of kids these incidents of mass violence. More are going to grow. survived because Victoria Soto put exchanges of magazines mean more The illegal guns used on the streets them into a closet, and when the shoot- kids alive today. of Chicago and Bridgeport and New ing was over, they were discovered in Let me talk to you about Porshe Fos- Haven and Washington, DC, and New that closet. ter. She was 15 years old when she was York weren’t always illegal guns. They Another set of kids survived a dif- killed over the Thanksgiving holiday were legal guns before they became il- ferent way. When Lanza went to switch last year in Chicago. She had five sis- legal guns. Somewhere along the line, magazines, there was a delay in the ters—six daughters, and Porshe was the their status transferred. The question shooting and a bunch of kids ran out of youngest of them. Porshe was 15, and is, What can we do to stop that transfer the classroom. Five of them—six were she was shot in the back of the head from happening? found in the closet, and five of them when she was standing with her best I believe in the second amendment. I ran out of the classroom when Lanza friends in a backyard during a believe in the protection that it affords decided to switch magazine clips. sleepover. people to own a gun, to be able to hunt There are five kids who don’t look The intended victim was a gang-re- or to shoot for sport or to protect much different from Ana and Daniel lated individual. They were targeting

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:24 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.029 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2529 somebody else, but she got hit. Twen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I was asked a question not long ago ty-five shots were fired, by the way. ator from Oklahoma. about this. It was on a national TV Twenty-five shots were fired. Porshe Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask show. I was actually down at the bor- was the only victim that was hit. unanimous consent that I be recog- der at the time, the Mexican border. She was a sophomore at ACE Tech. It nized as in morning business for 10 They asked the question: Why is Amer- is a charter school that specializes in minutes. ica so wrong? He talked about a poll getting kids ready for college in archi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without that was taken where the results were tecture and construction and engineer- objection, it is so ordered. 90 to 3. The question that was asked ing. This is exactly the kind of student Mr. INHOFE. First of all, Madam was: Do you believe we ought to have we wanted, where, on the floor of the President, let me say, I certainly sym- stronger background checks? Senate and the House of Representa- pathize with the tragedy that took I said: Fine. If you were to ask that tives, we are all the time clamoring for place and those who lost family mem- same question—90 percent of the peo- more girls to go into STEM edu- bers. Having 20 kids and grandkids my- ple, by the way, answered: Yes, we need cation—into science, technology, engi- self, I am probably in a better position to have stronger background checks. neering, and math. Porshe was doing to sympathize with that than many But if you asked the question: Do you it. She was living up to our expecta- others are. believe we should have stronger back- tions. She was going to a charter I have to say I think somewhat of a ground checks on the law-abiding citi- school. It was going to get her ready to disservice is being done to some of zens and not the criminal element, go into a career in architecture, con- these families. It is almost akin to say- then I can assure you, it would be like struction or engineering. Imagine what ing we are looking at legislation that 99 to nothing the other way. she could have done if she lived beyond would have prevented that from hap- That is the thing. That is the one the age of 15. pening—and that is not the case—or we thing people just overlook. We can pass She played volleyball and she played are looking at legislation that would all the laws we want, and the criminal basketball. She sang in the church preclude something such as this hap- element is going to sit back and smile. choir. She loved art. Her classmates ac- pening again. Is anyone naive enough not to think, tually honored her death by holding an I listened to my colleagues on the not to believe that regardless of back- art sale in her memory. Because funer- right side, on the Republican side, and ground checks, a criminal element can als are expensive, especially in inner- on the left, the Democratic side, and find someone who can go and get a gun, city Chicago, they used the proceeds they all have good ideas and they all make $100, and they have a gun. But from the art sale to pay for Porshe’s are sincere in wanting to do something the ratio changes and not in a healthy funeral. and maybe I am looking at it too sim- way. Let me tell you, that is no small ex- plistically. Because I look at the sec- In a way I think it is a disservice to pense. We do not think about that, but ond amendment, I look at what histori- an awful lot of people who have had one of the biggest issues in Hartford, cally has been our privilege in exer- tragedies in their lives to believe we CT, today—a city that has had rel- cising our right to keep and bear are doing something that is truly going atively low gun violence this year but arms—I mean since the very begin- to change that when, in fact, I do not on an average year can have a couple ning—then I see and I have lived believe it is. dozen gun deaths—is how do you pay through, on the State and on the Fed- With that, I yield the floor and sug- for the funerals, how do you come up eral level, all kinds of efforts of people gest the absence of a quorum. with the money as a community to pay to think: We can do something about The PRESIDING OFFICER. The for a funeral every other week in a gun violence, and let’s do it by back- clerk will call the roll. small, little city such as Hartford. ground checks, let’s check everybody The assistant legislative clerk pro- Porshe’s friends decided to do an art out there, let’s do it, and let’s approach ceeded to call the roll. sale to pay for her funeral. the gun shows. Mr. MURPHY. I ask unanimous con- Her family and friends remember her Let’s talk about all these things that sent that the order for the quorum call as happy, as friendly, as a great stu- could be done. We could restrict the be rescinded. dent, always busy, someone ‘‘you number of the cartridges and the maga- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. couldn’t be quiet around.’’ zines and all these things, but it is all HEINRICH). Without objection, it is so Her five sisters had planned to give predicated on one assumption, which I ordered. their youngest sister a guitar for cannot buy. That assumption is that Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I rise Christmas. She was killed on November somehow we think that the criminal again to continue my attempt on the 26, 2012, about a month before she was element will single out this one law to floor of the Senate today, without going to get that guitar. comply with. holding up the Senate or allowing oth- I know there are other people who Let’s look at the facts. When we look ers to speak their mind, to really draw are here to speak, and so I will yield at what they are trying to do, anything attention to the names, faces, and re- the floor at this time. But I will be that is up that we are going to be vot- ality behind this chart. This is prob- back today and tomorrow to talk about ing on in the next 2 or 3 weeks—how- ably difficult to see for some of my col- more victims. I just think we need to ever long it takes—is going to, in some leagues because it represents the over tell their stories. I just think the peo- way, restrict the number of firearms. I 3,300 people who have died since De- ple need to know who these people are think we would all agree with that. cember 14, since the Newtown tragedy. because there are going to be more of Whose firearms will they restrict? Over 3,300 people have died from gun vi- them if things do not change, and we They would restrict the firearms of olence since December 14 and are rep- have the power this week and next law-abiding citizens. That means the resented by all of these individual figu- week to do something about it—not to ratio between guns owned by the crimi- rines, which are so many that the pic- eliminate future victims. We are never, nal element versus the law-abiding cit- ture becomes muddled. It almost looks ever going to change the fact that peo- izen is going to change. like lines going back and forth. Behind ple are going to pick up a gun, are When they talk about the back- each one of those small, tiny figurines going to violate the law, are going to ground checks, I cannot imagine any- is a story of a man, woman, little boy, shoot to kill. We are never going to one being so naive as not to know that or little girl who had their life stolen stop that. But we can do something to if the criminal element is going to get from them and from their family pre- reduce these numbers so next year at a gun, they are going to get a gun. maturely because of gun violence. this time or 2 years at this time we Sure, they would kind of like to have I wish there weren’t enough material cannot come down to the floor with a some of these restrictions. They would to fill today, tomorrow, and next week, binder full of victims just from the like to have that background check be- when others aren’t on the floor speak- past 3 months. cause that eliminates the numbers of ing. I wish there weren’t 3,300 stories in I will be back later today and tomor- guns in circulation. So the criminal the last several months alone with re- row to continue to do this, but at this element is the only one who is not af- spect to people who have died from gun time I yield the floor. fected. violence, but that is the reality.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.031 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2530 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 The reality is that this Nation has pleted her training and would be in a want to be around. He would always become callous over time to the every- residency or be a practicing OB/GYN. pick up our spirits in a gloomy situa- day incidents of gun violence that have We spend a lot of time talking about tion. happened on our streets, in my cities of the fact that we need more preventive He was on the wrestling team. He Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Haven, care doctors practicing medicine. loved playing golf. He was going to and also in your cities of New York, Cassie was gunned down that day. She serve our country. He was 17 years old, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Baltimore. didn’t get to live her dream or con- and Corey never was allowed to live We have come to believe, over the tribute to a field we know is very im- out that dream. course of the last 20 years since we portant. Kelly Ann Fleming was a year young- passed the last major gun violence ini- That wasn’t the only thing Cassie er when she died in Columbine. She was tiative, through the Congress, that we cared about. She loved the outdoors 16 years old. She was an aspiring au- can’t do anything, that we are power- and spent a lot of time in thor. At 16 years old, she had written a less. We have come to delude ourselves Breckenridge. She had a passion for great deal of poetry, prose, and a lot of of that fact. rock climbing, snowboarding, back- stories about her own life. She actually I gave my first speech on the floor of packing, camping, and taking photo- started writing her autobiography. the Senate this morning, and I have graphs of everything she did so she What an amazing thing for a 16-year- been moved to come back and spend could record her love of the outdoors. old. She was writing an autobiography time today talking about the victims She was buried along with a poem covering her life from age 5 until the as a means to try to move us to do her mother wrote: point she died. The library was what something. We know what we need to Bunny Rabbit, my friend, my daughter, my Kelly loved. Her mom said it was her do because people out there have al- mentor, I will love you and miss you forever. one true safe place. She felt right in ready decided what it is. Ninety per- I promise to take good care of your kitty. I that library surrounded by learning cent of Americans support the uni- know that Jesus is elated to have you in His and books. Ironically, in school her fa- versal background checks. Two-thirds presence. vorite subject was math. Her favorite of Americans support a ban on these Cassie would have been an amazing math teacher served as a pallbearer at high-capacity magazine clips. We person and was an amazing person. She her funeral. haven’t figured it out for ourselves. was 17 years old. She hadn’t yet told us Like most teenagers, she was very I wish to speak for a few minutes exactly who she was going to be, but much looking forward to obtaining her about these victims. I will start these she was going to do great things. She driver’s license. She wanted to get out remarks with a school near Littleton, was killed that day at Columbine High there in a Mustang or Corvette and CO. Columbine High School, on the School. drive around with her friends. She was morning of April 20, 1999, was visited Steven Robert Curnow was the very bright and very good at math. We by two very disturbed young men who youngest victim at Columbine. He was need more mathematicians, scientists, walked into the school. Their names only 14 years old when he died. He and engineers in this country. were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, loved his family. All of these kids loved Kelly Ann, who was 16 then, would be and they opened fire in the school. their families, but he was especially about 30 today. She was not allowed to They killed and injured 12 more. It was close with his family. He was pretty fulfill those dreams. at the time certainly one of the worst close to his true passion as well—‘‘Star This is what happened at Columbine. instances of mass shooting in a school Wars.’’ He was 14 years old, and his par- The two students who walked into the this country had ever seen. Of course, ents said he watched the ‘‘Star Wars’’ school and started shooting couldn’t it has now been eclipsed by what hap- movies so much he could speak every get the weapons themselves. They had pened at Virginia Tech and what hap- single line of the movies in sync with a friend buy them for them. The friend pened in my State last December 14 at the actors. He was also a great athlete. knew that if they went to a gun dealer- Sandy Hook Elementary School. At the He played soccer, trained very hard, ship, they wouldn’t get them because time, it shocked the Nation because we and even worked locally at 14 years old they wouldn’t be able to pass the back- didn’t know how to comprehend 10 stu- as a part-time referee. He wanted to go ground check. They went outside the dents going about their day at Col- into the Navy. He was a pretty well- background check to get them a dif- umbine High School being gunned rounded kid who loved ‘‘Star Wars,’’ ferent way—a way thousands of people down by 2 of their fellow students. Now was a great athlete, and wanted to go go to buy their weapons. The vast ma- we are grappling with how to com- into the military and become a Navy jority of them do this not because they prehend the deaths of 20 kids, 6- and 7- pilot. He was great with young kids are trying to get around the back- year-olds at Sandy Hook Elementary too. This is what his friends remember, ground check system but because in School. how compassionate he was with young private sales, gun shows, and on the Although it has now been almost 14 kids. He was 14 years old. Internet, we largely don’t require back- years since the incident on April 20— We already had this window into who ground checks. This is one of the we are about to come up on the anni- this kid was going to be. He loved hav- things we are attempting to fix this versary—we shouldn’t forget the people ing fun and watching ‘‘Star Wars.’’ He week. who were killed. Before the next Sen- was great with kids as a volunteer ref- There is a belief among many of the ator comes down wishing to speak, I eree. He wanted to be a Navy pilot and family members of the Columbine vic- will speak about those kids who were serve our country. He never was able to tims that had background checks been killed in Columbine. do these things because he was gunned universal, possibly the two shooters in Cassie Bernall was a really sweet, down in Columbine High School. the school might not have had those kind little girl. She was active in her Corey DePooter is remembered as a weapons. We can’t guarantee that. I church. Her work in her church meant really courageous kid. He was 17 years don’t want to stand here and say that so much to her that after she died her old, and he had a very strong sense of we know for certain that if we had uni- parents set up the Cassie Bernall Foun- right and wrong, maybe stronger than versal background checks, Kelly Ann, dation, which provides support to he needed to have. When he was grow- Corey, Steven, Cassie, and all the rest youth ministries. I was a part of my ing up and played cops and robbers, he would still be alive today. We don’t youth group in my church growing up, refused to be the robber. He needed al- know that, but chances are a little bet- and I know what a wonderful connec- ways to be law enforcement in that ter. Those families want to have had tion it is, both to God and to your fel- equation. He wanted to be a marine, as the chance that their sons and daugh- low adolescents. It was a big deal for Steven did. Steven wanted to be a Navy ters might be alive today, might have her. She also was fascinated with the pilot; Corey wanted to be a marine. kids of their own today, might be an United Kingdom, and she had a dream After he died, he was named an hon- OB/GYN, a Navy pilot, a marine, or to attend Cambridge University. She orary marine in a ceremony in front of mathematician. They would take those wanted to become an obstetrician. his grave. chances. Today Cassie would be about 30 years His friend Austin said: People said So when we think about these vic- old. She would most likely have com- Corey was just the kind of guy you tims, we need to think about the real

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.033 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2531 policy consequences of what we are de- birthday was actually the following had a career ahead of him. He was bating, and while nothing we are talk- week, and she was telling friends that going to be a basketball star. He was ing about is going to guarantee these she couldn’t wait for her party. She going to the ABA, and a lot of people students who died would be alive was enjoying her friend’s party but she who go to the ABA get to the NBA. today, boy, it gives it a much better couldn’t wait for her Sweet 16 party, So TJ decided he needed to get some chance it would have happened. That is which was happening the following sleep. Unfortunately, TJ never made it just a sampling of the victims in one week. home that night. He pulled over to get high school, in Columbine High School. After the party, her friend’s mom in- a little sleep on the side of the road What we know is the names reflected vited some of the girls to sort of take and a young man, seeing the three boys by these little figurines are largely not the party to her house. It was a warm, asleep on the side of the road, pulled up victims of mass shootings. These are beautiful night, and the girls were sit- next to them and tried to rob them. just the victims since December 14. ting out on the porch when two men When TJ woke up and realized he was These are folks who just got killed by came by and opened fire on the porch being robbed in his car, he resisted, and a stray bullet or as a result of a crime before driving away in a car. Two hours the young man shot and killed him. of passion or, as I explained in an ear- before she was shot, there was a rob- On the verge of a career in the ABA, lier speech today, just because they bery just down the street, and some- a basketball standout in Hamden, CT, were taking out the trash from McDon- how this was connected to it. and at Morgan State University, just ald’s or going to check out some com- She was 15 years old. She was sitting sleeping in his car trying to get a few motion in their housing complex or on the porch with her friends, basking winks before he drove home, being re- driving home after dropping off kids at in the afterglow of a wonderful Sweet sponsible so he didn’t do something school. They were doing what they nor- 16 party, getting ready for her 16th silly like get in a car while he was mally do every day. And because some- birthday and she was gunned down by a tired and run off the road and hurt body else had a gun, legally or ille- drive-by shooting. That is Keijahnae somebody else, he gets robbed and shot. gally, they got killed. Robinson. Just part of the background noise of So let’s talk about some of those vic- Blair Belcher was 17. the people who die every day in this tims as well. As I said, I am going to be This is all Bridgeport, CT. I am just country—30, 40, 50, 60 a day. I will come down here as much as I can today, to- giving one city in 2011 and 2012. down here today and tomorrow and morrow, and next week telling these Blair was dreaming of one day going next week, and I won’t get through a stories as a means to hopefully inspire to college. He wanted to go into elec- few days’ worth of shootings all across us to some bipartisan action on the tronics and computing. He was walking this country. The truth is a lot of these floor. I hope some good things are hap- through an east side park in Bridgeport shootings in cities are happening with pening today while I am down on the on July 31—he was about to enter his illegal guns. Senate floor. I hope we are coming to- senior year at Harding High School— The opponents of gun legislation are gether on this issue. But if these sto- when three shooters gunned him down right in one respect. They are right ries don’t move people, I am not sure in the middle of that park—a life cut that the majority of crimes are not what does. short. committed by assault weapons. Assault On January 7 of last year, 2012, a 14- He was a real talent. Blair had a weapons have become the weapon of year-old boy in Bridgeport, CT, by the penchant for fixing things. He could fix choice for mass shooters. That is true. name of Justin Thompson, and his anything. His mom said it was like a But the reality is these kids I am talk- friends from Barnum Middle School gift, and he wanted to do something ing about—Justin and Keijahnae and went to a Sweet 16 party for a neigh- with it when he graduated. He was 1 Blair and TJ—were killed by hand borhood girl on the east end of Bridge- year away from graduating. He was 17 guns, most of them illegal hand guns. port. Justin was a popular eighth grad- years old and killed in Bridgeport, CT. Why do we have so many illegal hand er. His friends and his family thought He was just in a park and he got guns out there? Because we haven’t he looked exactly like Alex Rodriguez. gunned down in a cross fire. done anything about it here. We allow Down in Bridgeport that is a good It is hard to even figure out why 40 percent of guns to be sold in this thing; up in the rest of Connecticut, these things happen, but they just get country without background checks. maybe not so much. built into the background noise of Hopefully, we are getting closer to The parents of the girl had rented a urban gun violence. changing that, but we don’t have a hall and hired a DJ. There was no alco- ‘‘TJ’’ Mathis was good at a lot of Federal law making gun trafficking il- hol, there was no fighting. It was just things in Bridgeport. Excuse me, TJ, I legal. People don’t understand that a regular Sweet 16 party. Eventually, am sorry. TJ was from New Haven. I someone can take a whole bunch of as more kids showed up, it kind of got to know TJ’s father Lenny well. guns out of a store legally, then sell started to get a little too big and the And Lenny will tell you that TJ was them on the street to people who are police had to come and break it up. But good at a lot of things, but basketball legally prohibited from purchasing Justin left the party and began walk- was at the top of the list. He was the guns, and they have not committed a ing down a street nearby with two star of Hamden High School’s team. He Federal gun trafficking violation. other young people when all of a sud- led them to three division titles. He Maybe they have committed a State den two men appeared and started was all-State and he went on to play violation, but they haven’t committed shooting. Justin was hit in the head Division I basketball at Morgan State a Federal violation. and he was killed in the commotion. University and had just been signed to We can’t solve this problem entirely. He was 14 years old. He was walking a minor league basketball contract We are not going to stop bad people home from a Sweet 16 party. He didn’t with the ABA. He was a star. He was from taking guns out on the street and do anything wrong. He wasn’t in the good at a lot of things—this was a doing bad things, but we can substan- wrong place at the wrong time. He was multitalented kid—but basketball was tially decrease the likelihood that an- in the right place at the right time. He his thing. He did well and led his team. other Columbine or Sandy Hook hap- was doing what he was supposed to be He was going on to a career in basket- pens, that another TJ Mathis, a doing that night—walking home from a ball. standup young kid, a basketball star, Sweet 16 party—and he got killed by On a warm Saturday night in Sep- gets gunned down just because he is in guns. That is Justin Thompson. tember 2011, he and his friends went to the wrong place at the wrong time, or Keijahnae Robinson was 15 years old a party honoring another basketball the right place at the right time with when, on July 21, 2012, she was shot. legend—someone we are really proud of the wrong person with the wrong gun. She told her friends she wanted to be in Connecticut, Ryan Gomes of Water- We can do something about it here. the next Mariah Carey. She was a big bury. Ryan went to Providence College, Throughout the day I have been try- singer. She loved to sing and she loved went to the NBA and had a great ca- ing to talk about the variety of vic- to perform. Guess where she went on reer. After leaving the party, his tims, people on the streets of our cities July 20 in Bridgeport, CT. She went to friends realized they were too tired to but also in our schools. So before I a Sweet 16 party as well. Her 16th drive. They were responsible. This kid yield the floor again, I want to go back

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.035 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2532 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 to the reason we are here. I think it is three—you freeze, you run the other tious laugh. You know those laughs important to tell you who the victims way, or you do what Dawn and Mary you hear once and hope you get to hear are, but I think it is particularly im- did. You run to the bullets. That is it again before you leave that person’s portant to tell you who the victims in what she did. Her school was in trou- presence? That was Emilie. Her father Newtown, CT, were because while New- ble, something awful was happening, Robbie described her as bright, cre- town should not have been a tipping and Mary and her principal ran to the ative, and loving. She always wanted point, and it should not have taken gunfire and the gunman. They didn’t to try new things, so much so that at this long for us to have this conversa- run away. 6 years old she was actually learning tion, I think we all recognize we are Now, plenty of people in that school Portuguese. Her father was trying to having this conversation because of the did heroic and courageous things that teach her that and it was part of their 20 6- and 7-year-olds and the 6 adults day—they stowed kids in closets and bond. who were killed that day. And I believe classrooms, they hugged kids as the She was an artist. She loved to draw if we don’t do something about it there bullets rained down, but Mary and with markers and she was talented. At will be another Newtown; that we will Dawn were the first people who died be- 2 years old, she could write her own have another town added to the list of cause they ran right to the bullets. name and she could draw stick figures Aurora and Littleton and Tucson and Mary is a hero not just because of the of her family. She loved art so much Newtown in a matter of weeks or 18 years she spent dedicated to those that her parents Robbie and Alissa months—hopefully longer—if we don’t kids, not just because of all the efforts have decided to spend a part of their take some action. she put in to make that school a better period of mourning and time after that So let me go back, before I yield the place, but because that day she did ev- to set up a fund that honors her cre- floor again today, to talk some more erything in her power to make that ativity. As I said earlier today, what is about the wonderful children and shooting end. She wasn’t successful, amazing is that so many of these fami- adults who were killed in Newtown. but she tried, and we all hope we have lies have dedicated big portions of Mary Sherlach’s husband is here a little bit of Mary Sherlach in us as their time in the horrible 4 months today in DC lobbying on behalf of his well. since trying to figure out ways to bring wife, who was 1 year away from retire- Mary is different than those kids. out some of the goodness and light ment as Sandy Hook’s school psycholo- Those kids had their whole life ahead from these kids’ lives to the rest of the gist when she was murdered that day in of them. We don’t know what they community. So Robbie and Alissa have Sandy Hook Elementary School. He is would have done. So at least we have set up a fund that is going to support here to talk about the insanity of not the benefit of knowing who Mary art programs in schools, so art pro- taking these high-capacity magazines Sherlach was. At least we have the grams have a little more resources so off the streets. That is his passion. He benefit of knowing the wonder that was other kids similar to their daughter believes there is a chance there would her life. But she deserved retirement, can experience the joys of drawing and be boys and girls alive today in New- and Bill deserved to have his wife, who painting. She was learning Portuguese. town had Adam Lanza had 10 bullets had worked so hard and had spent all This is somebody with a very inquisi- per magazine instead of 30 bullets per these nights trying to make her school tive, thoughtful mind, and we never are magazine. a better place—he deserved to have her going to get to know who Emilie But let me tell you about Mary be- for their retirement up in the Finger Parker was going to grow up to be. cause Mary is pretty amazing. Mary Lakes, and he doesn’t. Jack Pinto was 6 years old, and he had worked for years at Sandy Hook Ben Wheeler, whom I talked about was already a jock. He loved the New Elementary. She had actually been earlier today, was a very gifted musi- York Giants, and he had an idol whose there for 18 years. She was not just the cian. Ben was 6 years old when he died name is Victor Cruz. He loved Victor school psychologist, she was involved that morning. Just before December 14, Cruz. He followed everything Victor in basically every school improvement he had performed his first recital at 6 Cruz did. He was ecstatic when the Gi- effort you can imagine. She was a years old. I have a 4-year-old at home, ants won the Super Bowl and Cruz member of the District Conflict Reso- and I know what an amazing thing it is played a big part. Victor was wonderful lution Committee, the Safe School Cli- to have a child be that dedicated to enough in the days following the trag- mate Committee, ironically, the Crisis music that by 6 years old they can per- edy to honor Jack’s memory. During Intervention Team, and the Student form a recital. He loved trains. They the game after the tragedy, he wore Instructional Team. She cared so deep- would go to New York City a lot, and writing on his cleats and his gloves ly about the school, it wasn’t just a 9- he was always more interested in that said: Jack Pinto, my hero. Jack to-5 or 9-to-3 or 7-to-3 job for her. She riding the subway and the train than was buried in a Victor Cruz jersey. put in all sorts of extra hours to make he was in visiting the museums or the He was also a wrestler. I didn’t even the school better. She was 1 year away zoos. That is not uncommon for kids. know that you wrestled at 6 years old, from retirement, and, oh, how she and Maybe doing a recital at age 6 is but but Jack did, and he was pretty good at Bill were looking forward to retire- loving trains is not. it. To show how tough Jack was, in one ment. They had a little cabin on the More than music, more than trains, of his practices, he lost a tooth. When Finger Lakes—still have a cabin in up- more than subways, though, Ben loved a 6-year-old loses a tooth, you would state New York—and they loved going his 9-year-old brother Nate. The two of think that would start the tears flow- up there. They had planned on spend- them did everything together. They ing. But Jack didn’t cry when he lost ing a good part of their retirement up played soccer, they swam. As I said that tooth. He just took the tooth, there when they weren’t spending time this morning in my first speech before handed it to his coach, and went back with their daughters Katie and Maura. this Chamber, on the way to school wrestling with a gapped-tooth smile on Mary loved gardening, reading, and that morning Ben told his mom he his face. That was Jack. He was tough. she loved the theater. She was a great wanted to be an architect when he He was an athlete. He had persever- neighbor. She was a very beautiful per- grew up, but he was going to be a pale- ance. Imagine who Jack Pinto was son, who, on that day, did something a ontologist because that was what his going to be when he grew up. We are lot of us hope we would do, though we brother Nate was going to be, and he not going to know because of what hap- can’t really be sure. About 9:30 that wanted to do everything Nate did. pened that day. morning, Adam Lanza blasted his way Ben was going to be a pretty amazing I get it. I know there is a risk of through the locked doors of Sandy man, that kind of musical talent at an overselling policy change. I don’t want Hook Elementary School. The prin- early age, a love for his family, and, to make it sound like I am coming cipal of the school, Dawn Hochsprung, unfortunately, Ben Wheeler lost his life down to the floor and telling you these and Mary were meeting, I believe, when that day. stories because these kids are going to they heard the bullets and the glass Emilie Parker was 6 years old. The come back to life if we pass some bill crash. They must have known some- one thing you will hear about with re- or that we are going to guarantee this thing horrible had happened. There are spect to Emilie when you talk to the doesn’t happen again. I don’t want to two instincts at that point—maybe Parker family is that she had an infec- oversell what we are going to do.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.036 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2533 But the 3,300 people who have died to evaluate his plan and support it so live high today on the theory somehow since Newtown should tell us that they can put the country and the State it will be paid back in the future by the enough is enough and that we should and the city on a sound financial path. people there. How will it be paid back, try something. Even if we are not abso- Once again, we have had a very irre- interest of $763 billion in 1 year? This is lutely, 100 percent, ironclad guaranteed sponsible approach from the President not responsible. It is an unsustainable that what we are going to do is going on the question of budgeting. course. to work, we should try something. Be- A few weeks ago, this Senate passed Erskine Bowles, who was chosen by cause it is not OK that somebody can a budget for the first time in 4 years. President Obama to head the fiscal walk into a school with a military- The law requires that the Senate bring commission, former President Bill style assault weapon and shoot bullets up a budget in committee by April 1. It Clinton’s Chief of Staff, a successful at the rate of six per second. It is not requires that it be brought to the floor businessman, he told us in the Budget OK that a couple students can do an and passed by April 15. This is the first Committee a couple years ago this Na- end-around on the background check time in 4 years that process has been tion is on an unsustainable course. system to buy guns so they can walk completed; whereas, every year the This Nation ‘‘has never faced a more into their high school and kill 10 people House of Representatives has produced predictable financial crisis.’’ and wound as many more. It is not all a budget, a responsible budget that What he is saying is that if we do not right that there are thousands of ille- would put America on a sound finan- change the course we are on, it is guar- gal guns on our streets that are used to cial course. anteed we are going to have a financial kill 16- and 17-year-olds on their way This year the Senate passed a budget crisis and we should avoid that. We home from Sweet 16 parties. There are that was irresponsible, did not change have the opportunity to avoid that. We no guarantees that what we are going the debt course of America, left an an- do not have to slash spending, as Con- to do this week and next week is going nual deficit virtually the same as if we gressman RYAN has made clear in his to solve everything, but we have to try had no budget at all. It did not improve budget. You can allow spending to in- crease faster than the growth of infla- something. current law. The Senate budget left us So I am going to continue to come with a very substantial budget deficit tion and still balance the budget. But, down to the floor over the course of the in the 10th year of the budget. oh no, not here, not the President of next few days to talk about these vic- On the other hand, the House, Con- the United States, not the Members of tims—the victims from Newtown, from gressman PAUL RYAN, chairman of the this Senate, the majority. They say we Columbine. Hopefully, later today I Budget Committee, produced a budget cannot live with a 3.4-percent increase in spending every year. We will run the will be able to talk about some of the that balances in 10 years. We have risk. victims from Virginia Tech and Wis- heard great complaints that his plan The President said recently he was cuts spending too much. Do you know consin. Of course, there are just bind- not setting a balanced budget as a goal. that plan did not cut spending? It al- ers full of stories that we could put on That is absolutely true because his lows spending to increase every year this floor regarding urban gun violence budget does not balance. It never for 10 years. It allowed spending to in- that plagues our cities every day. comes close to balancing, has no inten- crease at the rate of 3.4 percent a year, These stories are important because tion of it balancing ever. They use the which is higher than the inflation rate too often we trade in this body in sta- words ‘‘sustainable balance,’’ but it is is expected to be in America. Yet it tistics, that we just talk in terms of not a responsible approach to the busi- balances. politics. Underlying this debate are 20 ness of America. I will talk a minute The Senate budget, on the other little kids in Newtown whose lives were about some of the dangers of this debt hand, has a 5-percent-plus increase in cut short but also thousands upon beyond just the fact that interest is spending every year, leaving us on an thousands of other kids, young adults, going to suck huge amounts of money unsustainable debt path, leaving us in- and adults whose stories deserve to be out of our annual budget that we ought creasing deficits every year, nowhere told. to be using to invest in America. At this point, I yield the floor and I close to balancing the budget. That is How do they do it? When you elimi- suggest the absence of a quorum. not the right path. nate the accounting gimmicks and The PRESIDING OFFICER. The What happened today when the Presi- honestly look at the budget presented clerk will call the roll. dent produced his budget? It is no bet- by the President today, over 10 years, The legislative clerk proceeded to ter, maybe even worse, than the Senate the net deficit reduction is only $119 call the roll. bill. For example, in his budget it billion. Each year that is about $12 bil- Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I ask would add, over the 10-year period, $8.2 lion in deficit reduction. The deficit unanimous consent that the order for trillion in new debt to the Nation. We last year, 2012, was 1,080 billion—1,000- the quorum call be rescinded. now have already $17 trillion in gross plus billion, and we are going to aver- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without debt. This would add another $8.2 tril- age an $12 billion reduction in the def- objection, it is so ordered. lion to it; over $25 trillion will then be icit under this budget? That is vir- Mr. SESSIONS. I ask unanimous con- the debt of the United States. The 1- tually nothing. Properly accounted for, sent to speak as if in morning business. year interest in 2023, under the Presi- properly analyzed, based on the current The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without dent’s budget, would amount to $763 law, I am correct in giving you those objection, it is so ordered. billion. numbers. It is not an unfair number. THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET The base defense budget is about $540 What about this year that we are in, Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, the billion; $763 billion exceeds Social Se- 2013, that will end September 30? Does President submitted his budget today. curity—which is the largest expendi- he cut anything from our spending It is very late. It was due February 4. ture. It exceeds Medicare in spending. level this year? No. Spending and debt It is the first time since the Budget It would be the largest single item in increases. The debt is projected to in- Act was passed in 1974 that a President the budget and the fastest growing. It crease, between now and September 30, submitted a budget after the Senate is still assuming relatively low interest by $61 billion, more than where it has voted on one and after the House rates, which are extraordinarily low at would be under current. So it increases has voted on one and both passed budg- this moment but could surge in the fu- the debt this year. et resolutions. That was a dis- ture and would hurt us substantially. What about next year? Does it in- appointing event. The President, as the How much is that? We now spend crease or reduce the deficit? It in- Chief Executive, as any mayor, as any about $3.7 trillion, so $763 billion is a creases the deficit again by approxi- Governor normally that I have ever lot of money just to pay the interest. mately $100 billion-plus—$100 billion. I heard of, wants to be the one who lays The Federal highway bill today is believe that figure is correct. I might out a financial plan for his city or about $40 billion, a little over $40 bil- be incorrect on that figure, but it defi- State to advocate for what would make lion. Interest on the debt would be $763 nitely increases the deficit this year by the State and city better and then en- billion in 1 year. $61 billion. courage the members of the board of Young people, we are indeed bor- Taxes go up by $1.1 trillion—$1,100 directors—the Senate and the House— rowing from their future to spend and billion—in new taxes. So taxes go up

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.038 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2534 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 $1.1 trillion, on top of the $650 billion in agencies and departments into shape. There have been studies in Europe. new taxes that were passed in January The OMB is the one who answers to the The International Monetary Fund, the of this year and on top of the $1 trillion President. The OMB is the one who European Central Bank, and the Bank in new taxes passed as part of says: Mr. Secretary of the Interior, Mr. for International Settlements all have ObamaCare, the health care reform. Secretary of Defense, we don’t have economists, and they are concerned That is another huge tax increase. that much money. You can’t spend about high debt in Europe. They have But we are told not to worry because that much money. I send your budget also been analyzing these figures. All this is a balanced plan. As we talked back to you. Take another $10 billion, three of those, through an independent about the budget plan that was on the take another $5 billion out of it. They process of analyzing the impact of high floor—and we had 50 hours of debate, a are the heavies. So she is asking for a debt on economic growth—studies indi- lot of amendments, a lot of discus- tough job, no doubt about it. cated that high debt slows growth. sion—our colleagues kept using the At that hearing, I talked a little bit Well, how much? Looking at each one word ‘‘balanced.’’ They refer to their about a great concern of mine. My con- of those three studies, the U.S. debt is budget, the majority’s—Democratic cern is that our debt is so large now in the range that pulls down growth. budget that they laid forward, they that it is pulling down economic I say to my colleagues today, please used ‘‘balanced’’ over and over again. I growth in America. Let me repeat that. be aware that there is a cost to bor- put up a chart. The numbers kept run- Our debt is so high it is pulling down rowing and spending and adding debt. ning up. We got to 100, 200 times the economic growth, and slow growth The budget the President submitted word ‘‘balanced’’ was used in 15 or 18 means fewer jobs created. The dif- today would add $8.2 trillion in debt. It hours of debate on their side; ‘‘bal- ference between 2 percent growth and 3 would take us from $17 trillion to $25 anced,’’ over 200 times. percent growth is 1 million jobs, ac- trillion in debt. Even with a growing My staff went back and reviewed the cording to Christina Romer, who economy, we would still remain well numbers and it was 230 times. What do served President Obama in the White over 90 percent GDP to debt, and that they mean by the word ‘‘balanced’’? House: So the more growth we have, is an unacceptable figure. Why did they use the word ‘‘balanced’’? the more jobs are created. The less It is deeply disappointing that we do Because some pollster somewhere, growth we have, fewer jobs are created. not have leadership in the White House some political consultant, said people We had a disastrous jobs report last that would lead us to get off of this like to hear that. They want a bal- Friday. It was terrible and deeply dis- path. anced budget. appointing. What it said was we added Mr. President, I see the majority Their budget didn’t balance, nowhere 88,000 jobs when they were predicting leader is here. I know he has extraor- close. So they had several spins on it,— we would add about 200,000. But more dinary duties and challenges in his first, they wanted a lot of people who significantly, 486,000 people dropped busy life, and I will just wrap up and were not following closely to hear the out of the labor force, had given up say that I am disappointed in the word ‘‘balanced’’ and believed they had finding work—almost one-half million, President’s budget. It does not change a balanced budget when they didn’t and less than 100,000 got a job. That the debt course of America in any way. come close to having a budget that bal- was a very dangerous trend. It is not a responsible plan for the fu- It comes around to this question: Is anced. They never said the budget bal- ture. It does not balance the budget our debt so high that it adversely im- anced because they knew that was not ever and has no intention of ever bal- pacts economic growth? Let me explain true. They had deficits every year, $400 ancing the budget. All he talks about is it this way. The Rogoff-Reinhart study billion-plus every year. So a balanced some sort of sustainable debt course. and book that they wrote analyzes debt approach was what I think people who We cannot continue on that course, as in America and it calculated it and kind of kept up with things believed— over the world. They examined econo- Mr. Erskine Bowles, his own fiscal that we would raise taxes by $1 trillion, mies worldwide. What they found was commission chairman, has told us. we would cut spending by $1 trillion, I yield the floor. that when debt reaches 90 percent of and this would be a balanced approach. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. the size of your economy, 90 percent of This is the way to reduce our debt and SCHATZ). The majority leader is recog- GDP, growth begins to slow. It slows a deficit: raise taxes and cut spending. nized. median amount of 1 percent, on aver- That is the responsible balanced ap- Mr. REID. Mr. President, I appreciate age much more, as much as 2 percent. proach to getting our fiscal house in my friend yielding. My time on the Growth—GDP growth begins to slow floor is going to be very brief. order. when debt reaches that high a level. But that is not what the budget did. What kind of debt level is it we are UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENT—EXECUTIVE The budget increased taxes by $1.1 tril- dealing with? Many people think, and NOMINATION lion—$1,100 billion—but it increased the President keeps saying, our debt- Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- spending by $964 billion. It did not cut to-GDP ratio is 77 percent. sent that at 4 p.m. today the Senate spending at all. It increased spending. We have examined the Rogoff and proceed to executive session to con- Basically, we ended up with only $119 Reinhart study. Rogoff and Reinhart sider Calendar No. 59; that 2 hours of billion in deficit reduction over 10 used a higher figure because they com- debate be equally divided in the usual years—zero, basically, an insignificant pared countries from around the world, form; that upon the use or yielding amount. So it increases taxes and in- and those were the numbers they had. back of that time, the Senate proceed creases spending. It is the classic When the gross debt reaches 90 percent to vote without intervening action or Democratic weakness, I have to say: of GDP, we begin to have an economic debate on the nomination; that the mo- Tax; spend. Tax more; spend more. decline. Our percentage of gross debt to tion to reconsider be considered made Don’t worry about the deficit. GDP is 104 percent. and laid upon the table with no inter- But somebody needs to be worrying I contend and I believe that the pro- vening action or debate; that no fur- about the deficit because it is a very jections for growth for the last 4 years ther motions be in order; that any re- important matter and we have to deal have all been higher than the growth lated statements be printed in the with it. This morning at the Budget we have actually seen. In fact, it has RECORD; and that President Obama be Committee we had a new nominee, Ms. been much lower than projected—even immediately notified of the Senate’s Sylvia Burwell, for the Director of the by the President and the Congressional action and the Senate then resume leg- Office of Management and Budget, one Budget Office. It appears to me that islative session. of the most important positions in the the gross debt figure being over 100 per- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without entire government. She is a delightful cent is indicative of a slowing growth. objection, it is so ordered. lady and I know she wants to do well. Rogoff and Reinhart are not the only Mr. REID. I note the absence of a She held a position in that office some ones who have done studies. Others quorum. time ago under President Clinton, a have done studies as well. Europe has The PRESIDING OFFICER. The deputy position, and she had some ex- high debt rates. Per capita, we have clerk will call the roll. perience in it, but it is a tough job. We more debt than any country in Europe The legislative clerk proceeded to need somebody who can whip these and even more than Greece. call the roll.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.041 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2535 Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask coming together on one element of this the shadow of her older brother. Some- unanimous consent that the order for debate: background checks. Hopefully, times to his dismay, she followed him the quorum call be rescinded. this will be looked upon as a very good around everywhere and she adored him. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without week in the midst of this debate. So I Her brother Walker and she were big objection, it is so ordered. want to tell my colleagues whom we New York Yankees fans. Even though Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I gave are talking about. she was only 6 years old, when her fam- my first speech on the floor of the Sen- Let me go back to Newtown. I think ily recently went to Boston for a fam- ate this morning. This week and next this is my fourth time on the Senate ily trip, she refused to walk into week, we will be debating one of the floor today, and I still haven’t told my Fenway Park because she was a de- most fundamental issues that come to colleagues about everybody who per- voted Yankees fan. a body such as this: What can we do to ished in that school. Caroline had a wonderful spirit and better protect our kids and our loved The youngest victim that day was we will never know exactly what she ones from unexpected death? I care barely 6 years old. His name was Noah would grow up to be. She died that day. about this issue not just because it is Pozner. He was the youngest victim Jessica Rekos was 6 years old and, as one that is important to the families of and he was the first to be buried. His do so many little 6-year-old girls, she victims in New Haven, Bridgeport, was the first funeral I went to amongst loved everything about animals. Again, Hartford, and others who have been the countless funerals I lost count of. He another trend. This was a couple of victims of routine gun violence in Con- was young, but he was described by his first grade classes full of animal lovers, necticut but, of course, because of what uncle as ‘‘smart as a whip.’’ He had a and even some of their teachers were happened in Sandy Hook. real rambunctious streak. He could be big animal lovers as well. I spoke this morning more broadly a handful for his family and for his Jessica loved horses. So anything about the awful experience of being in twin sister Arielle who was also in that having to do with a horse, she wanted Connecticut, the personal experience of school on Friday morning. She was it. She watched movies about horses, having been at the firehouse that day, luckily in a different class. Arielle sur- she read books about horses, she drew the wonderful experience of having got- vived; her brother did not. pictures about horses, and she wrote ten to know the families of the Sandy He was already a very good reader. stories about horses. She was murdered Hook victims since then, and to have He was one of the youngest kids in his just 11 days before Christmas. She was witnessed the millions of acts of kind- first grade class, but he was a very hoping that Santa would bring her a ness that have showered down upon good reader and he was looking forward cowgirl hat and cowgirl boots, and her Newtown in the days and weeks and to a book he had just bought at a book family even promised her that maybe, months since. That tragedy has become fair. I will butcher the pronunciation, if she was really good, in a couple years the tipping point that has brought us but it was a Ninjago book he bought at she could get her own horse. here to talk about a solution to at a fair he was excited about. She loved going to Cape Cod and she least some of the epidemic gun vio- He was going to a birthday party on especially loved seeing the whales. She lence that for too long has plagued the the following day, Saturday, that he had a fondness for aquatic life as well, streets of our cities but now comes to was just bubbling about in the hours a big fan of the movie ‘‘Free Willie,’’ us in waves of mass shootings hap- before he went to school. As is true for and she loved going to the cape to see pening in our schools and in our movie so many of the victims, his family de- if she could catch a glimpse of those theaters and in our places of worship. scribes him as having a huge heart. whales. My hope, as a brandnew Member of The Pozners are an amazing family She was curious. That curiosity was the Senate, as someone who has lived who have spoken out. His mother and going to spring forth into a wonderful through this experience as one of the his uncle have been so articulate since young woman who was going to take representatives of Sandy Hook, is to the shooting, calling on the Nation to her loves and her curiosity and her pas- just try to tell my colleagues whom we change. They have been in Washington sion for life and make it into some- are talking about here. I think we get visiting my office, and I know they thing great. We will never get to know caught up in the numbers and the pol- have visited with other Members of the exactly what that would be. Jessica icy debates and we forget these are real Senate—just another one of these fami- died at age 6. kids, these are real people. lies who have somehow found the cour- Ana Marquez-Greene, I talked about This is just a small sample of the vic- age and the strength amidst this awful Ana this morning in my first speech. tims in Newtown and the victims from grieving to come here and explain why Her mother Nelba, who is just amaz- across Connecticut, in Bridgeport and things need to change, how they will ing—Nelba is a social worker who has a in New Haven, who have been gunned not feel any justice until we do some- passion for helping people. She is in DC down prematurely. There are just too thing here. right now as we speak trying to push many of them. Over 3,300 people have Caroline Previdi loved to draw and to us to change things. Her little daugh- died from guns since those 20 kids and dance. She was 6 years old as well. She ter Ana grew up in a musical family. six adults were killed in Newtown. We had one of these big smiles that every- Ana’s father Jimmy is a very well are not powerless. We can do some- body loved. It brought happiness to ev- known saxophone player, a Hartford thing about it. erybody who saw that smile. She and native. The family came back to Con- I have said over and over as I have her family were active members of the necticut to raise their kids. So Ana been here on the floor today that there St. Rose Church. I can’t tell my col- was musical. She used to love to sing are no guarantees. We are not going to leagues enough about St. Rose Church. and dance. She loved most of all doing pass a law that is going to immediately About 10 of the victims were parish- that at church. She was so connected flip a switch and assure that gun vio- ioners there. This hit that church hard- to her church. She loved reading the lence would not continue to be a prob- er than any institution save for the Bible. She loved having the Bible read lem, but it can be less of a problem. It school. The monsignor there has been to her. She loved being part of the can be less of a reality for kids who are an absolute hero to the community, dance and singing experience at her walking to school fearing for their having buried almost a dozen of his church. Her parents said she didn’t lives in urban America. It can be less of kids. He has come down to Washington walk anywhere. That was not her a reality for parents sending their chil- to try to lobby for some sense of method of transportation. Her mode of dren to elementary school, never change, and he has brought that com- transport was to dance from place to thinking that something like what munity together. place. happened at Sandy Hook could occur. At that funeral he presided over, ev- She is survived by her older brother We can do something about it. erybody wore pink. It was Caroline’s Isaiah who is a third grader at Sandy So I wanted to come back again to favorite color. My colleagues have Hook Elementary and who survived continue talking about the victims, to heard me say that about a number of that day. My colleagues can find Ana’s give them a face. I am very encour- little girls who died, a lot of whom performances on YouTube. Ana’s per- aged, as I think all of us are, to see were big fans of the color pink. Her formances have been viewed tens of some movement between both parties mom will always remember Caroline as hundreds of thousands of times online.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.042 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2536 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 She was a talent. She had talent in her place. But given the fact we are living tering, MD. She was spending a nice, blood. Who knows whether she was in this terrible, awful reality in which quiet evening at home when a gunman going to choose music and dance as a they are happening on a regular basis, literally kicked down her door and career, but those creative muscles she then we have to be talking about what opened fire. She was shot multiple had and the amazing parents who were we can do to limit the damage and the times while she was in her bed. She was raising her were going to assure that carnage when they do occur. 17 years old—17. She just started her she was going to be something special. I will tell my colleagues while no one senior year at Flowers High School in She died that day, horribly, but her is sure of the difference in outcome at Springdale, MD. She was enrolled in a family—her mother Nelba especially— Sandy Hook had the assault weapons very elite science and technology pro- is just determined to make sure we ban still been in effect, there are plen- gram. honor her memory by doing something ty of parents there who do believe It is crazy, but this is probably the here. there is a pretty good chance some of third or fourth or fifth young woman I Five kids escaped Sandy Hook Ele- their kids might still be alive had that have talked about here today—and I mentary School that day out of those bill still been in effect. Remember, am probably into 30 or 40 people I have classrooms. Eleven kids—around that these were guns and clips purchased le- talked about—another young woman number—survived. Six of them hid in a gally. For all the arguments that all who was pursuing a career in engineer- closet, but five of them escaped be- the laws on the books aren’t going to ing and science. She had big dreams. cause the shooter had to reload. When stop criminals, I am not sure Nancy She was an honors student. She was in he reloaded, he perhaps fumbled the ex- Lanza was going to go onto the black AP classes, and she wanted to go to change, and five kids ran out of a class- market to purchase an AR–15 or ammu- Harvard University and maybe become room and were discovered nearby some nition that was illegal. Things could a doctor. She had the grades to do it. moments later. Five children—unfortu- have been different. She could have gone anywhere she nately, none of those pictured in this But as we know, every day there are wanted. poster—are alive today because as does more people killed in this country by She was also very popular. She was a happen in so many of these mass shoot- guns than were killed at Sandy Hook kid whom people were drawn to. She ings, an opportunity presented itself Elementary that day. I will tell my was a peer leader and she would do when the shooter changed magazines. colleagues that I have heard some very wonderful, magnanimous things for her I wish we didn’t have to get into the visceral anger from parents and gun classmates, such as she would bring detailed nuances of how these mass victims in the cities I represent be- cupcakes to them somewhat spontane- shootings play out to try to find a way cause they rightfully wonder why we ously. One classmate said three words: ‘‘She out of mass violence, but we do because are talking about this issue now—after was amazing’’—until August 23 of last they are happening over and over. So Sandy Hook—when, for the last 20 year, a gunman kicked down her door, we now have some experience. We now, years, young men and women have to our great horror, have some data. opened fire, and Amber was gone. been getting gunned down in our cities How about Angela Player, 37 years Empirically we know what happens. and it didn’t seem as though this place And what happened in Sandy Hook old, shot on February 21 of this year, stood up and cared too much about it. an avid reader who also loved the out- that killed Ana and Jessica and Noah They welcome the conversation, but doors, gardening, and kayaking. She and Caroline and so many others is they wonder where all of this compas- was a fan of everything fun and excit- that he had trouble reloading, five kids sion was when people such as Ronnie ing—fast cars. She liked training dogs. escaped, and either at the end of the 10 Chambers were being killed. She was killed by her ex-husband. minutes because he had trouble reload- Ronnie Chambers was 33 years old A lot of these are random killings, ing, or maybe just because the police when he was shot in January 2012. He but a lot of these killings are by some- were coming in, he decided enough was grew up with his mom and his siblings body you know. Her ex-husband actu- enough and shot himself. In Tucson, in Chicago’s notorious Cabrini-Green ally did not have a history of domestic when the shooter reloaded, it was housing projects and he became in- violence but had a gun ready and avail- enough time for somebody to jump on volved in the gang problem at a young able in a fit of rage, and she left behind him and end that incident. In Aurora, age. But he had to watch something a son and a daughter. again, when the shooter had difficulty that no one should ever have to watch. Mr. President, 3,300 people have died reloading—the gun jammed—the shoot- You think it is terrible that Noah since Newtown, and I think it is impor- ing ended. Pozner’s twin sister has to grow up tant, as we have this debate, to come So 154 bullets in 10 minutes at Sandy with the knowledge that her brother down and talk about who these victims Hook Elementary School killed 26 peo- was gunned down. Think about what are. I will be doing this over the course ple. The shooter had to reload about Ronnie Chambers had to grow up with, of today and tomorrow and this week six times. What would have happened if having watched his other three siblings to try to bring a little bit of color to he had to reload 15 times? How many die at the hands of gun violence. the discussion we are having. more kids would have escaped? How Ronnie became convinced, after At this time, I yield back the floor. many more opportunities would we watching his three other siblings die The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- have had for the shooting to go wrong? from gun violence, that he had to turn ator from Illinois. Would there have been a moment his life around. So he did. He went into Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I wish to where somebody could have jumped on the music industry and he became a thank my colleague, Senator MURPHY, him and stopped him, as they did in music producer and he decided to go who gave his first speech on the floor Tucson? I don’t know the answer to even further and to start to mentor of the Senate this morning on the same these questions. Nobody knows the an- young performers. topic. He is eminently qualified to swer to these questions. But they are People remember him in the industry speak to this issue because of his un- important ones to ask because they are as ‘‘everybody’s hero.’’ He was always happy circumstance of being a Senator- relevant to the conversation we are ‘‘pointing kids in the right direction’’ elect when the Newtown, CT, massacre having. If the answer is that there is a despite his own difficult upbringing. occurred. I have spoken to him and pretty good chance one of those three He was fun too. He loved banana Senator BLUMENTHAL about their per- things would have happened—the gun milkshakes and onion rings. Then he sonal life experiences and memories would have jammed, kids would have was killed—the fourth of four siblings they will never forget about that day escaped, or somebody could have to be gunned down in and around Chi- and those that followed. stopped the shooting—then we should cago. Four brothers and sisters: His I thank him for his voice on this think twice before dismissing the idea brother Carlos shot in 1995; his brother issue, for his inspiration, and for that a limitation on the size of maga- Jerome shot in 2000; his sister LaToya speaking for many in Newtown, CT, zines sold in this Nation wouldn’t have shot just 3 months after Jerome; and and across the Nation who otherwise an effect on future mass shootings. then Ronnie, dead at 33. might not have as strong a voice on the Our first job should be to stop that How about Amber Deanna Stanley, floor of the Senate. I thank the Sen- shooting from happening in the first who was killed last summer in Ket- ator very much for that.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.049 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2537 I would like to speak as in morning Henry Clay, Senator and statesman Professor Remini’s wife Ruth passed business briefly and then return to the Daniel Webster, and Mormon leader Jo- away last year. I wish to express my underlying bill on firearms. I ask unan- seph Smith. condolences to their children, Robert, imous consent to speak in morning As one former colleague said, he Elizabeth, and Joan, their three grand- business. wrote with such immediacy ‘‘that you children, and to Professor Remini’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without might think he’d had lunch . . . with friends, colleagues, and former stu- objection, it is so ordered. Martin Van Buren. He is an American dents. I will close with this: In 2003, the REMEMBERING ROBERT REMINI treasure.’’ National Endowment for the Human- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in an The subject that interested him the ities invited Professor Remini to de- interview with Roll Call newspaper a most, though, was none of those great liver its inaugural ‘‘Heroes of History’’ while back, Robert Remini—one of the figures but Andrew Jackson. At least 10 lecture. He chose as his subject the great historians of our time—talked of Professor Remini’s books were about Members of the first Congress. about what he hoped for after he died. Jackson, including an influential This is part of what he said of those Professor Remini said his idea of Heav- three-volume biography, the third vol- men in whose footsteps many of us fol- en would be listening with his own ears ume of which won the National Book low: to debates involving congressional gi- Award for nonfiction in 1984. Ordinary. Most of them were ordinary indi- To Professor Remini, Andrew Jack- ants such as Henry Clay, Daniel Web- viduals as far as the record shows, yet they son was ‘‘the embodiment of the new performed heroically. And they deserve to be ster, and John C. Calhoun. American.’’ He was: called heroes because they set aside their On March 28—Holy Thursday—Robert local and regional differences, their eco- Remini died in a suburban Chicago hos- An orphan, poor, and yet talented, who through his own abilities, raised himself to nomic and personal prejudices, in their effort pital from complications of a recent the highest office in the land. He personified to make the Constitution succeed and there- stroke at the age of 91. what the American Dream is all about. That by establish an enduring union. They had I hope his wish comes true. I hope it is not class or money or bloodlines that many disagreements, but they resolved them right now he is listening in awe some- are rewarded in [America], but rather the in compromise. And they did it for the sake where in Heaven as the great issues are ability of each individual to achieve some- of showing the world that a republican gov- thing worthwhile in life. ernment was a viable instrument for the pro- debated in the Great Beyond. tection of liberty and betterment of its citi- Robert Remini lived a good and full Professor Remini did not excuse zens. Jackson for his backward views on life. He spent most of his career at the If Professor Remini were here today, slavery or women’s rights or his harsh University of Illinois at Chicago, where he would tell us that the spirit of prin- treatment of Native Americans. he founded the university’s respected cipled compromise is more than a Institute for the Humanities. He pro- He regarded Jackson as admirable be- cause: noble part of our past; it is the best duced a remarkable body of work that hope for our future. brought important chapters of Amer- He believed in this Union. He believed in Now I will make a statement as part ica’s history to life. this country. . . . [H]e . . . believed that gov- ernment shouldn’t be for only a small seg- of the continuing debate on the out- In 2002, at the age of 80, Professor standing legislation, S. 649. Remini became a distinguished visiting ment of society, but for all of us. That’s what I want in [a] President. As I mentioned before when Senator scholar of American history at the Li- MURPHY spoke, I rise to speak about a brary of Congress. So said Professor Remini. Robert Vincent Remini was born in vote the Senate is going to take tomor- At the request of Librarian of Con- New York City. He graduated from row as we begin debating legislation to gress James Billington, Professor Fordham University in 1943. He wanted reduce gun violence. Remini spent the next 3 years writing to be a lawyer, but that changed after I am glad we are finally having this the history of the House of Representa- he enlisted in the Navy during World vote. There were some who thought we tives. That is where I met him. What a War II. To pass the time on board ship, would never reach this point. It has man, a great historian, a great person- he read history, including all nine vol- been far too long since the Senate held ality, with a smile on his face every umes of Henry Adams’ ‘‘History of the a reasonable debate on how best to pro- minute of the day. United States of America.’’ By the tect our children and families and Professor Remini was once asked how time the war ended, he knew it was his- schools and communities from violent he found the stamina to start writing tory, not law, that he loved the most. shootings. another book at the age of 80. He said He returned to New York to obtain When we talk to the families who he started by setting a goal for himself his master’s and doctorate in history have lost children to gunfire—and it to write nine pages a day. Then he did from Columbia University, and he mar- has been my sad duty to do that over what he had been taught by the Jesuits ried his childhood sweetheart, Ruth and over again—and when we talk to who trained him. He designed a plan to Kuhner. He taught at Fordham Univer- law enforcement officials who are get- reward success and punish failure. This sity for 12 years. ting outgunned by criminals on the historian, this writer, this man who In 1965, he moved to Chicago and be- streets every day, we know this debate had assigned himself nine pages a day, came the first chair of the history de- is long overdue. would only get his reward at the end of partment at the newly established Uni- Some Senators have said they do not the day—a martini—if he met his goal versity of Illinois at Chicago’s Circle want to touch this issue. They have an- of nine pages. Campus. He later founded the univer- nounced their intention to filibuster in His system worked. ‘‘The House’’ was sity’s interdisciplinary Institute for order to try to stop us from even debat- published in the year 2006. the Humanities. He chaired that from ing gun safety. This is an extreme po- In 2005, House Speaker Dennis 1981 to 1987. He became a professor litical position. It is an unfortunate po- Hastert, from Illinois, asked Professor emeritus of history and research pro- sition. But, fortunately, over the last Remini to become the official Histo- fessor emeritus of humanities in 1991. few days, a growing number of Sen- rian of the U.S. House of Representa- He was an institution, not only in the ators from both sides of the aisle have tives. The post of House Historian had field of history but certainly in Chi- made it clear this debate is going to been empty for more than 10 years. cago and at the University of Illinois move forward. Over the next 5 years, Professor at Chicago. I hope the vote tomorrow reflects Remini rebuilt the office’s small staff In addition to the National Book that, and when we get to the point and reestablished its reputation for im- Award, his other honors include the where we are in debate, we can roll up partial scholarship and integrity. Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation our sleeves and get to work. We can He retired from the House in 2010, but Award, the Carl Sandburg Award for look at our Constitution, which we he kept writing until shortly before his Nonfiction, the University Scholar have sworn to uphold, including the death. Award of the University of Illinois, the second amendment, and we can also In all, he wrote and coauthored more American Historical Association’s look to the needs of America to protect than 20 books. His subjects included Award for Scholarly Distinction, and the life, liberty, and opportunity for Presidents John Quincy Adams and the Freedom Award from the U.S. Cap- happiness for the people who live in Martin Van Buren, House Speaker itol Historical Society. this country.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:00 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.051 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2538 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 According to the Centers for Disease the other 40 percent. Have a nice flight. partisan floor amendment from Sen- Control, over 11,000 Americans—11,000— What would you think about it? You ators MANCHIN and TOOMEY on back- are murdered with guns each year. would think, for goodness’ sake, we ground checks. That is more each year than all the have to do everything we can to check All these proposals are also sup- American lives lost in the 9/11 attacks, everyone if we are truly dedicated to ported by law enforcement. It was Iraq, and Afghanistan combined. safety. That is what this universal about 3 weeks ago. I went to the Chi- When we count suicides and acci- background check is about. cago Police Department headquarters. dental shootings, more than 31,000 We would also create tough Federal Superintendent McCarthy invited me Americans are killed by guns each criminal penalties for illegal straw year. That is 87 Americans killed every purchasing and the trafficking of guns. in. I sat down for about an hour with 10 single day by guns. Another 200 are Get the picture. If you are going to buy beat cops from Chicago. They are ones shot each day but survive. Think of a gun from a licensed dealer, they are who literally get up every morning and those numbers. going to run a background check on go, usually undercover, into neighbor- Gun violence in America is truly at you. If your background check dis- hoods and try to stop the murders and epidemic levels. Gunshots now kill closes, for example, that you have a violence. I sat there. One of them had over four times more Americans per felony conviction or that you are under just gotten back from his 11th surgery. year than HIV/AIDS, and shooting a domestic violence order or that have He got in a shootout with a 15-year-old deaths are projected to surpass car ac- you been adjudged mentally incom- who shattered his leg. He has had 11 cident deaths within the next few petent, unstable, and you should not surgeries trying to get back on his feet years. own a gun, you will not be sold that and get back on the force. These statistics should give us all gun. We talked about what life was like pause. But numbers cannot truly cap- Since we came up with this idea of out there. They talked about 14- and ture the deeply personal impact of gun background checks, up to 2 million un- 15-year-olds packing guns and firing violence. There are too many families qualified people tried to buy them and away. They are not worth a darn as a who now face an empty chair at the we stopped them. That is what the law shot. They, sadly, kill a lot of people dinner table, too many parents who is supposed to do. But under the cur- they do not intend to kill. They are as walk past an empty bedroom, too many rent circumstances, straw purchasers irresponsible as they come, but it is husbands and wives who have lost the go in and buy a gun because they have the reality of the mean streets of many loves of their lives because of guns. a clean record. So the gangster, the cities. So these people in law enforce- It is heartbreaking. But, sadly, it is mobster, the drug gang member, the ment agree we need to do something almost routine—in a park in Chicago; thug sends his girlfriend in to buy the about the straw purchasers, for exam- at a nightclub in my hometown of East gun. She does not have a criminal ple. So do the prosecutors, the medical St. Louis, IL; in a movie theater in record. She buys the gun, comes out- community, the faith community, Auroro, CO; in a shopping center in side and hands it to him. He turns teachers, mayors, colleges, univer- Tucson, AZ; in a Sikh temple in Oak around and uses it to kill someone. sities, and, most important, the family Creek, WI; at military bases in Texas, This bill is going to change what hap- Virginia, and Kentucky; in college lec- pens to her. Of course, he is still going members of gun violence victims. ture halls in DeKalb, IL, and to face the full brunt of the law for his Many of those family members from Blacksburg, VA; sadly, in the first- misdeeds. But she is now going to be Newtown are here today. Senator MUR- grade classrooms in Newtown, CT. held accountable, too, up to 15 years of PHY from Connecticut spoke earlier, as Since the Newtown shooting on De- hard time in Federal prison for buying did Senator BLUMENTHAL, to note their cember 14, more than 3,300 Americans that gun. persuasive lobbying as they walk the have been killed by guns, including at We had a press conference in Chicago Halls of Congress, hoping the sad and least 220 children and teenagers. The and said: Girlfriend, think twice. He awful tragedy they went through on violence continues. Americans all ain’t worth it. To run the risk of spend- December 14 will at least lead to a across the country are saying with one ing 15 years in prison if you buy a gun safer America. voice: Enough. We have to do some- to give to that boyfriend who is going I salute them. In their grief, they are thing. We need to protect our kids, our to turn around and use it in a crime, it standing up to make this a safer na- communities, our schools, and this epi- ain’t worth it. This bill would also au- tion. Unfortunately, some parts of the demic of gun violence has to come to thorize additional resources to keep gun lobby have had a long history of an end. schools safe. opposing even those commonsense On Thursday, we will vote to begin These proposals just make sense. ideas. They have raised objections to debate on a bill that would take com- They have strong support from the them. I want to respond to the main monsense steps to prevent gun vio- American public, including a majority objections the gun lobby has raised. As lence. It is called the Safe Commu- of gun owners. The National Rifle As- it turns out, they just do not stand up nities, Safe Schools Act. The Senate sociation may speak for the gun indus- to scrutiny. Judiciary Committee reported the try, but it does not speak for gun own- parts of the bill last month. The com- ers. Gun owners, and I know them. First, the gun lobby claims that re- mittee held three lengthy hearings and They are part of my family. I have quiring FBI background checks for gun four markups which I attended. grown up with them my entire life. sales will lead to the creation of a na- The Safe Communities, Safe Schools They are good, God-fearing, church- tional gun registry. That claim is abso- Act would do three things: First, it going, patriotic Americans who value lutely totally false. Federal law pro- makes sure that the FBI NICS back- their guns and use them properly, store hibits the Federal Government from es- ground check programs are conducted them safely at home away from kids. tablishing a national gun registry. We on all gun sales with some reasonable These are people who will follow the could argue the merits of it, but we exceptions. Currently, up to 40 percent law. They understand we have to stop have to acknowledge the reality. It of all transfers of firearms include no those who misuse guns from getting does not exist today. It will not exist background check. Someone raised the their hands on them. A majority of as a result of this bill. point in one of our hearings, what if those gun owners across America, I have a copy of a letter signed by 30 you got on the airplane and they an- sportsmen, hunters, those who buy Senators, including 26 Republicans. I nounced to you—the flight attendant guns for self-defense support what we ask unanimous consent to have this said: Welcome to this flight from are doing in this bill. letter printed in the RECORD. Washington to Chicago. The Transpor- The straw purchasing and school tation Security Agency has checked 60 safety proposals passed in committee There being no objection, the mate- percent of the passengers to make sure with strong bipartisan votes. I am rial was ordered to be printed in the they are not carrying a bomb but not hopeful we will be able to adopt the bi- RECORD, as follows:

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U.S. SENATE, Business Activity. A prohibition on the use protects the privacy of law-abiding gun buy- Washington, DC, November 3, 2011. of funds to deny a Federal Firearms License ers by providing information about legal gun Hon. DANIEL INOUYE, (FFL) or renewal of an FFL on the basis of purchases from being kept by government Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, business activity. This provision prohibits authorities, and has been included in the law Washington, DC. BATFE from denying federal firearms li- since fiscal year 1999. Hon. BARBARA MIKULSKI, cense applications or renewals based on a There you have it. This letter, signed Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Jus- dealer’s low business volume alone. Congress by Senator MCCONNELL, the Republican tice, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, added this general provision in FY 2005. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Wash- Information Gathering Prohibition. A pro- leader, Senators HATCH, INHOFE, ington, DC. hibition on the use of funds to maintain any GRASSLEY, DEMINT, and many others, Hon. HAROLD ROGERS, information gathered as a part of an instant showed that the claims about a na- Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, background check or to maintain informa- tional gun registry are baseless. There Washington, DC. tion for more than 24 hours. This provision is no evidence of such a registry. Long- Hon. FRANK WOLF, protects the privacy of law-abiding gun buy- standing Federal laws prevent the cre- Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Science, ers by prohibiting information about legal ation of it. Anyone who continues to gun purchases from being kept by govern- and Related Agencies, House Committee on claim the FBI background check will Appropriations, Washington, DC. ment authorities. It has been included since DEAR CHAIRMEN AND CHAIRWOMAN: As sup- FY 1999. lead to a national gun registry should porters of the Second Amendment and the Firearms Trace Data Disclaimer. A re- be shown this letter signed by Repub- rights of law-abiding gun owners, we are quirement that any trace data released must lican Senators. writing to urge the House and Senate Appro- include a disclaimer stating such trace data Second, the gun lobby claims these priations Committees to maintain several cannot be used to draw broad conclusion proposals would unduly burden law- House-passed firearms provisions in the up- about firearms-related crime. This provision abiding gun owners. What is the bur- coming Conference Report on H.R. 2112, the has been included since FY 2005. legislative vehicle for the Fiscal Year 2012 Firearms Parts Export to Canada. A prohi- den? In 2011, the FBI reported the back- Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), and Re- bition on the use of funds to require an ex- ground check system had an instant lated Agencies Appropriations Act. While port license for small firearms parts valued determination rate of 91.5 percent. these provisions had broad, bipartisan sup- at less than $500 for export to Canada. This That means 91 percent-plus of back- port in the Senate, the amendments that provision removed an unnecessary and bur- ground checks were resolved in a mat- would have reinstated these provisions in the densome requirement on U.S. gun manufac- ter of minutes. For those other back- Senate version of H.R. 2112 did not receive a turers that was imposed under the Clinton ground checks where the dealer is in- vote. Administration, It has been included since structed to temporarily delay the sale Over the years, Congress has taken many FY 2006. actions to preserve Second Amendment Importation of Curios and Relics. A prohi- to allow for a more thorough check, rights and prevent undue encroachment on bition on the use of funds to arbitrarily deny the FBI must give a response within 3 those rights on the part of the Executive importation of qualifying curio and relic days or the sale will be allowed to go Branch. One of the most common ways in firearms. This provision insures that collect- through. In other words, a background which Congress has accomplished this goal ible firearms that meet all legal require- check is, at most, a minor temporary has been through a number of general provi- ments for importation into the United sions in CJS Appropriations bills. Most of inconvenience to a small percentage of States are not prevented from import by Ex- law-abiding Americans. these protections have been in place for a ecutive Branch fiat. This provision has been number of years—some going back as far as included since FY 2006. Meanwhile, the public safety and law three decades—and none of them have been Once again, these are non-controversial enforcement benefits of background the source of any significant controversy. protective measures that have long had the checks are enormous. Background The House CJS Appropriations bill (H.R. support of members of both parties. Had a checks have stopped unlawful users 2596) made permanent nine separate Second vote taken place, they most certainly would from buying guns over 1.5 million Amendment protections. However, the Sen- have been included in the Senate bill, Once ate version of H.R. 2112 stripped the House times. There is no reason for law-abid- again, we urge the House and Senate Appro- ing Americans to worry about tougher language and extended these protections priations Committees, particularly those only through Fiscal Year 2012. We believe who will serve on the upcoming Conference penalties for straw purchases and gun these protections should not be subject to Committee on H.R. 2112, to work to ensure trafficking. Those activities are al- yearly reinstatement, they should be perma- that the language making these protections ready illegal and law-abiding Ameri- nently fixed in the law. permanent are included in the Conference cans will not be engaged in them. Specifically, the House-passed provisions Report. In short, the proposals before the would make permanent the following protec- Thank you for your attention regarding Senate will not burden law-abiding gun tions: this matter. Firearms Database Prohibition. A prohibi- owners. They will help to save lives, re- Sincerely, tion on the use of funds to create, maintain duce crime, and keep guns from the Orrin G. Hatch; Johnny Isakson; Mark or administer a database of firearms owners Begich; Jim DeMint; Michael B. Enzi; hands of those who misuse them. or their firearms. This prohibition has been Lindsey Graham; Dean Heller; Rob Third claim by the gun lobby. They in place since FY 1979 and prevents the fed- Portman; John Barrasso; Mitch claim we should not pass any new gun eral government from establishing a na- tional gun registry. McConnell; Kelly Ayotte; Tom Coburn; laws until there is more enforcement of Curio and Relic Definition. A prohibition Olympia Snowe; Ron Johnson; James the laws on the books. I am all for on the use of funds to change the definition M. Inhofe; Mike Johanns; Richard that. But it is blatantly hypocritical of of a ‘‘curio or relic.’’ This provision protects Burr; John Thune; Roger Wicker; Pat the gun lobby to say we should just en- the status of collectible firearms for future Roberts; John Boozman; Mike Lee; Jon force the gun laws on the books when generations of firearms collectors. This pro- Tester; Max Baucus; Saxby Chambliss; Chuck Grassley; Marco Rubio; Lisa they constantly work to weaken those vision has been included since Fiscal Year same laws. 1997. Murkowski; David Vitter; Joe Physical Inventory Prohibition. Prohibi- Manchin. For example, in the last few years, tion on a requirement to allow a physical in- Mr. DURBIN. This letter, dated No- the gun lobby has gotten Congress to ventory of Federal Firearms Licensees. The vember 3, 2011, describes a number of change the laws on the books to repeal Clinton Administration proposed a rule in longstanding prohibitions in Federal the Reagan-era prohibition on loaded 2000 to require an annual inventory by all li- guns in national parks, to require Am- censees, While the Bush Administration law. Let me quote the letter’s descrip- tion of two: trak to allow guns to be transported on eventually withdrew the proposal, Congress their trains, to give the gun industry has still passed this preventive provision Firearms database prohibition. A prohibi- every year, beginning in FY 2007. tion on the use of funds to create, maintain unprecedented immunity from liability Information Retrieval Prohibition. A pro- or administer a database of firearm owners under civil law, and to pass appropria- hibition on the use of funds to electronically or their firearms. This prohibition has been tions riders which make it harder for retrieve personally identifying information in place since fiscal year 1979 and prevents law enforcement agencies to enforce gathered by federal firearms licensees. This the Federal Government from establishing a gun laws, such as the ludicrous Tiahrt provision prohibits the creation of a gun reg- national gun registry. amendment that prevents information istry from dealers’ records that are required Information gathering prohibition. A pro- by law to be surrendered to the federal gov- hibition on the use of funds to maintain any sharing about even traces of guns used ernment when a dealer goes out of business. information gathered as part of an instant in the commission of crimes. This provision has been included since FY background check or to maintain informa- Not only does the gun lobby try to 1997. tion for more than 24 hours. This provision get Congress to undo the gun laws on

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.006 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2540 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 the books, it has also supported court the hearing as ‘‘an attack on guns.’’ among the majority of Americans and challenges to these same laws across They described the testimony given by gun owners. We should move forward the country. five of our six witnesses, but they said with these measures. Here is the best example: The gun nothing about Sandra Wortham, who Mr. President, I yield the floor. lobby claims to be outraged that there lost her brother, the Chicago police- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. are not more Federal prosecutions man. They pretended her testimony BROWN). The Senator from Virginia. when a person tries to buy a gun but is never happened. They did not want Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask denied by the FBI NICS background people to remember her story. unanimous consent I be recognized for check. The Federal agency that re- It is not the only time. A few weeks up to 5 minutes as if in morning busi- views those NICS denial cases to see ago, the NRA proposed a set of redline ness and then Senator LEE be recog- whether they merit prosecution is the changes to the gun trafficking bill that nized for up to 5 minutes following my Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Senators LEAHY, KIRK, COLLINS, GILLI- remarks. and Explosives, or ATF. As we all BRAND, and I are cosponsoring. The key The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without know, the gun lobby has gone to great section of that bill was named after objection, it is so ordered. political lengths to make it harder for Hadiya Pendleton of Chicago. That was The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the ATF to do its job. The gun lobby Senator KIRK’s idea and a darn good ator from Virginia is recognized. has blocked ATF from getting a Sen- one. What was the first change the Mr. KAINE. I thank the Chair. ate-confirmed Director for six straight NRA proposed? Deleting Hadiya Pen- (The remarks of Mr. KAINE per- years. They have pushed appropria- dleton’s name from the bill. They did taining to the introduction of S. 700 are tions riders that limit the ATF’s au- not want to be reminded of this young located in today’s RECORD under thority, and they have sought to repeal girl who lost her life to gun violence. ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and ATF regulations in Court. The gun lobby may hope we forget Joint Resolutions.’’) The best part is, at the same time about Americans such as the Pendle- Mr. KAINE. I yield the floor. the gun lobby tries to prevent ATF tons and the Worthams, but we will The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- from carrying out its enforcement re- not. None of us should. ator from Utah is recognized. sponsibilities, the gun lobby has I urge my colleagues to join with the Mr. LEE. I thank the Senator from pushed a rider into law that explicitly majority of Americans who support Virginia for his cooperation in allowing prevents Congress from transferring commonsense reforms that will reduce me this time. any of ATF’s functions to any other gun deaths and keep guns out of the The President of the United States agency, such as the FBI. So the gun hands of criminals. That is what we has spent the last several weeks evok- lobby says that all we should do is en- should do. I see my colleagues Senator ing the tragedy of Sandy Hook and force the gun laws on the books. Then KAINE and Senator LEE on the floor. highlighting the voices of the victims they make it harder for the Federal Let me close by just reminding those in an effort to promote his gun control Government to do that. who are following this debate what Here is the bottom line. We are going proposals. He has not explained to the other countries have done when they to have votes soon, starting tomorrow, American people how any of these new have experienced tragic mass shoot- to see where the Members of the Sen- gun control measures would have pre- ings. ate stand. Are they going to stand with vented that or any other terrible trag- They have acted to toughen the gun the police officers, the legislatures, the edy or how any of these measures laws, often going far further than any teachers, the prosecutors, the doctors, would reduce gun violence in any meas- proposal we have before the Senate. In the mayors, the victims and their fami- urable way. Instead, his proposals Australia, on April 28, 1996, a gunman lies, and the strong majority of Ameri- would serve primarily to restrict the started shooting at tourists in Port Ar- cans who support proposals that will rights of law-abiding citizens. thur. He killed 35 people. In response, save lives, commonsense gun safety Recently, I launched a project called that nation dramatically toughened proposals? Or are they going to stand Protect2A, which is an attempt to their standards for gun ownership, with the gun lobby that refuses to com- reach out to those who are reluctant to banned assault weapons, and launched promise even when lives could be see changes to our Bill of Rights, our saved? a buyback of hundreds of thousands of Bill of Rights eroded, and believe Mem- I know where I am going to stand. I semiautomatic rifles. I might tell you, bers of Congress should be doing every- stand with Americans such as the fam- that is not included in this bill we are thing in their power to protect the sec- ily of Hadiya Pendleton, the promising, considering. ond amendment rights of citizens. This beautiful young teenage girl gunned After these laws were passed, gun is also as we should be protecting all down just weeks ago in a Chicago park. homicides and suicides decreased dra- the rights protected by our Constitu- She had been out here for President matically, and Australia has not had a tion. Obama’s inauguration. It was a thrill- single mass shooting since 1996. I am pleased to announce the re- ing day for her to be here with her high In Finland, there were two mass sponse to Protect2A has been over- school friends and classmates. In a school shootings in 2007 and 2008. The whelming. In less than 2 days, we have matter of days, she had been gunned first involved a teenager who killed received well over 1,000 responses on down in a park after school. eight people at a high school, and the my Web site. The vast majority of I stand with Sandra Wortham, whose second involved a gunman who killed them recognized that the President’s brother, Chicago police officer Thomas 10 at a culinary school. proposal will not make them safer but Wortham, IV, was shot and killed by In response, Finland raised the min- will, rather, result in limiting their gang members with a straw-purchased imum age for gun ownership and rights as law-abiding citizens. gun while he stood in the driveway of toughened their background check re- It is with this in mind I would now his father’s home. The gun lobby would quirements. like to ensure their voices have become like us to forget about these victims. In Scotland, on March 13, 1996, a gun- an important part of this debate. I But there is no way we can. man entered a primary school in the have several quotes from Americans Sandra Wortham testified at a hear- town of Dunblane and killed 16 young across the country who oppose these ing I chaired in February on gun vio- children and their teacher. In response, measures and wish Senators to stand lence. She talked about how her broth- the United Kingdom actually went so up for them and their constitutional er, a policeman in Chicago, was armed far as to ban virtually all handguns. rights. The measures we are working on in and shot back, but it did not save him. Roger, from my home State of Utah, the Senate today are modest in com- She told us there is nothing anti-gun writes as follows: about doing more to keep guns out of parison with steps other countries took in response to mass shootings. Even As a veteran, I’ve had too many ‘‘brothers’’ the hands of the people who will misuse and ‘‘sisters’’ make sacrifices to uphold the them. It was pretty powerful testi- though we have over 300 million guns Constitution of the United States. Their mony. in America and a strong tradition of blood will not be in vain. While I believe our The NRA posted a summary of my gun ownership, the measures we are rights are not granted by government, I be- hearing on their Web site describing considering have overwhelming support lieve that documentation of these rights in

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My Michael—Pennsylvania rights and freedoms provided us through the wife and I were living in Silver Lake. For 5 Thank You for taking This stand . . . Not Constitution have been slowly watered or days we watched the warm glow of busi- only is it the 2nd Amendment at stake here otherwise whittled down by our government, nesses being burned on two sides. For 5 days but the right to protect my family and my and considering our current political and so- we never saw a law enforcement officer. We house . . . I have had 2 encounters since liv- cial climate, the 2nd Amendment is more im- ing in my current house of 28 years . . . with were on our own. My wife and I were un- portant than ever. Unfortunately the oppo- the last one . . . the police told me flat out armed. The couple across the street had a nents of individual freedom are now using an that they couldn’t stop a crime all they do pair of shotguns, and the elderly gentleman axe to chop away at this, our most impor- . . .95% of the time is take a report on the next to them had a .38 service revolver from tant Amendment. I, like all Americans was crime now some want to take this right his days in the LAPD. After it became clear horrified by the recent and senseless murders away from me . . . Guns have been a part of that law enforcement had abandoned the in Colorado & Connecticut, but in our grief, my family for at least 5 generations and citizens of Los Angeles, we took shifts many Americans are failing to realize that watching the street and who was coming and never has there been a bad instance with any the problems of our society cannot be going. Our neighbors brought us coffee in the of our guns . . . washed away simply by removing the inani- middle of the night, a night that was lit with Richard—Pennsylvania mate object from the equation. Was it the the flames of burning buildings. Twice cars I am a law abiding citizen who deserves the fault of the airplane or the Boeing Aircraft came up our street, saw us armed, and right to protect my family from criminals Company for the deaths of innocents in the turned around. I have no doubt that the driv- and tyranny. I abhor violence as do most law 9/11 terrorist attack? No, it was the human ers had things on their minds other than get- abiding citizens but the individuals who beings, with evil in their hearts and minds ting home to loved ones. commit gun crimes are by definition crimi- that were the cause, utilizing an otherwise As soon as I could, I went out and bought nals. This current ‘‘debate’’ has not been useful piece of machinery as the mechanism my first handgun. I will not be disarmed. I about reducing violence and I am dis- of death. It’s times like these when an indi- will not be a victim. And I will not let my appointed in Pro 2A politicians for allowing vidual needs to take a stand, to be respectful boys be victims. Legal or not, I am giving the conversation to be dictated by politi- of those who believe differently than him- them my guns as they get mature enough to cians who neither understand how guns work self, but be resolved to fight for what he be- use them. If our government is so out of nor have the ability to use logic or reason lieves in none the less. I believe strongly in touch they will make law-abiding citizens and use emotions and rhetoric to expand the 2nd Amendment the same way I believe criminals, it’s just something my family will control while putting law abiding citizens that it’s purpose is just as strong today as it have to deal with. But we will not disarm. and freedom at risk. Gun control has not and was in our Founding Father’s day and I will David, from Missouri, wrote the fol- will never work because it does not address be standing up for my rights. Thank you for lowing: the cause. When we as a country decided to standing with me. I am a handicapped 78-year-old male living reduce drunk driving deaths the drivers were Michael—Utah alone. I have applied for and received a con- and are prosecuted not cars or alcohol and it More than ever we need to protect our ceal-carry permit, which I feel is my Second has been successful. Take guns away from God-given liberties and freedoms. While I Amendment right. I hope and pray that I law abiding citizens and neglect to enforce mourn for the loss of life from whatever may never have to use my firearm, but will if and prosecute gun crimes and the result is be the cause, the further eroding of our lib- challenged to do so. Chicago. We need to enforce current laws and erties will make us neither safer nor freer. Please don’t treat the subject of the Sec- have a zero tolerance policy for gun crimes The overwhelming majority of gun owners ond Amendment like you did with my health while addressing mental illness and a culture are law abiding citizens. There will always care, by passing legislation that you didn’t that glorifies violence. be the few that choose to live by their own even read. Please do everything in your power to pro- rules and norms. Carolyn from New Jersey writes: tect our rights and change the focus of this I am the father of a 12 year old and an 8 conversation to the criminals. Protection of the 2A is necessary in order year old and I want them to enjoy the free- to preserve the integrity of our Constitution. Leslie—Minnesota doms that have been enjoyed by previous The ‘‘ruling elite’’ cannot pick and choose Because it a legal right as given by our generations. Do I want them safe? Of course. which amendments they like, and which founding fathers to protect our selves, fam- Do I think further restrictions of firearms they don’t. We, the people, are sovereign ily’s, state and country from harm from any and/or ammunition will do this? No. A men- citizens, and we are protected by the Con- direction. Keep up the good work. tally ill individual will do harm with a 10 round magazine just as they would with a 30 stitution. Holly—Florida round magazine. I would like to see us put Annie, from Georgia, writes the fol- Years ago, I was robbed at gunpoint by 2 more resources toward helping those with lowing: young gang bangers. A call to 911 received no these life changing problems. How sad and Dear Senator, how I wish we as a civilized response from the police—none. After that difficult it must be for the loved ones. nation did not have to go through this in incident, my father gave me one of his small Press forward with protecting the freedoms order to defend our 2nd Amendment that has hand guns & took me to the range to teach and responsibilities of our citizenry. been in place for all these years. It is very me how to use it. I have no record of trans- Jeffrey—Indiana important that we the citizens keep our fer, no background check paperwork, just a The Founders understood that control of weapons to be able to defend ourselves from clear memory of having a gun held to my weaponry, with respect to law abiding citi- criminals as well as to send a message to the head & the knowledge that—if I ever had zens, is not about gun control—it is about government that we are not under any dicta- to—I could defend myself in my home. I fear people control. When the people are no torship. We are a free country, and we are that the knee jerk gun restrictions ema- longer in control of their own destinies, then ready to defend our position against anyone nating from DC and state governments will there is tyranny. The Founders also feared who tries to take away what rights we have. expose me & others like me to harm. I also that once power left the people’s hands, the To me, personally, my guns are my defense fear that the contents of these proposed bills only way to regain that power over their own to protect my family, and I have had to are yet one more excuse for a governmental lives would be with blood. The 2nd Amend- make use of them for that reason in the past money grab. I pray you will meet with suc- ment protects against the need for another and will do it again since the police cannot cess in your efforts. Thank you. revolution of blood. be available fast enough . . . Please protect Rick—Kentucky Vitaliy—Colorado our rights, because once we lose this amend- Senator Lee, Thank you for taking a stand My family and I immigrated here, legally, ment, we are defenseless and others will fol- for our 2nd Amendment rights. The 2nd low. I do not want to live again in a country from Russia/soviet union to live free and to Amendment not only provides the American have opportunity sadly unavailable to most where citizens have no ‘‘voice,’’ where there public an avenue to protect themselves and is no democracy and the people live in fear of in the world. their loved ones when and if the need ever These freedoms and liberties are coming what they say. I am a legal citizen of the arises, a means of hunting to provide food for under attack, starting with the 2nd amend- USA, by choice. I am an American, and I ones family, as a sport to compete and enjoy ment. There is a reason why it is 2nd and not love this country like my own. Thanks so the company of others, but more impor- 5th or 10th—it guarantees us the right to much for what you are doing. Let our voices tantly provides the American people with a protect our freedoms if they are being be heard. means to protect itself from a tyrannical threatened. Mr. President these are just a few of government. Our Founding Fathers and I served in the military and swore to pro- the excerpts. I ask unanimous consent framers of our Constitution knew better tect the constitution of the United States.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.055 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2542 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 The entire constitution, not just parts of it family for what $10.00 and no items of value. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under I like. I feel like our president is in violation My husband finally yelled I have a gun and the previous order, there will be 2 of that oath. I know how to use it; I am not sure but the hours of debate equally divided prior to I understand that there is a push to get person on the other side must have decided hands of criminals and those mentally unsta- a vote on the nomination. not to take the chance, seeing our Arkansas The senior Senator from Oregon is ble away from weapons that can potentially plate that we probably did know how to use be used against citizens and kids, but this it, or to find a less threatening home. It took recognized. plan that those on the Left want, do not the officers over 45 minutes to arrive to our Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, this guarantee our safety one bit, instead they home and when I asked what took so long, afternoon we will take up in the Senate take rights of those who are law abiding. one responded, if you had been shot or dying the confirmation of Sally Jewell to I’m also sick to my stomach that the presi- we would have been here sooner. I am a law head the Department of the Interior. dent and those on the left use kids faces and abiding citizen and have the right to defend The Department is one of America’s their parents to stand in front of them like myself, that is why I believe in the 2nd biggest landowners and is the second puppets while the politicians try to abne- amendement. Criminals do believe in the largest source of revenue for the Treas- gate. I cannot believe a human being in such laws and they will find a gun with or without ury after the Internal Revenue Service. power can exploit a tragedy to advance his laws. So if you take away my rights, my political views. death and many others will be on the heads The Department of Interior has the Walter—Florida of foolish goverment officials who do not unique mission of protecting America’s This story was recent . . . On Friday April know what they are doing. For Obama is out treasures while pursuing balanced ap- 6th, 2013 my place of business received a for power not the rights of Americans. I like proaches to promote sustainable eco- phone call that ended with the individual many Americans was so saddened by the nomic development. threatening to kill my receptionist and ev- death of the children and adults by the hand The Department administers the eryone in the building. I immediately placed of a madman, but I need to be armed and Outer Continental Shelf Program, the building on lock down and called the po- have done so legally, to protect my family. which is vital to the gulf coast, and Or- lice. While I was waiting for police to arrive, When are we going to hold people responsible egon’s forest lands in southwestern Or- I retrieved my fire arm from my car and and not the objects they use? Maybe we should ban cars, for they kill more people egon where we are pushing hard to in- began to carry it in my person as I walked crease forest health because we know around and checked all entry points. The po- than guns, or how about a baseball bat, or a lice finally arrived 15 minutes later and very hammer, or my purse (now that is a deadly forest health equals a healthy econ- calmly said that there was no crime com- weapon). People are responsible for their ac- omy. mitted and that they can’t do anything. tions, not objects. Thank you Senator Lee, The Department has significant trust They then left. This really disturbed me as if Eddie Jean Mahurin, a proud American. responsibilities for Native Americans, I did not have a gun in my possession my Maureen—New York and it manages water reclamation employees and I would be nothing but sitting As a woman a firearm is an equalizer projects throughout the West. Public targets. The police are great and I respect against those bigger and stronger than me. I lands, which are administered by the them a great deal, but they are reactive not have the right to protect myself! Department, are a lifeline for our proactive. I equate this to if a fire breaks Patricia—Nebraska ranchers, and they are especially im- out, I want to put it out with an extin- Living in the Midwest, it allows me self- portant given the recent droughts our guisher and not only wait for the fire depart- protection of property and family. We live in country has experienced. ment. At the end of the day I escorted my the country and there are only limited law employees out to their cars and waited until In addition to these traditional re- enforcement here with extremely long re- sponsibilities, increasingly the Depart- they drove off, all while I was armed. I am a sponse times. We need the ability to defend very responsible gun owner who hopes to God ourselves against the ever increasing influx ment of the Interior is responsible for that I never ever have to aim my gun at of crime. providing recreational opportunities someone, let alone shoot and kill someone. I We are also very much of the belief that for millions of our citizens. Today mil- love my family, employees and friends too the Constitution guarantees our right to lions of Americans use these lands to much than to not be armed and just stand bear arms to protect us from tyranny—poli- hunt, camp, fish, hike, and boat. Let’s around if God forbid something were to hap- ticians in power who seek to do our country make no mistake about it. Outdoor pen and I stand helpless watching them be harm. recreation is now a major economic en- injured or killed. Just because I follow the It is your obligation to uphold our rights laws doesn’t mean the person who made the as per the Constitution, as all elected offi- gine for our country, generating more death threat does. Please fight for my right cials took an oath to do just that and We the than $645 billion of revenue each year. to protect the ones I care about most. Thank People will not settle for less . . . This is why I am especially enthused you and God bless! Melissa—Utah today to be able to strongly rec- EddieJean—Utah Being a military wife, my husband is away ommend Sally Jewell to head the De- My family for generations have fought most of the time. I don’t believe the federal partment of the Interior. She has ex- with their lives to protect the constitution government should have the power to tell me ceptional qualifications. Somehow she of the United States. I remember as a child what I need and don’t need in order to keep has managed to pack into just one life- feeling pride in my country by saying the myself and my family safe. They do not time two or three lifetimes of experi- pledge of allegiance. I am still a very proud know my comfort level and ability with fire- ences. She has been a petroleum engi- American and believe in the rights of all arms, so how can they decide what would be neer, corporate CEO, a banker, and a best for me to use? That decision should be Americans. When my husband, daughter and citizen volunteer. Her qualifications I moved from Arkansas to Arizona (while my mine. Whether I decide a rifle or handgun or husband was in the military) it was a shock- none at all, is of no concern to anyone else. clearly made an impression on the En- er to my system. Moving was exhausting, Controlling me will not keep anyone else ergy and Natural Resources Com- and like many new young couples with no safe from criminals. It will only make me mittee, which I chair. Last month our money and moving ourselves, we were so ex- less safe. members voted 19 to 3 to approve her cited to find an affordable home in a not so Our constitutional liberties should never nomination, and I believe she got that scary neighborhood. It was about 2 weeks be up for a vote. This whole thing is quite resounding vote because she is the disturbing. when we woke (we slept in our living room, right person to oversee the multitude we did not have a bed) to someone trying to f of programs at the Department of the open our front door. Terrified, my husband told me to go get our young daughter, while EXECUTIVE SESSION Interior, several of which I have just he grabbed his revolver. I got our daughter, mentioned. She certainly made clear in got behind my husband and called the police. her confirmation hearing that she un- The lady on the line was very concerned and NOMINATION OF SARAH JEWELL derstands there is an enormous respon- talked to me the whole time. The person try- TO BE SECRETARY OF THE INTE- sibility to balance the dual roles of ing to get in was very persistent, and moved RIOR conserving and developing resources. the window. I was so scared and asked where The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under I think we all understand that jobs in are the police, what is taking so long, she ex- the previous order, the Senate will pro- our country come from the private sec- plained that they put calls in order of threat. ceed to executive session to consider tor, and if through this Department we I said this is important and the person or person’s are trying to get in. She asked if we the following nomination, which the can come up with innovative, fresh were armed I said yes, but we did not want clerk will report. policies to set the climate for job to hurt anyone (a crazy statement), because The bill clerk read the nomination of growth while we protect our treasures, I did not know the person on the other side, Sally Jewell, of Washington, to be Sec- that is clearly going to be good for the who would possibly kill me and my whole retary of the Interior. United States of America.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.003 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2543 Let’s look at a few of the areas where But, again, you do not run—and run In several States, the Federal Gov- she is going to be involved. Natural gas well—a nearly $2 billion outdoor equip- ernment controls the majority of the is just one. This resource has been a ment company, as Ms. Jewell has, by land. In Alaska, 64 percent of the State huge, positive development for our osmosis but because you are a good is controlled from here in Washington, country. We have it, the world wants manager, you are good with people, and DC. So that means an individual who it, our prices are lower, and we are see- in particular you understand what the may have an inholding in some Federal ing a significant interest among Amer- challenges are all about. land basically has to get permission to ican manufacturers in bringing jobs At this point, I would like to give get to his or her inholding within a back home. I know this has been of some time to my friend and colleague. park. It is almost hard for many of my great interest to the Presiding Officer I know that Washington Senators are colleagues to believe that so much of today. A lot of these manufacturers are very interested in being part of this de- what it is we do has to go through this saying they want to come back from bate, and before we wrap up this after- process of approval, but that is our re- overseas because America has a price noon, I also would like to talk about ality. advantage in terms of clean natural the wonderful track record of Ms. In Alaska, with the Federal owner- gas. Jewell’s predecessor, our current Sec- ship, there are more than 230 million There are significant environmental retary, Secretary Salazar, who is Sen- acres that are held in Federal owner- questions associated with natural gas. ator MURKOWSKI’s and my personal ship. That is an area which is larger We have already talked about them in friend. than the State of Texas. We always our committee. We are going to have to For purposes of this part of the dis- like to compare ourselves—Alaska to deal with fracking issues and methane cussion, I would only like to say to the Texas—but the fact is that the Federal emissions and underground aquifers. Senate that in Sally Jewell we will public lands in Alaska are larger than Based on some of the discussions we have an individual with the experience the size of the State of Texas. We have have had—and we had a very good dia- and with the expertise and the drive to over 57 million acres of wilderness. log between Frances Beinecke of the lead the Department of the Interior. I That is about the size of the State of Natural Resources Defense Council and believe she will listen to Senators who Minnesota. And that is just sitting in Senator HOEVEN from North Dakota have concerns, listen to Senators who my State. where they have a significant interest want, as Senator MURKOWSKI and so The proportion of Federal land in in natural gas—I believe that under many in our committee have tried to Alaska is exceeded only by that of our Sally Jewell, when it comes to our pub- do, to find common ground. So I colleagues from Nevada. The majority lic lands, we are going to be able to strongly urge the Senate today, when leader and Senator HELLER remind us strike the kind of responsible balance we vote a little bit later on, to join me quite frequently the Federal lands held that will make sense for the Senate in in voting to approve Sally Jewell’s in their State are at about 85 percent. So when you think about what this a bipartisan way. nomination for the Department of the does, the Federal land classifications I see my friend and colleague Senator Interior. I will now be happy to yield to my that we have to deal with, oftentimes MURKOWSKI is here. She has more than it not only severely restricts the usage met me halfway as we have tried to friend and colleague from Alaska. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- of Federal lands by our people, but as a look at the issues associated with these ior Senator from Alaska is recognized. practical matter they restrict the use questions, such as natural gas. Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I I will only say that with someone of State and private lands too. follow my colleague from Oregon, the So, again, the Secretary of the Inte- with the brains and energy and the chairman of the Energy Committee, rior is important to the future of a willingness to reach out that Sally here in discussing the qualifications of State such as Alaska and the West, but Jewell has—and she certainly did that the nominee for Secretary of the Inte- really, as it relates to other Cabinet based on the number of visits she made rior, Sally Jewell. We recognize as members, this is one to which we are to Senators—we may be able to have a westerners that this is an appointment, going to pay serious attention. natural gas policy where we can have it this is a position that has great signifi- I had occasion to come to this floor all, where we can have modest prices cance, great meaning to our States, so several months ago to discuss a deci- for our businesses and consumers that we pay attention to these nominees, we sion that came out of the U.S. Fish and make for a significant economic advan- pay attention to who is the Secretary Wildlife Service. In that decision, they tage, we can bring back some of those of the Interior. somehow found cause to oppose a sin- industries from overseas to Oregon and I have taken the position that our gle-lane gravel road, 10 miles, that Ohio and other parts of the country, constitutional responsibility for advice would connect the community of King and we can do it by using, for example, and consent should begin with very Cove—near the Aleutians—connect it best practices on our public lands as it thoughtful questions on our part, and to the smaller community of less than relates to managing these resources. then, absent any seriously disquali- 100 people of Cold Bay. The reason for But we will only have a chance to ac- fying factors, we should conclude with the need to connect these two commu- complish those kinds of things if we the confirmation of the President’s nities is Cold Bay has the second long- have someone with Sally Jewell’s tal- nominees. Our obligation to get an- est runway in the State of Alaska. ents and professional track record of swers to our questions is always a seri- King Cove, on the other hand, where actually bringing people together on ous one, and the duty weighs most most of the people live—about 900- these kinds of issues. heavily when the interests of our con- some-odd Native Alaskans—has an air- I do not believe you can run a multi- stituents are directly at stake. port that is dicey at best. We have seen billion-dollar company, such as REI, I mention the impact the Depart- accidents, we have seen lives lost as which has been Ms. Jewell’s current po- ment of the Interior has particularly folks have tried to leave King Cove for sition, without showing the ability to on our Western States—our States that medical services. manage, to bring people together, and have so much in public lands, our It was an issue that, for me and for in particular to anticipate some of the States where we have national forests, the people of King Cove, was far beyond exciting trends in the days ahead in where we have BLM lands, rangelands, a discussion about what happens when terms of outdoor recreation, where we refuge lands. In Alaska and really in you put a small road through a refuge. all have enjoyed the American tradi- many parts across the West, the Fed- For the people of King Cove, this was tion of the great outdoors. I think few eral Government’s biggest and most about safety, this was about life and thought it would be a $646 billion con- prominent role is really that of a land- safety, and they felt they were not tributor to the American economy. But lord. Sometimes you have a good rela- being heard by their Federal landlord. that happens because individuals like tionship with your landlord, and other The agencies had not heard the people. Ms. Jewell are willing to step up to times it feels as if the landlord won’t In fact, the Department had not heard take these positions. Because she is even let you put a nail in the wall to the people. Now, they had listened to from our part of the world in the Pa- hang a picture. So, again, we look very the biologists and they had gotten that cific Northwest, we are particularly critically and very carefully at this po- message, but the people had not been pleased to see her secure this position. sition. heard.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.057 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2544 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 So through a series of very lengthy amazing public lands in this country. tive, a different lens. Perhaps because discussions with Secretary Salazar, We all need to be working with her. she is not so embedded in the history, through a series of conversations with I have no question about Ms. Jewell’s she will be able to look at this anew. the nominee Sally Jewell, and through intelligence and her competence as a And I think that is good. I think that the impassioned words of many of the manager. I have been very impressed is a positive. I certainly will look for- people of King Cove, who traveled over with what I have seen as her level of ward to engaging substantively with 4,000 miles to come here to Wash- sincerity with her very distinguished her as we complete this process—and ington, DC, to knock on the door of the private sector career. It has been noted beyond—on these issues, on how she Secretary and say: Please hear our that she has probably spent more time can really bring her problem-solving voices, there has been an accommoda- in Alaska prior to coming to the De- skills to bear in a way that will serve tion, there has been an agreement partment of Interior than any other all Americans. reached. And I appreciate my col- nominee outside of Walter Hickel, who I think it is telling—and it was noted league, the chairman, helping us with was our former Governor and served as in the Energy Committee hearing by this. The Department of the Interior Secretary of the Interior. So she gives one of our colleagues—that Ms. Jewell has agreed to have the new Secretary me comfort with that, knowing that brings to the table as the nominee for as well as the Assistant Secretary of she understands much of what we have the Secretary of Interior a business Indian Affairs review the public health to deal with in Alaska. background that is quite considerable. and safety impacts of the decision to These are all important qualities as She is a petroleum engineer who has build this road. we think about her competence as a actually fracked a well, so she has ex- But I think it is important that folks manager, as we think about her intel- perience there. She has experience in understand this wasn’t a parochial ligence. But dealing with an agency the Alaska and worked on the beginning issue I was raising here on the floor. I size, the scope, and the complexity of portion of how we built out the Trans- kept referring to it as the King Cove the Department of Interior really re- Alaska Pipeline. She did it from the issue, but it is not one single issue, and quires the ability to focus not only on Seattle area but has that skill set as it is not parochial. It is obvious to the the debates and conflicts that we are well. people of Alaska why this was such a facing today, but it is going to require It was asked somewhat tongue-in- considerable deal, why it was so impor- an understanding of how we got here, cheek by one of my colleagues on the tant the people of King Cove be heard. the fact that the debates and conflicts Republican side: Well, you have all For them, it was not just about a road, of today often are based on years, dec- these great characteristics. Why would it was an issue of overreach. It was a ades, perhaps even centuries of history. President Obama select you? symbol of Federal overreach on way Those who are steeped in this history So I think it is important to recog- too many policies we see come out of raise the importance of the Secretary nize that we have before us a nominee the Department and the harm that understanding the context for the who brings a unique set of skill sets causes across our Nation. many difficult decisions that will be and experiences to us that I am hopeful The reality is so many of us, particu- made. will be beneficial. This is important to larly those in the Western States, have I had an opportunity to ask a lot of me as an Alaskan, to know we have our own King Cove. We all have those questions of Sally Jewell not only in someone who will be a listener, who instances when issues have come up, our private meeting but before the will be a convener, who will work to where the people from the States we committee and then also in writing. I solve problems. I am looking forward represent have to go knocking on the asked questions about my questions. I to the opportunity to spend time in door of some Federal agency for per- wanted to be thorough. And I do con- Alaska with her as she visits with the mission, have to try to navigate a mo- cede that Ms. Jewell will be on a learn- people up north to better understand rass of regulations, and they do not ing curve as she assumes the position some of the challenges we face and feel as though they are being heard. of Secretary. But in her answers to hopefully work with us on these issues Every day we have Federal restrictions questions at the hearing and in her that are so critically important. making it harder for local people to written submissions, she has pointed I appreciate the good work of my col- live and to prosper. out her experience and her skill at league and the chairman of the com- I made a big effort to make sure the bringing diverse groups of people to- mittee in getting us to this point so incoming Secretary of the Interior not gether to solve difficult problems on that we can move Ms. Jewell’s nomina- only understood the particulars of King which they have been divided histori- tion forward. I look forward to sup- Cove—and I welcome the opportunity cally, and I do take her at her word porting her and working with her dur- to travel with her when she comes to there. I will certainly commit to par- ing her tenure as Secretary of the Inte- Alaska and flies out to King Cove hope- ticipating in that dialog and to bring- rior. fully at the end of the summer—for her ing all of my fellow western constitu- Mr. President, I yield the floor. not only to understand this issue but ents with me, whether it is literally or The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen- for her to understand the bigger role figuratively. I believe that is impor- ior Senator from Washington State is she will assume as Secretary of the In- tant. recognized. terior and how important it is for her Ms. Jewell has used the word ‘‘con- Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise to listen to all sides and to listen to vener’’ when describing herself, and I today to join my colleagues and urge the people she represents. As Secretary think this will be a very important them to vote in support of Sally of the Interior, she is the one to imple- task and role that she will assume. Jewell, who has been nominated to ment that special trust responsibility There are conflicting groups and con- serve as Interior Secretary. I thank the Federal Government has to our flicting interests, and Ms. Jewell has Senator WYDEN for all of his work in first people, to our Native people, so spoken to how she has reconciled that moving her through this process to she needs to see and hear for herself. in the past with her previous work ex- today. I was thrilled when President She also needs to fully understand perience, not only at REI but at other Obama nominated Sally for this posi- what she has in front of her—as Sen- places, and I do believe she has the tion, and I couldn’t be more excited to ator WYDEN mentioned, the massive skill sets to accomplish just that. support her confirmation. public lands that will be under her ju- So with this commitment she has Sally is going to come to the Depart- risdiction as Secretary, understanding made to me and to others on the com- ment of the Interior at a difficult time what that means to ranchers and farm- mittee, I will certainly take the view for our country. As a nation, we are ers and those who are the recreators in that the fact that Ms. Jewell has per- working very hard to protect our envi- our national parks, to those who will haps not been through the full gamut ronment and invest in new tech- harvest timber, to those who will use of the conflicts that surround so much nologies to meet our energy demands. our lands in the manner in which they of what happens within Interior, per- And on the local level, including in my are intended—multiple use—for her to haps that is a good thing because per- home State of Washington, Sally is fully understand what it means to be haps she is able to look at some of going to face some complex issues, the custodian, the landlord of our these issues through a fresh perspec- such as protecting tribal lands and

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.058 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2545 treaty rights. But I can think of no one noon to speak in support of the nomi- I hope our colleagues will vote today better prepared for this task than nation of Sally Jewell as Secretary of to move Ms. Jewell out of the Senate Sally. the Interior. Like my colleagues from so we can get her into the Department After she studied at the University of the Northwest, I wish to express how of the Interior so she can begin this im- Washington to become an engineer, much we appreciate her willingness to portant job and continue to move our Sally left the Northwest for the oil- serve and how proud we are of her leg- Nation’s agenda forward. fields of Oklahoma and Colorado, acy and interests in a variety of issues As the chairwoman of the Indian Af- where she learned about the energy so far. fairs Committee I look forward to sector from the inside out. She moved Obviously, the Department of the In- working with Ms. Jewell on all the from the outdoors—as you can see from terior is so important to us, with its issues related to Indian Country as this picture—to the boardroom and broad range of services, including ev- well. There is much to accomplish and spent nearly two decades in finance erything from our national parks, to much to address. I think her back- helping businesses grow and learning wildlife refuge, to offshore drilling ground is exactly what we need in the what it takes to succeed in the market- lease management, to the important Department. I hope my colleagues will place. science done by the USGS Service, and move quickly on this issue. Time and again, Sally has broken the many other things. In fact, I read I thank the chairman, Senator mold to take on tough tasks—often in somewhere kind of humorously that WYDEN, for his leadership in moving male-dominated industries. When she the Department of the Interior was her nomination through the process. joined Recreational Equipment, Incor- called the Department of Everything I yield the floor. porated, the Seattle-based outdoor re- Else. Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, before tailer, it was struggling. But after 8 As a nominee, Ms. Jewell came before she leaves I want to thank Senator years with Sally as CEO, REI is now our committee. I thank her family for CANTWELL for all her good work. As northwesterners know, and I hope the thriving, topping $1 billion in sales, their willingness to support her in her rest of the country knows, Senator while leading the charge to protect our efforts to come to Washington, DC, be- CANTWELL is one of those who under- environment. And finding that bal- cause Sally is the exact type of leader- stands the opportunity in the great ance—navigating the business world ship we need at the Department of the Interior. She represents a balanced per- outdoors. I know she is climbing a while keeping REI’s commitment to son who not only knows how to help a mountain this summer and is always in the outdoors—is what will make Sally growing business, as she did, she has shape. She is always fit and ready for a great as our next Interior Secretary. served on the university board of re- mountain. Perhaps better than anyone, Sally gents and also worked on the non- To have the opportunity to work knows that businesses and the environ- partisan National Conservation Parks with folks in the Pacific Northwest, ment both benefit when we are com- Association. She has done everything particularly with Sally Jewell’s back- mitted to protecting our national in business, from dealing with oilfields ground, as the Senator has eloquently parks and promoting our national in Oklahoma to commercial banking outlined, I think it is going to be an treasures. At REI, Sally has proven to, of late, running REI, one of our advantage not just for our region but that sustainability and responsibility most successful companies in the Pa- for the rest of our country. make sense for the environment and cific Northwest. I know she has the I see our colleague from New Mexico the company’s bottom line. kind of leadership it takes to figure out is here. If he would like to make some In Washington State, she has worked these issues about best use of public remarks at this point, we welcome closely with me to help create the Wild lands or the vigorous challenges the him. I have some additional remarks as Sky Wilderness area and expand our Department faces when it comes to well. other important environmental protec- modernizing the bureaucracy or think- Would my colleague from New Mex- tions throughout our State. She has ing about climate change at the same ico like to make any remarks at this worked with industry and environ- time you are talking about deepwater time? mentalists to expand recreational op- drilling. There are a myriad of things All right. portunities throughout the Northwest we have to forge through, and Sally Let me, then, talk for just a few and has helped us work toward perma- Jewell is the right person with the more minutes about Ms. Jewell and nently protecting BLM lands in the right balance to get that done. some of the challenges ahead of her, San Juan Islands, where my colleague Having grown up in Washington, particularly in natural resources. Obvi- Senator MARIA CANTWELL was at the where over 40 percent of our lands is in ously, with authorities, as my col- forefront. That is truly a gem of Wash- public land, I know Sally understands leagues have outlined, that range from ington State and has recently been de- these western issues, whether it is managing national parks, to offshore clared a national monument. water rights or salmon recovery or un- oil and gas development, to protecting Sally has backed crucial public-pri- derstanding the impact on water levels, fish and wildlife, serving as Secretary vate partnerships that create jobs the fire season, wildlife on BLM lands, of the Interior, it is almost like an ex- through recreation, and she has sup- or the importance of access to hunting treme sport for multitaskers. You are ported groundbreaking programs to get and fishing. I guarantee, because she going to have to juggle. Ms. Jewell young people involved in the outdoors. grew up there, Sally Jewell under- knows a little bit about multitasking, So whether it is our forest lands in stands these issues. I know she has as we have outlined, from being a pe- the Northwest or mineral deposits in been involved in many organizations to troleum engineer, a CEO, a conserva- the Southwest or oil reserves along our express that, and that has been a good tionist, and a banker. coastlines, Sally is going to lead an In- training ground for her. Particularly in my part of the world, terior Department where economic I am confident, because she is a Oregon, there are some especially im- growth and long-term sustainability go trained engineer, she is going to bring portant challenges. The Federal Gov- hand in hand. a very pragmatic, can-do attitude to ernment owns most of our land. Par- I am here today to urge my col- the Interior Department’s management ticularly in forestry, we need to find a leagues to vote in support of Sally and problem-solving efforts. way to bring together all sides—timber Jewell, and I am really pleased she has I know science will be her compass, owners, environmentalists, scientists— been nominated. Again, I thank Sen- and I know she is not going to have an and we need to go in there and clean ator WYDEN for all of his work in get- ideological bent, but she is going to out millions and millions of acres of ting her to this point in this process. have a ‘‘get it done’’ mentality. overstocked timber stands. We can get Mr. President, I yield the floor. Given the importance of the Interior that material to the mills. It is an The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Department’s agencies and very chal- ideal source of biomass, a clean source ator from Washington State is recog- lenging mission, I am excited we are of energy. nized. going to have somebody with a busi- Because we are working to build rela- Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I ness background and a science back- tionships with the environmental com- join my colleagues from the Northwest ground at the Department of the Inte- munity, we can also find a way to pro- who have come to the floor this after- rior. tect old growth as we get to harvest

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.060 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2546 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 timber. But it is, again, not going to know the Presiding Officer has great I would like to note something else happen just by osmosis or because affection for him as well—our former as well about Secretary Salazar. I somebody waves a wand in Washington, colleague, Ken Salazar. Ken Salazar know Senators on both sides of the DC. It is going to happen because we has been Secretary of the Interior aisle would call him when they had have responsible administrators like throughout the Obama administration those kinds of resource questions. I Sally Jewell who are going to take the to date. It is my view he has done an know Senator MURKOWSKI brought up time to learn the checker-board pat- exceptional job. I think we all under- one of Secretary Salazar’s final acts in tern of O&C lands and our local com- stand in the Senate that when Ken office today. Under his leadership the munities, and particularly understand Salazar is involved, get ready for a State of Idaho and the Fish and Wild- some of our traditions that have great smile, an enormous amount of life Service entered into an arrange- worked particularly well in the past energy, enormous amount of intel- ment so that the State of Idaho’s plan and I think can be of great benefit as ligence, and someone who, in a very for addressing the sage grouse could be we look to future solutions. persistent way, is interested in solving implemented. I know this is a critical Back in 2000 I had the honor of writ- problems. Ken Salazar has sure done issue for Senator RISCH. He and I ing the secure rural schools bill and that in a number of important areas. talked about it often. I am going to the timber payments bill with our For example, before Ken Salazar took work with him on these issues, and former colleague, Senator Larry Craig. office—I am looking at a headline from what Secretary Salazar did today is an What we included in that legislation is when there was a huge scandal at the example of the new kind of partnership the kind of model for collaborative for- Department of the Interior. I am look- that we all are looking to the Interior estry that we are going to see Sally ing at an article from the fall of 2008 Department and the states for, and cer- Jewell pick up on. We established headlined, ‘‘Sex, Drug Use and Graft tainly something I want to promote, Cited In The Interior Department.’’ something called resource advisory and I know Senator MURKOWSKI shares Basically, what it talks about is an councils where, in effect, on the local that view. level people from the timber industry, investigation, a number of reports de- I think it is fair to say that Sally livered by the inspector general, that people from the environmental commu- Jewell has very large boots to fill. We basically document, at the Department nity, scientists, and a whole host of all remember Secretary Salazar’s won- of the Interior, a culture of lax ethics. others—frankly, some people who as a derful western boots and the anecdotes It basically describes something like a general rule had not done much talking about them. She has certainly got a dozen current and former employees of to each other, probably done a lot of challenge to try to step in after a Sec- the Minerals Management Service, an litigating against each other—they retary who has accomplished so much. agency that collected at that time bil- would use these resource advisory But as I and Senator MURKOWSKI and lions of dollars of royalties annually— councils to come together and try to the Washington Senators have outlined you basically had an ‘‘anything goes’’ find some common ground. today, we believe strongly that Sally kind of environment, and the reports It worked. Regarding these resource go on and on. It feels more like a litany Jewell is up to this challenge. I hope advisory councils, when I meet people for a late-night television show. she will receive a resounding vote in from the timber industry, from any of The reports focused on a culture of the Senate. I believe we are close to the extractive industries, and environ- substance abuse and promiscuity in the point where we will be able to vote mental folks, they say: Use that model. what was the Service’s royalty and in- on Ms. Jewell. Use that collaborative model that we kind program—essentially, officials For all the reasons that I and my col- are seeing used in timberlands in who seemed to be exempt from expense leagues have outlined this afternoon, I southwestern Oregon as a way that we accounts limits, one ethical lapse after hope there will be very strong bipar- can build on the opportunity to bring another, as documented in these re- tisan support for Ms. Jewell when we people together. ports. I remember at the hearing, the vote. We have been able to do that with confirmation hearing, Senator Sala- With that I yield the floor. I suggest Forest Service lands in eastern Oregon zar—it was unusual because he had the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The to some extent. I think we can do it been my seatmate over the years at the clerk will call the roll. also in western Oregon and in the com- Senate Energy Committee—I said: Sen- munities that are affected by the Bu- The legislative clerk proceeded to ator Salazar, you have to go in there call the roll. reau of Land Management lands. Prob- and drain the swamp at the Minerals ably to do it we are going to have to Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask Management Service. unanimous consent the order for a extend the timber payments law for an- In fact, he certainly did that. Essen- other year to give us the time to come quorum call be rescinded. tially, the successor agency has been The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without up with a long-term solution. I have free of scandal. I think that is rep- talked about this with Sally Jewell in objection, it is so ordered. resentative of both the integrity and Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask the past and about her willingness to professionalism that Secretary Salazar unanimous consent all remaining time see that this is an issue that now fi- has brought to the agency. on the Jewell nomination be yielded nally has to be addressed, addressed in Also, I note after the gulf spill he back. a way that will get the timber harvest overhauled the offshore drilling prac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without up in O&C lands but also protect our tices, ensured that they were beefed up objection, it is so ordered. All time is treasures. Our old growth is some of in terms of safety while at the same yielded back. the very pristine treasures of America. time allowing for the drilling that is so Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask for If we do not figure out a way to pro- important to the industry. the yeas and nays. mote forest health and go in there and I am also going to reflect on Sec- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a thin out these overstocked stands, retary Salazar’s accomplishments, sufficient second? these fires that we are seeing—they are mention that he has done yeoman work There appears to be a sufficient sec- not natural fires, they are really in terms of promoting green and renew- ond. magnets for infernos because of years able energy. I note in one of the com- There is a sufficient second. and years of neglect—are going to con- ments about his departure that Christy The question is, Will the Senate ad- tinue. Goldfuss, Public Lands Director at the vise and consent to the nomination of I think Sally Jewell is up to the chal- Center for American Progress, stated Sarah Jewell, of Washington, to be Sec- lenge of coming up with the kind of Secretary Salazar championed ‘‘a new retary of the Interior? policies for the O&C lands, for the model of conservation which focused on The clerk will call the roll. lands in eastern Oregon and those my partnerships with private land owners The legislative clerk called the roll. colleagues talked about in Montana and States’’ and ‘‘that approach has Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the and Colorado and Idaho, and I think paid off with cooperatives in the Ever- Senator from New Jersey (Mr. LAUTEN- she is up to that challenge. glades in Florida, the Prairie Potholes BERG) and the Senator from West Vir- Before we wrap up today I want to region of the Dakotas, and other ginia (Mr. ROCKEFELLER) are nec- take a few minutes and talk about—I areas.’’ essarily absent.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:28 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.064 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2547 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there them shot multiple times—little tiny going to begin this process before we any other Senators in the Chamber de- kids shot multiple times. The shooting leave here this week. siring to vote? was on December 14, about 4 months I so appreciate the work done by Sen- The result was announced—yeas 87, ago—120 days. So the time has come— ators MANCHIN, TOOMEY, KIRK, and nays 11, as follows: it has arrived—when we have to debate many others. My friend Senator SCHU- [Rollcall Vote No. 94 Ex.] this issue. We have to have a response MER has been working on this issue. My YEAS—87 to this tragedy. friend DICK DURBIN, who has been in- Alexander Franken Moran When this incident took place on De- volved in guns for a long time, has been Ayotte Gillibrand Murkowski cember 14, it struck me, as it did every- involved. I appreciate the work of ev- Baldwin Graham Murphy one in America—virtually everyone in eryone. As the press has indicated, we Baucus Grassley Murray are likely going to get cloture on this Begich Hagan Nelson America; we had been through Aurora, Bennet Harkin Paul CO—that vicious, brutal machine-gun- tomorrow. I hope so. But, as I have told Blumenthal Hatch Portman ning of people going to watch a movie, individual Senators, if we do not get Blunt Heinrich Pryor and then little kids getting killed in an cloture, we are going to have a vote in Boozman Heitkamp Reed the Senate on capacity clips, assault Boxer Heller Reid elementary school, kindergartners, Brown Hirono Risch first-graders—so we need to respond, weapons, background checks, and some Burr Hoeven Roberts this great deliberative body, to what mental health items or item. That we Cantwell Inhofe Sanders the American people want. So we are are going to do. I hope we can do it in Cardin Isakson Schatz the regular process. Carper Johnson (SD) Schumer going to vote. It is time to vote. I hope Casey Johnson (WI) Sessions we get cloture on this matter. We cer- We have had people for a long time Coats Kaine Shaheen tainly should. After that, there is no now—my friends on the other side of Cochran King Shelby reason not to start legislating imme- the aisle—saying: We want regular Collins Kirk Stabenow order. We want to be able to offer Coons Klobuchar Tester diately. I hope we do not have to go Corker Landrieu Thune through this procedural mishmash—30 amendments. Well, I do too. And I hope Cornyn Leahy Toomey people will not see how many amend- hours; somebody on the floor all the Cowan Levin Udall (CO) ments they can offer, not see if they time; if people are not, there are dila- Crapo Manchin Udall (NM) can set a record for how many amend- Cruz McCain Warner tory tactics; only one quorum call— ments can be laid down, because we Donnelly McCaskill Warren and all this. Let’s get past that. If Durbin Menendez Whitehouse should have this as a civil process and somebody has something to say, come Feinstein Merkley Wicker culminating in a better set of laws for Flake Mikulski Wyden and say it. But this week we are going our people in this great country in to start legislating. We are going to NAYS—11 which we live. Barrasso Fischer Rubio start legislating whether there is clo- For those of us who have the oppor- Chambliss Johanns Scott ture or not. One will be a little longer tunity to try to address this issue, I Coburn Lee Vitter process. But we are going to start leg- Enzi McConnell hope we all understand that the world islating on this bill this week. I hope is watching what we do. NOT VOTING—2 we can get to it tomorrow. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Lautenberg Rockefeller I do not think it is any secret, if we ator from Delaware. are on this bill, I am going to—the first The nomination was confirmed. NOMINATION OF SRI SRINIVASAN The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under amendment in order will be the amend- Mr. COONS. Mr. President, earlier the previous order, the motion to re- ment to change the background checks this afternoon I had the opportunity, consider is considered made and laid that has been worked on for weeks by the honor, to chair a hearing of the upon the table and the President will Senator MANCHIN, Senator KIRK, and Senate Judiciary Committee, on which be immediately notified of the Senate’s Senator TOOMEY, and then we will de- we both serve, to consider the Presi- action. cide where we go from there. dent’s nomination of a highly qualified To all my friends, we are going to f lawyer, Sri Srinivasan, to serve on the have amendments. Some of them are DC Circuit Court of Appeals. LEGISLATIVE SESSION going to take a little bit of time. We I am encouraged by what the major- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- are not going to finish the bill this ity leader has just said about the very ate will resume legislative session. week. I do not know if we will finish it real possibility that we will get a vote f next week. But that really does not on the floor of this Senate on vital and matter. Are we going to legislate the important issues affecting guns, immi- SAFE COMMUNITIES, SAFE right way? Are we going to legislate? I gration, and other issues, but what I SCHOOLS ACT OF 2013—MOTION have in my mind these little children speak to today is the absolutely essen- TO PROCEED—Continued who were murdered. What we do here is tial role this Senate must fill of voting The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- not going to prevent all gun violence in on qualified judges who have been nom- jority leader. America, but if we stop a few, isn’t inated to the circuit courts of the Mr. REID. Mr. President, tomorrow that remarkably important for us to United States. at 11 o’clock we are going to vote on do? I think we can do a lot more than Earlier today at this hearing, 10 of cloture on the motion to proceed to the saving the lives of just a few people. our colleagues, Republicans and Demo- gun legislation that is now before this But let’s work on this bill. We are crats, asked thoughtful questions, and body. going to start. If we have to use up the Mr. Srinivasan gave thorough and This morning and throughout the 30 hours, we will use up the 30 hours. I thoughtful answers. I came away con- day, our friend from Connecticut think there are ways around that pro- vinced that he has the background, the spoke, a freshman Senator who was cedurally. I hope we do not have to test education, the skills, and, most impor- brought to the Senate with this trag- that. There are a number of amend- tantly, the temperament to serve as a edy having taken place shortly after he ments. We all know. We have been circuit court judge. And I was encour- arrived. My friend the Presiding Offi- reading about them. There are lots of aged by comments of my colleagues, cer, a longtime attorney general, the amendments; people have been waiting both Republican and Democratic, that chief law enforcement officer of the a long time for this legislation. they too were inclined to support this State of Connecticut, has lived with One of my Republican colleagues yes- nomination. this tragedy that happened at Sandy terday said: I have a number of ger- Under normal historical cir- Hook like nothing that ever happened mane amendments I want to offer. cumstances, today’s hearing would be in his career. And, of course, for Sen- I said: Fine. Good. Do it. the beginning of a deliberate, timely, ator HEINRICH, a new Senator, this was We know we have to do background orderly process—a process required of something he never appreciated he checks, assault weapons, the ammuni- this body by article II, section 2 of our would be faced with. tion capacity of clips or magazines, Constitution by which we advise and I saw the pictures today of those lit- mental health. That is just to name a consent to the President’s nomina- tle babies who were murdered, some of few of the things. And I repeat, we are tions.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.004 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2548 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 We should, of course, carefully con- served in the Solicitor General’s office in which I serve, a result that was sider the qualifications of candidates for both Republican and Democratic avoided only at the last moment for and not serve as some rubberstamp, administrations. He has served in the the good of the Senate and the Nation. but neither should we be a firewall private sector and the public sector I urge my colleagues to come together blocking qualified nominees from serv- and has earned bipartisan support from to give this good man a vote and avoid ing. Unfortunately, for some number of those who have worked with him. another such crisis today. years, this Senate has, in some vital In fact, he has been endorsed publicly Let’s do our job so the judges of the instances, served more as a firewall in a letter from 12 former Solicitors DC Circuit Court of Appeals can do than as an advise and consent body. In- General and Principal Deputy Solici- theirs for the people of our Nation. stead of doing our due diligence with tors General, six Democrats, six Repub- I yield the floor. appropriate speed, we have seen delays, licans, for those who have served in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- stalling tactics, and in some instances Democratic and Republican adminis- ator from Oklahoma. filibusters of highly qualified nomi- trations. GAO DUPLICATION REPORT nees. The letter, signed by conservative Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, I would Five years into President Obama’s legal luminaries such as Paul Clement note to my colleague from the State of administration, the courts are still and Ted Olson, notes Mr. Srinivasan is Delaware, if I heard him correctly, we nearly 10 percent vacant. In my view, ‘‘one of the best appellate lawyers in just now have had a hearing on a nomi- our courts should be above politics. the country,’’ with an ‘‘unsurpassed’’ nee for the DC Circuit Court. He is not When the President of either party sub- work ethic who is ‘‘extremely well pre- even on the Executive Calendar be- mits a highly qualified candidate of pared to take on the intellectual rigors cause he has not even been voted out of good character and sound legal mind, of serving on the D.C. Circuit.’’ the Judiciary Committee. So the Sen- absent exceptional circumstances, that At the same time, throughout the ator makes a lot of great points. But I candidate is entitled to a vote. course of his career in private practice think the fact we are talking about a The actions or in this case inaction and as a public servant, he has rep- potential judge who has not even of the Senate with regard to the DC resented clients with causes diverse cleared the Judiciary Committee yet Circuit have consequences. The DC Cir- enough that any individual policy- may be a bit premature. cuit Court of Appeals has a series of va- maker or elected official is likely to He will get a fair hearing. I think we cancies, the result of which, in my disagree with some of them, including have noted that more judicial nomi- view, are to delay and deny justice for me. I disagree with a position he ar- nees were approved in the last two Con- Americans far beyond the boundaries gued in Rumsfeld v. Padilla in support gresses than the two Congresses before of this District of Columbia. of the idea that the government has a under the last 4 years of the Bush ad- The DC Circuit Court is often called right to detain U.S. citizens indefi- ministration. the second most important in the Na- nitely, but I do not ascribe that posi- I rise to say this evening there has tion, because, like the Supreme Court, tion to him. been a lot in the news. One thing that it handles cases that impact Americans One of the most foundational prin- has not been in the news very much is all over our country. Regularly, it ciples of our legal system is that we do the third and final report of the Gov- hears cases on issues ranging from ter- not ascribe to the attorney the posi- ernment Accountability Office in rorism and detention to the scope of tion which he successfully and vigor- terms of looking at duplication within Federal agency power. Yet it is criti- ously advocates on behalf of his client. the Federal Government. cally understaffed. This circuit court I will not block his nomination simply I hope as the American people listen has not seen a nominee confirmed since because I might disagree with the posi- to this, they will take a couple things President George W. Bush’s fourth tion he took on behalf of a client in one away. No. 1, we have a great organiza- nominee to that court was confirmed case. tion called the Government Account- in 2006. Today, more than 1,500 days Sri, in my view, is a highly capable ability Office. They have done a won- after President Obama has taken of- attorney, with the character and de- derful job. We mandated this 4 years fice, 4 of the 11 seats on the DC Circuit meanor to serve on the bench. I will ago. They have been on time with their are open, making it more than one- strongly support his nomination. I am reports. What they have shown us has third vacant and putting the remaining following in this instance the wisdom been tremendously revealing. The first judges under undue strain to decide the of Chief Justice Roberts, who has said: thing I want Americans to note is Con- complex and important cases before ‘‘It’s a tradition of the American Bar gress has failed to act on the first two this court. that goes back before the founding of reports—no substantive action whatso- Contrary to the previous administra- our nation that lawyers are not identi- ever. tion, this administration was recently fied with the positions of their cli- One significant thing in the Senate recognized by the New York Times Edi- ents.’’ was the elimination of the ethanol torial Board as putting forward nomi- So I say to my colleagues, let’s move mandate. With this report today comes nees who are decidedly moderate. forward in that spirit. Let’s return to an estimated $98 billion a year in sav- President Obama first nominated for our historic constitutionally mandated ings. What we take by looking at this this vacancy on this court the excep- role. Let’s give Mr. Srinivasan a speedy report could potentially yield us $98 tionally qualified Caitlin Halligan, who up-or-down vote, which I believe he has billion in savings by eliminating dupli- waited more than 900 days for a simple earned with decades of public service cation in what they just found in this up-or-down vote on the floor of this and public sector experience. one report. Chamber. She came with the American To be honest, if this nomination can- Let me go through it for 1 minute. Bar Association’s highest rating, glow- not move forward, if this nomination is They found 679 different renewable en- ing recommendations from bipartisan filibustered for what can only be polit- ergy programs across 23 agencies—not supporters, and a diverse legal career ical reasons, I cannot imagine what across the Energy Department. If we marked by distinctive service as New nomination could move forward to this are going to have renewable programs, York’s solicitor general. Nevertheless, court. A filibuster of this nomination that is where we should have it. Across sadly, Republican Senators success- would sadly prove to me, just as it did 23 different agencies of which we spend fully filibustered her nomination, and to those of the other party in 2005, that $15 billion a year, they found instances last month President Obama reluc- the judicial nomination standards and where we are giving grants from dif- tantly withdrew Ms. Halligan from procedures at work are unworkable, ferent agencies to the same projects for consideration. the system is broken, and it would lead the same thing, spending three times We have today a chance for a fresh to a reconsideration. as much money as we should be spend- start with Mr. Srinivasan, who would There was a crisis of this sort when ing on the one project even if we did serve equally well and ably on the DC the parties were of opposite configura- not have that. Circuit Court of Appeals. As he dem- tion in 2005 that led the majority to So the potential for us to work our onstrated in today’s hearing, he has a threaten the so-called nuclear option way out of the consequences of the se- sharp and capable legal mind. He has to end judicial filibusters by the party quester is at our fingertips. Here, drug

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.068 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2549 abuse prevention and treatment, 76 have to go to NTIS. All you have to do country, the health of our country, and separate programs, not run through the is Google it. So 75 percent of their the job-creating capacity for our coun- Department of Health and Human budget is spent providing reports to try. Services, run through 10 different de- other government agencies and other Yet what is it about your Senator or partments with overlap that shows no people that you can get with the touch your Congressman which keeps them metrics but multiple agencies having of your iPhone. Why would we continue from having the courage to challenge programs doing exactly the same to do that? the status quo? I know what it is. It is thing: $4.5 billion a year. That is half This is just one example that I bring the desire to get reelected by not of- the size of my Oklahoma State budget up. We are continuing to fund an agen- fending anybody. a year. cy where three-quarters of what they We don’t have tough oversight hear- Catfish inspection. I saw in the Presi- do has no bearing on it. If it went ings. We will not allow bills through dent’s budget today three different away, it would not affect us at all. The committees which actually eliminate agencies where one has to meet the re- other thing is they charge other Fed- waste. There is a bill that has passed quirements before they can have their eral agencies a fee for this information the House sitting on the docket right catfish inspected. The only thing they that the other Federal agencies, at a now called the SKILLS Act. It takes 47 did not recommend in the budget today touch of their computer, can get for job-training programs and puts them is getting rid of the Agriculture De- free. into 6. It saves billions of dollars a year partment. They approve your cheese It is another case of inefficiency. and puts metrics on the outcome. We pizza. But the FDA approves your What else did the GAO report show? will not even bring it to the floor even pepperoni pizza. So if you are a pizza What the GAO report showed is that we though it saves $5 to $6 billion a year maker, you have to comply with one have done nothing of significance in in addition to markedly improving the agency on one type of pizza and an- the last 2 years based on what they outcome of our job-training programs. other agency on a different type of have recommended we do given their It is not here. pizza. first two reports. Our office calculates, It passed the House. The House is Defense foreign language support. based on the three reports that GAO doing oversight in every committee Those are people who come in and help has given us, that we could save in ex- right now. The Senate is not. The House is reading the GAO reports us learn other languages, interpret for cess of $250 billion a year if we would and acting on them. They are not right us other languages so we can have an follow the recommendations of the 100 percent of the time, they are right effective response and not have a com- Government Accountability Office. about 95 percent of the time. Nothing munication error. We have 159 different If you are sitting out there won- is going to be done about it unless we programs in the Pentagon alone. What dering why we are having tax proposals have an oversight hearing to actually they are estimating is that we could increased in the President’s budget and discover information. Nothing actually save tons of money. We do not know that we are having such a hard time happens unless we write a bill to exactly how much it costs because the with the sequester, you only have to change things. Pentagon does not know how much look at one place; that is, Congress. Yet this is not the emphasis in the they are spending on it, which is an- Congress refuses to follow and do the Senate. There can be no greater em- other one of the problems. oversight. We have had GAO do a lot of phasis than for us to get out of the fi- The GAO report said this week one of it. We refuse to pass amendments that nancial troubles we are in. There can the reasons they cannot estimate the eliminate duplication. We refuse to be no greater emphasis than for us to savings more accurately is because the make the tough choices. So, con- create an environment which produces majority of the agencies have no idea sequently, we are spending $250 billion jobs in the country when we stop wast- what they are spending on these pro- a year—that is $2.5 trillion over 10 ing money at the Federal Government grams. The question I have had is, why years—that we should not be spending. level. not? If they do not know what they are Where does the money come from to Our answer is more government—not spending, why are we not doing some- pay for that? It comes from our kids. It less, more. Our answer, according to thing about it? doesn’t just come in dollars, it comes the President’s budget, is more taxes, Higher education assistance: 21 dif- from a reduced standard of living and not less. ferent programs, four different agen- limited opportunities in the future be- I commend the President. He has $25 cies—not all in the Education Depart- cause we don’t have the courage or the billion worth of programs he wishes to ment, which is from where I think we work ethic to address the very real eliminate in his budget, $25.8 billion. would do education assistance, $174.7 issues which are in front us, on the tips He could send over what the GAO said billion a year. That includes Pell of our fingers, where the money is, and eliminate $250 billion a year. grants. That includes student loans, where we could actually save money. The problems are not really with the the cost associated with student loans. We have had almost 1,000 days since President, it is with us: our intran- Veterans employment training. We the first report came out. We have done sigence to do our job and keep in our have six programs, not all of them run one significant thing in the Senate; we focal point what is most important. by the Veterans Affairs Department have eliminated the ethanol tax credit What is most important is our future but run by the Veterans Affairs Depart- and saved $6 billion the first year and and the capability for us to create op- ment and other agencies. We are spend- about $4 to $5 billion afterward. This is portunity in the future for our children ing $1.2 billion. Here is what we know. the one thing we did. We fought tooth and our grandchildren. We are running these programs, and and nail while we did it, but we did it. I have been fighting this for 8 years. veterans unemployment, even though This is one bill to save $6 billion in 3 There is a lot of oversight which has they have a skill when they come out years out of $250 billion. No wonder the been done, tons of reports. The Amer- of the military, is higher than what the confidence level in the Congress is at 13 ican people are going to eventually average is in the country. So it is obvi- percent. What we are actually doing is learn everything that is in this report ously not working. throwing away our kids’ future as we because there is an app coming out Also, in the report is something that fail to address these issues. which will be on people’s cell phones is very important to me. Let me find When we are spending money we very soon, and they may find out any- it, if I might for a moment. GAO’s re- don’t have on things we don’t abso- thing about everything where the gov- port exposes a government office that lutely need, and we are borrowing ernment is wasting money. They will does some good things. It is called the money against our children’s future, I be able to look at an address in their National Technical Information Serv- can’t think of a greater immoral act of own city and see how much money a ice. It was established in 1950 and the Congress. It is not red hot lit up as company, business, or that farmer re- tasked with collecting and distributing some of the more controversial issues ceived from their Federal tax dollars. certain reports. Despite the fact—here such as the gun bill we are doing or im- They will be able to see that in about is what GAO found: 75 percent of the migration; however, I will state it will 3 months. information that NTIS supplies, all have a profound effect if we were to ad- When the American people discover you have to do is Google it. You do not dress it in terms of the future of our our incompetence, it will not matter

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.069 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2550 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 that we didn’t offend somebody. They on records. The proposal which comes The first thing which will happen is are going to see we didn’t do our job. from Senator TOOMEY, Senator the Federal firearms licensed dealer We are not doing our job because we MANCHIN, and Senator KIRK is a step will say: I want a fee for transferring are not addressing the things we actu- forward. I will not deny it. However, this gun, for doing the work—and ally have some control over. tell me how a record which will only be rightly so. I don’t blame him. What is What do we do now? Here is what looked at after a crime is committed is the option? GAO explains: Although Congress had going to help anybody who is a victim The option which will happen is the made some limited progress in address- of a crime. It is not. people who are going to make the deal ing the issues we have previously iden- If we really wish to solve this prob- buy the gun. Subsequently, 2 or 3 days tified, additional steps are needed to lem, what we need to do is put into the after the gun show, they will buy the address the remaining areas to achieve hands of Americans who are law abid- gun because they will not be at the gun associated benefits. A number of the ing the ability to know they didn’t sell show anymore. issues are difficult but not impossible. their gun to somebody who is on the Look at the opposite side of that. If Implementing many of the actions will NTIS list. Give me the ability to know we had a portal or we could get a cer- take time and sustained leadership. when I sell my gun to a stranger that tificate which says someone is not on The key word there is ‘‘leadership.’’ they are not on that NTIS list. the NTIS list and are able to buy a gun Who is going to lead in the Senate to This has been rejected out of hand anytime, anywhere, somebody selling a solve our problems? It is not party because there is no record with it. The gun would have a pin code to make identified. Real leadership about solv- reason there doesn’t need to be a sure their identity is correct and see ing the real problem is in front of us. record is because we are putting an their ID. Whether a person is in a gun It is time for each congressional onus on responsible citizens doing the show or outside a gun show, the respon- committee in the Senate to undertake right thing. Also, the government has sible gun seller will know they didn’t the waste and overlap identified by no right to have a record of when I sell a gun to somebody mentally im- GAO within their jurisdiction, begin transfer a gun. They do have a right to paired or a felon. writing bills to consolidate and elimi- expect me to be a responsible citizen We will have all sorts of statements, nate these programs, and put metrics when I sell my gun. but what we are going to do isn’t going as far as performance on every one of The question is, Are we as a body to decrease guns in the hands of felons them. It is also time for the White going to take something which is far and the mentally impaired. We can say House to put real muscle into their less than appropriate to actually keep we need to win. If we want a bill to get proposal coming in through OMB. guns out of the hands of felons and through the Senate and get through I am thankful we will have a new mentally impaired and call it a day? the House which will actually make a OMB Director. She will be terrific. She This is what is getting ready to hap- difference in people’s lives, that felons has the skills, dedication, and quali- pen. Are we going to make a difference and the mentally impaired aren’t em- fications. I praise the President for and not impair second amendment powered to buy guns, we need to do nominating her. She will fly through rights at all and not impair tenth something different. the Senate because she is superquali- amendment rights because we give My friends in the second amendment fied for the job. Also, she knows what States supremacy on that? If they want community don’t even like my pro- she is doing. But it will not matter to give us something more or different, posal. I understand this. But there is what she does if we don’t respond, if we they may. no impairment when all you need to do don’t do our work. We are going to go through a great is go to your cell phone to receive a GUN CONTROL deal of debate and have all these clearance to know somebody is not on Mr. President, I would like to take amendments. I thank Senator REID for the NTIS list. the time now just to spend a moment making it an open amendment process. We get to decide. Are we going to do or two on the guns issue. I called and spoke to him last night. I it in a way which smells good, looks I spent a lot of time over the last few said I was happy to support going to good, but doesn’t do anything? Are we months thinking about Sandy Hook. I this bill provided we use the regular going to fight to do something which actually met with a large number of Senate procedures and we actually are actually makes a difference? I hope we those people today. I am an A-plus- able to offer amendments which are choose the latter. I am not convinced rated member, a lifetime member of germane to this bill in any number of we will. The reason Senator MANCHIN the NRA. I firmly believe in the second ways. He is going to allow this process. couldn’t get me to agree to what he amendment, and I firmly believe in the I take him at his word he will allow had agreed to with Senator TOOMEY is tenth amendment. this. because I don’t think it is going to We are hearing a lot of politics about When it is all said and done, will we work. I think the vast majority of gun the gun situation. What we are not have made a difference to those fami- purchasers at gun shows are going to hearing is how do we really keep guns lies who are wanting us to make a dif- wait to buy them later from the very out of the hands of people who ference? Would we have made a dif- same people who were going to sell shouldn’t have them. This is what we ference? them at a gun show so they do not have need to be addressing. If we don’t allow responsible citizens to pay a fee and wait 3 or 4 days on a Whether this would prevent a Sandy the ability to know whether they are background check. If that happens, Hook, nobody knows. There are some selling their gun to a felon or a men- what good have we done? How have we things we do know. What we do know is tally impaired person, we haven’t made made a difference? We haven’t. the vast majority of people who are any difference. We have made a lot of It is a sad fact, as a practicing physi- convicted the first time of a gun crime noise, but we haven’t made a dif- cian, and having done training and sur- didn’t steal their gun, and they didn’t ference. gery, I have had to operate on a lot of buy it from a federally licensed firearm Let me tell you why the Toomey- people who ended up with the con- dealer. They bought it from one of us. Manchin proposal will not work. The sequences of a weapon being used on The very fact we are going to have a largest gun show in America is in them. piece of legislation go through here Tulsa, OK. It is called the Oklahoma has a gun culture, and I which will not solve the real problem Wanenmacher Gun Show. Tens of thou- own multiple guns. I cherish my second of keeping guns out of the hands of the sands of people come to it twice, maybe amendment right. But with that right mentally impaired and felons is a three times a year. The sale will be im- comes some responsibility to do the shame. There are ways we can do that. peded by requiring an FFL license, right thing. Liberty without responsi- I haven’t spoken to one owner I know which is to say a gun dealer at the bility isn’t liberty, and it will not last who hasn’t agreed with the fact that show will be required to do a back- unless we attach responsibility to it. they would like to know if they sold ground search against the NTIS list for So if we really believe in the second their gun—they don’t want it to go somebody who purchases a gun at the amendment, and if we really believe in into the hands of a felon or somebody show whether they are buying from the tenth amendment, we will relook mentally impaired. Yet we are hung up that dealer or not. at what we are going to do in terms of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.070 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2551 gun transfers. There is a way to do it today, it is only because Reagan and rural character and unspoiled land- that will actually make a big dif- Thatcher were proven so profoundly scape is what defines the Kingdom to ference in people’s lives in this coun- right that everyone now claims to have many, it is also home to an academic try, and it may actually get through always agreed. institution that has educated the House. I should also note that there is a Vermonters for more than 100 years. What we are proposing, what we are temptation for many people remem- Since its founding in 1911, Lyndon seeing proposed right now, is never bering Mrs. Thatcher’s legacy to note State College has served as an eco- going to pass the House. Consequently, that she was the first female prime nomic engine for the region, educating we will have done something in the minister of the United Kingdom. While students in a diverse range of academic Senate with no long-term consequences this is a significant historical fact, to pursuits. Lyndon has distinguished and actually making a difference for mention it as though it was one of her itself by developing academic programs the American people. most important accomplishments that mirror the emerging economic Mr. President, I thank the Presiding comes off as patronizing. needs of the community, such as its Officer for the time. I yield the floor, Margaret Thatcher rejected the iden- first-of-its-kind Mountain Recreation and I suggest the absence of a quorum. tity politics that is so popular today. Management program. At the same The PRESIDING OFFICER. The She said: time, Lyndon remains committed to a clerk will call the roll. I’ve always believed that what matters in liberal arts education and educating The assistant legislative clerk pro- politics, as in the rest of life, isn’t who you students to be well-rounded profes- ceeded to call the roll. are or where you come from, but what you sionals. Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask believe and what you want to do with your On Friday, April 19, Lyndon State unanimous consent that the order for life. What matters are your convictions. will inaugurate its fifteenth president, the quorum call be rescinded. Because of her convictions and be- Joe Bertolino. Joe comes to Vermont The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without cause she acted on those convictions, from Hunter College in New York, objection, it is so ordered. she restored Britain’s economy, na- where he served as vice president for Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous tional spirit, and international reputa- enrollment management and academic consent to speak as if in morning busi- tion. Millions of people around the affairs. Joe’s passion for working with ness. world now live in peace and freedom students is evident in his easygoing The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without thanks in large part to her efforts. As manner and in how he has engaged stu- objection, it is so ordered. a result, Margaret Thatcher is unques- dents since arriving on campus last TRIBUTE TO MARGARET THATCHER tionably one of the most significant summer. At a college of only 1,400 stu- Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I leaders of the 20th century. dents, Joe’s personal touch sets the would like to take a moment to pay Mrs. Thatcher’s legacy shouldn’t clear tone that under his leadership tribute to former British Prime Min- simply be relegated to history though. Lyndon will be a student-centered in- ister Margaret Thatcher who passed We have a lot to learn from her today. stitution. Joe has undertaken a num- away Monday. As the President submits his overdue ber of creative initiatives to build com- In the 1970s, Britain was mired in budget this week, I would ask my col- munity spirit among Lyndon students debt and even had to go to the IMF for leagues to ponder this quote by Mar- and alumni, including an informal pol- a bailout. Britain was known then as garet Thatcher: icy called ‘‘Go Green, Go Gold,’’ that ‘‘The Sick Man of Europe’’—how we If spending money like water was the an- encourages the Lyndon State commu- think of Greece today. swer to our country’s problems, we would nity to wear the school colors on Governments of both political parties have no problems now. If ever a nation has Wednesdays. had tried to stimulate the economy spent, spent, spent and spent again, ours has. Beyond this personal approach, Joe through Keynesian spending policies Today that dream is over. All of that money has laid out an ambitious plan for the and government intervention into the has got us nowhere but it still has to come college’s future. I have had the oppor- economy was widespread. from somewhere. tunity to meet Joe during a recent Britain faced massive strikes in the Those who urge us to relax the squeeze, to visit to Washington and am encouraged spend yet more money indiscriminately in winter of 1978–1979, known as the Win- the belief that it will help the unemployed to welcome his energy and creative ter of Discontent. There was talk that and the small businessman, are not being thinking to Vermont. Lyndon State Britain had become ungovernable. kind—or compassionate—or caring. They are College is a vital part of Vermont’s Then Margaret Thatcher came on the not the friends of the unemployed or the higher education community, and I scene. Her policies of fiscal responsi- small business. They are asking us to do wish Joe the best as he is officially in- bility and promotion of ‘‘free enter- again the very thing that caused the prob- augurated as the college’s next presi- prise’’ completely reversed Britain’s lems in the first place. dent. economic decline. Her foreign policy I yield the floor. I request unanimous consent that an achievements were no less impressive. Mr. REID. Mr. President, are we in a article from Lyndon State about Presi- This was the era of de´tente. period of morning business? dent Bertolino be printed in the Most people accepted that the Soviet The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- RECORD. Union was strong and successful and ate is on the motion to proceed at this There being no objection, the mate- was here to stay so we had to learn to point. rial was ordered to be printed in the live with it. It was fashionable for po- MORNING BUSINESS RECORD, as follows: litical leaders to talk as though the So- Mr. REID. I thought so. Mr. Presi- LOVING LYNDON viet system was just different, but no dent, I ask unanimous consent the Sen- (By Leon Thompson) better or worse than our own. ate proceed to a period of morning [From the Lyndon State College Twin Tower Margaret Thatcher had no hesitation business, with Senators permitted to Topics] in pointing out the truth that the So- speak for up to 10 minutes each. To the director of YMCA Camp viet Union and its satellites held their The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Ockanickon, Joe Bertolino—an accordion- citizens in bondage and she encouraged objection, it is so ordered. playing member of his high school debate team in New Jersey—didn’t seem so suited dissidents who sought freedom. In fact, f for counseling other geeks. Not at first. it was a speech in 1976 when she was INAUGURATION OF JOE ‘‘Do you hike?’’ the director asked. ‘‘No,’’ still just leader of the opposition in Joe said. ‘‘Swim?’’ ‘‘No.’’ ‘‘Boat?’’ ‘‘No.’’ which she warned about the Soviet BERTOLINO ‘‘Arts and crafts?’’ ‘‘Maybe.’’ military buildup that caused a Soviet Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, the The director wondered, ‘‘Is there anything army newspaper to coin her nickname Northeast Kingdom of Vermont is a you do?’’ ‘‘I get along with people,’’ Joe said. the ‘‘Iron Lady.’’ special place. In a State that abounds ‘‘That’s when my life began,’’ Dr. Joseph Bertolino said this fall, a week after deliv- Together with President Reagan, she in natural beauty, the Kingdom, as ering Lyndon State College’s State of the sought every opportunity to undermine many Vermonters affectionately call College Address, as the fifteenth president. the Soviet system until it collapsed. If the State’s northeast corner, is her- ‘‘To me, the meaning of life is relationships, this doesn’t sound like a bold position alded for its rural splendor. While the and leadership is all about relationships.’’

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.072 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2552 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 Joe, 49, officially succeeded Interim Presi- some time in seminary school and his sum- this year they took on the local fire de- dent Steve Gold on July 1; LSC offered Joe mers at Camp Ockanickon, where he surpris- partment, with the proceeds from the the position in February. For months, Joe ingly became ‘‘the go-to guy.’’ He worked event going to support a local girl who traveled between Queens College, in New there for eight years, went on to become a suffers from Type I diabetes. Their rep- York City, where he was vice president for board member and president, and will cele- enrollment management and student affairs, brate his 30-year relationship with Camp utation for ‘‘coming to the rescue’’ was and LSC, as part of his transition. Joe began Ockanickon in the summer of 2013. displayed in a different way than their his LSC tenure with a 100-day listening tour ‘‘Somehow, I became this listener, this daily work, but displayed nonetheless, that involved the College and Northeast counselor,’’ he said of camp. ‘‘It just hap- and their efforts certainly are appre- Kingdom communities. He has represented pened.’’ That inherent and well-honed skill ciated by those in need who benefit LSC twice in the nation’s capital, and during helped Joe build an impressive, 10-page cur- from the support raised by their char- his October 4 State of the College Address— riculum vitae filled with publications, work- ity. preceded by a short, Chaplin-esque silent shops, consulting, honors, awards, and prac- I rise not only to celebrate those who film about him—he rode into Academic & tically every facet of education, from teach- Student Activity Center, room 100 on his ing to administration. He earned his doc- serve, but also those we have lost in bike, donning a suit, and conveyed a clear torate from Columbia University’s Teachers service. We are grateful for dedicated message to 200 students, faculty, and staff. College in 2003. officers of the Somerset Police Depart- ‘‘At Lyndon State College, students come After eight years at Queens College, Joe ment who risk their very lives to pro- first.’’ Joe called the state of the college ‘‘ex- left this year with responsibility for 22 de- tect and bring order to their city. cellent.’’ Enrollment is up, the budget is bal- partments and more than 200 employees. He At this time, I would like to applaud anced—with a surplus—and LSC has five new also created veterans’ services and a wellness the Somerset Police Department on faculty and 15 new staff members and admin- center on campus. ‘‘Joe stands out as a presi- istrators this year. dent who will attempt to engage, in an ex- the 125th anniversary of its founding, ‘‘Every student has said to me, without tremely supportive way, every single student and I request that an article recog- fail, ‘Joe, I love it here,’ ’’ he told his audi- we have,’’ said Jonathan Davis, LSC Class of nizing this occasion from a Pulaski ence. Joe aims to bolster internal and exter- ’97 and dean of students. ‘‘I’ve already wit- County, KY, newspaper be printed in nal communications at LSC. His lengthy to- nessed that in the form of students walking the RECORD. do list contains a new public relations cam- into his office to ask a question or simply to There being no objection, the mate- paign, with a focus on social media, and he chat.’’ rial was ordered to be appear in the wants to erase the off-campus community’s Student recruitment and retention is also RECORD as follows: perception of LSC as ‘‘Harvard on the hill’’ part of Joe’s mission at LSC. He has charged [From the Commonwealth Journal, March by continuing to build strong partnerships in Davis with co-chairing a team that would 16, 2013] the Northeast Kingdom. use data and strategies to increase the Col- He said LSC is a key stakeholder in Jay lege’s retention rates. Davis was an LSC stu- 125 YEARS OF SERVICE: SOMERSET POLICE DE- Peak Resort’s plans to invest $500 million in dent when Peggy Williams was president, in PARTMENT FOUNDED MARCH 13, 1888—STAFF the region over the next decade—a plan that the 1990s. Williams was already one of Joe’s REPORT, COMMONWEALTH JOURNAL could mean more internships for LSC stu- mentors when he learned about the presi- SOMERSET.—The Somerset Police Depart- dents and jobs for graduates. dent’s vacancy at LSC last December. ment recently celebrated 125 years of service ‘‘Lyndon State College is the college of the Joe was considering other job offers for in the community. Northeast Kingdom,’’ Joe said. Joe has also higher salaries at larger schools, ‘‘but I just The history of SPD dates all the way back started an electronic suggestion box—‘‘Joe kept coming back to Lyndon,’’ he said. En- to March 13, 1888, when Mayor A. Wolf ap- Wants to Know’’—where anyone can post amored after his first trip to campus, and he pointed John B. Ingram as the first chief of anonymous concerns and comments. During went with no expectations, he called his police for the newly formed City of Som- his one-hour speech, Joe posed challenges to partner, Bil, in New Jersey and said, ‘‘The erset. alums: $1 million for an all-weather athletic good news is I think I interviewed well, and The police department would grow along field, and $1 million for a new version of the I liked it. The bad news is I think I inter- with the city’s population and physical old Vail towers. ‘‘The response from our viewed well, and I liked it.’’ boundaries over the next 125 years. alumni has been great,’’ he said. He elaborated further in his office more re- Still, some have lost their lives in the line Joe also asked faculty and staff to increase cently: ‘‘Initially, I underestimated Lyndon of duty. their in-house contributions, and he imposed in so many ways. Then, when I got here, it ‘‘As the department gets a year older, it is a lighthearted, non-mandatory policy called was nothing like I thought it would be. The important to remember those officers who ‘‘Go Green, Go Gold,’’ where he asks the people are passionate. The College is in great lost their lives serving the citizens of our campus community to wear LSC colors each shape. I fell in love.’’ Bil is in New Jersey for city,’’ stated Lt. Shannon Smith, with SPD. Wednesday. ‘‘If you haven’t figured it out by now, working at Rutgers University and liv- Somerset Chief of Police Silas West was now,’’ he said, after dismounting his bike, ing in the house he and Joe shared before Joe shot and killed in 1928 while attempting to before his speech, ‘‘I like to have fun. Life is moved to Lyndonville. Joe converted the arrest a drunk person on the square. Patrol- too short, and the world is complicated lower level of the LSC president’s house— man Walter McKinley Massingale was shot enough.’’ ‘‘our house,’’ he calls it—to all-purpose and killed on Halloween night in 1929 while ‘‘I believe I am where I’m supposed to be, meeting space. He lives upstairs. investigating a bootlegger on South Maple and I believe I’ll be where I’m supposed to ‘‘I believe I am where I’m supposed to be, Street. And in 1957, Police Chief Harold be,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been a long time since I’ve and I believe I’ll be where I’m supposed to Catron was shot on his porch on Jasper been in a place where I felt I haven’t be- be,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been a long time since I’ve Street, and he would later die from those longed.’’ been in a place where I felt I haven’t be- wounds in 1964. Days later, while in his office—‘‘a beautiful longed.’’ ‘‘Our 125th anniversary is a milestone to corner of the world,’’ he said—Joe called f our department,’’ said SPD Acting Police himself a motivated, goal oriented Type A Chief Major Doug Nelson. ‘‘Through hard personality that leads by surrounding him- TRIBUTE TO THE SOMERSET work, rigorous training, and an established self with the talent to implement his vision. POLICE DEPARTMENT level of professionalism, the men and women He is a foodie, a Lion King fan, and textbook Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, of the Somerset Police Department will con- introvert who usually recharges alone. tinue to serve our community to make it a ‘‘As soon as I hit the front of a group, or a I stand here to pay tribute to the hon- safe place to live and work.’’ stage, I’m on,’’ he said. ‘‘I am representing orable men and women, past and and selling LSC. That’s what I am doing. But present, of the Somerset Police Depart- f I’m perfectly comfortable being by myself in ment in Pulaski County, KY, for 125 the house at the end of a long day.’’ Joe’s social circle was small during 16 years of faithful service and tireless dedication. 61ST NATIONAL PRAYER years of Catholic School in Glendora, N.J. BREAKFAST His Italian father, also a Joe, worked for Founded on March 13, 1888, the Som- AT&T. His Irish mother, Eileen, was a nurse. erset Police Department has admirably Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, on be- He played accordion competitively for 10 served the city and surrounding area half of Senator PRYOR and myself, I years (and still plays a little). When Joe en- and to this day represents the best of ask unanimous consent that the tran- tered the University of Scranton, Pa., in our State’s citizens. One example of script of the 61th Annual National 1982, ‘‘There was a group for everyone,’’ he their thorough care for and involve- Prayer Breakfast be printed in the said. ‘‘In high school, there are popular groups. In college, there aren’t popular ment in the community is their annual RECORD. groups. There are different groups.’’ charity basketball game. Typically, There being no objection, the mate- While earning his bachelor’s degree in psy- the officers challenge a local high- rial was ordered to be printed in the chology/sociology in Scranton, Joe spent school team to an exhibition match— RECORD, as follows:

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61ST NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST, THURS- members of the House and Senate and I and the snow come down from the heaven, DAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013, WASHINGTON, DC, would like to ask all the members of the and do not return to it without watering the CO-CHAIRS: SENATOR JEFF SESSIONS, SEN- House and Senate who are present, to stand earth, and making it bud and flourish so that ATOR MARK PRYOR at this time. We’re also honored to be joined it yields seed for the sower and bread for the Senator MARK PRYOR: Let me open by say- by two prime ministers, the Prime Minister eater, so is my word that goes out from my ing, ‘‘Good morning fellow sinners.’’ My of Serbia, His Excellency Ivica Dacic, and mouth; it will not return to me empty, but name is MARK PRYOR, from Arkansas, and the Prime Minister of the Democratic Re- will accomplish what I desire and achieve this is my brother, JEFF SESSIONS, from Ala- public of Congo, His Excellency Augustin the purpose for which I sent it. You will go bama. Together, Jeff and I chair the weekly Matata Ponyo. Thank you so much for being out in joy and be led forth in peace. The Senate breakfast group, which means we get with us. mountains and hills will burst into song be- Senator PRYOR: I would like to introduce to chair this ‘‘slightly larger’’ event this fore you and all the trees of the fields will the head table that will lead us through this morning. clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush experience. I’ll start on my right. Today you will grow the juniper and instead of briars Senator JEFF SESSIONS: Thank you all for could say that you ate breakfast with the taking on the adventure of getting here this the myrtle will grow. This will be for the President and a gold medalist. At the end of morning. We have a challenging experience Lord’s renowned for an everlasting sign that our program, our closing prayer will be of- planned for you this morning. We call this will endure forever.’’ fered by Olympic champion, Gabrielle Doug- Representative LOUIE GOHMERT: It is such the Prayer Breakfast, not only because we las, whose new book is appropriately sub- a pleasure to be here and it’s such a pleasure come together to pray, but because so much titled ‘‘My Leap of Faith.’’ Next to her is to share our Thursday morning prayer prayer goes into this event, and hopefully, so former U.S. Senator, Cabinet member and breakfast with you. My co-chair in the House much prayer comes out of it. President of the Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole. is JANICE HAHN. It’s a surprise for some peo- Senator PRYOR: Everything that happens Elizabeth, believe it or not, was our break- ple, after they see the way we go back and over the next 90 minutes has really come fast speaker 26 years ago. She will give a forth and debate, to see that the Prayer about through prayer. As a matter of fact, reading from the Holy Scriptures. Next to Breakfast is truly bipartisan. We work to- one of the hundreds of volunteers that make her is California Representative, JANICE gether. We pray together. And there’s some- this morning possible, literally came in very HAHN, one of two co-chairs of the House thing that really brings people together early this morning and prayed over each prayer breakfast group, and next year she’ll when you pray together. It’s the belief in the place setting here—prayed over each of you. be standing in my place here. Then we have power of prayer that brings us together. Senator SESSIONS: Prayer is not a spec- Admiral and Mrs. Jonathan Greenert. He is My wife and I have tried to teach that to tator sport. We hope this experience enriches the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, which our three girls. When they were old enough your own life of prayer, for the good of the puts him in charge of about 300,000 sailors, to pray, Cathy and I and our three girls nation, for the world and for your family. 300 ships and 3,500 aircraft. He will offer a would gather around one of the girls’ beds Senator PRYOR: Let us join our hearts in prayer for our national leaders. Next, we and we would pray each night. One night we prayer. God of the universe, who we individ- have the spouse of my co-chair, Mary Ses- had some nose spray that a doctor prescribed ually worship in many different ways and sions. And please join me in welcoming the for our middle daughter, Caroline—she’d languages, bring us together this morning in passionate, principled and inspirational been having real serious sinus problems. She a shared experience of praise, understanding First Lady of the United States, Michelle didn’t want it up her nose—but I was bigger and commitment. Our world and our lives Obama. than her. It was going to be good for her ac- fall short of what you created them to be. Senator SESSIONS: Continuing down the cording to the doctor, so we got it up the Use this time to bless us, to bless our lead- table, we have our friend and former col- nose. But there was a lot of crying, wailing ers, and especially our President, with a league, the good Vice President of the United and gnashing of teeth. But once the nose sense of who you are and how we all need to States, JOE BIDEN. On the other side of our spray had been administered and the tears change. We are thankful for the food we are speaker is my colleague and friend, CHUCK subsided, the crying stopped, we gathered for enjoying and friendships old and new. Be SCHUMER. He’s the pride of P.S. 197 in Brook- prayers. Katie prayed first and then Caroline present in each of our hearts today, in your lyn, New York and a dedicated member of and Caroline finished her prayer by saying Holy, precious and matchless name, Amen. Congress for amazingly 30 years, and a key ‘‘And please God, help Sarah (the little one), Senator SESSIONS: Enjoy (what’s left of) member of the Democratic leadership. Chuck mind her own business and quit being such a your breakfast. will be offering a reading from the Holy pest. And help her to just leave me and Katie Good morning. We’ve had a wonderful time Scripture. Next to him is another good friend alone.’’ Little Sarah had the last prayer, and together to discuss issues and have a joyful and former colleague of ours, the U.S. Sec- in her little angelic voice she said, ‘‘Please noise. We thank you for your attention. retary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. In his God, help Daddy stick some more medicine Senator PRYOR: It’s overwhelming to think day job, Ken is responsible for more than 500 up Caroline’s nose.’’ We had taught them of the pathways that each person took to get million acres of United States land. He is a how to pray but not necessarily what it was to this event today. Some from little vil- former chair of this Senate prayer breakfast for. lages halfway around the world and some and will be offering a prayer for world lead- So on Thursday mornings we gather, not to from just 12 blocks away, so thank you all ers. Next to him is JANICE HAHN’s sidekick pray that God will help us to stick some- for coming. for the next year, co-chair of the House thing up our opponent’s nose, but we pray; Senator SESSIONS: This huge event, which breakfast group, LOUIE GOHMERT. He is a and God grants mending and healing and has taken place for 61 years now, began with member of the House for 8 years and is from blessing and leadership, and it’s a beautiful a group of people who happened to be leaders East Texas. And finally, visiting from Italy, thing to see those come together. It does wanting to get together for breakfast and for Mr. Andrea Primicerio, and our soloist, An- make us better. It makes us stronger. And it prayer. One thing I know for sure is that life drea Bocelli. Mr. Bocelli has gone from a makes the government work better. Which is is complicated and is likely to get more com- small farming village near Pisa, Italy to sell- why Benjamin Franklin, in his own words— plicated tomorrow than yesterday. But as ing more than 80 million records worldwide. his own handwriting—said, ‘‘In the beginning members of the weekly Senate prayer break- I read that, at last count, in addition to song contest with Great Britain when we were fast group, we’ve learned that taking time writing, he plays 9 instruments. This morn- sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in each week to meet, to take off the disguises ing, he will play the most beautiful instru- this room. Our prayers are heard and they that we wear and pray and share our lives to- ment God has created, the human voice. Join were graciously answered.’’ Janice and I and gether, makes life better. me in welcoming our soloist, Andrea Bocelli. our other colleagues have seen those prayers Senator PRYOR: In the modern world and [Song.] answered and it’s what brings us together. especially in a city like this, there are thou- Senator CHARLES SCHUMER: Good morning. Thanks for joining with us today. sands of things that drive us apart—politics, In the Jewish tradition, we are given not Representative JANICE HAHN: Good morn- ideology and even religion. Today, though, only an English name but a Hebrew name ing. Mr. President, Madam First Lady, Mr. we come together in the Spirit of Jesus who and my Hebrew name is Yesha’yahu—Isaiah. Vice President, Senators, distinguished taught us to love one another, treat others So I was particularly honored when Mark guests; I’m so delighted to be here this morn- as we want to be treated and to love God asked me to read from the Book of Isaiah. ing with all of you. It’s such an honor to co- with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This is Isaiah 55:6–13, chair the House Congressional prayer break- It would be a whole lot better world if we ‘‘Seek the Lord, while He may be found, fast with my friend and colleague, Congress- just listened to Him. call on him while he is near. Let the wicked man LOUIE GOHMERT. His colleagues have Senator SESSIONS: As you look around the forsake their ways, and the unrighteous said, ‘‘This is the only chairmanship that room, understand that you’re sharing this their thoughts; let them turn to the Lord Speaker BOEHNER can’t remove him from for meal with people from more than 140 coun- and he will have mercy on them; and to our bad behavior.’’ Only God can do that. tries, all 50 states, heads of government, and God, for He will freely pardon. For my Today’s Prayer Breakfast offers an oppor- leaders of all kinds. Through prayer, we be- thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are tunity for us to set aside political labels and lieve God has brought us together for a rea- your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As come together to be inspired and pray for the son. As you listen closely to the program, the heavens are higher than the earth, so are critical issues that are facing our nation and try to figure out what God is saying to you. my ways higher than your ways, and my the world. I was elected to Congress in the And as you’ve heard, this event is hosted by thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain middle of one of the most bitter, rancorous

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.063 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2554 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 and divided periods in our nation’s history. faith we understand that the universe was Chavez was a servant leader who followed But in the midst of that discord, there was formed at God’s command so that what is the teachings of Jesus Christ. He followed one place that I found that we could set seen was not made out of what was visible. the teachings of Gandhi and Dr. Martin Lu- aside our partisan bickering and our dif- And without faith, it is impossible to please ther King. He was ever prayerful to Nuestra ferences and come together—a place where God, because anyone who comes to him must Senora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guada- once a week, we could be there for each other believe that he exists and that he rewards lupe). Today as the world, in many different with our God. That place was the weekly those who earnestly seek him. By faith, places, rages in a debate about the peopling Congressional prayer breakfast. I’ve found Noah, when warned about things not yet of our nations and immigration, and as our some unlikely friends in that breakfast. But seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his nation does the same thing, let us pray that they have helped me to be a better member family. By faith, Abraham, even though he all of our world leaders and all of our leaders of Congress and to better serve my God and was past age and Sarah herself was barren here in the United States, will be inspired by my constituents. was unable to become a father because he the true story of the peopling of our nations Faith has always been a strong part of my considered him faithful who had made the and give voice to those who now live in the life and my story. I grew up in the church. promise. By faith, Abraham when God tested fear of the shadows of our society. And so, My grandparents on my mother’s side were him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had inspired by the teachings and life of Saint missionaries to Japan. And my grandmother received the promises was about to sacrifice Francis and Jesus Christ, let us pray as on my father’s side, in a moment of deep de- his one and only son even though God had Cesar Chavez prayed, as he fasted for those spair and helplessness, turned to God for said to him ‘‘it is through Isaac that your who have no voice, who are the most vulner- help in raising her seven little boys under offspring will be reckoned.’’ Abraham rea- able in our society. the age of 10 when her husband died sud- soned that God could raise the dead and figu- He prayed: ‘‘Show me the suffering of the denly. That decision that my grandmother ratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back most miserable, so that I will know my peo- Hattie made, helped me find my journey of from death. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and ple’s plight. Free me to pray for others, be- faith. Every week when a member of Con- Esau in regard to their future. By faith, cause you are present in every person. Help gress comes to our prayer breakfast and tells Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of me to take responsibility for my own life, so their own journey of faith, it gives us a bond Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on that I can be free at last. Grant me the cour- that can’t be broken. We believe in the power the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph, when age to serve others, for in service there is of prayer and every week, we give thanks his end was near, spoke about the exodus of true life. Give me honesty and patience, so when God has answered our prayers. Abra- the Israelites from Egypt. By faith, Moses’ that I can work with others. Bring forth song ham Lincoln said, ‘‘I have been driven many parents hid him for three months after he times to my knees by the overwhelming con- and celebration, so that the Spirit will be was born because they saw he was no ordi- alive among us. Let the Spirit flourish and viction that I have nowhere else to go. My nary child and they were not afraid of the own wisdom and that of all about me seemed grow, so that we will never tire of the strug- king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had gle. Let us remember those who have died for insufficient for the day.’’ May we all con- grown up, refused to be known as the son of tinue to believe that our own wisdom is in- justice, for they have given us life. Help us Pharaoh’s daughter. By faith, he left Egypt love even those who hate us, so we can sufficient. God bless you all. not fearing the king’s anger. He persevered Admiral Jonathan Greenert: Good Morn- change the world.’’ God bless you, God bless because he saw him who is invisible. By faith the United States of America, God bless all ing. Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Vice the people passed through the Red Sea as on President, Senators, Congressmen, distin- of our leaders. dry land. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell Senator SESSIONS: Of all of the complex guished guests. Many times many of you after the people had marched around them have said, even today, to those of us that things in the world, perhaps the most com- for seven days. By faith, the prostitute plex is the human brain. How come I can re- wear the cloth of the nation,’’ thank you for Rehab because she welcomed the spies, was your service.’’ And on behalf of our soldiers, member the words of the preamble of the not killed with those who were disobedient. Constitution but can’t find my glasses? sailors, airmen, Marines and Coastguards- And what more shall I say? I do not have men, may I say thank you for your service We’ve invited as our guest speaker this time to tell about Gideon, Barack, Sampson, morning a gentleman for three reasons: he and your support to your armed forces. Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets Please join me in a prayer for our national loves Jesus, he has a compelling life story who through faith, conquered kingdoms, ad- and he is a distinguished man of science and leaders. ministered justice and gained what was Oh Lord, we come before you today, thank- healing. We hope that he can help us sort promised. Who shut the mouths of lions, ful for the many blessings you have bestowed some things out. May I introduce, the direc- quenched the fury of the flames and escaped upon our nation. And we humbly ask for tor of Pediatric Neurosurgery at one of the the edge of the sword, whose weakness was your continued guidance and strength. On world’s great hospitals, Johns Hopkins in turned to strength. Others were tortured and this day, we are reminded to give thanks for Baltimore, Dr. Benjamin Carson, Sr. refused to be released so that they might the extraordinary freedoms that we enjoy, Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Sr.: Thank you so gain a better resurrection. Some faced years made possible by the efforts of past genera- much. Mr. President, Mr. Vice President, of flogging while still others were chained tions of men and women who have served Mrs. Obama, distinguished guests—which in- and put in prison. They were stoned, they this great nation. Your word tells us of King cludes everybody. Thank you so much for were sawed in two, they were put to death by David whose willingness to place his faith in this wonderful honor to be at this stage the sword. These were all commended for you during difficult times serves as an exam- again. I was here 16 years ago and the fact their faith. Therefore, since we are sur- ple for us all. Like David, there are many in that they’ve invited me back means that I this nation who have answered the call to rounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, didn’t offend too many people—so that was serve, both in and out of uniform. Lord, we let us throw off everything that hinders and great. I want to start by reading four texts, are thankful for their dedication, their pas- the sin that so easily entangles and let us which will put into context what I’m going sion, their perseverance and for the families run with perseverance, the race that is set to say. that support their every effort. When it before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Proverbs 11:9. ‘‘With his mouth, the godless comes to our search for inspiration, Scrip- author and perfector of our faith, who for the destroys his neighbor, but through knowl- ture clearly speaks about where we should joy set before him, endured the cross, scorn- edge the righteous escape.’’ begin charting our course—we begin with ing its shame and sat down at the right hand Proverbs 11:12, ‘‘A man who lacks judg- prayer. We ask that you continue to guide of the throne of God. Consider him, who en- ment derides his neighbor, but a man of un- our leaders with wisdom and understanding dured such opposition from sinful men so derstanding holds his tongue.’’ as they weather the storms that confront our that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Proverbs 11:25, ‘‘A generous man will pros- nation. Provide them, God, with the vision Make every effort to live in peace with all per; he who refreshes others will himself be necessary to see the way ahead. The strength men and to be holy, for without holiness no refreshed.’’ required to act on difficult decisions and the one will see the Lord.’’ 2nd Chronicles 7:14, ‘‘If my people who are compassion to care for the wellbeing of those The Honorable Ken Salazar: Mr. President, called by my name will humble themselves that they lead. Fortify the resolve of the Mrs. Obama, Vice President BIDEN, members and pray and seek my face and turn from men and women who lead our great nation of the United States Senate, fellow Cabinet their wicked ways, then will I hear from and provide us with bold, confident and ac- members, members of the House of Rep- heaven and will forgive their sins and heal countable leaders capable of carrying out resentatives and distinguished guests. The their land.’’ those actions that your wisdom directs. In following prayer was written by Cesar Cha- I have an opportunity to speak in a lot of your Holy Name we pray, amen. vez, the great leader of the United States venues—this is my fourth speech this week— The Honorable Elizabeth Dole: Mr. Presi- Farm Workers of America. Last year, Presi- and to talk to a lot of people. And I’ve been dent, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Vice President, hon- dent Obama visited the gravesite of Cesar asking people—what concerns you? What are ored guests, ladies and gentlemen. It’s my Chavez and his office at a place in La Paz, you most concerned about in the terms of privilege today to read selected portions of California; and there, he made this place a the spirituality and the direction of our na- Hebrews 11, which has been called the Hall of national monument so that we can honor the tion and our world? I’ve talked to very Faith. And I’ll end with Hebrews 12 versus 1– work of a true hero and a follower of Christ prominent Democrats, and very prominent 3 and verse 14. and a follower of Gandhi. It was a moving Republicans and I was surprised by the uni- ‘‘Now, faith is being sure of what we hope time for the President and all of us who were formity of their answers. And those have in- for and certain of what we do not see. By there that day. formed my comments this morning.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.063 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2555 It’s not my intention to offend anyone. I vorced early on. My mother got married newspaper, could have a political discussion, have discovered, however, in recent years when she was 13. She was one of 24 children; could tell him how the government worked. that it’s very difficult to speak to a large had a horrible life, discovered that her hus- If you really want to be impressed, take a group of people these days and not offend band was a bigamist, had another family, look at the chapter on education in my lat- someone. And I know people walk around and she only had a third grade education. est book, ‘‘America the Beautiful,’’ which I with their feelings on their shoulders wait- She had to take care of us, in dire poverty. wrote with my wife; it came out last year. ing for you to say something—‘‘Ah, did you I had a horrible temper, poor self-esteem; all And in that education chapter, you will see hear that?’’ And they can’t hear anything of the things that you think would preclude questions extracted from a sixth grade Exit else you say. The PC police are out in force success. But I had something very impor- Exam from the 1800’s—a test you had to pass at all times. I remember once I was talking tant. I had a mother who believed in me. And to get your sixth grade certificate. I doubt to a group about the difference between a I had a mother who would never allow her- most college graduates today could pass that human brain and a dog’s brain. And a man self to be a victim, no matter what hap- test. We have dumbed things down to that got offended—he said, ‘‘You can’t talk about pened. She never made excuses and she never level. And the reason that that is so dan- dogs like that.’’ But people just focus in on accepted an excuse from us. And if we ever gerous is because the people who founded that and completely miss the point of what came up with an excuse, she always said, this nation said that our system of govern- you’re saying. We’ve reached the point where ‘‘Do you have a brain?’’ And if the answer ment was designed for a well informed and people are afraid to actually talk about what was ‘‘Yes,’’ then she said, ‘‘Then you could of educated populous. And when they become they want to say—because somebody might thought your way out of it; it doesn’t matter less informed, they become vulnerable. be offended. People are afraid to say, ‘‘Merry what John or Susan or Mary or anybody else Think about that, our system of govern- Christmas’’ at Christmastime. It doesn’t did or said.’’ And it was the most important ment, and that’s why the education is so vi- matter whether the person you’re talking to thing she did for my brother and myself be- tally important. is Jewish or whether they’re any religion— cause if you don’t accept excuses, pretty Now some people say ‘‘Ah, you’re over- that’s a salutation of greeting, of good will. soon people stop giving them and they start blowing it, things aren’t that bad, and you’re We’ve got to get over this sensitivity. It looking for solutions and that is a critical a doctor, a neurosurgeon, why are you con- keeps people from saying what they really issue when it comes to success. cerned about these things?’’ I’ve got news for believe. We did live in dire poverty and one of the you. Five doctors signed the Declaration of I’m reminded of a very successful young things that I hated was poverty. Some people Independence. Doctors were involved in the businessman who loved to buy his mother hate spiders, some people hate snakes—I these exotic gifts for Mother’s Day. And he hated poverty. I couldn’t stand it. But my framing of the Constitution, the Bill of ran out of ideas, and then he ran across these mother couldn’t stand the fact that we were Rights, and a whole bunch of things. It’s birds. These birds were cool. They cost 5,000 doing poorly in school. She prayed, she asked only been in recent decades that we’ve ex- dollars apiece—they could dance, they could God to give her wisdom, what could she do to tracted ourselves—which I think is a big sing, they could talk. He was so excited, he get her young sons to understand the impor- mistake. We need doctors and we need sci- bought two of them; sent them to his moth- tance of developing their minds, so that they entists, engineers, we need all of those peo- er; couldn’t’ wait to call her up on Mother’s could control their own lives? And you know ple involved in government, not just lawyers. Day, ‘‘Mother, mother, what did you think of what? God gave her the wisdom, at least in I don’t have anything against lawyers, but those birds?’’ And she said, ‘‘They was good.’’ her opinion. My brother and I didn’t think it here’s the thing about lawyers—and I’m He said, ‘‘No, no, no, mother, you didn’t eat was that wise because it was to turn off the sorry but I got to be truthful—what do law- those birds; those birds cost 5,000 dollars TV. She let us only watch two or three TV yers learn in law school? To win, by hook or apiece—they could dance, they could sing, programs during the week. And with all that by crook, you got to win. So you’ve got all they could talk.’’ And she said, ‘‘Well, they spare time, read two books apiece from the these Democrat lawyers and you’ve got all should have said something.’’ And that’s Detroit public libraries and submit to her these Republican lawyers and their side where we end up too if we don’t speak up for written book reports, which she couldn’t wants to win. We need to get rid of that. what we believe. What we need to do in this read but we didn’t know that—she’d put What we need to start thinking about is: how PC world is forget about unanimity of speech checkmarks and highlights and stuff. But do we solve problems? and unanimity of thought and we need to you know, I just hated this, and my friends Now, before I get shot, let me finish here. concentrate on being respectful to those peo- were out having a good time. Her friends I don’t like to bring up problems without ple with whom we disagree—that’s when I would criticize her, they would say, ‘‘You coming up with solutions. My wife and I think we begin to make real progress. can’t make boys stay in the house reading started the Carson Scholars Fund 16 years One last thing about political correct- books, they’ll grow up, they’ll hate you.’’ I ago after we heard about an international ness—which I think is a horrible thing, by would overhear them and I would say, ‘‘You survey looking at the ability of eighth grad- the way. I’m very, very compassionate and know, mother, they’re right.’’ But she didn’t ers in 22 countries to solve math and science I’m not ever out to offend anyone, but PC is care. But after a while, I actually began to problems; and we came out number 21 out of dangerous because in this country, one of the enjoy reading those books. Even though we 22, barely beat out number 22, very con- founding principles was freedom of thought were very poor, between the covers of those cerning. And we’d go into schools and we’d and freedom of expression and it muffles peo- books, I could go anywhere, I could be any- see all these trophies, All State basketball, ple, it puts a muzzle on them. And at the body, I could do anything. I began to read All State wrestling, All State this, that and same time, keeps people from discussing im- about people of great accomplishment. And the other. The quarterback was the big man portant issues while the fabric of their soci- as I read those stories, I began to see a con- on campus, What about the intellectual su- ety is being changed. And we cannot fall for necting thread. I began to see that the per- perstar? What did they get? A National that trick. What we need to do is start talk- son that has the most to do with you and Honor Society pin, a pat on the head, ‘‘there, ing about things, talking about things that what happens to you in life is you. You make there little nerd’’—nobody cared about them. are important, things that were important in decisions. You decide how much energy you And is it any wonder that sometimes the the development of our nation. One of those want to put behind that decision. And I came smart kids try to hide; they don’t want any- things was education. I’m very passionate to understand that I had control of my own body to know that they’re smart? This is not about education because it made such a big destiny. At that point, I didn’t hate poverty helping us as a nation. So we started giving difference in my life. But here we are at a anymore because I knew it was only tem- out scholarships to students from all back- time in the world, the information age, the porary. I knew I could change that. It was in- grounds for superior academic performance age of technology, and yet 30 per cent of peo- credibly liberating for me, it made all the and demonstration of humanitarian quali- ple who enter high school in this country do difference. ties. Unless you cared about other people, it not graduate. 44 percent of the people who And to continue on that theme of edu- didn’t matter how smart you were. We’ve got start a four year college program do not fin- cation, in 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville came to plenty of people like that, we don’t need ish it in four years. What is that about? America to study this country. The Euro- those. We need smart people who care about Think back to a darker time in our his- peans were fascinated—how could a fledgling other people. We will give them money, the tory. 200 years ago when slavery was going nation barely 50 years old already be com- money would go into a trust, they would get on, it was illegal to educate a slave, particu- peting with them on virtually every level. interest on it and then when they went to larly to teach him to read. Why do you think This is impossible—de Tocqueville was going college, they get the money. But also, the that was? Because when you educate a man, to sort it out. And he looked at our govern- school gets a trophy, every bit as impressive you liberate the man. And there I was as a ment and he was duly impressed by the three as the sports trophies. It goes right out there youngster placing myself in the same situa- branches of government—four now because with the others. They get a medal. They get tion that a horrible institution did because I now of special interest groups, but it was to go to a banquet. And we try to put them wasn’t taking advantage of the education, only three back in those days. And he said, on the same kind of pedestal as we do the All because I was a horrible student. Most of my ‘‘Wow, this is really something.’’ And then State athletes. classmates thought I was the stupidest per- he said, ‘‘Let me look at their educational Now, I have nothing against athletics or son in the world. They called me ‘‘dummy.’’ system,’’ and he was blown away. Anybody entertainment, please believe me. I’m from I was the butt of all the jokes. Admittedly, finishing second grade was completely lit- Baltimore, the Ravens won, this is great, it was a bad environment—a single parent erate. He could find a mountain man on the okay. But what will maintain our position in home—my mother and father had gotten di- outskirts of society—the man could read a the world, the ability to shoot a 25 foot jump

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.063 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2556 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 shot or the ability to solve a quadratic equa- Bible, you know what I see? I see the fairest think we call it the bald eagle because it tion? We need to put things into proper per- individual in the universe, God. And he’s looks like it has a bald head. That’s not the spective. Many teachers have told us that given us a system, it’s called, tithe. Now, we reason. It comes from the Old English word, when we put a Carson Scholar in their class don’t necessarily have to do it 10 per cent, piebald, which means crowned with white; room, the GPA of the whole class goes up but it’s the principle. He didn’t say, ‘‘If your and we just shortened it to bald. Now use over the next year. And it’s been very grati- crops fail, don’t give me any tithes.’’ He that the next time you see somebody who fying. We started 16 years ago with 25 schol- didn’t say, ‘‘If you have a bumper crop, give thinks they know everything—you get them arships in Maryland; now we’ve given out me triple tithes.’’ So there must be some- with that one. But, why is that eagle able to more than 5,000 and we’re in all 50 states. thing inherently fair about proportionality. fly high, to fly forward? Because it has two But we also put in reading rooms. These are You make 10 billion dollars, you put in a bil- wings, a left wing and a right wing. Enough fascinating places that no little kid could lion. You make 10 dollars, you put in one. Of said. possibly pass up. They get points for the course, you’ve got to get rid of the loopholes. And I want to close with this story. 200 amount of time they spend in their reading, But now some people say, ‘‘Well that’s not years ago this nation was involved in a war, the number of books that they read, and fair because it doesn’t hurt the guy who the War of 1812. The British, who are now our they can trade them in for prizes. In the be- made 10 billion dollars as much as the guy good friends, thought that we were young ginning, they do it for the prizes, but it who made 10.’’ Where does it say you have to whippersnappers; it was time for us to be- doesn’t take long before their academic per- hurt the guy? He just put a billion dollars in come a colony again. They were winning formance begins to improve. We particularly the pot; you know we don’t need to hurt him. that war, marching up the Eastern Seaboard, target Title 1 schools where kids come from It’s that kind of thinking that has resulted destroying city after city, destroyed Wash- homes with no books and they go to schools in 602 banks in the Cayman Islands. That ington D.C., burned down the White House; with no libraries. Those are the ones who money needs to be back here building our in- next stop, Baltimore. As they came into the drop out and we need to truncate that proc- frastructure and creating jobs. And we’re Chesapeake Bay, that armada of ships—war ess early on because we can’t afford to waste smart enough to figure out how to do that. ships as far as the eye could see—it was look- any of those young people. For every one of We’ve already started down the path of ing grim; Fort McHenry standing right those people that we keep from going down solving one of the other big problems, health there. General Armistead, who was in charge that path, that path of self-destruction and care. We need to have good health care for of Fort McHenry, had a large American flag mediocrity, that’s one less person you have everybody. It’s the most important thing commissioned to fly in front of the fort. The to protect yourself and your family from. that a person can have. Money means noth- admiral in charge of the British fleet was of- One less person you have to pay for in the ing, titles means nothing, when you don’t fended and said, ‘‘Take that flag down. You penal or the welfare system. One more tax have your health. But, we’ve got to figure have until dusk to take that flag down. If paying productive member of society who out efficient ways to do it. We spend a lot of you don’t take it down, we will reduce you to may invent a new energy source or come up money on health care, twice as much per ashes.’’ There was a young amateur poet on with a cure for cancer. They’re all important capita as anybody else in the world and yet board by the name of Francis Scott Key, to us and we need every single one of them, we’re not very efficient. What can we do? sent by President Madison to try to obtain it makes a difference. When you go home to- Here’s my solution. When a person is born, the release of an American physician who night, please read about it, Carson Scholar give them a birth certificate, an electronic was being held captive. He overheard the Fund, Carsonscholars.org. medical record and a health saving’s account British plans; they were not going to let him But, why is it so important that we edu- to which money can be contributed pre-tax off the ship. He mourned as dusk approached. cate our people? Because we don’t want to go from the time you’re born to the time you He mourned for his fledgling young nation. down the same pathway as many other pin- die. When you die, you can pass it on to your And as the sun fell, the bombardment start- nacle nations have who have preceded us. I family members so that when you’re 85 years ed, bombs bursting in air, missiles, so much think particularly about ancient Rome— old and you’ve got six diseases, you’re not debris. He strained trying to see—was the very powerful, nobody could even challenge trying to spend up everything, you’re happy flag still there? Couldn’t see a thing. All them militarily. But what happened to to pass it on and there’s nobody talking night long it continued. At the crack of them? They destroyed themselves from with- about death panels. That’s number one. And dawn he ran out to the banister, he looked, in—moral decay, fiscal irresponsibility— also, for the people who are indigent, who straining his eyes, but all he could see was they destroyed themselves. And if you don’t don’t have any money; we can make con- dust and debris. And then there was a clear- think that can happen to America, you get tributions to their HSA each month because ing and he beheld the most beautiful sight out your books and you start reading. But we already have this huge pot of money. In- he’d ever seen—the torn and tattered stars you know we can fix it. Why can we fix it? stead of sending it to some bureaucracy, let’s and stripes still waving. And many histo- Because we’re smart; we have some of the put it in their HSA’s. Now they have some rians say that was the turning point in the most intellectually gifted people leading our control over their own health care. And what War of 1812. We went on to win that war and nation. All we need to do is remember what do you think they’re going to do? They’re to retain our freedom. And if you had gone our real responsibilities are so we can solve going to learn very quickly how to be re- onto the grounds of Fort McHenry that day, the problems. I think about these problems sponsible. When Mr. JONES gets that diabetic you would have seen at the base of that flag all the time and my role model was Jesus foot ulcer, he’s not going to the emergency the bodies of soldiers who took turns prop- and he used parables to help people under- room and blowing a big chunk of it. He’s ping up that flag. They would not let that stand things. going to go to the clinic. He learns that very flag go down because they believed in what One of our big problems right now—and quickly. He gets the same treatment in the that flag symbolized. And what did it sym- like I said, I’m not politically correct so, I’m emergency room they send him out to the bolize? One nation under God, indivisible sorry—our deficit is a big problem. Think clinic and say ‘‘Now let’s get your diabetes with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, about it. Our national debt, 161⁄2 trillion dol- under control so you’re not back here in God bless. lars, you think that’s not a lot of money. I three weeks with another problem. That’s Senator PRYOR: Thank you Dr. Carson. It tell you what, count one number per second, how we begin to solve these kinds of prob- is now my great honor to introduce our which you can’t even do because when you lems. It’s much more complex than that and President. One of the striking measures of get to a thousand, you can’t, it’ll take you I don’t have time to go into it all but we can the passage of time since you first were with longer than a second, but one number per do all of these things because we’re smart us Mr. President is the comparison photo- second. You know how long that’ll take you people. graphs of your daughters at your first Inau- to count to 16 trillion? 507,000 years—more And let me just begin to close here by an- guration and you’re second. You have a than a half a million years to get there. We other parable. A sea captain is out on the beautiful and wonderful family. And they re- have to deal with this. Here’s the parable. A sea, near to the area where the Titanic went mind us of the core American values of faith, family falls on hard times—dad loses his job down. He looks ahead and there’s a bright family and optimism in the future. Mr. or is demoted, gets part time work, has five light right there, another ship he figures. He President, we want to express our love and children. He comes to the five children and tells his signaler; signal that ship, ‘‘Deviate our respect for you this morning. You carry he says ‘‘We’re going to have to reduce your 10 degrees to the south.’’ Back comes the burdens none of us in this room can imagine. allowance.’’ Well, they’re not happy about it; message ‘‘No, you deviate 10 degrees to the Thank you for keeping the unbroken com- but he says, ‘‘Except for John and Susan, north.’’ Well he’s a little bit incensed, he mitment of ten former presidents to join us they’re special. They can keep their allow- says, ‘‘Send a message, This is Captain John- for breakfast and prayer. Ladies and gentle- ance; in fact, I may give them more.’’ How son, deviate 10 degrees to the north’.’’ Back men, the President of the United States, do you think that’s going to go down? Not comes the message, ‘‘This is Ensign 4th Class Barack Obama. too well. Same thing happens, enough said. Riley, deviate 10 degrees to the south.’’ Now President Barack Obama: Thank you very What about our taxation system? So com- he’s really upset. He says, ‘‘Send them a much. Please have a seat. Mark, thank you plex there is no one who can possibly comply message, this is a naval destroyer.’’ Back for that introduction. I thought he was going with every jot and tittle of our tax system. comes the message, ‘‘This is a light house.’’ to talk about my gray hair. It is true that If I wanted to get you, I could get you on a Enough said. my daughters are gorgeous. That’s because tax issue. That doesn’t make any sense. What about the symbol of our nation, the my wife is gorgeous. And my goal is to im- What we need to do is come up with some- eagle, the bald eagle. It’s an interesting prove my gene pool. To Mark and Jeff, thank thing that is simple. When I pick up my story how we chose that but a lot of people you for your wonderful work on behalf of

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.063 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2557 this breakfast. To all of those who worked so hate; imagined the darkness and the doubt And we have to do that humbly, for no one hard to put this together; to the heads of that must have surrounded him when he was can know the full and encompassing mind of state, members of Congress, and my Cabinet, in that Birmingham jail, and the anger that God. And we have to do it every day, not just religious leaders and distinguished guests. surely rose up in him the night his house was at a prayer breakfast. I have to say this is To our outstanding speaker. To all the faith- bombed with his wife and child inside, and now our fifth prayer breakfast and it is al- ful who’ve journeyed to our capital, Michelle the grief that shook him as he eulogized ways just a wonderful event. But I do worry and I are truly honored to be with you this those four precious girls taken from this sometimes that as soon as we leave the pray- morning. Earth as they gathered in a house of God. er breakfast, everything we’ve been talking Before I begin, I hope people don’t mind me And I was reminded that, yes, Dr. King was about the whole time at the prayer breakfast taking a moment of personal privilege. I a man of audacious hope and a man of relent- seems to be forgotten—on the same day of want to say a quick word about a close less optimism. But he was also a man occa- the prayer breakfast. I mean, you’d like to friend of mine and yours, Joshua Dubois. sionally brought to his knees in fear and in think that the shelf life wasn’t so short. But Now, some of you may not know Joshua, but doubt and in helplessness. And in those mo- I go back to the Oval Office and I start Joshua has been at my side—in work and in ments, we know that he retreated alone to a watching the cable news networks and it’s prayer—for years now. He is a young rev- quiet space so he could reflect and he could like we didn’t pray. erend, but wise in years. He’s worked on my pray and he could grow his faith. And I imag- And so my hope is that that humility car- staff. He’s done an outstanding job as the ine he turned to certain verses that we now ries over every day, every moment. While head of our Faith-Based office. Every morn- read. I imagine him reflecting on Isaiah, that God may reveal His plan to us in portions, ing he sends me via email a daily medita- we wait upon the Lord; that the Lord shall the expanse of His plan is for God, and God tion—a snippet of Scripture for me to reflect renew those who wait; that they shall mount alone, to understand. ‘‘For now we see on. And it has meant the world to me. And up with wings as eagles, and they shall run through a glass, darkly; but then face to despite my pleas, tomorrow will be his last and not be weary, and they shall walk and face; now I know in part, but then shall I day in the White House. So this morning I not faint. We know that in Scripture, Dr. know even as also I am known.’’ Until that want to publically thank Joshua for all that King found strength; in the Bible, he found moment, until we know, and are fully he’s done, and I know that everybody joins conviction. In the words of God, he found a known, all we can do is live our lives in a me in wishing him all the best in his future truth about the dignity of man that, once re- Godly way and assume that those we deal endeavors—including getting married. alized, he never relinquished. with every day, including those in an oppos- It says something about us—as a nation We know Lincoln had such moments as ing party, they’re groping their way, doing and as a people—that every year, for 61 years well. To see this country torn apart, to see their best, going through the same struggles now, this great prayerful tradition has en- his fellow citizens waging a ferocious war we’re going through. And in that pursuit, we dured. It says something about us that every that pitted brother against brother, family are blessed with guidance. God has told us year, in times of triumph and in tragedy, in against family—that was as heavy a burden how He wishes for us to spend our days. His calm and in crisis, we come together, not as as any President will ever have to bear. We Commandments are there to be followed. Democrats or Republicans, but as brothers know Lincoln constantly met with troops Jesus is there to guide us; the Holy Spirit, to and sisters, and as children of God. Every and visited the wounded and honored the help us. Love the Lord God with all your year, in the midst of all our busy and noisy dead. And the toll mounted day after day, heart and with all your soul and with all lives, we set aside one morning to gather as week after week. And you can see in the your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. one community, united in prayer. We do so lines of his face the toll that the war cost See in everyone, even in those with whom because we’re a nation ever humbled by our him. But he did not break. Even as he buried you disagree most vehemently, the face of history, and we’re ever attentive to our im- a beloved son, he did not break. Even as he God. For we are all His children. That’s what perfections—particularly the imperfections struggled to overcome melancholy, despair, I thought of as I took the oath of office a few of our President. We come together because grief, he did not break. And we know that he weeks ago and touched those Bibles—the comfort that Scripture gave Lincoln and we’re a people of faith. We know that faith is surely found solace in Scripture; that he King and so many leaders throughout our something that must be cultivated. Faith is could acknowledge his own doubts, that he history; the verses they cherished, and how not a possession. Faith is a process. was humbled in the face of the Lord. And I was struck by the passage that was read that, I think, allowed him to become a better those words of God are there for us as well, earlier from the Book of Hebrews: ‘‘Without leader. It’s what allowed him in what may be waiting to be read any day that we choose. I faith it is impossible to please God, because one of the greatest speeches ever written, in thought about how their faith gave them the anyone who comes to Him must believe that his second Inaugural, to describe the Union strength to meet the challenges of their He exists and He rewards those who dili- and the Confederate soldier alike—both read- time, just as our faith can give us the strength to meet the challenges of ours. And gently seek Him.’’ He rewards those who dili- ing the same Bible, both prayed to the same most of all, I thought about their humility, gently seek Him—not just for one moment, God, but ‘‘the prayers of both could not be and how we don’t seem to live that out the or one day, but for every moment, and every answered. That of neither has been answered way we should, every day, even when we give day. As Christians, we place our faith in the fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.’’ lip service to it. nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ. But so In Lincoln’s eyes, the power of faith was As President, sometimes I have to search many other Americans also know the close humbling, allowing us to embrace our limits for the words to console the inconsolable. embrace of faith—Muslims and Jews, Hindus in knowing God’s will. And as a consequence, Sometimes I search Scripture to determine and Sikhs. And all Americans—whether reli- he was able to see God in those who vehe- how best to balance life as a President and as gious or secular—have a deep and abiding mently opposed him. a husband and as a father. I often search for Today, the divisions in this country are, faith in this nation. Scripture to figure out how I can be a better Recently I had occasion to reflect on the thankfully, not as deep or destructive as man as well as a better President. And I be- power of faith. A few weeks ago, during the when Lincoln led, but they are real. The dif- lieve that we are united in these struggles. inauguration, I was blessed to place my hand ferences in how we hope to move our nation But I also believe that we are united in the on the Bibles of two great Americans, two forward are less pronounced than when King knowledge of a redeeming Savior, whose men whose faith still echoes today. One was marched, but they do exist. And as we debate grace is sufficient for the multitude of our the Bible owned by President Abraham Lin- what is right and what is just, what is the sins, and whose love is never failing. And coln, and the other, the Bible owned by Dr. surest way to create a more hopeful—for our most of all, I know that all Americans—men Martin Luther King, Jr. As I prepared to children—how we’re going to reduce our def- and women of different faiths and, yes, those take the sacred oath, I thought about these icit, what kind of tax plans we’re going to of no faith that they can name—are, never- two men, and I thought of how, in times of have, how we’re going to make sure that theless, joined together in common purpose, joy and pain and uncertainty, they turned to every child is getting a great education— believing in something that is bigger than their Bibles to seek the wisdom of God’s and, Doctor, it is very encouraging to me ourselves, and the ideals that lie at the heart word—and thought of how, for as long as that you turned out so well by your mom not of our nation’s founding—that as a people we we’ve been a nation, so many of our leaders, letting you watch TV. I’m going to tell my are bound together. our Presidents, and our preachers, our legis- daughters that when they complain. In the And so this morning, let us summon the lators and our jurists have done the same. midst of all these debates, we must keep that common resolve that comes from our faith. Each one faced their own challenges; each same humility that Dr. King and Lincoln Let us pray to God that we may be worthy of one finding in Scripture their own lessons and Washington and all our great leaders un- the many blessings He has bestowed upon from the Lord. And as I was looking out on derstood is at the core of true leadership. In our nation. Let us retain that humility not the crowd during the inauguration I thought a democracy as big and as diverse as ours, we just during this hour but for every hour. And of Dr. King. We often think of him standing will encounter every opinion. And our task let me suggest that those of us with the most tall in front of the endless crowds, stirring as citizens—whether we are leaders in gov- power and influence need to be the most the nation’s conscience with a bellowing ernment or business or spreading the word— humble. And let us promise Him and to each voice and a mighty dream. But I also is to spend our days with open hearts and other, every day as the sun rises over Amer- thought of his doubts and his fears, for those open minds; to seek out the truth that exists ica that it will rise over a people who are moments came as well—the lonely moments in an opposing view and to find the common striving to make this a more perfect union. when he was left to confront the presence of ground that allows for us as a nation, as a Thank you. God bless you, and God bless the long-festering injustice and undisguised people, to take real and meaningful action. United States of America.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.063 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2558 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 Senator SESSIONS: Thank you. Thank you Service over wolf delisting efforts federal government and the desire by the Mr. President. We’re not of the same polit- where the Federal Government quickly government to help pay their way. ical party, sometimes we disagree, but approved their November 2012 claim for Recently, several environmental groups settled with the federal government over speaking as an American, we are one nation $380,000 in attorney fees. That is and we have one President who serves us all. their attorney fees for suing the Fish and Thank you for being my President, thank $380,000 dollars of hard-earned Amer- Wildlife Service on wolf delisting efforts in you for being our President. ican taxpayer dollars this administra- Montana and Idaho. The settlement agreed So let’s all enjoy now a final selection tion’s Justice Department was more to by the federal government will pay the from Andrea Boccelli. than happy to hand over to their polit- groups $380,000 for their attorney fees. This [Song] ical allies. request for money was filed with the courts Mr. Andrea Bocelli: Thank you very much. Ken continues to illustrate the ap- in November of 2012 and the government I’m very ashamed of my English because I didn’t object to this filing. parent political fingerprints and favor- Meanwhile back at the ranch, the Wyo- would like to tell you many, many things itism in the Justice Department by but I can’t because my English is very poor. ming Wolf Coalition through its attorney But I live this moment like a dream, because stating, ‘‘Meanwhile back at the ranch, Harriet Hageman, has asked the federal gov- ernment for their fees under EAJA. These very often my country has been in trouble, the Wyoming Wolf Coalition through fees, a tenth of the environmental claim, just because the left and the right never are its attorney Harriet Hageman, has have been argued over by the same federal able to speak with each other. And in this asked the Federal Government for government since April of 2011. country where I received a lot, a big, big af- their fees under EAJA. These fees, one- Given this interesting development it cer- fection, incredible affection, today I received tenth of the environmental claim, have tainly appears the federal government, also a big teaching. I will try going back to been argued over by the same Federal through the Justice Department, does not my country, Italy, to transmit this will that Government since April of 2011.’’ Let apply justice uniformly. Perhaps the Justice for me is the most important thing—the will me repeat that. Since 2011, the Justice Department is concerned that these multi- to pray together. Thank you very much. million dollar environmental groups should Senator PRYOR: Thank you Andrea. Just Department has been actively arguing over an EAJA claim of approximately be paid because they have resources far be- like your songs that was very beautiful. At yond the troublesome rancher, sportsmen, the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus $36,000 to a group that supported wolf outfitters and local governments and they said, ‘‘Therefore, everyone who hears these delisting when the same Justice De- could use the money but those other entities words of mine and puts them into practice is partment agreed to send $380,000 to en- should be denied because they are poor. like a wise man who built his house on the vironmental groups opposed to the Perhaps they feel that almost $400,000 is rock.’’ Let’s be wise people in the important delisting of wolves. not a big deal, but $36,000 is a huge deal wor- roles that we’re about to step back into in a Based on these facts I would have to thy of Justice Department attorney time to few minutes and put what we’ve heard and file objections. learned here into practice. agree with Ken’s conclusion that, ‘‘the Who knows, but one thing is apparent and Senator SESSIONS: Love God. Love your Equal Access to Justice Act is being that is the Equal Access to Justice Act is neighbor. Let’s make that simple rule our applied less than equally by the Fed- being applied less than equally by the federal guide and make our complex world a better eral Government. It appears that if government. It appears that if they agree one today. And to offer our closing prayer, they agree with you they will send you with you they will send you a check, but if please welcome Olympic gold medalist, a check, but if they do not they will they do not they will send you an attorney’s Gabrielle Douglas. send you an attorney’s response deny- response denying you your money. Ms. Gabrielle Douglas: Thank you. It’s ing you your money.’’ f such an honor to be here today with so many This administration should not be in distinguished leaders, especially Mr. Presi- GRASSBAUGH VETERANS PROJECT the business of playing favorites by re- dent, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Vice President and Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, today warding their political friends with the Honorable MARK PRYOR and the Honor- I wish to honor the commencement of taxpayer dollars. I commend Ken for able JEFF SESSIONS. Now please, please join the Captain Jonathan D. Grassbaugh me as we bow our heads and pray. highlighting the apparent inequality Veterans Project. CPT Jonathan Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the and abuse of the so-called Equal Access Grassbaugh and three other soldiers many continued blessings. We uplift every to Justice Act. This is one of the rea- leader from every nation and ask that you were killed in action in Iraq on April 7, sons I plan to continue fighting for real 2007, when an insurgent detonated a continue to give them wisdom as they gov- transparency regarding which groups ern. Teach us to walk in humility, strength- 500-pound explosive beneath their en us as we strive to fulfill your plan, your are receiving EAJA payments, why truck. His wife, CPT Jenna C. purpose for our lives. And as we go from they are receiving it, and how much Grassbaugh, has collaborated with the here, I pray we would all pursue your peace, money—taxpayer money—is being Ohio State University Moritz College your love and your grace, in Jesus’ name, given away. It is time the Equal Access of Law to create the Captain Jonathan Amen. to Justice Act truly live up to its D. Grassbaugh Veterans Project. The Senator PRYOR: We’re done, thank you, name. God bless you. Jonathan D. Grassbaugh Veterans Mr. President, I yield the floor. Project will provide veterans returning There being no objection, the mate- f from deployment with legal assistance, rial was ordered to be printed in the EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR A with the help of law students aided by RECORD, as follows: FEW professional lawyers. [From the Wyoming Farm Bureau CPT Jenna Grassbaugh donated Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise Federation Opinion Editorial, Mar. 26, 2013] $250,000 of her husband’s life insurance today to ask unanimous consent to EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR A FEW policy to the Moritz College of Law in have printed in the RECORD an article (By Ken Hamilton, Wyoming Farm Bureau order to honor her husband’s legacy written by Ken Hamilton, Executive Federation, Executive Vice President) and assist returning veterans. The Vice President of the Wyoming Farm Many people are aware of the efforts to re- Grassbaugh Veterans Project will open Bureau that was Published in the April form the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) in April and will be operational by fall 2013 edition of Wyoming Agriculture. in order to bring more transparency to the process of the federal government paying at- 2014. The article’s title is ‘‘Equal Access to I would also like to pay tribute to Justice for a few.’’ torney fees. Based on information researched and brought to light through the Budd-Falen Jonathan D. Grassbaugh and the rich Mr. President, while we continue to law offices we found out that monies were legacy he leaves. His commitment to fight for increased transparency with being awarded without the slightest effort by service is an inspiration to all of us and regards to the Equal Access to Justice the government to keep track of who re- he will not be forgotten. I would also Act, one thing is already clear—the ceived them and why. Thus, the need for like to recognize CPT Jenna Federal Government is picking winners some transparency and oversight. We have Grassbaugh for honoring the legacy of and losers. Mr. Hamilton calls this a also seen some of the recipients fight efforts her husband in such a meaningful way. ‘‘cozy appearance between the groups to bring transparency and why wouldn’t f who sue the Federal Government and they? After all, this is something that helps off-set their cost of suing the federal govern- TRIBUTE TO LIEUTENANT the desire by the government to help ment. COLONEL KENNETH W. MCDONALD pay their way.’’ He points out in one The other aspect of this that some have recent case of several environmental wondered about is the sometimes cozy ap- Mr. REED. Mr. President, I wish to groups suing the Fish and Wildlife pearance between these groups who sue the recognize the accomplishments of LTC

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.063 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2559 Kenneth McDonald, who is retiring this TRIBUTE TO GORDON MOULTON ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS month after a distinguished career of Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise over 28 years of service to the United today to pay tribute to Dr. Gordon States Army and the Nation. FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN Moulton in honor of his retirement Lieutenant Colonel McDonald grad- ∑ Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I after 46 years of service to the Univer- uated from West Point in 1985 with a rise in support of Friends of the Chil- sity of South Alabama. Gordon dedi- degree in Civil Engineering and was dren, FOTC, a revolutionary organiza- cated his life to the success of the uni- commissioned a Second Lieutenant in tion founded and based in my home- versity and its surrounding commu- the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He town of Portland, OR, that provides in- nities and served as university presi- subsequently served as a platoon lead- tensive, long-term mentors to highly dent for 16 years. I am honored to call er, support platoon leader, and execu- vulnerable kids in need. FOTC takes a this remarkable man my friend and fel- tive officer in the 299th Engineer Bat- preventive, early intervention ap- low Alabamian. talion (Corps Combat) at Fort Sill, OK. proach that breaks the cycle of poverty He later commanded Delta Company, Gordon received his B.S. in Industrial and helps children grow up to be pro- 20th Engineer Battalion at Fort Camp- Management from the Georgia Insti- ductive citizens. bell, KY and served as S3 and executive tute of Technology and an M.B.A. from The key to FOTC’s success is its officer for the 577th Engineer Bat- Emory University. He was also award- mentors, called Friends. Each Friend is talion, Fort Leonard Wood, MO. ed an honorary doctorate from Spring full time, paid and professionally Throughout his career, Lieutenant Hill College in 2006. trained. The Friends are matched with Colonel McDonald deployed to Iraq for He began his service at the Univer- the most severely at-risk children at Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, sity of South Alabama 3 years after its an early age—selected in kinder- Kosovo, and Korea. In 2006, Kenny vol- founding in 1966 as a business faculty garten—and make a 121⁄2 year commit- unteered for service in Iraq in support member and went on to launch the ment to each child, guiding them of Operation Iraqi Freedom and served School of Computer and Information through high school graduation. as deputy commander, Gulf Region Di- Sciences as its first dean. He was Friends of the Children was founded vision South District, U.S. Army Corps named president of the university in in 1993 and is celebrating its 20th anni- of Engineers in Basrah. During his 2 1998. Gordon’s numerous successes at versary this year. My friend Duncan year tour, he was responsible for over the university include increasing aca- Campbell, founder of FOTC, grew up in $500 million worth of construction demic programs and scholarships, se- poverty himself, and his persistence, projects, including the Basrah Chil- curing grants for cancer research, ex- hard work and entrepreneurial spirit dren’s Hospital. In 2008, he and mem- panding student opportunities, devel- continue to be a driving force behind bers of his team were severely wounded opment and renovation of various fa- FOTC’s success. in an ambush while they were inspect- cilities, and the creation of the USA The goals for FOTC’s children are ing the hospital. He recovered from his Research and Technology Park which both simple and profound: success in wounds at Walter Reed Army Medical has provided many jobs and opportuni- school with a minimum of a high Center and later was assigned to the ties for high-tech industry partnerships school diploma or GED; avoid involve- West Point Warrior Transition Unit. in south Alabama. ment in the juvenile justice system, While still assigned to the WTU, he re- During his tenure as President, the and avoid early parenting. And inde- quested and was allowed to serve as the University of South Alabama was able pendent research has shown that deputy commander, New York District, to launch ‘‘Campaign USA,’’ a highly Friends of the Children is achieving U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. successful fundraising effort that has those goals: 85 percent of FOTC grad- Lieutenant Colonel McDonald also raised millions for the university. He uates have completed high school, de- served as an instructor and assistant also worked to form a critical partner- spite 54 percent having a parent who professor in the Department of Geog- ship with Infirmary Health System did not graduate; 97 percent of FOTC raphy and Environmental Engineering which has been instrumental in mak- youth are not involved in the juvenile and the Department of Civil and Me- ing improvements in area health care. justice system despite 60 percent hav- chanical Engineering at West Point. In For his work in the area, Gordon was ing a parent who has been incarcer- 2009, he was promoted to associate pro- named ‘‘Mobilian of the Year’’ in 2002. ated; and 98 percent of FOTC adoles- fessor and served as engineering pro- Over the years, Gordon and his wife cents avoid early parenting despite 60 gram director for the Department of Geri have donated generously to the percent having been born to a teen Systems Engineering at West Point. University of South Alabama, most re- mother. During his tenure, the Engineering Friends of the Children works be- cently presenting the University with Management Program was recognized 3 cause it treats every child as an indi- $3 million in order to fund cancer re- years in a row as the top Engineering vidual facing a set of unique cir- search at the USA Mitchell Cancer In- Management Program for under- cumstances, and takes a committed, stitute. Their generosity, compassion, graduate education in the Nation by hands-on approach to improving those and dedication to finding a cure for the American Society for Engineering circumstances. It works because it fo- cancer is both admirable and humbling. Management. cuses on one-on-one relationships using In addition to funding for cancer re- His military awards and decorations a rational, intelligent and proven sys- search, they have given millions to include the Bronze Star; Purple Heart; tem. fund Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza, Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Serv- While headquartered in Portland, Geri Moulton Children’s Park at the ice Commendation Medal; Army Com- Friends of the Children now has chap- USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, mendation Medal; Army Achievement ters in four additional cities: Klamath and various scholarships and athletic Medal; Joint Meritorious Unit Award; Falls, Seattle, Boston and New York. endeavors. Meritorious Unit Commendation; Army Today, I am proud to congratulate this Superior Unit Award; Air Assault; Air- Today, it is rare to see an individual remarkable program on its 20th anni- borne; Ranger Tab; and Combat Action so invested in one institution for the versary, and look forward to cele- Badge. larger part of his career, but the work brating many more years of its contin- Kenny and his wife COL Debbie that Gordon Moulton has done at and ued success.∑ for the University of the South will McDonald, who currently serves as the f director of admissions at West Point, forever be remembered by its students, have two grown children. Their daugh- faculty, board of trustees, and the com- BUDGET OF THE UNITED STATES ter Anna is a 1LT Quartermaster Offi- munities in and around Mobile that GOVERNMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR cer and Company Commander and their have benefitted from the University. 2014—PM 7 son Joshua is a cadet at West Point. I I congratulate him on his retirement The PRESIDING OFFICER laid be- congratulate Kenny on a job well done, and thank him for his decades of serv- fore the Senate the following message and wish him and his family the very ice to one of Alabama’s great edu- from the President of the United best in the years to come. cational institutions. States, together with an accompanying

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G10AP6.023 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2560 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 report; which was referred jointly, pur- The Budget also includes new initia- through the red tape that has been suant to the order of January 30, 1975 tives to support manufacturing com- holding back even some of the most as modified by the order of April 11, munities, including a new tax credit to carefully planned infrastructure 1986; to the Committees on Appropria- strengthen their ability to attract in- projects. These efforts will help us to tions; and the Budget: vestments and jobs. And it expands my achieve the new goal I set to cut THE BUDGET MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT Administration’s SelectUSA initiative timelines in half for infrastructure To the Congress of the United States: to help draw businesses and investment projects, while creating new incentives Thanks to the hard work and deter- from around the world to our shores. for better outcomes for communities mination of the American people, we If we want to make the best prod- and the environment. have made significant progress over ucts, we also have to invest in the best All of these initiatives in manufac- the last 4 years. After a decade of war, ideas. That is why the Budget main- turing, energy, and infrastructure will our brave men and women in uniform tains a world-class commitment to help entrepreneurs and small business are coming home. After years of reces- science and research, targeting re- owners expand and create new jobs. sion, our businesses have created over sources to those areas most likely to But none of it will matter unless we six million new jobs. We buy more contribute directly to the creation of also equip our citizens with the skills American cars than we have in 5 years, transformational technologies that can and training to fill those jobs. and less foreign oil than we have in 20 create the businesses and jobs of the And that has to start at the earliest years. Our housing market is healing, future. possible age. But today, fewer than 3 in our stock market is rebounding, and No area holds more promise than our 10 4-year-olds are enrolled in a high- consumers, patients, and homeowners investments in American energy. The quality preschool program, and the enjoy stronger protections than ever Budget continues to advance my ‘‘all- high cost of private preschool puts too before. of-the-above’’ strategy on energy, in- much of a financial burden on middle But we know that there are millions vesting in clean energy research and class families. The Budget therefore includes a pro- of Americans whose hard work and development; promoting energy effi- posal that ensures 4-year-olds across dedication have not yet been rewarded. ciency in our cars, homes, and busi- the country have access to high-qual- Our economy is adding jobs—but too nesses; encouraging responsible domes- ity preschool education through a land- many people still cannot find full-time tic energy production; and launching mark new initiative in partnership employment. Corporate profits have new efforts to combat the threat of cli- with the States. And it increases the skyrocketed to all-time highs—but for mate change. more than a decade, wages and incomes Modeled after my successful Race to availability of early learning for our youngest children to help their growth have barely budged. the Top education reform effort, the and development during the formative It is our generation’s task to reignite Budget includes a new Race to the Top the true engine of America’s economic early years of life. energy efficiency challenge for States, Providing a year of free, public pre- growth—a rising, thriving middle class. rewarding those that implement the It is our unfinished task to restore the school education for 4-year-old chil- most effective policies to cut energy dren is an important investment in our basic bargain that built this country— waste. And it establishes a new Energy the idea that if you work hard and future. It will give all our kids the best Security Trust funded by royalty rev- start in life, helping them perform bet- meet your responsibilities, you can get enue from oil and gas leases to support ahead, no matter where you come ter in elementary school and ulti- initiatives to shift our cars and trucks mately helping them, and the country, from, no matter what you look like, or off oil, cutting our Nation’s reliance on whom you love. be better prepared for the demands of foreign oil. the global economy. Not only that, it It is our unfinished task to make Over the last 4 years, we have begun sure that this Government works on could save hard-working families thou- the hard work of rebuilding our Na- sands of dollars each year in child care behalf of the many, and not just the tion’s infrastructure. We have built or few; that it encourages free enterprise, costs. This is an investment we need to improved over 350,000 miles of road and rewards individual initiative, and make, and it is fully paid for in this more than 6,000 miles of rail. And we opens the doors of opportunity to every Budget by imposing a new tax on every have repaired or replaced over 20,000 child across this great Nation. pack of cigarettes sold. A growing economy that creates bridges. But to compete in the 21st The Budget also builds on the his- good, middle class jobs—this must be Century economy and become a mag- toric reforms made during my first the North Star that guides our efforts. net for jobs, we must do more. We need term to improve our elementary and Every day, we should ask ourselves to repair our existing infrastructure, secondary school system by rewarding three questions as a Nation: How do we and invest in the infrastructure of to- excellence and promoting innovation. attract more jobs to our shores? How morrow, including high-speed rail, To help ensure that our high schools do we equip our people with the skills high-tech schools, and self-healing are putting our kids on a path to col- they need to get those jobs? And how power grids. These investments will lege and a good job, the Budget in- do we make sure that hard work leads both lay the foundation for long-term cludes a new competitive fund that will to a decent living? economic growth and put workers back help redesign America’s high schools to This Budget seeks to answer each of on the job now. prepare students with the real world these questions. My Budget includes $50 billion for up- skills they need to find a job right Our first priority is making America front infrastructure investments, in- away or go to college. The fund re- a magnet for new jobs and manufac- cluding a ‘‘Fix-it-First’’ program that wards schools that develop new part- turing. After shedding jobs for more makes an immediate investment to put nerships with colleges and employers, than 10 years, our manufacturers have people to work as soon as possible on and create classes focusing on science, added more than 500,000 jobs over the our most urgent repairs, like the near- technology, engineering and mathe- past 3 years. Companies large and ly 70,000 structurally-deficient bridges matics (STEM)—the skills today’s em- small are increasingly deciding to across the country. And to make sure ployers seek to fill the jobs available bring jobs back to America. taxpayers do not shoulder the whole right now and in the future. To accelerate this trend, the Budget burden, the Budget creates a Rebuild Even with better high schools, most builds on the success of the manufac- America Partnership to attract private young people will still need some high- turing innovation institute we created capital to upgrade what our businesses er education. Through tax credits, in Youngstown, Ohio last year, and need most: modern ports to move our grants, and better loans, we have made calls for the creation of a network of 15 goods; modern pipelines to withstand a college more affordable for millions of of these hubs across the Nation. In storm; and modern schools worthy of students and families over the last 4 these innovation hubs, businesses will our children. years. But skyrocketing costs are still partner with universities and Federal The Budget also supports efforts I an- pricing too many young people out of a agencies to turn regions around our nounced earlier this year to modernize higher education, or saddling them country into global centers of high- and improve the efficiency of the Fed- with unsustainable debt. And tax- tech jobs. eral permitting process, cutting payers cannot continue to subsidize

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.008 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2561 higher and higher costs for higher edu- recession. It creates pathways to jobs American leadership and promoting se- cation. for the long-term unemployed and curity, stability, democracy, and eco- To encourage colleges to do their youth who have been hardest hit by the nomic growth. part to keep costs down, the Budget in- downturn. And it strengthens families Importantly, the Budget upholds our cludes reforms that will ensure afford- by removing financial deterrents to solemn obligation to take care of our ability and value are considered in de- marriage and supporting the role of fa- servicemembers and veterans, and to termining which colleges receive cer- thers. protect our diplomats and civilians in tain types of Federal aid. My Adminis- We also know that economic growth the field. It keeps faith with our vet- tration has also released a new ‘‘Col- can only be achieved and sustained if erans, investing in world-class care, in- lege Scorecard’’ that parents and stu- America is safe and secure, both at cluding mental health care for our dents can use to compare schools. home and abroad. At home, the Budget wounded warriors, supporting our mili- To further ensure our educational supports my initiative to help protect tary families, and giving our veterans system is preparing students for ca- our kids, reduce gun violence, and ex- the benefits, education, and job oppor- reers in the 21st Century economy, the pand access to mental health services. tunities that they have earned. Budget includes additional measures to We can protect our Second Amendment The Budget does all of these things promote STEM education, such as rights while coming together around as part of a comprehensive plan that launching a new STEM Master Teacher reforms like eliminating background reduces the deficit. All of these initia- Corps, to leverage the expertise of check loopholes to make it harder for tives and ideas are fully paid for, to en- some of America’s best and brightest criminals to get their hands on a gun— sure they do not increase the deficit by teachers in science and mathematics, common-sense reforms that will help a single dime. and to elevate the teaching of these protect our kids from the scourge of By making investments in our people subjects nationwide. It also includes a gun violence that has plagued too that we pay for responsibly, we will reorganization and consolidation of many communities across the country. strengthen the middle class, make STEM education programs to improve To confront threats outside our bor- America a magnet for jobs and innova- the effectiveness of Federal invest- ders, the Budget ensures our military tion, and grow our economy, which will ments in this area. remains the finest and best-equipped in turn help us to reduce deficits. But The Budget takes other critical steps military force the world has ever economic growth alone will not solve to grow our economy, create jobs, and known, even as we wind down more our Nation’s long-term fiscal chal- strengthen the middle class. It imple- than a decade of war. lenges. ments the Affordable Care Act, giving Already, we have brought home more As we continue to grow our economy, every American access to the high- than 30,000 of our brave service- we must take further action to cut our quality, affordable health care cov- members from Afghanistan. Our re- deficits. We do not have to choose be- erage they deserve, and reducing the maining forces are moving into a sup- tween these two important priorities— deficit by more than $1 trillion over port role, with Afghan security forces we have to do both. Over the last 4 years, both parties the next two decades. It implements taking the lead. And over the next have worked together to reduce the Wall Street reform, ending too-big-to- year, another 34,000 American troops will come home. This drawdown will deficit in a balanced way by more than fail and protecting consumers against $2.5 trillion. That is more than halfway the abuses and reckless behavior that continue and, by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over. toward the goal of $4 trillion in deficit contributed to the financial collapse in reduction that economists say we need 2008. And it includes measures to Beyond 2014, the Budget supports our continued commitment to a unified to stabilize our finances. As we wind strengthen our housing market and en- and sovereign Afghanistan. down two wars, we have protected our sure that every responsible homeowner To maintain our national security, military families and veterans while has the opportunity to refinance at to- the Budget supports our ongoing fight cutting defense spending on outdated day’s rates, saving $3,000 a year on av- against terrorists, like al Qaeda. The military weapons systems. Domestic erage. organization that attacked us on 9/11 is discretionary spending is approaching Our economy is stronger when we a shadow of its former self. But dif- its lowest levels as a share of the econ- harness the talents and ingenuity of ferent al Qaeda affiliates and extremist omy since President Eisenhower was in striving, hopeful immigrants. That is groups have emerged—from the Ara- office; and we have moved aggressively why I have proposed a plan to fix our bian Peninsula to Africa. We will con- to cut waste, fraud, and abuse. And to- broken immigration system that se- front these emerging security chal- gether, we have begun to ask the cures our borders, cracks down on em- lenges through the full range of U.S. wealthy to do their fair share while ployers who hire undocumented work- capabilities and tools, including diplo- keeping income taxes low for middle ers, attracts highly-skilled entre- matic, security, intelligence, and eco- class families. Overall, we have cut the preneurs and engineers to help create nomic development. deficit in a balanced way that protects jobs and drive economic growth, and The Budget also provides the re- the investments in education, manu- establishes a responsible pathway to sources we need to act on our commit- facturing, clean energy, and small busi- earned citizenship—a path that in- ment to and interests in global devel- nesses we need to grow the economy cludes passing a background check, opment, by promoting food security and strengthen the middle class. There paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, that reduces dependence and increases is more work to do, and this Budget is learning English, and going to the back prosperity; by investing in the increas- designed to finish the job. of the line behind the folks trying to ingly successful drive toward an AIDS- But we should not do it by making come here legally. The Budget makes free generation; and by maintaining harsh and arbitrary cuts that jeop- investments that will make our immi- our leadership as a global provider of ardize our military readiness, dev- gration system more efficient and fair humanitarian assistance that saves astate priorities like education and en- and lay a foundation for this perma- lives and reflects American values. ergy, and cost jobs. That is not how to nent, common-sense reform. We must also confront new dangers, grow the economy. We should not ask The Budget also builds on the like cyber attacks, that threaten our middle class senior citizens and work- progress made over the last 4 years to Nation’s infrastructure, businesses, ing families to pay down the rest of our expand opportunity for every American and people. The Budget supports the deficit while the wealthiest are asked and every community willing to do the expansion of Government-wide efforts for nothing more. That does not grow work to lift themselves up. It creates to counter the full scope of cyber our middle class. new ladders of opportunity to ensure threats, and strengthens our ability to The American people understand that hard work leads to a decent living. collaborate with State and local gov- that we cannot just cut our way to It rewards hard work by increasing the ernments, our partners overseas, and prosperity. That is why I have repeat- minimum wage to $9 an hour so an hon- the private sector to improve our over- edly called for a balanced approach to est day’s work pays more. It partners all cybersecurity. deficit reduction. And that is why I with communities by identifying The Budget also focuses resources on have offered proposals on multiple oc- Promise Zones to help rebuild from the the Asia-Pacific region, reasserting casions that cut wasteful spending,

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.009 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2562 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 strengthen entitlements, and eliminate MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the special tax breaks and loopholes so the Railroad Retirement Board’s fiscal year 2012 At 1:00 p.m., a message from the annual report relative to the Notification wealthiest pay their fair share. House of Representatives, delivered by In my negotiations with House and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, and Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Com- Speaker BOEHNER in December over the announced that the House has passed mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- so-called ‘‘fiscal cliff,’’ I again offered a the following bills, in which it requests mental Affairs. compromise proposal that was bal- the concurrence of the Senate: EC–1066. A communication from the Chair- anced and comprehensive, and would man of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, achieve our $4 trillion deficit reduction H.R. 254. An act to authorize the Secretary transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commis- goal. That proposal is still on the of the Interior to facilitate the development sion’s fiscal year 2012 annual report relative of hydroelectric power on the Diamond Fork table. I am including it in this Budget to the Notification and Federal Employee System of the Central Utah Project. Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of to demonstrate my commitment to H.R. 1033. An act to authorize the acquisi- making the kind of tough and balanced 2002; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- tion and protection of nationally significant rity and Governmental Affairs. choices that are needed to put our Na- battlefields and associated sites of the Revo- EC–1067. A communication from the Dep- tion’s finances in order. lutionary War and the War of 1812 under the uty Associate Director for External Affairs, To be clear, the package I am offer- American Battlefield Protection Program. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, ing includes some difficult cuts that I f transmitting, pursuant to law, the Bureau’s do not particularly like. But these fiscal year 2012 annual report relative to the MEASURES REFERRED measures will only become law if con- Notification and Federal Employee Anti- gressional Republicans agree to meet The following bill was read the first discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002; and the second times by unanimous to the Committee on Homeland Security and me in the middle by eliminating spe- Governmental Affairs. cial tax breaks and loopholes so mil- consent, and referred as indicated: EC–1068. A communication from the Chief lionaires and billionaires do their fair H.R. 1033. An act to authorize the acquisi- Judge, Superior Court of the District of Co- share to cut the deficit. I will not agree tion and protection of nationally significant lumbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a re- to any deal that seeks to cut the def- battlefields and associated sites of the Revo- port relative to the District of Columbia icit on the backs of middle class fami- lutionary War and the War of 1812 under the Family Court Act; to the Committee on lies. I am willing to make tough American Battlefield Protection Program; to Homeland Security and Governmental Af- the Committee on Energy and Natural Re- fairs. choices that may not be popular within sources. EC–1069. A joint communication from the my own party, because there can be no f Chairman and the Acting General Counsel, sacred cows for either party. And I National Labor Relations Board, transmit- look forward to working with any EXECUTIVE AND OTHER ting, pursuant to law, the Board’s Buy Amer- member of Congress who takes a simi- COMMUNICATIONS ican Act Report for fiscal year 2012; to the lar, balanced approach. This plan is The following communications were Committee on Homeland Security and Gov- built on the kind of common ground ernmental Affairs. laid before the Senate, together with EC–1070. A communication from the Ad- that Democrats and Republicans accompanying papers, reports, and doc- ministrator of the Small Business Adminis- should be able to reach. uments, and were referred as indicated: tration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the In total, the Budget will cut the def- EC–1060. A communication from the Chief Administration’s Annual Report on The No- icit by another $1.8 trillion over the of the Border Securities Regulations Branch, tification and Federal Employee Anti- next 10 years, bringing the deficit Customs and Border Protection, Department discrimination and Retaliation Act for fiscal below 2 percent of GDP by 2023 and put- of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- year 2012; to the Committee on Homeland Se- ting our debt on a declining path. This ant to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Def- curity and Governmental Affairs. is not an end in and of itself—the best inition of Form I–94 to Include Electronic EC–1071. A communication from the In- spector General, Department of Health and way to grow the economy and cut the Format’’ (RIN1651–AA96) received in the Of- fice of the President of the Senate on March Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to deficit is by creating good middle class law, a report entitled ‘‘U.S. Department of 22, 2013; to the Committee on Homeland Se- jobs. But this plan to reduce the deficit Health and Human Services met Many Re- curity and Governmental Affairs. in a balanced way is a critical step to- quirements of the Improper Payments Infor- EC–1061. A communication from the Direc- mation Act of 2002 but Was Not Fully Com- ward ensuring that we have a solid tor, Office of Personnel Management, trans- pliant’’; to the Committee on Homeland Se- foundation on which to build a strong mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule economy and a thriving middle class curity and Governmental Affairs. entitled ‘‘Excepted Service—Appointment of EC–1072. A communication from the Acting for years to come. Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, Se- Administrator of the General Services Ad- Finally, this Budget continues my vere Physical Disabilities, and Psychiatric ministration, transmitting, pursuant to law, commitment to reforming and stream- Disabilities’’ (RIN3206–AM07) received during the Administration’s fiscal year 2012 Agency lining our Government for the 21st adjournment of the Senate in the Office of Financial Report; to the Committee on Century. It builds on my Campaign to the President of the Senate on March 26, Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Cut Waste by further targeting and 2013; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- fairs. rity and Governmental Affairs. eliminating wasteful spending wher- EC–1073. A communication from the Chair- EC–1062. A communication from the Dis- man of the Council of the District of Colum- ever we find it. It reorganizes and con- trict of Columbia Auditor, transmitting, pur- solidates agencies and programs to bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report suant to law, a report entitled, ‘‘District of on D.C. Act 20–29, ‘‘Medical Marijuana Cul- make them leaner and more efficient. Columbia Agencies’ Compliance with Small tivation Center and Dispensary Location Re- It increases the use of evidence and Business Enterprise Expenditure Goals striction Temporary Amendment Act of evaluation to ensure we are making through the 1st Quarter of Fiscal Year 2013’’; 2013’’; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- smart investments with our scarce tax- to the Committee on Homeland Security and rity and Governmental Affairs. payer dollars. And it harnesses new Governmental Affairs. EC–1074. A communication from the Chair- technologies to allow us to do more EC–1063. A communication from the Dis- man of the Council of the District of Colum- trict of Columbia Auditor, transmitting, pur- bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report with less. suant to law, a report entitled, ‘‘Audit of the No single Budget can solve every on D.C. Act 20–40, ‘‘Tax Revision Commission Affordable Housing Mandates for Develop- Report Extension and Procurement Stream- challenge and every problem facing the ment Projects Formerly Managed by the Dis- lining Temporary Amendment Act of 2013’’; country. But this Budget shows how we solved National Capital Revitalization Cor- to the Committee on Homeland Security and can live within our means while grow- poration and Anacostia Waterfront Corpora- Governmental Affairs. ing our economy, strengthening the tion’’; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- EC–1075. A communication from the Chair- middle class, and securing our Nation’s rity and Governmental Affairs. man of the Council of the District of Colum- future. It is not a Democratic plan or a EC–1064. A communication from the Chair- bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report Republican plan. It is an American man of the Council of the District of Colum- on D.C. Act 20–30, ‘‘Board of Ethics and Gov- plan. And it is a plan that I hope can bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report ernment Accountability Temporary Amend- on D.C. Act 19–670, ‘‘Pharmacy Technician ment Act of 2013’’; to the Committee on serve as an outline for us to write the Amendment Act of 2012’’; to the Committee Homeland Security and Governmental Af- next great chapter of the American on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- fairs. story . . . together. fairs. EC–1076. A communication from the Chair- BARACK OBAMA. EC–1065. A communication from the Sec- man of the Council of the District of Colum- THE WHITE HOUSE, April 10, 2013. retary to the Board, Railroad Retirement bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report

VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:35 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.010 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2563 on D.C. Act 20–31, ‘‘Prohibition on Govern- to the Committee on Homeland Security and the proposed sale or export of defense arti- ment Employee Engagement in Political Ac- Governmental Affairs. cles and/or defense services to a Middle East tivity Temporary Amendment Act of 2013’’; EC–1087. A communication from the Chief country regarding any possible affects such a to the Committee on Homeland Security and Executive Officer, Corporation for National sale might have relating to Israel’s Quali- Governmental Affairs. and Community Service, transmitting, pur- tative Military Edge over military threats to EC–1077. A communication from the Direc- suant to law, the Corporation’s fiscal year Israel; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tor of Equal Employment Opportunity, Secu- 2012 annual report relative to the Notifica- tions. rities and Exchange Commission, transmit- tion and Federal Employee Antidiscrimina- EC–1097. A communication from the Assist- ting, pursuant to law, the Commission’s 2012 tion and Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Com- ant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military annual report relative to the Notification mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination mental Affairs. pursuant to law, an addendum to a certifi- and Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Com- EC–1088. A communication from the Chair- cation, transmittal number: DDTC 13–030, of mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- man, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the proposed sale or export of defense arti- mental Affairs. transmitting, pursuant to law, the Corpora- cles and/or defense services to a Middle East EC–1078. A communication from the Acting tion’s fiscal year 2012 annual report relative country regarding any possible affects such a Director of the Peace Corps, transmitting, to the Notification and Federal Employee sale might have relating to Israel’s Quali- pursuant to law, the Peace Corps’ fiscal year Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of tative Military Edge over military threats to 2012 annual report relative to the Notifica- 2002; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- Israel; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tion and Federal Employee Antidiscrimina- rity and Governmental Affairs. tions. tion and Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Com- EC–1089. A communication from the Chair- EC–1098. A communication from the Assist- mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- man, Consumer Product Safety Commission, ant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military mental Affairs. transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commis- Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, EC–1079. A communication from the Equal sion’s fiscal year 2012 annual report relative pursuant to law, an addendum to a certifi- Employment Opportunity Director, Farm to the Notification and Federal Employee cation, transmittal number: DDTC 13–017, of Credit Administration, transmitting, pursu- Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of the proposed sale or export of defense arti- ant to law, the Farm Credit Administra- 2002; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- cles and/or defense services to a Middle East tion’s fiscal year 2012 annual report relative rity and Governmental Affairs. country regarding any possible affects such a to the Notification and Federal Employee EC–1090. A communication from the Chair- sale might have relating to Israel’s Quali- Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of man of the Federal Energy Regulatory Com- tative Military Edge over military threats to 2002; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- mission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Israel; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- rity and Governmental Affairs. Commission’s fiscal year 2012 annual report tions. EC–1080. A communication from the Execu- relative to the Notification and Federal Em- EC–1099. A communication from the Assist- tive Director, United States Access Board, ployee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation ant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board’s Act of 2002; to the Committee on Homeland Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, fiscal year 2012 annual report relative to the Security and Governmental Affairs. pursuant to law, an addendum to a certifi- Notification and Federal Employee Anti- EC–1091. A communication from the Chair- cation, transmittal number: DDTC 13–015, of discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002; man of the Federal Labor Relations Author- the proposed sale or export of defense arti- to the Committee on Homeland Security and ity, transmitting, pursuant to law, the cles and/or defense services to a Middle East Governmental Affairs. Authority’s fiscal year 2012 annual report country regarding any possible affects such a EC–1081. A communication from the Chief relative to the Notification and Federal Em- sale might have relating to Israel’s Quali- Human Resources Officer, United States ployee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation tative Military Edge over military threats to Postal Service, transmitting, pursuant to Act of 2002; to the Committee on Homeland Israel; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- law, the Postal Service’s fiscal year 2012 an- Security and Governmental Affairs. tions. EC–1100. A communication from the Acting nual report relative to the Notification and EC–1092. A communication from the Direc- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and tor, Equal Employment Opportunities and partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Committee on Diversity Programs, National Archives and law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the Homeland Security and Governmental Af- Records Administration, transmitting, pur- Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–043); to suant to law, the Administration’s fiscal fairs. the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC–1082. A communication from the Chair year 2012 annual report relative to the Noti- EC–1101. A communication from the Acting of the Recovery Accountability and Trans- fication and Federal Employee Antidiscrimi- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- parency Board, transmitting, pursuant to nation and Retaliation Act of 2002; to the partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board’s fiscal year 2012 annual re- Committee on Homeland Security and Gov- law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the port relative to the Notification and Federal ernmental Affairs. Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–044); to Employee Antidiscrimination and Retalia- EC–1093. A communication from the Equal the Committee on Foreign Relations. tion Act of 2002; to the Committee on Home- Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Di- EC–1102. A communication from the Acting land Security and Governmental Affairs. rector, Farm Credit System Insurance Cor- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- EC–1083. A communication from the Chair- poration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to man of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation’s law, a report relative to section 36(c) of the Review Commission, transmitting, pursuant fiscal year 2012 annual report relative to the Arms Export Control Act (DDTC 13–017); to to law, the Commission’s fiscal year 2012 an- Notification and Federal Employee Anti- the Committee on Foreign Relations. nual report relative to the Notification and discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002; EC–1103. A communication from the Acting Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and to the Committee on Homeland Security and Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Committee on Governmental Affairs. partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to Homeland Security and Governmental Af- EC–1094. A communication from the Chair- law, a report relative to U.S. support for Tai- fairs. man, Occupational Safety and Health Review wan’s participation as an observer at the EC–1084. A communication from the Asso- Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, 66th World Health Assembly and in the work ciate Commissioner, National Indian Gaming the Commission’s fiscal year 2012 annual re- of the World Health Organization; to the Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, port relative to the Notification and Federal Committee on Foreign Relations. the Commission’s fiscal year 2012 annual re- Employee Antidiscrimination and Retalia- EC–1104. A communication from the Acting port relative to the Notification and Federal tion Act of 2002; to the Committee on Home- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- Employee Antidiscrimination and Retalia- land Security and Governmental Affairs. partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to tion Act of 2002; to the Committee on Home- EC–1095. A communication from the Assist- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Implemen- land Security and Governmental Affairs. ant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military tation of the Defense Trade Cooperation EC–1085. A communication from the Senior Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, Treaty Between the United States and Aus- Vice President, Diversity and Labor Rela- pursuant to law, an addendum to a certifi- tralia’’ (RIN1400–AD38) received in the Office tions, Tennessee Valley Authority, transmit- cation, transmittal number: DDTC 13–035, of of the President of the Senate on April 8, ting, pursuant to law, the fiscal year 2012 an- the proposed sale or export of defense arti- 2012; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. nual report relative to the Notification and cles and/or defense services to a Middle East EC–1105. A communication from the Sec- Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and country regarding any possible affects such a retary of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to Retaliation Act of 2002; to the Committee on sale might have relating to Israel’s Quali- law, a report relative to the current and fu- Homeland Security and Governmental Af- tative Military Edge over military threats to ture military strategy of Iran (OSS 2013– fairs. Israel; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- 0463); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC–1086. A communication from the Acting tions. EC–1106. A communication from the Board Administrator, General Service Administra- EC–1096. A communication from the Assist- of Actuaries, Department of Defense, trans- tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, the fis- ant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military mitting, pursuant to law, the 2012 Report of cal year 2012 annual report relative to the Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, the Department of Defense (DoD) Board of Notification and Federal Employee Anti- pursuant to law, an addendum to a certifi- Actuaries; to the Committee on Armed Serv- discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002; cation, transmittal number: DDTC 13–059, of ices.

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EC–1107. A communication from the Acting INHOFE, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. JOHANNS, vidual mandate in the Patient Protection Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Mr. JOHNSON of Wisconsin, Mr. and Affordable Care Act; to the Committee transmitting, pursuant to law, the Agency’s MCCONNELL, Mr. PAUL, Mr. RISCH, on Finance. annual report on the activities of its Office and Mr. VITTER): By Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, of Minority and Women Inclusion; to the S. 692. A bill to rescind certain Federal Mr. MURPHY, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban funds identified by States as unwanted and COWAN): Affairs. use the funds to reduce the Federal debt; to S. 702. A bill to designate the Quinebaug EC–1108. A communication from the Presi- the Committee on Appropriations. and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Herit- dent and Chief Executive Officer, Federal By Mr. WYDEN: age Corridor as ‘‘The Last Green Valley Na- Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, transmit- S. 693. A bill to amend the Reclamation tional Heritage Corridor’’; to the Committee ting, pursuant to law, the Bank’s 2012 State- Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Fa- on Energy and Natural Resources. cilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the ment on System of Internal Controls, au- f dited financial statements, Report of Inde- Interior to participate in the City of pendent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Hermiston, Oregon, water recycling and SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND and Report of Independent Registered Public reuse project, and for other purposes; to the SENATE RESOLUTIONS Committee on Energy and Natural Re- Accounting Firm on Compliance and Other The following concurrent resolutions Matters Based on an Audit of Financial sources. Statements Performed in Accordance with By Mrs. GILLIBRAND: and Senate resolutions were read, and Government Auditing Standards; to the S. 694. A bill to remove the authority of referred (or acted upon), as indicated: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban the Agricultural Marketing Service to in- By Mr. ISAKSON (for himself and Mr. Affairs. spect apples; to the Committee on Agri- BENNET): EC–1109. A communication from the Acting culture, Nutrition, and Forestry. S. Res. 95. A resolution recognizing line- Director, Office of Management and Budget, By Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. men, the profession of linemen, the contribu- Executive Office of the President, transmit- BEGICH): tions of these brave men and women who ting, pursuant to law, a report relative to se- S. 695. A bill to amend title 38, United protect the public safety, and expressing sup- questration; to the Committee on the Budg- States Code, to extend the authorization of port for the designation of April 18, 2013, as et. appropriations for the Secretary of Veterans National Lineman Appreciation Day; consid- EC–1110. A communication from the Acting Affairs to pay a monthly assistance allow- ered and agreed to. Director, Office of Management and Budget, ance to disabled veterans training or com- By Mr. ISAKSON (for himself, Mr. Executive Office of the President, transmit- peting for the Paralympic Team and the au- MURPHY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. ting, pursuant to law, a report relative to thorization of appropriations for the Sec- PORTMAN, Mr. TESTER, Mr. CARDIN, discretionary appropriations legislation; to retary of Veterans Affairs to provide assist- Mr. BOOZMAN, and Mrs. HAGAN): the Committee on the Budget. ance to United States Paralympics, Inc., and S. Con. Res. 12. A concurrent resolution ex- EC–1111. A communication from the Direc- for other purposes; to the Committee on Vet- pressing the sense of the Congress that our tor of Congressional Affairs, Nuclear Regu- erans’ Affairs. current tax incentives for retirement savings latory Commission, transmitting, pursuant By Mr. REID (for Mr. LAUTENBERG provide important benefits to Americans to to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Report- (for himself, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. help plan for a financially secure retirement; ing Procedure for Mathematical Models Se- SCHUMER, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MURRAY, to the Committee on Finance. Mrs. BOXER, Mr. UDALL of New Mex- lected to Predict Heated Effluent Dispersion f in Natural Water Bodies’’ (Regulatory Guide ico, Mr. BAUCUS, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. 4.4) received in the Office of the President of BENNET, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS FRANKEN, Mr. TESTER, Mr. WHITE- the Senate on April 8, 2013; to the Committee S. 84 on Environment and Public Works. HOUSE, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. At the request of Ms. MIKULSKI, the EC–1112. A communication from the Assist- BLUMENTHAL, Mr. COWAN, Mr. SAND- ant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), ERS, Ms. WARREN, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. name of the Senator from Montana transmitting, pursuant to law, a report rel- MERKLEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. CARDIN, (Mr. BAUCUS) was added as a cosponsor ative to the Final Integrated Construction Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. of S. 84, a bill to amend the Fair Labor Report and Environmental Impact State- SCHATZ, Mr. NELSON, Ms. CANTWELL, Standards Act of 1938 to provide more ment for the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA), and Mr. KING)): effective remedies to victims of dis- S. 696. A bill to amend the Toxic Sub- Barataria Basin Barrier Shoreline (BBBS) crimination in the payment of wages Restoration Project, Lafourche, Jefferson stances Control Act to ensure that risks from chemicals are adequately understood on the basis of sex, and for other pur- and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana; to the poses. Committee on Environment and Public and managed, and for other purposes; to the Works. Committee on Environment and Public S. 123 Works. f At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, By Mr. BROWN: the name of the Senator from Min- EXECUTIVE REPORT OF S. 697. A bill to reform and improve the oversight of the performance of passenger nesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) was added as a COMMITTEE and baggage security screening at domestic cosponsor of S. 123, a bill to modernize The following executive report of a commercial airports by private screening voter registration, promote access to nomination was submitted: companies, and for other purposes; to the voting for individuals with disabilities, Committee on Commerce, Science, and By Mr. HARKIN for the Committee on protect the ability of individuals to ex- Transportation. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ercise the right to vote in elections for By Mr. CORNYN: *Jenny R. Yang, of the District of Colum- Federal office, and for other purposes. S. 698. A bill to protect prosecutors, judges, bia, to be a Member of the Equal Employ- law enforcement officers, and their families; S. 155 ment Opportunity Commission for a term ex- to the Committee on the Judiciary. At the request of Ms. MURKOWSKI, the piring July 1, 2017. By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. *Nomination was reported with rec- HATCH, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. GRAHAM, BEGICH) was added as a cosponsor of S. ommendation that it be confirmed sub- Mr. CORNYN, Mr. LEE, Mr. CRUZ, and 155, a bill to designate a mountain in ject to the nominee’s commitment to Mr. FLAKE): the State of Alaska as Denali. respond to requests to appear and tes- S. 699. A bill to reallocate Federal judge- S. 231 tify before any duly constituted com- ships for the courts of appeals, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judici- mittee of the Senate. At the request of Mr. PORTMAN, the ary. name of the Senator from Rhode Island f By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. CHAM- (Mr. WHITEHOUSE) was added as a co- BLISS, and Mr. BAUCUS): INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND S. 700. A bill to ensure that the education sponsor of S. 231, a bill to reauthorize JOINT RESOLUTIONS and training provided members of the Armed the Multinational Species Conserva- The following bills and joint resolu- Forces and veterans better assists members tion Funds Semipostal Stamp. tions were introduced, read the first and veterans in obtaining civilian certifi- S. 234 cations and licenses, and for other purposes; and second times by unanimous con- At the request of Mr. REID, the name to the Committee on Armed Services and the of the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. sent, and referred as indicated: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. HEINRICH) was added as a cosponsor of By Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. ALEX- By Ms. COLLINS: ANDER, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. BLUNT, S. 701. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- S. 234, a bill to amend title 10, United Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. COATS, Mr. enue Code of 1986 to modify the definition of States Code, to permit certain retired COBURN, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. ENZI, Mr. full-time employee for purposes of the indi- members of the uniformed services who

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.016 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2565 have a service-connected disability to S. 462 STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED receive both disability compensation At the request of Mrs. BOXER, the BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS from the Department of Veterans Af- name of the Senator from Minnesota By Mr. WYDEN: fairs for their disability and either re- (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) was added as a co- S. 693. A bill to amend the Reclama- tired pay by reason of their years of sponsor of S. 462, a bill to enhance the tion Wastewater and Groundwater military service or Combat-Related strategic partnership between the Study and Facilities Act to authorize Special Compensation, and for other United States and Israel. the Secretary of the Interior to partici- purposes. S. 480 pate in the City of Hermiston, Oregon, S. 264 At the request of Mr. GRAHAM, the water recycling and reuse project, and At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the names of the Senator from Georgia for other purposes; to the Committee name of the Senator from Massachu- (Mr. CHAMBLISS), the Senator from on Energy and Natural Resources. setts (Ms. WARREN) was added as a co- Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER) and the Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I sponsor of S. 264, a bill to expand ac- Senator from Ohio (Mr. PORTMAN) were rise to reintroduce legislation that will cess to community mental health cen- added as cosponsors of S. 480, a bill to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation ters and improve the quality of mental improve the effectiveness of the Na- to share in the cost of the construction health care for all Americans. tional Instant Criminal Background of a new wastewater treatment plant S. 316 Check System by clarifying reporting for Hermiston, Oregon. This is the At the request of Mr. SANDERS, the requirements related to adjudications same bill that was passed by the House names of the Senator from Montana of mental incompetency, and for other of Representatives, by voice vote, in (Mr. TESTER), the Senator from New purposes. the 111th Congress and reported by the Jersey (Mr. MENENDEZ) and the Sen- Senate Energy and Natural Resources S. 557 ator from New Jersey (Mr. LAUTEN- Committee without opposition that BERG) were added as cosponsors of S. At the request of Mrs. HAGAN, the Congress as well. I look forward to 316, a bill to recalculate and restore re- name of the Senator from Pennsyl- working with supporters of this bill to tirement annuity obligations of the vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- advance this important reclamation United States Postal Service, to elimi- sponsor of S. 557, a bill to amend title project. nate the requirement that the United XVIII of the Social Security Act to im- The city of Hermiston will be respon- States Postal Service prefund the Post- prove access to medication therapy sible for the lion’s share of this project. al Service Retiree Health Benefits management under part D of the Medi- CBO has estimated that the Federal Fund, to place restrictions on the clo- care program. share of the $26 million project would sure of postal facilities, to create in- S. 577 be $7 million or just over 1⁄4 of the cost. centives for innovation for the United At the request of Mr. NELSON, the Once constructed, the plant will pro- States Postal Service, to maintain lev- name of the Senator from Michigan vide the Bureau of Reclamation-au- els of postal service, and for other pur- (Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cospon- thorized West Extension Irrigation Dis- poses. sor of S. 577, a bill to amend title XVIII trict with enough additional high-qual- S. 338 of the Social Security Act to provide ity water per year to irrigate approxi- At the request of Mr. BAUCUS, the for the distribution of additional resi- mately 600 acres of high value crops. name of the Senator from Michigan dency positions, and for other pur- This will have a significant, long-term (Mr. LEVIN) was added as a cosponsor of poses. benefit to the farming industry in the S. 338, a bill to amend the Land and Hermiston area. S. 649 Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to The Hermiston project has gotten the provide consistent and reliable author- At the request of Mr. KAINE, his sign-off at every level from the local ir- ity for, and for the funding of, the land name was added as a cosponsor of S. rigation district to Federal agencies. and water conservation fund to maxi- 649, a bill to ensure that all individuals The city and the bureau have com- mize the effectiveness of the fund for who should be prohibited from buying a pleted the required feasibility report future generations, and for other pur- firearm are listed in the national in- and the bureau of reclamation has for- poses. stant criminal background check sys- mally concluded that the project meets S. 381 tem and require a background check the requirements of the Title XVI cost- At the request of Mr. BROWN, the for every firearm sale, and for other sharing program. The regional office of name of the Senator from Vermont purposes. the National Marine Fisheries Service (Mr. SANDERS) was added as a cospon- S. 655 at NOAA has completed a biological sor of S. 381, a bill to award a Congres- At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, opinion approving the project. The city sional Gold Medal to the World War II the name of the Senator from Massa- and the West Extension Irrigation Dis- members of the ‘‘Doolittle Tokyo Raid- chusetts (Mr. COWAN) was added as a trict have signed a memorandum of un- ers’’, for outstanding heroism, valor, cosponsor of S. 655, a bill to amend the derstanding to work together to de- skill, and service to the United States Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to velop the project. The bureau has con- in conducting the bombings of Tokyo. authorize the Secretary of Labor to cluded its environmental review of the S. 450 provide grants for Urban Jobs Pro- authorization to transfer the water to At the request of Mr. SHELBY, the grams, and for other purposes. they district and issued a finding of no name of the Senator from Nevada (Mr. S. 687 significant impact, or FONSI. HELLER) was added as a cosponsor of S. The Confederated Tribes of the At the request of Mr. MORAN, the 450, a bill to require enhanced eco- Umatilla Indian Reservation have also names of the Senator from Idaho (Mr. nomic analysis and justification of reg- recognized the benefits of the project CRAPO), the Senator from New Hamp- ulations proposed by certain Federal and support it. These benefits include a shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN) and the Senator banking, housing, securities, and com- significant improvement in the quality from Idaho (Mr. RISCH) were added as modity regulators, and for other pur- of water discharged to the Umatilla cosponsors of S. 687, a bill to prohibit poses. River in winter and protection of sen- the closing of air traffic control tow- S. 457 sitive fish habitat during summer. ers, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the These benefits have led the tribe to en- name of the Senator from California S. 689 dorse construction of the Hermiston (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- At the request of Mr. HARKIN, the Water Recycling System Improvement sponsor of S. 457, a bill to post- names of the Senator from Connecticut Project and the city’s effort to obtain humously award a Congressional gold (Mr. MURPHY) and the Senator from Il- Federal funding. medal to Alice Paul, in recognition of linois (Mr. KIRK) were added as cospon- This project will increase agricul- her role in the women’s suffrage move- sors of S. 689, a bill to reauthorize and tural production while improving the ment and in advancing equal rights for improve programs related to mental local economy, the environment and women. health and substance use disorders. habitat for endangered fish. I intend to

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.019 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2566 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 work with colleagues to complete ac- GRAHAM, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. LEE, judgeships for the D.C. Circuit from 11 tion on legislation that has advanced Mr. CRUZ, and Mr. FLAKE): to 8. Fourth, it would become effective so far in previous Congresses. S. 699. A bill to reallocate Federal upon enactment. judgeships for the courts of appeals, Adopting this bill would be a step to- By Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and for other purposes; to the Com- wards rectifying the great workload and Mr. BEGICH): mittee on the Judiciary. disparities between the circuit courts. S. 695. A bill to amend title 38, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. President, The Court Efficiency Act would ease United States Code, to extend the au- today I am introducing the Court Effi- some of the pressure on the Second and thorization of appropriations for the ciency Act, a bill that will help some of Eleventh circuits. By moving just one Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pay a the nation’s busiest courts. Hopefully, judgeship each to the Second and Elev- monthly assistance allowance to dis- it will also ease some of the tension abled veterans training or competing enth circuits, we would lower each cir- that arises during debates of D.C. Cir- cuit’s respective workload by approxi- for the Paralympic Team and the au- cuit Court nominees. I am pleased that thorization of appropriations for the mately 7.5 percent. This reduction can Senators HATCH, SESSIONS, GRAHAM, be accomplished without jeopardizing Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pro- CORNYN, LEE, CRUZ, and FLAKE are vide assistance to United States the D.C. Circuit’s status as the ‘‘least- original co-sponsors. busy Circuit.’’ Even after the D.C. Cir- Paralympics, Inc., and for other pur- It is no secret that the D.C. Circuit is poses; to the Committee on Veterans’ cuit is reduced to 8 seats, it would still the least-busy, least-worked appellate be roughly half as busy as the Circuit Affairs. court in the nation. By nearly every Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, phys- median in appeals filed, terminated, measurement taken by the Administra- and pending per authorized judgeship. ical activity offers injured members of tive Office of the U.S. Courts, the D.C. the Armed Forces and veterans addi- I would also like to highlight several Circuit comes in a distant last. Here tional opportunities for rehabilitation things that this bill will not do. First, are three of the most common meas- for both physical and mental health. it would not impact the President’s urements using the most recent data Using the expertise of the United current nominee to the D.C. Circuit, available for the 12 months ending Sep- States Olympic Committee to work Mr. Srinivasan, whose hearing occurred tember 30, 2012. with local programs is a great tool to earlier today. Instead, for the remain- First, ‘‘Total Appeals Filed.’’ Total help our veterans improve their quality ing three seats, it removes one and re- Appeals Filed measures the amount of of life. The U.S. Paralympic Integrated allocates the other two. work coming into the court. Simply Adaptive Sports Program partners put, it is the total number of appeals Second, the bill would not affect the with local organizations to develop that a circuit court received in the last president’s opportunity to nominate programs and skills that meet the 12 months. The D.C. Circuit has 108 ap- two of those Circuit court vacancies. It needs of our wounded warriors. As a re- peals per authorized judgeship, the low- simply reassigns those vacancies to sult of this legislation, the program est in the nation. To put this in per- other circuits that are clearly busier. has reached more than 5,000 partici- spective, the Second Circuit is 4 times Third, this legislation will be effec- pants in more than 150 communities in higher and the Eleventh Circuit, the tive immediately, rather than post- 46 States and has successfully collabo- poning until the beginning of the next rated with 85 VA Medical Centers in 39 busiest in the nation, is more than five times as high, with 583 appeals filed per presidential term, as has been in the States to provide adaptive sports pro- past. Immediate enactment will em- grams to veterans in their local com- authorized judge. Next, ‘‘Total Appeals Terminated’’ power the President to quickly act to munities through outreach programs, measures the amount of work the court alleviate some of the heavy workloads training, practices, camps, clinics, and of the Second and Eleventh Circuits. competitions. For this reason, Senator is accomplishing. Once again, the D.C. Circuit is by far the lowest in the na- The bill will also save the taxpayer a BEGICH and I are introducing Veterans significant amount of money annually. Paralympic Act of 2013, which would tion with 108 total appeals terminated Although the bill has not been scored extend the authorization for the U.S. per authorized judgeship. By compari- yet by the CBO, this estimate is based Paralympic Integrated Adaptive Sports son, the Second Circuit is 4 times high- on previous estimates offered by the Program through 2018. er and the Eleventh Circuit is 5 times Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- higher, at 540 appeals terminated per CBO when it has scored judgeship bills. sent that the text of the bill be printed authorized judgeship. The last time the D.C. Circuit had 11 Finally, ‘‘Total Appeals Pending’’ in the RECORD. nominees was the end of 1999. I want to There being no objection, the text of measures the amount of work before move past the disagreements over the the bill was ordered to be printed in the court. In other words, it is the D.C. Circuit and shift these judges to the RECORD, as follows: number of appeals the court hasn’t yet circuits where there is a greater need S. 695 addressed or the cases that are out- to fill them. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of standing. The D.C. Circuit has 120 ap- This is a common sense bill. It moves Representatives of the United States of America peals pending per authorized judgeship, judges to where they are needed, a sig- in Congress assembled, which means it is essentially tied for nificant step in addressing the severe SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. last with the Tenth Circuit that has imbalance in the workloads of some of This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans 115. In contrast, the Second Circuit and these circuit courts. It saves the tax- Paralympic Act of 2013’’. the Eleventh Circuit have 343 and 323 payers money. It doesn’t negatively SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF AP- appeals pending per authorized judge- PROPRIATIONS FOR PAYMENT OF A impact the D.C. Circuit Court. It won’t MONTHLY ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE ship, respectively. affect President Obama’s current nomi- TO DISABLED VETERANS TRAINING Back during President Bush’s admin- nee, Mr. Srinivasan. I urge my col- OR COMPETING FOR THE istration, my friends on the other side leagues to support this bill. PARALYMPIC TEAM. of the aisle cited the light work load of Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- Section 322(d)(4) of title 38, United States that court in order to block qualified, Code, is amended by striking ‘‘2013’’ and in- sent that the text of this bill be printed non-controversial nominees. Since that serting ‘‘2018’’. in the RECORD. SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION OF AP- time, the D.C. Circuit Court workload has only continued to decrease. There being no objection, the text of PROPRIATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE TO the bill was ordered to be printed in UNITED STATES PARALYMPICS, INC. Considering the imbalance between Section 521A of title 38, United States the workloads of the Circuits, my bill the RECORD, as follows: Code, is amended— essentially reallocates those vacancies S. 699 (1) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2013’’ and to other circuits that are much busier. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of inserting ‘‘2018’’; and Representatives of the United States of America (2) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘2013’’ and The Court Efficiency Act does four in Congress assembled, inserting ‘‘2018’’. things. First, it adds one seat to the Second Circuit. Second, it adds one SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, seat to the Eleventh Circuit. Third, it This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Court Effi- Mr. HATCH, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. reduces the number of authorized ciency Act of 2013’’.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.022 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2567 SEC. 2. REALLOCATION OF FEDERAL JUDGE- was told I had no credit for all my mili- ceive the traction they deserve for the SHIPS. tary service as I tried to transition service they provided. It is not just (a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall ap- point, by and with the advice and consent of into the civilian world. about the members themselves, it is the Senate— Another stated: I maintained Naval also about us. We have invested in our (1) 1 additional circuit judge for the second aviation engines for 20 years. Then service men and women. They have circuit court of appeals; and when I finished and tried to do the skills, technical and leadership skills, (2) 1 additional circuit judge for the elev- same thing on the civilian side, I was which would help our society be more enth circuit court of appeals. told I had to go back and start as if I successful. To the extent we do not (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 44(a) had no experience. allow them traction back in the civil- of title 28, United States Code, is amended in Another: I operated heavy equip- ian life, we are not only depriving the table— (1) in the item relating to the District of ment, but I was told I would need a them, we are depriving ourselves of Columbia circuit court of appeals, by strik- commercial driver’s license. their strengths and talents. ing ‘‘11’’ and inserting ‘‘8’’; Many of the members of our mili- I am pleased to introduce this bill (2) in the item relating to the second cir- tary—all of them are gaining skills and honored to have Senators BAUCUS cuit court of appeals, by striking ‘‘13’’ and along the way, but they go into a civil- and CHAMBLISS as cosponsors. inserting ‘‘14’’; and ian workforce where their skills and Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today I (3) in the item relating to the eleventh cir- talents are not recognized. In some am offering legislation correcting cuit court of appeals, by striking ‘‘12’’ and ways this is a feature of an all-volun- Obamacare’s definition of a ‘‘full-time’’ inserting ‘‘13’’. teer military. When we had a draft and employee to allow employees to work By Ms. COLLINS: men were compelled to serve, someone 40 hours a week without triggering S. 701. A bill to amend the Internal departing military service would go penalties on the businesses that hire Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the def- into the workforce and say they were a them. Currently, Obamacare defines an inition of full-time employee for pur- gunnery sergeant in the Marine Corps employee working just 30 hours a week poses of the individual mandate in the or an E–5 in the Navy, and someone in as ‘‘full time.’’ Patient Protection and Affordable Care the workforce would know what it was Because Obamacare uses an unrea- Act; to the Committee on Finance. they had done. sonably low threshold of 30 hours a Today only 1 percent of our adults week to define ‘‘full time’’ employees, By Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. serve in the military. We appreciate some businesses are restricting their CHAMBLISS, and Mr. BAUCUS): what our military members do, but we employees to no more than 29 hours of S. 700. A bill to ensure that the edu- don’t understand their technical skills work per week, to ensure that their cation and training provided members or their leadership talent. workers are considered ‘‘part time’’ for of the Armed Forces and veterans bet- This is the genesis for the Troop Tal- purposes of Obamacare. This is a con- ter assists members and veterans in ob- ent Act of 2013. It is to make sure mili- sequence of the substantial penalties taining civilian certifications and li- tary members, while they are active, Obamacare imposes on businesses that censes, and for other purposes; to the are getting recognized, credentialed reach a threshold of 50 ‘‘full time’’ em- Committee on Armed Services and the credit for the skills they obtain, which ployees, unless they provide expensive Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. will help them get immediate traction health care coverage which many small Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I rise back into the civilian workforce. businesses simply can’t afford. today to introduce my first bill as a US The True Talent Act has three pil- The penalties imposed by Obamacare Senator. It has been delivered to the lars: The first is the credentialing of begin at $40,000 for businesses with 50 desk. The bill is the Troop Talent Act military members for the skills they employees, plus $2,000 for each addi- of 2013. I am pleased to note it is co- have obtained and the sharing of infor- tional ‘‘full-time equivalent’’ em- sponsored by Senator SAXBY CHAMBLISS mation between the military branches ployee. These penalties serve as a huge and Senator MAX BAUCUS. about the skills they have with service- disincentive for businesses to grow or The bill begins with a problem which members, the private sector, and with add jobs, particularly for firms close to I know concerns all Americans, the un- agencies who would credential them the 50-job trigger. employment rate of our veterans. Cur- with a civilian credential. This is the One Maine business I know has 47 rently, the national unemployment first pillar, credentialing people for the employees, and it would like to hire rate average is 7.6 percent, but the un- skills people obtain. more but won’t because of these oner- employment rate for veterans is 9.4 The second pillar is a bit of a policing ous penalties. If more businesses follow percent. That unemployment rate is function. Sometimes folks will prey suit, millions of American workers particularly acute for veterans who upon people leaving the military and could find their hours, and their earn- have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. say: Pay me $500, and I will administer ings, cut back. According to the Bu- We can’t be comfortable if we see the a test which will give you a credential. reau of Labor Statistics nearly 10.5 statistic that our veterans have a high- Then it turns out their credential is million Americans work between 30 er unemployment rate than the na- worthless. and 35 hours per week. Another 9.7 mil- tional average. It should be otherwise. The VA had a working committee to lion work between 35 and 40 hours per In Virginia, where one in nine of our police these credential-granting agen- week. My bill will help protect these citizens, one in nine of our 8 million cies to ensure no one was being ripped Americans who may otherwise find citizens from birth to death is a vet- off. That committee no longer is in their hours curtailed and their earn- eran, this is a particularly acute chal- service. This bill would restart it. ings cut as a result of Obamacare. lenge. Frankly, it is only going to get Finally, the last thing this bill would Obamacare’s definition of a ‘‘full worse as more and more people exit do would be to take one particular in- time’’ employee is completely out-of- military service in the drawdown from dustry sector, information technology, keeping with standard employment Afghanistan. where there is a huge need to hire peo- practices in the U.S. today. According What is the reason for the veterans’ ple and where our military members to the American Time of Use Survey unemployment rate being higher than have significant skills, and this will ac- published by the Bureau of Labor Sta- the national average? Some of the rea- celerate credentialing traction for tistics, the average American works 8.8 sons have to do with medical chal- those members back into the military hours per day, which equates to 44 lenges and issues which are in the prov- workforce. hours per week. Under Obamacare, ince of the VA. I learned of another There is a current pilot project DOD working only 30 hours a week is consid- reason as I was campaigning across the is working on with certain specialties ered ‘‘full-time’’—nearly one-third State for 19 months. I heard stories but not IT. This would seek to expand lower than actual practice. from veterans, and they would say the the pilot programs to add IT to the list Likewise, the Obamacare definition following: I was in the military. I was where people are credentialed. of ‘‘full-time’’ employee is one-quarter a battlefield medic. I got out of the In conclusion, this is about doing lower than the 40 hours per week used military and tried to get a job as a what the Nation should do for our serv- by the GAO in its study of the budget physician’s assistant or a nurse, and I icemembers and making sure they re- and staffing required by the Internal

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.027 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2568 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 10, 2013 Revenue Service to implement SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLU- such plans and to strengthen retirement se- Obamacare. In that report, the GAO de- TION 12—EXPRESSING THE curity for all Americans. scribed a ‘‘full time equivelant,’’ or SENSE OF THE CONGRESS THAT f ‘‘FTE,’’ as: ‘‘a measure of staff hours OUR CURRENT TAX INCENTIVES AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO equal to those of an employee who FOR RETIREMENT SAVINGS PRO- MEET works 2,080 hours per year, or 40 hours VIDE IMPORTANT BENEFITS TO per week for 52 weeks.’’ AMERICANS TO HELP PLAN FOR COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION During consideration of the Budget A FINANCIALLY SECURE RETIRE- MENT Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I resolution last month, the Senate ask unanimous consent that the Com- adopted my amendment calling for leg- Mr. ISAKSON (for himself, Mr. MUR- mittee on Commerce, Science, and islation setting a more sensible defini- PHY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. PORTMAN, Transportation be authorized to meet tion of a ‘‘full time’’ employee for pur- Mr. TESTER, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BOOZMAN, during the session of the Senate on and Mrs. HAGAN) submitted the fol- poses of Obamacare penalties. That April 10, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of lowing concurrent resolution; which amendment was endorsed by the Na- the Russell Senate Office Building. tional Association of Manufacturers, was referred to the Committee on Fi- The Committee will hold a hearing nance: and the National Education Associa- entitled, ‘‘Expanding the Panama tion. The fact that these two S. CON. RES. 12 Canal: What Does it Mean for Amer- organzitions—typically thought of as Whereas private retirement plans in the ican Freight and Infrastructure?’’ bookends on the political spectrum— United States paid out over $3,824,000,000,000 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without would agree that Obamacare’s defini- in benefits from 2000 through 2009, while pub- lic sector retirement plans paid out objection, it is so ordered. tion of a ‘‘full-time’’ employee is bro- $2,651,000,000,000 during the same period, with COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ken illustrates how out-of-step it truly both playing an essential role in providing Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I is. retirement income for millions of our Na- ask unanimous consent that the Com- Under my bill, a ‘‘full time’’ em- tion’s senior citizens; mittee on Foreign Relations be author- ployee would be someone who works a Whereas there are approximately 670,000 ized to meet during the session of the private-sector defined contribution plans Senate on April 10, 2013, at 11 a.m., to 40-hour week. This is a sensible defini- that are currently covering 67,000,000 partici- tion in keeping with actual practice. I pants, and over 48,000 private-sector defined hold a briefing entitled, ‘‘Intelligence urge my colleagues to support it. benefit plans covering 44,000,000 participants; Update on Syria’’. Whereas $4,700,000,000,000 is held in 401(k), The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without f 403(b), 457 and similar defined contribution objection, it is so ordered. plans, $2,300,000,000,000 is held in private de- COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND fined benefit plans, and another PENSIONS SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS $4,900,000,000,000 is held in Individual Retire- Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I ment Accounts, largely consisting of funds ask unanimous consent that the Com- rolled over from employer-based retirement mittee on Health, Education, Labor, plans; and Pensions be authorized to meet SENATE RESOLUTION 95—RECOG- Whereas from 2000 through 2009, employers during the session of the Senate on NIZING LINEMEN, THE PROFES- have contributed almost $3,500,000,000,000 to April 10, 2013, at 10 a.m. in SD–430. SION OF LINEMEN, THE CON- public and private retirement plans; Whereas tax incentives are an important The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without TRIBUTIONS OF THESE BRAVE impetus for individuals to save for retire- objection, it is so ordered. MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROTECT ment and for employers to offer plans under COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY, AND EX- our voluntary system; GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE Whereas generally, the taxation of Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I DESIGNATION OF APRIL 18, 2013, amounts contributed to pension and retire- ment plans is simply deferred, not lost; ask unanimous consent that the Com- AS NATIONAL LINEMAN APPRE- mittee on Homeland Security and Gov- CIATION DAY Whereas more than 70 percent of American workers making between $30,000 and $50,000 a ernmental Affairs be authorized to Mr. ISAKSON (for himself and Mr. year contribute to their own retirement meet during the session of the Senate BENNET) submitted the following reso- when covered by a retirement plan at work; on April 10, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. to conduct lution; which was considered and Whereas under current law, if business a hearing entitled ‘‘Border Security: owners and managers sponsor a retirement agreed to: Frontline Perspectives on Progress and plan, they also must cover and provide bene- Remaining Challenges.’’ S. RES. 95 fits to lower-income and middle-income em- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ployees; Whereas the profession of linemen is Whereas 401(k) and similar defined con- objection, it is so ordered. steeped in personal, family, and professional tribution plans have been enhanced over the COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS tradition; years by Congress on a bipartisan basis; Whereas linemen are often first responders Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I Whereas the private retirement system in during storms and other catastrophic events, ask unanimous consent that the Com- the United States is voluntary and is depend- working to make the scene safe for other mittee on Indian Affairs be authorized ent on the willingness of business owners and public safety heroes; to meet during the session of the Sen- corporations to adopt and maintain retire- Whereas linemen work with thousands of ment plans; and ate on April 10, 2013, in room SD–628 of volts of electricity high atop power lines 24 Whereas the United States system of em- the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at hours a day, 365 days a year, to keep elec- ployer-based retirement savings is designed 2:15 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled tricity flowing; to work together with other personal savings ‘‘Identifying Barriers to Indian Hous- Whereas linemen must often work under and the Social Security program to provide dangerous conditions far from their families ing Development and Finding Solu- meaningful income replacement upon retire- to construct and maintain the energy infra- tions’’. ment: Now, therefore, be it structure of the United States; The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- objection, it is so ordered. Whereas linemen put their lives on the line resentatives concurring), That it is the sense every day with little recognition from the of the Congress that— COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY community regarding the danger of their (1) tax incentives for retirement savings Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I work; and play an important role in encouraging em- ask unanimous consent that the Com- Whereas April 18, 2013, would be an appro- ployers to sponsor and maintain retirement mittee on the Judiciary be authorized priate date to designate as National Line- plans and encouraging participants to con- man Appreciation Day: Now, therefore, be it to meet during the session of the Sen- tribute to such plans; ate, on April 10, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., in Resolved, That the Senate— (2) existing tax incentives have increased (1) recognizes the efforts of linemen in the number of Americans who are covered by room SD–226 of the Dirksen Senate Of- keeping the power on and protecting public a retirement plan; and fice Building, to conduct a hearing en- safety; and (3) a reformed and simplified Federal tax titled ‘‘Judicial Nominations.’’ (2) supports the designation of April 18, code should include properly structured tax The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day. incentives to maintain and contribute to objection, it is so ordered.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:39 Apr 11, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A10AP6.029 S10APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE April 10, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2569 SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- for up to 10 minutes, and upon use or Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I imous consent the resolution be agreed yielding back of that time, the Senate ask unanimous consent that the Spe- to, the preamble be agreed to, and the proceed to a cloture vote on the motion cial Committee on Aging be authorized motions to reconsider be laid on the to proceed to S. 649. to meet during the session of the Sen- table, with no intervening action or de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ate on April 10, 2013, to conduct a hear- bate. objection, it is so ordered. ing entitled ‘‘Tax-Related Identity The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without f Theft: An Epidemic Facing Seniors and objection, it is so ordered. Taxpayers.’’ The resolution (S. Res. 95) was agreed PROGRAM The Committee will meet in Room to. Mr. REID. Mr. President, about 11 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Build- The preamble was agreed to. o’clock tomorrow, then, we will have a ing beginning at 2 p.m. (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- cloture vote on the motion to proceed The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without mitted Resolutions.’’) to the gun safety bill. objection, it is so ordered. f f f ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:30 A.M. 11, 2013 NATIONAL LINEMAN TOMORROW APPRECIATION DAY Mr. REID. I now ask unanimous con- Mr. REID. If there is no further busi- Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent sent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 ness to come before the Senate, I ask the Senate proceed to S. Res. 95. unanimous consent it adjourn under The PRESIDING OFFICER. The a.m. tomorrow morning, Thursday, April 11, 2013; that following the prayer the previous order. clerk will report the resolution by There being no objection, the Senate, title. and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date and the time for at 6:45 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, The assistant legislative clerk read April 11, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. as follows: the two leaders be reserved for their A resolution (S. Res. 95) recognizing line- use later in the day; that following any f men, the profession of linemen, the contribu- leader remarks, the Senate resume tions of these brave men and women who consideration of the motion to proceed CONFIRMATION protect public safety, and expressing support to S. 649, the gun safety legislation; Executive nomination confirmed by for the designation of April 18, 2013, as Na- further, that the time until 11 a.m. be the Senate April 10, 2013: tional Lineman Appreciation Day. equally divided and controlled between DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR There being no objection, the Senate the two leaders or their designees, with SARAH JEWELL, OF WASHINGTON, TO BE SECRETARY proceeded to consider the resolution. Senators permitted to speak therein OF THE INTERIOR.

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