August 2, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5223 long-term outlook states that by 2035 Odierno are proud of his new position counted. Well, I ask rhetorically, interest costs on our Nation’s debt and know he will carry out his respon- doesn’t that make sense? If you don’t would reach 9 percent of GDP, more sibilities with the same outstanding vote in an election, your vote shouldn’t than the U.S. currently spends on So- leadership and efficiency he has dis- count. If the people didn’t vote for me cial Security or Medicare. And if inter- played in the past. and they didn’t vote for my opponent, est rates were just 1 percentage point I congratulate all of the nominees. how can anyone ascertain for whom higher per year, over 10 years the def- These are going to be very challenging they would have voted? Only the people icit would balloon by $1.3 trillion from times. General Dempsey will now be who show up should be counted. That is increased costs to pay interest on our the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of what the mediation board did. debt alone. Staff. I believe he is highly qualified, This affects the airlines and the rails. It is abundantly clear that we can no as are the nominees for the Vice Chair- There is such a desire to stop that and longer afford to borrow money without man as well as the Chief of Naval Oper- overturn it by my Republican friends— a clear plan in place to rein in Federal ations. I congratulate them all. A spe- and it is going on all over the country, spending and force the Government to cial congratulations and word of praise this hostility to working men and live within its means. Today’s legisla- for General Odierno, who is a great and women, and now it is coming here. It is tion is the first step in that direction. outstanding leader. like a contagion. We see what is hap- pening in Wisconsin. There are recall f I yield the floor and suggest the ab- sence of a quorum. elections and everything is in turmoil CORRECTING THE ENROLLMENT The PRESIDING OFFICER. The because they want to go after orga- OF S. 365 clerk will call the roll. nized working people. It is sad. Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- The legislative clerk proceeded to But guess what. It is a legitimate imous consent the Senate proceed to call the roll. issue for the conference committee to consideration of H. Con. Res. 70, the Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask deal with. It is a legitimate issue for concurrent resolution be agreed to, the unanimous consent that the order for the Senate—by the way, the Senate al- motion to reconsider be laid upon the the quorum call be rescinded. ready had a vote on it, and we said: No, table, with no intervening action or de- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. WAR- we are not going to overturn the medi- bate, and any statements related to NER). Without objection, it is so or- ation board. The vote was well over—I dered. this measure be printed in the RECORD. think 56 votes said: No. Leave it alone. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without f It is not our business. Let it go. objection, it is so ordered. But, no, the House wants this. So UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUESTS— when they sent over the original exten- The concurrent resolution (H. Con. H.R. 2553 Res. 70) was agreed to. sion, it had that attached, this over- Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise be- turning of the mediation board, and we f cause we have a crisis on our hands said: That is not right. We want a clean MORNING BUSINESS with the FAA, the Federal Aviation extension. So they sent it back to us, Administration. I know exactly why we and they took up another controversial Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- have this crisis. It is another made-up issue, which is to shut down essential imous consent that we proceed to a pe- crisis by the Republicans. This is a Re- air service in some of our rural commu- riod of morning business until 4 p.m. publican shutdown. nities in our country—shut down essen- today, with Senators permitted to We just got past the most, well, I feel tial air service. speak up to 10 minutes each. made-up crisis we have ever seen. Now, I can tell my colleagues that I The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Eighty-nine times we have passed a know for a fact there is room for nego- objection, it is so ordered. debt limit extension, and it took us tiation in this area. We can work to- Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a weeks and months of wrangling to get gether and resolve it, but it doesn’t be- quorum. it done. We finally got it done. I am long in an extension of the FAA bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The glad we got it done. Unnecessary, peo- This is too important. We have thou- clerk will call the roll. ple in my State panicking that they sands of people who have been fur- The legislative clerk proceeded to wouldn’t get a Social Security check, loughed who are not getting work. I call the roll. small businesses saying they couldn’t have a situation in my home county of Mr. MCCAIN. I ask that the order for get a decent loan—all that for nothing. Riverside where we have a new airport the quorum call be rescinded. We can do our work. We can take the tower being put up, and unexpectedly The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ideas of the Presiding Officer’s Gang of there was a rainstorm the day before objection, it is so ordered. 6, Senator COBURN’s ideas. We have the yesterday, and because nobody was The Senator from Arizona. ideas on the table. We can do this. We working there, they couldn’t do any- f did it when Bill Clinton was President. thing about it to protect the facility, We worked together, and we solved the and we have damage. RECOGNIZING THE ARMED problem. We had a deficit and debt. We We are losing money because of this SERVICES balanced the budget and created sur- terrible shutdown. Four thousand FAA Mr. MCCAIN. The Senate Armed pluses. We don’t have to have this tak- employees have been furloughed with- Services Committee just met and ap- ing government hostage. out their pay. Hundreds of them hap- proved the nominations of the Chair- So we just got done with holding the pen to live and work in my State. I man and Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of full faith and credit of the United wonder how these colleagues in the Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of States of America hostage, and now we House who went home to take their the Army, and other important nomi- are seeing an extension of the hostage- break would feel if they stopped get- nations. I congratulate all of these taking of the Federal Aviation Admin- ting their pay. Many of the FAA’s engi- nominees and appreciate their service istration by the Republicans. We need neers, scientists, research analysts, to the Nation. I know that shortly the to end it. How do we end it? We end it computer specialists, program man- Senate will approve these positions of simply by saying we have our disagree- agers and analysts, environmental pro- great responsibility. ments. On this bill, there are a couple tection specialists, and community I want to take one moment to men- of broad disagreements. They are im- planners are furloughed because of this tion one of the new Chiefs of Staff of portant disagreements. I honor both take-government-hostage approach by the United States Army, GEN Ray sides of the argument. The Republicans the Republican Party. Odierno, one of the finest military offi- want to overturn a ruling by the Na- I have been here a while. I am a per- cers I have had the opportunity to tional Mediation Board. This is what son with many opinions, and I have no know. He was responsible, along with they said. They said that rather than problem battling out with my esteemed David Petraeus, for implementing the count votes by an employee who stays colleagues who is right, who is wrong, surge in Iraq. All of us who have had home on a union vote as a ‘‘no’’ vote, who is hurt, who is not hurt. But I the opportunity of knowing General only the votes that are cast should be know there is no question that people

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:37 Aug 03, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02AU6.002 S02AUPT1 tjames on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with SENATE S5224 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE August 2, 2011 are getting hurt and jobs are being fares. Virgin America is one, and I will my unanimous consent request because lost. put in the RECORD the other one. Good I agree with everything that was said. Mr. President, $130 million in invest- for them. Good for you. Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- ments in California airport construc- So what I am about to do is ask for sent that the Senate proceed to the tion will be delayed. The Associated a clean extension of the FAA author- consideration of Calendar No. 109, H.R. General Contractors of America is al- ization bill. My anticipation is the Sen- 2553, that a Rockefeller-Hutchison sub- ready hurting and businesses are hurt- ator from Oklahoma will object, and stitute amendment, which is at the ing. There are 70,000 construction then he will offer his idea of an exten- desk, be agreed to, the bill, as amend- workers and workers in related fields sion that does, in fact, make the cuts ed, be read a third time and passed, and who have already been affected by the in the rural communities, and we are the motions to reconsider be laid upon shutdown. The FAA has issued stop- back to square one. the table, with no intervening action work orders at 241 airports across the Why not just clear the decks, extend or debate. country. the FAA? We have never added any- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there In Oakland, CA, I have 60 construc- thing to the extension in all the times objection? tion workers building an air traffic we have done it unless there was unani- Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, reserv- control tower. They were told to stay mous consent agreement. ing the right to object. home. They won’t get paid until an Mr. CARDIN. Will the Senator yield? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- agreement is reached. Well, if we ask Mrs. BOXER. I will be happy to. ator from Oklahoma. Mr. CARDIN. I want to thank Sen- most Americans, they really do live Mr. COBURN. I would make note ator BOXER for raising this issue. I can- pretty much paycheck to paycheck. there is nothing we can do now new be- not tell you how many people I have They have some savings. cause the House has adjourned. So even heard from in Maryland, not just the This is ridiculous. According to the if we were to pass this, nothing would workers at the FAA who have been fur- San Francisco Chronicle, the project happen with it. I have been assured loughed but small business owners who contractor from Oakland, Devcon Con- that from the majority leader’s office. are not getting their contracts who are struction, ‘‘is eating $6,000 a day in op- I agree with the Senator from Cali- going to have to lay off workers erating costs’’ and ‘‘should the delay fornia that any action on the medi- through no fault of their own. So I stretch much past the summer, [we are ation board is probably inappropriate think it would be absolutely wrong for in trouble because] inclement weather for this bill. I would not disagree with us to go home on this recess, for this would disrupt the installation.’’ that. But my reservation—and I plan district work period, and not extend I am telling you, this is another man- on objecting, and I think the good Sen- the FAA. made, Republican-made crisis. What For those who think it will save the ator from California knows that—is are we trying to prove? That we are government on the budget deficit, let both in the House and the Senate, by tough guys? Let’s get a clean extension me remind you that if we do not extend significant votes, we passed limitations of the FAA. Let’s take our battles into the FAA authorization, we do not col- on essential air services by majorities the conference committee. lect the revenues on the passenger tax, that said we could no longer afford to I want to compliment Senator KAY which, by the way, is currently being spend thousands of dollars on indi- BAILEY HUTCHISON. She is working, and charged by the airlines in extra ticket vidual seats, on subsidies for people she is on our side. She is a Republican prices to the passengers. So the pas- who live 110 miles from an airport or Senator from Texas who is working sengers are not even getting the break 140 miles from an airport. But what we with Senator ROCKEFELLER, the chair- of lower prices, but we are not getting could do is make sure—to major air- man of our committee. We all know the the revenue. It is $30 million a day we ports—that those under 90, those above House sent over not a clean extension are adding to the deficit problems be- 90, we could still do that. but an extension that cuts this essen- cause we are not collecting the revenue So I understand we have placed peo- tial air service to some of our rural associated with the FAA reauthoriza- ple in difficult positions, but it is us as communities. This needs to be worked tion. a body, not individual Senators or par- on, not agreed to in a ‘‘gotcha’’ kind of For all those reasons, for the sake of ties, that has done that because we situation. those 4,000 furloughed workers, who are have failed to do our work. In Sacramento, maintenance at the really not at fault here, who are cur- So I object to this unanimous con- air traffic control facility has come to rently on furlough, and that is hurting sent request, and then I offer one of my a halt. Seismic modernizations at air our economy; for the sake of the con- own, noting that if this unanimous traffic control towers in Livermore, tractors, who are depending upon the consent request is agreed to, it will go Palo Alto, and Santa Maria have government funds in order to pay their directly to the President, not to the stopped. At LAX, the biggest airport in workers, many of which are small com- House. So I ask unanimous consent Los Angeles, and at Carlsbad, power panies; for the sake of the construction that the Senate proceed to the imme- and electrical upgrade projects have work that needs to be done at our air- diate consideration of H.R. 2553, which stalled. ports, including work being done at our was received from the House, and I ask What is going on? Can’t we just get own airport, BWI; and for the impor- unanimous consent that the bill be over these differences in the proper tance to moving forward with mod- read a third time and passed, the mo- forum? It is wrong. I am not going to ernization of the FAA itself, I would tion to reconsider be laid upon the be personally hurt by this. The Senator urge us to find a way to extend the table, and that any statements relating from Oklahoma is not going to be per- FAA authorization until we come back. to the bill be printed in the RECORD. sonally hit by this. The Presiding Offi- I would hope we could get a conference The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there cer, the Senator from Virginia, is not committee together, a reauthorization, objection? personally hit by this. It is the people but at a minimum we should extend Mrs. BOXER. I object. we represent or are supposed to rep- the current provisions during those ne- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- resent. It is the American family. It is gotiations. tion is heard. the construction workers. It is the con- I say to Senator BOXER, she is abso- There was objection to the original struction businesses. It is safety. These lutely right. I strongly urge the Senate request. are safety projects. to allow a short-term, clean extension Mr. COBURN. Yes. At the end of the day, are we saving of the FAA. That is the best way to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes. Ob- money? We are losing money because proceed. I hope we can find a way to jection was heard. we are not collecting the ticket tax get this done now so the damage that The Senator from California. that goes to this construction fund. is being done no longer will take place. Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, so there And some of the airlines are pocketing I thank the Senator. we are. There was objection to a clean it, and that is outrageous in and of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- extension of the FAA, and as a result itself in not reducing the fares. ator’s time—— of Republican objection, people are I want to compliment a couple of the Mrs. BOXER. Well, I take that as a hurting all over this country. Safety airlines that are, in fact, reducing the question, and I will just wrap up with projects are being delayed. And this is

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Not everything in this exten- invoke the 14th amendment in order to hear the brakes go onto this economy. sion was voted on by the Senate, so save our country from this hostage- It is not just one thing now, it is five let’s get our facts straight. taking. things I have told you. This is not rhet- My friend also said that the House So that was a made-up crisis. It oric. They have stopped the FAA—par- has gone; too bad; give it up. Not true. never happened before. Do you know tial shutdown; they stopped the EPA I served there for 10 years. If you can that the most the debt ceiling was authorization; they stopped the patent hotline it over there and get everyone raised was under Ronald Reagan? bill; they stopped the small innovation to agree, they are going to be able to Eighteen times. Under George Bush, 9 bill; they have cut transportation in pass it over there. So do not give the times. I never heard anything like this their budget by one-third. That is just American people misinformation on before, and I have been around here the tip of the iceberg of what I am tell- this. It can be done. It just takes a will since the days of Ronald Reagan, dare ing you. to be done. I say. I was in the House for 10 years. I think it is very sad right now that House Members have taken off, gone Ronald Reagan said very clearly— we had a Republican objection to a bi- home. Whatever they are doing, God and I am paraphrasing—he was very partisan request to allow FAA to be re- bless them. But I have to tell you, I strong—do not play games with the authorized. It is very sad. I want to hope when they go home they hear debt ceiling. It is dangerous. He said again thank KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, from the people who are hurting in that even the thought of it is dan- my friend from Texas, for saying that their States because of this. I hope gerous. So we just came out of that she stands with Chairman ROCKE- they hear from the workers. Construc- mess. FELLER, and she believes we should do tion workers are at the highest unem- Now let’s look at what else they have a clean reauthorization. With that, I ployment rate we have seen in genera- done since they took power—how many think I have made my points. But I am tions—15 percent—and now this is months ago? Five months? Is that all it going to make sure I continue to make going to make it worse. Construction has been? It feels like an eternity, OK, them throughout this recess. I would businesses are crying for a highway since they took over the House. They suggest that Senators go home and bill, and I am working on that with stopped the patent bill, which Senator look at the projects in their States Senator INHOFE in our committee. We LEAHY says would result in hundreds of that have been stopped due to this Re- are almost there. thousands of jobs—stopped it cold. publican hostage taking. They are But I want to put this obstruc- Why? Because the Patent Office does against working men and women hav- tionism, I want to put this hostage- not have any money to work on those ing decent rights. They are holding taking into plain view. You just saw brilliant ideas that are coming out of this bill hostage. That is what it is all everything come to a halt for at least our people. They needed more funding. about. It is a very sad day. 3, 4 weeks because the full faith and That bill took care of it. The House I suggest the absence of a quorum. credit of America was taken hostage by stopped it cold. Hundreds of thousands The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the Republicans. And they said to the of jobs. clerk will call the roll. President—it has never happened be- The Economic Development Adminis- The assistant legislative clerk pro- fore, OK, never. Mr. President, 89 times tration—I know about that because I ceeded to call the roll. we have seen an increase in the debt brought the bill here. It is a beautiful Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask limit. We have never ever seen this program. It has been in place for gen- unanimous consent that the order for hostage-taking. They would not allow erations. It gives a little seed money in the quorum call be rescinded. the President to raise the debt ceiling areas that have had high unemploy- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. for things on which they voted to spend ment, and that seed money attracts CASEY.) Without objection, it is so or- money. private sector money, public sector dered. When you raise the debt ceiling, you money, nonprofit money, and jobs are Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I want are paying your past bills. They voted created. They build office parks. We to take a moment and add my voice to for two wars on the credit card. They have great examples in California of the voices who spoke earlier—the Sen- voted for tax breaks to the wealthiest shopping malls. I am sure my friend, ator from Maryland and the Senator among us, the billionaires and the mil- the Presiding Officer, has many exam- from California—about this situation lionaires. They voted for tax breaks for ples of the EDA at work. They stopped with the FAA. the biggest multinational corporations, it. They filibustered it. It never got a I would imagine if you are a visitor including Big Oil. Oh, they were happy. vote. That is the small business inno- to our Nation’s Capitol and have come They even voted for a prescription drug vation bill my friend MARY LANDRIEU to see a little Senate debate, it is a benefit without paying for it. Then the brought to the floor. The last time we pretty interesting day to be here. It bill comes due, and they say to Presi- counted, those bills have created 19,000 was great news that the country avoid- dent Obama: Sorry, Mr. President, we new businesses. Shut that one down. ed default today. Although it was an are not going to cooperate with you. Then the House passed a budget that imperfect compromise, I was glad to They walked out on him at least three cut into the highway fund. I want to vote for that. We still have obviously a times. give you specifically what that would long way to go on debt and deficits. We finally got a deal because some of mean. If we wind up cutting the trans- There is another issue that has not us—and I say HARRY REID, strong; Vice portation program at the level they cut gotten as much attention as the debt President BIDEN, strong; MITCH MCCON- it in the House—one-third—and that is ceiling debate, although it is clear that NELL, strong; NANCY PELOSI, strong. exactly what Chairman MICA’s bill at almost any other time in our his- The President made sure that at the does—we know, because CBO has told tory this issue would be on the front end of the day we did not default. But us, we lose 620,000 jobs, construction page of every newspaper around the what a spectacle in the world. The jobs. country and on every nightly TV news- world cannot even believe this. And I Then they played with the FAA. cast. I am talking about the fact that know of the Presiding Officer’s hard They object to a clean reauthorization. the Federal Aviation Administration— work to get what we called a big deal, Projects are shut down and workers are the entity that ensures the safety of a major deal, a $4 trillion deficit reduc- furloughed and small businesses do not our skies, the safety of our airplanes, tion that was fair, that asked the mil- know if they can hang on. the maintenance of our airports—has lionaires and the billionaires and the OK. I thought this election in 2010 been in partial shutdown mode for over multinational corporations to do some- was about jobs. I tell you, I was up in a week. thing. But, no, that was not to be. We 2010. I know it was about jobs. I com- Close to 4,000 FAA employees, many wasted time—a lot of time. And what mitted to the people I would go back from the Virginia/DC area, have been

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This situation is not the re- but because we could not reach an with an aging population—for example, sult of complaints about the quality of agreement over a rural airport pro- in Social Security, there used to be 17 service or about safety of the FAA. In gram? workers for 1 retiree. Now there are fact this shutdown is the result of a I have cosponsored legislation—and I three. It is nobody’s fault, but that is a dispute over a small FAA program that am sure the Presiding Officer supports fact. How do we make sure that prom- protects rural airports. it—to make sure that when the fur- ise exists? Only in Washington would a dispute loughed workers get back, they have to We have to deal with entitlement re- over service to small rural airports get paid. How can we leave town for a form, and we also need to deal with tax force the shut down of all ‘‘non- few weeks and leave this issue hanging reform. It doesn’t take a rocket sci- essential services’’ in the Federal Avia- out there? entist to figure out if we are spending I hope those folks in the House—and tion Administration. Only in Wash- 25 percent of GDP in Federal spending, the chairman and the ranking member ington would we would put 4,000 people that has to be brought down. If we are of the committee are working on this out of work, and affect the lives of tens collecting revenues at only 15 percent, issue—will get this done. As the Sen- of thousands of other folks who are de- which is a 70-year low, we are never ator from California said—and this is pending upon FAA funding for needed going to get that 10-percent differen- some of the technical process stuff that improvement projects at airports tial, unless we find some way to gen- people scratch their head about—the around the country. erate more revenues and make cuts in We have a number of airports in Vir- House is in pro forma session, so there spending. Along with entitlement ginia where construction has basically is a path here to resolve the issue. spending, which is the fastest growing stopped as a result of this political We have to make sure we do our job part of the budget, we have to do tax standoff. With the FAA partially shut not only for the public to make sure reform in a way that will generate down, the airlines, which traditionally their airlines and airports stay safe, more revenue. There are ways we can charge passengers a small tax to help but also for the furloughed workers do that which will lower rates and cut fund the FAA to build, maintain, and who need to get back to work. We’ve back on some of the tax expenditures. keep airports safe, are no longer re- got to do our job so that airports all It will take some hard choices. quired to collect the tax. So, during over the Commonwealth of Virginia this shutdown, especially if we go and the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- My hope is that while this step of through the next month and do not vania can implement their much-need- avoiding default was important—and it enact an extension, the U.S. Govern- ed airport improvements. The money is a good day when America doesn’t de- ment would lose $1.2 billion as a result has already been appropriated. It is not fault, but we have much more work to of political back and forth about a pro- as though it is new dollars. Anybody do—the work of all the previous com- gram to support rural airports—a pro- who can read a balance sheet knows we missions that have been set up—and gram that, in total, costs $14 million. shouldn’t end up blowing $1.2 billion they have all kind of come out in basi- If people are scratching theirs head over a dispute for a program that costs cally the same scope of the problem— with this math, they have a right to $14 million total. and, frankly, with about the same scratch their heads. Only in Wash- I hope we get this resolved this after- kinds of recommendations. A lot of ington can not collecting over a billion noon in a way that shows this Congress that work of the so-called Simpson- dollars in airport ticket taxes because is more up to the task than we have Bowles commission, the President’s of a dispute about a program that costs been, unfortunately, over the last few deficit commission, the Gang of 6—or $14 million make any sense. weeks. my hope would be the ‘‘mob of 60,’’ at The overwhelming majority of Sen- A closing comment. I know the Pre- some point in the not too-distant fu- ate Democrats and Republicans alike siding Officer has worked hard on the ture—that was the framework we say we have to go ahead with an exten- debt and deficit issue as well. I will worked on, and we put everything on sion. We are saying if we have issues to close with the statement that my hope the table. dispute let’s work those out. But let’s is that we did take a step today, with I say to the Presiding Officer and any not put nearly 4,000 FAA employees out about $1 trillion in cuts over the next other colleagues who may be still of work and let’s not, as the Senator 10 years, and we need to make sure around, I urge them to join this effort. from California said, halt the projects those cuts don’t slow down the eco- We have to make sure this supercom- of tens of thousands of construction nomic recovery the Nation is still mittee actually takes on the big issues workers. struggling with. But we have to recog- and that we don’t default back to a se- So it is my hope that, once again, nize that even with this new supercom- ries of cuts come next year that, frank- cooler heads will prevail. I thank the mittee being created—and the Pre- ly, are not well thought through, or chairman of the committee, Senator siding Officer would be a great member well planned, across the board, without ROCKEFELLER, and the ranking mem- of that committee when it is chosen— regard to effectiveness. The only way ber, Senator HUTCHISON, and both but even if that committee meets its is, yes, by additional cutting but doing Democrats and Republicans for work- goal of $1.5 trillion in additional cuts, entitlement reform and tax reform. ing together to try and get this re- that still doesn’t get our country’s bal- solved. I know the American people ance sheet back in order. We didn’t cre- With that, I yield the floor, and with have looked at Congress—understand- ate this debt overnight. We will not get the hopes that we will see not only the ably—in the last few weeks and have out of it overnight. It is not one party’s hard work on the debt and deficit, but scratched their heads and said, what fault. Both parties have unclean hands also the resolution of the FAA issue in are these guys doing? Why can’t they on this. the coming hours. I yield the floor and get their act together and negotiate a Candidly, a lot of our debt and deficit suggest the absence of a quorum. compromise, so they don’t put our problems are due to the fact that we The PRESIDING OFFICER. The country into default? are all getting older and we are living clerk will call the roll. We managed to dodge that bullet in a longer through advanced medicine. The The assistant legislative clerk pro- way that is a fixed but not a long-term challenge we have before us is that we ceeded to call the roll. solution. We will continue that discus- have to urge the supercommittee to sion. As everybody heads back to their look at something that will get us all Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I ask home States, dodging the debt and def- out of our comfort zones. We have to unanimous consent that the order for icit bullet, how are we going to look as recognize how do we make sure our en- the quorum call be rescinded. we leave town with 4,000 workers fur- titlement promises we made to seniors The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without loughed, tens of thousands of construc- with Social Security and Medicare and objection, it is so ordered.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 00:37 Aug 03, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G02AU6.052 S02AUPT1 tjames on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with SENATE August 2, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5227 HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES their families and bring them home to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- SERGEANT OMAR A. JONES us safely. ator from Tennessee. Mr. President, I yield the floor. f Mr. JOHANNS. Mr. President, I rise The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. today to remember a fallen hero, Ne- WEBB). The Senator from Utah. REMEMBERING COLLEEN MONSON braska Army National Guard Sergeant BANGERTER f Omar A. Jones of Maywood, NE. Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, thank TRIBUTE TO COLLEEN MONSON Sergeant Jones served as an elec- you for the opportunity to pay tribute BANGERTER trician in the 623rd Engineer Company, today to a remarkable woman, quin- Nebraska Army National Guard, out of Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I stand to tessential wife and mother, and superb Wahoo, Nebraska. Sergeant Jones died address this body to honor the life of first lady for the State of Utah—Col- at Forward Operating Base Deh Dadi in one of Utah’s great citizens. leen Monson Bangerter. Sadly she Balkh Province, Afghanistan, on July A good friend of mine is former Utah passed away on the evening of Friday, 18, 2011. Governor Norman Bangerter, who an- July 29, 2011, from the effects of Alz- Omar grew up in Mississippi and nounced on Saturday that his beloved heimer’s disease. She was at home, the lived in Bogota, Colombia for many wife of 58 years had passed away after place she loved to be with her husband years. He graduated from high school a long-time battle with Alzheimer’s former Utah Governor Norman H. in Colorado and chose to enter the disease. Bangerter. Army instead of pursuing a college ath- Colleen Monson Bangerter, having Colleen was a wonderful human being been born in 1935, was the mother of six letic scholarship. He served two tours who was always willing to serve others. children, the mother also of one foster in Iraq. One as an infantryman in the She served as Utah’s first lady from son, and in many respects was a friend active duty Army, and one with the 1985–1993, while her husband Norman H. Nebraska Army National Guard. His to all of Utah’s 3 million residents. She served faithfully in many capac- Bangerter was the Governor. During love of country compelled him to seek her years as first lady she undertook an assignment in Afghanistan. He vol- ities, including as PTA president and other offices within the PTA. She also many causes close to her heart, includ- unteered and even changed units and ing teenage drug use, and challenges developed new skills for this oppor- served faithfully in a variety of posi- tions as a member of the Church of facing women and families. She hosted tunity. a yearly drug awareness conference for In October 2010, he deployed to Af- Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Just a few years ago, she and her hus- teens and took First Lady Nancy Rea- ghanistan with the 623rd Engineering gan’s Just Say No Program to every Company. It was a tough decision to band, former Governor Bangerter, served as they presided over the mis- corner of the State. Additionally she deploy again because his wife Ava and hosted an annual conference on two children had become the center of sion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in South Africa. strengthening families to address the his life. But, it was for their freedom important challenges affecting the he chose to serve again overseas. They worked hand in hand throughout their entire lives—in raising their chil- health and well-being of families across His commanders and fellow Soldiers our great State. recall Sergeant Jones as kind, friendly, dren, in running Governor Bangerter’s campaigns, and in running the State She stood by her husband’s side as he and helpful. They say they counted on led Utah through a very important Sergeant Jones for a big smile and a throughout his time as Governor, which wasn’t an easy time for our time in our State’s history. They advo- willingness to listen. He loved being a State. cated for economic development and soldier. A former commander put it During Governor Bangerter’s two she was a tremendous ambassador for this way: terms in office, our State faced signifi- Utah as they met with leaders through- He had the biggest heart of any soldier I cant financial difficulties, faced signifi- out the Nation and even overseas en- knew. cant flooding challenges, and the couraging new business development. His decorations and badges earned Bangerters weathered these adverse Colleen not only excelled at the ini- during a distinguished career over conditions well, serving as standing ex- tiatives she undertook for our state, three combat tours speak to his dedica- amples to all the citizens of Utah for she also served in many capacities as tion and bravery. He received the Com- what it means to rise to the challenge she raised her children including the bat Infantry Badge, Combat Action of adversity. PTA, and in many important positions Badge, Marksmanship Qualification Colleen Bangerter was someone who for her church—The Church of Jesus Badge (Expert), Driver and Mechanic had friends in many corners, and she Christ of Latter-day Saints. Colleen Badge, Overseas Service Bar (2), Army also had many talents, some of which and Norm presided over the Johannes- Commendation Medal (2), Army Good are not known by everyone, including burg, South Africa Mission from 1996– Conduct Medal, National Defense Serv- the fact that she was the State hop- 1999. In this role she was a kind, and ice Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with scotch champion in the State of Utah loving asset to the many missionaries Bronze Service Star, Afghanistan Cam- in 1947. There are not many First La- who joined them in the work in South paign Medal with Bronze Service Star, dies in the United States who can Africa. Global War on Terrorism Expedi- claim that distinction, and she defi- Colleen and Norm raised six children tionary Medal, Global War on Ter- nitely did. She was also pleased to have and one foster son. They now have 30 rorism Service Medal, Armed Forces been the recipient of the highest award grandchildren and 18 great grand- Reserve Medal with ‘‘M’’ device (2), that can be granted by the Boy Scouts children. She was the light of her fam- Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service of America, which she received just a ily and could always be found in the Ribbon, and the NATO Medal. few years ago. But of all the honors, in- middle of the fun. She enjoyed spend- I cannot put into words how the cluding the honors that went along ing time at their cabin in beautiful death of Sergeant Jones will impact with being the First Lady of the State Utah, as well as their second home in the lives of those closest to him. Ne- of Utah and serving with someone who, St. George. She always made people braska is honored to call him one of in my opinion, was one of the great feel welcome and embraced many who our own, and I know Nebraskans in Governors ever to serve our State, her crossed their paths. Maywood and Wellfleet will provide his greatest honor, her greatest prize was Colleen Bangerter will be very family with care and love during this that of her family. missed by her wonderful husband Norm difficult time. She loved being a mother, loved each and their family. There was a special Today I join the family and friends of of her 6 children, their 30 grandchildren warmth and goodness about this lady Sergeant Jones in mourning the death and 18 great grandchildren. We as and I will never forget her twinkling of their husband, son, father, and Utahns mourn the loss of this great eyes and bright smile. She was kind to friend. I ask that God be with all those citizen of our State. We mourn the loss all she met, and was a partner in every serving in uniform, especially the of this friend. Our thoughts and our sense of the word to her husband. brave men and women on the front prayers go out to former Governor Elaine and I love Norm and Colleen lines of battle. May God bless them and Bangerter and his family. very much, and hope that Norm and his

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