June 17, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4217 our job seriously as stewards of tax- There is much to be done, and I will said: GARY PETERS can do it. I am im- payer dollars and look for places to work tirelessly for the people of Michi- pressed with him very much. He is a avoid unnecessary wasteful spending. gan. My weeks in Washington, unfortu- team player. He is willing to do the We also will not be able to accom- nately, keep me apart from my wife hard lifting. I appreciate that very plish anything without embracing Colleen and my children, Madeleine, much. He mentioned Senator Levin, of pragmatism and bipartisanship. We Alana, and Gary, Jr., but their love and course, whom we all admired so very cannot focus on whether ideas come steadfast support is with me each and much. Also, I wish to take a minute to from a Republican or from a Democrat. every day. Colleen was raised by her talk about his partner in the Senate We need to focus only on whether the parents Raul and Kathy Ochoa in Oak- today, DEBBIE STABENOW. As he men- idea has merit and is good for the coun- land County—like me—and together we tioned, she is a part of Senate leader- try. This is why I have spent my first share a passion for public service. I am ship. She is there because she deserves 5 months in office the way I intend to so pleased Colleen and Madeleine are it. There is no one who works harder spend the rest of my career in public here with me today in the Senate Gal- than DEBBIE STABENOW. And if there service, reaching across the aisle to lery. were a work ethic role model for my find common ground and the practical On the Senate floor, we are standing friend GARY PETERS to follow, DEBBIE solutions that will make our govern- on the shoulders of giants. This in- STABENOW is the perfect person. ment work better, drive innovation and cludes our Nation’s Founding Fathers So I thank the junior Senator from competitiveness, and keep Michigan and more recent predecessors. My staff Michigan for being who he is. We have and America safe and strong. and I recently moved into the Hart come to know who he is in 6 months, I have introduced legislation with Senate Office Building, named after and we like him very much. Senator GARDNER from Colorado to in- Senator Phil Hart from Michigan, a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- crease oversight of duplicative spend- man rightfully known as the ‘‘Con- ator from Michigan. ing and force Congress to act on deficit science of the Senate’’ and a role model Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, first, I am very deeply appreciative of our reduction. for all of us. I worked with Senator ERNST from I could not be happier that my office leader’s comments. Thank you very Iowa to introduce legislation to extend will be right around the corner from much. I just wish to add my words of pride a tax credit for small businesses that my close friend, mentor, colleague, and in the fact that we have such a wonder- support their activated military re- respected leader in the Senate Senator ful Senator now coming to the Senate servist employees. DEBBIE STABENOW, and I am honored and the fact that he is fighting so hard Senator LANKFORD of Oklahoma and I that DEBBIE has joined me on the Sen- for Michigan and already doing a won- worked on a bill that would ensure ate floor for this speech. Federal agencies use remanufactured derful job. Of course, I am deeply honored to I am so pleased he is my partner, and auto parts when maintaining their succeed Senator Carl Levin, another it was a wonderful speech. fleets, an idea that will save natural one of my mentors and a man who de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as- resources and taxpayer dollars while fined what it means to be a public serv- sistant Democratic leader. supporting our country’s remanufac- ant. The careers of Senators Levin, Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I con- tured parts industry. Just 2 days ago, Hart, Riegle, Griffin, and other gratulate the junior Senator from this bill unanimously passed the Sen- Michiganders who preceded me pro- Michigan for his opening speech in the ate. vided the foundation on which I hope Senate. My State of Illinois is sepa- I worked with Senator RISCH from to build our shared future and create rated from his State of Michigan by an- Idaho to move legislation through the the best Michigan possible—not only other State and a Great Lake, but we small business committee to extend the kind of Michigan we want to live in have many things in common. and preserve the Small Business Ad- but the kind of Michigan our children People of Chicago and Illinois, many ministration’s 7(a) Loan Program, so and grandchildren will want to spend of them, spend a lot of money in the our Nation’s small businesses can ac- their lives in, a Michigan that is a State of Michigan and particularly in cess the capital they need to grow and magnet for migration and unbridled op- western Michigan. We love the Sen- create jobs. portunity for families and small busi- ator’s State. It is a beautiful State. Senator CORNYN, Senator GRAHAM, nesses, and a State that will lead the Many of us vacation there and get to and I introduced legislation to create a world in innovation. know the people. bipartisan commission to examine our I look forward to working with my We have so much in common as mid- Nation’s judicial system from the top colleagues in the Senate and westerners, looking at the world from to the bottom and to make sure it is Michiganders across the State to make our vantage point, smack dab in the working for all Americans. a better future for all of us a reality. middle of this country, and bringing to Senator SULLIVAN and I worked to- Together, we will continue to build a the conversation in the Senate many of gether to introduce a bill to cut excise State and a country that embody the the values that have guided our lives taxes for small craft distillers, a opportunity, the possibility, and the and inspired our families. I listened growth industry in Michigan, Alaska, promise that has made our country a carefully and thought it is amazing and America. shining beacon for so many around the that we have such parallel back- I am also proud to say the legislation globe. grounds—a father who can trace his I introduced with Senator CASSIDY of I yield back the remainder of my family roots back to the Revolutionary Louisiana to provide training for med- time. War and, in both cases, mothers who ical professionals to identify victims of The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- were immigrants to this country. So human trafficking was also signed into TON). The Democratic leader. being a first-generation American, I law after it passed the Senate as part f am sure the Senator feels as I do, a spe- of a larger effort to combat human cial honor, standing on the floor of the trafficking. CONGRATULATING SENATOR Senate, representing a State as great I was sent to the Senate to represent PETERS as Michigan—or Illinois. the people of Michigan, and they want Mr. REID. Mr. President, I wish to I wish to say my colleague’s back- Congress to work together in a bipar- take a minute to express my apprecia- ground in the House of Representatives tisan way to solve the challenges fac- tion to the junior Senator from Michi- prepared him well for this challenge. ing our country. We must focus more gan in his maiden speech. It was ter- Although he follows one of the greats on what we have in common and less rific. It was delivered so well, and that in the history of the Senate, Carl on our differences. We should work on is what Michigan is all about. We ap- Levin, he brings to this job an extraor- ideas that are good for our country and preciate it very, very much. dinary talent and a great partnership good for our States. I have worked to He has big shoes to fill, those of Carl with Senator STABENOW. Already, the be a practical problem solver in my Levin. We all know what a giant he two of them have been in contact with first few months, and it is what I in- was in the Senate. From Senator Levin me about Michigan’s needs as they re- tend to do in the years ahead. to Senator STABENOW, they have both late to our Department of Defense—and

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They said: more because, you see, when we look at I am pleased Senator PETER’s family How in the world can we prepare for those who agree with us on the need for was here to be part of this official America’s defense with across-the- a different approach to budgeting, they opening of his service in the Senate, board cuts? We are supposed to be re- include our Secretary of Defense, Ash and I certainly look forward to work- cruiting and training the very best Carter, and the Chairman of the Joint ing with him for many years to come. men and women to serve our Nation. Chiefs of Staff, General Dempsey. f They need to be ready for combat. We These are the men who have been as- have to make them battle-ready so signed the responsibility of leading this SEQUESTRATION they will win any battle they are sent great military and keeping America Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this to and come home safe. We have to de- safe, and they say this budget process morning the majority leader and the cide what equipment to purchase. We which the Republican leader endorses Republican leader Senator MCCONNELL have to decide how to invest in long- is not a good one for the safety of came to the floor to speak to us about term investments in technology and America. the challenge we are going to face, as equipment so that we never come in So let’s do the right thing for the soon as this week, when it comes to the second in any battle. Yet you are going men and women in uniform, for our Department of Defense. This is a de- to give us an across-the-board cut, Con- country, and for all the agencies of partment I have paid special attention gress? Stop it. Stop sequestration. government. Let’s sit down and solve to over the last several years during That is what this debate is about. this budget challenge now before it the time I chaired the Defense Appro- What we have now is a proposal from reaches the last minute in a crisis. priations Subcommittee and now serve the Republican side of the aisle to stop Let’s do it in June rather than in Sep- as ranking member or vice chairman of sequestration—across-the-board cuts— tember, October, November, or Decem- that same subcommittee. in only one Agency: the Department of ber. Let’s do it calmly, on a bipartisan First, I salute the chairman of the Defense. I think that is a good thing, basis, and engage the President as well to stop it, but it certainly isn’t a bal- Appropriations Committee and Defense as our colleagues from both sides of the anced approach. Subcommittee, THAD COCHRAN of Mis- aisle in Congress. That is the respon- sissippi. It has been a joy to work with We have a lot of other things we do as a government that are important to sible, bipartisan, honest way to face him. He is a professional. He is a kind the problem. I hope the Republican and gentle man and fair in every re- the people of this country. We finance the education of young people who leader will join us in that effort. spect. I told him on the floor yesterday Mr. President, I yield the floor. want to go to college. We do it with what I have said publicly in my caucus The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Pell grants and we do it with govern- luncheon, the Democratic caucus ator from Michigan. ment loans. If we make across-the- luncheon. I am fortunate to have a f partner in this effort from the Repub- board cuts there, we will create hard- lican side who is so good to work with. ships and lack of opportunity for a lot THE BUDGET But we face a real serious challenge of young people in America. When it Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I this week, and we have to decide as a comes to education, sequestration just want to commend our leader from nation what we are going to do about makes no sense. Illinois for bringing up what is so criti- When it comes to health care, it cer- it. Most people, if you ask them on a cally important, which is the entire tainly makes no sense. We have obliga- final exam what does sequestration budget of the country. It is important tions that we have entered into when it mean, they would basically throw up that we get it right in supporting the comes to our veterans and their health their hands and say: It sounds like authorization in front of us. care. Are we going to make across-the- something out of Washington. It I understand the defense of our coun- board cuts when it comes to veterans’ try is much more than just the Depart- doesn’t mean much to me. health care? God forbid. We promised Sequestration is the penalty we face ment of Defense. As a border State in those men and women that if they if we don’t hit certain budget spending Michigan, border security, which is not would serve our country, we would numbers, and that penalty is virtually in the Defense appropriations bill, is stand by them when they came home. mindless. Here is what it says: We will Sequestration is a mindless cut when incredibly important, as is cyber secu- make across-the-board cuts in spend- it comes to education and health care rity, which we are hearing more and ing. Think about that in your own fam- and medical research, as I mentioned more about; the frontline of our men ily life. If you were looking at the earlier. So Democrats are saying to Re- and women, the first responders, police budget for your family and had some publicans: Here we are on June 17, and officers, firefighters—who do we think misfortune—a paycheck didn’t come our fiscal year ends on October 1. Let’s actually answers the call in a commu- in—you would have to gauge priorities. not wait until the last minute to sit nity when there is some kind of local While sitting at the kitchen table, you down and work out this problem. But challenge or a terrorist attack; airport might say: What do we have to pay this what we hear from the other side of the security—I could go on and on. These month? Well, we have to pay the mort- aisle is this: We are not going to do it. are all things that are not in the appro- gage or we will be foreclosed upon. We We are just going to ignore it. priations bill for the Department of De- better pay the light bill or they will That is the problem in Washington fense. turn off the electricity. So what can we when you don’t face challenges square- Unfortunately, without a bipartisan cut back on? We are going to spend less ly, honestly, on a bipartisan basis. agreement to continue what was a very at the grocery store. So here is what is likely to occur this positive 2-year agreement put together Families make those decisions— week. We are going to vote for an au- that has been called the Ryan-Murray many of them—on a weekly or monthly thorization bill on the Department of agreement to be able to balance out all basis. But sequestration says we will Defense. Some of us will oppose the the security needs as well as the eco- cut across the board. We will take a 5- way it is being funded, but others will nomic security needs of our country— percent cut off the mortgage, off the vote for it. Then we will come to the without that, it is a mistake to begin utility bill, and off the groceries. It Defense appropriations bill, and I think the appropriations process one bill at a doesn’t make sense, does it? But we did what you will find is a unified effort on time. it. We did it for 2 years, and it was dev- the Democratic side to say to the Re- So from my perspective, on behalf of astating. publicans: Now is the time to sit down, the people of Michigan, whatever ap- We cut across the board when it came not just on this appropriations bill but propriations bill comes up next, no to medical research, for goodness’ all the appropriations bills. Let’s come matter what it is, we should not begin sakes. Here we were trying to find up with an answer and solution to se- that process until we have a bipartisan cures for cancer and heart disease and questration. agreement, as we had for the last 2

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