October 11, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11241 the growing presence of temps at the plant is eign nations are basically buying up The final point I want to make is holding back their wage gains, while lim- America. We know who has the whip in that unemployment benefits usually— iting their movement in the plant. Some em- hand when you control the resources. and it is a very important point be- ployees say they have been stuck working One morning we will wake up and for- cause I see many colleagues on the nights because any open day-shift positions are quickly filled by temps. eign countries will own America. If floor who have joined with the Senator ‘‘If you break down, they’ve got a new guy they control our economy, then they from Massachusetts and myself to try waiting at the door,’’ said Roberts, who with control our destiny. The American to extend unemployment insurance his wife, another Toyota worker, clears a economy and American destiny ought benefits, and the Senator from Wash- six-figure income. ‘‘You’re creating a tug of to be in Americans hands. ington was very much involved in that war. There’s no protection for either side.’’ Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator effort and we welcome so strongly her In Georgetown, the divisions can show up yield on that last point? leadership in it—usually are for 26 in strange, some say demoralizing, ways. Mr. KENNEDY. I am glad to. weeks. When we hit an economic down- Toyota is famous for the ‘‘kaizen’’—contin- Mr. SARBANES. The fact of the mat- turn, we extend it because the job mar- uous improvement—checks that it pays to ter is, the tax cuts for the very ket doesn’t pick up quickly enough to workers who come up with suggestions that wealthy, which is the centerpiece of save money. Earlier this year, Hicks and get people back to work. We usually Chris helped devise a change that cut two the Bush economic plan, are being fi- extend it out to 39 weeks. The adminis- jobs from their small quadrant of the assem- nanced by borrowing overseas, pri- tration has resisted efforts to extend bly line. The change meant more work for marily from China and Japan. That is the payment period for unemployment everyone, but it was more efficient. Toyota what it comes down to. We do these ex- insurance. We now have a record num- rewarded the idea by sending out $500 checks cessive tax cuts, we run a deficit, and ber of long-term unemployed. to every member of the team, every full-time we have to finance the deficit. Where This is the record even before the member, that is. do they find the money to finance the Bush administration of the long-term The two temps who came up with the sug- deficit? They sell U.S. Government unemployed. It ran along here, and now gestion got nothing. Their group leader did paper overseas, primarily to Japan and feel bad. He gave each of them a $25 gift cer- it has shot up to almost 22 percent of tificate to the Toyota company store. China. So we are borrowing money those unemployed who have been long- Then a full-time worker slipped them both from overseas in order to finance these term unemployed. $50. tax cuts. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, in this ‘‘You guys got us this money,’’ Chris re- It is bad enough to borrow internally, article, besides the administration called him saying. ‘‘Sorry I can’t give you from our own people, in order to do being against the increase in the min- more.’’ this. But to go overseas and do it, as imum wage, they are against unem- Mr. KENNEDY. The article does the Senator points out, and then give ployment compensation and against track one slice of the workforce: tem- them this claim on American produc- overtime. In this report in 1982, there porary workers. Since January 2002, tion on out into the future as far as one were 417,000 workers classified tem- the nation has added 369,000 temporary can see is absolutely irresponsible. porary. Today, there are 2.5 million. positions, about half of the private-sec- The Senator from Massachusetts This is about equal to the number of tor jobs created during that stretch. made a very important point. manufacturing jobs lost in the past This report says half of all the pri- The President and his associates are decade. vate sector jobs created under this Ad- busy out in the countryside trying to These are the statements that we ministration since January 2002 are put the spin on the jobs figures. The have about how good the economy is. fact is, the economy picked up 96,000 temporary positions. These are jobs Mr. SARBANES. The Senator is ab- jobs last month. That is not enough to without benefits. You talk about solutely right. We are confronting a keep pace with the growth in popu- health insurance or retirement? Those very serious economic situation for our lation. This is the first administration are virtually nonexistent. workers. There is real anxiety—indeed since Herbert Hoover not to produce a This is what is happening in this even fear—in working America about net gain of jobs in the course of the ad- country. It is amazing to me to hear what is going to happen to people in ministration. The Bush administration the President talk about how the econ- terms of their employment and how is down 800,000 jobs, a total of 1.6 mil- omy is growing and crow about the in- they support their families. But we are lion private sector jobs, and 2.7 million creased numbers of jobs that we had— not producing jobs fast enough to put manufacturing jobs. 96,000 this last month, which is not people back to work. Yet the adminis- The last time you have an adminis- tration won’t support extending pay- even enough to keep up with the tration which failed to have a net gain growth of the population. And then we ments for unemployment insurance. in jobs in the course of its 4 years was How are these people supposed to find a third of those jobs are Govern- 75 years ago in the administration of support their families? These are work- ment jobs, a third are temporary jobs, Herbert Hoover. This is a dismal job ing people. By definition, you cannot and the other third are not paying very performance record. Yet the President draw unemployment insurance benefits much. is going around the country telling unless you have a work record. You I want to also mention that, as dif- people we have turned the corner. The must have been working and have built ficult as this is, those are figures that trouble is every time you go around up a working record in order to qualify. point out what happens to real people the corner we are going in the wrong We are talking about working Ameri- in their lives. But whatever happens to direction. That is the problem with the cans. How do they support their fami- these individuals I have just mentioned President’s policies. He may have lies? pales in comparison to the kind of pain turned the corner, but the corner is The President talks about 95,000 jobs minorities and women are feeling; taking us in the wrong direction. as though it is some success. It is not women, whose real income has de- Second, as the Senator from Massa- a success. This is the only President in clined, and minorities—Hispanics, Afri- chusetts pointed out, if you factor into 75 years in that entire period of time can Americans—whose unemployment the unemployment rate the people who who has not had a net gain of jobs dur- has increased dramatically. have dropped out of seeking a job be- ing his administration. I see the Senator from Maryland on cause they are so discouraged by the Mr. KENNEDY. I thank the Senator. his feet now. I am interested in his re- economic conditions they encounter, I see my time has expired. I thank my action to that hearing and to those fig- and people are working part time for friend from Maryland for his excellent ures. economic reasons—namely, they want observations. Before I run out of time, I would also to work full time but they can’t find a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- like him to address the subject of the full time job, so they are working part ator from Iowa is recognized for 10 foreign purchase of over half of the time—if you include that in the unem- minutes. U.S. debt. Nearly $2 trillion of the na- ployment figure as well, which is the f tional debt is now owned by foreign most comprehensive measure of unem- holders. Recent figures show China and ployment, the unemployment figure is CHRISTOPHER REEVE Japan owning $1.3 trillion in U.S. 9.4 percent, coming up to 10 percent un- Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, like mil- Treasuries. I am concerned these for- employed. lions of other Americans, I was

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:08 Oct 12, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11OC6.047 S11PT1 S11242 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 11, 2004 shocked and saddened to learn last ings it was determined that we did bryos we are taking the stem cells evening and to learn more this morn- have the authority to do re- from—a dot you can barely see on a ing of the death of Christopher Reeve. search from embryos. That was deter- piece of paper. In life, he played . mined. That was determined before Au- People say that is life. Of course it is But in real life, Christopher Reeve was gust of 2001. life. Every cell has life. All my skin a super person, a truly wonderful indi- I also point out that Christopher cells have life. My hair cells have life. vidual who embodied the indomitable Reeve very eloquently testified at one Sperm has life. Eggs have life. But they human spirit in a way that won the re- of those early hearings on the neces- say we cannot destroy these for stem spect and admiration of people across sity of research. cell research. They equate that some- the globe. We decided that the Government did how with this human being right here. Christopher Reeve was a classic ex- have the authority. It is the Presi- They equate this little dot that you ample of a person with a disability who dent’s Executive order of August 9, can barely see with someone like Chris is remembered most of all for his abil- 2001, that limited what we could do. Reeve. This is what we are taking the ity, not his disability—the abilities When the President says that he is stem cells from, that little dot. that he mobilized to become an ex- the first President to authorize stem A lot of people think when we talk traordinarily effective advocate for cell research, that is not so, as Senator about embryonic stem cell research stem cell research. KENNEDY pointed out. He is the first that somehow we are destroying I thank the Senator from Massachu- President to limit, severely restrict, fetuses. They get this confused. So I setts for his eloquent and straight- what we could do in stem cell research. point out it is as big as a dot on a piece forward presentation of the arguments The President said all the stem cells of paper. We will equate that with this on behalf of embryonic stem cell re- that were derived prior to 8 p.m. on Au- human or that dot with my nephew, search. gust 9, 2001, could be used. Anything Kelly McQuaid? This is the promise of But I want to commend the memory after that could not be used. stem cell research. of Christopher Reeve. He marshaled I remember watching that address. I We already have over 400,000 of these forces, he traveled all over this country was in my home State of Iowa. I little dots that you can barely see fro- at great expense, and at great cost to thought to myself, why 8 p.m.? Why zen in liquid nitrogen. They are left himself personally in terms of his own not 8:05? How about 8:10? In other over from in vitro fertilization. Guess health, to marshal the forces necessary words, if someone derives a stem cell at what happens, folks. They are being de- to promote embryonic stem cell re- 7:59, it is okay, but at 8:01, it is not. stroyed. The dots are in test tubes, fro- search. What kind of arbitrary restriction is zen in liquid nitrogen. Every so often He spoke with passion and intel- this? Totally arbitrary. when the donors do not want them any ligence and conviction. Christopher Because of that, he said there would longer—they had their children or they Reeve offered hope—not a false or idle be 60 stem cell lines—and we know reached the age they do not want to hope. He offered hope grounded in there are only 22, and as the Senator have children—they can call up the in science and discovery, hope grounded from Massachusetts said every single vitro clinic and say, We do not want in the promise in possibilities of em- one of those is contaminated because those saved any longer, and the test bryonic stem cell research. Forty-two they used mouse cells on which to tube is cleaned out and is washed down Nobel laureates—I think maybe many grow. So their use in human treat- the sink. It is either that or use them of them because Christopher Reeve ments is highly unlikely, at best. for stem cell research. called them on the phone and visited— The fact is, embryonic stem cell re- That is why I wanted to pay homage came out in strong support of embry- search offers enormous potential to to Chris Reeve’s memory today. He was onic stem cell research. ease human suffering. That is why this a great friend, a personal friend. I re- Just yesterday there was a march person, Christopher Reeve, fought so member him coming to Iowa. My sym- here in Washington by families and hard. The promise of stem cell research pathies to Dana, his wonderful wife, survivors of those who had ALS, Lou gave Chris Reeve hope, just as it gives and their family. But rest assured, we Gehrig’s Disease. One of those march- hope for those suffering from ALS, Par- will prevail. ers was a staff person of mine whose fa- kinson’s disease, and diabetes, and all Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I ther just passed away from ALS. She of their families. It is giving my neph- come before the Senate today with a and her mother were both in that ew, Kelly McQuaid, hope. He was in- heavy heart to pay tribute to Chris- march yesterday. jured in the military. He is now quad- topher Reeve. I was lucky to be able to call Chris- Christopher Reeve’s argument for riplegic and has been for over 20 years. topher Reeve a friend. stem cell research was compelling. It He has hope that this stem cell re- was beyond personal. Yes, he did speak His passion for life and for improving search will allow him to again walk the lives of all Americans serves an in- once about his own personal spinal one day, just as Chris Reeve hoped it cord injury and stem cell research at spiration to all of us. would for him. He may have played the character of Ohio State University in 2003 at a com- We know stem cells have worked in Superman in the movies, but he lived mencement address. rats. It has been proven that rats with He said: the role of a superman through his life. spinal cords that have been severed and I consider myself quite fortunate I come to know people of all ages and from reconnected with stem cells walk all walks of life that I would otherwise never that our paths crossed on many occa- again. That has been done in rats. As I sions, in , at his home in New have even met. For all our differences, what pointed out, we humans are 99.5 per- we had in common was our disability and the York, and in the halls of Congress. desire to find a reason to hope. I was inspired cent rats—I don’t mean just us politi- Chris was an outspoken advocate for by so many and gradually discovered that I cians, I am saying genomically, struc- the arts. had been given a job that would create ur- turally, we are about 99 percent the As the co-founder of the Congres- gency and a new direction in my life. I could same cells. If stem cells can get rats sional Arts Caucus and, for several do something to help. walking again, think of the hope it has years, the Chairman of the Senate Christopher Reeve really did do a lot for humans. Yet this President says no. Committee with jurisdiction over the to help. There are those who say we cannot National Endowment for the Arts Senator SPECTER as chairman and I destroy these embryos because it is (NEA), Chris and I shared the belief as cochair of the Appropriations Sub- life. This is something I have done be- that Federal support for the arts was committee on Labor, Health and fore in my committee, and I did it once critical. Human Services held the first hearing with Chris Reeve there. He liked it, so At a time when the NEA was under on December 2, 1998, after Dr. Thomp- I will do it again in his memory. I have attack in 1995, I asked Chris to testify son of Wisconsin and Dr. Gerhart of a pen and a blank piece of paper. I hold before the Senate Labor and Human Johns Hopkins isolated the first stem this up and I ask if anyone can see Resources Committee on the impor- cells. I am proud that our sub- what I put on that piece of paper. What tance of the agency. committee had 15 hearings on this I put on that piece of paper is a dot, a His testimony brought attention to issue. At more than one of those hear- little dot. That is the size of the em- the issue, and highlighted the role that

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:08 Oct 12, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11OC6.063 S11PT1 October 11, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11243 arts and education play in the lives of Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under children. thank the Senator from Iowa for his the previous order, the Senator from Il- To this day, I believe that his testi- very eloquent presentation. I agree linois is recognized for up to 20 min- mony and advocacy helped preserve the with him 100 percent. I also thank the utes. agency through very difficult times. Senator from Massachusetts for his Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would Later, I turned to Chris again for presentation. like to change that by unanimous con- help, this time on the important issue As the senior Senator from Cali- sent to 15 minutes and ask if the Chair of lifetime caps on health insurance fornia, a lifelong Californian, I will would notify me when I have 2 minutes policies. make a few remarks about Chris Reeve. remaining. In 1996, as the Congress was writing I remember when I saw Chris Reeve The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without new laws governing the portability and in ‘‘Superman.’’ He was 25 years old. He objection, it is so ordered. availability of health care coverage, was amazing. We now learn he did some Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I thank Chris helped me gather support for a of his own . And then what fol- the Senator from for what proposal to raise the lifetime caps of lowed was the ‘‘5th of July,’’ and I re- she said. This tax bill came about be- health insurance policies. member ‘‘Somewhere in Time.’’ We saw cause we got into a fight with our trad- Chris was an outspoken advocate in this tall, handsome actor, seemingly ing partners over export subsidies. At support of that proposal, and shared his invulnerable. the end of the fight, they won and we own personal story concerning health I remember the film footage when he lost. An export subsidy that we had in insurance to raise awareness for the went over that jump on a horse. We the United States had to be taken off lifetime cap issue. learned that he had severed a vertebra the books. So what was a minor facelift His courage and leadership brought high in his neck which canceled out all when it came to an export subsidy that issue to the forefront of the Con- speech and rendered him quadriplegic turned out, after our friends in the gressional debate. for the rest of his life. House and Senate got their hands on it, His dedication to stem cell research As many know, it is rare that an in- to be an extreme makeover of the Tax was renowned. dividual survives more than 2 years Code. Unfortunately, the American His testimony before the Congress with this form of injury. Yet he sur- people, who could not afford the power- and advocacy for the issue—once vived for 9 years. I remember listening ful lobbyists involved in writing this, again—put a human face on the possi- to a CNN interview with Paula Zahn ended up as the people with the sad over stem cells. He said: When some- bilities that could emerge from stem faces. cell research for those with spinal cord body lies still and doesn’t move any- So when we take a close look at what injuries and other diseases and afflic- thing for a matter of days, cannot even this bill did, what was supposed to be a tions. scratch their nose, let them talk to me quick and minor fix of the Tax Code Chris’ commitment to bettering the about stem cell research. blossomed into a huge giveaway of tax In fact, this is a catastrophic injury lives of individuals with disabilities benefits and made some policy changes presenting him with a catastrophic never ended. we are going to regret. problem. So many people suffer from In 2000, Chris traveled to Burlington, I have been fighting the tobacco com- many of these injuries and from cata- VT, at my request to speak before a panies as long as I have been in Con- strophic disease, all of which may well disability conference. gress but 15 years ago passed the law be helped if we go eagerly, enthusiasti- It was his first visit back to Vermont which banned smoking on airplanes. cally, and scientifically into stem cell since his accident. The passage of that law led to some He called the disability movement research. That is the challenge. Par- kinson, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, spinal very important things happening in the the last great civil rights movement, U.S. Government and across the board. saying the primary obstacle for the dis- cord injuries all can be helped. Yet Christopher Reeve, who could But I mistakenly believed that the abled is other people’s fear. not move, made amazing progress—not trend was on our side, that those of us Chris said: a recovery but progress—and would ap- who wanted to protect children from Changing the public’s perception of people pear here before hearings and hold addicted to tobacco really with disabilities takes time. It’s about them had the wind at our backs. getting over their fear. Imagining that it press conferences and urge us to move forward with a stem cell bill. Well, we lost it in this conference could be them. committee because we put in the con- And once they know that, once they can I had the pleasure of introducing the really sympathize, then you get change. first stem cell bill in this Senate. ference report a provision which the And then America lives up to its full po- There are five Members—the Senator major tobacco company, Philip Morris/ tential. from Utah, Mr. HATCH; the Senator Altria, agreed on which said if we are And I think we’re on that path. from Massachusetts, Mr. KENNEDY; the going to buy out tobacco growers, then Thanks to Christopher Reeve count- Senator from Pennsylvania, Mr. SPEC- we are going to put FDA regulation in less Americans will live to their full TER; the Senator from Iowa, Mr. HAR- place so we can protect children from potential. KIN—who are cosponsors of the major being sold tobacco products that lead We will continue to work on his be- stem cell bill. We will be back. We will to an addiction that can lead to disease half on the issues he was so dedicated reintroduce it as one of our first bills or death. to. in January in this new session. I will It was a good, balanced bill, a bipar- I send my deepest condolences to be asking my colleagues to rename this tisan bill. Senator DEWINE, a Repub- Chris’ wife, Dana, and their entire fam- bill the Christopher Reeve National lican of Ohio, and Senator KENNEDY, ily. Stem Cell Act. Democrat of Massachusetts, put to- They cared for Christopher with a I want all of America, through this gether this FDA regulation. We sent it love and kindness that was inspira- bill, to know Chris Reeve’s last 9 years to conference and those conferees who tional. on were not, in fact, in vain, that put together this monstrous bill ripped Dana herself was an inspiration to all we will produce a bill that will, in fact, it out. of us. She understood the devotion and put America on the scientific horizons Instead, they said, we are going to greatness of Chris. She helped Chris of research for catastrophic and dis- give billions of dollars to buy out to- live out his desire to help the disabled. abling diseases and injuries. If we do bacco growers but not one penny to I hope they are comforted with his not, I believe other States will follow protect children from the harm of to- memory, and the knowledge that their with what California is doing. bacco products. loss is shared by so many across this California has on the ballot a propo- I will return next year, God willing, Nation. sition. It is known as proposition 71. It to renew this battle with my col- I yield the floor. would produce $3 billion in bond funds leagues. We cannot give up on our chil- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under to allow California to plunge ahead to dren as this bill did. It is not the only the previous order, the Senator from produce stem cell research. Now, other thing wrong with the bill. It is the one California is now recognized for 10 min- States will follow if we do not move that touches me personally and one utes. with a national bill. So I hope we will. about which I feel strongly.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 05:08 Oct 12, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11OC6.036 S11PT1 S11244 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 11, 2004 Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator chance in life. He came here to Capitol medical research, are we going to close yield? Hill and testified, held news con- the doors that the Bush administration Mr. DURBIN. I am happy to yield. ferences, traveled around the United has to the hopes for Christopher Reeve Mr. SARBANES. The bill that was States with the message. and many like him, and for millions passed by the Senate contained within Why is it important that we not just across America? it the provision that provided author- eulogize this brave man and the 9 years In just a few days, there will be a de- ity to the FDA to protect children; is of his life where he showed such cour- bate between President Bush and Sen- that correct? age? Because the issue he was fighting ator JOHN KERRY—the last one—in Ari- Mr. DURBIN. That is correct. for is an issue we will all get to vote zona, about the economy. I hope there Mr. SARBANES. And that provision for on November 2. is an opportunity for JOHN KERRY to was then taken out in the conference Christopher Reeve and many like point out these facts: with the House Members, stripped out him, such as Michael J. Fox, under- Forty-seven States under the Bush of the bill; is that right? stand that embryonic stem cell re- administration have had a loss of man- Mr. DURBIN. The Senator from search gives them hope, a chance to ufacturing jobs. I am sure this chart is Maryland is correct. What they took overcome quadriplegia, a chance to hard to see on television. In Illinois we out of the bill was the authority of the overcome Parkinson’s disease, a lost 135,800 manufacturing jobs in the Food and Drug Administration to list chance for the millions of families who last 4 years; almost 40,000 in Missouri; the ingredients on a tobacco package, see their beautiful young son or daugh- 23,000 plus in Iowa; 52,500 in Wisconsin; to put on a warning label that really ter with juvenile diabetes, just a 152,000 in Pennsylvania; 164,000 manu- means something, as opposed to the chance that the research will open the facturing jobs lost under the Bush ad- meaningless warning labels that have door to find a cure, really break- ministration in Ohio; 10,000 in West been on for 30 or 40 years, and to estab- through scientific research involving Virginia. The list goes on and on for 47 lish standards and rules for selling to- tiny stem cells that you can only see States. These are the jobs we have lost. bacco products so children won’t be- under a microscope. Trust me, when these jobs are lost, come addicted. Why is this important? Because this they are not replaced with jobs that I have never met a parent who has administration, the Bush administra- pay as much or that offer the same said to me: I am so happy. I just tion, has taken the position that the kind of benefits. These families are learned my teenage daughter has start- Federal Government must close the going to have a tough time getting ed smoking. door to embryonic stem cell research back to where they were. Why has this I have never heard that said. There and only limit it to a handful of these happened? The Bush administration’s isn’t a single one of us who has reared stem cell lines that were existing on economic policies have failed. Tax a child who ever wanted to hear they August 2001 when President Bush an- breaks for the wealthiest people in were going to take up smoking or ciga- nounced he had in his own mind America have not given us the kind of rette tobacco. This bill established pro- reached a compromise on this issue. It economic boost that the President tections. Those protections were re- may have been a political compromise promised. moved. Those tobacco lobbyists who to President Bush, but it compromises Look at what has happened in the have a big grin on their faces today, be- the future for millions of Americans. Bush economy when it comes to Amer- cause we passed this bill by a big roll- Some people argue it is a partisan ican families’ household income. It is call, should understand their children issue: DURBIN, you’re a Democrat criti- down over $1,500 since the President are at risk, too. The children of fami- cizing a Republican President. took office. We have lost ground. We lies across America are at risk as well. Listen closely: No one has ever sug- have lost ground for families who get Mr. DURBIN. Let me say a word, too, gested that Nancy Reagan is not a good up and work hard every day to try to about Christopher Reeve. I woke up Republican, and she stood up to fight make ends meet. this morning in Chicago before flying for embryonic stem cell research. And Take a look at what happened with here and heard the news, as did most ORRIN HATCH, a Republican Senator unemployment figures. The Senator Americans, about the death of Chris- from Utah, has stood up to do the from Maryland got up and told us we topher Reeve at the age of 52. I saw same, and ARLEN SPECTER, another Re- have just set a record of 24 straight him in the movies—we all did—‘‘Super- publican, has stood up to do the same. months of long-term unemployment at man’’ and others. He was quite a hand- This is not a partisan issue. record levels. We have never had that some young actor who attracted a lot The position we take on this issue is bad a period of time or that bad a of attention at the height of his career. to take the politics out of science. We stretch in modern economic history in Then about 9 years ago he was involved have an opportunity for Christopher America. It means you have been un- in an accident which left him a quad- Reeve and people such as him to give employed for more than 6 months. riplegic. them hope and a chance that medical Look at the numbers that they have I remember the photos of Chris Reeve research is going to open doors and grown under the Bush administration, after this happened. There were photos make lives better. where out-of-work Americans are run- of a man in a on a venti- Some want this to be a debate on re- ning out of unemployment benefits. lator who looked as if he was just ligion. There are some, by religious be- This President insists that he is not hanging on to life by a thread. He hung lief, who do not endorse embryonic going to rest until every American has on for 9 years, and he didn’t just sur- stem cell research. We better take care a job. This President is not going to vive, he used his life and used it hero- if that is going to be the standard. We get much rest because there are a lot of ically. could be walking into a very dangerous Americans who have lost jobs. Over Let me also say I thought so many area. 800,000 net jobs were lost under Presi- times about his wife Dana and their There are some, by religious belief, dent Bush’s administration, which is family. Those of us who are married who don’t believe in blood transfusions. the lowest job creation number by any said we would stand by our mate for So should we say at this point blood President of any political party in over better or for worse, richer or poorer, in transfusions are immoral for all Ameri- 70 years. And this President is offering sickness and in health. You never quite cans because one religion or another us 4 more years? I have to ask, as Sen- know what that vow means until you does not agree they are necessary to ator KERRY did, can America take 4 see someone like Dana, the wife of prolong life? more years of this? Christopher Reeve, who stood with There are some, by religious belief, This administration’s approach to him, helped him every minute of every who believe medical doctors should not the economic problems in America is day so he could survive. be turned to but the power of prayer not taking care of business. Look what And he didn’t just survive. He fought. should cure your illness. Should we is happening to the workers who are What did he fight for? He fought for take that as a moral position for Amer- working harder. Productivity is up 15 medical research so people just like ica and say that we cannot encourage times between 2001 and 2004. Yet wages him and others who would be victim- medicine in America? I think not. So are stagnant and falling. The harder ized like him might have a fighting why in this area, when it comes to our people work in America, the less

VerDate Aug 04 2004 01:51 Oct 13, 2004 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11OC6.067 S11PT1 October 11, 2004 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11245 they are paid. That is the American ica. We are either going to move to- Government jobs, the administration is dream? Perhaps it is to President Bush ward 4 more years of the Bush adminis- down 825,000 jobs over the course of its but not to the families across America. tration, with economic policies that tenure. It is down 825,000 total jobs, 1.6 Meanwhile, how are corporate profits have taken a toll on the hardest work- million private sector jobs, and 2.7 mil- doing in the recession, the struggling ing people in the world, or we are going lion jobs lost in manufacturing em- economy? Very well, thank you. They to move forward with a new vision to ployment. Manufacturing employment are up 65 percent under the Bush ad- help families have a better life for is down 2,700,000 jobs. ministration, while workers’ wages are themselves and their children. This job performance—or more accu- going down. The rich are getting rich- We are going to decide, when it rately put, lack of performance—is the er, the poor are getting poorer, and the comes to foreign policy, if we are going worst in 75 years. We have to go all the middle-income folks are feeling the to continue to squander the reputation way back to the administration of squeeze. That, unfortunately, is the re- and good name that America has built President Hoover to find another ad- ality of their tax policy. up over many decades or whether we ministration which lost jobs in the Mr. SARBANES. Will the Senator are going to move to a new level of re- course of its tenure; in other words, yield on that point? spect for America around the world. failed to produce a net gain of jobs. Mr. DURBIN. Yes. The choice is in the hands of the voters Some administrations in the interim Mr. SARBANES. It is unparalleled in on November 2. have done very well, others fairly well, coming out of a recession that so much I yield the floor. others not so well. All have had a net of the growth is going to profits and so I yield the floor. gain in jobs except for this administra- little of the growth is going to wages. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. tion. It is a stark contrast with what oc- DOLE). The Senator from Maryland is The unemployment rate which was curred as we tried to move out of pre- now recognized for up to 20 minutes reported on Friday as 5.4 percent does vious recessions in the entire post- under the previous consent order. not tell the full story of the depth and World War II period. f breadth of unemployment which exists The point the Senator makes is ex- in the country. If we count in amongst tremely important. Productivity is up. UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES the unemployed—and the Bureau of The workers are producing, but they Mr. SARBANES. Madam President, Labor Statistics keeps this index—if are not getting a return in their wages. on Friday the Bureau of Labor Statis- you count in people who have dropped The benefits are going heavily into cor- tics came out with the latest unem- out of looking for a job because they porate profits. The Senator is abso- ployment figures. I commend the Bu- are so discouraged by how poor the lutely correct. And it is a marked de- reau of Labor Statistics. They are pro- labor market is and a very substantial parture with previous performance, fessionals. They bring us the figures. number of people who are working part where there was a much more equitable They do not try to put a spin on them. time for economic reasons—in other sharing of the economic benefits of the They just lay out the facts. That is a words, they want to work full time, but growth that was taking place, and the kind of unusual thing in our public dis- they cannot find a full-time job, so ob- wage earner was doing better than course nowadays, I have to say. We do viously in order to try to support their under the circumstances we face today. not seem to pay much attention to the family, they take a part-time job, but Mr. DURBIN. I thank the Senator facts anymore. It is all spin—spin, spin, they are seeking a full-time job—if you from Maryland. spin, spin, deception, misstatement, so factor in that underemployment, and if Mr. President, how much time do I forth and so on. But there are still pro- you factor in the people who dropped have remaining? fessionals in various parts of our Gov- out of the workforce in terms of seek- The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is ernment, and I simply at the outset ing employment, we end up with an un- 11⁄2 minutes remaining. commend them for sticking to the employment rate of 9.4 percent—9.4 Mr. DURBIN. In closing, the Senator facts. Members of the Joint Economic percent. That is what we are con- from Maryland will speak when I finish Committee tried to draw the Commis- fronting. And that rate, of course, is a and talk about the economic statistics, sioner and her associates into the spin consequence of failing to have a net facts, and figures. That is the one thing efforts, and she resisted, as she should. gain in jobs over the course of this ad- we believe on this side of the aisle. I wish to talk this afternoon briefly ministration. If this election is to be decided by about some of the figures and the facts, I was fascinated to watch the spin facts and evidence, the American peo- and I will try to lay them out as best artists go out and try to spin this 96,000 ple will vote for a new vision of Amer- I can. figure into some big success. Quite to ica, a stronger economy at home, and We produced last month 96,000 jobs— the contrary. It shows a serious short- more respect for America around the I say a mere 96,000 jobs because we need fall in economic performance. And the world. But if we are going to let this to produce about 140,000 jobs per month thing that makes it an even deeper campaign disintegrate in the last 3 simply to stay abreast of the growth in concern is the fact that the adminis- weeks into sloganeering and name-call- population. So if we are producing tration’s performance over the course ing, who knows what the outcome will fewer jobs than that, we are obviously of this year in producing jobs has seri- be. We trust the facts and the evidence. slipping backward. ously weakened. In other words, if we This administration has failed to move This performance of this administra- go back to the beginning of this year, this economy forward for working fam- tion should be a matter of very deep job creation has dropped markedly. ilies. It has pushed a tax policy that concern for people in the country. Back Some of the spin is to sort of say 9/11 not only doesn’t help them, in many at the beginning of the year, the ad- did it all. They attribute it all to 9/11, instances it penalizes them. ministration did have a couple of but obviously this chart indicates to Look at what families are up against months of good, solid production, and I the contrary because we had some fair under the Bush administration. The want to put that right up front be- job production here, and then it has cost of medical care and health insur- cause, as I said, I want to stay with the fallen. The cumulative impact of hav- ance, up 59 percent; gasoline is up 38 facts. But what has happened is over ing that happen is, in fact, now to have percent; college tuition is up 38 per- the course of the year, their job pro- an administration which does not have cent; housing costs are up 27 percent. duction has fallen very sharply, as this a positive job creation performance Even the cost of a bottle of milk is up chart shows. We are now down to just over the course of its tenure. 13 percent. When this President says in below 100,000 jobs produced in the last Now, we all know that everyone gets Arizona in the next debate that Amer- month of this Bush administration. up on the Senate floor and they make ica is better off under his administra- The cumulative record of this admin- long speeches about the best social pro- tion, he isn’t feeling the pain families istration over the course of the time it gram is a job. I agree with that. I doubt feel every single day when they try to has been here has been a loss of 1.6 mil- that there is anyone in this body who make ends meet. lion private sector jobs. Private sector would disagree that the best social pro- Mr. President, this election is going jobs are down 1.6 million. In total jobs, gram is a job, but the jobs are not to be a historic turning point for Amer- because we have had some uptick in being produced.

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