Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 159 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JULY 29, 2013 No. 110 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at 12 noon. Senate MONDAY, JULY 29, 2013 The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was morning business until 4:15 today. Fol- tary missions carried out by service- called to order by the President pro lowing that morning business the Sen- members overseas, have been fur- tempore (Mr. LEAHY). ate will resume consideration of S. loughed. 1243, the Transportation bill. It is not too late to reverse these PRAYER At 4:30 the Senate will proceed to ex- hard-hearted cuts, cuts that were never The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- ecutive session to consider the nomina- supposed to take effect in the first fered the following prayer: tion of James Comey to be Director of place. The sequester was designed to be Let us pray. the FBI. I am sorry to report there will so painful it would force Democrats Eternal Lord God, today let Your be a cloture vote on him at 5:30 today. and Republicans to compromise and favor rest upon the Members of our Our chief law enforcement officer and find a smart, responsible way to reduce government’s legislative branch. Es- we had to file cloture. the deficit. There was compromise on tablish the works of their hands and f one side with the Democrats and, of course, none, as usual, with Repub- strengthen them to honor You by serv- THE SEQUESTER ing others. Lord, let Your life-giving licans on the other side. Mr. REID. Every respectable econo- spirit move them to feel greater com- But we have not given up on revers- mist has said that the shortsighted ar- passion for those in need. Use them to ing these cuts and choosing that re- bitrary cuts known as sequester will remove barriers that divide us, to sponsible path. We have cut the deficit cost American jobs. Medical research- make suspicions disappear, and to in half over the last 3 years, by more ers say these painful cuts will set med- cause hatred to cease. May they strive than $2.6 trillion. While there is more ical research in this country back dec- to be agents of healing and hope, as work to be done, we should be making ades, potentially costing the world a they help us all live in greater justice targeted cuts while investing in that cure for cancer, flu, AIDS, and many and peace. which makes America grow. other diseases against which we are on It is clear we have reduced the debt We pray in Your great Name. Amen. the cusp of making great headway. The by $2.6 trillion and the yearly deficit f sequester we know will cost us invest- has been cut in half over the last 3 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ments in education that give children a years. The President pro tempore led the shot at success and keep American The way to pursue this type of sound Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: workers competitive. We also know the fiscal policy is through regular order— sequester will slash the safety net that regular order of the budget process. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the keeps millions of senior citizens, chil- While there is more work to be done in United States of America, and to the Repub- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, dren and veterans and low-income fam- the cuts I have talked about, we should indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ilies from descending into poverty. be making targeted cuts while invest- I know the sequester is as bad for na- f ing in what makes America grow. The tional security as it is for the econ- American economy is poised to grow. It RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY omy. These cuts have grounded one- is growing now—not strong enough, not LEADER third of U.S. combat aircraft, slashed fast enough, but it is growing. All we The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The troop training budgets, and kept an have to do is get out of the way. majority leader is recognized. aircraft carrier that should have been According to a report released last f headed to the Persian Gulf and other week by the nonpartisan Congressional places stranded in port instead. Mean- Budget Office, reversing the sequester SCHEDULE while, hundreds of thousands of civil- would create an additional 900,000 jobs. Mr. REID. Mr. President, following ian employees of the Department of It would increase gross domestic prod- leader remarks there will be a period of Defense, employees who support mili- uct by one percentage point. That is 1 ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S5989 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 04:31 Jul 30, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A29JY6.000 S29JYPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with SENATE S5990 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 29, 2013 million jobs right there. The United MORNING BUSINESS in body. Those who knew Bud after the States just dug its way out of the great The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under war could see how tough he was, but, recession. We have seen 40 straight the previous order, the Senate will be my God, to have known him in prison— months of job growth, with private sec- in a period of morning business until confronting our enemies day in and day tor employers adding more than 7.2 4:15 p.m., with Senators permitted to out, never, ever yielding. He defied million jobs. But we cannot afford to speak for up to 10 minutes each. men who had the power of life and reject almost 1 million new jobs. Con- Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a death over us. To witness him sing the gress must reverse the sequester and quorum. national anthem in response to having stop manufacturing crises. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The a rifle pointed at his face—well, that If Republicans force us to the brink clerk will call the roll. was something to behold. Unforget- of another shutdown for ideological The legislative clerk proceeded to table. No one had more guts than Bud reasons, the economy will suffer. I sug- call the roll. or greater determination to do his duty gest to any of my Republican col- Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, I ask and then some, to keep faith with his leagues who have this idea, give a call unanimous consent the order for the country and his comrades whatever the to Newt Gingrich. He will return your quorum call be rescinded. cost. Bud was my commanding officer phone calls. Ask him how it worked. It The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without but more, he was my inspiration, as he was disastrous for Newt Gingrich, the objection, it is so ordered. The Senator was for all the men who were privileged Republicans, and the country. It didn’t from Arizona is recognized. to serve under him. work then and it will not work now. If Nothing offers more compelling testi- Republicans threaten catastrophic de- f mony to Bud’s guts and determination fault on the Nation’s bills, the econ- REMEMBERING COLONEL GEORGE and his patriotism than the account of omy will suffer, and that is an under- E. ‘‘BUD’’ DAY his escape from captivity. In the entire statement. war he was the only American who If Republicans refuse to work with Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, Sunday managed to escape from North Viet- Democrats to negotiate a reasonable brought the sad news that my dear nam. budget to reverse these deep cuts, the friend Col. George E. ‘‘Bud’’ Day passed In 1967 then-major Bud Day com- economy will suffer. It is time to re- away. He was 88 years old. To say he manded a squadron of F–100s that move the stumbling blocks that are lived a full life would be quite an un- served as forward air controllers over preventing the American economy derstatement. His was filled with so North Vietnam and Laos. They were from recovering and expanding. many extraordinary experiences, ad- called the Mistys, named for Bud’s fa- It has been 129 days since the Senate ventures, challenges, accomplishments, vorite song. Theirs was probably the passed its reasonable, progrowth budg- and with such love, compassion, and most dangerous combat duty in the Air et. courage that it could have supplied Force, and they suffered high casual- Remember, the Republicans said: We enough experiences, excitement, and ties. want regular order. We want a budget. satisfaction for 10 lifetimes. On August 26 Bud Day was one of We passed the budget. Now they will Bud knew defeats and triumphs on a those casualties. Bud was shot down by not follow regular order. They will not scale few will ever know. He lived in a surface-to-air missile 20 miles inside let us even go to conference. We have moments filled with every conceivable of North Vietnam. He hit the fuselage asked consent to go to conference with emotion. He knew terror and suffering. of his F–100 when he ejected, breaking the House 17 different times. As long as He knew joy and deliverance. He knew his arm, damaging his eye, and injur- Senate Republicans refuse to allow solidarity, self-respect, and dignity.