Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009 No. 177 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable TOM UDALL, a Senator Democrats. But as we delve into the called to order by the Honorable TOM from the State of New Mexico, to perform details and give the individual parts of UDALL, a Senator from the State of the duties of the Chair. this bill the considerable thought and New Mexico. ROBERT C. BYRD, attention they deserve, let’s not forget President pro tempore. the big picture. PRAYER Mr. UDALL thereupon assumed the So as we begin the third day of de- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- chair as Acting President pro tempore. bate on this bill, let’s remember what fered the following prayer: f it does: First, we are making it more Let us pray. affordable for every American to live a Eternal God, thank You for the gift RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER healthy life. Second, we are doing it in of this day. Help us to use it for Your a way that is fiscally responsible and glory. Guide our lawmakers to labor The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- in a way that will help our economy re- with diligence for the good of our Na- pore. The majority leader is recog- cover. tion. Deliver them from bitterness, nized. This bill does not add a dime to the frustration, and futility as they lift f deficit—quite the opposite. In fact, we their eyes to You, their ever-present will cut it by $130 billion in the first 10 help for life’s difficulties. Lord, save SCHEDULE years and as much as $3⁄4 trillion in the them from the futile repetition of old Mr. REID. Mr. President, following next 10 years. We do this by keeping errors and the restoration of old evils. leader remarks, the Senate will resume costs down. This critical piece of legis- May they live such exemplary lives consideration of the health care reform lation will cost less than $85 billion a that people who see their good works legislation. It will be for debate only year over the next decade—well under will glorify You. Use the Members of until 11:30 a.m., with alternating President Obama’s goal. It will make this body to increase opportunities for blocks of time. The first 30 minutes sure every American can afford quality more abundant life to people every- will be under the control of the Repub- health care. We will make sure that where. Help our lawmakers to be aware licans; the majority will control the more than 30 million Americans who of Your nearness and to recognize Your next 30 minutes. voice as You lead them to Your desired don’t have health care today will soon The Senate will recess from 11:30 a.m. have it. It will not only protect Medi- destination. We pray in Your sacred until 12:30 p.m. today. Following the Name. Amen. care, but it will make it stronger. In recess, the Senate will resume consid- short, this legislation saves lives, saves f eration of the health care legislation. I money, and saves Medicare. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE am hopeful we can have some votes The Congressional Budget Office and The Honorable TOM UDALL led the this afternoon. We have been unable to respected economists outside Wash- Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: work that out with the minority and so ington have studied it, and they agree. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the we will see what the afternoon brings. The bill will do what we set out to do United States of America, and to the Repub- f at the beginning of this Congress: It lic for which it stands, one nation under God, will lower costs and increase value so indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. HEALTH CARE REFORM all Americans can afford quality health f Mr. REID. Mr. President, this his- care, not just a few. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING toric health care reform bill before us The experts have crunched the num- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE is strong, and it is a strong head start bers, and they have come back with in the right direction toward urgently positive reviews. It will help parents The PRESIDING OFFICER. The needed change. But similar to nearly afford to take care of their children clerk will please read a communication every bill to come before the Senate, it and help bosses provide coverage for to the Senate from the President pro stands to benefit from the constructive their workers. It creates more choices tempore (Mr. BYRD). input of all Senators. This good bill and more competition in the health The assistant legislative clerk read will be even better when this body de- care market. It will protect everyone the following letter: bates it, refines it, and improves it. against insurance company abuses, and U.S. SENATE, I am pleased we have begun the for all the changes, in areas where our PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, amendment process. I hope we will health care system does work, it keeps Washington, DC, December 2, 2009. To the Senate: soon be able to begin voting on those it the way it is. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, amendments—the ones drafted and I am very happy with the way Demo- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby sponsored by both Republicans and cratic Senators have stood for these ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S12093 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 01:23 Dec 03, 2009 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A02DE6.000 S02DEPT1 dcolon on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with SENATE S12094 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 2, 2009 principles and those who have defended Yes, correcting the record has taken with the expectation that they will get them against hollow attacks from the a long time. That is OK. We will con- the benefits that have been promised to other side. One after another, Repub- tinue to do so as long as necessary. them. The question is, Why would we, licans have come to the floor with dis- Democrats are more than willing to de- at this point, reduce the benefits that ingenuous claims. fend this good bill. After all, it is not have been promised to them, especially For example, they have talked about hard to do. As Mark Twain, a great Ne- if the purpose is not to enhance the fi- health care premiums, overlooking the vadan, said: ‘‘If you tell the truth, you nancial viability of Medicare, which fact that those costs will go down for don’t have to remember anything.’’ everyone knows is going broke but, the vast majority of Americans—in I wish to note that I especially appre- rather, to use that money to establish fact, 93 percent. They have talked ciate the assistant leader, my friend of a new entitlement program? about the deficit, ignoring the fact decades, Senator DURBIN, for his bril- Let me break down the list of cuts that health care reform will do more to liant statements on the floor during seniors would face under this legisla- lower the deficit than any other meas- the last several weeks on this health tion: $137.5 billion would be cut from ure has in years—remember, over 20 care issue. I so admire his spunk, his hospitals that treat seniors, $120 billion 3 years, almost $ ⁄4 trillion. They have intelligence, and his ability to deliver from the Medicare Advantage plan. By tried to scare seniors, saying you are a message. the way, that Medicare Advantage plan going to die soon, as an example, clos- serves almost 40 percent of the Arizona f ing their eyes to the fact that we seniors on Medicare. It cuts $14.6 bil- strengthen Medicare and cut waste, RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME lion from nursing homes, $42.1 billion fraud, and abuse from the program. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- from home health care, and $7.7 billion They have tried to scare women, clos- from hospice care. These are deep cuts, ing their ears to the fact that we will pore. Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. and you cannot avoid jeopardizing the make it easier than ever for women to health care seniors now have under f get the preventive screenings they Medicare by making these deep cuts. need, and that is a gross understate- SERVICE MEMBERS HOME That is why the Chief Actuary at the ment. They claim to speak for the OWNERSHIP TAX ACT OF 2009 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid American people but neglect to men- Services—we use the initials CMS—be- tion that, for the last year, a majority The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- lieves these cuts would cause some pro- of the Americans have consistently pore. Under the previous order, the viders to end their participation in said it is more important than ever to Senate will resume consideration of Medicare, which, of course, would fur- nurse our health care system back to H.R. 3590, which the clerk will report. ther threaten seniors’ access to care. health. The assistant legislative clerk read What is the most consistent Repub- as follows: There would not be as many providers lican attack on this bill? They care- A bill (H.R.

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