September 15, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5673 Most important, the American model is wrong with you guys? Why can’t you decades. Here is this article that says based on a certain kind of people—defined work this out in Washington, DC? We Procter & Gamble aims high and low. not by race but by virtue and by the willing- are struggling in the worst economy we I ask unanimous consent that the ar- ness to take responsibility for our own lives. have had since the Great Depression, ticle be printed in the RECORD. People fit to be Americans ask for blessings and what we see are a lot of political There being no objection, the mate- only from God. Because being Americans is rial was ordered to be printed in the not a matter of birth, we must practice it games being played back there. every day—lest we become something else. That is the version of the conversa- RECORD, as follows: The size of our continent, its fabulous tion I have heard now for 21⁄2 years in [From the Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, wealth, its indescribable beauty, the ships, our State. 2011] tanks and airplanes in our arsenal, are no Then, one of the things we get into at AS MIDDLE CLASS SHRINKS P&G AIMS HIGH treasure compared to the moral character of the very beginning is the fact that this AND LOW the American people. I pray to God that he is not a garden-variety recession that (By Ellen Byron) will graciously help us preserve and protect For generations, Procter & Gamble Co.’s that splendid moral base. we are just coming out of. This is the first time—this last decade, not just growth strategy was focused on developing To Isabel and his beloved children, this recession, the last decade—the household staples for the vast American mid- Malcolm, Matthew, Amy, and Paul, to dle class. first time in this country’s history his dear sisters, Jeannie and Carolyn, Now, P&G executives say many of its when median family income actually we thank you for letting him share so former middle-market shoppers are trading declined instead of going up. much of his life with us all. There is no down to lower-priced goods—widening the Generation after generation after pools of have and have-not consumers at the question our world is better for the generation of Americans saw their in- expense of the middle. time he spent addressing the great come rise. Median family income is That’s forced P&G, which estimates it has issues of the day and we are grateful. sort of shorthand for middle-class fam- at least one product in 98% of American We can cherish our memories and households, to fundamentally change the ily income in this country. It is the stories of Malcolm knowing he would way it develops and sells its goods. For the backbone of this country, and it has cast a wry glance and wonder why we first time in 38 years, for example, the com- fallen for the first time in a decade, as pany launched a new dish soap in the U.S. at were not spending our thoughts and the cost of health insurance doubled on a bargain price. our energy on a challenge that needed the people who live in Colorado, and P&G’s roll out of Gain dish soap says a lot our attention. It is what he would ex- about the health of the American middle the cost of higher education went up by pect of all of us. It is the example he class: The world’s largest maker of consumer 60 percent. left for us. It is his legacy. products is now betting that the squeeze on People are saying: MICHAEL, I have So, today, godspeed, Malcolm. The middle America will be long lasting. been at my job for this whole decade ‘‘It’s required us to think differently about Senate, Wyoming, the United States of and I am earning less at the end of the our product portfolio and how to please the America, has lost one of its most stead- decade than I was at the beginning of high-end and lower-end markets,’’ says fast defenders. the decade. My costs of not ‘‘nice to Melanie Healey, group president of P&G’s I yield the floor and I suggest the ab- North America business. ‘‘That’s frankly haves,’’ my costs of critical things to sence of a quorum. where a lot of the growth is happening.’’ The PRESIDING OFFICER. The move my family ahead to create sta- In the wake of the worst recession in 50 clerk will call the roll. bility for me and my small business— years, there’s little doubt that the American such as health care, such as higher edu- middle class—the 40% of households with an- The assistant legislative clerk pro- nual incomes between $50,000 and $140,000 a ceeded to call the roll. cation—have done nothing but sky- rocket. year—is in distress. Even before the reces- Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I ask sion, incomes of American middle-class fami- unanimous consent that the order for I am going to show you some num- lies weren’t keeping up with inflation, espe- the quorum call be rescinded. bers that are pretty scary that came cially with the rising costs of what are con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without out this week from the Census Bureau sidered the essential ingredients of middle- objection, it is so ordered. that reflect, in numbers, what I am class life—college education, health care and talking about and reflect how profound housing. In 2009, the income of the median f the structural issues are that we face family, the one smack in the middle of the DISAPPEARING MIDDLE CLASS in our economy, structural that do not middle, was lower, adjusted for inflation, than in 1998, the Census Bureau says. Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I went fit on the back of a bumper sticker or The slumping stock market and collapse in back to the office and I saw my senior a political slogan or during a debate at housing prices have also hit middle-class Senator sitting here at this late hour night on the television set. Americans. At the end of March, Americans and I wanted to come down and keep This week’s Wall Street Journal, on had $6.1 trillion in equity in their houses— him company. So I am glad to be here Monday, had an article on the front the value of the house minus mortgages— with you tonight, proud to be from the page with the headline that reads as half the 2006 level, according to the Federal follows: ‘‘As Middle Class Shrinks, Reserve. Economist Edward Wolff of New West tonight with two great Senators York University estimates that the net from Wyoming remembering Malcolm P&G Aims High and Low.’’ P&G is worth—household assets minus debts—of the Wallop’s service in this body. It was Procter & Gamble. There is not a more middle fifth of American households grew by wonderful to hear their remembrances iconic brand in our country’s history 2.4% a year between 2001 and 2007 and of him. I am glad we were here to share when it comes to the middle class than plunged by 26.2% in the following two years. that being from the West. Procter & Gamble. P&G isn’t the only company adjusting its Similar to the Presiding Officer, I Here are some of the things they business. A wide swath of American compa- make: toothpaste; Head & Shoul- nies is convinced that the consumer market spent most of August in our beautiful is bifurcating into high and low ends and State—the most beautiful State in the ders shampoo; detergent; Pam- eroding in the middle. They have begun to United States, if I do say so myself—in per’s diapers—I am glad to be out of alter the way they research, develop and townhall meetings, mostly in red parts those in my house, by the way— market their products. of the State, but in red and blue parts paper towels; fabric softener, Food giant H.J. Heinz Co., for example, is of the State. They do not actually mouthwash; Duracell batteries; developing more products at lower price think of themselves that way, but that toilet paper; Bounce fabric ranges. Luxury retailer Saks Inc. is bol- stering its high-end apparel and accessories is how Washington would talk about it. softener—nobody needed fabric soft- because its wealthiest customers—not those In the townhalls, I start the ener before there was a middle class in drawn to entry-level items—are driving the same way. I say: Ask any question you this country, but they make it—Mr. chain’s growth. have. Bring any criticism you have. I Clean; Pepto Bismol; Pringles; Citigroup calls the phenomenon the ‘‘Con- tell them I was an urban school super- brooms and dusters—we have that in sumer Hourglass Theory’’ and since 2009 has intendent for almost 4 years, it is im- our closet— deodorant; urged investors to focus on companies best possible to hurt my feelings. It was Nyquil cough syrup; Puffs tissues; positioned to cater to the highest-income and lowest-income consumers. It created an beaten out of me a long time ago. Then soap; Covergirl makeup. index of 25 companies, including Estee we have a conversation. That is what Procter & Gamble Lauder Cos. and Saks at the top of the hour- This time, every single meeting makes. That is what they sold to the glass and Family Dollar Stores Inc. and Kel- started with somebody saying: What is great middle class in this country for logg Co. at the bottom. The index posted a

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:57 Sep 16, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G15SE6.061 S15SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S5674 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 15, 2011 56.5% return for investors from its inception Church & Dwight Co. gained momentum. ficult, Mr. Brown said. Over the past two on Dec. 10, 2009, through Sept. 1, 2011. Over Even the company’s huge refill razor years, P&G has increased its research of the the same period, the Dow Jones Industrial market suffered, declining to 80.1% by May growing ranks of low-income American Average returned 11%. from 82.3% in the second-quarter of 2008, as households. ‘‘Companies have thought that if you’re in Energizer Holdings Inc.’s less-expensive ‘‘This has been the most humbling aspect the middle, you’re safe,’’ says Citigroup ana- Schick brand gained nearly three points. of our jobs,’’ says Ms. Jackson. ‘‘The num- lyst Deborah Weinswig. ‘‘But that’s not P&G began changing course in May 2009. bers of Middle America have been shrinking where the consumer is any more—the con- After issuing a sharply lower-than-expected because people have been getting hurt so sumer hourglass is more pronounced now earnings forecast for the company’s 2010 fis- badly economically that they’ve been falling than ever.’’ cal year, then-CEO A.G. Lafley said the com- into lower income.’’ Companies like Tiffany & Co., Coach Inc. pany would take a ‘‘surgical’’ approach to Mr. BENNET. I wanted to read a few and Neiman Marcus Group Inc., which cater cutting prices on some products and develop to the wealthy, racked up outsize sales last more lower-priced goods. ‘‘You have to see excerpts from it because I think it is Christmas and continue to post strong sales. reality as it is,’’ Mr. Lafley said. instructive about what we are doing. Tiffany says its lower-priced silver bau- When the company’s 2009 fiscal year ended P&G’s profits boomed with the increasing bles, once a favorite of middle-class shoppers a month later, P&G’s sales had posted a rare affluence of middle-class households in the craving a small token from the storied jew- drop, falling 3% to $76.7 billion. post-World War II economy. As masses of eler, are now its weakest sellers in the U.S. In August that year, P&G’s newly ap- housewives set up their new suburban homes, ‘‘I think that there’s probably more separa- pointed CEO, company veteran Robert P&G marketers pledged that Tide detergent tion of affluence in the U.S.,’’ Tiffany Chief McDonald, accelerated the new approach of delivered cleaner clothes, Mr. Clean made Operating Officer James Fernandez said in developing products for high- and low-in- floors shinier and Crest toothpaste fought off June. come consumers. more cavities. In the decades since, new fea- Firms catering to low-income consumers, ‘‘We’re going to do this both by tiering our tures like fragrances or ingredient and pack- such as Dollar General Corp., also are post- portfolio up in terms of value as well as aging enhancements kept P&G’s growth ro- ing gains, boosted by formerly middle-class tiering our portfolio down,’’ Mr. McDonald bust. families facing shrunken budgets. Dollar said in September 2009. To monitor the evolving American con- What is happening now? For genera- stores garnered steady sales increases in re- sumer market, P&G executives study the tions Proctor & Gamble’s growth strat- cent years, easily outpacing mainstream Gini index, a widely accepted measure of in- counterparts like Target Corp. and Wal-Mart egy was focused on developing house- come inequality that ranges from zero, when Stores Inc., which typically are more expen- hold staples for the vast American mid- everyone earns the same amount, to one, sive. dle class. Now, P&G executives say when all income goes to only one person. In P&G’s profits boomed with the increasing many of its former middle-market 2009, the most recent calculation available, affluence of middle-class households in the the Gini coefficient totaled 0.468, a 20% rise shoppers are trading down to lower post-World War II economy. As masses of in income disparity over the past 40 years, priced goods—widening the pools of housewives set up their new suburban homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. have and have-not consumers at the ex- P&G marketers pledged that Tide detergent ‘‘We now have a Gini index similar to the delivered cleaner clothes, Mr. Clean made pense of the middle. That has forced Philippines and Mexico—you’d never have P&G, which estimates it has at least floors shinier and Crest toothpaste fought off imagined that,’’ says Phyllis Jackson, P&G’s more cavities. In the decades since, new fea- one product—and you heard the list, so vice president of consumer market knowl- this won’t be surprising in 98 percent of tures like fragrances or ingredient and pack- edge for North America. ‘‘I don’t think we’ve aging enhancements kept P&G’s growth ro- typically thought about America as a coun- American households—to fundamen- bust. try with big income gaps to this extent.’’ tally change the way it develops and Despite its aggressive expansion around Over the past two years, P&G has acceler- sells its goods. the world, P&G still needs to win over a ated its research, product-development and For the first time in 38 years, for ex- healthy percentage of the American popu- marketing approach to target the newly di- lation, because the U.S. market remains its ample, the company launched a new vided American market. dish soap in the United States at a bar- biggest and most profitable. In the fiscal Globally, P&G divides consumers into year ended June 30, the U.S. delivered about three income groups. The highest-earning gain price. P&G’s rollout of Gain Dish 37% of P&G’s $82.6 billion in annual sales and ‘‘ones’’ historically have been the primary Soap says a lot about the health of the an estimated 60% of its $11.8 billion in profit. bracket P&G chased in the U.S. as they are middle class. The world’s largest P&G says that Americans per capita spend the least price sensitive and most swayed by maker of consumer products is now about $96 a year on its products, compared claims of superior product performance. But betting that the squeeze on middle with around $4 in China. as the ‘‘twos,’’ or lower-income American America will be long lasting. During the early stages of the recession, consumers, grew in size during the recession, If you needed any example of what P&G executives defended its long-time ap- P&G decided to target them aggressively, proach of making best-in-class products and our families are struggling with in Col- too. P&G doesn’t specifically target the low- orado every single day, here is a busi- charging a premium, expecting middle-class est-income ‘‘threes’’ in the U.S., since they Americans to pay up. comprise a small percentage of the popu- ness plan that is modeled on a perpet- But cash-strapped shoppers, P&G learned, lation and such consumers are typically ually shrinking middle class by a com- aren’t as willing to splurge on household sta- heavily subsidized by government aid. pany whose whole business model in ples with extra features. Droves of con- At the high end, it launched its most-ex- their history was based on a rising sumers started switching to cheaper brands, pensive skin-care regimen, Pro-X in middle class. slowing P&G’s sales and profit gains and 2009, which includes a starter kit costing denting its dominant market share posi- I will skip the next one in the inter- around $60. Previously, the Olay line had est of time. I will go right to the end. tions. topped out around $25. Last year, the com- In late 2008, unit sales gains of P&G’s pany launched Gillette Fusion ProGlide ra- I want to show some numbers. This was cheaper brands began outpacing its more ex- zors at a price of $10 to $12, a premium to the conclusion of the article: pensive lines despite receiving far less adver- Gillette Fusion razors, which sell for $8 to To monitor the evolving American con- tising. As the recession wore on, U.S. mar- $10, and Gillette Mach3, priced at $8 to $9. sumer market, P&G executives study the ket-share gains for P&G’s cheaper dia- At the lower end, its new Gain dish soap, Gini index, a widely accepted measure of in- pers and Gain detergent increased faster launched last year, can sell for about half come inequality that ranges from zero, when than its premium-priced and Tide per ounce of the company’s premium everyone earns the same amount, to one brands. Hand Renewal dish soap, which hit stores in when all income goes to only one person. In At the same time, lower-priced competi- late 2008. 2009, the most recent calculation available, tors nabbed market share from some of Developing products that squarely target the Gini coefficient totaled 0.468, a 20 percent P&G’s biggest brands. P&G’s dominant fab- the high and low is proving difficult for a rise in income disparity over the past 40 ric-softener sheets business, including its company long accustomed to aiming for a years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Bounce brand, fell five percentage points to giant, mainstream group. ‘‘We now have a Gini index similar to the 60.2% of the market as lower-priced options Conquering the high end is difficult be- Philippines and Mexico—you’d never have from Sun Products Corp. and private-label cause it usually involves a smaller quantity imagined that,’’ says Phyllis Jackson, P&G’s brands picked up sales from the second quar- of products. Vice President of consumer market knowl- ter of 2008 through May 2011, according to a ‘‘We do big volumes of things really well,’’ edge for North America. ‘‘I don’t think we Deutsche Bank analysis of data from mar- said Bruce Brown, P&G’s chief technology typically thought about America as a coun- ket-research firm SymphonyIRI. officer. ‘‘Things that are smaller quantities, try with big income gaps to this extent.’’ P&G’s grasp of the liquid laundry deter- with high appeal, we’re learning how to do gent category, led by its iconic Tide brand, that.’’ I don’t think we typically thought also posted a rare slip over the same period Likewise, the cost challenges at the bot- about America that way either. It is as bargain-priced options from Sun and tom of the pyramid are also proving dif- not who we purport to be or who we are

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:57 Sep 16, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A15SE6.040 S15SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 15, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5675 going to be. In order to put us on a 21st century, not the products and serv- people who came to my townhalls and path that will actually produce a rising ices of the 20th century. That is the said they cannot afford to send their middle class again, instead of a divi- only way we are going to put these peo- kids to the best schools. They sent sion among the very wealthy at the top ple back to work. We could be invest- their first kid to the fancy school, but and the poorest of the citizens at the ing in infrastructure too; that would they cannot send their second kid bottom, we are going to have to come help. there. They are upset that we are not together on some pretty serious This line is median family income, getting done what we ought to be get- choices. which is what I started this conversa- ting done. I know there have been some who tion with. This is a terrible story. It is What we see on this other chart is argue that this is all a problem that is not just a sad story, it is a terrible that this decline was happening al- caused by too many regulations, and I story. That is that line for median fam- ready because the economy wasn’t lift- am the first to say we should only have ily income. It was over $53,000 in 1999. ing all boats, and it was widening in the regulations that we need. Some say It is $49,000 today. It is almost $4,000 equality terribly. I have things tonight the threat of any revenue—even at a less in real dollars in a decade. that talk about that. Then the reces- time when we are collecting less rev- I could have brought in another slide sion accelerated that decline. They lost enue as a percent of our economy than which shows that this trend has actu- 2.3 percent of median family income in we have over the last 30 years—some ally been going on a little longer than the recession, which is more than any are saying any revenue is choking off that. Think about that. It means half of the previous recessions, going back this recovery. of the families in 1999 were earning less to the Great Depression. So that is how Let me show you something very sur- than $53,000, and half were earning tough this is. The Senator is right. If we keep prising. This is high-tech Senate stuff. more than $53,000. Today half are earn- doing what we have done for the decade Here are some lines on a chart. I know ing less than $49,000 and half are earn- that led us into this recession, if we go people probably cannot see the detail ing more than that. back to those policies and readopt at home. They can get it on the Web These are folks who have done abso- those policies, and that is where we end site. This blue line, from 1992 to 2010, lutely everything that anybody ever up, we will continue to see this slide. which is about 20 years, represents asked them to do. But I don’t care Mr. SCHUMER. I thank my col- what is called the productivity index. whether you are a family or a business, league. It shows that we have become far more it makes it very hard for you to make Mr. BENNET. I thank the Senator productive as an economy over the last ends meet if that is the slope that you from New York. This gives a sense of 20 years. It is not surprising that we are on. I argue that we cannot consume the widening inequality that has hap- have, and we have because we have had one more decade of this new century, pened. This is average income, which is a technological revolution that has with economic policies that are leading different from median income. The made us more productive. us here, and expect to have a vibrant amazing thing is, while middle-class See at the very end where the reces- middle class. I want to be in an econ- income has been falling, and it fell sion is, look what happened to the pro- omy where Procter & Gamble has to throughout this 10 years, average in- ductivity index during our recession— change their business model to catch come actually went up because a few because with every single month that up with a rising middle class, not be in people at the very top of the economy went by we were losing jobs; American a position that they are in today where did incredibly well over this period of business was doing what they had to they believe they have to bet on a fall- time. They have done incredibly well. do, which was figure out how to get ing middle class. This is the very top 1 percent of our through the recession and get to the Mr. SCHUMER. Will my colleague earners who went from here to up here. other end; how to ring out every effi- yield for a question? The top 1 percent saw that, and here ciency they could, how to make them- Mr. BENNET. Sure. is everybody else. This red line is 90 selves as productive as they could. Mr. SCHUMER. I compliment him on percent of the people in America. Their They did and they have. We are much this outstanding speech. The hour is average income was flat from 1967 to more productive today than we were late and many colleagues have gone 2006. That is 90 percent of the people here. home, so I hope he will send this to who live in the United States. It is The green line is our gross domestic every one of our colleagues. It has been hard to see how people can get ahead product, our Nation’s economy per cap- a for me to stay and listen. under circumstances like that. ita, the amount of money per person The only question I wanted to ask— It is no wonder that we have these that our economy is generating. Here and we talked about this last night at alarming numbers this week from the is an amazing fact. This is where we dinner—here is another interesting fact Census Bureau which show there are were before the recession. This is where amid so many that my colleague 46.2 million Americans now living in we are today. Our economy is the same brought up in this great speech. poverty. That is a 46-percent increase size today as it was before we went into If we look at that chart, from 1999 to since 2000. I had to look to make sure the recession. We are producing about 2007, before the recession hit, median I was reading that right. Since 2000, the same economic output as a nation income didn’t go up. when 31 million people were in poverty, that we were producing before we went Mr. BENNET. Exactly. it has gone up to 46 million people in into this downturn. I was shocked when Mr. SCHUMER. That is a question we poverty today, and 22 percent of the I learned this number. have to ponder. We need great minds children in the United States of Amer- But look at this. Here is our employ- like the Senator’s to figure out the an- ica tonight are living in poverty. Over ment level. Here is our employment swer. If we just blame the recession one-fifth of the children living in the level today. We have 14 million people and think it will come back up, it United States tonight are living in pov- unemployed, but we are producing won’t. The kinds of structural changes erty. And, by the way, as a former su- about the same as we were before we my colleague talks about are so needed perintendent of the Denver public went into this horrible recession. if we are not going to have a contin- schools, I can tell you we are not doing That is a structural unemployment ually declining middle class, even in a ourselves any favors when the chances problem. That is not a problem that period of growth. Am I right about that of a child living in poverty in this will be solved by slogans, and it is not assumption? country graduating from college are going to be a problem that is solved by Mr. BENNET. I thank the Senator roughly 9 in 100, which is what their companies that have become much from New York. He is right about that. chances are today. Ninety-one out of more efficient at what they do. It is What he will see on another slide—not one hundred poor kids in the country going to be solved by companies that tonight—is that we were already on can’t expect to get a college degree; will be started tomorrow and the day this decline. This is not news to people can’t expect to be anywhere but on the after tomorrow—small businesses, ven- living in our States. It is not news to margin of our democracy or our econ- ture-backed firms, people who are in- people trying to figure out how to omy. I wonder what effect that will venting the technology of the 21st cen- make ends meet week by week. This is have on our median family income tury, the products and services of the not news to them. It is not news to the going forward.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 03:57 Sep 16, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G15SE6.064 S15SEPT1 tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S5676 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 15, 2011 This is the last slide, because I know Today was a good day here. I was was passed out of the Senate by unani- the hour is late, and it is one that was pleased. It has been a long time. I was mous consent on December 7, 2006, and in the Washington Post. I am not going pleased to join my senior Senator and signed into law shortly thereafter. This to bother to describe the details, but about 30 other Democrats and Repub- landmark legislation included provi- you can find it on the Web site and it licans at an event to say it is time for sions relating to the diagnosis and is worth looking at. It is worth looking us to think big about solving this coun- treatment of persons with autism spec- at. try’s fiscal challenges and that we are trum disorders, ASD, and expanded and This red line—and it is the only thing anxious to work together to do it. We intensified biomedical research on au- I will talk about from this slide—shows are anxious to create a comprehensive tism, including a focus on possible en- what the bottom 90 percent—and it plan to deal with it. We should be tak- vironmental causes. Additionally, it seems ridiculous to talk about the bot- ing exactly the same approach on jobs. provides for detailed surveillance by tom 90 percent—what the 90 percent of Getting our fiscal house in order is the Centers for Disease Control and earners in this country earned as a per- incredibly important to encourage and Prevention, CDC, of the increasing centage of the income that everybody inspire confidence in our markets and prevalence of autism spectrum dis- earned in the United States from be- confidence in our businesses and con- orders, ASD. The Act also reconsti- fore the 1920s to today, essentially. For fidence in our local economies. But our tutes the Interagency Autism Coordi- the vast majority of time or some ma- work won’t stop there. We need to re- nating Committee to advise the Sec- jority of time in the period from World invent our Tax Code so it is driving in- retary, coordinate the federal response War II—the end of World War II—until novation and driving a rising middle to autism and develop the annual stra- the present, the bottom 90 percent of class. We need to reimagine our regu- tegic plan for autism research. earners earned roughly 70 percent of latory code so it is doing the same. We I am greatly disappointed that my the income in the United States—a ma- need to educate the children in this colleagues on the other side are play- jority of the income, 70 percent of the country so they can take on the jobs of ing politics with this bill. On Sep- income—for a long time. Now they are the 21st century, because the jobs of tember 30, just a couple of short weeks earning roughly 50 percent. The bottom the 20th century are not coming back. from now, the programs authorized 90 percent is earning roughly 50 percent We will be waiting in vain for those under the CAA sunset, and with them of the income. That means, by the way, jobs to come back. the myriad programs which have the other 10 percent are earning rough- The people in my meetings back in helped families better understand, ly 50 percent of the income. That is Colorado are demanding—that is the treat and live with ASD. Now is not the how it is distributed. It is a unique mo- right way to say it, they are demand- time for politics. Now is the time to re- ment in the country’s history, actu- ing—we work together. Our State is a authorize the Combating Autism Act ally, uniquely unbalanced. In fact, we third Republican, a third Independent, so families living with ASD can con- have to go back to 1928—the year be- and a third Democrat, but they are tinue receiving the care and support fore the market crashed, the year be- Coloradans before any of that, and they they deserve. fore Black Friday, the year before our are Americans maybe even before that, f financial markets collapsed and put us and it is time for us to meet their NATIONAL POW/MIA RECOGNITION into the Great Depression—to find in- standard. DAY come disparity that looks like the in- Tonight we had votes on the reau- Mr LUGAR. Mr. President, Sep- come disparity we face today. thorization of FEMA—our emergency tember 16 is National POW/MIA Rec- In my view, the 20th century rep- agency—to respond to the incredible ognition Day. resented a period in this country’s his- tragedies that have happened around Throughout history, American men tory of limitless opportunity, limitless the country. It got 62 votes and we and women have stood up to defend economic growth, limitless educational were able to pass it. We had a vote on freedom by courageous and selfless attainment. Our democracy succeeded the transportation extension, the FAA service across the world. Today, 46,010 in generating an economy that gave ev- reauthorization, and I think the vote American men and women are actively erybody a fighting chance. Maybe a was 92 to 6, with Democrats and Repub- engaged in uniform in Iraq with a total definition of whether we are giving licans moving this country forward. of 84,310 deployed to the region aboard people a fighting chance is whether That is what we have to do in order to ships at sea, on bases, and air stations middle-class income is rising or falling. get this economy going again. The peo- in the region supporting Iraq oper- Now we are in a period where it is fall- ple in Colorado today are saying: We ations. Mr. President, 98,900 military ing and we find ourselves in the posi- want more of that and less of the bick- personnel are deployed in Afghanistan, tion of producing the same domestic ering, more problem solving and less with a total of 131,900 deployed to the product we were producing before this finger pointing. My hope is that on an region aboard ships at sea, on bases, recession with 14 million more people occasion such as today, when we actu- and air stations in the region sup- unemployed. ally have made some progress, no mat- porting Afghanistan operations. Others The economists tell us we have re- ter how limited, it may give us the are engaged in Libya operations. All covered, that we are in a recovery. The chance to move forward together. are fighting to ensure our security here technical definition is that we are in a Mr. President, I appreciate the at home, to protect the life and liberty recovery because the technical defini- Chair’s endurance and allowing me to of our friends and allies, and to pro- tion is based on whether GDP is grow- speak on the floor tonight. mote American values. ing. That is a very cruel definition of f Amidst the current economic crisis recovery for the 14 million people who and countless other challenges, one COMBATING AUTISM are unemployed. It is a very cruel defi- thing is clear, members of Congress nition of recovery for a middle class Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I and the executive branch cannot be- that is getting wiped out because me- want to address a very important issue come distracted from a commitment to dian family income is falling. that is currently before the Senate. ensure the return of POWs and MIAs at Look, the people who live in Colo- This past Tuesday I submitted a bill to the end of hostilities. This commit- rado, notwithstanding all of this, are the Senate—the Combating Autism Re- ment must continue through pains- optimistic. They are optimistic about authorization Act, S. 1094—for a unani- taking on-site investigations, diplo- their communities and they are opti- mous consent agreement. Since then, matic negotiations and complete ex- mistic about their families. It gets the Republicans have blocked this bi- aminations of records following a con- tougher and tougher, but they rise to partisan bill from passing. The Health, flict. the occasion. And you know what. That Education, Labor and Pensions Com- As we look forward with resolve, I is what they are asking us to do. They mittee reported this legislation unani- would like to recognize the work that are asking us to knock off the political mously on September 7, 2011. the many POW/MIA organizations have games that seem to be only about My legislation is a simple 3-year ex- done, led by the Department of Defense Washington and seem to have nothing tension of the Combating Autism Act, Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Of- to do with the challenges they face. CAA, of 2006. This original legislation fice, DPMO. The painstaking work of

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