13542 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 157, Pt. 10 September 14, 2011 SENATE—Wednesday, September 14, 2011 The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was SCHEDULE I really appreciate, Madam Presi- called to order by the Honorable Mr. REID. Madam President, fol- dent, and I have tried to say individ- KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, a Senator from lowing leader remarks, the Senate will ually—I have been to each Republican the State of New York. be in morning business for 1 hour. The Senator—the Senators who have voted Republicans will control the first half to help us move forward on funding for PRAYER and the majority will control the final FEMA, I really appreciate it. As you The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- half. Following morning business, the know, we have a majority, but it is not fered the following prayer: Senate will resume consideration of a huge majority, and to get things done Let us pray. the motion to proceed to H.J. Res. 66, on issues that are specialized, we need As we come into Your presence which is now a resolution regarding seven Republicans, and we have eight today, O Lord, we, like Isaiah of old, Burma sanctions and the legislative ve- Republicans in this instance who need to be cleansed from our sinful- hicle for additional FEMA funding. We helped us pass this legislation. All the ness. Forgive us for our failures and expect to be in consideration of this Democratic Senators voted for this, cleanse us from all unrighteousness. legislation today. We also hope to con- and we got those Republicans. This al- Today, use our lawmakers so that sider the FAA and highway extension, lows us now to fund FEMA. their actions will help provide for the which was received from the House yes- I have told my friends on the Repub- security and well-being of all people. terday. Senators will be notified when lican side of the aisle, if it is some- Sustain our Senators with the protec- votes are scheduled. thing that—if they want to change the tion of Your providence and give them f numbers around, let’s have a discussion on that. But right now, people are des- Your peace. Give them also a spirit of FEMA VICTIMS unity and the wisdom to have respect perate. Mr. REID. Madam President, the one for the other. Last night around 6 or 6:30, I spoke to House sent us a package, and I appre- Lord, thank You for the redemption the man who is in charge of FEMA, and ciate that very much. It funds the he said we are spending money every You provide for Your people. Holy and highway bill for 6 months, and it funds awesome is Your Name. Amen. day on Lee and on Irene. These are not the FEMA bill for 4 months. That is a couple of women; one is a tropical f terrific. We should move to this as storm, and the other is a hurricane. quickly as we can; however, we are told PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE They are not spending money other it is going to be held up by the Repub- places. Why? Because they don’t have The Honorable KIRSTEN E. GILLI- licans. If someone wants to have a vote the money. BRAND led the Pledge of Allegiance, as on an amendment as it relates to this, As the Presiding Officer knows, there follows: I will be happy to discuss this with the are people in her State who have lost I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Republican leader and see if we can their homes. This is all up and down work something out. In the instance I United States of America, and to the Repub- the coast, from the coast of Florida up am talking about, however, the Sen- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, to Maine, and even places inward. As indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ator said he doesn’t want to vote; he we talked about yesterday, some of the just wants to hold up the bill. He said f very severe damage was not on the if we put in what we got from the coastline but, for example, in the State APPOINTMENT OF ACTING House and stuck his provision in that, of Vermont, the worst storm likely PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE then he would be happy. Well, I guess anyone would. It is a pretty good way they have ever had, and those people The PRESIDING OFFICER. The are trying to get from one place to the clerk will please read a communication to legislate around here—just be a dic- tator and say: Either take this or leave next, but they have scores of bridges to the Senate from the President pro it. That isn’t the way things work that are inoperable. And that money— tempore (Mr. INOUYE). around here. We have to have votes on what money they have left in FEMA— The assistant bill clerk read the fol- issues to find out how people feel. will run out I think he said on the 25th. lowing letter: I am convinced his issue would lose If things keep going the way they are, U.S. SENATE, overwhelmingly, but he is holding up on the 25th of this month, they will be PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, this legislation, and we are in a posi- out of money—no money. Washington, DC, September 14, 2011. tion now legislatively that I can’t get So we need to get this done. Proce- To the Senate: to this bill. We cannot get to this bill durally, we are on this, and I can’t Under the provisions of rule I, para- prior to Friday, when the FAA expires. move to the highway bill and the FAA graph 3, of the Standing Rules of the So it is unfortunate that is the posi- bill. And, I repeat, the FAA bill ex- Senate, I hereby appoint the Honorable tion we are in. One Senator is holding pires. So I hope we can have something KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, a Senator from this up, and what it will do is—the worked out with this Senator so we can the State of New York, to perform the highway bill does not expire on Friday; get this bill done. duties of the Chair. FAA does. But they are a package. If The disasters facing this country are DANIEL K. INOUYE, untoward. Forty-eight States have al- President pro tempore. this continues, we will have about 80,000 people out of work by Saturday, ready had emergency declarations. Mrs. GILLIBRAND thereupon as- 4,000 who work for the FAA and about Some States have had multiple emer- sumed the chair as Acting President 70,000 or 75,000 who are working on air- gency declarations. Only two States— pro tempore. port construction jobs. In Las Vegas, West Virginia and Michigan—have not f for example, there is a new tower being had emergency declarations. We have built because of McCarran Field being had in the State of Texas, as an exam- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY overwhelmed—the old tower can’t han- ple, 20,000 fires since the first of the LEADER dle things well—and those people will year; on Sunday alone, 19 fires. Mil- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- be laid off. That is the way it is all lions of acres have burned, and 2,000 pore. The majority leader is recog- over the country. That is very unfortu- homes have burned to the ground. That nized. nate. is what FEMA is all about. ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. VerDate Sep 11 2014 08:45 Nov 07, 2014 Jkt 099102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR11\S14SE1.000 S14SE1 rmajette on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD September 14, 2011 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 157, Pt. 10 13543 FEMA is an organization that is rel- Mr. REID. Madam President, I would ministration continuing to fail to act? atively new, but as a country we have object to any further proceedings with It has been 1,538 days since the Korea been helping people who have experi- respect to these three bills. agreement was signed. It has been 1,540 enced disasters since we have been a The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- days since the Panama agreement was country. pore. Objection is heard. The bills will signed. It has been 1,758 days since we In the early 1800s, there was a big fire be placed on the calendar. completed negotiations with Colombia. in the State of New Hampshire. I be- The Senator from Nebraska. As I said, I have colleagues with me lieve the date was 1813. The Federal f today who are in a much better posi- Government stepped in to help with tion than I would be to explain the ORDER OF PROCEDURE the rebuilding there. That is the way it positive impacts of these trade agree- should be. That is what our country is Mr. JOHANNS. Madam President, I ments. I am going to ask that Senator all about. I am sorry, Madam Presi- ask unanimous consent that I be al- ROBERTS speak first, Senator PORTMAN, dent, it was 1803. In 1803, the Federal lowed to engage in a colloquy with my Senator HOEVEN, Senator BLUNT, and Government played a role in rebuilding Republican colleagues—Senators ROB- Senator ISAKSON.