E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 158 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2012 No. 58 Senate The Senate met at 12 noon and was ator from the State of Michigan, to perform through the amendments to the bill to- called to order by the Honorable CARL the duties of the Chair. morrow we will see a strong bipartisan LEVIN, a Senator from the State of DANIEL K. INOUYE, vote to modernize the Postal Service Michigan. President pro tempore. and save this important institution Mr. LEVIN thereupon assumed the from insolvency. This institution is so PRAYER chair as Acting President pro tempore. important it is contained in our Con- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- f stitution. Once we pass postal reform tomor- fered the following prayer: RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY row, as I expect we will, the Senate Let us pray. LEADER O God, who does wondrous things, will move on to the consideration of blessed be Your glorious Name forever. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- another very important piece of legis- Remake us in Your image and bring pore. The majority leader is recog- lation, the reauthorization of the Vio- our wandering, wayward hearts under nized. lence Against Women Act. Since its Your control. f passage in 1994, this legislation has re- duced the annual incidence of domestic Lord, infuse our Senators with a love SENATE CHALLENGES for You that will make their obedience violence by more than 50 percent. willing and joyful. Astound them with Mr. REID. Mr. President, America Despite that incredible progress, we Your limitless resources and supply all has the best, brightest, and most dedi- still have work to do to keep women their needs from Your bounty. Keep cated workers in the world. All those and their families safe. Three women them humble with the conviction that workers need is a fair shot to succeed. die in this country every day at the they can’t breathe a breath, think a But right now many workers in this hands of abusive partners—on week- thought, speak a word, or perform an country don’t enjoy the same rights as ends, all days, no days off. For every action without Your mercy and grace. the wealthy CEOs; that is, the right to victim who is killed there are nine Grant our supplications. We pray in negotiate the terms of their employ- more who narrowly escape death and Your sacred Name. Amen. ment. are beaten savagely. It would be unac- A new rule from the National Labor ceptable to step back from our national f Relations Board will remove unneces- commitment to stop violence and sary obstacles to workers’ rights to abuse now. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE form a union. I solidly support this This legislation was the brainchild of The Honorable CARL LEVIN led the rule, and I urge my colleagues to vote Vice President JOE BIDEN when he was Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: tomorrow against the resolution of dis- a Member of the Senate. It does very I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the approval which strikes down this com- important work. For example, it allows United States of America, and to the Repub- monsense rule. communities to get support in setting lic for which it stands, one nation under God, The new rule doesn’t change or do up shelters for these women and their indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. anything to encourage unions, but it families to go in secret. doesn’t discourage them either. It just f The legislation was unanimously re- gives workers the ability to vote yes or authorized by the Senate in 2000 and APPOINTMENT OF ACTING no while minimizing the chance of in- 2005. This effort should be—and tradi- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE timidation and stalling. tionally has been—above partisanship. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate I hope that proves to be the case again The PRESIDING OFFICER. The will vote on a number of amendments this year. This year it has 60 cospon- clerk will please read a communication to a bipartisan postal reform bill. This sors and the support of 47 State attor- to the Senate from the President pro important legislation will safeguard neys general. I cannot imagine why my tempore (Mr. INOUYE). more than 8 million jobs of people who Republican colleagues would oppose The legislative clerk read the fol- depend on a vibrant postal system. It such a worthy piece of legislation. I am lowing letter: will also protect postal customers— hopeful and I am confident they won’t. U.S. SENATE, particularly elderly and disabled Amer- By joining Democrats to pass this PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, icans and people who live in rural parts legislation, Republicans can help us Washington, DC, April 23, 2012. To the Senate: of this country. send a clear message that this country Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, I am pleased we reached an agree- doesn’t tolerate domestic violence. If of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby ment to allow Senators to offer amend- the Senate doesn’t complete the work appoint the Honorable CARL LEVIN, a Sen- ments to this bill. I hope once we work on this critical issue before we recess ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S2559 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 05:57 Apr 24, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23AP6.000 S23APPT1 jbell on DSK7SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S2560 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 23, 2012 for this work period, we will continue Millions of Americans are still look- and in the process we will be reminding after we come back to try to work ing for work. The Federal debt con- people to focus on what the President through any problems. I don’t see any, tinues to cast a shadow over the Amer- does rather than what he says. Mr. President. ican dream. Despite assurances made Look, at a time when America’s cor- But the Violence Against Women Act last year, there is no budget in sight porate income tax is now the highest in isn’t the only pressing matter the Sen- from the Democratic-controlled Sen- the world, we should be looking for ate has to complete the next work pe- ate. As the Associated Press reported ways to make it easier for businesses riod. We must begin work on a number today, about half of college graduates to hire, not harder. At a time when un- of appropriations bills, consider addi- can’t even find a decent job in this employment is above 13 percent for tional judicial nominations, and take country. I understand why the Presi- young people between the ages of 20 up legislation to cut taxes for small dent wouldn’t want to talk about these and 24 in this country, we should be businesses so that they can expand and things, but that doesn’t change the finding ways to make it more likely hire. fact that he should, and it doesn’t they can find work, not less likely. But Cybersecurity legislation, I have change the fact that his policies are this is the Obama economy. This is the been told, the House will take up soon, the problem. President’s approach. This is the pain- and I appreciate that. We must address The American people elected this ful legacy of his failed economic poli- the looming crisis for millions of stu- President to change direction, not to cies. The President may not want to dents in America: the July 1 deadline change the subject. They elected the discuss it, but Republicans will. for interest rates to double on Federal President to change direction, not f student loans. That is fast approach- change the subject. Yet, day after day, ing. week after week, as our Nation’s chal- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME With middle-class families struggling lenges deepen and another economic The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- and fewer families able to afford the crisis draws nearer, this President pore. Under the previous order, leader- rising cost of higher education, we can- wants to change the topic. He wants ship time is reserved. not afford to put college out of reach people to either focus on something f for more promising young people. Dou- else or to overlook the things he is ac- bling interest rates from 3.4 percent to tually doing to make the situation VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAU- 6.8 percent—effectively socking 7.4 mil- worse. THORIZATION ACT OF 2011—MO- lion students with $1,000 a year in stu- Let’s take, for example, gas prices. TION TO PROCEED dent loan costs—would do irreparable Gas prices have more than doubled harm to our ability to educate young The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- under this President. Yet, rather than pore. Under the previous order, the men and women. doing something about it, he blames it Today Americans have more student Senate will resume consideration of on speculators and energy companies. loan debt than credit card debt. Why the motion to proceed to S. 1925, which Instead of increasing domestic produc- would we want to double what they the clerk will report. tion, he is focused on a plan to tax pay? The average graduate owes $25,000 The legislative clerk read as follows: when they graduate. Getting a college American energy manufacturers—a Motion to proceed to S.