[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15981-S15984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       DEMOCRATIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, we have reached the end of a long, hectic, 
at times contentious and frustrating but unquestionably productive 
first year of the 110th Congress.
  We welcomed back our friend and colleague, Senator Tim Johnson, who 
has made an extraordinary recovery, and we were so happy this week to 
see him walk in the Senate Chamber.
  We lost a friend in Craig Thomas, said hello to his successor, Dr. 
John Barrasso, and said goodbye to Senator Trent Lott last night.
  We held an unusual three Congressional Gold Medal ceremonies, three 
of them this year. That is very unusual.
  We honored the Tuskegee Airmen for showing America that valor is 
color-blind.

[[Page S15982]]

  We awarded a Gold Medal to Dr. Norm Borlaugh for putting food on the 
tables of billions of people--not millions but billions. This scientist 
figured out a way to grow a lot of food very quickly.
  The Dalai Lama was awarded the Gold Medal for planting seeds of peace 
throughout the world.
  Of course, we tried to address the major issues that affect us at 
home and abroad. Although these efforts occasionally ended in 
frustration, the record will show we also made real progress on behalf 
of the American people in spite of the fact that yesterday the record 
was broken--62 filibusters in 1 year; in 1 year, they broke the 2-year 
record. The record previously was 61 filibusters in a 2-year period. 
Yesterday, it was broken in a 1-year period.
  But as we return home to spend the holidays with our families and 
constituents, all 100 Senators can say with confidence that we have 
taken steps to make our country safer, stronger, and more secure--I 
guess after last night, with Senator Lott's resignation, all 99 of us.
  This Congress put working families first. We passed the first 
increase in the minimum wage in a decade to get the hardest working but 
least paid Americans more to make ends meet. Remember, 60 percent of 
the people who draw minimum wage are women, and for the majority of 
those women, that is the only money they get for themselves and their 
families.
  We passed a bill to help Americans avoid foreclosures and keep their 
homes. According to RealtyTrac, Nevada has seen 47,000 foreclosure 
filings this year alone. This legislation is desperately needed.
  We invested in community health centers, high-risk insurance pools, 
and rural hospitals to give lower income Americans a better chance for 
healthy lives.
  We passed--and I was with the President as he signed it at the 
Department of Energy building today; he signed a landmark energy bill 
which will save consumers money on their heating bills, lower gas 
prices, and begin to stem the tide of global warming. For the first 
time in 32 years, we have increased fuel-efficiency standards--
extremely important. We could have done better. I am happy we got this 
done. We were one vote short because we could not get another 
Republican, one vote short of passing legislation dealing with energy 
that would have been so wonderful. It would have given long-term tax 
incentives for our great entrepreneurs in America to invest in solar, 
wind, geothermal, bio. But we will be back in the next few months and 
try that again. I feel confident that we will pick up another vote.
  We also have invested in education with funding for title 1, special 
education, teacher quality grants, afterschool programs, Heat Start, 
and student financial aid--the most significant change in higher 
education as it relates to keeping kids in school and letting them go 
to school since the GI bill of rights. On higher education, we believe 
that all children, regardless of the wealth of their parents, should 
have an opportunity to go to college.
  This Congress also made our country safer.
  After 3 years of inaction by the Republican-controlled Congress, we 
finally have implemented the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, 
which helps secure our most at-risk cities. It gives our first 
responders the communications tools they need in an emergency and 
improves oversight of our intelligence and homeland security systems.
  We provided funds to replace the equipment our National Guard and 
Reserve have lost because of the war in Iraq.
  We secured permanent funds for western wildfires and other disaster 
relief that makes our country safer.
  This Congress has supported our courageous troops with more than 
words but action. Despite the President's opposition, we gave every man 
and women in uniform an across-the-board 3.5-percent pay raise. We 
provided much needed funds for body armor and other protective gear to 
keep our troops safe during this combat that they fight in Afghanistan 
and Iraq.
  We exposed the awful neglect at Walter Reed and other military health 
care centers. We passed the Wounded Warrior Act and other legislation 
that ensures the veterans receive the physical and mental health care 
they need.
  A fair reading of the Record will show that we have not accomplished 
everything we had hoped. This was not for lack of effort by us. On 
issue after issue, a majority of the Senate expressed support for 
change, only to be thwarted by Republicans in the minority wedded to 
business as usual, the status quo.
  On Iraq, a bipartisan majority of Senators consistently supported 
changing course. Like the American people, this majority is saddened to 
say that after nearly 5 years, nearly 4,000 American lives lost, more 
than 30,000 wounded, a third of them grievously wounded, and some say 
as much as $800 billion spent, there appears to be no end in sight for 
the Iraq war. But last night, I think we showed that even Republicans 
are losing support for this war. The President asked for $200 billion; 
they got $70 billion. So even the Republicans understood that the 
President should not have a blank check.
  Unfortunately, the President still refused to heed the call of the 
American people to responsibly end the war, as Republican supporters in 
Congress continue to stand by him. On more than 40 separate occasions, 
the President's supporters denied the Senate from even voting on a 
change in course. Only once did they step aside and let the majority 
speak, and on this occasion the President wielded his veto pen and 
halted our efforts to begin a phased redeployment of our forces from 
Iraq so we can focus on those who attacked us on September 11, bin 
Laden and al-Qaida.
  Just today, the Washington Post reports that the people of Iraq 
believe they would be better able to reconcile the nation without our 
combat presence.
  A major story in the Washington Post today pronounced that the Shias 
and all their different sects, the Sunnis and all the different Sunni 
sects, and the Kurds, all agree that the invasion is the problem in 
Iraq today. We are an occupying force. I quote: The Iraqis believe our 
presence ``is the primary root of the violent differences among them 
and see the departure of `occupying forces' as the key to national 
reconciliation . . . ''
  This has been clear for a long time, and the President should start 
listening. The war will soon be starting its sixth year. Even as the 
war rages on, this Congress has made a difference. Before Democrats 
took control of Congress, the President's Secretary of Defense was 
named Rumsfeld. He and the Bush White House and the Cheney White House 
conducted the war with total impunity. No dissent was tolerated. The 
patriotism of those who raised questions was attacked openly. Billions 
of taxpayer dollars were given to companies such as Halliburton with 
little or no accountability. But this year, Democrats have fought the 
President's recklessness in the harsh light of day. We forced the 
President to set benchmarks for legislative and political progress and 
required regular reports on whether these benchmarks were being met, 
which has shown that the surge has failed to reach its main objective--
as set forth by the President, not us--political reconciliation. We 
compelled General Petraeus to testify. He has said repeatedly the war 
cannot be won militarily; it can only be won politically. We brought to 
light the Blackwater controversy and have begun to untangle the web of 
massive financial mismanagement in Iraq that has cost American 
taxpayers dearly.
  Do I feel enough has been done? Of course not. Too many Republican 
Senators continue to fall in lockstep with the President on the war. It 
is frustrating for all of us who so desperately want to change course. 
The Iraq war has not been the only source of frustration. Bush-Cheney 
Republicans have set an all-time record for obstruction. They have 
almost made a sport of it. If my Republican colleagues had reached 
across the aisle to work with us more often, as we tried to do with 
them, they would have found us willing and eager to find more common 
ground.
  Children's health insurance, about 15 million people have no health 
insurance in the country. But sadly, some of those people are little 
people. They are children. What we tried to do and did do on a 
bipartisan basis--and I appreciate my Republican colleagues for 
sticking with us--we passed twice a

[[Page S15983]]

children's health initiative that the President vetoed, a bill that 
would give 10 million children the opportunity to go to the doctor when 
they are not feeling well or even maybe for a checkup. They would have 
a place to go if they were in an automobile accident or some injury was 
suffered. The President vetoed that. So what do we have now? We have 
5.5 million less children who have more limited benefits than we would 
have given them. Instead of 10 million children with a very nice 
insurance policy, we have 4.5 million children with a bad insurance 
policy--better than nothing but not a good one.
  It is my goal for the coming year to redouble our efforts of finding 
common ground. I am hopeful my Republican colleagues will join us. I 
believe this year's session will be remembered more for progress than 
setbacks. Yesterday Senator McConnell said: ``We have come to a very 
successful conclusion of this year's Congress.''
  I agree and thank my Republican counterpart for those words. He and I 
have gone through some difficult times this year. The Senate has gone 
through some difficult times. Senator McConnell and I have criticized 
each other at times, never personally but on a political basis. That is 
how it is supposed to be. Senator McConnell has been at all times a 
gentleman. I have done my best to reciprocate.
  I thank my 50 Democratic Senators I have the honor of being able to 
be the leader of for entrusting me with the office of majority leader. 
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a Senator. I am grateful for 
the opportunity to be the leader of these 50 wonderful men and women. I 
will continue to do the best I can during the next year, recognizing my 
failings and weaknesses, but also working on what strengths I have to 
the best of my ability.
  I also take an opportunity to thank this staff, the people before the 
Presiding Officer, who do everything they can to make us look good. 
They work so hard. Some of us got home by midnight last night. Many of 
these people were here much later than that. When we get here in the 
morning, they are here earlier than we are. These are people who do all 
kinds of different work. I have been in Congress for 25 years. I don't 
understand all of what they do, but what they do makes our jobs 
meaningful and successful.
  As we speak, we have plainclothes police officers here to protect us 
from the evil people who are trying every day to infiltrate this 
beautiful building and do harm to us and this building. I was a Capitol 
policeman, very proud of that. I carried a gun for the U.S. Capitol 
Police when I was going to law school. I am always trying to recognize 
their good work on our behalf.
  Without identifying individuals by name, I am so grateful for the 
help I get. But I would be remiss if I did not mention two people, and 
that is Marty Paone, whom I depend on every day I am here--there are 
few hours I am here that I don't depend on him--and, of course, Lula 
Davis who runs this floor with an iron hand. I am not going to go 
through the entire staff, Trish and Tim and everybody, but I wanted to 
give special recognition to those two people who do so much for me on a 
daily basis. Then my personal staff: My chief of staff Gary Myrick, who 
works so hard and is separated from his family a lot more than he wants 
to be. That includes my entire staff, who devote long hours to me and 
the Senate and to our country. I am very grateful.
  As I told my caucus today, these staff people are so well educated, 
so well trained, do so many different things. But they are interested 
in public service, trying to make this country a better place. That is 
what we are all here trying to do for our country. I wish every one a 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. STABENOW. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, as we bring the session to a close, I 
want to spend a moment speaking about how far we have come this year. 
Our leader, who was speaking about accomplishments, is someone whom we 
should all be thanking for his leadership in bringing us to a point 
where we have been making changes that affect middle-class families all 
across America in a very positive way. There is a lot more to do. We 
are anxious, frustrated, pushing hard, because there is a lot more to 
do. But we have made a great start. We have made a downpayment on the 
change families are asking us to make. It has not been easy because we 
have seen an effort of continually trying to block change, of 
filibusters which are a way to drag things out, slow things down, stop 
things from happening. It is quite extraordinary.
  In the past, the highest number of filibusters was 61 over a 2-year 
period. Our Republican colleagues actually beat that in 1 year, 62 
different times running the clock out, slowing things down. It was 
extraordinary to me as a member of the Agriculture Committee--and the 
distinguished Senator in the chair is also a committee member as well--
to see almost 3 weeks of filibustering on the farm bill, an effort to 
address food security and energy security and move us forward on farm 
policy. Fortunately, we were able to get beyond that. But we have been 
able to get beyond this extraordinary wall of objections over and over 
again because of the amazing and consistent and dedicated leadership of 
our leader and all of those in leadership, our committee chairs and 
others who have been so dogged and diligent about wanting change to 
happen.
  I did want to particularly recognize Senator Reid, who is more 
committed to our fight to maintain the American dream and quality of 
life for families and businesses and farmers and Americans all across 
the country than anybody I know. I thank him for that.
  We have achieved tremendous gains. We have seen change happen. We 
have raised the minimum wage this year. We have created open doors in a 
real way for people to go to college--for low-income families, we 
raised the Pell grant twice this year--but also to make sure that 
middle-income students can afford to borrow at lower interest rates, 
cutting interest rates in half in order make it possible to go to 
college and have the American dream. We have passed so many different 
bills that address our safety and security and opportunity for 
families. There is so much more to do. But we are focused. As we come 
to the end of this year and we think about all of what is affecting 
families today, all the pressures that families feel, it is important 
to say one more time that we understand, we get it. We are working very 
hard because time is of the essence.
  Frankly, there are things that should have been done that haven't 
been done. We are going to be right back at it in January.
  I am proud of the fact that we have addressed one of the major 
concerns for families in Michigan and all across the country who face 
the loss of a home because of the mortgage crisis, because of predatory 
lending practices or other circumstances in which they find themselves 
in a situation of losing their home.
  Last week on Friday we were able to pass FHA reform that will allow 
more people to get refinancing for their homes. This is an important 
step. I am pleased to have led the effort to make sure the law was 
changed so that if somebody loses their home or refinances below their 
mortgage value, they don't end up getting hit with another tax bill on 
top of losing their home. We have a lot of families right now who are 
coming up to Christmas. They don't have a place to put the Christmas 
tree. They don't have a home now, or they are worried about whether 
they will be able to have their home next Christmas. There are 
tremendous pressures that families are experiencing on all sides.
  We have been able to take two steps to address that: one, to make 
sure that if a family finds themselves in that situation, they don't 
also have the insult of adding a tax bill to their economic 
crisis. That is great. I am very proud of that. I am proud we were able 
to work together with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the 
House and in the Senate and the President. I commend the President for 
working with us on that issue. I am hopeful he will do more of that. We 
need him working with us on hundreds of things that will make a 
difference in people's lives. But I am pleased in this one area where 
we were able to do that.

[[Page S15984]]

  People are feeling squeezed. As the distinguished Presiding Officer 
knows, people are feeling squeezed on all sides in their lives. Too 
many people are seeing their wages go down, if they have a job. They 
see their health care costs go up, their gas prices go up, their health 
care costs go up--all the costs--the costs of college going up.
  One by one, we are addressing those issues. We are focused on making 
change happen, to help families working hard every day who want to make 
sure the American dream is there for their kids and for their 
grandkids, who love this country. They are people who love this country 
and say: Hey, what about us? Is anybody paying attention to us? The 
majority of Americans who are working hard every single day, following 
the rules, who love their family, love their faith, and want to know 
somebody is paying attention to their needs and their lives and their 
desire to have that American dream and to have the American way of 
life. So we understand that.
  I am proud to be part of the majority that has made a commitment to 
address those things--whether it is bringing down the cost of college, 
raising wages, being able to address the costs of gas and energy; 
whether it is addressing food and nutrition and conservation and 
alternative fuels or the mortgage crisis.
  The common theme for us is: Making change happen for middle-class 
Americans and those who love our country and want us to help them be 
able to keep that American dream, by having the rules be fair and 
having it make sense for them in this country.

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