[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 2, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S917-S920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         EXTENSION OF BENEFITS

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, before my friend from California leaves

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the floor, I first thank the Senator from California for her leadership 
in bringing together a bipartisan effort to create jobs and for coming 
to the floor to speak about one of the important elements that is being 
held up right now by Senator Bunning and other Republicans who have 
come to the floor in support of his efforts.
  I thank Senator Boxer for her leadership and her ability to bring 
people together to get things done and to speak to the fact that this 
is about jobs and we have a sense of urgency about what needs to happen 
going forward.
  I wish to speak to that sense of urgency and speak first about what 
is happening for real people. Then I want to talk a little bit about 
the process as well, how could we be here, because people are looking 
and saying: How can one person or a group of people or the minority 
continue to hold up our ability to solve problems? That is a very good 
point that we need to talk about.
  First, I want to share some comments from a distraught woman from 
Grand Rapids who called my office a little bit ago in tears because her 
unemployment benefits had expired. This has been her only source of 
income for over a year now. She has about 2 months left in savings 
before she loses her home. First she loses her job, and now she is 
about to lose her home. My guess is she has been struggling with health 
care as well.
  She kept repeating: I was a productive member of society, but now I 
have nothing. She spoke about doing various temporary jobs since losing 
her full-time job as an administrative assistant back in 2007, having 
18 years of work experience and she still has not qualified for a new 
job. Her search continues. She was pleading for the Senate to pass an 
unemployment extension before she loses her home.
  In Michigan and all across this country, this is not a game. This is 
real. People are in a position today where they do not know if they are 
going to be able to keep their home, if they are going to be able to 
put food on the table at the end of the week, next week or be able to 
pay their rent or be able to keep the heat on. With the small amount of 
money that comes in from unemployment--an average about $300 a week--
that right now is the difference between whether people are on the 
street, in the cold with their families, or whether they have a roof 
over their head. That is the reality of what is happening for people in 
this country--not people who are lazy, not people who do not want to 
work but people who have found themselves caught in this huge economic 
tsunami that has hit our country.
  We have over 15 million people currently receiving unemployment 
benefits who want to work, who are looking for work, who, on average, 
find there are six people looking for work for every job available. 
Just watch what happens when you announce there are 50 jobs or 100 jobs 
or maybe even 2 jobs available in a community. People line up around 
the block because they want to work. People are going back to school to 
gain different kinds of skills to fit in the new economy. They are 
doing everything they can, piecing it together with part-time work, two 
jobs, three jobs, trying to hold it together.
  We also have people who are one paycheck away from being in the very 
same situation, who are holding their breath, who are holding back on 
the spending they would normally do that would generate economic 
activity in the economy because they do not know what is going to 
happen.
  This is critical to families; people today who have done nothing but 
play by the rules, such as the woman who called my office, want to know 
when is their government going to be there for them.
  Somehow, as has been said before, the Senator from Kentucky did not 
manage to make it to the floor when 1 percent of the public, the 
wealthiest in America, were getting huge tax cuts. He didn't manage to 
make it to the floor when we were talking about Wall Street and 
bailouts. But somehow he can come to the floor and hold up the ability 
for people who are unemployed to get some temporary help and put the 
entire weight of the Federal deficit on the backs of people who are out 
of work, who lost their breadwinner in their home. That is stunning to 
me, absolutely stunning to me. Whose side are we on here? What is this 
about if it is not to make sure that when disaster hits, we are willing 
to step up on behalf of American families and support them and do 
something about it?
  Our colleague has said we should not add to the deficit; while other 
things have certainly added to the deficit, we should make sure this is 
paid for.
  We are the party that balanced the budget in the nineties. We do not 
need a lecture from people about solving deficits. We are the ones who 
created the balanced budget and surpluses that then went right out the 
window in the last 8 years under the previous administration. We do not 
need lectures on how to deal with deficits. But we also know when there 
is a disaster, whether it is a flood, a hurricane, or another kind of 
disaster, and the reality is that people in this country have been hit 
by a disaster. So it is appropriate to treat this as a disaster with 
disaster funding. I don't know what a disaster is if the more than 15 
million people we know about right now, not counting the other 10 
million or 15 million people who aren't being counted, is not a 
disaster.

  I wish to talk for a moment about the process because we find 
ourselves in a situation where we have seen an abuse of the democratic 
process over and over here in the Senate by our minority party 
colleagues.
  We have been brought to a point where now one person, although 
supported by others on the Republican side, has come to the floor and 
is objecting and putting us in a situation where we are going to have 
to either shut down the work of the Senate for a week to vote to 
override or to do something else. This has put us in a situation where 
people are being hurt because of partisan games.
  The leader has come to the floor and said: If you have a concern, you 
should offer an amendment. We should debate that amendment. You can 
have an up-or-down vote on that amendment. That is the democratic 
process. And then we will vote.
  Up until this point, the Senator has said no because he doesn't know 
if he will win that vote. Well, we don't know at any given time when we 
offer an amendment whether we will win. When you run for an election, 
you don't know if you will win. This is a democratic process.
  So I challenge our colleagues to stop blocking democracy, to stop 
blocking the democratic process and just vote. Just vote. Majority 
vote. That is what the Founders created, a process for the majority to 
govern, with spirited debate--spirited debate--and up-or-down votes. 
Don't block democracy. That is exactly what is happening right now. It 
is time to vote. It is time to get things done. It is time to show the 
American people that we get what is going on in their lives. Let's just 
vote.
  What has happened in the last couple of years? We have seen a process 
that in 1919 and 1920 was used two times in 2 years--two times in 2 
years. Even in the first Senate, it was used zero times. We have seen a 
process that in the last number of years has gotten to a point where in 
the last Congress the process of blocking and obstructing--the 
filibuster--was used 139 times by our Republican colleagues, and that 
was the most ever. Look at that. It doubled any other time in the 
history of the country. Well, they are going to double it again. As of 
today, we have a situation where we have seen the party of no 
filibuster 118 times, and we are barely through 1 year of a 2-year 
cycle. So we are on the road to see it doubled and create a time of 
amazing historic obstruction we have never seen before. This is an 
example today of what happens when that process, which is a legitimate 
process, is abused--people get hurt.
  So I would call on colleagues to stop blocking democracy and to 
simply come and debate and vote. Let's decide and move on so that we 
can get things done for the American people.
  The underlying bill in front of us is a bill that will extend 
unemployment benefits for 1 year, and that is the right thing to do. It 
will extend help for health care, for COBRA, for 1 year, and that is 
the right thing to do. It will extend help for States to pay for health 
care. It will extend it beyond the next 6 months of when we put help in 
place under the Recovery Act. It will make sure our doctors can 
continue to get paid a fair reimbursement to serve our

[[Page S919]]

seniors under Medicare. And it will allow us to keep jobs going and to 
extend important investment tax credits.
  In reality, we have a lot of work to do here in the Senate. We need 
to dispose of this immediate situation of helping people. We need to 
make sure we put in place the short-term help on unemployment and 
health care and other provisions that have been talked about and then 
move quickly to the broader jobs bill because we know, in the end, 
everyone who is holding their breath right now about what we are going 
to do on unemployment is not saying to us: Gee, I hope you extend 
unemployment for years and years. Gee, I really want to live on $300 a 
week. They want us to focus on jobs, affording them the integrity of 
work, the ability to bring home a paycheck, to be a breadwinner so they 
can care for their family, and all of the dignity that comes with that 
work.
  So we need to get on about the business of focusing on jobs, but the 
first thing we need to do is to make sure we understand what is 
happening to people across our country. They are panicked about the 
obstruction that is going on here in the Senate. There are 135,000 
people in Michigan who will lose their unemployment help by the end of 
March if we do not take action. That is an economic disaster if I have 
ever heard of one.
  It is time to act. It is time to stop blocking the democratic 
process. It is time to vote and to get things done and let people know 
that we are on their side, that we understand what is going on in their 
lives, and that we are going to be here and work hard and get things 
done for them.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and 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. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I stand before the Senate today to call 
for the passage of the Temporary Extension Act of 2010. This 
legislation would extend a number of very important benefits that 
families across the Nation rely on to get them through difficult 
economic times.
  This bill includes an extension of unemployment benefits for millions 
of out-of-work families, including hundreds of thousands in the 
Midwest, an extension of COBRA benefits for those who lost their health 
care along with their jobs, and a number of important tax credits for 
businesses and individuals which are vital as we seek to generate 
economic activity.
  I cannot tell you how many times I heard about this when I went 
around our State and spoke with small businesses. However, there is one 
program--I know our colleagues have focused on how important it is to 
get this program done, how important it is that one person should not 
be allowed to hold up something that is so worthy and expected and 
necessary for the American people--but there is one thing that has not 
been discussed as much, and that is the National Flood Insurance 
Program that is also included in this bill.
  Homeowners insurance covers damage from various sources, but it does 
not cover damage that results from flooding. Sadly, in too many cases 
unknowing Americans learn of this hole in their policy only after it is 
too late. In recognition of this major gap in coverage, Congress 
created the National Flood Insurance Program in 1968 to give home and 
business owners the chance to financially protect themselves, their 
property, and their families. For over 40 years, this program has 
helped communities recover after devastating natural disasters. I have 
been in some of these disasters: The flood in Rushford, MN. No one will 
forget Grand Forks. No one will forget how close we got last year with 
Fargo, and the Minnesota city of Moorhead; the floods in Iowa in the 
last 2 years. These are real disasters.
  All regions of America are susceptible to flooding, whether it is 
torrential seasonal floods, rains, thunderstorms, or even the recent 
tsunami across the Pacific Ocean that struck after the tragic 
earthquake in Chile. We cannot escape the powerful forces of nature.
  Flooding by its nature is unpredictable. Families and businesses need 
to know if the worst happens they will have the tools needed to help 
them get back on their feet. In my State, the Flood Insurance Program 
is vital to those who live in any area susceptible to flooding. 
However, at this time of year our attention is focused on families 
living across the Red River Basin in northwestern Minnesota.
  Last spring, above-average rainfall compounded by an untimely melting 
of snow resulted in, as we all saw on TV, devastating floods along the 
Red River which hit the highest level ever recorded. I was there with 
the people. It was an extraordinary effort, as you watched grandmothers 
taking the frozen sandbags and putting them in place. You saw people 
who were up for 48 hours to protect their homes. As the waters receded, 
President Obama declared 15 counties as disaster areas, and communities 
throughout the region began the lengthy cleanup process and solemnly 
faced the devastation. This is not the first time the Red River has 
overflowed its banks, and it certainly will not be the last.
  We are working at this moment on a long-term plan so this doesn't 
happen in the future, but for now we are again facing a threat in the 
Red River. This winter's heavy snowpack has led to a gloomy outlook for 
flooding this spring, which does not bode well for these communities. 
Volunteers in Moorhead, MN, have already begun filling sandbags in 
preparation for this year's floods. Although the Red River runs between 
Moorhead, MN, and Fargo, ND, when it comes to this calamity, the area 
is one community. In a testament to the people of northwest Minnesota 
and eastern North Dakota, the river does not divide us; it unites us.
  As honorable, tireless, and commendable these efforts are, they 
cannot do it alone, and they need and deserve our help. Facing the 
heartbreaking loss of a home, the National Flood Insurance Program at 
least provides participants the peace of mind that their livelihoods 
will not be equally destroyed, and they will have the financial 
resources to start over.
  Sadly, the actions of one Member of this body have not only put in 
jeopardy this program but endanger all the communities and residents 
along the Red River, those who have not yet purchased their flood 
insurance--and believe me, there are still some people because they are 
calling our office.
  Cherie, a resident of Moorhead, MN, contacted my office trying to 
understand how this legislative paralysis caused by one Member of this 
body will impact her neighbors and her community. As of Monday, this 
program has come to a halt. Certain policy renewals may move forward, 
but those seeking a new policy to protect their homes may be left out 
in the cold.
  Because of this body's inability--because of one person's decision--
to extend the authorization of this vital program, residents in the Red 
River Valley do not know if they are going to be able to get flood 
insurance by the time the waters begin to rise in late March and early 
April. The intricacy of this program complicates matters more. New 
policyholders must wait 30 days before they take effect. There is no 
time to spare for Minnesotans seeking to protect their families from 
the upcoming floods. They may come at the end of the month. They may 
come at the beginning of April. We don't know.
  There are other parts of this country where flooding comes later, and 
those people will be interested in purchasing policies. They don't know 
if their business is going to be able to survive another flood season 
or whether they will lose everything with no second chance to start 
over.
  It is important to note that the National Flood Insurance Program 
saves taxpayer dollars. When communities implement flood plain 
management requirements and residents purchase flood insurance, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that flood damage is 
reduced by $1 billion each year. In fact, FEMA estimates that the 
Federal Government saves between $3 and $4 for every $1 spent on flood 
mitigation in advance of a problem.
  The Flood Insurance Program also provides building standards which,

[[Page S920]]

when followed, leads to 80 percent less damage annually than those 
structures not built according to these standards.
  But this is not the only program being threatened by this stalemate. 
Because of Senator Bunning's objections yesterday, roughly 2,000 
Department of Transportation staff were furloughed, largely at the 
Federal Highway Administration, which is responsible for highway, 
bridge, and road construction projects across our Nation.
  I know a little bit about those projects because I live six blocks 
from that bridge that fell down in the middle of the Mississippi River 
in the middle of a beautiful summer day--an eight-lane highway down the 
middle of the Mississippi River. We know how important these highway 
projects are to rebuilding safely, and we can just have one Member of 
the Senate who decides to stop these types of projects in their tracks?
  Highway projects are financed by State departments of transportation, 
and Federal funds reimburse the States for work on their projects. With 
furloughed staffs, these reimbursements will come to a halt which will 
force State departments of transportation across the Nation to halt 
work. The reimbursements amount to $190 million per day.
  In addition, Senator Bunning's actions will prevent the departments 
of transportation from making vital grant awards. I am a member of the 
Environment and Public Works Committee, which deals with roads and 
bridges, and I found the stopping of these programs particularly 
troubling. Ironically, on Wednesday, the committee will hold a hearing 
on the importance of transportation investment in the national economy.
  If we are going to move forward to the next century's economy, we 
need to have the next century's transportation system. I respectfully 
request the Senator from Kentucky allow an up-or-down vote on his 
amendment; that he stop stalling; that he let us vote so the people of 
the Red River Valley who have not yet purchased flood insurance can buy 
that insurance; the people who want their bridges built and their 
highways built can go ahead and have those things done; the people 
waiting on their unemployment benefits can have that unemployment 
compensation. I request he stop stalling so the Senate can resume work 
and extend these programs for the stop-gap emergency basis on which so 
many programs and so many Americans depend.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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