[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 173 (Wednesday, December 22, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11060-S11061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE 111TH CONGRESS

  Mr. REID. Madam President, when we convened this Congress in January 
2009, 750,000 Americans were losing their jobs every month. Soon after 
this Congress began, an auto industry nearly imploded, and within a 
year an oil well exploded. It was a tough 2 years for our Nation and 
for so many families. It was also a time of remarkable progress.
  When this Congress began, insurance companies were free to deny 
health care to the sick for any excuse they could come up with. The 
doughnut hole that sent seniors' prescription drug costs through the 
roof was wide open. Wall Street firms had just crashed our economy, but 
they were still free to rip off investors while the Nation smoldered.
  Cigarette companies could prey on children, credit card companies 
could prey on consumers, and con artists could prey on families' 
mortgages.
  Employers were free to pay women less than men, the safety of our 
food supply was dangerously inadequate, and the definition of a hate 
crime was shamefully insufficient. Gay men and women who volunteered to 
defend and die for our country were asked to fight and die for values 
and principles they didn't have for themselves in America.
  More than a year has passed since American inspectors were on the 
ground to monitor the Russian nuclear weapons arsenal.
  We have turned each of these around. Because of what we did in this 
Congress, we brought the economy back from the brink of collapse, we 
cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans, we invested in important job-
creating projects, and we will keep working until everyone who wants to 
work can find a job.
  Because of what we did, families are safer from health insurance 
companies. Our economy and its investors are safer from big banks. 
Consumers are safer from credit card companies, homeowners are safer 
from mortgage fraud, and all of us are safer from corporate fraud.
  Parents can know their children are safer from cigarette companies, 
thanks to legislation we passed that will save

[[Page S11061]]

lives. Our food safety protections will save countless more lives.
  We also made historic strides for equality and justice. With a hate 
crimes bill that bears Emmitt Till's name, we stood up for those who 
are victims of violence because of their race, ethnicity, or sexual 
orientation. With a fair pay bill in Lilly Ledbetter's name, we stood 
up for those who are targets of discrimination in the workplace because 
of their gender or background. And we made right a wrong done long ago 
to African Americans and American Indian farmers.
  Because we repealed don't ask, don't tell, our military is stronger 
and we can still fulfill our Nation's promise. And because we ratified 
the START treaty today, America and the world are safer from nuclear 
devastation.
  These are just the ones that got the biggest headlines. The 111th 
Congress did much more.
  We cut taxes for the middle class and small business multiple times. 
We made it easier for families to buy their first home. We made it 
easier for students to afford to go to college, and strengthened our 
commitment to research, math and science education, technological 
innovation, and maintaining this country's competitive edge. We made 
sure children can afford to get the health care they need no matter how 
much money their parents make, and made sure even more schoolchildren 
who would otherwise go hungry can get healthier meals.
  We extended unemployment insurance for millions still struggling to 
find a job and extended COBRA subsidies so those still struggling to 
find work can feed their families, fuel our economy and afford decent 
medical care. We strengthened Medicaid and made sure doctors can still 
afford to treat seniors on Medicare. We helped hundreds of thousands 
afford more fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
  With a national service bill named for Senator Ted Kennedy, we made 
it easier for more Americans to serve their country, like our heroes of 
generations past. With one of the most important conservation bills in 
decades, we protected our public lands for generations to come. We cut 
waste and fraud in the way the Pentagon purchases military weapons. We 
made sure our troops have the equipment they need on the battlefield 
and that our veterans have the care they need when they come home. We 
gave everyone in the military a well-deserved pay raise.
  We secured our borders with guards, fencing, and predator drones. We 
imposed sanctions on Iran to deter this regime from acquiring a nuclear 
weapon. We thawed our credit markets so Americans can get the loans 
they need to buy a car, send a child to college, or even start a new 
business. We supported the travel and tourism industries, which will 
create tens of thousands of jobs and cut our deficit by hundreds of 
millions of dollars.
  We confirmed many well-qualified nominees for positions in public 
service and on the bench, including the third and fourth women--and the 
first ever Latina--to serve on our Supreme Court.
  We began this Congress with the challenge of keeping our economy from 
a second Great Depression. We are not all the way out of the ditch yet. 
We have come a long way since President Bush's Treasury Secretary sat 
down with us and warned us of the dire stakes of inaction.
  In 2011, we have to do even more to put middle-class families first, 
to create jobs and cut taxes. We will continue to move America toward 
energy independence. We will continue to fight to fix our broken 
immigration system. And we will continue fighting for fairness--
including giving our first responders the same workplace rights 
everyone else has.
  This was, by far, the most productive Congress in American history. 
And the lameduck session we are finishing was the most productive of 
its kind. Why? Because we heard the message the American people sent us 
last month. They do not want us to sit around and waste our time. They 
want us to work together and work for them. They want us to get things 
done.
  We have been productive beyond any historical measure. But we cannot 
forget the context: We have had to do more with less--passing some of 
the most major pieces of legislation in history with the least 
bipartisan cooperation in history. I am sorry the minority party 
decided to sit on the sidelines. I know the history books will remember 
who was on the field.
  I thank every Senator and every staffer who has worked so hard. They 
have worked so tirelessly over these past 2 years. The distance we took 
America from January 2009 to December 2010 is one of the most 
remarkable times in the history of the world and our country.
  I am very proud of the work this Congress did, and I sincerely hope 
that, despite a divided Capitol, the 112th Congress will surpass only 
its record for significant legislation and not those for endless 
stalemates.
  I want to express my appreciation to this wonderful staff we have 
here. They work so very, very hard. They are here before we arrive in 
the morning, they are here after we leave, and I am grateful for all 
they do.
  The court reporters are here taking down every word that we say--very 
professional. The enrollment clerks. Everybody who is here. The 
Parliamentarians, whom we go to often to tell us the hole we are in and 
how to get out of it.
  I am grateful for everyone here for putting up with me and the hours 
I feel we have to work with never a complaint. I wish I had the ability 
to convey what is in my heart--and I certainly don't have the ability 
to do that--but I want everyone here to know that I am very grateful 
for everyone here working in such a wonderful manner for our country.
  I say to each one of you--I went through a long list of things we 
have been able to accomplish--we couldn't have done any of this without 
you. As much as I know about the rules, and I know quite a bit about 
the rules, I have to depend on the Parliamentarians to tell me--really, 
to get the real scoop. I admire what they do. They are very fine 
lawyers. This area of the law they know better than anyone else in the 
world.

  Madam President, I haven't mentioned the police officers, the 
doorkeepers. These police officers, they are here right now as we 
speak. Most all in the Chamber, of course, without uniform. We have 
people every day without any exception wanting to do bad things to this 
beautiful Capitol Complex. These wonderful police officers keep this 
building and its inhabitants, the people who work in this building--it 
is not inhabitants, although I feel I live here sometimes--they keep 
the thousands of people who work in these Capitol buildings safe. They 
do such a wonderful job of taking care of us.
  Chief Gainer, who is the Sergeant at Arms, is responsible for the 
police force. He does a wonderful job on this side of the Capitol.
  Madam President, I wish you, the Presiding Officer, my dear friend, 
and everyone here a very happy holiday season. I wish it could have 
been a little longer, but it is better than a lot thought it would be.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BAYH. Madam 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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