[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1646-S1647]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING SENATOR COATS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, not often in life does someone get a 
second opportunity to make a good first impression. The Senator from 
Indiana has had a chance to make two maiden speeches in the Senate. I 
confess I was not there for the first one, but I am pleased to have 
been here for the second, and I want to commend him for his 
extraordinary speech, particularly his emphasis on the importance of 
the President of the United States leading on the issue of entitlement 
reform.
  We all know that under the Constitution only the President's 
signature can make a law. I think what the Senator from Indiana has 
pointed out, and many others have pointed out, is that on the issue of 
entitlement reform--the over $50 trillion of unfunded liabilities we 
have lying out there ahead of us; promises we have made we cannot 
keep--this cannot be done without Presidential leadership and a 
Presidential signature. I thank the Senator from Indiana for reminding 
us all of that. We all still hope the President will step up and help 
us meet this enormous challenge. I commend the Senator from Indiana for 
a wonderful first impression.

[[Page S1647]]



                          ____________________