[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5748-S5750]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          REENERGIZING AMERICA

  Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I am deeply humbled by the opportunity to 
stand here today and to address the body as Nevada's 25th Senator. 
Nevada is a small State, but it is one that has provided many with a 
great chance to succeed. Most people know that it was in Nevada where 
Samuel Clemens began to sign his writings as Mark Twain and reported on 
the territorial legislative sessions. However, the reason Samuel 
Clemens came to the Nevada territory was to follow his older brother, 
Orion Clemens, who served as the first and only secretary of the Nevada 
Territory. That position would later become secretary of state, a 
position which I held prior to my service in Congress.
  Similar to the Clemens brothers who sought greater opportunities, it 
is in a State such as Nevada where a son of a mechanic can have the 
opportunity to interact with those who are responsible for governing 
the State. For instance, as a boy I delivered the newspaper to then-
Gov. Mike O'Callaghan. For a time, I went to Sunday school with then-
Lt. Gov. Harry Reid's sons, and I was educated at the same public high 
school as Senator Paul Laxalt. Our current Governor, Brian Sandoval, is 
someone whom I used to play organized basketball with. I wish to thank 
Senator Laxalt for his support and Senator Reid for being here today. I 
also wish to thank Senator McConnell for being here as well.
  My father's automotive shop was across the street from the Nevada 
State legislature, so many of the legislators would come into my dad's 
business. I spent a lot of time there as a kid working in that garage, 
sweeping floors, repairing cars, fixing engines and transmissions. In 
that shop, I learned the value of hard work and responsibility and the 
importance of family.
  I am proud of what I learned growing up in Nevada: values from two 
great parents, good teachers, and good neighbors. Nevada values such as 
faith in God, hard work, honesty, and commitment to family--these are 
the values I try to bring to Washington, DC, every day.
  Although Nevada has changed over the years, in many ways it is very 
much the same place as when I grew up. I bring this up because I recall 
what it took for my father to keep his

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business in operation, and I think about what might have happened if he 
were still in business today. During this time when so many people are 
hurting and our economy is so fragile, it is important to understand 
how government impacts our economy and businesses across the Nation. 
While Washington politicians tarnish one another, Americans are still 
out of work. My home State of Nevada, in particular, leads the Nation 
in unemployment, foreclosures, and bankruptcies. Nevadans do not want 
finger-pointing; they want jobs. Nevadans do not want political talking 
points; they want to keep their homes. Nevadans do not want to hear all 
the promises; they want to pass on a better future to their children 
and grandchildren.
  Job creation and economic recovery should be a bipartisan value. 
Unfortunately, Washington is paralyzed by politicians and has been 
reduced to sound bites. Too often it seems we cannot move beyond the 
politics of today. It appears we are more interested in press 
conferences than solving our Nation's most pressing problems--issues 
such as Medicare, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Instead of 
strengthening and preserving the program, it is often used as a 
political weapon.
  The truth is, Washington has not done enough to get our Nation back 
on track and the American people know it. I recently received a letter 
from a small business owner who had this to say:

       My business had to dramatically cut our spending and 
     unfortunately lay off half of our good employees. Many of our 
     customers have lost their jobs and their homes due to 
     government intervention in the housing market and massive 
     mismanagement of our tax dollars . . . government employment 
     has gone up, while private sector employment has dropped.

  These are the kinds of stories I hear from Nevadans far too often.
  For over 4\1/2\ years I have done weekly telephone townhall meetings, 
where I have the opportunity to speak with thousands of households 
across my great State. During a recent round of phone calls, I have 
been asking participants if they believe their children and 
grandchildren will have a better economic future than we have today. 
More than two-thirds of these respondents say no. Many Nevadans believe 
the economic burden of our national debt and the impact it will have on 
future generations will lead to fewer opportunities and less upward 
mobility. I am certain Nevada is not alone in this sentiment.
  Do we want to be the first Congress that hands our children and 
grandchildren a lesser quality of life? This should serve as a wake-up 
call for Washington.
  Passing a better life to our children and grandchildren is a value we 
all share as Americans. From all corners of Nevada and our Nation, the 
message is clear. The status quo is not working. We can no longer 
afford to ignore the biggest problems facing our country: government 
spending and the national debt. The choices are clear. We can continue 
down this path which leads to bigger government, higher taxes, less 
jobs, and rationed health care for our seniors or we can decrease 
government spending, create jobs, and fulfill our promises to future 
generations. Washington needs to place its trust in the American people 
to reenergize our economy, not the Federal Government. It was Reagan 
who said:

       From time to time, we have been tempted to believe that 
     society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, 
     that government by an elite group is superior to government 
     for, by, and of the people. But if no one among us is capable 
     of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to 
     govern someone else?

  Our debt will serve as an anchor on future prosperity if we do not 
work today to solve this problem. Business as usual is not an option. 
What we do as Senators and the decisions we make are critically 
important to those whom we wish to represent. Sometimes the results of 
our actions are seen immediately and sometimes the full ramifications 
take decades to unfold. Record deficits, high unemployment, an anemic 
recovery, and inflation are fueling anxiety over our Nation's fiscal 
health. The key to recovery is to create an environment where economic 
growth can flourish and provide certainty and stability to our Nation's 
job creators.
  I evaluate legislation through what I call the entrepreneurial 
standard or the ``more, higher, less test.'' Does this bill provide 
more competition with higher quality at less cost? What would a small 
businessman do? If the Federal Government approached problems through 
an entrepreneurial perspective, we would have a more efficient 
government at less cost to the taxpayer.
  Unfortunately, our government is not providing that certainty today. 
We have a temporary Tax Code, overly burdensome regulations, and an 
ever-increasing national debt. There is no question the Federal 
Government must stop spending money we do not have. If we are going to 
keep America exceptional, we have to chart a new direction for our 
country.
  As families across Nevada struggle to pay their bills and fight to 
keep their homes, government spending has grown exponentially. This 
must end if we are going to turn this economy around. We must focus on 
the long-term health of our economy and remove impediments that have 
caused economic stagnation and disabled businesses from creating new 
jobs.
  The Federal Government has been on a massive spending spree, and it 
is time for this reckless behavior to end. History offers little 
evidence that massive deficit-financed spending leads to economic 
recovery. As an opponent of the stimulus and the Wall Street bailout, I 
believe reining in government spending is critical to economic recovery 
and the future of our country.

  The unemployment rate, foreclosures, bankruptcies, all represent 
people who have become victims of this recession. There are those who 
have endured pay cuts to keep their jobs, individuals who are 
underemployed, and seniors on fixed incomes dealing with the increases 
in cost-of-living expenses. No question, times are tough.
  So the question we must answer is, Do we have the courage to overcome 
partisan divides and work together to solve our Nation's problems?
  While we all may not be members of the same political party or share 
the same philosophy of government, I believe we are all here to do what 
is right. In these difficult times, it is more important than ever that 
we work together, find common ground, and make tough decisions to 
create jobs and get people back to work.
  Every day I go to work to advocate for the great State of Nevada, and 
every day I let Nevadans know there is someone in Washington who is on 
their side. There is not a day goes by that I do not think about what 
can be done to create jobs and get our economy moving again.
  This is not the first time Americans have endured tough times, and it 
probably will not be the last. There will be better days ahead. 
However, it is incumbent upon us to effect change in difficult times to 
create a better future.
  Today, we are at a crossroads, possibly a defining moment in our 
Nation's history, where we must change the way we govern. The window of 
opportunity is available, but it is growing smaller every day. Mark 
Twain wrote: ``You are a coward when you even seem to have backed down 
from a thing you openly set out to do.''
  I ask another question: What is it that we set out to do? I ran for 
office to make a difference, to leave this place better than I found 
it. We still are the greatest Nation on Earth, with the greatest form 
of government. Our best days are yet to come--if we act now to return 
our Nation to what made us great: families, entrepreneurs, community, 
the American dream.
  We must stop the mindset that we have all the answers here in 
Washington because I can assure my colleagues we don't. The answers are 
out there. They are in places such as Nevada, Alaska, Ohio, and perhaps 
Kentucky; in small towns and large cities across this country. Let the 
American engine fire again. Tear down the barriers to growth and 
opportunity and launch this great Nation to its great next chapter. I 
stand ready to serve and ready to bring us all together.
  When my children and grandchildren look back many years from now, it 
is my hope that history will show we rose to the occasion to ensure 
their future and the future of our great Nation. I am confident we can 
meet those challenges. Our strength as a nation is bigger than the 
troubles of today. May God bless the State of Nevada and may God bless 
this great country.

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  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Franken). The majority leader.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I congratulate my colleague on his fine 
speech. I was happy to hear him mention some of my family. I think most 
everyone in Nevada knows that my son Leif is one of his best friends 
and vice versa. So I congratulate the Senator from Nevada on his first 
speech. It will be the first of many, and the first one is always the 
hardest. After that, it is a lot easier.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, let me add to the remarks of the 
distinguished majority leader and say congratulations to our brandnew 
Senator from Nevada for his outstanding inaugural address. He is off to 
a very fast start representing the people of Nevada and doing a 
wonderful job. I congratulate him again for an outstanding address.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

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