[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22972]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       RAILROAD RETIREMENT REFORM

  Mrs. LINCOLN. Madam President, I came to the Chamber after listening 
to several of my colleagues earlier this morning. The majority leader, 
Senator Daschle, was visiting with Senator Durbin about some of the 
important legislation we could be considering in these last couple of 
weeks in the Senate that would really be good for the American people.
  First they spoke about the railroad retirement reform package, which 
was mentioned by Senator Kyl. I think it is absolutely essential we 
bring up this issue. Last week, when I was in Arkansas celebrating 
Thanksgiving, I was approached by an older woman who said: Why in the 
world has this not been done?
  This legislation has passed the House twice by incredibly large 
margins. The last time it was 384 to 33. There are 75 Members of the 
Senate who are cosponsors of this issue. We have the railroad industry, 
the union members, the workers in agreement. It is absolutely practical 
and realistic that we should bring up this issue and move it forward 
because it is going to benefit everybody, and that is what our job is, 
to bring up legislation that everyone has worked on, that we have come 
to some agreement on, that we have the majority of individuals in both 
bodies excited about and willing to move forward.
  So I applaud the majority leader for bringing up this issue. I think 
the time is right. I think the work has been done. The debate has been 
had. People have worked out this issue, and we should be moving 
forward. We should be productive for the American people and 
particularly for those in the railroad industry and those who are 
retired. I applaud the majority leader for his efforts, as well as the 
other Members of this body, and encourage him to move forward with it. 
This is something we can do and something we should do before we leave, 
and I hope we will.

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