[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 19311-19312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            PAYROLL TAX CUT

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, there was a recent survey of how many 
families in America have an immediate member of the family who is 
serving in the military. The number is one of the lowest in history. It 
turns out the families who actually know someone or have someone 
serving in the military are a small percentage of this great Nation.
  My family has a nephew serving in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain 
Division. Not long ago, as a college student, he worked as a doorman 
here in the Senate. But Michael is now serving overseas in Afghanistan. 
I think about him all the time. I send him boxes of things. I do not 
know if he will have any use for them or enjoy them, but it is my way 
of reminding him we do not forget him.
  We have a big family, and I am sure he gets plenty of stuff. I know 
some of that must be a joy for him to receive. But more important than 
any material sent to him, I hope it is an expression of how we feel 
about him, about the sacrifice he is making, as so many others are 
making, thousands around the world, as we meet in the safety of this 
Senate Chamber.
  We ask an awful lot of our men and women in uniform. We ask them to 
risk their lives for America. Many come back injured. Some do not 
return, having given that promise and that pledge. They make a 
sacrifice which many of us have never been asked to make.
  I think about that in terms of the debate we enter into this week in 
the Senate. We are trying to turn this economy around because so many 
people are out of work. Businesses are struggling. The President put 
forward a jobs bill and has for months been pushing for its passage. We 
have considered a lot of parts of it.
  One part relating to veterans we actually agreed on. It was a 
breakthrough. I am glad we did. But when it came to all of the others, 
the million who are out of work in America, there is still wide 
disagreement. We hope to finish this matter this week and head home for 
the holidays where we all want to be. But, unfortunately, we are 
embroiled in a political fight again. The fight is over something very 
basic. It is this: Should we ask the wealthiest in America to pay a 
little more in taxes so that we can provide a payroll tax cut for 
almost 160 million Americans? That is it.
  What we hear from the other side of the aisle over and over again is, 
no; we cannot impose a new burden on the wealthiest in America. We 
cannot ask any more sacrifice from people who are already earning at 
least--at least--$1 million a year. I thought about that. I thought 
about my nephew and so many like him who sacrifice every single day for 
this great Nation, and to think that we could not ask the wealthiest 
among us to pay a little more in taxes to help us get out of this 
recession and put America back to work.
  Those two things, unfortunately, are in sharp contrast. I think it is 
time for us to pass this payroll tax cut. It is desperately needed. We 
need to maintain our unemployment insurance because we still have too 
many people out of work: four unemployed Americans for every available 
job. That is a fact. Things are getting better slowly but too slowly. 
In the meantime, these people are looking every single day for a job 
while they do their best to keep their families together, to keep their 
families with the basics in life, to make sure they pay the rent, the 
mortgage, the utility bills.
  The first casualty in many of these families is health insurance. Can 
you imagine raising children not knowing if one trip to the emergency 
room will be something you could never hope to afford. Unemployment 
benefits allow people to keep their families together and to continue 
looking for work.
  I urge my colleagues, before we consider leaving for the holiday 
season, let's get the job done. President Obama has made it clear. He 
will not allow us to go home until we get this job done. Extend the 
payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans; maintain unemployment 
benefits for those millions who are counting on them to put bread on 
the table and keep their families together during a very difficult time 
and let's pass a spending bill. We agreed on

[[Page 19312]]

the limits on what we would spend. Let's pass the bill now in a 
bipartisan fashion. I hope we can reach that point.
  One last point. I now hear the Republican Senate leader come to the 
floor and tell us this entire debate, this entire breakdown, all the 
problems we have had is about an oil pipeline. Now, I did not know that 
until last week. I wish he would have spoken up a lot earlier, that an 
oil pipeline, the Keystone Pipeline, which has been controversial, has 
to be part of any deal. He said at one point that it may even create 
20,000 jobs.
  I am quick to remind my colleague, there are 14 million Americans out 
of work and 160 million counting on this payroll tax cut. So 20,000 
jobs is important. I would love to see every job we can responsibly 
bring to this country. But let's not stop the business of government, 
let's not stop helping this economy recover over one issue, whatever it 
may be--whether it is a pipeline or whatever it may be.
  We owe to the people who sent us here to respect them, to show that 
we will do our best to keep this country moving forward and do it in 
the name of so many of our men and women in uniform who are sacrificing 
today as we meet in the safety and security of this Chamber.
  I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Blumenthal). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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