the presiding officer: without objection. a senator: thank you, madam president. i rise to speak about an amendment that i've filed and will be voting on in a little while. mr. casey: it's amendment number 216. it's a basic, very simple amendment but it will rectify or remedy a problem we have in our contracting. we have all kinds of businesses across the country that are part of the contracting process but often when you have a prime contractor who will have the opportunity to bid on federal work, they will -- prime contractors often will list subcontractors in their application and in some cases, those -- those subcontractors happen to be minority-owned firms and women-owned firms, known, of course, by the acronyms mbewe.

so the prime will list them to make their applications more competitive without informing -- and this is where the problem comes in -- without informing the subcontractor. this amendment does two basic things and it's an amendment all of about 13 lines when you get to the heart of it. basically what it requires is in these instances that the prime contractor notify the subcontractor -- that's part one -- and part two is that in these instances where there may be an allegation of fraud or other problems that the subcontractor wants to report, that the administrator in this case will establish a reporting mechanism that allows that subcontractor to report fraudulent activity by the contractor. so two very basic elements: a notification provision so that if you're a firm that is listed

on paperwork that a prime contractor filed, that you be notified of that -- that's number one. and in addition to the notification of the subcontractor, that the administrator set up a program, a method that you can report fraudulent activity by the contractor. it is that simple. and at a time when we're trying to create jobs and support small businesses across the commonwealth of pennsylvania and across the country, i think it's a very basic change that needs to be made. so i want to commend the work that chairman landrieu has done on this bill and her leadership but in particular her support for this amendment. and i would yield to senator landrieu. the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. i really appreciate the senator from pennsylvania being -- being so supportive and so helpful and i think this is an amendment that we can support. i'm hoping to get clarification

to actually go to a vote on this amendment sometime in the next, you know, 20 minutes or so. we don't have that cleared at this point but we're hoping to be able to vote on this amendment. i'd like to ask the desk, though, to read the pending amendments just by number and name because i think we have seven or eight pending amendments. could the desk clarify what amendments are currently pending. the presiding officer: the pending amendments are number 183, mcconnell amendment; number 178, vitter amendment; number 161, inhofe amendment for senator johanns; number 183, that appears to be here twice, again, the mcconnell amendmen amendment; number 216, landrieu

amendment for casey; number 186, cornyn amendment; number 199, paul amendment; number 207, sanders amendment; number 197, hutchison amendment; number 184, coburn amendment; and, finally, number 229, the pryor amendment. ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. that's what our records show here and i really appreciate all these members being very patie patient. we've gotten their amendments pending. we're going to try to line up votes for them hopefully sometime either later tonight or tomorrow. we also have a few other members that have said they would like to have their amendments considered. i would simply ask if they could

come down to the floor, tonight would be a good time because we've had a very good, open, encompassing -- encompassing debate on a variety of different issues, and, of course, the underwriting bill before us is the reauthorization of the sbir and sttr program that has been operating on very short-term, very ineffectual authorizations that really don't allow this program to have the benefit for taxpayers that they deserve. and so we've struggled now for six years, three congresses, it's time to get this done. and so while we have many, many, many amendments that have been filed, it's -- i'm happy to report that there are probably just a few more members that want to actually come speak on their amendments. some of them have said we'll take up our amendments on a later day. many of the members that have filed five and six amendments have said i'm going to go with

one. senator landrieu and senator snowe. we're very grateful to everyone's cooperation. so hopefully we can vote on the casey amendment tonight and then have a queue of other amendments potentially in this order or some revision of this order but all those pending will be, of course, provided an opportunity for a vote. we do have some outstanding questions about one of the coburn amendments. we have not gotten cleared on either side, but we do -- i think -- i'm hoping, mr. president, that we can have that vote tonight and we'll know something in a few minutes. and i yield the floor. i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call:

ms. landrieu: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. ms. landrieu: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: and i ask unanimous consent that we resume consideration of the casey amendment 216, that there be 2 minutes equally divided before the vote to proceed to a vote in relation to the amendment, that there be no amendments in order

to the casey amendment prior to the vote and the motion to be reconsidered, considered made and laid on the table with no intervening action or debate and that vote would occur at about 5:25678:25. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. ms. landrieu: thank you. as we're waiting for senator case circumstance i don't think that there's any opposition to this amendment, but i just see the ranking member on the floor and am wondering if she has anything that she'd like to add at this point. i've said earlier, senator snowe, the members have been very cooperative in trying to minimize -- but still have an open debate -- minimize the issues and the amendments so that we can pass this important bill and get it over to the house and then to the president'president's desk. ms. snowe: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from maine. ms. snowe: thank you. i want to thank the chair as we will. i would like to speak to the amendment that's been offered by the senator from pennsylvania

because i think it is a critical amendment for the contracting process, as the chair well understands, because i know the chair has called many meetings on the contracting process. and over the years, you know, we've attempted to rectify and mitigate many of the problems that have arisen during the course of contracting to make sure that there is access for small business in the federal agencies. and i've heard -- and as i know the chair has as we will -- from countless small businesses who feel abused by large prime contractors during the procurement process when preparing for government bids. oftentimes large prime contractors do not fulfill their obligations to use the small business as outlined in the subcontracting plan. so they identify the small businesses in their overall plan that they submit to the government, they win the contract, and then they turn around and don't use the small businesses that they have identified in their bid that

they have submitted to the federal government and that they have won. so i'm going to congratulate the senator from pennsylvania for identifying, i think, an important way to make sure that small businesses are not left out of this process, because by law they're required to be -- one they have been identified and used in a large prime contractor's plan, they are required to use that small business. but unfortunately if the small business is not notified that the large prime contractor has won that bid from the federal agency, they have no way, you know, of pursuing a process by which they make sure that they are part of that overall bid. so i think it is very important that small businesses have access to the procurement process. and when large prime contractors are including small businesses, we have to make sure that they notify the small businesses of their intent to use them in the

bid process and to make sure that they are aware that they have won the contract as we will. this becomes paramount because small businesses have the opportunity to contract with federal agencies because the federal government is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, spending more than $500 billion in fiscal year 2000 alone. and for small firms that are struggling to say afloat and maintain their workforce, federal contracting can be instrumental part of a larger strategy for broadening their customer base and creating jobs. so it is a commonsense amendment that protects small businesses from abuses during the federal procurement process. and also i think the reporting mechanism that's created by the senator's amendment will allow small businesses to report fraudulent activity with respect to subcontracting plans. these small business protections will benefit small contracting firms without adding an undue burden to the government tion acquisition workforce. so i think it is an amendment

that is totally -- it is not only practical but critical ting sure that small business has fair access in opportunities for procurement within the federal agencies. and plor to curb the abuses that have -- and more, to curb the abuses that have occurred with large prime contractors who either disguise them satisfies small businesses and go through the contracting -- disguise themselves as small businesses and go through the contracting process and use the small business in their bid but never noaltify the small businesses of their intent to use them and therefore, the small business have no opportunity to pursue the legal process or due process to make sure that they can report these abuses. so, mr. president, i would urge support of the casey amendment. mr. casey: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from pennsylvania. mr. casey: mr. president, i already spoke earlier on the amendment, actually twice today, so i won't reiterate those

points. but i do want to thank and commend the work done by senator landrieu and senator snowe, the senator from maine, and the way they've worked together in a bipartisan manner. to move this bill forward but in particular to help pass -- help us pass this amendment. we're looking forward to the vote. i just to thank them for their help. ms. landrieu: how much time remaining before the vote? the presiding officer: 45 second. ms. landrieu: let me use the 45 seconds to ask unanimous consent that i be added as a cosponsor to the casey amendment. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: thank you. i want to join with senator snowe in supporting this. we have received actually many complaints from small businesses on any number of round tables that we've held in our committee that the old bait-and-switch is going on, where their names are used by large contractors to actually succeed in receiving the bid or winning the bid, and

then as senator snowe stated, their companies are switched out and they don't even know it. this also puts an enforcement mechanism and actually mandates the s.b.a. to come up with an enforcement mechanism so that we can have more honesty and transparency. i think it's time and i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the question is on the amendment. ms. landrieu: i would yike to ask for the yeas and nays. -- i would like to ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be a sufficient second. the clerk will call the roll. vote: vote:

vote:vote: vote:

vote:

the presiding officer: are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote? if not, on this vote the ayes are 99, the nays are zero. the amendment is agreed to. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from montana. mr. baucus: i ask to speak as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. baucus: i rice -- i rise to celebrate agriculture. president dwight d. eisenhower once said farming looks mighty easy when your plow is your pencil and you're a thousand miles away from the cornfield. this weeks reminds us to bridge

the gap between plowing fields and passing laws. my home state of montana, agriculture is the heart and soul of the economy. in montana agriculture is not simply a livelihood, it's a way of life. growing up on a ranch outside of helena taught me the values of hard work, faith, family, and doing what's right. values i try to bring with me to work every day. 50% of montana's economy is tied to farming and ranching. 50%. and one in five montana jobs is tied in some way to agriculture. it's our number one industry. each year montana ranchers an farmers produce $3 million of the highest quality agriculture goods produced anywhere in the world. as a nation, we are blessed with a safe, affordable and abundant

food supply. our farmers and ranchers put food on the table around the world and help create good-paying jobs here at home. every year the average american farmer feeds 155 people worldwide. while agriculture stands in the spotlight this week, it's critical to remember the words of president eisenhower and recognize the needs of our ranchers and farmers every day throughout the year. next week, i will be holding a series of listening sessions across montana to discuss the next farm bill. i did that last time around. they were terrific. i learned so much from having these listening sessions all across our state. i will be starting monday in the eastern part of montana in the towns of forsythe and mile city, and over the next year, i will work my way across the state collecting ideas and information from montana farmers and ranchers to make sure that the

next farm bill works for them. i am lucky to represent so many ranchers and farmers in our state who have dedicated their life to the land. it's so important. it roots us in our state. it grounds us. i'm proud to honor these folks today during national agriculture week. mr. president, i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

ms. landrieu: i ask unanimous consent to dispense with the quorum call. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. landrieu: i ask unanimous consent to proceed to a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

quorum call:

quorum call:

quorum call:

mr. durbin: i ask at that the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: it is my understanding that we are in morning business. officer sphe the senator is correct. mr. durbin: this week we are considering legislation on the senate floor that affected small business. i want to talk about another issue very important to small business, and it is the topic of interchange fees known as swipe fees. last week nearly 200 small

businesses came to washington, d.c., from illinois and from all across america. they came to stand up in support of reform of the interchange fee, the swipe fee, that congress passed last year. they came to stand up to the major credit card companies, visa and mastercard and the $13 trillion banking industry that's doing everything in its power to reverse this reform. small business, as we all know, is the key to our economy and its future. we need for them to be able to grow, to hire more workers and serve their customers we will. -- and serve their customers well. but debit card swipe fees set by visa and mastercard are crushing many small businesses. the banks made over $16 billion per year in debit swipe fees back in 2009, about $1.3 billion per month. now, $16 billion may not sound shrike a lot of money when you

compare it to the $20.8 billion that the new york state comptroller said was paid out in wall street bonuses to major financial institutions just last year. but it is a huge amount bh it affects small business. for most americans on main street, $16 billion in swipe fees is quite a lot. this money comes out of the pockets of small business owners across america and out of the pockets of their customers who pay higher prices for gas and groceries vuvment according to data from the federal reserve and nielsen report, over half of all debit interchange fees, more than $8 billion per year, goes to just 10 giant banks. what it boils down is is this: some who are pushing for a delay in this reform are literally offering a handout of $16 billion to the biggest banks in america. the swipe fee system does not have transparency and no

competition. the bottom line is, the current debit card system in this country is a broken market. ask any retailer, large or small, hotel owner, restaurant owner, convenience store owner, gas station, ask them what bargaining power they have when it comes to the amount they're charged for the use of a debit card, and the answer is "none." ask them how much is being paid in each transaction, and the answer is, it's secret. now, is that how you would build an economy, with no competition and no transparency? that is exactly what's going on with the duopoly of visa and mastercard imposing these fees on small business. the banks and card companies are sending an army of lobbyists to congress to undo the reform that congress passed last year. hundreds of bankers are swarming over capitol hill just this week. several members who have never

supported interchange reform in the first place, have introduced legislation to delay that reform that we passed. i'm sorry to say that this plays right into the banking industry's effort to avoid accountability. i want my colleagues to know that small businesses are going to tell their side of the story, too. todd mccracken is the president of the national small business association. he came to capitol hill last week. "small businesses aren't trying to do away with credit and deb illiterate cards. we just want them to play by the rules. small businesses have been at the mercy of these banks for years. the swipe fee reforms merely inject fairness and transparency into a market that has been dictated by a handful of companies for years. mr. president, hundreds of small businesses also submitted formal comments to the federal reserve in support of reform. those comments are posted on the federal reserve's web sievment i'd like to read a few of them from my home state of illinois. nolin wilson runs a flower shop

in carbondale, illinois, in southern illinois, the home of southern illinois university. here's what he wrote to the federal reserve. "in 1964 jerry's flower shop opened and for 35 years i have been a partner in the business. we're reelected in a university town and our business depends on the university. since the university budget is down and they're not spending, our budget is suffering. we have streamlined our business as much as pob and were forced to lay off one employee for a whiebl, then brought her back at reduced pay and hours. we've twoaf choice but to accept -- we have no choice but to accept debit and credit cards. even with the price increase, these high card fees are eating away at our profit. nolin concluded by saying, help our struggling business and other small businesses around the country. reduce our swipe fees to 12 cents, as proposed. mr. president, he alludes to the

faght that when the federal reserve took a look at the actual interchange fee being charged for the use of a debit card, they estimated the average to be over 40 cents per transaction, which is more than 1.1% of the value of each transafntle the actual cost: less than 10 cents. so what the debit card -- credit and debit card companies are doing is imposing a fee that there's no bargain over, no competition and disclosure and forcing retailers to pay it. jerry's flower shop doesn't have a fighting chance over visas or mastercard. they have to pay it or else. that is transferred to the customers. sheer another story. "my business has been in operation for about 35 years. we're just a small enterprise with five employees. the economic situation has taken a toll on my business but also on companies all across the country. i believe that swipe fees are

hindering the struggling businesses even further. if these fees keep rising, they will eventually place such a strain on us, we may be forced to close our doors. please continue your efforts to regulate the debit swipe fees." here is a comment from a cull began water business in mccomb. he said, "we really cannot afford to keep hitting hit with unnecessary fees. please seek to get the proposed rule implemented quickly so that debit swipe fees will be lowered and small businesses will get some breathing room." i hope my colleagues understand these small businesses need relief right now. thethey need to understand that delaying swipe fee reform would give visa and mastercard and the banks a multimillion-dollar handout and would leave small businesses and consumers footing the bill. mr. president, we've heard a lot about the bailout of wall street. this is the handout to wall street. to think that they would turn around and give to these

companies $32 billion in a handout, most of it going to the largest banks and credit cards in america, by delaying this rule is at the expense of small businesses and consumers all across america. as the big banks and card companies make their pitch, i hope my colleagues will make their choice to stand with main street instead of wall street. i hope they choose to stand on the side of hardworking small business owners. most americans understand and i sure do, good jobs are created by small businesses all over this country. we've got to be on their side in the struggle and not on the side of the biggest banks and wall street. i want to respond to another argument raised recently against interchange reform. banks like j.p. morgan chase have started threatening the ip u. interchange reform will force them to limit debit card transactions to $100 per transaction. this threat is so hollow i'm amazed they're saying it publicly. it is a threat that deifies basic logic. remember, it doesn't cost a bank

anymore to conduct a $100 debit transaction than it does a $1 transaction. in both cases the cord holder must already have the known his account. the cost of transferring that money through the network wires are the same no matter what the dollar amount. the only reason thisphlet is made is to scare opposition to the reform. once reform takes effect, big banks like class would be crazy to follow through on this threat of imposing dollar limits on debit transactions. if they did, consumers will start moving in droves to small banks which are not regulated by this bill. and they will not impose any unnecessary restrictions. chase also has no business to argue that they have to limit large dollar debit transactions because they are afraid about fraud. remember, this is the same chase bank that last april told all its debit cardholders not to use pin numbers even though pin has

one-sixth as much fraud loss as signature debit cards. chase did this because visa and mastercard give higher interchange for signature debit than for pin credit -- for pin debit. chase is the poster child for banks that have brought increased fraud risk upon themselves by not using pin numbers. i also want to respond to my colleagues who tell me they're hearing from banks and card companies that consumers might be hurt by interchange reform. first of all, these banks and card companies have no credibility when it comes to speaking on behalf of consumers. they say that interchange reform will force them to raise fees on consumers. but they won't even admit that they are already raising consumer fees to record levels before interchange reform passed. glance back at the headlines like this: "banks boost customer fees to record highs." may 28, 2009, "usa today," "banks find ways to boost fees

checking accounts latest tampleght" "banks and card companies also refuse to concede that consumers already bear the cost of intert interchange fees in the form of higher retail prices." that's particularly hard on the unbank and low-income americans. instead of listening to banks and card companies about consumer interest, i suggest my colleagues listen to those consumer groups in washington. just this week the consumer federation of america sent a letter to all senators. here's what it said. "the current interchange system is uncompetitive, nontransparent and harmful to consumers. it is simply u unjust to require less affluent americans who do not participate in a payment system to pay foreclosure ssessive debit interchange fees that are passed through to the cost of goods and services. as a result, the consumer federation of america does not support delaying implementation of the new law." other groups such as the u.s. public interest research group, public citizen, and the hispanic institute have argued strongly

that interchange reform will help consumers across america, just as it has helped consumers in many other countries that have undertaken reform. mr. president, you know what the interchange sphee in canada? it's zero. the same companies that are offering debit cards here in the united states don't change an interchange fee in canada. and they have just recently reduced the interchange fees dramatically in europe, much lower than the united states. same companies. how can they do that? they did it because the governments of europe stepped up and said, this is a ripoff. you can no longer impose unilaterally interchange fees and we are going to regulate it. they said, please doovment we'll just drop the fees dramatically. they did. look what's happening here. we have a group of senators and congressmen who are now saying, we are not only refusing to assert the rights of consumers, we're going to back off and let the banks charge whatever they want for at least two more years. what would have happened to our sensitivity, to the people we're supposed to represent, the

consumers, and the small businesses? that to me is troubling, if in fact those who push this legislation continue to do so. mr. president, we all know the game plan that visa, mafltercard and the $13 trillion banking industry has done before. it will try to kill interchange outright using threats and scare tactics. if they can't kill it they'll try to delay it playing that the next president or congress will be even friendlier to the banking industry. we saw exactly the same thing happen when congress passed the credit card act of 2509. the banks and card companies fell all over themselves trying to raise fees before the rules went into effect. my wife dish used to come home on the weekends in springfield. she had sea say, guess what? here's another notice from the credit card company raising the interest rate you have to pay on late chanchts i thought you passed credit card reform. i said, it doesn't take effect for a few more months and they're running as fast as they can to run up their fees in the

meantime. that's what's happening to businesses with the interchange fees. a lot of people don't know it because you don't get a notice in the fail about an interchange fees fee. that's been their game plan in the pavment i don't think this is a good bill mple i'm sick of the companies squeezing consumers and small businesses. i'm going to stand with the small businesses and consumers of america on this issue. i'm going to fight big banks and big credit card and their efforts to kill or delay swipe fee reform. i urge my colleagues to join me in standing up for main street and against the abuse and practices of wall street. mr. president, i yield the floor. i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

debit card, debit carded. quorum call:

mr. durbin: mr. durbin: mr. president, ask consent the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection of the mr. durbin: mr. president i ask unanimous consent that at 12:00 noon on thursday, march 17, the senate proceed to the consideration of calendar number 20, h.j. res. 48, a three-week continuing resolution, that there be up two three hours of debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees. that upon the use or yielding back of time, the joint

resolution be read a third time and the senate proceed to vote on passage of the joint resolution, that there be no amendments in order to the joint resolution prior to the vote and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. dub in: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination -- nominations, calendars number 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58 and all nominations placed on the secretary's desk in the air force, army, marine corps and navy, that the nominations be confirmed en bl bloc, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations, that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the record, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent that following disposition of h.j. res. 48, the

continuing resolution, the senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination, calendar number 11, that there be two minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form, that upon the use or yielding back of the time, the senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on calendar number 11, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, that no further motions be in order, that any related statements be printed in the record, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action and the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of h. con. res. 27, which was received from the house and is at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h. cop res. 27, providing -- h. con. res. 27, providing for the acceptance of a statue of gerald r. ford from the people of michigan for placement in the united states capitol. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid

upon the table with no entire veeng action or debate and nay statements related to the measure be placed in the record at the appropriate place as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the rules committee be discharged from further consideration of s. res. 94 and the senate proceed to its consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 94, to express the sense of the senate in support of reducing its budget by at least 5%. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no entire veeng action or debate and any statements related to the resolution be placed in the record at the appropriate place as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of senate resolution 103, submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 103, providing for members on the part of the senate of the joint committee on printing and the joint committee of congress on

the library. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, and any statements related to the resolution be placed in the record at the appropriate place as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m. on thursday, march 17. st. patrick's day. following the prayer and pledge, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day. following any leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 10:30 a.m. with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the republicans controlling the fist half and the majority controlling the final half. further, that following morning business, the senate resume consideration of s. 493, the small business jobs bill. and, finally, at 12:00 noorntion the senate proceed to the consideration of h.j. res. 48, the three-week continuing

resolution, as provided for under the previous order. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: mr. president, roll call votes in relation to amendments to the small business bill are possible tomorrow morning. senators should also expect two roll call votes at approximately 3:00 p.m. in relation to the continuing resolution and on the confirmation of the jackson nomination to be u.s. district judge for the district of columbia. and if there's no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it adjourn under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate will stand adjourned senate will stand adjourned

the u.s. house considers legislation tomorrow to stop federal funds for "national public radio." it also bars local public radio stations from using federal funds to acquire npr programming. hugh can watch that debate tomorrow on c-span.

>> earlier today in the house of commons, british prime minister david cameron and labor leader ed miliband debated the british national health service. the prime minister said that reform is needed because in what he believes is excessive bureaucracy. other topics include a united nations resolution responding to the situation in libya and the safety up u.k. nuclear reactors in light of the disaster in japan. from london, this is 35 minutes.

>> questions to the prime minister. for >> number one mr. speaker -- thank you mr. speaker. i'm sure the whole house wishes to join me in paying tribute to lance corporal stephen micki for the 1st battalion of the royal irish regiment who died lastgime wednesday. he was a highly respected selfless and committed soldier who will be sorely missed by all those who served with him who will be sorely missed by all those who served with him. deepest of the with his family and friends. across september military repatriation will no longer pass through the town. the house wishes to join me in paying tribute to the people, and dignified demonstrations have shown between the public and our armed forces. mr. speaker it has been 100 years since the town was conferred with the title of royalty but i can today confirm to the house that her majesty the queen has agreed to confer

the thai royal on the town as an enduring symbol of the nation's admiration and our gratitude to the people of that town. the town will roll later this year in a move i believe will be welcomed across our country. i have meetings with minnesota colleagues and others and did addition i will have other meetings later today. >> that say to the house with the prime minister, family and service men. the previous government, the overseas victimless, and victims to oversee compensation. >> this is something we are looking at. high remember the debate that took place at the time of the bomb and all members who spoke about this and we are bringing

forward our proposals shortly. >> the prime minister is to be commended with his leadership in trying to achieve a no-fly zone but it is unlikely that that can be implemented in time to present the final onslaught in libya. would the prime minister agree the best response to this urgent crisis would be for the international community with the support of the arab league to invite the egyptians to urge the egyptian government to send a brigade of its armies as a peacekeeping force into eastern libya to protect its in its tracks and to prevent a humanitarian disaster? >> my friend speaks with great expertise on these issues and the point about the arms embargo on monday were extremely important.

we look at any suggestion. the problem at the moment is there isn't a peace to keep but yesterday evening after extensive discussion with lebanon, france and others the u.k. did table a new security channels resolution including a new flies down, as banning all but humanitarian flights and extension of the travel plans and the asset freeze and tougher enforcement of the arms embargo particularly on the libyan government. there are a wide range of views in the un but i urge those to take the right steps to show some leadership on this issue and make sure we can get rid of this regime. >> can i start by delaying the prime minister's tribute to stephen mckey from the irish regiment who showed exceptional courage and bravery and with his family and friends, i also want to join the prime minister in his reports on the community and the very fitting board from the royal designation.

it is a tribute the way that community has responded to our armed forces. >> following the liberal democrat conference, the prominence of planning a new amendment has helped us. let's be clear. these reforms are about cutting bureaucracy and improving. these reforms were drawn up to approve the any chess and answer questions, answer very quickly, we have already made some real strengthening -- first of all we have ruled out price competition in the any chess and also the issue raised by the liberal democrats that i completely agree with which is we must avoid cherry picking by the private sector in the any test. he might care to reflect, the private sector was given two

fifty million pounds, they were never carried out. and finally got those anti cherry picking amendments. let's remember another go at answering the question, the question i asked following the liberal democrat conference of the weekend, are any amendments tabled to the health bill. the problem with prescriptive questions, it doesn't give you -- to respond to the first answer. what price competition and cherry picking. what i would say to the hon. gentleman is he should not set his face against reform against the nhl as. we support extra money, what he

doesn't support. with an aging population with more drugs coming onstream, what was being provided. >> he never gets away from prescriptive answers. i tell him nobody trusts what he says about the and a chess. and talk about reorganization. there will be no more pointless reorganization, instead bring chaos. it is profoundly demoralizing. i agree with what the prime minister used to say. and the bureaucracy of the nhl as. we are abolishing the

bureaucracy -- he would like to listen to the adviser to the last labor government said about our quote. he said most of these reforms are very much where the last government, one 0 have gone if we were not encountering the roadblocks. we know the roadblock was the last neighbor of the labor party and the current leader is son of roadblock. >> i am proud of the record on the any chess. hundred new hospitals and doctors and nurses than ever before. the shortest waiting time in history. the highest level of patient satisfaction effort but he is wrecking our record on dna chess. it was a bill that creates a

free market free-for-all with existing and h s services. very specific questions. this bill makes health-care subject to competition law for the first time in history. it is beginning to sound like the last leader of the labor party. if you don't listen to the adviser, listening to the spokesman, no one in the house of commons knows more -- >> the answers in the prime minister, order must be heard and that is all there is tuned. >> if i can take the trouble to read out the opposition speeches, what we talk about. no one in the house of commons knows more about the any chessman andrew lands be.

except stephen durrell. with six years, and the nhl. he won the to say these plans are consistent, and i expect no less from andrew lance day. >> talk about prescriptive dances again. why doesn't the answer the question. the sea even though whether the health service will be subject to eu competition or it will be? look at this bill. chapter ii of the bill, competition. clause 66 by the competition commission. clause 68, with the office of fair trading. can the prime minister explain what at has to do with health care? of the party opposite is the party that wrecked a system.

the point i make is deeper and what is still that the manifesto of the last election, i am answering the question. this is what they say. patients requiring care, the lot to choose from any provider who meets n.h. standards. and commander festival. all that changed is they are jumping on every bandwagon, blocking every reform and opposing extra money. >> he doesn't get it. he is threatening the fabric of the nhl as. everything people don't like about this government, and

ignoring everyone who knows something about the health service. and the liberal democrats on saturday, can't trust them. ox isn't it typical that just as he backed the trade union, he comes here with the press release. >> thank you, mr. speaker. order! order! the client! this is bad for your health. >> has the prime minister read

comments made by the laird -- labor chairman. where he said over the last ten years productivity has been in continuous decline. that is -- the taxpayer is getting less for each pound spent. will the prime minister assure this house that that trend is going to be reversed? >> my friend makes an excellent point. members opposite would listen to the labor dominated public accounts and the labor leader. what she said was this. over the last ten years the productivity of any chess hospitals has been in almost continuous decline. the service has approved of the result of increased spending by the taxpayer has been getting less for each send. that is what we have to look at. the fact is we are not even getting the european average on terms of outcomes. you are twice as likely to die

of a heart attack here as in france. you have an aging population and their answer is absolutely nothing. how utterly feeble. >> today's statistics show unemployment has gone down in scotland and up in the rest of the u.k.. will the prime minister ensure the trend of lower unemployment in scotland is not endangered by ridiculously high fuel prices and ridiculously high -- what is still the largest oil-producing nation in the european union. i thank the hon. gentleman. >> clearly today's figures are a mixed picture of the youth unemployment figures which are disappointed once again but overall what is interesting is employment is up and the number of claimantss nationwide is down and the number of claimantss is down by 32,000 since last year so there are as i say very mixed picture. in terms of your duty, a budget

coming up. i don't want to speculate what is going to be in that budget but i know the pain of families and small businesses feeling from huge numbers of increases that were put through by the last government in their last budget. they put through seven fuel increases. one before the election and six afterwards. what a surprise. they didn't even raise that one today. >> hundreds of residents are up in arms at the prospect of having travelers signed imposed on their villages. can the prime minister tell me what can be done and when to remove the top down targets currently imposed on local authorities? >> i can tell my friend we are abolishing top-down travel targets that were imposed on local authorities and instead local calls wills will determine the right side provisions in consultation with their local

community. we recognize that one was apply to everyone in terms of planning in this country travelers included. >> mr. speaker, above average numbers of residential homes for disabled people including hundreds of my constituents. i ask the prime minister why he still plans to scrap the mobility compounded in his welfare reform bill. and will he not compare them with patients in hospitals? they are in their own homes and they are not ill. >> look carefully at the bill and our plans because actually what you will see is in the reform as we change that benefits and improve that benefit putting the question of mobility in to the reform what we will do is avoid the double canting that happened in the past. >> thank you very much. earlier in the week my friend

the prime minister receive representation in relation to the government's production pattern. on the one hand the creditmaking agency and on the other the gentleman who is the leader of opposition and others from the previous administration got us into this mess. >> we should listen to the advice of the credit rating agency who this week reconfirmed our aaa credit rating statement. i also think we should listen to those who are giving a presentation about the british economy, who support deficit reduction and the point i would make is to those people who think there's a difference between deficit reduction and growth at the same time they should look at the interest rates currently existing in ireland and farr and portugal. in portugal market interest rates are 7-1/2% and what is the plan? to harm the deficit in four years which would get us in four years to where portugal is today.

what a brilliant plan. >> thank you very much. and the prime minister, another 750 people up and down the country. and great defensive duties. 1,000 people could be affected by this. all he talked to, to see whether or not a solution could be found because this is serious. >> thank you for raising this point. hi want you to contact the hon. gentleman to discuss this. it is important that there be competition and choice for the provision. i make sure my ministers get in

touch right away. >> can the prime minister tell me, if the dictator is -- for the libyan people against the wishes of the arab league. the community feels it crushing the spirit and hope and life of the libyan people. >> an important point. every world leaders as gaddafi should go and his regime is illegitimate and at the end field left in place that will send a terrible message, not just to people and libya but across the region. and greater openness in the societies which is why it is right for britain to pave a leading role at the un and elsewhere. i'm not arguing in no-fly zone is a simple solution. of course it isn't but it is part of one of the steps we need to isolate and pressurized this regime and we want to have

greater democracy and freedom. >> does the prime minister have any sense, trying to find a peace officer. >> i support the british police. they are the finest in the world. the police as other public servants know is there left to be it -- the budget deficit we have to deal with and if we want to keep police officers on the street to have a pay freeze if, and it is necessary to look and to work out how to have well-paid or well motivated police officers doing a great job. but it is the opposite. to stand against every reform and change and every improvement and there's nothing we can do about any of these problems.

they will not only be relevant but the british public will work out that they are irrelevant. >> last night there was a violent double-murder in subtle and this was the most serious in a series of incidents in the area. will the prime minister reassure me and residents that these crimes will be fully investigated, perpetrators face justice and everywhere in this country must be subject to the rule of law. >> i can give my hon. friend that assurance. this is a disturbing case and i'm sure all would have heard about it this morning on the news and the police will do everything they can to get to the bottom of this dreadful crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. >> i will say to the house we appreciate the moment of crisis.

our hearts go to the people of the area. we appreciate the comments on monday. the prime minister will investigate a british rescue team that recently turned away from japan. >> i can tell the house what happened. the official rescue team that was sent from the u.k. arrived in good time and already started work. there was an extra independent rescue team that did not have the correct documentation so they encountered problems. we are doing everything we can to get access. >> tickets for the london olympics went on sale. would my friend agree with me that those people buying tickets finish crossing the finish line in first place only to end up on the bronze medal. doesn't he agrees this is an

example of the courtesy what we need to know about both? >> i say to the hon. president, genius way of weaving a vote in to a question. clearly the support for the campaign on all sides of the house and there are those who support the other campaign and we should have this argument in the country and make arguments like that but in terms of the olympics i hope as many people as possible will get to see the olympics. fantastic festival in our country. >> the prime minister last year said he wanted a new military -- the law of the land. the british legion said the proposal put forward from the armed forces bill, do not honor this pledge. will the prime minister follow the meeting's advice to find the law and keep the profit he

makes? >> i have discussions about this but it seems to be the right thing to do. clear reference to, and in law but to have a debate in this house every year about the covenant and make sure we can update and improve it because this is not a static document. it needs to take into account changing health needs and education needs and make sure the covenant is the best it can be for our armed service personnel. >> with my right hon. friend supporting the following statements. the reason i never supported a.d. is it would have given labor and even bigger majority in 1997 than it gave the tories a bigger majority in 1983, 1987 as well. if we want reforms to go public in politics, it doesn't deliver that. would you be surprised to learn that the hon. member of egg setter who is the director of labor -- [yelling]

>> what can i add to that judgment? >> i draw attention to the house that i previously declared. there are very few people outside the house or inside the house who thinks the northern rock would have gotten into a much of -- as much trouble from unusual building society. given the skepticism about whether the coalition wants to change the culture in the industry will the prime minister now insist the city at minister require a serious and detailed assessment of the case for review jewel as asian of northern iraq. >> we are prepared to look at all options and a city minister will be doing that. we think mutual as asian should be going much further than the banking industry and we are looking at options for mutual is asian within the public sector

to give public organizations more control over the organizations they are in. in terms of banking is not just mutual, but the issue of responsibility and try to link the idea of taking deposits and making loans in the way building societies used to. >> given the lockerbie bombing and continuing murder of those people does the prime minister's think it was wrong to assign fields to libya for the last government to participate those contracts and will they learn the lessons to insure it never happens again? >> there are lessons to be learned. it was right to respond to what libya did in terms of weapons of mass destruction but the way in which their response was handled was not right. there was too much credulity shown particularly on issues like the man who was convicted of the biggest mass murder in british history and universities

ask themselves some searching questions about what they did. >> the nobel prize-winning economist paul krugman said the government's economic policy is going wrong direction. and a reincarnation of herbert hoover whose policies -- and to leave open to our leaders to be a new group to lead the way. >> as far as a job application went, that was at the greasy end of the spectrum. that is what i would say. i prefer to listen to the end of the o a cd who is dealing with the deficit, the best way to prepare the ground for growth in the future and when it comes to who supports this policy we have the r m f, d f f b, the cd-i, bank of england, who supports your economic policy? there was a long pause and he

replied the guardian. you can keep your supporters. >> people in a wooden bassett have sung no thanks or praise for the occasions over the years but they will be deeply honored and pleased by the great honor shown on this occasion. will the prime minister lead the people in filling the places they felt? >> i say to my hon. friends what an honor it is about background and how i enjoyed meeting with him and others to do that time and let me be clear. they did not ask for any recognition. they did not -- they believed they were honorably and honestly doing a job that the whole country wanted to see done. now that the route is going different route we have to look

at the issues he raiseds. quoted demonstration takes place of solidarity and support but i will bear in mind what he says. >> holding referendum, what was proposed, the wind. really confirm all of the formula by the independent commission, anyone doubting the way it is funded. >> we are looking at such a process. we think it is right and we will bring forward some announcements and proposals by that. because the spending reduction in whales are less than the spending reductions in england will be fined at the end of this is the difference in spending will be even greater than it is today. i don't expect the contention that people in wales are targeted with cuts and they're getting a better deal than other

parts of the united kingdom. >> a report published today by the search charles property campaign shows when labor left off they left 30% of children living in poverty. the worst in england. does the prime minister agree that such a complex problem demands to tackle the causes of poverty and deliver greater social mobility? >> the gentleman is right. if we just think of combating child poverty in terms of moving people a little bit above or below the line we will never deal with the underlying cause of child poverty which is the family breakdown and other problems linked to and i am determined we tried to get expertise across the house and the hon. member nottingham is involved in this work as is making sure we look at life chances involved in property

itself. >> earlier this month i joined my constituents and many others to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the disaster which was the worst civilian disaster in the world war. 173 people were killed and 90 injured seeking shelter. does the prime minister agree with me that there should be a fitting permanent memorial and will he let his support to the stairway to heaven memorial campaign? .forty-four that nuclear power stations have an excellent safety record and the nuclear power has been an important part of our energy needs in the future? >> i do think nuclear power should be part of the election future as it is part of the mix

right now. obviously i'm sure everyone watching the dreadful events in japan will want to make sure we learned any lessons. of course there are big differences. we don't have the reactors designed to the u.k. nor do we plan them and also we have ao sizes reimport area but nevertheless there will be less concerned that is why my right honorable friend the secretaryhe is a ahead of nuclearon inspections and safety to learn a lesson to make sure we do that in our country. >> this week marks the 17th anniversary -- 70th anniversary blitz people lost and 35,000 people were made homeless. they suffered the worst devastation in life in scotland during the second world war. will the prime minister join me in paying tribute to all those who lost their lives, all those who carries the scares with him today after those terrible events years ago. >> i will certainly join her in

paying tribute to those people and i think it's important as we reach the 60th and 70th anniversaries of these events and we recognize there are many people now who lived through them, who are coming to the ends of their lives. it may be our last opportunity to commemorate what happened and remember those who died and i think this is particularly coming up at the top of the hour here on c-span2, japan's emperor addresses the citizens of this country about the devastation from last week's earthquake and tsunami telling the japanese people not to give up. an oversight hearing on airport otte scanners. earlier today freshman republican senator rob portman of ohio gave a speech on the florida senate. he spoke about the federal budget deficit and his ohioan roots. during the bush administration

senator portman served as the u.s. trade representative and the white house budget directorf i ask unanimous consent that the order. >> the senator from ohio to recognize. >> cannonmack mr. bersin. i appreciate being given the time to make a few remarks this afternoon as a the new senator from ohio. being in the senate is a great honor and it is also a solemn c responsibility particularly given the critical issues we have before us. after 12 years in the u.s. housn ohio and serving in the bush and administration i return home to cincinnati about four years ago. although we kept our home there and raise her kids there i committed forese fit teen years. and it was time to be home. with three teenagers my amazingj wife jane and family members including my dad one of my chu heroes. at that time my predecessor senator george voinovich was serving with distinction here and said he intended to run for

re-election. i was happy to be back in the private sector involved into bus small family businesses practicing law, teaching at the ohio state university and enjoying being a dad. including getting to coach mike daughter soccer team. but i was also watching with apprehension there were the worst he economy the way then administration and congress were responding to it. when george voinovich announced he would not seek re-election to the senate i made the decision a to run.ecau i was so concerned about theo direction of my state and our country. i saw the bottom falling out of the economy and i saw first-hand the pain that comes with layoffs and downsizing.s, like others i was frustrated that while ohio small businesses and families were making tough decisions to do with the deepening recession the federal government seem to me inand, out of touch. instead of cutting expenses and figuring out how to do more witg less and focusing on private-sector job growth, the obama administration and congress responded with a big governmentsp approach.

unfortunately the 800 billion-dollar stimulus package is less to do with creating private sector jobs than going to size and the scope of government. in the midst of all this i saw a new national health care bill working its way through the system that would substantially increase the federal government role and lock in place the unsustainable cost in inefficiencies in our current healthal care system making heah care even more expensive for families and small businesses and then making it harder to deal with the exploding cost of health care in our federal budget. i up to dangerous levels of debt. it further threaten our economyr these issues, these deepctio concerns over jobs and the direction of our economy and the fiscal crisis we face as a nation are my focus now and the united states senate. and i'm not alone.de whether republican, democrat oro independent i believe ohioans understand our state and our country are in trouble. it is going to take real change and all of us working together

across party lines to set rings right.enge i believe the twin challenges of our time are to revive the american economice miracle and o stop the reckless overspending by government that threatens to extinguish the american dream.na and one affects the other. without a growing economy and more jobs we cannot hope to reverse the dangerous trend of record deficits and deepening debt. without getting our spending under control we can't get our economecy moving.in it is not one of the other. are in fact these goals are not inconsistent. they are reinforcing. t with the fiscal time bomb on her doorstep and the uncertainty it creates we will never see the strong recovery we hoped for so we have to do both. in addition to taking steps toet get our fiscal house in order we have revive the american economic miracle by moving the climate for job growth.ov renovation, invention and entrepreneurship. we need anhi environment thatk encourages risk-taking and private investment which economists will tell you is the

biggest challenge weu face in we this week recovery. the current economic climates encouraged by washington as is one of an uncertainty and one of apprehension. i have seen it all ove ar ohio. last go at this is an independent county ohio.paul paul williams the honor pull together a dozen or so local t businesses from the area for ae roundtable discussion. one of many i've had in the lasi couple of years. struggling in a tough economy be small businesses wondered the same thing, why is washington made it harder on them to grow and jobs?t they talk about the threat of new epa regulations that will drive up energy costs.or depending on the business they were worried about other specific regulations or mandates on trucking, manufacturing and banking that would drive up the their compliance costs and make them less competitive. they talk about the threat of higher taxes coming, increasing the uncertainty at a time wheni the opposite is needed to incentivize businesses to invest and to grow. t

like the vast majority of small businesses most of these pai businesses around the table payx their taxes and individuals notm as corporations. the temper extension of tax rates on capital gains income tax that taxes and the real possibility of higher taxes soon reduces their incentive to invest and create the jobs we need.smal every single small businessab owner around the table talk about health care. all of them said the same thing. says the health care bill has passed their health care costs are going up t more, not less. they were our ready going up ani now they say they are going uprs faster and that increases their costs of doing business is making it harder for them to create jobs.ut they talked about premium increases of 10 to 25% eating 2, away at at their profits and any chance to expand even after they have taken steps to cut expenses. at one of the 80 factories t visits bruce bickley and impressive entrepreneur in northeast ohio told me his

orders are out. business is picking up but he wasn't hiring. he was paying overtime instead because he wasn't willing to hire permanent workers because of the embedded costs of health care. our education system and federai training system is failing us iu ohio. h around the state high-tech companies have told me they can't find the skilled workers they need. s this is wrong. at a time of soaring unemployment there is a skills gap in america. a there are high school high wagev jobs available better schools are producing with sufficient supply of well-trained american workers. you can't be out there talking to workers and management without seeing these issues. i have also seen a closer to home.'m in fact i'm the product of a small family business. my dad built -- who we lost at age 88 last year was one of those small-business risktakers. he took a big risk in fact whenk i was a kid. at age 40 he left his job. he had a good job with a big

company as a salesman. he had health care and he had some retirement and if that's. he gave it all up to start his own business, portman equipment company starting with fivehe people. my mom was the bookkeeper. he couldn't get a of him becausl his family didn't have money in the bank would lend him any money so he borrowed me from my mom's uncle to get thing started. the company lost money the first two years but he kept itom aliv. through hard work, ingenuity and sacrifice. my brother took the reins later and took the company to a new level but by the time i get by retire the company employed almost 300 people, 300 families. we all worked there and when in was growing up the discussion around the kitchen table was often about how governmentcts affects small business, how it affected him, rules and tax regulations, taxes. my dad is one of my heroes as it is hard work and his sacrifice and because they built something of value. i have seen it done.t c

i know the role government can play and should not play inpo helping create jobs and opportunities. about a year ago i asked my dad if you take the same risk today. he thought about for a while and shook his head and said i don't know. there is just so much m uncertainty out there. that is the word i hear a lot a small business of small business owners all over ohio. that is the reason a lot of job creators are potential job creators are staying on the sidelines, keeping their cash on the sidelines. investing in plants and equipment and people. leadership is needed to create r positive climate which burris job growth insurance opportunity and restores the american dream. leadership is needed to get ale handle on our serious fiscal issues. instead we are debating at the margins. you will see a play on the floors of the senate this week. we are locked in a fierce battle about electing 1% of federal outlays, actual federal spendiny in this fiscal year.ot and we aren't even addressing the biggest offense of ourg budget which is the importance

but unsustainable entitlement program are going fact isca america's families that typeht nabel's over the past couple of years and businesses that have to do more with less the federal government is taking the opposite path spending more, growing bigger and becoming more involved in our private economy and ourva lives. y over the past two years paul williams in the trucking company in worcester how to cut expenses to stay afloat.el infected to sell a couple of trucks and let people go. here in washington during that same time the u.s. government are going deeper into debt andiz growing in size. during that same two years washington spent 27% more in thd so-called domestic discretionary spending being debated on the floor this week. it doesn't count the stimulus bill. t i'm told that gives us a staggering 80% increase in this type of spending over the past couple of years. this historic value to control spending directly affects all of us because it affects our

economy and their ability toes create jobs. pushes up interest rate affecting car loans mortgages loans. it crowds out private investment and leaves us with three bad choices.ng higher taxes even more borrowing or both. a this will surprise no one that recently a group of 47 respected business economists agreed that the single biggest threat to oua economy was our debt and deficit restoring fiscal constraint is critical to creating the certainty that employers employers cannot impersonate to create jobs.ac across ohio and our country. is truly dangerous because leftd unchecked these mounting debts are likely to lead to the debt d crisis we have seen in other countries like greece.nd the government is spending morer than it takes and hurts our economy todayy and mortgages the future for kids and grandkids. think about this. every child born in america today automatically through no t fault of their own inherits $45,000 in u.s. debt.ter people are looking for a better

way.rom w people are looking for leadership from washington that takes on those challenges thatke ohio's businesses and workersrs are facing everye day. the status quo isn't working. there is an urgency about this that the american people get b even while many in washington seem to be in denial.nge an we need to rise to that challenge and work together across party lines to meet our economic and fiscal problems head-on i addressing and puttinn in place pro-growth measures and spending restraint and we have got to do itwt now. we have to think and act w differently to compete and win in the global economy rick crane -- give working families the hope of that battle tomorrow. we can no longer rest on our laurels, no longer afford the luxury of living with a substandard education systemith that doesn't produce in people with the 21st century skills they need to succeed. we can afford bureaucratic revelatory regime and the hopelessly confiscated tax code cut that favor social engineering over sound business decisions. we can no longer sit back while our dependence on foreign oil charts our destiny rather than

innovation and technology. compete and win in our health care system whiles outcomes are unsatisfactory particularly for those millions of american families withoutse coverage. this is wrong for the small businesses at the roundtable i talked about earlier who are providing health care health care and get stay afloat and wrong for working families whose rising costs are eating away at their opportunity to move up the ladder.c to revive the american economict miracle miracle when he to revolutionize the way we thinkio about all the major institutions of our economy. we need to have structural reform of our regulatory system of our tax system, our niche of policy, worker retraining education and health care delivery or trade policy and our legal system and of course we o must fix our broken budgeting system that has us so deeply in debt. these challenges are not insurmountable.ns i know that because we are americans and we have done this

before. we waged a world where that required more resources andcrif sacrifice anything we face today and they came out stronger.ved we survived the civil civil war, great depression and the cold war to emerge as the beacon of o hope and opportunity for the rest of the world. o there is a long line of distinguished senators from ohif who were part of these historic times including warren g. harding, william henry harrison, one famous predecessors john glenn and american hero who h along with his wife annie i have been honored to know when work with over the years. and they immediately follow senator george voinovich one of the finest public servants our state has ever known. at we are grateful to george and janet for their support and friendship and the extraordinary legacy that they leave. there is another former house senator whose -- robert a. taft a fellow cincinnati and who worked at the same law firm where i was a partner before being elected to congress. like me he also served in the house of representatives and the

executive branch. unlike me he was first in hisoo high school college and law school class and was said to have the best mind in washington democrats joke that he of the best mind in washington until he made it up. he was saved principle republican leader and in fact whent, his review of the top fie senators in the history of thiso place he was selected to be among that is why he is one of only five senators to have a portrais hanging in the presidents room right here on the senate floor. he was at future profiling courage in john kennedy spoke in on his o memorial con constitutn avenue is written that his quote spans as a chevy to the honesty, indomitable courage and high principles of free government symbolized by his life. it is always dangerous tome predict how a former senator would react to today's predicament. but i'm confident that with robert a. taft among us today he

would rise in full and full throated support ofll addressing the twin challenges we have talked about today. his honesty would force them to admit that our economic systems are not up to the global c competition of the 21st century. his courage would force him to insist we address our budget woes including entitlement and his love of liberty would compel him to fight for solutions to our economic challenges to promote free markets and the power and dignity of the individual over the heavy hand of government. f i will rely on my faith, my family and the good people of all heil in my work here in thee senate.lo as we have discussed there is a lot of hard work to do. in my role, i hope to be worthy of this great and temporary privilege.it i will work constructively with my colleagues to achieve results including working with the senior senator from ohio sherrod brown and others across thery aisle. i will work every day to try too earn the confidence and trust the people of ohio have placed in me.

as we go forward together may god bless ohio and this great nation and help guide us in oure shared commitment to a better future. thank you for listening. mr. president i yield the floor. >> mr. president? leader.ity tell myresident i will friend from ohio i've i have listened with great interest to his first speech here in theas senate and was particularly interested in his reference to robert a. taft who the senator from ohio knows portrait is in the republican leader's office and has been there for some time. in fact, that space is currentln the office of the republican leader in the senate became the space of the republican leader about the time that senator taft was in that all too brief perioo actually majority leader for eight months before he passed away but he left an incredible--

impression.or in this town which the junior senator from ohio pointed out and i would say enlisting to the new senator from ohio that he is entirely able to fill the shoes of those who have comee before the representative the greate state of ohioan the senate. i he made reference to some of t them and i predict by the time the senator from ohio lisa's b body he will be rightly referred to in the same category and iion thank him for is important for his contribution here in thece senate. >> mr. president? >> the senator from ohio. >> thank you us are present. i join a republican leader in congratulating senator portman on his first speech on the senate floor.or i remember those days some fourm years ago when i had the honor of doing that. i know how close they are with their children and i've seenhin them much over the last year and i know the sacrifice and difficulty of leaving home and as he points out and i