mr. mccain: thank you. mr. lautenberg lautenberg: as a, how could we repeal this law and look at our children and grandchildren, look them in the eyes? we should be focused on getting this critical jobs bill signed into law, not refighting last year's partisan battles. make no mistakes, democrats are willing and eager to fix the parts of the health reform law that might need adjustment. i, for one, would salute that kind of a -- a review. but to repeal the entire law is an example of outrageous overreach. instead of meeting us halfway, our colleagues on the republican -- republican side are engaging in i think misguided political battles. it's wrong. we can't allow repeal of this law which is proving the lives of millions of americans. and i thank my colleague from arizona for permitting me courteous extension of the time that i had. i yield the floor. mr. mccain: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from arizona. mr. mccain: thank you. i thank the senator from new jersey and i ask unanimous consen

mr. mccain: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending business and call up my amendment number 4. the presiding officer: without objection. the clerk may report the amendment. the clerk: the senator from arizona, mr. mccain, proposes an amendment numbered 4. beginning on page 128, strike line 5 and all that follows through age 141, line 9, and insert the following -- mr. mccain: i ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with. mr. president, we are celebrating president reagan's 100th birthday this past weekend, and i quote from him on many occasions. he inspired many of us in many ways. president reagan once stated -- quote -- "government programs, once launched, never disappear. actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth." i don't know if president reagan ever observed the essential air service program, but i -- it certainly, i think, fits his description. this amendment to repeal a a $200 mil

mr. mccain: madam president, there are many of us who will come to the floor this afternoon to pay tribute to one of the great presidents in american history and many of us will recollect times and experiences and contacts we had with president reagan and the way he inspired us personally as well as a nation. when i was a prisoner of war in north vietnam, the vietnamese went to great lengths to restrict the news from home to the statements and activities of prominent opponents of the war in vietnam. they wanted us to believe that america had forgotten us. they never mentioned ronald reagan to us or played his speeches over the camp loud speakers. no matter. we knew about him. new additions to our ranks told us how the governor and mrs. reagan were committed to our liberation and our cause. when we came home, all of us were eager to meet the reagans, to thank them for their concern. but more than gratitude drew us to them. we were drawn to them because they were among the few prominent americans who didn't subscribe to the then-fashionable notion that america had entered her inevitable decl

mr. mccain, ted kennedy and many others, and you have never voted again one policy to legalize the processf undocumented immigrants and the dream act for that we want to thank you. thank you, so much, sir. [applause] >> we have another question on the right side. >> thank you. the hispanic republican group from minnesota and want to congratulate of course senator cornyn a good friend for putting this together. here is a very important question we have to ask as republicans. we are months away from candidates to clearing they are running for discreet office and probably one of our most challenging elections in our lifetime. our lifetime with the deficits, with the liberal movements who can we count on with a list of candidates and we know who the list is to push immigration reform. i haven't heard it with many candidates around the country even this last congressional race, but this is important to us. you know who the candidates are. give your information and share with us can we get a candidate who will be strong for immigration reform and to get our vote. this is important. thank you. >>

mr. mccain: madam president, there are many of us who will come to the floor this afternoon to pay tribute to one of the great presidents in american history and many of us will recollect times and experiences and contacts we had with president reagan and the way he inspired us personally as well as a nation. when i was a prisor of war in north vietnam, the vietnamese went to great lengths to restricthe news from home to the statements and activities of prominent opponents of the war in vietnam. they wanted us to believe that america had forgotten us. they never mentioned ronald reagan to us or played his speeches over the camp loud speakers. no matter. we knew about him. new additions to our ranks told us how the governor and mrs. reagan were committed to our liberation and our cause. when we came home, all of us we eager to meet the reagans, to thank them for their concern. but more than gratituderew us to them. we were drawn to them because they were among the few prominent americans who didn't subscribe to the then-fashionable notion that america had entered her inevitable decline. we

mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator mccain. ns and the committee budget. before i do that, though, i just want to say, mr. secretary, i join and concur with senator mccain in his comments about you and your ten year here as secretary of defense. it's been extraordinary number of years. you have brought great capability, objectivity, thoughtfulness to the job, and great strength in independence and courage, and i very much commend you for it. i look forward to many more times when you will be before this committee, and i'm sure that you do too. [laughter] i don't want this to sound like it's kind of like anywhere near the end of your tenure here. i discussed the matter of the budget with senator mckaine, and i -- senator mccain, and now i ask to approve authorizing of our committee march 1 of this year through february 28, 2013. >> second motion. >> the funding resolution is consistent with the joint majority leader and republican leader february 3rd agreement on committee funding and with the funding guides provided to us by sen

mr. chairman. >> can thank you, senator mccain. senator reed. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman. thank you, gentlemen, for your service and the service of your colleagues. as senator levin indicated, we were there just a few days ago to firsthand witness the progress, but also the challenges. and i want to underscore something that senator mccain said which is absolutely critical, and that is the need to generate bipartisan support for increasingly civilian-led effort. as the mission migrates under or department of defense and the dod budget to the civilian side, the state department, as it looks more like foreign aid than supporting troops in the field, the reality which senator mccain pointed out in this environment is going to be very, very difficult to sustain. and as he also pointed out, i think quite perceptively, if we don't sustain this effort, then we have invested a lot of blood and lives and material in an effort that could be frustrated. that would be, that would be a tragedy. as you pointed, ambassador jeffrey, one of those charlie wilson moments where, goodness grac

mr. mccain: madam president, there are many of us who will come to the floor this afternoon to pay tribute to one of the great presidents in american history and many of us will recollect times and experiences and contacts we had with president reagan and the way he inspired us personally as well as a nation. when i was a prisoner of war in north vietnam, the vietnamese went to great lengths to restrict the news from home to the statements and activities of prominent opponents of the war in vietnam. they wanted us to believe that america had forgotten us. they never mentioned ronald reagan to us or played his speeches over the camp loud speakers. no matter. we knew about him. new additions to our ranks told us how the governor and mrs. reagan were committed to our liberation and our cause. when we came home, all of us were eager to meet the reagans, to thank them for their concern. but more than gratitude drew us to them. we were drawn to them because they were among the few prominent americans who didn't subscribe to the then-fashionable notion that america had entered her inevitable decl

mr. mccain: freedom works says, "the e.s.a. is a prime example of wasteful spending. a graph produced by the f.a.a. shows that 99.95% of all americans live within 120 miles of a major public airport. the taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize rural airports with too little demand. i urge you to repeal the e.a.s. to save taxpayers $1 billion over the next five years." and national taxpayers' union cites the city of macon and athens, georgia, are both less than a 90-minute drive from atlanta-heartsfield jackson international airport. despite this, the u.s. department of transportation subsidized 26 flights per week to and from each city at a clip of $464 per passenger for macon, $135 for athens. and then, of course, the government -- citizens against government waste points out that congress cannot continue on a spending rampage while ignoring the nation's balance sheets. mr. president, on probably the -- probably the loudest complaints have been from the state of alaska, a state i love and enjoy. there's a great article that appeared in an alaska newspaper and it'

mr. mccain: madam president, there are many of us who will come to the floor this afternoon to pay tribute to one of the great presidents in american history and many of us will recollect times and experiences and contacts we had with president reagan and the way he inspired us personally as well as a nation. wh i was a prisoner of war in north vietnam, the vietnamese went to great lengths to restrict the news from home to the statements and activities of prominent opponents of the war vietnam. they wanted us to believe that america had forgotten us. they never mentioned ronald reagan to us or played his speeches over the camp loud speakers. no matter. we knew about him. new additions to our ranks told us how the governor and mrs. reagan were committed to our liberation and our cause. when we came home, all of u were eager to meet the reagans, to thank them for their concern. but more than gratitude drew us to them. we were drawn to them because they were among the few prominent americans who didn't subscribe to the then-fashionable notion that america had entered her inevitable decline. w

mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator mccain. we have a quorum here in a moment. will ask approval of a number of nominations and the committee budget. before i do that, i want to say, mr. secretary, i join and concur with senator mccain and his comments. both you and your tenure has been extraordinary. you have brought great capability, object to be, thoughtfulness to the job and great strength, independents and courage. i very much commend you for it. i look for too many more times when you will be before this committee and i am sure that you do, too. [laughter] so i do not want to make this sound like this is your anywhere near your tenure here. i discussed the matter of the budget with senator mccain and i now ask the committee to consider and approve the seventh revolution of rising from before our committee for march 1 this year through february 28, 2013. >> i second the motion. >> it is consistent with the joint majority leader and the republican leader agreement on committee funding and with the funding provided to us by senate rules committee on february

mccain. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and let me also join you in taking time to welcome the six new members of our committee. i am confident that the work of this body will be enriched and enhanced by their contributions, and i join you in stating to them that our work has been bipartisan, and it has been an honor for me to serve with you as chairman of this committee. our bipartisanship is not devoid of passion when we occasionly disagree on an issue. [laughter] i want to thank our distinguished winds for being with us today. i have had the wonderful opportunity to know the ambassador and general for many, many years. they are two great servants of our country. on behalf of this committee, we thank you for your service, and please convey to the brave men and women you lead the deep gratitude for their service that is felt by the american people and their representatives. i am very happy to focus on iraq. it would be unthinkable two years ago that we would reach a point that people in washington would increasin

mr. sydney schanberg. we spoke several times during the mccain and kerry campaigns.an organizer for vietnam's veterans against john mccain and john kerry. i'm here today because of the p.o.w. issue. as you very much involved in that. and what i would like to ask you is there is a prison in a hanoi underground, 1992 the senate committee, our government has the gift and before, with nixon in '73 when they said they all came home, just there's no other underground facility were 300 americans were held after the war was over. i would like to know if you would be willing to go with myself to go over to hanoi and insist that john mccain -- >> is billy here? >> yes. >> how are you, billy? >> [inaudible] >> yeah, i would be willing to go, but i don't think it's grin to happen because i don't think they are going to let it happen. they would probably shut it down and the would tell us that, you know -- >> there's the peace in the book about the many americans he believes were left behind in about a failure of the mainstream that covered the story. >> i would be willing to go

mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator mccain. senator reed. >> as senator levin indicated, we were there just a few days ago to firsthand witness the process, and the challenges, and i want to underscore something that senator mccain said, which is absolutely critical, which is the need for an increasingly civilian-led effort, as the mission migrates from the dod budget to the civilian side at the state department. as it looks more like something rather than supporting the troops in the field, something senator mccain pointed out, in this environment, it is very difficult to sustain, and i think he pointed out quite perceptively that if we do not, then we have invested a lot of blood and lives and material that could be frustrated, and that would be a tragedy. as you pointed out, ambassador jeffrey, one of those charlie wilson moments, where, what were we thinking? again, i think that was a central point, and it was very was said by senator mccain, i want to emphasize. i think it is important to get some perspective. ambassador,

mr. chairman and let me begin by associating myself with the remarks of chairman levin and senator mccaind others about your extraordinary cases -- service mr. secretary throughout your tenure in difficult times in making difficult judgments. thank you for what you have done and we continue to wish you well as you continue to serve. and admiral mullen, i know in october you will finish your tour and i will add that accommodation for your extraordinary service, 43 years and to all your colleagues at the defense department. let me emphasize what you all have emphasized. it is actually critical to fund the defense budget going forward in a nun ad hoc every 60 days but over the long period of time so certainty for program and certainty for strategy but there is another aspect of our national strategy that is increasingly important and that is the role the state department will play in iraq and afghanistan. mr. secretary i would assume that you would stress the same urgency of the need to find fund those types of state department programs in iraq and afghanistan, otherwise what you have accomp

senator mccain. >>> thank you, mr. chairman. madam secretary, thank you for being here. thank you for your hard work. thank you for the frank and very candid conversations we have concerning the issue of border security. and i also want to appreciate the time and effort you take to keep me and other members of the border states informed as to the efforts you're making on border security. and i think it's important that we continue the conversation. and i appreciate you briefing that you gave me just the other day. as you know, there's a february 15th gao report that is -- contains some very interesting information. and among that -- in that report, it says, as of february 2011, cdp did not have an estimate of the time and efforts that are needed to secure the southwest border, as it transitions to a new methodology from measuring border security. i think this is part of our problem in our dialogue, because you, i think, very appropriately point out that there's been an increase in assets and increase in apprehensions. certainly increases in efficiencies. and yet, at the

mr. chairman. i thank you, madam secretary, for your hard work. >> thank you, senator mccain. madam secretary, as we discussed the other day, we did announce at our organization meeting the other morning that border security is one of our priorities. we're going to start a series of hearings, in march. the point that senator mccain raises is an important one which is whether we can find a metric. a set of standards we can agree on that -- where we can say we're doing -- well, we're doing as much as we all agree together we can do. to secure our border. and that will not only achieve security. it may also here in a broader context, enable us to deal with the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform which i know you're also interested in. >> very good. >> thank you. >> senator jun, senator tester, and senator portman. >> thank you, mr. chairman. madam secretary, nice to meet you earlier and welcome to our hearing. you have been watching what's going on in my home state of wisconsin in terms of public sector employees? >> impression i've seen a few clips. >> does that give

political affairs and security policy mr pastor i will i have another quote here well maybe it will be the last quote for today but there were lots of quotes something john mccain said a couple of days ago for two years mostly out of deference to russia defensive arms sales have not been authorized for georgia this has to change says mccain at a minimum we should provide georgia with early warning radars and other basic capabilities to strengthen its defenses what school active nato has approached possible rearming of georgia well of course i don't speak for the u.s. government. and now that you said you. were seriously nato doesn't sell weapons we don't sell weapons to anybody individual nations to that and it's national decisions to take as far as i'm aware georgia there's no arms embargo on georgia but the united states makes its own decisions all allies make their own decisions. and they have to do this but from an organizational point of view we have no view on this issue. and you don't influence such things so for example if one of the nato candidates an interesting. maybe i don't know the nato charter but if one of the nato members wants to sell arms. to

essential, and when this amendment comes before the body, i would urge defeat of the mccain amendment. with that, mrsident, i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from west virginia. mr. rockefeller: i am only going to comment for a minute, but what the senator from alaska said obviously is completely true, and it also points out in this overall philosophical question of what are we doing with this bill, are we going to pass it or are we going to spend all our time fighting over slots? i'm for passing the bill and leaving slots for conference or whatever unless we can work something out. nobody wants to agree. everybody thinks they have got the leverage. maybe they do, maybe they don't. but in the meantime, a bill that has been languishing for all these months and which, in fact, solves one of the problems of alaska in its entirety because the -- the nextgen system which i have been talking about, which i'm going to talk about more but not today, it's a global satellite network. it will provide the safety and capacity that's needed for really safe flight in w

mr. baucus: madam president, i rise to oppose the mccain amendment to -- i rise to oppose the mccain amendment. his amendment will eliminate essential air service program. that amendment will probably come up when we get to the f.a.a. bill later this morning. i applaud my colleague for supporting twice address our deficit and i want to join him in look for ways to control spending but this is one program we must preserve. we won't improve the deficit by stifling local economies. the department of transportation estimates that 1.1 million travelers from more than 150 communities rely on essential air service program. the essential air service program is a promise to rural america which absolutely needs airports for economic development, as noted in a 2009 journal of rural studies report entitled "the economic importance of air travel in high-amenity rural areas." end quote. nearly half of the american west consists of publicly owned lands containing mountain ranges, forests, rivers, lakes, parks, and areas for wilderness, wildlife and grazing. many people from around the country come especially

mccain. >> thank you, mr.irman, and let me also join you in taking this opportunity to welcome the new members of our committee. i'm confident that the work of this body will be enriched and enhanced by their contributions, and i join you in stating to them that our work has been bipartisan, and it has been an honor for me to serve with you as chairman of this committee. our bipartisanship is not devoid of passion when we occasionally disagree on an issue. i want to t our distinguished witnesses for joining us today. i had the honor of knowing ambassador jeffrey and general austin for many years. two great service of our country, and on behalf of this committee, we thank you for your service, and please convey to the brave men and women you lead both military and civilian the deep gratitude for their service that is felt by the american people and their representatives. i'm very happy to have the chance today to focus on iraq. it would have been unthinkable even two years ago to say that we would reach a point

mr. president, i'd like to announce that we have cosponsors in senator alexander, senator burr, senator mccain, senator isakson, senator chambliss, senator inhofe and senator kirk, and i want to thank them for joining us in this effort, and i hope that many more will do the same. mr. president, i spent a lifetime in business and i came to the united states senate not to score political points, not to be involved in messaging, but to solve our country's problems. i think everybody in this body understands that we have tremendous fiscal and financial issues to deal with in this country. this morning, i was happy to see that 3 senators met over at the visitor's center on both sides of the aisle to listen to people involved in the financial industry talking about the path that we're on and what that's going to lead to as far as the ruination of our fiscal situation in this country and our ability to borrow money at low rates as we are today, and all of us know what that will mean to citizens of this country. mr. president, i think there is no one in this country that doesn't understand how problem

mr. mccain: would the gentleman yield for a quick question? mr. graham: yes. mr. mccain: isn't the time now to urge democracy and freedom, not the time to threaten? there's plenty of time to threaten the egyptian government and people with reprisal. the time now is to urge democracy and freedom. mr. graham: well said. it is now time for the united states to say what we're for and urge the egyptian people to realize their hopes and dreams and that we want to be your partner. now's not the time to sever the partnership. now's the time to stand by a future partnership that would be beneficial to both countries. this resolution is a statement of principle that i hope the egyptian people will see as an acknowledgement by the united states senate that we are with you when it comes to your best hopes and dreams. ms. klobuchar: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota is recognized. ms. klobuchar: i also ask that i be added as a cosponsor. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. klobuchar: i want to commend these two great leaders, senator ker

mr. mccain: mr. president, in a few minutes i will ask the senate to proceed to the consideration of s. 380. s. 380 extends the andean trade preference act. but, first, i'd like to make a few comments about the importance of this trade preference act. now, mr. president, i'm very aware that a lot of things are going on in the world and there's upheaval in the middle east and there's a lot going on on both sides of the aisle on spending and i'm very aware of what has dominated the news and the attention of the congress and the american people. i want to talk for a few minutes about the importance of the andean trade preference act and the need to reauthorize it. i remind my colleagues that the andean trade preference act was first enacted by president george herbert walker bawshes a way to -- as a way to boost the illicit economies of several andean nations that were major producers of illicit -- of illegal drugs. over the past two decades, this program has been supported by democratic and republican

mr. mccain: madam president, i yield the floor. mr. brown: madam president, reserving the right to object. the presiding officer: the senator from ohio. mr. brown: thank you, madam president. i know the presiding officer, the junior senator from north carolina, agrees, wants to be part of the t.a.a. extension. i appreciate that as senator casey and senator mccain and senator baucus. my problem is i want to work with senator mccain on this, i want to make this work, i want to extend the andean trade preferences. he and i worked this agreement out with senator kyl, senator casey and others at the end of last year in the last two hours of session, i think. senator mccain, i think that was the time line right at the end. we were able to extend all of this but only six weeks. he wanted longer, i wanted longer, we couldn't get an agreement there, but he asked if it's not reasonable, is it not reasonable just to extend the old t.a.a.? the old t.a.a. started 50 years ago, it was a great program, it was bipartisan, it has always been that, but

mr. coburn: this is an amendment -- we have an essential air service. senator mccain's amendment to eliminate essential air service, which is basically a subsidy for people who drive -- have to drive short distances, not long distances, to airport. but we've selectively said certain people in this country can be advantaged by driving certain distances. and what this amendment, as modified, says, provided the secretary doesn't see extraneous severe circumstances otherwise, if you have to be at 90 miles or greater to qualify for essential air service. we stated out with 100 and we saw there were significant difficulties that people actually had a requirement. so what we've done is we've taken this amendment, moved it to 90 miles. it doesn't affect a large number of airports, but there are several within this that have minimal -- and remember the average american drives over an hour to get to the airport now. so we're saying we're not going to do it if you're driving an hour and a half, 90 miles, unless there's a circumstance the secretary of transportation says otherwise

cornyn, ayotte, thune, chambliss, burr, isakson, moran, risch, shelby, paul, hoeven, mccain, graham and lee. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mrs. hutchison: mr. president, the amendment that is now pending for which we have a cloture motion is -- what we are going to try to continue to work on and hope that we can come to a consensus on the issue of the perimeter rule that has caused so much of this bill to be held up. this is a good bill. this is a bill that is going to give america the opportunity to start the next generation of air traffic control systems. it is a bill that we must begin now if we are going to go to a satellite-based system, which will free airspace and make our air system work more efficiently for the aircraft that we need to put in the air. it has safety provisions. it has consumer protection provisions. it is so important that we also accommodate the needs of all of our country, the constituents that we have, to be able to have an airport system that works, especially right here in the washington area. so we'll be able to debate this as we go