Tammy Baldwin

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and service of Sgt. Benjamin C. Edinger, USMC, on the occasion of the dedication of a city trail in the city of Green Bay, in my home State of Wisconsin. On Saturday, October 19, 2013, a portion of the Westside Trail in Green Bay will be named in honor of Sgt. Benjamin C. Edinger. Sergeant Edinger grew up in Green Bay, riding his bike across the city and playing ball in the city parks. He graduated in 1999 from West High School, and joined the Marine Corps in 2000. Sergeant Edinger began his career in the Marine Corps as a small computer systems specialist, later passing through rigorous trials to join Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, the Marine Corps' most elite unit. He was part of the initial invasion of Iraq, and was on his second tour of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company. Sergeant Edinger participated in 61 combat missions as a gunner. On November 14, 2004, in Al Anbar Province, he suffered shrapnel wounds as a result of enemy combat. He later died from his injuries on November 23, 2004. Sergeant Edinger is remembered by his family, friends, and fellow marines as a kind and considerate person, and a tough and courageous marine. I am proud that Sergeant Edinger will be honored with this trail dedication in the city he called home, and in the State and country he loved and served.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to deliver a message from the people of Wisconsin. They are fed up with the political games that are being played here in Washington. They have had enough. On Tuesday, Congress failed the American people and our government shut down because the tea party faction in the House put their own personal agendas and partisan politics ahead of progress for the American people. The Republican leadership in the House could end this shutdown by simply letting the House vote on the Senate-passed bill to fund the government. Instead, the Speaker of the House has, for over a week, prevented the House from voting on a clean funding bill that would open the entire Federal Government. In my home State of Wisconsin, we believe in hard work. We believe that hard work should be respected and rewarded. Every day people get up and go to work to build a better life for themselves and their families. They trust in the promise that if you work hard and play by the rules, you will get ahead. They are right to expect that both parties in Washington work together to help keep that promise. They are right to expect that both parties in Washington work together to respect the hard work of Americans who have helped lift this country up from the worst recession since the Great Depression. They are right to expect that both parties in Washington work together to reward the hard work of families and small business owners who, through sheer grit and determination, have been moving our economy and our country forward. In my home State of Wisconsin, our State motto is one word: Forward. The people of Wisconsin live up to that motto every single day, and I would say all Americans do as well. As I stand here today, in the midst of the fifth day of a government shutdown, I can't say that Congress has. Instead of working together to move our economy and our country forward, the Republican leadership in the House has offered day after day of political games and brinkmanship. Here is the price: In Wisconsin, more than 800 workers in the National Guard are off the job--hard-working people who have committed themselves to public service, to something bigger than themselves. They get up every day and work for our common good. They deserve to have a Congress that does the same. These are particularly tough times for my State. Even as the national economy is rebuilding and rebounding, my State's economy has lagged behind the rest of the Nation. Our economy cannot afford to have the tea party extremists in the House making it harder for small business owners to create jobs. Their shutdown has blocked small business loans and investments in Wisconsin and that threatens our ``made in Wisconsin'' economy and tradition, our work ethic, and our entrepreneurial spirit. Due to this tea party shutdown, Wisconsin's small businesses are missing out on about $3.5 million in SBA-supported loans every day. That means Wisconsin's small businesses have been denied access to critical loans since this shutdown began. We know the majority of new jobs in the United States are created by startups, and small businesses are engines of our economy, creating two out of every three new jobs. Our economy needs to have a Congress that is supporting and strengthening small business efforts, not a Congress that steers from one manufactured crisis to another. Groundbreaking research, supported by the National Institutes of Health, adds more than $800 million a year to Wisconsin's economy. We should all be able to agree, both parties in the House and the Senate, that in order for America to outinnovate the rest of the world we must protect and strengthen our investments in research, science, and innovation. The failure of the House leadership to step up and actually lead has put in place a shutdown that is threatening Wisconsin's leadership on bioenergy research and on biomedical research. This failure in leadership in the House means new patients are being turned away from the benefits of cancer research being done at the University of Wisconsin. On a broader scale, our NIH Director, Dr. Francis Collins, told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that as long as the government is shut down, the National Institutes of Health says it will turn away roughly 200 patients each week from its clinical research center, including children with cancer. He said: We've had to tell people ``I'm sorry, you can't come here.'' This is the price extracted by a small tea party group in the House who can't see past their own political agenda to defund, delay, or repeal the Affordable Care Act. It is reckless and it is irresponsible. But it doesn't have to be that way. It is time. It is time the House leadership steps up and actually leads. More than 1 week ago the Senate passed a clean bill that funds the government, ends the shutdown, and that opens the Federal Government for business again. They have obstructed that measure from going to the House floor for a simple up-or-down vote. The House Republicans need to end these politics. It is time for the House to have an up-or-down vote to end this shutdown. House Republicans need to break with their divisive threats. They need to start governing and pass a responsible budget that invests in the middle class and strengthens our economy. It is time. It is time for the House to have an up-or-down vote to open our government for business. House Republicans need to stop standing in the way of progress. They need to start working to build a better and stronger future for our country. It is time. It is time for the House to have an up-or-down vote to end this gridlock and to move our country forward. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I have come to the floor today to speak about the divisive and irresponsible path down which some Members of Congress wish to take our country. Last week my former Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives continued to put their own personal partisan politics ahead of progress for the American people. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle here in the Senate have voiced support for a responsible approach and rejected this path. For that, I applaud their independence. But some here in the Senate are committed to playing the same political games offered by the House, and here are the rules of the games they are playing: crisis-to-crisis governing; uncertainty for our economy; and for families and businesses, economic insecurity. Instead of working together across the party aisle to create jobs and move our economy forward, a minority of extremists are intent on threatening our economic recovery with brinkmanship meant to appeal to a narrow political interests--namely, their own. Instead of working together to pass a responsible budget that invests in the middle class, this political game calls for locking in the sequester cuts and putting up a roadblock to economic growth. Instead of working together to do what is best for middle-class families, moving health care reform forward, this political game of drama and division insists on shutting down the government unless health care is repealed for millions of Americans. And instead of working together to do what is best for businesses and the economy, they are creating yet another manufactured crisis that threatens the full faith and credit of America with a government default, knowing full well that would hurt economic growth and the families and businesses who are working so hard to move our recovery forward. Let's be clear about how they would like to see their game end. According to independent economists, the damaging cuts from the sequester are slowing down the economy and killing jobs. Locking in these devastating sequester cuts would gut investments in economic development, innovation, and education. The House Republican budget would cut the National Institutes of Health by $8 billion compared to the Senate budget, so it would cost 25,000 jobs, compromising the next generation of research in our country and holding back the development of treatments for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's, and other chronic diseases. Repealing the Affordable Care Act would mean children with preexisting conditions can be denied health care by insurance companies. Repealing America's new health law would mean many young people would not have health insurance coverage because they could no longer stay on their parents' health insurance until they are 26 years old. Repealing ObamaCare would mean women will no longer have free preventive health care and we will go back to the day when women could be charged more than men for their health coverage. They will shut down the government unless we agree to increase the out-of-pocket costs for seniors on their prescription drugs and deny them wellness programs. They are threatening a government default which would weaken our economy when we should be doing everything we can to strengthen it. They don't seem to care that even the hint of defaulting on our obligations by a minority of Republicans in Congress had severe consequences for our economy when it last happened in the summer of 2011. The stock market plummeted, and the U.S. credit rating was downgraded for the first time in our Nation's history. Businesses froze hiring in August of 2011, and that was one of the lowest months of job growth over the last 2 years. Consumer confidence dropped, and widespread uncertainty was created for middle-class families. What we don't need right now is more political games. The last thing we need right now is to create another self-inflicted economic wound in Washington that will hurt middle-class families, small businesses, and those who are working so hard to get ahead. We need to create jobs. We need to invest in the middle class and build an economy that produces shared prosperity. Instead of protecting tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and tax loopholes for big corporations, it is time for Republicans to join our efforts and ask those at the top to pay their fair share. It is time for Republicans to join our efforts to continue making smart spending cuts that reduce the deficit without shortchanging our future. It is time for Republicans to join with us in passing a responsible budget that strengthens the middle class while also giving American businesses the certainty they need to grow our economy. It is time to break this destructive pattern of bringing the country to the brink and instead return to making Washington work for the American people. Chairwoman Mikulski has called for a return to regular order so that Congress can pass individual appropriations bills every year, and she is 100 percent correct. I support her efforts because regular order allows us to prioritize key investments that support the middle class and avoid these annual shutdown showdowns. As I have traveled the State, Wisconsinites have told me that the powerful and well-connected seem to get to write their own rules in Washington while the concerns and struggles of middle-class families go unnoticed here. They feel that our economic system is tilted toward those at the very top, that our political system exists to protect those unfair advantages instead of to make sure everybody gets a fair shot. Last week an economic report was released showing that income equality has been worsening and expanding, with almost all--in fact, 95 percent--of the income gains since our economic collapse 5 years ago going to the top 1 percent of income earners. The American people would be right to expect that both parties work together to offer solutions that address the challenge of closing this gap, but it has been ignored by those playing the game of threats and ``divided we stand'' politics. They are wrong to ignore the gap between the economic security Americans work so hard to achieve and the economic uncertainty they are asked to settle for. They are wrong because if we can't close that gap, we might someday talk about the middle class as something we used to have as opposed to something to which every generation can aspire. Unfortunately, the ``divided we stand'' crowd in Congress refuses to be governing partners committed to meeting this challenge and advancing our common good. Worse yet, the threats of a government shutdown and a government default are immensely disrespectful to the hard work of people who get up every day and through their sheer grit and determination have helped to move our country forward. The American people deserve better. They deserve to have their hard work respected. Our economy demands better. It demands that hard work is rewarded. Senate Democrats have a plan to keep the government running while ensuring that millions of Americans do not lose access to affordable health care. Republicans should join us so that we end this shutdown crisis and the irresponsible political game of division. It is my hope that those who choose divisive politics over progress for America's economy reconsider and begin to join us on this bill and work with us to once and for all end the drift from one crisis to the next. This is not a political game, and those who continue to play these games need to stop and get to work, get to work with us to move our economy forward. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I come to speak to the important debate we are having about the most sobering issue I face as a Senator, as a Wisconsinite, and as an American--the issue of military action by the United States. Let me start by saying that the Asad regime's use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people is morally reprehensible and a serious violation of longstanding international law. The various treaties and conventions addressing these issues have been ratified by most of the world's nations. There is a reason why almost the entire world has gathered under the Chemical Weapons Convention to ban these weapons. It is because chemical weapons are truly barbaric in nature. They are a global threat, and they therefore require a global response. The President has made the right choice to seek congressional authorization for any potential military action in Syria. The gravity of these issues before us is significant and they deserve a full debate. President Obama should be praised for understanding and appreciating that fact. We must demand that all Presidents--not just this President--come to Congress to get approval before taking military action in another country in instances where we are not facing an imminent threat. I have made that case with both Democratic and Republican Presidents. I strongly believe our response to this situation must not be a unilateral military action. This is not America's responsibility alone, and it is not in our interest to set the precedent that it is our responsibility alone. Syria violated international laws and should be held accountable by the international community. America must not act alone. The use of chemical weapons is a global atrocity that demands a global response, and that is why I oppose going to war in Syria and I oppose authorizing military involvement in Syria's civil war--not for 1 day, not for 60 days, not for a decade. I do not believe we should involve ourselves militarily in the middle of a brutal years-long civil war. That would not strengthen America's national security. But the answer is not to do nothing. The answer, rather, is to create a situation where these violations of humanitarian norms and crimes against humanity can be dealt with effectively by the U.N. and other international institutions. We must continue to focus on building a global coalition to support the encouraging developments in the past few days and to resolve this crisis without the use of unilateral military engagement in Syria. By working through the United Nations and its institutions, we strengthen international frameworks that can help resolve the conflict in Syria and build a safer and stronger international community moving forward. I firmly believe that the recent potential for progress in today's U.N. discussions is a testament to American democracy. By President Obama fulfilling his constitutional duties to come to Congress and by our serious debate here on Capitol Hill, I believe America has helped drive a more constructive international debate and engagement on Asad's regime's atrocities. We must now give the opportunity of a path forward without military involvement in Syria a chance to succeed. Madam President, I yield back my time and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague for convening us and for giving us an opportunity to discuss the important topic of delivery system reform and to highlight some of the innovations that are occurring in our own States. I heard Senator Whitehouse talking about moving forward. It is actually the motto of the State of Wisconsin. One simple word: ``Forward.'' Throughout our State's history, that motto has well represented our leadership in extending high-quality and affordable health care. Our health care providers and payers have pioneered forward-looking reforms that improve the quality of care and lower costs for families and for businesses. We are home to world-class, highly integrated health care systems. We make quality and outcomes data widely accessible to providers so they can measure their success against their peers. We stand at the forefront of using and advancing health care information technology. All of this affords some of the highest quality care in the country at a competitive cost. Congress has a lot to learn from Wisconsin's health care delivery systems. A recent Institute of Medicine report reinforced what we have known for a long time: that geographic variation in health care spending and utilization is real and that variations in health care spending are not consistently related to health care quality. For every State such as Wisconsin with higher quality outcomes and lower costs, there are five other States faring worse. Even within States, the regional variation in health care spending and quality is troublesome. Unfortunately, instead of advancing and fostering forward-thinking innovations such as those working in Wisconsin, far too many of my fellow lawmakers are looking backward when it comes to health care. In the House of Representatives, the Republican leadership has scheduled votes to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act almost 40 times. Some State governments--including, unfortunately, my own--have refused to move forward with America's new health care law and are undermining its effectiveness at every chance possible. Now some of my colleagues in the Senate are threatening to shut down the government if investments in our health care system are not stripped out of our budget entirely. Families and businesses in Wisconsin and across the country are tired of these political games. For as long as some of my colleagues and some of the Governors across this country remain glued to the past, waging political fights based on pure ideology, we lose golden opportunities to move health care reforms in our country forward. We should all be focused on building a smarter and more affordable health care system, not trying to tear down the law of the land. That is why I am so proud to stand on the floor with my colleagues tonight, committed to moving our Nation's health care system forward. By building on the best reforms to our health care delivery system that are embedded within the Affordable Care Act and making new improvements to how we deliver care in our country, we will lower health care costs, improve quality and strengthen our economic security and reduce the deficit. Better yet, we will have more States with health care systems such as Wisconsin's, and Wisconsin's system will be improved as well. The possibilities are exciting. I think one of the things Senator Whitehouse just mentioned bears repeating: There is widespread agreement that significant savings can be achieved in our health care system without compromising the quality of care. The figures he cited bear repeating: The Lewin Group and the former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill have estimated that we could save $1 trillion per year without affecting health care outcomes by enacting smart, targeted health care delivery reforms. The New England Health Care Institute pegged that number at $850 billion annually, the Institute of Medicine estimated this number to be $750 billion, and the President's Council of Economic Advisers foresees savings at $700 billion a year. No matter the exact figure, these are impressive savings that would strengthen our entire Nation. The Affordable Care Act has sparked this hard work of transforming health care delivery. The law provides health care practitioners with incentives to better integrate care, increase quality, and lower costs. These efforts are producing impressive results in Wisconsin. For example, the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Program has offered financial incentives to meet quality and Medicare savings benchmarks. Bellin-ThedaCare Healthcare Partners in northeast Wisconsin has excelled with this program. In its first year of participation, Bellin- ThedaCare earned $5.3 million in shared savings and lowered costs for its 20,000 Medicare patients by an average of 4.6 percent. While not every pioneer ACO has been as successful, the CMS Office of the Actuary believes this program could save Medicare up to $1.1 billion over 5 years by simply better coordinating care. Wisconsin boasts six additional health care providers participating in the law's traditional Accountable Care Organization Program which the Department of Health and Human Services estimates could save up to $940 million over 4 years. Wisconsin health care providers are also taking part in the Affordable Care Act's Partnership for Patients to improve health care quality. This public-private partnership engages hospitals, businesses, and consumer groups with the goal of preventing injuries and complications in patient care--including hospital-acquired conditions. The administration estimates that reducing medical errors and preventing conditions will save up to $35 billion in health care costs. Another public-private partnership--the Affordable Care Act's Million Hearts Initiative--is preventing heart attack and stroke. Cardiovascular disease costs this country $440 billion per year in medical costs and lost productivity. The initiative seeks to deliver better preventive care to stop 1 million strokes and heart attacks by the year 2017--in part by utilizing innovative technology. Wisconsin's own Marshfield Clinic designed a winning mobile application for the initiative. The app will encourage patients to get their blood pressure and cholesterol checked and to work with their health care providers to improve their heart health. Finally, the Affordable Care Act has empowered the CMS Innovation Center to develop new ideas to improve health care quality and lower costs for people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program. A number of the center's projects are currently underway in Wisconsin. For example, the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Aurora HealthCare, and the Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare system have created a model to decrease emergency room visits for children. The estimated 3-year savings of that project is almost $3 million. In addition, the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin is utilizing a provision in the Affordable Care Act to better integrate pharmacists into clinical care teams. That initiative is set to save over $20 million in 3 years. This represents a small sampling of the delivery innovations being promoted through the Affordable Care Act that are saving us money right now. These parts of the law are empowering Wisconsin health care providers to provide higher quality care at reduced costs. Public officials who advocate for repealing the Affordable Care Act would end these impressive initiatives as well. Instead, we must build on these delivery reforms, as so much more can be done. To name two priorities, Wisconsin cardiologists have developed an innovative integrated network called SMARTCare to deliver better more efficient care for a vulnerable patient population. The Department of Health and Human Services should encourage this coordinated care model by investing in it and measuring its results. We should improve the law to increase access to Medicare claims data. The Wisconsin Health Information Organization currently holds over 65 percent of health insurance claims data in the State--from private insurers and from Medicaid. The organization shares that data with health care providers so doctors can compare their performance--in terms of quality and cost--against their peers. This data-sharing promotes competition and it lowers cost. But due to current law, the organization cannot access Medicare data. If we open Medicare claims data, we will further improve quality and we will lower costs. Lawmakers have a clear choice: Go backward and try for the 40th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act or put progress in our country ahead of politics. We welcome our colleagues to join us in moving our country and our health care delivery system forward. I now yield for Senator Murphy.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, 2013 is the 11th year in which summer interns working in Congressional offices have benefitted from a program run by the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership. This 6-week program is designed to enhance their internship experience by giving them an inside look at how Congress works and a deeper appreciation for the role that Congress plays in our democracy. Each week, the interns meet with senior congressional staff and other experts to discuss issues such as the legislative process, power of the purse, balancing governing and campaigning, political polarization, foreign affairs, and more. Interns are selected for this program based on their college record, community service experience, and interest in a career in public service. This year, 29 outstanding interns, most of them juniors and seniors in college who are working in Republican and Democratic offices in both the House and Senate have taken part. I congratulate the interns for their participation in this valuable program and I thank the Stennis Center and the Senior Stennis Fellows for providing such a meaningful experience for these interns and for encouraging them to consider a future career in public service. I ask unanimous consent that a list of 2013 Stennis Congressional Interns and the offices in which they work be printed in the Record.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Ms. BALDWIN. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. BALDWIN. Making college affordable is one of the most important steps we can take toward completing our economic recovery and ensuring a path to the middle class for all Americans. As a Nation, we are still working to recover from the largest economic downturn since the Great Depression. Access to student loans at affordable interest rates represents an incredibly important piece of this vital recovery. I often use a quote of President Obama that he included in his State of the Union Address a couple of years ago. It says to win the future, we must outeducate, outinnovate, and outbuild the rest of the world. I believe we do this best by supporting our students and investing in their future. Unfortunately, the Student Loan Certainty Act on the floor today is a step in the wrong direction. A college education should be a path to prosperity, a path to the middle class, not a path to indebtedness. As many of my colleagues have described, the bill before us today offers students and families lower student loan interest rates in the near term, but we can fully expect higher student loan interest rates in the years to come. For families with multiple children who are college bound, their children's education becomes more expensive in each ensuing year. This means that under this plan, a current freshman in college may get a decent student loan interest rate for a few years, but a current freshman in high school will end up with rates much higher than the cap contained in current U.S. law. Not only does this legislation raise long-term interest rate loans for students, it fails to close tax loopholes. It does not ask the wealthy to pay their fair share, and it burdens students who can least afford it with deficit reduction. The bill before us lacks a true vision for outeducating the rest of the world. It doesn't ask our country to invest in the future, nor does it offer a comprehensive solution to college affordability. Rather, it offers a poor permanent fix and slaps students and their families with the bill. I remind my colleagues that there were multiple alternative solutions proposed before Congress slumped over the July 1 deadline that doubled the interest rates on student loans. I supported two measures offered by my colleague from Rhode Island, Senator Reed, that would have paid for lower interest rates for students by closing tax loopholes for the very wealthy in our country. The Senate twice voted on Senator Reed's proposals and they received a majority vote each time. We are also making a good-faith effort to address the shortcomings of the bill before us to work toward a deal that would be a true win for students and their families. The Reed-Warren amendment, which I proudly cosponsor, would impose a lower cap to protect student borrowers. Why on Earth would we wish to expose our students to higher rates? Senator Sanders' amendment would sunset the current deal in 2 years and allow for a return to regular order so Congress can rightly deal with interest rates and a host of other issues that affect college costs. These amendments are sound improvements to the underlying bill that would allow us to invest in students and families, rather than obfuscate the student loan and debt problem. I am disappointed that we have reached the point where debates about the future of college affordability are less about the lives of students and their families and more about protecting loopholes for corporations and the wealthy. It wasn't always this way. In 1944, starting with the compact to returning soldiers from World War II made through the GI bill, our Nation made a commitment to future progress by investing in education. Between 1944 and 1951, 8 million veterans received education benefits, including many former distinguished Members of this body. In 1958, President Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, signed the National Defense Education Act, providing loans for college students and funds to encourage young people to enter teaching careers, the precursor to our current program for student loans. President Lyndon Johnson built upon this legacy. A cornerstone of the Great Society was a path to the middle class through a college education. The Higher Education Act of 1965 gave us the Federal student loan program, known today as the Stafford Loan Program, and the Educational Opportunity Grant Program, known today as the Pell Grant Program. This generation of American lawmakers lived in trying times-- winning a war, fulfilling the dream of the civil rights movement--yet they still had the foresight to make the hard choices, the choices necessary to invest in the future--our future. Legislation I supported as a Member of the House of Representatives built on this investment and lowered the subsidized Stafford loan rate to 3.4 percent, which was the rate at which students borrowed until July 1. We recognized that investing in students is important, and lowering rates is a part of that investment. The fact that State investment in higher education has declined significantly over the past decades has exacerbated the problem. Particularly as States struggle to balance their budgets in these tough economic times, their investments in students have decreased, meaning higher tuition, fewer grants, and fewer scholarships. I hear regularly from Wisconsin students that the cost of higher education in my State puts college out of reach for some. Thirty years ago undergraduate tuition at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was about $1,000. Today it is well over $8,000. And it is not just my home State of Wisconsin. Across the country tuition at public 4-year colleges has tripled. This means more students are borrowing through Federal student loan programs to cover the higher cost of higher education. For students at the University of Wisconsin System, unmet needs after grants and scholarships is over $9,000--nearly doubling in the last decade. Yet the Federal Government limits on subsidized loans have remained relatively stagnant over the past 30 years. In many cases the limits on what a student can borrow through the Stafford Loan Program means their loans will not even cover the cost of their tuition. This is what it all comes down to--a series of choices. Are we going to sacrifice the progress of our next generation because we are unwilling to do the hard work and make those tough choices now? Are we going to gradually chip away at the ladders of opportunity put in place by the generations before to lift Americans into the middle class and out of poverty; do we ask the wealthy to pay a little bit more; do we ask corporations to pay their fair share. Or do we say to students: You are on your own; sink or swim. I say to students across Wisconsin and this great country: We should all be in this together. We must continue this compact from one generation to the next. The veteran who was educated on the GI bill wants to see his neighbor's children able to afford college. The teacher who earned her education through the Pell Grant Program wants the same opportunity for her students. The mother who attended college through the Stafford Loan Program does not want to see her savings for retirement depleted or her children sapped with debt. I reject sacrificing the progress of the next generation because we are unwilling to do the hard work and make the hard choices now. I reject shortchanging the next generation of young Americans by making college more expensive and then using the profits from their high interest rates to pay down the deficit, particularly when we ask the wealthiest to contribute nothing. If we are to win the future, we must make the hard important choices now. For this reason and for the hard-working people of Wisconsin, I oppose this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, as I make my first remarks on the Senate floor, I have the honor of occupying the same Senate seat, and in fact occupying the very Senate desk, once used by Senator Robert M. LaFollette, Sr. ``Fighting Bob LaFollette,'' as he was known, was a Republican Senator from Wisconsin a century ago who is credited as the founder of the Progressive Party and progressive movement in this Nation. I admire Fighting Bob's legacy in many ways. But I wish to assure my colleagues who are present in the Chamber at this moment that I will not emulate his maiden speech, which went on for 3 successive days. Bob LaFollette ran for this office because he was concerned that while corporate interests were being well served in Washington, ordinary people weren't even being heard. He traveled all around the State of Wisconsin, literally speaking from makeshift stages of soap boxes and hay wagons at county fairs. His message came to define my State's progressive tradition. The things he talked about in that day still ring true. As I have traveled the State Wisconsinites have told me that the powerful and well-connected seem still to write their own rules while the concerns and struggles of middle-class families go unnoticed in Washington. They believe our economic system is tilted toward those at the top and that our political system exists to protect those unfair advantages instead of making sure everybody gets a fair shot. They see Washington happy to let Wall Street write their own rules but unable to help students pull themselves out of debt. They see Washington working to protect big tax breaks for powerful corporations but unwilling to protect small manufacturers from getting ripped off by China's cheating. They see Washington bouncing from one manufactured fiscal crisis to the next but never addressing the real and ongoing crisis of our disappearing middle class. The truth is, while we hear a lot about the wide distance between Democrats and Republicans, the widest and most important distance in our political system is between the content of the debate in Washington and the concerns of hard-working people in places such as Wisconsin. That distance parallels the large and growing gaps between rich and poor, between rising costs and the stagnant incomes, between our Nation and our competitors when it comes to education and innovation--and it is truly hurting people. When my grandparents were raising me, I learned that if you worked hard and played by the rules, one can get ahead. The Wisconsinites I talked to grew up learning that very same thing. They are working as hard as ever to get ahead, but many are finding they are hardly getting by. People are still working for that middle-class dream: a job that pays the bills, health coverage they can rely on, a home they can call their own, a chance to save for their kid's college education, and a secure retirement. But, instead, too many are finding that even two jobs are not enough to make ends meet, and those jobs are hard to find and hard to keep. They are finding the homes they worked so hard to own are not even worth what still remains on their mortgage. They are finding that the cost of college is going up, and they are worried they might never be able to retire comfortably. That is the biggest gap of all, the gap between the economic security Wisconsinites worked so hard to achieve and the economic uncertainty they are asked to settle for. If we cannot close that gap, we might someday talk about the middle class as something we used to have, not something each generation can aspire to. We all get it. We all see this happening. While Wisconsinites do not agree about what we should do, they want to see us working together to find a solution, even if it takes some spirited debate. But when they look across that yawning divide to Washington, they see us advancing talking points and playing politics instead of putting our varying experiences and talents to work solving these problems. But I am optimistic. I did not run for the Senate just because I agree with those complaints. I ran for the Senate because I think we can do better. I know I have a great example to follow in the people of Wisconsin. These are particularly tough times for my State. Even as the National economy is rebounding, businesses in Wisconsin and middle- class families in my State remain stuck in neutral. The manufacturing sector that sustained our prosperity for generations has taken a lot of hits--some that could have been prevented and others that are simply a factor of our changing economy and our changing world. But we do not see Wisconsin workers and business owners wallowing in crisis or looking for someone to blame. Our State motto is one word, ``Forward.'' That is the only thing we know. In the short time I have been here, I have made it my mission to fight to make sure Wisconsinites have the tools and skills they need to succeed in a ``Made in Wisconsin'' economy that revitalizes our manufacturing sector and rebuilds our prosperity--and this means respecting our labor. It means investing in regional hubs of collaborative research and development, supporting the technical colleges that are working to provide a skilled workforce, and encouraging public and private partnerships to revitalize our manufacturing sector. But it all relies on the talent of individuals who are working hard to help our communities move forward. Years ago John Miller, a disabled Marine Corps veteran who lives near Milwaukee, invented a new kind of motorcycle windshield that uses LED lights embedded in acrylic. For years he has been working hard to find investors to bring his idea to market. He has been testing different acrylics, showing off his work at trade shows, and spending months trying to get approvals from the Department of Transportation. Investors are lining up at John's door. Harley-Davidson even wanted to buy his patent. But he doesn't just want to make a profit, he wants to make a difference. He is holding out until he knows that everything in his product will be made and manufactured in the United States-- hopefully by other disabled veterans, who often have a hard time finding work when they come home. Wisconsin is full of John Millers--ordinary people with ingenuity, determination, and civic spirit to become not just successful but engines of economic opportunity for their whole communities, committed to the common good. I am so proud of all the remarkable potential I have seen in Wisconsin: the Global Water Center in Milwaukee, which will open this summer as an incubator for water technology businesses; the partnership of Johnson Controls and UW-Milwaukee for the Innovation Campus research park in Wauwatosa; the advances in energy-efficiency technology being realized at Orion Energy Systems in Manitowoc, WI; the work on sustainable biofuels at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center in Madison; and small business incubators at technical colleges across our State helping to build the dreams of entrepreneurs. These stories of innovation and cooperation and these exciting opportunities to build an economy made to last are happening all over our country. I am going to let people in on a little secret. We here in the Senate can be innovative too. We can cooperate. We can get excited by these opportunities. It is true of Democrats and Republicans alike because none of us came here just to audition for cable news or to win our next election before the bumper stickers from the last one even come off the cars. I have already had the great joy of working with colleagues from both parties, and I know neither party has a monopoly on compassion or common sense. There is nothing liberal or conservative about wanting to help our manufacturers compete and win on the world stage. There is not a Senator in this body whose heart has not broken when listening to a constituent who cannot seem to get ahead. We cannot fix all of those gaps in our economy with one bill. Not even ``Fighting Bob'' La Follette could close that divide in our political system with one speech. I am using this speech, my first here on the Senate floor, to say that I am ready to work hard and work with anyone to make progress on these challenges and help move this great country forward. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business for as much time as I may consume.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Carolyn Foster for her service to Fair Wisconsin, and by extension, all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Wisconsinites. Fair Wisconsin is the statewide advocacy organization for LGBT individuals and families. Its mission is to advance, achieve, and protect equality for all LGBT citizens of Wisconsin. Ms. Foster joined the Fair Wisconsin staff in 2009 as the organization's accountant, at a challenging time for the organization. She has ably assisted the organization in bringing order, stability, and consistency to its financial recordkeeping, policies, and procedures, which has made a critical difference in the overall management of the organization. She has been key to good financial management and stewardship of the organization's resources. In the face of dealing with a terminal illness, Ms. Foster brings a strong sense of responsibility and an incredible work ethic to her work, as well as a quick wit and warm regard for her co-workers. The boards of directors and the staff of Fair Wisconsin are in awe of her tenacity, her dedication, and conscientiousness, and her strong and positive spirit. She is an invaluable and deeply valued member of the Fair Wisconsin team. As a founder of Fair Wisconsin, I wish to extend my deep appreciation to Carolyn Foster for her service to the organization and the cause of equality for LGBT Wisconsinites. I wish her all the best.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, roughly 17 million American children with preexisting medical conditions can no longer be discriminated against and be denied health insurance by insurance companies. And yet, rather than focus on the key tasks of creating jobs and strengthening the middle class in America, my Republican colleagues want to tear up the health care law. They want to rip up the independent decision by our Supreme Court, by Justices appointed by Presidents of both parties, finding the Affordable Care Act is on firm constitutional footing, and they want to start all over again, putting the coverage of those millions of children I just spoke about at risk. This vote is personal. Health care is personal. When I was 9, I had a serious childhood illness. I spent 3 months in the hospital. My grandparents, who were raising me, found out that their family insurance didn't cover me. They made great sacrifices to help pay for my care. But if that weren't enough, when my grandparents then looked for insurance that would cover me, they couldn't find coverage at any price. I was considered one of those kids with a preexisting medical condition, never mind that I had fully recovered from my illness. No child should ever be denied coverage for that reason. I grew up believing that no family should have to go through what ours did. Parents or grandparents shouldn't have to worry, shouldn't have to lay awake at night worrying about whether they can provide for a sick child or whether an illness might bankrupt their family. Families now know that insurance companies can't discriminate against their children based on a preexisting condition. Turning back the clock so insurance companies can, once again, deny children access to care is simply wrong. It is time that we all move forward. It is time that we work together. It is time to make this Affordable Care Act work for the American people.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Conservation and Economic Growth Act, H.R. 2578, a measure that will not create jobs in our country, but instead poke gaping holes in the Clean Air and Clean Water Act. I support pieces of this legislation, including the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act, H.R. 3065. This bill, introduced by Representative Heath Shuler, would facilitate the construction and expansion of target shooting ranges by increasing the federal share of funding that can be used for such purposes. Had this provision come up for a vote on its own, I would have strongly supported this pro-sportsman legislation. Unfortunately, this lands package incorporates 13 other bills including several poison pills meant to score political points, not address real issues. This bill includes sections that would wave dozens of federal statutes, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Farmland Protection Policy Act. I will not support legislation that severely weakens the laws that protect the public health of Americans. Instead of tackling the significant challenges facing our country, House Republicans created a partisan patchwork of legislation that does not create jobs. With the highway bill extension and student loan interest rates set to expire on June 30, and with millions of jobs and students in limbo, I believe Congress should work on bipartisan legislation that strengthens American infrastructure, keeps college affordable, and puts Americans back to work.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the East Side Club and to recognize its outstanding commitment and contribution to our community. In 1912, a group of businessmen from Madison's East side formed the East Side Advancement Association, which would eventually become the East Side Businessmen's Association (ESBMA) in 1922. Originally, the clubhouse was located in the old Hudson Hotel on Atwood Avenue and served as a place where members could gather for both business and recreational purposes. In 1947, as membership grew, the members purchased a prime piece of land located on the banks of Lake Monona and opened their new clubhouse on the site in 1955. This scenic location is where the East Side Club stands to this very day. The East Side Club, as it has been known since 2006, is a hub for activity. The location along Lake Monona makes the club ideal for celebrations and has hosted countless weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, class reunions, and much more. In addition to private events, the East Side Club's Tiki Bar and Grill, bocce ball courts, Friday fish fry, and Sunday brunches offer families and friends a great setting to not only unwind and catch up with old friends, but also meet new ones. Over the past century, the East Side Club has also proven to be much more than a social gathering place. The members' longstanding commitment to the surrounding community is an invaluable asset. For 72 years, the club held an annual Fall Festival establishing itself as an organization that cares deeply about the community. From hosting fundraisers for local charities to providing scholarships for local students, the East Side Club is always searching for new ways to give back to the community. The East Side Club has provided entertainment and support to our community for 100 years and I offer hearty congratulations to the past and present staff and members on the celebration of this tremendous milestone. It is because of organizations like the East Side Club that I am so proud to represent the Second Congressional District of Wisconsin. I wish the club and its members nothing but the best and many more years of continued success.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 40th anniversary of the Stoughton Area Senior Center and to recognize its outstanding commitment and contribution to our community. The Stoughton Area Senior Center began operating out of the basement of Our Saviors Lutheran Church as a social gathering place for local seniors in 1972 and eventually relocated to the First Federal Bank building in 1994. Situated along the banks of the Yahara River, the Senior Center's distinctive Norwegian-style building not only provides essential support and programming, but also greets all of Stoughton's residents and visitors as they drive down Main Street and into town. Over the years both my staff and I have had the privilege of holding public meetings at the Senior Center. The Senior Center is committed to the enrichment of the lives of seniors and their families through a wide array of programs. However, this building is a hub for much more than a few games of bingo or euchre. The vision and dedication of staff and volunteers has led to the development of innovative programs like Zumba and Tai Chi, classes on health insurance and economics, and support groups for families. A team of Case Managers strive to help seniors remain independent by providing information and guidance about local services. Additionally, the Senior Center prides itself on its nutritional program, which is funded through the Older Americans Act and directed by the staff nutritionist. Last year, the Senior Center served 4,531 meals in-house and delivered 15,140 more meals directly to homes. From these vital services to community partnerships to annual pool tournaments, the Senior Center could not operate without the devotion and hard work of volunteers. Throughout the years, countless volunteers of all ages have contributed to and supported the Senior Center. In 2011, a total of 177 volunteers contributed a staggering 11,111 hours of service. The Stoughton Area Senior Center believes that, ``Aging brings changes. You make life choices. We provide options.'' For the past 40 years, the Stoughton Area Senior Center has provided options, invaluable services, and programming for our seniors and community. I offer hearty congratulations to the staff, volunteers, community partners, and the City of Stoughton for remaining committed to providing the highest level of service to our seniors. I wish the Stoughton Area Senior Center the very best and many more years of continued success.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. I thank the gentleman from Florida for the time. I rise today on behalf of the hardworking middle class families in Wisconsin and across the country who have unfairly been paying at a higher tax rate than multi-millionaires and billionaires. Working Wisconsinites are struggling to find good-paying jobs, pay their mortgages, send their kids to college, and save for a secure retirement; meanwhile, the ultra-rich are reaping benefits unavailable to the rest of us. No wonder middle class Americans have long felt that our tax system is rigged against them. Frankly, it is. Middle class Americans deserve a Tax Code that is fair. Powerful special interests have manipulated our Tax Code to make sure that the wealthiest Americans don't have to pay their fair share. Loopholes and special provisions have made it so that billionaire Warren Buffett's secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does. In fact, approximately one-quarter of all people who make over $1 million a year pay lower effective tax rates than middle class families. I introduced the Paying a Fair Share Act, which would make the Buffett rule law and ensure that middle class workers do not pay a higher tax rate than those making over $1 million a year. This is a commonsense solution that would address the disparity that Warren Buffett decried, and it would reduce the deficit by billions of dollars over the next decade. Now, let's be honest about what the Buffett rule is and what it is not. The Buffett rule is not a comprehensive tax reform bill, which I favor, by the way. The Buffett rule is not going to wipe our Nation's deficit away, something that I agree must be tackled. The Buffett rule is not a tax increase on small businesses. According to the Congressional Research Service, less than one-half of 1 percent of businesses may be impacted by the Buffett rule. Here is what the Buffett rule is really about: fairness. Plain and simple, this is about fairness. It's high time that we level the playing field between middle class taxpayers and those who make over $1 million per year. The Paying a Fair Share Act will help restore people's faith that if you work hard and play by the rules, you'll have a chance to get ahead. It's up to Congress to fix this obvious injustice. According to a recent CNN poll, nearly three-quarters of Americans support the Buffett rule. Earlier this week, a bipartisan majority of Senators demonstrated their support for the Buffett rule to institute tax fairness for the middle class. I urge my colleagues to vote to defeat the previous question so that I may offer the Paying a Fair Share Act, also known as the Buffett rule.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to John Sullivan on his retirement from the post of Parliamentarian of the House. John has served the House for 28 years, beginning as Counsel for the House Committee on Armed Services. In 1987, he joined the office of Parliamentarian where he rose from an Assistant Parliamentarian to Deputy Parliamentarian in 1994. He was named Parliamentarian by Speaker Dennis Hastert in 2004. He has served this body with dignity and professionalism. I feel privileged to have worked with John, whom I consider a friend and a mentor. During the years when Democrats were in the majority, I enjoyed serving as Chair of the Committee of the Whole or as Speaker pro tem. When in the Chair I looked to John for wise guidance. He was a great teacher and I was eager to learn. He has a great command of and respect for the institutional history of the House, and its rules and precedents. John Sullivan was very supportive of Members who sought to learn more. John is a kind man with a great intellect. We are all grateful for his service to the House and to the nation. I will miss him and wish him all of the very best in his future endeavors.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and achievements of State Representative Robert L. Turner. Representative Turner was first elected in 1990 and has served in the Wisconsin State Assembly for eleven consecutive terms. While representing the eastern half of the City of Racine, he has utilized his booming voice to become an advocate for issues such as criminal justice, urban affairs, racial equality, and veterans affairs. Public service has always been a cornerstone of Representative Turner's life. After graduating high school in Mississippi and moving to Wisconsin, he was soon drafted into the United States Air Force. He bravely answered his country's call and completed tours of duty in both Vietnam, where he received a Medal of Commendation for meritorious service, and Korea during the Pueblo incident. Representative Turner turned his experience in the armed forces into a lifelong promise to support and encourage local veterans groups. During his first term in the Assembly, Representative Turner earned a perfect rating on veterans issues and was named to the All Star Team by the State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). Additionally, his legislative work earned him the Vietnam Veterans of America Distinguished Achievement Award in 1992 and he received life membership from the Vietnam Veterans of America in 1999. Representative Turner has served on numerous committees during his time in the Wisconsin State Assembly, lending his expertise to everything from the Highways and Transportation Committee to the Judiciary Committee. His overwhelmingly friendly demeanor gives Representative Turner a unique ability to build close working relationships that extend far beyond party affiliations. While representing an area hit especially hard by the recent economic downturn, Representative Turner has consistently supported new economic development projects, increases in unemployment benefits, and affordable, quality health care for his constituency. In addition to his tenure in the Assembly, Representative Turner also served on the Racine City Council for 28 years from 1976 to 2004. As both a State Representative and an Alder, he developed close relationships with many local organizations such as the NAACP, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha, and the Racine Raider Football team. I had the honor of serving with Representative Turner in the Assembly for three terms and I am proud to continue to call him a close friend today. His service to his constituents and the City of Racine has always been a source of inspiration for me. To understand who Representative Turner truly is, one only needs to know that he considers one of his biggest accomplishments being able to serve, listen to, and assist his constituents for so long. Without fail, every time I see Bob, the only thing bigger than the smile on his face is the warm embrace I receive from him. It is nearly impossible to mention everything Representative Turner has accomplished; it is even harder to overstate the positive impact he has had on our community. It is without a doubt that his work has bettered the lives of the people of Racine, Wisconsin, and our great nation. Today, I rise to honor and thank State Representative Robert L. Turner for his more than two decades of leadership in the Wisconsin State Assembly. May Bob's unwavering dedication, vision, and never- ending smile serve as an inspiration for all of us.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4105, a bill that would allow us to protect American manufacturing, including Wisconsin's paper industry, from unfair Chinese trade practices. The simple fact is that China is cheating. Chinese manufacturers are not outcompeting American manufacturers. Chinese companies receive direct subsidies from their government to help them undercut American businesses. We've seen the result this has had on our manufacturing base, and in my home State of Wisconsin, particularly on our paper industry. In the paper sector alone, China has provided more than $33.1 billion in subsidies from 2002 to 2009 and is now the world's largest producer of paper and paper products. Hardworking American businesses in these and other sectors rely on countervailing duties to combat these illegal subsidies and help them keep their doors open. Last month, I introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure the Department of Commerce has the legal authority to impose these countervailing duties on subsidized imports from countries like China. I am very proud to see that legislation incorporated in the larger bill before us later today, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``aye.''

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. I rise today in strong support of the St. Croix River Crossing Project Authorization Act. This past November, I had the chance to visit the existing 81-year- old Stillwater Bridge, and I met with local community leaders on the issue. After seeing this bridge for myself and after listening carefully to the arguments on all sides, I am convinced that this legislation is necessary, reasonable, and time-sensitive. The bridge project will support thousands of construction jobs in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. In addition, the new bridge will help shorten travel times, reduce traffic congestion and, most importantly, improve safety. Perhaps it will even save some lives. The stories I've heard from the Wisconsinites who use this bridge every day are truly startling. I've heard from some folks who literally fear for their safety and who are afraid something similar to the I 35 bridge collapse could happen to them. I've heard from others about the long delays and frequent spring closures of the bridge. This is the reality on the ground, and it is woefully unacceptable. We have the power to change this. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' and to support this bipartisan legislation.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career and achievements of Mr. Jim Cavanaugh, President of the South Central Federation of Labor (SCFL), as he retires from his esteemed position after 25 years of service. For the past three decades, Jim Cavanaugh has guided the local progressive labor movement with an unwavering hand. Jim's tenure is underscored with victories, such as the strike for sick pay against Aramark Laundry in 1999, and his place in labor's history was solidified this month one year ago, when he worked tirelessly to help unite hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites in solidarity against the repeal of collective bargaining rights. His ability to rise above petty disputes and remain focused on the task at hand resulted in a tremendously successful career. As President of SCFL, an organization for labor unions in Dane, Dodge, Sauk, Columbia, Jefferson and Iowa counties that represents over 100 labor organizations and more than 45,000 workers, Jim helped bring the struggles of Midwest workers to the forefront of political discussions. Jim recognized the importance of advocating on behalf of all workers and, in 2001, SCFL was recognized as one of the first fourteen central labor councils in the nation to fully achieve the goals of the AFL-CIO Union City program. As a member of the Union City program, SCFL advocates on behalf of both unionized and non-unionized workers to make our community one that provides a living wage and good benefits. Jim also helped expand the role of SCFL by forging new partnerships with existing labor groups like Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI) and reaching out to underserved counties. Jim cherishes the value of education and understands the need for a highly educated workforce. To help bridge the gap between labor and education, Jim began a vital relationship with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC). For fifteen years, Jim also served on Madison College's (MATC) board in various capacities and was even nominated for the statewide Board Member of the Year award in 2008. Jim always recognized that a better educated workforce and community was directly correlated to a strong labor movement. Furthermore, Jim worked to strengthen the local labor community by emphasizing the importance of building labor's diversity. In 1999, Jim began outreach to a plethora of faith-based communities which eventually led to the creation of the Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice (ICWJ). And as an early and staunch supporter of the immigrant worker movement, Jim successfully organized and fought back after two dozen Latino custodians were fired over questions related to their immigration status, helping to secure a significant settlement for the workers. From advocating for an increased minimum wage to organizing and mobilizing union voters, it is nearly impossible to mention everything Jim has accomplished in the past 25 years; it is even harder to overstate the positive impact he has had on our community. It is without a doubt that Jim's work has bettered the lives of countless workers in Wisconsin, the Midwest, and across our great nation. Today, we join together in solidarity to honor Mr. Jim Cavanaugh for his 25 years of fearless leadership of the South Central Federation of Labor. May Jim's unwavering dedication, vision, and lifelong commitment to worker's rights serve as an inspiration for all of us.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the middle class workers in Wisconsin and across the country who have unfairly been paying a higher tax rate than millionaires and billionaires. Middle class Americans deserve to know that our tax system has not been rigged against them. Powerful special interests have manipulated our Tax Code to ensure that the wealthiest Americans don't have to pay their fair share. These loopholes and special provisions have made it so that billionaire Warren Buffett's secretary pays a higher tax rate than he does. In fact, approximately a quarter of all millionaires pay lower effective tax rates than middle class families. Yesterday, I introduced Paying a Fair Share Act, H.R. 3903, which would make the ``Buffett rule'' law and ensure that middle class workers do not pay higher tax rates than those earning more than $1 million a year. I invite my colleagues to join me in taking this commonsense first step to strengthen middle class families and rebuild our economy with a commitment to shared responsibility.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin for attaining their third Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, ANCC. Since 1912, St. Mary's Hospital has provided exceptional health care for the people of our great community. With a wide array of health and wellness services, St. Mary's Hospital plays an essential role in providing quality health care and even offers free services and programs to individuals who cannot otherwise afford care. Over the past century, St. Mary's has provided $47.5 million in free or reduced health care programs and has received countless awards and recognitions for their efforts. Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing. Each year, the ANCC bestows the designation upon hospitals that provide excellence in nursing. St. Mary's was first recognized as a Magnet hospital in 2002 and was redesignated in 2008 and again earlier this year. Magnet recognition not only acknowledges the high quality of care provided at St. Mary's, but also the excellence of the hospital's overall organization and leadership. The ANCC recognized the hospital as exemplary in five areas: transformation of leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge, innovations and improvements; and empirical outcomes. In addition, the ANCC praised St. Mary's for sustaining high patient satisfaction scores, empowering nursing staff, and building and maintaining strong community partnerships. St. Mary's has truly distinguished itself by attaining its third Magnet recognition. The rigorous application and redesignation processes, complete with extensive written documentation and on-site visits, make it difficult to attain Magnet recognition just once, let alone three times. Only about 7% of hospitals nationwide attain Magnet recognition and less than 1% have ever achieved Magnet redesignation twice. With a philosophy focused on providing personalized care for patients and their families, showing respect and compassion for all persons who come in contact with the hospital, and fostering internal and external community understanding and support, St. Mary's Hospital is yet another reason I am so proud to represent the Second Congressional District of Wisconsin. For the third time, I am honored to offer hearty congratulations to the nurses, doctors, staff, and volunteers that work to make St. Mary's Hospital a prestigious Magnet hospital.