John Boozman

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, in the decade that has passed since the devastating attacks of 9/11, we have seen enormous changes in our daily lives. For many of us, these changes have become routine. We have become more alert to potential suspicious activities, accustomed to additional screening procedures at airports, and understand the need for additional security precautions in places that could be seen as potential targets for terrorists. For many other Americans, though, their lives were altered in ways that are anything but routine. These are the families, friends, and brothers in arms of those who have given their lives in the global war on terror, including the over 3,000 lives taken in the horrific attacks on our Nation on September 11, 2001. This past Sunday was a somber day to reflect, remember, and honor the lives that have been cut short by terror. On Sunday morning, I spoke at my church about the impact 9/11 had on me personally and us collectively as a nation. It is important to take the time in the Senate Chamber to remember these brave heroes. We all remember where we were at the time the planes struck the towers and the awful feeling when we realized this was not an accident. We remember the emotional outpouring our Nation shared and how the tragedy brought us all closer together. What happened after the moments of devastation on September 11, 2001, unified our Nation and demonstrated the perseverance and the will of the American people. We remember the people who refused to leave an injured coworker and those who led others to safety. We remember the firefighters, the policemen, and all the first responders who saved lives that day, many of whom gave their lives in doing so. We remember the heroes at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the brave passengers of Flight 93. We also remember all the brave service men and women who fought and continue to fight to keep us free. They do so by choice. They do so out of love of country, and they do so to protect our Nation, our freedom, and our values. Since the 9/11 attacks, thousands of Arkansans have been deployed to far regions of the globe to fight terrorism. The Arkansas National Guard, which has historically been a reserve unit, has taken on a more active-duty role in the war on terror. Units from the Arkansas National Guard have played a vital role in the war on terror with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, and some units having served multiple tours on the battlefront. American's military personnel and veterans of the global war on terror can be proud of all they have accomplished. Their continued efforts brought Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind these attacks, to justice, along with a number of his top lieutenants and numerous Taliban commanders. They continue to battle bin Laden's fanatical followers and protect us from those who remain committed to inflicting harm on the United States. Many of the veterans from the global war on terror have returned home with permanent, life-altering injuries. We have worked hard in this body and in the House to ensure that they and all the veterans of this war receive all the care and benefits they have earned and deserve upon their return. We must continue to uphold our promise to our veterans. We must also continue to ensure that our military personnel on the battlefield have everything they need to successfully accomplish the mission and to return home safely. According to the U.S. Central Command, more than 6,200 servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Each one is a portrait of bravery. Navy Corpsman Michael Vann Johnson, Jr., a native of Little Rock, was the first Arkansan killed on the battlefield in the global war on terror. He was killed by selflessly tending to wounded colleagues in Iraq. Since his death, another 101 Arkansans have given their lives for our country in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. This year alone, we have lost five servicemembers from Arkansas. At the beginning of the year, SGT Ethan C. Hardin was killed in action in the Logar Province of Afghanistan. He was killed when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Sergeant Hardin was 25 at the time of his death. Sergeant Hardin grew up in Fayetteville, AR, and was remembered by his high school principal as a young man with a ``pleasant, likable, gentle personality.'' His pastor echoed those thoughts, calling Sergeant Hardin a ``warrior'' who was motivated to take up arms for his country not out of any hostilities toward the enemy but, rather, out of a strong desire to keep our country safe. Less than a week after the death of Sergeant Hardin, SGT Zainah C. Creamer was killed in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan when insurgents attacked her unit with an IED. Sergeant Creamer was born in Texarkana, TX, and graduated from Arkansas High School in Texarkana, AR. She was 28 at the time of her death. Sergeant Creamer's friends and family say they will remember her lovely singing voice and her love of country, friends, family, and fellow soldiers, including her K-9 partner Jofa. A soldier for more than 6 years, Sergeant Creamer was assigned to the 212th Military Police Detachment as an Army dog handler. She and her K-9 partner were assigned to check vehicles and facilities for explosives and were carrying out a routine clearance mission when the blast occurred. In March, another IED attack in the Kandahar Province once again impacted Arkansas. Army CPL Loren Buffalo of Mountain Pine, AR, was only 20 years old when insurgents took his life. Corporal Buffalo was carrying on the family tradition of military service. His father and his uncle served in the Army and his great-grandfather was a B-17 bomber pilot during World War II. His father says Corporal Buffalo was a dedicated military man who loved music, liked to hunt and ride horses. Last month, two Arkansans were among the 30 U.S. servicemembers killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in the Wardak Province of Afghanistan. The Taliban claim responsibility for the attack, which resulted in one of the greatest losses of U.S. military lives in a single incident in the decade-long war in Afghanistan. Most of those killed in the attack were U.S. Special Forces personnel. Navy Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas A. Ratzlaff of Green Forest, AR, was one of those Special Forces officers killed in the attack. Senior Chief Ratzlaff graduated from Green Forest High School in 1995 and immediately enlisted in the Navy to begin the process of achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. According to the Green Forest mayor Charlie Reece, Senior Chief Ratzlaff developed a reputation as one of the most highly decorated officers in his elite unit, but humbly remained grounded. The mayor called him a ``high-class young man.'' Senior Chief Ratzlaff was 34 at the time of his death. Air Force Tech SGT John W. Brown of Siloam Springs, AR, was also killed in that attack. An accomplished athlete in his youth, Sergeant Brown played football and basketball. He went to John Brown University on a swimming scholarship. In Siloam Springs, he was known for his positive attitude, his intelligence, and his sense of humor. After seeing a video of a special operations unit, he abandoned plans to become a nurse anesthetist and enlisted in the Air Force where he was assigned to the elite 24th Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Field, NC. He was 33 at the time of his death. This is something we need to remember not just on anniversary dates but at all times. It should serve as the ultimate reminder that we in this Chamber have an obligation to come together and to make this country a better place. I ask my colleagues in the Senate to join me in honoring their lives and their legacy, as well as the sacrifice of all who have fought and died in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Let us never forget their sacrifices and let their legacies be an inspiration for every American. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded, and to speak for up to 15 minutes.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam President, throughout the course of this debt ceiling debate, the American people have watched in utter disbelief of what they have seen. They understand we need to get our fiscal house in order; they see what has gotten us into this mess; and they want it stopped before they agree to give us blanket authority to raise the debt limit. What they are saying is we must spend within our means just as they have to do. We have a way to do that. It is the cut, cap, and balance plan. It has already passed the House. The companion bill, with 39 cosponsors, has the support so it should be considered in this Chamber as well. I am proud to say I am one of those 39 cosponsors of the Senate bill. I signed onto the cut, cap, and balance bill because the American people--and more specifically the people of Arkansas--have demanded that we address this crisis now, not later. They know Washington is not good with remembering to follow through on the things they promise to do later. Some will say this is too simple an answer. They say the fiscal mess in which we find ourselves is a complex problem. It is not though. Just look at the numbers. This year alone we will spend $3.7 trillion while collecting only $2.2 trillion. We borrow 40 cents of every dollar we spend. President Obama and the Democratic majority in this Chamber will say the way to fix this problem is to raise taxes. They may try to use other words and phrases such as revenue enhancers while talking about raising taxes, but make no doubt about it, they want to put the onus back on the American people. There is a major problem with this approach. Washington does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. Again, the numbers back this up. Traditionally, government spending is about 19 percent of our gross domestic product. Since President Obama has been in office, government spending has been much closer to 25 percent of our gross domestic product. This administration has raised Federal spending to the highest peak since World War II. How do we solve this spending problem? We do it through cut, cap, and balance. Cut now--the House bill immediately cuts over $100 billion in spending; cap for the future--the spending cap mechanism in this bill caps spending over the next 10 years, bringing it down to less than 20 percent of our gross domestic product within the next 5 years--and the balance is for a balanced budget amendment, something our entire Republican caucus supports in the Senate, as do many in the Democratic majority, at least according to their on-the-record statements. This bill prohibits the Treasury from borrowing unless a balanced budget amendment is sent to the States for ratification. Let's pass a balanced budget amendment and give the people back home the decision about whether they want to require us to operate under a balanced budget amendment. I think you will find they overwhelmingly do. Unfortunately, the Senate majority, with no plan of their own for reining in the out-of-control spending, will not allow us to have a debate on this bill. Last Friday they moved to table the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, effectively ending any consideration of the bill. All this reminds me of the debate over the House-passed budget we had a few months ago. The majority over here had strong words of criticism but no budget proposal of their own. Again, strong words of criticism and no plan of their own. Only this time it is worse. With our Nation on the brink of default, the majority clearly believes it is better to score political points than have a debate on the merits of our proposal. They control the floor, the agenda, and the amendments that are accepted. If any member of their caucus wants to change the bill, they certainly have that option. But instead of having the debate, we get political theater from the majority. This is not what our constituents deserve. They deserve a real debate. They sent us here to work together to prevent a catastrophe on par with what has happened in Greece, Ireland, and Portugal. They want to see us get our fiscal house in order. That is what the root cause of this crisis is all about. We are not just having a debate on raising the debt ceiling. If that were all this discussion was about, it would have been over months ago. Nobody wants a default. The debate that is going on today is about a much bigger problem: the out-of-control spending that has put us in this position time and time again. Cut, cap, and balance is one way to solve the problem. It is a solution that helps us avert an immediate meltdown and brings a sense of fiscal responsibility to Washington where it is so badly needed. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, it has been almost 800 days since the Senate Democratic majority produced a budget. I do not expect one to appear from the majority today, but at least the Democratic majority canceled the Fourth of July recess to work toward an agreement to deal with our budgetary crisis. With the possibility of default looming, our caucus, led by Senator Sessions, has been pushing the Democratic majority to keep the Chamber working over the recent recesses. After refusing past calls to remain in session, the Democratic majority finally recognized that we cannot sort this out if we are not here to focus on it. I, for one, am glad the Democratic majority listened. The American people deserve an honest and open conversation about the very difficult situation we are in. More importantly, they deserve a commitment that we will work in good faith to end this impasse. Unfortunately, I am not sure we will get that from the Democratic majority or the President. We are in session this week specifically to deal with the budget ceiling crisis, and the only vote the majority leader had scheduled from the outset was a resolution on the Libya conflict. I say ``had'' because the Democratic majority rightly canceled that vote after intense pressure from our side to keep the Senate focused on the debt ceiling issue. President Obama has been absent from this debate for months. Only recently he started showing up to tell Americans that his solution to the crisis is raising taxes instead of cutting spending. Meanwhile, we have inched closer and closer toward defaulting on our obligations. It is interesting that we are here today specifically to work out a solution to our financial crisis 1 week after scenes of Athens on fire as a result of rioting over Greece's own debt crisis dominated the airwaves. One week after passing tough austerity measures to secure further financial aid--the very same measures that sparked the rioting--the Greek Government is far from out of the woods. Standard & Poor's says the proposals for restructuring Greek debt would effectively constitute a default instead of helping the country avoid one. I mention all of this not to generate fear but, rather, to shed light on the gravity of our situation. We could very well end up like Greece if we do not handle this crisis properly. This is the last thing we want to experience in our great country, and that is why we need to reform our fiscal policy in the way that we have done business in the past. There is too much at stake not to take action now. We are at the point where our Nation can no longer borrow money. The IMF has harsh words for our soaring budget deficits, and credit rating agencies such as Moody's and S&P have threatened to downgrade our government's AAA rating. President Obama likes to blame our economic mess on the previous administration, but the reality is that over the past 2 years, our debt has increased 35 percent under his watch. That is not the previous administration's fault, nor is it their fault that the annual deficit is now three times greater than the highest deficit during the Bush years. If American families ran their households like Washington runs its budget, the utilities would be shut off and the collection agencies would be knocking on their doors. If they maxed out a credit card, they wouldn't have the luxury of telling someone else to pay their bills. Yet this is what the President is demanding by sticking to tax increase proposals. I said this last week, but since the President continues to push tax increases as the answer, I will say it again: President Obama, take tax hikes off the table. We got into this mess by excessively spending. We can't fix the problem unless we stop excessively spending. The White House remains focused on tax hikes. If we look at their agenda, we can see why. The big-ticket items they have already passed, specifically the President's stimulus and health care bills, have put our country on the path of unprecedented levels of spending that will keep us in the red for my lifetime, my children's lives, and well beyond. The administration's refusal to cut excessive spending, much of which the Nation never asked for, will put us on the course for a Greek-like catastrophe. Without action, annual interest payments on the national debt alone will exceed 40 percent of GDP by 2080. So with that in mind, the President is working behind closed doors with his allies in Congress to figure out ways to raise revenue. As we all know, revenue is a Washington euphemism for taxes. Instead of further exasperating our economy by raising taxes and putting us in a position that will affect our recovery and our Nation's future, the solution must be tailored to the problem. Washington does not have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem. Any proposal that does not start in that truth should be taken off the table. If the White House-engineered agreement for raising the debt ceiling does not include significant cuts and a spending cap mechanism, such as a balanced budget amendment, to prevent us from having to raise it again, then I can assure you they will not get my vote. Anything short of that is irresponsible. I know I am not alone in these demands. Many of my colleagues feel just as strongly and will not back down either. The President and the Senate Democratic majority need to understand we are committed to these principles because millions of Americans feel exactly the same as we do. We are here to do the people's work. Let's listen to them instead of trying to tell the people what is best for them. I note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, nearly every day we see scenes playing out in countries around the world where their financial security is in ruins. This is the last thing we want to experience in our great country, and that is why we need to reform our fiscal policy and the way we have done business. There is too much at stake not to take action. The International Monetary Fund urged us to address our soaring budget deficits, and credit rating agencies Moody's and S&P may be forced to downgrade our government's AAA rating. So what is the majority doing to address this fiscal crisis? Absolutely nothing. It has been nearly 790 days without the majority in this Chamber proposing a budget, and it appears the majority isn't anxious to work on one. The majority-led Budget Committee has failed to meet this year to begin working on a resolution. We can't even have an open debate in this Chamber about the budget. Instead of voting to start the debate on budget measures last month, the majority squashed all proposals, including the President's own plan. This is failure to govern at the most basic level and the American people deserve better. We need a budget that puts us on the path to fiscal discipline. Every week we hear warnings of why this must be done. Last week the Congressional Budget Office issued the starkest warning yet of the danger posed by our spending problems. Our Nation's debt will exceed the size of the U.S. economy by 2021 and will double the size of our Nation's GDP within 25 years. This is not the way I want to leave this country for my kids, my grandkids, and the people of Arkansas. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama pushed for a conversation that will put us on the path to fiscal responsibility but, so far, he has been absent from the discussions. Only today, 36 days before the deadline given by Secretary Geithner to raise the legal limit on Federal borrowing, is he beginning to take leadership in negotiating for spending limitations. Our debt is slowing the economic recovery. The simple truth is higher debt leads to slower economic growth. We have seen this with the failed stimulus, but in the past week the Senate-led majority is once again proposing this flawed strategy. This failed policy of borrowing, spending, and taxing is just what the CBO is warning us to avoid. It hasn't worked in the past and it won't work in the future. What we need are debt reduction measures in the form of spending cuts. The CBO's last report shows that spending is the primary cause of our fiscal crisis and supports spending cuts rather than tax increases to reverse this trend. I urge President Obama to take tax hikes off the table. Let's get to work reining in the reckless spending and putting our Nation back on a fiscally responsible path. If American families ran their household budgets the way Washington runs its budget, the utilities would be shut off and the collection agencies would be knocking on their doors. The American people are now knocking on the doors of the Capitol demanding the government limit its spending. We must rein in our spending to protect programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security for current recipients and for future generations. In order to achieve this, we must reform the manner in which we budget and allocate Federal dollars. We need a mechanism to cap spending and force the government to spend within its means. We must act now to move our country off the brink of financial collapse, and we must make tough decisions because that is what the American people deserve and expect of us. Mr. President, I note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, the latest unemployment numbers indicate that nearly 106,000 Arkansans are unemployed. This 7.7 percent unemployment rate is higher than when the so-called stimulus passed that President Obama and Majority Leader Reid promised would produce jobs for hard-working Americans. Although this rate is below the national average, the numbers show that out-of-work Arkansans continue to struggle to find gainful employment. What is more alarming is that the President and the majority here in the Senate are resisting real change and insisting on more of the same borrow, spend, and tax policies that have given us record unemployment and a sluggish economy. In November, Americans gave a clear sign that job creation needs to be a priority. Unfortunately, the Senate majority and President Obama have failed to prove that this is at the top of the agenda. Time and time again, the Senate and our President add to the uncertainty that is stifling job creation. Commonsense legislation that would create the conditions for job growth is not brought to the floor. It is not because the Senate has more pressing issues. There is no excuse as to why the Chamber avoids voting on legislative and policy items that will provide real relief for the unemployed, such as the stalled free-trade agreements. As news reports have pointed out over the past several weeks, the business in this body is progressing at a historically slow pace. As the Washington Post reported last week, ``Quorum calls have taken up about a third of its time since January, according to the C-SPAN statistics.'' Americans are tired of the games. They need jobs, and it is our duty to help. Linda from Mountain Home, AR, recently wrote to me asking the same thing millions of Americans want to know: ``Where are the jobs?'' She continued her e-mail asking what legislation Republicans introduced that will stimulate the economy and create jobs. I want to thank Linda for her letter and let her know my colleagues and I are on the side of the American worker, and that is evident by the legislation we have offered. These practical free market ideas will put Americans back to work, and, like the millions of Americans who are looking for jobs, we are anxious to vote on them and approve these measures. In February, we introduced the REINS Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. Too often, Federal agencies overstep their boundaries and enact expensive mandates that strangle investment and job creation without congressional approval. This commonsense legislation provides a check and balance between Congress and the executive branch and allows business to focus on growth instead of how to comply with burdensome regulations. This starts with making changes to unfunded mandates by the Environmental Protection Agency. Unnecessary and burdensome regulations imposed on our businesses cost money and cost jobs. EPA has put a target on America's industrial, manufacturing, and agricultural job creators. Clean air, clean water, and conservation are all very important, but the heavyhanded regulations coming from this EPA have little or nothing to do with clean air or clean water. We are witnessing a Federal bureaucratic power grab on behalf of a radical, job-destroying agenda. These regulations are making food more expensive, energy more expensive, and gasoline more expensive, and they are driving jobs out of our country. Our competitors are taking our jobs and emitting far more pollution into our atmosphere and oceans than we would here in the United States. Again, it is all pain and no gain. As the administration works to drive up the cost of energy, they seem to forget that a prosperous country is a country that can invest in conservation and protect the environment. The President still wants to blame his predecessor for our sluggish economy and lack of jobs. The blame game won't help the President politically, and it won't help turn our economy around. It is true that President Obama inherited a weak economy, but he made it worse. Before President Obama took office, the Federal Government was carrying out many policies that distorted the market and contributed to the meltdown. In 2008, we were spending too much money and running severe deficits. Now our deficit is three times as big. Sadly, President Obama has made each of our economic problems worse. I believe it is important to provide American businesses with an equal opportunity to compete and succeed while opening new markets for American products. I strongly believe that when presented with a level playing field, American businesses and workers can outperform any in the world in terms of quality and value. With three pending trade agreements on the table waiting for approval, we are wasting precious time and resources at our disposal to open foreign markets to U.S. products. The lack of action on the Colombia, Panama, and South Korea agreements is concerning. I believe we need to move forward as quickly as possible to ratify these policies. American companies and their workers are losing market share and are being denied valuable business opportunities. That is why one of the first pieces of legislation I cosponsored as a Member of the Senate was S. Res. 20, legislation that urges this Chamber to consider and approve the pending free-trade agreements with these countries. On multiple occasions, President Obama expressed support for the implementation of all of these trade agreements in order to reduce our Nation's deficit and create American jobs for American workers. So far, there is still a failure to act on any of these agreements. Americans deserve legislation that will promote job growth, but one of President Obama's legislative cornerstones, health care reform, actually costs jobs. We were told ObamaCare would create 4 million jobs, but reality tells a different story. According to the Congressional Budget Office, there will be 750,000 fewer jobs. This legislation is bad for business. That is why we voted to eliminate the onerous 1099 reporting requirements included in this flawed legislation. I will continue to fight for a full repeal of this law as we seek meaningful health care reform that provides quality, affordable access for all citizens based on free market principles. The simple truth is there are 14 million Americans out of work and millions more who have been forced into retirement or gave up looking for a job. These 14 million Americans are calling for our help, yet the majority and the administration continue to ignore their pleas. We have a plan that is ready to move, and the practical free market ideas it is based upon will put Americans back to work. Let's show Linda in Mountain Home and the millions of Americans looking for a job that we are working to change the direction our country is headed and be a job creator. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, it has been brought to my attention that certain Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities are required to pay a provider tax despite the fact that they provide no beds and no services that are certified under the Medicaid program. Thus, these facilities are paying a tax and receiving no benefit. The Department of Health and Human Services currently provides a waiver for this fee, but the approval for the waiver is not a foregone conclusion. This is costly to those communities who provide for themselves and who do not depend on government programs at all. For these reasons, Senator Mark Pryor and I are introducing this legislation requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve waivers sought by states in relation to Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities which have no beds that are certified to provide medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or that do not provide services for which payment may be made under title XIX of the Social Security Act. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, it has been brought to my attention that certain Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities are required to pay a provider tax despite the fact that they provide no beds and no services that are certified under the Medicaid program. Thus, these facilities are paying a tax and receiving no benefit. The Department of Health and Human Services currently provides a waiver for this fee, but the approval for the waiver is not a foregone conclusion. This is costly to those communities who provide for themselves and who do not depend on government programs at all. For these reasons, Senator Mark Pryor and I are introducing this legislation requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve waivers sought by states in relation to Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities which have no beds that are certified to provide medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or that do not provide services for which payment may be made under title XIX of the Social Security Act. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, when word spread that American forces found and killed Osama bin Laden, Americans gathered at Ground Zero, in New York's Times Square and in front of the White House to celebrate the news. For more than a decade bin Laden had been on the FBI's top ten most wanted list, and the announcement that our military conducted the successful operation in Pakistan filled us with national pride. After nearly 3,000 Americans died in the September 11 attacks, bin Laden, the plot's mastermind, was named public enemy No. 1. The years following that tragic day, he eluded capture. Justice finally caught up with him, as a result of years of hard work and dedication from the brave men and women in our military and intelligence community. The death of Osama bin Laden allows us to close this chapter of the global war on terror, but it does not mean the end of the threat from al-Qaida or other like-minded organizations. We must remain vigilant, both at home and abroad, in the fight against terrorism. The fact is, terrorism is not the only major threat to our sovereignty. There is one that lurks much closer to home, born and bred right here in this town. I am speaking about Washington's addiction to spending. In testimony before Congress, Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said the greatest threat to our sovereignty is not Iran; not al- Qaida; not radical Islam--it is our national debt. Most people don't think of spending in terms of a threat to our sovereignty; and those who do are rarely so blunt. But Admiral Mullen is right. We simply cannot continue to operate at this pace. This year alone, the Federal Government will spend $3.7 trillion while only collecting $2.2 trillion. Does this sound like responsible budgeting to anyone? The average American family does not have this luxury. If you or I tried to run our household this way, the bank would eventually cut us off. It is time we apply that lesson to Washington. It is time we cut off the government. This is long overdue. Our national debt stands at a jaw-dropping $14.3 trillion. Foreign holdings account for almost half of these obligations, and much of that is owed to countries that are not always friendly to us. This is the very reason Admiral Mullen sounded the alarm on how big of a security threat our debt has become. Being indebted to countries with ideals, value systems and agendas that are often at odds with ours puts us in a very precarious position. For example, China owns $1.2 trillion of our debt. The Chinese Government contends that it won't use this liability for political advantage, but the government also claims there are no human rights violations in that country. Clearly, the Chinese Government's word is not a promise we should bank on. Along with the Chinese, a portion of the list of foreign creditors reads like a ``who's who'' of dictatorial regimes. Iran, Venezuela, Libya make up the rouges gallery of nations that owns some of our debt. These dictatorships, along with other oil exporting nations such as Saudi Arabia--whose role in spreading radical Islam is well documented--come in at No. 4 on the list of foreign creditors. We are currently engaged in an operation with our NATO allies against Qadhafi's regime, yet rely on it in part, no matter how small, to keep our government operational. This is the problem with our reckless spending. We cannot put ourselves at the mercy of foreign governments. It is irresponsible and dangerous. We must act now to get our spending under control and pay down our debt. We cannot run a country on a Visa card; nor can we keep kicking the can down the road for future generations to address. Our debt is a national security problem, and this one our brave men and women in uniform cannot save us from. It is up to us to make the tough decisions to get our economic house in order and the time is now to act. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, polls show nearly 80 percent of Americans agree parents should have the legal right to stop an abortion from being performed on their minor daughter. Many States such as Arkansas have enacted laws requiring parental notification, and these laws have proven very effective at the state level. Texas' teen abortion rate has dropped 25 percent since passage of its parental notification law in 2000 and Virginia and South Dakota have had similar results since parental notification laws were passed more than 10 years ago. However without a Federal law parents in those States are not required to be notified when their daughters go out-of-state for an abortion. Also, judges exploit loopholes in state laws by granting ``judicial bypass'' so often times the law is not enforced. The Parental Notification and Intervention Act requires that parents be notified at least four days in advance of any abortion to be performed on their minor daughter and gives them power to stop an abortion from being performed. My colleagues Senators Graham, Risch, Coats, Thune, and Johanns join me in introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Representative Steve King for his support and leadership on the House companion version of the Parental Notification and Intervention Act. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, polls show nearly 80 percent of Americans agree parents should have the legal right to stop an abortion from being performed on their minor daughter. Many States such as Arkansas have enacted laws requiring parental notification, and these laws have proven very effective at the state level. Texas' teen abortion rate has dropped 25 percent since passage of its parental notification law in 2000 and Virginia and South Dakota have had similar results since parental notification laws were passed more than 10 years ago. However without a Federal law parents in those States are not required to be notified when their daughters go out-of-state for an abortion. Also, judges exploit loopholes in state laws by granting ``judicial bypass'' so often times the law is not enforced. The Parental Notification and Intervention Act requires that parents be notified at least four days in advance of any abortion to be performed on their minor daughter and gives them power to stop an abortion from being performed. My colleagues Senators Graham, Risch, Coats, Thune, and Johanns join me in introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Representative Steve King for his support and leadership on the House companion version of the Parental Notification and Intervention Act. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, traumatic brain injury, TBI, is becoming an increasingly common injury on the modern battlefield. Thankfully, because of advances in medicine, service-members who would not have been expected to survive catastrophic attacks in previous conflicts are returning home today from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with unprecedented severe and complex injuries. Since 2001, over 1,500 service members have suffered from a severe TBI, many of whom require rehabilitative programs ranging from total care for the most basic needs to semi-independent living support. A restrictive approach to rehabilitation puts these wounded warriors at risk of losing any progress they made towards recovery. For this reason, my colleague, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, and I are introducing the Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. I would also like to thank my House colleagues, Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, for their support and leadership on the House companion version of this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, traumatic brain injury, TBI, is becoming an increasingly common injury on the modern battlefield. Thankfully, because of advances in medicine, service-members who would not have been expected to survive catastrophic attacks in previous conflicts are returning home today from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with unprecedented severe and complex injuries. Since 2001, over 1,500 service members have suffered from a severe TBI, many of whom require rehabilitative programs ranging from total care for the most basic needs to semi-independent living support. A restrictive approach to rehabilitation puts these wounded warriors at risk of losing any progress they made towards recovery. For this reason, my colleague, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, and I are introducing the Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. I would also like to thank my House colleagues, Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, for their support and leadership on the House companion version of this legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to express my strong support for the McConnell amendment. This amendment prevents EPA from continuing to reach beyond Congress's clear intent under the Clean Air Act. Congress did not authorize greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act. This amendment is an appropriate response to clarify the law that is being misinterpreted. The EPA should not be making policy decisions beyond the authority clearly granted to the Agency by Congress. Let us remember, last year, Congress rejected the cap-and-trade agenda on a bipartisan basis. The EPA's agenda is a job-destroying agenda. It will raise the price of energy, food, and gasoline. The cost of this policy will be transferred to the people of Arkansas and all Americans every time they shop at the store. The EPA's agenda will not lead to a cleaner environment. American manufacturing will be hurt, and our manufacturing capacity will be replaced by foreign competitors with weak environmental standards. This amendment will allow individual States to keep existing policies in place by permitting them to regulate emissions as they see fit. This amendment also enables the EPA to focus on the important purposes of the Clean Air Act, which I strongly support. The Clean Air Act must be used to protect the public from harmful pollution. The Clean Air Act was not intended to address climate change concerns. Finally, let me address a myth we keep hearing. Some have stated the Supreme Court is forcing the EPA to take this heavy-handed, backdoor, cap-and-tax approach. This is wrong. The Supreme Court stated that the EPA can decide whether greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Many Senators believe the Supreme Court's interpretation of the law is wrong. Yet EPA made a political decision based on the Court's ruling to expand their jurisdiction far beyond what Congress intended. This amendment will correct that action. Others have stated this amendment would permanently eliminate the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases. This is also wrong. No policy is permanent unless it is part of our Constitution, and even the Constitution can be amended. We can enact this amendment and still have a debate in this body about needed policy changes in the future. Finally, let me quickly address some of the alternatives to this amendment that are being suggested. Some of my colleagues have suggested delaying the EPA's actions by 2 years. Others have suggested that one sector of the economy or another should be exempted from EPA's unnecessary and burdensome rules. I would suggest these proposals do not provide the cover some Senators want. Bad policy is bad policy whether carried out this year or 2 years from now. Our job creators need certainty. Restraining the EPA for 2 years will not provide the certainty they need to invest and create more jobs. Exempting one sector of the economy is also not enough. There is no excuse for protecting just one sector while watching Americans in other sectors lose their jobs to foreign competitors. At the moment, our priority must be job creation, protecting our industrial and manufacturing sectors, and keeping gas and food prices low. We must make sure the EPA avoids politically driven initiatives and becomes focused on its core mission: protecting air and water quality and preventing exposure to toxic contamination. I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to speak on the floor of this Chamber for the first time as a Senator. I am honored to have this opportunity to be a voice for Arkansans who want to change the direction our country is headed so that we still have a great nation to leave behind for future generations, just as the greatest generation did for us. I am eager to carry out the traditions of this body and I am honored to serve alongside my distinguished colleagues. The traditions set forth and established in this Chamber have long been admired and often imitated in governments around the world. The work done here sets an example of how people of different backgrounds and expertise can come together for the betterment of this country. We need to provide results by balancing the budget, cutting the deficit, creating jobs and putting our differences aside to work for the best interests of our country. I am up for the task assigned by the American people. We are a nation of great thinkers and innovators and I am confident the ideas proposed and debated here will put us on the continued path to success. There is no question that we have faced difficult times in our Nation's history. We have been tried and tested before. We have weathered the storms and have always emerged as a better, stronger country. The debates and issues we face today are just as challenging as those faced by the men and women who served in this body before us. As the first Republican elected to this Arkansas Senate seat since reconstruction, it is evident that Arkansans and all Americans are anxious for new results with new leaders to move our country into the future. When I look back at the Senators who have served the great State of Arkansas, I am inspired by their service, dedication and commitment. Growing up in Fort Smith, in Sebastian County, we were taught at an early age about William Sebastian. At 36, he was the youngest Senator in the 30th U.S. Congress after leading an already distinguished career as a cotton farmer, judge and State legislator. Hattie Caraway broke the glass ceiling, becoming the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. She recognized the important role of agriculture to the State and requested a seat on the Agriculture Committee. There is no doubt agriculture is still critical to the State today. My predecessor, Senator Blanche Lincoln, was the first woman to chair the Agriculture Committee and I am pleased to have a seat on that same committee and be part of the debates and discussions as we formulate future agriculture policies. Throughout history, our State has been represented in this body by a diverse group of men and women who have put Arkansas and America first and I am honored to follow in their footsteps. Each of these individuals had their generation's crises to address. We have our own as well. The American people are worried. And rightfully so. Some of them have to check the morning news to see if they still have a job. Still many other able-bodied, ready-to-work Americans have not received a paycheck for months, some for years now. Between November and December of last year, unemployment rates increased in 72 of the 75 counties in my home State of Arkansas. And these are not small hits to our communities. A plywood plant in Fordyce, a town of 5,000 closed its doors, displacing almost 350 workers. That is more than 14 percent of the town's population. It is not any easier in the State's larger cities either. In Fort Smith, Arkansas's second largest city, a leading appliance manufacturer laid off 850 employees last year. Even our Nation's largest retailer, and Arkansas's largest employer, is not immune to this crisis. The economic downturn forced Wal-Mart to cut hundreds of jobs in its corporate office in Bentonville. Like much of the rest of our Nation, Arkansas's job creators are nervous. It is hard for a small business owner to invest in their business and create jobs if they are concerned about the negative impact actions in Washington will have on their bottom line. Given the right tools and circumstances, small business owners can and will create good paying jobs for the people of Arkansas and all Americans. We need to create policies that empower the private sector. That means fostering an environment that promotes economic certainty and encourages growth and innovation. We can see results of the combined efforts of city, county, State and Federal leaders with Mitsubishi's decision to build a wind-turbine manufacturing plant in Fort Smith. The region's business leaders spent more than a year competing with more than 60 other U.S. cities to attract Mitsubishi, resulting in as many as 400 new good-paying jobs in the Fort Smith community. This is how we stimulate the economy. Unfortunately, instead of taking that approach to creating a business-friendly environment in our communities, Washington's agenda over the past few years has created a climate of uncertainty. From past experience, I know this hampers the private sector's ability to create jobs. Before entering public service, I practiced optometry at a clinic my brother-in-law and I started in Rogers, AR. Over the course of 24 years, our little clinic grew from 5 employees to 85 employees and is now a leading provider of eye care in northwest Arkansas. We were able to grow over the years because we could plot our course with some degree of certainty. While no one can see the future, we could, with a fair degree of confidence, understand what our tax burden would be, what our energy costs would be and what our health care costs would be. What we are hearing today from small business owners and investors is the exact opposite. They are afraid to invest any capital, because they don't know what their taxes will be; afraid to hire another employee because they are nervous about what that does to their health care costs; and afraid to expand until they know how big their energy bill is going to be. Compound that uncertainty with the excessive spending, and you have a recipe for a disaster. While Americans tighten their belts, they watch in disbelief as Washington throws taxpayer money around with reckless abandonment. The extent of this problem is documented in a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. The report highlights wasteful spending by revealing a number of duplicative programs within the Federal Government which come with a price tag estimated to be in the billions. There is simply no room for wasteful spending, especially when much of that money is not ours. Forty cents of every dollar we spend is borrowed, much of which is owed to countries that are not always friendly to us, countries like Saudi Arabia and China, the latter of which now owns more than $1 trillion of our debt. In testimony before Congress, ADM Mike Mullen said the greatest threat to our sovereignty is not Iran; not al-Qaida; not radical Islam, it is our national debt. He is right. We simply cannot continue to operate at this pace. We cannot continue to add billions to our already staggering national debt. This year alone, the Federal Government will spend $3.7 trillion while only collecting $2.2 trillion. It does not take an advanced math degree to understand that 3 is greater than 2. The average American family doesn't have the luxury to spend beyond its means. Their government should not, and does not, either. We must as a nation quit spending money we do not have. The only way we will get a handle on this situation is to reform the manner in which we budget and allocate Federal dollars. It is time we put mechanisms in place to stop the government from spending beyond its means. This is why one of the first bills I signed my name onto after taking the oath of office was Senator Richard Shelby's balanced budget amendment. Senator Shelby has been a champion on this front for a number of years, introducing this bill every session of Congress since 1987. Imagine what the country would look like if it had passed when he first proposed it. Now, more than ever, it is an idea that's time has come and I look forward to working with the Senator from Alabama to get some sort of spending cap like a balanced budget amendment passed. This is a catalyst for change. It holds us to spending limits and forces changes in the manner in which taxpayer money is allocated. We are at a crossroads in our country. We cannot keep kicking the can down the road. The ``tax, borrow, spend'' philosophy is not creating jobs; it is only creating more debt for our children and grandchildren. We owe it to the generations of Americans who have made sacrifices in order for our country to prosper and that means working together to solve our problems. No matter what political views we hold, at the end of the day we are all Americans who are committed to seeing our country succeed. As a child, I learned that commitment from my dad who retired as a master sergeant in the Air Force. He followed in the steps of his dad who served in the Armed Forces during World War I and World War II. We have a great ability through the power of this office that allows us to help Americans with issues they are facing. For our veterans who return home, a Senate office can be a huge resource. That is what helped my mom's dad when he returned home at the end of WWI. After surviving being gassed as the war wound down, his lungs did not function properly and he reached out to Senator Davis to help him with his disability. Today, as our servicemembers return from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, we have the same responsibilities to the men and women who fight for our freedoms and interests of our country. No matter what major legislative crisis we are facing, we have a responsibility to these brave men and women. And the debates that take place in this body are no doubt of great importance, but so is each constituent who is having trouble with a Federal agency. In some cases, we are their last resort to overcome a major obstacle in their lives and each and every case that comes before us must be given our undivided attention. When I was first elected to Congress as a Member of the House in 2001, former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, who represented the Third District of Arkansas for 26 years, gave me some excellent advice. He said: ``John, always remember, now that the election is over, there are no more Republicans, no more Democrats, only the people of Arkansas and you need to take care of them.'' That is the key to good governing and good public service. Nobody embodied that more than John Paul. He was and is a dedicated public servant and has been a wonderful mentor during my time on Capitol Hill. I think Arkansas's new congressional delegation is going to make John Paul proud. Certainly our senior Senator Mark Pryor has embodied John Paul's mantra of taking care of the people of Arkansas. I have enjoyed working with Senator Pryor while serving the third district of Arkansas and appreciate his leadership. I believe our delegation, working together, will be able to make a difference for the people of Arkansas and for our Nation. The Senators who served Arkansas before Senator Pryor and myself and those who have sat at these very desks understood their desk never belonged to them personally. It has always belonged to the American people. My name, carved in the desk, will always remind me that I am here to serve them. I am humbled and honored that the people of Arkansas have selected me to work from this desk for the next 6 years, and I will never forget why. I am here to be their voice, address their needs, and help tackle the great challenges we face as a nation. I look forward to working with each and every one of my colleagues to accomplish our mutual goals to keep our country on the path of prosperity. I yield the floor.

Mr. BOOZMAN

Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, today I honor the men and women of the 188th Fighter Wing for their dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence. The 188th--based in Fort Smith, AR--recently received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, AFOUA, for their accomplishments over a 2-year period, beginning in October 2008 and concluding in September 2010. During that time, the 188th logged over 2,700 combat hours while staged in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During the award period, the 188th also deployed 141 members for Expeditionary Combat Support for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as other contingency operations worldwide. The unit had an exceptional score on their Air Combat Command Unit Compliance Inspection in 2009, acing 534 of 537 inspected areas. Perhaps the most amazing and inspiring part of this story was that just a few years ago, the 188th was slated to lose its flying mission. The 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, BRAC, recommended that the 188th be stripped of its flying mission and of their F-16 Falcons. The community rallied, and instead of losing its flying mission, the 188th earned a new one--the Flying Razorbacks emblem now emblazons A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs. The unit quickly transitioned to the A-10s, beginning in 2007, before deploying approximately 300 Airmen and 6 of its Warthogs for an Air Expeditionary Forces rotation to Kandahar in 2010. The 188th never missed a mission tasking while in Kandahar. The AFOUA recognizes the extent of the challenges the men and women of the 188th overcame in the past few years. The 188th Fighter Wing truly is a Phoenix that rose from the ashes. Authorized by Department of the Air Force General Order 1, January 6, 1954, the AFOURA is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units. Mr. President, the 188th not only met the criteria for the AFOUA but eclipsed it. As a Senator, and a Fort Smith-native, words cannot say how proud I am of the members of the 188th for their accomplishments. Nor are words enough to express how grateful I am, as an American, for their service. We thank them, and all our servicemen and women, for their sacrifice and efforts on our behalf.