Mary Landrieu

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Thank you, Mr. President. I wish to follow up on the comments of the Senators from Montana and Maryland who spoke so eloquently and clearly about the consequences of adopting the House resolution which sets spending levels for the next year. In my view, a vote for H.R. 1 would be, indeed, a reckless vote because the consequences of such severe cuts in some areas, as outlined particularly by the Senator from Maryland and the Senator from Montana, would be, in fact, reckless, and also, as it relates to my subcommittee, which I want to speak about for a moment, the Subcommittee on Homeland Security--not an inconsequential area of our responsibility: protecting the 350-plus million Americans who live in the United States and trust that we are doing our jobs well enough to keep them safe every day from rising threat levels from a variety of different sources. That is what our job is on the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and I am going to be voting against H.R. 1 because, in my view, it goes too far, and it puts our homeland in jeopardy. Let me be clear. In the State of the Union, the President stated that al-Qaida and its affiliates continue to plan attacks against our Nation. He stressed that extremists are trying to inspire acts of violence by those within our borders. According to the Attorney General, in the last 2 years, 126 individuals have been indicted for terrorist-related activities, including 50 of our own citizens. The Homeland Security Secretary appeared before my subcommittee last week and said that the threat of terrorist attacks is as high as it has been since 9/11. And what do the Republican leaders, just newly minted and elected, come to Washington to do? Slash the homeland security budget. I am not going to do that, and I urge my colleagues not to do that. In view of these threats, we cannot reduce the homeland security budget to levels that preceded the Christmas Day bombing attempt, the Times Square bombing attempt, the air cargo bombing attempt, and the Fort Hood shooting and before the escalation of violence and drugs along the Mexican border. We had one of our agents gunned down just 3 weeks ago. What does this budget do that they are recommending? Slash border security. We literally spilled blood on this floor, almost, building that fence along the border and adding border security. Now they want to dismantle it? I do not think so. The bill makes deep cuts in State and local grants to train and equip first responders. Do they think it is going to be the FBI agents who are walking around Times Square every day looking for a smoking car? No. It is going to likely be a local New York firefighter or police officer or a citizen walking by noticing something and calling the police. We have very small--really, relatively small--training grants available. They cut that by over 50 percent. Is that smart? I do not think so. The House bill cuts border security infrastructure programs when violence in Mexico is at an unprecedented level. The House bill will cut Coast Guard acquisitions despite a need to recapitalize its aging fleet and when the Coast Guard mission continues to expand, as was so clear not even a year ago, on April 20, when the Deep Horizon exploded. Whom did you call when you went to 911 and said there is a rig on fire? Whom did we call? The Coast Guard. How did they get to the rig? On cutters and boats that we built. What did they do with the Coast Guard budget? They cut it almost below maintenance levels for situations such as this. The House bill cuts port security and transit security when the Mumbai, London, and Madrid terrorist attacks proved that those sectors are vulnerable. How many more terrorists have to attack trains before we realize there is a level you cannot go beneath without putting our citizens at risk? And we are perilously close to that level. The House bill reduces Transportation Security Administration procurement for its explosive-detection technologies that TSA needs to respond, as we have developed since the attempted bombing at Christmastime. Cyber security--I have not even spoken about this. It is very difficult, and some of this is classified information, and it is not something people can really grasp as well as they can understand explosives on trains and airplanes, which is, I guess, easier to visualize. These attacks through our Internet and through the new interconnecting technologies now that our electric grid and all of our companies depend on need to be countered as well. Amendment No. 149 addresses these cuts while making responsible cuts in lower priority programs. The House bill cuts port security grants by 66 percent despite the fact that our ports produce over $3 trillion of economic activity and jobs for 13 million American workers and the Mumbai attacks proved the vulnerability of ports. The Senate bill would maintain the fiscal year 2010 level of $300 million. H.R. 1 would cut transit security grants by 66 percent, despite the fact that there have been over 1,300 attacks, killing or injuring over 18,000 people worldwide on trains and subways over the last 7 years. The Senate amendment would maintain the fiscal year 2010 level of $300 million. I say to all of my friends who get on a plane and expect it to be safe that H.R. 1 would cut $562 million from the President's request for the Transportation Security Administration to provide our airports with scanners, screeners, and K-9 teams. Under H.R. 1, funding for the Transportation Security Administration would be below the operating level on December 25, 2009, when a Nigerian terrorist tried to blow up Northwest flight 253 over the United States. As a result, TSA would only be able to purchase 250 additional advanced imaging technology body scanners, instead of the 500 requested, and 415 additional portable explosives trace detection units, instead of the 800 units requested. The Senate Democratic alternative restores these cuts. H.R. 1 would cut the precise agencies--FEMA, the Coast Guard, and State and local first responders--that are supposed to help us prevent or respond to future disasters. The Senate version restores these cuts. Under H.R. 1, the Coast Guard would not be able to award production of the fifth National Security Cutter, NSC, delaying the project by a year and driving up costs by $45 to $60 million. The Senate amendment fully funds the $692 million necessary to complete NSC, No. 5. National Security Cutters are replacing the Coast Guard's 40-year-old fleet of high endurance cutters, which are increasingly unavailable due to equipment breakdowns. The Senate amendment also includes funds to hire 55 additional Coast Guard personnel to improve their capacity to respond to oilspills. The Senate amendment provides $189 million more than the House bill for the border security agencies--Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Within that amount, the Senate bill provides $150 million more than the House bill for border security infrastructure and technology, providing our Border Patrol agents with the assets they need to help secure the northern and southern borders. Cuts to border technology made by the House bill would postpone for at least 1 year the procurement, construction, and deployment of new remote video surveillance systems in Arizona and reduce by 50 percent funds available for tactical communications modernization along the Southwest border. H.R. 1 provides no funding to continue construction of the DHS Headquarters at the St. Elizabeths campus in Washington, DC. Congress has appropriated $1.1 billion for the project, but the House action would leave a half-built building, sitting in the mud. This decision will delay completion of the Coast Guard headquarters by at least 1 year and increase costs by $69 million. The Senate amendment provides $91.4 million to complete the Coast Guard headquarters. The House bill cuts emergency management performance grants by 12 percent. The events surrounding Hurricanes Katrina and Rita highlighted the critical importance of effective catastrophic all-hazards planning. The Senate amendment maintains the $340 million fiscal year 2010 level. H.R. 1 would reduce science and technology research and development funding by 69 percent, forgoing critical investments in the next generation of explosives detection systems, chemical and biological weapons detection systems, radiological and nuclear detection systems, as well as sensors and other technologies to help secure the borders. The Senate version reduces funding by only 19 percent, a difficult but responsible reduction. The House bill makes deep cuts to cyber security, which is unconscionable, since the President has said, ``the cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face''. The House cuts would delay deployment of the Einstein program-- our network intrusion detection and protection program--reducing protection coverage of Federal agency networks by 12 percent, reduce cyber attack response efforts by 25 percent, reduce international collaboration, and reduce our development of advanced tools needed to keep pace with new and evolving cyber threats. In order to make these restorations, the Senate amendment rescinds over $545 million of low priority unobligated balances and reduces lower priority programs by over $900 million below fiscal year 2010 levels. My goal is to produce a fiscally responsible Homeland Security bill that provides the Department with the resources it needs to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all threats, both manmade and natural. It is essential that we provide the Department with the resources that it needs to be nimble in preparing for and responding to an evolving threat. I urge Members to support amendment No. 149 to H.R. 1. As I said, the House bill, H.R. 1, cuts port security grants by 66 percent, transportation security grants by 66 percent. It cuts FEMA, and it cuts the Coast Guard below levels that are safe. Homeland Security is the newest agency. I realize we have to make cuts and bring our budget into balance. If this were a plan to get us to a balanced budget, I would support it. But it is not. It is just a plan that jeopardizes our homeland security and does not do very much at all to close that deficit gap. When a real plan is present, I will vote for it. Until then, I am voting no.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship today adopted rules governing its procedures for the 112th Congress. Pursuant to Rule XXVI, paragraph 2, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the rules adopted by the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today to discuss an issue of great importance to small businesses, the drivers of this Nation's economy. In the same way the interstate highway system and the railroads revolutionized transport, connecting main streets across the Nation to facilitate the stream of commerce; broadband technology has forever changed the relationship between small businesses and the customers that they serve. This is especially true for rural small businesses, which now have direct access to new customers in major cities across the globe through broadband connectivity. Over 95 percent of the world's customers are located outside of our borders, and in the United States alone, an estimated 60 million Americans use the Internet on a daily basis. With the click of a mouse, they now have access to goods and services from main streets around the world. With every click, our Nation's small businesses are growing, and helping to create jobs as well as further innovate within the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, too many of our small businesses are missing out on these opportunities for growth. Due to a combination of factors that range from a lack of computer literacy to the inability to access high speed or broadband Internet services, many entrepreneurs have yet to capitalize on the resources available to them via the Internet. In fact, it is estimated that fewer than 24 percent of our Nation's small businesses routinely use e-commerce applications to sell their products online. As a result, they are missing out on opportunities to expand to new markets or find new customers. We must do more to help our Nation's small businesses utilize advanced technologies like broadband so that they can best compete in the global marketplace. As Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I have made increasing the ability of small businesses to access high- speed broadband Internet a top priority. That is why today, I along with my distinguished colleague on the Small Business Committee, former Chairman John Kerry, am introducing the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011. This critical piece of legislation will help to level the playing field for our entrepreneurs and small businesses by implementing key findings from the Federal Communications Commission's 2010 National Broadband Plan. More specifically, this legislation calls on the Small Business Administration to take a lead role in helping our small businesses to access broadband and other advanced technologies. To accomplish this, the legislation requires the SBA to make three key improvements to its core programs. First, it calls on the agency to create a Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator to facilitate the development of small business broadband initiatives within the agency, and also to act as a liaison with other Federal agencies. Second, the legislation requires SBA resource partners, such as Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, to provide technical assistance related to both accessing and utilizing broadband and emerging information technology. Finally, the bill will improve the SBA's popular 7(a) and microloan programs by allowing borrowers to use the proceeds of their loans to finance the purchase of broadband services, equipment or other emerging technologies. Making these three simple changes will allow more of our small businesses to not only access previously untapped customers and markets; it will also allow them to become more competitive with their foreign counterparts, fostering innovation and job creation. I have heard from a number of my Committee members and I know how important this issue is to them, and I am proud to introduce this legislation for the second consecutive Congress. I look forward to working with them in the coming months to get this legislation to the President's desk. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, today I recognize a program which in the last several years has helped more than 45,000 Americans who are blind or who have significant disabilities gain skills and training that ultimately led to gainful employment, the AbilityOne Program. The AbilityOne Program is the single largest source of jobs for Americans who are blind or have significant disabilities. The program harnesses the purchasing power of the Federal Government to buy products and services from participating community-based nonprofit agencies that are dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities. This program affords Americans with disabilities the opportunity to acquire job skills, training, good wages, benefits, while providing greater independence and quality of life. I am especially proud to acknowledge that the AbilityOne Program is affiliated with the Arc of Caddo-Bossier in Shreveport, LA. The history of the Arc of Caddo-Bossier represents a true example of what it means to grow and help people with disabilities to become an active and contributing part of society. The Arc of Caddo-Bossier was founded in 1954 by a small group of parents with a mission to promote the growth of their children by developing programs and services to meet their needs. In 1996, the Arc of Caddo-Bossier Foundation was established to further promote community involvement and programs for people with mental disabilities. Today, the Arc of Caddo-Bossier still remains committed to their unique mission to help the needs of people with developmental disabilities and their families. It is with great pleasure that I first extend my support to the AbilityOne Program. Secondly, I commend the dedication and commitment of the Arc of Caddo-Bossier executive director, Janet Parker, and her staff for helping individuals who have a disability find employment. Their work helps people live fuller lives and become more active members of their community. I also commend each AbilityOne employee who works every day to improve their lives and make our country a better place to live.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I come to the Senate floor today to discuss an issue of great importance to small businesses, the drivers of this Nation's economy. In the same way the interstate highway system and the railroads revolutionized transport, connecting main streets across the Nation to facilitate the stream of commerce; broadband technology has forever changed the relationship between small businesses and the customers that they serve. This is especially true for rural small businesses, which now have direct access to new customers in major cities across the globe through broadband connectivity. Over 95 percent of the world's customers are located outside of our borders, and in the United States alone, an estimated 60 million Americans use the Internet on a daily basis. With the click of a mouse, they now have access to goods and services from main streets around the world. With every click, our Nation's small businesses are growing, and helping to create jobs as well as further innovate within the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, too many of our small businesses are missing out on these opportunities for growth. Due to a combination of factors that range from a lack of computer literacy to the inability to access high speed or broadband Internet services, many entrepreneurs have yet to capitalize on the resources available to them via the Internet. In fact, it is estimated that fewer than 24 percent of our Nation's small businesses routinely use e-commerce applications to sell their products online. As a result, they are missing out on opportunities to expand to new markets or find new customers. We must do more to help our Nation's small businesses utilize advanced technologies like broadband so that they can best compete in the global marketplace. As Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I have made increasing the ability of small businesses to access high- speed broadband Internet a top priority. That is why today, I along with my distinguished colleague on the Small Business Committee, former Chairman John Kerry, am introducing the Small Business Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Enhancement Act of 2011. This critical piece of legislation will help to level the playing field for our entrepreneurs and small businesses by implementing key findings from the Federal Communications Commission's 2010 National Broadband Plan. More specifically, this legislation calls on the Small Business Administration to take a lead role in helping our small businesses to access broadband and other advanced technologies. To accomplish this, the legislation requires the SBA to make three key improvements to its core programs. First, it calls on the agency to create a Broadband and Emerging Information Technology Coordinator to facilitate the development of small business broadband initiatives within the agency, and also to act as a liaison with other Federal agencies. Second, the legislation requires SBA resource partners, such as Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, to provide technical assistance related to both accessing and utilizing broadband and emerging information technology. Finally, the bill will improve the SBA's popular 7(a) and microloan programs by allowing borrowers to use the proceeds of their loans to finance the purchase of broadband services, equipment or other emerging technologies. Making these three simple changes will allow more of our small businesses to not only access previously untapped customers and markets; it will also allow them to become more competitive with their foreign counterparts, fostering innovation and job creation. I have heard from a number of my Committee members and I know how important this issue is to them, and I am proud to introduce this legislation for the second consecutive Congress. I look forward to working with them in the coming months to get this legislation to the President's desk. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, on January 5, 2011, Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland became the longest-serving female Senator in the history of our country. Breaking this record, which was set by an extraordinary woman in her own time Margaret Chase Smith of Maine--is only one of many milestones Barbara Mikulski has reached during her tenure in elective office. Additional milestones are: first female Democrat to serve in both Chambers of Congress; the first female Democrat elected to the Senate without succeeding a husband or a father; and the first female to chair one of the most sought-after Appropriations subcommittees. The history books will rightly mark these achievements for the benefit of generations to come. In addition, Barbara Mikulski is known and will be remembered as a fierce fighter for the people of Maryland, an advocate for working families, the small business owner, and seniors looking for help and support in their later years. Her advocacy for and in defense of Federal workers is legendary. They may be faceless bureaucrats to some, but to Senator Mikulski they are her friends and neighbors. And they most certainly have found a champion in Barbara Mikulski. Every day, she brings that definitive fighting spirit to the Senate, championing the causes she holds dear--women's health, extended access to higher education, the concerns of our Nation's veterans and the advancement of our space program, to name just a few. She is renowned in the Halls of Congress for her toughness and tenacity, commanding the respect and appreciation of her constituents and people across the country. Besides these milestones and significant legislative accomplishments, it is also important to note Senator Mikulski's unique willingness and enthusiasm for mentoring others. I have been the beneficiary of her special attention, guidance and sage advice, as have many of my peers. She has helped us find our footing and navigate the peculiar ways of the Senate. It is truly extraordinary--and one of her most admirable qualities--that someone of her stature, who wields so much influence, always seems to be able to find the time to help and take interest in others, women in particular. Senator Mikulski is a remarkable leader in that way. She continues to serve as an inspiration to us all. I know she will remain a pathfinder, a visionary and a courageous leader for the people of Maryland and for our Nation. Another Barbara--Barbara Coloroso, the international bestselling author on parenting and teaching--once observed that ``the beauty of empowering others is that your own power is not diminished in the process.'' That truth holds special meaning for those of us fortunate enough to have been empowered through our association and friendship with the senior Senator from Maryland.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Thank you, Mr. President. In just a few minutes--sometime before the hour of 12--I am going to be asking for unanimous consent to correct a mistake that was made in the final negotiations of this tax package, which contains, as you know, $890 billion worth of items. It is a big bill. It was negotiated with the White House and the Republican leadership primarily, and then the Democratic leaders had some input into it as well. What happened was--and, Mr. President, please stop me in a minute and a half--there was a misunderstanding, a terrible misunderstanding when it came down to the GO Zone housing credits. All of the GO Zone package was put in the bill except for the $42 million--

Ms. LANDRIEU. OK. I will take 30 more seconds of my time--except for the $42 million that applies to low-income housing tax credits. So the entire GO Zone package--$800 million for the gulf coast--was put in. This little $42 million was left out. It was a mistake. The only way to fix that today is to get unanimous consent. I will be asking for that in just a few minutes. I thank the Presiding Officer and yield back and reserve the remainder of my time.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I see Senator DeMint here. I know he has time allocated to him. I also have 8\1/2\ minutes left. I want to make sure I will be able to retain my 8\1/2\ minutes.

Ms. LANDRIEU. I wish to retain that 7 minutes after Senator DeMint speaks.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I have a question for Senator Kyl.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Is it his understanding now, having had several conversations with Senator Vitter and myself, that this technical correction is perceived only to be limited to the 77 low-income housing, mixed-income projects through the gulf coast? Is that his understanding?

Ms. LANDRIEU. And is it the Senator's intention to push for a tax bill? He was so successful in pushing this tax bill forward. Is it his intention to do that in early January, mid-January, early February?

Ms. LANDRIEU. Well, I would just say--with about 30 seconds left-- that I am encouraged, Mr. President, from what I have heard from the Senate Finance Committee chair and the chief negotiator on tax issues on the Republican side that they recognize this is a technical correction. They recognize it is limited to low-income housing. They recognize the importance of these projects, and they have committed to working on fixing this as early as possible in the next Congress. I think that gives it a glimmer of hope. We would not get unanimous consent today because there remain objections on the other side of the aisle, but I think we can move forward with confidence knowing Senator Kyl is good on his word and Senator Baucus is good on his word and they will try to fix this at the earliest possible date. I thank the Senator from Arizona and the Senator from Montana.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Can I ask to use my leadership time?

Ms. LANDRIEU. OK. Then I will use 1 minute of my time out of the 10 I have.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to ask unanimous consent to use the general time, not my own 10 minutes.

Ms. LANDRIEU. I will take two of them now and then reserve the remainder of my time. We only have, under the agreement arrived at between Leader Reid and Leader McConnell, 15 minutes to correct this mistake. At 12 o'clock, we are going to have to vote on several issues. This is not one of them because this is not an amendment; this is a mistake. I only have 15 minutes to correct it. I will try to explain again how important it is. There are $890 billion worth of amendments and projects in the bill we are about to vote on. Within that, there is a package of $800 million in GO Zones, which was put together by me and my colleagues from the Gulf Coast. We fashioned it and created it. We are proud of it. It was supposed to be part of this much larger package. Lo and behold, all of it found its way in--except for $42 billion for low- income housing. That was the only thing left out of the GO Zones. Senator Vitter, myself, Senator Shelby, Senator Sessions, Senator Wicker, and Senator Cochran have cosponsored a one-line provision. This isn't an amendment to the bill; it is a provision to fix a mistake that has been acknowledged by the Finance chair, and actually by the Republican negotiators. They meant to include it, but they didn't because in order to include it, the low-income housing tax credits to build these units have to go to 2012. Everything else in the bill is 2011. But they knew if they didn't extend it to 2012 that we can't build these projects, and these projects and their financing will be in jeopardy. There are 77 projects across the gold coast for seniors, for the disabled, and for the working poor. These projects are transforming the city of New Orleans, the gulf coast, Waveland, and Biloxi, not just for the people living there but for the neighborhoods surrounding them. Finally, Mr. President, Tim Geithner supports this as does Secretary Donovan support it. Mr. President, I will reserve my time in hopes that before my time is up we can get this fixed.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, how much time do I have remaining?

Ms. LANDRIEU. I thank the Chair. Mr. President, I see the Senator from Montana, the Finance Committee chair on the Senate floor, along with Mr. Kyl, the Senator from Arizona, who has been one of the chief negotiators on the package, and the Senator from Louisiana, Mr. Vitter. Before we get to the time allotted for voting, I would like to say again how important it is to try to get this provision and the underlying bill corrected. It is a technical correction that we are asking for to allow a placed-in- service date to be extended from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2013--a 1-year extension to finish the low-income housing projects that are underway not only in New Orleans but along the gulf coast. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a Times-Picayune editorial dated today in support of this and a New York Times editorial of March 2, as well as a letter of support from Secretary Donovan and Secretary Geithner testifying to the importance of these projects.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I understand we are in morning business.

Ms. LANDRIEU. I would like to speak for the next 5 minutes. I understand Senator Voinovich is on his way, but I would like to speak for the next 5 minutes.

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, this Senate is not going to be the same place without the Senator from Indiana. In fact, it will be a lesser place because he has been such an outstanding Senator. I wish to let him know he will be very much missed. He contributed enormously, in his very quiet and dignified but powerful way, to many important issues, both domestic and international. We look forward to hearing a lot more from Governor Bayh and Senator Bayh in the years to come.

Ms. LANDRIEU

Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I thank the leadership on both sides for giving me an opportunity, in just a few minutes, to have a portion of the time when it comes to the discussion of the bill we are going to be voting on at noon. But I thought before I got to that time I had been allotted in the unanimous consent agreement--and I am very grateful to the leadership on both sides for giving me that opportunity--I would take a minute to give a preview while there was no one on the floor asking for time now. This massive tax bill has been negotiated by many people of good will. I see the Senator from Montana, the Finance Committee chair, who has been at the table in these negotiations, and Senator McConnell and Senator Kyl and Senator Reid--men who have truly worked very hard. There were representatives from the White House in these negotiations. I know in their minds they did their very best. I have had some serious issues with portions of the package. I have expressed those on the floor of the Senate on behalf of the constituents I represent. I think I have made my points. I think they have been very clear. I appreciate the opportunity, as a Senator, to be able to voice those complaints. I am not on the floor right now to talk about the major pieces of that tax package with which I strongly disagree. I intend to vote for it. I signaled that in the vote 2 days ago. I am unhappy with many pieces of it, but that is not why I am here to speak today. I am here to ask the Members of this Senate to consider, when I ask unanimous consent later this morning, to grant unanimous consent to fix a mistake. I am going to ask, in just a few minutes, for the Senate to fix a mistake that was made in the negotiations. I am going to need all 100 Senators to say yes in order to fix this mistake. Senator Vitter, Senator Shelby, Senator Sessions, Senator Cochran, and Senator Wicker--all the Senators from both parties in all the Gulf Coast States that are affected by this amendment--join me in this request. There is not any difference of opinion among those of us who represent these States. Only these States are affected by this amendment. It is very narrowly crafted. It has to do with a placed-in- service date for low-income housing; that is all, low-income housing. We lost, as many people will recall, 6 years ago, over 250,000--not 5,000, not 25,000, not 50,000 but 250,000--homes in the aftermath of Katrina, Rita, and the great flood that ensued. It is only 6 years ago that happened so, of course, we are still trying to build housing, private, stand-alone, single-family housing, multifamily housing, housing for seniors. It is a huge work. In fact, it may be the largest single residential building program going on in this century, maybe not after World War II--I don't have the figures--but it has been a huge residential rebuilding program. This GO Zone package was crafted with the help of almost every Senator in the aftermath, and we are grateful. It had basically three main components, what I call bonds for big infrastructure project development, bonds for historic credits, because many of these neighborhoods--particularly Waveland, New Orleans, some of these historic places along the gulf coast--were destroyed. We wanted to preserve, when we rebuilt, the historic nature, so we asked the Senate and were granted historic preservation credits: the low-income housing tax credits to replace the thousands of low-income units for seniors, for the disabled and for the poor and the working poor. In this package, the negotiators got everything, but they forgot and left out-- out of the total $800 million for the GO Zones for all the Gulf Coast States, for everything I just described--they forgot to extend the placed-in-service date for the low-income housing projects. As a result, and I see Senator Voinovich on floor--and I know he is in line to speak--as a result, if we do not fix this today--it is not truly an amendment, it is a correction to the underlying bill--these projects will come to a halt. There are 77 of them. They are narrow. It does not open Pandora's box. It fixes a mistake. I have testimony from the Senator from Montana, I have testimony from the White House, I have testimony from the Republican leadership that it was not their intention and that they did not understand clearly enough that if this placed-in-service date was not extended, these projects--they thought they could go on. They cannot. They will come to a halt. It is only low-income housing projects, only in the gulf, and there are only 77 of them. Not all of them will collapse, but the largest will because they cannot be corrected. They cannot be built in this year alone. We need to give them 2 years to be built. If we can do that, the great redevelopment of the city of New Orleans and the region will continue. Please, in the next hour, my colleagues, contemplate this. I am going to ask for your unanimous consent. I hope I can get it.