Jerry Moran

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Jara Settles, an intern on my staff, have floor privileges for the remainder of the day.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from South Dakota and would indicate that, yes, Kansas is one of those 49 States in our Constitution in which we are prohibited in almost all ways of living beyond our means. It has been something that the Kansas legislature and Governor have lived with throughout the history of our State, including in today's environment where an economic downturn creates the circumstance in which there are less revenues. So the solution to the problem in Kansas is not a try for more revenue, it is a recognition that spending in difficult times has to be reduced. It is the restraint that we desperately need in Washington, DC, that is so common in State capitals and families and businesses across the country. While I have always indicated to Kansans, while we have this debate every year how to balance the revenues with the expenditures--and it is not an enjoyable debate--we are fortunate in Kansas we have to reach that conclusion and it is something we need in Washington, DC. For a long time the political talk of Washington is that we are too likely to spend and tax. There is also a problem of spending and borrowing. We are now suffering the consequence. We are not immune from what we see in Greece and Italy and Portugal and Ireland. If we do not solve this problem that we face today in a responsible way, it will be solved for us by the markets, by those from whom we borrow money, determining we are no longer creditworthy. We don't have to worry much about that in Kansas because we have a constitutional provision that requires our legislature and Governor to reach the right conclusion, and it is why I thought this debate on the debt ceiling was the opportunity for us to force ourselves to do the things that politicians do not always like to do.

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, in my view something significant happened yesterday in the House of Representatives. I am pleased with the outcome of the passage of the cut, cap, and balance legislation. I think we have a serious responsibility here in the Congress to see that we address the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves. Certainly the way we do that is important. I am one who believes it would be irresponsible not to address the debt ceiling, but I also believe it would be irresponsible only to address the debt ceiling without adequately taking into account the economic circumstances we are in and the tremendous debt our country faces. There is no way we can continue down the path we are on. While it is easy for us to make accusations, the reality is that this country, through its Congress and through various administrations, has overspent year after year. The fact that 42 cents of every dollar we spend is now borrowed tells us we cannot continue down that path. In one of my townhall meetings this past weekend back in Kansas, the suggestion was we are willing to take a cut in what benefits we get from government but let's do this in a fair way and let's do an across-the-board reduction in Federal spending. The suggestion by the constituent was maybe if we all took 5 percent off of what we received, we would be fine. I appreciate that attitude but it fails to recognize the magnitude of the problem. Reducing Federal spending by 5 percent across the board will not get us out of the financial circumstance we are in, will not restore fiscal sanity to our Nation. So while we are about, between now and August 2, seeing what we can do to raise the debt ceiling, in my view we have to come together with a plan that addresses the long-term financial condition of our Federal Government. I am a supporter of cut, cap, and balance, and was pleased by the broad support that legislation received in the House. It is my understanding we will now consider that legislation here in the Senate this week. But I read the press reports and the political pundits who say that legislation is dead on arrival in the Senate. I encourage my colleagues not to reach that conclusion. It may be the one and only path we have to accomplish what we need to accomplish in the next 2 weeks. It may be this is one of the very few measures, if not the only one, that would pass the House of Representatives. We have now received in the Senate a message that says this is something we are willing to do. For a long time I have been told as a Senator there is nothing that will pass the House of Representatives that raises the debt ceiling. Yet we saw last night that was not the case. So let's not be so quick to say that the Senate will not address and seriously consider and potentially pass legislation based upon cut, cap, and balance. In some circles, this concept of cut, cap, and balance is considered radical, extreme. Cutting spending is not extreme. That is what every Kansas family does when the budget gets too tight, when we have overspent, when the credit cards are maxed. We reduce our spending. It is unlikely we can go out and say I need a raise to solve our problems. Our employers are not that sympathetic. We ought not be so quick to say we need a raise. We ought to say what can we find within the government that we can reduce, that we can cut. The idea of capping is certainly not radical. For the last 60 years, our country has averaged 18 percent of the gross national product in spending by the Federal Government. In the last couple of years that average has increased to 24, 25 percent. It would not be radical to move us back to the days in which we were living with 18 percent--what seems to me to be a significant percentage; if we would go back to the days in which only 18 percent of our gross national product was spent by the Federal Government. Finally, balancing the budget is not a radical idea. Amending the Constitution ought to be done rarely and with great regard for this divinely inspired document, but the Constitution allows for an amendment process. In fact, it has been utilized to solve many of our country's problems and challenges over the time of history. It is not radical. Forty-nine States have a provision that requires them to have a balanced budget in some form or another at the end of the year. So amending the U.S. Constitution to say we are not ever going to get back in the mess we are in today certainly is worth pursuing. Of the cut, cap, and balance provisions, perhaps it is the constitutional amendment that is the most controversial among my colleagues. I certainly would express an interest to work with others to find the right constitutional amendment, the right language in an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that met their concerns. This cut, cap, and balance seems to me the path forward and the Senate should pass a version of cut, cap, and balance to not only allow the debt ceiling to be raised but to allow the debt ceiling to be raised only if we become responsible stewards of American taxpayer dollars. I actually have a fourth component of cut, cap, and balance. I would say it is cut, cap, balance, and grow. The last time our fiscal house was in solvency--was solvent--was back at the end of President Clinton's administration. In part, Republicans and Democrats could not get along well enough in those days to spend money on big programs. There was legislation that was passed that was supported in a bipartisan way by President Clinton and Republicans in Congress to limit spending, so there was some spending restraint. But the reality is that the last time we had our fiscal house in order, that we were spending less money than we were taking in, was a time at which the economy was growing. If we want to address the issue of balancing our budget, we should focus much more attention than we have on growing the economy, putting people to work and allowing, as they work, that the taxes will be collected. The greatest opportunity we have to improve people's lives is to create an environment in which jobs are created, in which employers feel comfortable in investing in the future, buying plant and equipment and putting people to work. So while it is cut, cap, and balance today, we need to make certain we do not forget what is in my view that fourth component: Grow the economy. In my view that means a Tax Code that is certain and fair, that does not change, that is something a business person or a family can rely upon. It is also a regulatory environment that allows businesses to have the opportunity to grow their business. The most common conversation I have had with a business owner in Kansas, walking through a manufacturing plant, some small business that manufactures a piece of agriculture equipment--that is pretty common in our State--the most common conversation we have is: Senator, what next is government going to do that puts me out of business? If that is the mindset, how do we ever expect that business person to reach the conclusion that they have the faith in the future to invest in their plant and equipment and in hiring new employees? We need to make certain our financial institutions, particularly our community banks, are not hamstrung by significant regulations that would discourage them from making loans and create uncertainty about the ability to do that, a tax regulatory and access-to-credit environment that says now is the time to invest in America, to put people to work. I am here to urge my colleagues to seriously consider, not dismiss, cut, cap, and balance and upon its passage for us to immediately return to the progrowth agenda that allows people to have the faith the future of their country is bright and we return to them the opportunity for the next generation of Americans to understand the American dream can still be lived. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask to speak for up to 15 minutes.

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, it is appropriate that we are here on this July 4 holiday week. I joined a number of my colleagues last week who made it clear it was important for us to be here. Raising the debt ceiling is a significant issue we face, and while I am pleased to see the discussion ongoing on the Senate floor today, we do need actions that speak louder than our words. I say that knowing I am coming here to talk about an issue that we have attempted to bring to the attention of my colleagues in the Senate now for a long time. We have a looming financial crisis. All the Democratic leadership was capable of bringing up on the Senate floor this week was a sense of the Senate that wealthy Americans should pay their fair share of something. I suppose we will have a discussion about that, which has begun and will continue for the next few days. But I believe Americans deserve leadership in our Nation's Capital to confront the real fiscal challenges--not just this desire to kick the can down the road and ignore the crisis we face. In my view, our President and the Senate leadership have failed to lead. They have failed to adopt the President's own Deficit Reduction Commission report. The President has not proposed the results of that report. They have failed to pass a budget in over 2 years. They have failed to introduce a budget even in our committee this year, and the President's budget that he did propose this year is woefully inadequate in addressing the fiscal crisis, the deficits we face. Crafting a budget is one of the basic responsibilities of Congress, but it has not happened. No country, business, or family can operate responsibly without a budget. I serve on the Appropriations Committee. I would love to have a budget that set the guidelines for us to begin the process of determining how much money we should spend, what things might be increased, decreased, or eliminated. Without a budget, the appropriations process continues to falter and, in fact, it would not be surprising that once again we end up with either an omnibus spending bill or a continuing resolution. The President and Senate Democrats have said they are serious about dealing with our Nation's debt crisis, but actions will speak louder than words. The truth is the President's budget and the policies of this administration have made our problems worse. During the last 2 years, the government has spent more than $7.3 trillion and increased the Nation's debt in just 2 years by more than $3.2 trillion. The President is missing and the Senate is dysfunctional. The struggling economy we are experiencing and the financial collapse around the corner is the most expected economic crisis in our lifetime. Yet nothing is being done to stop it. The cochairs of the President's own Fiscal Commission have said the same thing and have warned that if we fail to take swift and serious action, the U.S. faces ``the most predictable economic crisis in its history.'' They predict such an event could occur in 2 years or less. It is time to move past empty rhetoric and get serious about confronting the debt crisis. Delaying difficult decisions and simply increasing the debt ceiling once again without making any changes to the way Washington spends taxpayer dollars should not be an option. We cannot afford business as usual. The President's solution is to raise revenues to balance the budget. But does anyone really believe that increased taxes will be used to pay down the debt or will it just be used for even more spending? History shows that money raised in Washington, DC, results in more spending in Washington, DC. When families struggle to pay the bills, they do not simply ask for a pay raise; they cut their spending. The revenue increases we need are not tax increases but increased revenues that come from a growing economy. The last time we had a balanced budget was at the end of President Clinton's term. Yes, there was some spending restraint, and Republicans and Democrats could not get along well enough to agree to spend a bunch of money, but the real reason the budget was balanced was that people were working and paying their taxes. We need a growing economy once again to balance the budget. Increasing taxes reduces the chances of economic growth and the ability to create more and better jobs. If we increase taxes, we reduce the chance of economic growth and we reduce the chance of more and better paying jobs. In Kansas, for example, the President proposes we increase taxes on those who own a business plane. Airplanes are a pretty important component of our State's economy, and this proposal would have a devastating impact upon the Wichita economy, which has already suffered the loss of thousands of jobs under declining business in this country. Now is not the time to penalize a U.S. industry that produces the best quality airplanes in the world. The U.S. and North America ship a significant amount of business jets worldwide, more than any other region in the world. But because of the recession, nearly every aircraft manufacturer has had to cut jobs, some up to 50 percent of their workforce. We see this in Kansas day in and day out, and yet the proposal is to make it more expensive to own an aircraft. This does not punish the owners of aircraft. It punishes the people who work every day to make an airplane. To turn our economy around and put people back to work, Congress and the Obama administration should be implementing policies that encourage job creation, not diminish the chances; rein in burdensome government regulations; replace our convoluted Tax Code with one that is fair, simple, and certain; open foreign markets for American manufactured goods and agricultural products; and develop a comprehensive energy policy. Yet none of these are being done by this Senate. Spending more has failed to stimulate our economy. Instead, we should cut government spending to reduce our deficit, cap spending so it does not continue to eat up more and more of our gross domestic product, and balance our budget so we do not get back in this mess once again. First, it is time to cut government spending and change the way Washington, DC, spends taxpayer dollars. Mr. President, 40 cents of every dollar our Federal Government is spending is borrowed. One hundred percent of our tax revenue is spent on mandatory spending and interest payments on the debt. Everything else--defense, homeland security, energy, education--is borrowed. This year we will collect $2.2 trillion and spend $3.7 trillion--a $1.5 trillion deficit. CBO, the Congressional Budget Office, now projects that debt held by the public will exceed 100 percent of gross domestic product by 2021 under current policies. This is a 10-percent increase in debt relative to CBO's projections of only a year ago. The debate over government spending is often seen as one that is philosophical or partisan bickering that always goes on in Washington, DC. And certainly I have heard, all of my adult life, the conversations that go on in Washington, DC, and on the talk shows, and in the newspapers, that talk about Republicans and Democrats arguing about balancing the budget and how much money we can spend, but the reality is this time it is different, and our failure to act will have dramatic consequences on the daily lives of Americans. This is about whether Americans can find a job, can make their payments on their homes and automobiles, whether their kids have a bright future and can pursue the American dream. This is not a philosophical discussion for Washington, DC. This has real consequences for every American family. We are not, unfortunately, immune from the laws of economics that face every nation. The failure to get our financial house in order and borrowing under control will lead to increased inflation, higher interest rates, fewer jobs, and a lower standard of living for every American. Our creditors may one day decide we are no longer creditworthy, and we will suffer the same consequences that other countries are now suffering that followed that path. We should learn from them. Secondly, it is time to cap discretionary spending this year and next. We must demand enforceable statutory caps to return Federal spending to 18 percent of gross domestic product, where it has been for almost all of the past 60 years. Current Federal spending is now nearly 25 percent of gross domestic product and remains on track to be high over the course of the next 10 years. Third, we must pass a balanced budget amendment. This amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the best way to discipline government officials. This amendment would require the President to submit and Congress to pass a balanced budget each and every year, cap Federal spending at no more than 18 percent of gross domestic product, and require a two-thirds vote of the House and the Senate to raise taxes. Nothing here is unreasonable. Cut spending, cap the percentage of spending to GDP, and pass a balanced budget amendment. When did it become radical or even irresponsible to live within our means? We know what is going to happen if we do not act, and it would be immoral for us to look the other way or to kick the can down the road because the politics of these issues are too difficult to deal with. Officials from the Obama administration warn that the failure of Congress to raise the legal debt limit would risk default. But the bigger economic threat that confronts our country are the consequences of allowing our country's pattern of spending and borrowing to continue without a serious plan to reduce that debt. Our out-of-control debt is slowing our economic growth and threatening the prosperity of future generations who will have to pay for our irresponsibility. Our government is not on the verge of a financial meltdown because Republicans will not vote to raise the debt ceiling. We are at the point of financial collapse because Republicans and Democrats have spent money we do not have for way too long. We must use the leverage that raising the debt ceiling now presents to force elected officials to do something they otherwise would not do: curb spending, grow the economy, and balance the budget. If we fail to respond, if we fail to act as we should, if we let this issue one more time pass for somebody else to solve because it is so difficult, we will reduce the opportunities the next generation of Americans have to pursue the American dream. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today, I was unavoidably absent for vote No. 104. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on the nomination of GEN David H. Petraeus to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today, I was unavoidably absent for votes No. 95 and No. 96. At the time of the votes, I was attending a memorial service at Fort Riley, KS, for six soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on the Vitter amendment No. 499 and the DeMint amendment No. 510 to S. 679.

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, on Friday of last week, the U.S. Department of Labor released a dismal update on our Nation's economy. Not only did our Nation's unemployment rate rise to 9.1 percent, but the number of Americans looking for work increased to 14 million, and those who have been jobless for at least 6 months climbed 45.1 percent. It is clear the current economic policies are not working in our favor. In fact, I suggest they are working against us, creating an environment of uncertainty and hampering job growth in America. When the message coming from Washington, DC, is more taxes, more regulation, and more intrusion in the free market system, it is no wonder businesses are not hiring additional workers. Americans are looking for leadership to get our economy back on its feet so they can find a job and provide for their families. In a recent survey, 90 percent of Americans said the economy is in bad shape and, by a margin of 2 to 1, Americans said our economy is on the wrong track. I couldn't agree more. Changing the course of our economy will require Washington, DC, changing its course. Instead of creating barriers to job growth, Congress and the Obama administration should be implementing policies that encourage job creation. History shows that sustainable economic growth starts with the private sector. So Congress and the administration have a responsibility to create an environment where businesses can flourish and start hiring again, and that starts by pursuing a series of progrowth policies. First, in my view, Congress must rein in government regulation and stop passing burdensome mandates that come at the expense of that job creation. As I tour manufacturing plants and other businesses in my home State of Kansas, owners often ask: What is the next thing coming from Washington that will put me out of business? Jobs in this country are undercut with each new government regulation because it drives up the cost of doing business, erodes our global competitiveness, and limits the access to credit that businesses need to grow. Rather than hiring new employees, businesses are spending their resources on complying with these burdensome regulations and costly mandates--from the EPA's effort to regulate carbon to the mandates imposed by the new health care law. According to the Small Business Administration, the smallest businesses--those with less than 20 employees--spend 36 percent more per employee than larger firms to comply with Federal regulations. That is roughly $10,585 per employee to comply with all Federal regulations, and very small firms are burdened even more per employee. Small business, as we know, is the backbone of the American economy. Those businesses employ half our private sector workers and have generated 65 percent of new jobs over the last 20 years. So it makes no sense to drive up their operating costs with additional government regulations because that leaves them with fewer resources to hire new workers. Second, Congress can spur economic growth by replacing our convoluted and burdensome Tax Code with one that is fair, simple, and certain. When businesses know what to expect, they can better plan for future expenses and will invest in their companies, grow, and hire new workers. Unfortunately, Congress is often too shortsighted when it comes to tax policy. A 1-year or 2-year extension of tax cuts does not give businesses the certainty they need to plan for that future. Employers have to make decisions about the future of their business today, and given the fact that their taxes will rise in the near future, they are reluctant to hire new workers or expand their business. If we are serious about creating jobs in this country, we have to give our country's job creators the ability to plan for the future and a Tax Code that encourages investment. Third, Congress must open foreign markets for American manufactured goods and agricultural products. Across the country, thousands of Americans depend upon exports for jobs, including more than one-quarter of all manufacturing workers in Kansas. By increasing our Nation's exports, we will create jobs and opportunities for all Americans without raising taxes or increasing the Federal budget. We should be exporting our manufactured goods and agriculture products, not our jobs. Unfortunately, trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, for example, have been stalled for 4 years, and each day that passes, we risk losing more of our market share to our competitors. During this delay, Colombia has moved forward on trade deals with Canada, Chile, the European Union, Brazil, and Argentina. On July 1, a pending agreement between the European Union and Korea will go into effect. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while other countries continue to move forward in their trading relationships with our trading partners. Together, the trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea are worth an estimated $13 billion in U.S. exports. The agreement with Korea alone is worth $11 billion and would create an estimated 70,000 new jobs for Americans. It is past time for the President to send Congress implementing language for these trade agreements so we can open more markets for American goods and agricultural commodities. When American businesses are given the opportunity to compete on a level playing field for these markets, they will succeed and more jobs will be created here at home. Fourth, the United States, to remain competitive in the global market, must develop a comprehensive energy policy that allows for ample energy supply that is both affordable and reliable. Rising gas prices and recent events in the Middle East have again demonstrated the importance of having access to a reliable energy supply. Higher energy prices are not only threatening our global competitiveness, they are also hampering our economic recovery. I don't know how we can expect our economy to recover when energy prices are what they are. But when employers have access to reliable energy supplies, they can spend their resources on hiring new workers rather than on those escalating energy costs. In my view, no single form of energy can provide the answer. To meet our country's energy needs, we must develop traditional sources of oil, natural gas and coal, encourage the development of renewable energy sources such as biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower and expand the use of nuclear energy, as well as encourage conservation. A recent report from the Congressional Research Service found that our country's resources are far greater than those of Saudi Arabia, China, and Canada combined. In fact, our combined recoverable oil, natural gas, and coal supplies are the largest on the planet. Yet, in 2009, the administration canceled 77 oil and gas leases in Utah and last year suspended 61 leases in Montana. The administration has also restricted access to oil and gas exploration in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic coast--although these two areas hold commercial oil reserves of 28 billion barrels and up to 142 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. More production of energy in the U.S. means more jobs in the U.S. and more U.S. workers at work and lower energy costs for businesses and their employees. Finally, Congress must reduce government spending to bring about this economic growth. I think the debate on government spending is often seen as some philosophical discussion or a partisan political bickering opportunity here in Washington, DC. But the reality is out of control government borrowing and spending has very real consequences for the daily lives of Americans. Our failure to balance the budget will result in increased inflation, higher interest rates, fewer jobs, and a lower standard of living for every American. But this reality has not yet sunk in here in Washington, DC, despite several recent warnings. At the end of April, Standard & Poor's, one of the world's big three credit rating agencies, downgraded our Nation's future financial outlook from ``stable'' to ``negative.'' S&P said our country has ``very large budget deficits and rising government indebtedness--and the path to addressing these is not clear.'' Furthermore, just last week another credit rating agency, Moody's--if we needed another reminder--warned that our failure to reduce our growing deficit could prompt them to downgrade their outlook on our AAA rating to negative. Without a ``credible agreement on substantial deficit reduction''--this is Moody's talking--this could happen as soon as next month. This would have a devastating impact on our already struggling economy. Reducing our Nation's debt will require us to work together to craft a serious plan. President Obama's proposal to balance budgets in part by raising taxes on businesses, in my view, would only make our economic circumstances worse. Washington does not have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. It is time for us to work together and pass a responsible budget to reduce our deficit this year, next year, and far into the future. The plan should include significant spending reductions, a balanced budget amendment to restrict Washington's future ability to borrow money that would put us right back in the mess we are in today, and should address our long-term unfunded mandates. As John Adams once quipped: ``Facts are stubborn.'' And the facts tell us that Washington must change direction if we are to grow our economy and put people back to work. The failed economy we are experiencing and the financial collapse around the corner is the most expected economic crisis in our lifetime. We know what is going to happen if we do not act, and it would be immoral for us to look the other way or to kick the can down the road because the politics of these issues are too difficult to deal with. Americans deserve leadership here in our Nation's Capital to confront these challenges and not to push them off to the next generation of Americans. If we do so, if we confront these issues correctly in a responsible way, businesses will succeed, profits will be made, employees will be hired, and Americans will again be able to live and pursue the American dream. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, on Thursday, in a speech on the Middle East, President Obama said: We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. While the President has since sought to revise or clarify his remarks, it is valuable to remind ourselves what a retreat to the pre- 1967 boundaries would mean for the security of Israel. After Israel declared independence in 1948, it was invaded by five neighboring armies, and an armistice line was subsequently established in 1949. This line is known as the Green Line. While some refer to it as a border, it was never officially recognized as an international border. If Israel were forced to retreat to the Green Line--its pre-1967 boundary--Israel would be only 9 miles wide at its narrowest point. Such close borders are untenable today and would subject Israel's population to great and grave danger. Following the Six Day War, U.N. Security Council Resolution 242 affirmed Israel's right to secure and recognized borders. As Robert Satloff of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy points out, calls for Israel to withdraw to those ``secure and recognized'' borders have never been interpreted as being synonymous with the pre-1967 boundaries. A quick look at a map of Israel will explain why these boundaries cannot be secure. Prime Minister Netanyahu today, in a joint meeting of Congress, reminded us that ``Israel needs unique security arrangements because of its unique size.'' Two-thirds of Israel's population and infrastructure lies within a 60-mile strip along the Mediterranean coastline. Tel Aviv would only be 11 miles away from a Palestinian state with its border as the Green Line, and Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's largest and busiest, would be a mere 4 miles away. It would only take one rocket fired at Ben Gurion for the entire airport to shut down, isolating Israel from the rest of the world. With the Green Line as its border, the dangers to Israel come not only because of the short distances between major Israeli cities and a Palestinian state, but also from the geography of the land. The 60-mile strip along Israel's coastline lies below the hilly heights of the West Bank. With control of the high terrain, terrorists could easily target and terrorize much of Israel's population just as they have from Gaza but with even more deadly accuracy. When Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Israel's leaders had hoped the Palestinians would demonstrate they could live peacefully with Israel. Instead, Hamas assumed power and Israelis living in the southern part of Israel have had thousands of rockets and mortar attacks directed at them. So far this year, more than 300 rockets and mortars have been fired from Gaza, terrorizing countless families in Israel. The threats to Israel from a Palestinian state with its border as the Green Line are clearly understood in this context--especially since Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party inked an accord with Hamas to form a unity government earlier this month. Although welcomed by President Abbas, Hamas still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. The United States designated Hamas a terrorist organization in 1997. It has killed more than 500 innocent civilians, including dozens of Americans. The United States does not negotiate with terrorists, and we should not expect or ask Israel to do so either. Instead of calling for negotiations based on boundaries that leave Israel vulnerable to attack, the President should have insisted the Palestinians prove they are ready to be responsible and peaceful neighbors. As Prime Minister Netanyahu said: The Palestinian Authority must choose either peace with Israel or peace with Hamas. There is no possibility for peace with both. Israel's security must come first. Any efforts to force Israel to withdraw to its pre-1967 boundaries--the 1949 armistice line--would undermine Israel's security and threaten the future of any peace talk. In 2004, the Senate overwhelmingly passed S. Res. 393, which endorsed U.S. policy for a Middle East peace process. In particular, the Senate supported a statement that said: In light of realities on the ground, including already existing major Israeli population centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949. I believe it is important for the United States to again oppose any plan to force Israel to withdraw to those 1949 boundaries. Borders between Israel and a Palestinian state should be decided only by Israel and Palestinian leaders through direct negotiations. Borders should not be a precondition set for negotiations by the President of the United States or anyone else. As Prime Minister Netanyahu said today: ``Peace cannot be imposed.'' Since recognizing Israel 11 minutes after its founding in 1948, our two countries have worked side by side to advance democracy and peace and stability. Israel is our staunchest ally in a volatile part of the world. We cannot now turn our backs on Israel by forcing it to take a position in negotiations that would endanger its very existence. I oppose any plan or effort to force Israel back to those 1949 armistice lines and encourage my colleagues to work to see that is not the case. I ask my colleagues to support that position as well. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today, I was unavoidably absent for vote No. 74 on cloture for the nomination of Goodwin Liu, of California, to be a U.S. circuit judge for the Ninth Circuit. I was in my home State of Kansas at the time of the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted to oppose the invoking of cloture on the nomination.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, the first months of 2011 have been marked in the Middle East by profound change as citizens have demanded greater representation and increased accountability from their governments. As many of those protesting for change were beaten and killed in the streets, a sense of uncertainty about the future of the region and the commitment of some of our allies to American values was palpable. Yet, during this time of revolution, there has been no doubt about the certainty and strength of our Nation's alliance and friendship with Israel. Since the United States recognized Israel 11 minutes after its founding on May 14, 1948, the two countries have worked side by side to advance democracy and peace. In a region where dictators and family rule are the norm, Israel has stood out as a beacon for democracy--a country with an independent judicial system and strong rule of law where citizens are free to worship and speak as they wish. For those wanting better governance and more rights in the Middle East, they just have to look next door to Israel for an example of how things could be. In advance of Yom Ha'atzmaut--Israel's Independence Day--I wish to congratulate the citizens of Israel for building a strong and vibrant country despite the myriad challenges, wars and attacks they have faced. I look forward to working in the Senate to strengthen this strategically important relationship.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I am a firm believer in the view that an individual can make a difference. I am a firm believer that what happens in Washington, DC, is important in our Nation's history and what goes on in our country, but the reality is we change the world one person at a time. That individual is how we make life better. Earlier this week, on Tuesday morning, I was on the National Mall near the World War II Memorial, and I was there for the dedication of a plaque honoring an individual who made a tremendous difference in the lives of many and made a tremendous difference in the life of our Nation. It was the moment in which a plaque was unveiled recognizing Senator Bob Dole for his contribution--in fact, his efforts and leadership--in seeing that the World War II Memorial was built. Clear from those who spoke and from what I know of the subject, the World War II Memorial would not be available for us as a nation today in the absence of that individual, Bob Dole, who led the efforts. There is much in Bob Dole's career here in Washington, DC, as a Member of this body, of the U.S. Senate, that we can heap accolades upon him for, but certainly one of them I know he is most proud of and certainly one of them I and the American people are most grateful for is his efforts to recognize the 16 million Americans who served their country in World War II. There are only about 2.5 million Americans who served in World War II now living, and we lose hundreds of them every day. Last week, I was at the World War II Memorial with Kansas World War II veterans welcoming an honor flight and thanking World War II veterans from my home State for their service to our country. The World War II Memorial is a magnificent tribute to the sacrifice many have made before us. I saw the World War II Memorial. It serves its purpose. I saw the World War II Memorial before it was ever dedicated. I put my walking shoes on and walked down to the World War II Memorial a few days before the official ceremony back in 2004, and I saw the place that says ``Kansas,'' and I thought about Kansans. I thought of my own dad, who is a World War II veteran who served in northern Africa and up the boothill of Italy. I tell this story because the World War II Memorial served its purpose. I walked away from the memorial and used my cell phone to call my dad back home in Plainville, KS. Unfortunately, I got the answering machine at my parents' home, but from a son's point of view, I conveyed the message to my dad: Dad, I am at the World War II Memorial. I respect you, I thank you for your service, and I love you. It is something that sons don't often say to their parents, but it is something that we as Americans--something that the World War II Memorial brings out in us not just to our parents but to all World War II veterans: We respect you, we thank you for your service, and we love you. We had the opportunity on Tuesday to pay tribute to a special World War II veteran, Bob Dole. One of the aspects of Bob Dole's service to his country certainly in the military as well as here in the Senate, here as an American, was to take care of those who served with him, and not only in World War II. He has been the caring and compassionate guide for all of us as we try to make certain that no military service goes unrewarded and that no commitment that was made to those who serve our country is forgotten. So I am here today to pay tribute really to all World War II veterans, to all our military men and women now serving, and to those veterans of other wars, but to especially pay tribute to Bob Dole, who recognized and continues to recognize throughout his life the value of service to country and the value of service to other veterans. That plaque is a special reminder that Bob Dole made it possible for all of us as Americans to pay tribute to that generation and is a loving reminder for those who served that we are a grateful nation. It is important that we never forget those who gave us the opportunities to live the lives we live today. While there are, again, much for which we could congratulate him and express our gratitude to him, I hold him in the highest esteem for his military service. Sixty-six years ago today, April 14, 1945, young Bob Dole was wounded in northern Italy. He lay on the field in blood and mud for 9 hours. He was rescued. He was returned to home. The people of his hometown raised money. I still remember the photograph of a cigar box in the drugstore into which people back in those difficult times put their dollars and their quarters and their pennies to raise money for Bob Dole's rehabilitation. He was able to access the services in Battle Creek, MI, of a VA hospital. Amazingly to me, three future Senators who served in World War II ended up in that hospital at the same time. Our own colleague Senator Inouye, our previous colleague Senator Hart, and our previous colleague Bob Dole were all at the hospital at the same time recovering from their wounds in service to their country. So it is today that I recognize an aspect of Bob Dole's life--most important, his willingness to sacrifice his life and his service to his country as a member of the 10th Mountain Division; his courage and dedication to his ability to reteach himself, to relearn to write, to bathe, to eat, to become a productive member of our society, and to lead our country in so many ways. I was honored to be present on Tuesday, 2 days ago, in which a grateful nation said: We thank you for your efforts in recognizing other veterans, in the creation and development of the efforts to see that the World War II Memorial, so long in waiting, is now on the National Mall. Tom Brokaw, the author of the book ``The Greatest Generation,'' was the master of ceremonies on Tuesday, and he concluded his remarks on Tuesday morning by telling the story of Bob Dole raising money for the World War II Memorial. There are no public funds, no Treasury funds in the building of that memorial. Senator Dole and others raised the dollars from private sources to build the memorial. He tells the story of Bob Dole going to California and meeting with a wealthy Hollywood mogul asking for money to build the World War II Memorial. According to Tom Brokaw, the mogul said, ``I am not interested. I have other priorities.'' Bob Dole's response to the mogul, to the noncontributor, was, ``When I was 22, I had other priorities too. I went to war.'' Bob Dole went to war and served his country every day thereafter. Senator Dole in his remarks concluded by saying, ``I am the most optimistic man in America today.'' We ought to be optimistic because we have individuals such as Bob Dole who have served our country. Today we recognize that service, 66 years ago, April 14, 1945, in northern Italy. I yield the floor, and I note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. I thank the Senator for yielding. Mr. President, I come here tonight one more time. I am a very short term Member of the Senate--only about 3 months. Every time I have spoken on the Senate floor, I have talked about the importance of reining in spending. With the crippling nature of our national debt and the belief that if we don't resolve these issues, the future of our country is at stake, it is really one of the primary motivations I have for serving in this Congress: to see that we turn this country around for the benefit of our children and grandchildren. I think Kansans would say it is time for all Members of Congress to come together and fund the government. A shutdown demonstrates once again how we lack the ability or the desire to just use some common sense and reach a common goal. A primary function of Congress is to see that we appropriate the necessary funds to provide for government. Today, it seems to me we have come to the point at which this issue needs to be rapidly resolved. We are down to just a few billion dollars--and certainly a billion dollars is a lot of money to Kansans and to me, but we need to resolve this issue so we can move on to the more dramatic and important issue we face as Members of the Senate, as American citizens--that being next year's budget and the future of additional spending down the road. Tonight, in addition to saying let's resolve this issue, let's continue to fund the government, let's not pursue the strategy of a shutdown, I am here to express my genuine concern about the tactics that seem to be ongoing today, in which we, as the Senator from Alabama suggests, are holding hostage our service men and women and their pay. We have had a lot of discussion in Washington, DC, about who is an essential government employee. I will tell you there could be no questioning the fact that our service men and women are essential government employees, and they will be working regardless of the consequences, regardless of the decision made here about the so-called shutdown. From my view, it makes absolutely no sense--in fact, it is immoral-- to ask our service men and women to serve in harm's way and have to worry about the paycheck that feeds their families--and, in fact, most of them live month to month, live paycheck to paycheck. The idea that while they are serving and sacrificing away from family, they would have the additional concern about whether the paycheck is going to arrive and be deposited in their accounts seems to me to be something beyond the pale, something we could never expect from a Congress of the United States of America. So I am here one more time to say, yes, absolutely; let's get spending under control. The idea that we cannot go back to 2008 spending levels plus inflation--we can do that. Nobody should believe that we cannot accomplish that goal, and nobody should be using the service men and women's paychecks and their service to our country as a hostage or the idea of whether this government is shut down. Resolve this issue now and make certain we resolve it in a way that no member of our Armed Services, or their families, is harmed by the decisions we make. This is an important decision. It is about the future of our country. The immediate concern is whether our service men and women understand that we value their service and that we will take every step to make certain they are not harmed by political inaction--the inability of us in Washington, DC, to resolve the issue of the continuing resolution. I yield the floor.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I wish to honor the memory of a caring and charismatic business icon and decorated Navy veteran. Alfred Schwan, who passed away on March 18, 2011, helped found a small, all-American family business with his brothers Marvin and Robert and built The Schwan Food Company to what it is today a multibillion- dollar, frozen-food company with thousands of employees and millions of customers. Alfred was known as an adventurous and outgoing person who had a quick smile, relentless energy, and a can-do attitude. Alfred started in the frozen food business early. Born in 1925 to Paul and Alma Schwan, as a young man he helped his father at the Marshall Ice Cream Company make popsicles and ice cream bars. But Alfred did not go straight into the family business. He left to fulfill a dream and serve his country as a pilot and joined the U.S. Naval Aviation Corps. Alfred flew torpedo bombers and taught antisubmarine warfare. He met his wife Doris during a blind date at a USO Club. They married in 1946, the same year Alfred was awarded Navy Wings of Gold. A year later they had their first of five sons. Answering a call from his family, Alfred joined the family business in 1964 to oversee factory operations and company drivers. Those company yellow trucks have become beloved across the nation. I know I remember seeing the yellow Schwan truck in my neighborhood. With a commitment to integrity and hard work, Alfred went on to oversee the Schwan pizza business. He guided the production of Schwan pizza in their plant in Salina, KS, for three decades. Under his leadership the plant grew from having little more than a dozen employees to employing 1,500 Kansans with the capacity to produce more than 3 million pizzas a day. Alfred listed the growth of the Salina plant as one of his proudest achievements in business. After the death of his brother Marvin, Alfred was appointed CEO, president and chairman of Schwan in 1993. He retired as chairman in 2009 at the age of 83. Among the many public honors this inspirational and optimistic leader received include being honored by the School Nutrition Association of Kansas as an Outstanding Industry Member of the Year, induction into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame, and receiving Schwan's most prestigious honor--the Marvin M. Schwan Heritage of Quality Award. Alfred was such an important community leader and citizen of Kansas that, when he retired, Salina, KS, declared February 6 as ``Alfred Schwan Day.'' As March is National Frozen Food Month, it is appropriate to honor Alfred's life and the energy and passion he gave to this important industry. He was an innovator and pioneer in the frozen food industry. With more than 700 facilities nationwide, the frozen food industry employs nearly 100,000 Americans and generates a payroll of approximately $3 billion. On behalf of all Americans, I thank Alfred Schwan for his service to our country and to U.S. consumers. Frozen foods are a staple in American homes, office lunch rooms, and school cafeterias. These foods provide an important source of healthy, affordable, and convenient food choices that help feed our Nation and the world.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Illinois for accommodating my ability to speak on the Senate floor this afternoon on what I consider to be a very significant and important topic. Our country is facing significant financial difficulties. In the coming weeks, the United States will reach its $14.29 trillion limit for borrowing. Unfortunately, this is the 11th time in the past decade that Congress will vote on whether to allow the country to take on even more debt. These financial challenges we face, if left unchecked, will have a disastrous impact upon our country today and upon citizens in the future. For way too long members of both political parties have ignored this growing fiscal crisis and have allowed our country to live well beyond its means. Delaying difficult decisions and simply increasing the debt ceiling once again should not be an option. The time to correct our failures is now. Officials from the Obama administration warn that the failure of Congress to raise the legal debt limit would risk default. But the bigger economic threat that confronts our country is the consequences of allowing our country's pattern of spending and borrowing to continue without a serious plan to reduce that debt. Our out-of-control debt is slowing our economic growth and threatening the prosperity of future generations who will have to pay for our irresponsibility. In the next three decades our debt very well could grow to more than three times the size of our entire economy. This level of government spending is unsustainable and cannot continue. Our Congress is engaged in a serious and significant debate now about a continuing resolution. That resolution is the result of the failure of the past Congress to pass a budget and appropriations bills to fill in the blanks of that budget. In fact, we are now dealing with the next 6 months of spending, the end of the fiscal year which ends September 30 of this year. We are having an argument about the magnitude of the reductions of spending to include in the final 6 months of this continuing resolution. I certainly wish to participate in the debate. I admit it is an important issue, but there is more significant issues yet to come. While it is important how we resolve the next 6 months, it is even more important we adopt a budget for the next fiscal year, 2012; that we return to regular order and have an appropriations process in which we can determine levels of spending within that budget, establish our priorities, eliminate programs, decrease spending where appropriate, and move this country to a balanced budget. In addition to a CR for the next 6 months and to next year's budget and appropriations process, there is looming the more serious consequences of so-called mandatory spending which comprise 56 percent of our entire budget. We have to get beyond the CR debate of today and get to the spending problems of 2012 and beyond and to the issue of so- called mandatory spending that consumes our budget and drives up debt now and in the future. We need to be responsible and quickly resolve the spending bill for this year and move on to these issues that will determine the future of our country, especially the economic future for citizens today and into the future. The President ought to consider in his budget--but he didn't--the recommendations of his National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. We have seen, once again, the failure of the budget as proposed by this President to include any of those provisions that his own commission recommended in getting us out of our financial difficulty. It seems to me that often, at least throughout my lifetime, we have heard the discussion here in Washington, DC--I, as an American citizen, as an observer of the politics and the policies of our Nation's capital, have heard year in and year out about the need to reduce spending, to balance the books, to quit spending so much money, to be more fiscally responsible. Our fiscal house has to be put in order. Those are words I have heard throughout my entire adult life, and yet I am fearful they have once again just become words. We do not have the luxury of those words meaning nothing this time around. I would suggest there are those who may observe the proceedings of this Congress this year and say: Once again, there is a political debate going on. It is rhetoric between Republicans and Democrats. It is a battle between the House and the Senate, between the Congress and the President, without recognizing this debate has serious consequences to the American people today and into the future. As I said earlier, spending beyond our means is no longer an option, and the failure of us to address these issues in a responsible manner means the standard of living American citizens enjoy today will be diminished. It means a lower standard of living for every American family. It means an increase in interest rates. It means a return of inflation. It means an increase in our imbalance of payments. It means our trade balance is exacerbated. It means we may follow the path of other countries in the world today that have failed to address these issues, and we will see the circumstances that many countries find themselves in, in which their credit ratings have diminished and their interest rates have risen. If we fail to respond, if we fail to act as we should, if we let one more time this issue to pass for somebody else to solve because it is so difficult, we will reduce the opportunities the next generation of Americans has to pursue the American dream. This is not an academic or a political party discussion. It is not a philosophical debate. It has true economic consequences to every American. We are not immune from the laws of economics that face every country, and by the failure to get our financial house in order and borrowing under control, interest rates will rise, our creditors may decide we are no longer creditworthy, and we will suffer the same consequence that countries in our world today are suffering that followed this path. This is the most expected economic crisis in our lifetime, perhaps in the history of our country. We know what is going to happen if we do not act, and we would be acting so immorally and without responsibility should we look the other way because the politics of this issue are too difficult. Americans deserve, are entitled to leadership in Washington, DC, to confront these problems and not to push them off to the next generation of Americans, and I am sorry to say that, in my view, to date the President has provided little leadership on what I consider to be this most important issue of my generation. My interest in public service and politics is one that has lots of beginnings, but what has me committed to public service today is a belief that I and people in my generation--in fact, every American citizen--have the responsibility to pass on to the next generation of Americans the ability to pursue the American dream. Our failure to act today, our failure--to simply raise the debt ceiling one more time-- means we will have abdicated our responsibilities and the burdens will fall to those who follow us. We will have lacked the morality and the courage necessary to do right. Earlier this week, I informed the President, in correspondence to President Obama on March 22, with these words: Americans are looking for leadership in Washington to confront the problems of today, not push them off on future generations. To date, [Mr. President,] you have provided little or no leadership on what I believe to be the most important issue facing our nation--our national debt. With no indication that your willingness to lead will change, I [write] to inform you [, Mr. President,] I will vote ``no'' on your request to raise the debt ceiling. I do that because I believe in the absence of serious and significant spending reductions, in the absence of serious and significant reform in the budget and spending process, in the absence of a constitutional amendment that restricts our ability to spend money we do not have, in the absence of statutory guidelines that tell us we cannot spend and borrow ad infinitum, that our country's future is in grave danger. I do this with a sense of responsibility to Americans today and a sense of responsibility for Americans to come. I ask the President to provide that leadership, to address the issues of not only this continuing resolution and next year's spending level and the so-called mandatory spending, but also to help us create an economy in which growth can occur, in which business men and women make decisions to employ new workers, and that the American people have the opportunity, when they sit around the dining room table and discuss their future, to know they have the chance to keep the job they have or to find a job they do not have. That will require the leadership of President Obama and Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate. In the absence of any indication that leadership is going to be provided, and that we are going to be serious in addressing our problems of today, and resolving them for the future, I will vote ``no'' on extending the debt limit.

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, rightfully so, the focus in this Congress is very much about the economy and job creation, and it is appropriate that we have before the Senate a piece of legislation dealing with small business. We know small business and entrepreneurship is a path to job creation. We are spending a lot of time in this Senate, in the House, and in Washington, DC, discussing the economy, and one of the things that is front and center today is the need for us to be much more responsible in our spending habits. In my view, the Federal Government is financially broke. Rightfully so, we ought to pass a continuing resolution that reduces spending for the remaining 6 months of this fiscal year. We ought to quickly move to a budget and to an appropriations process that allows for the give-and-take, the consideration of those things that we can afford to spend money on, the things that are appropriately the role of the Federal Government, and find those places in which we can again significantly reduce spending. That is an important aspect of whether we are going to get our economy back on track and jobs created. I think often we write off what happens in Washington, DC. The American people see us as just Republicans and Democrats having one more battle about spending and deficits. These are things I have heard, topics I have heard discussed my entire life coming out of Washington, DC. The reality is, this is an important issue at an important time in our country's history. In the absence of an appropriate resolution of this spending issue, in my view, the standard of living Americans enjoy today will be reduced, inflation will return, the value of the dollar will be diminished, and the standard of living we have become accustomed to as Americans, as I say, will be diminished. But worse than that, the opportunity for our children and grandchildren to pursue the American dream will be less than what we want it to be, certainly less than what I experienced as an American growing up in this country. Yes, it is no fun for us, as elected officials, to talk about what needs to be cut, spending that needs to be reduced. I certainly stand willing to work with my colleagues and with the President and others to see we accomplish that goal of reducing spending, and the consequences of that being a better budget picture and a reduced deficit. But there is a positive aspect of what we can do to reduce our budget deficit that goes beyond just cutting spending; that is, to create jobs, to create economic expansion. The optimism this country needs can be restored by decisions we make in the Congress. Those decisions revolve around a business or an entrepreneur, a small business man or woman's decision that it is time to expand their plant, it is time to invest and put in more equipment, that it is time to hire an additional employee. In my view, one of the reasons that is not happening is the tax environment that has been created, the uncertainty that we have with what our Tax Code is going to be, the lack of access to credit, the uncertainty our bankers and other financial lenders face in determining whether they can make a loan to a creditworthy customer, and especially the one I want to talk about briefly today, which is the regulatory environment in which the business community finds itself. This effort by the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate greenhouse gases, in my view, is very negative toward job creation in two ways: One, it increases the cost of being in business, and that occurs at a time in which we don't expect other countries to abide by the same regimen that we may create--that our Environmental Protection Agency may create--around the world, that we would not expect other countries to abide by those same rules and regulations the EPA is putting in place. That means, once again, American workers, American business is at a competitive disadvantage in comparison to those who make decisions about where plants are located, and we lose access to world markets because someone else can sell something cheaper than we can because of rising costs of production. So even if there is an effort that excludes agriculture or small business from this legislation, the cost of production goes up, because in addition to the direct effect of having those regulations apply to your business, there is the indirect increase in cost related to fuel and energy costs--electricity and gas. Clearly, to me, if you care about job creation, you would make certain that the Environmental Protection Agency does not head down the path that it is going, because of the increased cost of being in business and the consequence that has for American business to be able to compete in a global economy. The second aspect of that is, and I think it is one of the real drags on today's recovery from the recession, is the uncertainty. No business person feels comfortable today in making a decision to expand or to put more people to work, to hire an additional employee, to invest in plant or equipment, because they do not know what the next set of regulations is going to do to their bottom line. So with the uncertainty of this issue, we have had the drag upon our economy with the thought that Congress might pass the legislation labeled cap and trade. It became clear when the Senate adjourned at the end of 2010 that that was not going to happen. But then the uncertainty became, but what is the Environmental Protection Agency going to do? As I visit plants, facilities across Kansas and talk to family owners of small businesses, manufacturers, the most common question I get from a business owner is, what next is government going to do that may put me out of business? It is unfortunate. It seems as though government is no longer even neutral in regard to the success of a business in the United States but has become an adversary. I urge my colleagues to support the McConnell amendment. I think it is a clear statement that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot do what it intends to do. It eliminates the uncertainty that a business person faces, and it reduces the cost of being in business in a way that says, we are going to grow the economy and put people to work. We are going to have a lot of conversation on the Senate floor, we are going to have discussions with the administration, with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, about what spending we are going to cut. And those are difficult conversations. But I come back to the point that we as Americans have the opportunity to be optimistic. What we need to do for us to have a bright future, what we can do to have a positive conversation with the American people about what good things are yet to come, revolves around the fact that we will get rid of onerous regulations that serve no valid purpose in improving our environment and create great uncertainty and ever increasing costs for being in business. We can have this conversation in a vacuum. But the reality is, our economy does not operate in a vacuum. Our business folks in Kansas and across the country have to compete in a global economy. This legislation that Senator McConnell and Senator Inhofe have offered eliminates that uncertainty, reduces the cost of being in business, and allows us to have optimism about the future of the American economy and, most importantly, optimism for the people who sit around their dining room table wanting to make certain they either can keep a job or find a job. I see the McConnell amendment as that moment of optimism. The message we send to the American worker, to those who are employed and to those who are unemployed, that this Senate understands that unless we get rid of the impediments toward growing an economy, we have little optimism about the future of job creation. The McConnell amendment sends that message. It does it in a way that makes a lot of sense for the American economy and for the American worker. I yield the floor and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. MORAN

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak to the Senate for up to 25 minutes.

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

Mr. MORAN

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

Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, I am humbled today to deliver my initial, my very first speech on the floor of the Senate and to discuss a topic of vital importance to our country's future--our Nation's fiscal health. It is a privilege to join the distinguished Members of this Chamber and to work alongside my friend of nearly 40 years now, Senator Pat Roberts. We met some time ago when I came to Washington, DC, as a summer intern in the summer of 1974 and Watergate for a Congressman named Sebelius. My colleague Pat Roberts was his Chief of Staff and has been my friend since. I am also humbled to follow in the footsteps of Gov. Sam Brownback and the many who came before him and whose names are etched in this desk where I now stand. I am mindful of their service and particularly that of Senator Bob Dole who served Kansans for nearly three decades in this seat. During nearly 36 years on Capitol Hill, Senator Dole became known as the leader who worked relentlessly to forge alliances in order to pass significant legislation. Today he serves as a role model for those who have dedicated their lives to public service. I thank Senator Dole for his call yesterday wishing me well today, but I thank him more for his distinguished service to our country and to Kansans. I know that love and respect the people of his hometown of Russell have for him. I will work to honor his legacy. I grew up just down the road from Bob Dole's hometown in a smaller town, Plainville, a place where folks know their neighbors and look after them. Much of what I know about people I learned early in my life by working at the local hardware store, the swimming pool, the drugstore, and on my paper route. I learned there is good in every person and that satisfaction in life comes from what you do for others rather than what you do for yourself. I learned that each family's joys and sorrows are increased and diminished when they are shared with their neighbors and friends. And I learned what it means to put others first, as my mom and dad always have. I was fortunate to grow up with loving parents who taught me the value of hard work, the importance of education, and the necessity of integrity. In fact, they once made me return the 3 cents I had found when I turned in a pop bottle from my neighbor's back porch. My dad, a World War II veteran, worked in the oilfields of western Kansas, and my mom, who grew up in the Depression, was the lady you paid your light bill to. They were my Sunday School teachers and my Boy Scout leaders, and they always encouraged me to do my best. My parents worked hard, avoided debt, paid their bills, and wanted to make sure my sister and I would have the chance to pursue our dreams. I was also fortunate to have many teachers who instilled in me a love for learning and a desire to explore the world beyond our city limits. As a kid, I enjoyed reading about politics and history and government. People such as my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Pruter helped me to develop an interest in our country and public service. Because of my teachers' interest in me, I am part of the first generation in our family to attend and graduate from college. Nothing in my background would suggest I would have the opportunity to serve as a Member of the Senate. That says something about our country and the opportunity we as Americans have to dream big and to pursue those dreams. It also says something about my home State and the special way of life we lead. The pioneering spirit of those who settled our State 150 years ago and tamed the West lives on in Kansas today. We work hard, we come together to find commonsense solutions, and try to make a difference in our communities, our State, and our Nation. We also strive to provide a better future for our kids and grandkids so they can pursue their dreams and reach their goals. This is the reason I got involved in public service, and it is the reason I remain involved today. Since coming to Congress in 1997, I made a priority to stay connected to the Kansans I represent, so I return home on the weekends. Whether I am at the grocery store, attending church, or filling the tank with gas, the conversations I have with Kansans matter to me and impact the work I do here in Washington. When I served in the House of Representatives, I held annual townhall meetings in each of the 69 counties in my district, following the lead of my predecessor, then- Congressman Pat Roberts. I have continued this tradition as a Senator. I have continued this tradition as a Senator and begun traveling throughout all 105 counties in our State to hear directly from Kansans, and I am committed to making sure their voices are heard in our Nation's Capital. Last spring in Kansas, I watched our oldest daughter walk across her college graduation stage and it was another defining moment for me. Our country is facing enormous fiscal challenges and if we fail to act, our children's future is at risk. I believe all Members of Congress, and in fact every American, has the responsibility to be a good steward of what has been passed on to us. So at that moment, that graduation event, I renewed my commitment to do my part to turn this country around. I am one of many voices to express this concern. In 1985, President Reagan took the podium during his second inaugural address and spoke about one of his greatest concerns: our Nation's deficit spending. He told the American people that 50 years of deficit spending had finally brought our Nation to the time of reckoning. He said: We've come to a turning point, a moment for hard decisions. We must act now to protect future generations from government's desire to spend its citizens' money and tax them into servitude when the bills come due. I am here today, 26 years later, to issue, unfortunately, the same warning. We are again facing a turning point in our country's history and we no longer can delay difficult decisions. When President Reagan stood and spoke those words, our national debt was $1.8 trillion. Today, that number has soared to $14 trillion--slowing our economic growth and threatening the prosperity of future generations who will have to pay for our irresponsibility. Our government borrows 40 cents of every dollar it spends and half our national debt is held by foreigners, many who do not share our interests. The simple truth is our Nation's debt is the responsibility of several Congresses and Presidents who have allowed us to live well beyond our means for way too long. Members of both political parties have ignored this growing fiscal crisis and left it up to others in the future to deal with. In my travels in Kansas I am often asked: How can Washington continue to spend and borrow so much? What will our country be like for our kids and grandkids? I join Kansans in voicing these concerns. In the last 2 years, government spending has grown nearly 25 percent and we have had record trillion-dollar budget deficits. This year, the Federal Government will spend $3.7 trillion and collect $2.2 trillion. That is a shortfall of $1.5 trillion. Common sense--Kansas common sense--tells us that pattern cannot continue. Some will say we need to raise taxes to get us out of this mess. But the reality is we don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem. Experience shows us that money raised by Washington, DC, results in more spending in Washington, DC. The debate about government spending is often seen as a philosophical, academic, or partisan issue, but the truth is out-of- control borrowing and spending has very real consequences on the daily lives of Americans. When we continue to fail to balance the budget, it means increasing inflation, higher interest rates, and uncertainty in the economy, which results in less business investment and fewer jobs. This is not an academic discussion. It is not a partisan discussion. It is about the future of our Nation. We were not elected to ignore these problems but rather to confront them. Congress can and should do what Kansans do: Make decisions based on solid values and be held accountable for those decisions. A few weeks ago, the International Monetary Fund issued a report outlining how serious our financial situation has become. America wasn't the only country that came under scrutiny by the IMF. Japan has also fallen behind in its deficit goals. To make matters worse, Standard & Poor's downgraded Japan's credit rating out of concern for the country's ability to tackle their debt. If we do not face realities and take serious steps now to confront this challenge, we will find ourselves in a similar position. The impact will be disastrous, as it has been in Greece and Portugal and Ireland. Unfortunately, this reality has not yet sunk in in enough places here in Washington, DC. President Obama asked Congress to increase the debt ceiling--allowing our country to take on even more debt. But it would be irresponsible to allow more spending without a serious plan in place to reduce the deficit. Americans are looking for leadership in Washington to help create jobs and get our economy back on its feet. But lately, all they have heard is a lot of partisan rhetoric, and all they have seen is more government spending. It is time for our government to change direction and to change dramatically. We must work together to restrain spending and to put in place progrowth measures that create jobs by saying both no to more spending and yes to projobs measures. By saying both no to more spending and yes to projobs measures, we will reduce the uncertainty in the marketplace, encourage business investment, become more competitive in the global economy, and--most importantly--create employment. The best way to get our spending under control is to get a budget and stick to it. One of the basic responsibilities of Congress is to produce an annual budget, yet we are once again operating under a temporary spending measure called a continuing resolution because the Democratic leadership failed to pass a budget plan last year. Congress has taken virtually no step to address this deficit spending. We have to come together and see that we do so, and we must pass a commonsense budget that reduces our deficit this year, next year, and well into the future. Last month, President Obama sent his 2012 budget message to Congress. Instead of moving toward fiscal responsibility, the proposal contains more of the same borrow-and-spend mentality. It proposes $8.7 trillion in new spending, $1.6 trillion in new taxes, and doubles the national debt by the end of his 4-year term. At no point during the President's 10-year budget projection would our government spend less than it is taking in. Rather than spend more, we must close the gap between what the government takes in and what it spends. Last month, I introduced the RESET Act to rescind $45 billion in unspent stimulus funds and direct those dollars toward paying down the deficit. Another commonsense measure I have long supported is a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. Unfortunately, when Members of Congress are not required to prioritize their spending, they simply borrow more over a long period of time. This proposal--this constitutional amendment--would limit Federal spending to 20 percent of gross domestic product and require a two-thirds majority of Congress to raise the taxes. By forcing Congress to be disciplined, to live within a budget, we will turn away from record deficits and back to fiscal responsibility. In addition to living by a responsible budget, we must also address our long-term unfunded liabilities, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Last year, mandatory spending made up 56 percent of our entire budget. This percentage will only increase in the years ahead as more Americans retire and fewer workers are there to replace them. Already, Social Security pays out more than it collects and its total debt will increase over $\1/2\ trillion in the next 10 years. Medicaid spending consumes nearly a quarter of State budgets and will further burden States that are now required to pay for the vast Medicaid expansion found in the recent health care reform law. Furthermore, Medicare's unfunded liabilities are $37 trillion. This staggering sum is nearly three times the amount of our current national debt. This challenge cannot be ignored any longer. We must pursue change and reform, but it will take the leadership of President Obama and the willingness of both political parties. We are ready to have that conversation with the President and we expect his leadership. Finally, history shows economic growth starts with the private sector, so Congress must create an environment where entrepreneurship and business can flourish. Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and have generated 65 percent of the new jobs over the last two decades. They also employ half our private-sector workers. Clearly, small business is the engine of job creation and critical to our country's economic success. As I tour plants in Kansas, business owners say: What next? What next harmful thing is Washington, DC, going to do that puts me out of business? For too long, Washington has increased the regulatory and tax burden on businesses at the expense of jobs. Mountains of government regulations and higher taxes are undercutting any efforts to create jobs and erodes our global competitiveness, especially in the manufacturing, agricultural, and energy sectors. Rather than hiring new workers, businesses are spending their resources on complying with ever-changing regulations and increased taxes or, worse, those businesses are leaving our country. We need to be doing all we can to put people back to work and grow the economy, and that includes replacing our convoluted Tax Code and eliminating bureaucratic intrusion into our free market economy. Maintaining a strong business environment at home must be coupled with opening new foreign markets for American goods and agricultural commodities around the world. In today's global economy, we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while other countries move forward. Each day that passes, we risk losing more of our markets and our market share to competing nations. Across our country, thousands of Americans depend upon exports for jobs, including more than one-fourth of all manufacturing workers in Kansas. By increasing our Nation's exports, we will create jobs and opportunities for all Americans, without raising taxes or increasing the Federal budget. While our Nation's unemployment rate hovers between 9 and 10 percent, it is simply inexcusable to not do what we know we can do that will create jobs in America. One commonsense way to open more markets is to pass trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea, which have been stalled in Congress. While Congress dithers, Colombia has moved forward on trade deals with Canada, Chile, the EU, Brazil, and Argentina--to name a few of our competitors. Comparably, tariffs have caused American farmers to lose nearly 20 percent of total agricultural markets in Colombia over the last 5 years. It is past time to pass these trade agreements and create more markets and, therefore, more jobs for Americans. For the United States to remain competitive in a global market, Congress must also develop a comprehensive energy policy that allows for an ample energy supply which is both affordable and reliable. Rising gas prices and recent events in the Middle East have demonstrated once again the importance of having access to a reliable energy supply. No simple form of energy can provide the answer. To meet our country's energy needs we must develop traditional sources of oil, natural gas, and coal, encourage the development of renewable energy sources such as biofuels, wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower, expand the use of nuclear energy, and encourage conservation. Lastly, we need to repeal the flawed health care law and replace it with commonsense changes that reduce increasing costs and promote choice in our health care system, such as increasing competition in the insurance market, giving States the flexibility to address the health needs of their unique populations, enacting medical liability reform, and enabling small businesses to pool together to offer coverage at lower prices. These ideas have bipartisan support and are backed by the American people because we know they will work. Congress should be an ally of the people, not an adversary. Congress has a responsibility to create an environment where the free market can succeed, so business can move forward with confidence and start creating jobs again. In Washington, DC, it is often easy to forget what is most important in the midst of all the talk of partisan politics, the next election or the latest poll. When I need a reminder, I will talk a walk--and I will walk from this magnificent Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. Between those two points, I pass the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, and on the way back I will walk by the Korean War Memorial. These memorials to our citizen soldiers help put everything in its proper perspective. Our freedoms are so important that our Nation's sons and daughters were willing to risk their lives to defend and protect them. These brave men and women didn't sacrifice for Republicans or Democrats; they gave their lives for the greater good of our country and to ensure their children and grandchildren would also experience American freedom and liberty. We have before us an opportunity--an opportunity to set aside the game of politics and to work together to confront the enormous challenges before us. Whether we have the courage to tackle our fiscal crisis now will determine the course of our country's future for the next generation. I stand ready to work with my colleagues in this chamber to do what it takes to get our economy back on track. Americans are known for their enterprising spirit and strong resolve, and our country will recover when we begin to live within our means and create a pro-growth business and jobs environment. Last month, we recognized the 100th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan's birth. It was a fitting time for all Americans to honor the memory of a man whose leadership guided our country through many challenges. Our 40th President believed in the greatness of America. He believed in the principles of individual liberty, self-government and free enterprise. And he believed there ``are no limits to growth and human progress when men and women are free to follow their dreams.'' It is with that same optimism and hope for the future that I stand before you today. I didn't come to Washington for personal glory. I came to Washington because I believe we have the responsibility to be good stewards of what we have been given and to pass on to the next generation the life we love and lead. We know what American can and should look like. When I took the oath of office, I pledged to support and defend the United States Constitution and to faithfully fulfill the duties of this office--so help me God. I will continue to seek His help and His guidance in the days ahead, knowing that in Him all things are possible. As I humbly begin my new responsibilities, I remain committed to leading with Kansas common sense, and to making the tough choices necessary today, so that tomorrow--and every day thereafter--our children and grandchildren can live in an America that provides them the opportunity to dream big and pursue those dreams. If I am successful, I will have fulfilled my responsibilities. If I am successful, I will have fulfilled my responsibilities as a parent, just like my mom and dad, and as an American who believes our country's better and brighter days lie ahead. I yield the remainder of my time.

Mr. MORAN of Kansas

Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, I appreciate very much the comments that have been made today on the House floor. Economically, there is no more important issue in the State of Kansas than the success or at least the opportunity to have success in this contract bidding process. It has been a long time that we have been waiting, and I hope the gentleman who spoke earlier who indicated that we are on the verge of a decision is accurate. This would be a great development, not only for the people of our State but for the people of our country if we learn that there are jobs to be created and that there is a manufacturing base to be further developed in the United States. I very much appreciate the gentleman from Washington's indication that this bill is about a level playing field. It is not about awarding the contract. It is about giving fairness to the bidding process. I hope that we have the opportunity, if the Senate will also pass this legislation again on the verge of a decision, to once again remind the Department of Defense of their responsibility to the will, not only of Congress for a level playing, but to the rightness of this cause, to the sense of fairness, for the right of justice, and for building the opportunity of job creation in this country, not only today but tomorrow as well. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller). (Mr. MILLER of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)