Patty Murray

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Yes, the Senator from Michigan State is correct. It is my understanding that the Secretary of Labor will use these funds to help retool workers who have lost their jobs due to the recession and declining industries, including those in the green- collar industries the Senator mentioned.

Mrs. MURRAY. The Senator from Michigan is correct and makes an important point. Effective strategies for helping workers retool for jobs in viable industries should be informed by the critical stakeholders she noted. It is my hope that when distributing these funds, the Secretary of Labor gives due deference to those eligible entities with strategic partnerships among representatives from the affected industries, labor organizations, workforce investment boards, elected officials, and institutions of higher education, including community colleges and other training providers.

Mrs. MURRAY. With regard to the funding for youth activities under the legislation, is it the Senator's understanding that in addition to summer and year-round employment opportunities, this funding may be used to provide related educational enrichment, including remediation, skills training, and supportive services that enable participants to work in high demand occupational areas, such as in the green jobs and health care industries, with the goal that such employment and enrichment activities will lead to further education or employment?

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I would like to engage my good friend, the Senator from Iowa and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations in a colloquy. I would like to take this opportunity to commend my good friend on his strong support for the education and training of America's workers. As you know, I serve as chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. The Senator and I have worked together on many initiatives on behalf of our workforce. That is why I would like to clarify certain provisions contained in the bill before us today that pertain to job training for U.S. workers. First, is it the Senator's understanding that the additional funding provided through the Workforce Investment Act formula grants for adults and dislocated workers will be used predominantly for the direct delivery of services to those who are the most heavily impacted by this recession--the unemployed and the underemployed?

Mrs. MURRAY. Is it also the Senator's understanding that the most innovative strategies with proven effectiveness in putting people back to work in high demand occupations, including sector-based and career pathways initiatives that are focused on green jobs, health care and other viable industries, should be utilized to the extent possible in carrying out the delivery of these employment and training services?

Mrs. MURRAY. As my friend from Iowa knows, older workers have been particularly devastated by our current economic downturn. A recent Urban Institute publication reported that job loss for older workers is at a 31-year high. Is it the intent of this legislation that older workers will be a key population targeted for services with these additional resources? Is it further the understanding of the chairman that funding under the adult formula grants will focus on serving individuals with multiple barriers to employment, particularly those with low skill levels, to obtain the education, skills training and support services they need to obtain jobs in high demand occupations, particularly in green jobs, healthcare, and other viable industries?

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 5:45 today, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the amendments specified in this agreement in the order listed; that no amendment be in order to any of the amendments prior to the vote; that there be 2 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form prior to each vote; and that after the first vote, the succeeding votes be limited to 10 minutes each: Vitter amendment No. 179; Isakson amendment No. 106, as modified; Cardin amendment No. 237; DeMint amendment No. 168; Thune amendment No. 238; Martinez amendment No. 159, that the amendment be modified with the changes at the desk; McCain amendment No. 278, that the amendment be modified with the changes at the desk; Bond amendment No. 161; Inhofe amendment No. 262; Cornyn amendment No. 277; Bunning amendment No. 242; Dorgan amendment No. 300; and McCain amendment No. 279.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. I thank the Senator.

Mrs. MURRAY. As the sponsor of the amendment, I ask unanimous consent for 30 seconds prior to the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Pennsylvania. I urge my colleagues to approve this $25 billion for the 655,000 jobs across the country to rebuild roads, bridges, sewers, and infrastructure. This amendment will put people to work, and it will get the country back to the point where we feel strong again. I have heard the arguments about offsets, and I know there are a number of Senators who are working to find agreement on how we can reduce the cost of the underlying bill. We will work with them. But let's make sure we understand that infrastructure is a priority and approve this amendment. I ask for the yeas and nays on the motion to waive the Budget Act.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. May I ask how much time is left on our side?

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, the point is these are private sector jobs. In fact, less than 1 percent of these will go to Government jobs, and those jobs will be oversight and accountability to make sure our taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. I look forward to having a vote on this amendment as soon as our chairman determines the time. I ask our Senate colleagues to join us in making sure we create the kind of investment, infrastructure, job creation that we have told America about, and we know will get us back on our feet.

Mrs. MURRAY. I ask unanimous consent that Senators Carper and Tester be added as cosponsors of the amendment, and I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Pennsylvania be given 2 minutes prior to my closing remarks.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, last year was tragic for workers who lost their jobs and their homes in this economic crisis. Through no fault of their own, millions of people are now wondering where they are going to find the next dollar to pay for groceries or to keep a roof over their heads. For them, putting money away to save for college or for a secure retirement is simply a dream. It is clear we need to take bold action to get us through this recession and back on the road to economic recovery. I believe the American recovery and reinvestment plan now before the Senate is that kind of bold investment. Before I continue, I particularly congratulate our new Appropriations chairman, Senator Inouye, and commend him for his management and tremendous work on getting this bill and this part of it to the floor. He has always shown evenhandedness and poise, as he has managed dozens of bills on the Commerce and Appropriations Committees. We are very fortunate to have him as our chairman on the Appropriations Committee, helping us with this critical piece of legislation. I also thank our former chairman and ranking member for his long dedication to the Appropriations Committee, Senator Cochran. I truly appreciate his contribution to this committee. I rise to offer an amendment that will make this good bill even better by boosting our investment in infrastructure and creating thousands more good-paying American jobs. Our economy needs a jolt. We have to create jobs, and we have to get commerce going again. I believe one of the best ways we can do that and bring stability to communities is by investing in construction projects throughout the entire country. The amendment I offer today will get more than 650,000 Americans back to work by injecting $25 billion into our highways and roads, mass transit systems, and water and sewer networks. Investing in construction projects is the tried and true way to put people back to work. My amendment not only supports over 650,000 jobs, it supports the kind of good-paying jobs we desperately need to help families put meals on the table or send their kids to school or save a little money for retirement. These are also the jobs our State Governors and local mayors say they are praying for to help their communities. States and municipalities have felt the economic crisis particularly hard. They have had to make some painful cuts and layoffs. They are even canceling projects now under way to conserve cash. This weekend Governor Granholm from Michigan told CNN that her State could ``have dirt flying within 180 days'' if we pass a bill that increases Federal infrastructure investments. With the amendment we are offering today, States such as Michigan could create jobs as fast as they are able to spend the money, and thousands of people in all 50 States would benefit. It would support, for example, more than 18,000 jobs in Georgia, 27,600 jobs in Florida, over 20,000 jobs in Michigan, more than 13,000 jobs in the State of Washington, to name a few. I ask unanimous consent to print in the Record a chart that displays what this will do for every State.

Mrs. MURRAY. But this amendment doesn't only help the economy today by creating new jobs. This amendment will literally pave the way for future economic growth across the country. These investments will help communities provide cleaner drinking water and roads that are free of congestion. They will help create modern railroads that will get workers to their jobs more quickly and safely. They will help improve our ports so they are more efficient and more competitive. We all know businesses need good transportation and stable water and sewer systems. Less traffic means more productivity, cleaner air, and a stronger economy. These investments will pay off for years to come because communities will be stronger and more competitive in the global economy. Finally, this amendment is critically needed because roads, bridges, and water and sewer systems are literally falling apart. Year after year, we have had to put off repairs, while we have spent billions of dollars in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In August of 2007, we all stood aghast and watched in horror as the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed into the Mississippi River. That tragedy brought home to everyone how critical it is that we invest in the national highway system. Last week, we had another reminder when the American Society of Civil Engineers issued its annual report card on the condition of America's infrastructure. The results were truly dismal. The leading experts on the state of our Nation's infrastructure have reduced the grade point average of our entire system of roads and bridges and transit and sewer plants to a D. Let me make it clear, that was a D average for all of the Nation's infrastructure. Several specific areas which I am targeting in the amendment did even worse. Wastewater treatment systems, on which I have worked with Senator Feinstein, got a D-minus. The engineers pointed out that leaking pipes across the country lose an estimated 7 billion gallons of drinking water each and every day. The Nation's roads got a D-minus since a third of the major roads are considered to be in poor or mediocre condition. More than a third of urban highways are congested. American families now spend about 4.2 billion hours each year stuck in traffic. That is costing the economy almost $80 billion every single year. These are roads in every one of the States. It is time to fix them. Our transit systems only got a D, but that is still not acceptable. With ridership skyrocketing, it could get worse, if we don't make the upgrades and improvements so dramatically needed. Speaking as a mom and a former teacher, a D-minus or a D is not going to cut it. As far as I am concerned, when it comes to infrastructure, a D stands for disappointment. A D means demand change, demand attention, and demand investment. The amendment I have offered is going to help us address these deficiencies head on and put over 655,000 Americans back to work. For any of my colleagues who are worried about whether we can spend infrastructure dollars fast enough, I want to be clear: More than a million workers across the country are today ready and able to start tomorrow. The unemployment rate in the construction industry is now just under 16 percent. More than 1.5 million construction workers are out of a job, a 54-percent increase over a year ago. Skilled workers all across the country are now forced to try to pick up whatever odd jobs they can to pay for their week's groceries. This amendment is about bringing jobs back to those workers and stability to their families and making the kinds of investments America has ignored for too long. I am proposing in the amendment that we invest another $25 billion in this bill, bringing the total spending on infrastructure to $167 billion. My amendment would increase transportation investments from $45.5 billion to more than $63.5 billion, with the largest boost going to highway construction. It would give all States and communities the equivalent of 2 years of Federal highway contributions at once, enabling them to support 362,000 construction jobs alone, and another $5 billion would go to mass transit, supporting 139,000 jobs. Senator Feinstein will discuss how it will increase water and sewer grants within the Environmental Protection Agency by $7 billion, supporting 154,000 new jobs. It is a scary time for millions of families across America. They are extremely worried about their stability and the future of their families. They are worried about how they will pay their bills and whether they will be able to keep their homes. They have put their faith in all of us and in our new President to set us on a path that will not only turn things around but leave our country stronger and more resilient than ever. Today they are watching this debate, and they are expecting us to take bold, swift action to get us started. This amendment is that kind of bold action. It supports 655,000 new, good- paying jobs. It will help us rebuild roads, bridges, mass transit networks, water and sewer systems that we have neglected for too long. Most importantly, these investments will leave communities stronger and more secure in the future. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and help put thousands of American workers back on the job and the country back on its feet.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to add as cosponsors Senators Schumer and Byrd.

Mrs. MURRAY. I am happy to yield.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf of myself, Senator Feinstein, Mr. Specter, Mr. Reid, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Lautenberg, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Levin, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Reed of Rhode Island, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I thank Senator Feinstein for her cosponsorship and working with me and the chairman on including this amendment that would provide 655,000 jobs. I heard the Senator from Iowa earlier talking about providing or increasing Government jobs. I would let our colleagues know that this amendment before us is about private construction jobs. In fact, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter from AGC of America, Associated General Contractors, as well as a letter from FasterBetterSafer, Americans for Transportation Mobility, which represents the American Public Transportation Association, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, the Associated Equipment Distributors, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Associated General Contractors, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the Laborers International Union of North America, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in support of this amendment.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I move to reconsider the vote.

Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, regular health care is critical for a child to grow up to be a strong and healthy adult. We all know that. Yet every day millions of American children are denied access to this very basic need. They cannot get regular checkups or see a family doctor for sore throats or ear aches or fevers. So as our economy continues to struggle, this problem is growing worse. At the end of 2007, all of us came together on a bipartisan bill that would have taken big steps toward helping millions more kids get health care. It would have renewed the Children's Health Insurance Program and made sure that almost 10 million low-income children would be covered. It is a tragedy and a shame that children's health care became the victim of a partisan fight. But, this week, now we have the opportunity to make children's health a priority by renewing and expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program and getting it signed into law. And it could not come at a moment too soon. In the year since former President Bush last vetoed CHIP, unemployment has skyrocketed nationally and in my home State of Washington. As a result, millions of families across our country have lost their health care in just this last year alone. That is wrong, and it is one of the reasons we have now put CHIP at the top of our agenda this year. In difficult times such as this, it is more important than ever we make sure our Nation's children have a place to go where they can get medical care. So I am here to urge all my colleagues to support the 2009 CHIP reauthorization. It is the smart thing to do for our economy. It is the moral thing to do for our children. Most of us in the Senate support reauthorizing and improving the Children's Health Insurance Program because we share the goal of ensuring that all our kids can get health care. Study after study has shown the benefits. Children in this program are much more likely to have regular doctor and dental care. The health care they do receive is better quality. They do better in school because they are healthy. This bill is almost identical to the one we passed overwhelmingly in 2007. It ensures the children already enrolled in CHIP will continue to receive health care, and it provides another 3.9 million low-income children with coverage. Most of those are kids who never had insurance because their parents could not afford it or kids who lost Medicaid coverage or kids who were recently dropped from private insurance rolls. I think it is critical we expand health insurance to make sure they are covered. Now, there are a couple specific provisions in this bill I wish to highlight to make sure everyone understands why it is so important to pass this bill now. First, as I said at the beginning of my remarks today, the economic recession has made it even more critical that we make children's health care a top priority and reauthorize this CHIP program. On Monday of this week, some of the strongest companies in our Nation announced they would cut 75,000 jobs combined. Unemployment is now at the highest level in 16 years, and we are being told we have not seen the worst of it yet. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates every time the unemployment rate increases a point, 700,000 more children lose their health insurance. By those numbers, well over a million more children have lost their insurance in the last year alone, and many more will lose their coverage in the weeks and months to come. This bill makes it easier for our States to ensure those children will continue at least to get health care. It adds more flexibility to the program and sets funding rates based on State budget projections, so our States that are in the worst financial shape will get more money to help pay for health care. This would be a huge help for my home State of Washington and for the many families who are struggling to provide health care for their children. At the same time, the bill will strengthen CHIP by making sure resources are targeted at covering the low-income, uninsured children Congress meant to help when we created CHIP back in 1997. It gives States new tools to raise awareness about CHIP in rural, minority, and low-income communities to help reduce the disparity in care for minority children and extend care where it is most needed. Also, it creates a performance-based system that rewards our States for reducing the number of uninsured children by making sure that the lowest income children are the top priority for CHIP and Medicaid. Finally, CHIP is paid for. The $32.8 billion cost is covered by a 61- cent per pack tax increase on cigarettes and other tobacco products. We aren't taking away from our other economic priorities, Social Security isn't raided, and the deficit won't be increased. It is a win-win for everyone because experts estimate that by increasing the cost of cigarettes, almost 2 million adults will quit smoking and then we will prevent millions of kids from ever getting hooked. It is good for our children now and it will help millions stay healthy in the future as well. Although this bill does have broad bipartisan support, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have tried to throw up some obstacles that distract us from the real issues. I wish to make clear right now what this bill is about. It is about our kids. This legislation is about making sure our children can see a doctor when they are sick. It is about making sure they get medicine that will help them get better. It is about honoring our promise to provide 10 million kids with health care that will help ensure they can grow into happy and healthy adults. I come to the floor this afternoon to share a story about a little girl from my home State because I think it puts the importance of this legislation in perspective. Meet Brenna. She is 6 years old, a bright and happy child, but she has a serious genetic condition called cystic fibrosis. Brenna's family lives in Marysville, WA, in a part of my State that has been hit tremendously hard by the economic downturn. Like a lot of people with cystic fibrosis, Brenna's health care costs are about 10 times more than the average child. It is nearly impossible for her to get private health insurance to cover the bills she and her family are facing. In fact, almost half of the children with cystic fibrosis would not have health care at all if they didn't have CHIP or Medicaid. Brenna's mother Brandy recently wrote to me to tell me that her family depends on CHIP for Brenna and to keep her family going. I wish to read what she wrote. She said: I don't know what I would do if I did not have this wonderful program. I simply would not be able to pay for her to receive the care she does now. I would be in never-ending medical debt, and in the end of it all, I would most likely lose my daughter either way. The economy is rough enough right now. The SCHIP program is something I am extremely thankful for. It provides me sanity and strength every year to take care of my child and her needs. Please allow this program to continue. Our lives depend on it. Those are heart-wrenching words from a mom. Most of us can't even imagine being in Brandy's shoes. Her daughter's story shows us how critical this Children's Health Insurance Program is. This bill in front of us today is about Brenna and the millions of children like her around the country. What it comes down to is this: When a child gets a cut that needs stitches, has a fever or an earache or develops a serious illness such as cystic fibrosis, they should be able to get health care period. I want to make sure Brenna's mom never has to worry about her going into debt to keep her own child alive, or whether health care will be there for her daughter. So let me say it again: This bill is about making sure our kids can see a doctor. Passing it is the smartest thing we can do for our economy, but it is also the moral thing to do for our children. So on behalf of 6-year-old Brenna, the 115,960 uninsured children in my home State of Washington, and the almost 9 million uninsured children across the country, I urge all of our colleagues to support this bill. I yield the floor.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Ardis Dumett for her 20 years of service to the U.S. Senate and the people of Washington State. Ardis has served on my staff for the last 16 years of her distinguished public career. For 4 years prior to her service in my office, she worked for the revered Senator Henry ``Scoop'' Jackson. On January 20, Ardis retired from my office. We are sad to see her go and hope that she enjoys her well-earned retirement. Throughout her career, Ardis has been a thoughtful and dedicated public servant. Initially, as my constituent services director, she led by example in her commitment and compassion to the constituents of Washington State. Covering immigration and environmental casework, she ensured the people of my State were well served by their Federal Government. As the director of special projects in my Seattle office, she worked on numerous issues on my behalf over the years, ranging from the environment and emergency response to tribes and the transfer of military property. She worked tirelessly to guarantee that our State's people and communities received a fair process--and often a successful outcome--when working with Federal agencies. Over the years I have received many notes from constituents thanking me for Ardis' diligent work. I would like to thank Ardis for her years of service to me and the people of Washington State. Her career is a tremendous example of public service; and her dedication to her work is truly appreciated. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mrs. MURRAY

Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.