Joe Manchin

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on April 19, 2012, at 10 a.m., in SD 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 19, 2012, in room SD 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:15 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``S. 1684, the Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2011.''

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Seapower of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on April 19, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 19, 2012, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to share with you the deep concerns that I am hearing from my constituents all across the great State of West Virginia, who are worried about what will happen to their rural communities if their local post offices are forced to shut their doors. In our State, we know that the Postal Service is at the very core of what makes this country great, and what connects us all. In fact, the Postal Service is America. That is why we are willing to come together across party lines to fight hard to preserve the essential services the Postal Service provides. We also know that serving rural communities is not always profitable and private companies will not come in to fill the gap if the Postal Service leaves. As Americans, we need our rural communities to stay in touch with this great Nation. I am fighting, along with the members of our delegation, to put a stop to these proposed closures. These concerns for the future of the Postal Service are bringing all West Virginians--Democrats and Republicans alike--together for protests, rallies, and letter-writing campaigns. In communities where people were told their post offices down the road might be closed, I am hearing people's fears of unacceptable consequences: seniors who wouldn't be able to get their medicines delivered, problems receiving important checks and other financial services, and, just as importantly, the loss of the ability to stay connected to the community and to the country as a whole. This note comes from Mr. George Jones in Nebo, WV, which is in Clay County. He writes: Few people in this area have access to the Internet. They still rely on the post offices to keep them connected to the world. And our people still use the post office. It just makes no sense to cut services to the people who still use them. They need them as well. In communities where the post office has already closed, I have heard about what it means to the town and its residents. This note comes from Delores Wilson in Norton, WV, which is in Randolph County: Our Post Office was closed last November. We now have cluster boxes which are out there in the weather, and our residents are scared to have their prescription drugs mailed to their home or these boxes. Our community has been severely affected. We used to see each other while getting our mail. Our postmaster would let us know when children were born and neighbors passed away. We collected funds at the post office to help our neighbors when they fell on hard times or were in need. Now we don't have this central location to do that because our small community no longer has its post office. I have always said that we as a people and a country need to pick our priorities based on our values. In West Virginia, keeping the Postal Service intact is one of the things our people truly care about. That is why I have raised very serious concerns about this bill which does nothing to keep the 3,700 post offices open, and they are currently on the list for potential closure, including 150 of these proposed closures in West Virginia. Today I wish to encourage all of my colleagues to vote for an amendment I have offered that would prohibit any postal facility from being closed for 2 years while the Postal Service figures out better ways, working with the Postal Service unions, to get its financial house in order. I have offered this amendment because, as I have heard from my constituents, we simply cannot afford to let these facilities close in the communities that need them most. In our rural towns-- places such as Norton and Nebo, WV--the Postal Service is about much more than a place to send and receive mail. Our postal facilities are the centerpieces of our communities. They are places where people gather and share important information. They are a symbol of the importance of our small towns to the people whose families have always been there. They are our little place on the map. This note came from Deanna Halstead from Boone County, where the Uneeda Post Office could soon be closed. She writes: We have had a post office in this area since 1902. In fact, the story goes that the citizens petitioned for a post office and were asked what to name it back in 1902. A gentleman saw a can of Nabisco's Uneeda Biscuits, and that is how the post office and town got their name. It would be a shame to lose that history, and it would be hard for our elderly and disabled citizens to travel farther for these services. Fifteen miles does not sound like much to people in Washington, but when you rely on public transportation or a neighbor to take you, it becomes a big burden. I myself grew up in the small town of Farmington, WV, a community of just a few hundred people. I speak from experience when I say the post offices in these rural communities serve as a critical lifeline. Even now, as an elected representative, I receive dozens, sometimes hundreds of letters a day from my constituents, many of whom don't have access to the Internet and can only reach me by writing me a letter. That is what is so unique about our post offices. They are a vital link for West Virginians and many others throughout the country, and for them it is so important that their mail service remain uncompromised. We all know the U.S. Postal Service is in dire straits. The combination of the recent recession, the increased use of e-mail and text messages, and the cost of retiree health benefits has put the Postal Service on a path to financial ruin. In order to remain solvent, the U.S. Postal Service must cut costs by $20 billion by 2015. Anyone who has heard me speak before knows I share a deep commitment to fiscal responsibility, and we just heard our dear friend, Senator Kent Conrad, lay it out for us. I truly believe this Nation's out-of- control finances are the biggest threat we face. I am not alone. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing a year ago, the then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, ADM Mike Mullen, was asked his opinion on the greatest threat to our national security. Coming from the Defense Department and the person in charge, Admiral Mullen--I would have thought he would have said something about all the turmoil around the world, the wars that are going on, the unease and unrest that could contribute to more wars. I thought he would tell us about some rising military power we should be concerned about or another uprising of a violent attack on this country or a terrorist group wishing to do us harm. But what he said was very simple, and it was a defining moment for me as a Senator when he said that our national debt is the greatest threat this Nation is concerned about, it is the greatest threat this Nation faces. It was a sobering moment. So believe me when I say I truly believe we all have to set our priorities based on our values and learn very quickly to live within our means. That is right. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about this. The bill we have before us proposes to close 3,700 rural post offices--I am sure including some in the Presiding Officer's own State--for a total savings of $200 million--a figure that is less than 1 percent of the Postal Service's $20 billion and is roughly equivalent--listen to this figure--to the amount we spend in 1 day in the Afghanistan war. We spend that amount in 1 day fighting in Afghanistan, which I think everyone knows I am totally opposed to. Yet we are going to close 3,700 post offices for that 1-day savings for a war in Afghanistan. While achieving very little in terms of the Postal Service's bottom line, this proposal would have an enormous impact on people all over the United States of America, including the people in West Virginia who would lose up to 150 of their post offices. This bill would also lower delivery standards by allowing the Postal Service to go to 5-day service and eliminating door delivery. It would add to our national deficit. In short, I am not sure what exactly we are hoping to accomplish with this piece of legislation. Already in West Virginia we know for certain that three of our mail- processing facilities will be closing, one in Clarksburg, one in Parkersburg, and one in Petersburg. We still don't know the fate of our facility in Bluefield. The impact those closures will have on the Postal Service's bottom line is minimal, but the impact to those communities is widely felt and deep. Rather than making drastic cuts on the front lines, the Postal Service needs to consider a different approach to getting its financial house in order. I truly believe we can save the Postal Service without making cuts to the services our communities rely on and the lifeline that they are, and they are needed, and without adding to our enormous deficit. We can work together on a way to keep our postal facilities open, expand services that raise revenue, eliminate enormous bonuses for executives, and sustain 6-day-a-week delivery service. My colleagues and I have suggested many commonsense ideas that could help solve the problem. For one, current law caps pay for Postal Service executives at $199,700--the rate of pay for most Cabinet-level Secretaries--but provisions in the law allow for bonuses and other compensation to increase total take-home pay for these executives to $276,840. That figure is 20 percent higher than the salary of the Vice President of the United States. In addition, the Congressional Research Service has noted that ``postal executives may be eligible for deferred annual incentive bonuses that exceed existing caps, the payment of which can be deferred until after he or she leaves the postal service.'' As an example, according to CRS, former Postmaster General John Potter earned $501,384 in total compensation in fiscal year 2010. I think most Americans would be shocked to know Postal Service executives can earn larger salaries in the form of bonuses and deferred compensation than Cabinet-level Secretaries. These excesses must be eliminated. We know from an August 2011 report by the Postal Service inspector general that the Postal Service maintains 67 million square feet of excess interior space and that getting rid of this unneeded real estate could net $3.4 billion over 10 years. I think this is a revenue raiser that deserves some serious consideration, and I believe most of my colleagues would think the same. I would also ask, during a time when finances are tight, why did the Postal Service spend advertising dollars sponsoring the U.S. Tour de France team and is now sponsoring a NASCAR racing team? I love NASCAR racing, but I am not sure they can afford to be sponsoring a team. There are a variety of ways for the Postal Service to get its financial house in order without closing their doors in the communities that rely on them most. Back in April my office coordinated regional open meetings in the communities where post offices are on a list for potential closure. Along with representatives from the U.S. Postal Service, my staff was on hand at these meetings in McDowell, Raleigh, Wood, and Randolph Counties to give local residents the opportunity to share their creative proposals and commonsense ideas to help preserve post offices in their communities. We got the message loudly and clearly: West Virginians do not want to see their post offices closed. They are the lifeblood of the community. We continue to hear from hundreds of West Virginians in letters, phone calls, and petitions, folks such as Rebecca from Raleigh County, where the Clear Creek Post Office is facing closure. Her community has had a post office for 140 years--140 years. Tell me anything that is more American than that. Here is her letter: We are an isolated area. The roads are curvy and our citizens are elderly. If this post office closes, it will mean 20 miles round trip to the nearest post office. It is rare to see a community--hundreds of communities, really--come together around a single issue such as this one. But we are seeing hundreds of people rush to the defense of an institution that has built this Nation and connected this Nation into what we are today. West Virginians do not want to see that disappear, and neither do I. That is why I will fight, along with my colleagues, to find a solution that forces the Postal Service to get its financial house in order, which I believe can be done, without balancing its books on the backs of our rural communities and the people who depend on that lifeline most--our citizens. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, today I wish to congratulate Stephanie Dawn Thacker, a native of Hamlin, WV, on her confirmation to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. It is my privilege and my honor to speak on her behalf, and I am so proud she was confirmed. I would like to thank my colleague Senator Jay Rockefeller for nominating such a qualified jurist. Stephanie Thacker's impressive background and extensive list of accomplishments in both the public and private sectors make her an exceptional judge for the 4th Circuit. She is renowned in our State for her mastery of the law and of the courtroom, and I have no doubt that she will make a highly successful Federal judge. Ms. Thacker has dedicated much of her career to fighting some of the worst offenses in our society. As a trial attorney, Deputy Chief of Litigation, and Principal Deputy Chief, she spent several years prosecuting cases on Child Exploitation and Obscenity at the Department of Justice. Her outstanding work and leadership earned her a number of honors at the Department of Justice, including four ``Meritorious'' Awards and two ``Special Achievement'' awards. Her impressive performance in prosecuting the case of United States v. Dwight York earned her the Attorney General's ``Distinguished Service'' award, one of the Department's highest honors. She was also a recipient of the Assistant Attorney General's award for ``Special Initiative'' and ``Outstanding Victim and Witness Service.'' Prior to her service at the Department of Justice, Ms. Thacker worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, where she prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases, including money laundering and fraud. While at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ms. Thacker participated on the trial team prosecuting United States v. Bailey, the first case ever brought under the Violence Against Women Act. Since 2006, Ms. Thacker has been a partner at the law firm of Guthrie & Thomas in Charleston, West Virginia. There, she has concentrated on cases involving product liability, environmental and toxic torts, complex commercial defense, and criminal defense. Ms. Thacker was a model student in both her undergraduate and legal studies. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Marshall University, and her J.D., Order of the Coif, from West Virginia University College of Law. While at West Virginia University she was a recipient of the Robert L. Griffin Memorial Scholarship and Editor of West Virginia Law Review's Coal Issue. She has also recently been named ``Outstanding Female Attorney'' by WVU Law's Women's Caucus. Ms. Thacker's wide-ranging expertise in civil and criminal matters, her impressive track record in the courtroom as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, and her outstanding academic accomplishments will make her a first-rate addition to the 4th Circuit. I am proud to call her a fellow West Virginian and I am pleased that she has finally been confirmed.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I had the enormous privilege to spend the last 2 weeks traveling around my great State to hear from the people of West Virginia. It is always so refreshing to get a dose of commonsense from people who are working hard every day to balance their family budget, put food on the table and give their kids a better life. And I can tell you that the people of West Virginia are so frustrated and losing confidence in this government, especially when it comes to our broken tax system. Whether it was in Beckley, Ravenswood or Wheeling, I heard the same thing from the people of my great State. We just don't understand why hardworking, middle income people are paying a much higher tax rate than some of the wealthiest people in this country. Take our coal miners, who go to the mine every single day to make a living for themselves, for their families, but who are paying a higher tax rate than some people making a million dollars a year. Where I come from, that's not fair. Where I come from, that doesn't make any sense. Where I come from, that means our system needs to be fixed--in a real, responsible and fiscally sound way that reduces our debt. Now, let me be clear: I am not begrudging anyone who's worked hard, who has taken a risk or who has done well. But we have to have a solid country under us to achieve those goals. And we need to put fairness back in the tax system to get this country on solid ground again. And if we want a fair system, that means that there should not be privileges that allow the very wealthy to pay a lower rate than hardworking, middle class Americans. Right now, the average person does not have those opportunities or privileges. But when people believe the American Dream is in reach, they will all pull harder. Today I rise to speak about my support for the Buffett Rule, which would take a small step toward fixing this unfair system and paying down this country's nearly $16 trillion debt. A lot of people here believe that this bill will fail because of politics on a mostly party line vote. That is a shame because the only line we should vote is the American line. For a year-and-a-half, I have been coming to the Senate floor to urge my colleagues to put party and politics aside and vote for the good of the next generation, whether it is a Democratic idea or a Republican idea. But even though this vote on the Buffett Rule might fail today on party lines, we cannot give up--we have to find a way to come together for the next generation. I have said before that the Buffett Rule alone does not address the full scope of the problem. All it does is nibble around the edges of our broken tax code. We still have too many corporations that can take advantage of too many loopholes, credits and exemptions. We are pushing $16 trillion dollars in debt and we are still spending more than a trillion dollars more than we take in every year. That does not make sense. We have to fix the whole thing so that we can start reducing our deficit, paying down our debt and putting our fiscal house back in order for the next generation. To do that, we have a plan with bipartisan support--the Bowles- Simpson framework, which would reduce loopholes, exemptions and credits across the board, lower tax rates and get everyone to pay their fair share. Just as importantly, it would cut spending and start paying down our debt. I can't tell you how important that is to the people of West Virginia, the taxpayers in every single income bracket who don't trust the government to spend their tax dollars wisely. Just like all Americans have the responsibility to pay their fair share, Washington has the responsibility to show the people of this country--no matter how much money they make--that we are using their tax dollars wisely and effectively--just as we did in West Virginia. That is why I believe we must--and I will continue to fight--to cut back on our spending. We have to eliminate the $125 billion dollars that we spent in waste, fraud and abuse last year alone. And most importantly, we have to pay down the nearly $16 trillion dollar debt hole that has been dug for the next generation. The Buffett Rule would take a small step to show the American people that we are trying to correct those problems and--most importantly--put some basic fairness back into our tax system. Even though this vote might fail, in West Virginia we will continue to work hard. We will continue to pay our taxes. And we will continue to fight to make sure that when our coal miners send in their taxes, that people who bring in a million dollars a year aren't getting away with paying less. The future of this country depends on those of us here in Washington working together to restore confidence in this great nation because when people believe that everyone is paying their fair share, they are all willing to pull their load a little harder. And if people start believing in this country again, there's no stopping us. I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today first of all to thank the senior Senator, my friend Senator Rockefeller, for nominating such a qualified jurist upon the passing of our dear friend, Judge Blane Michael. Stephanie Dawn Thacker is a native of Hamlin, WV. We are awaiting her confirmation this afternoon with a vote which I know will be in the affirmative. It is my privilege and my honor to speak on her behalf also. Stephanie Thacker's impressive background and extensive list of accomplishments in both the public and private sectors make her an exceptional judge for the 4th Circuit. She is renowned in our state for her mastery of the law and of the courtroom, and I have no doubt that she will make a highly successful federal judge. Ms. Thacker has dedicated much of her career to fighting some of the worst offenses in our society. As a trial attorney, Deputy Chief of Litigation, and Principal Deputy Chief, she spent several years prosecuting cases, as you have heard, on Child Exploitation and Obscenity at the Department of Justice. Her outstanding work and leadership earned her a number of honors at the Department of Justice, including four ``Meritorious'' Awards and two ``Special Achievement'' awards. Her impressive performance in prosecuting the case of United States v. Dwight York earned her the Attorney General's ``Distinguished Service'' award, one of the Department's highest honors. She was also a recipient of the Assistant Attorney General's awards for ``Special Initiative'' and ``Outstanding Victim and Witness Service.'' Prior to her service at the Department of Justice, Ms. Thacker worked with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, where she prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases, including money laundering and fraud. While at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Ms. Thacker participated on the trial team prosecuting United States v. Bailey, the first case ever brought under the Violence Against Women Act. Since 2006, Ms. Thacker has been a partner at the law firm of Guthrie & Thomas in Charleston, West Virginia. There, she has concentrated on cases involving product liability, environmental and toxic torts, complex commercial defense, and criminal defense. Ms. Thacker was a model student in both her undergraduate and legal studies. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, magna cum laude, from Marshall University, and her J.D., Order of the Coif, from West Virginia University College of Law. While at West Virginia University she was a recipient of the Robert L. Griffin Memorial Scholarship and Editor of West Virginia Law Review's Coal Issue. She has also recently been named ``Outstanding Female Attorney'' by WVU Law's Women's Caucus. Ms. Thacker's wide-ranging expertise in civil and criminal matters, her impressive track record in the courtroom as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, and her outstanding academic accomplishments will make her a first-rate addition to the 4th Circuit. I am proud to call her a fellow West Virginian and I am pleased that she will finally be confirmed. the buffett rule

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I too am honored to be able to rise today to speak of our dear friend Barbara Mikulski. So many good things have been said, so many accolades have been shared about what Barbara has done and what she means to all of us. I can only tell you there is not a better ally, mentor, neighbor, and, most important, friend to have in the Senate than Barbara Mikulski. My State shares a border with Barbara's State. Maryland and West Virginia have had a long and illustrious relationship. As Governor, I had always known of Barbara and had met her a few times when I served the great State of West Virginia. But as a Senator, I have had the privilege of being her colleague and working with her and becoming friends, listening to her and watching her in how she works with her constituents, how she considers the issues, how she fights for issues. I don't think anyone has ever had to guess where Barbara stands on an issue because we all know. In the 15 months we have worked together, I can say it has been extremely rewarding to serve alongside her, whether it is her wisdom she shares on the train ride over to our sessions here or whether we talk about our both being raised in a grocery store. My grandfather had a little grocery store and, as you know, Barbara was raised with her father in a grocery store. I think, basically, if you have retail in your blood, you understand the people of America. Her sense of humor is something to behold. Every day I have the privilege of serving with her is a good day in the Senate. I know colleagues have all shared their stories about Barbara, and they have had more experience with her in the Senate. As a freshman, being here only a little over a year and a half, I have not had that many personal experiences, but I can tell you this: If there is a fight that breaks out, if there is something going wrong, you want Barbara on your side. She is the person to have in that foxhole when the shooting starts. And I have been so appreciative to have her as my friend and always counting on her. As we have all heard, she has been an advocate for women's health, the space program, and her most beloved State of Maryland, which she fights for every day. Last year she became the first woman to reach the milestone of serving a quarter of a century in the Senate. Madam President, I have staffers who are younger than her years of service. But I also have young staffers, especially my female staffers, who have said they see a world of possibility because of the trail Senator Barbara Mikulski has left for them. With all of that, she has blazed a trail for all of us. No one will be able to fill the shoes of Barbara Mikulski. We will all be lucky enough to follow in her footsteps. When she began serving on the Hill in 1977, there were 20 other women in all of Congress. She and 17 others served in the House, while there were 3 in the Senate. Today, 35 years later, there are 17 women serving in the Senate. If there is anything we can learn from Senator Barbara Mikulski, it is that 17 women is far too few. We need more women like you, Barbara, and, just as important, we need more Senators like you. I can honestly say that I know the State of Maryland is much better off because of Barbara Mikulski, but I can tell you that the United States of America is a better country because of Barbara Mikulski. So I say thank you to my dear friend Barbara for her service to this great country and to all the constituents in Maryland who must be extremely proud of her and have a right to be so. I too am so proud to call her my friend and my neighbor. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise to applaud the confirmation of Judge Gina Marie Groh to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. As then-Governor of West Virginia, I was honored to have the first female from the Eastern Panhandle, with the highest of credentials, Judge Groh, brought to my attention. I was so proud to appoint her to the 23rd Judicial District in 2006, and she has served with great distinction ever since. I am also very pleased my colleague and friend Senator Jay Rockefeller saw the same qualities in Judge Groh that I did and recommended her for this prestigious position on the Federal bench. I thank him for his steadfast support. I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate some of Judge Gina Groh's fine qualities and the reasons I know she will be an exceptional judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. Judge Groh is a well-respected and recognized member of her community in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, as I have known her for many years. In addition to being the first female circuit judge to serve in the Eastern Panhandle, Judge Groh is only the third female circuit judge to be selected in all of West Virginia. Prior to her circuit court appointment, Judge Groh served as assistant prosecuting attorney at the prosecuting attorney's offices in Berkeley County and Jefferson County, WV. During her 8 years as prosecutor, she established a strong record of protecting her fellow West Virginians by tirelessly pursuing convictions for such crimes as murder, robbery, rape, child abuse, drunk driving, and drug-related offenses. Judge Groh has not only excelled professionally but has also risen to become a true pillar of her community in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. She dedicates her time to countless foundations and serves on a number of boards. For many years, she has worked for such programs as Robes to School and the Meals with Love Ministry and has been very involved with her alma mater, Shepherd University, serving both with the Wellness Center and as a member of the alumni board. Judge Groh graduated summa cum laude from Shepherd University in 1986, with a bachelor of science degree. She earned the university's highest academic honor as a McMurran Scholar, in addition to serving as editor-in-chief of the newspaper and vice president of her graduating class. Judge Groh went on to earn her J.D. from West Virginia University's College of Law in Morgantown, WV. I believe Judge Groh's experience, intellect, leadership, impartiality, and deep roots in the community make her a prudent choice for the vacancy in the Northern District of West Virginia. She exemplifies not only the qualities of a talented jurist but also the high moral character and sense of justice necessary to make a great judge. I know it has been exasperating for Judge Groh and her family waiting for this confirmation, knowing that she came out of the Senate Judiciary Committee without any opposition. It has been very difficult that we as a body have gotten to the point of slowing down these nominations, and I believe very strongly our system needs to be changed so we can get quality judges such as Judge Gina Groh on the bench as quickly as possible so they can work to protect the people of the United States. Again, I thank my colleagues for confirming an exemplary candidate for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia, Judge Gina Marie Groh. I yield the floor.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I also rise in support, along with Senator Rockefeller. What a good job he has done. We have both had the honor of serving our great State as Governors. As every Governor and legislator knows, we fight for every job we can create. We fight like the dickens to save every job we have. As the Senator said, he has been fighting these battles for many years. I was in the legislature when he was our Governor. We fought side by side then. When I became Governor, he was a Senator in Washington, and he fought along with me on every job we created and saved. Now here we are again side by side fighting. Ravenswood, in Jackson County, is a very unique place. In Ripley and all the surrounding towns, we have about 22,000 people who live there, and 4,200 people live in Ravenswood, 3,000 in Ripley. One can tell how that is the lifeblood, truly, of the community. Lucy Harbert is the mayor. She is dogmatic. Karen Gorrell is unbelievable. There are men and women there fighting basically for what was promised to them, fighting for survival. I think the big story is that in 2009, the plant closed, as the Senator said. In 2010, all the employees were told all of their health care benefits that had been promised to them and negotiated in good faith were gone--all gone by the stroke of a pen. The courts upheld it. Lo and behold, we have a new management team. We have Mike Bless--and we are talking about Monterey, CA. Clear out there. These people came in and saw what we had, the fabric of the town and the fortitude of these people. So management said: We need to do something. Karen Gorrell and the rest of them never let up. They said: We want to be treated fairly. We want what we were promised. Everyone made considerations here. What we have coming up with a vote tomorrow--as the Senator said, there will be a vote for the retirees to accept the proposal they have been negotiating, which I am hopeful and I know Senator Rockefeller is too--will be passed tomorrow. That is the first step in the right direction. The State has entered as a partner also. With the State, they will work out power contracts and things of this sort. How important are power prices? How important is the coal and the power that coal produces? Without that, we would be dead in the water. There is so much promising going on. But when you see a community come together--Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, our friend, worked hard in the legislature. This is not a story we see today in America that much. In 2009, the plant closed. Over 600 people lost their jobs in a little town of 4,200 people. Now we have a chance to at least get 400 or 500 back on the job. We have not seen that turn around too much. You can imagine why Senator Rockefeller and I are so excited, and I think more than anything we are so proud that we represent a State that has so much resilience. They have stuck together. So our hat is off, from the corporate end to the union end, to the people working together from the community. I need to say that the President of the Steelworkers Union, Leo Girard, has just been a rock. Leo gets right in there. The Steelworkers stood behind their retirees. They stood behind them. They would not take anything less than the retirees being treated fairly. That brought everybody to the table and gave us the glue it took. Senator Rockefeller is persuasive, as you know, in his ability to get involved and persuade people to do the right thing, and all of us were behind this effort. It came to fruition. Today, West Virginia is a brighter spot, and Ravenswood is a brighter place. Hopes are up again. The people are enthusiastic, and we can see they have a little skip in their step. That means an awful lot. These are the hardest working people, who don't ask for a whole lot--just an opportunity to take care of themselves and their families. To Lucy Harbert, Karen Gorrell, Mike Bless, and Leo Girard, Senator Rockefeller, and the entire West Virginia delegation, I think everybody should be extremely pleased. Tomorrow we know it will be a successful vote. We are going to show the country we can compete with anybody in the world. I know the occupant of the chair feels the same way in Maryland, and you have been able to. We will work together on this and start rebuilding America one job at a time. This is 400 jobs at one time. With that, I say thank you to all of the good people in West Virginia who made this happen. I thank Senator Rockefeller for his leadership over the years. I have been honored to work with him. He has been a tremendous mentor. We will continue to work together for many years. With that, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize two pillars of West Virginia--an educational institution that is educating the people of our State for good-paying jobs they are going to need and a beloved figure who put our State at the forefront of advances in mental health. First, please allow me to recognize Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College for its distinguished ranking as the 14th best community college in the Nation because of all the work its staff and students have done together to develop the skills necessary to compete in the workplace. All of us in my great State know about Southern's dedication to active and collaborative learning, and we are so proud that Washington Monthly recognized the school's achievements in its most recent rankings. This accomplishment is not the work of any one person, but a shared commitment to excellence from the school's leadership, faculty, staff, and students. I applaud everyone who is involved at Southern for their focus on improving educational quality through strengthened student engagement and student success. In addition, I am so pleased that Southern is thriving under the steadfast leadership of President Joanne Jaeger Tomblin, who is also serving the public as West Virginia's First Lady. For more than 12 years, Joanne has been the visionary and the driving force behind many of these accomplishments. Her unwavering enthusiasm and tireless dedication transcend geographical barriers to bring extraordinary educational opportunities to all of southern West Virginia. I tell young people all the time that they cannot sit on the sidelines and watch life happen. They have to get in the game and start making the calls. The same goes for those students who are returning to school for training or who are taking the initiative to take their careers to the next level. Southern helps all students--those who are just starting out and those who are in the middle of their careers--build critical skills and get an education to become a workforce that will meet our needs in the 21st century and beyond. Every day, these students and their teachers are doing the hard work that will make our great State and country competitive by finding new ways to create good jobs and rebuild our economy. Again, I am so proud of this accomplishment at Southern, and it is just one example of what we can achieve when we all work together. Remembering Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Mr. President, I also rise today to recognize the accomplishments and life of a mental health pioneer and a most beautiful and true West Virginia hero, who we were so sad to lose last month. It is only fitting to honor her today on the last day of Black History Month. Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman leaves behind a remarkable legacy. She transformed care for mentally ill patients by working tirelessly to provide hope to people who were once believed to be untreatable. Her work emphasized the importance of family and community--two values we hold so dear in West Virginia--and she put a high priority on making sure people received care near their homes. Mildred Mitchell made West Virginia her home in 1946, when she was hired as a staff physician at West Virginia's Lakin State Hospital, which at the time was a hospital for mentally ill patients who were African American. There she met and married her husband William L. Bateman, a therapist at Lakin and a native West Virginian. Throughout her 89 years, Mildred Mitchell-Bateman remained committed to serving those without a voice in our community. After leaving Lakin to practice medicine privately, Mildred returned to the hospital as the clinical director, and 3 years later was promoted to superintendent. In 1962, Mildred was named as the director of the State's Department of Mental Health, becoming the first African-American woman to lead a West Virginia State agency. Mildred's vision for psychiatric care extended beyond West Virginia, earning her national recognition and requests for service. In 1973, she became the first Black woman to serve as vice president of the American Psychiatric Association. A short time later, she was appointed to the President's Commission on Mental Health, where she played an important role in the creation of the 1980 Mental Health Systems Act. Dr. Mitchell-Bateman was a doctor, a teacher, and a pioneer. Her accomplishments are made even more remarkable by the adversity she faced. Her life serves as a powerful example to us all of what one can accomplish with conviction, dedication, and true West Virginia grit. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman will forever be remembered for her many years of dedicated service to the Mountain State, her passion and dedication to the mental health community, and for touching the lives of so many patients. On top of that, she was also a loving mother to seven children, and a very proud grandmother to ten wonderful grandchildren. Gayle and I are keeping the Mitchell-Bateman families in our hearts and prayers. While we know that Mildred Mitchell-Bateman is gone, her legacy and service to the people of West Virginia will keep her alive in our hearts forever. Mr. President, I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

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

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I rise today to speak about the dire finances of this great Nation and the policies and laws of this government that are only weakening our fiscal standing for future generations. A year ago, I was in a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting and then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Mike Mullen was asked: What is the greatest threat to our Nation and our national security? I would have thought he would have said terrorism, the terrorists, al- Qaida, North Africa, could have been Iran, it could have been another rising military power, but he didn't hesitate in responding that the national debt is the greatest threat to our country. That was one of the most sobering moments I have experienced since becoming a Senator. I thought more people would hear what he said and take this situation more seriously, but things have only gotten worse since then. Our debt ceiling is at a record here, $16.4 trillion. By 2022, according to the President's newly proposed budget, we will be $25.9 trillion in debt. That means every man, woman, and child will be responsible for more than $79,000 of debt. Our children and grandchildren will be paying more in interest on that debt than we spend on education, energy, and defense--combined. Our elected leaders should be negotiating solutions but instead everyone is cooking up short-term Band-Aids that create long-term obligations that will take years for future generations to repay. They are trying to figure out how to point fingers at the other side. There is not a person in West Virginia who can understand why politics is trumping our future fiscal stability. I don't think there is a person in America who understands why in Washington we cannot come together on a long-term fix to the problems we have. And for the life of me, I cannot imagine why our elected leaders from both sides of the aisle continue to play political football with our spending, our debt, and our children's future. This isn't how we reach a solution. When I was Governor of the State of West Virginia, I didn't blame previous administrations for our problems. I took the responsibility for fixing them. And I didn't come here to blame anyone for our problems either. I came here to fix them. I didn't come here to put the next generation into more debt; I came here to get them out of it. I came here to serve my State and Washington because my parents and grandparents left me a country that was in very sound fiscal shape and I want to do the same for the next generation. I came here because in West Virginia, even during a recession, we lived within our means and had a surplus every year that I was Governor. The people of my State are proud of what our little State accomplished, and I know Americans can again feel that same pride in this great Nation of ours. I know we can put our fiscal house back in order. I had those priorities in mind when I looked at the President's proposed budget, the projected deficits, the accumulated debt over the next decade and wondered, what in the world are we doing? This budget claims to be balanced, but only if we don't count the exploding interest we must pay on our ever-increasing debt. Including interest, there is not a single year that this budget is balanced. At the end of the decade, this budget puts an additional $6.7 trillion more on the debt. And I would ask anybody, how does that make sense? This is not the first time I have shared my concerns about this country going down the wrong fiscal track, and I can already hear some folks saying: Oh, there goes Joe Manchin again blaming President Obama. Well, let me tell you, I am a proud Democrat, but I am a proud West Virginian and American first, and I will stand and speak my mind whether our President is a Democrat or Republican. I am trying to be as understanding and respectful as possible in my critique, but what we are doing doesn't make any sense at all to me, and I certainly cannot in good conscience tell the people of West Virginia any differently. And if we don't do anything to address this fiscal mess, the priorities of both Democrats and Republicans will face the consequences. Standing here, I tell my Democratic friends that we must face the truth that the very programs we care so dearly about and fight so hard for will be destroyed unless we do something about this exploding debt. Standing here, I also tell my Republican friends that they too must face the truth or not only will the programs they care about be destroyed, they may be forced to one day support a massive tax increase to simply keep this country solvent. Both scenarios are unacceptable and preventable. There is a commonsense solution to our Nation's dire fiscal woes within our grasp. We already have a template with substantial bipartisan support, split evenly between Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate, that gives us a starting point with which to move forward. As I have said before, the Bowles-Simpson framework might not be perfect, but it has more support from both sides of the aisle than anything else I have seen since I came here. Not only that, it withstood the test of time better than any other proposal I have seen. It is a framework that cuts trillions from our debt, makes our tax system more fair, and raises revenue without raising tax rates. The only problem is that our country's leaders from both parties won't move forward with the recommendations of the Bowles-Simpson Commission. So instead of real solutions where we choose our priorities based on our values, we see political proposals that will only send this country further into a death spiral of debt. Take for example the fact that this body will soon debate extending the so-called payroll tax cut for the remainder of this year, 10 more months. Let's call that what it really is: It truly is cutting funding to Social Security. This Congress has voted twice since I have been here to tell Americans that they don't have to pay their share as far as their obligation to Social Security. I voted for the idea the first time around because I thought, as it was proposed to me, it might create jobs or save jobs. But I don't think we have seen much evidence that that happened, so I decided to stop throwing good money after bad and stop jeopardizing Social Security. But, as I warned this fall, along with my dear friend Senator Mark Kirk, whom all of our prayers are with, now we are talking about extending this policy indefinitely because once something like this is enacted, even an act of Congress can't reverse it. It might take an act of God to reverse it. I know going back home and saying we voted for tax cuts is popular. Everyone wants to be popular in this arena. But this is not a tax cut, this is a Social Security cut, plain and simple, and you cannot make it look any different. Knowing that we are adding 10,000 beneficiaries turning 65 years of age every day--and when you look at last year, Social Security was the first time we paid out more than we took in--it doesn't make any sense. Just what exactly will continuing this policy do to the long-term solvency of Social Security? The answer is very simple: It will be a disaster. The so-called experts will tell you that everything will be right because we will backfill those contributions with revenue from the general fund. Let me remind you that this is the fourth straight year the general fund has operated with a deficit of more than $4 trillion. That has never happened in the life of this great country. We have accumulated $15.36 trillion of debt as of today, and the President just allowed that to grow to $16.4 trillion with a new debt ceiling. These are the same experts who tell us we can balance a budget if we simply ignore the fundamentals of math. Does that make sense? When this body votes on whether to extend the so-called payroll tax cut or, as it should be more accurately described, the defunding of Social Security's revenue stream, I cannot in good conscience vote to undermine Social Security. I have taken this position because at the end of the day the people of West Virginia and this Nation must be told the truth, which is why the budget proposal the President offered this week is so disappointing and maddening. Let's be clear. Both Republicans and Democrats are responsible for our budget problems. Everybody is responsible for where we are today. In fairness, this administration inherited a tremendous debt, falling revenues, and a terrible economy. Everyone was at fault, and the public spoke loudly and clearly. They changed things with the 2008 election, and they said: Fix it. But we haven't done it, and this budget doesn't do it either. If we are going to address our fiscal nightmare and stop digging a deeper debt hole, we must have meaningful tax reform that not only ensures that everybody pays their fair share but that also strengthens our economy and creates jobs--good jobs. Instead, this budget is not balanced even once. Over the next decade, it would actually add an additional $6.7 trillion more debt on top of the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling we have now that the President just authorized. That is more than $23 trillion of debt by 2022. That is simply unsustainable. This proposed budget relies too much on phantom accounting from so- called war savings from a war that should have been over when its purpose changed to what I call nation building. In terms of energy investment--one area that business and labor both believe is critical to not only creating more jobs but keeping the good jobs we have--this administration continues to pick winners and losers. Take the role of coal, for example. As I just pointed out in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the administration's own Department of Energy forecasts that coal will play a major role in the energy portfolio well into the coming decades, up through 2035. But this budget slashes funding for the research that would allow us to use coal more efficiently and cleanly with environmental standards for which we must be responsible. This doesn't make sense, and it puts the livelihoods of an awful lot of West Virginians and Americans in jeopardy. Those priorities defy common sense, especially when millions of people rely on coal for their jobs and the affordable, reliable electricity it produces. We are spending more where we don't need to and less where we do. We are extending programs that do not work and going into debt to pay for them, and then we wonder why this great Nation faces such a dire fiscal future. So if and when the President's budget proposal comes up for a vote, I simply cannot support it. As always, though, I will continue to work diligently with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to push for a more commonsense fiscal approach based on the bipartisan Bowles- Simpson template so we can finally and responsibly address the fiscal problems our Nation and our families face. I urge the President and my colleagues to do the same. Madam President, allow me to close by saying I do travel my State, like most of my colleagues, and I am sure you do in Missouri. I meet with my constituents, as you do also, and I can tell you what I find out from them. There are a lot of issues they are worried about. There are some places where they disagree, but there is one issue that gets universal agreement and brings everybody together when they tell us, to a person, they are concerned that those of us in Washington are not listening to their cries to put the country ahead of our politics. They urge all of us to stand and do what is right for this country. We must not let selfish ambitions about the next election cloud what must be done for the Nation that I know we all love. The challenge before us is a simple one. Over the course of our history, this Nation has succeeded because our parents and grandparents left our country better off than what they inherited from their parents and grandparents. We cannot be the first generation to fail to leave the United States in better shape for the next generation. I don't want to be a part of that. I do not intend to stand by and let a party or politics destroy the hopes of the next generation for this great country, and I urge all of our congressional leaders and our President to put politics aside and realize one simple fact: Whether we are Democrats or Republicans or Independents, we all belong to the same party, and that party is called America, and we will rise or fall together. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I rise today to mark a truly important day for my State, and indeed this entire nation. December 6 is National Miner's Day, a time when we stop to honor our nation's coal miners and remember those who have done so much to make this great country what we are today. These brave men and women work every day to meet the challenge of keeping our great nation free and strong, and although the history of mining has been marked by hardship and tragedy, the bravery of our miners has never faltered. It is so fitting that today we also learned--just this morning--of a landmark settlement of more than $200 million in one of the worst mining tragedies our State has faced. April 5, 2010, 29 miners lost their lives in the Upper Big Branch mine, which was then owned by Massey Energy. Today, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, Booth Goodwin, announced an agreement with Alpha Natural Resources, the company that purchased the Massey mines. This comprehensive and forward-looking settlement takes the right steps to truly protect our miners. By investing more than $120 million of this settlement in mine safety--including improvements to existing mines, a new West Virginia safety training facility and a research trust--this agreement demonstrates that the government and the company are serious about creating a true legacy of mine safety. While nothing can replace the beloved miners who we lost that terrible day, today's agreement shows that we all have zero tolerance for anything corporations do--or don't do--that leads to a mine fatality. As I have always said, at the heart of this tragedy is the simple fact that we must do everything in our power to never, ever allow any worker to be in the position where this could happen to them or their family. Especially since today is National Miner's Day, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 29 miners who died at Upper Big Branch--and I want to assure the families that the loss of their loved ones will not be in vain. Every worker should know that when they kiss their children goodbye in the morning that they will return home at the end of that shift or the end of the day to kiss them goodnight. I thank U.S. Attorney Goodwin and his entire team for their skill and dedication in negotiating this settlement that focuses on safety and training in the future. I also thank Alpha Natural Resources for rising to this occasion and meeting these terms. Even though Alpha did not own the Upper Big Branch mine at the time of the disaster, I applaud the company for taking responsibility for both the mistakes that were made and for investing in the future of mining to help prevent another tragedy like this from ever taking place. I encourage them--and all our mining companies--to continue to take steps to protect our miners. In addition, I am pleased that this agreement does not impede the families from pursuing additional civil remedies and does not prevent the authorities from prosecuting individuals whose actions may warrant criminal charges. There should be no immunity for anyone who is determined to be responsible in any way for the tragedy at Upper Big Branch. April 5, 2010 was one of our State's most heartbreaking days. I hope and pray that we will never again endure a tragedy like the Upper Big Branch deaths, and I will work every day to make sure that we don't. Today we also remember the 104th anniversary of the Monongah Mine tragedy, our Nation's worst mining disaster--one that took 362 brave souls. So on this day, it is fitting to pay our respects and show appreciation for the miners of yesterday and today. We need to recognize the contributions of past miners who have led us to where we are now, and today's miners who keep traveling deep into the darkness to provide millions of Americans with the electricity that powers our lives and the steel with which we build our Nation. Without these men and women, our world would look very different. They are the true backbone of our country. Our miners extracted the coal that powered military ships in World War I and World War II--and every conflict since. Coal provided the steel to make our country the greatest industrial power in the world, ushering in prosperity that built our infrastructure and developed a quality of life that became and is still the envy of the world. Coal provides nearly half of the electricity in our country and every day millions of homes are warm, safe and full of light thanks to coal. Think for a moment. Try to imagine our country if there had been no coal. It is almost inconceivable. Coal is mined all over our great Nation. I thank all men and women everywhere who work in this industry, but I can speak personally about our brave and hardworking miners in West Virginia. The miners of West Virginia and their families are the heart and soul of the Mountain State and truly an inspiration for me. Extracting minerals from the earth is not for the faint of heart. This work requires engineering brilliance, nerves of steel and fearless dedication. West Virginia coal miners continue to set the bar for productivity, quality, and innovation. Their work ethic is second to none. Coal miners are not looking for a handout. All they want is a work permit so they can go to work, earn a good wage, and provide for their families. And coal miners are much more than just the work they do--they are some of the most loyal, brave, trusted, and patriotic folks that you could ever meet. Like their fellow West Virginians, these folks can shake your hand, look into your eyes, and touch your heart. Our coal miners love their families, the outdoors, their communities and their State. These miners work hard every shift, but if they get home and find a person in need, their day begins again. If you are hungry, you will be fed; if you are lost, you will get directions and then an escort to your destination. That's just the kind of people we are, and that makes me so proud every day to be a West Virginian and have the honor of representing them. I will continue to tell our State's story when it comes to 'coal. And I will constantly work with my colleagues on both sides of aisle to develop technology that allows us to continue to use American coal to help achieve energy independence for our great country--which will ensure our national security and grow our economy. The simple fact is: This country needs coal and our coal miners are still willing and able to do the job. So today it is my privilege to say thank you for the job that our brave coal miners perform. This Nation was built on the backs of our coal miners, and all of us should thank them not only today but every single day of the year, and every year to come. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN. I thank my colleague.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise to give a voice to the countless children in need of good homes all across this country and to recognize an organization in my State that helps provide these children with a safe environment and a nurturing family. The Children's Home Society has served West Virginia for 115 years. This organization has 12 locations all across our State that work to meet one critical mission: finding homes for children who don't have a loving place to live. I have always said the best investment we can make in our country is an investment in the next generation, and that starts with making sure each of our children has a place to call home. That is why the work of the Children's Home Society is so important. More than 400 children in my home State of West Virginia are currently living in a foster home. For many of them, it is the first time they have received a safe place to live and loving care. The Children's Home Society has worked tirelessly on their behalf. Their programs range from emergency shelters to foster and adoption services and mentoring. The organization exists to help care for, protect, and nurture children, as well as strengthen and protect families. The Children's Home Society has also worked vigorously to build awareness throughout our State. This fall the organization hosted the Footsteps for Foster Kids Festival, an event created to illustrate the need for foster families in West Virginia and recruit families who can provide loving homes for children. All day long, children and families had opportunities to participate in various activities at the festival, including paddle boat races and fishing competitions. More than 400 people attended, and the Children's Home Society was able to reach out to new families interested in opening their homes to children in need. In fact, the idea for the Footsteps for Foster Kids Festival first came from our young people, when 10 area youth called the Band Together Organization worked with the Children's Home Society to make the day a true success. They are an inspiring group, and we are all proud of their efforts and service to the community. I would like to congratulate the Children's Home Society for their legacy of impressive and meaningful work and thank the Band Together Organization for the commitment they have demonstrated to improving the lives of children. Your example serves our State and our Nation well.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business.

Mr. MANCHIN. I think we are very strong in support of the Bowles- Simpson, basically, the template that it laid out. It is the only one that is bipartisan. As you can see, it stayed bipartisan with the Senator and I, and it will remain bipartisan. It has a tax reform, but everyone pays a fair share. The very wealthy who have escaped paying because of the flawed tax policies would now start paying if we had real tax reform--not increased rates but just their fair share. That is what we ask.

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I want to speak on these very strange days in Washington, in this Congress. This esteemed body's approval rating is at 9 percent, and I am having a hard time finding the 9 percent. It seems to me that the only thing we are working hard on is whether we can get the approval rating to zero, and I think we seem to be going in that direction. We fight over political solutions that can't pass and, more importantly, won't solve this Nation's great problems. We fight for political points and mistakenly believe that the American people care who is up or down. But they don't. I didn't come to Washington for the purpose of playing games, taking names, or keeping score. That is not what I was sent here to do. That is not what the people of West Virginia want me to do. I came here to fix things and to be a part of the solution. I have not come here to worry about my next election or whether Republicans or Democrats are up or down. I came here to do what I could to improve life for the next generation. I, for one, am willing to sacrifice my next election so the next generation can win. And if that means losing, so be it. I rise today to speak about the next chapter of this sad state of affairs which the American people are forced to witness: whether we should extend and expand the payroll tax cut that will cost more than $240 billion in 1 year. Many accusations are being thrown back and forth in the debate over the so-called tax cuts or tax increases, depending on which side of the fence you are on. There is one very basic fact that is missing from all of this very important conversation: Americans pay for one thing with our payroll tax--One. Social Security. Social Security isn't just another government program. It was established in 1935 to provide economic security for our Nation's seniors who worked hard and earned their retirement benefits. They worked their whole life to provide our generation and those that will follow with a better and greater America. Yet at the time when our Nation faces a death spiral of debt, when we should be talking about how we can come together to fix a fiscal nightmare that will threaten the very programs we care about such as Social Security, instead we are talking about undermining the very foundation of our longest standing retirement program. Right now, Social Security is on a collision course. By 2037, according to the trustees, if we do not do anything, benefits for everyone will have to be cut by 22 percent. Yet we are digging a deeper hole by destabilizing its funding with this recommendation. All in return for what? A temporary measure that has already cost nearly $120 billion and has at best created few if any jobs. In the real world, when policy doesn't work, we stop and try something else. Apparently, in Washington we double down. Why would we do this? Why would we double down on a policy that did not work? The answer is simple. For the sake of a short-term political gain, leaders of both parties and the President are willing to fight over how we should pay for a failed program that jeopardizes the fundamental way that we pay for our retirement security in this country. That does not make any sense to me, and it does not make any sense to the good people in West Virginia. I know in the coming days we are going to hear a lot of political talk about extending the payroll tax. What they are saying sure sounds good: More money in our pockets. In fact, politicians will offer assurances that Social Security will not be hurt at all. My good friend, who will be speaking also on this, Senator Kirk from Illinois, is going to show a graph that basically shows that to be different. What you will not hear them say, though, is that reducing payroll taxes even temporarily would take more than $240 billion out of Social Security's funding stream, if we approve the President's proposal. We certainly will not hear them say the way they would repay those hundreds of billions of dollars is through our general revenue fund. If we extend the cuts this year, what about the next year and the year after? When does it stop? When do we have the political will to finally say we better start paying again for Social Security. Our approval rating is at 9 percent, and we are rapidly losing the support of our family members. Just how many Americans really believe that Congress will make sure our general fund is solid enough to live up to the responsibility of funding Social Security? If the payroll tax cut is extended as it stands this year, the average family in West Virginia will pay $14 less per week. For a lot of people that is a lot of money. But the few West Virginians who even realize they are getting help say they would gladly give that up in return for a reliable Social Security safety net or for a real tax reform that cuts rates across the board and that ensures that every American, especially the wealthy, will start paying their fair share. They would gladly do that. Let me be clear. As a country, we cannot expect that Social Security will remain secure if we keep telling Americans we do not have to pay for it, and that is exactly the conclusion people will reach if we keep reducing their contributions. Social Security is one of our highest priorities as a country, and we should not let the Federal Government undermine Social Security by convincing Americans they do not really have to pay for it. Then, again, there are some in Washington who want us to believe the very act of reducing our contributions to Social Security will spur job creation. Unfortunately, the reality is very different. We tried the payroll tax cut last year, and I supported it. But I will not double down on the failed policy, especially one that jeopardizes the future of Social Security. Truth be told, over the last year I traveled more than 18,000 miles in my State, and I have yet to find very many West Virginians who even know they are getting a discount, let alone business owners who say they will hire anybody if we give them a discount for 1 year. What business owners do tell me is that what they want more than anything is some certainty and some confidence in this economy; that we will do the right thing and stabilize this economy. Instead, the President and leadership in both parties are trying to give them more of the same failed policies--taking steps that will further undermine our finances, worsen our debt crisis, and jeopardize hundreds of billions from Social Security's regular funding stream, all without the reality that it will create any jobs. With this great Nation now more than $15 trillion in debt--it will be $17 trillion next year and going to $21 trillion by 2021--the enormity of this problem is that just servicing the debt by 2021 will be greater than what we spend on our Department of Defense to secure this great Nation. We cannot afford to continue to double down on failed policies. As for taxes, don't get me wrong. I don't want to see Americans paying higher taxes. No way. I simply want a commonsense tax system that ensures everyone pays their fair share, especially the wealthy, who have benefitted the most from this failed tax system we have right now--real tax reform that will lower tax rates for everyone as we close the loopholes, credits, and offsets that allow some corporations and some Americans to avoid paying their fair share. It is time to stop all of that. Some will say that it is impossible; it cannot be done. I think they are wrong. It requires leadership from the White House to every corner of Congress, and it requires each and every one of us to be willing to sacrifice our political futures for the Nation's future. I, for one, am willing to do just that. This is our moment. At this critical moment in our history we must get our financial house in order and letting Americans believe we do not have to pay for Social Security is wrong. It is dead wrong. It is the wrong policy. It is wrong for our seniors, it is wrong for our future, and I will not vote for it, period, under any condition. For the sake of the next generation we must get our fiscal house in order, and we can do that if we are willing to make difficult decisions. I will not vote for either of these two proposals to extend the payroll tax cuts. Looking forward for the sake of our Nation, I hope we will begin to work on a proposal that makes the hard decisions while also protecting the programs and commitments we value as a nation. For myself, and I believe many of my colleagues, there is a bipartisan path forward that can help save this Nation, and I have my good colleague, the Republican from Illinois, who is going to speak to it also. I believe the best path forward is based on the framework and recommendations outlined in the Bowles-Simpson proposal. When those recommendations were laid out a year ago today--this is the anniversary today--I had been a Senator for less than a month--brandnew, less than 1 month. What I saw in that report gave me great hope. It gave me hope that we could identify our problems, which we did--the fiscal responsibility that we had--and willingly tackle them together. So I was on a high for that one short period. As a brandnew Member, I was so encouraged that such a responsible, bipartisan group of people, put together by the President, offered a no-holds-barred report on our fiscal situation and some pathways to fix it. Then the proverbial air came out. Not only did the President and his administration walk away from these bipartisan proposals, but leadership in both Chambers of Congress failed to pick up this report and run with it. Here we are a year later. If anything, our problems are worse. We are going to be forced to make deeper cuts than we wanted to, all because our leadership would not confront the enormous problems we face with a comprehensive long-term solution. But the Bowles-Simpson plan is still the only proposal that enjoys strong bipartisan support. It started as a bipartisan commission. It grew in numbers and it is still growing. It has a responsible manner to balance this problem we have. It is not perfect; no plan is. I do not agree with everything it proposes. But no plan can be everything to everyone. With today being the 1-year anniversary of the unveiling of that proposal, I am urging, and will continue to urge, our President and the leadership of both Chambers to support any and all efforts--not only to pick up this report, but also to put the resources behind drafting and passing this legislation into law. I ask we all remember the great opportunity we have before us to do what is right. I do not want to be part of the first generation--and I know the Presiding Officer doesn't want to be part, and I know my good friend from Illinois doesn't want to be part of the first generation that leaves this Nation in worse shape for the next generation. I don't believe this President or any Member of Congress wants to fail the next generation either. With that, I want to turn over my time to my colleague from Illinois.

Mr. MANCHIN. I thank the Bowles-Simpson committee, Mr. Bowles and Mr. Simpson, for what they have done a year ago, bringing it to our attention, bringing a pathway to fixing the financial problems we are dealing with. We are concerned about the next generation more so than our next election. That is what we were sent here to do. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. MANCHIN. I say to my friend from Illinois, what he says is absolutely correct. We have so many people, especially in West Virginia and Illinois, who depend on Social Security. In fact, in West Virginia, for 62 percent of the people who receive Social Security it is their major funding mechanism. It is how they live day to day. They have told me: Do not touch our Social Security Program, our core values of Social Security, what it does for us. If we pass this, not only do we touch it, we jeopardize its solvency in the long term. If you believe we are going to be responsible enough to pay for this in the 10 years outgoing, then we have some beach-front property in West Virginia we would love to interest you in.

Mr. MANCHIN

Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about an honorable, dedicated public servant and a good friend from West Virginia whom we lost last month on October 29. Lloyd G. Jackson was a true West Virginian, born in our southern coalfields in a small town in Lincoln County on May 30, 1918. Throughout his 93 years, Lloyd Jackson always answered the call of service--whether it was for our great Nation or for the beautiful people of West Virginia. Lloyd is the type of person who was well thought of by everyone who met him. From my own personal experience with Lloyd, I can say that I had the utmost respect for his humanitarian approach to every problem, most importantly for his professionalism. Lloyd's love for country and deep commitment to public service started when he was a young man and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941, during World War II. Before he left the military, Lloyd rose to the rank of master sergeant. After returning from war, Lloyd's commitment to his beloved family and public service continued. He pursued and expanded his family's oil and gas business, and through his business he created good-paying jobs and touched the lives of countless West Virginians. In 1946, he was elected to serve in the West Virginia State Senate, representing his home region of Bonne, Lincoln, and Logan Counties. That same year a man well known to this body, Senator Robert C. Byrd, was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates, and joined Lloyd Jackson in the West Virginia Senate in 1950. The two became lifelong friends. For nearly 25 years, Lloyd Jackson represented the people of the southern part of our State with the utmost distinction. Lloyd was known for his leadership qualities as a State senator, and he took an active role in national legislative organizations, such as the National Council of State Legislatures and the Council of State Government. His peers recognized his leadership abilities and made him president of the West Virginia Senate. As Senate president, Lloyd demonstrated true characteristics of a dedicated public servant--leadership, passion, commitment, and persistence. Lloyd G. Jackson will forever be remembered for his many years of unwavering service to the Mountain State and its people. However, Lloyd will also be remembered for his passion and dedication to his community and for touching the lives of so many. He was a faithful member of the Central United Methodist Church in Hamlin. Lloyd was a loving husband of nearly 63 years to Pauline and a caring father of two children, Suzanne Rabin of Eugene, OR, and Lloyd II of Hamlin, WV, and a proud grandfather of Lloyd III of Hamlin and Ryan of Palo Alto, CA. Gayle and I are keeping his wife Pauline and the entire Jackson family in our hearts and prayers. While we know that Lloyd Jackson is gone, his legacy of public service and compassion for the people of West Virginia will live in our hearts forever. Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

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