Ben Nelson

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, I rise to discuss a ``Sense of the Senate'' resolution I have submitted with several colleagues to address the government's recent move to take significant ownership stakes in two icons of American business: Chrysler and General Motors. Joining me as cosponsors are Senators Collins, Landrieu, Lieberman, Klobuchar and McCaskill. This resolution puts the Senate on record and makes absolutely clear: the Federal Government is a ``temporary shareholder'' in GM and Chrysler, and it should divest its shareholder position as expeditiously as possible. No one ever wanted the government to be in the car business, but the alternative was worse and the turmoil in the auto industry extends far beyond Detroit as most Americans know. Dealerships across my State of Nebraska are feeling the impacts of decisions made by automakers following their bankruptcies. Chrysler has decided to terminate franchise agreements with 9 dealerships in Nebraska and GM intends to terminate franchise agreements with 21 dealerships in Nebraska. These decisions are affecting dealerships and their employees in communities such as Arapahoe, Hastings, David City, Omaha, Auburn, Milford, Lincoln, Scottsbluff, and West Point have already been impacted by the auto bankruptcies. Auto parts manufacturing plants in communities like Kearney, Cozad, Grand Island, and Seward are also feeling the results of the downturn in the auto industry. According to the Nebraska New Car and Truck Dealers Association, more than 13,600 Nebraskans work in jobs tied to the auto industry in my State and account for $267 million in wages for Nebraska individuals and families. However, now that an investment has been made, we owe it to the American taxpayers to be clear about what will happen with their money. The resolution states that the Federal Government is a temporary stakeholder in the American automotive industry and should take all possible steps to protect America on taxpayer dollars and divest its ownership interests in such companies as expeditiously as possible. The government should not be involved in day-to-day operations, and as soon as the auto companies have regained their financial footing the government must divest. Its involvement should not be open-ended. Further, this resolution calls on the Government Accountability Office and the inspector general for the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP, to continue providing oversight. In addition, the GAO and inspector general will report to Congress on automotive companies receiving financial assistance, so that the Federal Government may complete divestiture without delay. This is not a partisan issue. Our deep economic crisis has already cost millions of Americans their jobs, and to add a collapse of the auto industry could add a devastating blow it would take years from which to recover. We have had Presidents of both political parties recognize the need to address the current downfall of the auto industry and recognized the need to remove government involvement as quickly as possible. On December 19, 2008, President Bush stated: ``The actions I'm announcing today represent a step that we wish were not necessary. But given the situation, it is the most effective and responsible way to address this challenge facing our nation. By giving the auto companies a chance to restructure, we will shield the American people from a harsh economic blow at a vulnerable time and we will give American workers an opportunity to show the world, once again, they can meet challenges with ingenuity and determination and bounce back from tough times and emerge stronger than before.'' On March 30 this year, President Obama stated: ``We cannot, and must not, and we will not let our auto industry simply vanish. This industry is like no other--it's an emblem of the American spirit; a once and future symbol of America's success. It's what helped build the middle class and sustained it throughout the 20th century. It's a source of deep pride for the generations of American workers whose hard work and imagination led to some of the finest cars the world has ever known. It's a pillar of our economy that has held up the dreams of millions of our people. . . . These companies--and this industry--must ultimately stand on their own, not as wards of the state.'' So, to conclude, the government's move is aimed at providing stability for the automotive industry and for American workers across our great Nation in these uncertain economic times. Our sense-of-the-Senate resolution affirms what the President has made clear: taxpayers should be protected and the government should get out of the auto business as soon as possible. Through this resolution, the Senate leaves no question about the government's future role in the U.S. auto industry.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 75th anniversary year of the establishment of the Omaha District as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Established on January 2, 1934, the immediate mission of the Omaha District was the creation of Fort Peck Dam in Montana, which was the first of six multipurpose main stem dams operating as part of a flood control system on the upper Missouri River. After completing the Fort Peck Dam, the Corps, operating under the Pick-Sloan Plan, went on to build the other five main stem structures on the Upper Missouri River. The Plan called for a coordinated effort with the Bureau of Reclamation for irrigation projects, flood control, navigation, and recreation facilities. In the early 1940s, the Omaha District added military construction to its mission. Its first task was construction of Lowry Field in Colorado. Since then, the Omaha District has been involved in the construction of several historic projects, such as the Northern Area Defense Command in Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado; various missile control and launch facilities throughout the Midwest; and facilities for Space Command. As the Cold War ended in the 1980s, the national focus switched to a stronger set of environmental principles. The Omaha District readily adopted a ``green'' program, providing outstanding leadership in environmental remediation. Today, the Omaha District is managing one of the largest base realignment and closure and ``Grow the Army'' initiatives in the Nation. For more than 75 years, the men and women of the Omaha District have served their country by harnessing the mighty Missouri River basin, building state-of-the-art facilities to serve our military, and recovering the earth from hazardous toxic and radioactive waste. It is only fitting that we in the Senate recognize the impressive achievements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--Omaha District during its 75th year.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Army SGT Justin J. Duffy, age 31, who was killed in Iraq on June 2, 2009. Sergeant Duffy was born in Moline, IL. As a child, his family moved to Cozad, NE, where he graduated from high school in 1995. He earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Duffy worked at Eaton Corporation for 5 years, where he was recognized for his work ethic and leadership ability and promoted to a supervisor position. His colleagues and friends said Duffy was the kind of person who never missed a day on the job and was always on time and ready to work. This young man stood out among his peers and always sought a challenge, so it came as no surprise to his friends and family when he decided to join the Army, enlisting in May 2008. Sergeant Duffy's father Joe said the U.S. Army had attracted his son because he wanted adventure and needed more of a challenge and he believed that desire would be fulfilled by serving in the military. His time with the U.S. Army was marked by success; one of his proudest accomplishments was his quick rise to Sergeant, beating the standard time it normally takes to achieve that rank. Sergeant Duffy was assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. While in Iraq, Sergeant Duffy's team was responsible for escort security for high-ranking military leadership. Sergeant Duffy passed away in eastern Baghdad after an improvised explosive device detonated near the humvee he was driving; three of his fellow soldiers were also wounded in the blast. Sergeant Duffy served his country honorably and made the ultimate sacrifice for his fellow Americans. His life and service represents an example we should all strive to emulate. SGT Justin Duffy leaves behind his parents Joe and Janet Duffy of Cozad, NE; his grandfather LeRoy Hood of Moline, IL; and two sisters Jenny of Grand Island, NE, and Jackie of Yuma, AZ. He will forever be remembered by his family and friends as the kind of person who was quick to jump in wherever he was needed; some even labeled him a shepherd, as he always looked out for family, friends, and even strangers. I join all Nebraskans today in mourning the loss of Sergeant Duffy and offering our deepest condolences to his family. Specialist Jeremy R. Gullett

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, I join with Senator Lisa Murkowski, to convey heartfelt good wishes to Dr. James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, who will celebrate his 80th birthday on June 1. Dr. Billington was educated in the public schools in the Philadephia area and was valedictorian at Princeton University before pursuing his doctorate at Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar. Following service in the Army he taught history at Harvard and Princeton. From 1973-1987, he was director of the Woodrow Wilson School for International Scholars where he founded the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies. He is a well-known scholar of Russia, has authored six books on Russian history, accompanied 10 congressional delegations to Russia and the former Soviet Union, and received more than 40 honorary doctorates from around the world. In 1987 James Billington was nominated to be the 13th Librarian of Congress by President Reagan and was confirmed for that position by the Senate. From the day he took over the Library of Congress, he has vigorously pursued his vision for the Library and its future: to continue to acquire and preserve materials for its unparalleled collections and make them available to Congress, the American people and the world. Dr. Billington has a phrase for this, ``to get the champagne out of the bottle.'' His aim from the beginning has been to share the riches of the world's largest collection of knowledge with ever broader audiences and to translate this wisdom into a catalyst for civilization. Early in his tenure, even before the digital revolution, Dr. Billington saw the need to use new information technologies to get content out to users around the country so that the Library of Congress would not simply become a ``warehouse of information.'' Through initiatives such as the pioneering American Memory Project created in 1990 he saw to it that the rich American history collections of the Library were available in new ways to a wider audience, culminating in 1995 with millions of digital items posted on the Web through the National Digital Library. The Library of Congress, through its National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, led an ongoing effort with partner institutions to collect and preserve digital materials that would otherwise disappear. The Library is also leading the way in getting more than 15 million of its rich primary source materials out online to K-12 educators throughout the nation. In 1995 Dr. Billington proposed to UNESCO formation of a World Digital Library to gather an online collection of significant primary materials from cultures around the world which was officially launched in seven languages in Paris last month with the Library, UNESCO, and more than 30 partner institutions around the world. Dr. Billington has been a prodigious private fundraiser for the Library's programs. In 1990 he formed the Madison Council whose members have raised nearly $400 million for the Library which has been well used to support scholarly studies such as the Kluge Center and some 300 stimulating and popular exhibitions such as the Vatican Library, American Treasures, Lewis and Clark, and the recent Lincoln Bicentennial. A major accomplishment was the creation of the Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation achieved through a public/private partnership with the Packard Humanities Institute for archiving and preservation of the Library's massive collection of audio visual material. Jim Billington has presided over an increase of more than 50 million items in the Library's collections which now total nearly 140 million. He has also ensured that the Library's valuable multiple format collections are preserved for future generations and enhanced the security of staff, researchers, and visitors. It was Dr. Billington's far sighted initiative in 1999 to bring young leaders to the United States from Russia to learn practical skills through exposure to America's democratic government and free market system. Since then through the Open World Program more than 14,000 current and future leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania and Uzbekistan have experienced our democracy and community life gaining new ideas for implementing change in their countries and fostering cooperation with the United States. These are just a few of the many accomplishments that Jim Billington has made both to the Library of Congress and the Nation. His energy, enthusiasm and vision for a knowledge based democracy and the life of the mind are commendable and he is still going strong at 80. We wish him a happy birthday.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Navy CAPT Wendell B. Rivers, who passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Wendell ``Wendy'' Rivers was born in Seward, NE, on July 6, 1928. He graduated from Seward High School in 1946, where he was senior class president, an all-conference football and basketball player, and an 880-yard track specialist. Upon graduation, Rivers enlisted in the U.S. Navy, receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1948 and graduating in 1952, when he received his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Following a brief tour on a destroyer during the Korean conflict, he entered flight training in 1953, receiving his wings in March 1954. Over the course of his career, Captain Rivers distinguished himself in many assignments as a naval aviator, missile project officer, flight deck officer, and squadron operations officer. Subsequent assignments were in naval aviation on the west coast at San Diego, Moffett Field, Monterey, Point Mugu, and Lemoore. During the Vietnam conflict, Captain Rivers deployed on his last cruise from Alameda, CA, aboard the USS Coral Sea, as a member of Air Wing 15, Attack Squadron 155. On February 11, 1965, he flew the first of 96 combat missions over North Vietnam. Tragically, on his 96th mission, he was shot down and captured at Vinh, North Vietnam, where he was then held in captivity for 7\1/2\ years. While a prisoner of war, POW, Captain Rivers kept his faith in God, country, and Navy, despite all the hardships facing him and his fellow POWs. His steadfastness and devotion to others was an inspiration to those fellow POWs. In fact, shortly after he was freed, as the guest of honor at a celebration of America's independence in Nebraska's Fourth of July capital city, which was also coincidentally his hometown of Seward, Captain Rivers expressed that deep down he and his fellow POWs were always convinced they would one day come home. After the tremendous sacrifice he had already endured, Captain Rivers continued to serve the Navy until 1976. The end of his career included serving as the head of the Aircraft Survivability and Vulnerability Branch of the Naval Air Systems Command, for which VADM F.S. Petersen said, ``It was through Captain Rivers' personal forethought and initiative that this important aspect of Naval Aviation came to fruition.'' CAPT Wendell B. Rivers passed away in his home on May 9, 2009, at the age of 80. Over the course of his career, Captain Rivers received numerous commendations, decorations, and medals, including the Silver Star, Legion of Merit with Star, Bronze Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Vietnam Service Medal with three Silver Stars, Navy Occupation Medal, World War II Victory Medal, China Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Korean Presidential Unit Citation. These awards reflect Captain Rivers' bravery and selfless service toward the security of our great country. The life and service of individuals such as Captain Rivers represents an example of patriotism we should all strive to emulate. I join all Nebraskans in mourning the loss of Captain Rivers and offer my deepest condolences to his family.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I thank my colleague from Connecticut and extend to him appreciation for an outstanding job with this credit card bill. He has done outstanding work bringing the parties together, putting together a bipartisan effort. I congratulate him on that and look forward to having him move forward.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, 19 years ago, after narrowly winning my first statewide race for Governor in Nebraska, I was concerned about the significant budget challenges and economic downturn we faced. Today, the United States is confronted by financial troubles on a much larger scale. Among them, we are suffering from the compounding economic impact of years of steadily rising health care costs and millions of uninsured Americans. This crisis is strangling businesses and throwing sand in the gears of our economic engine, but the most troubling impact is on families. From 2001 to 2007, premiums for family insurance coverage surged 78 percent while income increased just 19 percent. Wages are lagging behind not only premiums but also out-of-pocket costs which families must pay for health care services. In my view, meaningful health care reforms are within reach and should be achieved in a bipartisan fashion without stifling minority views or using reconciliation. Although there are signs of progress in the reform debate, some seem ready to stir partisan tensions. We should play down the divisions which ideologies present and focus instead on areas of consensus. What could this middle ground look like? I believe that two of the highest priorities should be reducing the cost of health care and improving efficiency in our delivery system. Despite state-of-the-art treatment, some studies still show that Americans receive appropriate care just 55 percent of the time. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Congress approved this year made a downpayment addressing health information technology and comparative effectiveness research. As a result, doctors and patients will receive access to improved health records and better evidence about which medical treatments may best serve a patient's needs. Senator Baucus and the Finance Committee have laid out a series of additional delivery system reforms which I applaud them for. These cost-containment measures are the first order of business and a mission-critical component of reform which will immediately pay dividends on affordability and access. In an additional sign of progress in covering the uninsured, America's health insurers have agreed to guarantee health care coverage to all Americans and transition away from charging higher premiums to those who are most ill, if Congress agrees to support a requirement to obtain coverage. While I have an aversion to mandates, I recognize that we all have a responsibility to obtain health care coverage because we all pay higher premiums when providers are forced to write off expensive, uncompensated care. We often focus on the 45 million or more Americans who are uninsured, a crucial problem to be sure. However, we also must make sure we are not destabilizing care for the 200 million Americans who have private health insurance. Some have called for establishing a public plan, but I think it would undermine health care services for millions of Americans and squander this unique opportunity for substantial reform. Here are some of my concerns about a public plan run by the Government: Washington runs our Medicare system which is already on its way to insolvency. Our delivery system could collapse if it had to rely more heavily on Medicare-like reimbursement rates. Today, one-third of physicians limit the number of new Medicare patients they see. A Government-run plan would further limit payments to doctors, nurses, health care workers and hospitals, and they would over time refuse patients covered by this system. That would worsen the current cost shift to private payers, which can run in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 percent. The result? Patients would lose access to health care, services would decline for millions and competition would disappear. In my State of Nebraska, uncompensated care and the cost-shift from low Government reimbursements account for 15 percent of the average health insurance premium. In sum, a one-size-fits-all Washington-run health care plan expands Government but will not fix the main problems people face every day: affordability, access and high quality care. Several years ago, we debated whether private competition could deliver affordable choices to cover seniors' prescription drugs. I was not convinced there would be enough competition. Well, the jury is in. The verdict? A recent independent poll showed that 87 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are satisfied with their prescription drug coverage. And, vigorous competition among drug plans will save taxpayers $243 billion over 10 years. I believe private competition can work. I would suggest we empower consumers and demand that private insurers compete on service to restore a true marketplace for insurance. We need to make it easier for Americans to compare health plans and the co-pays, networks, provider quality measures and access to medical records the plans offer. In fact, President Obama has said Americans deserve the same health insurance that their members of Congress receive. Well, Federal employees and Members of Congress choose between a wide array of coverage options offered by private health insurers, selecting the plan that best fits their needs. Ultimately, I want consumers, not Washington, to be in charge of their health care and to give them the ability to demand more from insurers through the marketplace. In the coming weeks, America will see a debate that tests our ability to confront this enormous challenge yet still preserve bipartisanship and reason. We can meet in the center on a reform plan making major improvements in our health care system that puts us firmly on the path toward cost containment, universal coverage and, ultimately, fairness for all Americans. I yield the floor.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I move to reconsider the vote and to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, today I wish to recognize a major business expansion in my home State of Nebraska which will serve as an inspiration for all businesses struggling in the face of this economic recession. The Nucor Detailing Center will celebrate its grand opening on May 1, 2009, in Norfolk. This is a state-of-the-art facility operated by Nucor Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company and national manufacturer of steel products. Nucor's story is an impressive one. Nationally, Nucor has 20,000 employees; more than 900 of them are in Norfolk, NE. Despite a downturn in America's economy which has hit the steel industry especially hard, Nucor practices a no-layoff policy and has not closed any of its plants. In fact, in Nebraska, Nucor is expanding with the opening of its Nucor Detailing Center. The Detailing Center is the fourth Nucor division to locate in Norfolk, which is the only city in the world claiming four Nucor divisions. The Nucor Detailing Center started as a small group with just seven employees. Today, it employs 70 teammates with plans to grow to 200 in the near future. This grand opening, in the midst of an economic crisis, the likes of which our country has not seen since the Great Depression, is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the American businessman and to Nucor's belief in a return on its investment in its most valuable resource--workers. Nucor has gained a reputation as North America's largest recycler and as a company which puts an emphasis on safety, the environment and social responsibility. Now, Nucor is adding to that reputation by being able to expand and excel even during troubled economic times. Congratulations to Nucor Detailing Center on its grand opening! Nebraska is proud to have Nucor Corporation as one of our fine corporate citizens.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to. Amendment No. 573

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I thank the junior Senator from Nebraska. I, too, offer my praises to Hamilton County, NE, and to express how truly fitting this honor from the Progressive Farmer is. Hamilton County has always been a place imbued with the strong values of our great State of Nebraska values of the family, a strong work ethic, and the beauty that the State is known for. Aptly named for our Nation's first Treasury Secretary--Alexander Hamilton--this county holds many of Nebraska's treasures. From Phillips to Hampton, Aurora to Marquette, Giltner to Hordville, and even little Stockham, this county embodies what Nebraska is all about.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I thank my friend from Oklahoma for the courtesy of extending 5 minutes of his time on the front end of his time, so I will not be going between Senator Coburn and Senator Chambliss. Our Nation's economy is in trouble. Over the course of America's history our economy has been in trouble before but rarely this much. Job losses in my State of Nebraska and across the Nation are climbing, and the recession that began some 13 months ago is accelerating. Of the 3.6 million who have lost their jobs, nearly half received a pink slip in the last 3 months. Everyone in Congress knows we need to act, and to act soon, to try to stop our economy's downward slide, and to ease the increasing hardship felt by millions of American families, business owners, workers, students, and seniors. The time is now to begin turning this recession toward recovery. Congress cannot wait another 3 or 6 months to see if economic conditions worsen. By then it could be too late and we could be in a depression which it could take years to overcome. Now is the time to provide the tools the American people will use, with creativity and drive, to rebuild the economy and return us to prosperity. The $789 billion economic recovery plan before us providing jobs creation and tax cuts for millions of Americans has the best chance to do that, I believe. It is timely. This plan is a vast improvement over the first proposal considered several weeks ago. In the Senate, we faced a reality that any economic recovery plan would require at least 60 votes to overrule a filibuster attempt and win passage. So I and a number of colleagues came together to work across the political aisle with a shared goal: Scrub as much pork, nonstimulative spending, and fat as possible from the bill to focus it sharply on saving and creating millions of jobs. The group I dubbed the ``jobs squad'' included my friend Senator Susan Collins of Maine and five other Republicans and some 15 Senators in my own party. I thank each of them for their contributions to making the bill better and for helping Congress respond to a national economy in crisis. This legislation before us is also targeted. There has been a lot of criticism of the final bill before us, and I agree it is not perfect. One criticism I have heard is that it will leave just $13 to $15 in people's pockets per week. To many hard-working Americans, that is somewhere between $700 and $800 a year, money they can use to pay electric or gas bills, buy food or medicine, provide clothes for their children, take a bit of the stress out of their lives. Let's look back a moment to recent history. In 2003, under the previous administration, Congress approved a major tax cut bill that included $20 billion in economic stimulus for States. Senator Collins and I coauthored the provision to help States cope with the loss of State revenues tied to the tax cuts. The $20 billion in State aid was a one-time boost designed to end when it would likely no longer be needed. Eighteen months after the tax cut bill passed, the aid to the States ceased. We have safeguards in the current economic recovery bill that will shut off spending in a similar timeframe. And 78 percent of the spending in this bill will be completed by the fall of 2010, overcoming the old wives' tale that this money will only be spent at the end of the legislation. This legislation clearly is temporary. As I said, it is not perfect, but it has the support of such major organizations as the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and, in my State, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, and others. Members of these groups will be able to use money from this legislation quickly to hire new workers, tackle infrastructure needs nationwide, expand their businesses, and begin to get our economy moving again. The bill will have a major impact on States across the Nation as well. For example, my State of Nebraska stands to receive a total of $1 billion from the recovery plan. Nebraska's K-12 school districts will receive about $236 million to prevent cutbacks, teacher layoffs, to modernize schools, and for other purposes. For State flexibility money, Nebraska will receive about $52 million to help rebuild vital educational and other State infrastructure. It can also be used to help State government provide services and avoid layoffs of critical employees such as State troopers and public safety officers. Nebraska is estimated to receive another $310 million in additional Medicaid assistance, preserving needed health coverage for low-income Nebraskans who will feel the economic downturn more than many others.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I thank the Senator from Oklahoma for the time. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Six minutes.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, I rise today to take action--and I thank my friend and colleague from Montana for this opportunity to speak--for action is what is demanded by this American-- and, indeed, global--economic crisis. The economic recovery bill that came over from the House was a start, and the bill introduced in the Senate was better, but it was not good enough, and some elements did not seem to belong in a bill to create new jobs, save the jobs people have now, and return our economy to prosperity as soon as possible. That is why Senator Susan Collins and I worked with a group of nearly a dozen and a half Senators--12 Democrats and 6 Republicans--to cut and tailor our bipartisan compromise. It focuses like a laser beam on tax cuts for the middle class and job creation for millions of Americans. Critics have gone to great lengths to find fault. That is the old Washington way that leads straight down the path to partisan bickering, deadlock, and a dead end. Many have said it spends too much. Others have said it cuts too much spending. That is a sign, to me, that perhaps we have it just about right. We cut $110 billion of inefficient or less stimulative spending out of the previous bill. As I say, we have trimmed the fat, fried the bacon, and milked the sacred cows. We didn't have a closed-door negotiating system last week as some have said. It was open to all Senators, and they were invited. All were welcome to participate. In fact, several Republican colleagues did join us and participated, although they declined to support our final proposal. But they helped shape it, and their contributions were listened to, were considered, and were valuable. Now, some critics also say that other approaches might have been better for the economy than what we put in place. But no other plan has enough bipartisan support--and that is what you have to have in the Senate--to get the 60 votes needed to pass. The time for talk is over, and it is time to act. I believe our plan is the best chance for Congress to stop an economic avalanche. In just a year's time, that avalanche has swept away jobs for 3.6 million Americans--including many in my State of Nebraska--and nearly half nationwide vanished in the last 3 months. That is three and a half million jobs lost in the last 12 months and almost half of them in the last 3 months. The avalanche has erased billions of dollars in assets, driven anxiety up, and pushed our economy down toward the worst condition in seven decades. And it is accelerating. People in Nebraska and across America are losing their homes every day. The cost of inaction would be far higher than the cost of this bill, and acting later, when we are in a deeper recession or depression, will cost even more. Other critics of the bipartisan plan also say we are creating too much debt to leave to our children. I am afraid they have not learned from the past. The surest way to get out of debt is the way we have before: economic growth. Let's review. In 1993, when President Clinton inherited a deficit of over $300 billion, we grew our way out of it with tax cuts and jobs that lowered unemployment, increased productivity, and increased revenues. With the help of the Congress, he turned that deficit into a surplus of over $200 billion. President Obama has inherited a deficit of at least half a trillion dollars, and now we must once again restart the American prosperity engine with a lean diet of tax cuts and jobs for the middle class. This is not only the fastest plan to get us out of this economic slide; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. While it certainly is easier to stay on the sidelines, it is our responsibility, as Members of Congress, to the American citizens and taxpayers to approve a recovery plan that is tailored, targeted, and lean, one that reduces taxes so middle-class Americans can get by today and that creates American jobs so we can grow our way out of this crisis. Some say we have cut too much from important programs, such as help for struggling States. We did reduce spending by $40 billion, leaving $39 billion, because we didn't want to offer a taxpayer-backed blank check to States with little accountability or promise of job creation. The plan leaves unchanged $87 billion to States under Medicaid. Now, let's be clear. The cuts our group found are reductions in new spending and not actual cuts. The more than $300 billion in tax cuts will help families with children, college students, home buyers, commuters, and businesses. They also offer incentives to expand renewable energy and promote energy efficiency. Cutting taxes has always been a key way Government can drive private sector job and economic growth, and the economic recovery plan we will consider delivers those major tax cuts. The $110 billion leaner spending side of the plan will fuel, save, and create jobs in towns, townships, and cities across America. It still provides robust support for infrastructure projects that will fix and build roads, bridges, highways, and sewer systems. It will improve community health centers, refurbish childcare centers, expand broadband Internet service, and repair housing. It will create the smart grid for electricity transmission across our country. Those upgrades will leave a lasting legacy long beyond the terms of the legislation. Our refocused bipartisan proposal isn't perfect. We all will admit that. But it will, in my view, do the job we need right now, and it will get many Americans back on the job while keeping many others in their jobs. I would like to extend my gratitude to Senator Susan Collins from Maine, Senator Olympia Snowe from Maine, Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut, Senator Arlen Specter from Pennsylvania, and the more than a dozen others who joined our negotiations--who, rather than taking the easy path of criticism, saw the need for resolute action and joined in the task of building----

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Thirty seconds more.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I thank my friends for these negotiations. Rather than taking the easy path of criticism that we have seen, they saw the need for resolve and they joined in the task of building our American recovery, for I believe, as they do, in the hard work and ingenuity of the American people, and that is how we will return to prosperity, as only Americans can and have. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor, and I thank my colleague from Montana for that courtesy.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, I rise this evening to speak about the need for Congress to support substantial and swift-acting help for our Nation. These days, all too often when tuning into the news, we cringe--layoffs, job losses, poor earnings, business closings, State fiscal problems, foreclosures, global financial troubles, and the worried faces of so many Americans. Our great Nation is mired in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. My State of Nebraska, usually late to recessions, has been caught by the crisis too. Thousands of Nebraskans have lost their jobs or been laid off. Many business owners are worried, and the economic downturn is affecting everyone's budget and wallet and outlook. One of the strongest Nebraska values is our work ethic. But right now, a lot of Nebraskans just want to show up for work tomorrow or hope for a better job in the future. That is why I have been pleased to work with my good friend, Senator Susan Collins, and a bipartisan group of Senators to address this crisis now, to find a plan that creates jobs and restores America's economic strength. We have reached an agreement on a bipartisan plan that does that. With so much at stake, however, and the costs to our children and our grandchildren so high, it is important that we get it right. The economic recovery bill we support today fuels two powerful engines: major tax cuts for the middle class and to create jobs, and targeted investments in America's infrastructure and job growth. Our bipartisan group worked long and hard, going line by line, dollar by dollar, to reduce spending from the original bill. We trimmed the fat, fried the bacon, and milked the sacred cows. The savings to the American people, to taxpayers, is $110 billion--hardly the trillion dollars that was just mentioned. The total package is $780 billion. The remaining bill consists of tax cuts for the middle class and specific job-creating investments, providing long-lasting economic benefits. I truly thank my colleagues from across the aisle, my good friends and partners in this effort, Senator Susan Collins and Senator Arlen Specter and my good friend from Connecticut, Joe Lieberman, for their work. Also, we had the support of a number of our colleagues, including the Presiding Officer, on this side of the aisle. I guess I can affectionately call all of us the Jobs Squad. They made nonstop efforts and held nonstop meetings to do this work this week. They never lost hope, no matter whatever the word was on the street or the fact that there was maybe one or two or more leaks of information. We would never lose hope. Their guidance and their wise counsel were invaluable as we continued to work to advance and develop this consensus today. Our plan pared back a very substantial amount of money that we believed didn't belong in a bill called a stimulus package that was designed to fix our economy. If we look at these proposals, many of them will work well in a budget or in another bill, but we did not think they deserved to be in this particular bill which was about jobs, jobs, jobs. If we ask taxpayers to support it, as we are, they deserve to get the biggest bang for their buck. The remaining plan will generate new jobs, save jobs, and expand job opportunities all across America as it also boosts our economy. We recognize our plan is not perfect, but I believe it is both responsible and realistic. It is stimulative and timely and can help deliver economic recovery to the American people soon. The tax cuts in the recovery plan will reach 95 percent of all Americans, providing direct assistance for struggling middle-class American families and to businesses so they can create or preserve jobs. The robust $350 billion in tax cuts will put a lot of money in people's pockets, money to buy a car, a refrigerator, a student's college education, or equipment for better products. Some say we do not have enough tax cuts. That $300 billion I just mentioned is the exact same amount Congress overwhelmingly approved in 2003, under the previous administration, to help the economy at that time. Our country cannot wait another day for another approach. The American people expect us, their elected representatives, to pull together in crisis, to do the best we can, and to take appropriate action. We may not have a choice about the need for a major stimulus effort, but our bipartisan group has made tough choices, and we have improved the economic recovery bill. I believe President Obama and colleagues all across Capitol Hill, on both sides of the aisle and both sides of this wonderful Capitol, will see this as a serious and effective effort to return America to prosperity. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I am very pleased that Rabbi Daniel Fellman could join us today as guest Chaplain to deliver the opening prayer for the Senate. Rabbi Fellman, a native of Omaha and a respected religious leader, currently is assistant rabbi at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, NJ. He is a much admired teacher who has served on the faculty at the Yavneh Day School in Cincinnati and numerous religious schools. He served as student rabbi in congregations in Natchez, MS; Petoskey, MI; Joplin, MO; and LaSalle, IL. He also served in summer rabbinic positions in Nebraska and at the University of Cincinnati Hillel. In Cincinnati, he helped foster interfaith understanding as a member of the steering committee of the Catholic-Jewish Educators Dialogue of the American Jewish Committee. Rabbi Fellman received his undergraduate degree in political science from Colorado College. He earned a master of arts in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, and he was ordained in June 2005. On a more personal note, however, Rabbi Fellman is an Eagle Scout, and, like me, Boy Scouts taught him the importance of dedication and service to the community. While he is still young now, I have counted him as a friend for a long time. During my first campaign for Governor in 1990, I was grateful when a teenage Daniel Fellman often showed up with his father, University of Nebraska at Omaha political science professor Dick Fellman--who is with us today, and his mother--to volunteer. One night Daniel Fellman, a relatively green driver then, got into an automobile accident. There were no serious injuries sustained, but news reached one of my closest aides and my campaign manager the next morning before Daniel arrived in the office. That was my great friend, the late, great Sonny Foster. The next morning, when Daniel did arrive at our campaign office, Sonny greeted him: Hello, Crash. Ever since, to me and a few others, he has been ``Crash Fellman,'' but now he is Rabbi Fellman. We understand it is a nickname, always given and received by a smile. I thank Rabbi Fellman and his parents and his family for being here today and for his words of prayer this morning. May they guide us to do what is right for America and for the world. Recognition of the Minority Leader

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. I move to lay that motion on the table. The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Madam President, I rise today to honor Army CPT Rob Yllescas who was wounded in Afghanistan on October 28, 2008, and tragically succumbed to his injuries on December 1. Captain Yllescas, who was a native of Guatemala, attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he met his wife, Dena, a native of Osceola, NE. He came to call our State home, and today I know that every one of my fellow Nebraskans is proud to claim Captain Yllescas as one of our own. Captain Yllescas commanded B-Troop, 6-4 Cavalry of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, The Big Red One, where 90 American troops and more than 200 Afghan fighters were under his command. A graduate of Army Ranger School, Captain Yllescas had deployed twice before during his 10-year military career, both times to Iraq. His fellow soldiers recognized and respected Captain Yllescas's commitment to the missions he performed. Although trained as a warfighter, Captain Yllescas knew the importance of connecting with the local populations and was known to sit down with local leaders for tea and discussions of democracy. After he was severely injured by an improvised explosive device, Captain Yllescas was strong enough to survive a lengthy medical evacuation which eventually brought him to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. With Dena and other family members at his side, Captain Yllescas underwent almost daily surgeries in the hope of recovery. Dena Yllescas chronicled his hospitalization on an Internet blog which drew tens of thousands of readers. Friends, relatives and total strangers all followed Captain Yllescas's progress and prayed for his recovery. President George W. Bush made a special trip to the medical center and awarded Captain Yllescas the Purple Heart in a brief ceremony on November 10. Captain Yllescas knew the dangers he faced and the risks he took. He also knew the importance of the work he did in the Army on behalf of his fellow Americans. He risked and ultimately sacrificed his own life so that people a world away could have the chance to enjoy the freedoms he had found in America. Captain Yllescas is survived by his wife, Dena, and daughters Julia, age 7, and Eva, 10 months; parents, Barbara Yllescas of Lincoln and Otto Yllescas of Guatemala; a brother, Christopher of Columbia, MO; and two sisters, Jennifer Winterbauer of Lincoln and Natalie Yllescas of Guatemala. The life and service of Captain Yllescas represents an example we can all look up to and seek to emulate. He served his country honorably and made the ultimate sacrifice in furtherance of a much larger goal. Captain Yllescas made the most of his short life, and the greatest tragedy is that now it is impossible to know what more this promising young man might have accomplished. I join all Nebraskans in mourning the loss of Captain Yllescas and in offering my deepest condolences to his family.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise tonight to recognize and pay tribute to my colleague from Nebraska, Senator Chuck Hagel, who is retiring from the Senate. When I entered this body nearly 8 years ago, Senator Hagel welcomed me, and since then we have worked together on a number of important issues for the good of our great State and our country. We teamed up to seek Federal assistance to help Nebraskans recover from natural disasters, such as floods, ice storms, and drought; to win congressional approval for naming the new FBI building in Omaha after our esteemed late colleague, Senator J. James Exon, and on numerous other Nebraska projects. Like me, Chuck Hagel grew up in small communities in Nebraska. It is a special experience to be raised among Nebraskans under the wide open skies of the Great Plains. Helping hands are always nearby and opportunities seem limitless. From our families, friends, and neighbors, we both learned the bedrock values of love, of community, of faith, responsibility to others, and devotion to country. These values have been evident during Senator Hagel's tenure in this body. Also evident has been an important perspective he shared, one only a few Senators know firsthand, about the reality of war, gained as a decorated U.S. Army sergeant on violent battlefields in the Vietnam war and later as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Veterans' Administration during the Reagan administration. Here in the Senate, he represented the people of Nebraska and the United States well as a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Banking Committee, the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Intelligence Committee, and the Rules Committee. He will long be remembered as one of our most outspoken and candid Members, as a patriot, and as one who took seriously his duties. Particularly through expressing his views on foreign policy, he fiercely advocated the constitutional principle that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government are equal partners. I take this opportunity to commend him for his honorable service to our State and Nation over these many years. And whatever path Chuck Hagel embarks on next, I wish him and his wife Lilibet, daughter Allyn, and son Ziller only the best in their lives. It has been an honor to serve with him. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska

Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Marine Cpl Adrian Robles, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 22, 2008. Corporal Robles, who was a native of Scottsbluff, NE, was assigned to the Second Battalion, 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Twentynine Palms, CA. He had worked his whole life to become a marine. At age 16, Corporal Robles told his parents about his plans to enlist and, at 17, asked that they sign forms which would allow him to join before his 18th birthday. His parents told him to wait, so he finished high school and then enlisted immediately. Corporal Robles had previously served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006, and was on a tour serving in Afghanistan at the time of his death. Corporal Robles received three good conduct medals--an unusual achievement for such a young marine--as well as medals for his service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as a rifleman, the backbone of the Marine Corps. Originally deployed to help train Afghan Army recruits, his unit's mission changed as the security situation deteriorated; and Corporal. Robles was ``in the fight'' right to the end. Fully aware of the dangers he faced, Corporal Robles made the courageous choice to serve his country and help the people of Iraq and Afghanistan achieve peace and security. He made the ultimate sacrifice so that others might enjoy the freedoms he had known all his life. Corporal Robles represents all that we have to be proud of in our Armed Forces. I commend his bravery and selflessness while offering my deepest condolences to the family members he left behind. It is small comfort for those who must now go on without one they loved so dearly, but they know that Corporal Robles gave his life for a noble goal. I join all Nebraskans--indeed, all Americans--in mourning the loss of such a fine young man.