Richard Shelby

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise to speak regarding the Agriculture- CJS-THUD Appropriations Conference Report that the Senate will be voting on today. I was the only conferee not to sign this conference report and I regret to say that I have serious concerns with provisions in this bill. The conference report contains language that will raise the loan limits for FHA to over $729,000. I strongly oppose this language for three reasons. First, this change means that FHA, along with the GSEs will continue to crowd out the private sector. The government currently accounts for 96 percent of mortgage-backed security issuance in this country. We desperately need private sector investment to return so that we can finally achieve sustained growth in the housing market. Second, raising the loan limits for only FHA puts further pressure on the FHA and the taxpayer. Just this week, we learned that there is nearly a 50 percent chance the taxpayers will need to bail out the FHA. Increasing the loan limit only increases the risk that the taxpayer will have to bail out FHA. Finally, this will cause the American taxpayer to subsidize homes for wealthy buyers. Helping affluent people buy homes worth over three quarters of a million dollars is directly at odds with FHA's mission to develop affordable housing. It is a shame that this bill contains these ill-advised provisions, as there is so much worthwhile contained elsewhere within the text. I particularly want to commend Chairman Inouye and Vice Chairman Cochran, and CJS Subcommittee Chair Mikulski and Ranking Member Hutchison, for the great work they did in supporting the Space Launch System, SLS, NASA's heavy lift rocket. The bill we will vote on this evening provides $1.86 billion to support SLS, $60 million above the President's request. The bill puts us on a path towards regaining our rightful place as the world's lead spacefaring nation. SLS will take us beyond low Earth orbit, where we have been stuck for decades, and once again make the American space program the envy of the world. It is only as a result of continual pressure from both houses of Congress that the U.S. has not completely forfeited space supremacy to the Russians and the Chinese. The Obama administration's 2009 plan would have abandoned NASA's focus on manned exploration and instead subsidized so-called ``commercial'' space companies to perform endless taxi missions to low Earth orbit. Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan, rightfully called the Obama plan a ``pledge to mediocrity.'' Fortunately, Congress has pushed back hard. Many of my Senate colleagues and I joined to pass authorization and appropriations legislation requiring NASA to develop a 130 metric ton heavy lift vehicle that will take America's next generation of astronauts to the moon and beyond. In countless hearings and private meetings with NASA and the administration we have come to an agreement that the primary purpose of NASA is to expand human frontiers, not serve as a grant administrator for speculative private ventures. Thankfully, after more than 2 years of continual pressure from Congress and the American people, we appear to have achieved a breakthrough. NASA is moving ahead with SLS and this CJS Appropriations bill will ensure that they have the resources to implement the plans the Administrator has laid out. It is important to note that the recently announced SLS acquisition strategy goes to great lengths to control cost and technical risk. The strategy makes maximum use of existing contracts and flight-tested hardware from the Constellation and Shuttle programs while leaving room for competition where appropriate. Neil Armstrong recently told a House panel: ``Predicting the future is inherently risky, but the proposed Space Launch System includes many proven and reliable components which suggest that its development could be relatively trouble free.'' Mr. President, SLS is a bold and workable plan with strong support in both chambers and both parties. Although I have serious reservations about the overall legislation, I thank my colleagues on the CJS Subcommittee for embracing American leadership and the promise of American ingenuity through their support for SLS.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Gilbert Calvin Steindorff, Jr. who passed away on Monday, November 14, 2011, at the age of 86. Calvin lived a life dedicated to service to his country, and I am glad to have known and become friends with such an inspirational individual. Gilbert Calvin Steindorff, Jr. served in the military with the U.S. Army in World War II in European theatre of operations. Upon his return, Calvin was appointed as the tax assessor of Butler County, a role he served for 28 years. He was appointed as probate judge of Butler County in 1975 and served in that role until his retirement in 1995. Calvin had a fierce dedication to public service and was a member of many civic organizations. A truly selfless individual, Calvin also served as secretary at The First Christian Church, where he was an elder, providing guidance for those in his church community. For his career in public service and the invaluable role that he played in the community, Calvin was named Greenville's ``Man of the Year.'' Calvin is loved and will be missed by his wife, Maxine Darby Steindorff, and his son, Gilbert C. Steindorff, III, and many more family members and friends. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn the death of a wonderful husband, father and friend. Calvin was a role model to many and a compassionate community leader who was devoted to the service of Baldwin County. His presence in Alabama will be greatly missed.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to Mr. Emory McCord Folmar, who passed away on Friday, November 11, 2011. Emory lived a life dedicated to service to his country, holding many military and civic leadership roles, and was a true inspiration to many. I am glad to have known such a remarkable individual and fellow public servant. Emory Folmar was born on June 3, 1930, in Troy, AL. He graduated from the University of Alabama with his B.S. in business and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Emory's career in the military began at the University of Alabama as well. During his college years he served as a cadet colonel of the Army ROTC. Upon graduating, Emory attended parachute training and instructors' schools and was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Army. During his years of service in the military, Emory received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart during his service in the Koren war. He was a brave defender of the United States of America and continued his dedication to the military throughout his career as a public servant. In 1954, Emory moved to Montgomery, AL, where he began a successful construction business with his brother, James Folmar and Henry Flynn. His political career began in 1975 as president of the City Council District 8, and then he served as mayor of Montgomery from 1977 to 1999. As mayor, Emory made great strides in developing the downtown area and improving Montomgery's infrastructure. Staying true to his military roots, Emory worked hard for the wellbeing of Maxwell and Gunter Air Force Bases, which are vital to our national security and to Alabama's economy. Additionally, Emory worked on the Presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush and ran for Governor of the State of Alabama in 1982. He has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues, who have referred to him as the ``grandfather of the State's modern Republican Party.'' Emory is loved and will be missed by his wife, Anita Pierce Folmar, two children, Wilson Bibb Folmar III and Margaret Folmar Dauber, and many more family members and friends. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they mourn the death of a wonderful husband, father, friend, community leader. He was a role model to many, and the citizens of Alabama and of Montgomery are very fortunate to have benefited from his commitment to public service as mayor for 22 years.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I wish to associate myself with the remarks of the Senators from Texas and Mississippi and to say that I think a lot of people probably mean well but are often misguided when they say we are going to regulate this sector of the economy or we are going to regulate that. The market, as you well know, is the driving force in our economy-- not just in the United States but worldwide. It is going to be the market that will decide what we do as far as job creation for our people everywhere, and I believe the Internet is an example of, gosh, let's don't overregulate it. Let it grow, let it do its job, and it will. I would also like to speak about some commonsense steps that Congress can take right now to help our struggling economy. At a time when job growth is stagnant, Congress needs to lift the regulatory burden that is stifling capital formation. The Senate has before it several bills that would help private businesses raise the capital they need to grow and to create jobs. This is an issue that should enjoy the support of both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. Access to capital, as the Presiding Officer well knows, is what allows entrepreneurs to transfer new ideas into living companies. Novel products, new services, and, most importantly, good jobs can be created. Unfortunately, overregulation has made it progressively harder for small businesses to access capital in this country. I will give some statistics. They are clear. In the 1990s, an average of 547 initial public offerings took place each year, compared with an average of just 192 per year after 1999. Small initial public offerings now make up only 20 percent of the total. In contrast, they made up 80 percent of the total in the 1990s, when we were creating so many small jobs. In addition, the number of new businesses being launched each year is falling. In 2010, it was the lowest it has been since the Bureau of Labor Statistics started tracking the number in 1994. The SEC has been slow to address these problems, even though it has the authority to do so. The Chairman of the SEC has spoken of the need for action, but we have not seen tangible results yet. One year ago, one SEC Commissioner remarked: My hope is that, as an agency, the Commission will move beyond talking about small business capital formation and will take concrete steps that actually foster it. I believe we, the Senate and the American people, can no longer wait for the SEC to do its job. The time has come for Congress to take action. Our economy cannot afford to wait any longer. The first thing I believe we should do to improve capital formation is to bring up for consideration several bipartisan bills that would implement important regulatory reforms. One bill would modernize the SEC's regulation A, which was initially designed to make it easy for small businesses to access our capital markets. Unfortunately, regulation A is outdated and rarely used. Another set of bills would raise the thresholds for reporting so small banks and small companies are not subject to burdensome SEC reporting requirements. These bills would still leave investors protected and ensure that public companies provide meaningful disclosure. Most important, investors would still be protected by the SEC's antifraud rules. These bipartisan bills represent a few steps we can take right now, but they are not comprehensive by any means. Much more needs to be done to make sure registration requirements are tailored to the size and type of businesses. The existing one-size- fits-all approach means that small companies have to bear the same costs that large companies do when they go public. These inequities need to be addressed; it stifles job creation. One would think that we could agree in the Senate on removing unnecessary restrictions on capital formation. Yet for the past 3 years, the majority party has dramatically increased government involvement in the economy. They have imposed one costly mandate after another on businesses. They have crowded out the private sector with massive government programs, resulting in persistently high unemployment and stagnant economic growth. Basically, I think it is time for a new approach. It is time to revitalize the free markets in America. We can begin this effort by taking these small steps to help entrepreneurs find the capital they need to build their businesses and to create jobs. I hope my Democratic colleagues will now do more than talk about creating jobs and that we can work on a bipartisan basis on these bills that have bipartisan sponsorship to create jobs and join us here.

Mr. SHELBY

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

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, this past Saturday evening in my home town of Tuscaloosa, AL, there was quite a scoring event--I think most of the people in the Nation watched it--and that was between the No. 1 ranked football team in the Nation, LSU, Louisiana State University, and the University of Alabama. Senator Sessions and I were there. We had a bet that Senator Sessions and Senator Vitter initiated--and Senator Landrieu and I concurred with--on the outcome of the game. All in fun, but you know we all like to win. This was a tremendous football game: no touchdowns on either side, five field goals, overtime. LSU won. I congratulate them. I congratulate my two Senator colleagues here today. It was hard fought between two great football teams, and today--people have probably seen me on the Senate floor a number of times--I have never worn the purple tie, but I have one on today because I lost the bet. We lost the game. I will not wear it every day, but out of respect for my colleagues from Louisiana: congratulations Senator Landrieu, congratulations Senator Vitter, congratulations to the people of Louisiana and to the football team and the coaching staff in Baton Rouge.

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

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to speak for 45 seconds on this amendment.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support the Vitter amendment. The amendment will limit the taxpayers' exposure to the bailout of Fannie and Freddie. No more blank checks. We have already spent $169 billion in taxpayer dollars; $200 billion is more than enough. Think about it.

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I yield myself 1 minute. I urge my colleagues to vote against the Menendez amendment. If this amendment becomes law, taxpayers will be forced to subsidize individuals who make upward of $200,000 a year so they may buy homes worth nearly $1 million. That is what this is about. Increasing the loan limits will only benefit those who do not need Federal subsidies. This is simply not a good use of scarce taxpayer dollars. Even the administration does not support higher loan limits here. It is a bad amendment. I yield my time.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to Kathryn Tucker Windham, who passed away in her home on Sunday, June 12, 2011, at the age of 93. Kathryn was a renowned storyteller for whom I had deep respect. She enjoyed an accomplished career as an author, playwright, photographer and journalist. Kathryn also demonstrated a fierce dedication to her community. I mourn her passing. Born on June 2, 1918, Kathryn spent the majority of her childhood in Thomasville, AL, where she also began her career in writing and photography. She graduated from Huntingdon College in Montgomery and remained supportive of her alma mater for the duration of her long and successful career. Kathryn's trailblazing accomplishments include publishing many well- loved ghost stories and autobiographical memories as well as three cookbooks. She was also recognized as the first woman journalist in the South to cover a police beat at a major daily newspaper, and she had stints at the Alabama Journal, the Birmingham News, the Selma Times- Journal, the Area Agency on Aging and WUAL radio. Kathryn also wrote several plays, including a one-woman show that she, herself, performed. She was also a contributor to NPR's ``All Things Considered'' and a regular at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Always giving back to her community, Kathryn founded the Alabama Tale-Tellin' Festival, which takes place each year in Selma. Kathryn's achievements garnered recognition, both in the State of Alabama and nationally. She received the Alabama Humanities Foundation's Alabama Humanities Award, the University of Alabama's Society of Fine Arts' Alabama Arts Award, the National Storytelling Association's Circle of Excellence Award and Lifetime Achievement Award as well as numerous other distinguished awards and honors throughout her lifetime. Additionally, the Alabama Southern Community College in Thomasville opened the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum in her honor. I am honored to have known Kathryn and to have enjoyed her great works of literature and journalism. She was truly an inspiration to her community, the literary world, and the nation. Her legacy will forever be preserved through her timeless stories. My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family, especially her children, Dilcy Hilley and Ben Windham, as they mourn the loss of this gracious and wonderful woman. Kathryn cleared a path for women writers and journalists to follow after her and should be revered for her bravery, stamina and grace. Her life's contributions to the State of Alabama will forever be remembered.

Mr. SHELBY

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

Mr. SHELBY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed in morning business for 8 minutes.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Madam President, I rise to thank my colleagues in the Senate and countless others across the country for their outpouring of support and offers of assistance to my State of Alabama in this time of need. On April 27--this last week--an unprecedented tornado system struck the State of Alabama, claiming hundreds of lives and destroying thousands of homes and businesses. At last count, 236 people in Alabama alone were dead, with thousands more injured and a lot missing. It will take many years and potentially billions of dollars for my State to fully recover from this catastrophic disaster. We have received calls from my fellow Senators, many of whom recently experienced destruction in their own States due to floods and deadly storms, with offers of help. To those who have reached out, I wish to offer my sincere gratitude on behalf of the people of Alabama. I also wish to thank President Obama and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for their swift response and commitment to restoring our State. Their words of encouragement to disaster victims during their visit to Alabama helped ease the grief burdening local families, and their work with Gov. Robert Bentley and Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner has provided vital assistance during these difficult times. This continued level of Federal coordination is critical to ensuring that Alabama gets back on its feet as quickly as possible. I have never in my life seen such devastation to the extent I saw during my visit to my home State of Alabama recently. Giant oaks lie flattened and splintered. Homes throughout the State were demolished, leaving thousands homeless and reliant on the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others for shelter. At one point last week, over 1 million Alabama residents were without power--almost one-quarter of the State's population. It was gut-wrenching to walk through scattered rubble and realize it was once the site of someone's home or someone's business. The scale and the magnitude of destruction can only be described as hell on Earth. In our State, while larger cities such as Birmingham and Tuscaloosa-- my hometown--suffered extensive damage, so did other rural areas. Communities such as Pratt City, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Rainsville, Hackleburg, Cullman, and many others also incurred the wrath of the storm system and are now trying to assess the extent of their damage. In DeKalb, Marion and Franklin Counties alone, we have seen nearly 100 deaths. Virtually every part of the State was touched by storms, and all of us were affected. The pain and loss that families are experiencing are still fresh. Many remain in shock. However, we must also recognize that Alabama was not the lone victim of the storm. As we continue our cleanup and recovery efforts, so do the people of Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, Louisiana, and Kentucky. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the affected States. We stand willing and able to assist you, as you have offered similar support to us. I want to reassure the people of Alabama and all the affected States that we will do everything we can on the Federal level to restore life as it was before. My staff and I are working with the State, FEMA, and the other Federal agencies to ensure as quick and efficient a recovery as possible. Thousands of Alabamians have opened their homes, donated supplies, made contributions, and rushed to help in any way they could. After witnessing the selfless generosity of complete strangers and the sheer resilience of those affected by the storms, I have never been more proud to call Alabama my home. It will take a lot of work and help from volunteers, but I am convinced that, together, we can overcome this terrible tragedy. Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to once again introduce my flat tax bill, the Smart, Manageable and Responsible Tax Act, referred to as the SMART Act. In the United States, there are few, if any, days that are viewed with the same resentment and contempt year after year as April 15: national tax day. Our current Tax Code totals more than 70,000 pages, making tax compliance unnecessarily complex, confusing and costly. During the past 10 years, there have been over 4,400 changes to the Tax Code, including an estimated 579 changes in 2010 alone. The inclusion of the additional 1099 tax reporting requirements in the health care reform bill are just one example of the onerous requirements throughout our Tax Code. As we have learned since the passage of these requirements last March, incremental improvements to the Tax Code are not easy. It took Congress over a year to finally agree to repeal the 1099 changes that common sense tells us are essential to alleviating the burdens on small business. Yet our Tax Code is riddled with other similarly ill-conceived requirements. Over the course of a year, individuals spend an average of 26 hours, over half of a work week, preparing for their tax filings. Although this has been standard practice for decades, I do not believe average taxpayers should have to pore over IRS regulations for hours or pay someone to prepare their returns. Unfortunately, under our convoluted tax system they are left with little choice. I have said a number of times before that our current tax system is unfair. It punishes success and stifles economic growth. The best remedy is to adopt a single tax rate for all taxpayers. Transitioning to a flat tax would not only increase fairness in the Tax Code, it would also increase the incentives to work and invest. By eliminating the thousands of tax loopholes, deductions, and credits that can often only be utilized with extensive tax planning and expensive advisers, hardworking Americans can rest assured that corporations with billions of dollars in profit and sophisticated taxpayers are not able to unfairly reduce or eliminate their tax liabilities and leave middle-class Americans footing the bill. The SMART Act also reforms our corporate Tax Code. The United States currently has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world. American companies routinely make the difficult decision to move operations overseas to reduce their tax burden. Under my legislation, companies would pay a flat tax rate of 17 percent on their profits. Cutting the corporate tax rate in half would increase domestic companies' competitiveness with foreign corporations and eliminate the incentives to shift jobs overseas. This bill provides a simple, commonsense solution to the complexities and inequities of the current tax system. Taxpayers would be able to determine their tax liability quickly and easily, and file a tax return the size of a postcard. The SMART Tax would repeal the current Internal Tax Code and replace it with a single tax rate for all taxpayers of 17 percent on all salaries, wages, and pensions. The only exemptions would be a personal exemption of $13,410 for a single person; $17,120 for a head of household; $26,810 for a married couple filing jointly; and $5,780 for each dependent, with these amounts indexed to inflation. Additionally, under my legislation, earnings from savings and investments would not be included in taxable income. Eliminating this double taxation would increase the savings rate in our country and immediately spur investments in the economy, create jobs and boost economic growth. Approximately 60 percent of individual taxpayers now pay preparers to complete their taxes for them. An additional 29 percent of individuals use tax software to assist with their filings. What this means for most people is that in addition to paying the government every year, they must pay someone or buy software to tell them exactly how much to pay their government. The American people want and need fundamental tax reform that would save time and money and bring fairness to our tax structure. The legislation I am introducing today would implement much-needed reforms that eliminate onerous paperwork and promote economic growth in our country. I recognize that this bill is a monumental shift away from our current tax laws, but our economy needs a boost, and we must not allow the enormity of the task to deter us from enacting better, more efficient tax laws. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to once again introduce my flat tax bill, the Smart, Manageable and Responsible Tax Act, referred to as the SMART Act. In the United States, there are few, if any, days that are viewed with the same resentment and contempt year after year as April 15: national tax day. Our current Tax Code totals more than 70,000 pages, making tax compliance unnecessarily complex, confusing and costly. During the past 10 years, there have been over 4,400 changes to the Tax Code, including an estimated 579 changes in 2010 alone. The inclusion of the additional 1099 tax reporting requirements in the health care reform bill are just one example of the onerous requirements throughout our Tax Code. As we have learned since the passage of these requirements last March, incremental improvements to the Tax Code are not easy. It took Congress over a year to finally agree to repeal the 1099 changes that common sense tells us are essential to alleviating the burdens on small business. Yet our Tax Code is riddled with other similarly ill-conceived requirements. Over the course of a year, individuals spend an average of 26 hours, over half of a work week, preparing for their tax filings. Although this has been standard practice for decades, I do not believe average taxpayers should have to pore over IRS regulations for hours or pay someone to prepare their returns. Unfortunately, under our convoluted tax system they are left with little choice. I have said a number of times before that our current tax system is unfair. It punishes success and stifles economic growth. The best remedy is to adopt a single tax rate for all taxpayers. Transitioning to a flat tax would not only increase fairness in the Tax Code, it would also increase the incentives to work and invest. By eliminating the thousands of tax loopholes, deductions, and credits that can often only be utilized with extensive tax planning and expensive advisers, hardworking Americans can rest assured that corporations with billions of dollars in profit and sophisticated taxpayers are not able to unfairly reduce or eliminate their tax liabilities and leave middle-class Americans footing the bill. The SMART Act also reforms our corporate Tax Code. The United States currently has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world. American companies routinely make the difficult decision to move operations overseas to reduce their tax burden. Under my legislation, companies would pay a flat tax rate of 17 percent on their profits. Cutting the corporate tax rate in half would increase domestic companies' competitiveness with foreign corporations and eliminate the incentives to shift jobs overseas. This bill provides a simple, commonsense solution to the complexities and inequities of the current tax system. Taxpayers would be able to determine their tax liability quickly and easily, and file a tax return the size of a postcard. The SMART Tax would repeal the current Internal Tax Code and replace it with a single tax rate for all taxpayers of 17 percent on all salaries, wages, and pensions. The only exemptions would be a personal exemption of $13,410 for a single person; $17,120 for a head of household; $26,810 for a married couple filing jointly; and $5,780 for each dependent, with these amounts indexed to inflation. Additionally, under my legislation, earnings from savings and investments would not be included in taxable income. Eliminating this double taxation would increase the savings rate in our country and immediately spur investments in the economy, create jobs and boost economic growth. Approximately 60 percent of individual taxpayers now pay preparers to complete their taxes for them. An additional 29 percent of individuals use tax software to assist with their filings. What this means for most people is that in addition to paying the government every year, they must pay someone or buy software to tell them exactly how much to pay their government. The American people want and need fundamental tax reform that would save time and money and bring fairness to our tax structure. The legislation I am introducing today would implement much-needed reforms that eliminate onerous paperwork and promote economic growth in our country. I recognize that this bill is a monumental shift away from our current tax laws, but our economy needs a boost, and we must not allow the enormity of the task to deter us from enacting better, more efficient tax laws. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I agree with Chairman Johnson.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. W.R. ``Willie'' Jones, who passed away on Friday, March 25, 2011. Willie was dedicated to providing hope for a better life for underprivileged children in Montgomery, AL, and he was a personal friend. Along with the children and families whose lives Willie helped to change, I mourn his passing. Willie Jones was born on April 3, 1955, and was an alumnus of Alabama State University. He began his life of dedication to the YMCA by participating in the organization's programs as a youth. Starting in 1968, he worked part time as an aquatic instructor at the Cleveland Avenue YMCA in Montgomery, where he would later become the executive director. His involvement didn't stop there; Willie also served as a senior vice president of the Montgomery YMCA. He held famous father/son banquets that attracted top sports talent to the Cleveland Avenue YMCA and provided inspiration for young boys and their fathers. I have always recognized the Cleveland Avenue YMCA as an important place for the advancement of underprivileged youth. The facility opened in 1960 in conjunction with Martin Luther King's efforts to obtain equal opportunities for all people, including children. Willie and I worked together to fund and open the Cleveland Avenue Cultural Arts and Education Center, CAEC, in 2000. The CAEC is the largest YMCA facility in the country that is entirely dedicated to the arts. It is a true testament to Willie's commitment to helping America's youth through creative and educational initiatives. In addition to his work for the YMCA, Willie served as the chairman of the Montgomery County Community Punishment and Corrections Authority and advocated for prison alternatives for nonviolent offenders, another passion of his. He also served on the Montgomery Housing Authority board of directors and the Montgomery County Recreation Commission. Willie's advocacy extended beyond the boardroom and into city and county meetings, which he regularly attended. He was often spotted around the community networking with nearly everyone he met. Willie was a great friend to me and to all people, young and old. His selfless life's mantra was, ``This isn't about Willie Jones, it's about the kids at the YMCA.'' I am honored to have assisted with obtaining Federal funding for the Cleveland Avenue YMCA and to have known this man who was so committed to his community and to the greater world around him. Willie is loved and will be missed by his wife Versie and two children, Jeff and Jennifer. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they struggle with Willie's premature and unexpected death. A tireless advocate for underprivileged children and nonviolent offenders, Willie championed the notion of a ``second chance'' for kids throughout the community and will be fondly remembered for the legacy of service he left behind him.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a piece of legislation that I have introduced in every Congress since 1987--a proposed constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance our Nation's budget. This bill has bipartisan support and will allow us to finally begin to get our fiscal house in order. A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, I believe, is the only certain mechanism that will break the cycle of deficit spending. I believe we must ensure that the government does not continue to saddle our children and grandchildren with the current generation's debts. Essentially, this amendment that I propose requires the United States not spend more money than it receives in revenue, except in times of war, or when suspended by a vote of three-fifths of both Houses of Congress. This bill that we propose will provide financial stability to our Nation. Bailouts, stimulus programs, government takeovers of private industry, and costly new programs have consumed and overwhelmed the Federal budget. Over the past 30 years, annual deficits have become routine and the Federal Government has incurred massive debt--nearly $14 trillion and rising quickly. For a moment, let me share this chart with you. It says, ``The Case for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.'' If we go back to 1980--just 30 years ago--we owed, as a nation, $909 billion--not yet a trillion dollars. That was after nearly 200 years of government, including the First World War debt, the Depression, the Second World War, the Korean war, and the Vietnamese war, and many deficits. But from 1980 to 1990, this jumped to $3 trillion. From 1990 to 2000--a 10- year span--it jumped from $3 trillion to $5.6 trillion. That was pretty bad. But from the year 2000 to 2010, which ended a few weeks ago, it went from $5 trillion to $13 trillion--in 10 years. It is slated now, in the next 11 years, to go to $25 trillion. That is unsustainable. In fact, for the record, the United States has only had 2 years in its entire history where it has been debt free. Look back a while. It was 1834 and 1835. I repeat, only 2 years free from debt. It seems to me that the most powerful Nation in the world has had its weaknesses exposed. Foreign markets cannot stand on our wobbly financial legs. The reverberations of our fiscal ineptitude have not only cost American jobs, which we badly need, but have weakened how other nations perceive us. Something must be done. Unfortunately, we don't have to look back far in history to see an example of a once great empire sitting on the curb with its hand held out. Greece's excessive public spending, coupled with a massive borrowing campaign, has put its fiscal insolvency woes on the entire European Union. Greece's bond rating was downgraded to ``junk'' by Standard and Poor's in April. Bondholders were warned they could recover as little as 30 percent of their initial investment. The euro weakened and the European stock markets plunged. The question is, will the dollar soon be seen as ``junk'' to the rest of the world? I hope not. American taxpayers are rightly infuriated by the Federal Government's disregard for the same economic principles that govern every household and business budget. Unfortunately, until the Federal Government is required to spend only the amount of money it takes in, I fear we will continue to write checks the Treasury cannot cash. In fiscal year 2010, the total interest alone on the Treasury debt securities was $413 billion. I believe this money could be better spent on improving education, supporting our law enforcement or, even better, by returning it to the people who earned it, the taxpayers. We hear on a daily basis the rhetoric about tough choices, sacrifice, and austerity. What we need to hear more about is basic mathematics when we are talking about the budget. A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution is the solution, I believe, to a perpetual problem that we do not have the political will to fix. It will finally put our Nation on a path to paying off our national debt. The adoption of an amendment that would require the Federal Government to do what every American already has to do--balance its checkbook--is what this country needs to prove that Washington is serious about accomplishing this feat. A balanced budget amendment is simply a promise to the American people that the government will spend their hard-earned tax dollars responsibly. Some opponents of a balanced budget amendment state that it is a drastic measure not necessary at this time. They are also correct that it is bold. But I believe it is also necessary. I have introduced this legislation, as I said, in every Congress since 1987. If not now, when? I yield the floor.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I ask unanimous consent that I may proceed as in morning business for 10 minutes.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a piece of legislation that I have introduced in every Congress since 1987--a proposed constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance our Nation's budget. This bill has bipartisan support and will allow us to finally begin to get our fiscal house in order. A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, I believe, is the only certain mechanism that will break the cycle of deficit spending. I believe we must ensure that the government does not continue to saddle our children and grandchildren with the current generation's debts. Essentially, this amendment that I propose requires the United States not spend more money than it receives in revenue, except in times of war, or when suspended by a vote of three-fifths of both Houses of Congress. This bill that we propose will provide financial stability to our Nation. Bailouts, stimulus programs, government takeovers of private industry, and costly new programs have consumed and overwhelmed the Federal budget. Over the past 30 years, annual deficits have become routine and the Federal Government has incurred massive debt--nearly $14 trillion and rising quickly. For a moment, let me share this chart with you. It says, ``The Case for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.'' If we go back to 1980--just 30 years ago--we owed, as a nation, $909 billion--not yet a trillion dollars. That was after nearly 200 years of government, including the First World War debt, the Depression, the Second World War, the Korean war, and the Vietnamese war, and many deficits. But from 1980 to 1990, this jumped to $3 trillion. From 1990 to 2000--a 10- year span--it jumped from $3 trillion to $5.6 trillion. That was pretty bad. But from the year 2000 to 2010, which ended a few weeks ago, it went from $5 trillion to $13 trillion--in 10 years. It is slated now, in the next 11 years, to go to $25 trillion. That is unsustainable. In fact, for the record, the United States has only had 2 years in its entire history where it has been debt free. Look back a while. It was 1834 and 1835. I repeat, only 2 years free from debt. It seems to me that the most powerful Nation in the world has had its weaknesses exposed. Foreign markets cannot stand on our wobbly financial legs. The reverberations of our fiscal ineptitude have not only cost American jobs, which we badly need, but have weakened how other nations perceive us. Something must be done. Unfortunately, we don't have to look back far in history to see an example of a once great empire sitting on the curb with its hand held out. Greece's excessive public spending, coupled with a massive borrowing campaign, has put its fiscal insolvency woes on the entire European Union. Greece's bond rating was downgraded to ``junk'' by Standard and Poor's in April. Bondholders were warned they could recover as little as 30 percent of their initial investment. The euro weakened and the European stock markets plunged. The question is, will the dollar soon be seen as ``junk'' to the rest of the world? I hope not. American taxpayers are rightly infuriated by the Federal Government's disregard for the same economic principles that govern every household and business budget. Unfortunately, until the Federal Government is required to spend only the amount of money it takes in, I fear we will continue to write checks the Treasury cannot cash. In fiscal year 2010, the total interest alone on the Treasury debt securities was $413 billion. I believe this money could be better spent on improving education, supporting our law enforcement or, even better, by returning it to the people who earned it, the taxpayers. We hear on a daily basis the rhetoric about tough choices, sacrifice, and austerity. What we need to hear more about is basic mathematics when we are talking about the budget. A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution is the solution, I believe, to a perpetual problem that we do not have the political will to fix. It will finally put our Nation on a path to paying off our national debt. The adoption of an amendment that would require the Federal Government to do what every American already has to do--balance its checkbook--is what this country needs to prove that Washington is serious about accomplishing this feat. A balanced budget amendment is simply a promise to the American people that the government will spend their hard-earned tax dollars responsibly. Some opponents of a balanced budget amendment state that it is a drastic measure not necessary at this time. They are also correct that it is bold. But I believe it is also necessary. I have introduced this legislation, as I said, in every Congress since 1987. If not now, when? I yield the floor.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise to honor a distinguished colleague, Senator Barbara Mikulski, who is celebrating a major milestone--today becoming the longest serving female in Senate history. Elected to the House in 1976 and the Senate in 1986, Senator Mikulski is the first woman to win statewide office in Maryland, the first female Democrat to serve in both the House and the Senate, and the first female Democrat elected to the Senate in her own right. As one of the most effective Senators, Senator Mikulski used her experience as a social worker and activist to ardently work on behalf of her constituents giving them a strong voice in the U.S. Senate. A leader in the Senate she has successfully fought for a variety of issues ranging from women's rights to protecting our law enforcement. Throughout our 8 years of serving together in the House and 24 years in the Senate, Senator Mikulski and I have worked on many issues together. We have a strong bipartisan relationship that is reflected in the numerous accomplishments we have achieved working together as the chair and ranking member on the CJS appropriations subcommittee. I have always appreciated Senator Mikulski's candor, sense of humor, and willingness to cross party lines to work in the best interest of our Nation. Mr. President, I congratulate Senator Mikulski on reaching this historic milestone today. I am honored to call Senator Barbara Mikulski my colleague but prouder to call her my friend.

Mr. SHELBY

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

Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Navy's acquisition strategy to purchase 20 littoral combat ships, LCS. The Navy's plan would allow 20 littoral combat ships to be awarded to two shipyards: Austal, which will build 10 ships in Mobile, AL, and Lockheed Martin, which will build 10 ships in Wisconsin. Under the new procurement strategy, our sailors will receive the ships they need to operate in shallow waters and combat the threats of surface craft, submarines, and mines. These ships will be used for a variety of security issues from sweeping for mines in coastal waters to fighting pirates and chasing drug smugglers. They are a needed asset for our Navy. The Navy's dual acquisition plan, included in the continuing resolution, brings significant advantages to the LCS program. Our Navy will receive this capability faster, bring assets into operational service earlier, and will assist the Navy in reaching a 313-ship Navy sooner. The LCS strategy will stabilize the program and the industrial base with an initial award of 20 ships. This will sustain competition throughout the life of the program. It is critical to ensure that the capabilities of our naval fleet are the very best and that our Armed Forces receive the equipment they need in executing future operations. However, as the foundation of our ability to project force globally for the next half century, we must obtain the best platform for the taxpayer investment. The LCS dual award does both. The dual procurement of the LCS will bring tremendous cost savings to the program that would not have been realized had the Navy moved forward with a down select of designs. According to the Navy, the acquisition savings for a dual award is projected to be $2.9 billion as measured against the President's fiscal year 2011 request. Of these savings, approximately $1 billion is directly attributable to the dual award. Acquisition decisions made in the near term will affect fleet effectiveness and operating costs for decades to come. This is the best outcome for all involved. The Navy will be able to obtain the best solution for the taxpayer investment. I urge my colleagues to support the dual acquisition strategy included within the continuing resolution. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SHELBY

Mr. SHELBY. I object.