Senate Proceeding on Nov 16th, 2009 :: 1:07:15 to 1:11:55
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1:06:56 to 1:07:16( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: quorum call: the presiding officer: the senator from south dakota. mr. johnson: that the quorum call dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h.r. 3082, the clerk: calendar number

1:07:15 to 1:11:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Tim Johnson

1:07:17 to 1:07:39( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: 106, h.r. 3082, an act making appropriations for military construction, the department of vete agencies, and so forth and for other pur mr. johnson: mr. president, as we come back from veterans day recess, the senate resume consideration considera

1:07:40 to 1:08:00( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: the bill. as i have stated several times on the floor during this debate, this is a vital piece of legislation that needs to be passed as quickly as possible. as i speak, the v.a. is operating under a stopgap

1:08:01 to 1:08:21( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: funding measure. pu is far from a deal and interrupts their hiring and funding at v.a.ospitals. the bill before the senate today protects against this sort problem the future by providing $48.2 billion in

1:08:22 to 1:08:43( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: advance appropriations for medical care. this is supported by both sides of the in fact, this bill is one of the most bipartisan measures that we take up every year. at is why it mystifies me that we seem to be in a holding pattern.

1:08:44 to 1:09:05( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: one of the most critical parts of this bill is medical care for our nation's vets. the.a. is expecting to treat almost 6.1 million patients in fy 2010, an increase of 2.1%

1:09:06 to 1:09:28( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: over last year. moreover, the department estimates that it will see the number of iraq and afghan war vets rise to 419,000 this year, a 61% increase inatient load since 2008. with these facts in mind, the

1:09:29 to 1:09:49( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: bill targets the vast majority of discretionary funding for our vets' medical care. the bill provides a total of $44.7 billion for medical care. additially, it pvides $580

1:09:50 to 1:10:10( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: million for vital medical and prosthetic research. this is one of the many reasons why we need to get this bill passed and sent to conference as soon as possible. in addition, hundreds of urgent military construction projects are

1:10:11 to 1:10:32( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: this bill. under the unanimous consent agreement entered into last monday, there are 27 amendments in order to this bill and one motion. as i understand it, we will soon be voting on one of the amendments in the motion to commit. between now and the time of the

1:10:33 to 1:10:54( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: votes, i'd like to try and clear some of the other amendments that are in order to the bill. i have read al amendments and the vast majority are not controversial. it would seem to me we shall be

1:10:55 to 1:11:19( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: able to pass them.?? if there are objections to any of these amendments, colleagues to come to the floor and express what objection they may have. mr. president, taking car our vets and our military troops and their families is one of the most important tasks of this body. surely we can all work together

1:11:20 to 1:11:41( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: and pass this bill quickly. mr. president, on behalf of senator durbin, send a second-degree amend desk. the presiding officer: the

1:11:42 to 1:11:58( Edit History Discussion )

Tim Johnson: clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from south dakota, mr. johnson, for mr. durbin -- mr. johnson: i ask to dispense with theeading of the amendment.