Increasing the Statutory Limit on the Public Debt

Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, I will not be long at all, but I just want to support this amendment by my leader, Senator Daschle. It is really simple. It says it is the sense of the Senate that Social Security recipients should not be denied their cost-of-living adjustment.

We have just, unfortunately, passed the tax break for the wealthiest few in this country. It is astounding to me, it is sad to me, to think that those in this country who work hard every single day, the average American family, maybe will get $100—but, by the way, probably might not even get that much—whereas the millionaires, the people who seem to touch the heartstrings of the Republicans, are going to get thousands of dollars every single year. And by some magic—magic—this is going to create jobs.

We have been there and we have done that. What do my Republican friends say now? Oh, my God, we just did the tax break for the wealthy few. We had better increase the debt burden on all Americans so we can really come through with our promise. This debt, this additional debt is almost $1 trillion more.

What is my leader saying? He is saying: At least, at the minimum, there are a few things we should hold dear. One of those is a commitment to the people who are on Social Security. If my colleagues vote no against this—and, by the way, what an excuse they have: The House has gone home.

Well, too bad. Let the Speaker of the House bring back the people of the House. Let the Republican Speaker of the House, DENNIS HASTERT, bring back the people of the House to vote for the people of this country. What an excuse. They are going to vote no, and they are going to go home and say: I was really for you, but I had to vote no because if I voted yes, then DENNY HASTERT would have had to bring back the people who represent you in the House.

It is time we stood up here for the people, not the wealthiest, the millionaires, and giving excuses as to why what you are doing here is good for the people.

I support my leader, and I will support a number of amendments here to keep a commitment to the average working families, and to seniors, and the children of this country.