Default Prevention Act of 2013--Motion to Proceed
Floor Speech
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Ms. HEITKAMP. Madam President, 5 days ago I wondered why I came to the Senate. I had the same belief the American people had: This is a place which is no longer functioning, stuck in gridlock and not able to get anything done.
Then an amazing thing happened. Under the leadership of some strong and senior Members, a group came together to have a broader discussion. We called the discussion plan B. This discussion presented ideas that would, in fact, find their way toward compromise. Under the strong leadership of Senator Collins, as well as the great Senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski, we were able to bring people together and begin those discussions. They started the dialog that I really think had an opportunity to present a template for a resolution.
Today we are doing something the American people have waited for us to do for the last 16 days. We are doing what is responsible and opening the government, extending the debt limit, and doing regular order. No more special committees, no more supercommittees or pinning our hopes on a Bowles-Simpson or Rivlin commission--we are going to make this body function again.
I think we have a lot of great hope that our chairman Patty Murray and ranking member, Senator Sessions from Alabama, will meet with their House counterparts in principled negotiations and discussions that will once again tell the American people we are serious about doing their bidding and their business.
The proof now is in the pudding. We have taken what little confidence the American public had in this institution and the institution of the U.S. Congress and once again shook it. It is time that we bring that confidence back. There is no better time than fulfilling the promise and commitment of this agreement today and getting back to regular order.
I thank all of my colleagues--Senator Manchin, Senator Angus King from Maine, Mark Pryor from Arkansas, who was instrumental in getting me to run for the Senate. I occasionally remind him of that. MARK and I were attorneys general together. There have been so many great opportunities to have conversations across the aisle that I think bore fruit today and will continue to flourish, thrive, and provide opportunity for more bipartisan compromise.
I yield the floor.
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