Revolutionary War And War Of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act - Continued

Floor Speech

Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the majority leader and I would like to make a few brief comments before this last vote in the tranche of votes we are having at the moment.

It is customary in the Senate to acknowledge one's colleagues on the occasion of a major legislative milestone, and so today we honor the senior Senator from Indiana on the occasion of his 12,000th vote. In our Nation's history, only 12 individuals have cast more votes in this body than Senator Lugar, and this is well worth noting.

But it is a special pleasure to recognize someone who has always been so reluctant to speak about himself. Few Americans have more to brag about than Senator Richard Lugar. Yet I know of no one who is less likely to do so. So it is an honor for me to take a moment to brag about my colleague, my neighbor, and my friend.

As a measure of Senator Lugar's reputation for bipartisanship, historians will note that when our current President launched his Presidential campaign at the Illinois statehouse 2 years ago, he mentioned just one politician by name: RICHARD LUGAR. No one in the Senate commands more bipartisan respect.

As a measure of Senator Lugar's reputation as a foreign policy expert, ask any television news producer for the first Senator they would think to look to to discuss an important international story. They would, of course, tell you: RICHARD LUGAR.

As a measure of Senator Lugar's effectiveness as a lawmaker, just take a look at the results from his last election. During a year in which Democrats made significant gains in both the House and the Senate, Senator Lugar won 87 percent of the vote--a victory so convincing that the State chairman of the Democratic Party in Indiana made the following statement: ``Let's be honest,'' he said, ``Richard Lugar is beloved not only by Republicans, but by Independents and Democrats.''

Never has anyone provided his or her political opponent with a better script for a campaign ad than that--particularly since the comment had the added virtue of being absolutely true.

As a measure of my own personal esteem for Senator Lugar, I would note that I have 12 framed photographs in my office in the Capitol marking various points in my own career, dating back to my days as a college Republican. One of those photographs is a picture of a young Senator Lugar helping me in my first Senate campaign. Whenever I see it, I am reminded of what a public servant should be.

Senator Lugar's life has been one of high achievement: high school valedictorian, a straight-A college student, Eagle Scout, Rhodes Scholar, big-city mayor at the age of 35, U.S. Senator. He has been a counselor to Presidents and one of the most widely respected voices on foreign relations within the Senate for decades. Before he finishes out his current term, he will have served almost twice as long as any Indiana Senator before him--a milestone he has approached with characteristic humility.

In a long Senate career, perhaps none of Senator Lugar's achievements has been more far reaching as the Nunn-Lugar Cooperation Threat Reduction Program, which has led to the dismantling of thousands of nuclear warheads and contributed immeasurably to the promotion of peace. For this achievement in particular, he has been considered for a Nobel Peace Prize.

But ask Senator Lugar and he will probably tell you his greatest achievement was his marriage to Charlene. Senator Lugar was recently asked about the demands of his work. Here is what he had to say:

I've been especially fortunate that my wife, Charlene, has shared my enthusiasm. It would not have been remotely possible if that had not been the case.

Senator Lugar and Char have been married for more than 50 years. They are proud of their four sons and their 13 grandchildren, and they can be proud of the teamwork that has produced a brilliant career, carried out in the best traditions of the Senate and of our country.

Senator Lugar, you are a treasure to the Senate and a model for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in public service.

It is an honor and a privilege for me to recognize my esteemed colleague on this latest of so many accomplishments in a truly distinguished Senate career.

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Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I know how important it is to our banking system, and especially our community banks, that the Senate pass S. 541, the Depositor Protection Act of 2009.

This is a bipartisan bill, led by Senators Dodd and Crapo, that we increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, thereby freeing up capital for banks to lend to small businesses and people who need it.

The Depositor Protection Act is cosponsored by Senators across the political spectrum, including Senators Schumer, Brown, Akaka, Bond, Gregg, and Corker, who is here on the floor with us. The fact that it has such diverse support underscores how important it is to our financial system. This is a bill we should pass without delay. Doing so would help our financial institutions, and thus our economy, during this economic downturn.

The bipartisan Dodd-Crapo bill should not be held hostage by efforts to attach much more controversial legislation on top of it. Specifically, I understand some of our Democratic colleagues want the Dodd-Crapo bill to pull to passage a controversial measure called cram-down, which would allow bankruptcy judges to basically rewrite mortgage contracts.

Politically and economically, cram-down is the opposite of the Dodd-Crapo bill because it has bipartisan opposition; it has bipartisan opposition because it would worsen our economic situation. For example, last year, 11 Senate Democrats, along with every single Republican in the Senate, voted against cram-down because its passage would worsen housing markets by raising interest rates for everyone in order to benefit a very few. This, in turn, would make it more difficult for everyone, especially those of modest means, to own a home. This is the wrong prescription at the wrong time for an ailing housing market. These concerns, of course, have not gone away. This year, some Senate Democrats have publicly reiterated their opposition to cram-down. There are no such concerns with the bipartisan Dodd-Crapo Depositor Protection Act of 2009. We could pass it right now, Mr. President, on a bipartisan basis and help our financial situation.

I hope our friends on the other side of the aisle will let us pass this important bill. They should not hold it up so they can chase something that is fraught with problems and, according to a Senate Democrat, isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

I thank in particular one of the most knowledgeable Members of the Senate, who is thoroughly conversant with these issues and has recommended this approach, and that is my friend and colleague from Tennessee, Senator Corker, whom I see is on the floor.

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