On the recordJuly 5, 2011
I thank the Acting President pro tempore. Mr. President, our debate today takes place in the context of deep economic uncertainty at home, coupled with extraordinary dangers overseas. Our country is suffering from high unemployment, with 9.1 percent of Americans out of work--many for years. Our national debt stands well above $14 trillion, and our credit rating is in doubt. Gas prices are still near $4 a gallon in many locations. The number of Americans requiring food stamp assistance has reached 45 million. Some businesses are returning to profitability but long-term economic growth is threatened by numerous forces, including the skyrocketing national debt, declining home values, high energy costs, and increased competition for export markets. Overseas, almost 100,000 American military personnel are fighting a difficult war in Afghanistan. More than 1,600 of our troops have been killed in Afghanistan, with roughly 12,000 wounded. Meanwhile, we still have 46,000 troops in Iraq, a deployment that has cost almost 4,500 American lives, with more than 32,000 wounded. Our troops have experienced multiple deployments over the last 8 years that have strained our Armed Forces. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are extremely high, with no resolution to the problem of North Korea's nuclear program. We continue to pursue international support for steps that could prevent Iran's nuclear program from producing a nuclear weapon.…
