Dusty Johnson: “very briefly, I want to share my thoughts on the urgency and the merit of the railroad retirement legislation. This is…”

“very briefly, I want to share my thoughts on the urgency and the merit of the railroad retirement legislation. This is legislation that ought to be a slam dunk for this body. It is legislation which passed in the House by an overwhelming 384-33 vote-- legislation sponsored and supported by three-quarters of the Senate. We have an opportunity this afternoon to bring this bill up and to have adequate debate. I don't think it needs much greater debate. People who want to offer amendments could do so, and we could get this finished up after years of negotiation. This legislation has the support of both railroad management and labor and has broad-based, bipartisan support in both Chambers of Congress. There simply is no reason this bill cannot be expedited and taken care of today. I am disappointed we are having as much resistance as we have. It appears to me that with the 74 sponsors we have in the Senate this is an opportune time to find out who, in fact, is really supportive and whose sponsorship is, in fact, not meaningful. We will have a vote on breaking the gridlock and bringing this legislation to the floor. It is timely, meritorious, and it deals with a railroad retirement system that is solvent and will continue to be solvent to the end of the horizon for budget accounting. It is badly needed to update the survivor benefits. We all largely agree to that.…”