On the recordApril 8, 2011
That brings the total to 58. Senator Casey has been a wonderful supporter in this. He is the lead cosponsor. Mr. President, 58 Senators have stepped to the plate and said: This is not an option, for us to equivocate for 1 minute. I am waiting to get two more cosponsors, which will show that we have 60 and that we want to act as a Senate. I am hoping that Senator Casey and I can get the ability to bring up our bill and pass it. It is very simple, very clear. Military pay for those who are serving our military in civilian capacities will not be delayed. They are going to report to work, and they need to have peace of mind because the mortgages they have may be on direct lines to the mortgage companies, that they are going to be covered. That is the very least we can do as we are arguing about whose fault it is going to be if we have a shutdown. We need to say: It is our first priority not to have a shutdown, and we need to be able to come to agreement, and we need to take further action--I hope we can do it very quickly--of saying we are going to assure, with this simple bill, that our military will be paid. If we send this to the House of Representatives, my guess is they, too, will pass it.
