[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 71 (Monday, May 11, 2015)] [Senate] [Page S2744] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] MOVING LEGISLATION AND REPUBLICAN PRIORITIES Mr. REID. Mr. President, I must comment on some of the statements that my friend the Republican leader has made. We have been able to accomplish a few things during this work period, and the reason we have been able to do so is that we, the minority, have cooperated. For 4 years, my Republican colleagues in the minority objected to everything we tried to do--everything. I don't mean most everything; I mean everything. That was a plan they had. I have mentioned before and I will mention again that they decided they would make sure that Obama was not reelected. That failed. And, No. 2, they were going to oppose everything he tried to do, and they have done that overwhelmingly. So it was really hard for 4 years to get things done. Now, my friend the majority leader can talk all he wants about how much we have gotten done. Look at what we have been able to accomplish. The majority of the measures we have done could have been done before, if Republicans had not objected to them and stopped us from moving to those matters. So we are going to continue to do everything we can to move measures, in conjunction with my Republican friends, but we shouldn't be hearing a lot of speeches here about how great things are now, because every time that happens I am going to come and tell everybody what has happened for 4 years. Government is all about priorities. What do we, as Senators, value the most? With only a few days before the Memorial Day recess, I am disturbed and distressed by the Republicans' priorities. For example, the majority leader knows that the Federal highway program expires this month--not next month, this month. He knows that the highway trust fund runs out of money a few weeks later. Why then are Republicans making no serious effort to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Federal highway program? I can easily answer this question. They do not know how to pay for America's next jobs bill. So with no as the answer, they again do nothing. Another short-term extension--this is one of many--one of many. I think the last I remember, the last my staff brought me up to date--I think it has been 12 or 15 times that it has been extended for short periods of time. This is not good. This is such bad news for every State--every State--because the directors of the departments of transportation can't do anything long term. The only way to have a good program for construction is to be able to look ahead. As the Senator from Vermont said the other day, Vermont's season to be able to do construction work is very short, and they can't do long- term planning when the money is only going to be available for a few months. So this is really unfortunate and really too bad. I say again, this could be America's next jobs bill. So it is really too bad. We also have the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. It expires on June 1. It must be extended and reformed. Last week, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the bulk collection program, as currently constructed, is not authorized under current law--meaning the law is illegal. It would be irresponsible for this Congress to merely reauthorize and not reform. How can we reauthorize something that is illegal? We can't. We shouldn't. Why would anyone agree to reauthorize a program which our circuit courts deem to be illegal? My friend the majority leader keeps talking about extending the program for 5\1/2\ years. Extending an illegal program for 5\1/2\ years? That is not sensible. What should happen is that we should move forward and do something that is needed here; that is, do it all over again. The House of Representatives is sending us on Wednesday a new FISA bill, one that has been vetted by those people concerned about the rights of our citizens. They have determined that what the House has done is good. They have passed it out of committee 25 to 2. Senator Leahy has a bill over here that is almost identical to that bill. So I can't understand why we just don't wait until the House sends us that bill and we turn around immediately and give it to the President as passed by the House of Representatives. The President will sign it. He realizes the program has to be changed. We cannot reauthorize a program that is illegal. So I hope we can move forward on what the House has done. To his credit, Senator Leahy is not saying: We have to have my bill. He is saying: If we don't do my bill--Senator Leahy's bill--pass the House bill. That would be good. This is the only bipartisan, bicameral solution we have today that will end the illegal bulk collection program in its current form and reform and reauthorize key provisions of FISA. Otherwise, I am not the only one, Mr. President. I was told walking over here that the junior Senator from Kentucky is not going to let the extension of FISA take place. So why don't we just go ahead and get it done now; that is, when the House sends us their bill, say we are going to pass that and send it to the White House for signature. I hope the majority leader will reassess his priorities and instead choose to protect Americans' civil liberties. What is the business of the day, Mr. President? ____________________