Mr. President, today we considered five separate budget proposals for the Federal Government. At first glance, that would appear to be the fiscally responsible thing to do. The families back home in Kansas and small business owners I talk to they do that every year. They operate with a budget, and we know the Federal Government needs to do so  as well. However, this Chamber has not passed a budget in 1,113 days. That is more than 3 years.

In my first speech on the Senate floor as a new Member of the United States Senate a little more than a year ago, I indicated to my Senate colleagues that my greatest concern for our country is our Nation's out-of-control spending. I am here today because I still have that concern. We spend too much money, and we no longer can delay the difficult decisions necessary to correct that problem.

Our national debt stands at more than $15 trillion. This enormous amount of debt is slowing our economic recovery and threatening the prosperity of our future generations, who will have to pay for our fiscal irresponsibility.

Writing and passing a budget is one of the most basic responsibilities of Congress. It is required by law. The budget sets forth priorities and guidelines for the fiscal year and begins the process of determining how much money should be spent and which programs should be cut back, eliminated, or even further supported. Without a budget, the annual appropriations process--and I am a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and I want the appropriations process to work, but in many ways that appropriations process continues to be on hold. This is not the way to run our country. To put our country back on its path to fiscal responsibility, we must set a budget. We set budget limits, and then we have to stick to them.

Any serious conversation about budget and Federal spending must include a candid assessment of our Nation's entitlement programs. Those programs include Social Security and Medicare. Mandatory spending makes up 56 percent of the Federal budget --if we had one. This percentage will only increase in years ahead as more Americans retire and fewer workers are there to replace them. Without addressing our long-term commitments, our attempts to significantly change our country's fiscal outlook will be limited.

As I said, I am a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, where our appropriations process deals with about 30 percent of spending on an annual basis. We have done a reasonable job--I hate to be overly complimentary to Congress—but we have done a reasonable job at holding the line on that discretionary spending, that 30 percent we deal with every year. It has been pretty flat lined over the last several years, but you cannot solve our country's fiscal problems by only dealing with the 30 percent that we include in the appropriations process. You have to deal with the remaining portions of our budget.

These challenge not only the appropriations process to and the challenge that it is every year to determine how much money we spend but the broader issues of so-called entitlement spending cannot be ignored any longer. Of the five budgets we considered earlier today, four of them--all but President Obama's budget --contained serious proposals to reform these entitlements. I can critique every one of the four budgets that move in the right direction of balancing the budget. There are things I would do differently, but I commend my colleagues for offering serious solutions to serious problems.

Its bothered me greatly that when Members of the House or Members of the Senate offer a serious budget, they are immediately attacked from a political point of view as if we can continue to ignore the problems that we face and simply make sound bites out of proposals that Members of the Senate and the House care very seriously about.

We have got to work together to put forward commonsense solutions that will preserve these programs for future generations. This is not about ending those entitlement programs. In fact, the reports that recently came from, just recently, nonpartisan sources tell us that both Medicare and Social Security will face significant shortfalls in the near future. Therefore, this is about taking care of those programs to see that they are available for those who need them in the future. I want to be able to tell every young person--when they question , will I be able to get Social Security when I retire, I want that answer to be yes and if we don't deal with the issues, the answer cannot honestly be yes.

In Congress, we have a solemn obligation to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Our spending debate is oftentimes seen as something that is philosophical or academic or more likely just a partisan argument, but the truth is that out-of-control borrowing and spending has a very real consequence on the daily lives of every American and certainly on the economy in which we live and operate. It is about whether or not Americans can find a job, make payments on their homes and automobiles, and whether their children will have a bright future and the opportunity to pursue what we all call the American dream.

When we continue to fail to balance the budget, when we don't put ourselves on the path toward a balanced budget, it means increasing inflation,  higher interest rates and an uncertain economy, which results in less business investments and fewer jobs.

The greatest opportunity we have to improve the lives of Americans is to erect an environment where employers feel comfortable in investing in the future and create jobs so that people can go back to work. When they go back to work, they can put food on their family's table, they can save for their children's education, they can save for their own retirement, and most importantly, every person in America will once again be able to pursue the American dream.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today paid tribute to the more than 19,000 law enforcement officers who have laid down their lives to protect their fellow citizens. This year, 362 names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and among those names were three brave officers from Kansas: David Enzbrenner of Atchison; William Bloomfield of Bourbon County; and Andrew Balfour of Kiowa County.

Earlier today, Sen. Moran attended the 31^st annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day Service, held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Since 1962, May 15th has stood as a day of remembrance for the many fallen police officers who faithfully served our communities and our country.

Excerpts from Sen. Moran’s remarks can be found below, along with links to video downloads.

• “Earlier today, I attended a special memorial service to honor thousands of law enforcement officers who laid down their lives to protect their fellow citizens. They must never be forgotten.” 

• “Just five months ago, Kansans were grieved by the loss of another officer – Sergeant David Enzbrenner of Atchison. On December 9, 2011, David joined a fellow officer on a routine call to see a local resident. As they were turning to leave the front step of the home, a person suddenly appeared and opened fire on David without warning. This act of violence was unprovoked and forever robbed the Enzbrenner family of their father and husband, and the Atchison community of a loyal public servant.”

• “Last December, I witnessed the impact David had on the local community when I attended his memorial service and more than 2,000 people gathered to pay their respects to him.”

• “During the service, many moving tributes were read about David and how he lived his life. But one that stood out from among the others was a statement from David’s wife, Kerri. She said this about her husband: ‘David was a man of few words. He always tried to keep life simple. And when I questioned things, he would remind me that it’s ok sometimes not to understand.’ We don’t fully understand why David’s life was taken, nor why the lives of the more than 19,000 officers we remember today ended so soon. But we want to express our deepest gratitude for their service and dedication to our communities and to our country.”

• “During National Police Week, we also remember their families and the loved ones they left behind. May God comfort them in their time of grief and be a source of strength for them. May He also protect all those who continue to serve us today.”

• “I want to especially mention David Enzbrenner’s wife, Kerri, and his three teenage daughters, Avery, Abbi and Celia. I want them to know that we honor the way David lived his life and tell them that we love and care for them today and always.”

FTP LINK:  Click here to download the video of his remarks. (Save to your desktop.)

YOUTUBE:  Click here to watch the floor speech on YouTube.

# # #

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) was awarded the ACU Conservative Award this week by The American Conservative Union (ACU) for his record in 2011 of standing up for conservative principles of reduced government spending, lower taxes, liberty, personal responsibility and traditional values.

“Congress has the responsibility to create an environment where the free market can succeed, yet this Administration and Congress have been spending and borrowing at an alarming rate – undermining our economic recovery and threatening the prosperity of the next generation,” Sen. Moran said. “I remain committed to making the tough decisions necessary today, so our economy can recover, jobs can be created and our children and grandchildren can have the opportunity to dream big and pursue their dreams.”

“The ACU Conservative Award is a reflection of Senator Moran’s consistent support of conservative principles on a wide range of issues of concern to grassroots conservatives in 2011,” ACU Chairman Al Cardenas said. “At a time when the fundamental principles of the American system of government are being challenged, Senator Moran stands with those who are trying to preserve those principles.”

Founded in 1964, ACU represents the views of Americans who are concerned with economic growth through lower taxes and reduced government spending and the issues of liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values and national security. ACU serves as the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots conservative organization. Since 1971, ACU has rated members of Congress on key conservative voting issues.

The ACU Conservative Award is only given out to members of the House and Senate who scored 80 percent or higher on a wide variety of issues of interest to grass-roots conservatives voted on during the first session of the 112^th Congress. 

Sen. Moran has received the ACU Conservative Award multiple times for his long-standing commitment to conservative ideals.  

Click here to view a photo of Sen. Moran accepting his award from ACU Chairman Al Cardenas.

###

Madam President, once again, it is that time of year when many proud parents will watch their children walk across the graduation stage to receive their diplomas. Two years ago, I watched my oldest daughter walk across her college graduation stage and it was one of those moments for me in which I realized our country faces tremendous, enormous challenges, and if we fail to act our children's future will be at significant risk.

I believe all Members of Congress, in fact every American, has the responsibility to be a good steward of what has been passed on to us. So at that graduation event, I renewed my commitment to do my part to turn our country around.

My fear is we are not doing enough, that we as Americans and especially we as Members of this Congress are not doing enough to offer our children a bright future. In the last 2 weeks, I have read headlines that catch my attention, would catch every American's attention.

First, the amount of student loan debt has surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in American history. Americans now have more combined student loan debt than combined credit card debt.

Second, the AP recently reported that one out of every two college graduates, one out of every two college graduates, this year will be unemployed or underemployed. Unfortunately, it is not just college graduates that are having trouble finding a job and paying their bills. The Department of Labor reported just last week that more than 12 million Americans are still looking for work and our economy only added 115,000 jobs in April, the lowest number of jobs added in 5 months. This makes 39 straight months of unemployment rate over 8 percent.

Our first priority in Congress must be to strengthen our economy so more jobs can be created, more Americans can get back to work, and more graduates can pursue their dreams. Data tells us that for close to three decades, companies less than 5 years old created almost all the new net jobs in America, averaging 3 million jobs each year. While startups provide the gasoline to fuel America's economic engine, new businesses are hiring fewer employees than in the past and make up a smaller share of all companies than in previous years.

Data out last week from the Census Bureau shows that the startup rate fell to the lowest point on record for new firm births in 2010. While startups are so important, startup companies are so important to job creation, their numbers are now falling too. Given the disproportionate impact new businesses have on the economy, it makes sense to craft policies that help entrepreneurs start businesses and make it easier for these young businesses to grow.

A former NASA engineer now in the technology field gave me a useful analogy. He described the process of designing a rocket or an airplane, in which there are two forces at play that determine whether the rocket will launch or plane will fly: thrust and drag. So much of what we seem to want to do around here tends to focus on the thrust, spending money and creating programs, when what we really ought to be doing is focusing on reducing the drag.

Rather than spend money on government programs, Congress must and should enact policies that create an environment in which many entrepreneurs and their young companies have a better shot at success, and in the process of pursuing success they put people to work--reduce the drag so the private sector can create jobs.

To create this environment where these startup companies can be successful, I have introduced the Startup Act with Senator Warner. The Startup Act reforms the Federal regulatory process to ensure that the cost of compliance does not outweigh the benefits of regulations. The Startup Act alters the Tax Code to create incentives that will facilitate the financing and growth of new businesses. The Startup Act accelerates the commercialization of university research so more good ideas move out of the laboratory and into the marketplace, where they can create jobs for Americans.

Perhaps most importantly, the Startup Act helps America win the global battle for talent. On a recent trip to Silicon Valley, I met with startups, entrepreneurs, and some of the leading technology companies in the world--and they were just startup companies a few years ago. While I heard many encouraging stories of success, their No. 1 concern was attracting and retaining highly skilled employees. One business I met said they had plans to hire dozens--I think the number was 68--foreign-born but U.S.-educated individuals and to hire them here in the United States, but they were unable to get the visas necessary to have these workers work in the United States. Rather than lose that talent, this company hired the employees but placed them at various international offices in countries with immigration policies that encouraged the retention and attraction of highly skilled foreign-born workers.

Another company told me that with the talent increasing overseas, it will soon be easier for them to open offices and plants in other countries rather than have the work done here in the United States.

The last thing we want is for American businesses to have a better business climate in places outside the United States. It is not just the loss of those dozens of jobs to some other country; many of those people in those businesses will become entrepreneurs themselves and create their own businesses, hiring even more people down the road. So we lose this talent, this skill on two occasions--first, the direct jobs today and ultimately the jobs these entrepreneurs will create in the future.

The future of our economic competitiveness depends upon America winning the global battle for talent. Foreign-born Americans have a strong record of creating businesses and employing Americans. Data shows us that 53 percent of immigrant founders of U.S.-based technology and engineering companies completed their highest degree at an American university, and rather than send these talented, highly educated individuals who have been educated in the United States back home once they graduate, we should do much more to allow them to remain here in the United States, where their skills, their talents, and their intellect, as well as their new ideas, can fuel U.S. economic growth.

We are not talking about illegal immigration; we are talking about legal immigration. It makes no sense to educate these talented, foreign-born students in America and then send them to their home countries to compete against Americans for jobs.

The Startup Act will help America win this global battle for talent. The Startup Act creates entrepreneur visas for foreign entrepreneurs who register a business and employ Americans in the United States.   

The Startup Act also creates a new STEM visa for foreign students who graduate from an accredited U.S. university with a master's or Ph.D. in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Our own Department of Commerce projects that STEM jobs will grow by 17 percent in the years ahead. We have to retain more highly skilled and highly talented and educated individuals, the ones we educate in America, for us to remain competitive in a global economy. We  need to make sure our own U.S.-born and educated citizens have those job opportunities as well. We do not want to risk the loss of the next Mark Zuckerberg to Brazil or India. Doing so will fuel America's economic growth and result in the creation of jobs here in America by retaining these folks.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Congress should address this issue. Conventional wisdom in Washington, DC says not much will get done in an election year. My guess is 80 percent of my colleagues here in Congress would agree with the proposals contained in this legislation. Particularly, 80 percent I think would agree with the aspect of the legislation dealing with STEM visas. But we are told that because we cannot do everything, we cannot do anything. That excuse is no longer a good one and should not be accepted. We cannot continue to operate under the sentence that always says we can't do anything in an election year. Our country desperately needs us to act now, not later. In fact, in the short time I have been a Member of the Senate--about 14, 15 months--six other countries have changed their laws to encourage these types of individuals to work in their countries, to create jobs, to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and job creation in those countries. In just the little over 1 year I have been a Member of the Senate, six other countries have advanced further than we have while we have waited because we cannot do anything because it is an election year.

America cannot turn a blind eye to those developments or to use the upcoming elections as an excuse to do nothing, yet again, on an issue that is so critical to our future. Congress should work to make it easier for companies to grow because in a free market, when people have a good idea and work hard, they not only enhance their own lives with success but the lives of so many others through the products and jobs they create.

If we do not take the steps now to win the global battle for talent, our country's future economic growth will be limited. That means college grads and young people will have fewer opportunities, and higher rates of unemployment may become the norm instead of the exception. Allowing talented, foreign-born U.S. students and entrepreneurs to remain in the United States will create jobs for more Americans.

So I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Senate to implement policies such like those contained in the Startup Act that so more entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into reality, that they will have the chance for success. We owe the next generation of Americans the opportunity to pursue their dreams--that those who this month walk across the graduation stages in high schools and colleges and universities, and technical colleges and community colleges across our country, will have the opportunity to pursue what we all know as the American dream.

 I yield the floor.