[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 30 (Thursday, March 4, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1129-S1131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

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                   MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AWARENESS WEEK

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  SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED BY THE NATURAL DISASTERS ON MADEIRA ISLAND

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                     IRAQI PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

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                        READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY

  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate 
resolutions: S. Res. 434, S. Res. 435, S. Res. 436, S. Res. 437, and S. 
Res. 438.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. There being no objection, the 
Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions 
to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolutions were agreed to.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:

                              S. Res. 434

       Whereas several national dental organizations have observed 
     February 2010 as Children's Dental Health Month;
       Whereas Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old Marylander, died on 
     February 25, 2007, of complications resulting from untreated 
     tooth decay;
       Whereas the passing of Deamonte Driver has led to increased 
     awareness nationwide about the importance of access to high-
     quality, affordable preventative care and treatment for 
     dental problems;
       Whereas the primary purpose of Children's Dental Health 
     Month is to educate parents, children, and the public about 
     the importance and value of oral health;
       Whereas Children's Dental Health Month showcases the 
     overwhelmingly preventable nature of tooth decay and 
     highlights the fact that tooth decay is on the rise among the 
     youngest children in the Nation;
       Whereas Children's Dental Health Month educates the public 
     about the treatment of childhood dental caries, cleft-palate, 
     oral facial trauma, and oral cancer through public

[[Page S1130]]

     service announcements, seminars, briefings, and the pro bono 
     initiatives of practitioners and academic dental 
     institutions;
       Whereas Children's Dental Health Month was created to raise 
     awareness about the importance of oral health; and
       Whereas Children's Dental Health Month is an opportunity 
     for the public and health professionals to take action to 
     prevent childhood dental problems and improve access to high-
     quality dental care: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate expresses support for Children's 
     Dental Health Month and honors the life of Deamonte Driver.
                                  ____


                              S. Res. 435

       Whereas multiple sclerosis can impact men and women of all 
     ages, races, and ethnicities;
       Whereas more than 400,000 people in the United States live 
     with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas approximately 2,500,000 people worldwide have been 
     diagnosed with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas it is estimated that between 8,000 and 10,000 
     children and adolescents are living with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas every hour of every day, someone is newly diagnosed 
     with multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is still 
     unknown;
       Whereas the symptoms of multiple sclerosis are 
     unpredictable and vary from person to person;
       Whereas there is no laboratory test available that 
     definitively defines a diagnosis for multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas multiple sclerosis is not genetic, contagious, or 
     directly inherited, but studies show that there are genetic 
     factors that indicate that certain individuals are 
     susceptible to the disease;
       Whereas multiple sclerosis symptoms occur when an immune 
     system attack affects the myelin in nerve fibers of the 
     central nervous system, damaging or destroying it and 
     replacing it with scar tissue, thereby interfering with, or 
     preventing the transmission of, nerve signals;
       Whereas in rare cases, multiple sclerosis is so progressive 
     that it is fatal;
       Whereas there is no known cure for multiple sclerosis;
       Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition, an affiliation of 
     multiple sclerosis organizations dedicated to the enhancement 
     of the quality of life for all those affected by multiple 
     sclerosis, recognizes and celebrates Multiple Sclerosis 
     Awareness Week;
       Whereas the mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition is 
     to increase opportunities for cooperation and provide greater 
     opportunity to leverage the effective use of resources for 
     the benefit of the multiple sclerosis community;
       Whereas the Multiple Sclerosis Coalition recognizes and 
     celebrates Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week during 1 week in 
     March every year;
       Whereas the goals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week are 
     to invite people to join the movement to end multiple 
     sclerosis, encourage everyone to do something to demonstrate 
     a commitment to moving toward a world free of multiple 
     sclerosis, and to acknowledge those who have dedicated their 
     time and talent to help promote multiple sclerosis research 
     and programs; and
       Whereas in 2010, Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week is 
     recognized during the week of March 8th through March 14th: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis 
     Awareness Week;
       (2) encourages States, territories, and possessions of the 
     United States and local communities to support the goals and 
     ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week;
       (3) encourages media organizations to participate in 
     Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week and help educate the public 
     about multiple sclerosis;
       (4) commends the efforts of the States, territories, and 
     possessions of the United States and local communities that 
     support the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness 
     Week;
       (5) recognizes and reaffirms the commitment of the people 
     of the United States to combating multiple sclerosis by 
     promoting awareness about the causes and risks of multiple 
     sclerosis, and by promoting new education programs, 
     supporting research, and expanding access to medical 
     treatment; and
       (6) recognizes all people in the United States living with 
     multiple sclerosis, expresses gratitude to their family 
     members and friends who are a source of love and 
     encouragement to them, and salutes the health care 
     professionals and medical researchers who provide assistance 
     to those living with multiple sclerosis and continue to work 
     to find cures and improve treatments.
                                  ____


                              S. Res. 436

       Whereas on February 20, 2010, a powerful storm hit Madeira 
     Island, the largest of the islands that comprise the Madeira 
     Autonomous Region of Portugal, resulting in a series of 
     devastating flash floods and mudslides;
       Whereas the storm caused boulders, trees, and earth to be 
     hurled against buildings, carried away vehicles, and washed 
     away roads and bridges on the south side of Madeira Island, 
     an area that includes Funchal, the capital of the Madeira 
     Autonomous Region;
       Whereas 42 people have lost their lives, 151 people have 
     received treatment for injuries at the main hospital in 
     Funchal, and hundreds of people have been displaced;
       Whereas the storm destroyed a large portion of the water 
     and communication infrastructure on Madeira Island;
       Whereas Jose Socrates, the Prime Minister of Portugal, has 
     promised ``all necessary aid'' to Madeira, and Alberto Joao 
     Goncalves Jardim, the President of the Madeira Autonomous 
     Region, has consulted with European Commission President Jose 
     Manuel Barroso to seek further assistance;
       Whereas a Portuguese Navy frigate has dispatched troops to 
     Madeira Island, with Portuguese divers and a medical team 
     also arriving to offer emergency assistance;
       Whereas the Government of Portugal has announced 3 days of 
     national mourning for those who lost their lives in this 
     disaster;
       Whereas the United States is providing assistance through 
     the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance of the United 
     States Agency for International Development;
       Whereas there are approximately 400 citizens of the United 
     States on Madeira Island, with United States officials 
     continually working to ensure their safety and well-being; 
     and
       Whereas a community of approximately 1,500,000 Portuguese-
     Americans, strongly represented in the States of Rhode Island 
     and Massachusetts, maintain deep and enduring ties with 
     Portugal and Madeira Island: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) mourns the loss of life and expresses its deepest 
     condolences to the families of those killed and injured by 
     floods and mudslides resulting from the storm that hit 
     Madeira Island on February 20, 2010;
       (2) expresses solidarity between the people of the United 
     States and Madeira, recognizing the historical ties between 
     Portuguese-Americans, Portugal, and the Madeira Autonomous 
     Region; and
       (3) applauds the courageous rescue efforts of fire, 
     medical, and military personnel and other volunteers in 
     response to the flooding and mudslides.
                                  ____


                              S. Res. 437

       Whereas on February 27th, 2009, President Obama declared 
     that the United States' ``clear and achievable goal'' is ``an 
     Iraq that is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant'' and that 
     the United States will achieve that goal by working ``to 
     promote an Iraqi government that is just, representative, and 
     accountable'';
       Whereas in December 2009, Iraq's elected officials ended 
     months of deadlock, passed a new election law, and scheduled 
     parliamentary elections for March 7, 2010;
       Whereas nearly 100,000 American soldiers, sailors, airmen 
     and Marines continue to serve in Iraq, marking the United 
     States' largest current overseas deployment;
       Whereas Iraq's future sovereignty, stability, and democracy 
     is threatened by serious internal and external challenges, 
     including--
       (1) continuing attempts by Al Qaeda in Iraq to perpetrate 
     mass casualty terrorist attacks intended to paralyze the 
     Iraqi state and reignite sectarian violence;
       (2) some surrounding countries' malign and destabilizing 
     interference in Iraq's internal affairs and their incomplete 
     diplomatic recognition of Iraq;
       (3) unresolved disputes over internal boundaries, including 
     the City of Kirkuk;
       (4) incomplete reintegration of Sunni Arab communities in 
     Iraq; and
       (5) ongoing incidents of civil and human rights abuses in a 
     diverse, multiconfessional society;
       Whereas while the United States appreciates the profound 
     conviction of the Iraqi people to ensure that the Ba'ath 
     party never returns to power in Iraq, the process by which 
     scores of candidates have been disqualified from 
     participating in the March 7, 2010 elections--
       (1) has not met international standards of electoral 
     transparency and fairness;
       (2) was interpreted by many Iraqis as politically 
     motivated; and
       (3) risks diminishing participation in elections;
       Whereas the United States has a clear, strong, and enduring 
     national interest in helping the people of Iraq to establish 
     a stable, representative, and democratic state;
       Whereas the United States committed, in the Agreement 
     Between the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq 
     On the Withdrawal of United States Forces from Iraq and the 
     Organization of Their Activities during Their Temporary 
     Presence in Iraq (referred to in this resolution as the 
     ``Status of Forces Agreement'') signed in November 2008, to 
     redeploy--
       (1) all combat forces from Iraqi cities by June 30, 2009; 
     and
       (2) all United States forces from Iraq by December 31, 
     2011;
       Whereas United States combat forces successfully redeployed 
     from Iraq's cities by June 30, 2009, in accordance with the 
     Status of Forces Agreement, and are likely to early out 
     further reductions in the number of United States military 
     forces in Iraq during the months after the March 7, 2010 
     elections;
       Whereas the United States and Iraq agreed in the Strategic 
     Framework Agreement, also signed in November 2008, to 
     ``continue to foster close cooperation concerning defense and 
     security arrangements'';
       Whereas the March 7, 2010 elections and the subsequent 
     government formation process will mark a period of 
     exceptional importance for the future of Iraq;
       Whereas Iraq conducted provincial elections in January 2009 
     that were free from widespread violence and the results of 
     which

[[Page S1131]]

     were recognized as legitimate by the international community 
     and the Iraqi people;
       Whereas several of Iraq's main electoral blocs have 
     committed to a Code of Conduct meant to ensure fair, 
     transparent, and inclusive elections:
       Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the United States' strong commitment to 
     building a robust, long-term partnership with Iraq that 
     strengthens Iraq's security, stability, economy, and 
     democracy;
       (2) recognizes the United States' clear and enduring 
     interest in partnering with the people of Iraq in building a 
     stable, representative, successful, democratic state;
       (3) urges the Administration--
       (A) to devote continued, high-level attention and support 
     for the people and Government of Iraq toward these goals, in 
     particular during the critical months after the March 7, 2010 
     elections;
       (B) to work with the international community to provide all 
     necessary support for Iraqi elections, including technical 
     support for Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission and 
     assistance for domestic and international monitoring;
       (4) calls upon all parties within Iraq--
       (A) to ensure that the March 7, 2010 parliamentary 
     elections are free, fair, inclusive, and without violence or 
     intimidation; and
       (B) to refrain from rhetoric or actions that might undercut 
     the legitimacy of such elections or inflame communal 
     tensions;
       (5) urges the countries surrounding Iraq--
       (A) to refrain from exercising malign and destabilizing 
     interference in Iraq's internal affairs; and
       (B) to allow the people of Iraq to determine their own 
     future;
       (6) calls for the timely formation of an inclusive, 
     effective, and representative new Iraqi government after the 
     March 7, 2010 parliamentary elections;
       (7) reaffirms that, while United States military forces 
     redeploy from Iraq in the months after the March 7, 2010 
     elections, the United States must remain engaged in 
     partnering with the people of Iraq to help them in building a 
     stable, representative, and successful democratic state;
       (8) expresses gratitude to the men and women of the United 
     States Armed Forces, the Foreign Service, and other Federal 
     Government agencies, for their service, sacrifices, and 
     heroism in Iraq; and
       (9) commends the people of Iraq for--
       (A) the courage they have shown;
       (B) the sacrifices they have endured; and
       (C) the hard-won gains they have made in fighting 
     terrorism, finding peace, and building democracy.
                                  ____


                              S. Res. 438

       Whereas reading is a basic requirement for quality 
     education and professional success, and is a source of 
     pleasure throughout life;
       Whereas the people of the United States must be able to 
     read if the United States is to remain competitive in the 
     global economy;
       Whereas Congress, through the No Child Left Behind Act of 
     2001 (Public Law 107-110) and the Reading First, Early 
     Reading First, and Improving Literacy Through School 
     Libraries programs, has placed great emphasis on reading 
     intervention and providing additional resources for reading 
     assistance; and
       Whereas more than 50 national organizations concerned about 
     reading and education have joined with the National Education 
     Association to use March 2, the anniversary of the birth of 
     Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, to celebrate 
     reading: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 2, 2010, as ``Read Across America 
     Day'';
       (2) honors Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss, for his 
     success in encouraging children to discover the joy of 
     reading;
       (3) honors the 13th anniversary of Read Across America Day;
       (4) encourages parents to read with their children for at 
     least 30 minutes on Read Across America Day in honor of the 
     commitment of the Senate to building a Nation of readers; and
       (5) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. BAUCUS. Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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