[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 23529-23534]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. DAYTON (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
        Johnson, and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 1670. A bill to expand the Rest and Recuperation Leave program for 
members of the Armed Forces serving in the Iraqi theater of operations 
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to include travel and 
transportation to the members' permanent station or home; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation, S. 
1670, which would pay for the travel of U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, 
or in that theater, to and from their homes for the 2-weeks leave they 
are being granted.
  Incredibly, while asking the Congress for an additional $87 billion 
for the war in Iraq, the Department of Defense wants to drop soldiers 
on leave off at the Baltimore Airport and then make them pay for their 
transportation home and back. Those service men and women are serving 
with great courage in 115-degree temperatures and other truly awful 
conditions. They are being given 2 weeks leave--many of them--because 
they are in the Reserves or National Guard and they have just had their 
5- or 6-month tour extended by another 6 months. This will be the only 
time that many of them will have a chance to see their families during 
an entire year.
  The least we can do is get them home and back at Government expense. 
If all 138,000 troops who are stationed in Iraq were to take this leave 
to travel to their homes, the total cost would be approximately $69 
million. My legislation would not increase the $87 billion requested by 
the President, it would just direct that up to $69 million be available 
to be expensed for this purpose.
  Last week, I also cosponsored legislation introduced by Senator Bob 
Graham, which exempted soldiers wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan from 
having to pay for meals while they are hospitalized. I was astonished 
to learn that the military would otherwise dock their pay for the cost 
of their meals. We are appropriating over $400 billion for our military 
operations next year through the regular appropriations and 
supplemental bills. Surely, that provides enough money that U.S. troops 
who are fighting, risking their lives, being wounded, and dying can be 
treated compassionately and fairly, not nickeled and dimed with travel 
and meal costs while on leave, or, even worse, while being hospitalized 
with combat wounds and injuries.
  The American people are generous enough to support our troops 
properly and care for the wounded compassionately. The Department of 
Defense should not have to be required to do the right thing. It should 
be obvious enough to them, but if not, they should

[[Page 23530]]

give me a call and I will let them know.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1670

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF REST AND RECUPERATION LEAVE PROGRAM 
                   TO INCLUDE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION TO 
                   PERMANENT STATION OR HOME.

       (a) Expansion.--The Secretary of Defense shall expand the 
     Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave program to 
     provide travel and transportation allowances to each member 
     of the Armed Forces participating in the program in order to 
     permit such member to travel at the expense of the United 
     States from an original airport of debarkation to the 
     permanent station or home of such member.
       (b) Allowances Authorized.--The travel and transportation 
     allowances that may be provided under subsection (a) are the 
     travel and transportation allowances specified in section 
     404(d) of title 37, United States Code.
       (c) Construction With Other Allowances.--Travel and 
     transportation allowances provided for travel under 
     subsection (a) are in addition to any other travel and 
     transportation or other allowances that may be provided for 
     such travel by law.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``Central Command Rest and Recuperation Leave 
     program'' means the Rest and Recuperation Leave program for 
     certain members of the Armed Forces serving in the Iraqi 
     theater of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
     as established by the United States Central Command on 
     September 25, 2003.
       (2) The term ``original airport of debarkation'' means an 
     airport designated as an airport of debarkation for members 
     of the Armed Forces under the Central Command Rest and 
     Recuperation Leave program as of the establishment of such 
     program on September 25, 2003.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. NELSON of Florida:
  S. 1672. A bill to expand the Timucuan Ecological and Historic 
Preserve, Florida; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a 
bill that will preserve a part of the history of Florida and America. 
My bill will allow 20 acres of untouched, undeveloped sand dune land on 
American Beach, Amelia Island, FL to become part of Timucuan Ecological 
and Historic Preserve.
  The history of American Beach is partly the chronicle of Africa-
American achievement and economic autonomy during the Jim Crow era. 
American Beach was purchased in 1932 by the Afro American Life 
Insurance Company and its President, A.L. Lewis. This insurance company 
was the first insurance company owned by any Floridian, either a black 
or white. Mr. Lewis' granddaughter, affectionately referred to as the 
``Beachlady,'' still resides on American Beach and is revered for her 
colorful life and her work to preserve the American Beach from 
development and environmental degradation.
  American Beach was an integrated beach when all beach communities 
throughout the United States were segregated. For decades, it 
flourished as an ocean-side paradise for blacks from all parts of the 
country. American Beach is still owned primarily by African Americans 
who are the descendants of the original owners. But, developers are 
slowly moving in to destroy this property that holds a chapter of 
American history. The sand dunes tell many stories of generations long 
past--writer Zora Neale Hurston, heavy-weight champion Joe Louis, 
entertainer Cab Calloway, and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph 
vacationed on American Beach. But, most of the beach dwellers and 
visitors were ordinary working-class African Americans.
  This legislation merely seeks to expand the boundaries of a wonderful 
nature preserve already in place to preserve this unique and special 
place called American Beach.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1672

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Timucuan Ecological and 
     Historic Preserve Boundary Revision Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. REVISION OF BOUNDARY OF TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND 
                   HISTORIC PRESERVE, FLORIDA.

       Section 201(a) of Public Law 100-249 (16 U.S.C. 698n) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``(a) Establishment.--There is hereby'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(a) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Modification of boundary.--
       ``(A) In general.--In addition to the land described in 
     paragraph (1), the Preserve shall include approximately 12.5 
     acres of land located in Nassau County, Florida, as generally 
     depicted on the map entitled `Timucuan Ecological and 
     Historic Preserve American Beach Adjustment', numbered 006/
     80012 and dated June 2003.
       ``(B) Duties of secretary.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     shall--
       ``(i) revise the boundaries of the Preserve so as to 
     encompass the land described in subparagraph (A); and
       ``(ii) maintain the map described in subparagraph (A) on 
     file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
     offices of the National Park Service.''.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Lieberman, and Mr. 
        Bayh):
  S. 1673. A bill to authorize the award of the Iraqi Liberation Medal 
as a campaign medal for members of the Armed Forces who serve in 
Southwest Asia in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom; to the 
Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues, 
Senators Lugar, Lieberman and Bayh to offer legislation to honor our 
servicemen and women in Iraq, who serve far from home, and far from 
family and friends. They left the freedom and security of home to 
provide freedom and security to those who have not known it for many 
years. The human cost has been great, over 300 American fighting men 
and women will never come home, and over 1,500 will return wounded. 
Today, over 130,000 troops remain in the region. They remain to ensure 
that those who paid the ultimate sacrifice did not die in vain. They 
are also there to build a new Iraqi nation of stability and freedom. My 
fellow Senators, the liberation of Iraq is turning out to be the most 
significant military, occupation and reconstruction effort since the 
end of World War II.
  Despite their sacrifice and courage, these brave young men and women 
will not be specifically recognized for their service in Iraq. Instead, 
the Department of Defense has decided to award them the Global War on 
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. I believe that this is a mistake, and 
that our military deserves better. Along with my colleagues, Senator 
Lugar, Senator Bayh and Senator Lieberman, I propose to correct this 
mistake by offering legislation authorizing the Iraqi Liberation Medal 
in lieu of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
  While some of us in this body have not shared the administration's 
view on this war, we are united when it comes to supporting our troops. 
These young men and women from active duty, National Guard, and 
Reserves are all volunteers and exemplify the very essence of what it 
means to be a patriot. They continue to serve even though they do not 
know when they will return home to family and friends. They continue to 
serve despite the tremendous hardships they face and they continue to 
serve despite the constant threat to their lives. The President agrees 
with our view of the exemplary service of these young men and women. On 
the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, President Bush proclaimed: ``In 
this battle, we have fought for the cause of liberty and for the peace 
of the world. Our Nation and our coalition are proud of this 
accomplishment, yet it is you, the members of the United States 
military, who achieved it. Your courage, your willingness to face 
danger for your country and for each other made this day possible.''
  I was extremely disappointed when I learned that those serving in 
Iraq would not be specifically recognized for their efforts. There will 
be no Iraqi

[[Page 23531]]

campaign medal. Instead, the Department of Defense will award them a 
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary. I think this is a grave mistake.
  During Operation Desert Storm, service members received three 
separate military decorations for their service: the Armed Forces 
Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, and the 
Liberation of Kuwait medal. For service in Kosovo, our service men and 
women received the NATO Service Medal, and the Kosovo Campaign Medal.
  Many within the military share this view; according to the Army 
Times: ``Campaign medals help establish an immediate rapport with 
individuals checking into a unit.'' An expeditionary medal like the 
GWOT does not necessarily denote combat. A campaign medal is designed 
to recognize military personnel who have risked their lives in combat.
  Campaign medals matter. ``When a Marine shows up at a new duty 
station, commanders look first at his decorations and his physical 
fitness score--the first to see where he's been, the second to see if 
he can hang. `They show what you've done and how serious you are,' said 
Gunnery Sgt. James Cuneo. `If you're a good Marine, people are going to 
award you when it comes time . . .'.''
  My fellow distinguished colleagues, it is time.
  We must recognize the sacrifice and courage of our young men and 
women who liberated Iraq, including great Americans like Army 
Specialist Joseph Hudson from Alamogordo, New Mexico, who was held as a 
prisoner of war. The Nation was captivated as we watched Specialist 
Hudson being interrogated by the enemy. Asked to divulge his military 
occupation, Specialist Hudson stared defiantly into the camera and 
said, ``I follow orders.'' Those of us with sons and daughters were 
united in worry with Specialist Hudson's family. The entire Nation 
rejoiced when he was liberated.
  We have also asked much from our reserve and National Guard forces. 
The reconstruction of Iraq would not be possible without the commitment 
and sacrifice of the 170,000 Guard and Reservists currently on active 
duty. As recently as this weekend an additional 10,000 troops from 
Washington State and North Carolina were activated for service in Iraq.
  My colleagues, Senator Lugar, Senator Lieberman, Senator Bayh, and I 
are committed to honoring our over 200,000 heroes who liberated Iraq. 
We believe that current administration policy does a disservice to our 
fighting men and women. Therefore we propose, in lieu of the GWOT 
medal, a new decoration that characterizes the real mission in Iraq, 
one that is distinctive and honors their sacrifice, the Iraqi 
Liberation Medal.
  What we do today is not without precedent; Congress has been 
responsible for recognizing the sacrifice and courage of our military 
forces throughout history. Congress has had a significant and 
historically central role in authorizing military decorations. Our 
Nation's highest military decorations were authorized by Congress, 
including: The Congressional Medal of Honor; the Air Force Cross; the 
Navy Cross; the Army's Distinctive Service Cross; the Silver Star; and 
the Distinguished Flying Cross.
  We have also authorized campaign and liberation medals similar to 
what we hope to accomplish with this legislation. A partial list 
includes: Spanish War Service Medal; Army Occupation of Germany Medal; 
World War II Victory Medal; Berlin Airlift Medal; Korean Service Medal; 
and Prisoner of War Medal.
  And the list goes on and on. The great men and women of our military 
forces are doing their jobs everyday in Iraq. It is time to do our job 
and honor them with a medal that truly stands for their heroic service, 
the Iraqi Liberation Medal.
  I ask unanimous consent that an Air Force Times article also be 
printed in the Congressional Record.
  I also ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Air Force Times, Sept. 1, 2003]

                           One Size Fits All?

                           (By Vince Crawley)

       Despite the weight of well over a century of military 
     tradition and precedence, the Pentagon has no plans for 
     campaign-specific medals for the most recent wars in 
     Afghanistan and Iraq, the nation's most protracted conflicts 
     since Korea and Vietnam--both of which were deemed medal-
     worthy.
       Military duty in Antarctica, Kosovo and the 1991 Persian-
     Gulf War also rates medals, as does ``humane action,'' 
     ``humanitarian service'' and ``outstanding volunteer 
     service.'' Past generations of veterans have qualified for 
     medals and their accompanying ribbons for a wide range of 
     operations, from the Civil War and both World Wars to China's 
     Boxer Rebellion, the Spanish-American War and military 
     actions against Mexico.
       But troops involved in the current battle against terrorism 
     instead will get two recently approved awards, the Global War 
     on Terrorism Service Medal and a Global War on Terrorism 
     Expeditionary Medal, which are intended to cover all the 
     bases in an effort that President Bush says likely will last 
     many years and be fought on many shores.
       In addition, veterans of these 21st-century wars may 
     receive each medal only once. In theory--and in current 
     practice--troops could spend years fighting in Afghanistan, 
     Iraq, the Philippines and elsewhere and end up with a single 
     medal that doesn't reflect their specific duty history or 
     even the fact that they deployed multiple times in the global 
     war on terrorism.
       The Pentagon isn't saying much about its rationale for the 
     decision. Defense officials believe ``these two medals will 
     provide appropriate recognition for our service members 
     participating in the global war on terrorism, whether that be 
     in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere,'' said Air Force Maj. 
     Sandra Burr, a Pentagon spokeswoman.
       Not all troops agree. Marine 1st Lt. Zeb Philpott, 26, 
     weapons platoon commander for Alpha Company, 2nd Light 
     Armored Reconnaissance Battalion at Camp Lejeune, N.C., said 
     campaign medals help establish an immediate rapport with 
     individuals checking into a unit.
       ``You can tell what he's done,'' Philpott said. ``I can 
     look at a gunny and tell that he was in the Gulf War.''
       And people look. When a Marine shows up at a new duty 
     station, commanders look first at his decorations and his 
     physical fitness score--the first to see where he's been, the 
     second to see if he can hang.
       ``They show what you've done and how serious you are,'' 
     said Gunnery Sgt. James Cuneo, Alpha Company gunny. ``If 
     you're a good Marine, people are going to award you when it 
     comes time. My ribbons don't make me who I am, but they show 
     my experience level.''
       After 15 years, he's got quite a bit to show for his 
     efforts--four full rows and the start of a fifth. They 
     include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three 
     stars, a combat action ribbon for Desert Storm with a star 
     pending for recent Iraq ops, the Southwest Asia Service Medal 
     with three stars and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
       ``I think they ought to have an Iraq ribbon,'' Cuneo said. 
     ``They ought to have a Djibouti ribbon. And they ought to 
     have an Afghanistan ribbon. They all mean different things.''
       Lt. Col. Keith Schultz, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot with 
     the Air Force Reserve's 917th Wing at Barksdale Air Force 
     Base, La., spent 9\1/2\ months deployed to Operations 
     Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
       On his last deployment, Schultz flew Iraqi Freedom missions 
     from England and then headed to the Indian Ocean and flew 
     Enduring Freedom assignments.
       ``I saw them as separate conflicts,'' Schultz said.
       If one medal is issued to represent both operations, 
     Schultz hopes the citation will explain the operations in 
     which the recipient fought.
       Tech. Sgt. Michael Pierce, a B-52 weapons loader with the 
     917th Wing, deployed to Enduring Freedom.
       He said there should be some way to show, such as with a 
     device on the ribbon, how many times an airman deployed or in 
     what conflicts he served.
       Others are fine with the GWOT medals. ``It's nice to 
     receive awards and decorations, but I was just there doing my 
     job,'' said a field artillery major who recently returned 
     from Iraq with the Army's 3rd Infantry Division.
       ``This is my job, my profession,'' he said. ``There are 
     people doing things everywhere. All of us are a part of this 
     big [global war on terrorism].''
       Bush signed an executive order March 12 to create the 
     Global War on Terrorism medals on the recommendation of 
     Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. But none has yet been 
     officially issued because Rumsfeld's staff is working out the 
     fine print for eligibility.
       The Army Institute of Heraldry said June 13 that Rumsfeld's 
     staff is ``finalizing'' the criteria and implementation rules 
     for the two medals.
       Asked Aug. 18 when the medals would be issued, Burr said 
     she could not predict when

[[Page 23532]]

     coordination on the eligibility policy would be complete.
       A March 15 Pentagon news release referred to the medals as 
     the GWOT Service Medal and GWOT Expeditionary Medal, using 
     the Pentagon's acronym for the global war on terrorism.
       The Expeditionary Medal will recognize service in 
     operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The Service 
     Medal will recognize duty in Operation Noble Eagle, the 
     homeland defense mission against further terror attacks, as 
     well as duty in support of operations Enduring Freedom and 
     Iraqi Freedom performed in geographic areas that don't 
     qualify for the Expeditionary Medal.
       In the past, some medals have been created years or decades 
     after the conflict they represent. The medals can be 
     established by the president or Congress.
       They typically include official orders and become part of 
     the service ribbons that appear on service members' dress 
     uniforms.
       Below are examples of other campaign and service medals. 
     Most can be awarded more than once; commonly, a small bronze 
     star device is attached to the ribbon for each additional 
     award.
       The Southwest Asia Service Medal was awarded for the 1991 
     Gulf War, with an eligibility period from Aug. 2, 1990, to 
     Nov. 30 1995.
       In October 1990, when U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia began 
     preparing for a possible offensive against Iraq, Pentagon 
     personnel officials asked the Institute of Heraldry to 
     provide proposed designs for a Southwest Asia Service Medal. 
     Proposals were forwarded Oct. 30 to then-Defense Secretary 
     Dick Cheney. A proposed executive order to authorize the 
     medal was drafted by Cheney's office Feb. 11, 1991, before 
     the ground war began. The medal was established by executive 
     order March 12, less than two weeks after the cease-fire.
       Three separate campaigns are recognized: the defense of 
     Saudi Arabia, the liberation of Kuwait and patrolling the 
     cease-fire agreement through Nov. 30, 1995, and service 
     members can be awarded the medal up to three times.
       The Kosovo Campaign Medal was established by President 
     Clinton on May 3, 2000, to recognize service in the U.S.-led 
     Kosovo war, form March 24 to June 10, 1999, or in ongoing 
     Kosovo peacekeeping operations. It may be awarded more than 
     once to troops who took part in multiple Kosovo missions.
       The Antarctica Service Medal was established by Congress in 
     1960 for military members and civilians, such as scientists, 
     who have supported U.S. government programs in the antarctic 
     since Jan. 1, 1946. The medal most commonly goes to aircrews 
     and Navy personnel.
       The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was established by 
     President Kennedy on Dec. 4, 1961, for operations on or after 
     July 1, 1958, to recognize service in peacekeeping and peace 
     enforcement missions. The Joint Chiefs have authorized 22 
     missions for this medal, including operations in Somalia and 
     Bosnia, as well as actions against Iraq in the late 1990s. 
     Multiple awards are allowed.
       The Armed Forces Service Medal was established by Clinton 
     Jan. 11, 1996, within weeks of U.S. troops entering Bosnia. 
     It is for troops participating in large military operations 
     who face no armed opposition or threat of imminent hostile 
     action. The medal is intended to fill a void in the criteria 
     between the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the 
     Humanitarian Service Medal. It has been awarded for service 
     in the Balkans since June 1, 1992, and for service in Haiti.
       Previous wars and military actions have resulted in a host 
     of campaign medals, though in some cases they were approved 
     years or even decades after the fighting. They include:
       The Vietnam Service Medal, established by President Johnson 
     in 1965. Multiple campaigns are recognized.
       The Korean Service Medal, established by President Truman 
     in 1950. Multiple awards are allowed for up to 10 wartime 
     campaigns.
       The Medal for Humane Action, established by Congress in 
     1949 for those who took part in the Berlin Airlift from June 
     1948 to September 1949.
       World War II saw three campaign medals--the American 
     Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal and the 
     European-African-Middle Eastern Medal, approved by President 
     Roosevelt in 1942. All allow for multiple awards.
                                  ____


                                S. 1673

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF AWARD OF IRAQI LIBERATION MEDAL 
                   AS CAMPAIGN MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA 
                   IN OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) According to President George W. Bush, Operation Iraqi 
     Freedom was ``fought for the cause of liberty, and for the 
     peace of the world...'' and ``to free a nation by breaking a 
     dangerous and aggressive regime''.
       (2) The military victory in Iraq has been characterized by 
     President George W. Bush as one of the ``swiftest advances in 
     heavy arms in history''.
       (3) There are more than 130,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, 
     and Marines of the United States serving in the Iraqi Theater 
     of Operations, far from family and friends, and for an 
     unknown duration.
       (4) Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, almost 
     300 members of the Armed Forces of the United States have 
     died in Iraq and nearly 1,500 have been wounded in action.
       (5) Congress has authorized and Presidents have issued 
     specific decorations recognizing the sacrifice and service of 
     the members of the Armed Forces of the United States in the 
     Korean War, the Vietnam conflict, and the liberation of 
     Kuwait.
       (6) Current Department of Defense guidance authorizes the 
     award of only one expeditionary medal for overseas duty in 
     Afghanistan, the Philippines, and Iraq.
       (7) The conflict in Iraq is significant enough in scope and 
     sacrifice to warrant a specific military decoration for the 
     liberation of Iraq.
       (b) Authorization of Award of Campaign Medal.--The 
     Secretary concerned may award a campaign medal of appropriate 
     design, with ribbons and appurtenances, to any person who 
     serves in any capacity with the Armed Forces in the Southwest 
     Asia region in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom.
       (c) Name of Medal.--The campaign medal authorized by 
     subsection (b) shall be known as the ``Iraqi Liberation 
     Medal''.
       (d) Prohibition on Concurrent Award of Global War on 
     Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.--A person who is awarded the 
     campaign medal authorized by subsection (b) for service 
     described in that subsection may not also be awarded the 
     Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal for that service.
       (e) Other Limitations.--The award of the campaign medal 
     authorized by subsection (b) shall be subject to such 
     limitations as the President may prescribe.
       (f) Regulations.--(1) Each Secretary concerned shall 
     prescribe regulations on the award of the campaign medal 
     authorized by subsection (b).
       (2) The regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall 
     not go into effect until approved by the Secretary of 
     Defense.
       (3) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the 
     regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) are uniform, so 
     far as practicable.
       (g) Secretary Concerned Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``Secretary concerned'' means the following:
       (1) The Secretary of the Army with respect to matters 
     concerning members of the Army.
       (2) The Secretary of the Navy with respect to matters 
     concerning members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard 
     when it is operating as a service in the Navy.
       (3) The Secretary of the Air Force with respect to matters 
     concerning members of the Air Force.
       (4) The Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to 
     matters concerning members of the Coast Guard when it is not 
     operating as a service in the Navy.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. SNOWE (for herself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Warner, Mr. Bunning, 
        and Mr. Reed):
  S. 1676. A bill to permanently authorize the National Oilheat 
Research Alliance; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I am pleased today to introduce the 
National Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 2003, and to be joined by 
Senators Smith, Leahy, Warner, Bunning, and Jack Reed. This bill 
permanently authorizes the National Oilheat Research Alliance, commonly 
referred to as NORA, which was created by a referendum of oilheat 
retailers and wholesalers in February of 2001.
  I was proud to sponsor the Senate bill that originally authorized the 
creation of NORA during the 106th Congress, and I am pleased to report 
that during its almost three years of existence, NORA has proved an 
unqualified success. Its activities have created genuine, tangible 
benefits for the heating oil industry and its consumers in the areas of 
research, education, safety and training, as well as providing 
information about the industry to existing and potential customers.
  This bill is necessary because the original authorization statute for 
NORA included a sunset provision that, without congressional action, 
will force NORA to cease operations four years after its creation. The 
provision was included to allow Congress to assess its performance and 
determine whether it deserved continued authorization. It is readily 
apparent, from its numerous activities and the wide support it enjoys 
from consumer, environmental, and labor groups, along with the industry 
itself, that NORA should continue in perpetuity.
  In a short time, NORA has set the standard for industry-wide 
cooperative

[[Page 23533]]

activity with its professionalism, effectiveness, and most importantly, 
satisfaction from its supporting members. Through its rigorous 
commitment to activities that benefit all of its members, customers and 
the public at large, NORA is able to harness the collective strength of 
its companies and their resources to share cutting-edge technological 
advances, the latest in training methods, and promising environmental 
initiatives throughout the industry.
  Of particular note is the creation of the National Oilheat Research 
Institute, or NORI, which oversees valuable study as the industry moves 
toward the introduction of low sulfur heating oil to help reduce the 
amount of sulfur emissions in the industry. This forward-looking work 
highlights NORA's genuine commitment to building an environmentally 
sound oil heat industry.
  Other research undertaken by NORI includes a thorough, systematic 
evaluation of the fuel component of the oil heat system to maximize 
fuel performance--and therefore lower heating costs--for oil heat 
customers. These and other consumer-friendly activities have won NORA 
the support of the Consumer Energy Council of America, the oldest 
public interest energy policy organization in the Nation.
  In fact, NORA's research and development activities were identified 
in a report from the Brookhaven National Laboratory, which concluded 
that the NORA program ``will provide economic support to millions of 
American households by reducing fuel bills, and thousands of small 
family businesses in the United States who will gain from having 
satisfied consumers and reduced operating costs.''
  NORA is also playing a leading role in continuing education and 
training for oil heat technicians through the introduction of new and 
updated training material, creation of a standardized certification 
program to encourage professional development, partnerships with 
community colleges to provide equipment for training, and a new website 
to provide easy access to NORA safety and training material.
  NORA also understands that new homeowners who buy houses with 
existing oil heat systems have questions about the best way to make use 
of and maintain their heating source, and publishes a Homeowner's Guide 
that describes the cleanliness and efficiency of their system, and 
offers helpful information for real estate purchasers.
  This is just a sampling of the many activities taking place in states 
using oil heat all over the country. Numerous State associations 
benefit from their partnership with NORA, which supports local and 
statewide initiatives for the heating oil industry, its customers, and 
the professionals working within it. Indeed, the Maine Oil Dealers 
Association has provided me with uniformly positive feedback about its 
partnership with NORA, including its assistance with development of 
information brochures and production of safety manuals in both printed 
and electronic form.
  I am persuaded that NORA's performance has exceeded all expectation 
and deserves permanent authorization from the Congress. I look forward 
to helping make sure that NORA can continue its beneficial activities 
long into the future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1676

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1 SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Oilheat Research 
     Alliance Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2 FINDINGS.

       (a) Congress finds that--
       (1) in 2000, Congress enacted the National Oilheat Research 
     Alliance Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note), authorizing a 
     referendum to create the National Oilheat Research Alliance;
       (2) before enactment of that Act, similar legislation had 
     passed the Senate by unanimous consent with 21 bipartisan 
     Senate cosponsors and the House of Representatives with 148 
     bipartisan cosponsors;
       (3) the Alliance was approved by an industry-wide 
     referendum held in January 2001, with 97 percent of oilheat 
     retailers and 99 percent of oilheat wholesalers voting in 
     favor of creation of the Alliance;
       (4) during its nearly 3 years of existence, the Alliance 
     has operated in 21 States and the District of Columbia, 
     providing benefits for its members and oilheat consumers in 
     the areas of research and development, safety, energy 
     efficiency, training, and education;
       (5) the Alliance successfully created the National Oilheat 
     Research Institute, which is leading the way toward 
     developing a low-sulfur heating oil product that will allow 
     significant progress in reducing emissions;
       (6) the Institute is also at the forefront of developing 
     new efficiency techniques for existing heating oil units, 
     providing substantial savings for the energy costs of 
     consumers;
       (7) the Alliance is providing improved and up-to-date 
     training material for oilheat technicians, establishing a 
     standardized certification program and encouraging continuing 
     education methods that result in efficient and highly trained 
     professionals to service their customers;
       (8) the Alliance has prepared material for realtors and 
     prospective home buyers for houses with existing heating oil 
     systems, explaining how to make the best use of oilheat and 
     providing crucial safety and energy efficiency information;
       (9) the legislation providing for the creation of the 
     Alliance included a sunset provision that will require the 
     Alliance to terminate activities in February 2005 unless 
     Congress acts to extend the authorization; and
       (10) the outstanding progress of the Alliance in the fields 
     of research and development, safety and training, and 
     education, the nearly unanimous support from industry, and 
     the strong potential to yield future benefits for industry 
     and consumers make the Alliance deserving of permanent 
     authorization by Congress.

     SEC. 3. PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION.

       Section 713 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act 
     of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note) is repealed.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. CANTWELL:
  S. 1677. A bill to encourage partnerships between community colleges 
and 4-year institutions of higher education; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss one of the most 
important issues facing our country today. How we prepare our students 
to compete for the jobs that are still in demand today and the jobs 
that will be in demand tomorrow. In order to address this issue, we 
must increase our support for the entire education and training 
continuum--incuding secondary schools, community colleges, 4-year 
colleges and universities.
  Today, I want to focus on one key part of this continuum: community 
and technical colleges. Nationwide, there are now more than 1,100 of 
these institutions, which enroll 10.4 million students. For over a 
century, community colleges have grown and changed with the times. No 
other segment of higher education is more responsive to its community 
and workforce needs than the community college. Whether providing 
academic preparation for a 4-year degree, or technical training for a 
job requiring a community college credential, 2-year institutions play 
a very significant role in creating a skilled workforce.
  However, transfer rates are low: only about one quarter to one third 
of those students who intend to transfer to a 4-year institution 
actually do so. These low transfer rates and the continuing challenges 
employers face in finding skilled workers mean that we must strengthen 
the connections between community colleges and 4-year institutions and 
between community colleges and employers.
  I am introducing a bill today that will address these issues. The 
Community College Partnership Act of 2003 will encourage partnerships 
between community and technical colleges and 4-year colleges and 
universities. This bill will provide $70 million for 6 to 12 grants to 
partnerships between 2- and 4-year institutions to identify and address 
barriers to staying in school, to transferring to a 4-year institution, 
and to responding to the demand for skilled workers in high-quality, 
emerging and established industries.
  The fact is employers depend on skilled workers to provide services 
and produce goods. Even in this time of high unemployment, some 
employers are having hard times finding skilled workers. For example, 
according to the American Hospital Association, there

[[Page 23534]]

are 126,000 nursing positions that are unfilled across the country. In 
Washington State, there are currently 2,564 nursing vacancies even 
though our State ranks as one of the highest unemployment States. Why 
are these jobs going begging? The answer is that we have a lack of 
trained workers.
  From personal experience as both an employee and as an employer, I 
understand the importance of skills in the private sector. When I 
changed careers several years ago, I was able to succeed as a software 
company executive because I had the chance to get a good basic 
education. I come from a working-class family, but I was able to be the 
first in my family to get a college degree, thanks to the Federal Pell 
Grant program.
  As an employer in that software company, I realized that because of 
the fast pace of change we needed to hire a workforce of people who 
were prepared to respond quickly to changing situations. We also had to 
hire people who could create new ways of doing business literally 
overnight. I strongly believe that a good basic education coupled with 
lifelong training opportunities are key to equiping workers with the 
types of decision-making abilities necessary to be successful in 
today's economy.
  Yet, we are failing at our job of preparing workers. There is a 
crisis in our education and training system. Underfunding is a 
significant issue. Both 2- and 4-year institutions lack the capacity to 
respond to demand. More State and Federal investment is essential. 
However, to truly close the skills gap, we must also address the other 
problems 2- and 4-year institutions face. These problems center on 
keeping students in the system and advancing them to the next level.
  The sad reality is that along the way to a good basic education, 
students get diverted away from their goals. In high school, they may 
lack information about the opportunities higher education promises. If 
they make it into a community college, they may be forced to abandon 
their education because the opportunity cost of not earning a wage is 
too high. If they do earn an associate's degree, the transition to a 4-
year institution is fraught with challenges.
  Agreements between 2- and 4-year institutions to accept students may 
not exist. Credits may not easily transfer. Community or technical 
college students may need additional tutoring, mentoring or support to 
succeed in a 4-year institution. Programs and schedules may be 
structured to preclude work and study--a growing necessity as college 
costs rise.
  These are significant barriers than can and should be addressed. That 
is why I am introducing the Community College Partnership Act today. I 
am proud of this bill and believe that it will go a long way toward 
closing our skills gap. In addition, however, I remain committed to 
addressing the significant funding shortfalls that our educational 
institutions face. Ensuring students get the skills necessary for our 
new economy is essential. We must meet the needs of employers who have 
unfilled jobs now, as well as employers in emerging technologies that 
will provide significant job opportunities in the coming years.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. 
        Sununu, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Levin, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. 
        Durbin):
  S.J. Res. 18. A joint resolution commending the Inspectors General 
for their efforts to prevent and detect waste, fraud, abuse, and 
mismanagement, and to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in 
the Federal Government during the past 25 years; to the Committee on 
Governmental Affairs.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a joint 
resolution recognizing the accomplishments of the inspectors general 
during the past 25 years. I am very pleased to be joined in this 
undertaking by Senator Lieberman and many of our distinguished 
colleagues in both Houses of Congress.
  Since 1978, the inspectors general (IGs) have made valuable 
contributions to the efficient and economical operation of the Federal 
Government. They have made thousands of recommendations, which 
ultimately saved the American taxpayers literally billions of dollars.
  We've all heard the horror stories of $500 hammers and roads build to 
nowhere: those are examples of the kind of wasteful spending that the 
IGs have exposed. The waste of scarce Federal resources not only picks 
the pockets of taxpayers but also places severe financial pressures on 
already overburdened programs, forcing cutbacks in vital government 
services.
  Investigations by inspectors general have also resulted in the 
recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. Treasury from 
companies and individuals who defrauded the Federal Government. These 
investigations have been the basis for thousands of criminal 
prosecutions, debarments, exclusions, and suspensions.
  In my capacity as chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee and 
previously as chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, 
I have had the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with IGs to combat 
fraud and waste in a variety of programs.???
  To cite just one example, I worked with the Office of Inspector 
General for the Department of Health and Human Services to uncover 
flagrant examples of Medicare fraud. We found that the Federal 
Government had been sending Medicare checks to 14 fraudulent health 
care companies that had provided no services whatsoever. Indeed, the 
address listed by one company did not exist, and, if it had, the 
address would have been located in the middle of the runway of the 
Miami International Airport.
  The Offices of Inspector General have demonstrated a record of 
tremendous success over the past 25 years, and we wish to commend them 
and their employees for their dedication and professionalism in the 
performance of their duties.
  I hope my colleagues will join Senator Lieberman and me in passing 
this resolution commending the IGS for their many accomplishments.

                          ____________________