[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[Issue]
[Pages 21918-22019]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The House met at 10 a.m.
____________________
MORNING HOUR DEBATES
The SPEAKER. Pursuant to the order of the House of January 31, 2006,
the Chair will now recognize Members from lists submitted by the
majority and minority leaders for morning hour debates. The Chair will
alternate recognition between the parties, with each party limited to
not to exceed 25 minutes, and each Member except the majority leader,
the minority leader or the minority whip limited to not to exceed 5
minutes, but in no event shall debate extend beyond 10:50 a.m.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5
minutes.
____________________
REPRESENTATIVE LEACH FOR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UNITED NATIONS
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I reflect on the gentleman from
Iowa's almost four decades of public service, 30 of them as a
distinguished Member of this House of Representatives. I am referring
to my friend, Jim Leach.
For many of the 12,000 men and women privileged to serve in the House
of Representatives since the founding of the Republic, their careers
are distinguished by service in this Chamber. Jim Leach is one of those
rare individuals for whom Congress itself is distinguished by his
service. There is no one from whom I have learned more by his words,
his deeds and his friendship. He is one of the few among us who, when
he speaks on the floor of the House, people who care about substance
listen. He consistently chooses the right words, and invites people to
be part of the process. He listens. He is never drawn into petty
partisan politics that too often rear their ugly heads.
For 30 years we have been privileged to watch his conscientious and
thoughtful work on the Financial Services and International Relations
committees. Jim predicted the savings and loan crisis, and was spot on
in his observations about American diplomacy from the Middle East to
North Korea.
He was always dignified and principled, one of the few people who
navigated the legislative halls successfully without being mired in
partisan politics.
Indeed, in his congressional campaigns, he refused PAC contributions,
didn't want out-of-State donations, he wouldn't run negative ads, and
he rejected outside groups who tried to run negative ads on his behalf.
He may have actually won his election by playing by the rules widely
accepted as the norm and by which most prefer to operate. He may have
won, but it wouldn't have been Jim Leach and we all would have been the
poorer.
While Iowa has lost Jim's service to Congress, America need not lose
his service, his intellect and his unique talents. Ambassador John
Bolton's appointment to the United States Permanent Representative to
the United Nations expires at the end of the year, and the United
States cannot afford a gap in our representation. We desperately need a
strong, positive direction to guide multilateral diplomacy in the
United Nations.
There is not another American who is better suited to advancing
United States interests in that important forum by temperament,
experience or intellect than Jim Leach. Remember, as a young foreign
service officer, he actually served at the United Nations under then-
ambassador George H.W. Bush before returning to Iowa as part of his
family's business, and then on to 30 distinguished years of service in
this body.
If anything, Jim may be better suited as a diplomat than at partisan
politics. He is the most diplomatic politician I have ever met. Black
and white was not Jim's view of the world, especially if grays and even
colors were part of the picture.
This week my colleague Jim Walsh and I will be circulating a ``Dear
Colleague'' letter to Members of the House of Representatives on both
sides of the aisle, a letter that would urge President Bush to consider
the appointment of Jim Leach as our Permanent Representative to the
United Nations. It is a nomination that no doubt would be greeted by
acclaim. It would pass the United States Senate I predict unanimously,
and we would all be the better off.
I strongly urge my colleagues to join us in signing this letter for
the nomination of Jim Leach.
____________________
CONSERVATISM
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). Pursuant to the order of the
House of January 31, 2006, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
McHenry) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. McHENRY. Madam Speaker, voters did not reject the core values of
traditional conservatism: Lower taxes, smaller government, traditional
family values, and strong national defense. They did not reject that
when they went to the polls on November 7. In the words of George Will,
``Republicans were punished not for pursuing, but for forgetting
conservatism.''
This election represents neither a defeat for conservatism nor a
victory for liberalism. The American people are a conservative people.
While the election results put a majority in power in both the House
and Senate for the first time in 12 years, we see that 36 percent of
the American electoral describes itself as ``conservative.'' That is
double the number that consider themselves ``liberal.'' We are a
conservative nation.
A Rasmussen poll conducted after the election found that 61 percent
of the American people think that higher taxes will hurt the economy.
We are a conservative Nation, Madam Speaker. And I would tell you that
what the voters said on Election Day is that they want conservative
policies in place. Voters opted for the more conservative candidate and
more conservative side of most issues. Nine States passed measures to
restrict the government's ability to take land through eminent domain,
taking private property for government use or public use.
Voters in Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,
Virginia and Wisconsin passed constitutional amendments to define
marriage as between one man and one woman. Now a majority of States
have enacted those constitutional protections stopping liberal judges
from redefining marriage. We are a conservative Nation, Madam Speaker,
and similar amendments on marriage have passed across the country in
previous elections and will continue to happen going forward.
Previous Democratic wins in 1974 and 1986 swept into office new and
very liberal freshman classes. If we look at the new Democrat freshman
class of 2006, they are not liberals, Madam Speaker. What is striking
is that this freshman class campaigned as conservatives. In fact, I
know of one candidate who went out and advocated for certain
principles. They might ring true to me as a Republican. He said he is
pro-life, he is pro-gun. He is for traditional marriage, tax cuts, and
for balancing the budget and a strong national defense. Sounds like a
Republican to me, but he is a registered Democrat.
Pro-life Democrats were elected in North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and
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Pennsylvania, just to name a few. Pro-gun Democrats were elected in
Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas
and Vermont. Wow, those are conservative principles, and I will tell
you that it is a call to conservatives, to Republicans, to be true to
those conservative issues we ran on originally.
After the Republicans' last electoral disaster, then-California
Governor Ronald Reagan spoke before the Conservative Political Action
Conference and said, ``Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it
a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party,
raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors, which make it
unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the
people.''
Madam Speaker, Ronald Reagan said that in 1975. These bold colors
underpin our conservative platform, and that is what we must return to
as a governing majority in the next election. As Republicans, that is
what we should stand for.
Ronald Reagan went on to say, ``We have just heard a call to arms
based on that platform, and a call to us to really be successful to
communicating and reveal to the American people the difference between
this platform and the platform of the opposing party, which is nothing
but a revamp and a reissue and a running of a late, late show of the
thing that we have been hearing from them for the last 40 years.''
He said that 30 years ago. So I would submit to you today the
Democrat platform is just what it has been for the last 70 years, but
the new freshman class advocated a platform similar to what the
Republicans have been advocating for the last 50 years.
Madam Speaker, I would tell you this election was a wake-up call for
us to return to those bold colors and return to conservative values.
____________________
WAR ON TERRORISM
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
January 31, 2006, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) is
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, the people have spoken. The election is
over and they have said to us that they have given us their marching
orders.
For 40 months American soldiers have been suffering, working, and
dying for their country in the Iraq war. Since that day, 2,800
Americans have been killed. More than 20,000 have been wounded, most in
gruesome fashion, and we have spent $450 billion when Secretary
Wolfowitz told us the Congress would pass only $3 billion in
appropriations to fund this curious exercise.
According to the National Intelligence Estimate, we have been made
less safe. The other members of the axis of evil, Iran and North Korea,
have developed or are developing nuclear weapons. We have forgotten our
mission in Afghanistan where a democratically elected government is
slowly losing control of the country.
The war in Iraq has produced more terrorists. According to the
National Intelligence Estimate, it has found that the Iraq war has
created more terrorists and terrorist sympathizers than have been
destroyed. Iraq has become the central front in the war on terrorism,
simply because this administration has made it so.
Vice President Cheney said the insurgency was on its last throes, and
more Americans die every month than did when the actual war itself was
going on. Again, the National Intelligence Estimates said that
fanatical terrorism has metastasized and spread across the globe.
At each and every turning point: The toppling of Saddam Hussein's
statue; the dissolving the Iraqi Army; the creation of the Iraqi
constitution; the vote for the constitution; the parliamentary
elections; the capture of Saddam; or the death of Zarqawi, the Bush
administration has told us victory is at hand.
Meanwhile, the bloodshed intensifies, hope dims, and more Americans
come home with terrible wounds or in body bags.
Madam Speaker, this Nation has to have a plan and it is time that the
President, whose war this is, come forward with such plan as to how we
can win. Staying the course has failed. Americans will support what has
to be done to get us out with honor and dignity and to win. Now the
President can claim that he has the power to do these things, and
clearly under the Constitution he does; but the President also has the
duty to come forward with a plan that can be understood, accepted,
carried out, implemented and successful for the American people.
If we are committed to staying in Iraq, the President must face the
American people and adequately prepare them for the truth: The truth
that his desires for Iraq will take more soldiers, more money, and cost
more lives.
The American people respect and admire leadership and honesty. They
admired it in Roosevelt, in Truman and in Ronald Reagan. Honesty begins
with making an honest accounting of the costs and coming forward with a
truthful statement of where we are and what we must do. If this Nation
needs more equipment for our soldiers or needs more soldiers over
there, then we must be told that and the President must face that, and
we must do what has to be done to see to it that we have the proper
forces there to prevail.
This war is being charged to our children and grandchildren. We need
to examine whether or not it is just and proper for us to do that. We
must pursue with vigor the diplomatic front. The countries in the area
must be involved, and certainly little sign of that taking place is
visible to all of us.
We have to swallow our pride. Let us talk to everyone, reengage the
Syrians and the Iranians, in addition to those countries who are our
allies in the region. And as we approach the fourth year of this war,
and it must be observed that is longer than we were committed to the
war in Europe in 1945, Syria and Iran have to be explored as possible
participants in the solution to the problems which exist there.
The President must look the American people directly in the eye and
he must deal honestly with our people. He must provide the generals
with what they need and not shortchange our troops. We have only one
option, and that is to either win or to get out.
Mr. President, your country asks you if Iran is so central to our
security in the future, why haven't you made it possible to win and why
have you not provided our military with the assets and the strategy
that they need to win at the earliest time?
I was a soldier in World War II. Our purpose then was to win quickly,
to win strongly, and to do so at the least cost to our people. Victory
was our goal, and we were committed to it and we worked for it.
In this world the only thing that will count in this matter is
success. In this war there has not been strong leadership from the
White House to achieve our goals. As the President dithers, American
soldiers are killed and maimed. Let's win or get out.
____________________
REMEMBERING BOB GOLDWATER
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
January 31, 2006, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) is
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. HAYWORTH. Madam Speaker, I rise this morning in remembrance of a
great American and great Arizonan, Bob Goldwater. If the last name
sounds familiar, it should. The brother of Arizona's favorite son, Bob
Goldwater labored alongside his brother in the family business in
Phoenix, Goldwater's Department Store, and Bob was his own unique
contributor to his brother Barry's political success and to the
continued success of Goldwater's Department Store.
Bob Goldwater possessed a laconic wit. Madam Speaker, in my first
campaign for public office, I was honored to have Bob Goldwater and
former Governor Jack Williams, and the former Republican leader of this
House, John J. Rhodes, cosponsor an event for me in the White Mountains
of Arizona. This was at a time when I aspired to represent the Sixth
Congressional District, an area in square mileage almost
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the size of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and so to get from
suburban Phoenix up to the White Mountains was quite an undertaking
that was made a bit more difficult by an incredible thunderstorm
because this was during what we call the monsoon season in the
summertime in Arizona.
The late great Governor Williams, a former broadcaster, was a
stickler for time. The event was supposed to start at 7 p.m. I blew in
the door at 7:05. There stood Governor Williams and Leader Rhodes and
brother Goldwater. Governor Williams said, ``Hayworth, 7:00; it's
7:05,'' to which Bob Goldwater replied, ``Oh, heck, keep your shirt on,
Jack, booze isn't going to spoil.''
At the memorial service for his brother Barry, Bob Goldwater spoke
not only of Barry Goldwater, the public servant, but of Barry, his
brother. He reminisced how both he and Barry played for their church in
a youth basketball league and how Barry suggested that the jerseys they
wore should bear the letter ``P.'' Bob recalled that he asked Barry
why, and Barry responded, ``You know, Bob, P for `Piscopalian.'''
Perhaps a function of age and time, but the passing of other
noteworthy Arizonans would bring Bob Goldwater into the public eye and
he, above all other Arizonans, could deliver a heartfelt, humorous,
poetic and practical remembrance. I don't have those abilities here
today, but I just felt compelled in a moment perhaps of personal
indulgence but perhaps more accurately a moment of official reflection,
to bring notice to the passing of Bob Goldwater, bring insight into the
very human and humorous way he described others.
And also, to make this note: To my knowledge, Bob Goldwater never ran
for public office, although he hailed from an Arizona family synonymous
with public service. A lesson that has been impressed upon me through
the years and especially in recent days is this fact, that public
service is not always defined by public office, that it is what a
person does in his fellowship of faith, in his community, in his
business that can distinguish that person, a good lesson to remember in
these days, a lesson typified by the life and times of Bob Goldwater.
Madam Speaker, those of us who knew Bob count ourselves not lucky but
blessed to have a man who championed the success of his brother
politically but added immeasurably to the lives of Arizonans in terms
of commerce and public service, and as the father of our Phoenix Open.
Rest in peace, Bob Goldwater, you won't be forgotten.
____________________
AUTHORIZING GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE LOWER PRICES WITH DRUG COMPANIES
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
January 31, 2006, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, last week America went to the polls and
sent Washington a message that they wanted a new direction.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the Bush administration, it seems as
though the voters' call for change has fallen upon deaf ears.
Yesterday, the New York Times reported that the President and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, were
``strenuously opposed to legislation that would authorize the
government to negotiate with drug companies to secure lower drug prices
for Medicare beneficiaries.''
This is not groundbreaking news. They have said all along that they
oppose negotiated prices in the Medicare program. Still, given the
outcome of last week's election, it is disappointing that this
administration would not even take a moment to reconsider its misguided
policies.
Mr. Levitt went on to say, ``I don't believe I can do a better job
than an efficient market.'' I agree that the secretary hasn't done such
a good job so far, but he shouldn't get too down on himself, he is not
entirely to blame. His Republican friends here in Congress have kept
him from realizing his potential by legally prohibiting him from
negotiating with drug makers.
However, if a Democratic Congress passed a law granting him authority
to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers, I am certain we could
achieve enormous savings in the Medicare program which could be passed
on to America's elderly and disabled in the form of more generous
coverage. Indeed, there is a lot of evidence to support this
conclusion.
Take, for instance, a study considered earlier this year by the
consumer group FamiliesUSA. They compared prices under private
prescription drug plans participating in Medicare part D to the prices
available through the Department of Veterans Affairs' health system.
Their research showed that the government could help lower costs
substantially. From November 2005 to April 2006, FamiliesUSA found that
virtually all of the part D plans raised their prices for the majority
of the top 20 drugs in this study. The median price increase among part
D plans for the top 20 drugs prescribed to seniors was 3.7 percent.
Furthermore, for all of the top 20 drugs prescribed to seniors, VA
prices in April were lower than the lowest prices charged by part D
plans. The median price difference was 46 percent. In other words,
Madam Speaker, for half of the 20 drugs, the lowest price charged by
any part D plan was at least 46 percent higher than the lowest price
secured for the VA. This is what the secretary must be referring to
when he talks about the magic of the market.
My Republican friends argue that allowing the secretary to negotiate
lower drug prices cannot actually work because the government will act
to set prices. This is just more of the same old excuses we have been
hearing all along. The truth of the matter is that the President,
Secretary Leavitt, and Republicans in Congress are opposed to
negotiated prices simply because they want to preserve the profits of
the pharmaceutical industry which this program was really written for.
I have to be honest here. The American taxpayer is being ripped off
by the Republican prescription drug law. Pharmaceutical companies have
reaped record profits since Medicare part D was implemented while the
American taxpayer has been left holding the bill.
Before the Republican law went into effect this year, more than 6.5
million low-income Americans received help for their prescription drug
bills through Medicaid. Under the Medicaid system, however, States can
purchase drugs at the lowest available prices or the best price. While
this was good news for the taxpayer, it certainly cut into the profit
margins of the pharmaceutical industry. So now those same 6.5 million
Americans have been moved into the Republican prescription drug plan.
They are no longer receiving the lower prices, and the higher costs,
adding up to as much as $2 billion this year alone, will be passed on
to the American taxpayer.
This is why American voters rejected the Republican platform last
week. Republican policies over the past decade have served special
interests like the pharmaceutical industry, and now the American
taxpayer is paying the price. Clearly voters are fed up, and they want
us in Washington to implement change. Democrats are going to heed their
call, Madam Speaker.
We have said from the beginning of our campaign for a new direction
that one of the first things we will do when we take back the House is
to pass a law that will authorize the government to negotiate lower
drug prices. We intend to live up to that promise. The savings from
that program can be used to help eliminate the infamous ``doughnut
hole'' that millions of seniors have fallen into over the past few
months.
While the President and his cronies are threatening to oppose such
legislation, I think they would be better served to reconsider. It is
time for us to take a long and hard look at the Medicare part D program
and see where we can make some improvements. Democrats are not calling
for repeal of this law, but we are calling for some changes, changes
that the American voters clearly support. I hope that my Republican
friends will join us as we work together to improve the Medicare
program on behalf of America's seniors.
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____________________
RECESS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the
Chair declares the House in recess until 11 a.m. today.
Accordingly (at 10 o'clock and 29 minutes a.m.), the House stood in
recess until 11 a.m.
____________________
{time} 1100
AFTER RECESS
The recess having expired, the House was called to order by the
Speaker pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson) at 11 a.m.
____________________
PRAYER
The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following
prayer:
God of power and mercy, You are Lord of all creation, yet You bend to
every human need, and are always attentive to our prayer. Bless this
Nation and the endeavors of Congress today. Give us freedom of spirit
and health of mind and body that we may serve the people we represent
and work to establish the values of Your kingdom here on Earth.
May your revealed presence in our midst carry over to the way we deal
with one another in mutual respect, and confront the problems we face
together. We pray, calling upon Your holy name.
Amen.
____________________
THE JOURNAL
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair has examined the Journal of the
last day's proceedings and announces to the House her approval thereof.
Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
____________________
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Stupak) come forward and lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. STUPAK led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
____________________
IMMIGRATION REFORM
(Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to work
together to provide effective immigration reform. I am pleased the
Secure Fence Act of 2006 was signed into law. Securing our borders must
be our first step to stop the flow of illegal aliens into the United
States.
One thing is clear, we must work to uphold the law. Congress must not
provide a path to citizenship or any type of amnesty for those who have
crossed our borders illegally. In 1986, Congress passed a comprehensive
immigration reform bill that included amnesty.
This was a failure. It did not reduce illegal immigration or
permanently solve any of the immigration problems we face today.
Rather, it provided the incentive to come here legally by rewarding
illegal aliens with amnesty.
As Members of Congress, we took an oath to uphold and defend our laws
in the Constitution. There is a solution to the problem of illegal
immigration, but the answer is not to reward those who violated the
laws of the United States.
____________________
9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
(Mr. STUPAK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. STUPAK. Madam Speaker, on November 7, the American people voted
resoundingly in favor of a Congress that would make implementing the
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission a top priority. They voted for a
Democratic Congress.
For months, the Republican leadership in this body has sat on the 41
recommendations the 9/11 Commission gave for improving the security of
our Nation. The Republican Congress did nothing when the expert
bipartisan group released a scathing report card on the lack of
progress that has been made and gave our government Ds and Fs for
failing to take steps necessary to ensure we would never face another
tragedy like 9/11.
Democrats believe it is unacceptable that 5 years after the 9/11
terrorist attacks our Nation's first responders are still without
interoperable radios and have planes flying across our country that are
loaded with cargo that is rarely ever inspected.
Madam Speaker, Democrats know how important it is for us to make our
Nation as safe as possible. That is why we will implement the
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission next year so that we can be
better prepared to protect our Nation against potential terrorist
attack. I know, as I was a first responder for 11 years.
____________________
VETERANS ESTABLISH FREEDOM
(Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, this past weekend we
celebrated Veterans Day, and it is appropriate to acknowledge today
that because of our veterans, freedom and democracy are more widely
spread than ever before.
Fifty million people have been liberated by our courageous troops in
Afghanistan and Iraq. Last week was the 17th anniversary of the fall of
the Berlin Wall, confirming the success of President Ronald Reagan.
From Estonia to Bulgaria, from Mongolia to Hungary, hundreds of
millions of people have emerged from communism and are now free.
Earlier this year I visited Liberia, which is still celebrating the
election of the first female African leader. President Ellen Johnson-
Sirleaf was elected after the dictator Charles Taylor fled at the
urging of President Bush.
Today, America's veterans can be prouder than ever of their success
as they are freeing oppressed people around the world.
In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget
September 11.
____________________
THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM DESERVE OUR HELP
(Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. KUCINICH. Yesterday, permanent trade relations for Vietnam was
brought before the House with no committee hearings and under
suspension of the rules. I spoke against the bill and demanded a
rollcall vote, and last night the bill failed to get the necessary two-
thirds, so it was defeated.
Now, the people of Vietnam deserve our help. The United States
actually has a moral obligation of a long-standing nature with respect
to Vietnam that we don't really need to elaborate on, because we
understand what this Nation did to Vietnam. If you care about Vietnam,
you should care to know that the permanent trade relations would have
this effect, this bill. It would cause millions of peasants to be
thrown off the land as agricultural supports are withdrawn.
Millions of workers losing their jobs at State enterprises wither in
the face of foreign competition or downsize and speed up operations in
an effort to stay competitive. As a result of these and other factors,
there would be a surge in income and wealth inequality, exacerbating
dangerous trends already under way.
Until we have a trade policy that has workers rights, human rights
and environmental quality principles, all that free trade means for
nations like Vietnam is more exploitation of the country and of the
workers. That is why we need to vote down this bill when it comes back
this week.
____________________
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CITY OF JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA
(Mr. PRICE of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute.)
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Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to take this
opportunity to congratulate the mayor and city council and citizens of
the newly created City of Johns Creek in Georgia. In accordance with
the bill passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed by Governor
Sonny Perdue, the community of Johns Creek will be officially
incorporated as a city on December 1, 2006.
This is a wonderful and gratifying time for the people of Johns
Creek. Those residents fought diligently to make this day a reality.
They have chosen to honor Mr. Mike Bodker as the first mayor of their
new city.
Johns Creek is a vibrant, engaged and dynamic community. They have
seized the opportunity to have a more direct impact on their future,
and this achievement also comes with many new responsibilities.
I am confident that the citizens will successfully embrace these new
challenges, as our 10th largest city, Johns Creek, will also be a
leader in our larger Georgia community.
Madam Speaker, thank you for the privilege of bringing the
recognition of this House of Representatives as we congratulate the
people of Johns Creek, Georgia and wish them the very best during this
exciting transition.
____________________
AMERICANS DEMANDING CHANGE IN WASHINGTON AND DEMOCRATS BRINGING
CIVILITY TO D.C.
(Mr. CLEAVER asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Mr. CLEAVER. Madam Speaker, last week, the American people spoke
loudly and clearly. They want a change here in Washington, and they
want Democrats and Republicans to work together to solve the problems
they confront on a daily basis. During the campaign this year,
Democrats promised to change the tone of the debate here in Washington,
and work cooperatively on behalf of all Americans.
Because we will not be the party of anger politics, Democrats will
honor our pledge. We will treat the Republicans in the minority in a
manner compatible with the interests of the voting public. In the past,
Democrats have been shut out of the debate. This is not how a
Democratic form of government is supposed to work.
But the campaign is over, and we are not going to focus on the past.
Democrats pledge, therefore, to preside over the most open and honest
Congress in history. We want to pass solid ethics legislation that the
public is actually demanding. We are here to represent only our
constituents, and we need to make that clear.
Madam Speaker, change is coming to Washington.
____________________
ED DAVIS TRIBUTE
(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, Admiral Chester Nimitz, in describing the
bravery of Americans battling for Iwo Jima, said, ``Uncommon valor was
a common virtue.''
Captain Ed Davis, who died last week at age 67, was a man of most
uncommon valor. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Captain Davis was
shot down over Vietnam in 1965, and he would spend the next 7\1/2\
years as a prisoner in Hanoi.
When finally released from captivity, he said, ``When I first saw
that flag''--meaning the U.S. flag--``I knew it was all worth it.''
To those of us who knew him, his death is a great loss. But his
passing is also a great loss to the country he loved.
Captain Davis won three silver stars, the Legion of Merit with Combat
Citation, five air medals, two purple hearts, as well as numerous other
honors both military and civilian.
Our thoughts and our prayers and those of a grateful Nation go out to
his family. May he rest in peace.
____________________
IRAQ
(Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. McDERMOTT. Madam Speaker, last week the American people voted for
new ideas and a new direction in Iraq. Changing the Secretary of
Defense was a good first step, but we have a long way to go, and the
situation is getting worse.
Last week, I went to Amman, Jordan, to listen to a cross-section of
moderate secular leaders from the region. They gave me their ideas for
stabilizing Iraq. It is a way forward and it comes from the people in
the region closest to the chaos.
These leaders believe the U.S. should redeploy our soldiers to the
borders between Iraq and Syria and Iraq and Iran. These leaders believe
strategic redeployment can stop the infiltration of violence and get
U.S. soldiers out of harm's way in Baghdad.
The leaders gave me a four-point plan they believe will save American
and Iraqi lives and their country. Strategic redeployment is a key
element. We should do it.
In medicine, doctors are taught to listen to the patient. The saying
is, ``Listen to the patient. He's telling you what's the matter.'' Too
often we have gone in like a doctor who had an idea that they knew what
was wrong and how to fix it.
We, the Congress, must listen to those moderate secular leaders in
Iraq.
____________________
ISSUES FACING TEXAS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 22
(Ms. SEKULA GIBBS asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. SEKULA GIBBS. My name is Shelley Sekula Gibbs. I am the new
Congressmember from Texas Congressional District 22.
As the winner of the special election, I promise to roll up my
sleeves and work hard over the next 2 months to move our country
forward and to support the hardworking people in my district who have
put their faith in me.
Some of the key issues for my district are:
Reducing the size of government and lowering taxes; to help seniors
in their search for more choice and security in health care and have a
stable source of funding for Medicare; to enhance Ellington Field as
the linchpin of homeland security for the Houston region; to also help
fund NASA/Johnson Space Center, the return to the Moon and onward to
our voyage to Mars. Space is at the epicenter of our Nation's future.
As a physician, wife and mother who respects life from conception to
natural death, I look for ways to support the sanctity of life.
Texas shares a long border with our neighboring country Mexico. I
will work to honor my commitment to the people of my district by
seeking ways to stop illegal immigration while streamlining the process
of legal immigration.
I look forward to serving the district and the opportunity to serve
my Nation.
____________________
{time} 1115
DEMOCRATS TO REINSTATE PAY-AS-YOU-GO REQUIREMENTS
(Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, for too long in
this country Republicans have governed without a strong dedication to
fiscal responsibility and without using the pay-as-you-go method. The
President and his friends here in Congress have squandered the Clinton
administration's projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion and have
put us into a projected deficit of $3.5 trillion.
Last Tuesday, the American people told the Republicans that enough is
enough and demanded a change in the way that Congress does business.
They voted in a Democratic majority to return our country to a path of
strong fiscal responsibility and back to the pay-as-you-go system.
Madam Speaker, the current Republican leadership has incurred more
foreign debt in these 6 years than the previous 42 Presidents combined
incurred.
[[Page 21923]]
When we assume the majority in January, Democrats are committed to
fiscal responsibility, and we will reinstate pay-as-you-go, working
effectively as we did in the 1990s when President Clinton and the
Congress balanced the budget.
____________________
MAKING IT FIRM THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO BE IN AMERICA WITHOUT PERMISSION
(Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, according to the Dallas Morning News,
``Farmers Branch, Texas, on Monday adopted strict measures against
illegals, requiring apartment renters to provide proof of citizenship
or residency and making English the city's official language.''
``The city also unanimously agreed to let police apply to participate
in a Federal program that would enable them to check the residency
status of suspects that they arrest and initiate deportation
proceedings in certain cases. These measures, believed to be the first
of their kind in the State of Texas, brought cheers from some
supporters, but sparked anger among some Hispanics.''
Madam Speaker, cities across the Nation are taking positive action in
dealing with illegals. These are commonsense steps the Federal
Government has refused to take for political reasons.
Of course, the pro-illegal immigrant crowd has threatened lawsuits.
It seems odd that illegals can use American courts to prevent cities
from enforcing laws against illegal entry.
The example of Farmers Branch, Texas, is a statement that cities
cannot and will not continue to bear the costs in education, health
care and social services of illegals. This Nation must be firm that it
is illegal to be in America without permission.
And that's just the way it is.
____________________
PROVIDING PROPER OVERSIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATION
(Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, since the beginning of the war in Iraq,
congressional Republicans have refused to provide any oversight of the
Bush administration in its handling of the war.
When no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq, House
Republicans refused to investigate how the intelligence could have been
so bad.
When the administration sent our troops into combat without the
proper body armor, House Republicans refused to hold anyone in the
administration accountable.
When milestone after milestone passed without things getting better
in Iraq, congressional Republicans refused to hold oversight hearings
and allowed the Bush administration to continue with the status quo
when a change was clearly needed.
Today, our Nation desperately needs for Congress to do its job and
provide real oversight of the administration. When Democrats take
control of Congress in January, we vow to provide proper oversight of
the actions of this administration. It is something that is required of
us all by the U.S. Constitution
____________________
DEMOCRATS WANT TO HELP LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES FOR AMERICA'S
SENIORS
(Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, millions of American seniors are trying to
make the best of the Medicare prescription drug plan that congressional
Republicans and President Bush signed into law 3 years ago.
Today, seniors are demanding changes in this program. They want a
plan that does not create a giant gap in coverage, where they can lose
coverage for months on end and where they still must pay their monthly
payments.
The giant doughnut hole, as we call it, leaves many seniors in the
predicament of paying for groceries, paying their rent or the drugs
they need to live healthier and longer lives. They may cut their pills
into two or take them every second or third day. That is a recipe for
disaster, and this is not a decision that seniors should have to make
in America today.
Democrats have long opposed this doughnut hole, and one of our top
priorities next year is to eliminate it by making prescription drugs
cheaper. How are we going to do this? It is simple. We are going to do
the same thing the Veterans Administration does today, and that is,
give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to
negotiate on behalf of all seniors for lower drug prices.
Today, American veterans pay 42 percent less for their drugs because
of this negotiating authority. If we make prescription drugs cheaper,
we can fill in the doughnut hole so seniors no longer fall into it.
This is one of our top priorities as we become the majority party in
Congress next year.
____________________
DEMOCRATS WANT TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO HELP MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS
(Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, now that the elections are over, it is
time for Democrats and Republicans to come together to work in a
bipartisan fashion to help all Americans.
Throughout this year, Democrats have talked about a forward-looking
agenda, one that encompasses all Americans. We want to expand economic
opportunity to millions of Americans who have been left behind by
increasing the minimum wage for the first time in 9 years. We want to
expand educational opportunities to teens who want to attend college,
by cutting interest rates on student loans so that they can better
afford college. We also want to help seniors better afford their
prescription drugs by cutting drug prices and filling the doughnut
hole.
Democrats touted these plans, but that doesn't mean Republicans can't
join us in implementing them when the new Congress convenes in January.
Raising the minimum wage, helping college students better afford their
education and helping seniors pay for their prescription drugs is
something we all, Democrats and Republicans alike, should be interested
in. We will have the opportunity to follow through on this agenda in
January
____________________
MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE
A message from the Senate by Ms. Curtis, one of its clerks, announced
that the Senate has passed without amendment bills of the House of the
following titles:
H.R. 860. An act to provide for the conveyance of the
reversionary interest of the United States in certain lands
to the Clint Independent School District, El Paso County,
Texas.
H.R. 5842. An act to compromise and settle all claims in
the case of Pueblo of Isleta v. United States, to restore,
improve, and develop the valuable on-reservation land and
natural resources of the Pueblo, and for other purposes.
The message also announced that the Senate has passed bills of the
following titles in which the concurrence of the House is requested:
S. 3501. An act to amend the Shivwits Band of the Paiute
Indian Tribe of Utah Water Rights Settlement Act to establish
an acquisition fund for the water rights and habitat
acquisition program.
S. 3687. An act to waive application of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act to a specific
parcel of real property transferred by the United States to 2
Indian tribes in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes.
____________________
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair
will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules
on which a recorded vote or the yeas and nays are ordered, or on which
the
[[Page 21924]]
vote is objected to under clause 6 of rule XX.
Record votes on postponed questions will be taken later today.
____________________
AMENDING TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO EXTEND CERTAIN EXPIRING
PROVISIONS OF LAW
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 6314) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend
certain expiring provisions of law and to expand eligibility for the
Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 6314
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW
ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) Authority for Health Care for Participation in DOD
Chemical and Biological Warfare Testing.--Section
1710(e)(3)(D) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``December 31, 2005'' and inserting ``December 31,
2007''.
(b) Grant and Per Diem Grant Assistance for Homeless
Veterans.--Section 2011(a)(2) of such title is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2005'' and inserting ``September 30,
2007''.
(c) Treatment and Rehabilitation for Seriously Mentally
Ill and Homeless Veterans.--Section 2031(b) of such title is
amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting
``December 31, 2007''.
(d) Additional Services for Homeless and Seriously
Mentally Ill Veterans.--Section 2033(d) of such title is
amended by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting
``December 31, 2007''.
(e) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans.--Section
2066(d) of such title is amended by striking ``December 31,
2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 2007''.
(f) Government Markers in Private Cemeteries.--Section
2306(d)(3) of such title is amended by striking ``December
31, 2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 2007''.
(g) Additional Educational Assistance Allowance for Work-
Study.--Section 3485(a)(4) of such title is amended in
subparagraphs (A), (C), and (F) by striking ``December 27,
2006'' and inserting ``June 30, 2007''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SURVIVORS' AND
DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Expansion of Eligibility.--Section 3501(a)(1) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (A)
and inserting a semicolon;
(2) by striking the comma at the end of subparagraph (B)
and inserting a semicolon;
(3) by striking ``, or'' at the end of subparagraph (C)
and inserting a semicolon;
(4) by striking the comma at the end of subparagraph (D)
and inserting ``; or''; and
(5) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph:
``(E) the spouse or child of a person who at the time of
application by such spouse or child for educational
assistance under this chapter is a member of the Armed Forces
who, as determined by the Secretary, has a total disability
permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the active
military, naval, or air service;''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--Such title is further
amended--
(1) in section 3511--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)--
(i) by striking ``Each eligible person'' and inserting
the following: ``Each eligible person, whether made eligible
by one or more of the provisions of section 3501(a)(1) of
this title,'';
(ii) by striking ``a period'' and inserting ``an
aggregate period''; and
(iii) by striking the second sentence;
(B) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``section
3501(a)(1)(D)'' and inserting ``subparagraph (D) or (E) of
section 3501(a)(1)''; and
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ``or
3501(a)(1)(D)(i)'' and inserting ``3501(a)(1)(D)(i), or
3501(a)(1)(E)'';
(2) in section 3512--
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ``an eligible person
(within the meaning of section 3501(a)(1)(A) of this title)''
and inserting ``an eligible person whose eligibility is based
on the death or disability of a parent'';
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(I) by inserting after ``section 3501(a)(1) of this
title'' the following: ``or a person made eligible by the
disability of a spouse under section 3501(a)(1)(E) of this
title'';
(II) by striking ``or 3501(a)(1)(D)(ii) of this title''
and inserting ``3501(a)(1)(D)(ii), or 3501(a)(1)(E) of this
title'';
(ii) in paragraph (1)(B), by adding at the end the
following new clause:
``(iii) The date on which the Secretary notifies the
member of the Armed Forces from whom eligibility is derived
that the member has a total disability permanent in nature
incurred or aggravated in the active military, naval, or air
service.''; and
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or (D) of this
title'' and inserting ``(D), or (E) of this title'';
(3) in section 3540, by striking ``and (D)'' and
inserting ``(D), and (E)'';
(4) in section 3563, by striking ``each eligible person
defined in section 3501(a)(1)(A) of this title'' and
inserting the following: ``each eligible person whose
eligibility is based on the death or disability of a
parent'';
(5) in section 3686(a)(1), by striking ``or (D)'' and
inserting ``(D), or (E)''; and
(6) in section 5113(b)(3)(B), by striking ``or (D)'' and
inserting ``(D), or (E)''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply with respect to a payment of educational
assistance for a course of education pursued after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Indiana (Mr. Buyer) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, today I rise and urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 6314,
a bill that would extend several existing Department of Veterans
Affairs benefits provisions.
This bill will extend these provisions of health care services to
veterans exposed by chemical and biological testing under Projects 112
and SHAD, and treatment and rehabilitation programs for seriously
mentally ill and homeless veterans until December 31, 2007. The bill
would also extend VA's homeless grant and per diem programs until
September 30, 2007, and extend additional services for mentally ill and
homeless veterans until December 31, 2007. It would extend VA's
Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, as well as the program which
is providing government markers in private cemeteries until that date.
The work/study provisions of the legislation allowing veterans to
assist VA and other government agencies would be extended until June
30, 2007. The work/study program is an increasingly popular benefit
that provides veterans with an alternative use of their GI Bill if they
choose not to go to college.
The bill also provides education benefits for the family members of
severally injured veterans who are undergoing long-term convalescence
while on active duty. Spouses and children of servicemembers who are
determined by the VA to be permanently and totally disabled due to a
service-connected cause or causes would be eligible to receive Chapter
35 education benefits while the servicemember is still on active duty
while undergoing treatment. This Chapter 35 provision would enable
spouses and dependent children of severely wounded servicemembers to
access their Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits while the
servicemember is going through extended convalescence prior to
discharge.
Under the current law, these beneficiaries must wait until the member
is discharged, and since the spouses of these members most often become
the primary breadwinner, I believe it is important to give them as much
of a headstart as possible on becoming more competitive in the job
market. The amount of the benefit remains the same.
I thank the Blinded Veterans Association for bringing this important
issue to the attention of myself and members of the committee. We met
with Army Sergeant 1st Class Jeffrey Mittman and his wife Christine.
Sergeant 1st Class Mittman was blinded by an IED and is undergoing
extensive rehabilitation and facial reconstruction.
Madam Speaker, this young soldier is articulate, has a very positive
outlook on his life and is truly an inspiration. One look at his wife
and you can immediately pick up the burdens she is bearing in caring
not only for her husband, but also for her children. His wife Christy
is a model of the love and support that she is providing to her husband
as they face these challenges together. In fact, I think of this as the
Christine Mittman provision, a provision not only that would help
Christy, but also other spouses lessen the financial stress.
So, in essence, while Christy is providing leadership and mentoring
for her children, caring for her husband instead of waiting until he
completes all
[[Page 21925]]
of the facial reconstruction and rehabilitation necessary, she can
start her educational opportunities now.
I think this is the right thing to do. We all know he is going to be
100 percent disabled. She wants to become a nurse, so let's give her
and others who are likewise situated to have these opportunities.
Madam Speaker, the committee is currently also undergoing bipartisan
negotiations on a number of bills, not only with my House counterparts,
but also with the Senate counterparts.
Among these bills are H.R. 3082, the Veterans Small Business and
Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. It passed the House on July 24, 2006. We
have informally been discussing provisions since July 28. The bill
improves the status of veterans and disabled veterans small businesses
when competing for contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
It allows Tribal government to participate in the VA's State Cemetery
Grants Programs, authorizes the VA Secretary to provide the family of a
veteran interred in a private cemetery with government markers, which
we are doing now. It also requires the Veterans Employment Training
Service, otherwise known as VETS, to establish nonmandatory guidelines
for disabled veterans outreach programs. There are a lot of things in
this bill, and I am hopeful we are going to get this done and
negotiated.
There is another bill, H.R. 4061, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Information Technology Management Improvement Act. It would centralize
VA's IT organizational structure so that it reports directly to the
Department's chief information officer.
Ultimately, the bill would empower the CIO with the authority over
the IT budgets, equipment and personnel. While the House passed this
bill with widespread bipartisan support, and I appreciate the
leadership of Mr. Filner and others on this legislation, the Senate is
even yet to take action on that bill.
There is another bill, H.R. 5815, the Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2006, that would ensure that we
will efficiently provide the right facilities with the right places for
veterans' health care. Given the current veteran population and those
which we can expect in the coming years, it would authorize $2.5
billion for major implementation projects and $51 million for
facilities leases. This is an important bill, and we are getting close
on these negotiations.
We have another bill, H.R. 5835, the Veterans Identity and Credit
Security Act, as amended. This bill requires notification to Congress
and individuals in the event of a data breach. All of us Members
understand and remember the data breach.
{time} 1130
And we had extensive oversight on the committee. Mr. Filner and I
were able to lead over eight hearings in a 6-week time frame, and we
are perfecting change in our cooperation with the administration. This
is a good bill and I am hopeful that we can get this bill done.
This bill also included a scholarship and loan repayment program to
provide the Secretary with a recruitment and retention tool to attract
qualified people in the areas of information technology and management
so they can work in these security areas. As I said, this bill received
widespread bipartisan support here in the House and I am most hopeful
that we can move to the Senate and achieve our work
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am also pleased to rise in support of H.R. 6314, which would, as we
have heard, extend expired and expiring authorization for the
Department of Veterans' Affairs and expand eligibility for survivor and
dependent educational assistance.
I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), the chairman
of our committee, and my other colleagues for working together on this
very important legislation. I also would like to remind us all of the
work of Ranking Member Lane Evans. His integrity, leadership, and
advocacy for veterans will be missed as we move into the next session
of Congress.
This bill extends important authorities for the Department of
Veterans Affairs to take care of our veterans. From 1962 through 1973,
the Department of Defense conducted biological and chemical warfare
tests on active duty servicemembers. These tests were known as Project
112 and Project SHAD. The Department of Defense has acknowledged that
it did not keep patient care records to archive health effects of the
tests nor did they get, I am sure, informed consent on these tests.
Just recently, in 2003, in response to concerns from veterans that
their illnesses may be a result of these exposures, Congress did act.
We authorized the VA to provide priority care to veterans who
participated in these tests and did not require them to provide medical
evidence that any of the illnesses are attributable to the testing.
This legislation before us today does the right thing for these
veterans. It would extend the VA's authority to provide priority care
for them through the end of next year.
I am disappointed that we have not extended VA's authority to give
priority care to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange. Just like
those veterans who were subject to Project 112 and Project SHAD tests,
veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and probably got cancers and
other maladies as a result deserve priority care, which may be a result
of this exposure. They have provided service to the Nation. They were
not given full information. They deserve our help and care today.
The administration has requested that we extend VA's authority with
respect to veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and I will work certainly
in the next Congress to pass that extension.
The bill today also helps the over 200,000 male and female veterans
who each night are sleeping in a doorway, under a bridge, in an alley,
a box, a barn, a car, or a homeless shelter. Through a network of local
nonprofit or public agencies, VA's grant and per diem program for
homeless veterans offers homeless veterans a safe haven that is free of
drugs and alcohol.
Last year roughly 300 programs across the Nation were able to give
14,000 homeless vets the help they needed to recover, rehabilitate, and
obtain the skills necessary to reintegrate back into society. This
legislation means that the VA can continue to support these hundreds of
community shelters. But let me remind us all, as I will continue to do
next year, that this covers barely 5 percent of the homeless veterans.
We owe as a Nation help and care to the almost 200,000 others that
remain on the streets tonight.
This bill extends the authority to treat seriously mentally ill and
homeless veterans. More than one out of three veterans returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan who have turned to the VA for health care has
received an initial diagnosis for a mental health disorder. Many more
have such a disorder but did not come to the VA. Many did not check the
boxes that would indicate this because they just want to get home to
their families. We have a lot of work to do in this country to help
those with mental health disorders.
This bill, though, will ensure that the VA has the authority it needs
to provide our recent veterans, as well as veterans from previous
conflicts, with this mental health care that they need.
As the chairman said, this legislation also extends certain work
study opportunities for veterans who are students through June of 2007.
Helping veterans who are attending college or vocational training to
earn while they learn makes good sense. This bill will allow veterans
who are students to receive work study allowances for working at VA
hospitals and domiciliaries, at State veterans homes, and at national
and State veterans cemeteries. While I am disappointed that we could
not extend authority for this program beyond next June, I am glad that
this legislation will allow veterans who are participating in this
program to continue through the end of their academic year.
A small number of permanently and totally disabled servicemembers are
[[Page 21926]]
kept on active duty status to help them recover and rehabilitate from
their injuries. When these servicemembers are discharged, their spouses
and dependent children are then eligible for VA's educational
assistance program. This bill, though, accelerates eligibility in cases
where a disability rating of permanent and total disability is delayed
because the servicemember has not officially yet been discharged from
military service. I am proud and I am grateful that this legislation
will help families of these very severely wounded veterans by providing
early education benefits.
I appreciate the chairman's enumerating other bills that need to pass
through the Senate. As he said, a lot of good things are waiting. And
this is one of them. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6314
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend Mr. Filner for his
comments.
You are absolutely right. We have a lot of good work product that
hopefully we can get done.
At this point I would like to yield 2 minutes to a friend of
America's veterans, the Honorable Michael Bilirakis. Michael will be
retiring and leaving us here at the end of this Congress, and his work
and leadership will be missed.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BUYER. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I don't know if this is the last statement
that Mr. Bilirakis will make on the floor, but I just want to say how
much we all appreciate your work. We are looking forward to another
Bilirakis joining us. But your advocacy on areas such as no offsets
between pension and disability that we call concurrent receipt, you
kept that issue alive and made sure that we would do justice. So we
want to thank you for that. And we want to thank you for the civility
that you have exhibited through your whole career and especially on
this committee, which sometimes especially this gentleman needed.
So we hope that you have a good retirement, Mr. Bilirakis. We will be
missing you, but we really appreciate your service to this committee
and to this Nation.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman. We will have one
more opportunity, I am hopeful, to speak about Mr. Bilirakis' efforts.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank you, Bob, for those kind comments and also the
chairman.
I do rise in support of H.R. 6314, introduced by the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs chairman, Steve Buyer.
For the past 24 years, Madam Speaker, I have had the pleasure of
serving in this body and also the honor, true honor, of being a member
of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. During that service I have
helped create and advance numerous programs that benefit our Nation's
veterans. This Congress, as chairman of the committee's Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations, I have monitored and scrutinized billions
of dollars of programs and projects that benefit veterans.
Today I stand before you and ask that we extend expiring provisions
of current law that provide health care, housing, educational, and
other assistance that help veterans and their families. By supporting
H.R. 6314, we will ensure the continuation of many of the programs and
benefits that our Nation's veterans have earned.
H.R. 6314 is an important bill that is truly worthy of our full
support. I urge my colleagues to continue meeting our obligations to
our Nation's defenders by approving this measure.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Maine (Mr. Michaud).
Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for his
time. I also want to thank Mr. Bilirakis for his time here working in a
strong bipartisan manner on veterans issues.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6314. I commend the
chairman of the committee, Steve Buyer, for his work on this
legislation. This bill does deserve bipartisan support.
As a member of this committee and as citizens, we are united in our
dedication to address the needs of veterans and their families.
Ensuring that the Department of Veterans Affairs has the authority and
resources to provide veterans with the medical care and benefits they
have earned is a mission that we will continue in the next Congress.
H.R. 6314 is an important bill with a number of must-pass provisions.
This legislation improves transition assistance for severely disabled
service personnel. It is important that we do all we can to help the
individuals and their families to regain their independence and
economic security. This legislation also puts VA's specialized programs
for homeless veterans on a more secure footing.
I am proud that this Congress is acting to extend the soon-to-expire
authorization of VA's grant and per diem program for homeless veterans.
I am glad that we are extending the authorization for VA's treatment of
severely mentally ill veterans. By acting to reauthorize these
fundamental VA programs, we give veterans and their families hope for
recovery and having a better life.
Extending the authorization for these programs until the end of 2007
is an important first step, but it is not enough. In our great Nation,
it is unacceptable that even one veteran should be homeless or go
hungry. I am shocked that last year the VA's health care program for
homeless veterans served nearly 600 veterans who returned from Iraq and
Afghanistan. It is troubling that more than one in three returning
veterans who come home to the VA for medical care has received an
initial diagnosis for a mental health disorder. Homeless veterans and
those with psychological wounds should not be left behind. They have
served our Nation and deserve a rich and full life. In this Congress I
introduced legislation to improve VA's capacity to help homeless
veterans recover, rehabilitate, and return to a full life in our
society. I plan to reintroduce my bill in the next Congress to help
homeless veterans. We must keep the faith that we can end homelessness
among veterans.
This September, the Health Care Subcommittee heard about how
posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries are emerging
concerns for veterans from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support
H.R. 6314 because it helps keep our promise to veterans with these
injuries. The Committee on Veterans' Affairs and this Congress must
continue to address veterans' mental health care needs in the future.
Next Congress I plan to reintroduce an updated version of Ranking
Member Lane Evans' comprehensive bill on mental health. Lane Evans has
been a great leader and mentor. His legacy is measured in the millions
of veterans and their families who have benefited from his
determination to fight for the needs of veterans. I will deeply miss
him and so will this institution.
I also want to thank Chairman Brown for his work in a bipartisan
manner on issues dealing with veterans affairs. I enjoyed his service
and will look forward to working with him in the upcoming Congress.
Madam Speaker, this is a good bill. I want to thank Mr. Filner for
his leadership on this legislation as well.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6314.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the
First District of South Carolina, the chairman of the Health
Subcommittee, Henry Brown.
Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for
yielding this time.
Let me begin by thanking our esteemed committee chairman, Mr. Buyer,
for his hard work in this Congress. Under his leadership this committee
has fought to do what is right for veterans. And I would like to also
extend my thanks to Mr. Michaud, what a great gentleman, the ranking
member of the Health Subcommittee. It has been a real pleasure in
working with him.
[[Page 21927]]
And, Mr. Filner, we certainly appreciate your leadership on this
committee. It has been great working in a nonpartisan fashion. We have
always said when you come into that committee room, veterans is a
nonpartisan issue, and it is great working in a nonpartisan fashion. I
look forward to next year.
I especially want to applaud Chairman Buyer's willingness and
attempts to look outside the box and push forward new and innovative
initiatives to keep pace with the emerging health care needs of those
who have faithfully served this country. The chairman has championed
opportunities to improve the quality of the care delivered to our
veterans through collaborative partnerships.
Collaboration is becoming increasingly essential in delivering health
care across the Nation.
{time} 1145
So long as we remain true to the distinct identity of the VA, and so
long as we ensure the continued quality associated with VA care, VA
collaboration on joint ventures with extensive medical university
affiliations and the Department of Defense can be mutually advantageous
for all organizations.
I am hopeful that the diligent and bipartisan work of the committee
and its jurisdiction over VA construction matters will carry into the
next Congress. The bill we are considering today will extend certain
expiring provisions of law administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs. The legislation includes provisions to extend the authority
for the grant and per diem assistance programs for homeless veterans
and programs for the treatment and rehabilitation for seriously
mentally ill and homeless veterans.
The VA is the Nation's largest single provider for integrated and
specialized services for homeless veterans. On behalf of the homeless
veterans who need and depend on the services in achieving successful
outcomes, it is our duty to assure that the continuity of these
services is not interrupted.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this
legislation.
Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Nevada (Ms. Berkley), who is a staunch advocate for the veterans
throughout her State, and who is the ranking Democratic member of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I also would
like to thank Chairman Buyer, Ranking Member Evans, who we will miss
very much, and Acting Ranking Member Filner for moving forward on this
bill.
I am supporting this legislation, but I feel that I need to make note
of the fact that several of the provisions important to our veterans
and their families have already expired. This should not have been
allowed to happen.
In addition, there are other provisions that will expire before the
end of the year. I want to particularly mention a provision in this
legislation which extends through December 31, 2007, the Department of
Veterans Affairs authority to provide a grave marker or headstone when
a veteran is buried in a marked grave.
Veterans who served our country honorably should not lose their
eligibility for recognition in death merely because the grave in which
they are buried has a nonmilitary marker. I have a long record of
interest in providing the burial benefits provided to our Nation's
veterans, and this provision is truly a step in the right direction. We
ought to make it permanent.
I joined Chairman Miller in introducing legislation to extend this
authorization. Although the VA and Members on both sides of the aisle
supported making the authorization permanent, the committee was not
able to fund the cost of a permanent authorization. I hope that we will
be able to do so in the next Congress.
Eligibility for a headstone or a marker should not depend on whether
a VA marker is provided before or after the placement of a private
marker. As I stated, I am supporting this legislation, but I must make
note that there are a number of other matters which should be acted on.
I am especially disappointed that lease authorization for four clinics
in Las Vegas on leases that will soon expire is not included, and it is
going to have to be in order to provide health care to the veterans
that live in southern Nevada.
Las Vegas' veterans are forced to rely on a string of clinics as the
community awaits a new VA medical complex to be completed. It is at
least 3 years out from being completed, even though we did break ground
in October, which is a step in the right direction.
I have got 80-year-old veterans standing in 110-degree temperature
going from clinic to clinic in order to get their health care needs
met. That is why we are getting a full-service VA medical complex. But
the fact is we need four leases approved by the end of the year. I hope
we are going to do that before we recess for the year.
As I stated, Madam Speaker, I do support this legislation. I urge all
of my colleagues to support it.
Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Ms. Berkley, I want to thank you for your leadership on this bill.
Thank you for working with Nancy Johnson, Jeb Bradley. This symbol of
honor and remembrance is very important. I want to thank you for that.
Also I want to embrace your words regarding the leases. In the
construction bill we have a number of leases, and we need to complete
our work. And so I embrace your words. I call on you for your help. The
Senate has not been as helpful. You know that is a continuous body over
there. We do not know how it is about to be reorganized. We have a lot
of our work that needs to be done over the last 2 years, and we cannot
let this construction bill die on the vine. We have to complete that
work.
If we do not re-up these leases, it is going to cost the Federal
Government more money because there are penalty clauses that will go
into effect, and we cannot and should not let that happen.
Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BUYER. I yield to the gentlewoman from Nevada.
Ms. BERKLEY. Well, I want to thank you, Chairman Buyer, thank you for
coming to Las Vegas and feeling my pain by the end of the day and
appreciating how seriously impacted my veterans are.
I can assure you that I will do everything I can to urge the other
body to move in an expeditious way, because you are quite right, we
cannot let these leases expire. Thank you very much for your support.
Mr. BUYER. Reclaiming my time, I thank the gentlewoman for her
leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Ginny Brown-Waite).
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as vice chairman of
the Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, I rise with
very mixed emotion. I am certainly happy that Chairman Buyer is
bringing this important bill to the floor that will extend several
worthy veterans programs and add a new provision that will improve
education opportunities for the spouses and dependents of our severely
wounded veterans.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill in a bipartisan manner.
However, I am disappointed that to date negotiations with the other
body on Chairman Buyer's package of veterans initiatives, which was
very, very bipartisan, has produced only limited progress. And there is
a real possibility that many good provisions passed by both the House
and the other body might not become law.
These bills include improvements to VA medical care, hospital
construction and maintenance projects and a wide range of veterans
benefits. From my subcommittee's perspective, important improvements
include small business and employment legislation that is widely
supported by the administration and the veterans community.
For example, our legislation will improve the competitive status of
veterans and disabled veteran-owned small businesses seeking to win VA
contracts. As the Members know, Public
[[Page 21928]]
Law 106-50 and Executive Order 13360 direct Federal agencies and
departments to award at least 3 percent of Federal contracts to
service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, service-connected veteran-
owned businesses.
To date the only department to make that goal was the Department of
State in fiscal year 2004. This is an unacceptable record for a nation
whose armed forces are engaged in hostilities as we speak. One of our
bills, H.R. 3082, will help rectify that shortfall in at least the
Veterans Administration Department.
The small business provisions of H.R. 3082 would provide VA
acquisition staff additional tools that would give veterans and
service-disabled veteran-owned businesses priority in many VA contract
competitions.
The bill would also ensure that surviving spouses who retain control
of those businesses after the veteran owner dies continue to enjoy
status as a service-disabled veteran-owned business for up to 10 years.
In short, at least at the VA, the veteran business owners will be
treated fairly and enable the VA to set a standard for other Federal
agencies. Mr. Speaker, the bill also makes several other improvements
to the employment programs operated through the veterans employment and
training service at the Department of Labor.
I am especially pleased that H.R. 3082 includes provisions of a bill
I introduced to improve licensing and credentialing of veterans based
on skills and experience they gained during their military service.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, this is an excellent bill. We need to
pass it and make sure that the Senate gets the message loud and clear.
Mr. BUYER. I thank the gentlewoman for her contribution.
Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Pennsylvania, the Honorable Tim Murphy.
Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important bill the House is
now considering to extend a lot of critical services to veterans. I
really on behalf of veterans am grateful for the work you have done on
this.
Because of this type of bill, it cannot be amended, I would like to
bring to your attention an issue that, Mr. Chairman, you and I have
discussed, that we all remain very concerned about. That is the
security breaches of veterans' personal records.
And if we are not able to pass a bill at this time, perhaps in the
coming weeks or at least next year, we really need to be dealing with
some of the issues, such as on November 2, a laptop containing 1,600
veterans records was stolen from a Manhattan hospital.
In August a desktop computer was stolen that had 38,000 veterans
records, that had detailed records from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia
hospital areas.
Back in May we knew about another laptop computer that contained the
personal records of 26 million veterans. I had introduced a bill, H.R.
6109, the Stop Endangering the Records of Veterans Act, or the SERV
Act, in September which would require the VA to encrypt all data. I am
pleased they are doing that now.
But we also need to have some teeth in this and make sure that those
who do not properly protect veterans records, that there are penalties
for them, criminal penalties if need be, if through their neglect or
carelessness or direct action they cause a veteran's records to be
stolen and cause harm from identity theft and just the problems that go
with having medical records released.
Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that you are so concerned about these
veterans issues. I don't know if there is time left in this session to
deal with these issues. But I hope we can at the very least take this
up in the next session. Veterans know that you, Mr. Chairman, have
worked so diligently to protect them on so many issues. I look forward
to continuing to work with you on these issues, that we can work for
our veterans' safety and peace of mind in the future.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I thank the
chairman for bringing us this legislation of must-pass authorizations
and extensions, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Filner for his cooperation on this bill and
other bills. Mr. Filner, we have got the CIO bill, we have got the
cyber security bill. The Senate sent us two health bills, a benefit
bill and we have got the construction bill. So all of these are in
negotiation with the Senate. It is hard work. It represents 2 years of
effort.
Recalling the recent words of my esteemed colleague, Nancy Pelosi,
with the creation of this new theme of a bipartisan way for all
Americans, let's embrace it. Let's get our work done. We enjoy
bipartisanship on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and I wish other
committees could see how well we have worked together over the years. I
call on leadership of everyone here in the House in dealing with these
bills here on veterans affairs to complete our work on behalf of our
Nation's veterans.
Mr. Speaker, I also call upon the Senate leadership to finish our
legislative negotiations. Let's complete our work. Let's not forget our
veterans and their families. And, Mr. Speaker, I also call upon the
leadership of the veterans service organizations and the military
service associations to encourage the Senate leadership to finish our
negotiations and again finish the work that we had started on behalf of
this Nation's veterans and dependents.
These warriors fought for our freedom. The least we can do is
complete our work and provide for them the best care and benefits
possible. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing
this bill to the floor today.
Included in H.R. 6314 is a provision to extend, through December 31,
2007, a program that provides government markers for veterans who are
buried in a private cemetery.
The current five-year authority, which was effective for deaths that
occurred as of September 11, 2001, expires on December 31st of this
year.
Prior to this authority, if a veteran was buried at a private
cemetery and the family purchased a private headstone, the veteran was
ineligible for a government marker.
I want to recognize Representative Nancy Johnson, who has been
championing this cause for over 5 years.
I appreciate her working with my Subcommittee to ensure that veterans
and their families continue to have access to symbolic expressions of
remembrance.
Mr. Speaker, as the 109th Congress comes to an end, I want to
recognize Representative Jeb Bradley, the Vice Chairman of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, and Ms.
Shelley Berkley, the ranking member, for their active participation on
the Subcommittee. We accomplished quite a bit over the past 2 years and
I thank them both.
I also want to thank the Subcommittee staffs on both sides of the
aisle--Paige McManus, Chris McNamee, and Mary Ellen McCarthy.
Finally, on behalf of the Subcommittee, I commend Chairman Buyer and
Ranking Member Evans for their bipartisan leadership of the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill before us.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I have no furthers requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6314.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those voting have responded in the affirmative.
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
____________________
GENERAL LEAVE
Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may
[[Page 21929]]
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks relative to
the bill which the House just considered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Indiana?
There was no objection.
____________________
{time} 1200
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE WITH RESPECT TO RAISING AWARENESS AND
ENHANCING THE STATE OF COMPUTER SECURITY
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 993) expressing the sense of
the House of Representatives with respect to raising awareness and
enhancing the state of computer security in the United States, and
supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness
Month.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 993
Whereas over 205,000,000 Americans use the Internet in the
United States, including more than 84,000,000 home-users
through broadband connections, to communicate with family and
friends, manage their finances, pay their bills, improve
their education, shop at home, and read about current events;
Whereas the approximately 26,000,000 small businesses in
the United States, who represent 99.7 percent of all United
States employers and employ 50 percent of the private work
force, increasingly rely on the Internet to manage their
businesses, expand their customer reach, and enhance their
connection with their supply chain;
Whereas according to the Department of Education, nearly
100 percent of public schools in the United States have
Internet access, with approximately 93 percent of
instructional rooms connected to the Internet, to enhance our
children's education by providing access to educational
online content and encouraging responsible self-initiative to
discover research resources;
Whereas according to the Pew Institute, almost 9 in 10
teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, or 87 percent of all
youth (approximately 21,000,000 people) use the Internet, and
78 percent (or about 16,000,000 students) say they use the
Internet at school;
Whereas teen use of the Internet at school has grown 45
percent since 2000, and educating children of all ages about
safe, secure, and ethical practices will not only protect
their systems, but will protect our children's physical
safety, and help them become good cyber citizens;
Whereas the growth and popularity of social networking
websites have attracted millions of teenagers, providing them
with a range of valuable services, teens must be taught how
to avoid potential threats like cyber bullies, predators and
identity thieves they may come across while using such
services;
Whereas our Nation's critical infrastructures rely on the
secure and reliable operation of our information networks to
support our Nation's financial services, energy,
telecommunications, transportation, health care, and
emergency response systems;
Whereas cyber security is a critical part of our Nation's
overall homeland security, in particular the control systems
that control and monitor our drinking water, dams, and other
water management systems; our electricity grids, oil and gas
supplies, and pipeline distribution networks; our
transportation systems; and other critical manufacturing
processes;
Whereas terrorists and others with malicious motives have
demonstrated an interest in utilizing cyber means to attack
our Nation, and the Department of Homeland Security's mission
includes securing the homeland against cyber terrorism and
other attacks;
Whereas Internet users and our information infrastructure
face an increasing threat of malicious attacks through
viruses, worms, Trojans, and unwanted programs such as
spyware, adware, hacking tools, and password stealers, that
are frequent and fast in propagation, are costly to repair,
and disable entire systems;
Whereas according to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, since
February 2005, over 90 million records containing personally-
identifiable information have been breached, and the overall
increase in serious data breaches in both the private and
public sectors are threatening the security and well-being of
United States citizens;
Whereas consumers face significant financial and personal
privacy losses due to identity theft and fraud, as reported
in over 686,000 complaints in 2005 to the Federal Trade
Commission's Consumer Sentinel database; and Internet-related
complaints in 2005 accounted for 46 percent of all reported
fraud complaints, with monetary losses of over $680,000,000
and a median loss of $350;
Whereas our Nation's youth face increasing threats online
such as inappropriate content or child predators, according
to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 34
percent of teens are exposed to unwanted sexually explicit
material on the Internet, and with one in seven children
having been approached by a child predator online each year;
Whereas national organizations, policymakers, government
agencies, private sector companies, nonprofit institutions,
schools, academic organizations, consumers, and the media
recognize the need to increase awareness of computer security
and enhance our level of computer and national security in
the United States;
Whereas the National Cyber Security Alliance's mission is
to increase awareness of cyber security practices and
technologies to home users, students, teachers, and small
businesses through educational activities, online resources
and checklists, and Public Service Announcements; and
Whereas the National Cyber Security Alliance has designated
October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which
will provide an opportunity to educate the people of the
United States about computer security: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Cyber
Security Awareness Month; and
(2) will work with Federal agencies, national
organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to
encourage the development and implementation of existing and
future computer security voluntary consensus standards,
practices, and technologies in order to enhance the state of
computer security in the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
South Carolina (Mr. Inglis) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms.
Matsui) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their
remarks and to include extraneous materials on H. Res. 993, the
resolution now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from South Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 993, a resolution to
applaud the goals and activities of National Cyber Security Awareness
Month.
Computers and the Internet have been integrated into our daily
routine in businesses, schools and homes. These information and
communication systems underpin our government, and they increase the
productivity of our industries, financial institutions and
transportation systems. However, our increasing dependence on computers
and computer networks exposes our society to the risks of cyber
attacks, destructive viruses, malicious hacking, and identity theft.
This is why the National Cyber Security Alliance, a cooperative
effort between government, academia and industry, has organized
National Cyber Security Awareness Month for each of the past 3 years
and has already begun planning for the next National Cyber Security
Awareness Month in October 2007. As is only proper for a cyber
security-related effort, there is a central Web site that is available
all year round with on-line resources that offer tips and tools to help
computer users protect themselves from viruses, worms, hacker attacks,
identity theft, spyware and more.
In addition to these on-line resources, during National Cyber
Security Awareness Month there are events all over the country on
specific cyber security topics aimed at consumers, students, children,
parents, small businesses and educational institutions. Attorneys
general from 41 States and the District of Columbia have signed on to a
resolution like H. Res. 993, supporting National Cyber Security
Awareness Month. The National Cyber Security Alliance, in partnership
with the Small Business Administration, sponsored a series of workshops
to provide people from small businesses and nonprofit organizations
with access to cyber security training developed by the National
Institutes of Standards and Technology. In total, some sort of event on
cyber security took place in 49 States during the month.
Of course, cyber security is not just an issue in October, but year
round.
[[Page 21930]]
National Cyber Security Awareness Month is a chance not only to raise
awareness about computer vulnerabilities and threats, but also to
inform people about programs that exist throughout the U.S. to educate
students, parents, businesspeople, local law enforcement and government
employees about cyber security and to attract students into careers in
information technology.
For example, the National Science Foundation supports a program at
the University of South Carolina in which undergraduates studying
computer science and undergraduates training to be teachers team up on
summer cyber security projects to get the experience of what actually
doing research is like and to explore how the projects might be used to
communicate about cyber security to K-12 students and to the general
public.
In conclusion, I would like to thank Chairman Lungren, Ms. Sanchez,
Chairman Boehlert, Mr. Gordon, Chairman King and Mr. Thompson for
introducing this resolution. We applaud the associations, companies,
organizations and agencies involved in National Cyber Security
Awareness Month for their efforts to help all of us to become more
responsible, safer computer users.
I urge my colleagues to support adoption of the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. It expresses
congressional support for the goals and ideals of National Cyber
Security Awareness Month.
This resolution, which I cosponsored, is an effort to increase
awareness across the Nation of the dangers lurking in cyber space. It
is also to educate Americans about the availability of tools and
practices to minimize these dangers.
I want to congratulate the National Cyber Security Alliance for
originating the idea for this observance and for its efforts to improve
cyber security.
The National Cyber Security Alliance is a public/private partnership
led by industry. It is focused on improving cyber security for home
users, small businesses and educational institutions.
The Alliance seeks to alert computer users to threats such as
viruses, hacking attacks and identity theft. Additionally, it provides
information to users on best practices and technologies available for
countering cyber threats.
Each year, nearly 10 million Americans are affected by identity
theft, and it cost businesses almost $56 billion in 2004. I frequently
hear from my constituents in Sacramento about their experiences with
identity theft and questions on how to avoid being a victim.
Consumer awareness has proven to be an effective weapon against
identity theft, especially regarding Internet security. In fact, I
received an overwhelmingly positive response when I hosted an
information session on preventing identity theft in Sacramento.
National Cyber Security Awareness Month includes a range of special
events designed specifically for home users, small businesses and the
education community.
To reach its objectives, the Alliance organizes national and regional
events. These events range from small business workshops and student
assemblies to cyber security boot camps, which would take consumer
education to the grass-roots level. The Alliance also makes public
service announcements to inform consumers about on-line best practices
and to protect their valuable personal data, and it publicizes its on-
line resources for computer users. This includes beginner guides,
computer security tips and free security scans.
The resolution before the House calls attention to and endorses the
commendable efforts of the National Cyber Security Alliance to increase
awareness of cyber security throughout the Nation. This is a message we
should all heed.
Mr. Speaker, I commend this resolution to my colleagues and ask for
their support for its passage by the House.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren).
Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
gentleman for yielding, and I rise today in support the passage of
House Resolution 993 to support the goals and ideals of National Cyber
Security Awareness Month. This year, that month was in October, and
while it is now November, I believe it is important to recognize the
need for cyber security awareness not just in one month but throughout
the entire year.
The Internet and the computers we use on a daily basis have become
commonplace in our lives. Over 205 million Americans use the Internet
on a regular basis, and that number is growing. Companies, both large
and small, increasingly rely on the Internet and information technology
systems to manage their business, expand their customer reach and
enhance their connection with their supply chain.
With computers becoming less expensive and access to the Internet
easier to accomplish, many dangers associated with on-line behavior are
becoming more and more common. These threats range from spam, viruses
and identity theft to complex computer attacks created by organized
crime and terrorist organizations designed to steal personal financial
information and create general havoc.
The Internet has become an invaluable tool in educating our children.
Almost 90 percent of all youth use the Internet, and the vast majority
of those say they use the Internet at school. As more and more children
use the Internet, it is important that they are taught to use this tool
in a safe, secure and ethical way. This will not only protect their own
systems from attack, but will protect their physical safety and help
them become good cyber citizens.
Cyber security is also a critical part of our Nation's overall
homeland security. In particular, the control systems that control and
monitor our drinking water, our dams and other water management
systems, our electrical grids, oil and gas supplies, our transportation
systems and other critical manufacturing processes are connected to the
Internet. It is possible for terrorist organizations to disrupt a
number of our critical infrastructure systems and do serious damage to
our economy without even entering our country. Clearly, with much of
the Nation's critical infrastructure connected to the Internet,
appropriate cyber security practices are essential to our overall
security.
It is not just terrorists that seek to do harm via computers and the
Internet. More and more criminal activity is occurring in borderless
cyber space. Through the Internet, international criminals can attack
our computers through virus, worms and unwanted programs such as
spyware and password stealers that can cause significant financial and
personal privacy losses due to identity theft and fraud.
Organizations such as the National Cyber Security Alliance are making
it their mission to increase awareness of cyber security practices and
technologies to home users, students, teachers and small businesses.
These organizations deserve to be recognized for their good work and
supported as much as possible to spread the awareness of good cyber
security.
This organization's work is paying off. Cyber security awareness is
growing. The Department of Homeland Security has recognized its
importance by naming finally an Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security
and Telecommunications, but there is much more work to be done. More
government agencies, private sector companies, academic institutions,
consumers and the media have to recognize the importance in
establishing appropriate cyber security in their computers and
information systems.
We, as a Congress, have a large role to play in encouraging the use
of proper cyber security practices and technologies throughout our
country. National Cyber Security Awareness Month provides a solid
platform from
[[Page 21931]]
which to improve cyber security awareness in this country, and I am
pleased that this Congress is supporting its goals and ideals. As I
have said, we have much work to do, but being aware of the need for
cyber security is a necessary, essential first step.
I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague
from California for the time.
I rise in strong support of House Resolution 993 and the goals and
ideals of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and I am proud
to be one of the original cosponsors of this resolution.
I believe that raising awareness about the need to enhance computer
and network security in the U.S. is a valuable tool to protect the
identities and data of all Americans.
As the ranking member on the Economic Security, Infrastructure
Protection and Cyber Security Subcommittee on the Committee on Homeland
Security, I have had an opportunity to work on critical issues related
to cyber security.
In the past, I have offered a number of amendments to various bills
to increase our investment in cyber security research and development
at the Department of Homeland Security, and I hope that in the next
Congress we will make significant progress in this area.
I believe that we need to pay more attention to the state of cyber
security because it affects all of us, from the government and large
corporations to small businesses and, of course, to individuals.
Our country's infrastructure relies on secure information networks
that ensure the reliable functioning of everything from public finance
and control of water systems to the operation of electrical grids and
emergency response systems.
For all of us, all Americans, our information infrastructure is an
integral part of our daily life, allowing us to communicate with
friends and family, and pay bills and manage our business.
Imagine, if we go to the ATM and our money is gone, and this all
leads back to some break in some network. At that point, we are going
to realize just how important this is and how this can impact us on a
daily basis.
It is the reliance on these information networks, these networks that
are so much a part of our lives, and that is why it makes it such a
great potential for targeted attacks by people who wish to harm us. And
this type of attack would be devastating to our physical safety, as
well as the economic security of our country. That is the reason I
think that government needs to be a leader in the field of cyber
security.
When I was talking to some of my companies about this, they said the
simplest thing, about like over 50 percent of the people that use a
network system do not use passwords. We should be using passwords.
Those who use passwords may use something like the name of our dog or
our pet; well, anybody who knows you can guess that or can get that
name.
So I went through and I changed my passwords, and I changed Gretsky
off of my passwords and everything else. Why? Because we need to. These
are very simple, individual things that we can do because if once a
person gets into the network, it goes much wider than that and can go
into banking institutions and can go into the House of Representatives,
et cetera.
{time} 1215
So I urge my colleagues to support the goals and ideals of National
Cyber Security Awareness Month. I hope every small business will take
advantage of some of the free information with respect to making our
networks safe.
Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 993, a
resolution to applaud the goals and activities of National Cyber
Security Awareness Month.
Information technology is becoming a critical part of our society,
from wireless phones and blackberries to electronic medical records,
and public trust in the security and reliability of these systems is
necessary for the U.S. to realize the economic and societal benefits of
new technologies.
Cybersecurity is also an important part of homeland security. The
Science Committee has heard testimony from energy, electric power, and
telecommunications companies about their dependence on information
systems and their concerns about the nation's vulnerability to cyber
attacks. The connectedness of the Internet means that each person not
only must protect himself in cyberspace but also that each person's
cybersecurity efforts contribute to the nation's overall state of cyber
and homeland security. Progress is being made, but we as a Nation still
have a long way to go.
Cybersecurity has long been a priority of mine, and I am proud to
represent New York State, which has long been at the forefront of
developing new cybersecurity tools and training people in information
security.
In my district, the Air Force's Rome Laboratory is a world leader in
cybersecurity research programs to strengthen and protect the systems
used by the military, and to develop forensic tools used by law
enforcement at all levels. The laboratory also hosts innovative
cybersecurity education programs including an annual Cyber Security
Boot Camp to train ROTC cadets and civilian undergraduate students from
all over the country in cutting edge cybersecurity techniques.
The Cyber Security Boot Camp has also led to the creation of a high
school-level course in cybersecurity being taught at Rome Catholic High
School in my district. This 20-week elective course will soon be
accredited by the New York State Board of Education and can serve as a
model for cybersecurity education nationwide.
As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the University of
Rochester hosted the 10-day Rochester Security Summit in collaboration
with higher education, business and industry partners, and New York
State ran a Poster Art Contest, open to all 4th and 5th grade students
in the State, for art that illustrated how to use computers and the
Internet safely.
I urge my colleagues to support adoption of H. Res. 993.
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I urge
passage of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Inglis) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 993.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the
resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
GYNECOLOGIC CANCER EDUCATION AND AWARENESS ACT OF 2005
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1245) to provide for programs to increase the
awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect
to gynecologic cancers, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1245
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 ``Gynecologic Cancer Education
and Awareness Act of 2005'' or ``Johanna's Law''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall carry
out a national campaign to increase the awareness and
knowledge of health care providers and women with respect to
gynecologic cancers.
(b) Written Materials.--Activities under the national
campaign under subsection (a) shall include--
(1) maintaining a supply of written materials that provide
information to the public on gynecologic cancers; and
(2) distributing the materials to members of the public
upon request.
(c) Public Service Announcements.--Activities under the
national campaign under subsection (a) shall, in accordance
with applicable law and regulations, include developing and
placing, in telecommunications media, public service
announcements intended to encourage women to discuss with
their physicians their risks of gynecologic
[[Page 21932]]
cancers. Such announcements shall inform the public on the
manner in which the written materials referred to in
subsection (b) can be obtained upon request, and shall call
attention to early warning signs and risk factors based on
the best available medical information.
SEC. 3. REPORT AND STRATEGY.
(a) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Congress a report including the following:
(1) A description of the past and present activities of the
Department of Health and Human Services to increase awareness
and knowledge of the public with respect to different types
of cancer, including gynecologic cancers.
(2) A description of the past and present activities of the
Department of Health and Human Services to increase awareness
and knowledge of health care providers with respect to
different types of cancer, including gynecologic cancers.
(3) For each activity described pursuant to paragraph (1)
or (2), a description of the following:
(A) The funding for such activity for fiscal year 2006 and
the cumulative funding for such activity for previous fiscal
years.
(B) The background and history of such activity,
including--
(i) the goals of such activity;
(ii) the communications objectives of such activity;
(iii) the identity of each agency within the Department of
Health and Human Services responsible for any aspect of the
activity; and
(iv) how such activity is or was expected to result in
change.
(C) How long the activity lasted or is expected to last.
(D) The outcomes observed and the evaluation methods, if
any, that have been, are being, or will be used with respect
to such activity.
(E) For each such outcome or evaluation method, a
description of the associated results, analyses, and
conclusions.
(b) Strategy.--
(1) Development; submission to congress.--Not later than 3
months after submitting the report required by subsection
(a), the Secretary shall develop and submit to the Congress a
strategy for improving efforts to increase awareness and
knowledge of the public and health care providers with
respect to different types of cancer, including gynecological
cancers.
(2) Consultation.--In developing the strategy under
paragraph (1), the Secretary should consult with qualified
private sector groups, including nonprofit organizations.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there is
authorized to be appropriated $16,500,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2007 through 2009.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on
the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume, and I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 1245, the
Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or Johanna's
Law. This bill takes several important steps forward in helping to
educate women and their health care providers about the dangers and
early warning signs of gynecologic cancers.
Ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers are grouped together as the
major gynecologic cancers. And as members of the Energy and Commerce
committee recently learned during consideration of the CDC's National
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, gynecological
cancer, specifically cervical cancer, was once the leading cause of
cancer deaths among women in the United States. Over the past century,
we have made great strides in reducing both the morbidity and the
mortality associated with cervical cancer. We also have programs in
place, like the CDC's Early Detection program, that provides free
screening and referral services for women who cannot afford to pay for
screenings themselves.
When experts have compared cervical cancer screening and survival
rates of the United States to other industrialized countries, the
United States ranks near the top. We do a good job of screening for
cancer, and our treatment facilities are in fact the best in the world.
With the recent discovery of a new vaccine approach to prevent the
transmission of the HPV virus, I am hopeful that one day we will be
able to eradicate most if not all cases of cervical cancer.
But, Mr. Speaker, there is much more work to be done on gynecological
cancers. Too many women don't know enough about the disease to ask
their doctors or go to regular screenings. Too many cases of
gynecologic cancers go unidentified or untreated until it is too late.
This is the underlying purpose for the legislation before us today.
This bill takes the important step of creating a national public
service campaign to educate women and their health care providers on
gynecologic cancers. The campaign will help to raise awareness of the
problem, the warning signs, and remind women to get screened regularly.
Within 6 months of enactment, the legislation will require the
Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress
on all education and outreach activities related to gynecologic cancers
and other cancers. This information will give Congress and the
executive branch the tools to identify what activities are ongoing and
what is being done, what is working, and what could be done better.
At this time I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Issa, Ms.
Granger, Mr. Burton, Mr. Levin, and Ms. DeLauro for their hard work on
this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues
to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 1245, the Gynecologic Cancer
Education and Awareness Act, also named Johanna's Law. It is an
important piece of legislation which would provide for programs to
increase the awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers
with respect to gynecologic cancers.
Gynecologic cancers include cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and
uterine cancer. Gynecologic cancers affect approximately 80,000
American women each year and take nearly 29,000 lives. While diagnosis
and treatment methods are becoming more targeted and accurate for
gynecologic cancers, most women do not understand the symptoms or signs
of gynecologic cancer and, therefore, are frequently diagnosed late. A
late diagnosis often makes treatment more difficult and lengthens the
need for medical care.
Unfortunately, many women and their physicians are unaware of the
symptoms of gynecologic cancers. A recent poll conducted for the
Gynecologic Cancer Foundation found that 47 percent of surveyed women
could not name any symptoms of gynecologic cancers.
Johanna's Law would increase awareness by directing the Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a nationwide
campaign to increase women's awareness and knowledge of gynecologic
cancers. This campaign would include maintaining and distributing a
supply of written materials that provide information to the public
about gynecologic cancer. It would also aid in the development of
public service announcements intended to encourage women to discuss
their risk for gynecologic cancers with their physicians.
Furthermore, this legislation would instruct the Secretary of HHS to
take a closer look at both its past and present activities regarding
gynecologic cancer awareness and education in hopes of learning what
works and what does not, and what needs to be done to help with early
detection and treatment of gynecologic cancers.
While we have made significant progress in fighting those cancers,
progress such as the newly developed and improved cervical cancer
vaccine, one of the biggest threats that remains is the continued need
for increased awareness of gynecologic cancers.
[[Page 21933]]
Quite simply, knowledge is power. Providing women and their doctors
with up-to-date information about the causes and symptoms of
gynecologic cancers will strengthen and support women's health.
I am proud to support this bipartisan bill to improve women's health,
and I applaud the bill's sponsors, Mr. Issa, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Burton
for their dedication to women's health.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important
piece of legislation. As we come to the close of the 109th Congress,
many have used the term ``do-nothing Congress.'' This bill, certainly
on a bipartisan basis, is a ``do-something bill.''
We have in this country for a very long time have had people, women
in this case, dying needlessly of undiagnosed cancers. I want to thank
Chairman Burton, Ranking Member John Dingell, his staff, and
particularly my cosponsors, Mr. Levin very much in particular, who
championed this bill in a previous Congress, and he and I worked
together tirelessly with Congressman Dan Burton, Kay Granger and Rosa
DeLauro in this Congress to get bipartisan support. This bill has far
more than half the Congress as cosponsors. It has been worked out, and
we are very hopeful this will still become law in this Congress.
With that, I want to take no more time than to once again say that in
this Congress there are some things we did as a bipartisan body that I
am very proud of. This is one of them. And I thank my colleagues on
both sides of the aisle for working so tirelessly to make this a
reality
I rise today to urge support for my bill, H.R. 1245, ``the
Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005,'' otherwise
known as ``Johanna's Law.''
Every seven minutes a woman is diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer.
In 2005, over 80,000 women were diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer and
over 27,000 women died. The most common gynecologic cancers include
cancer of the ovaries, cervix and uterus.
Too many women are dying because they were diagnosed too late.
Education and early detection are the keys to saving women's lives and
reducing these statistics. If diagnosed in the early stages, the 5-year
survivability rates are as high as 95 percent.
Gynecologic cancers, when detected early, can often be prevented from
becoming fatal. Since all women are at risk--no matter their ethnic
background or socioeconomic status--it is critical that we find a way
to inform women about the steps they can take to maintain their health.
Due to the private and intimate nature of these cancers, oftentimes
women are uncomfortable or embarrassed discussing issues surrounding
gynecologic cancers with friends and family. Thus, it is vital that we
have a national dialogue to provide accurate and timely information to
the public and the medical community.
By simply educating women about these cancers, we have an opportunity
to save lives. The messages are simple: learn the symptoms, have an
annual exam, know your family history and talk to your doctor.
Unfortunately, most women do not know the signs or the symptoms
surrounding gynecologic cancers. Thus, we need an aggressive national
education and awareness program that brings together the appropriate
federal agencies, the medical community, and the private sector.
Passage of H.R. 1245 will help make this a reality.
There is a lot of excellent information provided by both the private
and government sectors--specifically by the Gynecologic Cancer
Foundation and the National Cancer Institute--and I commend their
efforts. Tragically, most women and families look at these Web sites or
pamphlets after cancer is diagnosed. The information needs to get out
before diagnosis of a gynecologic cancer.
Education and awareness is an appropriate federal role. Education,
coupled with research on improved diagnostic tools and cures, will lead
to reductions in cancer deaths. While science and research are needed
for long term success, education and awareness can save lives now.
Education empowers women to make the best choices regarding their
health care.
Last year, I discovered first-hand how important early diagnosis and
education can be. My Legislative Director, Paige Anderson, was
diagnosed with cervical cancer. She is one of the lucky ones--she
stands here today as a cancer survivor. However, it was not until after
diagnosis that she learned about HPV, cervical cancer and the
importance of yearly pap smears and pelvic exams. Unfortunately, her
story is not unique.
Paige's journey led me to work with Representatives Sander Levin, Dan
Burton, Kay Granger, Rosa DeLauro and introduce H.R. 1245, ``the
Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2005,'' which has 257
bipartisan cosponsors.
``Johanna's Law'' has afforded me the privilege and honor to meet and
work with an amazing group of survivors, patients, doctors and families
who have lost loved ones to these awful cancers.
As I've spoken and met with other Members and staff on H.R. 1245, it
is surprising how little is known about gynecologic cancers. In fact,
most do not know that a pap smear only helps diagnose cervical cancer.
This test does not screen for uterine or ovarian cancer. Most do not
know that there are early warning symptoms for ovarian cancer. This is
why we need H.R. 1245, so we can fill the void that currently exists.
I would like to take this time to thank several people who have been
instrumental in passing this bill. I greatly appreciate the time and
effort that Chairman Barton and Ranking Member Dingell have spent on
this bill. We could not have passed this bill without the help of
Committee and Leadership staff on both sides of the aisle.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1245.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I would now yield 4 minutes to one of the
lead cosponsors of this legislation, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr.
Levin).
Mr. LEVIN. Thank you very, very much for yielding. This is an
important and somewhat emotional day. More than 4 years ago, Sheryl
Silver first told me about her sister Johanna, who died of ovarian
cancer in 2000 after a brave and hard fought battle.
Johanna Silver Gordon was an active, health conscious woman who
taught high school at Southfield Lathrup High School in my
congressional district. She came from a family of doctors and was
conscientious about her health, but when she experienced the first
symptoms of ovarian cancer, she thought they were gastrointestinal. By
the time she was diagnosed, her cancer was in stage 3.
I discovered that Johanna's story was all too common. Each year,
77,000 women are diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, ovarian, cervical,
or uterine. Most of them, like Johanna, do not have the information
they need to recognize their early symptoms and are unaware that they
are at high risk.
With these illnesses, lack of information often costs women their
lives. Ovarian cancer, the deadliest of gynecologic cancers, is highly
treatable and has survival rates of 80 to 90 percent if detected in
stage 1 or 2, but has a survival rate of less than 20 percent if
diagnosed late, as it most often is. And of these cancers, only
cervical cancer today has a reliable screening test that can be used
for asymptomatic women, making public education for women and their
primary care physicians even more important.
This legislation, as has been mentioned by my colleagues, would
create a national public information campaign to educate women and
health care providers about the risk factors and early warning signs of
these cancers. It would also require HHS to quickly develop a national
strategy for getting the facts out to women at the highest risk and to
health care providers that see them when they first develop these
symptoms. We strongly believe that HHS's strategy should include
public-private partnerships that leverage all the resources available
and all the expertise that exists on this subject.
So here we are today, after the tireless work of so many people, and
we are voting on Johanna's Law. Tireless work from her family,
including her loving sister Sheryl Silver, and her mother, Ann Gonts
Silver, who is celebrating her 91st birthday today, and the cancer
survivors and family members across the country who rallied to this
effort, and the physicians and the organizations that lent invaluable
support, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as mentioned,
especially
[[Page 21934]]
Darrell Issa, Rosa DeLauro, Kay Granger, and Dan Burton.
And if I might, let me lastly thank Morna Miller. Without her
tireless efforts as a member of our staff over the last 3 years in
developing this legislation and helping shepherd it to the House today,
we would not be here at this moment.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support Johanna's Law and
strike a blow against gynecologic cancer.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to simply add my support to this
bill. I had the great opportunity when I was in the State Senate in
North Carolina to learn much about HPV in particular. And while I
consider myself a fairly well educated woman in many cases, I knew
nothing about the HPV until the organization Women in Government
educated those of us in the State legislature about this completely
preventable cancer.
We are looking for a way to prevent cancer and to cure cancer in this
country and we now have a mechanism for doing that. And whatever we can
do to spread the word to women that this particular cancer can be
prevented, we need to do.
{time} 1230
And so I am a supporter of this legislation and hope that we can do
much in this country, State by State, as well as nationally, to educate
women and help them understand the perils of many of these diseases and
how they can prevent them.
We were able in North Carolina to pass a model piece of legislation.
Unfortunately, it has not been passed in all the States, but I hope
that more States will pick it up and help educate women about these
diseases and how they can be prevented.
So I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to another primary
sponsor of this legislation, Congresswoman DeLauro.
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank everyone who has made this
legislation such a priority in the Congress, Congressmen Issa and Levin
for their leadership, as well as Sheryl Silver for her passion and her
tenacity. This bipartisan coalition is a testament to the simple fact
that when it comes to life and death, life and death issues like
cancer, Congress speaks with one voice. It must.
This is a special moment. Whether it is a family member, a friend, or
if you are a survivor yourself, each of us knows the deadly toll that
gynecological cancer takes. Twenty years ago I found out for myself
when, during an unrelated doctor's visit, I was diagnosed with ovarian
cancer. I underwent radiation treatment for 2\1/2\ months, and I am
proud to say that I have now been cancer-free for 20 years.
But no one should have to depend on luck when it comes to life and
death. Right now, almost 21,000 women are diagnosed every year with
ovarian cancer, nearly 16,000 of whom will die. Ovarian cancer claims
the lives of nearly three-quarters of women diagnosed simply because
the disease is not detected until it has reached an advanced stage.
This disease has a 45 percent 5-year survival rate.
The tragedy is that ovarian cancer, like other gynecologic cancers,
can be cured if it is detected soon enough. When ovarian cancer is
detected in the early stages, 95 percent of women survive longer than 5
years, and most are cured completely. Unfortunately, women have never
had a reliable and accurate method of screening for ovarian cancer in
the early stages. On top of that, not only do many doctors misdiagnose
this disease, but 85 percent of women report they do not know which
symptoms to look for.
We have made progress, of course, through research at the NIH,
Department of Defense, and with the recent approval of the HPV vaccine.
But Johanna's Law recognized something critical, that until we have
accurate screening methods, public education is one of the most
critical weapons we have toward beating gynecologic cancers like
ovarian, cervical and uterine cancer. In creating a Federal campaign to
educate women and health care providers alike, as this legislation
does, we can take a bold step toward ensuring that women know which
symptoms to look for and how to seek help before it is too late.
This legislation has been a long time coming, and to be clear, it
represents only a first step. But every inch of progress we make
fighting these deadly diseases gets us closer to a cure. And that is a
fight that every woman has a stake in, every family has a stake in, a
fight the Silver family has dedicated itself to making sure we win.
And so I thank you. I thank you for helping us pass this vital bill
and take such an important step forward. I was given a second chance at
life. Others should have that same opportunity. It is about time
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Texas (Mr. Hall).
Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, of course I rise today in support of H.R.
1245, the Gynecologic Cancer Education bill, also known as Johanna's
bill.
This very important bill authorizes an early detection and awareness
campaign directed at women and health care providers. Approximately
80,000 women a year will be diagnosed with some form of gynecological
cancer, and close to 28,000 women will die from these cancers. Early
detection is the key to survival. But so many women and their providers
are unaware of symptoms and risk factors.
Unfortunately, there isn't currently a reliable screening test for
ovarian cancer. Women need to know the symptoms so that they can be
diagnosed early. Studies demonstrate that early detection is the key to
survival. When diagnosed early, women have a 90 percent chance of
survival. However, that number drops to 50 percent or less when these
cancers are diagnosed in the late stages. It is a sobering statistic
that over three-fourths of the women with ovarian cancer are not
diagnosed until the latter stages, making this the fifth leading cause
of cancer death among American women. We need to turn these statistics
around.
By creating a national public awareness campaign conducted through
the Department of Health and Human Services, this bill helps distribute
materials that will provide information to the public. This bill will
also help develop public service announcements that encourage women to
discuss their risk for gynecologic cancers with their health and care
providers and alert them to early warning signs. Finally, HHS will
award demonstration grants to nonprofit organizations to develop
innovative outreach programs.
I urge Members to pass this important legislation today so that we
can begin to improve and save the lives of many women with gynecologic
cancers. I am pleased that we are moving forward on this legislation,
and I encourage this body to move legislation aimed at mending the SGR
for physicians before Congress recesses.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, again I am proud to join my colleagues in
supporting this legislation that will increase awareness and knowledge
of women with respect to gynecologic cancers. This bill, as we have
heard, will increase the survivability of these cancer diagnoses and
prevent cancer deaths. I urge all of my colleagues to support this
important legislation
Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Johanna's
law and I thank Representatives Levin, Issa, DeLauro and Burton and
their strong bipartisan coalition for all of their hard work in
bringing this bill to the floor today.
This bill honors the memory of Johanna Silver Gordon and the
thousands of women who have lost their lives to gynecologic cancer
because they were not diagnosed until the late stages of the disease.
This year, more than 80,000 women will be diagnosed with gynecologic
cancer, and more than 28,000 women will die from these diseases.
However, there is very little awareness about these deadly diseases.
According the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, NOCC, only 15 percent
of women are familiar with the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and 82
percent have never talked to their doctors about the symptoms and risk
factors.
[[Page 21935]]
If caught in the early stages of the disease, the five-year survival
rate for ovarian cancer is 90 percent. However 75 percent of women are
diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease, when the prognosis is
very poor. It is clear that we must do something to increase awareness
about this disease and promote early diagnosis. Johanna's law will
authorize a national campaign directed at women and their providers to
promote early detection of gynecologic cancer and raise awareness about
these devastating diseases.
I would like to thank one of my constituents, Barbara O'Brien, a 9-
year survivor herself, for her passionate advocacy and her dedication
to raising awareness about this incredibly important issue.
Education is a critical first step and this bill will significantly
increase awareness. However, we must also continue to pursue the
research necessary to find a diagnostic test, better treatments and
ultimately a cure for this horrible disease so that succeeding
generations will have to turn to the history books to learn that there
was ever a disease called ovarian cancer.
I urge support of this important legislation
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
1245, the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act, or
``Johanna's Law,'' a bipartisan, common-sense measure that will help
save the lives of thousands of American women each year.
Uterine cancer is the most common form of gynecologic cancer, and
ovarian cancer is the deadliest. Unlike cervical cancer, there is no
reliable early detection screening test for these cancers. This means
that 80,000 women will be diagnosed with gynecologic cancers this year,
and almost 30,000 will die because their illnesses were detected too
late.
Most women don't recognize the symptoms of gynecologic cancers, and
many doctors initially misdiagnose them.
Early detection is the key to successful treatment of gynecologic
cancers. We must do better. This bill will help save the lives and
improve the health of our Nation's mothers, wives and daughters.
Johanna's Law was named for the sister of one of my constituents from
Hallandale, Florida, who lost her life to ovarian cancer. I want to
congratulate Sheryl Silver and her family for their hard work,
dedication, and commitment to saving the lives of millions of American
women.
This bill will authorize millions of dollars in desperately needed
funds to help raise awareness and increase knowledge about these
cancers that will lead to early detection, effective treatment, and
saved lives.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join 256 of my colleagues as co-sponsors
of this important piece of legislation.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
1245, a bill to authorize the Department of Health and Human Services
to carry out a national campaign to increase the awareness and
knowledge of women with respect to gynecologic cancers.
Two months ago marked the seventh annual Gynecologic Cancer Awareness
Month. I expressed my strong belief that raising public awareness,
detecting gynecological cancers early, and educating women to the risk
of reproductive tract cancers are powerful methods with which to combat
this disease in my September 29, 2006, statement in honor of
Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month. Today, we continue the important
work to raise public awareness of gynecologic cancers through passage
of this bill. We also reaffirm that detecting gynecological cancer
early and educating women to the risk of reproductive tract cancers are
key methods with which to combat this disease by passing this
legislation.
It is important to recognize that H.R. 1245 enjoys the support of 257
members of this body. The bill has been named in honor of Johanna
Silver Gordon, who lost her life to a battle with ovarian cancer which
was not diagnosed until it had reached an advanced stage. Today we
honor her life and her fight against cancer. We also renew our
commitment to legislation to be known as Johanna's Law once enacted
that will help save the lives of others who are at risk of gynecologic
cancers.
A poll recently released by the Gynecological Cancer Foundation
revealed that 45 percent of American women could not name a single
symptom common to gynecological cancers. This fact alone suggests more
must be done in terms increasing awareness. Education and outreach on
gynecological cancers deserves to be a national priority and an ongoing
effort of the Department of Health and Human Services.
I urge that this House adopt H.R. 1245, and I urge my colleagues'
support for additional and continued action towards increasing research
funds and treatment options for those individuals who have been
diagnosed with forms of gynecologic cancer.
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of
H.R. 1245, ``Johanna's Law'' or the ``Gynecological Cancer Education
and Awareness Act of 2005.'' I want to thank Chairman Nathan Deal and
Chairman Joe Barton, and the Energy and Commerce Committee staff, for
bringing this bill to the floor today. I also want to thank my
colleagues, Representative Darryl Issa and Representative Sander Levin,
the lead sponsors of this bill, who have worked so tirelessly for over
two years to guide this bill through the legislative process. I want to
thank the 257 House Members and 42 Senators, Republican and Democrat,
Conservative and Liberal, who co-sponsored this critically needed
bipartisan legislation.
I also want to congratulate Ms. Sheryl Silver, the architect of this
bill. Sheryl's sister Johanna Silver Gordon (who this bill is named
after) died after her battle with ovarian cancer in 2000; and Sheryl
found the will and the strength to turn her personal tragedy into a
passionate crusade to help make sure that other women will not die
needlessly from gynecological cancers.
And last but by no means least; I want to thank Ms. Kolleen Stacy, a
constituent of mine and a dear friend who is currently fighting her own
personal battle with ovarian cancer. Kolleen first brought this bill to
my attention and once told me that her most fervent wish was to live
long enough to see this bill signed into law. Today, thanks to the
efforts of so many, we take a huge step forward towards fulfilling
Kolleen's dream. And I would say to her that today's debate is a
victory for all women, but in my mind, Kolleen, this is your day.
The word ``cancer'' evokes powerful emotions. Along with many of my
colleagues, I know first-hand how devastating cancer can be to the
individual who has been diagnosed as well as their family. Ovarian
Cancer for example, is the deadliest of the gynecological cancers, and
it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths among women living in
the United States. Each year nearly 80,000 women in this country are
diagnosed with a new case of gynecological cancer, and an estimated
28,000 die from these diseases. This is a national tragedy, and what
makes it even more tragic is the fact that many of those deaths could
have been prevented if more women and their doctors knew the risk
factors and recognized the early warning signs of ovarian cancer and
other gynecological cancers.
That is why I am such a proud co-sponsor and passionate supporter of
Johanna's Law. When it is detected early, ovarian cancer is very
treatable, unfortunately, ovarian cancer is one of the most difficult
cancers to diagnose because symptoms are sometimes subtle and may be
easily confused with those of other diseases. As a result, only 29
percent of ovarian cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in the early
stages. When the disease is detected before it has spread beyond the
ovaries, more than 95 percent of women will survive longer than five
years. But, in cases where the disease is not detected until it reaches
the advanced stage, the five-year survival rate plummets to a
devastating 25 percent.
As there is still no reliable and easy-to-administer screening test
for ovarian cancer, like the Pap smear for cervical cancer or the
mammogram for breast cancer, early recognition of symptoms is clearly
the best way to save a woman's life. Without increased education about
ovarian cancer and recognition of women who are at higher risk for
developing ovarian cancer, many women and their doctors will continue
to ignore or misinterpret the symptoms of the disease. Any woman is at
risk for developing a gynecological cancer. We owe it to our mothers,
our wives and our daughters to do all we can to both raise awareness of
these terrible diseases, and to fund the research necessary to stamp
out this kind of cancer once and for all.
Johanna's Law is a giant step forward because for the first time
ever, the Secretary of Health and Human Services will have explicit
authority to carry out a national campaign to increase the awareness
and knowledge of women with respect to gynecological cancers, which
shall include: (1) maintaining a supply of written materials to provide
information to the public on gynecological cancers; and (2) developing
and placing public service announcements to encourage women to discuss
their risks of gynecological cancers with their physicians. The bill
also requires the Secretary to study current and past outreach and
education activities and then to develop a strategy to improve the way
we increase awareness and knowledge of both the public and health care
providers with respect to different types of cancer, including
gynecological cancer.
[[Page 21936]]
I personally think we need to do more to attack this problem, but I
am confident that with a national Public Service Announcement campaign
describing risk factors and symptoms and encouraging women to talk to
their doctors about their risk of gynecological cancers, we can and
will increase early detection of these deadly cancers; and, when
possible, help women reduce their risk of ever contracting them in the
first place.
Johanna's Law is a good bill, it is good public policy. I urge my
colleagues to support this bill, and I urge our colleagues in the
Senate to act quickly and move this critically needed legislation to
the President's desk for his signature. This is literally a matter of
life and death.
Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives passed
H.R. 1245, known as ``Johanna's Law,'' which will increase the
awareness and knowledge of gynecologic cancers. This legislation
authorizes a national campaign to increase awareness of gynecologic
cancers--including the creation of written information to distribute to
the public.
This legislation was named after a constituent of mine, Johanna, who
was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997. Johanna was a healthy and
active 54-year-old woman who had retired from teaching from Southfield
Lathrup High School when she was diagnosed. It was a shock to Johanna
and her family when they received the devastating news. Sadly, the
cancer was not caught in time and she passed away on August 29, 2000.
Each year, more than 80,000 women are diagnosed with a gynecologic
cancer. One-third--or 28,000--of these women will die from the disease.
Survival rates drop 50 percent or less if the cancer is not diagnosed
early.
Early detection is critical to successfully treat gynecologic
cancers. Many symptoms of this type of cancer often resemble non-
threatening illnesses. Furthermore, many gynecologic cancers do not
have a reliable screening test for the general public to utilize.
It is important that we educate the American public on early
detection and prevention of gynecologic cancers. Public awareness is
crucial to curbing this deadly disease, and Johanna's Law will help
spread knowledge that can save the lives of women that may die
needlessly each year. I thank my colleagues for supporting the passage
of ``Johanna's Law.''
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1245, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as
amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING ACT
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 864) to provide for programs and activities with
respect to the prevention of underage drinking, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 864
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Sober
Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, or the `STOP
Underage Drinking Act'''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--SENSE OF CONGRESS
Sec. 101. Sense of Congress.
TITLE II--INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE; ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE
UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
Sec. 201. Interagency coordinating committee on the prevention of
underage drinking.
Sec. 202. Annual report on State underage drinking prevention and
enforcement activities.
Sec. 203. Authorization of appropriations.
TITLE III--NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Sec. 301. National media campaign to prevent underage drinking.
TITLE IV--INTERVENTIONS
Sec. 401. Community-based coalition enhancement grants to prevent
underage drinking.
Sec. 402. Grants directed at preventing and reducing alcohol abuse at
institutions of higher education.
TITLE V--ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
Sec. 501. Additional research on underage drinking.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ``alcohol beverage industry'' means the
brewers, vintners, distillers, importers, distributors, and
retail or online outlets that sell or serve beer, wine, and
distilled spirits.
(2) The term ``school-based prevention'' means programs,
which are institutionalized, and run by staff members or
school-designated persons or organizations in any grade of
school, kindergarten through 12th grade.
(3) The term ``youth'' means persons under the age of 21.
(4) The term ``IOM report'' means the report released in
September 2003 by the National Research Council, Institute of
Medicine, and entitled ``Reducing Underage Drinking: A
Collective Responsibility''.
TITLE I--SENSE OF CONGRESS
SEC. 101. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that:
(1) A multi-faceted effort is needed to more successfully
address the problem of underage drinking in the United
States. A coordinated approach to prevention, intervention,
treatment, enforcement, and research is key to making
progress. This Act recognizes the need for a focused national
effort, and addresses particulars of the Federal portion of
that effort, as well as Federal support for State activities.
(2) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
continue to conduct research and collect data on the short
and long-range impact of alcohol use and abuse upon
adolescent brain development and other organ systems.
(3) States and communities, including colleges and
universities, are encouraged to adopt comprehensive
prevention approaches, including--
(A) evidence-based screening, programs and curricula;
(B) brief intervention strategies;
(C) consistent policy enforcement; and
(D) environmental changes that limit underage access to
alcohol.
(4) Public health groups, consumer groups, and the alcohol
beverage industry should continue and expand evidence-based
efforts to prevent and reduce underage drinking.
(5) The entertainment industries have a powerful impact on
youth, and they should use rating systems and marketing codes
to reduce the likelihood that underage audiences will be
exposed to movies, recordings, or television programs with
unsuitable alcohol content.
(6) The National Collegiate Athletic Association, its
member colleges and universities, and athletic conferences
should affirm a commitment to a policy of discouraging
alcohol use among underage students and other young fans.
(7) Alcohol is a unique product and should be regulated
differently than other products by the States and Federal
Government. States have primary authority to regulate alcohol
distribution and sale, and the Federal Government should
support and supplement these State efforts. States also have
a responsibility to fight youth access to alcohol and reduce
underage drinking. Continued State regulation and licensing
of the manufacture, importation, sale, distribution,
transportation and storage of alcoholic beverages are clearly
in the public interest and are critical to promoting
responsible consumption, preventing illegal access to alcohol
by persons under 21 years of age from commercial and non-
commercial sources, maintaining industry integrity and an
orderly marketplace, and furthering effective State tax
collection.
TITLE II--INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE; ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE
UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
SEC. 201. INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON THE
PREVENTION OF UNDERAGE DRINKING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, in collaboration with the Federal officials
specified in subsection (b), shall formally establish and
enhance the efforts of the interagency coordinating
committee, that began operating in 2004, focusing on underage
drinking (referred to in this section as the ``Committee'').
(b) Other Agencies.--The officials referred to in
subsection (a) are the Secretary of Education, the Attorney
General, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of
the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Surgeon General,
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism, the Administrator of the Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Director
of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Assistant
Secretary for Children and Families, the Director of the
Office of National Drug Control
[[Page 21937]]
Policy, the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, the Administrator of the Office of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Chairman of
the Federal Trade Commission, and such other Federal
officials as the Secretary of Health and Human Services
determines to be appropriate.
(c) Chair.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall serve as the chair of the Committee.
(d) Duties.--The Committee shall guide policy and program
development across the Federal Government with respect to
underage drinking, provided, however, that nothing in this
Act shall be construed as transferring regulatory or program
authority from an Agency to the Coordinating Committee.
(e) Consultations.--The Committee shall actively seek the
input of and shall consult with all appropriate and
interested parties, including States, public health research
and interest groups, foundations, and alcohol beverage
industry trade associations and companies.
(f) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services, on behalf of the Committee, shall annually submit
to the Congress a report that summarizes--
(A) all programs and policies of Federal agencies designed
to prevent and reduce underage drinking;
(B) the extent of progress in preventing and reducing
underage drinking nationally;
(C) data that the Secretary shall collect with respect to
the information specified in paragraph (2); and
(D) such other information regarding underage drinking as
the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
(2) Certain information.--The report under paragraph (1)
shall include information on the following:
(A) Patterns and consequences of underage drinking as
reported in research and surveys such as, but not limited to
Monitoring the Future, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
System, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and the
Fatality Analysis Reporting System.
(B) Measures of the availability of alcohol from commercial
and non-commercial sources to underage populations.
(C) Measures of the exposure of underage populations to
messages regarding alcohol in advertising and the
entertainment media as reported by the Federal Trade
Commission.
(D) Surveillance data, including information on the onset
and prevalence of underage drinking, consumption patterns and
the means of underage access. The Secretary shall develop a
plan to improve the collection, measurement and consistency
of reporting Federal underage alcohol data.
(E) Any additional findings resulting from research
conducted or supported under section 501.
(F) Evidence-based best practices to prevent and reduce
underage drinking and provide treatment services to those
youth who need them.
SEC. 202. ANNUAL REPORT ON STATE UNDERAGE DRINKING PREVENTION
AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall,
with input and collaboration from other appropriate Federal
agencies, States, Indian tribes, territories, and public
health, consumer, and alcohol beverage industry groups,
annually issue a report on each State's performance in
enacting, enforcing, and creating laws, regulations, and
programs to prevent or reduce underage drinking.
(b) State Performance Measures.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop, in
consultation with the Committee established in section 201, a
set of measures to be used in preparing the report on best
practices.
(2) Categories.--In developing these measures, the
Secretary shall consider categories including, but not
limited to:
(A) Whether or not the State has comprehensive anti-
underage drinking laws such as for the illegal sale,
purchase, attempt to purchase, consumption, or possession of
alcohol; illegal use of fraudulent ID; illegal furnishing or
obtaining of alcohol for an individual under 21 years; the
degree of strictness of the penalties for such offenses; and
the prevalence of the enforcement of each of these
infractions.
(B) Whether or not the State has comprehensive liability
statutes such as dram shop, social host and ``house party''
laws; and the prevalence of enforcement of each of these
infractions.
(C) Whether or not the State encourages and conducts
comprehensive enforcement efforts at retail outlets, such as
random compliance checks and shoulder tap programs; and the
number of compliance checks within alcohol retail outlets
measured against the number of total alcohol retail outlets
in each State; and the results of such checks.
(D) Whether or not the State mandates or encourages
training on the proper selling and serving of alcohol for all
sellers and servers of alcohol as a condition of employment.
(E) Whether or not the State has policies and regulations
with regard to direct sales to consumers and home delivery of
alcoholic beverages.
(F) Whether or not the State has programs or laws to deter
adults from purchasing alcohol for minors; and the number of
adults targeted by these programs.
(G) Whether or not the State has programs targeted to
youths, parents, and caregivers to deter underage drinking;
and the number of individuals served by these programs.
(H) Whether or not the State has enacted graduated drivers
licenses and the extent of those provisions.
(I) The amount that the State invests, per youth capita, on
the prevention of underage drinking, further broken down by
the amount spent on--
(i) compliance check programs in retail outlets, including
providing technology to prevent and detect the use of false
identification by minors to make alcohol purchases;
(ii) checkpoints and saturation patrols;
(iii) community-based, school-based, and higher-education-
based programs to prevent underage drinking;
(iv) underage drinking prevention programs that target
youth within the juvenile justice and child welfare systems;
and
(v) other State efforts or programs as deemed appropriate.
SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
title $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and $1,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010.
TITLE III--NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
SEC. 301. NATIONAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT UNDERAGE
DRINKING.
(a) Scope of the Campaign.--The Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall continue to fund and oversee the
production, broadcasting, and evaluation of the Ad Council's
national adult-oriented media public service campaign.
(b) Report.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall provide a report to the Congress annually detailing the
production, broadcasting, and evaluation of the campaign
referred to in subsection (a), and to detail in the report
the effectiveness of the campaign in reducing underage
drinking, the need for and likely effectiveness of an
expanded adult-oriented media campaign, and the feasibility
and the likely effectiveness of a national youth-focused
media campaign to combat underage drinking.
(c) Consultation Requirement.--In carrying out the media
campaign, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
direct the Ad Council to consult with interested parties
including both the alcohol beverage industry and public
health and consumer groups. The progress of this consultative
process is to be covered in the report under subsection (b).
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section, $1,000,000 for
fiscal year 2007 and $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2008 through 2010.
TITLE IV--INTERVENTIONS
SEC. 401. COMMUNITY-BASED COALITION ENHANCEMENT GRANTS TO
PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING.
(a) Authorization of Program.--The Administrator of the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in
consultation with the Director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy, shall award ``enhancement grants'' to
eligible entities to design, test, evaluate and disseminate
effective strategies to maximize the effectiveness of
community-wide approaches to preventing and reducing underage
drinking.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are to--
(1) prevent and reduce alcohol use among youth in
communities throughout the United States;
(2) strengthen collaboration among communities, the Federal
Government, and State, local, and tribal governments;
(3) enhance intergovernmental cooperation and coordination
on the issue of alcohol use among youth;
(4) serve as a catalyst for increased citizen participation
and greater collaboration among all sectors and organizations
of a community that first demonstrates a long-term commitment
to reducing alcohol use among youth;
(5) disseminate to communities timely information regarding
state-of-the-art practices and initiatives that have proven
to be effective in preventing and reducing alcohol use among
youth; and
(6) enhance, not supplant, effective local community
initiatives for preventing and reducing alcohol use among
youth.
(c) Application.--An eligible entity desiring an
enhancement grant under this section shall submit an
application to the Administrator at such time, and in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Administrator may require. Each application shall include--
(1) a complete description of the entity's current underage
alcohol use prevention initiatives and how the grant will
appropriately enhance the focus on underage drinking issues;
or
(2) a complete description of the entity's current
initiatives, and how it will use this grant to enhance those
initiatives by adding a focus on underage drinking
prevention.
(d) Uses of Funds.--Each eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall
[[Page 21938]]
use the grant funds to carry out the activities described in
such entity's application submitted pursuant to subsection
(c). Grants under this section shall not exceed $50,000 per
year and may not exceed four years.
(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under
this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant,
Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the
activities described in this section.
(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the term
``eligible entity'' means an organization that is currently
receiving or has received grant funds under the Drug-Free
Communities Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 1521 et seq.).
(g) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 6 percent of a
grant under this section may be expended for administrative
expenses.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for
fiscal year 2007, and $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2008 through 2010.
SEC. 402. GRANTS DIRECTED AT PREVENTING AND REDUCING ALCOHOL
ABUSE AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
(a) Authorization of Program.--The Secretary shall award
grants to eligible entities to enable the entities to prevent
and reduce the rate of underage alcohol consumption including
binge drinking among students at institutions of higher
education.
(b) Applications.--An eligible entity that desires to
receive a grant under this Act shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied
by such information as the Secretary may require. Each
application shall include--
(1) a description of how the eligible entity will work to
enhance an existing, or where none exists to build a,
statewide coalition;
(2) a description of how the eligible entity will target
underage students in the State;
(3) a description of how the eligible entity intends to
ensure that the statewide coalition is actually implementing
the purpose of this Act and moving toward indicators
described in section (d);
(4) a list of the members of the statewide coalition or
interested parties involved in the work of the eligible
entity;
(5) a description of how the eligible entity intends to
work with State agencies on substance abuse prevention and
education;
(6) the anticipated impact of funds provided under this Act
in preventing and reducing the rates of underage alcohol use;
(7) outreach strategies, including ways in which the
eligible entity proposes to--
(A) reach out to students and community stakeholders;
(B) promote the purpose of this Act;
(C) address the range of needs of the students and the
surrounding communities; and
(D) address community norms for underage students regarding
alcohol use; and
(8) such additional information as required by the
Secretary.
(c) Uses of Funds.--Each eligible entity that receives a
grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry
out the activities described in such entity's application
submitted pursuant to subsection (b).
(d) Accountability.--On the date on which the Secretary
first publishes a notice in the Federal Register soliciting
applications for grants under this section, the Secretary
shall include in the notice achievement indicators for the
program authorized under this section. The achievement
indicators shall be designed--
(1) to measure the impact that the statewide coalitions
assisted under this Act are having on the institutions of
higher education and the surrounding communities, including
changes in the number of incidents of any kind in which
students have abused alcohol or consumed alcohol while under
the age of 21 (including violations, physical assaults,
sexual assaults, reports of intimidation, disruptions of
school functions, disruptions of student studies, mental
health referrals, illnesses, or deaths);
(2) to measure the quality and accessibility of the
programs or information offered by the eligible entity; and
(3) to provide such other measures of program impact as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
(e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under
this Act shall be used to supplement, and not supplant,
Federal and non-Federal funds available for carrying out the
activities described in this section.
(f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State, institution of higher education, or nonprofit entity.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States,
the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico.
(5) Statewide coalition.--The term ``statewide coalition''
means a coalition that--
(A) includes, but is not limited to--
(i) institutions of higher education within a State; and
(ii) a nonprofit group, a community underage drinking
prevention coalition, or another substance abuse prevention
group within a State; and
(B) works toward lowering the alcohol abuse rate by
targeting underage students at institutions of higher
education throughout the State and in the surrounding
communities.
(6) Surrounding community.--The term ``surrounding
community'' means the community--
(A) that surrounds an institution of higher education
participating in a statewide coalition;
(B) where the students from the institution of higher
education take part in the community; and
(C) where students from the institution of higher education
live in off-campus housing.
(g) Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 5 percent of a
grant under this section may be expended for administrative
expenses.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for
fiscal year 2007, and $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years
2008 through 2010.
TITLE V--ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
SEC. 501. ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ON UNDERAGE DRINKING.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall collect data on, and conduct or support research on,
underage drinking with respect to the following:
(1) Comprehensive community-based programs or strategies
and statewide systems to prevent and reduce underage
drinking, across the underage years from early childhood to
age 21, including programs funded and implemented by
government entities, public health interest groups and
foundations, and alcohol beverage companies and trade
associations.
(2) Annually obtain and report more precise information
than is currently collected on the scope of the underage
drinking problem and patterns exhibited in underage alcohol
consumption, including improved knowledge of both the problem
and progress in preventing, reducing and treating underage
drinking; as well as information on the rate of exposure of
youth to advertising and other media messages encouraging and
discouraging alcohol consumption.
(3) Compiling information on the involvement of alcohol in
unnatural deaths of persons ages 12 to 20 in the United
States, including suicides, homicides, and unintentional
injuries such as falls, drownings, burns, poisonings, and
motor vehicle crash deaths.
(b) Certain Matters.--The Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall carry out activities toward the following
objectives with respect to underage drinking:
(1) Obtaining new epidemiological data within the National
Epidemiological Study on Alcoholism and Related Conditions
and other national or targeted surveys that identify alcohol
use and attitudes about alcohol use during pre- and early
adolescence, including harm caused to self or others as a
result of adolescent alcohol use such as violence, date rape,
risky sexual behavior, and prenatal alcohol exposure.
(2) Developing or identifying successful clinical
treatments for youth with alcohol problems.
(c) Peer Review.--Research under section 501 must meet
current Federal standards for scientific peer review.
SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
section 501 $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, and $6,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2010.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and to add extraneous material on this bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 864, the Sober Truth on
Preventing Underage Drinking Act. Commonly referred to as the STOP Act,
this legislation takes several important measures to address the
problem of underage drinking.
Underage drinking is a serious problem in our country that has
serious consequences. It is estimated that nearly one-third of children
and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 20 use
[[Page 21939]]
alcohol, which is a higher percentage than those who use tobacco or
illicit drugs. Alcohol is a leading contributor to death and injury
among adolescents. Over 5,000 young people die every year as a result
of injuries that involve drinking.
Not only does underage drinking cause accidents, injuries and death,
but it can have a lasting impact on a young person's physical
development. Studies have shown that the human brain continues to
develop into a young person's early 20s, and that exposure of the
developing brain to alcohol may have long-lasting effects on
intellectual capabilities and increase the likelihood of alcohol
addiction.
The legislation before us today will take several steps to address
the problem of underage drinking at the national level. It would also
assist States, localities and institutions of higher learning in their
efforts to prevent underage drinking. The bill would create a
nationwide media campaign to educate youth and parents on the dangers
of underage drinking. It would also assist States in collecting data on
underage drinking laws and their enforcement around the country, so
that States can collaborate and learn from each other about which
strategies are most effective at combating this problem. The bill also
calls for research to be conducted on the influences and pressures that
entice youth to consume alcohol.
I am pleased to recognize Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, the lead
sponsor of the bill, Congressman Tom Osborne and other Members who have
worked so hard on this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Flake from
Arizona be able to control 5 minutes of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 864, the Sober
Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act or STOP Underage Drinking
Act.
Underage drinking is a serious public health concern in communities
throughout our Nation. According to 2004 estimates from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, there were over 142,000 emergency room
visits by youth, age 12 to 20, for unintentional injuries and other
health-related concerns caused by alcohol consumption.
This bill builds interagency and community-based coalitions focusing
on underage drinking, funds the production, broadcast and evaluation of
national media-based public health campaigns about the dangers of
underage drinking, and establishes grant programs for preventing and
reducing alcohol abuse at institutions of higher education and
surrounding communities.
This bill is a great start in moving our Nation towards the goal of
decreasing youth access to, and consumption of, alcohol. It has the
endorsement of both the alcohol beverage industry and a number of key
public health advocates, both committed to the idea that a multifaceted
national effort is key to making progress in curbing underage alcohol
consumption.
I want to express my appreciation to Congresswoman Roybal-Allard's
office, as well as the many other lead cosponsors of this bill that
include Representatives Wamp, Osborne and DeLauro. I also want to thank
the committee staff; the committee staff have dedicated their time and
attention and effort to this bill. And I urge my colleagues to support
this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for giving me time on
this bill.
I am not rising today to debate the merits of trying to prevent
underage drinking. What I am here to do is challenge the Federal
Government's role in authorizing what amounts, in this bill, to $40
million for two new grant programs, $24 million for a new research
initiative, $4 million to establish a new Federal committee, and
another $4 million for a public service announcement. This is a total
of $72 million over 4 years. And here's the real kicker: There already
exist Federal programs that do exactly what this suspension bill
intends to do.
My staff and I visited www.thecoolspot.gov this morning. The Cool
Spot was created for young teens by the lead U.S. agency supporting
research into the causes, prevention and treatment of alcohol programs.
It is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, an
agency that is estimated to receive over $430 million in fiscal year
2007 and to do exactly what this suspension bill intends to do.
The acting director of this agency justified in House and Senate
Appropriations Committee hearings a budget increase of over $2 million
for fiscal year 2005 to 2006 by claiming the agency would expand its
research into youth alcohol abuse.
But if you think that there needs to be more money, you can visit
www.alcoholfreechildren.org, another underage drinking program that
receives Federal funding from the Federal Government. Or there's
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov, or www.alcoholpolicy.gov.
Why are we spending $72 million on Federal research and grants to
establish duplicative programs? And why are we doing this exactly 1
week after the voters told us that they were tired of wasteful
spending?
Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot afford to keep adding new
authorizations, new Federal programs when we know that we are running
deficits and we have a massive debt. Where does it end? Where do we
say, you know, having seven or eight or a dozen programs that already
do virtually the exact same thing are enough?
{time} 1245
Why are we simply adding another? We can't continue to do this. So I
would rise in opposition to this legislation and urge my colleagues to
vote against it.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne).
Mr. OSBORNE. I would like to thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I rise
in support of H.R. 864. As many have pointed out, underage drinking
certainly flies under the radar screen, because alcohol is legal, and
it is widely accepted. I understand the objection to new spending, a
so-called new program.
I think it is important to realize that many programs involving
alcohol abuse are already ongoing, and they are funded, but they are
not authorized, and there is no oversight. That is what this bill does.
We are not talking about completely new spending on every issue. We
are simply trying to rein in and control and to better channel the
spending on underage drinking.
Underage drinking costs the citizens of Nebraska $435 million a year.
The United States estimate is $53 billion a year. AMA estimates $61
billion. If you can cut that by 10 percent, you are talking about a $5
billion savings. We can do that.
So let us not be a penny wise and a pound foolish on this, which is
what I think we may be talking about here. But the cost is measured in
more than money. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimated the number of underage deaths due to excessive alcohol use at
4,554 a year. That is more than six times the rate of death in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
We have agonized on this floor over that death rate, and yet we are
having six times more young people die every year, and it is sort of
something that doesn't capture our attention. An estimated 3 million
teenagers are full-blown alcoholics, and several million more have
serious drinking problems. Alcohol kills six times more young people
than all other illegal drugs combined.
So the Federal Government, in response, spends 25 times more annually
to combat youth drug use, which would be cocaine, heroin,
methamphetamine, marijuana, than it does to prevent underage alcohol
use, which is $1.8 billion on the drug side versus $71 million on the
alcohol side. That doesn't make sense. It is tremendously imbalanced.
This is the biggest problem we have as far as our young people, and yet
we are
[[Page 21940]]
spending a drop in the bucket compared to what we are spending on other
drugs.
Recent studies have found that heavy exposure of the adolescent brain
to alcohol interferes with brain development, which is a real problem,
and this is something that has really come to light only in the last 2
or 3 years. It was assumed for a long time that drinking with a 12-
year-old is the same as drinking if you are 30 years old, but it really
is not in terms of what it does to the adolescent brain or the
adolescent body, and we need to focus on that.
According to an analysis performed in 2004, the average age in which
12- to 17-year-olds begin drinking is age 13. Now when you start at age
13, that does some stuff to you. Young people tend to binge drink; 92
percent of the alcohol consumed by 12- to 14-year-olds is consumed when
they are having five or more drinks upon a single occasion; 12- to 14-
year-olds, 92 percent of them are binge drinking. They do not drink
socially, they drink to get drunk, in most cases. That, again, of
course, is a huge problem with our young people.
Young people who began drinking before age 15 are four times more
likely to develop alcohol dependence. The STOP Act, which we are
talking about here today, includes four major areas of policy
development. The first creates an interagency coordinating committee,
and that is something that I want to address to Mr. Flake, because
these programs that he cited, and I agree with him, there are some
things that are out there, but they are not coordinated, and as a
result we are spending money here and there, but it is not channeled,
it is not funneled in the direction that it has to be.
So what we need to do is have this report filed with Congress so we
know what works and what doesn't work. What are we spending money on
that is not effective. What are we spending money on that is effective.
That is the important distinction here.
The STOP Act would authorize a national media campaign against
underage drinking, which would be directed at adults. Now, this is
important, because the biggest single determinant as to what young
people do with underage drinking is the attitude of their parents, and
we totally missed that point.
So whatever advertising we do is aimed at kids, it is not at the
adults who influence their thinking. So we think that this is a
critical component. The bill would also provide additional resources to
prevent underage drinking, including alcohol specific grants through
the drug-free communities program, and competitive grants that would
create statewide coalitions to prevent underage drinking and alcohol
abuse by college and university students.
Currently, we are losing 1,700 college students a year to underage
drinking, 1,700. There are roughly 70,000 date rapes in this regard as
well.
So I would like to thank Jeremiah Blake on my staff, Ms. Roybal-
Allard, Mr. Wamp, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Wolf and Senator DeWine and Senator
Dodd. I appreciate their hard work and urge passage.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the
bill's primary author, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-
Allard).
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. I thank my colleague for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, the passage of the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage
Drinking Act is an opportunity for this House to make a historic
commitment to the well-being of our children and our Nation.
I extend my sincere thanks to my colleagues, Frank Wolf, Tom Osborne,
Zach Wamp, Rosa DeLauro for their original cosponsorship of my bill.
Their commitment and steadfast efforts throughout the years have helped
to make possible today's consideration of this significant piece of
legislation.
I particularly want to acknowledge the efforts of Congressman
Osborne. Passage of the STOP Act would be an important part of his
legacy as he retires from Congress at the end of this session. Tom, I
wish you well, and I thank you for being a champion on behalf of our
children.
I also thank Senators DeWine and Dodd for sponsoring the companion
bill in the Senate. I thank the public health groups, especially MADD,
CAMY, CSPI and CADCA for working with me over 10 years on this critical
issue. Their advocacy has raised the level of awareness in Congress and
throughout the Nation about our public health crisis of underage
drinking, and I commend them for their efforts. I also thank the
alcohol beverage industry for its efforts this year in support of the
STOP Act.
Mr. Speaker, prior to being elected to public office, I worked for a
nonprofit agency which focused on alcohol abuse. At that agency, I
witnessed firsthand the many devastating consequences of irresponsible
drinking. That experience is what motivated me to find ways to address
underage drinking. Initially, my colleagues and I commissioned a
landmark study by the Institute of Medicine to determine the extent of
the problem in our country.
The IOM study was published in 2003, and its findings were more than
alarming. The study found, for example, that in the United States, in
any given month, nearly 11 million of our youth between the ages of 12
and 20 drink alcohol. This number includes nearly 1 in 5 of 8th
graders, 1 in 3 of 10th graders and half of all 12th graders. It also
includes the over 5,000 youth in our Nation under the age of 16, who
will take their first drink by the end of today.
Mr. Speaker, the result of these facts is that today alone at least
three teenagers will die from drinking and driving, and six more will
die from alcohol-related causes such as a homicide, suicide and
drowning. To add to these tragic consequences is a recent scientific
study that suggests that youth who drink alcohol can lose as much as 10
percent of that which they learn compared to those who don't drink.
When one considers the additional problems associated with drinking
before the legal age of 21, like car accidents, violent crime, unsafe
sexual activity and teenage pregnancy, one begins to sense the extent
and tragic consequences of underage drinking, which, according to the
American Medical Association, costs our country more than $61 billion a
year.
Using the Institute of Medicine's study as a guide to help address
this crisis, my colleagues and I initiated an interagency council which
brought together for the first time Federal agencies with jurisdiction
over programs related to underage drinking.
Also, in December 2005, with Federal funds we secured, the Ad Council
began airing a national media campaign to educate parents about the
dangers of consuming alcohol before the age of 21.
In the 108th Congress, based on the recommendations of the IOM
report, my colleagues and I introduced the STOP Act. The STOP Act is
the first comprehensive piece of national legislation to address
underage drinking in this country. This legislation makes permanent the
national anti-underage drinking campaign directed at parents and makes
permanent the interagency council to coordinate Federal efforts.
In addition, the STOP Act requires an annual report by the Secretary
of HHS on the progress States are making to address underage drinking.
H.R. 864 also makes available research grants to find effective
strategies to deter childhood drinking and grants to communities and
colleges to address this crisis.
Mr. Speaker, our Nation must no longer be complacent about underage
drinking and its alarming consequences. We must bring this national
public health crisis out of the shadow and into the bright light of a
national priority.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the passage of H.R. 864, the
STOP Act.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Wamp).
Mr. WAMP. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership in bringing
this bill to the floor, and to the ranking member. I also want to thank
the gentleman from Arizona, who is leaving the floor, for being a watch
guard, for standing on the wall, because we haven't done enough of
that, and we need to do that all the time.
Even though on this particular issue, I would come today and say we
need to
[[Page 21941]]
go forward with investments that will save us billions of dollars in
the future. I also want to remind people that this is the illegal use
of this legal product.
That hasn't been talked about enough on the floor today, that
underage drinking is illegal. When other things are illegal, we pay
attention to it. Illegal immigration didn't get enough attention. It is
a misdemeanor, so it is not that big a deal. And now we are addressing
it because it became a big problem.
This is the illegal use of a legal product, and we need to address it
on a national level because you can't hodgepodge and address a national
problem that frankly is like a cancer among young people.
I want to reemphasize the binge drinking problem. I don't know if you
have taken your family to the beach for spring break, but as my
children were growing up, we would go, and I was shocked at what I saw.
When I was young, I sowed wild oats, but I had never seen anything
like this where 15- and 16-year-old kids just completely sick and
running into telephone poles. I mean, it was not only not funny, it was
one of the scariest things I have ever seen. Because these kids get
away from their parents, and they binge drink until they are sick.
Dozens of them are going to the hospital, and some of them dying. This
is a problem, a big problem that needs to be addressed, and we need
accurate information.
We don't need the information from the industry. That is what has
dominated this debate forever. We need the government to give us the
accurate information, cause and effect, advertising leads to. This is
an illegal use of a product with our children that is devastating the
next generation.
I know moms and dads should raise their children and stay on top of
them and keep them, but this problem is getting much worse, and the
government needs to do a better job at addressing this problem. I also
know we are going against the grain. This is the popular culture. This
is iconic, Hollywood promotes it, it is all around us. But I have got
to tell you, in a world that is going in the wrong direction, the
people that are advocating on this issue, Ms. Roybal-Allard with me for
12 years, and Frank Wolf, and Coach Osborne for 6 years, we are going
against the grain.
The wind is in our face. We are going in the right direction. The
world is going in the wrong direction. The world is going down the
tubes with things like this, and we need to stand against it together,
united, and invest wisely to frankly save the next generation from some
problems. I know it starts at home, but all families are not staying
together.
All children are not getting the basics, and they are devastating our
culture. Frankly, alcohol leads to a lot of other things when you start
drinking at 12 years old. It is a big problem that needs to be
addressed. Frankly, the industry has pushed us back and pushed us back.
Coach Osborne, thank you for sharing 6 years of your life with all of
us here in the House of Representatives. Thank you for your service and
thank you for your whole life of helping other people. You are an icon.
{time} 1300
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to one of
the bill's cosponsors, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro).
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank, again, all my colleagues
who have worked for so many years to see this bill reach the floor:
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, Congressmen Osborne, Wolf, and Wamp, as
well as our colleagues in the other body, Senators Dodd and DeWine.
This is an important moment, one in which this Congress says ``enough
is enough.'' For too long we have looked the other way when it comes to
the increasing problem of underage drinking, and the results of our
inaction are clear.
Today, the average age kids start drinking is 13; 7 million young
people describe themselves as binge drinkers; alcohol plays a role in
the three leading causes of death among young people; and studies tell
us that the average young person today, not the troubled teen, but the
average kid, is engaging in behavior that leads to alcoholism.
Mr. Speaker, the time for action is now. This is a disease that
starts when we are young, and it does not get better as we get older.
It gets worse. That is why we need this comprehensive bill. To start
with, the STOP Act will increase resources for drinking prevention
coalitions like Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which we already know
have had a positive impact on teenagers. This bill supports them.
It will also fund more research and create a committee charged with
delivering a record card on the progress we are making and what we can
do better. The committee will also give us a better picture of the
degree to which this problem is exacerbated by advertisements targeted
toward young people.
Lastly, the STOP Act would help us fund a national media campaign
directed to adults to make them as aware of the dangers associated with
underage drinking as possible. Too often, when it comes to adults,
parents think ``not my child,'' and we need to turn that around.
So I urge my colleagues to support the STOP Act. As a Member of
Congress and as someone who lost a family member in a drunk driving
accident, it is long past time that Congress said with one voice that
it is serious about reducing underage drinking in our communities. With
this bill, we can and we will.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the greatest natural resource in this country
is not the Spotted Owl, it is not the Grand Canyon, it is not the
environment, it is our children, and this bill is a preventive bill.
I spent all my life in the criminal justice system before I came to
Congress, 22 years on the criminal court in Houston, Texas. I saw about
25,000 people work their way to the courthouse. Many of those people
were young people who made bad decisions, first to drink and then to
commit a crime like driving. I will relate one of those to you.
A young lady by the name of Lisa, graduating from one of our local
high schools, was, as was said earlier, just a regular person, not a
troubled child. In fact, she was an honor student, a National Merit
Scholar going to one of the Ivy League colleges upon graduation.
She and her best friend drove to a nearby town, had something to eat
to celebrate, and then they decided they needed something to drink,
because that was the thing to do, even though both of them were 18-
year-olds, under the age to drink.
They did have something to drink. The waiter knew they were underage,
but he figured he would get a big tip if he served them, and he did.
They were driving home in Lisa's mother's car. Having too much to
drink, she started weaving on one of our farm-to-market roads, crashed
in a ditch and killed her best friend in the car, her very best friend,
her next-door neighbor. Because of that crime, involuntary
manslaughter, drinking and driving and killing somebody under Texas
law, it was mandatory that she go to the penitentiary for a period of
time.
But in court, when that 5-foot-2 little girl came to court, she said
to me, ``Judge Poe, this can't happen to me. This can't happen to me.''
But, you see, that is life's biggest lie, especially among young
people. It can happen. It does happen. It destroys lives.
And rather than wait to be reactionary, to so-called punish somebody
for committing that crime, we need to educate. We need to make sure
that young people understand it is not socially acceptable or legal to
drink under the age of 21.
I appreciate this bill. This is a good bill to be sponsored to show
that we have a concern about our children. I too want to thank Coach
Osborne for dedicating his life to the betterment of young people.
Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
[[Page 21942]]
Mr. Speaker, let me say to my friend from Arizona (Mr. Flake) that I
agree with his observations and I agree with his concern; but as
pointed out by Mr. Osborne, I believe that this is a bill that can help
solve part of that problem, to give some oversight mechanisms to
existing allocations, to give some response back to this Congress about
programs that are working and that are not working.
I think the challenge that we all face, and I pledge to him to work
with him cooperatively in this effort, is in the appropriations
process. And pointing out this is not an appropriations bill, this is
an authorization bill, that in the appropriations process, that we try
to make sure that our appropriators funnel the money only to those
programs that are authorized, such as this one, that will have some
oversight and response back to this Congress, so that we can eliminate
duplicative programs. I would pledge to him that I would work
cooperatively with him in that effort.
But I do believe this is a well-thought-out piece of legislation and
one that I would urge this body to adopt
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
864, the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act. If enacted,
this legislation would require Federal, State, local and tribal
authorities to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach toward
mitigating and countering underage consumption of alcoholic beverages.
I fully support a multifaceted strategy toward addressing this public
health issue. Preventing underage drinking requires strict enforcement
of existing laws, comprehensive education to prevent binge drinking,
and continued research of the effects of alcohol on the health of
adolescents. Combating the problem of underage drinking also requires
committed efforts by community leaders, parents, teachers, mentors,
policy makers, and others to work to instill an increased sense of
responsibility and respect for the law in young people.
I firmly believe that investing in research of the effects alcohol
has on minors and raising public awareness among at-risk demographic
groups, parents, and educators are two important ways to mitigating and
countering underage drinking. As leaders, it is our duty to help
improve the health and well-being of the next generation. Doing so will
ensure that they have the utmost opportunity to lead productive and
prosperous lives. By countering underage drinking, we are allowing
young adults to recognize their full potential. Enactment of this
legislation would go far toward achieving these goals.
Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 864, the STOP
Underage Drinking Act. First and foremost, I would like to thank the
sponsors--Mrs. Roybal-Allard and Mr. Osborne--for their diligence over
the years on this issue and am pleased to see their work pay off today.
Keeping alcohol out of the hands of America's youth is of the utmost
importance and this bill will ensure that the federal government is
doing its part, working hand-in-hand with private industry and other
public interest groups while strengthening the intent of congress that
states have the primary jurisdiction to regulate the sale, production
and distribution of alcohol under the 21st amendment.
Alcohol, Mr. Speaker, has always been regarded as a unique product
throughout American history. No one would suggest that it is the same
as a flat screen television or ball bearings. No, alcohol can have
tangible societal costs--from underage drinking, drunken driving
deaths, and other issues stemming from overconsumption. Be it through
the tax law or the 21st amendment, Congress has never intended alcohol
to be just another consumer good--as evidenced by the unique regulatory
model put in place after prohibition was repealed. We have always
placed this distinction on the product, because of the societal dangers
involved--not consumer irresponsibility. Because of these concerns, it
is of the utmost importance for us to keep alcohol away from children.
We need to prevent abuse in our communities and detach the stigma
associated with these challenges so that we can meet them head on.
As we confront underage drinking today and the responsibility issues
that go along with them, we must also face the reality that while the
federal government is well-suited to coordinate national ad campaigns
and other valuable research studies; we must understand that states
should and do have the primary jurisdiction to regulate the
distribution, production and sale of alcohol under the 21st amendment.
States and their individual regulatory models are our best ally and
the people's best ally in the fight against underage drinking. We in
Brooklyn do not want Boise's laws and they probably do not want ours
either under the guise of Big Brother knows best.
In addition to the programs which are authorized in this bill, I hope
this will serve to put groups who look to dismantle our regulatory
system on notice that Congress will continue to utilize its bully
pulpit to advance best practices and responsibility from the industry
and the public.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the sponsors of H.R. 864
and laud their efforts and urge my colleagues to pass this much-needed
legislation into law.
Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you in support of H.R. 864,
the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking (STOP) Act.
I would like to thank Congresswoman Roybal-Allard for introducing the
Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, and I would also like
to thank Majority Leader Boehner for bringing this measure to the
floor.
Protecting our young people from the consequences of underage
drinking must be a national priority. In my home state of Arizona, 20
percent of children and teens from 12 to 20 years old regularly drink
five or more drinks in one sitting, according to the National Survey on
Drug Use and Health conducted by the Department of Health and Human
Services.
State and tribal enforcement efforts and regulations are central in
our fight against underage drinking.
This legislation holds the States accountable for enforcing underage
drinking laws by mandating that the Department of Health and Human
Services issue an annual report card to rate the performance of each
State in preventing or reducing underage drinking.
Additionally, this measure requires the Director of the Office of
National Drug Control Policy to award grants to design and disseminate
strategies to maximize the effectiveness of community-wide approaches
to preventing and reducing underage drinking.
The bill would provide $5 million in enhancement grants to the Drug
Free Communities program to address the problem of underage drinking.
Also, another new program will be funded at $5 million annually to
provide competitive grants to states, non-profits, and institutions of
higher education to create statewide coalitions to prevent underage
drinking and alcohol abuse by university students.
In my district, I have fought hard to work against substance abuse by
supporting funding to combat alcohol and drug abuse. Just this past
September, the Navajo Nation received a $98,000 grant from the
Department of Justice for breathalyzers. Statistics have shown that
about 90 percent of violent crime on the Navajo Nation is alcohol-
related, and many of our young people are learning that substance abuse
is a way of life.
I am pleased that the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking
(STOP) Act is being considered by the full House this afternoon and I
look forward to its passage to provide additional tools to prevent
underage drinking in Arizona and throughout the Nation.
Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the STOP Act.
This bill is the result of a lot of hard work by its authors and
represents a strong effort to reduce underage drinking.
The diligence put into drafting this bill is reflected by the broad
support of this bill by the beer and wine industries.
Many in the industry have worked hard to curb underage drinking for
years.
As a result of these efforts, underage drinking has been
significantly reduced, evidenced by recent data showing that over 70
percent of youths aged 12-20 do not drink.
I commend the beer and wine industries as a whole in their efforts to
decrease underage drinking.
This bill will continue and strengthen these efforts, and I am
pleased to support it.
____________________
SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING ACT
______
speech of
HON. JOHN SULLIVAN
of oklahoma
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Sober Truth
on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (Stop Act), which tackles an
important issue facing families in every congressional district, the
issue of underage drinking. If present for rollcall vote 521 on H.R.
864, the measure would have my strong support.
The Stop Act serves to restate the importance of state alcohol laws
in fighting underage drinking while supplementing federal research and
advocacy with additional funds. I
[[Page 21943]]
am proud to support this legislation to confront the growing problem of
underage drinking.
Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 864, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those voting have responded in the affirmative.
Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
____________________
RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE INDUSTRY TO THE
UNITED STATES ECONOMY
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 96) recognizing the contributions of the
Christmas tree industry to the United States economy and urging the
Secretary of Agriculture to establish programs to raise awareness of
the importance of the Christmas tree industry, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.J. Res. 96
Whereas Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the
United States since the 1850s;
Whereas, by 1900, one in five American families decorated a
tree during the Christmas season, while, by 1930, a decorated
Christmas tree had become a nearly universal part of the
American Christmas celebration;
Whereas 32.8 million households in the United States
purchased a live-cut Christmas tree in 2005;
Whereas the placement and decoration of live-cut Christmas
trees in town squares across the country have become an
American tradition;
Whereas, for generations, American families have traveled
hundreds and even thousands of miles to celebrate the
Christmas season together around a live-cut Christmas tree;
Whereas 36 million live-cut Christmas trees are produced
each year, and 98 percent of these trees are shipped or sold
directly from Christmas tree farms;
Whereas North Carolina, Oregon, Michigan, Washington,
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, Virginia,
California, and Ohio are the top producers of live-cut
Christmas tree, but Christmas trees are grown in all 50
States;
Whereas there are more than 21,000 growers of Christmas
trees in the United States, and approximately 100,000 people
are employed in the live-cut Christmas tree industry;
Whereas many Christmas tree growers grow trees on a part-
time basis to supplement their other farm and non-farm
income;
Whereas growing Christmas trees provides wildlife habitat;
Whereas more than a half million acres of land were planted
in Christmas trees in 2005;
Whereas 73 million new Christmas trees will be planted in
2006, and, on average, over 1,500 Christmas trees can be
planted per acre; and
Whereas the retail value of all Christmas trees harvested
in 2005 was $1.4 billion: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That
Congress recognizes the important contributions of the live-
cut Christmas tree industry, Christmas tree growers, and
persons employed in the live-cut Christmas tree industry to
the United States economy.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Peterson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague, the gentlewoman
from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for introducing this resolution. The
Christmas tree industry is an important part of the American
agricultural industry and is an important part of the rural and
forested landscape of Virginia and many other States. One of the
leading States in the industry is my own.
Christmas tree growers, like many other family farmers and forest
landowners, are stewards of the land. They are bound together by a love
of the land and a desire to produce renewable products that enhance
people's lives while protecting the environment.
For many family forest landowners, Christmas tree growing provides a
source of annual income. While this income is rarely enough to make a
living on, it allows family growers to make long-term investments for
the management of their woodlands. For many small growers, this income
is critical to allowing them to keep their forests green and growing,
rather than subdividing or switching to another land use.
According to the Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association, there
are thousands of growers in the Commonwealth who produce more than 1
million trees annually, ranging from commercial operations to choose-
and-cut family farms. These trees annually account for nearly $50
million in revenue.
Like other segments of the forest products industry, Christmas tree
growers are engaged in a renewable, sustainable activity. They plant
millions of new trees every year, 73 million trees that cover over a
half million acres to be precise. That is a lot of land protected from
development and a lot of new trees helping to clean the air, protect
watersheds and improve the environment.
Just as growing Christmas trees helps renew the environment, the
annual tradition of bringing home a tree and decorating it helps renew
the faith of millions of families as they gather to celebrate
Christmas. In the Christmas season, the Christmas tree is a symbol of
joy and goodwill, and we are grateful to all who work to provide this
American tradition.
I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Minnesota, the
ranking member of the committee, for his support in our efforts to move
this legislation forward.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 96. Congresswoman
Foxx's resolution recognizes the success and importance of the live-cut
Christmas tree industry in the United States, and the economic strength
and cultural contribution of this industry makes this resolution worthy
of congressional support.
Mr. Speaker, before I recognize other Members, I would like to take a
minute to recognize the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Goodlatte) who has served with distinction as chairman of the
Agriculture Committee over these last few years.
The Agriculture Committee has always enjoyed a reputation as one of
the most bipartisan committees in the Congress, and Chairman Goodlatte
has continued that great tradition of cooperation. Under his direction,
the committee has accomplished important things. His leadership led to
the passage of historic measures to protect our national forests. He
took a strong stand for American agriculture in the face of
unreasonable proposals from our trade partners, making it clear that we
would prefer no deal to a bad deal. He started the process of writing
the new farm bill with a series of field hearings across the Nation and
ensured that the many voices of agriculture were heard.
Mr. Speaker, anybody who cares about American agriculture, or for
that matter, anybody who eats in this country, should give Bob
Goodlatte their thanks for the outstanding job he has done on the
committee. I look forward to working with him as we continue this
process on the farm bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for
his kind words, and I look forward to working with him in a new
capacity in the new Congress. He certainly has my commitment that we
will continue to work together for the interests of America's farmers
and ranchers and agribusinesses in the bipartisan fashion that has been
the history of the Agriculture Committee
[[Page 21944]]
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the author of
the legislation, the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.
Mr. Speaker, it is my great privilege to rise today as the House
considers House Joint Resolution 96, a bill I authored, to recognize
the contributions of the live Christmas tree industry to the United
States economy. Having been a Christmas tree farmer myself, I can
attest to the importance of recognizing this often overlooked farming
industry.
My district is one of the largest producers of live-cut Christmas
trees in the country. North Carolina has an estimated 50 million Fraser
fir Christmas trees growing on over 25,000 acres. Fraser firs represent
over 95 percent of all species grown in North Carolina. They are grown
in the far western North Carolina counties, including Allegheny, Ashe,
Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell,
Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey.
There are over 1,600 North Carolina growers. The North Carolina
Christmas tree industry is ranked second in the Nation in number of
trees harvested, producing over 19 percent of the real Christmas trees
in the United States.
The North Carolina Fraser fir has been judged the Nation's best
through a contest sponsored by the National Christmas Tree Association
and chosen for the official White House Christmas tree nine times, more
than any other species, in the years 1971, 1973, 1982, 1985, 1991,
1993, 1995, 1997 and 2005.
{time} 1315
The North Carolina Fraser fir Christmas tree is the most popular
Christmas tree in North America and is shipped to every State in the
U.S. as well as the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Japan,
and other points all over the world.
The Christmas tree industry supports our economy and environment.
Christmas trees are grown in all 50 States with North Carolina, Oregon,
Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota,
Virginia, California, and Ohio being the top Christmas tree-producing
States. Nationally, there are more than 21,000 Christmas tree growers
and more than 100,000 people employed in the live-cut Christmas tree
industry. Thirty-six million of all live-cut Christmas trees are
produced each year, and 98 percent are shipped or sold directly from
Christmas tree farms. On average over 1,500 Christmas trees are planted
per acre, providing an abundant habitat for wildlife.
The retail value of all live Christmas trees harvested in 2005 was
$1.4 billion. Live-cut Christmas trees have been sold commercially in
the United States since 1850, and by 1900 one in five American families
decorated live-cut trees during Christmas. By 1930 the tree had become
a nearly universal part of the American Christmas. For generations
American families have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to
celebrate the holiday season together at home around the Christmas
tree. I think it is difficult to overstate the way that having a live,
lit Christmas tree in a room can set a warm and positive tone for a
family.
I would like to thank the majority leader, the chairman, and ranking
member of the Committee on Agriculture for their assistance in getting
this bill to the floor and for their very appropriate remarks today.
I urge my colleagues to support this measure recognizing this
important industry not just for its economic impact but also for its
cultural contribution to the Christmas holiday.
I also want to thank the growers for their contributions to our
economy, our environment, and our Nation's heritage.
Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2
minutes to a good friend of mine and a good friend of American
agriculture, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley from Oregon.
Ms. HOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for
yielding me time.
Mr. Speaker, when you think of Oregon, the first thing you think of
is trees. Therefore, it should be no surprise that my home State,
Oregon, is the largest producer of Christmas trees in the Nation. I am
proud to say the overwhelming majority are grown in my district. We
have hundreds and hundreds of Christmas tree growers.
In the coming weeks it is estimated that Oregon growers will be
harvesting 7.8 million Christmas trees, roughly one quarter of the
total nationwide. Not only will these trees make their way to homes in
America but also homes in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Panama, Costa Rica,
Philippines, Taiwan, Guam, as well as many other international
destinations.
I want to thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for bringing this
bill to the House floor today. With the holiday season just around the
corner, there could not be a more appropriate time for the House of
Representatives to recognize the joy the Christmas tree industry brings
to homes across our country this time of year. There is no better
activity than going with a family to pick out that Christmas tree.
Please support H.J. Resolution 96.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield such
time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
McHenry).
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Agriculture
Committee for yielding me time to speak about an important industry in
my district.
And I want to thank my fellow Member of Congress from North Carolina,
Virginia Foxx, for her leadership on this important agricultural issue
for our districts, which border each other in the mountains of western
North Carolina.
We have got a wonderful industry in my district centered around Avery
County, and this resolution today honors those men and women that work
so very hard in the Christmas tree growing business. They provide a
wonderful service and a wonderful product for Americans all around the
country. And coming from a small county in western North Carolina, it
is a wonderful privilege.
Outside of western North Carolina this niche industry is often
overlooked, but inside of our region it is never under appreciated.
There are over 1,600 Christmas tree growers in North Carolina who
produce over 19 percent of the real Christmas trees in the United
States. Not those fake ones. The real ones. The evergreens. And the
Fraser fir, which is grown in western North Carolina, is the most
popular Christmas tree in North America and is shipped to every State
in the U.S. as well as the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Japan,
and other points around the globe, from little old counties in western
North Carolina, and I do want to pay tribute to the Christmas tree
growers and the contribution they make to our country and our States
and my district, and it is with great pleasure that I also pay tribute
to the small communities in the mountains that work so hard to produce
products to send around the country and around the world.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues' support of this great resolution
that will help and honor our industries in western North Carolina
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, as the Congressman with the privilege to
represent Estacada, Oregon--the Christmas Tree Capital of the WorId--I
rise in strong support of this resolution.
Christmas trees are a large part of Oregon's nursery and tree
industry. In fact, Oregon leads the Nation in Christmas tree
production, with 6.9 million trees sold last year at a value of nearly
$108 million to the Oregon economy. In particular, Clackamas County--
which I am proud to represent along with Ms. Hooley--is the largest
producing county in the country with $36.8 million in sales from 17,500
acres of Christmas trees. Across our state, there are almost 1,600
Christmas tree operations, encompassing an area over one and half times
the size of Washington, DC and employing close to 10,000 people at
total wages of over $32 million.
Oregon farmers began hauling Christmas trees for out-of-state sales
by horse and wagon at the turn of the 20th century. It's now the sixth-
largest agricultural industry in Oregon, and our crop covers 31 percent
of the
[[Page 21945]]
market. Oregon Christmas trees can be found across the country and
across the world.
I thank the gentlelady from North Carolina for offering this
resolution. As we head into consideration of the 2007 Farm Bill, it
provides an important reminder that the agriculture upon which many of
our communities depend is more than corn and cotton. Our federal farm
policy should reflect the diversity of American agriculture and ensure
a fair playing field for all of our farmers and ranchers.
Already, Oregon nurseries and vineyards, ranchers, and farmers are
leading the way, showing how we can craft winning policies that are
good for farmers, the land, the environment, consumers, our water
supplies, and wildlife. I look forward to the opportunity to work with
my friends on the Agriculture Committee, to build on this good work and
take it to the next level, and, in true Oregon tradition, create an
opportunity to unite citizens throughout the state.
Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 96,
a bill recognizing the American Christmas tree industry, and the
important role that it plays in U.S. agriculture.
This resolution is a timely one as we approach the upcoming holiday
season. And for my home state of North Carolina, it is also one that
reminds us of the tremendous impact that agriculture has on our state's
economy. The Christmas tree industry in North Carolina is ranked second
in the Nation, with more than 30,000 acres in production that
contributes over $100 million to our state's economy.
This resolution reminds us that there are many facets to our Nation's
diverse agricultural economy. Agriculture now includes such specialties
as aquaculture, trees and ornamental horticulture, landscaping, and
turf production. The Christmas tree industry in North Carolina is an
example of the growth and development of the industry.
I urge support on House Resolution 96.
Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 96, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds of those voting having
responded in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the joint
resolution, as amended, was passed.
The title of the joint resolution was amended so as to read: ``Joint
resolution recognizing the contributions of the Christmas tree industry
to the United States economy.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
GENERAL LEAVE
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
on H.J. Res. 96, the joint resolution just considered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
____________________
ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, proceedings
will now resume on motions to suspend the rules previously postponed.
Votes will be taken in the following order:
H.R. 6314, by the yeas and nays;
H.R. 864, by the yeas and nays.
____________________
AMENDING TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE, TO EXTEND CERTAIN EXPIRING
PROVISIONS OF LAW
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pending business is the question of
suspending the rules and passing the bill, H.R. 6314.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 6314, on which the yeas and nays are ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 393,
nays 0, not voting 39, as follows:
[Roll No. 520]
YEAS--393
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldwin
Barrett (SC)
Barrow
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Bean
Beauprez
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blumenauer
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boustany
Boyd
Bradley (NH)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Burgess
Butterfield
Buyer
Calvert
Camp (MI)
Campbell (CA)
Cannon
Cantor
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carter
Case
Castle
Chabot
Chocola
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coble
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Cramer
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (KY)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Doolittle
Doyle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Edwards
Ehlers
Emanuel
Emerson
English (PA)
Eshoo
Etheridge
Everett
Farr
Fattah
Feeney
Ferguson
Filner
Fitzpatrick (PA)
Flake
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Foxx
Frank (MA)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gilchrest
Gingrey
Gonzalez
Goodlatte
Gordon
Granger
Graves
Green (WI)
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall
Harman
Harris
Hart
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hensarling
Herger
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hostettler
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Inglis (SC)
Inslee
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
Jindal
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kind
King (IA)
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline
Knollenberg
Kolbe
Kucinich
Kuhl (NY)
LaHood
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Lynch
Mack
Maloney
Manzullo
Marchant
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy
McCaul (TX)
McCollum (MN)
McCotter
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHenry
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Mica
Michaud
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy
Musgrave
Myrick
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Neugebauer
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Osborne
Otter
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Paul
Payne
Pelosi
Pence
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Price (GA)
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reyes
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Rohrabacher
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Salazar
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Saxton
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schmidt
Schwartz (PA)
Schwarz (MI)
Scott (VA)
Sekula Gibbs
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Sires
Skelton
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Sodrel
Solis
Souder
Stark
Stearns
Stupak
Tauscher
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Towns
Turner
Udall (CO)
Upton
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Westmoreland
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NOT VOTING--39
Boozman
Brown (OH)
Burton (IN)
Cardin
Carson
Chandler
[[Page 21946]]
Cubin
Davis (TN)
Engel
Evans
Ford
Gallegly
Gibbons
Gillmor
Gohmert
Goode
Hefley
Herseth
Higgins
Lewis (KY)
McKinney
Melancon
Millender-McDonald
Moran (KS)
Murtha
Oxley
Pearce
Reynolds
Sanders
Scott (GA)
Shimkus
Slaughter
Spratt
Strickland
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Tanner
Udall (NM)
{time} 1348
Mr. CLYBURN and Mr. EVERETT changed their vote from ``nay'' to
``yea.''
So (two-thirds of those voting having responded in the affirmative)
the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, on November 14, 2006, I missed rollcall
vote No. 520 on H.R. 6314 to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend certain expiring provisions of law and to expand eligibility for
the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program. Had I
been present and voting, I would have voted ``yea'' on H.R. 6314.
____________________
SOBER TRUTH ON PREVENTING UNDERAGE DRINKING ACT
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The pending business is the question of
suspending the rules and passing the bill, H.R. 864, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 864, as amended, on which the yeas and nays are
ordered.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 373,
nays 23, not voting 36, as follows:
[Roll No. 521]
YEAS--373
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Aderholt
Akin
Alexander
Allen
Andrews
Baca
Bachus
Baird
Baker
Baldwin
Barrow
Bartlett (MD)
Barton (TX)
Bass
Bean
Beauprez
Becerra
Berkley
Berman
Berry
Biggert
Bilbray
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Bishop (NY)
Bishop (UT)
Blackburn
Blunt
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonner
Bono
Boren
Boswell
Boucher
Boustany
Boyd
Bradley (NH)
Brady (PA)
Brady (TX)
Brown (SC)
Brown, Corrine
Brown-Waite, Ginny
Burgess
Butterfield
Buyer
Calvert
Camp (MI)
Cannon
Capito
Capps
Capuano
Cardoza
Carnahan
Carter
Case
Castle
Chabot
Chocola
Clay
Cleaver
Clyburn
Coble
Cole (OK)
Conaway
Conyers
Cooper
Costa
Costello
Cramer
Crenshaw
Crowley
Cuellar
Culberson
Cummings
Davis (AL)
Davis (CA)
Davis (FL)
Davis (IL)
Davis (KY)
Davis (TN)
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
DeFazio
DeGette
Delahunt
DeLauro
Dent
Diaz-Balart, L.
Diaz-Balart, M.
Dicks
Dingell
Doggett
Doolittle
Doyle
Drake
Dreier
Duncan
Edwards
Ehlers
Emanuel
Emerson
Engel
English (PA)
Eshoo
Etheridge
Everett
Farr
Fattah
Ferguson
Filner
Fitzpatrick (PA)
Forbes
Fortenberry
Fossella
Frank (MA)
Franks (AZ)
Frelinghuysen
Garrett (NJ)
Gerlach
Gilchrest
Gingrey
Gonzalez
Goodlatte
Gordon
Granger
Graves
Green (WI)
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Grijalva
Gutierrez
Hall
Harman
Harris
Hart
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Herseth
Hinchey
Hinojosa
Hobson
Hoekstra
Holden
Holt
Honda
Hooley
Hoyer
Hulshof
Hunter
Hyde
Inslee
Israel
Issa
Istook
Jackson (IL)
Jackson-Lee (TX)
Jefferson
Jenkins
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Johnson, E. B.
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Keller
Kelly
Kennedy (MN)
Kennedy (RI)
Kildee
Kilpatrick (MI)
Kind
King (NY)
Kingston
Kirk
Kline
Knollenberg
Kucinich
Kuhl (NY)
LaHood
Langevin
Lantos
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latham
LaTourette
Leach
Lee
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Linder
Lipinski
LoBiondo
Lofgren, Zoe
Lowey
Lucas
Lungren, Daniel E.
Lynch
Mack
Maloney
Markey
Marshall
Matheson
Matsui
McCarthy
McCaul (TX)
McCollum (MN)
McCotter
McCrery
McDermott
McGovern
McHenry
McHugh
McIntyre
McKeon
McMorris Rodgers
McNulty
Meehan
Meek (FL)
Meeks (NY)
Melancon
Mica
Michaud
Millender-McDonald
Miller (FL)
Miller (MI)
Miller (NC)
Miller, Gary
Miller, George
Mollohan
Moore (KS)
Moore (WI)
Moran (VA)
Murphy
Musgrave
Nadler
Napolitano
Neal (MA)
Neugebauer
Northup
Norwood
Nunes
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Osborne
Owens
Pallone
Pascrell
Pastor
Payne
Pelosi
Peterson (MN)
Peterson (PA)
Petri
Pickering
Pitts
Platts
Poe
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Price (GA)
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Putnam
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Regula
Rehberg
Reichert
Renzi
Reyes
Reynolds
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rogers (MI)
Ros-Lehtinen
Ross
Rothman
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Ruppersberger
Rush
Ryan (OH)
Ryan (WI)
Ryun (KS)
Sabo
Salazar
Sanchez, Linda T.
Sanchez, Loretta
Saxton
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schmidt
Schwartz (PA)
Schwarz (MI)
Scott (VA)
Sekula Gibbs
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Sessions
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Sherman
Sherwood
Shuster
Simmons
Simpson
Sires
Skelton
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Snyder
Sodrel
Solis
Souder
Stark
Stearns
Stupak
Tauscher
Taylor (NC)
Terry
Thomas
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thornberry
Tiahrt
Tiberi
Tierney
Towns
Turner
Udall (CO)
Upton
Van Hollen
Velazquez
Visclosky
Walden (OR)
Walsh
Wamp
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson
Watt
Waxman
Weiner
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
Wexler
Whitfield
Wicker
Wilson (NM)
Wilson (SC)
Wolf
Woolsey
Wu
Wynn
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
NAYS--23
Barrett (SC)
Campbell (CA)
Cantor
Feeney
Flake
Foxx
Gutknecht
Hensarling
Herger
Hostettler
Inglis (SC)
Johnson, Sam
Jones (NC)
King (IA)
Kolbe
Manzullo
Myrick
Otter
Paul
Pence
Rohrabacher
Taylor (MS)
Westmoreland
NOT VOTING--36
Blumenauer
Boozman
Brown (OH)
Burton (IN)
Cardin
Carson
Chandler
Cubin
Evans
Ford
Gallegly
Gibbons
Gillmor
Gohmert
Goode
Hefley
Higgins
Jindal
Lewis (KY)
Marchant
McKinney
Moran (KS)
Murtha
Oxley
Pearce
Sanders
Scott (GA)
Shimkus
Slaughter
Spratt
Strickland
Sullivan
Sweeney
Tancredo
Tanner
Udall (NM)
{time} 1405
Mr. HERGER and Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi changed their vote from
``yea'' to ``nay.''
So (two-thirds of those voting having responded in the affirmative)
the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, due to a flight delay, I was unable to
record my rollcall votes 520 and 521. Had I been present, I would have
voted ``yes'' to both votes.
____________________
RECESS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the
Chair declares the House in recess subject to the call of the Chair.
Accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 6 minutes p.m.), the House stood in
recess subject to the call of the Chair.
____________________
{time} 1647
AFTER RECESS
The recess having expired, the House was called to order by the
Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Dreier) at 4 o'clock and 47 minutes p.m.
____________________
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to:
Ms. McKinney (at the request of Ms. Pelosi) for today.
____________________
SENATE BILLS REFERRED
Bills of the Senate of the following titles were taken from the
Speaker's table and, under the rule, referred as follows:
S. 3501. An Act to amend the Shivwits Band of the Paiute
Indian Tribe of Utah
[[Page 21947]]
Water Rights Settlement Act to establish an acquisition fund
for the water rights and habitat acquisition program; to the
Committee on Resources.
S. 3687. An Act to waive application of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act to a specific
parcel of real property transferred by the United States to 2
Indian tribes in the State of Oregon, and for other purposes;
to the Committee on Resources.
____________________
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. CAMPBELL of California. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now
adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 4 o'clock and 48 minutes
p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, November 15,
2006, at 10 a.m.
____________________
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, ETC.
Under clause 8 of rule XII, executive communications were taken from
the Speaker's table and referred as follows:
9980. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Bacillus Thuringiensis Modified
Cry3A Protein and the Genetic Material Necessary for Its
Production in Corn; Exemption from the Requirement of a
Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0784; FRL-8096-4] received October
27, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee
on Agriculture.
9981. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Flumioxazin; Pesticide Tolerances
for Emergency Exemptions [EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0792; FRL-8098-5]
received October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A);
to the Committee on Agriculture.
9982. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- NESHAP: National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Standards for
Hazardous Waste Combustors (Amendment) [EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0022
FRL-8233-9] (RIN: 2050-AG33) received October 24, 2006,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce.
9983. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Tennessee; Memphis/Shelby County Area
Second 10-Year Maintenance Plan for the Carbon Monoxide
National Ambient Air Qaulity Standard [EPA-R04-OAR-2006-0531-
200618(a); FRL-8233-8] received October 24, 2006, pursuant to
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce.
9984. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Designation of Areas for Air Quality
Planning Purposes; State of California; PM-10; Determination
of Attainment for the San Joaquin Valley Nonattainment Area;
Determination Regarding Applicability of Certain Clean Air
Act Requirements [EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0583, FRL-8234-1] received
October 24, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9985. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; State Implementation
Plan Revision for American Cyanamid Company, Havre de Grace;
Maryland [EPA-R03-OAR-2006 -0607 ; FRL-8233-2] received
October 24, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9986. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Revisions to the California State
Implementation Plan, Lake County Air Quality Management
District, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control
District, San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control
District, and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
[EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0839, FRL-8234-9] received November 8,
2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce.
9987. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Louisiana: Final Authorization of
State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision [EPA-R06-
RCRA-2006-0914; FRL-8241-3] received November 8, 2006,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce.
9988. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Export Notification; Change to
Reporting Requirements [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2005-0058; FRL-8101-3]
(RIN: 2070-AJ01) received November 8, 2006, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9989. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; State of Iowa [EPA-R07-OAR-2006-0836;
FRL-8240-6] received November 8, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9990. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Louisiana; 2006 Low Enhanced Vehicle
Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Program [EPA-R06-OAR-2006-0456;
FRL-8241-2] received November 8, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9991. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Clean Air Act Approval and
Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plan Revision for
Colorado; Long-Term Strategy of State Implementation Plan for
Class I Visibility Protection [EPA-R08-OAR-2005-CO-0002; FRL-
8232-2] received October 30, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9992. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Amendment to
Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Quality
Permit Program [EPA-R03-OAR-2006-0527; FRL-8236-5] received
October 30, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9993. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Amendments to
Nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) Air Quality Permit
Program [EPA-R03-OAR-2006-0528; FRL-8236-6] received October
30, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce.
9994. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; Utah; Revisions to the Utah
Administrative Code; Direct Final Rule [EPA-R08-OAR-2006-
0564; FRL-8236-8] received October 30, 2006, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9995. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; Revised Format for Materials
Being Incorporated by Reference for Wyoming [R08-WY-2006-
0001; FRL-8236-2] received October 30, 2006, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9996. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Washington: Final Authorization of
State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions [FRL-8235-
5] received October 27, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9997. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Revisions to the Nevada State
Implementation Plan, Clark County [EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0548a;
FRL-8225-5] received October 27, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9998. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Revisions to the California State
Implementation Plan, Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management
District [EPA-R09-OAR-2005-0557e; FRL-8225-7] received
October 27, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
9999. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Revisions to the California State
Implementation Plan, Antelope Valley Air Quality Management
District [EPA-R09-OAR-2006-0747; FRL-8231-5] received October
27, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee
on Energy and Commerce.
10000. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Louisiana; Transportation Conformity
[EPA-R06-OAR-2005-LA-0003; FRL-8234-8] received October 27,
2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on
Energy and Commerce.
10001. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; Indiana [EPA-R05-OAR-2006-0539;
EPA-R05-2006-
[[Page 21948]]
0610; FRL-8224-3] received October 27, 2006, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10002. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Regional Haze Regulations;
Revisions to Provisions Governing Alternative to Source-
Specific Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART)
Determinations [EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0076; FRL-8230-4] (RIN: 2060-
AN22) received October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10003. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; State of Missouri; Correction [EPA-R07-
OAR-2005-MO-0005; FRL-8228-9] received October 18, 2006,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce.
10004. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans Alabama: Volatile Organic Compounds
[EPA-R04-OAR-2005-AL-0004-200619a; FRL-8229-8] received
October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10005. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Announcement of the Delegation of
Partial Administrative Authority for Implementation of
Federal Implementation Plan for the Umatilla Indian
Reservation to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation [R10-OAR-2005-TR-0001; FRL-8230-8] received
October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10006. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Air Quality Designations and
Classifications for the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air
Quality Standards; Early Action Compact Areas With Deferred
Effective Dates [EPA-OAR-2003-0083; FRL-8231-1] received
October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10007. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Protection of Stratospheric Ozone:
Allocation of Essential Use Allowances for Calendar Year 2006
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0158; FRL-8227-4] (RIN: 2060-AN29) received
October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10008. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- New Hampshire: Final Approval of
Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions [EPA-R01-UST-2006-
0622; FRL-8226-5] received October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10009. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Air Pollutants: Miscellaneous Coating Manufacturing
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0178; FRL-8227-5] (RIN: 2060-AM72) received
October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
10010. A letter from the Assistant Secretary for Fish,
Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior, transmitting
the Department's final rule -- Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the
Southern California Distinct Population Segment of the
Mountain Yellow-Legged Frog (Rana muscosa) (RIN: 1018-AU30)
received October 17, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A);
to the Committee on Resources.
10011. A letter from the Assistant Secretary for Fish,
Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior, transmitting
the Department's final rule -- Endnagered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the
Alameda Whipsnake (RIN: 1018-AT93) received October 17, 2006,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on
Resources.
10012. A letter from the Assistant Secretary for Fish,
Widlife and Parks, Department of the Interior, transmitting
the Department's final rule -- Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the
Perdido Key Beach Mouse, Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse, and St.
Andrew Beach Mouse (RIN: 1018-AT90) received October 17,
2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); to the Committee on
Resources.
10013. A letter from the Principal Deputy Associate
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting
the Agency's final rule -- Guidelines Establishing Test
Procedure for the Analysis of Pollutants; Analytical Methods
for Biological Pollutants in Wastewater and Sewage Sludge;
Final Rule [EPA-HQ-OW-2004-0014; FRL-8228-1] (RIN: 2040-AE68)
received October 18, 2006, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A);
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
____________________
PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Under clause 2 of rule XII, public bills and resolutions were
introduced and severally referred, as follows:
By Mr. KOLBE:
H.R. 6321. A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain
public land near the City of Douglas, Arizona, for use as a
shooting range; to the Committee on Resources.
By Mrs. McCARTHY (for herself and Mr. Daniel E. Lungren
of California):
H.R. 6322. A bill to direct the Attorney General to conduct
a study on the feasibility of expanding the National
Incident-Based Reporting System to identify crime data
relating to elementary and secondary schools; to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
By Mr. KANJORSKI (for himself and Mr. Royce):
H.R. 6323. A bill to amend the Home Owners' Loan Act to
remove the limitation on investments by Federal savings
associations in consumer auto loans; to the Committee on
Financial Services.
By Mr. LEWIS of California:
H.J. Res. 100. A joint resolution making further continuing
appropriations for the fiscal year 2007, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Appropriations.
By Mr. KIRK (for himself and Mrs. Lowey):
H. Res. 1080. A resolution expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that the Government of Bangladesh
should immediately drop all pending charges against
Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury; to the
Committee on International Relations.
By Mr. BURTON of Indiana (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr.
Engel, Ms. Solis, and Ms. Lee):
H. Res. 1081. A resolution expressing the sympathy of House
of Representatives to the families of women and girls
murdered in Guatemala and encouraging the Government of
Guatemala to bring an end to these crimes; to the Committee
on International Relations.
By Mr. FITZPATRICK of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms.
Schwartz of Pennsylvania, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Sherwood,
Mr. Dent, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania, Mr.
Holden, Mr. Platts, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Pearce, Mr.
Peterson of Pennsylvania, and Ms. Hart):
H. Res. 1082. A resolution condemning the decision by the
city of St. Denis, France, to name a street in honor of Mumia
Abu-Jamal, the convicted murderer of Philadelphia Police
Officer Danny Faulkner; to the Committee on the Judiciary,
and in addition to the Committee on International Relations,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
____________________
PRIVATE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Under clause 3 of rule XII,
Mr. PALLONE introduced A bill (H.R. 6324) to provide a new
effective date for the applicability of certain provisions of
law to Public Law 105-331; which was referred to the
Committee on Financial Services.
____________________
ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors were added to public bills and
resolutions as follows:
H.R. 63: Ms. Eshoo.
H.R. 352: Mr. Petri.
H.R. 515: Mr. Davis of Tennessee.
H.R. 550: Mrs. Biggert.
H.R. 944: Mr. Rahall.
H.R. 1264: Mr. Holt, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Gordon, Mr. McCotter,
and Mr. Boucher.
H.R. 1366: Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Oberstar.
H.R. 1545: Mr. Boucher.
H.R. 1652: Mr. Smith of Washington.
H.R. 1671: Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Radanovich.
H.R. 1849: Ms. Harris, Mr. Goode, and Mr. Salazar.
H.R. 2076: Mr. Jefferson.
H.R. 2716: Mr. Boucher.
H.R. 2719: Mr. Moran of Virginia and Ms. Zoe Lofgren of
California.
H.R. 2735: Mr. Reichert and Mr. McIntyre.
H.R. 3042: Mr. Meehan.
H.R. 3476: Mr. McHugh, Mrs. Davis of California, and Mr.
Ryan of Ohio.
H.R. 3579: Mr. Boswell and Mr. Salazar.
H.R. 3628: Ms. Schakowsky.
H.R. 3954: Mr. Rahall.
H.R. 4025: Mr. Frank of Massachusetts.
H.R. 4188: Mr. Boucher.
H.R. 4398: Mr. Conyers.
H.R. 4560: Mr. Ryan of Ohio.
H.R. 4609: Mr. Dicks.
H.R. 4767: Mr. Rothman.
H.R. 4769: Mr. Boucher and Ms. Foxx.
H.R. 4924: Mr. Pearce and Mr. Blumenauer.
H.R. 4927: Mrs. Tauscher.
H.R. 4993: Mr. Rahall, Mr. Filner, and Mr. Jindal.
[[Page 21949]]
H.R. 5052: Mr. Meehan.
H.R. 5148: Mr. Clay.
H.R. 5150: Mr. Kind.
H.R. 5188: Mrs. Lowey.
H.R. 5238: Ms. Moore of Wisconsin.
H.R. 5312: Mr. Filner.
H.R. 5324: Mr. Rahall.
H.R. 5390: Mr. McIntyre, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. Butterfield.
H.R. 5471: Mr. Sherman.
H.R. 5519: Mr. Rahall and Mr. Smith of Washington.
H.R. 5558: Mrs. Myrick.
H.R. 5680: Ms. Woolsey and Mr. Van Hollen.
H.R. 5704: Ms. Hart, Mr. Lewis of Kentucky, Mr. Cooper, Mr.
Gutknecht, Mr. Clay, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Rahall, and Ms.
Herseth.
H.R. 5733: Mr. Evans.
H.R. 5771: Mr. Andrews, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Inslee, Mr.
Mollohan, Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, and Ms.
McKinney.
H.R. 5836: Mr. Rahall and Mr. Clay.
H.R. 5888: Mr. Van Hollen.
H.R. 5894: Mr. Davis of Illinois.
H.R. 5896: Mr. Frank of Massachusetts.
H.R. 5920: Mr. Baird.
H.R. 5940: Mr. Upton and Mr. Kennedy of Rhode Island.
H.R. 5948: Mrs. Maloney.
H.R. 5960: Mr. Abercrombie and Mr. Serrano.
H.R. 5965: Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Evans.
H.R. 6044: Mr. Frank of Massachusetts and Mr. Clay.
H.R. 6045: Mr. Bishop of New York.
H.R. 6064: Mr. Shays and Mr. George Miller of California.
H.R. 6093: Mr. Kind.
H.R. 6098: Mr. Payne and Mr. Price of North Carolina.
H.R. 6100: Mr. Filner.
H.R. 6122: Mr. Rothman and Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas.
H.R. 6130: Mr. Skelton.
H.R. 6135: Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Rush, Mr. Cummings,
and Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas.
H.R. 6147: Mr. Rahall.
H.R. 6168: Mr. Pallone.
H.R. 6200: Mr. Cleaver.
H.R. 6281: Mr. Cummings, Ms. Matsui, and Mr. Berman.
H. Con. Res. 340: Mr. Boucher.
H. Con. Res. 388: Ms. Berkley.
H. Con. Res. 391: Mr. Frank of Massachusetts.
H. Con. Res. 465: Mr. Ramstad and Mr. Van Hollen.
H. Res. 335: Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Schwarz of
Michigan, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, and Mr. Meehan.
H. Res. 466: Mr. Hayworth, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Ms.
Roybal-Allard, Mr. Wolf, Ms. Harris, and Mrs. Maloney.
H. Res. 635: Ms. Watson.
H. Res. 790: Mr. Kucinich.
H. Res. 822: Mr. Baird.
H. Res. 931: Mr. Ruppersberger.
H. Res. 987: Mr. Markey.
H. Res. 995: Mr. Leach.
H. Res. 1005: Mr. Hinojosa and Mr. Kind.
H. Res. 1057: Mr. Israel, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Wexler, Mrs.
Maloney, Mr. Weiner, and Mr. Engel.
H. Res. 1063: Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Payne, Mr. Sherman, Mr.
Blumenauer, Ms. Berkley, Ms. Watson, Mr. Smith of Washington,
Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, and Mr. Carnahan.
[[Page 21950]]
SENATE--Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Senate met at 2:15 p.m. and was called to order by the President
pro tempore (Mr. Stevens).
______
prayer
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer:
Let us pray.
Our Creator and God, You provide us with strength. Lead us in life's
battles. Keep us from retreating when we confront overwhelming
challenges and painful losses. With Your powerful arm, chase away the
forces that seek to confuse and discourage us. Let Your shining glory
illuminate the road ahead. In Your kindness and mercy, rescue us from
ourselves.
Guide the Members of this body in the path they should walk today.
May their thoughts, words, and actions bring You pleasure. Teach them
how to make concessions without coercion and to find conciliation
without compromise.
We pray in Your loving Name. Amen.
____________________
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The PRESIDENT pro tempore led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
____________________
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the leadership
time is reserved.
____________________
RECOGNITION OF THE ACTING MAJORITY LEADER
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The acting majority leader is recognized.
____________________
SCHEDULE
Mr. SUNUNU. Mr. President, this afternoon we will resume
consideration of the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs
appropriations bill. We will be voting later this afternoon. Once a
vote is scheduled, we will notify Senators as to the exact timing of
that vote. As it stands now, we are looking at a late afternoon vote as
the first vote of the day. If we can expedite floor consideration with
a handful of relevant amendments, it is our hope we should be able to
finish this important spending bill today.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
____________________
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will
resume consideration of H.R. 5385, which the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 5385) making appropriations for military
quality of life functions of the Department of Defense,
military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 11,
2007, and for other purposes.
Pending:
Akaka/Obama amendment No. 5128, to provide, with an offset,
an additional $2,500,000 for the Department of Veterans
Affairs for the Office of Inspector General.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Amendment No. 5144
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, let me thank Senators Hutchison and
Feinstein, the managers of this bill, for the opportunity to offer and
discuss my amendment to provide emergency agricultural disaster
assistance for our farmers and ranchers. Normally, most of my
colleagues know I would not offer this amendment on an unrelated
measure. Our hand is forced. We are told it is highly unlikely there
will be an Agriculture appropriations bill considered separately. We
have no alternative but to offer this measure to this legislation.
This amendment will determine whether thousands of farm families will
be able to continue next year. We have had 2 years of unusual natural
disasters that have affected agriculture across this country. These
people need to know whether they can continue in the business of
farming and ranching. Their bankers need to know. This legislation is
critical to that determination.
For over a year, I, along with many of my Senate colleagues--let me
indicate that it is already nearly 20 of my colleagues--have come on a
bipartisan basis to cosponsor this bill, including Senator Coleman of
Minnesota; Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska; my own colleague, Senator
Dorgan of North Dakota; Senator Salazar of Colorado; Senator Hagel of
Nebraska; Senator Johnson of South Dakota; Senator Thune of South
Dakota; Senator Enzi of Wyoming; Senator Baucus of Montana; Senator
Reid of Nevada; Senator Clinton; Senator Obama; Senator Durbin; Senator
Leahy; Senator Harkin; Senator Cantwell; Senator Burns of Montana;
Senator Schumer; and Senator Roberts of Kansas. Repeatedly, we have
come to the Senate to try to get disaster assistance considered.
Last spring, as part of the hurricane supplemental, the Senate
approved an agricultural disaster package for the 2005 crop-year. That
measure was dropped in conference due to opposition from the
administration and the House leadership. I have taken out the
provisions that drew the opposition of the administration. Those direct
payments that were an offset to the dramatic runup in energy prices are
not in this bill.
The legislation I am offering today is nearly identical to the
bipartisan relief provision I introduced on September 20, 2006. My
amendment is bipartisan and has 19 cosponsors.
The need for this amendment is compelling. In North Dakota last year,
as this picture shows, we faced extraordinary flooding. Over a million
acres were prevented from being planted. Hundreds of thousands of acres
that were planted were drowned out because of excessive rainfall. There
was no disaster assistance for those farmers.
This year, in the irony of ironies, we now have experienced an
extraordinary drought. This is a picture from my home county, Burleigh
County, where the capital of North Dakota is located. This is a corn
crop, but nothing was produced. It is only one of thousands of fields
that were not worth harvesting.
This drought has been determined by the USDA meteorologist to be the
third worst drought in our Nation's history. Only the Dust Bowl of the
1930s and the prolonged drought of the 1950s compared to what many
parts of the country have been facing.
This chart shows the U.S. Drought Monitor. It shows how severe the
drought was all across the Midwest and Southeast. Its darkest colors
represent exceptional drought. North Dakota and South Dakota were the
epicenter of this drought in late July. It has been totally devastating
to my part of the country. If assistance is not granted, literally
thousands of farm families will be forced off the land. That is a fact.
The independent bankers of my State said to a White House
representative who was in my office that if assistance does not come, 5
to 10 percent of their customers in North Dakota will be
[[Page 21951]]
forced out of business. Mr. President, 34 farm organizations have told
Congress that assistance is needed and it is needed now. In addition,
we have a letter from the State commissioners of agriculture from all
across the country saying that emergency agricultural disaster
assistance is a high priority requiring action by Congress this year.
It could not be more clear. Assistance is needed. It is needed now.
As I noted last May, the Senate approved disaster assistance, only to
be thwarted by the threat of a veto. In June, the Senate Committee on
Appropriations once again approved emergency disaster assistance as
part of the Agriculture appropriations bill for 2007. Thus far, that
bill has failed to come to the Senate.
On numerous occasions, including the last day we were in session
before we recessed for the elections, I tried to get the Senate to
adopt disaster relief legislation. Again, the effort was stymied.
Today, we have another chance to do what is necessary and what is
right. My amendment incorporates many of the provisions already
approved by the Senate, but I have made a few modifications to address
the objections raised by the administration. The economic assistance
provisions help producers offset rising energy costs, and the direct
grants to States to assist specialty crop and livestock sectors have
been removed. Those provisions, at the insistence of the White House,
have been removed.
Also, the administration has stated that we need to wait until
harvest is concluded. The harvest is now over for 2006; the losses are
real and significant throughout many parts of the country.
The crop and livestock production loss provisions contained in the
original legislation were retained and will apply for both the 2005 and
2006 production years. Crop producers will still need to demonstrate a
35-percent loss before they get any assistance. The Livestock
Compensation Program will only be made to producers whose operations
are in counties designated as disaster areas by the Secretary and who
can demonstrate they have suffered a material loss. The legislation
also contains additional funding for conservation operations to help
restore and rehabilitate drought and livestock losses on grazing land.
Scientists have told us this is imperative. Because of the
modifications, the cost of providing disaster assistance for 2005 and
2006 has been reduced from $6.7 billion to $4.9 billion--a reduction of
nearly $2 billion.
Farmers and ranchers need assistance for the 2005 and 2006 fall
disaster losses, and they need it now. If these emergencies are not
addressed, literally tens of thousands of farm families and Main Street
businesses will suffer, many irreparably. It is time to act and allow
the Senate to vote on this amendment.
Mr. President, I conclude by saying I regret having to offer this
amendment to this legislation. I have no choice. We have no choice. The
over 20 Members of the Senate who have come forward to sponsor this
legislation in various variations of the legislation have no choice. If
we do not act now, tens of thousands of farm families will not be able
to continue. The stakes are high. I urge my colleagues to give
favorable consideration to this legislation.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from South Dakota.
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Senator
Conrad's agriculture disaster assistance amendment and am pleased to be
a cosponsor of this important legislative package. The package would
provide comprehensive, critical relief dollars for agriculture
disaster. It would provide assistance for a drought that has plagued
our Nation's family farms, including those in my home State of South
Dakota.
Producers in South Dakota have suffered from drought conditions that
have rivaled the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. These chronic conditions have
already ruined the wheat and corn crop for many producers in the State
and resulted in thousands of cattle being sold off prematurely in
auction barns. Those who have already sold the factory are left with
only a mortgage to pay and no relief in sight.
Senator JOHN THUNE and I jointly traveled across South Dakota this
summer to some of the areas hit hardest by this drought. We
consistently heard about the astronomically high price for hay and fuel
costs for transportation, if a producer could even find forage to
purchase. We saw the effects of the drought on corn and soybeans, many
of which barely got out of the ground and were stunted by desert-like
conditions. Some producers saw yields that measured out to the tenth of
the bushel, after being socked with severe fuel and fertilizer costs.
At a stop at the Ft. Pierre Livestock Sale Barn, we met with ranchers
who finally had to sell out because of extreme conditions. The Herreid
Livestock Sale Barn saw an estimated 2,500 to 3,500 head per week over
the summer instead of the usual 200 to 300 cattle per week for that
time of year.
I invited USDA Secretary Mike Johanns to travel to South Dakota and
see this extensive damage firsthand. The Secretary of Agriculture came
to my home State, but, unfortunately, rolled out a grossly inadequate
agriculture disaster assistance program. This empty shell game is a
glaring example of the ``too little, too late'' approach that this
administration has too often employed with agriculture disaster
assistance.
The Agriculture Department released only $2 million in Grasslands
Reserve Program money and less than $7 million in Emergency
Conservation Program funds to South Dakota over the summer. These
dollars barely made a dent in the backlog of producers who have applied
for these programs, leaving many out in the cold.
While in my home State, the Secretary announced the release of
section 32 funds for distribution in our agriculture communities,
amounting to $50 million in block grants to drought-impacted States.
Although South Dakota has been subject to chronic extreme and
exceptional drought conditions, the State received only $4.3 million.
It was announced that Texas, however, would be given $16.1 million in
assistance.
The administration's disaster relief package provides just a fraction
of the dollars that the 2005 disaster relief measure, that my
colleagues and I successfully attached to the most recent agriculture
appropriations bill, would contain for my home State of South Dakota.
Over $100 million would be directed toward producers impacted by
devastating conditions, including comprehensive livestock and crop
assistance measures.
The agriculture appropriations bill, however, has yet to see the
light of day for debate on floor of the U.S. Senate. It is my hope that
the majority leadership would allow this bill to be considered with due
process.
My colleagues and I also passed agriculture disaster assistance as
part of the supplemental spending measure that funded Katrina relief
efforts and the war in Iraq. Because of a Presidential veto threat,
however, the vast majority of meaningful agriculture disaster
assistance was stripped out. The White House said that it would reject
money for our troops in Iraq and victims devastated by Hurricane
Katrina if that spending package contained a nickel of agriculture
disaster relief for our Nation's farm and ranch producers.
Secretary Johanns adopted a ``wait and see'' approach to aiding our
rural communities. The Secretary said this summer that he wanted to see
how the harvest looked after the combines ran before considering
further agriculture disaster aid for this production year. As the worst
drought since the Dust Bowl, however, combines haven't run at all in
parts of South Dakota. Our Nation's food security demands immediate
assistance, not stop-gap measures and delay tactics.
Agriculture disaster is like any other disaster, and producers
deserve meaningful relief. The administration continues to dig in their
heels on drought assistance for our Nation's producers. Yet, this White
House places a priority on rebuilding Iraqi agriculture while crying
poor and lack of revenue at home.
[[Page 21952]]
The truth is that the administration has the authority to provide
more comprehensive drought assistance at the stroke of a pen, if it
wants, just as it did in 2002.
I urged President Bush to establish a program that would target those
who suffer from actual losses, avoiding the type of waste and abuse
that was disclosed with the implementation of the 2002 program. I
expressed my interest in working with the Department of Agriculture to
develop an effective and timely plan before more producers sold the
family farm and were forced out of business. It has become painfully
clear that real drought relief is not on this administration's current
agenda.
The administration's lack of action on drought assistance underscores
a need to pass this drought amendment today. This comprehensive
agriculture disaster assistance measure covers 2005 and 2006 losses
with a livestock compensation program and resources for crop production
losses, and funds are included for impacted sheep producers. Small
business assistance grants will also offer critical help. This
amendment qualifies agriculture disaster money as an emergency,
deserving immediate attention--attention that has so far been denied.
Producers are faced with critical financial decisions, and for many
relief was needed frankly, months ago. Because of this drought and the
delay in assistance, many producers won't be able to rebuild their
herds.
A meaningful agriculture disaster relief package already passed the
Senate--it was only because of this administration's veto threat that
it was stripped out in conference by leadership.
Today I am pleased to join with my colleagues in offering
comprehensive agriculture disaster assistance for 2005 and 2006. I
thank Senator Conrad for offering this important legislation. An
agriculture disaster is a natural disaster, like a tornado or a
hurricane, and providing relief for our Nation's producers is simply
fair and simply just.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I thank my colleague Senator Conrad for
his leadership, my colleague Senator Johnson, and so many others,
Republicans and Democrats, who have worked together to try to construct
a piece of legislation that would provide some disaster help for
farmers, and then to try to get it through the Congress and get it to
the President's desk for his signature.
This has been a long, tortuous trail. Twice before the Senate has
passed disaster relief for family farmers--twice. Both times it went to
a conference with the House. I was a conferee on both occasions. I was
involved with my colleagues in attaching it to the appropriations bill
as it went to a conference. We got to conference. Both times the
President threatened to veto the legislation, to block it. And he got
the conferees on the House side to require that it be taken out of the
conference report. Therefore, this is the third attempt on the floor of
the Senate to do this piece of legislation. And it is very important.
Let me talk for a moment about this issue of farming because we all
come to work and we wear neckties and suits and take showers at the
start of the day. Farmers take showers at the end of the day because
their work is hard. They feed cattle. They plow the ground. They grease
a tractor. They run a combine. They put up hay. They do all the things
that represent very hard work out in the land, and they are economic
all-stars.
The ability of the American family farmer to feed more and more
people is pretty extraordinary. But they work very hard and they
produce a product. If things cooperate, if they get decent weather,
enough rain, the disasters don't come, the insects aren't there, then
they produce a crop. They produce a kernel of corn, perhaps some wheat,
a kernel of barley, some rice. What happens is the wheat gets puffed by
a company someplace, after it gets hauled by railroad, and then it gets
put in a box and sold as puffed wheat. The farmer gets almost nothing.
The railroads take too much, and the box of puffed wheat costs an
unbelievable amount of money.
The same is true with crisping rice. It goes into a box called Rice
Krispies. The same is true with corn. They flake the corn, put it in a
box, and call it corn flakes. The railroads get a lot of money for
hauling that corn to market, the people who sell the corn flakes get a
lot of profit, and the farmer gets almost nothing. That is what farming
has always been about. But they only get the crop in the first place if
they do not get wiped out by a natural disaster--whether disease,
insects, or so on.
Now, what has happened in the last couple of years, particularly in
our part of the country, the Dakotas were called the epicenter of a
drought, the epicenter of a drought. So those farmers, who in the
spring went out and planted their crops, discovered they did not have
any crop growth at all. Nothing came up in those fields.
It is pretty unbelievable to drive by a field that is supposed to be
a field of grain and see it look like a moonscape. I drove to Zeeland,
ND, one day, a very small town just north of the South Dakota border.
And as I drove into that town, to my left was a patch of ground that
looked like moonscape--no vegetation at all. There had been no rain
there. One hundred ranchers gathered in a small community hall in
Zeeland, ND, to talk about what this meant to them. One after another,
they stood up to talk about what it means when you don't get rain.
One fellow from another part of our country who had moved back to
North Dakota said: I had never, ever understood why they measured rain
in hundredths. How much rain did you get? Twenty hundredths, twenty-
four hundredths. I never understood before why they measured rain in
hundredths until I came to North Dakota, a State with 15 to 17 inches
of annual rainfall in an entire year. And then what happens? It stops
raining, and you have a drought and nothing grows; or it rains too
much, and you get one-third of the annual rainfall in one day. We have
had both happen. One happened the year before, in 2005; one happened in
2006.
Some will say: Well, you just come and talk about farming all the
time. Family farmers this, family farmers that. There is a writer in
North Dakota, a farmer, a rancher, down near Almont, I believe. His
name is Rodney Nelson. He asks in some of his prose some very important
questions: What is it worth to our country? What is it worth for a
young person to know how to plow a field, to grease a tractor? What is
it worth for a young person to know how to weld a seam, how to combine
a field of grain? What is it worth to have a young person know how to
build a lean-to, how to take care of cattle, how to care for livestock?
What is it worth to have young people know how to work in the bitter
cold and do chores in the morning in the bitter cold, or to be out in
the fields when it is unbelievably hot, combining that field of grain?
What is that worth? There is only one university in America where those
studies are taught, and that is America's family farms.
What is it worth to us? Do we want to save those farmers when they
run through some tough times, when they reach a tough patch? That is
what has happened here.
Always before our country has said: Do you know what. When you are
out there alone, living under a yard light, and you and your family are
trying to make a living and you get hit with a natural disaster, this
country is going to help. This country wants to reach out a hand and
say: You are not alone. We want to help you.
Well, in the new farm bills, they took out the disaster title. There
ought to be one. I intend to offer legislation to put a disaster title
back in the farm bills so we are not begging at the end of every
session to try to provide some help to farmers who otherwise are going
to go broke.
Let me describe, as my colleague has done, this picture of a soybean
field in North Dakota. There are not any soybeans there. That is a
field that is dead, with barely any green at all. Normally, these
soybeans would be lush,
[[Page 21953]]
filling that piece of ground, and would be a foot tall. But, as you can
see, these plants are worthless. There is not much alive in that
photograph.
I have talked to farmers who sold off their entire herds. I talked to
a young farmer who built a herd of cattle for 3 years. It was his
life's goal to take over from his parents. He built his herd for 3
years and was barely making it, and then this drought hit and he had
nothing to feed his cattle. If you don't have anything to feed your
cattle, those cows are going to market. His cows are gone. He is out of
business.
Shown in this picture is a man from my State who was a rancher. His
name is Frank Barnick. He is shown walking on a creekbed. It does not
look like that. It looks like, again, a moonscape. That is a creekbed
that would hold water for his cattle, but it is dry. Frank said this is
the worst drought he has ever seen.
These people, Frank and his neighbors and friends, are not asking a
lot from this country. They are asking if this country cares whether
family farmers are able to live on the land and continue farming. They
hope that the answer is yes and that this country understands farmers
contribute something very important. Family farmers contribute
something very important to this country. A fellow who I thought was a
wonderful author, used to write in a book about the nurturing of family
values in America. He always described that family values in America
came from family farms, the seedbed of family values, and they rolled
to small towns and big cities, nurturing the value system and culture
along the way.
We have attempted time and time again to get some disaster aid for
people who need help. We asked the President, in the middle of the
drought this year, to come out and do a drought tour. He was not able
to do that. I went back and recalled that President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt came out for a drought tour. We don't have a lot of
Presidents stop through North Dakota. When they do, we are enormously
honored to have them join us and be a part of North Dakota.
I wanted to read you a couple of things that President Roosevelt
said. He stopped in Huron, SD, exactly 70 years ago. Then he stopped in
North Dakota--both on a drought tour, both on a train--and spoke to
people. Here is what he said to our neighbors to the south in Huron,
SD, on a drought inspection trip. He said:
No city in an agricultural country can exist unless the
farms are prosperous.
I understand our economy has grown in ways that make this less than
an agricultural country, but it certainly has not been the case with
respect to agricultural States, where a predominant part of our
economic base is still agriculture and family farming.
Here is what else the President said in Huron, SD, 70 years ago,
understanding that family farmers were having great trouble during that
drought:
I have come out here to find you with your chins up,
looking toward the future with confidence and courage. I am
grateful to you for the attitude you are taking.
That is the only way you could ever farm. There isn't anybody who
would decide to be a farmer if they didn't look forward to the future
with hope. They plant a seed and hope. They hope what they planted will
produce a crop. It is the only way farmers can exist.
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt went to North Dakota 70 years ago on a
drought tour, here is what he said:
But, when you come to this water problem through here, you
are up against two things. In the first place, you are up
against the forces of nature and, secondly, you are up
against the fact that man, in his present stage of
development, cannot definitely control those forces.
He continued:
Today, out here, I do not ask you to have courage and
faith. You have it. You have demonstrated that through a good
many years. I am asking, however, that you keep up that
courage and, especially, keep up the faith.
If it is possible for Government to improve conditions in
this State, Government will do it.
We hope that Nature is going to open the Heavens. When I
came out on the platform this morning and saw a rather dark
cloud, I said to myself, ``Maybe it is going to rain.'' Well,
it didn't. All I can say is, I hope to goodness it is going
to rain, good and plenty.
My friends, I want to tell you that I am glad I came here.
I want to tell you I am not going to let up until I can give
my best service to solving the problems of North Dakota.
Again, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 70 years ago to family farmers: If
it is possible for Government to improve conditions, we will do that.
He said to the farmers: You are not alone. We want to help.
Let's say that again today, let the Congress say that to our farmers:
You matter. You make a difference to this country's future. Your
contribution to our culture and our economy is important. This Congress
has not forgotten that. We will remember it today by investing in the
future and saying to family farmers: We want you to be able to continue
to farm. We don't want you wandering, as you go into spring planting,
whether you are going to have the ability to remain on the farm with
your family, producing food for a hungry world.
We want to pass a disaster aid package, one that puts this Congress
in the same position that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in 70 years
ago, saying, if it is within the capability of this Government to help,
we intend to help.
Again, let me compliment my colleague, Senator Conrad. I am pleased
to work with him, as I have for many decades. This is an important
amendment to offer now. While this is not the optimum place to offer
this amendment, as this appropriations bill deals with different
appropriations, we have not had the opportunity to do anything but this
because we have not been given the opportunity to move this legislation
separately. We offer it hoping for good will and for the support of
others.
This is not partisan. It is bipartisan. Republicans and Democrats
from farm country understand the importance and the value of doing this
kind of legislation that says to family farmers: You matter to this
country.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Minnesota.
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I join in thanking my colleague from
North Dakota for giving me the opportunity to speak about the trials of
Minnesota farmers. I join in this bipartisan plea to deal with an issue
that is of great importance to many Minnesota farm families.
While my colleagues from North Dakota speak from the other side of
the aisle, our call for assistance for our farmers is made with one
voice. I particularly thank Senator Conrad for his leadership on this
issue. After last week's election, there was a lot of discussion about
how the parties can, and should, work together, how we should find
common ground on behalf of the American people. Here is one of our
first opportunities to display bipartisanship. Supporters of this
disaster assistance package hail from all over the country and from
both parties. This amendment is just the sort of bipartisan cooperation
that this body should embrace to meet the Nation's needs.
The need for agricultural disaster assistance is great. Minnesota
farmers have had to fend for themselves in the face of real natural
disaster; first, against record flooding in 2005 and now record drought
in 2006. In the sugar sector alone, revenue was reduced by $60 million
in Minnesota in 2005, thanks to this natural disaster. In one county,
crop loss exceeded $52 million and farmers were prevented from planting
over 60,000 acres, thanks to saturated fields. Now with one of the
worst droughts ever experienced in the Great Plains, Minnesota farmers
have experienced hundreds of millions of dollars of crop loss in 2006.
The pictures that we saw of North Dakota show the same reality that is
faced in Minnesota.
It isn't just about statistics. It is about farmers enduring personal
struggles. This summer, in Lake Bronson, MN, about 100 farmers showed
up, out of a town of 180, to talk about the impact on their lives and
families. It is about the farmers calling my office, desperate to save
the family farm. I have received letters from scores of Minnesota
farmers talking about the impact on their lives, on their families,
families that go back through generations of farming today could come
to
[[Page 21954]]
an end because we haven't done something that needs to be done. The
producers who will not be coming back to the fields next year as a
result of catastrophic weather aren't just losing a family business,
many are losing a family tradition.
In June, I came this floor appalled that the Senate would pass an
emergency supplemental appropriations bill that offers a helping hand
to some Americans and a cold shoulder to others. Since then, the only
thing that has changed is that the burden of natural disaster has grown
heavier on American farmers with the addition of last summer's record
drought.
It isn't that this Congress has refused to pass agricultural disaster
assistance. In fact, we provided $1.6 billion in emergency agricultural
assistance. Of course, none of my farmers will benefit from this
assistance unless they happen to own a farm in one of the Gulf States.
Congress still hasn't provided a dime for farmers suffering from
natural disasters outside of the gulf region. It would shock many
Americans to learn that natural devastation must come in the right
package to be worthy of Federal aid. The message being sent is that
record flooding and droughts don't count, only hurricanes.
I traveled to the gulf to see the hurricane damage firsthand in order
to more fully understand what my fellow Americans who live far from my
home in Minnesota are suffering. I have wholeheartedly supported their
cause in Congress. At its core, this is an issue about equity and
fairness for all regions that are suffering. And to the thousands of
Minnesotans whose very livelihoods have been jeopardized and those
losing farms due to last year's disastrous weather, withholding
assistance is nothing short of cruel.
Some folks in Washington have cited the overall success of
agriculture in 2006, the aggregate numbers, as a justification for
withholding assistance. Congress didn't look at the overall economy
when determining what sort of assistance to send to the gulf after the
hurricanes. We didn't cite the Nation's robust GDP growth and lower
unemployment rate as reasons not to assist gulf communities whose local
economies were devastated by natural disaster, nor should we propose
such a false standard for comprehensive agricultural disaster
assistance.
Let us seize the opportunity for this body to show Americans that we
understand and reflect the character and the heart and soul of America,
a big heart that understands that Americans are there with a helping
hand for all those deserving of assistance in times of extraordinary
need. Let us show America that the Senate will work in a bipartisan
spirit to meet their needs.
I urge my colleagues to support passage of this critical amendment.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. DeMint). The Senator from Maine.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the pending
amendment be set aside so that I may call up amendment No. 5123.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? The Senator from North
Dakota.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I would reserve the right to object. This
presents us with somewhat of an awkward situation because I have
withheld offering my amendment. The only amendment pending is the
amendment of the Senator from Hawaii, Mr. Akaka. But we have been on my
amendment. We withheld actually offering it. I would ask my colleague
if she would at least allow us to call up my amendment--Senator Akaka
was waiting to speak on the amendment--and then be able to lay that
amendment aside?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further objection? The Senator from
New Hampshire.
Mr. GREGG. Reserving the right to object, I also wish to speak to the
amendment that is about to be called up by the Senator from North
Dakota. In order to maintain continuity, I would hope that I could
speak after the Senator from Hawaii, if that is going to be the
speaking order. If we are going to go to the Senator from Maine as an
intermediary event, that is fine, too. If we are going to continue on
this amendment, I would like to participate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Reserving the right to object, I had told the Senator
from North Dakota that he could offer the amendment, and then I asked
that he set it aside so that Senator Collins could offer her amendment,
after which we would have a voice vote, but his amendment would still
be in order. I did not know that Senator Akaka was going to speak on
it. I ask the Senator from Maine if it would be acceptable to allow the
Senator from Hawaii 10 minutes, the Senator from New Hampshire 10
minutes, if that is acceptable, and then the amendment would be set
aside and Senator Collins and Senator Feingold would be recognized for
their amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, that is certainly fine with me. I was
trying to follow the direction I got from the chairman and the floor
manager when we talked a few minutes ago. But if she wants to pursue
this and proceed as she has suggested, I have no objection, and I
withdraw my unanimous consent request.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the Senator from Hawaii seek recognition?
The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, might I now call up my amendment?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senator may offer his
amendment.
The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from North Dakota [Mr. Conrad], for himself,
Mr. Coleman, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Hagel,
Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Baucus, Mr.
Reid, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Leahy, Mr.
Harkin, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Burns, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Roberts,
Mr. Dayton, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Akaka, proposes amendment
numbered 5144.
Mr. CONRAD. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of
Amendments.'')
Mr. CONRAD. I thank the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
be Senator Akaka for 10 minutes, Senator Gregg for 10 minutes, after
which the amendment would be set aside and Senator Collins would be
recognized for the Collins-Feingold amendment.
Mr. CONRAD. Reserving the right to object, I would like to be
included in that order so that I may be able to respond to whatever the
Senator from New Hampshire might say.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, after Senator Gregg, I amend my
request to include up to 5 minutes for Senator Conrad, after which
Senator Collins would be recognized.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is
so ordered.
The Senator from Hawaii is recognized.
Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I thank my colleague very much for the
opportunity to speak at this time. I rise today in support of Senator
Kent Conrad's amendment. I thank Senator Conrad for his leadership and
agreeing to include a provision on behalf of the senior Senator from
Hawaii, Dan Inouye, and myself to H.R. 5385, the Fiscal Year 2007
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act.
Mr. President, I was in Hawaii on October 15, 2006, when we felt a
violent tremor, an earthquake measuring 6.7 in magnitude that rocked
the Hawaiian Islands, and it set off a series of aftershocks for days
afterward.
The earthquake loosened rocks, dirt, and building foundations, and
subsequent heavy rains have continued to undermine the structural
integrity of public utilities, buildings, roads, and related
infrastructure. In recognition of these damages, President Bush on
October 17, 2006, declared the State as a major disaster area. While
this declaration enabled some relief from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency,
[[Page 21955]]
FEMA, a significant amount of damage remains unaddressed.
The farming community was hit particularly hard by the earthquake.
The water intakes for the Lower and Upper Hamakua Ditches and the
Kohala Ditch on the Big Island were buried by landslides. The
earthquake and the many aftershocks also caused the collapse of earthen
tunnels and wooden flumes and cracks in dams. These irrigation systems
provide the sole source of water for most farmers and other members of
rural communities in the region. The Big Island also suffered a
collapsed lane on the Hawaii Belt Road on the Hamakua Coast, north of
Hilo town.
The provision would add $21 million to address the agriculture
damages caused by the October 15th earthquake:
$12 million to the Natural Resources Conservation Service,
NRCS, Emergency Watershed Protection Program for the repair
of the Lower Hamakua Ditch and the Waimea Irrigation System/
Upper Hamakua Ditch--which were heavily damaged by the
earthquake, and are negatively impacting the farming
community on the Big Island; $3 million to the Big Island
Resource Conservation and Development Council to repair of
the Kohala Ditch system that was also severely damaged by the
earthquake; $6 million to the Farm Service Agency, FSA, for
its Emergency Conservation Program to repair broken
irrigation pipelines and damaged and collapsed water tanks.
Of this amount, $2 million will go towards repairing the
damages to stone fences on cattle ranches in the Kona and
Kohala areas, and another $2 million is needed under the
Emergency Loan Program to cover losses of agricultural
income.
Mr. President, last week I met with Big Island farmers and ranchers
whose livelihoods have been dramatically impacted by the October
earthquake. They need water for their farms or they risk losing cattle
and crops. The damage done to Hawaii's irrigation systems is too severe
to be repaired by the State alone. I promised that I would not abandon
these hard-working individuals.
I ask my colleagues to support Senator Conrad's amendment, which
would also help Hawaii's farmers and ranchers recover from last month's
earthquake.
Senator Inouye and I urge our colleagues and ask them for their
support. Thank you very much. I yield back the remainder of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire is recognized.
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, it is my understanding that I have 10
minutes under the order.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, there are some things so ironic around here
that you just have to smile. We are just coming off this election--and
I congratulate my colleagues on the other side for their success with a
significant and dramatic win. But if we listen to the rhetoric from
them, and certainly from the pundits who analyzed the election, it was
obviously about the war in Iraq, but it was also about fiscal
discipline.
I don't know how many times I have read from national pundits, from
the Washington Post and the New York Times, how the Democratic Party is
now the party of fiscal discipline. Yet the first amendment brought to
the floor of this Senate--the first amendment--increases the national
debt by $4.9 billion. It exceeds the budget by $4.9 billion and claims
it is an emergency, on an issue which has already been addressed by
this Senate, I think, two, maybe three times, and rejected.
Well, maybe the folks out there who voted and thought they were
voting for fiscal discipline when they voted to bring in the other
party should take a look at this amendment and ask: Where did this come
from? Is this a bill of goods I just got sold?
The first amendment brought up by the other side of the aisle after
they win this significant, important, dramatic victory is to ask for
$4.9 billion above the budget, throw it on the debt, increase spending.
It is, as I said, ironic. It makes you wonder. I wonder where we are
headed under this new regime. There is something called a regular
appropriations process. In fact, it is very likely that we will get to
an agriculture bill, an appropriations bill before we adjourn this
session, euphemistically referred to as a lameduck session. When that
bill comes up, if it is the belief, contention, and argument of those
in the farm communities who have been affected by what they feel is a
bad crop-year--if they believe they need additional funds, that bill
will have the opportunity to shift funds around, move funds to those
accounts that are needed, and which need additional funding, within the
context of the budget, within the limitations of the budget. That is
called regular order. But this is not regular order. This is a daytime
robbery of the Treasury, a heist, in open daylight, and I give them
credit for that.
There is nothing secretive about this. This is just saying we have
the votes, so we are going to come to the floor and spend $4.9 billion
and add it to the Federal debt and call it an emergency. It is going to
stuff the budget. It is not good policy. It is not good fiscal policy.
It clearly, in my humble opinion--I may have misread the election. I
wasn't up for reelection, but I have certainly read a lot about it, and
I participated on the stump enough.
I think it sells the people of this country who voted in the election
a bill of goods they didn't think they were buying--in fact, just the
opposite. I understand there are some folks on my side of the aisle who
also feel compelled to vote for this amendment. I regret that, too,
obviously. I hope they will reconsider. In any event, it is an
amendment that violates the budget. It is, therefore, subject to a 60-
vote point of order. We have 60-vote points of order here in order to
try to maintain some semblance of fiscal discipline. This will be our
first exercise in trying to maintain that semblance of fiscal
discipline in what you might call the new congressional year. It will
be a good test for us as a Senate for my colleagues on the other side
who are about to become the majority party, and for us on this side,
who will become the honorable minority. It will be a good test for us
to see if we have the courage to actually initiate fiscal discipline in
this new Congress. The opportunity is there. All we need is 41 votes.
Mr. President, 59 people can vote for their constituencies, vote to
raise spending, raise the debt, vote to increase spending outside the
budget. It will be a good test to see whether there are 41 people here
who took the message away from the election that the pundits have told
us is the message, that the national Democratic Party told us is the
message, and that some of our own folks on our side told us is the
message, which is that they expect the Congress to start living within
its budgets. It will be a good test of whether at least the working
minority heard that message.
At this point, I will make a point of order.
Mr. President, pursuant to the fiscal year 2006 budget resolution, I
raise a point of order against the emergency designation in the pending
amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I have listened to my colleague with great
interest. He is the chairman of the Budget Committee, someone with whom
I work closely and have respect for and affection for. But he has
talked about this violating the budget. There is no budget. No budget
has been passed. My colleagues have been in control, and we have not
passed a budget. Let's be square about this. There is no budget.
No. 2, this is not the new Congress; this is a continuation of the
old Congress. The old Congress didn't get the job done. Let's be
straight about that.
No. 3, the Senator said this has been defeated in the past in the
Senate. Wrong. This has passed the Senate. This passed the Senate with
77 votes. It wasn't defeated; it was passed with 77 votes on a
bipartisan basis. The package that passed was more generous than this
package because the White House raised objection to that package. The
White House said it was too much money. The White House said they did
not want the direct payments as an offset to the skyrocketing energy
prices, so we took those provisions out and saved $1.8 billion. That is
the package
[[Page 21956]]
that is before this body. It is the package that has passed. In fact,
in the appropriations process, it passed several times. In fact, it is
waiting in the Agriculture appropriations bill right now.
Unfortunately, that bill, we are told, is not going to be considered.
So the only opportunity we have to address the emergency disaster
concerns of people all across this country is with this amendment, make
no mistake. This amendment is fully bipartisan. We now have 20
cosponsors.
This is an emergency. So pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res. 95,
the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006, I move to
waive section 402 of that concurrent resolution for purposes of the
pending amendment, and I ask for the yeas and nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, I must respond briefly to the Senator from
North Dakota, whom I also greatly admire and with whom I have enjoyed
working. He has always been a responsible and effective Member of this
Senate, to say the least.
Let me make the point; he said there is no budget. There is no grand
budget, that is true, but there is a budget. That is why he had to
waive the Budget Act in order to get to this point. It is a function of
the fact that we put in place, as those who follow the arcane nature of
this institution know, a set of 302 allocations which are guiding how
much money can be spent in the Senate, and that is essentially the
budget. It is a pretty aggressive mechanism to put in place.
Innumerable budget points of order have been brought under that, some
sustained, some not sustained.
As to this amendment, this amendment did fail. It failed on an issue
of germaneness. So there is a history here. But more importantly, the
essence of the problem of this amendment is it busts the budget. It
adds $4.9 billion to the debt. And I would argue that maybe the Senator
from North Dakota doesn't feel he is in the new structure, but I
believe most people think, in this post-election environment, where the
election was so dramatic, that Congress shouldn't be functioning under
the old rules of just breaking the budget; we should be living under
the discipline, and we are not. That is my point.
If the American people's intent--and I think it was--was to send a
message to us as the keepers of their pocketbooks, we are, in my
opinion, not living up to that request when the first amendment brought
to the floor of the Senate after this election is an amendment to
increase spending by $4.9 billion above the budget and add that money
to the debt. It is not good policy.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, this doesn't bust the budget. No, no, no.
We have always handled natural disasters in this way, with an emergency
designation. That is the rule, that is the precedent, that is what we
have done before, and that is what we should do now. This is not
breaking the budget. That is just not the case. The Senator knows it is
not the case.
This is a circumstance, as we have dealt with every natural disaster
in the past: We make a determination whether an emergency exists.
Clearly it does. We have been struck by the third worst drought in our
Nation's history. This provision passed this body with 77 votes.
The people who are out there expect the Congress, expect the Senate
to respond to the needs of the American people. We have a need for
security. We have a need, an absolute need, for a return to fiscal
responsibility. We also have a need to deal with natural disasters when
they strike the American family. This is a set of disasters almost
unprecedented in our history. The people who have been hit by them
deserve a response. That is what this amendment seeks to do.
Mr. President, how much time do I have remaining?
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Kyl). The Senator has a minute and a half
remaining.
Mr. CONRAD. Does the Senator from New Hampshire want to continue?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Hampshire.
Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, parliamentary inquiry: It has come to my
attention that this language is not only increasing the appropriations,
it may also have authorizing language in it. Is this amendment subject
to rule XVI?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. This amendment does constitute legislation on
an appropriations bill.
Mr. GREGG. I wish to speak to the other side. I reserve the remainder
of my time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, we recognize the Senator would be within
his rights to make a motion under rule XVI. I say to the Senator, we
hope he will not do that. We hope we will have a chance for a vote on
the Senate floor on this question. I say to my colleagues, if we don't
get a vote now, we are not going to stop until we do get a vote.
I say to my colleague, it is certainly reasonable to bring a
challenge under the Budget Act and to require a supermajority vote, but
I hope very much that the Senator will not use rule XVI on a matter of
this importance to so many people across the country. I implore the
Senator not to invoke rule XVI.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
amendment be laid aside.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the amendment is laid
aside.
The Senator from Maine is recognized.
Amendment No. 5123
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senator Feingold,
I call up amendment No. 5123 and ask for its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Maine [Ms. Collins], for herself, Mr.
Feingold, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Cantwell, Mr.
Coleman, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Sununu, Mr.
Kennedy, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Dorgan, Mr.
Wyden, Mr. Biden, Mr. Levin, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Schumer, Mr.
Warner, Ms. Snowe, Mr. McCain, Mr. Nelson of Florida, and Mr.
Gregg, proposes an amendment numbered 5123.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading
of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To extend the Office of the Inspector General for Iraq until
80 percent of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the
Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund has been expended)
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. Section 3001(o) of the Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act for Defense and for the Reconstruction of
Iraq and Afghanistan, 2004 (Public Law 108-106; 117 Stat.
1238; 5 U.S.C. App., note to section 8G of Public Law 95-
452), as amended by section 1054(b) of the John Warner
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
(Public Law 109-364), is amended to read as follows:
``(o) Termination.--(1)(A) The Office of the Inspector
General shall terminate 10 months after 80 percent of the
funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Iraq
Relief and Reconstruction Fund have been expended.
``(B) For purposes of calculating the termination of the
Office of the Inspector General under this subsection, any
United States funds appropriated or otherwise made available
for fiscal year 2006 for the reconstruction of Iraq,
irrespective of the designation of such funds, shall be
deemed to be amounts appropriated or otherwise made available
to the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund.
``(2) The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction
shall, prior to the termination of the Office of the Special
Inspector
[[Page 21957]]
General under paragraph (1), prepare a final forensic audit
report on all funds deemed to be amounts appropriated or
otherwise made available to the Iraq Relief and
Reconstruction Fund.''.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senators
John McCain, Bill Nelson, and Judd Gregg be added as cosponsors to the
amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, this amendment, which the Senator from
Wisconsin and I have offered, would ensure continuing vigorous,
aggressive oversight of American tax dollars in Iraq by repealing the
premature termination date for the Office of the Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction. This office will be prematurely
terminated by provisions that were recently enacted as part of the
conference report on the Defense authorization bill. Our amendment will
restore the special IG's termination date to its previous schedule of
10 months after 80 percent of the funds for the Iraqi reconstruction
projects have been expended.
The special IG has been very effective, and the important work of
this watchdog must continue as long as American funds are being used
for Iraq reconstruction. We should not terminate this mandate to
prevent waste, fraud, and abuse by some arbitrary and premature date.
In fact, it is inconceivable to me that we would terminate this office
which has played such a vital role in spotlighting waste, fraud, and
abuse and has more than proven its worth.
The Office of the Special Inspector General has saved the American
taxpayers literally millions of dollars. In fact, when one looks at the
combined impact of the audits, the investigations, the cost avoidances,
and other savings, the potential financial impact of this office has
been nearly $2 billion. Yet the office has cost the American taxpayers
only $73 million since it was created. So $2 billion in savings, in
cost avoidances, versus a cost of only $73 million. This means that for
every dollar the special inspector general has spent, there has been a
financial impact of $25--an impressive ratio.
There is no question that the inspector general's office has been
extremely effective. Its work has led to convictions, to indictments,
to the recovery of funds, and to improvement in contracting. It was the
inspector general who told us about cost overruns on contracts--
Halliburton contracts, for example. It was the inspector general who
highlighted shoddy construction of health clinics, of a special police
station. It was the inspector general who made recommendations that
have improved contracting oversight and procedures in Iraq.
We are talking about billions and billions of dollars. It makes
absolutely no sense at all for this office, which has been such an
effective watchdog, to be brought to a premature end.
Some people say: Why can't you just have the regular IG from the
Department of Defense or the Department of State or USAID undertake
this work? I think in many ways the question answers itself. There are
many departments and agencies that are involved in the Iraqi
reconstruction projects. We need to have a special IG who has the
authority to follow the money no matter from what agency or department
it originated. Also, the special IG has proven its worth time and
again. The special IG is in Iraq even as we speak and has had a team on
the ground in harm's way. Also, the DOD IG's office has not had a team
on the ground in Iraq auditing, inspecting, and investigating on an
ongoing basis.
I am very pleased to join with the Senator from Wisconsin who has
been such a leader in this area, who originated the idea of having a
special inspector general in the first place, and I was very pleased to
partner with him in that effort years ago.
Let's correct this mistake right off so that the office doesn't have
to start shutting down its operations in anticipation of the
termination date next October. We can remedy this mistake right now,
and we should do so.
I thank the Chair.
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of amendment
5123 offered by Senators Collins and Feingold. This bipartisan
amendment would extend the life of the Office of the Special Inspector
General for Iraq Reconstruction, SIGIR, and restore the bipartisan
agreement made regarding the termination of the SIGIR in the Senate-
passed fiscal year 2007 Defense authorization bill.
The Collins-Feingold amendment is necessary to undo the damage of a
veiled provision inserted in the fiscal year 2007 Defense authorization
conference report by the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
that terminates the SIGIR by an artificial date that has no basis in
the progress of reconstruction projects.
This amendment will sustain the valuable work of the special IG to
monitor, audit, and inspect funds made available for assistance for
Iraq in both the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund and in other
important accounts, which totals nearly $32 billion.
The amendment will restore the formula for calculating the SIGIR's
termination to 10 months after 80 percent of the funds appropriated for
Iraq reconstruction have been expended. While I strongly support this
amendment, I believe the SIGIR's authority should extend as long as
necessary to ensure that the billions of dollars appropriated for
Iraq's reconstruction be granted adequate oversight.
It is important that the special IG auditors continue their work as
long as taxpayer funds are being spent on reconstruction efforts. Thus
aspects of this amendment--including the 80 percent expended trigger
and the exclusion of future Iraq reconstruction appropriations will
need to be revisited in the coming months. I intend to work with other
Senators to ensure that all future Iraq reconstruction funds are
subject to the continued oversight of the SIGIR.
Wasteful spending and profiteering are especially offensive in
wartime, and our soldiers and the American people deserve more
oversight of how their tax dollars are being spent in Iraq, not less
oversight.
The special inspector general's work to date has been enormously
valuable to the executive branch, to Congress, and to American
taxpayers. The SIGIR has completed more than 55 audit reports, issued
more than 165 recommendations, and seized more than $13 million in
assets. What the SIGIR has uncovered proves the need for the work of
this office to continue.
The SIGIR's investigations have sent American reconstruction
officials to jail on bribery and conspiracy charges, exposed numerous
instances of colossal mismanagement in construction projects, and
uncovered case after case of waste, fraud, and abuse at the taxpayers'
expense. In fewer than 3 years, the special IG's operations have
resulted in savings to the U.S. Government and the taxpayers of more
than $24 million and uncovered considerable wasteful or fraudulent
spending.
The Collins-Feingold amendment will abolish the artificial and
arbitrary termination date inserted by one Member of the other body and
extend the SIGIR's charter with the recognition that the office has
performed crucial work, with much more remaining to be done.
I appreciate the work of Senators Collins and Feingold in offering
this commonsense amendment and urge its adoption by the Senate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wisconsin.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, the Senator from Maine has been a
wonderful leader on this issue. It is always a pleasure to work with
her. I am also pleased to be working with Senator Lieberman and a
number of other distinguished Members on this effort as well. It is
truly the kind of bipartisan work not only the American people have
called for with these elections but the American people deserve, and I
hope it is a sign of things to come.
As Senator Collins noted, this is an important bill. I have worked
hard with a few of my colleagues to create the SIGIR several years ago
and I am very proud of what we have accomplished.
To go back to how this started, this is all the way back to October
2003. We all remember the famous $87 billion
[[Page 21958]]
bill that became famous for other reasons. But included in the bill was
the creation of the original inspector general as a part of the
Coalition Provisional Authority. I was pleased we got it in there, but
I obviously wasn't certain it would work out and that it would be done
well, but in fact that is exactly what happened. Regardless of your
view of the wisdom of the Iraq war, we were able to come together and
say: In any event, the taxpayers' dollars for reconstruction should be
monitored and evaluated; there should be accountability.
Well, thanks to the appointment of Stuart Bowen, who is the inspector
general, that is exactly what has happened. The agency has worked
extremely well. As Senator Collins indicated, they go out into the
field in Iraq in a way that other agencies have not done to do very
effective reports.
Now, these reports are troubling, many of them. They indicate things
aren't working well in a lot of places and a whole lot of money has to
be spent on security rather than on reconstruction. Nonetheless, they
are doing the taxpayers a service. We have run into a problem because
the Iraq war, of course, has been far less successful than people
expected, and this whole situation has continued much longer than was
originally anticipated. So not only did we create it in October 2003, I
had offered an amendment in June 2004 to extend it, and then again in
2005 with the help of Senator Collins and then again this year in 2006.
And unfortunately, after we had agreed to extend it because not all of
the dollars had been expended, a provision was added in the House in
conference that basically cuts this off artificially. It goes against
the whole assumption, which is that this agency should continue to do
its work until 80 percent--10 months after 80 percent of the funds have
been expended. That is the formula. We now estimate that work cannot be
done until approximately the end of 2009, given how long it is going to
take to expend this money. To cut this off prematurely in October of
2007 is to simply undo the good work of this agency.
So I am pleased Senator Collins and I were able to add an amendment
to the recent Defense authorization bill that expanded oversight
authority. We actually expanded its jurisdiction so it could monitor
and audit United States taxpayers' dollars being used for Iraq
reconstruction regardless of the type of account. So that actually
involves another $11 billion in accounts that need to be evaluated and
the taxpayers are going to get what they deserve. This is the problem
with the provision that cuts this off prematurely. This is no time to
terminate the office that has done so much to protect taxpayer dollars
in Iraq. Our work on the Defense authorization bill provided the Senate
with an estimated additional $11 billion in oversight responsibility
and that makes SIGIR's total oversight responsibility approximately $32
billion.
Now, for people listening, what kind of money is $32 billion? I
understand that roughly the entire foreign aid that we give to all of
the countries in the world in one year is only $20 billion. This is $32
billion, just for reconstruction in Iraq. Surely there needs to be
accountability for this, and we need to give this important office the
time to do its work and to make sure the money isn't subject to waste,
fraud, or abuse.
I am delighted we are working together, Senator Collins and I and
others, and I do hope we can simply reverse this unfortunate error in
the House version of the conference report and that we can restore this
office to its full form.
I yield the floor.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I again want to commend the Senator from
Wisconsin for his leadership on this issue. It has been a great
pleasure to work with him. I mentioned we have 24 cosponsors of the
amendment. I did want to acknowledge that Senator Lieberman and Senator
Coleman have played important roles in drafting this bill, and both the
chairman and the ranking minority member of the Senate Armed Services
Committee, Senator Warner and Senator Levin, are cosponsors as well.
Finally, I want to thank the two floor managers, Senator Hutchison
and Senator Feinstein, for working with us on this bill. Senator
Feinstein is also a cosponsor of it, and I very much appreciate Senator
Hutchison assisting us to bring this to the floor. So I say thank you
to my colleagues.
Mr. President, if there is no further debate on the amendment, I ask
that the amendment be brought to a voice vote.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment?
The question is on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 5123) was agreed to.
Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5144
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I have been advised that the other side
may intend to raise rule XVI against my amendment. I would ask them
before they make that judgment, it would be entirely in order for me to
offer my amendment to the Vietnam PNTR legislation. And if we are going
to get treated this way, then I reserve my right to offer the amendment
on the Vietnam PNTR. That will assure that the Vietnam PNTR will not
get done during this week. So if others are going to treat us that way,
they should be prepared for me to play hardball, too.
I have been very patient. I have operated under the regular rules
repeatedly. But if others are going to give us short shrift, if they
are going to tell the farmers and the ranchers who have suffered
disaster that they don't even get a vote, then I am prepared to play
hardball, too.
I thank the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, what is the pending business?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending business is the Conrad amendment.
Mr. SANTORUM. My understanding is that this amendment, as the Senator
from North Dakota just talked about, is an amendment dealing with
agriculture. This is a military construction bill that is before us.
The Senator from North Dakota said we might want to raise a germaneness
question, which is rule XVI, and that would be treating the Senator
from North Dakota and others who support this legislation improperly. I
would make the point that the reason rule XVI is there is to make sure
we don't have amendments that are offered to appropriations bills that
are not germane. I think it is a great stretch to suggest an emergency
supplemental for agriculture is germane to military construction. That
is not treating my colleague any way other than how every other
colleague is treated here on a whole variety of different issues.
There are lots of opportunities we all would love to have to offer
amendments to appropriations bills we don't take because it is not
germane, and we don't do it as a result of that. That is the way in
which the Senate operates under some semblance of order. It doesn't
necessarily operate as seamlessly as we would like, but this is one of
the rules we have kept intact and used because we want to try to keep
to the subject at hand, particularly on the issue of appropriations.
So throw on top of that what I can tell you in my State and in lots
of other States and in lots of other races around the country is the
cry of deficit spending, which was heard loudly and clearly and echoed,
by the way, by both sides of the aisle, of how we were going to have
much more fiscal responsibility, and here we are with the first
amendment with nearly $5 billion in emergency spending on a military
construction bill having nothing to do with military construction. It
may be bipartisan but, as far as I am concerned, that is no excuse.
This is not what I think the message from the electorate was, that we
need to have a whole bunch of new spending nongermane to the matter at
hand.
So while I understand the need--and we have farmers in my State who
have
[[Page 21959]]
suffered through floods earlier this year and I am sure will be
impacted by this, but it is absolutely essential that we take this
issue seriously, and I intend to do that.
So at this point I am going to suspend and ask for a quorum call and
I will be back in a minute. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SANTORUM. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum
call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I understand the Chair has reviewed the
amendment, amendment No. 5144, and I now raise a point of order against
the amendment. But first, before I do that, I understand the Chair is
currently reviewing this amendment, so I am going to suggest the
absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I object.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I thank my colleagues.
Let me be very clear. Senators have a right to invoke rule XVI. But
let's be clear. This is how emergency disasters have been dealt with
year after year after year in this body. What I am seeking to do is to
get a vote. The farmers and ranchers of this country deserve a vote.
Now, they can deny the vote, at least temporarily, but if they think
that is the end of the story, they are wrong. We are going to be back.
And, look: If my colleagues are going to invoke rule XVI on this
measure, when the underlying legislation has passed this body with 77
votes, and by that device prevent a vote, then things are going to get
very tough around here. I know the rules of the Senate. If Members
think they can ramrod things and deny farmers and ranchers in this
country a vote on desperately needed disaster assistance, then this
Senate is going to slow way down. My colleagues can use their rights
and I will use mine. Let there be no doubt about what the result will
be. This place is going to have a hard time functioning if there is not
comity, if there is not fairness, and if people are denied a vote
repeatedly. That is what is occurring.
The precedent is clear in this Senate. Virtually every disaster
package has been legislation on an appropriations bill. Rule XVI was
not invoked because it was recognized that is one of the few ways to
achieve the result.
The Senator has the right to invoke rule XVI. This Senator has a
right to object to unanimous consent agreements, to put the legislation
on Vietnam PNTR, and to move to seek a vote. It is only fair the
farmers and ranchers of this country, who have been devastated, get a
vote. Let the Members vote. That is what the people were saying in this
election. They want a process that is fair and that gets results for
the American people.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent this amendment
be set aside until we have the withdrawal of the previous motion.
Mr. CONRAD. I object.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Martinez). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I note that the majority leader is on the
Senate floor. I am prepared to speak for just about 5 minutes, if that
is acceptable. I thank the majority leader, and I thank the Senator
from North Dakota.
THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania is recognized.
Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair.
(The remarks of Mr. Specter and Mrs. Feinstein pertaining to the
introduction of S. 4051 are printed in today's Record under
``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
Quorum Call
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the
absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll, and the
following Senators entered the Chamber and answered to their names:
[Quorum No. 1 Leg.]
Akaka
Alexander
Allard
Allen
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Brownback
Bunning
Burns
Burr
Byrd
Cantwell
Carper
Chambliss
Clinton
Coburn
Cochran
Coleman
Collins
Conrad
Cornyn
Craig
Crapo
Dayton
DeMint
DeWine
Dodd
Dole
Domenici
Dorgan
Durbin
Ensign
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Frist
Graham
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Harkin
Hatch
Hutchison
Inhofe
Inouye
Isakson
Jeffords
Johnson
Kerry
Kohl
Kyl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Lott
Lugar
Martinez
McCain
McConnell
Menendez
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murray
Nelson, Florida
Nelson, Nebraska
Obama
Pryor
Reed, Rhode Island
Reid, Nevada
Roberts
Rockefeller
Salazar
Santorum
Sarbanes
Schumer
Sessions
Shelby
Smith
Snowe
Specter
Stabenow
Stevens
Sununu
Talent
Thune
Vitter
Voinovich
Warner
Wyden
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Isakson). A quorum is not present.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I move to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to
request the presence of absent Senators, and I ask for the yeas and
nays.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There is a
sufficient second.
The question is on agreeing to the motion of the Senator from
Tennessee.
The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. McCONNELL. The following Senators are necessarily absent: the
Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. Chafee) and the Senator from Wyoming
(Mr. Thomas).
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Biden) and
the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy) are necessarily absent.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Chambliss). Are there any other Senators
in the Chamber desiring to vote?
The result was announced--yeas 95, nays 1, as follows:
[Rollcall Vote No. 264 Leg.]
YEAS--95
Akaka
Alexander
Allard
Baucus
Bayh
Bennett
Bingaman
Bond
Boxer
Brownback
Bunning
Burns
Burr
Byrd
Cantwell
Carper
Chambliss
Clinton
Coburn
Cochran
Coleman
Collins
Conrad
Cornyn
Craig
Crapo
Dayton
DeMint
DeWine
Dodd
Dole
Domenici
Dorgan
Durbin
Ensign
Enzi
Feingold
Feinstein
Frist
Graham
Grassley
Gregg
Hagel
Harkin
Hatch
Hutchison
Inhofe
Inouye
Isakson
Jeffords
Johnson
Kerry
Kohl
Kyl
Landrieu
Lautenberg
Leahy
Levin
Lieberman
Lincoln
Lott
Lugar
Martinez
McCain
McConnell
Menendez
Mikulski
Murkowski
Murray
Nelson (FL)
Nelson (NE)
Obama
Pryor
Reed
Reid
Roberts
Rockefeller
Salazar
Santorum
Sarbanes
Schumer
Sessions
Shelby
Smith
Snowe
Specter
Stabenow
Stevens
Sununu
Talent
Thune
Vitter
Voinovich
Warner
Wyden
NAYS--1
Allen
[[Page 21960]]
NOT VOTING--4
Biden
Chafee
Kennedy
Thomas
The motion was agreed to.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mr. BOND. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts is recognized.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that amendment No.
5142 to the Military Construction-Veteran Affairs bill be called up.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Kerry], for himself,
Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Akaka, Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Jeffords,
proposes an amendment numbered 5142.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To make available $18,000,000 for the provision of additional
mental health services through Vet Centers to veterans who served in
combat in Iraq or Afghanistan)
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following:
Sec. 229. Of the amount appropriated by this title, up to
$18,000,000 may be available for necessary expenses,
including salaries and expenses, for the provision of
additional mental health services through centers for
readjustment counseling and related mental health services
for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States
Code (commonly referred to as ``Vet Centers''), to veterans
who served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I will be very brief. I thank the managers
of the bill for accepting this amendment. I do this as Senator
Kennedy's cosponsor, along with Senators Akaka, Boxer, and Jeffords.
What we have found is that all of the vet centers around the country
are enormously overburdened in trying to be able to take care of
returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, particularly those with PTSD
mental health issues. The staffing, unfortunately, is not up to what it
needs to be. Demand has doubled. So we have an obligation, which I
think everybody accepts, to try to make certain we do what is necessary
for those who have served as they return.
This amendment would add money that is offset; it comes out of the
fund within the bill itself. I am grateful to both Senators Feinstein
and Hutchison for their willingness to accept it. This will provide
quality care in our vet centers. We had a study in the Veterans'
Affairs Committee in the House which found that the number of returning
veterans requesting services has doubled.
One in four vet centers that have been surveyed around the country
have been forced to actually limit services or establish waiting lists
for critically needed services. So I think this will help us meet a
need, and I am grateful for my colleagues being willing to accept it.
It is our obligation to do everything possible to ensure that
veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan can make the transition
home successfully.
``Welcome home'' must be more than something we say to our veterans.
It must be measured in actions taken, not just words spoken.
Today, I am offering an amendment to increase funding for the VA vet
centers to provide critically needed services to our returning
veterans.
The VA vet centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach
services to all veterans who served in any combat zone. Our veterans
earned these benefits through their service to country, and we must
fulfill Nation's commitment to them by providing the highest quality
services possible. Unfortunately, a recent report reveals that VA vet
centers need additional funding in order to provide the trained
professionals necessary to offer quality mental health services.
The vet center program was established to assist Vietnam-era veterans
who were experiencing readjustment problems. In 1991, Congress extended
the eligibility to veterans who served during other periods of armed
hostilities after the Vietnam era. The goal of the centers is to
provide a broad range of counseling, outreach and referral services to
help veterans successfully readjust to civilian life. Services include
individual counseling, group counseling, marital and family counseling,
bereavement counseling, medical referrals, assistance in applying for
VA benefits, and employment counseling.
A recent report by the House Veterans Affairs Committee Democratic
staff found that in 9 months, between October 2005 and June 2006, the
number of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who turned to
vet centers for post traumatic stress disorder services doubled.
The increased demand for services is beginning to affect access to
quality care. In fact, one in four vet centers surveyed has been forced
to limit services or establish waiting lists for critically needed
services. After serving this Nation and fighting for our country, our
veterans should not have to fight for critical adjustment services.
In November of 2004, VA Secretary Nicholson approved a mental health
strategic plan, acknowledging gaps in mental health services due to the
surge in demand from veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Congress provided approximately $100 million to fund the VA mental
health strategic plan. However, a recent GAO report shows that the VA
has diverted or failed to utilize money that was intended for staffing
at vet centers and has not provided a full accounting of what has
happened to the funding. The GAO is expected to issue a full report on
these funding gaps later this year, but the preliminary results
indicate a possible misuse of mental health dollars.
One-third of the veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan come
to the VA with mental health concerns. We have seen the cases of PTSD
rise sharply along with the need for readjustment care when veterans
return home. It is imperative that our vet centers have enough trained
professionals to offer quality mental health services. There are 207
vet centers across the country. They are currently unable to deal with
the increasing demand for mental health services. Each of these centers
needs additional funding to hire sufficient staff to deal with the
recent influx of patients. y
John Rowan, National President of Vietnam Veterans of America,
recently said, ``The resources are not there in the VA Vet Centers.''
Mr. Rowan went on to say that ``Not only is the mental health and well-
being of veterans being placed at risk, the Vet Centers themselves are
at risk. Because of significantly increased work loads, some centers
have introduced waiting lists. Accommodating the ever-increasing demand
for readjustment counseling is taking a heavy toll on already
overworked staff.'' We need to do more to help our veterans.
My amendment would provide $18 million to hire additional mental
health staff at VA vet centers. This amount was recommended by the
Vietnam Veterans of America to allow the VA to hire the appropriate
staff needed to deal with the influx of veterans who need help. The
Vietnam Veterans of America and the National Military Family
Association support my amendment.
Our soldiers have sacrificed greatly for their country, and we owe
them the best care when they return. Many wounds of war are not
visible, which makes it that much more important that vet centers have
all the resources they need to serve those veterans who are suffering
in any way. I ask all my
[[Page 21961]]
colleagues to support this amendment to provide appropriate funding to
staff our vet centers.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, last Saturday, all across the country, we
honored our Nation's veterans, and we renewed our commitment to care
for them, in the way Abraham Lincoln advised us in his Second Inaugural
Address: ``to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall
have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.''
From the very beginning of America, brave men and women have
sacrificed their lives or suffered wounds while serving our country. We
owe each of them a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay, and
we must honor them and support them whenever we can.
In doing so, we must take great care to remember that not all wounds
are visible and that, when we call upon our best and brightest, we
often send their precious minds, as well as their bodies, into harm's
way. The continuing current missions in Iraq and Afghanistan have been
especially demanding of, and damaging to, our troops.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical
Association and conducted by a medical research team at the Walter Reed
Army Institute of Research surveyed soldiers and Marines returning from
Iraq, Afghanistan, and other locations yielded disturbing results.
According to the survey, post-traumatic stress disorder, major
depression, substance abuse, or other mental health disorders may
afflict nearly 1 in 5 service members returning from Iraq and more than
1 in ten returning from Afghanistan.
The Veterans Health Administration estimates that a large percentage
of the veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan who have sought VA care have
exhibited symptoms of one or more mental disorders and have sought
treatment from veterans centers. Last month, the Washington Post
reported that, as of the end of June, the VA treated a third of the
more than 184,000 veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq for these symptoms.
Nearly half of those treated were diagnosed as possible victims of
post-traumatic stress disorder.
According to the Post, the VA's estimate represents a tenfold
increase in the number of cases treated in only 18 months, and the
number is likely to increase as our forces continue to serve multiple
tours of duty in hostile areas. The number may be further increased by
ongoing medical outreach programs conducted by the military to increase
service members' awareness of the indications and implications of the
types of psychological trauma associated with combat deployments.
As their awareness grows, many more veterans will likely seek mental
health treatment, and veterans groups are deeply concerned that the VA
is already straining to meet the increased demand. All too frequently
we read reports of reduced services, staff shortages, and long waits
for minimal or intermittent care.
In August, the Washington Post reported the example of a veteran of
Iraq who receives only 30 minutes of treatment a month for post-
traumatic stress disorder. In October, the Post reported that another
veteran of Iraq was told he would have to wait 2\1/2\ months for an
appointment at a VA facility to treat his sleep disorder.
We need to be sure that our veterans receive the care they deserve,
and that the VA has the capacity to provide adequately specialized
services to every veteran who needs counseling or treatment. We can't
allow the heavy demands of our commitments overseas to impair the
quality of assistance that our veterans actually receive. The more we
ask of our brave men and women, the more we must provide them in
return.
The Kerry amendment will help the Veterans' Administration to better
address the surge in mental health needs of our veterans and help to
provide a higher standard of medical care to them in a more productive
and efficient manner. I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
Our veterans need and deserve this support. We owe them nothing less
in light of the intense dangers and stresses they have faced and
endured so courageously.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is recognized.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I am looking for the chairman on this
bill. I know she has no objections. I request a voice vote on the
amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
The question is on agreeing to the amendment of the Senator from
Massachusetts.
The amendment (No. 5142) was agreed to.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, unfortunately, the Republican leader just
left the floor. We were about to be in a position to resolve this
matter. I ask the leader's staff to ask the leader to return to the
floor so we can resolve this.
Maybe for the interest of my colleagues, I will try to reflect on
where we are. I had offered an amendment for disaster aid for farmers
and ranchers. The chairman of the Budget Committee, within his rights,
raised a budget point of order against my amendment. It was then
suggested that rule XVI would be raised as well. We have had, over the
last several hours, a series of discussions to find a way to resolve
this matter. At this hour, it appears the best way to resolve it is to
have a commitment that we would go to the Agriculture Appropriations
bill tomorrow and try to do that in a tight timeframe of limited
amendments, and that I would have a chance to offer the amendment at
that time and other Senators' rights would be reserved, and that I
would withdraw my amendment from this bill with the understanding that
we would go to the Agriculture Appropriations bill tomorrow. That is
what we had tentatively agreed to. I think we just have to have the
leader indicate publicly that that is his understanding as well. Then
we can break the gridlock here and proceed to finish Military
Construction.
While we are waiting, I might indicate how much I appreciate the
patience of the chairman and the ranking member of the Military
Construction bill and their very constructive efforts to try to find a
way out of this. I for one deeply appreciate it. I also very much
appreciate the work of both the majority leader, Senator Frist, who has
made his best efforts to try to resolve this matter, and our own
leader, Senator Reid, for his assistance as well. Certainly a special
thanks goes to Senator Bennett and ranking member Senator Kohl for
their constructive efforts and their agreement to go to their bill
tomorrow. I also thank Senator Dorgan, my colleague, for his efforts to
try to move this matter along.
With that, I yield the floor and hope that we have a chance to hear
from the majority leader, so we can start the process to unwind this
and reach a conclusion.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico is recognized.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, while the Senator who was talking is
still on the floor, let me say if a unanimous consent request is
propounded that is consistent with what he has said, I would have to
object. I want to make sure everybody knows this.
We have a bill, Energy and Water, authored by this Senator and
Senator Reid, soon to be majority leader. It is our bill, Energy and
Water. We want to make sure that during these operative days we are
going to get some work done and that this bill gets in line to be taken
up. We are not asking for any special privileges, but if you are going
to propound it the way you have, then I am going to ask that House bill
5427, which is Energy and Water, be put in order behind the Agriculture
bill, to be taken up after it. Otherwise, I would object, until we sit
down and talk and make sure that H.R. 5427 gets some position in the
Senate before we are gone
[[Page 21962]]
and find no way to take it up. Those in leadership know I have been
talking to the leaders and others. So I am not bringing anything up
that is brand new. In these times, you don't know what is going to come
up. This is the best way to bring it up and nobody can say you didn't
bring it up. I am bringing it up to whoever is supposed to have things
brought up to them. I hope that is enough. The distinguished leader is
here. I wanted to put that in the Record so nobody had a
misunderstanding.
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I notice the majority leader has returned
to the floor. I tried to recount for our colleagues the status of our
discussion, and the understanding that we had reached, that I would
withdraw my amendment from this bill with the understanding that we
would go to the Agriculture Appropriations bill tomorrow and have a
chance to offer it there. All Senators' rights would be reserved. That
is the status of it. I just ask if that is the majority leader's
understanding. If it is, I will then be willing to withdraw my
amendment from the Military Construction bill and we can conclude that.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in the last hour or so we have had numerous
discussions on the floor, as our colleagues have observed, and many
participated in the discussion. My understanding and the general
agreement that we have is to go to the Agriculture Appropriations bill
tomorrow. That does facilitate the progress we need to make on the
current bill that is on the floor, which I hope and expect to be able
to finish tonight. If that is the case, we plan on going to the
Agriculture bill tomorrow. All rights will be reserved for all
Senators, of course. We don't have an agreement, but that is the
intention. The disaster ag relief bill is very important and has been
talked about by Republicans and Democrats and we expect to debate it
tomorrow. It is a more appropriate place for this amendment. So I think
this is a good understanding.
Other bills, such as Energy and Water, we want to come to very soon.
We have a number of appropriation bills--10 of them--out there. I have
not talked to the Democratic leader specifically about the Energy and
Water bill. I am not sure if the chairman has, but it is a bill that I
hope we will be able to go to quickly, as well.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, might I say to the distinguished leader,
if it is being asked of the Senate that we concur by unanimous consent
that the arrangement to bring up Agriculture in the method and manner
described, if that is going to be a UC, then I have to object because I
want to be treated fairly on a comparable bill.
If nothing else other than a simple sentence is added that says when
the Agriculture bill is completed that the next bill to be taken up
would be H.R. 5427, the Energy and Water appropriations bill, if that
is part of the UC, I have no objection.
Mr. FRIST. I don't think there is a formal UC on the floor, but I
have to object to that only because as leader, I am going to have every
chairman coming out putting bills in order. I want to be able to keep
that flexibility a bit, just as we have today, because if we don't
reach some sort of agreement working together, we are not going to
finish even the first MILCON bill on the floor of the Senate.
What I can say is what I intend to do tomorrow--again without any UC;
I guess we can write up something--is complete this bill that is on the
floor tonight and then tomorrow go to the Agriculture bill, finish that
bill, and then very high on the list would be Energy and Water.
What I don't want to do is get in the overall sequencing of bills
when I don't know how long this bill is going to take--hopefully
tonight--or the Agriculture bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New Mexico.
Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, might I inquire--first, I thank the
leader for his words, which appear to be accommodating and perhaps
efficient at this moment. I am not sure, but I want to ask another
question.
Mr. FRIST. I hope so.
Mr. DOMENICI. The leader is aware of an Agriculture amendment that
has rather broad support that we discussed today in the meetings and
other Democrats have discussed with me which has to do with how manure
and the like from cows and pigs is defined under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. I want to
offer that amendment on the Agriculture bill. Nothing is going to
preclude that in what we have talked about, is it?
Mr. FRIST. No, all rights will be preserved for Senators as we go on
the Agriculture bill tomorrow. My understanding is the Senator from
North Dakota will withdraw--in fact, why don't we go ahead and do that.
The pending amendment will be withdrawn, and we will proceed with the
MILCON bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Dakota.
Amendment No. 5144, Withdrawn
Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, I thank the majority leader for being very
constructive. I thank my friend from New Mexico for his zealous
guarding of the rights of his chairmanship of his committee. I
certainly recognize that position.
I think we have made significant progress. We can move to the
Agriculture appropriations bill tomorrow. That is the place this
amendment ought to be. I only offered it on this bill because we had no
prospect of going to the Agriculture appropriations bill any time this
year without this agreement.
I thank the majority leader. I thank very much the chairman of the
Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, the very able Senator from
Utah. I thank the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. Kohl. I very much thank
the chairman of this committee, the Senator from Texas, and the Senator
from California, the ranking member, who have been so constructive
today. And again, special thanks to my colleague Senator Dorgan for his
assistance throughout.
I withdraw my amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment is withdrawn.
The Senator from Texas.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I commend the two Senators from North
Dakota. We have worked well together. I think we have come to the right
accommodation. He has been a gentleman to work with, and I appreciate
it.
I am now going to start clearing amendments with voice votes. They
have been cleared on both sides of the aisle. We have a couple of other
small issues that need to be cleared. I hope by the time I finish, we
can go to final passage.
I ask Senator Brownback to come to the floor to work out his issue
because we are about to go to final passage.
Amendment No. 5122
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5122 offered
by Senator Stevens and ask for its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the pending amendment is
set aside. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Stevens,
proposes an amendment numbered 5122.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To provide that, of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by this title for Family Housing Operation and Maintenance,
Army, $7,500,000 may be available for the lease of not more than 300
additional housing units in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska)
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. (a) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by this title under the heading ``Family Housing
Operation and Maintenance, Army'', $7,500,000 may be
available for the lease of not more than 300 additional
housing units in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Alaska. Such
funds may not be available for the construction or purchase
of such units.
(b)(1) The total cost of a unit leased under subsection
(a), including the cost of utilities, maintenance, and
operation, may not exceed $25,000 per year.
[[Page 21963]]
(2) A lease entered into under subsection (a) may not
exceed 5 years in duration or include an option to extend the
lease beyond the 5-year period beginning on the date the
lease commences.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5122) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that
motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5125
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5125 offered
by Senator Reed.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Reed,
proposes an amendment numbered 5125.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To provide that, of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available for Military Construction, Navy and Marine Corps, $3,410,000
shall be available for the replacement of a vehicle bridge at Naval
Station, Newport, Rhode Island, and to provide an offset)
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. (a) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by this title under the heading ``Military
Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'', $3,410,000 may be
available for the replacement of a vehicle bridge at Naval
Station, Newport, Rhode Island.
(b) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by
this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Navy
and Marine Corps'' and available for the Hazardous Material
Storage Facility at Naval Station, Newport, Rhode Island, is
hereby reduced by $3,410,000.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5125) was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5131, as Modified
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5131 offered
by Senator Thune, and I send a modification to the desk and ask for its
immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Thune,
proposes an amendment numbered 5131, as modified.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To increase by $750,000 the amount appropriated or otherwise
made available for Military Construction, Air Force and available for
the Air Force Financial Management Center, and to provide an offset)
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. (a) The amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by this title under the heading ``Military
Construction, Air Force'' is hereby increased by $750,000.
(b) Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made available
by this title under the heading ``Military Construction, Air
Force'', as increased by subsection (a), $750,000 may be
available for the Air Force Financial Management Center.
(c) The amount appropriated or otherwise made available by
this title under the heading ``North Atlantic Treaty
Organization Security Investment Program'' is hereby reduced
by $750,000.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I urge adoption of the amendment.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I have no objection to amendment No.
5131, as modified.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5131), as modified, was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, beg your pardon, if this is by voice
vote, I suggest we have a voice vote.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Amendment No. 5125 has been already approved; is that
correct?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. There was no objection to the amendment, and
it was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5126
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5126 offered
by Senator Feinstein.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mrs.
Feinstein, proposes an amendment numbered 5126.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To repeal the requirement for the Secretary of the Interior
to cease the plan to exterminate the deer and elk population on Santa
Rosa Island, Channel Islands, California)
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. Subsection (c) of section 1077 of the John Warner
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007
(Public Law 109-364) is hereby repealed.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate? There being no
further debate, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5126) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5127
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5127 offered
by Senator Feinstein.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mrs.
Feinstein, proposes an amendment numbered 5127.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To require a report on actions taken by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to test veterans for vestibular damage)
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following
new section:
Sec. 229. Not later than 60 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate
and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives a report on the actions taken by the
Secretary to test veterans for vestibular damage.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5127) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5129
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5129 offered
by Senator Craig.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Craig,
proposes an amendment numbered 5129.
[[Page 21964]]
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
reading of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To increase to $10,000,000 the threshold for major medical
facility projects of the Department of Veterans Affairs)
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following
new section:
Sec. 229. (a) Increase in Threshold for Major Medical
Facility Projects.--Section 8104(a)(3)(A) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``$7,000,000'' and
inserting ``$10,000,000''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on October 1, 2006, and shall apply with
respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5129) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5135
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5135 offered
by Senator Hutchison. I ask unanimous consent that Senators Craig and
Allard be added as cosponsors.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk
will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for herself, Mr.
Craig, and Mr. Allard, proposes an amendment numbered 5135.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To authorize Department of Veterans Affairs to continue major
medical facility projects and leases which have funds previously
appropriated)
At the appropriate place insert the following:
Sec. 229. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary is authorized to carry out major medical facility
projects and leases for which any funds have been
appropriated under this Act or any other Act. Further, for
major medical facility projects authorized under Public Law
108-170, the Secretary may carry out contracts through
September 30, 2007, including land purchase on projects for
which Phase I design has been authorized.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5135) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5141
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5141.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison] proposes an
amendment numbered 5141.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To amend the amount of a military construction project)
At the appropriate place insert the following:
``Sec. 126. (a) the amount available for `Military
Construction, Air Force' is hereby reduced by $25,400,000 for
`Basic Expeditionary Airmen Training Facility, Lackland AFB,
Texas.'
``(b) The amount available for `Department of Defense Base
Closure Account 2005' is hereby increased by $25,400,000.''
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5141) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5128, as Modified
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5128 offered
by Senator Akaka, and I send a modification to the amendment to the
desk and ask for its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment is pending.
Without objection, the amendment is so modified.
The amendment (No. 5128), as modified, is as follows:
(Purpose: To provide, with an offset, an additional $2,500,000 for the
Department of Veterans Affairs for the Office of Inspector General)
At the end of title II, add the following:
Sec. __. (a) Additional Amount for Office of Inspector
General of Department of Veterans Affairs.--The amount
appropriated by this title under the heading ``Office of
Inspector General'' is hereby increased by $2,500,000.
(b) Offset.--The amount appropriated by this title under
the heading ``Construction, Major Projects'' is hereby
reduced by $2,500,000.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment, as modified.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment, as modified, is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5128), as modified, was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5130, as Modified
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5130 offered
by Senator Thune, and I send a modification to the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Thune,
proposes an amendment numbered 5130, as modified.
The amendment, as modified, is as follows:
(Purpose: To require the business plan of the Veterans Integrated
Service Network 23 for the implementation of a Community Based
Outpatient Clinic in Wagner, South Dakota, to include an evaluation and
an analysis of the prospect of colocating such clinic with the Wagner
Indian Health Service unit in Wagner, South Dakota)
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following:
Sec. 229. (a) Colocation of Community Based Outpatient
Clinic With Wagner Indian Health Service Unit, Wagner, South
Dakota.--No amount appropriated or otherwise made available
for the Department of Veterans Affairs by this title may be
obligated or expended to implement a business plan of
Veterans Integrated Service Network 23 (VISN 23) for the
implementation a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in
Wagner, South Dakota, unless such business plan contains an
evaluation and an analysis of the prospect of colocating such
Community Based Outpatient Clinic with the Wagner Indian
Health Service unit in Wagner, South Dakota.
(b) Availability of Amounts for Emergency Room Services at
Wagner Indian Health Service Unit.--Of the amount
appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of
Veterans Affairs by this title under the heading ``Medical
Facilities'', at the discretion of the Secretary of the
Department of Veterans Affairs up to $500,000 may be
available for emergency room services at the Wagner Indian
Health Service unit pending implementation of a business plan
meeting the requirements in subsection (a).
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5130), as modified, was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5138, as Modified
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5138 offered
by Senator Obama, and I send a modification to the desk.
[[Page 21965]]
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Obama,
proposes an amendment numbered 5138, as modified.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To require a report on the costs of the Comprehensive Service
Programs for homeless veterans)
At the appropriate place in title II, insert the following:
Sec. __. (a) Study on Costs of Comprehensive Service
Programs for Homeless Veterans.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall carry out a study of costs associated with the
Comprehensive Service Programs authorized by sections 2011
and 2012 of title 38 United States Code.
(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs and Appropriations of the
Senate and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and
Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on
the study required by subsection (a). The report shall set
forth the following:
(1) The number of authorized and operational transitional
housing beds and service centers under the programs referred
to in subsection (a) in fiscal year 2006, and the number of
such beds and centers in each State and in each Congressional
District during such fiscal year.
(2) The cost in fiscal year 2006 of grants under section
2011 of title 38, United States Code, to authorized and
operational transitional housing beds and service centers
under the programs referred to in that subsection.
(3) The cost in fiscal year 2006 of per diem payments under
section 2012 of title 38 United States Code, to authorized
and operational transitional housing beds and service centers
under the programs referred to in that subsection.
(5) The number of applications received, scored as
qualified, and awarded pursuant to the Capital Grant Notice
of Funds Availability published on April 20, 2006.
(6) The range of per diem payment rates, the average per
diem payment rate, and the median per diem payment rate paid
to recipients of grants under section 2012 of title 38,
United States Code, in fiscal year 2006.
(7) The number and percentage of total recipients of grants
under section 2011 of title 38 United States Code, in fiscal
year 2006 being paid under section 2012 of title 38, United
States Code, the rate authorized for State homes for
domiciliary care under section 1741(a)(1)(A) of that title
for fiscal year 2006.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5138), as modified, was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Amendment No. 5146
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5146 offered
by Senator Cochran.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Cochran,
for himself, and Mr. Lott, proposes an amendment numbered
5146.
The amendment is as follows:
(Purpose: To provide that of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by chapter 7 of title I of the Department of Defense,
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf
of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 for Military Construction,
Navy and Marine Corps, and available for the replacement of a Bachelor
Enlisted Quarters at Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport,
Mississippi, $13,400,000 may be available for the construction of an
additional Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at such center)
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by chapter 7 of title I of the Department of
Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address
Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act,
2006 (Public Law 109-148) under the heading ``Military
Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'' and available for the
replacement of a Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Naval
Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi,
$13,400,000 may be available for the construction of an
additional Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Naval Construction
Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I urge the adoption of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, without
objection, the amendment is agreed to.
The amendment (No. 5146) was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, we are now down to two amendments that
we are still clearing with the proper committees and one more that is
still not yet agreed to.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I understand the chairman and ranking
member are trying to work out the final amendments on this bill, and
they have both done an excellent job in putting the Military
Construction bill together for the Nation. But also, while my colleague
from Idaho is on the floor, Senator Craig, who is leading on the
authorization side, I wanted to come to the floor on behalf of the
people of Louisiana and the gulf coast, really, to thank the chair and
ranking member for putting in this MILCON bill, the Military
Construction appropriations bill, a full authorization for the veterans
hospital that was destroyed or heavily damaged in Hurricane Katrina,
and then, of course, flooded again in Hurricane Rita. Four hundred
thousand veterans from Louisiana rely on this hospital, as well as
hundreds of thousands from the gulf coast: Texas, Mississippi, and
Alabama.
We have worked very hard to reestablish the veterans infrastructure
along the gulf coast. This has been extremely problematic because of
some tensions between several committees. But the good work of Senator
Hutchison from Texas and Senator Feinstein from California and, of
course, Senator Craig's good help and support has helped us to get this
authorization done in this way. We are extremely grateful. It may be
the first public-private partnership in the Nation, or one of the
earliest. We think it is going to be an excellent model of health care,
not only for our veterans but a real economic anchor, if you will, for
the revitalization of New Orleans and the gulf coast. We are looking
forward to doing an excellent job with this money for the taxpayer and
for the veterans, who have come to rely on this hospital and the
services we provide as a lifeline, literally. Now they look at it as
more than just a place to go for health care; they look at it as a flag
that will be raised in the devastated part of New Orleans to rebuild
this great city and region. It has really become a symbol of hope, not
just for veterans, which it always is, and their families, but now it
has become a symbol of hope for our whole community.
So I just wanted, while that is being worked out and other things are
being worked out, to take this time to thank them and to tell them how
grateful we are in Louisiana and those in the New Orleans area for
their help and support and for their confidence in moving this project
forward. As a member of the committee, I have been very pleased to work
on this and have it accomplished in this way.
I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to announce for our colleagues
that it is our intention in the next 15 minutes to finish this bill and
go to final passage. We are intending to voice-vote final passage.
However, we are still working out two amendments:
[[Page 21966]]
an amendment by Senator Reid and an amendment by Senator Allen. I
cannot say for sure that there will not be a record vote on one of
those amendments, but we are trying to avoid that. I will just say the
disposition of the Reid and Allen amendments will be the last measures
in this bill to be agreed to, and we will then go to final passage.
I would just tell my colleagues we are hoping not to have any more
rollcall votes, but it is not totally clear yet. I hope to be able to
finish this by 7 o'clock. I will report back.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thune). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
Amendment No. 5143
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 5143 by
Senator Allen.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Texas [Mrs. Hutchison], for Mr. Allen,
proposes an amendment numbered 5143.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading
of the amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of
Amendments.'')
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I urge passage of the amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendment? If
not, the question is on agreeing to the amendment.
The amendment (No. 5143) was agreed to.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Yellowstone County National Veterans Cemetery Project
Mr. BAUCUS. Is the distinguished Senator from California aware of the
need for a new veterans cemetery in Yellowstone County in Montana?
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I am aware that there is a need for more veterans
cemeteries nationwide. I would be very interested in hearing about the
situation in Montana.
Mr. BAUCUS. In Montana, we have the highest percentage of veterans
per capita of any State in the country. Yellowstone County has 17.5
percent of all of the State's veterans, and when added to the
surrounding counties, the greater Yellowstone area includes 25 percent
of the State's veterans. The other national cemetery in the area--the
Little Bighorn National Cemetery--is full. Eastern Montana faces a
severe shortage in burial locations for Veterans.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. What is being done to address this need?
Mr. BAUCUS. On November 7 of this year the voters of Yellowstone
County in my home State of Montana overwhelmingly approved a mill levy
to provide $250,000 to the opening phase of the construction of the new
Yellowstone County National Veterans Cemetery. However, the local mill
levy only provides part of the funding needed and is to be used in
conjunction with anticipated Federal funding as well as private
donations because the first phase of the project has a preliminary cost
estimate of over $1 million for roads, irrigation, and site
improvements. Federal funds are needed for the project to begin. This
funding is very important to Montana because we are out of burial space
for our veterans. This new cemetery would provide burial spaces for our
veterans for the next 20 to 30 years.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I applaud the initiative of the residents of
Yellowstone County, and I can assure the distinguished Senator from
Montana that I will work in conference on this bill to include language
in the Statement of Managers directing the Secretary of the Department
of Veterans Affairs to review the status and progress of the
Yellowstone County National Veterans Cemetery project and report his
findings back to Congress.
Mr. BAUCUS. I deeply appreciate the commitment of my distinguished
colleague from California to the State of Montana's veterans.
Child Care Center at Beale Air Force Base
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I would like to take a few moments to
discuss an issue of critical importance to the military families at
Beale Air Force Base in Yuba City, CA.
The Child Development Center, CDC, at Beale Air Force Base is in dire
need of refurbishment. While the Beale community has gone to great
lengths to ensure that the dependents of military personnel at Beale
have a safe place to be cared for and to learn, the reality is that the
existing CDC is woefully inadequate.
The existing structure which is approximately 40 years old is worn,
outdated, and far too small. In fact, I understand that for over the
past 5 years, the waiting list for placing students in the facility has
not dropped below 100 children.
To make matters worse, the CDC may even pose a potential health risk
to children. Old and worn carpet cannot be replaced because doing so
would expose the children to asbestos. This is unacceptable.
Our men and women who are serving our country simply should not have
to worry that their children are being exposed to hazardous material.
We owe them far more than that.
The Air Force has reached the conclusion that it will take $14
million to refurbish the Beale CDC. It is my understanding that funding
to upgrade the CDC is included in the fiscal year Defense plan for
2008. It is extremely important that this funding for the CDC be
included in the President's budget request for 2008.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I share my home State colleague's concern for the
Child Development Center at Beale. As the ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, I, too,
believe that it is critical to fund the CDC at Beale. The Air Force has
included $14 million in its Future Years Defense Plan for fiscal year
2008, which clearly indicates the Air Force intends to include this
project for funding in the President's budget request. I strongly urge
the Air Force to retain this project in its projection for funding in
next year's request.
funding for blinded veterans' services
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, as we consider legislation to fund the
Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2007, I want to briefly
discuss the importance of providing adequate funding for blinded
veterans' services.
Visual impairment or blindness is an increasingly frequent injury
among our fighting men and women. In my visits to military hospitals, I
have seen firsthand the impact that these severe eye injuries can have
on the lives of our young men and women in uniform. While none of them
ever complains, the sacrifice they have made for their country is
starkly evident, and we owe it to them to ensure they are taken care of
when they return home.
The good news is that VA's Blind Rehabilitative Service is a global
leader in providing comprehensive blind rehabilitation to America's
blinded veterans, and the care available from the Nation's 10 Blind
Rehabilitation Centers is dependable and effective. The bad news is
that, while these 10 rehabilitation centers provide inpatient care
effectively and efficiently, that is not always the case at other VA
medical centers across the country.
The VA Medical Center in Denver, CO, treats approximately 900 blinded
veterans, many of whom require rehabilitative services that the Denver
facility cannot provide. Instead, those men and women must travel to
Tucson, AZ, or even farther to the American Lake Blind Center in
Washington State to receive the care they have earned. The problem is
not limited to my State of Colorado; VA's own analysis in April 2005
found that 78 VA medical centers currently do not have any basic
existing outpatient blind rehabilitative services.
I am glad that, in its budget request for fiscal year 2007, the VA
provided an
[[Page 21967]]
increase in its line item for blind services of $5.4 million over last
year. However, I am concerned that with growing medical costs and the
rising numbers of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
with severe eye injuries, such an increase is not enough.
Walter Reed Army Medical Center recently reported to the Veterans
Health Administration that, between March 2003 and April 2006, 16
percent of all service members evacuated from the war in Iraq had eye
injuries, and of the 1,800 service members wounded with traumatic brain
jury, 19 percent experienced post trauma visual Syndrome, PTVS, with
neurological visual impairments requiring long-term specialized care.
It is clear from these figures that the VA workload with respect to
low-vision and blinded veterans is going to increase in coming years,
on top of the already aging population of veterans with blindness.
The strong report language contained in this legislation, which
directs the VA to begin implementing a plan to expand more outpatient
blind rehabilitation services and training and directs the VA to report
back to Congress on the status of these efforts, is a good start. I am
grateful to Chairwoman Hutchison and Ranking Member Feinstein and their
staffs for their work in this area and hope we can work together to
build on these efforts to ensure adequate funding for blinded veterans'
services in years to come.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I thank Senator Salazar for his
dedication to our Nation's veterans and to the effort to provide
comprehensive care to blinded veterans in particular. I certainly
understand the devastating impact that severe eye injuries have on the
lives of service men and women returning from combat and agree we must
work to ensure that our efforts in Congress keep pace with the rising
costs of providing care to these men and women and with the growing
numbers of service members returning home in need of such care.
The language contained in this report is strong, and I am confident
it will help to push the VA in the right direction as we strive to
provide care for blinded veterans in the most comprehensive and
efficient way possible. I remain committed to that effort and to
working with my colleagues in both parties to see that blinded veterans
receive the best services our government can provide.
Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, again, I thank the chair and the ranking
member for their leadership on this legislation and look forward to
working closely with both of them on behalf of our Nation's blinded
veterans.
Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I support the Smith and Burns amendments
and take just a few minutes to address both issues which are truly an
emergency. 789456123
First, Mr. Smith has filed an amendment to extend the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for 1 year. Without a one
year extension, the 780 counties that benefit from the Act will face
difficult funding decisions regarding the next school year. This act
expired September 30th of this year and the last payment is in the
process of being made. Without this funding, school districts will have
to decide what programs should be cut in order to make ends meet. For
many districts this will include the decision of which schools to keep
open and which schools to close. We are about to experience an
emergency in our schools if funding is not addressed.
The act has been an enormous success in achieving and even surpassing
the goals of Congress. This act has restored programs for students in
rural schools and prevented the closure of numerous isolated rural
schools. It has been a primary funding mechanism to provide rural
school students with educational opportunities comparable to suburban
and urban students. Over 4,400 rural schools receive funds because of
this act.
Next, the act has allowed rural county road districts and county road
departments to address the severe maintenance backlog. Snow removal has
been restored for citizens, tourists, and school buses. Bridges have
been upgraded and replaced and culverts that are hazardous to fish
passage have been upgraded and replaced.
The legacy of this act over the last few years is positive and
substantial. This law should be extended so it can continue to benefit
the forest counties, their schools, and continue to contribute to
improving the health of our national forests.
If we do not work to reauthorize this act, all of the progress of the
last years will be lost. Schools in timber dependant communities will
lose a substantial part of their funding. These school districts will
have to start making tough budget decisions such as keeping or
canceling after school programs, sports programs, music programs, and
trying to determine what is the basic educational needs of our
children. Next, counties will have to reprioritize road maintenance so
that only the essential services of the county are met because that is
all they will be able to afford.
Thirty of our colleagues, have joined Senator Wyden and me in
recognizing the importance of the reauthorization of this Act by
cosponsoring S. 267.
Next, Mr. Burns has filed an amendment addressing wildfire
suppression funding. As we all know, this has been an extraordinary
year with 89,524 fires on 9.5 million acres of land across the country
to date. Indeed, this has been the worst fire season on record in terms
of acres burned. By way of comparison, the 10-year average projection
for fiscal year 2006 was 60,726 fires on 4.9 million acres, or about
half of what is likely to burn for this year.
Due to the severity of this year's fire season, the Forest Service
and Department of the Interior, DOI, will exhaust their appropriated
funds for wildfire suppression before the end of this fiscal year which
will force them to borrow from nonfire program accounts. Additional
funds are needed to repay these borrowed funds or these agencies will
face serious disruptions to critical programs. When borrowing from non-
fire program accounts occurs, it causes numerous project delays and
cancellations, strained relationships with state and local agency
partners, and disruptions in essential program management efforts.
Frequently, these cancellations and delays increase costs and the time
needed to complete the projects. Again, we need to address this
emergency before it causes significant havoc for our public lands.
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, in July the Senate Appropriations
Committee approved the fiscal year 2007 Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs appropriations bill. As a member of the committee, I
supported this measure, and it is now being considered by the full
Senate.
The bill provides a total of $94.3 billion in spending, including
funding to make a number of critical upgrades to our military
infrastructure. As a member of the appropriations subcommittee that has
oversight on military construction, I was able to use my position to
ensure that $23.4 million was included for three military construction
projects in South Dakota.
Investing in our military infrastructure ensures that our military
personnel have the tools they need to perform their mission. This bill
provides $7.5 million to construct a new base civil engineer
maintenance complex for the South Dakota Air National Guard at Joe Foss
Field. This funding is necessary because the current complex is
undersized and inadequate. The new facility will help the 114th Fighter
Wing maintain a combat-ready force of civil engineers.
In addition to this infrastructure upgrade, Ellsworth Air Force Base
will receive $3 million to install an urgently needed base water well.
Likewise, a new Armed Forces Reserve Center will be constructed in
Sioux Falls. Currently Army Reserve and Navy Reserve operations are
housed in leased facilities that are over 40 years old. The new center
will consolidate all operations into a new complex.
The bill also includes nearly $78 billion for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, which is $6.45 billion above last year's funding
level. This amount includes $28.7 billion for medical services--an
increase of $3 billion from last year.
[[Page 21968]]
Most importantly, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected
President Bush's budget proposal to implement a $250 annual enrollment
fee and increased pharmacy copayments for category 7 and 8 veterans.
These fees are designed to generate revenue in order to help offset VA
expenditures. In reality, they may force veterans to seek health care
elsewhere because they cannot afford either the annual enrollment fees
or the increased copayment costs.
Rather than relying on budget proposals aimed at driving veterans out
of the VA in order to save money, I am pleased that the Senate opposed
President Bush's proposal. I firmly believe that we should provide
adequate funding to ensure all those who have defended our country
receive the health care they have earned and deserve.
Mr. President, I continue to have deep concerns about the spending
priorities of the Bush administration, but I do believe this bill will
help provide our service members with top-notch military facilities.
And while we can always do more for our veterans, this bill is a step
in the right direction toward honoring our commitment to all those who
served.
Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill because of its
commitment to VA health care as well as its support of vital and
necessary military facilities in the State of Colorado.
I am pleased that this bill increases funding to essential programs
that maintain and improve the quality of life for our veterans. It
important to note that this is the sixth consecutive year that Congress
has increased funding for veterans health care programs. This year the
committee recommends that Veterans Health Administration be
appropriated at $32.67 billon, which is a $3.32 billion increase over
last year's level.
Furthermore, I would like to commend the committee for maintaining
their commitment to Capital Asset Realignment Enhanced Services, CARES,
process. CARES is the most comprehensive analysis of the VA's health
care infrastructure that has ever been conducted and is important in
prioritizing the VA's budget. Specifically, I am especially pleased
with the committee's recommendation of $52 million for a replacement
hospital in Denver, CO.
The current Denver VA hospital was built more than 50 years ago and
medical technology has far surpassed what the builders of the Denver VA
originally envisioned. While I cannot say enough about the care and
service our veterans receive at the current facility, many changes and
improvements can and should be made, and a new facility is the only way
to accomplish these goals.
The construction plans present credible proof that a new Fitzsimons
facility will increase healthcare quality and quantity for our
veterans. It is my hope, and it is a likely one, that a new hospital
will also serve as a regional beacon for modern veteran medical care
science and will fill an important void for the large number of
veterans in Colorado.
I would like to acknowledge the recommendation of $161 million for
the National Cemetery Administration, which saw an increase of $4.1
million over the fiscal year 2006 level. Specifically, I am pleased the
committee recognizes the need for a VA cemetery in the Pikes Peak
region of southern Colorado. This area is home to over 125,000
veterans, and would be well served by a national cemetery.
Additionally, I support portions of this appropriations bill that
recommend $50.1 million for necessary military construction
improvements at Fort Carson, and an additional $130.6 million for
projects in Colorado.
Specifically at Fort Carson, this bill recommends funds for the
completion of phase 2 of the airfield arrival/departure complex as well
as funds for the Special Operations Complex. Fort Carson, known as the
Mountain Post, plays an essential role for the Army.
I am also pleased at the committee's recommendation that directs the
U.S. Air Force to submit a master infrastructure recapitalization plan
for the U.S. Air Force Academy facilities. This plan will begin the
process of updating and improving necessary infrastructure concerns. As
the Academy enters its sixth decade of operation, these important
improvements will better enable the Academy to fulfill its mission of
education, training and equipping cadets.
Other projects in Colorado funded by this bill includes funds for the
Space Test and Evaluation Facility at Schriever Air Force Base,
continued construction at the Pueblo Chemical Weapons Depot, $10.7
million for a consolidated fuels facility at Buckley AFB and $7 million
for the Air National Guard F-16 Fighter Squadron Operations Center,
also at Buckley AFB. These projects are vital to the continued success
of our military at all levels.
I urge the Senate to expeditiously pass this bill in order to send it
to the President's desk as soon as possible. I would also like to thank
Chairwoman Hutchison for her leadership and diligence on this committee
over the years and look forward to continuing to work with her in the
future.
Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise today to address the Senate
concerning the legislation before us, the Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2007. This bill is
particularly important in this time of ongoing war, structural changes
in the force, and an aging veteran population. The committee has worked
to produce a bill that, while imperfect, addresses many of the issues
that challenge our armed services and veterans, and I thank them for
their work.
America remains at war, a war that continues to unite Americans in
pursuit of a common goal--to defeat terrorism. Americans have and will
continue to make sacrifices for this war. Our service men and women in
particular are truly on the front lines in this war, separated from
their families, risking their lives, and working extraordinarily long
hours under the most difficult conditions to accomplish the ambitious
but necessary task their country has set for them.
It is important that we understand the context of this year's
military construction legislation. Three processes are playing out
simultaneously that require reasoned and appropriate congressional
action on this bill. First, America's struggle for peace in Iraq
continues. Second, our largest service, the Army, is undertaking
significant structural changes and redeploying thousands of troops.
Third, the recent round of base realignment and closure that
streamlined the defense infrastructure is now being implemented. These
three issues have defined the requirements of the legislation before
us. The committee has recognized the challenges and outlined military
construction spending that, in large part, meets them.
I am pleased to note that the Appropriations Committee has met the
spending level requested by the administration for the Department of
Veterans Affairs. This is particularly important in light of the
growing numbers of young veterans who look to the VA for care. To date
more than 184,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have sought care
through the VA. Of that number, 30,000 have been found to exhibit
symptoms similar to post-traumatic stress or PTSD, and I applaud the
committee's support for PTSD programs and funding. This legislation
also provides $32.7 billion for the Veterans Health Administration for
fiscal year 2007, nearly equivalent to the President's request.
I commend the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for her
willingness to work with the Senate Armed Services Committee, SASC, to
ensure this bill generally funds MILCON projects consistent with the
authorizing committee's views. The chairman has always made a
considerable effort to work with the authorizers to mitigate
differences in the defense funding and authorizing bills.
In particular, I appreciate the chairman's efforts to remove an
unrequested and unauthorized MILCON project for
[[Page 21969]]
Lackland Air Force Base after I brought my concerns to her attention.
That project was not requested by the administration, nor is it listed
in the Air Force's Unfunded Priority List, UPL. It was added only after
the Air Force Chief of Staff sought the funding outside the regular
process, without the concurrence of DOD or OMB and without any
notification to or feedback from the authorizing committees.
When the authoring committees finally learned about this project, we
had already completed committee markups and passed Defense
authorization bills in both chambers. The authorizing committees
refused to add an out-of-scope provision into the final conference
report to authorize this Air Force earmark, and as such, the chairman
has since agreed to remove it from the pending bill in a manager's
amendment on the Senate floor.
I wanted to spend time on the Senate floor to highlight this Air
Force MILCON earmark because it demonstrates how authorizers and
appropriators can and should work together. While ideally the provision
would never have been included in the bill since it wasn't requested,
the chairman was more than willing to listen to my concerns as an
authorizer, and she acted most appropriately by agreeing to remove the
earmark. Again, I thank Senator Hutchison for her steadfast leadership
and accommodation of the authorization committees' wishes.
Unfortunately, the bill before us is not entirely free of earmarks. I
am concerned that, while this bill is some $434 million below the
administration's request, it nonetheless recommends almost $90 million
in unrequested spending that is directed at unauthorized projects.
While I recognize that many of the earmarks added to this legislation
may sound worthwhile, they do not belong in the bill or its report.
Needless to say, it is distressing that in this time of fiscal
constraints, lawmakers continue to earmark military funds while
underfunding the President's overall request.
Let me mention a few examples of money earmarked in the committee
report for specific projects that were not requested by the Department
of Defense: $1.5 million for a general instruction building in Fort
Lewis, WA; $1.5 million for officer's quarters in Ravenna, OH; $1.5
million for a dining facility at Camp Roberts in San Miguel, CA; $3.4
million for an Aviation Readiness Center at Helena Regional Airport,
MT; $1.4 million for an engine shop in Fort Worth, TX; $900,000 for an
information technology complex at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; and $2.0
million for a regional training institute in West Virginia.
Almost all the earmarked money will go to the States represented by
members of the committee. These examples are only part of the nearly
$60 million in unrequested earmarks that siphon funds away from
important programs needed for enhancing our warfighting capability.
This means that the armed services have come to us with urgent needs,
and we have responded by giving them less than what they asked for
while requiring that they spend it to suit our parochial needs rather
than military necessity.
The problems facing our active and retired veterans, whether in the
form of force structure or modernization or enhancing quality of life
benefits, are properly addressed in a deliberative budget process.
However, we should think twice before diverting money away from
military necessities to fund home State projects. The American taxpayer
expects more of us, as do our brave service men and women who are
fighting this war on global terrorism on our behalf.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, we are now ready to go to final
passage. I ask for a voice vote on passage.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the engrossment of the
amendments and third reading of the bill.
The amendments were ordered to be engrossed and the bill to be read a
third time.
The bill was read the third time.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the
question is, Shall the bill pass?
The bill (H.R. 5385), as amended, was passed, as follows:
The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I move to lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the title
amendment be agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The title was amended so as to read:
An Act making appropriations for Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I think that finalizes the bill, the
Military Construction appropriations bill and Veterans Affairs
appropriations bill for 2007. I thank all of my colleagues for their
cooperation and patience, especially my colleague, Senator Feinstein,
my ranking member who has been such a great colleague to work with on
this bill. Her staff and my staff have done an incredible job. I
appreciate this opportunity and look forward to going to conference and
having our military personnel be housed and have the equipment that is
in the Military Construction bill which they so readily deserve.
Especially, I have to say that funding the veterans and their needs
is a special privilege for all of us because we have young men and
women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan as we speak with injuries
that we want to assure are cared for and healed, and where necessary
that we have the rehabilitation which they so richly deserve.
I think we have done a good job of covering these needs. I am very
pleased that we have taken one more step to finalize this bill.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, if I might, I thank the chairman, my
friend, the Senator from Texas. We usually have a very easy time with
this bill. There are usually not many amendments to this bill. But
perhaps because this is the first vehicle to move a number of items,
they seemed to come up this afternoon. I think the chairman has shown
great leadership and flexibility. Sometimes they go together and
sometimes they do not, but she has possessed both today.
I am very grateful, and the Democratic side is very grateful for it
as well. This is a good bill. It is a bipartisan bill. It takes good
care of veterans. It eliminates the problem of financing that we had
last year. Overall, it is an excellent bill. I am very proud to have
worked with the chairman. I thank her.
I thank the majority staff. And, of course, I thank my staff, of
which Christina Evans is sitting on my left, and B.G. Wright and Chad
Schulken back in the box.
It has been a good day. At least we have accomplished a substantial
bill.
I yield the floor.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________
MORNING BUSINESS
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to
speak for up to 10 minutes each.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________
HONORING OUR ARMED FORCES
Sergeant Kampha B. Sourivong
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I ask that the Senate join me in
paying tribute to SGT Kampha Sourivong, who made the ultimate sacrifice
while protecting freedom. Sergeant Sourivong, of Iowa City, IA, was
assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th
Infantry Division, Army National Guard, based
[[Page 21970]]
out of Iowa Falls, IA. He was mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom
with the unit in September 2005 and arrived in Iraq in early May 2006.
He died at the age of 20, on September 30, 2006, in Al Asad, Iraq, when
his military vehicle encountered small arms fire.
Sergeant Sourivong will be posthumously awarded the following awards
and decorations for his heroic service: the Bronze Star, the Purple
Heart, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization device, the
Army Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army
Service Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
My thoughts and prayers have been with Sergeant Sourivong's parents,
Patty and Maliphone Sourivong, his brother and sister, and all those
other family and friends who are grieving the loss of this young man.
The Sourivong family described Kampha as ``a very caring person'' who
``had a lot of friends, loved his family, loved his brother and loved
his sister'' and someone who ``would give the shirt off his back to
someone in need.''
I am grateful for the sacrifice that both Sergeant Sourivong and his
family have made. Our Nation will forever be in their debt. While the
tragic loss of this young American is deeply saddening, he will be
remembered proudly as the hero that he was.
____________________
REMEMBERING CONGRESSWOMAN HELEN CHENOWETH-HAGE
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, in recent weeks, many of our thoughts have
been turned to Helen Chenoweth-Hage, her memory, and her family.
As you know, Helen was laid to rest in October after a tragic
automobile accident took her life. We honor and remember this
remarkable woman, and I feel privileged to share with you some of my
memories and thoughts about her and the time that we served together in
the U.S. House of Representatives.
There will never be another public servant in Idaho like Helen. I
served alongside her in the House of Representatives and worked on many
issues with her, from fighting Federal mandates in north Idaho to
fighting for our military at Mountain Home Air Force Base and Gowen
Field in Boise. She stood firm in her convictions and beliefs, honoring
the promises she made to those who put her in office. Helen knew,
without a doubt, what she believed in, and she lived those beliefs in
word and deed unwaveringly.
She worked very hard to make sure she had an understanding of what
was at stake. When she started her congressional career in 1995, she
read every piece of legislation that was coming up for a vote on the
House floor. She felt she owed it to those who sent her to Congress.
She surprised more than a few committee chairmen by showing up at
hearings being held by committees she didn't serve on, simply because
of her desire to know more and understand an issue.
One of her most-oft repeated matras was ``Love many, trust few, and
paddle your own canoe.'' And that is exactly what she did--she was not
someone who would check the wind before deciding what to do. She
listened, asked questions, read documents, studied the issues, and
talked with experts and plain folks. She took all that information she
gathered and then made her decision. At her center was a very
principled, gracious woman--one who was strong in her beliefs and kind
to all those around her, regardless of theirs. In many ways, she
mirrored the principled center many of us admire about President Ronald
Reagan.
Idahoans have lost a true champion for smaller government and
personal freedoms. Helen brought Idaho into the national spotlight. She
stood tough on the issues and spoke out often, even after she left the
House of Representatives in 2001. She could always be counted on to
call out hypocrisy in government and placed her reputation on the line
many times to hold to her beliefs on what was best for Idahoans.
Perhaps the best way to remember Helen is to quote her own words in
an interview done with Reason Magazine in October 2000. When the
reporter asked how she would like to be remembered, this is what she
said:
That I have been true to real Republican principles. It's
been people like Tom Coburn, Mark Sanford, and myself who
have constantly said, `Let's not forget who we are and why we
are here.' And that is to protect individual rights, American
sovereignty, and private property. If there is not a force of
law and justice to protect private property, then we have
lost the basis of our freedoms.
She said something else in that interview that strikes a resonant
chord with me, in particular. When asked what the greatest threat to
American Liberty was, she said:
Too much federal and state government. The lack of respect
of people working in government for individuals. An idea that
certain people who occupy powerful positions in the
administration can make better decisions about an individual
and their life choices than can that individual.
Helen will always be remembered as a champion of the individual--the
rugged, self-reliant American that is in all of us--and I thank her for
that.
____________________
BOB DOLE ON GEORGE McGOVERN
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, civility is alive and well in the great
State of South Dakota.
During the recess, there was an extraordinary, bipartisan celebration
honoring our former colleague, Senator George McGovern. The occasion
was the dedication of the George and Eleanor McGovern Library at Dakota
Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD.
The dedication brought together former President Bill Clinton, former
majority leader Bob Dole, former majority leader Tom Daschle, Senator
John Thune, Representative Stephanie Herseth, Governor Mike Rounds, and
5,000 of Senator McGovern's closest friends and admirers.
Governor Rounds noted that Senator McGovern was a ``patriot'' and
that ``all of us gathered here today have a whole lot more in common
than what divides us as Americans.'' Senator Thune noted that his
father always voted for George McGovern, even as the children urged him
to vote Republican, because George was a decorated WWII fighter pilot.
Perhaps it was Senator Dole, with his characteristic humor, who best
captured the significance of Senator McGovern's inspiring career.
I ask unanimous consent that the remarks of Senator Dole be printed
in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Thank you very much for that generous introduction, and for
the honor of receiving the first McGovern Prize for
Leadership and Public Service. It is something that I will
cherish, not least of all because of its namesakes who have
set the standard--in friendship as well as in leadership.
This week's events remind us once again that George McGovern
is a uniter and not a divider. Who else could bring together
Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Al Neuharth, Tom Daschle, John Thune,
and Peter, Paul and Mary?
As you know, at times George and I have had our political
differences. Though not the differences you might think. For
example, here at Wesleyan he was twice elected president of
his class. I have yet to be elected president of anything--
though I'm thinking of running against Bill Clinton for
president of the Senate spouses.
For me tonight is both an opportunity to salute an old
friend, and to repay an old debt. You see, three years ago
George came to the dedication of the Dole Institute of
Politics at the University of Kansas. What he said about me
then more than made up for what he said about me when I ran
for President in 1980, 1988 and 1996. So I figured the least
I could do was to return the favor, and make up for what I
said about him, when he ran for President in 1968--and 1972--
and 1984.
I've long since accommodated myself to a career pitching
Pepsi and other stimulants. And George has happily resigned
himself to the fact that the only presidents in South Dakota
are on Mount Rushmore. At our stage of life we both adhere to
the wisdom of W.C. Fields, who expressed his philosophy as
follows: If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. Then
give up. No use being a damn fool about it.
Of course, in all that truly matters, George has never
given up. Neither has his beloved Eleanor. Sixty-six years
after they enrolled as undergraduates on this campus, sixty-
three years after they declared their marriage vows, the
McGoverns of Mitchell are still making a difference, still
living every
[[Page 21971]]
day in the spirit of this school's motto: sacrifice or
service.
Having been both a candidate and a candidate's spouse, I
speak from experience when I say that for spouses it isn't
sacrifice or service, it's sacrifice and service. But then
Eleanor McGovern has always been a leader and humanitarian in
her own right. What ever else you can say about us, it's
pretty clear that both George and I married above ourselves.
That's not all we have in common. ``There is a
wholesomeness about life in a rural state. . .life tends to
be more authentic and less artificial.'' The words are
George's but the sentiment applies as much to Russell, Kansas
as to Mitchell, South Dakota. We both can attest to the fact
that small towns nurture large dreams, and a generosity
unbounded as the Great Plains. Generosity is what this
evening's all about--the generosity of donors, and of those
who seek their donations. I want to congratulate Ambassador
Kimmelman and President Duffett as well as the trustees and
the campaign committee and every single individual whose
generosity has helped to realize a dream called the McGovern
Library and Center for Leadership and Public Service.
Since we're all being so generous, maybe george would let
me borrow his fundraising team. We could use your help at KU.
I can't imagine a more appropriate tribute to the McGoverns
than a library, and not just because George taught here at
Wesleyan before he put classroom theory to the test in a
public career that spans half a century. In fact, he and
Eleanor are both educators at heart. They understand, for
they personify, the essential truth of education--that so
long as books are kept open, then minds can never be closed.
In years to come, this place will be an incubator of informed
Citizenship. What more could any teacher ask for?
Generosity takes many forms. In the case of the McGoverns,
it means a lifetime of principled service, and a personal
decency that transcends any party label. I'm tempted to say
it transcends generations as well. It has been said by this
state's second most famous son, Tom Brokaw, that George and I
belong to the greatest generation. Actually, we were fairly
average americans, who suddenly found ourselves caught up in
the historical whirlwind--a tornado as random and devastating
as any that slashed across the prairies of my youth.
If we were prepared for the curve balls that came our way,
it was only because of the values passed on to us by pioneers
and parents who had confronted more than their share of
challenges. When hard times engulfed the American farmer like
a Kansas dust storm, we clung all the tighter to our
neighbors. I don't know about George, but my own commitment
to feeding the hungry is rooted in those distant days when
millions of Americans struggled to put food on the table.
Hunger is bipartisan. So is compassion.
It wasn't only economic democracy that was called into
question during those bleak years. Also on the line was the
idea--enshrined in places like Mitchell and Russell--that
every life is precious because every human is created with a
plan and a purpose. The great test of our time was moral as
well as military. It was met by 16 million citizen soldiers,
backed by millions more on the home front. All of them heroes
in the age old struggle for popular government.
The word hero gets thrown around a lot. It's a lot easier
to be a hero if someone is shooting at you, as happened to me
on an Italian hillside--or attempting to shoot down your
plane, as George will recall from 35 missions with his fellow
B-24 bomber pilots. Nor was it any accident that he named his
plane the Dakota Queen--for the young bride to whom he would
return after the war, with a Distinguished Flying Cross
pinned to his uniform. When in another context George said,
``Come home, America,'' I think it was that America to which
he referred--a country that in every generation has produced
heroes, and is, in turn, a land fit for heroes to come home
to.
In this America we fight as one, though we vote and pray
and speak as many. One of the unfortunate aspects of modern
politics is our tendency to label, dehumanize and even
demonize opponents who are, after all, opponents--not
enemies. George McGovern is a leader, not a label. The man we
honor this evening is a proud liberal who nevertheless found
much to admire in such common sense conservatives as Bob Taft
and Barry Goldwater. A Methodist preacher's son, raised in a
republican household, he cast his first vote for Henry
Wallace. As a young activist he was spellbound by the
eloquence of Adlai Stevenson. But in later years he would
praise my hero, Dwight Eisenhower, for his statesmanship and
restraint while in the White House.
George got to Congress ahead of me. By the time we served
in the Senate, it's a safe bet that our votes usually
cancelled each other out. As fate would have it, I was
Republican national chairman in 1972, the year George ran
against President Nixon. In politics, as earlier, I tried to
be a good soldier. but there are times when party loyalty
asks too much. More than once I returned speech drafts
objecting to the official line against the Democratic nominee
for President. By election day, I think I had upset more
people around the White House than George did. enough,
anyway, so that I became expendable once the votes were
counted.
Come to think of it, George, there's another thing we have
in common. We were both left unemployed by the Nixon White
House.
If ever a candidate was entitled to nurse a grudge, it was
George McGovern. Except no man I know is less inclined to
waste time or energy in holding grudges. His generosity of
spirit extended to the man who defeated him in 1972. I will
never forget a day in June, 1993, when we buried Pat Nixon in
the rose gardens at the Nixon Library and birthplace. After
the formal service concluded, we were invited inside--away
from the prying eye of television--so that President Nixon
could deliver a tribute of his own to his wife of fifty-three
years. Among other things, he spoke of the joys of
grandparenting, describing what happened when their youngest
granddaughter, Jennie, asked Mrs. Nixon how she wished to be
addressed.
After rejecting ``grandmother'' as too formal, and
``grandma'' as a bit too elderly for her liking, Pat
suggested to the little girl that she call her ``Ma.'' Jennie
then put the same question to her famous grandfather. To
which he replied, ``Oh, you can call me anything, Jennie,
because I've been called everything.'' At that moment I
wasn't the only person in the room who was struggling to
control his emotions. Not twenty feet from Nixon stood
George, dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief.
Later that day, a reporter approached him, curious to know
why he was there. George replied that he had always admired
Mrs. Nixon, and wished to honor her memory. The reporter
persisted. Why should he honor the wife of the man whose
alleged dirty tricks may have denied him the White House?
And you know what George told him? In what may be the
classiest remark I've ever heard, George looked him straight
in the eye and said, ``You can't keep on campaigning
forever.''
Four years later I had my own taste of defeat, following a
hard fought campaign as President Ford's running mate. When
it was over, I got some bracing advice from Hubert Humphrey--
yet another proud son of South Dakota who knew what it felt
like to lose a close one. Hubert, like George, had a gift for
bipartisan friendship that made him a genuinely beloved
figure in the Senate. We worked closely on issues dealing
with agriculture and nutrition. He was promoting Minnesota
dairy farmers, and I was pushing Kansas wheat, but we shared
a common vision--the same vision with which George McGovern
gave life to President Kennedy's Food for Peace Program--with
which he inspired school lunch programs and food stamps and
which, even now, underlies his dream of a world in which no
child goes to bed hungry.
George and Eleanor call this the third freedom. They have
even set a deadline of 2030 by which they hope to banish
hunger around the globe. To some this may seem impossibly
visionary. Not to the McGoverns. ``People call me an
idealist,'' Woodrow Wilson once said. ``Well, that is how I
know I am an American.''
Is it idealistic to insist, as George and I do, that school
children deserve not only a square lunch, but breakfast as
well? Is it idealistic to demand that the children of low
income and working families have the same access to basic
nutrition as their well-heeled classmates? Is it idealistic
to want to share American's bounty with hungry children in
other lands--to feed their bodies out of our abundance, to
demonstrate that the freedom we cherish is not the freedom to
starve, but the freedom to soar.
Is that idealistic--or just plain American? Here in the
Heartland our ideals and our interests are inseparable. To us
freedom is a theory, a mere abstraction, unless it improves
the quality of life for those who are set free. Earlier I
mentioned Mount Rushmore. One of the four Presidents
enshrined there is Theodore Roosevelt. One hundred years ago
TR professed horror when told of Americans who, when
traveling abroad, apologetically asked their foreign hosts to
refrain from judging the United States based on its
politicians.
But they must judge his country by the actions of its
politicians, said TR. Was that idealistic? Or was it simply
the old rugged faith in the ability of so-called ordinary men
and women to govern themselves? It is easy to be cynical
about modern day politics. But the easy course will never fix
what is broken. In America, government is nothing if it is
not self-government. For in the mirror of democracy we see
reflected back to us both our noblest, and our meanest,
attributes. It is the purpose of this college to promote the
best that we can be. It is the goal of the McGovern Center to
foster service before self. And it is the hope of America
that our politics can be as decent as our people--that
civility need never be confused with weakness--nor compromise
with surrender.
When we come home to this America, we will fulfill the
promise of our birth. We will create a legacy to inspire
generations yet unborn. And we will uphold the McGovern
tradition of idealistic leadership--for that is how we know
we are Americans.
Thank you very much.
[[Page 21972]]
____________________
HEROICS OF ALAN JOHNSTON
Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and recognize with
the highest esteem Mr. Alan Johnston of Windsor, ME, for the tremendous
courage and enormous valor he demonstrated in Iraq in 2004 that helped
save many lives.
CPT Aaron P. Hill of the U.S. Marine Corps recounted in a witness
statement that Alan Johnston's heroic actions on August 7, 2004, had he
been in military uniform, would have earned him a medal. Mr. Johnston,
a civilian contractor who was overseeing construction of two medical
clinics in Iraq, acted swiftly and selflessly to rescue others during a
suicide attack on the headquarters facility at the Al Kasik Military
Base located approximately 35 miles northwest of Mosul, Iraq.
Captain Hill was part of a unit advising Iraqi soldiers in Northern
Iraq. He credits Mr. Johnston with saving a number of lives after
insurgents drove two water trucks packed with as many as 8,000 pounds
of explosives to the headquarters building. The blasts from this
insurgent attack lasted over 90 minutes and destroyed the 2-level
headquarters building, resulting in 14 deaths and an estimated 40
severely to critically injured people.
Acting without hesitation, Mr. Johnston sounded the alarm, throwing
those around him to the floor, saving many lives. In the devastation
that followed, acting with total disregard to his own safety, Mr.
Johnston emerged from the wreckage and began to assist in evacuating
and treating the survivors. Despite the continuing barrage of mortars
and rockets, Mr. Johnston continued to offer help with his medical
expertise, calm demeanor, and steadfast devotion to helping his fellow
man.
Mr. Johnston not only reduced casualties and treated the wounded but
restored critical support systems, including power and water. He also
helped to find ways to feed the thousands of Iraqi soldiers dependent
on the American military for support.
Alan Johnston, a 6-year veteran of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and an emergency medical technician for nearly 18 years, suffered
injuries to his head and leg but treated himself and remained at the
base in Iraq for 3 months after the attack. He left Iraq in December of
2004 and underwent another series of leg surgeries once he returned to
the United States.
As a result of Captain Hill's eyewitness account of Alan Johnston's
actions, last month I had the solemn privilege of pinning the Defense
of Freedom Medal on Mr. Johnston's lapel at a medal ceremony held at my
Augusta, ME, office with Mr. Johnston's family present, officially
acknowledging these courageous actions. This award is a rare and unique
commendation issued only to civilians and is equivalent to the Purple
Heart awarded to military service men and women.
But what is most remarkable is that this occasion marked the first
time a civilian, private contractor was awarded this particular medal.
Mr. Johnston's lifesaving response to serve and sacrifice on behalf of
others was something he chose to do. It was not his duty. It was not
his responsibility it was his goodwill and American patriotism that
drove him to put his life at risk in order to assist and save others.
There is only one word that sufficiently describes this exemplary
Mainer, and that word is hero. I was extremely proud to present him
with the Defense of Freedom Medal.
Mr. Johnston's awe-inspiring willingness to think of others ahead of
himself will forever be remembered by those whose lives he touched and
saved that day. The courageous commitment and valiant care demonstrated
by Alan Johnston of Windsor, ME, exemplifies the very best of what it
means to be a Mainer and an American
____________________
TRIBUTE TO ROB McCLINTIC
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today in celebration of my
longtime friend and staff member, Rob McClintic. After 23 years of work
in the U.S. Congress, Rob has decided to retire from the Senate.
Rob started with my office on March 13, 1998, while I was still in
the U.S. House of Representatives. When I won the election to the
Senate in 2000, I couldn't imagine not bringing Rob to work in the
Senate with me.
Rob is often the first contact with my constituents and visitors. As
a staff assistant, Rob has been tasked with answering phone calls from
constituents and greeting visitors. Everyone who works in Congress
knows that answering phones is an extremely important job and can be
tremendously challenging. This is one of the main ways that Senators
and Representatives hear how their constituents are feeling on
important issues. Rob has at busy times answered well over 100 or more
phone calls a day. In 23 years on the Hill, Rob surely has answered
over 600,000 phone calls. This is, needless to say, a tremendous feat.
Rob is also responsible for giving tours of the Capitol building and
for setting up other tours around Washington, DC. His knowledge of the
history of the Capitol is outstanding. He knows every corner of the
Capitol and provides a personal touch on each and every tour. Rob not
only just gave tours, he made sure that the visitors from Michigan
enjoyed their stay in DC, and experienced the history of Congress.
Prior to working for me, Rob worked for Congressman Phil Sharp from
Indiana, Rob's home State, from April 1983 through January 1995 and
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur of Ohio from August 1995 through February
1998.
Upon leaving the Senate, Rob will be moving back to his home State of
Indiana to be closer to friends and family. I know his family is proud
of him and will welcome him home with open arms.
I also know that Rob's friendly demeanor and unparalleled
professionalism will be dearly missed here in Washington, DC. Rob
McClintic is irreplaceable.
Mr. President, I am sad because I am losing my trusted and valued
staffer who has worked with me for nearly a decade, but I am happy to
see a dear friend move on to new challenges, and I wish him the best of
luck.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO FALLEN U.S. FOREST SERVICE FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALIFORNIA
Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I have a very heavy heart as I pay
tribute to five fallen U.S. Forest Service firefighters from
California. It is an honor to talk about their heroic deeds, but it is
heartbreaking.
These five heroes died in the line of duty while protecting families
and homes in the Esperanza Fire west of Palm Springs. We deeply mourn
the loss of Engine Captain Mark Loutzenhiser, Fire Engine Operator Jess
McLean, Assistant Fire Engine Operator Jason McKay, Firefighter Daniel
Hoover-Najera, and Firefighter Pablo Cerda.
Mark Loutzenhiser was 44 years old and had 21 years of firefighting
service. He was a certified emergency management technician, EMT. He
had previously worked as a hotshot crewman for the Vista Grande Hot
Shots and also as a volunteer firefighter for Riverside County. He
majored in fire science at Mount San Jacinto College. He was a longtime
resident of Idyllwild, CA, and was a wonderful supporter and coach for
the youth sports program. He is survived by his wife Maria
Loutzenhiser.
Jess McLean was 27 years old and had 7 years of firefighting service.
He had been a hotshot for 3 years with the Vista Grande Hot Shots. He
graduated from Banning High School in 1997 and attended fire science
classes at Crafton Hills College. He was a resident of Beaumont, CA. He
is survived by his wife Karen McLean and his mother Cecelia McLean.
Jason McKay was 27 years old and had 5 years of Forest Service
experience and 4 years as a volunteer firefighter in Adelanto. He also
served on the Mojave Greens Type II crew. He was a certified EMT and
earned an associate's degree in fire science. He was a resident of
Phelan, CA. He is survived by his mother Bonnie J. McKay and his father
Robert McKay.
Daniel Hoover-Najera was 20 years old and in his second season of
firefighting. He worked on the Tahquitz
[[Page 21973]]
Type II crew in 2005 and was a seasonal employee in 2006. He graduated
from San Jacinto Mountain View High School in 2004. He was a resident
of San Jacinto, CA. He is survived by his mother Gloria Ayala and his
father Timothy Hoover.
Pablo Cerda was 23 years old and in his second season with the Forest
Service. He was previously of the Tahquitz Type II crew. He graduated
from Los Amigos High School in Santa Ana in 2001 and attended Fire
Academy of Riverside Community College. He was a resident of Fountain
Valley, CA. He is survived by his father Pablo Cerda, Sr.
These five U.S. Forest Service firefighters on Engine Crew 57 on the
San Jacinto Ranger District were dispatched early on the morning of
Thursday, October 26 to fight the Esperanza fire. As the fire blazed
out of control, they bravely fought it when they were overrun by
flames.
Mark, Jess, Jason, Daniel, and Pablo are true examples of why we call
firefighters heroes. They bravely and selflessly risked their lives
time and time again trying to protect California. No more could be
asked of anyone. Tragically, they have fallen in one of these battles.
We know why their friends, family, and colleagues are so proud of them
and so devastated by their loss. Their loss reverberates throughout
California and our Nation.
I send my sincere condolences to their families, their communities,
and all of the firefighters who had the honor of serving with Mark,
Jess, Jason, Daniel, and Pablo over the years.
These firefighters are extraordinary heroes. And we will not rest
until we have found those responsible for this horrific crime.
____________________
NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, as the session winds down I have been
thinking back over the year. As always, there has been a lot more
activity than action, but we are making progress on the people's
business.
But not everything we do here is legislative in nature. Senator Pryor
and I had the opportunity to chair the National Prayer Breakfast in
February, a nonofficial, nonpartisan, and nondenominational gathering
of people from all over the world who are seeking better ways to
connect with each other and find strength beyond ourselves. Many of our
colleagues in the House and Senate participated. For their reference
and for the benefit of other interested readers of this Record, I ask
unanimous consent that a copy of a transcript of the event, including a
very interesting talk by U2 lead singer and humanitarian Bono, be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Senator Mark Pryor: Good morning. Thank you very much for
being here. I am Senator Mark Pryor, from Arkansas, and I am
one of the co-chairs of this event along with my very good
friend Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota. We are so grateful
that you have come from every state in the Union, and from
160 nations around the world. To start us out on an uplifting
and prayerful note, I am happy to introduce Karen Mason from
Little Rock, Arkansas. She has a song to share today about
gratitude, and it expresses how we all are feeling today.
Mrs. Karen Mason: Psalm 100 says that protocol for coming
into the presence of our heavenly King is to enter into His
gates with thanksgiving, to come into His presence with
gratitude, with a heart of gratefulness, and this song is my
song of gratitude to my heavenly King.
(Song.) (Applause.)
Senator Norm Coleman: Good morning, folks, I am Senator
Norm Coleman, from the state of Minnesota, and before we
enjoy our breakfast and more fellowship around the tables, I
would like to introduce our head table's special guests and
say a few words of grace. To my far left, Karen Mason, and
the four women from Point of Grace, who will be introduced
later in the program. Next to them is Senator David Vitter
from Louisiana, then we have Senator Barack Obama, Illinois'
new senator. Next to him is someone who we will introduce
more fully later, for now one word will suffice--Bono. Next
to him is my wife Laurie, whose love and support has brought
me to this moment. On the other end, we have Congressman
Lincoln Davis from Tennessee. Next to him we have
Representative Tom Osborne of Nebraska, we will just call him
Coach. Next to him is Senator Ken Salazar from Colorado. Then
we have Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from the great state of
Texas. Next, a former main speaker at this event, Senator Joe
Lieberman of Connecticut, and next, a member of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael
Mullen. Finally, the spouse of my co-chair, Jill Pryor.
Let us pray to bless the food, which I will do in a moment.
But first I would like to recite the most holy prayer in
Judaism which is called the Shema, and I have prayed it since
I was a little boy.
Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai Elohaynu, Adonai Echad--Hear O
Israel, Adonai is your God, Adonai is your God. Barukh Shem
k'vod malkhuto l'olam va-ed--Blessed is the Name of His
glorious kingdom for ever and ever. V-ahavta et Adonai
Elohecha--you shall love the Lord your God--b-chol l'vavcha
u-v-chol naf'sh'cha u-v-chol m'odecha--with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.
We gather under the shelter of encouragement of Your love
today, to return thanks, to seek unity, to help the
suffering, and to work for peace. Almighty God, we thank You
for this food for our bodies and our hearts which we are
receiving this morning. Bless all who prepared it. Lord,
change us, and send us out of here different people than we
were when we walked in. Amein.
Enjoy the food and the fellowship around the table.
(Breakfast.)
Senator Coleman: We are going to begin the program. I am
happy to introduce my good friend Mark Pryor. He is a
Democrat from a red state.
Senator Pryor: And my good friend Norm Coleman who is a
Republican from a blue state and maybe that is why we get
along so well. (Laughter.)
Senator Coleman: We came to Washington together, and one of
the first things we heard from our senior colleagues was
Harry Truman's advice: If you want a friend in Washington,
buy a dog. The hardest thing in public life is not making
decisions, it is finding people you can trust to guide you
and encourage you to do the right thing.
Senator Pryor: And that is a real challenge, because with
every senator, every congressman, and every other leader who
is here, we got to where we are because of our friends.
Someone described public service as being like cutting
flowers from a garden and putting them in a vase--they look
great, but before too long they need some nourishment.
Senator Coleman: And for me that is what this breakfast and
our weekly breakfast group in the Senate is all about--
putting back in what the job takes out. You should already
know by now that what you are experiencing is a very big
public version of what we experience privately on a personal
scale every week in the Senate and in the House. People from
all kinds of backgrounds come together to share a meal,
deepen our relations, pray to God for His guidance and
blessings, and look for the inspiration to live our faith
more completely. We would also like to provide a special
welcome to four heads of state who have honored us with their
presence. President Miro Jovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Prime
Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam of Mauritius, Prime Minister
Said Musa of Belize, and King Abdullah bin al-Hussein II of
Jordan. (Applause.)
Senator Pryor: We hope that this breakfast is an
encouragement to you to do similar things where you live. I
want to read a few verses from the gospel of John, chapter
21. It says:
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples by the Sea
of Tiberias. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore,
but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He
called out to them, ``Friends, haven't you any fish?''
``No,'' they answered.
He said, ``Throw your net on the right side of the boat and
you will find some.'' When they did, they were unable to haul
the net in because of the large number of fish.
Jesus said to them, ``Bring some of the fish you have just
caught.''
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It
was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net
was not torn. Jesus said to them, ``Come and have
breakfast.''
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
``Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?''
``Yes, Lord,'' he said, ``you know that I love you.''
Jesus said, ``Feed my lambs.''
Again Jesus said, ``Simon son of John, do you truly love
me?''
He answered, ``Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.''
And Jesus said, ``Take care of my sheep.''
The third time he said to him, ``Simon son of John, do you
love me?''
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ``Do
you love me?'' He said, ``Lord, you know all things; you know
that I love you.''
Jesus said, ``Feed my sheep.''
That is the spirit in which we meet together today.
Senator Coleman: I am a tennis player, but not a very good
one. I read somewhere that
[[Page 21974]]
when you hit a tennis ball, it is only on the racket for a
tenth of a second. The rest is all backswing and follow-
through. The prayer breakfast is like that. We are here for
just a moment, but the months and years of work that went
into this event is the backswing, and hopefully there will be
years of fruitful follow-through.
Listen to the words of Psalm 100. May this be your
affirmation today as well.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord
with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that
the Lord is God. It is he who made us and we are his; we are
his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with
thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him
and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love
endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all
generations.
Senator Pryor: Amen to that. Norm, it has been a great
pleasure and joy for me to work with you on this prayer
breakfast, and seeing all these people it makes me feel like
we can do anything. What about next week we go in the office
and fix the federal budget deficit? (Laughter.)
Senator Coleman: You know, Mark, miracles do happen. One of
my favorite quotes was from David Ben-Gurion, first Prime
Minister of Israel, who said, ``Anybody who doesn't believe
in miracles is not a realist.'' (Laughter.)
Senator Pryor: Now to kick off the main part of the
program, I am going to introduce our second musical
selection. You've noticed we have music this morning. When
Moses led Israel out of Egypt, he also led them in song. King
David is recorded as writing and singing many, many songs.
The apostles of the first century are recorded on many
different occasions as singing songs. Music is an important
way in which we can express our faith. Point of Grace is four
young women with a passion for conveying the character of God
through music. This is a song about prayer and friendship
that expresses the heart of why we gather today. Ladies and
gentlemen, Point of Grace.
[Point of Grace woman]: Thank you so much, Senator Pryor,
for inviting us to be here today. It is a great honor, to be
here with all of you to celebrate not only our faith but the
great friendship that we all share. This is called ``Circle
of Friends.''
(Song.)
Senator Barack Obama: Good morning. Mr. President, Madam
First Lady, our speaker today, Bono, for the outstanding work
you are doing. Thank you all for being here. I offer a
reading from the letters to the Romans, chapter 12, verses 3
through 12:
``For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do
not think of yourselves more highly than you ought, but
rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance
with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of
us has one body with many members, and these members do not
all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form
one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's
gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his
faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching,
let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it
is contributing to the needs of others, let him give
generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently;
if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must
be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be
devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another
above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.''
Praise be to God.
Senator David Vitter: Good morning. I am David Vitter of
Louisiana.
Senator Ken Salazar: Good morning. I am Ken Salazar from
Colorado.
Senator Vitter: Ken and I both came to the U.S. Senate last
year.
Senator Salazar: We came from different regions of the
country, different parties, and different perspectives on
some issues, but we were both drawn to the Senate prayer
breakfast.
Senator Vitter: It is a truly wonderful refuge from the
bitter partisanship and win-at-any-cost atmosphere that,
unfortunately, we so often face outside that prayer circle.
Senator Salazar: As I said, Senator Vitter and I are
members of the United States Senate breakfast. At that
breakfast we pray together, Democrats and Republicans alike,
and put aside what are sometimes very divisive and bitter
political and policy differences. There we focus on our
common humanity and our faith in God. And like many of my
Republican and Democratic colleagues in the U.S. Senate and
those of you in this distinguished audience today, I grew up
in a family and a community with a deep and abiding faith,
and with a desire to translate our values into the service of
our neighbors and into the betterment of our nation and our
world. My own faith begins with my family. My family founded
one of the first settlements in the New World, and named that
city Santa Fe, the City of Holy Faith, in New Mexico. Over
the more than four centuries since that time, my family has
sacrificed and endured through war, poverty, death and
discrimination. Yet during those four centuries, we have
survived because of our faith that all of God's children have
within their minds and their hearts the ability to create a
more perfect and better world with the freedom and intellect
endowed upon us by our Creator.
As Jesus said in the book of John:
``If anyone says `I love God' and hates his neighbor, he is
a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen
cannot love God whom he has not seen.''
Let us pledge today to redouble our efforts to mend the
rifts that too often exist between religious traditions,
nations and political parties. Let us remember the love of
neighbor and love of God are linked by an unbreakable bond,
and that our lives and our work should be motivated by love
and compassion for our fellow man.
In closing I would like to share with you a prayer that is
very close to my heart, one that was created and given by
Cesar Chavez, the founder of the United Farm Workers of
America. There he says, ``Let the spirit flourish and grow,
so that we will never tire of the struggle. Let us remember
those who have died for justice, for they have given us life.
Help us love even those who hate us, so that we can change
the world.''
In conclusion, a part of a prayer that my family has handed
down over the centuries goes as follows: Infinitas gracias
damos, por tus grandes beneficios que asi sin hacer servicio,
nos das mas que merecemos. This means, in general, ``We thank
you infinitely, oh God, for all the great blessings that you
have given us.''
And today, God, we pray that you would continue to unite
our nation and our world.
Senator Vitter: I guess my family are newcomers to this
country compared to Ken's. We came from France to Louisiana
in the latter 1800s, but we share the same deep, rich
Catholic faith. At the Senate prayer breakfast I have talked
about the very Catholic concept of grace. It is God's
blessing given from above, unearned, undeserved. It is a very
un-Washington concept that we are not in control. And prayer
breakfasts have also deepened my sense of the power of
prayer. Amazing things can happen when we truly acknowledge
that we are not in control and ask for God's grace, however
unearned and undeserved.
These parts of my faith meant a lot to me this year, as we
were hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in my home state of
Louisiana and on the Gulf Coast. What better example of
humans not being in control. And they sustain me today as we
face the often overwhelming challenge of rebuilding, and the
even more worrisome thought that the country has forgotten or
moved on. So I call on that power of prayer this morning. I
ask for your real prayer commitment to the people of the Gulf
Coast. We all ask for God's grace, that He touch us, bless
us, awaken us to this and other great ongoing national
challenges. And I pray that we meet and not forget this test
of our national character here at home.
U.S. Representative Lincoln Davis: Mr. President, First
Lady, speakers, and musicians, on behalf of the U.S. House of
Representatives and my congressional co-chair of the prayer
breakfast, we welcome you today. I want to give you a brief
history. In 1942 the prayer breakfast groups were inaugurated
in both the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Later, in 1953, members of the Senate and House prayer groups
gathered together with President Eisenhower for prayer and
worship, to seek divine guidance for national leadership and
to reaffirm faith and dependence on God. This gathering
became known as the Presidential Prayer Breakfast until 1970,
when the name was changed to the National Prayer Breakfast in
order to put more emphasis on the gathering rather than the
individuals involved. In my mind this was a fitting thing to
do. And today, 64 years later, on the 54th anniversary of the
National Day of Prayer, we gather again to celebrate the
glory of faith. I am amazed at the amount of people who are
here from outside of our country, at this wonderful event,
highlighting the global nature of faith.
I would like to thank all the members of Congress and both
the House and Senate who are here today. This last year has
been a wonderful time for me every Thursday morning as we
gather in the House restaurant, and I have served as co-
chairman with the wonderful fellow, Coach, named Congressman
Tom Osborne. It has been a delight, and as we gather each
morning, as members of Congress share their lives, their
story about their family and their faith journey, it is one
of the best moments that we have.
When I first came to Congress in January of 2003, I quickly
found that the weekly prayer breakfast, where I would join
with my colleagues giving thanks to the Lord and ask for
guidance in our work for the country, was my favorite hour of
the week. For this reason I have always looked forward to the
prayer breakfasts. However, I truly believe that any amount
of time we spend in prayer are the best moments of our life,
and it helps us to continue with our faith. Thank you for
joining us this morning. My good friend, Tom Osborne.
U.S. Representative Tom Osborne: Thanks very much, Lincoln.
Mr. President and First Lady, it is good to be with you this
morning.
[[Page 21975]]
I see a lot of politicians out there, and it reminds me of
this event I went to not long ago. There were these three
politicians, and one guy said to them: okay, let's get to the
bottom of this thing--let's suppose you guys are laid out in
your coffins and people are walking by and they're talking
about you, what one thing would you want them to say about
you? The first politician said, I'd want somebody to walk by
and look down and say: this was an honest man. The second
politician said, I'd want somebody to walk by and look down
and say: this was a great family man. The third politician
said, yeah, I'd want somebody to walk by and look down and
say: I think he's still moving. (Laughter.)
Sometimes--at this time of the morning, that is about the
way you feel.
Lincoln covered the House prayer breakfast very well. Each
Thursday, 30 to 40 of us meet together, and the speakers are
always members of Congress. The interesting thing is, people
share their lives and talk about their families and their
hopes and their aspirations and their struggles, it seems
that the labels begin to come off--Republican, Democrat,
liberal, conservative, and on and on. You begin to see the
person behind the mask and you begin to see people as they
really are. Every time I have come away from that breakfast,
I have had a great appreciation and usually a genuine love
for that person as I have heard them talk about their life.
It has been an unwavering tradition that the only speakers
we have are members of Congress. But we were notified one day
that King Abdullah was going to come from Jordan, and, we
have had a senator or two come by but we have never had a
king before, so we didn't know what to do. We said, we had
better ask him to speak. And so he spoke, and it was really
an interesting morning, because he talked about his country,
he talked about things that were going on in the world, he
talked about the Koran, and then he talked about Jesus. It
was really a very meaningful time, because at that point I
began to realize that this person that we often put in a box,
and this person that often is so clearly identified with a
particular ideology, cuts across so many areas. And I know
that is why so many of you are here today from so many
countries, because of an interest in this particular topic.
Lincoln and I wanted to thank you and welcome you this
morning, and we certainly hope that you will experience God's
presence here as we meet today, and that the world will be a
better place for our having been here. Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
Senator Joseph Lieberman: Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, your
majesty King Abdullah, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests,
it is with great gratitude and joy that I greet you all, of
different faiths but all brothers and sisters in a shared
faith in God. In the language and spirit of the Hebrew Bible,
``B'rukhim ha-baim b'Shem Adonai''--Blessed be those who have
come in the name of the Lord.
I am greatly honored to have been asked this morning to
offer prayer for our national leaders. I pray that God will
open my lips so that my mouth may declare his praise.
In Genesis 2:7 it is written that God formed the man of
dust from the ground, and he blew into his nostrils the soul
of life, and man became a living being. In 1776, God moved
the founding generation of Americans to breathe a soul into
their new land and make it a living nation, when they
acknowledged the self-evident truth that there is a Creator,
and that he created us all equal, and that we are all endowed
by our Creator with unalienable rights, including among them
the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
and that governments are formed to secure those rights. That
declaration gave America not only its independence but its
purpose. And it was not just a national purpose but a global
purpose, because God's endowment of those rights was truly
not just to Americans but to all the men, women and children
of His creation. So I pray this morning that God will bless
America, and each American, as we work to advance our faith-
based purposes; to unite all of God's children here at home
and throughout the world; to support the causes of freedom,
opportunity, unity and hope, and defeat the evils of
oppression, poverty, illness, hatred and fear.
We pray, Lord, that you will hold our president and his
family and all national leaders in your hands, and protect
them and us as they lead us forward to achieve the humane and
universal mission you have given us, so that together we may
come to the day when the mountains will be made low and the
valleys will be raised up, when the crooked places will be
made straight and the rough places smooth. For on that day,
which we all pray and work for, the earth will surely be full
of the glory of God. Amen. (Applause.)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison: I am Senator Kay Bailey
Hutchison from Texas. Mr. President, First Lady Laura, King
Abdullah, Heads of State, and all distinguished visitors from
around the world and from our wonderful country. As
religious, community and political leaders, we deal with the
most difficult problems our people face. Complete success
frequently proves illusive, and the victories we do achieve
often come with setbacks and failures. A passage that renews
my energy and restores my focus is Second Corinthians chapter
4, verses 16 to 18:
``Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an
eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes
not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen
is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.'' (Applause.)
Admiral Michael G. Mullen: Good morning, Mr. President,
Mrs. Bush, other distinguished Heads of State, and
distinguished visitors. I am Admiral Mike Mullen, I am the
Chief of Naval Operations and this morning I represent the
Joint Chiefs of Staff. I am honored to be here and to have
this opportunity. I have been asked to say a few words about
myself which I don't do well but I will give it a shot. I
like to describe myself as a husband and father, an American,
a sailor in the United States Navy, and a naval officer, in
that order. I have been married for 35 years to my partner
for life, Deborah, and we are very proud of our two sons,
Jack and Michael, currently serving on active duty in the
Navy. I am originally from Los Angeles, son of hard-working
parents who moved out west after the Depression in search of
a better life. They found it there and gave it to me. I hold
their memories dear. Born and raised a Catholic, I also hold
my faith dear. I know its enormous power, have seen it with
my own eyes during countless visits with soldiers, sailors,
airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen employed in harm's way.
Just like the power of prayer, faith can move mountains. This
morning I ask you to join me. I would like to offer a prayer
for our world's leaders.
Father in heaven, we gather in prayer today to ask your
blessing over the lives and decisions of those who lead
nations around the world. It is a time of great challenge and
great adversity. Theirs is an especially mighty task and a
deeply noble calling. For upon the shoulders of our leaders
rests the hopes and the dreams of billions of people. From
the pen and from the podium, they direct the future not only
of this generation but of generations yet unborn. May you
guide them in that pursuit, oh Lord, and give them strength.
Help them serve with integrity and with compassion. Help them
choose love over hate, courage over fear, principle over
expediency. Let them find new and even better ways to be
providers and peace makers. Let them be guided from the
wisdom found in Romans 12, which tells us, ``Do not be
conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of
your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God. Let
love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is
good. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what
is noble in the sight of all.''
In the sight of all, oh Lord, let our leaders be noble and
learn from your example. Let them realize that to be right
with you is to be right. And finally, from this sailor to the
One who made the seas, be pleased to guide the ships of state
to safe harbor. In the face of storms and shoals and fainting
hearts, we trust you with everything we have, everything we
are, and everything we hope to be. You not only chart our
course, you help us hold the tiller. You brave the waves and
calm the waters. You really are Emmanuel, God with us. May
that truth be known today to those who lead our nations. With
grateful hearts we pray, Amen.
Senator Coleman: There are a lot of Catholics on this
program. Mr. President, I thought they were all on the
Supreme Court. (Laughter.)
In my day, I have introduced the president, I once
introduced Dr. Billy Graham, but as a former roadie for the
60s rock band Ten Years After, this ranks right up there as
one of the high points of my introducing career. Mark and I
were joking about this earlier, this kind of makes us the
rhetorical warm-up act for U2. (Laughter.)
Our message today comes from a person who has gotten the
attention of the world by walking with God, talking about
things that matter, and letting his light shine. He is an
extraordinary musician, charismatic leader, and is
unabashedly, uniquely himself. We have an expression that a
celebrity is a person who is famous for being famous. But our
speaker this morning is known around the world as a person of
conscience, a person of influence, but most of all, a person
of faith. His organization is called DATA--Debt, AIDS, Trade
in Africa. They are working to bring people, organizations,
leaders and politicians together to make a unified effort to
change the future of Africa.
He has come to challenge us, to reach across the
boundaries, to care for the poor and to walk the talk of our
faith. Ladies and gentlemen, Bono. (Applause.)
Bono: Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. President, First
Lady, King Abdullah, other heads of state, distinguished
guests. Please join me in praying that I don't say something
we will all regret. That was for the FCC.
If you are wondering what I am doing here at a prayer
breakfast, well so am I. I am certainly not here as a man of
the cloth, unless that cloth is leather. And I am certainly
not here because I am a rock star, which leaves only one
possible explanation: I have got a messianic complex. It is
true. And to anyone who knows me, it is hardly a revelation.
[[Page 21976]]
I am the first to admit that there is something unnatural,
something even unseemly about rock stars mounting the pulpit
and preaching at presidents, then disappearing to their
villas in the south of France. Talk about a fish out of
water. It was weird enough to have Jesse Helms come to a rock
show. But, this is really weird, isn't it?
One of the things I love about this country is the
separation of Church and State--although I have to say in
inviting me here both Church and State have been separated
from something else completely: their mind!
Mr. President, are you sure about this? It is very
humbling, and I will try to keep my homily brief. But be
warned: I am Irish.
I would like to talk about the laws of man, here in this
city, where those laws are written. I would like to talk
about higher laws. It would be great to assume that one
serves the other, that the laws of man serve these higher
laws, but of course they don't always. I presume, in a way,
that that is why you are all here. I presume the reason for
this gathering is that all of us here--Muslims, Jews,
Christians--are searching our souls for how to better serve
our family, our community, our nation, our God. And some of
us are not very good examples, despite what Norm says.
I am certainly searching, and that, I suppose, is what led
me here. Yes, it is odd, having a rock star at the breakfast.
But maybe it is odder for me than for you, because, you see,
I have avoided religious people most of my life. Maybe it has
something to do with my having a father who was a Protestant
and a mother who was a Catholic in a country where the line
between the two was, quite literally, often a battle line;
where the line between Church and State was, at the very
least, a little blurry and hard to see.
I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on
Sundays and my father used to wait outside. One of the things
that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense
that religion often gets in the way of God. For me, at least,
it got in the way, seeing what religious people, in the name
of God, did to my native land. And even in this country,
seeing God's second-hand car salesmen on the TV cable
channels offering indulgences for cash. In fact, all over the
world, seeing the self-righteous roll down like a mighty
stream from certain corners of the religious establishment. I
must confess, I changed the channel. I wanted my MTV.
So, even though I was a believer, and perhaps because I was
a believer, I was cynical--not about God, but about God's
politics.
In 1997, a couple of eccentric septuagenarian British
Christians went and ruined my shtick, my reproachfulness.
They did it by describing the Millennium, the year 2000, as a
Jubilee year; as an opportunity to cancel the chronic debts
of the world's poorest people. They had the audacity to renew
the Lord's call and were joined by Pope John Paul II, who,
from an Irish half-Catholic's point of view, may have had a
little more of a direct line to the Almighty, to declare the
Year of Jubilee.
So Jubilee. Why Jubilee? What was this Year of Jubilee,
this year of our Lord's favor? I had always read the
Scriptures, actually, even the obscure stuff. There it was in
Leviticus 25:35:
``If your brother becomes poor, and cannot maintain
himself, you shall maintain him. You shall not lend him your
money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.''
Jubilee is such an important idea that Jesus begins his
ministry with this. Jesus is a young man, he has met with the
rabbis, he has impressed everybody, people are talking. The
elders say, he is a clever guy, this Jesus, but, he has not
done much, yet. He has not spoken in public before. When he
does, his first words are from Isaiah: ``The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the good
news to the poor.'' And Jesus proclaims the year of the
Lord's favor, the year of Jubilee in Luke 4:18. What he was
really talking about was an era of grace, and we are still in
it.
So fast-forward 2,000 years. That same thought--grace--is
now incarnate in a movement of all kinds of people. It was
not a bless-me club, it was not a holy huddle. These
religious guys were willing to get out in the streets, get
their boots dirty, wave the placards, follow their
convictions with actions, making it really hard for people
like me to keep our distance--ruining my shtick. I almost
started to like these church people.
But then my cynicism got another helping hand. It was what
Colin Powell, a five-star general, called the greatest W.M.D.
of them all: a tiny little virus called A.I.D.S. And the
religious community, in large part, missed it. The ones that
did not miss it could only see it as divine retribution for
bad behavior--even on children? Even if the fastest-growing
group of HIV infections were married, faithful women?
Ah, there they go, I thought to myself. Judgmentalism is
back. But in truth, I was wrong again. The Church was slow
but the Church got busy on this the leprosy of our age. Love
was on the move. Mercy was on the move. God was on the move.
Moving people of all kinds to work with others they had never
met, never would have cared to meet. We had conservative
church groups hanging out with spokesmen from the gay
community, all singing off the same hymn sheet on AIDS. See,
miracles do happen. And we had hip-hop stars and country
stars. This is what happens when God gets on the move. Crazy,
crazy stuff happens. Popes were seen wearing sunglasses!
Jesse Helms had a ghetto blaster now! Evidence of the Spirit
moving--it was breathtaking. It literally stopped the world
in its tracks.
When churches started demonstrating on debt, governments
listened--and acted. When churches started organizing,
petitioning, and even that most unholy of acts today, God
forbid, lobbying on AIDS and global health, governments
listened--and acted. I am here today in all humility to say:
you changed minds, you changed policy, and you changed the
world. So thank you. (Applause.)
Check Judaism. Check Islam. Check pretty much anyone. God
may well be with us in our mansions on the hill. I hope so.
He may well be with us in all manner of controversial stuff.
Maybe, maybe not. But the one thing we can all agree on--all
faiths, all ideologies--is that God is with the vulnerable
and poor. God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where
the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who
has infected her child with a virus that will end both their
lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God
is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is
with us if we are with them. (Applause.)
``If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of
the finger and the speaking of wickedness, and if you give
yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the
afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your
gloom will become like midday, and the Lord will continually
guide you and satisfy your desire even in scorched places.''
It is not a coincidence that in the Scriptures poverty is
mentioned more than 2,100 times. It is not an accident. That
is a lot of air time. The only time Jesus Christ is
judgmental is on the subject of the poor, Matthew 25:40: ``As
you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you
have done it unto me.''
As I say, good news to the poor. Here is some good news for
you, Mr. President. After 9-11, we were told America would
have no time for the world's poor. We were told America would
be taken up with its own problems of safety. And while it is
true that these are dangerous times, America has not drawn
the blinds and double-locked the doors. In fact, you have
doubled aid to Africa. You have tripled funding for global
health. And Mr. President, your emergency plan for AIDS
relief and support of the Global Fund--yours' and Congress'--
have put 700,000 people onto life-saving anti-retroviral
drugs and provided eight million bed nets to protect children
from malaria. (Applause.)
Outstanding human achievements. Counterintuitive, I think
you will admit, but historic. You should be very, very proud.
But here is the bad news: There is so much more to do. There
is a gigantic chasm between the scale of the emergency and
the scale of the response.
And finally--getting to higher levels, higher callings--
this is not about charity in the end, is it? It is about
justice, the good news yet to come. I just want to repeat
that: This is not about charity, it is about justice. And
that is too bad. Because we are good at charity. Americans as
well as the Irish are good at charity. We like to give and we
give a lot, even those who cannot afford it. But justice is a
higher standard. Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice;
it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our
pieties, it doubts our concern, and it questions our
commitment. 6,500 Africans are still dying every day of
preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy
at any drugstore. This is not about charity; this is about
justice and equality. Because there is no way we can look at
what is happening in Africa and, if we are honest, conclude
that deep down, we would let it happen anywhere else, if we
really accepted that Africans are equal to us. And I say that
humbled in the company of a man with an African father.
Look at what happened in Southeast Asia with the Tsunami.
150,000 lives lost to the greatest misnomer of all misnomers,
Mother Nature. Well, in Africa, 150,000 lives are lost every
month--a tsunami every month. And it is a completely
avoidable catastrophe.
It is annoying, but justice and equality are mates, aren't
they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And
equality is a real pain.
You think of these Jewish sheep-herders going to meet with
the Pharaoh, mud on their shoes, and the Pharaoh goes,
``Equal? Equal?'' And they say, ``Yeah, that is what it says
here in the Book--we are all made in the image of God, sir.''
Eventually the Pharaoh says, ``Look, I can accept that. I can
accept the Jews--but not the blacks. Not the women. Not the
gays. Not the Irish. No way.'' So on we go with the journey
of equality. On we go in the pursuit of justice.
We hear that call in the ONE Campaign, a growing movement
of more than two million Americans--five million by the next
election, I can promise you--united in the belief that where
you live should no longer determine whether you live.
We hear that call even more powerfully today, when we mourn
the loss of Coretta Scott King, mother of a movement for
equality, one that changed the world but is only really
getting started, because these issues
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are as alive as they ever were; they just change shape and
they cross the seas.
Preventing the poorest of the poor from selling their
products while we sing the virtues of the free market--that
is not charity, that is a justice issue. Holding children to
ransom for the debts of their grandparents--that is not
charity, that is a justice issue. Withholding life-saving
medicines out of deference to the Office of Patents--that is
not charity, that is a justice issue. And while the law is
what we say it is, God is not silent on the subject. That is
why I say there are laws of the land and then there is a
higher standard. And we can hire experts to write them so
they benefit us, so that these laws say that it is okay to
protect our agriculture but it is not okay for African
farmers to protect their agriculture, to earn a living. As
the laws of man are written, that is what they say. But God
will not accept that. Mine will not. Will yours?
I close this morning on very thin ice, probably. This is a
dangerous idea I have put on the table here: my God versus
your God, their God versus our God, versus no God. It is very
easy in these times to see religion as a force for division
rather than unity. And Washington is a town that knows
something of division. But the reason I am here, and the
reason I keep coming back, is because Washington is a town
that is proving it can come together on behalf of what the
Scriptures call ``the least of these.'' It is not a
Republican idea, it is not a Democratic idea, it is not even,
with all due respect, an American idea, nor is it unique to
any one faith.
``Do to others as you would have them do to you.'' Jesus
says that.
``Righteousness is this: that one should give away wealth
out of love for Him to the near of kin and to the orphans and
the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for the
emancipation of the captives.'' The Koran says that.
``Thus sayeth the Lord: Bring the homeless poor into your
house. When you see the naked, cover him. Then your light
will break out like the dawn and your recovery will spring
forth speedily; then the Lord will be your rear guard.'' The
Jewish Scripture says that. Isaiah 58 again. It is a very
powerful incentive: The Lord will watch your back. Sounds
like a good deal to me, especially right now. (Applause.)
A number of years ago, I met a wise man who changed my
life, in countless ways, big and small. I was always seeking
the Lord's blessing. I would be saying, look, I have got a
new song, look after it. I have a family, and I am going away
on tour, please look after them. I have this crazy idea,
could I have a blessing on it. And this wise man asked me to
stop. He said stop asking God to bless what you are doing.
Get involved in what God is doing, because it is already
blessed.
Let's get involved in what God is doing. God, as I say, is
always with the poor. That is what God is doing, and that is
what He is calling us to do.
I was amazed when I first got to this country and I learned
how much some churchgoers tithe: up to ten percent of the
family budget. How does that compare with the federal budget,
the budget for the entire American family? How much of that
goes to the poorest people in the world? It is less than one
percent of the federal budget.
Mr. President, Congress, people of faith, people of
America, I want to suggest to you today that you see the flow
of effective foreign assistance as tithing, which to be truly
meaningful will mean an additional one percent of the federal
budget tithed to the poor. And what is that one percent that
we are asking for in the ONE campaign? It is not merely a
number on a balance reader pulled out of the air. One percent
is the girl in Africa who gets to go to school, thanks to
you. One percent is the AIDS patient who gets her medicine,
thanks to you. One percent is the African entrepreneur who
can start a small family business, thanks to you. One percent
is not redecorating presidential palaces. One percent must
not be--or do not give it--money down a rat hole. This one
percent is digging waterholes to provide clean water, like I
saw with Bill Frist in Uganda. That is what we are asking
for. (Applause.)
One percent is a new partnership with Africa, not
paternalism towards Africa, where increased assistance flows
toward improved governance and initiatives with proven track
records and away from the boondoggles and white elephants
that we have seen before.
America gives less than one percent now. We are asking for
an extra one percent to change the world, to transform
millions of lives--and I say this to the military men now not
just transform hundreds of thousands of communities, indeed
millions, but transform the way they see us, which might be
smart in these dangerous times. One percent is national
security. One percent is enlightened economic self-interest,
and a better, safer world rolled into one. Sounds to me that
in this town of deals and compromises, one percent is the
best bargain around.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Senator Pryor: Thank you.
You may know, friends, that the National Prayer Breakfast
came into being as a way to support and encourage the
president and his family. Back in the 1950s, newly elected
Dwight Eisenhower declared to a close friend in the Senate,
``I live in the loneliest house in the world.'' President
Eisenhower was invited to be part of a small, private Senate
breakfast group which is still meeting today. At some point
one of the people in that group declared, ``It sure would be
an encouragement to the nation to know we are meeting like
this.'' And so the first National Prayer Breakfast was held.
The model of leaders meeting in private to share their lives,
their testimony, and to pray has spread, and this is
spreading to scores of nations around the world.
This morning we are honored to have our first couple with
us. Mrs. Bush, we want to express the comfort and reassurance
we have felt from your loving personality. Thank you.
(Applause.)
And now, Mr. President, we want you to know that we all
pray for you. The awesome burdens you carry are beyond
anything any of us can even imagine. We thank you for being a
man of real faith and of prayer. It is evident that this is a
deep, personal faith. And I want to thank you for encouraging
people of faith to take a larger role in our society. I
remember the story of the people coming around Moses, to hold
up his arms as he led the people. We have come here today to
do that for you.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to introduce the
President of the United States.
President George W. Bush: Thank you all. (Applause.)
Thanks for the warm welcome. Laura and I are delighted to
be here. This lovely personality said this morning: keep your
remarks short. (Laughter.)
I appreciate this prayer breakfast a lot, and I appreciate
the spirit in which it was formed. Ike said he was living in
the loneliest house in America--but what he forgot to say is:
the rent is pretty good. (Laughter.)
It is great to be here with distinguished guests from all
around the world. Your Majesty and Prime Ministers and former
Prime Ministers, friends with whom I have the honor to work,
you are welcome here. I appreciate the fact that people from
different walks of life, different faiths have joined us. Yet
I believe we share one thing in common: We are united in our
dedication to peace and tolerance and humility before the
Almighty. (Applause.)
I want to thank Senators Pryor and Coleman for putting on
this breakfast. I appreciate Senator Frist, Representative
Blunt, Representative Pelosi, other members of the United
States Congress who have joined us on the dais and who are
here for this breakfast. I thank the members of my Cabinet
who are here. Get back to work. Laughter.)
I find it interesting that the music is from Arkansas.
(Laughter.) I am glad it is, because they know how to sing
down there. (Laughter.)
I was trying to figure out what to say about Bono, and a
story jumped to mind about this really good Texas preacher.
And he got going in a sermon and a fellow jumped up in the
back and said, ``Use me, Lord, use me.'' The preacher ignored
him and finished his sermon. The next Sunday, the preacher
gets up and is cranking on another sermon when the guy jumps
up again and says, ``Use me, Lord, use me.'' After the
service, the preacher walked up to him and said, ``If you're
serious, I'd like for you to paint the pews.'' Next Sunday,
he's preaching, the guy stands up and says, ``Use me, Lord,
use me, but only in an advisory capacity.'' (Laughter.)
So I have gotten to know Bono. (Laughter.) He is a doer.
The thing about this good citizen of the world is that he has
used his position to get things done. You are an amazing guy,
Bono. God bless you. (Applause.)
It is fitting we have a National Prayer Breakfast, because
our nation is a nation of prayer. In America, we do not
prescribe any prayer. We welcome all prayer. We are a nation
founded by men and women who came to these shores seeking to
worship the Almighty freely. From these prayerful beginnings
God has greatly blessed the American people, and through our
prayers we give thanks to the true source of our blessings.
Americans remain a prayerful people today. I know this
firsthand. I cannot tell you the number of times while
traveling out there in our country, people walk up, total
strangers, and say, Mr. President, I am praying for you and
your family. It is one of the great blessings of the
presidency, and one of the most wonderful gifts a person can
give any of us who have the responsibility to govern justly.
So I thank my fellow citizens for their gracious prayers and
wonderful gifts.
Every day, millions of Americans pray for the safety of our
troops, for the protection of innocent life, and for the
peace we all hope for. Americans continue to pray for the
recovery of the wounded, and to pray for the Almighty's
comfort on those who have lost a loved one. We give thanks
daily for the brave and decent men and women who wear our
nation's uniform, and we thank their families as well.
In this country we recognize prayer is a gift from God to
every human being. It is a gift that allows us to come before
our Maker with heartfelt requests and our deepest hopes.
Prayer reminds us of our place in God's creation. It reminds
us that when we
[[Page 21978]]
bow our heads or fall to our knees, we are all equal and
precious in the eyes of the Almighty.
In prayer, we are reminded that we are never alone in our
personal trials or individual suffering. In prayer, we offer
our thanksgiving and praise, recognizing our lives, our
talents and all that we own ultimately flow from the Creator.
And in these moments of our deepest gratitude, the Almighty
reminds us that for those to whom much has been given, much
is required.
In prayer, we open ourselves to God's priority, especially
His charge to feed the hungry, to reach out to the poor, to
bring aid to the widow or the orphan. By surrendering our
will to God's will, we learn to serve His eternal purposes.
Through prayer, our faith is strengthened, our hearts are
humbled and our lives are transformed. Prayer encourages us
to go out into the world and serve.
In our country we recognize our fellow citizens are free to
profess any faith they choose, or no faith at all. You are
equally American if you are a Jew or a Christian or Muslim.
You are equally American if you choose not to have faith. It
is important America never forget the great freedom to
worship as you so choose. (Applause.)
What I have found in our country, that whatever our faith,
millions of Americans answer the universal call to love your
neighbor just like you would like to be loved yourself. Over
the past five years we have been inspired by the ways that
millions of Americans have answered that call. In the face of
terrorist attacks and devastating natural disasters here and
around the world, the American people have shown their faith
in action again and again. After Katrina, volunteers from
churches and mosques and synagogues and other faith-based and
community groups opened up their hearts and their homes to
the displaced. We saw an outpouring of compassion after the
earthquake in Pakistan and the tsunami that devastated entire
communities. We live up to God's calling when we provide help
for HIV/AIDS victims on the continent of Africa and around
the world. In millions of acts of kindness, we have seen the
good heart of America.
The true strength of this country is not in our military
might or in the size of our wallet, it is in the hearts and
souls of the American people. (Applause.)
I was struck by the comment of a fellow who was rescued
from the Gulf Coast and given shelter. He said, ``I didn't
think there was so much love in the world.''
This morning we come together to recognize the source of
that great love. We come together before the Almighty in
prayer, to reflect on God's will, to seek His aid, and to
respond to His grace.
I want to thank you for the fine tradition you continue
here today. I pray that our nation will always have the
humility to commend our cares to Providence and trust in the
goodness of His plans.
May God bless you all. (Applause.)
Senator Coleman: Thank you, Mr. President. Senator Pryor
said that we all pray for you and we want to reiterate that.
We know that prayer changes people and prayer changes
history, and we send you and the First Lady off with our love
and gratitude for spending time with us this morning. We
promise to pray like all depends on our prayers. God bless
the President and his wife.
We are now going to have a concluding song.
(Song.) [``Waiting in the Wings.''] (Applause.)
Senator Coleman: Ladies and gentlemen, Point of Grace.
Senator Pryor: It has been a great morning, hasn't it?
(Applause.)
One of the highlights of the year of preparation for this
prayer breakfast was for Norm and me to place a phone call to
Dr. Billy Graham. And, as most of you know, he was deeply
involved, and has been deeply involved, in many prayer
breakfasts, especially the early ones. In years past he has
been very involved in the National Prayer Breakfast and has
helped us develop this model over the last 54 years.
Senator Coleman: We were asking if Dr. Graham could be with
us this morning to say our closing prayer but he said that
his health would not allow him to travel. But he wanted us
all to greet you in the name of the Lord and he said that he
would be right here with us praying. He is a national
treasure, and we know his prayers have been answered today.
We ask that God would sustain him and continue to give him
voice to bring our nation and our world together.
And now we have a very special moment to conclude in
prayer. When we began to put this breakfast together
beginning almost a year ago, our prayer was that it not just
be another annual event, but that it address the deepest
needs of the world that are unique to this moment in time and
history. In the messages we have heard from Bono and the
President, we have touched the heart of the world situation
today. In addition, we would like all to welcome to the
podium a very distinguished guest, a courageous leader in the
pursuit of peace in the Middle East, King Abdullah bin al-
Hussein II of Jordan. Your Majesty, please join us up here.
(Applause.)
King Abdullah bin al-Hussein II: Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-
Rahim--In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
My friend Bono, Senator Coleman, Senator Pryor, all of you,
thank you very much for the honor to stand with you today, as
a brother with people of faith, to reaffirm our common values
and beliefs. The principles that we gather to recognize today
are grounded in the firmest of foundations, our scriptural
heritage.
For Muslims, the essence of the Koran is its opening
chapter, Al-Fatiha, each of whose verses echoes the teachings
of the Torah and the Gospels. The Koran begins, ``In the name
of God, the Infinitely Good, the All-Merciful.'' This
reflects the famous verse of the Psalms, ``We will remember
the name of our Lord.'' The next line of the Koran, ``Praise
be to God, the Lord of the worlds'' reminds us of the words
of the Psalm, ``Let every thing that has breath praise the
Lord.'' The following line, ``the Infinitely Good, the All-
Merciful,'' reaffirms the Psalm ``gracious is the Lord and
righteous.'' Yes, our God is merciful. The Koran then
confirms that God is master of the day of judgment, as does
the Good Book: ``He has prepared his throne for judgment. He
shall judge the world in righteousness.''
The last three lines of the Fatiha are supplication. ``Thee
we worship and Thee we ask for help. Guide us upon the
straight path, the path of those on whom is Thy grace, not
those upon whom is anger nor those who are astray.'' This
recalls the final words that Jesus--may peace and blessings
be upon him--taught us in the Lord's Prayer: ``And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is
the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.''
I now ask you all to join in a special prayer for the
Middle East, that not one more generation will grow up
knowing conflict and injustice, nor suffer from poverty or
oppression; that not one more family will lose a loved one to
war and bitterness; and that together, Muslim, Jew and
Christian, we can create a new future for the Holy Land, a
future of hope, a future of promise, a future of peace.
Let us remember the words of Amos, the words that Dr.
Martin Luther King urged for all peoples and all time: ``Let
justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a
mighty stream.'' Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Senator Pryor: Let us pray. Lord, we are grateful for your
presence among us. You made us and you love us, so to be in
your presence is what our lives are all about. We stand as
people from all walks of life, many backgrounds and
traditions, as a circle of friends. We know your love waits
in the wings, and we ask you to bring it onto the world
stage. We grieve for our fellow human beings who suffer the
pain and hardship and bereavement of war and disease. We pray
especially for the children. May they somehow escape the
destruction, the mental scars that would lead them to want to
make war in their own adulthood. Lord, as your servant the
King has asked, we pray for the peace of the Middle East. We
pray that you would restrain the forces of evil, and raise up
and propel forward the leaders of peace.
Senator Coleman: Lord, we pray for the people of Africa. We
pray that we would each individually in our roles as leaders
allow our hearts to be broken by the things that break the
heart of the Lord. May we join together in medical solutions
and financial solutions and economic solutions which rescue
that continent from the problems that it has. We thank you
for the joy and faith of the African people. May their
example of grace in the face of suffering inspire us all. And
Lord, that which we pray for, give us the strength to work
for. And together may we say the ancient benediction from the
Torah: The Lord bless you and keep you.
Senator Pryor: The Lord make his face shine upon you and be
gracious to you.
Senators Coleman and Pryor: The Lord turn his face toward
you and give you peace. And all of God's people together
said: Amen.
Senator Coleman: Thank you all for coming and go in peace.
(Applause.)
____________________
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
______
RETIREMENT OF JEROLD L. HARRIS
Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, today I wish to publicly
recognize Jerold L. Harris, president and CEO of U.S. AgBank, FCB, in
Wichita, KS. Jerold will retire in January 2007 following a 43-year
career in the Farm Credit System.
Jerold is a native of South Dakota, growing up near Denby. He
attended high school in Gordon, NE, just across the State line. After
receiving a bachelor's degree in agricultural business from Colorado
State University in 1963, he went to work for the Farm Credit System,
where he has served agriculture and rural America ever since.
Throughout his distinguished career, Jerold has demonstrated a
positive leadership style based on cooperation, mutual respect, and
trust. His focus has always been on working toward solutions that serve
all of agriculture. He
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exemplifies a statement he often quotes, ``There is no limit to
progress when people work together.'' Jerold has certainly demonstrated
this throughout his career.
One particular achievement stands out during Jerold's 43 years of
service. In January 2002, the Western Farm Credit Bank in Sacramento,
CA, entered into a joint management agreement with the Farm Credit Bank
of Wichita, KS. The board of directors named Jerold as president and
chief executive officer. Under this agreement, Jerold combined the
operations of these two banks while developing and implementing a
merger strategy that resulted in the merger of the two banks and the
formation of U.S. AgBank, FCB, effective October 1, 2003. A milestone
was achieved with the unanimous approval of the merger by all voting
stockholders. Following the merger, Jerold quickly leveraged the
operational and financial strengths of the previous organizations and
achieved the cost savings anticipated in the joint management agreement
and merger. He focused the new organization on supporting associations
in their objective of service to farmers and ranchers. He capitalized
on the synergies created by the merger, increasing patronage and
lowering costs to associations affiliated with U.S. AgBank. Significant
credit goes to Jerold for establishing a culture within the new
district that is based on trust and mutual respect between the bank and
associations. Today, U.S. AgBank covers all or parts of 11 States and
has total assets of almost $20 billion.
While leading U.S. AgBank, or one of its predecessor institutions,
Jerold implemented utilization of continuous improvement strategies
that resulted in streamlined Bank operations, improved effectiveness of
services provided to associations, and reduced costs. He improved
competitive pricing and established effective asset/liability
management, new loan products, sophisticated profitability measurement,
and cost accounting systems. A correspondent lending function, focused
on the purchase of large loan participations, was developed under his
leadership. He also led the formation of AgVantis, Inc., a technology
service provider for Farm Credit System institutions. Direct lender
agricultural credit associations and Federal land credit associations
were formed and patronage programs that resulted in payment of
significant amounts of patronage to Associations were implemented on
his watch.
There is an old saying that a true warrior must be tested under fire.
Many of you will remember the 1980s as a very difficult time for
agriculture. From 1986 thru 1990, Jerold was the chief executive
officer of the jointly managed Ninth District Federal Land Bank
Association and Ninth District Production Credit Association. These
entities were formed from the merger of 40 farm credit associations
during that difficult agricultural lending climate. Jerold was
successful in establishing an effective management structure for the
new associations and achieved financial stability by significantly
reducing risk and nonearning assets and focusing the organization on
customer service. As agricultural conditions improved, Jerold developed
and implemented a reorganization plan for the two associations,
resulting in the establishment of six new production credit
associations and eight new Federal land bank associations. While the
1980s may not be remembered by many in agriculture as a time of great
reward, Jerold demonstrated the same ability to work with people and
achieve great things in the difficult times, as he did when agriculture
was more prosperous.
During his career, Jerold held numerous leadership positions of
progressively increasing responsibility and impact in the Farm Credit
System. Jerold has served as a loan officer, an appraiser, a recruiter
and a trainer, a supervisor and a manager, a leader and a follower, but
always with the same dedication and sense of purpose. He mentored a
long list of people who continue to serve Farm Credit and agriculture
today, many of whom are in senior positions all around the Farm Credit
System.
But Jerold's service was not only on the local or district level, he
also served on numerous national or system-wide boards and leadership
groups. Jerold served 15 years as a member of the Farm Credit System
Presidents Planning Committee, during 3 of which he served as chairman.
Jerold also served 11 years on the board of directors of the Federal
Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation, with 3 of those years as
chairman. He also serves on the board of directors of the National
Council of Farmer Cooperatives, NCFC, and is a member of the NCFC
Executive Council.
Jerold is a familiar face here in Washington, DC. He has represented
the Farm Credit System by testifying before the Senate and House
Agriculture Committees of the U.S. Congress on numerous occasions.
Jerold has always believed in honoring one's responsibilities locally
but has also shown that it is possible to support initiatives that will
provide benefits for the ``greater good'' of agriculture as well as
those system borrowers and owners he served. His honesty and integrity,
keen intelligence, and an understanding of people has earned him the
respect of his peers, workers, the boards he has served, and the
farmers and ranchers he has represented and served.
Jerold's tireless efforts to improve agriculture and rural America
will be truly missed. His countless contributions and leadership,
including his steady voice of reason, helped ensure access to credit
for both those who were and many who were not Farm Credit System
borrowers. His accomplishments speak volumes about his dedication to
agriculture and the people who work in agriculture.
Jerold and his wife Janet are looking forward to his retirement as an
opportunity to see old friends, travel to new places, and do a little
fishing. It is a great pleasure for me to share his impressive record
of service with my colleagues in the Senate, and I hope this U.S.
Senate record will stand as an inspiration to others.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO ROBERTA TILL-RETZ
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, today, I wish to pay tribute to a
very special Iowan, Roberta Till-Retz, who is retiring this month after
more than two and a half decades as a scholar and leader at the
University of Iowa Labor Center.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that ``the arc of history is long,
but it bends toward justice.'' I would add, however, that it doesn't
bend all by itself. It does so because of the dedication, passion, and
tireless strivings of people like Roberta Till-Retz.
In addition to her work as an instructor at the University of Iowa
Labor Center, Roberta has worn many other hats. She has been a prolific
author, a respected scholar, an enormously popular teacher, a mentor to
up-and-coming union activists, and a valued consultant to the labor
community, not just in Iowa but nationally.
One key to Roberta's success is that she is both a student of
organized labor and also a deeply experienced veteran of the labor
movement. Over the years, she has served as executive director of the
Iowa Federation of Labor's Iowa Labor History Oral Project, as vice
president of the United Association for Labor Education, and as book
review editor for the Labor Studies Journal.
Here in Washington, we are daily witness to the persuasion of power.
By contrast, Roberta's trademark is the power of persuasion, the
passion of her advocacy. She is deeply committed to social and economic
justice, and that is what drives her dedication to unions and
collective bargaining. The lesson she has taught to thousands of
students down through the years is that it was organized labor that
fought for and won the minimum wage, the 40-hour workweek, safe
workplace standards, workman's compensation, decent pensions, and
health insurance. And out of those victories emerged the great middle
class in this country.
So I salute Roberta Till-Retz for a job brilliantly done. As long as
I have known her, she has always had a tank full of enthusiasm and a
heart full of
[[Page 21980]]
dreams, so I am sure that she will continue to contribute powerfully to
the family of organized labor in Iowa and nationally.
Our beloved late colleague, Senator Paul Wellstone, said that ``the
future belongs to those with passion.'' By that standard, Roberta has a
very bright future. And I wish her the very best.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO EAGLE SCOUT STEPHEN CRAYNER
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today I congratulate a remarkable
young Hoosier and fellow Eagle Scout, Stephen Crayner.
Since becoming an Eagle Scout on April 22, 2004, an extraordinary
achievement in itself, Stephen has continued to work diligently to
improve himself and his community, eventually earning all 121 merit
badges offered by the Boy Scouts. This dedication has earned him the
distinguished rank of Eagle Scout with Three Silver Palms.
During my time in the Scouting program, I learned many important
lessons about leadership, organization, and community spirit. For the
troop to be a successful unit, each member must learn to take
initiative and offer ideas and energy. He must also develop the ability
to work in a team environment, and therefore accept the challenge of
compromise and negotiation. Finally, the activities and the efforts of
the Scouting program reflect a commitment to community involvement.
Stephen's mastery of these lessons will serve him well in the years
ahead.
I also appreciate this opportunity to congratulate the members of
Stephen's family who have played such a large role in his many
accomplishments. Stephen's father David served as Scoutmaster, and his
mother Libby has volunteered extensively to support the troop. It is
telling that Stephen's two older brothers, William and Benjamin, have
also earned their Eagle.
I am hopeful that each of you will join me in congratulating Stephen
for all of his remarkable accomplishments and in wishing him continuing
success as he pursues new and exciting challenges.
____________________
IN HONOR OF MR. STAN MINKINOW
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to
Mr. Stan Minkinow of Huntsville, AL. Mr. Minkinow is an American
patriot whose life epitomizes the American dream. He immigrated to this
country under the Lodge Act, which provided a pathway for eastern
European refugees to earn American citizenship through honorable
service in the U.S. military. Today we see the result of that
legislation in Mr. Minkinow and his lifetime of service to this Nation
and a family legacy of selfless service.
Mr. Minkinow was born in Lodz, Poland, in 1932. Mr. Minkinow and his
family hid from the Gestapo until betrayed and forced to the Warsaw
Ghetto. Mr. Minkinow and his parents survived the severe deprivations
of ghetto life and accomplished a daring escape. The family survived
the war, only to confront postwar life under the harsh control of a
Soviet-controlled authoritarian regime.
Mr. Minkinow's journey to U.S. citizenship began in a German village
in 1951 where he saw a U.S. Army recruiting film at a train station.
Ready for adventure, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he became a
member of the elite, newly created Special Forces training at Fort
Bragg, NC. After marrying Doris, a local girl, the Army sent Sergeant
Minkinow back to Germany where he became an American Cold Warrior
serving on the frontlines. He served with the 10th Special Forces Group
in Bad Tolz from 1955 to 1958.
Ambition and achievement are hallmarks of so many of our immigrant
population and Mr. Kinkinow is no exception. He completed Officer
Candidate School and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the
Infantry. After a tour in Korea, he completed Army flight school at
Fort Rucker, AL, and became an Army aviator. Mr. Minkinow settled his
family in Enterprise, AL, while he twice fought for his country in
Vietnam. Cited by the Army for valor in combat and service, Mr.
Minkinow possesses numerous medals, including the Distinguished Flying
Cross, Bronze Star, and the Air Medal.
After completing a distinguished 27-year Army career, Mr. Minkinow
retired to Huntsville, AL, where he has become a prominent local
businessman known for his generosity for local causes and charities.
Mr. Minkinow frequently shares his Holocaust experiences with children
at local schools, and gave a presentation on his childhood wartime
experiences to a class at the National Defense University in
Washington, DC.
Stan and Doris have three adult children in whom they instilled a
profound pride of citizenship and an urgent calling to serve the
Nation. All three children have served in the Armed Forces. Their
oldest daughter and her husband together served for over 28 years in
the Army. Their son is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and retired
as a lieutenant colonel from the Alabama Air National Guard. Their
youngest daughter and her husband will soon retire from the Army as
colonels in the Judge Advocate General's Corps with a combined service
of 46 years.
I applaud Mr. Minkinow and his fellow veterans for their steadfast
devotion to this Nation and his many years of service. From a child,
wide-eyed with fright in the streets of Nazi ghettos, to his brave
escape from the Soviet fist and subsequent faithful service as a
soldier and later as a businessman, Mr. Minkinow epitomizes how this
great country is made even greater by such talented immigrants. We are
a stronger country today because of men like Stan and the contributions
of his family. I am pleased, to bring this example of Alabama
patriotism to the Nation's attention as we continue to celebrate those
who have served, our veterans, who have assured our freedom and
prosperity.
____________________
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT
Messages from the President of the United States were communicated to
the Senate by Ms. Evans, one of his secretaries.
____________________
EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED
As in executive session the Presiding Officer laid before the Senate
messages from the President of the United States submitting sundry
nominations and a treaty which were referred to the appropriate
committees.
(The nominations received today are printed at the end of the Senate
proceedings.)
____________________
MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE
At 2:18 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered
by Ms. Niland, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has
passed the following bills, without amendment:
S.435. An act to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to
designate a segment of the Farmington River and Salmon Brook
in the State of Connecticut for study for potential addition
to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other
purposes.
S. 1131. An act to authorize the exchange of certain
Federal land within the State of Idaho, and for other
purposes.
S. 1140. An act to designate the State Route 1 Bridge in
the State of Delaware as the ``Senator William V. Roth, Jr.
Bridge''.
S. 3880. An act to provide the Department of Justice the
necessary authority to apprehend, prosecute, and convict
individuals committing animal enterprise terror.
The message also announced that the House agrees to the amendment of
the Senate to the bill (H.R. 409) to provide for the exchange of land
within the Sierra National Forest, California, and for other purposes.
The message further announced that the House agrees to the amendment
of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 1129) to authorize the exchange of
certain land in the State of Colorado.
____________________
ENROLLED BILL SIGNED
The message also announced that the Speaker has signed the following
enrolled bill:
S. 2464. An act to revise a provision relating to a
repayment obligation of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
under the Fort McDowell Indian Community Water Rights
Settlement Act of 1990, and for other purposes.
[[Page 21981]]
The enrolled bill was subsequently signed by the President pro
tempore (Mr. Stevens).
____
At 5:03 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered
by Ms. Niland, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has
passed the following bill, in which it requests the concurrence of the
Senate:
H.R. 6121. An act to amend the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act to reauthorize a program relating to the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin, and for other purposes.
The message further announced that the House has passed the following
bill, without amendment:
S.819. An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
reallocate costs of the Pactola Dam and Reservoir, South
Dakota, to reflect increased demands for municipal,
industrial, and fish and wildlife purposes.
The message also announced that the House agrees to the amendment of
the Senate to the bill (H.R. 3085) to amend the National Trails System
Act to update the feasibility and suitability study originally prepared
for the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and provide for the
inclusion of new trail segments, land components, and campgrounds
associated with that trail, and for other purposes.
____________________
MEASURES PLACED ON THE CALENDAR
The following bill was read the second time, and placed on the
calendar:
S. 4047. A bill to prohibit the issuance of transportation
security cards to individuals who have been convicted of
certain crimes.
The following bill was read the first and second times by unanimous
consent, and placed on the calendar:
H.R. 6121. An act to amend the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act to reauthorize a program relating to the Lake
Pontchartrain Basin, and for other purposes.
____________________
MEASURES READ THE FIRST TIME
The following bill was read the first time:
S. 4051. A bill to provide sufficient resources to permit
electronic surveillance of United States persons for foreign
intelligence purposes to be conducted pursuant to
individualized court-based orders for calls originating in
the United States, to provide additional resources to enhance
oversight and streamline the procedures of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to ensure review of
the Terrorist Surveillance Program by the United States
Supreme Court, and for other purposes.
____________________
EXECUTIVE AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
The following communications were laid before the Senate, together
with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as
indicated:
EC-9011. A communication from the Administrator,
Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to
law, a report relative to the Agency's actions between April
1, 2006 and September 30, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9012. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-508, ``July Local Supplemental Other Type
Appropriations Approval Temporary Act of 2006'' received on
November 6, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9013. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-507, ``Neighborhood Investment Amendment
Temporary Act of 2006'' received on November 6, 2006; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9014. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-506, ``Deed Transfer and Recordation
Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2006'' received on
November 13, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9015. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-505, ``Uniform Disclaimers of Property
Interests Revision Act of 2006'' received on November 13,
2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
EC-9016. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-504, ``Domestic Violence Amendment Act of
2006'' received on November 13, 2006; to the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9017. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-503, ``District of Columbia Poverty Lawyer
Loan Assistance Repayment Program Act of 2006'' received on
November 13, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9018. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-493, ``Health Insurance Coverage for
Habilitative Services for Children Act of 2006'' received on
November 6, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9019. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-492, ``Library Procurement Amendment Act of
2006'' received on November 6, 2006; to the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9020. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-523, ``Digital Inclusion Act of 2006''
received on November 6, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9021. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-509, ``Anti-Tagging and Anti-Vandalism
Amendment Act of 2006'' received on November 6, 2006; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9022. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-502, ``Crispus Attucks Park Indemnification
Act of 2006'' received on November 6, 2006; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9023. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-496, ``Square 2910 Residential Development
Stimulus Temporary Act of 2006'' received on November 6,
2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
EC-9024. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-495, ``Wisconsin Avenue Bridge Project and
Noise Control Temporary Amendment Act of 2006'' received on
November 6, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9025. A communication from the Chairman, Council of the
District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report
on D.C. Act 16-494, ``Separation Pay, Term of Office and
Voluntary Retirement Modifications for Chief of Police
Charles H. Ramsey Amendment Act of 2006'' received on
November 6, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9026. A communication from the Chairman, Federal
Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Inspector General's semiannual report for the period April 1,
2006 to September 30, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9027. A communication from the Special Inspector General
for Iraq Reconstruction, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
October 2006 Quarterly Report; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9028. A communication from the Secretary, United States
Commission of Fine Arts, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report relative to the Commission's strategic plan for the
period 2006 to 2011; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9029. A communication from the Director, Office of
Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
report of a rule entitled ``Absence and Leave; SES Annual
Leave'' (RIN3206-AK72) received on November 6, 2006; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9030. A communication from the Executive Director,
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, transmitting,
pursuant to law, a report relative to the findings of the
Office's tenth financial audit; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9031. A communication from the General Counsel,
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled
``Regulations Implementing the Freedom of Information Act''
(29 CFR Part 2201) received on November 6, 2006; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9032. A communication from the Secretary, Postal Rate
Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a
vacancy in the position of Commissioner (Chairman), received
on November 6, 2006; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
EC-9033. A communication from the Director, Office of
Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, its
report for Fiscal Year 2005 on Veterans employment in the
[[Page 21982]]
Federal Government; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-9034. A communication from the Staff Director, United
States Commission on Civil Rights, transmitting, a report
relative to corrections that need to be made in previously
submitted documents; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-9035. A communication from the Deputy Assistant
Administrator, Office of Diversion Control, Department of
Justice, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of
Embutramide into Schedule III'' (Docket No. DEA-269F)
received on November 6, 2006; to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
EC-9036. A communication from the Staff Director, United
States Commission on Civil Rights, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the report of the appointment of members to the Illinois
State Advisory Committee; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
EC-9037. A communication from the Administrator, United
States Small Business Administration, transmitting, pursuant
to law, the three-year update of the Administration's
Strategic Plan; to the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship.
____________________
PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS
The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:
POM-430. A resolution adopted by the Senate of Pennsylvania
relative to the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed
air traffic diversion plan; to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation.
Senate Resolution
Whereas, the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
recognizes the Federal Aviation Administration's plan to
divert substantial air traffic from the Philadelphia
International Airport over Delaware County, Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Philadelphia International Airport air traffic
presently travels over the Delaware River, with minimal
impact on air pollution and noise pollution and minimal
danger of catastrophic aircraft disaster to residents of
Delaware County communities; and
Whereas, Delaware County comprises 49 municipalities and
has an approximate population of 550,000 people; and
Whereas, Delaware County is the fourth most populous county
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, diverting Philadelphia International Airport air
traffic over Delaware County potentially increases air and
noise pollution by 925% in residential areas, subjects
residents to the danger of falling debris as a result of an
aircraft disaster and threatens hundreds of wildlife species
inhabiting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; and
Whereas, over 4,000 residents of Delaware County have
signed petitions objecting to the Federal Aviation
Administration's plan to divert air traffic over their homes
and schools; and
Whereas, the Federal Aviation Administration has not fully
provided residents and government officials an opportunity to
offer meaningful comment or input on its plan to change
flight patterns over Delaware County; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania call on the Federal Aviation Administration to
conduct at least three public hearings throughout Delaware
County to properly inform residents and government officials
of the Federal Aviation Administration's proposed air traffic
diversion plan, to explore the health, safety and impact on
quality of life by diverting air traffic over a densely
populated residential area, to afford residents and
government officials an opportunity to provide meaningful
comment on the plan and to obtain additional input on the
environmental impact of its flight diversion plan; and be it
further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania and to the Federal
Aviation Administration's Eastern Region Air Traffic
Division, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 11434-4809.
____
POM-431. A concurrent resolution adopted by the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives relative to the Federal
Aviation Administration's proposed air traffic diversion
plan; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
House Resolution No. 836
Whereas, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania recognizes the Federal Aviation
Administration's plan to divert substantial air traffic from
the Philadelphia International Airport over Delaware County,
Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Philadelphia International Airport air traffic
presently travels over the Delaware River, with minimal
impact on air pollution and noise pollution and minimal
danger of catastrophic aircraft disaster to residents of
Delaware County communities; and
Whereas, Delaware County comprises 49 municipalities and
has an approximate population of 550,000 people; and
Whereas, Delaware County is the fourth most populous county
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, diverting Philadelphia International Airport air
traffic over Delaware County potentially increases air and
noise pollution by 925% in residential areas, subjects
residents to the danger of falling debris as a result of an
aircraft disaster and threatens hundreds of wildlife species
inhabiting the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; and
Whereas, over 4,000 residents of Delaware County have
signed petitions objecting to the Federal Aviation
Administration's plan to divert air traffic over their homes
and schools; and
Whereas, the Federal Aviation Administration has not fully
provided residents and government officials an opportunity to
offer meaningful comment or input on its plan to change
flight patterns over Delaware County; therefore, Now, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania call on the Federal Aviation
Administration to conduct at least three public hearings
throughout Delaware County to properly inform residents and
government officials of the Federal Aviation Administration's
proposed air traffic diversion plan, to explore the health,
safety and impact on quality of life by diverting air traffic
over a densely populated residential area, to afford
residents and government officials an opportunity to provide
meaningful comment on the plan and to obtain additional input
on the environmental impact of its flight diversion plan; and
be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania and to the Federal
Aviation Administration's Eastern Region Air Traffic
Division, 1 Aviation Plaza, Jamaica, NY 11434-4809.
____
POM-432. A joint resolution adopted by the California
Legislature relative to amending the Federal Railroad Safety
Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 13
Whereas, the transportation of freight and passengers by
railroad has been an integral part of California's economic
infrastructure for nearly 150 years, and remains central to a
vibrant economy that Californians hope to continue to enjoy
in the 21st century; and
Whereas, the regulation of railroad operations is a major
objective of California government in order to ensure and
promote the health and safety of California's communities and
its residents; and
Whereas, there has been a significant increase in the past
10 years in the number of derailments and accidents on
California railways, resulting in injuries, death, and damage
within communities where railways exist, and leading to
growing attention and concern throughout the country; and
Whereas, the Federal Railroad Safety Act was intended to
promote safety in every area of railroad operations and
reduce railroad-related accidents and incidents, and has
sharply restricted the authority of California and the other
states to address rail safety issues, through a broad
preemption of state laws; and
Whereas, the Federal Railroad Safety Act nevertheless was
intended to provide for cooperative state and federal
activity to prevent accidents and reduce their severity when
they do occur, including allowing states to act where federal
officials have not, providing concurrent state safety
jurisdiction over railroads at essentially local safety
hazards within states, and authorizing delegations of
authority to state officials by the Federal Railway
Administration; and
Whereas, Federal courts have consistently failed to find
local safety hazards that would permit California to
effectively regulate railway safety so as to anticipate and
prevent accidents; and
Whereas, the Federal Railroad Administration has failed to
institute the necessary rulemakings to develop safety
regulations that fully protect California's communities and
their residents from railroad derailments, hazardous
materials spills, and highway-rail crossing accidents that
result in injuries, death, and damage within communities
where railways exist; and where the Federal Railroad
Administration has exercised jurisdiction, it has precluded
states from providing the public with greater safety
protections and from reducing the number and severity of
railroad derailments, hazardous materials spills, and
highway-rail crossing accidents within their jurisdictions;
and
Whereas, the Federal government has failed to develop
comprehensive plans to protect the public health and safety
and to effectively fund railway safety programs; and
Whereas, California has a history of working with the
Federal Railroad Administration in coordinating inspections,
and has established and funded extensive railway safety
programs; and
Whereas, there now exists a clear need to amend federal law
in order to empower California officials to protect the
public health and safety and to continue to build on the
[[Page 21983]]
cooperation between California and federal rail safety
officials; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of
California urges the President and the Congress of the United
States to amend the Federal Railroad Safety Act to increase
the authority of state and local governments to enact
railroad safety regulations providing greater protection for
their residents from railroad derailments, hazardous
materials spills, and highway-rail crossing accidents, so
long as the state enactments, rules, or regulations do not
conflict with federal law and do not impose an unreasonable
burden on interstate commerce; and be it further
Resolved, That the Federal Railroad Administration is urged
to work cooperatively with California and the railroad
corporations by increasing its staff and funding, and by
delegating additional authority to California officials to
promulgate and enforce standards relating to railway track,
operations, and equipment that will prevent and reduce the
severity of accidents, derailments, and hazardous materials
spills; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the
United States, and to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States.
____
POM-433. A concurrent resolution adopted by the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives relative to urging the
Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to support legislation
calling for Federal approval of the extension of the Lewis
and Clark National Historic Trail; to the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources.
House Resolution No. 676
Whereas, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was conceptualized
by President Thomas Jefferson, who appointed his personal
secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to lead the expedition; and
Whereas, Meriwether Lewis spent the early months of 1803 in
southeastern Pennsylvania, where he trained with the official
Surveyor of the United States, Andrew Ellicott, in Lancaster
County and received instruction in celestial navigation; was
tutored in botany by Benjamin Smith Barton, professor of
natural history and botany at the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia; gained know1edge of latitude and longitude,
botany and fossils from University of Pennsylvania's vice-
provost and professor of mathematics and natural philosophy,
Robert Patterson; received advice on health standards to
maintain on the trail, diet and internal cleansing from Dr.
Benjamin Rush, professor at the University of Pennsylvania's
Institute of Medicine and Clinical Practice; and studied
paleontology and anatomy with Caspar Wistar, another noted
Philadelphian; and
Whereas, Meriwether Lewis purchased more than 3,500 pounds
of equipment and merchandise from 28 Philadelphia merchants
and artisan manufacturers providing life necessities for the
28-month venture, including portable shelter, clothing,
illumination, Indian trading goods, weapons, powder and ball,
health maintenance items, emergency food, navigational and
cartographic instruments, construction tools and packing
boxes, and all was loaded in a Conestoga wagon along with
supplies requisitioned at the United States Arsenal, also
known as Schuylkill Arsenal, for shipment to Pittsburgh; and
Whereas, renowned Philadelphia clock and gun maker Isaiah
Lukens provided Meriwether Lewis with a compressed air rifle
he made which became a showpiece of the expedition: the stock
of the pneumatic rifle served as an air reservoir to shoot
its .31 caliber bullet, producing no smoke and little noise
and using no black powder, an astounding innovation during an
era when ``keep your powder dry'' was a hallmark admonition
to outdoorsmen; and
Whereas, after obtaining more equipment, including his iron
frame boat, from the United States Army Arsenal in Harpers
Ferry, Virginia, and hiring a wagon and horses in
Fredericktown, Maryland, Meriwether Lewis traveled with his
second wagon through Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and finally
reached Redstone Old Fort (now Brownsville, Fayette County);
and
Whereas, Meriwether Lewis arrived in Pittsburgh on July 15,
1803, where he received a letter from President Thomas
Jefferson informing him that the United States had acquired
the Louisiana Purchase from France; and
Whereas, on August 31, 1803, Meriwether Lewis departed
Pittsburgh at 10 a.m. in a pirogue and a 55-foot masted
keelboat built either by Captain John Walker at the Bayard's
boat yard in Elizabeth, or by Eliphalet Beebe at a boatyard
operated by John Tarascon and James Berthoud on land owned by
William Greenough, near what is now the north end of the
Liberty Bridge in Pittsburgh; and
Whereas, after launching the crafts with a party of 11 men,
Meriwether Lewis traveled three miles down the Ohio River to
Brunot Island where he demonstrated his air rifle, and then
proceeded downriver to McKees Rock, where the water had
fallen so low that the crew was forced to raise the boat for
30 yards; and
Whereas, Meriwether Lewis and his party continued downriver
until the pirogue began to leak, forcing him to purchase a
canoe at Georgetown, Beaver County, before continuing to
Wheeling, West Virginia, where supplies from Pittsburgh were
loaded; and
Whereas, on October 15, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark met in Louisville, Kentucky, and continued their
expedition west with their Corps of Discovery on a quest to
find and map a transcontinental water route to the Pacific
Ocean; and
Whereas, the expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in
November 1805 and built Fort Clatsop on the south side of the
Columbia River in Oregon; and
Whereas, Meriwether Lewis returned in April 1807 to
Philadelphia where he commissioned John James Barralet to
paint a likeness of the Great Falls of the Missouri; arranged
for noted horticulturist William Hamilton to propagate seeds
gathered in the West at the renowned greenhouses adjacent to
Hamilton's residence, The Woodlands; sat for a portrait
painted by Charles Willson Peale; worked with preeminent
ornithologist Alexander Wilson, who arranged the painting of
four birds the Corps of Discovery found in the West--Lewis's
woodpecker, Clark's nutcracker, the western tanager and the
black-billed magpie; and
Whereas, the expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William
Clark ``from sea to shining sea'' mapped a western route and
resulted in the discovery of hundreds of species new to
science and collection of natural history specimens; and
Whereas, the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia
houses 226 of these original plant specimens, still mounted
on the original sheets of linen paper and labeled in the
handwriting of Meriwether Lewis; and
Whereas, a journal kept by Meriwether Lewis during the
expedition, contained in 18 small notebooks, was edited by
Philadelphia literary figure Nicholas Biddle, with the final
revision completed by Paul Allen before its publication by
the Philadelphia firm of Bradford and Inskeep in 1814 as
``History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains
Lewis and Clark to the Sources of the Missouri, Thence Across
the Rocky Mountains and Down the River Columbia to the
Pacific Ocean''; original journals of Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark are held by the American Philosophical Society
Library in Philadelphia; and
Whereas, while the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
currently begins at Camp River Dubois near Hartford,
Illinois, and continues through 11 states, ending in Oregon,
the significant representation of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and many Pennsylvanians in the planning and
preparations which launched the Lewis and Clark search for
the Gateway to the West and in the expansion of knowledge
from the expedition which is recognized as a foundation of
our American heritage is not included in the Lewis and Clark
National Historic Trail; and
Whereas, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania joins the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage
Foundation in supporting the recognition of a continuous
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail which would include
nine additional eastern states of Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana
and Tennessee and the District of Columbia and would complete
the story of the expedition and expose a broader base of
Americans to the educational and cultural aspects of the
expedition; Now, therefore be, it
Resolved, (the Senate concurring), That the General
Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the
Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to support legislation
calling for Federal approval of the extension of the Lewis
and Clark National Historic Trail; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
each member of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.
____
POM-434. A resolution adopted by the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives relative to urging the President and Congress
of the United States to enact bills that would add denatonium
benzoate to antifreeze containing ethylene glycol; to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House Resolution No. 835
Whereas, each year a number of adults intentionally ingest
antifreeze to commit suicide; and
Whereas, each year a number of children are accidentally
exposed to antifreeze left unattended or in open containers;
and
Whereas, pets and other animals can die from ingesting
antifreeze that has leaked, spilled or been left in
improperly secured containers in a garage or driveway; and
Whereas, the National Safety Council, the American Medical
Association and the American Association of Poison Control
Centers have noted that the addition of a nontoxic bittering
agent can make antifreeze so unpalatable that adults,
children and animals will reject these products upon tasting
them, preventing injury and death; and
Whereas, legislation, in the form of S. 1110 and H.R. 2567,
has been introduced in the 109th Congress to require the
inclusion of denatonium benzoate at a minimum of 30 parts per
million as a bittering agent to any engine coolant or
antifreeze that contains more than 10% ethylene glycol; and
[[Page 21984]]
Whereas, the Doris Day Animal League, the Humane Society of
the United States, the American Veterinary Medical
Association, the Society for Animal Protective Legislation,
the Pet Food Institute, the United States Conference of
Mayors, the Consumer Specialty Products Association and the
retail antifreeze industry have endorsed the proposed
legislation with the goal of protecting consumers and animals
and
Whereas, the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania supports protecting the health and safety of
adults, children and animals through the inclusion of a
bittering agent in ethylene glycol-based antifreeze; Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the President and Congress
of the United States to protect adults, children and animals
by enacting legislation, S. 1110 or H.R. 2567, to require the
addition of denatonium benzoate to antifreeze containing
ethylene glycol; and be it further
Resolved, That the House of Representatives urge the
Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to protect adults,
children and animals by supporting enactment of this
legislation; and be it further
Resolved, That the House of Representatives urge the
President of the United States to advance this legislation to
protect adults, children and animals; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, to the presiding officers
of each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
____
POM-435. A joint resolution adopted by the California
Legislature relative to urging the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency to adopt federal regulations
limiting emissions from marine vessels, locomotives, and
aircraft; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 31
Whereas, California is a global gateway for trade, with
more than 40 percent of all of the goods imported to the
United States entering through California's ports; and
Whereas, growth in the movement of goods through
California's ports is projected to double or triple over the
next 25 years; and
Whereas, toxic diesel air pollution from goods movement
sources, such as marine vessels and locomotives, will
increase in the face of this growth, unless more protective
control actions are undertaken; and
Whereas,the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and
agency of the United Nations, has established initial smog-
forming NOx emissions limitations and fuel sulfur
specifications for oceangoing vessels, and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted emission
standards for new locomotives, new trucks, and some vessels;
and
Whereas, current international and federal standards
governing air pollution from port-related sources are not
sufficient to support attainment of federal health-based air
quality standards in areas with growing emissions from port-
related sources; and
Whereas, rules adopted by the EPA and the IMO have not
adequately reduced emissions from sources associated with the
ports; and
Whereas, the EPA has not regulated emissions from foreign
flag vessels. The vast majority of oceangoing vessels calling
on local ports, over 90 percent, are foreign flagged; and
Whereas, the EPA stated that it will consider adopting
emission standards for foreign flag vessels in 2007; and
Whereas, the IMO emissions and fuel standards for foreign
flag vessels are particularly weak. IMO smog-forming
NOx standards for new ``Category 3'' vessels will
achieve only a 6-percent reduction in emissions. IMO fuel
rules allow extraordinarily high levels of sulfur content;
and
Whereas, Federal emission standards for locomotives are
relatively lenient. Even the newest locomotives must only
achieve a 57-percent reduction in NOx emissions.
In contrast, most onroad and stationary sources are
controlled to over 90 percent. EPA has stated it intends to
adopt more stringent locomotive emission standards in 2006;
and
Whereas, port-related sources emit substantial and growing
quantities of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and other air
contaminants; and
Whereas, locomotives and marine vessels emit diesel
exhaust, a toxic air contaminant; and
Whereas, diesel emissions are responsible for 70 percent of
the cancer risk from air toxics emissions in California; and
Whereas, the EPA has stated that diesel exhaust is likely
to be carcinogenic for humans; and
Whereas, part or all of 474 counties in 32 states are
classified nonattainment for either failing to meet the new
eight-hour federal ozone standard or for causing a downwind
county to fail to meet that standard; and
Whereas, one hundred fifty-nine million people nationwide
live in areas that do not meet the new eight-hour federal
ozone standard; and
Whereas, all areas of the country could benefit from the
reduction in emissions of toxic air contaminants from
locomotives, and many areas would benefit from reduction in
those emissions from marine vessels; and
Whereas, emissions from mobile sources, including
locomotives, marine vessels, and aircraft, are preventing
California from achieving state and federal clean air
standards; and
Whereas, the EPA has authority to adopt regulations
establishing emissions standards for marine vessels,
locomotives, and aircraft; and
Whereas, Federal law mandates that the state adopt rules to
attain national ambient air quality standards, but limits
state and local authority to adopt certain regulations
establishing emissions standards for aircraft, new
locomotives, and new locomotive engines; and
Whereas, Federal regulations define new locomotives and new
locomotive engines to include remanufactured locomotives and
engines so as to restrict state authority to adopt some
regulations establishing emissions standards for these older
locomotives; and
Whereas, locomotives have extremely long useful lives and
older locomotives emit air contaminants at relatively high
rates; and
Whereas, State and local governments seeking to control
emissions from marine vessels have faced arguments by vessel
operators that state and local governments lack authority to
adopt laws establishing emission limits for foreign flag
vessels; and
Whereas, stringent regulations in California have reduced
emissions by over 90 percent from most significant stationary
sources and from motor vehicles and other mobile sources
under the jurisdiction of state and local authorities in
California, but locomotives, marine vessels, and aircraft
have been controlled far less stringently by the Federal
government, and have not achieved their fair share of
emission reductions needed to meet State and Federal clean
air standards; and
Whereas, until locomotives, marine vessels, and aircraft
are required to achieve their fair share of emission
reductions, other mobile sources such as passenger cars,
buses, and commercial trucks, as well as stationary sources,
including large and small businesses in California will have
to make up the difference; and
Whereas, the ports have developed ambitious programs and
plans but, to date, they have not rolled back emissions or
even arrested emissions growth. Both the Port of Los Angeles
and the Port of Long Beach have developed emission control
programs and plans that will help mitigate air quality
impacts, but the fact remains that the ports continue to be
sources of singularly large and growing quantities of diesel
emissions; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully
memorializes the Administrator of the EPA urging the
administrator to adopt Federal regulations limiting emissions
from marine vessels, locomotives, and aircraft in order to
achieve healthful air quality in California and other areas
with air quality problems; and be it further
Resolved, That those Federal regulations mandate use and
improvement of state-of-the-art emission control and
prevention technologies at the earliest feasible date, be
comparably stringent to State and local air pollution control
requirements so that operators of locomotives, marine
vessels, and aircraft contribute their fair share to support
air quality attainment plans, and implement Congress' intent
that State and local air quality authorities be allowed to
adopt rules establishing emissions standards for
remanufactured locomotives; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature respectfully encourages the
EPA to pursue more protective regulations and incentive
programs to reduce substantially the emissions from marine
vessels, including domestic and foreign flagged vessels,
locomotives, and aircraft, with the level of emissions
sufficiently reduced to help regions polluted by trade-
related diesel emissions attain Federal health-based
standards by the dates required by the Clean Air Act, Federal
regulations, and corresponding State implementation plans;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the
United States, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States, to the
United States Environmental Protections Agency, to the United
States Coast Guard, and to the author for appropriate
distribution.
____
POM-436. A resolution adopted by the Massachusetts State
Senate relative to memorializing the fiftieth anniversary of
the 1965 Hungarian Revolution for Freedom and Democracy; to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Senate Resolution
Whereas, following World War II, the Soviet Union occupied
Hungary and forced an anti-democratic and brutal government
upon the people of Hungary; and
Whereas, on October 23, 1956, Hungarian freedom fighters,
the Time magazine 1956 ``Man of the Year'', took up arms in
Hungary to establish a democratic government and
[[Page 21985]]
free the people of Hungary from oppression by ending the
political and economic domination by the communist government
and the Soviet Union; and
Whereas, the people of Hungary fought valiantly but alone,
and in the course of the uprising thousands gave their lives,
thousands were imprisoned, and over 150,000 escaped, many to
the United States, including Massachusetts; and
Whereas, in 1956, the brave Hungarians were the first to
rebel against the totalitarian and oppressive communist
government and their sacrifices exposed the weaknesses of the
communist system; and
Whereas, the Hungarians in 1989 were again instrumental in
the collapse of communism as they dismantled the Iron Curtain
and allowed the East Germans to leave Eastern Europe through
Hungary, actions that eventually led to the fall of the
Berlin Wall; and
Whereas, the sacrifices of the Hungarians in 1956 were not
in vain, as they ultimately led to the collapse of most of
the communist systems of the world and freedom for hundreds
of millions of people; and
Whereas, the Massachusetts Senate supports the current
efforts of people of all nations to assert the right of self-
determination and other basic human rights for which the
Hungarian people bravely fought in 1956; and
Whereas, October 23, 2006, is the 50th anniversary of the
ultimately successful uprising of the people of Hungary,
which still serves as an example that sacrifices must be made
for the freedom and democracy; now therefore be it
Resolved, that the Massachusetts Senate commends the people
of Hungary for their sacrifices for freedom and democracy,
and joins in celebrating October 23, 2006, as ``Hungarian
Freedom Fighters' Day'' in the Commonwealth; and be it
further
Resolved, that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted
forthwith by the Clerk of the Senate to Honorary Consul Gabor
Garai, to each member of the Massachusetts Congressional
Delegation, the Honorable George H. Walker, United States
Ambassador to Hungary, and the Honorable Andras Simonyi, the
Ambassador of Hungary to the United States.
____
POM-437. A resolution adopted by the Michigan Senate
relative to urging Congress to support the National Cancer
Institute's plan to eliminate suffering and death from cancer
by the year 2015; to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions.
Senate Resolution No. 152
Whereas, each year more than 1.4 million Americans are
diagnosed with cancer. One out of every two men and one out
of every three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their
lifetimes. In 1971, Congress began the battle against cancer
with enactment of the National Cancer Act and creation of the
National Cancer Institute within the National Institutes of
Health. The foundation laid by their foresight puts the
nation in position to aggressively enter the final stages of
the fight against cancer. Sixty designated cancer research
centers have been established across the country by the
National Cancer Institute. These centers have the capacity to
share knowledge with each other and solve problems in real
time through advances in computer technology as well as work
collaboratively with researchers in other disciplines, such
as engineering, to develop the technologies needed to fight
cancer; and
Whereas, scientific research on the human genome and
proteins have led to breakthroughs in our understanding of
the molecular changes that cause cancer and differences
between the same cancers in different patients. This
understanding makes it possible to design therapies that
target the cancer and bypass healthy tissues that will
eliminate the suffering caused by collateral damage to normal
tissues from chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Therapies
can also be modified to account for the cancer's response to
a given treatment in individual patients. Doctors believe it
is within their grasp to cure or manage cancer similar to
other chronic diseases that a person can live with and not
necessarily die from; and
Whereas, concurrent advances in imaging technologies and
knowledge networking mean scientists and doctors will be able
to see and assess the impact of treatment within days and not
have to wait months or years to know the outcome. Imaging
technologies now show not only the physical size, shape, and
location of cancer tissue, but can also show the function of
the tissue. Thus, doctors may apply a treatment targeting the
abnormal cells that make up the cancer tissue and be able to
see within 24 to 48 hours whether the treatment is altering
function in the expected way. Knowledge networking through
computers in real time means scientists and doctors working
across the country at the 60 centers sponsored by the
National Cancer Institute can share what they have learned.
This will be particularly valuable with rare forms of cancer
as doctors will pool their experience with patients being
treated in different centers; and
Whereas, tremendous advances in the treatment and cure of
cancer have been achievcd in the past 35 years, and this
nation has never shied away from bold goals to advance
science and technology. The director of the National Cancer
Institute has shown great leadership, enthusiasm, and
optimism for being able to harness what we know and catapult
the scientific and clinical communities forward through the
final stage of the battle against cancer; Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize Congress to
support the National Cancer Institute's plan to eliminate
suffering and death from cancer by the year 2015; and be it
further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the
United States House of Representatives, and the members of
the Michigan congressional delegation.
____
POM-438. A joint resolution adopted by the California
Legislature relative to urging Congress and the President to
enact the Microbicide Development Act; to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 22
Whereas, microbicides are a promising new prevention tool
that could slow down the spread of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in
the United States and around the world; and
Whereas, women and girls are the new face of HIV/AIDS and
account for almost one-half of the 37 million adults living
with HIV and AIDS worldwide as of 2005, and approximately
7,000 women are infected with HIV each day; and
Whereas, in California, women comprise about 8 percent of
all reported AIDS cases, yet are the fastest growing
population with AIDS, and sex with an HIV-infected male is
the most common route of transmission; and
Whereas, AIDS is now the number one cause of death among
African-American women between the ages of 25 and 34 years;
and
Whereas, the United States has the highest rates of
sexually transmitted diseases of any industrialized nation,
with more than 19 million new STD infections every year; and
Whereas, it is estimated that by age 25 one-half of all
sexually active people in the United States can expect to be
infected with a STD; and
Whereas, HIV and AIDS result in direct medical costs of
more than $15 billion per year and the pandemic undermines
our economy and security; and
Whereas, microbicides may be formulated as gels, creams, or
rings to inactivate, block, or otherwise interfere with the
transmission of the pathogens that cause AIDS and other STDs,
allowing women to protect themselves from disease; and
Whereas, unlike current HIV prevention methods,
microbicides would allow women to both conceive children and
protect themselves from HIV and STDs; and
Whereas, the microbicide field has achieved an
extraordinary amount of scientific momentum, with several
first-generation candidates now in large scale human trials
around the world; and
Whereas, microbicides are a classic public health good, for
which the social benefits are high but the economic incentive
to private investment is low and, like other public health
goods such as vaccines, public funding must fill the gap; and
Whereas, the federal government needs to make a strong
commitment to microbicides research and development, and
while three agencies--the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
and the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID)--have played important roles, further strong, well-
coordinated, and visible public sector leadership is
essential for the promise of microbicides to be fully
realized; and
Whereas, in 2005, NIH spent less than 2 percent of its HIV/
AIDS research budget on microbicides, and that funding level
is inadequate; and
Whereas, HIV and STD prevention strategies must recognize
women's unique needs and vulnerabilities if women are to have
a genuine opportunity to protect themselves, and their best
opinion is the rapid development of new HIV prevention
techniques such as microbicides; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature memorializes the
United States Congress and the President and the United
States to enact the Microbicide Development Act (S. 550 and
H.R. 3854), which would amend the Public Health Service Act
to facilitate the development of microbicides for preventing
the transmission of HIV and other diseases, and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the
United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the Majority Leader of the Senate, and each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United
States.
____
POM-439. A joint resolution adopted by the California
Legislature relative to urging Congress to place a statue of
former President Ronald Reagan next to the statue of Father
Junipero Serra in the Congressional collection representing
California; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
[[Page 21986]]
Senate Joint Resolution No. 3
Whereas, by act of the Congress of the United States, each
state is invited to provide two statues of distinguished
citizens for display in the United States Capitol; and
Whereas, California, in years past, provided two statues of
notable citizens that have been displayed in the United
States Capitol since 1931; and
Whereas, one of the those statues is of Thomas Starr King,
known as ``the orator who saved the nation.'' He spoke out
fervently in favor of the union during the Civil War and is
credited with saving California from becoming a separate
republic; and
Whereas, Thomas Starr King can best be memorialized by
locating his statute in a place of honor in the Capitol of
California where citizens and visitors can enjoy it and be
reminded of his significant historical impact upon our state;
and
Whereas, California has a citizen, Ronald Wilson Reagan,
who is exceptionally worthy of national commemoration. He
stands alone in California history as beloved actor,
President of the Screen Actors Guild, two-term Governor of
California, and two-term President of the United States; and
Whereas, affectionately known as the ``Great
Communicator,'' Ronald Wilson Reagan served as the 40th
President of the United States and was the first Governor of
California to be elected President of the United States; and
Whereas, the people of California wish to place a statue of
Ronald Wilson Reagan in Statuary Hall in the United States
Capitol, with the statue being provided by the citizens of
California through the efforts of the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Foundation; and
Whereas, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation shall
select a commission to represent the state in selecting the
sculptor or sculptors to sculpt the statue and obtain the
necessary funds to carry out this resolution; and
Whereas, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation shall be
responsible for all of the following:
(a) Forming a commission to select the sculptor or
sculptors.
(b) Paying the sculptor or sculptors to carve or cast the
statue.
(c) Creating a pedestal and desired inscription.
(d) Transporting the statue and pedestal to the United
States Capitol.
(e) Removing and transporting the replaced statue of Thomas
Starr King back to the California State Capitol.
(f) Temporarily erecting the new statue of Ronald Wilson
Reagan in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol for the
unveiling ceremony.
(g) Paying the expenses related to the unveiling ceremony
and any other expenses that the commission may find necessary
to incur in implementing this resolution; Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of
California respectfully memorializes the Congress of the
United States to place a statute of Ronald Wilson Reagan
alongside the statute of Father Junipero Serra in the
Congressional collection representing the State of
California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the
United States, to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from
California in the Congress of the United States.
____
POM-440. A resolution adopted by the Tompkins County
Legislature of the State of New York relative to urging the
federal government to commence a humane, orderly, and
comprehensive withdrawal of United States military personnel
and bases from Iraq; to the Committee on Armed Services.
____
POM-441. A resolution adopted by the Lauderdale Lakes City
Commission of the State of Florida relative to opposing the
enactment of the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and
Enhancement Act of 2006; to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation.
____
POM-442. A resolution adopted by the Macomb County Board of
Commissioners of the State of Michigan relative to urging
full federal funding to complete construction and ensure
permanent operation and maintenance of both electrical
barriers in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to protect
the Great Lakes from Asian carp; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
____________________
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
The following bills and joint resolutions were introduced, read the
first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
By Mr. INHOFE:
S. 4048. A bill to prohibit Federal funding for the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; to
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
By Mr. FEINGOLD:
S. 4049. A bill to provide for the redeployment of United
States forces from Iraq by July 1, 2007; to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
By Mr. ISAKSON (for himself and Mr. Chambliss):
S. 4050. A bill to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 103 East Thompson Street in
Thomaston, Georgia, as the ``Sergeant First Class Robert Lee
`Bobby' Hollar, Jr. Post Office Building''; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
By Mr. SPECTER:
S. 4051. A bill to provide sufficient resources to permit
electronic surveillance of United States persons for foreign
intelligence purposes to be conducted pursuant to
individualized court-based orders for calls originating in
the United States, to provide additional resources to enhance
oversight and streamline the procedures of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to ensure review of
the Terrorist Surveillance Program by the United States
Supreme Court, and for other purposes; read the first time.
____________________
SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND SENATE RESOLUTIONS
The following concurrent resolutions and Senate resolutions were
read, and referred (or acted upon), as indicated:
By Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Lieberman,
Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Menendez):
S. Res. 612. A resolution designating the week of February
5 through February 9, 2007, as ``National Teen Dating
Violence Awareness and Prevention Week''; to the Committee on
the Judiciary.
By Mr. SANTORUM (for himself and Mr. Pryor):
S. Res. 613. A resolution honoring the life and work of
William Wilberforce and commemorating the 200th anniversary
of the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain; to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
____________________
ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS
S. 382
At the request of Mr. Ensign, the name of the Senator from Delaware
(Mr. Carper) was added as a cosponsor of S. 382, a bill to amend title
18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal
fighting, and for other purposes.
S. 713
At the request of Mr. Roberts, the name of the Senator from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Specter) was added as a cosponsor of S. 713, a bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for collegiate
housing and infrastructure grants.
S. 759
At the request of Mr. Schumer, the name of the Senator from
Washington (Ms. Cantwell) was added as a cosponsor of S. 759, a bill to
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make higher education more
affordable, and for other purposes.
S. 908
At the request of Mr. McConnell, the name of the Senator from South
Dakota (Mr. Thune) was added as a cosponsor of S. 908, a bill to allow
Congress, State legislatures, and regulatory agencies to determine
appropriate laws, rules, and regulations to address the problems of
weight gain, obesity, and health conditions associated with weight gain
or obesity.
S. 919
At the request of Mr. Burns, the name of the Senator from Louisiana
(Ms. Landrieu) was added as a cosponsor of S. 919, a bill to amend
title 49, United States Code, to enhance competition among and between
rail carriers in order to ensure efficient rail service and reasonable
rail rates, and for other purposes.
S. 1172
At the request of Mr. Specter, the names of the Senator from Arkansas
(Mr. Pryor) and the Senator from Delaware (Mr. Biden) were added as
cosponsors of S. 1172, a bill to provide for programs to increase the
awareness and knowledge of women and health care providers with respect
to gynecologic cancers.
S. 1376
At the request of Mr. Cochran, the name of the Senator from Arkansas
(Mrs. Lincoln) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1376, a bill to improve
and expand geographic literacy among kindergarten through grade 12
students in the United States by improving professional development
programs for kindergarten through grade 12 teachers offered through
institutions of higher education.
[[Page 21987]]
S. 1508
At the request of Mr. Cochran, the names of the Senator from Georgia
(Mr. Isakson), the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Murkowski) and the Senator
from Texas (Mr. Cornyn) were added as cosponsors of S. 1508, a bill to
require Senate candidates to file designations, statements, and reports
in electronic form.
S. 1677
At the request of Mr. Schumer, the name of the Senator from
Washington (Ms. Cantwell) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1677, a bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the
deduction for college tuition expenses and to expand such deduction to
include expenses for books.
S. 1779
At the request of Mr. Akaka, the name of the Senator from New York
(Mr. Schumer) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1779, a bill to amend the
Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1958 to ensure the humane
slaughter of nonambulatory livestock, and for other purposes.
S. 1915
At the request of Mr. Ensign, the name of the Senator from Maryland
(Ms. Mikulski) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1915, a bill to amend the
Horse Protection Act to prohibit the shipping, transporting, moving,
delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donation of
horses and other equines to be slaughtered for human consumption, and
for other purposes.
S. 1948
At the request of Mrs. Clinton, the name of the Senator from Rhode
Island (Mr. Reed) was added as a cosponsor of S. 1948, a bill to direct
the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations to reduce the
incidence of child injury and death occurring inside or outside of
passenger motor vehicles, and for other purposes.
S. 2235
At the request of Mr. Schumer, the names of the Senator from New
Jersey (Mr. Lautenberg) and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy) were
added as cosponsors of S. 2235, a bill to posthumously award a
congressional gold medal to Constance Baker Motley.
S. 2465
At the request of Mrs. Boxer, the name of the Senator from
Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2465, a bill
to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide increased
assistance for the prevention, treatment, and control of tuberculosis,
and for other purposes.
S. 2747
At the request of Mr. Bingaman, the name of the Senator from
Connecticut (Mr. Dodd) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2747, a bill to
enhance energy efficiency and conserve oil and natural gas, and for
other purposes.
S. 3238
At the request of Mr. Cornyn, the name of the Senator from Missouri
(Mr. Bond) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3238, a bill to require the
Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 50th
anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
S. 3654
At the request of Mr. Jeffords, the name of the Senator from Indiana
(Mr. Bayh) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3654, a bill to amend the
Internal Revenue Code to allow a credit against income tax, or, in the
alternative, a special depreciation allowance, for reuse and recycling
property, to provide for tax-exempt financing of recycling equipment,
and for other purposes.
S. 3696
At the request of Mr. Brownback, the name of the Senator from
Nebraska (Mr. Nelson) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3696, a bill to
amend the Revised Statutes of the United States to prevent the use of
the legal system in a manner that extorts money from State and local
governments, and the Federal Government, and inhibits such governments'
constitutional actions under the first, tenth, and fourteenth
amendments.
S. 3718
At the request of Mr. Allen, the name of the Senator from Virginia
(Mr. Warner) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3718, a bill to increase
the safety of swimming pools and spas by requiring the use of proper
anti-entrapment drain covers and pool and spa drainage systems, by
establishing a swimming pool safety grant program administered by the
Consumer Product Safety Commission to encourage States to improve their
pool and spa safety laws and to educate the public about pool and spa
safety, and for other purposes.
S. 3744
At the request of Mr. Durbin, the names of the Senator from Virginia
(Mr. Warner) and the Senator from Nebraska (Mr. Hagel) were added as
cosponsors of S. 3744, a bill to establish the Abraham Lincoln Study
Abroad Program.
S. 3791
At the request of Mrs. Hutchison, the names of the Senator from
Minnesota (Mr. Dayton) and the Senator from New York (Mrs. Clinton)
were added as cosponsors of S. 3791, a bill to require the provision of
information to parents and adults concerning bacterial meningitis and
the availability of a vaccination with respect to such disease.
S. 3795
At the request of Mr. Smith, the name of the Senator from South
Dakota (Mr. Johnson) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3795, a bill to
amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a two-year
moratorium on certain Medicare physician payment reductions for imaging
services.
S. 3910
At the request of Mrs. Clinton, the names of the Senator from
Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry), the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Mikulski) and
the Senator from Michigan (Mr. Levin) were added as cosponsors of S.
3910, a bill to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept the
donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display the bust in
a suitable location in the Capitol.
S. 3913
At the request of Mr. Rockefeller, the name of the Senator from
Wisconsin (Mr. Feingold) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3913, a bill to
amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to eliminate funding
shortfalls for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
for fiscal year 2007.
S. 3991
At the request of Mr. Conrad, the name of the Senator from Louisiana
(Ms. Landrieu) was added as a cosponsor of S. 3991, a bill to provide
emergency agricultural disaster assistance, and for other purposes.
S. 4014
At the request of Mr. Lugar, the name of the Senator from Texas (Mrs.
Hutchison) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4014, a bill to endorse
further enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
and to facilitate the timely admission of Albania, Croatia, Georgia,
and Macedonia to NATO, and for other purposes.
S. 4042
At the request of Mr. Durbin, the name of the Senator from Nebraska
(Mr. Hagel) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4042, a bill to amend title
18, United States Code, to prohibit disruptions of funerals of members
or former members of the Armed Forces.
S. 4046
At the request of Ms. Collins, the names of the Senator from Florida
(Mr. Nelson), the Senator from New Hampshire (Mr. Gregg), the Senator
from Maryland (Ms. Mikulski) and the Senator from New York (Mrs.
Clinton) were added as cosponsors of S. 4046, a bill to extend
oversight and accountability related to United States reconstruction
funds and efforts in Iraq by extending the termination date of the
Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction.
S. CON. RES. 101
At the request of Mr. Reid, the name of the Senator from Delaware
(Mr. Biden) was added as a cosponsor of S. Con. Res. 101, a concurrent
resolution condemning the repression of the Iranian Baha'i community
and calling for the emancipation of Iranian Baha'is.
AMENDMENT NO. 5123
At the request of Ms. Collins, the names of the Senator from Arizona
[[Page 21988]]
(Mr. McCain), the Senator from Florida (Mr. Nelson), the Senator from
New Hampshire (Mr. Gregg), the Senator from Maryland (Ms. Mikulski) and
the Senator from New York (Mrs. Clinton) were added as cosponsors of
amendment No. 5123 proposed to H.R. 5385, an act making appropriations
for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.
AMENDMENT NO. 5124
At the request of Mr. Reid, the name of the Senator from Nevada (Mr.
Ensign) was added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 5124 intended to be
proposed to H.R. 5385, an act making appropriations for Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.
AMENDMENT NO. 5126
At the request of Mrs. Boxer, her name was added as a cosponsor of
amendment No. 5126 proposed to H.R. 5385, an act making appropriations
for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.
AMENDMENT NO. 5128
At the request of Mr. Akaka, the name of the Senator from Illinois
(Mr. Durbin) was added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 5128 proposed to
H.R. 5385, an act making appropriations for Military Construction and
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2007, and for other purposes.
AMENDMENT NO. 5135
At the request of Mrs. Hutchison, the names of the Senator from Idaho
(Mr. Craig) and the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Allard) were added as
cosponsors of amendment No. 5135 proposed to H.R. 5385, an act making
appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for
other purposes.
____________________
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. INHOFE:
S. 4048. A bill to prohibit Federal funding for the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development; to the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, the Paris-based Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development, which receives 25 percent of its budget
from the U.S., has used U.S. taxpayer money in turn to encourage and
support higher taxes on the U.S. taxpayer, in addition to its support
of U.N. global tax schemes.
The OECD has endorsed and encouraged higher taxes, new taxes, and
global taxes no fewer than 24 times in reports with titles such as
``Towards Global Tax Cooperation,'' in which the OECD identifies 35
nations guilty of ``harmful tax competition.''
They have advocated that the U.S. adopt a costly and bureaucratic
value added tax, a 40-cent increase in the gas tax, a carbon tax, a
fertilizer tax, ending the deductibility of State and local taxes from
Federal taxes, new taxes at the State level, and a host of other new
and innovative taxes on U.S. citizens.
It is not only the recommending of higher taxes which concerns us;
the ultimate concern is the movement towards undermining U.S.
sovereignty. Ecogroups such as the Friends of the Earth want the OECD
to declare that dam-building for flood control and electronic power is
unacceptable as ``sustainable energy.'' In May, 2005 the OECD ministers
endorsed a proposal at the U.N. to create a system of global taxes.
The OECD has stated explicitly that low-tax policies ``unfairly erode
the tax bases of other countries and distort the location of capital
and services.'' What we have here are Paris-based bureaucrats seeking
to protect high-tax welfare states from the free market.
That is why the OECD goes on to say that free-market tax competition
``may hamper the application of progressive tax rates and the
achievement of redistributive goals.'' Clearly, free market tax
competition makes it harder to implement socialistic welfare states.
The free market evidently hasn't been fair to socialistic welfare
states. Well, it's a good thing that they have the OECD and nearly $100
million in U.S. taxpayer money to protect them.
Noted economist Walter Williams clearly sees the direction in which
this is headed when he says that ``the bottom line agenda for the OECD
is to establish a tax cartel where nations get together and collude on
taxes.'' Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill seconded that when he said
that he was ``troubled by the underlying premise that low tax rates are
somehow suspect and by the notion that any country should interfere in
any other country's'' tax policy. And John Bolton argues that the
OECD's approach ``represents a kind of worldwide centralization of
governments and interest groups.'' Who do you think bears the costs for
all this? Mr. Bolton answers and you probably guessed it--the United
States.
America's proud history of independence was driven in no small part
by the desire for sovereignty over taxation powers. In this context, it
makes no sense to relegate our sovereignty over tax policy, in any way,
to international bureaucrats.
It is very simple. U.S. taxpayers are being forced to fund a bunch of
international bureaucrats who write, speak, organize, and advocate in
support of higher taxes, global taxes, and the gradual erosion of
American sovereignty over its domestic fiscal policies. I think that
most Americans would be outraged to learn that they are forced to
subsidize these types of activities with their tax dollars. I think
that they shouldn't have to any longer. That's why I am introducing
legislation today to remove the United State's contributions to the
OECD. I ask you to join me in doing so, as the following individuals
and their respective organizations have joined in helping us to combat
un-American policies emanating from the OECD in the past: Andrew F.
Quinlan, President, Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation;
Daniel J. Mitchell, Senior Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; Veronique
de Rugy, Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; John Berthoud,
President, National Taxpayers Union; Grover Norquist, President.
Americans for Tax Reform; Tom Giovanetti, President, Institute for
Policy Innovation; Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO, Small Business
and Entrepreneurship Council; Doug Bandow, Vice President of Policy,
Citizen Outreach; Roland Boucher, Chairman, United Californians for Tax
Reform; Daniel Clifton, Executive Director, American Shareholders
Association; Rick Durham, President, Tennessee Tax Revolt, Inc.;
Richard Falknor, Executive Vice President, Maryland Taxpayers
Association; Kerri Houston, Vice President of Policy, Frontiers of
Freedom; David A. Keene, Chairman, American Conservative Union; Matt
Kibbe, President and CEO, FreedomWorks; Thomas P. Kilgannon, President,
Freedom Alliance; Michelle Korsmo, Vice President, Americans for
Prosperity Foundation; Charles W. Jarvis, Chairman, USA Next; James L.
Martin, President, 60 Plus Association; Chuck Muth, President, Citizen
Outreach; Karl Peterjohn, Executive Director, Kansas Taxpayers Network;
George Pieler, Senior Fellow, Institute for Policy Innovation; John
Pugsley, Chairman, The Sovereign Society; Don Racheter, President,
Public Interest Institute; Amy Ridenour, President, The National Center
for Public Policy Research; Terrence Scanlon, President, Capital
Research Center; Thomas Schatz, President, Council for Citizens Against
Government Waste; Bill Sizemore, Executive Director, Oregon Taxpayers
United; David M. Stanley, Chairman, Iowans for Tax Relief; David M
Strom, President, Taxpayers League of Minnesota; Henry L. Thaxton,
Director, West Virginians Against Government Waste; Pat Toomey,
President, Club for Growth; Lewis K. Uhler, President, National Tax
Limitation Committee; and Paul M. Weyrich, National Chairman,
Coalitions for America.
______
By Mr. SPECTER:
[[Page 21989]]
S. 4051. A bill to provide sufficient resources to permit electronic
surveillance of United States persons for foreign intelligence purposes
to be conducted pursuant to individualized court-based orders for calls
originating in the United States, to provide additional resources to
enhance oversight and streamline the procedures of the Foreign
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to ensure review of the
Terrorist Surveillance Program by the United States Supreme Court, and
for other purposes; read the first time.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce
legislation which I have captioned as the ``Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Oversight and Resource Enactment Act of 2006.'' This is a
modification of legislation which had been introduced by the Senator
from California, Mrs. Feinstein, and myself and passed out of the
Judiciary Committee.
If it is in accordance with the rules, I ask that this bill be held
at the desk.
The purpose of this legislation is to provide for oversight on the
administration's electronic surveillance program which has been in
effect for many years and which was publicly disclosed in mid-December
last year. We now are at a state where the provisions of earlier
legislation which I introduced, which would call for judicial review by
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, are no longer necessary.
Events have overtaken the situation, with litigation having been
started in a number of district courts, and a decision has come out of
the U.S. district court in Detroit. The issue is now on appeal to the
Sixth Circuit, and there is no longer any need to provide for a
referral to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court because the
matter is now in litigation and will be carried through on the
appellate process.
The legislation which I am introducing tracks the Feinstein-Specter
bill in that it provides additional resources to the administration. It
expands the time when the administration can get approval for an
electronic surveillance that has already been accomplished. With these
additional resources, I am advised that the NSA will be in a position
to have individual warrants for all calls which originate in the United
States and go overseas. The bill does not touch the calls which
originate overseas and come through checkpoints or transmission in the
United States and go back overseas, where both the point of origin and
the point of conclusion is overseas. And, we do not deal with calls
which originate overseas and come into the United States.
The President has contended that notwithstanding the provisions of
the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that it is the exclusive way
to get a wiretap warrant, he has article II power. And, there will be a
test of that in the court system, which is now underway. That test will
involve what the courts have said is the balancing test: the invasion
of privacy versus the value for law enforcement and for national
security. So that as to calls to repeat--when they originate overseas
and come into the United States, that will be the issue which will
remain to be tested.
This proposal does not deal with the existing language that the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is the exclusive remedy, nor does
it deal with any assertion about the article II power of the President.
It has been my view, expressed on the floor on a number of occasions,
that the article II power is what it is, congressional power is what it
is, and if there is genuine article II power, then it supersedes an act
of Congress because the Constitution trumps an act of Congress. This
legislation does not deal with those issues which had created what I
thought was a needless controversy.
The bill further provides that there will be review by the Supreme
Court of the United States. I think there doubtless would be review by
the Supreme Court as a matter of course, but in order not to take any
chance on that, Congress has the authority to mandate review with the
Supreme Court, and this bill does that.
In addition, the legislation provides for expedited review so that
there will be a judicial determination as to the constitutionality of
what the President has done with respect to the calls originating
overseas and ending in the United States. I think this bill is a
significant advance in protecting civil liberties by having
individualized warrants on calls which originate in the United States
and which go overseas.
We have had this electronic surveillance in existence for a long
time. The effort which I have made has been to have it subjected to
judicial review, and it is my hope that this stripped-down legislation,
which does enhance civil liberties by providing for individual warrants
on calls originating in the United States and expedited review in the
Federal courts and expedited review by the Supreme Court, would be
acceptable.
We have time yet in this session this year to legislate on this
important subject.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a question?
Mr. SPECTER. I yield.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Through the Chair.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California is recognized.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I was trying, as the Senator from
Pennsylvania spoke, to figure out exactly what bill it is he is
speaking of. I gather this is his bill, not our bill, on which he is
adding some of our bill's provisions, but he leaves out the critical
part, which is reinforcing the exclusive authority of FISA; is that
correct?
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Pennsylvania.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, the exclusive authority of FISA remains.
This bill does not touch that. FISA is now the law of the land, and
FISA says that it is the exclusive remedy for wiretapping. This
legislation which I am introducing does not alter that, so it remains
as provided in FISA that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is
the exclusive remedy for wiretapping.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. If I may, a second question: Will this bill allow the
President to use his plenary authority to wiretap outside of FISA,
first, and secondly, will it allow for program authority for wiretaps?
Mr. SPECTER. It does not deal with program authority at all. That was
in the original legislation that I introduced as a way of getting the
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to review the program. But this
does not deal with that, and it does not give the President any
enhanced authority at all to conduct warrantless wiretaps. The bill
doesn't deal with that.
Whatever authority the President has under article II, he has. What
this bill does is submit for expedited review by the Supreme Court a
determination as to whether the President has article II power to have
a warrantless wiretap with a call that originates overseas and ends in
the United States.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Again, through the Chair, if the Senator will put up
with this for a moment more, is that to handle the switching issue, or
would this apply to all calls coming in from outside the United States
are exempt?
Mr. SPECTER. To repeat, the bill I am introducing does not touch that
point. The bill I am introducing leaves the status quo on that point,
and that is where some contend that it is illegal to have a wiretap
where the call originates outside the United States and comes inside.
The contention is made that it's governed by the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act and is, therefore, illegal. The President has a
different argument. He is asserting article II power as Commander in
Chief, and he says that his article II power, constitutional power,
supersedes or trumps a statute. Whether he is right or wrong depends
upon a judicial interpretation. Only the court can weigh, as the
existing law is in this area, whether the importance of national
security outweighs the invasion of privacy, and that determination is
reserved for the Federal courts.
We are now having that determination in the Detroit case, ACLU v.
NSA, where the district judge says it is unconstitutional and the Sixth
Circuit now has taken the case. They have issued a stay, in effect, but
they will take up the case on the merits.
[[Page 21990]]
Once the litigation is this far advanced, we are not now in the
situation we were in last December when the Judiciary Committee, as the
Senator from California knows, had four hearings and I had a bill to
submit to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. That is bypassed
now. Events have overtaken it.
This will provide for judicial review. It is my thought--and the
Senator from California and I have talked about this again and again
and have worked on her bill which I supported, voted out of committee
10 to 8 with 2 Republicans and 8 Democrats--this will expedite a
determination as to whether all those calls originating overseas and
coming in are or are not constitutionally tapped. And, it will help out
with what the Senator from California has been the leader on--and that
is to have individualized warrants for calls originating in the United
States. That is a big advance on civil liberties if those calls are not
tapped without a warrant.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I thank the Senator. He has been a very distinguished
chairman of the committee. This is an issue in which, as a member of
the Intelligence Committee and Judiciary Committee, I have had an
intense interest. The Senator from Pennsylvania recognizes that. I
appreciate that.
I am unsure whether this bill is for the purpose of judicial review
of the President's article II authority--I think I understand what the
Senator is doing. He is essentially exempting all those calls which
come into the United States, not calls from point A to point B in the
United States. I think that bears further discussion, but I trust no
action will be taken on this bill in this session but that the Senator
from Pennsylvania is submitting it as a marker for next year.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, it would be my hope that we could act on
it this session. I say that, subject to review by the Senator from
California and by other Members and by the House of Representatives.
The Senator from California and I and others have thought about this
issue long and hard. This bill is a real effort to try to accommodate
all of the concerns the Senator from California has raised. That is to
maintain the status of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act as the
exclusive way to wiretap. That stands.
There is no statement about the authority of the President under
article II, which had been objected to before. As I say, whatever the
constitutional authority is, it is, regardless of what the bill says,
but this bill says nothing about that. It says nothing.
The Senator from California and I have wanted to have individualized
warrants wherever we could get them, and now the Senator from
California took the lead on this. She has had access to this program,
where I have not, because she is on the Intelligence Committee. It is
anomalous that the chairman of the Judiciary Committee would not know
the program, but I respect the division which gives that intelligence
to the oversight committee. But she and I both wanted to have
individualized warrants everywhere if we could get them. And, now we
know we can get them on calls originating in the United States if we
add the resources that were in the legislation crafted initially by the
Senator from California, which I joined, which passed out of committee
and onto the floor. And it does not deal with the ones overseas into
the United States. Whatever authority the President has on that, he is
going to have to assert in Federal court and satisfy ultimately the
Supreme Court that he has that article II power. My view is the sooner
we have this determination, the better off we are.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I thank the chairman. I would like to look very
closely at this bill. I am very reluctant to move right now. You have
mentioned the case percolating up through the courts now. I am really
unsure why passage of this bill now would achieve anything. It seems to
me it would be better to wait and see what the court does. I would
appreciate your response to that.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I am glad to respond, and I thank the
Senator from California for the question. It would achieve
individualized review of warrants on calls originating in the United
States, and there are a lot of them. How many there are, I don't know,
but the NSA officials have told us that if we give them the additional
resources, which was suggested originally by the Senator from
California and which I concur in on the Feinstein-Specter bill, that
they could have individualized warrants. And, I think that would be a
big step forward on civil rights.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Except what you are doing is effectively exempting,
then, a call from outside into the United States because of the change
in technology.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, my bill does not exempt them. My bill
just doesn't deal with them. Some say that FISA controls them and,
therefore, they are illegal. The President says: No, he has article II
power. And the only way that controversy can be resolved is in a
Federal court, which will weigh them. And the Federal court in Detroit
weighed them and said it was unconstitutional. And the Sixth Circuit
has said they will review it. In the meantime, the program stands. But
as the program stands, all of these warrantless wiretaps are going on
and on and on. And we go one step further. We make sure the Supreme
Court will take the case. We also have power in the Congress to
expedite the review, set a timetable to get it done faster.
Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I will be very interested to look at the bill, and I
thank you very much for this dialog. And this completes my questions.
Thank you.
Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Senator from California for the colloquy
which has further explained the bill.
____________________
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 612--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH
FEBRUARY 9, 2007, AS ``NATIONAL TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND
PREVENTION WEEK''
Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Lieberman, Ms. Murkowski,
and Mr. Menendez) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 612
Whereas 1 in 3 female teens in a dating relationship have
feared for their physical safety;
Whereas 1 in 2 teens in serious relationships have
compromised their beliefs to please their partner;
Whereas nearly 1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious
relationship said their boyfriend or girlfriend would
threaten to hurt themselves or their partner if there was a
breakup;
Whereas 1 in 5 teens in a serious relationship report they
have been hit, slapped, or pushed by a partner;
Whereas more than 1 in 4 teens have been in a relationship
where their partner verbally abuses them;
Whereas 13 percent of Hispanic teens reported that hitting
a partner was permissible;
Whereas 29 percent of girls who have been in a relationship
said they have been pressured to have sex or engage in sex
they did not want;
Whereas nearly 50 percent of girls worry that their partner
would break up with them if they did not agree to engage in
sex;
Whereas Native American women experience higher rates of
interpersonal violence than any other population group;
Whereas violent relationships in adolescence can have
serious ramifications for victims who are at higher risk for
substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior,
suicide, and adult revictimization;
Whereas the severity of violence among intimate partners
has been shown to increase if the pattern has been
established in adolescence;
Whereas 81 percent of parents surveyed either believe
dating violence is not an issue or admit they do not know if
it is an issue; and
Whereas the establishment of the National Teen Dating
Violence Awareness and Prevention Week will benefit schools,
communities, and families regardless of socio-economic
status, race, or sex; Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week of February 5 through February 9,
2007, as ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and
Prevention Week''; and
(2) calls upon the people of the United States, high
schools, law enforcement, State and local officials, and
interested groups, to observe National Teen Dating Violence
[[Page 21991]]
Awareness and Prevention Week with appropriate programs and
activities that promote awareness and prevention of the crime
of teen dating violence in their communities.
____________________
SENATE RESOLUTION 613--HONORING THE LIFE AND WORK OF WILLIAM
WILBERFORECE AND COMMEMORATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABOLITION
OF THE SLAVE TRADE IN GREAT BRITAIN
Mr. SANTORUM (for himself and Mr. Pryor) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committe on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 613
Whereas William Wilberforce, born August 25, 1759, used his
position as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons to
stop the slave trade in Great Britain, proclaiming, ``I
[will] never rest until I have effected [slavery's]
abolition.'';
Whereas William Wilberforce displayed remarkable
perserverance in answering the call of social justice and
fought the slave trade in Great Britain and slavery itself
for 46 years, despite the national and personal financial
interests aligned against him, the public criticism and
slander he endured, and the stress and pain placed on his
family;
Whereas William Wilberforce rested his political career on
the ideals of stewardship, respect for the rights of others,
advancing the views of others, and promoting the happiness of
others, and proclaimed, ``Let every one . . . regulate his
conduct by the golden rule . . . and the path of duty will be
clear before him.'';
Whereas William Wilberforce defended the rights of slaves
who had no voice in the legislature of Great Britain and
committed himself to sweeping social reform in his country;
Whereas William Wilberforce joined with Sir Thomas Fowell
Buxton, Thomas Clarkson, Olaudah Equiano, Harriet Martineau,
Hannah More, and other great abolitionists in Great Britain;
Whereas William Wilberforce inspired abolitionists in the
United States, including William Lloyd Garrison, John
Greenleaf Whittier, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau,
and Harriet Beecher Stowe;
Whereas William Wilberforce also influenced John Quincy
Adams, James Monroe, John Jay, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin
Franklin, along with many leaders in the African-American
community, among them William Wells Brown, Paul Cuffe, and
Benjamin Hughes;
Whereas Frederick Douglass said, ``it was the faithful,
persistent and enduring enthusiasm of . . . William
Wilberforce . . . and [his] noble co-workers, that finally
thawed the British heart into sympathy for the slave, and
moved the strong arm of the government in mercy to put an end
to his bondage.''; and
Whereas March 25, 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the
abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) honors the life and work of William Wilberforce; and
(2) commemorates the 200th anniversary of the abolition
of the slave trade in Great Britain and its impact on similar
efforts in the United States.
____________________
AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND PROPOSED
SA 5137. Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Salazar,
Mr. Akaka, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Rockefeller, Mrs. Boxer, and Ms.
Landrieu) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table.
SA 5138. Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, and Ms.
Landrieu) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 5385, supra.
SA 5139. Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, and Ms.
Landrieu) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 5385, supra; which was ordered to lie on
the table.
SA 5140. Mr. FEINGOLD submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, supra; which was
ordered to lie on the table.
SA 5141. Mrs. HUTCHISON submitted an amendment intended to
be proposed by her to the bill H.R. 5385, supra.
SA 5142. Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Akaka,
Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Jeffords) submitted an amendment intended
to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, supra.
SA 5143. Mr. ALLEN submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, supra.
SA 5144. Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Nelson
of Nebraska, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune,
Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Enzi, Mr . Baucus, Mr. Reid, Mrs. Clinton,
Mr. Obama, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Harkin, Ms. Cantwell,
Mr. Burns, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Inouye,
and Mr. Akaka) proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 5385,
supra.
SA 5145. Mr. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed to amendment SA 4920 submitted by Mr. Burns and
intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 5385, supra; which
was ordered to lie on the table.
SA 5146. Mr. COCHRAN (for himself and Mr. Lott) submitted
an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R.
5385, supra.
SA 5147. Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Smith) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R.
5385, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table.
SA 5148. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by her to the bill H.R. 5385, supra; which was
ordered to lie on the table.
____________________
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS
SA 5137. Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Akaka
Mr. Leahy, Mr. Rockefeller, Mrs. Boxer, and Ms. Landrieu) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, making
appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Releated Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
Sec. ___. (a) Eligibility for Medical Care and Services
for Veterans of Future Conflicts for Mental Health Conditions
for Which Evidence Is Insufficient to Establish a Service-
Connection.--Paragraph (1) of section 1710(e) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(F) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a veteran who
served on active duty as described in subparagraph (D) during
a period of war specified in that subparagraph, or after the
date specified in that subparagraph, is also eligible for--
``(i) a mental health evaluation to be provided by the
Secretary not later than 30 days after the date of the
request of the veteran for such evaluation; and
``(ii) hospital care, medical services, nursing home
care, and family and marital counseling for any mental health
condition identified pursuant to such evaluation,
notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence
to conclude that such condition is attributable to such
service.''.
(b) Limitations.--
(1) Causation.--Paragraph (2)(B) of such section is
amended by striking ``or (E)'' and inserting ``(E), or (F)''.
(2) Duration after service.--Paragraph (3) of such
section is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(E) in the case of a veteran described in paragraph
(1)(F)--
``(i) with respect to the evaluation described in clause
(i) of that paragraph, after a period of 5 years beginning on
the date of the veteran's discharge or release from active
military, naval, or air service; and
``(ii) with respect to the care, services, and counseling
described in clause (ii) of that paragraph, after a period of
2 years beginning on the date of the commencement of the
provision of such care, services, and counseling to the
veteran.''.
______
SA 5138. Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, and Ms. Landrieu)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R.
5385, making appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2007, and for other purposes; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title II, insert the
following:
Sec. __. (a) Study on Costs of Comprehensive Service
Programs for Homeless Veterans.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall carry out a study of costs associated with the
Comprehensive Service Programs authorized by sections 2011
and 2012 of title 38 United States Code.
(b) Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs and Appropriations of the
Senate and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs and
Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on
the study required by subsection (a). The report shall set
forth the following:
(1) The number of authorized and operational transitional
housing beds and service centers under the programs referred
to in subsection (a) in fiscal year 2006, and the number of
such beds and centers in each State and in each Congressional
District during such fiscal year.
[[Page 21992]]
(2) The cost in fiscal year 2006 of grants under section
2011 of title 38, United States Code, to authorized and
operational transitional housing beds and service centers
under the programs referred to in that subsection.
(3) The cost in fiscal year 2006 of per diem payments
under section 2012 of title 38 United States Code, to
authorized and operational transitional housing beds and
service centers under the programs referred to in that
subsection.
(4) An estimate of the costs in each of fiscal years
2007, 2012, and 2017 associated with an increase in the
number of operational transitional housing beds under the
programs referred to in that subsection to each of 10,000,
20,000, and 30,000 beds, and a description of the methodology
used for making such estimates.
(5) The number of applications received, scored as
qualified, and awarded pursuant to the Capital Grant Notice
of Funds Availability published on April 20, 2006.
(6) The range of per diem payment rates, the average per
diem payment rate, and the median per diem payment rate paid
to recipients of grants under section 2012 of title 38,
United States Code, in fiscal year 2006.
(7) The number and percentage of total recipients of
grants under section 2011 of title 38 United States Code, in
fiscal year 2006 being paid under section 2012 of title 38,
United States Code, the rate authorized for State homes for
domiciliary care under section 1741(a)(1)(A) of that title
for fiscal year 2006.
______
SA 5139. Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Landrieu)
submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R.
5385, making appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the
following new section:
Sec. 229. Effective as of October 1, 2006, the authority
provided by section 2064 of title 38, United States Code,
shall continue in effect until September 30, 2007.
______
SA 5140. Mr. FEINGOLD submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title II, add the following:
Sec. __. (a) Termination Under Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act of Contracts for Cellular Phone Services.--
(1) Inclusion of contracts under termination authority.--
Subsection (b) of section 305 of the Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (50 U.S.C. App. 535) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Contracts for cellular phone service.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C),
a contract for a cellular phone used, or intended to be used,
by a servicemember or a servicemember's dependent for a
personal or business purpose if--
``(i) the contract is executed by or on behalf of a
person who thereafter and during the term of the contract
enters into military service under call or order specifying a
period of not less than 90 days (or who enters military
service under a call or order specifying a period of 90 days
or less and who, without a break in service, receives orders
extending the period of military service to a period not less
than 90 days);
``(ii) the servicemember, while in military service,
executes the contract and thereafter receives military orders
for a permanent change of station outside of the continental
United States or to deploy with a military unit for a period
of not less than 90 days; or
``(iii) the servicemember, while in military service,
executes the contract and thereafter receives military orders
for a permanent change of station to a location within the
continental United States where the contract cannot be
transferred at the same rate, terms, and quality of service.
``(B) Applicability to dependents.--Subparagraph (A)
shall apply with respect to a contract, or portion of a
contract, for a cellular phone used, or intended to be used,
by a servicemember's dependent only if the dependent--
``(i) relocates in accompanying the servicemember in the
performance of the military service, or in a permanent change
of station or deployment, described in that subparagraph; or
``(ii) otherwise relocates as a consequence of such
military service or change of station or deployment.
``(C) Applicability to group plans.--If a servicemember
or a dependent to whom this paragraph applies is not the
primary account holder under a contract described in
subparagraph (A), that subparagraph shall apply only to the
extent of the obligations of the servicemember or dependent,
as the case may be, in the contract.''.
(2) Manner of termination.--Subsection (c)(1) of such
section is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) in the case of a contract for a cellular phone, by
delivery by the contractee of written notice of such
termination, and a copy of the servicemember's military
orders, to the contractor or to the contractor's agent.''.
(3) Effective date of termination.--Subsection (d) of
such section is amended by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(3) Contract for cellular phone service.--In the case
of a contract for a cellular phone described in subsection
(b)(3), termination of the contract under subsection (a) is
effective on the day on which the requirements of subsection
(c) are met for such termination.''.
(4) Arrearages.--Subsection (e) of such section is
amended--
(A) by striking ``(e) Arrearages and Other Obligations
and Liabilities.--Rents or lease amounts'' and inserting the
following:
``(e) Arrearages and Other Obligations and Liabilities.--
``(1) In general.--Rents or lease amounts'';
(B) by designating the second sentence as paragraph (2),
indenting such paragraph 4 ems from the left margin, and
inserting before ``In the case of the lease'' the following:
``(2) Lease charges for motor vehicles.--''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(3) Termination charges for cellular phone contracts.--
In the case of a contract for a cellular phone, the
contractor may not impose an early termination charge, but
may request the return of equipment provided to the
contractee as part of the contract which would normally
remain the property of the contractee at the end of the
contract term if the contractee is given the option of paying
a pro-rated amount to retain such equipment based on the
original retail price of such equipment, the amount
previously paid for such equipment by the contractee, and the
time remaining on the contract.
``(4) Reactivation fees.--In the event a contractor and
contractee jointly agree to treat the termination of a
contract for a cellular phone under this section as a
suspension of such contract, the contractor may not impose
any fee for reactivation of service under such contract at
the completion of suspension of such contract.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (a)(1)(B) of such
section is amended by striking ``or (2)(B)'' and inserting
``, (2)(B), (3)(A)(ii), or (3)(A)(iii)''.
(c) Clerical Amendments.--
(1) Heading amendment.--The heading of such section is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 305. TERMINATION OF RESIDENTIAL OR MOTOR VEHICLE
LEASES OR CONTRACTS FOR CELLULAR PHONE
SERVICE.''.
(2) Table of contents amendment.--The table of contents
for such Act is amended by striking the item relating to
section 305 and inserting the following new item:
``Sec. 305. Termination of residential or motor vehicle leases or
contracts for cellular phone service.''.
______
SA 5141. Mrs. HUTCHISON submitted an amendment intended to be
proposed by her to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as
follows:
At the appropriate place insert the following:
``Sec. 126. (a) The amount available for `Military
Construction, Air Force' is hereby reduced by $25,400,000 for
`Basic Expeditionary Airmen Training Facility, Lackland AFB,
Texas'.
``(b) The amount available for `Department of Defense Base
Closure Account 2005' is hereby increased by $25,400,000.''
______
SA 5142. Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Akaka, Mrs. Boxer,
and Mr. Jeffords) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him
to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows:
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following:
Sec. 229. Of the amount appropriated by this title, up to
$18,000,000 may be available for necessary expenses,
including salaries and expenses, for the provision of
additional mental health services through centers for
[[Page 21993]]
readjustment counseling and related mental health services
for veterans under section 1712A of title 38, United States
Code (commonly referred to as ``Vet Centers''), to veterans
who served in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.
______
SA 5143. Mr. ALLEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows:
On page 110, between lines 22 and 23, insert the following:
TITLE V--DIGITAL AND WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Minority Serving
Institution Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Act
of 2006''.
SEC. 502. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended by inserting the
following after subsection (f):
``(g) Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless
Technology Opportunity Program.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Under
Secretary, shall establish a Minority Serving Institution
Digital and Wireless Technology Opportunity Program to assist
eligible institutions in acquiring, and augmenting their use
of, digital and wireless networking technologies to improve
the quality and delivery of educational services at eligible
institutions.
``(2) Authorized activities.--An eligible institution may
use a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract awarded under
this subsection--
``(A) to acquire equipment, instrumentation, networking
capability, hardware and software, digital network
technology, wireless technology, and infrastructure to
further the objective of the Program described in paragraph
(1);
``(B) to develop and provide training, education, and
professional development programs, including faculty
development, to increase the use of, and usefulness of,
digital and wireless networking technology;
``(C) to provide teacher education, including the provision
of preservice teacher training and in-service professional
development at eligible institutions, library and media
specialist training, and preschool and teacher aid
certification to individuals who seek to acquire or enhance
technology skills in order to use digital and wireless
networking technology in the classroom or instructional
process, including instruction in science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology subjects; and
``(D) to foster the use of digital and wireless networking
technology to improve research and education, including
scientific, mathematics, engineering, and technology
instruction.
``(3) Application and review procedures.--
``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant,
cooperative agreement, or contract under this subsection, an
eligible institution shall submit an application to the Under
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Under Secretary may require. Such
application, at a minimum, shall include a description of how
the funds will be used, including a description of any
digital and wireless networking technology to be acquired,
and a description of how the institution will ensure that
digital and wireless networking will be made accessible to,
and employed by, students, faculty, and administrators. The
Under Secretary, consistent with subparagraph (B), shall
establish procedures to review such applications. The Under
Secretary shall publish the application requirements and
review criteria in the Federal Register, along with a
statement describing the availability of funds.
``(B) Review panels.--Each application submitted under this
subsection by an eligible institution shall be reviewed by a
panel of individuals selected by the Under Secretary to judge
the quality and merit of the proposal, including the extent
to which the eligible institution can effectively and
successfully utilize the proposed grant, cooperative
agreement, or contract to carry out the program described in
paragraph (1). The Under Secretary shall ensure that the
review panels include representatives of minority serving
institutions and others who are knowledgeable about eligible
institutions and digital and wireless networking technology.
The Under Secretary shall ensure that no individual assigned
under this subsection to review any application has a
conflict of interest with regard to that application. The
Under Secretary shall take into consideration the
recommendations of the review panel in determining whether to
award a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to an
eligible institution.
``(C) Matching requirement.--The Under Secretary may not
award a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract to an
eligible institution under this subsection unless such
institution agrees that, with respect to the costs incurred
by the institution in carrying out the program for which the
grant, cooperative agreement, or contract was awarded, such
institution shall make available, directly, or through
donations from public or private entities, non-Federal
contributions in an amount equal to one-quarter of the grant,
cooperative agreement, or contract awarded by the Under
Secretary, or $500,000, whichever is the lesser amount. The
Under Secretary shall waive the matching requirement for any
institution or consortium with no endowment, or an endowment
that has a current dollar value lower than $50,000,000.
``(D) Awards.--
``(i) Limitation.--An eligible institution that receives a
grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this
subsection that exceeds $2,500,000 shall not be eligible to
receive another grant, cooperative agreement, or contract.
``(ii) Consortia.--Grants, cooperative agreements, and
contracts may only be awarded to eligible institutions.
Eligible institutions may seek funding under this subsection
for consortia which may include other eligible institutions,
a State or a State educational agency, local educational
agencies, institutions of higher education, community-based
organizations, national nonprofit organizations, or
businesses, including minority businesses.
``(iii) Planning grants.--The Under Secretary may provide
funds to develop strategic plans to implement such grants,
cooperative agreements, or contracts.
``(iv) Institutional diversity.--In awarding grants,
cooperative agreements, and contracts to eligible
institutions, the Under Secretary shall ensure, to the extent
practicable, that awards are made to all types of
institutions eligible for assistance under this subsection.
``(v) Need.--In awarding funds under this subsection, the
Under Secretary shall give priority to the institution with
the greatest demonstrated need for assistance.
``(E) Annual report and evaluation.--
``(i) Annual report required from recipients.--Each
institution that receives a grant, cooperative agreement, or
contract awarded under this subsection shall provide an
annual report to the Under Secretary on its use of the grant,
cooperative agreement, or contract.
``(ii) Independent assessment.--Not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Under
Secretary shall enter into a contract with the National
Academy of Public Administration to conduct periodic
assessments of the program. The Assessments shall be
conducted once every 3 years during the 10-year period
following the enactment of this subsection. The assessments
shall include an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
program in improving the education and training of students,
faculty and staff at eligible institutions that have been
awarded grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts under
the program; an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
program in improving access to, and familiarity with, digital
and wireless networking technology for students, faculty, and
staff at all eligible institutions; an evaluation of the
procedures established under subparagraph (A); and
recommendations for improving the program, including
recommendations concerning the continuing need for Federal
support. In carrying out its assessments, the National
Academy of Public Administration shall review the reports
submitted to the Under Secretary under clause (i).
``(iii) Report to congress.--Upon completion of each
independent assessment carried out under clause (ii), the
Under Secretary shall transmit the assessment to Congress
along with a summary of the Under Secretary's plans, if any,
to implement the recommendations of the National Academy of
Public Administration.
``(F) Definitions.--In this subsection:
``(i) Digital and wireless networking technology.--The term
`digital and wireless networking technology' means computer
and communications equipment and software that facilitates
the transmission of information in a digital format.
``(ii) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means an institution that is--
``(I) a historically Black college or university that is a
part B institution, as defined in section 322(2) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)), or an
institution described in section 326(e)(1) of that Act (20
U.S.C. 1063b(e)(1));
``(II) a Hispanic-serving institution, as defined in
section 502(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1101a(a)(5));
``(III) a tribally controlled college or university, as
defined in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3));
``(IV) an Alaska Native-serving institution under section
317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059d(b)); or
``(V) a Native Hawaiian-serving institution under section
317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059d(b)).
``(iii) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
[[Page 21994]]
``(iv) Local educational agency.--The term `local
educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(v) Minority business.--The term `minority business'
includes HUBZone small business concerns (as defined in
section 3(p) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(p)).
``(vi) Minority individual.--The term `minority individual'
means an American Indian, Alaskan Native, Black (not of
Hispanic origin), Hispanic (including persons of Mexican,
Puerto Rican, Cuban and Central or South American origin), or
Pacific Islander individual.
``(vii) State.--The term `State' has the meaning given the
term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
``(viii) State educational agency.--The term `State
educational agency' has the meaning given the term in section
9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 7801).''.
SEC. 503. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Technology
Administration of the Department of Commerce to carry out
section 5(g) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation
Act of 1980 such sums as may be necessary for each of the
fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
______
SA 5144. Mr. CONRAD (for himself, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Nelson of
Nebraska, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Dorgan,
Mr. Enzi, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Reid, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Durbin,
Mr. Leahy, Mr. Harkin, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Burns, Mr. Schumer, Mr.
Roberts, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Akaka) proposed an amendment
to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; as follows:
On page 110, between lines 22 and 23, insert the following:
TITLE V--EMERGENCY FARM RELIEF
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Emergency Farm Relief Act
of 2006''.
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Additional coverage.--The term ``additional coverage''
has the meaning given the term in section 502(b)(1) of the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1502(b)(1)).
(2) Disaster county.--The term ``disaster county'' means--
(A) a county included in the geographic area covered by a
natural disaster declaration; and
(B) each county contiguous to a county described in
subparagraph (A).
(3) Hurricane-affected county.--The term ``hurricane-
affected county'' means--
(A) a county included in the geographic area covered by a
natural disaster declaration related to Hurricane Katrina,
Hurricane Rita, Hurricane Wilma, or a related condition; and
(B) each county contiguous to a county described in
subparagraph (A).
(4) Insurable commodity.--The term ``insurable commodity''
means an agricultural commodity (excluding livestock) for
which the producers on a farm are eligible to obtain a policy
or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.).
(5) Livestock.--The term ``livestock'' includes--
(A) cattle (including dairy cattle);
(B) bison;
(C) sheep;
(D) swine; and
(E) other livestock, as determined by the Secretary.
(6) Natural disaster declaration.--The term ``natural
disaster declaration'' means a natural disaster declared by
the Secretary during calendar year 2005 or 2006 under section
321(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7
U.S.C. 1961(a)).
(7) Noninsurable commodity.--The term ``noninsurable
commodity'' means a crop for which the producers on a farm
are eligible to obtain assistance under section 196 of the
Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (7
U.S.C. 7333).
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
Subtitle A--Agricultural Production Losses
SEC. 511. CROP DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall use such sums as are
necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
make emergency financial assistance authorized under this
section available to producers on a farm that have incurred
qualifying losses described in subsection (c).
(b) Administration.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall make assistance available under this section
in the same manner as provided under section 815 of the
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration
and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law
106-387; 114 Stat. 1549A-55), including using the same loss
thresholds for quantity and economic losses as were used in
administering that section, except that the payment rate
shall be 50 percent of the established price, instead of 65
percent.
(2) Noninsured producers.--For producers on a farm that
were eligible to acquire crop insurance for the applicable
production loss and failed to do so or failed to submit an
application for the noninsured assistance program for the
loss, the Secretary shall make assistance in accordance with
paragraph (1), except that the payment rate shall be 35
percent of the established price, instead of 50 percent.
(c) Qualifying Losses.--Assistance under this section shall
be made available to producers on farms, other than producers
of sugar beets, that incurred qualifying quantity or quality
losses for the 2005 or 2006 crop due to damaging weather or
any related condition (including losses due to crop diseases,
insects, and delayed harvest), as determined by the
Secretary.
(d) Quality Losses.--
(1) In general.--In addition to any payment received under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall use such sums as are
necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
make payments to producers on a farm described in subsection
(a) that incurred a quality loss for the 2005 or 2006 crop,
or both, of a commodity in an amount equal to the product
obtained by multiplying--
(A) the payment quantity determined under paragraph (2);
(B)(i) in the case of an insurable commodity, the coverage
level elected by the insured under the policy or plan of
insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501
et seq.); or
(ii) in the case of a noninsurable commodity, the
applicable coverage level for the payment quantity determined
under paragraph (2); by
(C) 50 percent of the payment rate determined under
paragraph (3).
(2) Payment quantity.--For the purpose of paragraph (1)(A),
the payment quantity for quality losses for a crop of a
commodity on a farm shall equal the lesser of--
(A) the actual production of the crop affected by a quality
loss of the commodity on the farm; or
(B)(i) in the case of an insurable commodity, the actual
production history for the commodity by the producers on the
farm under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et
seq.); or
(ii) in the case of a noninsurable commodity, the
established yield for the crop for the producers on the farm
under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333).
(3) Payment rate.--
(A) In general.--For the purpose of paragraph (1)(B), the
payment rate for quality losses for a crop of a commodity on
a farm shall be equal to the difference between (as
determined by the applicable State committee of the Farm
Service Agency)--
(i) the per unit market value that the units of the crop
affected by the quality loss would have had if the crop had
not suffered a quality loss; and
(ii) the per unit market value of the units of the crop
affected by the quality loss.
(B) Factors.--In determining the payment rate for quality
losses for a crop of a commodity on a farm, the applicable
State committee of the Farm Service Agency shall take into
account--
(i) the average local market quality discounts that
purchasers applied to the commodity during the first 2 months
following the normal harvest period for the commodity;
(ii) the loan rate and repayment rate established for the
commodity under the marketing loan program established for
the commodity under subtitle B of title I of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 7931 et
seq.);
(iii) the market value of the commodity if sold into a
secondary market; and
(iv) other factors determined appropriate by the committee.
(4) Eligibility.--
(A) In general.--For producers on a farm to be eligible to
obtain a payment for a quality loss for a crop under this
subsection--
(i) the amount obtained by multiplying the per unit loss
determined under paragraph (1) by the number of units
affected by the quality loss shall be reduced by the amount
of any indemnification received by the producers on the farm
for quality loss adjustment for the commodity under a policy
or plan of insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7
U.S.C. 1501 et seq.); and
(ii) the remainder shall be at least 25 percent of the
value that all affected production of the crop would have had
if the crop had not suffered a quality loss.
(B) Ineligibility.--If the amount of a quality loss payment
for a commodity for the producers on a farm determined under
this paragraph is equal to or less than zero, the producers
on the farm shall be ineligible for assistance for the
commodity under this subsection.
(5) Eligible production.--The Secretary shall carry out
this subsection in a fair and equitable manner for all
eligible production, including the production of fruits and
vegetables, other specialty crops, and field crops.
[[Page 21995]]
(e) Timing.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall make payments to producers on a farm for a crop under
this section not later than 60 days after the date the
producers on the farm submit to the Secretary a completed
application for the payments.
(2) Interest.--If the Secretary does not make payments to
the producers on a farm by the date described in paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall pay to the producers on a farm
interest on the payments at a rate equal to the current (as
of the sign-up deadline established by the Secretary) market
yield on outstanding, marketable obligations of the United
States with maturities of 30 years.
SEC. 512. LIVESTOCK ASSISTANCE.
(a) Livestock Compensation Program.--
(1) Use of commodity credit corporation funds.--Effective
beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall use funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry
out the 2002 Livestock Compensation Program announced by the
Secretary on October 10, 2002 (67 Fed. Reg. 63070), to
provide compensation for livestock losses during calendar
years 2005 and 2006 for losses due to a disaster, as
determined by the Secretary, except that the payment rate
shall be 75 percent of the payment rate established for the
2002 Livestock Compensation Program.
(2) Eligible applicants.--In carrying out the program
described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide
assistance to any applicant for livestock losses during
calendar year 2005 or 2006, or both, that--
(A)(i) conducts a livestock operation that is located in a
disaster county, including any applicant conducting a
livestock operation with eligible livestock (within the
meaning of the livestock assistance program under section
101(b) of division B of Public Law 108-324 (118 Stat. 1234));
or
(ii) produces an animal described in section 10806(a)(1) of
the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (21 U.S.C.
321d(a)(1));
(B) demonstrates to the Secretary that the applicant
suffered a material loss of pasture or hay production, or
experienced substantially increased feed costs, due to
damaging weather or a related condition during the calendar
year, as determined by the Secretary; and
(C) meets all other eligibility requirements established by
the Secretary for the program.
(3) Mitigation.--In determining the eligibility for or
amount of payments for which a producer is eligible under the
livestock compensation program, the Secretary shall not
penalize a producer that takes actions (recognizing disaster
conditions) that reduce the average number of livestock the
producer owned for grazing during the production year for
which assistance is being provided.
(b) Livestock Indemnity Payments.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use such sums as are
necessary of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
make livestock indemnity payments to producers on farms that
have incurred livestock losses during calendar years 2005 and
2006 for losses that occurred prior to the date of enactment
of this Act (including wildfire disaster losses in the State
of Texas and other States) due to a disaster, as determined
by the Secretary, including losses due to hurricanes, floods,
anthrax, and wildfires.
(2) Payment rates.--Indemnity payments to a producer on a
farm under paragraph (1) shall be made at a rate of not less
than 30 percent of the market value of the applicable
livestock on the day before the date of death of the
livestock, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use $13,000,000 of
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make payments
under the Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program
under part 784 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (or a
successor regulation) for each qualifying ewe lamb retained
or purchased during the period beginning on January 1, 2006,
and ending on December 31, 2006.
(2) Ineligibility for other assistance.--A producer that
receives assistance under this subsection shall not be
eligible to receive assistance under subsection (a).
SEC. 513. FLOODED CROP AND GRAZING LAND.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall compensate eligible
owners of flooded crop and grazing land in--
(1) the Devils Lake basin; and
(2) the McHugh, Lake Laretta, and Rose Lake closed drainage
areas of the State of North Dakota.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive compensation
under this section, an owner shall own land described in
subsection (a) that, during the 2 crop years preceding
receipt of compensation, was rendered incapable of use for
the production of an agricultural commodity or for grazing
purposes (in a manner consistent with the historical use of
the land) as the result of flooding, as determined by the
Secretary.
(2) Inclusions.--Land described in paragraph (1) shall
include--
(A) land that has been flooded;
(B) land that has been rendered inaccessible due to
flooding; and
(C) a reasonable buffer strip adjoining the flooded land,
as determined by the Secretary.
(3) Administration.--The Secretary may establish--
(A) reasonable minimum acreage levels for individual
parcels of land for which owners may receive compensation
under this section; and
(B) the location and area of adjoining flooded land for
which owners may receive compensation under this section.
(c) Sign-up.--The Secretary shall establish a sign-up
program for eligible owners to apply for compensation from
the Secretary under this section.
(d) Compensation Payments.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the
rate of an annual compensation payment under this section
shall be equal to 90 percent of the average annual per acre
rental payment rate (at the time of entry into the contract)
for comparable crop or grazing land that has not been flooded
and remains in production in the county where the flooded
land is located, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Reduction.--An annual compensation payment under this
section shall be reduced by the amount of any conservation
program rental payments or Federal agricultural commodity
program payments received by the owner for the land during
any crop year for which compensation is received under this
section.
(3) Exclusion.--During any year in which an owner receives
compensation for flooded land under this section, the owner
shall not be eligible to participate in or receive benefits
for the flooded land under--
(A) the Federal crop insurance program established under
the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.);
(B) the noninsured crop assistance program established
under section 196 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333); or
(C) any Federal agricultural crop disaster assistance
program.
(e) Relationship to Agricultural Commodity Programs.--The
Secretary, by regulation, shall provide for the preservation
of cropland base, allotment history, and payment yields
applicable to land described in subsection (a) that was
rendered incapable of use for the production of an
agricultural commodity or for grazing purposes as the result
of flooding.
(f) Use of Land.--
(1) In general.--An owner that receives compensation under
this section for flooded land shall take such actions as are
necessary to not degrade any wildlife habitat on the land
that has naturally developed as a result of the flooding.
(2) Recreational activities.--To encourage owners that
receive compensation for flooded land to allow public access
to and use of the land for recreational activities, as
determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may--
(A) offer an eligible owner additional compensation; and
(B) provide compensation for additional acreage under this
section.
(g) Funding.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use $6,000,000 of
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out this
section.
(2) Pro-rated payments.--In a case in which the amount made
available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year is
insufficient to compensate all eligible owners under this
section, the Secretary shall pro-rate payments for that
fiscal year on a per acre basis.
SEC. 514. SUGAR BEET DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall use $24,000,000 of
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to provide
assistance to sugar beet producers that suffered production
losses (including quality losses) for the 2005 or 2006 crop
year.
(b) Requirement.--The Secretary shall make payments under
subsection (a) in the same manner as payments were made under
section 208 of the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003
(Public Law 108-7; 117 Stat. 544), including using the same
indemnity benefits as were used in carrying out that section.
(c) Hawaii.--The Secretary shall use $6,000,000 of funds of
the Commodity Credit Corporation to assist sugarcane growers
in Hawaii by making a payment in that amount to an
agricultural transportation cooperative in Hawaii, the
members of which are eligible to obtain a loan under section
156(a) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act
of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7272(a)).
SEC. 515. BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS HERD INDEMNIFICATION.
The Secretary shall use $2,000,000 of funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation to indemnify producers that
suffered losses to herds of cattle due to bovine tuberculosis
during calendar year 2005.
SEC. 516. NONINSURED CROP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Section 196(c) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 7333(c)) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(5) Loss assessment for grazing.--The Secretary shall
permit the use of 1 claims adjustor certified by the
Secretary to assess
[[Page 21996]]
the quantity of loss on the acreage or allotment of a
producer devoted to grazing for livestock under this
section.''.
SEC. 517. REDUCTION IN PAYMENTS.
The amount of any payment for which a producer is eligible
under this subtitle shall be reduced by any amount received
by the producer for the same loss or any similar loss under--
(1) the Department of Defense, Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations to Address Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico,
and Pandemic Influenza Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-148; 119
Stat. 2680);
(2) an agricultural disaster assistance provision contained
in the announcement of the Secretary on January 26, 2006, or
August 29, 2006;
(3) the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for
Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery,
2006 (Public Law 109-234; 120 Stat. 418); or
(4) the Livestock Assistance Grant Program announced by the
Secretary on August 29, 2006.
Subtitle B--Small Business Economic Loss Grant Program
SEC. 521. SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC LOSS GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Definition of Qualified State.--In this section, the
term ``qualified State'' means a State in which at least 50
percent of the counties of the State were declared to be
primary agricultural disaster areas by the Secretary in at
least 2 of crop years 2004, 2005, and 2006.
(b) Grants to Qualified States.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use $300,000,000 of
funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to make grants to
State departments of agriculture or comparable State agencies
in qualified States.
(2) Amount.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary
shall allocate grants among qualified States described in
paragraph (1) based on the average value of agricultural
sector production in the qualified State, determined as a
percentage of the gross domestic product of the qualified
State.
(B) Minimum amount.--The minimum amount of a grant under
this subsection shall be $3,000,000.
(3) Requirement.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this subsection, a qualified State shall agree to carry out
an expedited disaster assistance program to provide direct
payments to qualified small businesses in accordance with
subsection (c).
(c) Direct Payments to Qualified Small Businesses.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out an expedited disaster
assistance program described in subsection (b)(3), a
qualified State shall provide direct payments to eligible
small businesses in the qualified State that suffered
material economic losses in at least 2 of crop years 2004,
2005, and 2006 as a direct result of weather-related
agricultural losses to the crop or livestock production
sectors of the qualified State, as determined by the
Secretary.
(2) Eligibility.--
(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a direct payment
under paragraph (1), a small business shall--
(i) have less than $5,000,000 in average annual gross
income from all business activities, at least 75 percent of
which shall be directly related to production agriculture or
agriculture support industries, as determined by the
Secretary;
(ii) verify the amount of economic loss attributable to
weather-related agricultural losses using such documentation
as the Secretary and the head of the qualified State agency
may require;
(iii) have suffered losses attributable to weather-related
agricultural disasters that equal at least 50 percent of the
total economic loss of the small business for each year a
grant is requested; and
(iv) demonstrate that the grant will materially improve the
likelihood the business will--
(I) recover from the disaster; and
(II) continue to service and support production
agriculture.
(3) Requirements.--A direct payment to small business under
this subsection shall--
(A) be limited to not more than 2 years of documented
losses;
(B) be in an amount of not more than 75 percent of the
documented average economic loss attributable to weather-
related agriculture disasters for each eligible year in the
qualified State; and
(C) not exceed $80,000 per grant per year.
(4) Insufficient funding.--If the grant funds received by a
qualified State agency under subsection (b) are insufficient
to fund the direct payments of the qualified State agency
under this subsection, the qualified State agency may apply a
proportional reduction to all of the direct payments.
Subtitle C--Conservation
SEC. 531. EMERGENCY CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall use an additional $30,000,000 of funds
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out emergency
measures, including wildfire recovery efforts in Montana and
other States, identified by the Administrator of the Farm
Service Agency as of the date of enactment of this Act
through the emergency conservation program established under
title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2201 et seq.).
SEC. 532. EMERGENCY WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall use an additional $70,000,000 of funds
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out emergency
measures identified by the Chief of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service as of the date of enactment of this Act
through the emergency watershed protection program
established under section 403 of the Agricultural Credit Act
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203).
SEC. 533. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM.
The Secretary shall use an additional $200,000,000 of funds
of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out emergency
measures identified by the Secretary through the
environmental quality incentives program established under
chapter 4 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act
of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839aa et seq.), of which not less than
$50,000,000 shall be used to carry out wildfire recovery
efforts (including in Montana and other States).
Subtitle D--Farm Service Agency
SEC. 541. FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL.
The Secretary shall use $20,000,000 of funds of the
Commodity Credit Corporation to hire additional County Farm
Service Agency personnel--
(1) to expedite the implementation of, and delivery under,
the agricultural disaster and economic assistance programs
under this title; and
(2) as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry
out other agriculture and disaster assistance programs.
Subtitle E--Miscellaneous
SEC. 551. CONTRACT WAIVER.
In carrying out section 101(a)(5) of the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations for Hurricane Disasters
Assistance Act, 2005 (Public Law 108-324; 118 Stat. 1233),
the Secretary shall not require participation in a crop
insurance pilot program relating to forage.
SEC. 552. FUNDING.
The Secretary shall use the funds, facilities, and
authorities of the Commodity Credit Corporation to carry out
this title, to remain available until expended.
SEC. 553. REGULATIONS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may promulgate such
regulations as are necessary to implement this title.
(b) Procedure.--The promulgation of the regulations and
administration of this title shall be made without regard
to--
(1) the notice and comment provisions of section 553 of
title 5, United States Code;
(2) the Statement of Policy of the Secretary of Agriculture
effective July 24, 1971 (36 Fed. Reg. 13804), relating to
notices of proposed rulemaking and public participation in
rulemaking; and
(3) chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code (commonly
known as the ``Paperwork Reduction Act'').
(c) Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking.--In carrying
out this section, the Secretary shall use the authority
provided under section 808 of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 554. EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII.
(a) Emergency Watershed Protection Program.--The Secretary
shall use an additional $12,000,000 of funds of the Commodity
Credit Corporation to carry out emergency measures on the Big
Island in the State of Hawaii (referred to in this section as
the ``Big Island'') through the emergency watershed
protection program established under section 403 of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2203), of which
$7,000,000 shall be used to repair the Lower Hamakua Ditch
and $5,000,000 shall be used to repair the Waimea Irrigation
System/Upper Hamakua Ditch.
(b) Emergency Conservation Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use an additional
$6,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
repair broken irrigation pipelines and damaged and collapsed
water tanks on the Big Island through the emergency
conservation program established under title IV of the
Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.), of
which $2,000,000 shall be used to repair stone fences on
cattle ranches in the Kona and Kohala areas and $2,000,000
shall be used to provide emergency loans for losses of
agricultural income due to the earthquake of October 15,
2006.
(2) Additional funds.--The Secretary may use an additional
$2,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation
through the emergency conservation program established under
title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C.
2201 et seq.) to repair or replace historical stone fences on
ranches on the Big Island damaged by the earthquake on
October 15, 2006.
(c) Kohala Ditch System.--The Secretary shall use
$3,000,000 of funds of the Commodity Credit Corporation to
provide a grant to the Big Island Resource Conservation and
Development Council, Incorporated, to repair the Kohala Ditch
system.
[[Page 21997]]
Subtitle F--Emergency Designation
SEC. 561. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.
The amounts provided under this title are designated as an
emergency requirement pursuant to section 402 of H. Con. Res.
95 (109th Congress).
______
SA 5145. Mr. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
SA 4920 submitted by Mr. Burns and intended to be proposed to the bill
H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2007, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
At the end, add the following:
SEC. __. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND
COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION ACT OF 2000.
(a) In General.--The Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note; Public
Law 106-393) is amended in sections 101(a), 102(b)(2),
103(b)(1), 203(a)(1), 207(a), 208, 303, and 401 by striking
``2006'' and inserting ``2007''.
(b) Termination of Authority.--
(1) Special projects on federal lands.--Section 208 of the
Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note; Public Law 106-393) is amended in
the second sentence by striking ``2007'' and inserting
``2008''.
(2) County projects.--Section 303 of the Secure Rural
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16
U.S.C. 500 note; Public Law 106-393) is amended in the second
sentence by striking ``2007'' and inserting ``2008''.
(c) Reduction in Payments for Fiscal Year 2007.--
Notwithstanding any provision of the Secure Rural Schools and
Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note;
Public Law 106-393), any payment authorized under section 102
or 103 of that Act for fiscal year 2007 shall be equal to the
amount of the payment authorized under the applicable section
of that Act for fiscal year 2006, reduced by 10 percent.
(d) Emergency Designation.--The amount made available under
this section and the amendments made by this section is
designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section
402 of S. Con. Res. 83 (109th Congress), the concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2007, as made
applicable in the Senate by section 7035 of Public Law 109-
234.
______
SA 5146. Mr. COCHRAN (for himself and Mr. Lott) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, making
appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for
other purposes; as follows:
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. Of the amount appropriated or otherwise made
available by chapter 7 of title I of the Department of
Defense, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Address
Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and Pandemic Influenza Act,
2006 (Public Law 109-148) under the heading ``Military
Construction, Navy and Marine Corps'' and available for the
replacement of a Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Naval
Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi,
$13,400,000 may be available for the construction of an
additional Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Naval Construction
Battalion Center, Gulfport, Mississippi.
______
SA 5147. Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Smith) submitted an amendment
intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 5385, making
appropriations for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and
Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 106, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following:
Sec. 229. Of the amount appropriated by this title under
the heading ``Departmental Administration'', up to $500,000
may be available for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
conduct an independent study on the community health
resources in the 14-county catchment area of the Department
of Veterans Affairs clinic in Walla Walla, Washington,
including the capacity of the private health care facilities
in such catchment area to serve veterans that currently
receive inpatient care at such clinic.
______
SA 5148. Mrs. DOLE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill H.R. 5385, making appropriations for Military
Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 82, between lines 19 and 20, insert the following:
Sec. 126. Section 2836(c)(3) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85;
111 Stat. 2005) is amended to read as follows:
``(3) The Secretary may convey, without consideration, to
the County all right, title, and interest of the United
States in and to a parcel of real property (including
improvements thereon), known as Tract No. 404-1, consisting
of approximately 137 acres located at Fort Bragg for support
of the construction of public school structures that may be
used by the Harnett County School Board for the education
of--
``(A) members of the Armed Forces stationed at Fort Bragg
and Pope Air Force Base and their dependents; and
``(B) children who reside in the County.'' .
____________________
AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET
committee on finance
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Tuesday,
November 14, 2006, at 11 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building,
to consider pending nominations.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
committee on homeland security and governmental affairs
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on
Tuesday, November 14, 2006, at 10 a.m. to consider the nominations of
the Honorable James H. Bilbray to be Governor, U.S. Postal Service,
Thurgood Marshall Jr. to be Governor, U.S. Postal Service, and the
Honorable Dan G. Blair to be Chairman, Postal Rate Commission.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
committee on the judiciary
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on
``Competition in Sports Programming and Distribution: Are Consumers
Winning?'' on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 9 a.m. in Dirksen Senate
Office Building Room 226.
Witness List
Panel I: Roger Noll, Professor, Economics Department, Stanford
University, Stanford, CA; Jeffrey Pash, Executive Vice President and
General Counsel of the National Football League, New York, NY; Daniel
M. Fawcett, Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs and
Programming Acquisition, DIRECTV, Inc., Washington, DC; Landel Hobbs,
Chief Operating Officer, Time Warner, New York, NY.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Committee on the Judiciary
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing
on ``Judicial Nominations'' on Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 2 p.m. in
Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.
Witness List
Panel I: The Honorable Arlen Specter, United States Senator [R-PA].
Panel II: Thomas Michael Hardiman to be United States Circuit Judge
for the Third District.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent
Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Tuesday, November 14,
2006, at 2:30 p.m., for a hearing entitled ``Failure to Identify
Company Owners Impedes Law Enforcement.''
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________
PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Senator
McCain's legislative fellow, Navy LCDR Damien Christopher, be granted
floor privileges during the debate and any votes concerning H.R. 5384,
as well as any related amendments.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
[[Page 21998]]
____________________
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
______
RECOMMITTAL OF NOMINATION
Mr. FRIST. As in executive session, I ask unanimous consent that
Executive Calendar No. 995, the nomination of John Peyton, be
recommitted to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________
MEASURE READ THE FIRST TIME
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk
and I ask for its first reading.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 4051) to provide sufficient resources to permit
electronic surveillance of United States persons for foreign
intelligence purposes to be conducted pursuant to
individualized court-issued orders, to enhance oversight and
streamline the procedures of the Foreign Intelligence
Surveillance Act of 1978, to ensure review of the Terrorist
Surveillance Program by the United States Supreme Court, and
for other purposes.
Mr. FRIST. I now ask for its second reading and, in order to place
the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to
my request.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
____________________
MEASURE PLACED ON CALENDAR--S. 4047
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk
due for its second reading.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 4047) to prohibit the issuance of transportation
security cards to individuals who have been convicted of
certain crimes.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, in order to place the bill on the calendar
under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceeding.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The bill will be placed on
the calendar.
____________________
APPOINTMENT
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair, on behalf of the President pro
tempore, and in consultation with the ranking member of the Senate
Committee on Finance, pursuant to Public Law 103-296, appoints Marsha
Katz, of Montana, vice David Podoff, as a member of the Social Security
Advisory Board.
____________________
REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT NO. 109-22
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following
treaty transmitted to the Senate on November 14, 2006, by the President
of the United States:
Treaty with Malaysia on Mutual Legal Assistance, Treaty Document No.
109-22.
I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the
first time; that it be referred, with accompanying papers, to the
Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the
President's message be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The message of the President is as follows:
To the Senate of the United States:
With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to
ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty between the United States
of America and Malaysia on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters,
signed on July 28, 2006, at Kuala Lumpur. I transmit also, for the
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with
respect to the Treaty.
The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance
treaties being negotiated by the United States in order to counter
criminal activities more effectively. The Treaty should enhance our
ability to investigate and prosecute a wide variety of crimes. The
Treaty is self-executing.
The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal
matters. Under the Treaty, the Parties agree to assist each other by,
among other things: providing evidence (such as testimony, documents,
items, or things) obtained voluntarily or, where necessary, by
compulsion; arranging for persons, including persons in custody, to
travel to the other country to provide evidence; serving documents
executing searches and seizures; locating and identifying persons,
items, or places; examining objects and sites; freezing and forfeiting
assets or property; and identifying or tracing proceeds of crime.
I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to
the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification.
George W. Bush.
The White House, November 14, 2006.
____________________
ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2006
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the
Senate completes its business today, it stand in adjournment until 2:15
p.m. on Wednesday, November 15. I further ask that following the prayer
and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed to have expired, the Journal
of proceedings be approved to date, the time for the two leaders be
reserved, and that there then be a period of morning business with
Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 5 minutes each.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________
PROGRAM
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, today we did complete our work on the
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill.
Tomorrow afternoon, we hope to begin the Agriculture appropriations
bill. We are also continuing our efforts to reach an agreement for the
consideration of the U.S.-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act.
We do expect votes in the afternoon, so Senators should plan their
schedules accordingly. This week, we will also need to pass a short-
term continuing resolution when received from the House.
____________________
ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 2:15 P.M. TOMORROW
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come
before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in
adjournment under the previous order.
There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:49 p.m., adjourned until
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 2:15 p.m.
____________________
NOMINATIONS
Executive nominations received by the Senate November 14, 2006:
IN THE COAST GUARD
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE
INDICATED IN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD UNDER TITLE 14,
U.S.C., SECTION 271:
To be lieutenant commander
RICARDO M. ALONSO, 0000
DIRK N. AMES, 0000
THOMAS B. BAILEY, 0000
AGUSTUS J. BANNAN, 0000
MATTHEW P. BARKER, 0000
CHE J. BARNES, 0000
IAN A. BASTEK, 0000
MICHAEL W. BATCHELDER, 0000
MICHAEL E. BENNETT, 0000
ADAM G. BENTLEY, 0000
KENNETH E. BLAIR, 0000
AMY L. BLOYD, 0000
JED R. BOBA, 0000
KENNETH J. BODA, 0000
SCOTT G. BORGERSON, 0000
CAMILLA B. BOSANQUET, 0000
DONALD C. BOYER, 0000
DAVID L. BRADLEY, 0000
RANDY L. BRADLEY, 0000
NELSON J. BRANDT, 0000
MATTHEW T. BROWN, 0000
JAMES W. BUNN, 0000
JOANN F. BURDIAN, 0000
KAREN S. CAGLE, 0000
RICHARD F. CALVERT, 0000
ANDREW T. CAMPEN, 0000
MICHAEL J. CAPELLI, 0000
WILLIE L. CARMICHAEL, 0000
SCOTT S. CASAD, 0000
RENE X. CASAREZ, 0000
CHRISTOPHER R. CEDERHOLM, 0000
JOHN R. COLE, 0000
TEALI G. COLEY, 0000
ROBERT C. COMPHER, 0000
DANIEL A. CONNOLLY, 0000
CHAD W. COOPER, 0000
NATHAN E. COULTER, 0000
GREGORY L. CRETTOL, 0000
CORNELIUS E. CUMMINGS, 0000
SHAWN E. DECKER, 0000
MICHAEL E. DELURY, 0000
JOHN T. DEWEY, 0000
STEVEN J. DOHMAN, 0000
JEFFREY T. DOLAN, 0000
[[Page 21999]]
KEITH M. DONOHUE, 0000
ERIC D. DREY, 0000
JEROME E. DUBAY, 0000
BRENT N. DURBIN, 0000
REINO G. ECKLORD, 0000
ARTHUR J. EDWARDS, 0000
DAMON C. EDWARDS, 0000
JEFFREY ELDRIDGE, 0000
RAHSHAAN ENGRUM, 0000
JANET D. ESPINOYOUNG, 0000
MATTHEW R. FARNEN, 0000
FRANCESANN B. FAZIO, 0000
SARAH K. FELGER, 0000
CHRISTINE FERN, 0000
KEVIN B. FERRIE, 0000
JASON B. FLENNOY, 0000
TED R. FOWLES, 0000
JOSEPH FRANKLIN, 0000
MICHAEL E. FRAWLEY, 0000
CHRISTOPHER R. FRIESE, 0000
GLENN J. GALMAN, 0000
PAMELA P. GARCIA, 0000
ROBERT G. GARDALI, 0000
CHRISTOFER L. GERMAN, 0000
TANYA L. GILES, 0000
PETRE S. GILLIAM, 0000
ERROL M. GLENN, 0000
MICHAEL J. GOLDSCHMIDT, 0000
DAVID V. GOMEZ, 0000
RICHARD GONZALEZ, 0000
MICHAEL D. GOOD, 0000
HANS C. GOVERTSEN, 0000
ROBERT T. GRIFFIN, 0000
CHARLES M. GUERRERO, 0000
FAY J. GUERRERO, 0000
TIM A. GUNTER, 0000
ROBERT E. HART, 0000
HEATH A. HARTLEY, 0000
JAMES F. HEDRICK, 0000
JONATHAN N. HELLBERG, 0000
JOHN HENNIGAN, 0000
SCOTT C. HERMAN, 0000
MICHAEL L. HERRING, 0000
ANNA W. HICKEY, 0000
DARREN A. HOPPER, 0000
CHRISTY L. HOWARD, 0000
CHRISTOPHER M. HUBERTY, 0000
JOEL A. HUGGINS, 0000
CHRISTOPHER J. HULSER, 0000
TANGELA F. HUMMONS, 0000
AUSTIN R. IVES, 0000
DAVID M. JOHNSTON, 0000
DANIEL C. JONES, 0000
PETER B. JONES, 0000
JONATHAN P. JORGENSEN, 0000
WARREN D. JUDGE, 0000
KERRY G. KARWAN, 0000
SEAN R. KATZ, 0000
JARED E. KING, 0000
LONNIE T. KISHIYAMA, 0000
BRADLEY J. KLIMEK, 0000
BRIAN G. KNAPP, 0000
MICHAEL S. KRAUSE, 0000
CHARLES F. KUEBLER, 0000
KURT R. KUPERSMITH, 0000
KEN KUSANO, 0000
PAUL E. LAFOND, 0000
ANDREW A. LAWRENCE, 0000
ERIN M. LEDFORD, 0000
CHRISTIAN A. LEE, 0000
BRIAN J. LEFEBVRE, 0000
JACQUELINE M. LEVERICH, 0000
ANDREW H. LIGHT, 0000
LEXIA M. LITTLEJOHN, 0000
CHAD A. LONG, 0000
KEVIN P. LYNN, 0000
SIMON A. MAPLE, 0000
ERIC D. MASSON, 0000
JOSEPH S. MASTERSON, 0000
HEATHER A. MCCAFFERTY, 0000
JOHN F. MCCARTHY, 0000
RUDY S. MCGWIN, 0000
EMILY S. MCINTYRE, 0000
CHRISTOPHER A. MCMUNN, 0000
ELIZABETH A. MCNAMARA, 0000
MICHAEL J. MCNEIL, 0000
RANDY F. MEADOR, 0000
JOSE E. MEDINA, 0000
DWAYNE L. MEEKINS, 0000
MATTHEW W. MERRIMAN, 0000
ANDREW D. MEVERDEN, 0000
TIMOTHY G. MEYERS, 0000
TODD S. MIKOLOP, 0000
KENNETH V. MILLS, 0000
RICHARD W. MINNICH, 0000
MARCUS A. MITCHELL, 0000
KIRK W. MONTGOMERY, 0000
DONALD P. MONTORO, 0000
ALAN H. MOORE, 0000
ELLIS H. MOOSE, 0000
ANNE M. MORRISSEY, 0000
KENNETH T. NAGIE, 0000
JOHN A. NATALE, 0000
DAVID R. NEEL, 0000
KENNETH E. NELSON, 0000
CRAIG D. NEUBECKER, 0000
DOUGLAS D. NORSTROM, 0000
DAVID J. OBERMEIER, 0000
SEAN J. OBRIEN, 0000
TIMOTHY K. OBRIEN, 0000
REBECCA E. ORE, 0000
ANTHONY K. PALMER, 0000
LUIS C. PARRALES, 0000
TIMOTHY A. PASEK, 0000
SCOTT W. PEABODY, 0000
LUKE A. PERCIAK, 0000
PATRICK F. PESCHKA, 0000
JUSTIN D. PETERS, 0000
SANDRA J. PETERSON, 0000
DOUGLAS C. PETRUSA, 0000
HARPER L. PHILLIPS, 0000
TRACY O. PHILLIPS, 0000
SCOTT S. PHY, 0000
FRANK A. PIERCE, 0000
KEITH J. PIERRE, 0000
SHANNON M. PITTS, 0000
EDWARD H. PORNER, 0000
JEFFREY M. POTENSKY, 0000
ALISA L. PRASKOVICH, 0000
PAUL T. PRIEBE, 0000
STEVEN E. RAMASSINI, 0000
JOSHUA T. RAMEY, 0000
JACOB J. RAMOS, 0000
JASON H. RAMSDELL, 0000
TRAVIS J. RASMUSSEN, 0000
ERIC A. REETER, 0000
JAMES P. REID, 0000
SEAN P. ROCHE, 0000
RODRIGO G. ROJAS, 0000
CHRISTOPHER A. ROSE, 0000
CONSTANCE F. RUCKSTUHL, 0000
MATTHEW A. RUDICK, 0000
BELINDA C. SAVAGE, 0000
DAVID J. SCHELL, 0000
CLINT B. SCHLEGEL, 0000
GREGORY J. SCHULTZ, 0000
ANITA M. SCOTT, 0000
HOLLY L. SHAFFNER, 0000
DAVID M. SHERRY, 0000
DANIEL J. SILVESTRO, 0000
JENNIFER L. SINCLAIR, 0000
LORING A. SMALL, 0000
DEREK L. SMITH, 0000
ERIC A. SMITH, 0000
SHAD S. SOLDANO, 0000
JAMES W. SPITLER, 0000
DOUGLAS K. STARK, 0000
JOHN M. STONE, 0000
BENJAMIN F. STRICKLAND, 0000
DENNIS R. SVATOS, 0000
VASILIOS TASIKAS, 0000
ROMUALDUS M. TENBERGE JR, 0000
BRADLEY K. TERRILL, 0000
JAMES P. THOMPSON, 0000
SOLOMON C. THOMPSON, 0000
RUSSELL R. TORGERSON, 0000
ANDRE P. TOWNER, 0000
TERRY A. TREXLER, 0000
CHRISTOPHER A. TRIBOLET, 0000
CLINTON A. TROCCHIO, 0000
MICHAEL A. TURDO, 0000
BRYAN J. ULLMER, 0000
TINA J. URBAN, 0000
JAMES A. VALENTINE, 0000
DANIEL W. VANBUSKIRK, 0000
EVA J. VANCAMP, 0000
STEVEN P. WALSH, 0000
WILBORNE E. WATSON, 0000
TYSON S. WEINERT, 0000
BRENDA M. WHITE, 0000
DIANA J. WICKMAN, 0000
MOLLY A. WIKE, 0000
NATHANIEL R. WILLIAMS, 0000
SOLOMON J. WILLIAMS, 0000
TARIK L. WILLIAMS, 0000
KEVIN M. WILSON, 0000
JOHN W. WINTER, 0000
ANDREW J. WRIGHT, 0000
in the air force
THE FOLLOWING NAMED INDIVIDUALS IN THE GRADES INDICATED IN
THE REGULAR AIR FORCE UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTION 531(a):
To be lieutenant colonel
NEVANNA I. KOICHEFF, 0000
WATARU ODOMO, 0000
PATRICK M. SHERER, 0000
JEFFREY WEISER, 0000
To be major
OBIE A. AUSTIN, 0000
GARY BARKER, 0000
KAREN BARKER, 0000
RITA BOBBROLLINS, 0000
EDWARD S. CARROLL, 0000
CECILIA M. CORRADO, 0000
OTICE Z. HELMER, 0000
JAMAL JANANIA, 0000
HENRY J. KLEIN, 0000
KURTIS G. KOBES, 0000
WILLIAM A. MACNAUGHTON, 0000
DANUTA MAJKRUSZYNSKI, 0000
STANLEY MOODY, 0000
SHAWN T. NESBO, 0000
BRADDEN R. PYRON, 0000
CHRISTOPHER RYAN, 0000
PERLITA K. TAM, 0000
in the army
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR REGULAR APPOINTMENT IN THE
GRADES INDICATED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY UNDER TITLE 10,
U.S.C., SECTION 531:
To be colonel
DEBRA L. COHEN, 0000
PETER S. GOLDBERG, 0000
SCOTT J. STCLAIR, 0000
DAVID H. TURK, 0000
TRACEY L. ZANDER, 0000
To be lieutenant colonel
PAUL G. ANDREWS, 0000
KEVIN K. BERRY, 0000
JAMES H. BOOZELL, 0000
TYLER L. BOSCO, 0000
PATRICK J. CHRISTIAN, 0000
PETER L. CONNELLY, 0000
CHARLES F. CORSON, 0000
ESME M. DAVIS, 0000
STEVEN A. DAVIS, 0000
ALAN D. ECKERSLEY, 0000
GUY R. EDMONDSON, 0000
PHILIP A. ESTEBAN, 0000
RAFAEL GARCIA, 0000
ROBERT A. GARY, 0000
KERRYE GLASS, 0000
LARRY C. HAYES, 0000
PAUL R. JONES, 0000
ROBERT E. KOCH, 0000
DAVID A. KONOP, 0000
ODELL C. LEWIS, 0000
KEVIN C. LOGAN, 0000
FRANCINE D. MARTIN, 0000
MICHAEL E. MASON, 0000
ROBERT B. MAURIO, 0000
MICHIYO J. MONTAGUE, 0000
KEITH A. MORRISON, 0000
KEITH NEWSOME, 0000
BILLY J. POWELL, 0000
JORGE RANGEL, 0000
DAVID M. ROBERSON, 0000
RONNEL L. ROUSE, 0000
MICHAEL E. SANDS, 0000
KARL A. SCHWARTZ, 0000
RICHARD A. SHAW, 0000
PRATYA SIRIWAT, 0000
EDWARD R. SMALLWOOD, 0000
DAWN M. SMITH, 0000
CYNTHIA K. SUMMERS, 0000
JOHN H. WAGNER, 0000
JOHN M. WALKER, 0000
DIANE K. WATERS, 0000
JAMES L. WELLS, 0000
HARRY W. WHIPPLE, 0000
BRIAN C. WRIGHT, 0000
HARRY O. YATES, 0000
To be major
JAMES ADAMS, 0000
JEFFREY A. AGEE, 0000
JEFFREY W. ALLEN, 0000
JOSE A. BALLESTER, 0000
DANNY BANKS, 0000
MARK J. BENEDICT, 0000
KENNETH A. BLAYLOCK, 0000
SHAWN N. BROWER, 0000
STEPHEN CAMPBELL, 0000
GORDON R. CRAWFORD, 0000
SHAWN B. CZEHOWSKI, 0000
JEAN M. DAVIS, 0000
JOSEPH DCOSTA, 0000
ROLAND E. DIGGS, 0000
JEROME C. DUFFY, 0000
KRISTOFFER B. FALE, 0000
PIERRE L. FENRICK, 0000
DARRYL L. GILLIAM, 0000
BRUCE S. GRIFFIN, 0000
MATTHEW HACKATHORN, 0000
JOHN A. HAGAN, 0000
DWIGHT A. HALL, 0000
JEANETTE L. HANKINS, 0000
LULA B. HARTEVANS, 0000
CHRISTOPHER L. HARTLEY, 0000
CONRAD E. HARVEY, 0000
PETER J. HEBERT, 0000
SCOTT C. HENSLEY, 0000
JEFFREY T. HOOVER, 0000
DEAN A. HUARD, 0000
BRUCE JENKINS, 0000
DAVID A. JOHNSON, 0000
RONALD D. JOHNSON, 0000
LEON JONES, 0000
ERIC W. KAEMPFER, 0000
LAUREN KULINSKI, 0000
FLOYD S. LIDDICK, 0000
CURTIS LINDESAY, 0000
RAJESH LOBRECHT, 0000
JOSE P. LOPEZ, 0000
PAUL E. MADSEN, 0000
MATTHEW B. MCGREEVY, 0000
DAVID P. MCHENRY, 0000
CHRISTINA MOORE, 0000
WILLIAM D. MOORE, 0000
KEVIN R. NAIG, 0000
WILLIAM S. OLIVA, 0000
HANS F. OTTESEN, 0000
RANDALL C. PAGE, 0000
JOSEPH A. PAPENFUS, 0000
EDWARD L. PEARCE, 0000
ISAAC B. PEAY, 0000
CURTIS PHELPS, 0000
ERIK K. POOLE, 0000
ROBERT T. QUINNETT, 0000
GEORGE H. RENFRO, 0000
[[Page 22000]]
LARRY J. ROBERTS, 0000
JOHN G. ROGERS, 0000
ROBERT SCHMIDT, 0000
NANCY R. SERMONS, 0000
ANNETTE S. SHORMAN, 0000
ANTHONY W. SIPPERT, 0000
JAMES E. SMALLIDGE, 0000
LAWRENCE E. SMITH, 0000
LONNIE S. SPANGLER, 0000
JOSHUA T. STEVENS, 0000
DONALD W. SULLIVAN, 0000
PETER J. TATE, 0000
MICHAEL F. TREVETT, 0000
MICHAEL N. TURNER, 0000
MARY C. VOWELL, 0000
REGINALD A. WARREN, 0000
KEITH WASHINGTON, 0000
ROBERT D. WILLIAMS, 0000
KYLE J. ZABLOCKI, 0000
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE
INDICATED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL'S
CORPS UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTIONS 624 AND 3064:
To be colonel
NORMAN F. ALLEN, 0000
STEPHEN J. BERG, 0000
THOMAS D. COOK, 0000
ROBERT J. COTELL, 0000
RICHARD J. GALVIN, 0000
JAMES F. GARRETT, 0000
CHARLES D. HAYES, JR., 0000
WILLIAM R. KERN, 0000
JAMES D. KEY, 0000
CHERYL R. LEWIS, 0000
CRAIG A. MEREDITH, 0000
JEFFERY R. NANCE, 0000
STUART W. RISCH, 0000
EDWARD J. SHEERAN, 0000
SAMUEL J. SMITH, JR., 0000
PAUL H. TURNEY, 0000
DARIA P. WOLLSCHLAEGER, 0000
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE
INDICATED IN THE RESERVE OF THE ARMY UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C.,
SECTION 12203:
To be colonel
MICHAEL R. ABERLE, 0000
BRUCE S. ADKINS, 0000
THOMAS W. AHRENDT, 0000
JOHN T. AKERS, 0000
PAUL L. ALBERTI, JR., 0000
CLINT L. ALDAY, 0000
PHILLIP W. ALEXANDER, 0000
ERIC S. ALFORD, 0000
FRED W. ALLEN, 0000
JOHN W. ALTEBAUMER, JR., 0000
DANIEL U. ALVAREZ, 0000
BRIAN E. ALVIN, 0000
ARTHUR B. ANDERSON, 0000
JAMES O. ANDERSON, 0000
WESLEY R. ANDERSON, 0000
THOMAS J. ANDREA, 0000
JOHN K. ANDREW II, 0000
PATRICIA M. ANSLOW, 0000
MARK A. ANSPACH, 0000
MARTIN R. APPRICH, 0000
BILL R. AQUINO, 0000
JEFFREY T. ARCHER, 0000
NORBERT E. ARCHIBEQUE, 0000
JULIA E. ARTHUR, 0000
KRIS ATTARIAN, 0000
CHARLES H. AUCOIN, 0000
ARTHUR G. AUSTIN, JR., 0000
SUSAN H. BAGLEY, 0000
ANDREW S. BALDY, 0000
THOMAS A. BALL, 0000
ROBERT E. BANKS, 0000
WILLIAM P. BANKS, JR., 0000
JOHN J. BARANOWSKI, 0000
KENNETH BARNETT, 0000
ROBERT A. BARRETT, 0000
AARON T. BARRIER, 0000
BRIAN B. BARRONTINE, 0000
JAMES D. BARTOLACCI, 0000
JOHN K. BARTOLOTTO, 0000
CHRISTOPHER J. BATES, 0000
DERRICK J. BATISTE, 0000
DIANE M. BATTAGLIA, 0000
MATHEW M. BAUDEK, 0000
ROBERT L. BAUMGARDNER, 0000
DON B. BEARD, 0000
ROBERT D. BENJAMIN, 0000
DONALD A. BENNETT, 0000
MICHAEL J. BENNETT, 0000
MARVIN BENTON, 0000
JOSHUA P. BERISFORD, 0000
GREY D. BERRIER II, 0000
JET G. BIBLER, 0000
BRUCE R. BIDDLE, 0000
PAUL D. BISCHOFF, 0000
CARLOS BLANCHARD, 0000
STEVEN E. BLANTON, 0000
CHARLES F. BLASCHKE III, 0000
DEBRA J. BLAYLOCK, 0000
JOHN H. BOCK, JR., 0000
THOMAS E. BOLAND, 0000
FRED C. BOLTON, 0000
PATRICK L. BOUCHER, 0000
JANSON D. BOYLES, 0000
ROBERT L. BRADSHAW, 0000
WILLIAM S. BRANNAN, JR., 0000
ROY C. BROCK, JR., 0000
DONALD W. BROOKS, 0000
JOHN J. BROSSART, 0000
JEFFERY L. BROTHERTON, 0000
CLIFFORD A. BROWN, 0000
DAVID L. BROWN, 0000
EDWARD L. BROWN, 0000
MATTHEW J. BROWN, 0000
PAUL P. BRYANT, 0000
TONY A. BRYANT, 0000
STEVEN J. BUETHE, 0000
JAMES R. BUGGY, 0000
BRUCE L. BULDHAUPT, 0000
JAMES BULLION, 0000
THOMAS P. BUMP, 0000
JOE L. BURCH, 0000
ROBERT J. BURCH, 0000
WAYNE L. BURD, 0000
EDWARD G. BURLEY, 0000
MALCOLM S. BURR II, 0000
JON M. BYROM, 0000
DENNIS J. CAHILL, 0000
THOMAS B. CAIN, 0000
MARK A. CALABRESE, 0000
DENNIS M. CAMERON, 0000
SCOTT A. CAMPBELL, 0000
MARK K. CARLSON, 0000
PATRICIA A. CARLSON, 0000
KLEMENT J. CARON, 0000
BRIAN R. CARPENTER, 0000
DARREN H. CARPENTER, 0000
SCOTTIE D. CARPENTER, 0000
ROY D. CARRINGTON, 0000
CHARLES A. CARSON, 0000
RANDAL S. CARTER, 0000
JORGE L. CASTRO, 0000
BRIAN J. CATALANO, 0000
THOMAS L. CATHEY, 0000
WAYNE M. CAVENDER, JR., 0000
JOSE E. CEPEDA, 0000
CLIFFORD B. CHICK, 0000
NICHOLAS CHIMIENTI, 0000
CARL L. CHURCHILL, JR., 0000
PHILLIP M. CHURN, 0000
RONALD P. CLAEYS, 0000
MICHAEL H. CLANCY, 0000
ROBERT A. CLARK, 0000
JERRY A. CLINKSCALES, 0000
CYNTHIA M. COATES, 0000
BILLY F. COBB, 0000
DUANE L. COFFEY, JR., 0000
JAMES A. COHN, 0000
PATRICIA D. COLE, 0000
RICHARD D. COLE, 0000
ROBERT S. COLEMAN, 0000
JAMES W. CONAWAY, 0000
DAVID J. CONBOY, 0000
JOHN W. CONLEY, 0000
VICKY J. CONNELL, 0000
JEFFREY A. CONNELLY, 0000
RUSSELL G. CONRAD, 0000
CHRISTINA K. CONSTANT, 0000
CHRISTINE D. COOK, 0000
LOUIS L. COOLEY, 0000
JEFFREY D. COONS, 0000
BENJAMIN J. CORELL, 0000
DONALD S. COTNEY, 0000
BRIAN W. COTTER, 0000
WALTER D. COUNTS III, 0000
JOY L. CRAFT, 0000
PAUL A. CRAFT, 0000
MARK G. CRISCI, 0000
GARY D. CROSS, 0000
PETER L. CROTEAU, 0000
JAMES H. CROUT, JR., 0000
ROBERT E. CROWLEY, 0000
LARRY M. CRUZ, 0000
KURT S. CRYTZER, 0000
STEPHEN K. CURDA, 0000
MARSHA G. CURTIS, 0000
JERRY R. CUSIC, 0000
JONATHAN A. DAHMS, 0000
SAMUEL B. DALMAN, 0000
STEPHEN R. DALZELL, 0000
DENNIS C. DAVENPORT, 0000
RANDALL E. DAVIS, 0000
STEPHANIE E. DAWSON, 0000
AARON R. DEAN II, 0000
TIMOTHY R. DEHAAS, 0000
DARRYL E. DENNIS, 0000
IVAN E. DENTON, 0000
WILLIAM M. DERRICK, 0000
DENNIS W. DEVERY, 0000
MICHAEL DILLARD, 0000
BRYAN M. DION, 0000
MICHAEL P. DITTAMO, 0000
JOHN P. DONOVAN, JR., 0000
OLEN L. DORNEY, 0000
STUART K. DRIESBACH, 0000
RAPHAEL S. DUCKWORTH, 0000
ERNEST L. DUNCAN, 0000
JERRY D. DUNCAN, 0000
DOUGLAS W. DUNKLIN, 0000
DANIEL A. DUPONT, 0000
PATRICK R. DWYER, 0000
MARK G. DYKES, 0000
SAMUEL I. EDGE, 0000
GEORGE L. EDMONDS, 0000
DAVID M. EDWARDS, 0000
DEAN E. EKMAN, 0000
ALLAN W. ELLIOTT, 0000
ANDREA R. ELLIS, 0000
ROBERT E. EMBREY, 0000
HAROLD W. EMICK III, 0000
VERN C. ERICKSON, 0000
MICHAEL ERTMAN, 0000
FRANCISCO A. ESPAILLAT, 0000
MICHAEL R. EVANS, 0000
SCOTT D. EVANS, 0000
JEFFREY J. FAJNOR, 0000
STEPHEN J. FALCONE, 0000
PAUL A. FANNING, 0000
ROBERT M. FELLAND, 0000
MORRISON J. FENNER, 0000
TIMOTHY W. FERGUSON, 0000
MICHAEL P. FERRIS, JR., 0000
DARREL D. FEUCHT, 0000
PATRICIA C. FIGURES, 0000
JOHN D. FINK, 0000
KELLY A. FISHER, 0000
FITZ-JOHN C. FITZPATRICK, 0000
STEVEN J. FORD, 0000
WILLIAM H. FORD, 0000
PATRICK C. FORTENBERRY, 0000
MICHAEL D. FORTUNE, 0000
CHRISTOPHER J. FOWLER, 0000
MIKE FULFORD, 0000
QUINTIN H. FULGHAM, 0000
LARRY L. FULLER, 0000
DARYLL F. FUST, 0000
HUMBERTO E. GALARRAGA, 0000
MICHAEL F. GALLAGHER, 0000
DAVID A. GALLOWAY, 0000
RAYMOND E. GALLUCCI, JR., 0000
EDWARD C. GARDNER, 0000
JULIE K. GARDNER, 0000
DARYL R. GARNER, 0000
LAWRENCE J. GARNER, 0000
HOWARD B. GARTLAND, 0000
KAREN D. GATTIS, 0000
STEVEN M. GEISEN, 0000
FLOYD R. GIFFORD II, 0000
THOMAS M. GILHOOL, 0000
ROBERT J. GINGRAS, 0000
SUSAN GLENNLEE, 0000
TERESA A. GODLASKY, 0000
STEVEN J. GOFF, 0000
PAMELA S. GONCE, 0000
WALTER L. GOODWATER, 0000
SUZANNE GORDY, 0000
STEPHEN K. GOTO, 0000
JANMICHAEL S. GRAINE, 0000
JOHN H. GRASSO, 0000
DARRELL K. GREEN, 0000
JOHN R. GREEN, 0000
MARK R. GREENWOOD, 0000
KEVIN R. GRIESE, 0000
RALPH H. GROOVER III, 0000
FRANK GROSSKREUZ, 0000
ANGELITO L. GUTIERREZ, 0000
KEVIN G. GUTKNECHT, 0000
MARK P. HABERSHAW, 0000
MICHAEL W. HAERR, 0000
BRETT W. HAEUSSLER, 0000
BRETT M. HALE, 0000
JAMES R. HALL, 0000
ROY A. HALL, 0000
WILLIAM A. HALL, 0000
LAWRENCE E. HANNAN, 0000
ALLEN P. HARGIS, 0000
ELLEN L. HARING, 0000
ROBERT A. HARINGTON, 0000
CHARLES K. HARRIS, 0000
HARLAN D. HARRIS, 0000
WILLIAM M. HARRISON, 0000
RAYMOND C. HARTBARGER, 0000
DORI A. HASH, 0000
STEPHEN W. HEARN, 0000
MICHAEL J. HEFTY, 0000
JOHN J. HELLER, 0000
MARK G. HENDRICK, 0000
DARRYL W. HENSLEY, 0000
THOMAS F. HESLIN, JR., 0000
PAUL D. HESTAND, 0000
CORNELIUS K. HETHERINGTON, 0000
DANIEL J. HILL, 0000
RICHARD B. HOCHMAN, 0000
MARK J. HODD, 0000
JOSEPH P. HOFFMAN, 0000
DON R. HOFFMEISTER, 0000
STEPHEN R. HOGAN, 0000
DAVID J. HOGUE, 0000
GUY M. HOLLINGSWORTH, 0000
BRUCE E. HOLLOMAN, 0000
WAYNE L. HONEYCUTT, 0000
ROBIN S. HOOD, 0000
ROY D. HOUSE, 0000
ANTHONY HOWARD, 0000
JAMES T. HRDLICKA, 0000
ALAN C. HUFFINES, 0000
MARCUS K. HUGHES, 0000
FRIEDBERT J. HUMPHREY, 0000
WILLARD J. HUMPHRIES, 0000
ANTHONY J. HUNTER, 0000
PERCY G. HURTADO II, 0000
TIMOTHY A. HYBART, 0000
JOHNNY H. ISAAK, 0000
GEORGE K. ISHIKATA, 0000
BARTLEY J. IVES, 0000
LEE N. JACOBS, 0000
JEFFERY A. JAHNKE, 0000
LORIE T. JAVIER, 0000
[[Page 22001]]
JAMES L. JAWORSKI, 0000
JEROME F. JOCHEM, 0000
ERIC JOHNSON, 0000
GORDON R. JOHNSON, JR., 0000
CHRISTOPHER H. JONES, 0000
DOUGLAS JONES, 0000
MICHAEL J. JONES, 0000
RONALD L. JONES, 0000
THOMAS A. JONES, 0000
CATHERINE F. JORGENSEN, 0000
WILLIAM J. KALINOWSKI, 0000
GARY G. K. KAMAUOHA, 0000
KEVIN B. KEENAN, 0000
RICHARD F. KEENE, 0000
CHARLES D. KEITH, JR., 0000
DANIEL A. KENKEL, 0000
JAMES T. KENYON, JR., 0000
CORNELIUS J. KEOHANE, 0000
ERIC D. KERSKA, 0000
JERRY A. KIDRICK, 0000
VAN L. KINCHEN, 0000
ANTHONY L. KING, 0000
JOHN F. KING, 0000
RODERICK A. KING, 0000
ROBERT L. KIRBY, 0000
STEPHEN C. KISER, 0000
BRIAN G. KLEIN, 0000
TERRY L. KLINKER II, 0000
ROBERT D. KNAPP, 0000
DOUGLAS D. KOLSTOE, 0000
JOHN M. KRAEMER, 0000
TERRY G. KRSNAK, 0000
JOHN C. KUTTAS, 0000
CAROL A. LAAGE, 0000
CRAIG E. LAMBERT, 0000
ALAN M. LANE, 0000
RONALD J. LANE, 0000
BARRY M. LARRAIN, 0000
CHRISTOPHER A. LAUCHNER, 0000
JERRY W. LAW, 0000
KEVIN A. LAWRENCE, 0000
JOHN R. LEDDEN, 0000
SEAN K. W. LEE, 0000
DAVID H. LENT, 0000
MICHAEL A. LEONARDO, 0000
WESLEY J. LEWIS, 0000
JOHN R. LIGON, 0000
ROBERT W. LINDEMANN, 0000
DONALD G. LOCKARD, 0000
LYNN E. LOCKLEAR, 0000
JANET M. LOEFSTEDT, 0000
MARK A. LONDON, 0000
JAMES C. LORD, 0000
JAMES M. LOWMAN, 0000
ROBERTA A. LUBA, 0000
TIMOTHY J. LUCHNER, 0000
JAIME LUGO, 0000
MARK A. LUMPKIN, 0000
KATHRYN K. LUNA, 0000
ROBERT S. LYMAN, 0000
ROBERT K. LYTLE, 0000
GARY W. MACHINA, 0000
STERLING D. MACLEOD, 0000
JAMES A. MACMILLAN, 0000
KELLY C. MACNEALY, 0000
DAVID L. MADISON, 0000
MARK G. MALANKA, 0000
DONNA M. MALLET, 0000
DEBORAH L. MALONE, 0000
CHARLES T. MANSFIELD, 0000
ROLAND J. MANUEL, 0000
TIMOTHY G. MARLAR, 0000
MAIRI A. MARQUART, 0000
GREGORY M. MARTIN, 0000
STEVEN C. MARTINKA, 0000
MICHAEL J. MARX, 0000
JEFFREY M. MASCOLL, 0000
MICHAEL E. MASON, 0000
PIERRE E. MASSAR, 0000
ELIZABETH C. MASTERS, 0000
CURTIS A. MATCHETT, 0000
HORACE R. MATTHEWS, JR., 0000
DAREL C. MAXFIELD, 0000
CHARLES T. MAY, 0000
ROSEMARIE D. MCCABE, 0000
BILLY D. MCCARROLL, 0000
PHILLIP L. MCCLUSKEY, 0000
JOHN M. MCCOLLUM, 0000
HARRY S. MCCORKLE, 0000
DENNIS F. MCFADDEN, 0000
CRAIG M. MCGALLIARD, 0000
PHILIP S. MCGRATH, JR., 0000
EDWARD B. MCKEE, 0000
LAURA J. MCKNIGHT, 0000
MARK E. MCLAUGHLIN, 0000
MICHAEL R. MCLAUGHLIN, 0000
MARK F. MCMULLEN, 0000
MICHAEL B. MCNAMARA, 0000
DAVID M. MCVEY, 0000
RICHARD A. MEADOR, 0000
DAVID J. MEDEIROS, 0000
MITCHELL K. MEDIGOVICH, 0000
MICHELE A. MELTON, 0000
JOHN G. MELVILLE, 0000
VINCENT F. MERCADANTE, 0000
WILL G. MERRILL III, 0000
KARL L. MERRITT, 0000
DAVID B. MEYERS, 0000
PAUL R. MEYERS, 0000
STEVEN E. MILES, 0000
DONALD E. MILLER, 0000
GREGORY A. MILLER, 0000
JOHNNY R. MILLER, 0000
MARVIN G. MILLER, 0000
SAMUEL K. MILLETT, 0000
TIMOTHY MITCHELL, JR., 0000
DANIEL MONRREAL, 0000
JUDITH E. MONTOYA, 0000
JAMES M. MOODY, 0000
DONALD J. MOORE, 0000
RICHARD J. MOORE, 0000
TERRY F. MOORER, 0000
ANTONIO L. MORALES, 0000
BETANCOURT S. MORALES, 0000
LOIS MORALES, 0000
LAWRENCE D. MORELAND, 0000
AUSTIN T. MORGAN, 0000
ROBERT C. MOSCATI, 0000
MARK E. MUCCIARONE, 0000
CARL T. MURRAY, 0000
THOMAS T. MURRAY, 0000
RICHARD C. NAGLE, 0000
MICHAEL D. NAVRKAL, 0000
RANDOLPH F. NEAL, 0000
MARK P. NELSON, 0000
PETER S. NELSON, 0000
THRESAJAN NELSON, 0000
TRACY A. NELSON, 0000
CHRISTIE L. NIXON, 0000
JOSEPH F. NOONAN, JR., 0000
NANCY E. NOWOTNY, 0000
JOHN R. OATHOUT, 0000
WILLIAM S. OLIVA, 0000
JULI T. OLSON, 0000
WARREN C. OLSON, 0000
LEROY A. ONTIBEROS, 0000
JAY M. ORBIK, 0000
RUBEN ORDONEZ, 0000
PAUL A. ORECK, 0000
RICHARD L. OTT, 0000
MAURICE A. OTTINGER, 0000
PHILLIP M. OWENS, 0000
STEPHEN B. OWENS, 0000
DAVID E. PAINTER, 0000
KIRK A. PALAN, 0000
RAYMOND W. PALMA, 0000
SCOTT F. PARADIS, 0000
GINA M. PARKER, 0000
RAYMOND D. PARKER, JR., 0000
MITCHELL G. PASSINI, 0000
BOBBY C. PATRICK, 0000
TIMOTHY S. PAUL, 0000
WILLIAM B. PEARRE, 0000
STEVEN R. PEARSON, 0000
DANIEL J. PERROTTA, 0000
BRIAN D. PERRY, 0000
WALESKA PIZARRO, 0000
DAVID T. POLLARD, 0000
JOHNNIE H. POPE, JR., 0000
JOHN B. POSEY, 0000
PAUL T. POST, 0000
DANIEL J. POWERS, 0000
VON C. PRESNELL, 0000
JOSEPH A. PRICE, 0000
JOHN M. PRINE, 0000
CHRISTOPHER J. PROSSER, 0000
THOMAS J. PURPLE, JR., 0000
MICHAEL R. RADCLIFF, 0000
JORGE RANGEL, 0000
JAY M. RASMUSSEN, 0000
CLAIR J. READ, 0000
BOBBY K. REDMAN, 0000
BRIAN C. REDMON, 0000
MEREDITH S. REED, JR., 0000
STEPHEN J. REEDBERRY, 0000
JERRY L. REES, 0000
DAVID M. REINERT, 0000
WAYNE M. REISETTER, 0000
SCOTT A. REVAL, 0000
DENNIS E. RICE, 0000
JOSEPH R. RICE, 0000
ROBERT A. RIGSBY, 0000
GREGORY D. RILEY, 0000
KENNETH E. RING, JR., 0000
LARRY ROBINSON, 0000
STEPHEN A. ROBINSON, 0000
HOMER C. ROGERS, JR., 0000
WILLIAM ROLLERSON, JR., 0000
MARCELO ROLON, 0000
A. C. ROPER, JR., 0000
CHAD M. ROTZIEN, 0000
ELIZABETH RUCKWIED, 0000
LANNIE D. RUNCK, 0000
GARY D. RUSSELL, 0000
DONALD G. RUTHERFORD, 0000
EDWARD M. RYAN, JR., 0000
PATRICIA E. RYAN, 0000
SEAN A. RYAN, 0000
TIMOTHY A. RYAN, 0000
ALISON I. RYSCAVAGE, 0000
ALDEN F. SADDLEMIRE, 0000
DANIEL T. SAILER, 0000
WALTER M. SALMON, 0000
STEVEN A. SANCHEZ, 0000
STEPHEN G. SANDERS, 0000
DANIEL L. SAUCIER, 0000
ROBERT A. D. SAUERS, 0000
MICHAEL J. SAUTER, 0000
JAMES B. SAYERS, 0000
RALPH G. SCHEFFERT, 0000
WILLIAM P. SCHERER, 0000
JOHN W. SCHROEDER, 0000
HARRY J. SCHUTE, JR., 0000
WILLIAM J. SCHUTZ, JR., 0000
JONATHAN G. SCOTT, 0000
KENNETH A. SCOTT, 0000
MARTIN D. SEIFER, 0000
TRACY L. SETTLE, 0000
ARTHUR F. SHAFFERMAN, 0000
KEITH A. SHARPLES, 0000
RICHARD D. SHATTO, 0000
TIMOTHY A. SHEARER, 0000
TIMOTHY J. SHERIFF, 0000
BRIAN S. SIECK, 0000
LESTER SIMPSON, 0000
LARRY R. SIMS, 0000
BENNETT E. SINGER, 0000
RICHARD B. SINGER IV, 0000
WAYNE P. SINIBALDI, 0000
GLENN M. SKAWSKI, 0000
DEBORAH S. SKILLMAN, 0000
RONALD A. SLAATHAUG, 0000
PAUL H. SLINKERD III, 0000
EDWARD R. SMALLWOOD, 0000
CHARLES E. SMITH, 0000
GREGORY B. SMITH, 0000
DOUGLAS SNYDER, 0000
CAROL R. SOLESBEE, 0000
CATHERINE D. SOPHER, 0000
NANCY A. SOUZA, 0000
ROBERT A. SPANO, 0000
THOMAS G. SPRAGUE, 0000
GARY L. SPRY, 0000
RICHARD C. STAATS, 0000
THOMAS H. STATON, 0000
DANIEL R. STEFANOWICH, 0000
LISA D. STEWART, 0000
MARK A. STOCKSTELL, 0000
JAMES E. STOKES, 0000
WILLIAM L. STOPPEL, 0000
JOHN P. STOREY, 0000
DARLETTE P. STOWERS, 0000
WILLIAM L. STROUD, 0000
MICHAEL C. SUDIA, 0000
CLARK H. SUMMERS, 0000
LEAH R. SUNDQUIST, 0000
BRYAN E. SUNTHEIMER, 0000
LESLIE N. SWARTZ, 0000
SCOTT A. SYME, 0000
STEPHEN D. TABLEMAN, 0000
BARRY K. TAYLOR, 0000
CHRISTOPHER D. TAYLOR, 0000
JOHN H. TAYLOR, 0000
JULIA S. TAYLOR, 0000
KEITH H. TAYLOR, 0000
PETER J. TETRICK, 0000
PAUL G. THIBODEAU, 0000
LINDA A. THOMAS, 0000
GARY A. THOMPSON, 0000
ROBERT A. THOMPSON, 0000
VINCENT E. THOMPSON, 0000
STEPHEN L. THORSTED, 0000
RICHARD J. TORRES, 0000
FRANCK T. G. TRAINOR, 0000
MICHAEL P. TRUELOVE, 0000
LORA L. TUCKER, 0000
MICHAEL D. TURELLO, 0000
BRADLEY TURNER, 0000
HAROLD W. TURNER, 0000
ARTHUR F. TURNIER, 0000
BRYAN A. TUTKO, 0000
ROCKY J. TYLER, 0000
LUIS E. UMANAWILLIAMS, 0000
SUZANNE VALENTINGUZMAN, 0000
LORENZO J. VALENZUELA, 0000
JOHN W. VANDELOOP, 0000
BENNIE R. VAUGHAN, 0000
EDWARD G. VAUGHN, 0000
KENNETH R. VAUGHN, 0000
CHARLES R. VEIT, 0000
PETER J. VERSTEEG, 0000
RODOLFO VILLARREAL, JR., 0000
JOHN E. VITZTHUM, 0000
RICHARD L. VONSTEUBEN, JR., 0000
JEFFREY G. VORCE, 0000
STANLEY D. WAGSTAFF, 0000
ROBERTA B. WALKER, 0000
WILLIAM J. WALKER, 0000
MICHELE E. WALLACE, 0000
TERRENCE M. WALSH, 0000
SEAN D. WARD, 0000
THOMAS U. WASHINGTON, 0000
ALIKA G. WATTS, 0000
JAMES J. WEAVER, 0000
ROBERT D. WEBER, 0000
MARK A. WEEKS, 0000
THOMAS J. WEISS, 0000
SHAWN A. WELCH, 0000
KENNETH R. WELLONS, 0000
MICHAEL P. WHETSTON, 0000
ANITA A. WHITE, 0000
LARRY A. WILCOX, 0000
GREGORY L. WILCOXON, 0000
BILL WILLIAMS III, 0000
CARL WILLIAMS, JR., 0000
JEFFREY S. WILLIAMS, 0000
JOAN M. WILLIAMS, 0000
DONALD M. WINDHAM, 0000
SCOTT M. WINEGAR, 0000
LAURA B. WISCH, 0000
PHILIP W. WOJTALEWICZ, 0000
DAVID C. WOOD, 0000
JERRY L. WOOD, 0000
BRUCE D. WOOLPERT, 0000
KEVIN D. WRIGHT, 0000
JONATHAN W. WUNG, 0000
[[Page 22002]]
STACEY T. YAMADA, 0000
GARY S. YAPLE, 0000
ROGER D. YEARWOOD, 0000
DAVID A. YOUNGBERG, JR., 0000
STEPHEN J. ZEMPOLICH, 0000
MICHAEL R. ZERBONIA, 0000
RICHARD D. ZIERATH, 0000
JEFFREY J. ZIOL, 0000
CHARLES R. ZIPPERER, 0000
MARC L. ZUFFA, 0000
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE
INDICATED IN THE RESERVE OF THE ARMY UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C.,
SECTION 12203:
To be colonel
ROBIN B. ALLEN, 0000
SCOTT A. ANGER, 0000
JOEL J. BERNER, 0000
GEORGE P. BLACK, 0000
KURT J. BOHN, 0000
ANTHONY G. BROWN, 0000
JOSEPH D. CERRETO, 0000
MITCHELL R. CHITWOOD, 0000
MICHAEL J. COUGHLIN, 0000
JAMES E. HARDIN, JR., 0000
JULIE K. HASDORFF, 0000
WILLIAM G. HASKIN, 0000
OLIVER F. JOHNSON, 0000
GARY A. LOXLEY, 0000
STEVEN G. MAHON, 0000
THOMAS C. MCLURKIN, 0000
BRUCE A. PAGEL, 0000
STEPHEN J. PRICE, 0000
DANIEL A. RICE, 0000
ROBERT R. RIGSBY, 0000
RONALD B. ROBINSON, 0000
SCOTT F. ROMANS, 0000
STEVEN A. ROSSO, 0000
JAMES M. SAWYERS, 0000
WILLIAM E. SCULLY, JR., 0000
JOHN J. SIEMIETKOWSKI, 0000
ROBERT C. SLAUGHTER II, 0000
GREGORY J. SUROVIC, 0000
ALEXANDER TAYLOR, 0000
CRAIG T. TREBILCOCK, 0000
ARTHUR D. WELLMAN, 0000
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE
INDICATED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS
UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTIONS 624 AND 3064:
To be colonel
JOHN G. ALVAREZ, 0000
DAVID A. BITTERMAN, 0000
MARILYN D. BREW, 0000
MITCHELL E. BREW, 0000
DENNIS C. BROWN, 0000
MARC L. CAOUETTE, 0000
VINCENT C. CARNAZZA, JR., 0000
CHRISTOPHER M. CASTLE, 0000
CARL A. CASTRO, 0000
DANIEL V. CHAPA, JR., 0000
LAWRENCE B. CONNELL, 0000
MARCUS W. CRONK, 0000
MUSTAPHA DEBBOUN, 0000
GREGORY D. EVANS, 0000
JOHN M. GAAL, 0000
MARY E. GARR, 0000
KAREN M. KELLEY, 0000
BERTHONY LADOUCEUR, 0000
TERRY J. LANTZ, 0000
SAMUEL G. MACK, JR., 0000
GREGORY A. MALVIN, 0000
RODGER K. MARTIN, 0000
CLEM D. MCDUFFIE, 0000
THERESA L. MOSER, 0000
MURIEL A. MOSLEY, 0000
DAVETTE L. MURRAY, 0000
DANIEL P. ORRICO, 0000
CHRISTOPHER V. ROAN, 0000
GORDON R. ROBERTS, 0000
JUDITH D. ROBINSON, 0000
LINDA C. ROSS, 0000
DEBRA M. STEWART, 0000
ALAN K. STONE, 0000
JACK K. TROWBRIDGE, 0000
JAMES T. WALSH, 0000
DONNA S. WHITTAKER, 0000
TRACY O. WYATT, 0000
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GRADE
INDICATED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY NURSE CORPS UNDER TITLE
10, U.S.C., SECTIONS 624 AND 3064:
To be colonel
JEFFREY S. ASHLEY, 0000
JUDITH A. BOCK, 0000
JENNIFER M. ECTOR, 0000
SHERI L. FERGUSON, 0000
ANNA R. IUNGERICH, 0000
CAROLYN M. JOLITZ, 0000
LISA M. LATENDRESSE, 0000
PATRICIA M. LEROUX, 0000
RITZA REESE, 0000
YOLANDA RUIZISALES, 0000
BRUCE A. SCHONEBOOM, 0000
KIMBERLY K. SMITH, 0000
DEBRA A. SPENCER, 0000
SHARON L. STERLING, 0000
DELLA W. STEWART, 0000
COLLEEN A. TAKAHASHI, 0000
HEIDI A. WARRINGTON, 0000
THOMAS G. WINTHROP, 0000
in the navy
THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICERS FOR REGULAR APPOINTMENT IN THE
GRADES INDICATED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY UNDER TITLE 10,
U.S.C., SECTION 531:
To be captain
HARRY T. WHELAN, 0000
To be commander
WILLIAM K. BOTT, 0000
ERIC L. STALLWORTH, 0000
To be lieutenant commander
MICHAEL C. DEWALT, 0000
ROMIRO MUNOZ, 0000
WILLIAM G. RHEA III, 0000
broadcasting board of governors
KENNETH Y. TOMLINSON, OF VIRGINIA, TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE
BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS. (REAPPOINTMENT).
KENNETH Y. TOMLINSON, OF VIRGINIA, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS FOR A TERM EXPIRING AUGUST
13, 2007. (REAPPOINTMENT).
national mediation board
ELIZABETH DOUGHERTY, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO BE A
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING
JULY 1, 2007, VICE EDWARD J. FITZMAURICE, JR., TERM EXPIRED.
ELIZABETH DOUGHERTY, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO BE A
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING
JULY 1, 2010. (REAPPOINTMENT).
PETER W. TREDICK, OF CALIFORNIA, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING JULY 1, 2009,
VICE READ VAN DE WATER, TERM EXPIRED.
department of labor
PAUL DE CAMP, OF VIRGINIA, TO BE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE WAGE
AND HOUR DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, VICE TAMMY DEE
MCCUTCHEN, RESIGNED.
federal mine safety and health review commission
ARLENE HOLEN, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO BE A MEMBER
OF THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION FOR A
TERM OF SIX YEARS EXPIRING AUGUST 30, 2010, VICE ROBERT H.
BEATTY, JR., TERM EXPIRED.
department of labor
RICHARD STICKLER, OF WEST VIRGINIA, TO BE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF LABOR FOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH, VICE DAVID D.
LAURISKI, RESIGNED, TO WHICH POSITION HE WAS APPOINTED DURING
THE LAST RECESS OF THE SENATE.
department of justice
STEVEN G. BRADBURY, OF MARYLAND, TO BE AN ASSISTANT
ATTORNEY GENERAL, VICE JACK LANDMAN GOLDSMITH III, RESIGNED.
____________________
WITHDRAWALS
Executive message transmitted by the President to the Senate on
November 14, 2006, withdrawing from further Senate consideration the
following nominations:
PETER W. TREDICK, OF CALIFORNIA, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING JULY 1, 2007,
VICE EDWARD J. FITZMAURICE, JR., TERM EXPIRED, WHICH WAS SENT
TO THE SENATE ON MARCH 27, 2006.
ELIZABETH DOUGHERTY, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO BE A
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING
JULY 1, 2009, VICE READ VAN DE WATER, TERM EXPIRING, WHICH
WAS SENT TO THE SENATE ON MAY 25, 2006.
PETER W. TREDICK, OF CALIFORNIA, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE
NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD FOR A TERM EXPIRING JULY 1, 2010.
(REAPPOINTMENT), WHICH WAS SENT TO THE SENATE ON JULY 18,
2006.
[[Page 22003]]
EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS
____________________
IN MEMORY OF DR. JAMES DAVID THOMAS
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give tribute to Dr. James
David Thomas, from the 26th Congressional District of Texas, for his
lifelong contributions to his community and to his fellow citizens. Dr.
Thomas will be remembered as a loving and caring husband, father and
physician. He died at the age of 87.
Dr. Thomas served his community and nation in WWII as a physician for
the United States Army. After his tour of duty, Dr. Thomas returned to
the City of Denton where he was actively involved in the medical
community. His dedication led him to be one of the founding members of
the Medical Surgical Clinic in Denton. As a member of the American
Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association and a Charter member
of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Thomas ensured that
families in the Denton community had a qualified and committed
physician to care for their general health.
Dr. Thomas was involved with several organizations throughout the
Denton community including serving the Denton ISD school board as well
as the Denton Parks and Recreation Board. He was also a longtime member
of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, where he served as a deacon and
elder.
It was an honor to have worked with Dr. James David Thomas as a
doctor and a privilege to represent him in Congress. I extend my
sympathies to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed and his
service and dedication will always be appreciated.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO AWILDA CORDERO
______
HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor one of
my constituents, Ms. Awilda Cordero of Bronx, NY, for her goodwill and
assistance to the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts.
Ms. Cordero is president of the Bronx-based community service
organization Emergency Rights, Inc. She took it upon herself to
organize a group of eight volunteers amidst the dangerous and tragic
conditions created by Katrina and inspired her urban Bronx neighborhood
to open its heart and give to those more needy. Leaving for Louisiana
in a tractor-trailer stocked with donations, Ms. Cordero and her fellow
heroes were left to secure their own room and board upon arrival and
protect themselves against the impending disaster. They hosted a
distribution of all essential goods from a small church with the help
of locally enlisted prison inmates prior to their hurried and final
evacuation.
Ms. Cordero is an exemplary spirit whose story touches those far
outside her native New York City. She merits our acknowledgment and
gratitude and inspires faith that all of our citizens will one day be
able to lend help and hope to each other in their most dire times of
need.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and respect that I join to praise
and thank Ms. Cordero for her benevolent efforts.
____________________
IN REMEMBRANCE OF MARGARET MARY LEE
______
HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory and recognition of
my good friend Margaret Mary Lee. Her service for the community of
Cleveland and the Democratic Party represents the very best of the
hardworking values that are the backbone of America's working class.
Family, worker's rights, education, and community were central to her
life. A mother of 11, grandmother of 22, and great-grandmother of 11,
Margaret was committed to the concept of family and community. Longtime
supporters and friends of mine, Margaret and her family stood staunchly
behind the Democratic Party and my candidacy from the beginning. Her
late husband Eddie was the Secretary General of the Teamster Local 407.
The Lee family was a pillar of the union movement in Cleveland. Both
Eddie and Margaret stood up for workers through the Local 407 where
they graciously gave countless hours of their lives. to organizing and
bringing together members of the community to empower workers. Her
endless energy and sharp mind were an indestructible asset to the labor
community. Margaret had a unique ability to inspire others.
In addition to the labor movement and worker's rights, Margaret was
also very concerned with the issue of education. Her volunteer efforts
for Montessori schools helped perpetuate positive programs for urban
students. Margaret believed very strongly in her community and
investing her time and helping not only her children but also those of
the community by dedicating herself to promoting education. This
commitment continues even after her death as memorial contributions are
suggested to be donated to the Ruffing Montessori. Her presence as a
matriarch of the community will be greatly missed.
Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the memory and
recognizing the accomplishments of Margaret Mary Lee as a woman who
stood for true American values and may her legacy live on in the
recognition of the good work that she did.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO TIMOTHY BATES AS HE RECEIVES THE WILLIAM CRAWFORD
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to
join the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce as they honor a
special member of our community and my friend of many years, Timothy
Bates. Tonight, Tim will be honored with the prestigious William
Crawford Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his
contributions, which have not only improved the quality of life in the
region, but have also enriched the lives of his neighbors.
William Crawford, the former president and general manager of the
Southeastern Connecticut Broadcasting Company, was not only a dedicated
member of the Chamber, he was well known for his philanthropic efforts
on behalf of his community. It is in this spirit that the William
Crawford Distinguished Service Award is bestowed. Tim, an attorney with
the esteemed law firm of Robinson & Cole, has made a difference in his
community through both his professional and volunteer efforts--
exemplifying the very best of what we believe a community member should
be.
In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Tim has focused
his career on land use, real estate, and municipal law--an area of
critical importance to small communities like those found in
Connecticut. He is a member and past chairman of the Planning and
Zoning Section of the Connecticut Bar Association as well as the state
chair of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Tim's
expertise is often sought our by fellow bar members as well as by local
planning and zoning officials. He has also made presentations to the
American Planning Association on right to farm, nonconforming uses, and
review of recent Supreme Court cases regarding land use law,
Communities struggle to balance the competing interests of expansion
and growth with maintaining the unique character of the region. Tim's
work and expertise in these areas have proven invaluable to cities and
towns throughout eastern Connecticut.
Beyond his professional commitments, Tim has also devoted countless
hours to local service organizations. He has been a member and
continues to serve on the Board of Directors for such organizations as
Connecticut Legal Services, the Garde Arts Center, the
[[Page 22004]]
Mystic Community Center, the Community Foundation of Southeastern
Connecticut and Family Services of Southeastern Connecticut. Tim and
his wife, Deborah, also volunteer every summer as counselors in Pioneer
Camp at Camp Wightman in North Stonington, Connecticut. Through his
efforts on behalf of these and many other organizations, Tim has
quietly touched the lives of thousands. I have often said that our
communities would not be the same without the efforts of volunteers and
this is certainly true of the generosity, compassion, and philanthropy
Tim has demonstrated over a lifetime of good work.
Tim does all this together with Debbie and their children,
strengthening his family and community. These are special, warm people
with an infectious spirit that cannot help but do good wherever they
live. That is why I still cherish our work together.
I cannot think of an individual who better exemplifies the spirit of
the William Crawford Distinguished Service Award. I am proud to stand
today to join Deborah, his children, Nathaniel, David, and Catherine,
as well as the Eastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, family, friends
and colleagues in extending my heart-felt congratulations to my good
friend Timothy Bates on this very special occasion. His many
contributions, both professional and volunteer, have left an indelible
mark on the communities and families of eastern Connecticut and a
legacy that will inspire many for generations to come.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO BAILEY DOUBERLEY OF DADE CITY, FLORIDA
______
HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to
honor a gifted student and boundless volunteer who has proven that
anyone can be an asset to their community, no matter their age.
A fourth generation Floridian, Bailey Lesten Douberley is the 8-year-
old son of Chad Douberley and his wife, Susan Larkin-Douberley, of Dade
City. Although a third grade student at Centennial elementary school,
Bailey takes math and language classes at the fourth grade level. In
addition to being a talented student, he is also an active member of
First Baptist Church in Dade City.
With the President's push for increased charitable involvement,
Bailey is a prime example of establishing your course at a young age.
By channeling much of his energy into efforts to help others, Bailey
serves as a shining example of service for his entire community.
At the recent Welcome Home Troops event held for Battery B, 2nd
Battalion, 116th Field Artillery, Bailey was on hand to move tables,
hang signs, arrange chairs and assist in any way needed. Bailey is a
frequent helper at the monthly car shows in Dade City and annually
volunteers with his mother at both the Sparklebration and Kumquat
festivals. Bailey is particularly active at local benefit functions
such as the Patrick Cooper benefit dinner and the Josh Cooley benefit
dinner and is always on hand to assist at the annual fundraiser,
Academy at the Farm weekend rodeo event.
The holiday season is especially busy for this tireless volunteer.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, Bailey helps pack baskets for needy
families and during the Christmas holiday, he lends a hand to the Toys
for Tots program and the Shoebox program, sending care packages to U.S.
troops.
Aside from his busy schedule, Bailey finds time to play little league
baseball and is a member of the Recreation and Travel ``Bulls'' ice
hockey team, the progressive 4-H Club and Pack 301 Boy Scouts.
On behalf of Dade City and its residents, I applaud Bailey for his
efforts and I encourage others, young and old, to follow his lead and
answer the call to volunteer. I am proud to represent this young man
and many more like him who give back so much to the community
____________________
CASTLE ROCK YOUNG MARINES
______
HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor
the Castle Rock Young Marines for their support of our World War II
veterans.
The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through completion of
high school. The only membership requirement is that the youth must be
in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings,
in 1958, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has
grown to over 240 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in
46 States, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a
host of other countries.
On Veteran's Day, the Nation's Marine Corps Museum held their grand
opening celebration. The Castle Rock Marines from Colorado had heard
that the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II would not be attending due
to financial reasons. These young marines organized various fundraisers
in order to pay for the Navajo Talkers to attend not only the opening
ceremony of the Nation's Marine Corps Museum but other important events
in the Capital area.
Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the Castle Rock
Young Marines for their support of this unique set of World War II
veterans.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 519, H.R. 5602, To
Authorize the Extension of Nondiscrimatory Treatment (Normal Trade
Relations Treatment) to the Products of Vietnam. Had I been present, I
would have voted ``no.''
____________________
HONORING THE SERVICE OF CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 3 TIMOTHY RAY BRENEMAN TO
OUR COUNTRY
______
HON. JOHN L. MICA
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to Chief
Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Ray Breneman, 36, who died while serving our
Nation in Germany.
Prior to joining the Army, Timothy spent his childhood living in
Ormond Beach, Florida where he was active at Christ Presbyterian
Church. Timothy graduated from Mainland High School and attended
Daytona Beach Community College where he studied art and photography.
In 1994, Timothy enlisted to become an Army Ranger. He was later
assigned to the 1st Armored Division's 12th Combat Aviation Brigade at
Illesheim Army Field in Germany where he became a senior instructor
pilot. His colleagues remember him for his skill and professional
demeanor. His family recalls his wonderful sense of humor and one who
took pride in his service.
We should all remember Timothy's courage and his ultimate sacrifice
for our Nation. The freedom we enjoy and the liberty in the world for
which he fought are part of the great legacy that Chief Warrant Officer
Timothy Ray Breneman leaves behind. He is buried at Arlington National
Cemetery.
We must recognize that Timothy's widow, Teresa, is also a
distinguished member of our U.S. military where she serves as a Judge
Advocate General officer in Germany.
To Timothy's wife, Teresa; his parents, Ray and Flo; and his entire
family, we extend our deepest sympathy.
Mr. Speaker, because of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Ray
Breneman's sacrifice for our country, I ask all Members of the U.S.
House of Representatives to join me in recognizing his service in our
Nation's Armed Forces and remembering both his life and his dedication
to the United States of America.
____________________
IN HONOR OF THE DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE
______
HON. SAM FARR
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today to commemorate the
Defense Language Institute's 65th anniversary, and to honor its
generations of distinguished faculty and students, without whom the
freedom and security we enjoy would not be possible.
On November 1, 1941 the DLI (then, nameless and clandestine)
commenced its first class in San Francisco, not in a classroom or, much
less, at a university. Rather, the crown-jewel of American language
instruction and our greatest asset to national security was born in an
abandoned airplane hangar.
Sixty students, most of whom were second-generation Japanese-
Americans, along with
[[Page 22005]]
four instructors, undertook an unprecedented exercise: to formally
train in the language and customs of our enemies for the purposes of
translation and intelligence gathering. Their resulting successes in
the Pacific theater paved the way for the modern DLI--an academically
accredited foreign language training institution--the largest in the
world--which enjoys the prestige and renown of a world-class
university.
Prominent DLI alumni include Air Force Colonel William Fife, a
graduate of the Institute's Russian basic course who pioneered airborne
reconnaissance during the Cold War. Glenn Nordin, also a graduate of
the Russian basic course as well as the Vietnamese advisor course,
served as a translator for the Washington-Moscow hotline, as a deputy
chief at the National Security Agency and as Executive Secretary of the
Director of Central Intelligence Language Committee. And, more
recently, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona, who served as
personal interpreter and advisor to General Norman Schwarzkopf during
Operation Desert Storm.
The DLI's Foreign Language Center is well situated at the Presidio of
Monterey Presidio. Its proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and the
Central Coast make the Institute a natural destination for native-
speaking language instructors of the highest caliber. In turn, DLI has
greatly enriched our community by creating a locus of culture and
learning.
The foreign language training the Defense Language Institute has
imparted to ``the best and brightest'' of our U.S. Armed Forces has
proven to be one of our Nation's best national security weapons. On
March 5, 2005, General John P. Abizaid, the commander of U.S. Central
Command (CENTCOM), said, ``This ability to cross the cultural divide is
not an Army issue. It is a national issue. We have to be able to deal
with the people in the rest of the world as the globe shrinks in terms
of communication and problem solving and sharing. So this notion of . .
. training and educating people here in the U.S., of having the
institutions that do it . . . is just so essential.''
``What will win the global war on terrorism will be people that can
cross the cultural divide, reach out to those who want our help, and
figure out how to make it happen so [those people] can help themselves.
That is how we will win this thing,'' continued Gen. Abizaid. ``So we
ignore the DLIs and other institutions of military education at our own
peril. I very much ask [this] committee to continue to keep those
places functioning, because they are national treasures.''
General Abizaid's sentiments resonate to the very foundations of the
Institute and fill its halls with purpose and resolve. Cross cultural
understanding coupled with the ability to communicate with our friends
and enemies in their own languages will promote U.S. national security,
economic and foreign policy interests, making the U.S. the leader of
the global community.
I am very pleased to join the Secretary of the Army, Francis H.
Harvey, the Commandant of DLI, Colonel Tucker B. Mansager, and other
distinguished guests to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Defense
Language Institute. Monterey is proud of its rich association with DLI
and we all look forward to its future success and continued growth.
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF ANMOL S. MAHAL, M.D., PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
______
HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Anmol
Singh Mahal, who has been named president of the California Medical
Association (CMA). He is the first person of Indian origin to head the
35,000-member organization.
Dr. Mahal is a board-certified internist in solo practice in
gastroenterology and internal medicine in Fremont, California. He came
to the United States 33 years ago after receiving his medical degree
from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India.
He completed his internship in internal medicine at the College of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, New Jersey and
completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the Stanford University
Medical Center.
He is a founding member and past president of the American
Association of Physicians of Indian Origin of Northern California.
Prior to being named President of the California Medical Association,
Dr. Mahal served one term as the Chair of the CMA Board of Trustees and
two terms as Vice Chair. He has been a member of the CMA Board since
1997 and is a commissioner for the state Emergency Medical Services
Commission.
Dr. Mahal has served CMA on multiple committees including Chair of
the Technical Advisory Committee on Culturally and Linguistically
Competent Physicians, and as a member of the Technical Advisory
Committee on Minority Physician Issues. He is currently a member of
CMA's Committee on the Medical Board of California, and the Ethnic
Medical Organization Section Executive Board.
In addition to his activities at the state and local levels, Dr.
Mahal has served as Chief of Staff of the Washington Hospital
Healthcare System in Fremont, California and a member of the Board of
Directors of the Washington Outpatient Surgery Center in Fremont. He is
a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
I join Dr. Mahal's colleagues, friends and admirers in wishing him
every success as he takes the helm of leadership as President of the
California Medical Association.
____________________
IN MEMORY OF ARMY 2ND LIEUTENANT JOHNNY CRAVER
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory of Army 2nd Lieutenant
Johnny Craver from the 26th Congressional District of Texas, for
serving our country during Iraqi Freedom. Second Lt. Craver died Friday
13, 2006 with two other soldiers south of Baghdad when a roadside bomb
detonated next to the Bradley Fighting Vehicle he was commanding.
I would like to recognize and celebrate Army 2nd Lieutenant Johnny
Craver's life today. After a miraculous recovery from an automobile
accident during his teenage years, 2nd Lt. Craver told his mother at
the young age of 17 that he was going to join the armed forces. While
serving as a Ranger and later, a Ranger instructor, 2nd Lt. Craver was
stationed in Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington, DC, before being deployed
to Iraq. He was 37 years old.
In 2005, 2nd Lt. Carver trained for and participated in the 2005 Best
Ranger Competition on TV. When his partner twisted an ankle climbing a
steep hill, Craver never faltered, and carried his partner's 80-pound
backpack, in addition to his own, to reach the top of the hill.
A natural leader, 2nd Lt. Craver was near completion of his Master's
degree in business administration. He leaves behind a loving wife,
Natalie, and their three children, Savannah, Caelen, and Emma. When
told he was a hero, 2nd Lt. Craver would always reply, ``I'm not a
hero, I'm just doing my job.''
It was my honor to represent Army 2nd Lieutenant Johnny Craver, and I
extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be
deeply missed and his honorable service was greatly appreciated.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO HAN BEOL JANG
______
HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the
accomplishments of one of my constituents, Han Beol Jang of Woodside,
New York. I wish to recognize Han Beol for his Poetry, Gold Award win
in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2006 contest, sponsored by
the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. The Alliance was
established to promote artistic development and expression in middle
and high school students throughout the nation in cooperation with
schools. This year's competition recognized the work of over 1,400
students and invited award recipients to a workshop hosted in New York
designed to introduce students to the professional world of art.
Mr. Speaker, I join to wish Han Beol best wishes and good fortune in
his future projects.
____________________
IN HONOR OF ARCHBISHOP FOUAD TWAL
______
HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Archbishop Fouad
Twal and his accomplishments in working toward peace and ecumenical
acceptance of all people. Archbishop Twal has served the Catholic
Church for over 40 years in Tunisia, Honduras, Germany, Peru, Jordan,
Palestine, the Vatican, and Jerusalem. His recent assignment in
Jerusalem has led him to the distinguished positions as the Coadjutor
Archbishop for the Latin
[[Page 22006]]
Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the President of the Bethlehem
University.
Archbishop Twal's distinguished career as a vessel of peace through
the Roman Catholic Church began in 1966 when he was ordained. Rising
through the ranks with remarkable swiftness, he received his Licentiate
in Canon Law from the renowned Ecclesiastical Pontifical Academy. With
a rich history of public service in peace efforts in the Middle East,
he has served the Latin Patriarchate Parishes in Palestine and Jordan,
as Archbishop of Tunisia, and in the Council of Political Affairs for
the State Secretariat of the Vatican. This outstanding background was
merely preparation for his appointment as Coadjutor Archbishop for the
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in
2005. There, he represents the Church's peace efforts in the war-torn
region.
In addressing efforts for peace in the Holy Land, Archbishop Twal
steadfastly advocates a necessity for justice. In a land inundated by
strife, conflict, and bloodshed, he envisions the Church as a ``voice
of peace and forgiveness.'' It is this voice of reason, faith, and
compassion that Archbishop Twal uses in building bridges instead of
burning them. Instead of seeing the world in terms of Christians, Jews,
and Muslims, Archbishop Twal has proclaimed, ``the Holy City is the
mother of all the faithful children of Abraham.'' By giving respect to
all groups involved in the struggle, he has commanded vast admiration
from a variety of organizations representing differing viewpoints that
are all interested in peace through justice.
Much like his intellectual predecessors, Archbishop Twal has found
that a nonviolent, faith-based approach to addressing even the most
embittered situations of political strife is the most effective means
by which to ensure a lasting, sustainable peace. As the President of
Bethlehem University, he has continued to champion the peaceful
Christian message through higher education, despite repeated military
threats to shut the facility down by force. It is with this unwavering
dedication to peaceful Christian values, combined with keen political
insight, that Archbishop Twal continues to forge a reputation as a man
of hope, peace, and understanding.
Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honoring Archbishop
Twal's continued and unrelenting commitment and resounding efforts to
promoting peace through understanding, acceptance, and justice. His
work for peace through justice stands as a beacon of guidance for the
global peace movement as a whole.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO GEORGE ``DOC'' GUNTHER AS HE RETIRES FROM THE CONNECTICUT
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the career
of the Honorable George ``Doc'' Gunther, State Senator from
Connecticut's 21st Senate Assembly District--an elected office which he
has held for a stunning twenty terms--forty years! During his
remarkable tenure, ``Doc'' has represented his constituents and the
State of Connecticut with both integrity and dignity. Currently the
longest serving member of the General Assembly, I have no doubt that
his passionate, vocal advocacy will be missed by his colleagues as well
as the staff--the General Assembly will not be the same without him.
Throughout his legislative career, ``Doc'' has been an active
advocate in many areas. He has served on the Public Health Committee
since he was first elected and has spent more than thirty years as a
member of the Regulation Review Committee. Growing up on the Long
Island Sound, the environmental health of this natural jewel has always
been a priority for ``Doc.'' He has authored several pieces of landmark
legislation aimed at protecting the Sound and was instrumental in the
establishment of the Bi-State Long Island Sound Marine Resources
Committee of which he currently serves as State Chair. ``Doc'' also
served for eleven years as the State Chair of the American Legislative
Exchange Council, the largest bipartisan membership association of
state legislators, and has spent more than twenty-six years as an
active member and Connecticut's Legislative Commissioner for the
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. His knowledge of the Long
Island Sound, as an economic resource and fishery habitat, has been an
invaluable tool in the fight to protect the Sound from
industrialization and pollution.
There are few in the Stratford community or in Hartford's Legislative
Office Building that do not know ``Doc.'' He is unafraid to voice his
opinion and has always fought hard for those issues which are important
to him and his constituents. Stratford, Connecticut, the community
which ``Doc'' has represented for the last four decades, is home to the
American Shakespeare Festival Theater which, unfortunately, fell into
disrepair in recent years. Knowing what this cultural and historic
landmark meant to the Town of Stratford and its residents, ``Doc''
spearheaded the effort by the Stratford delegation to secure half a
million dollars towards the efforts to restore the Theater to its
original glory.
``Doc'' has also been a leader in the effort to create the
Connecticut Air and Space Museum which is located at the former site of
the Stratford Army Engine Plant. The museum is a tribute to the rich
history of the Connecticut aviation industry--especially the
contributions of the Vought F4U Corsair used during World War II. These
are just two examples of the tenacity and leadership ``Doc'' has shown
throughout his tenure in the General Assembly.
Though we come from differing political backgrounds, I have been
proud to work with ``Doc'' for so many years. He is a force to be
reckoned with and has been an outstanding public servant. It is an
honor for me to extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to George
``Doc'' Gunther, not only for his decades of dedicated service to
public life, but for the many invaluable contributions he has made to
the Town of Stratford and the State of Connecticut. His good work has
left an indelible mark on our community and will benefit our state for
generations to come. I wish him, his wife, Priscilla, his three
children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren the very
best for many more years of health and happiness.
____________________
RECOGNIZING WWII VETERAN AND POW STEVE RAYMOND OF LECANTO, FLORIDA
______
HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a
Prisoner of War from World War II, Steve Raymond of Lecanto, Florida.
While serving as a volunteer in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines,
Mr. Raymond was among 78,000 American and Filipino soldiers captured by
the enemy and forced to participate in what became known as the Bataan
Death March.
Mr. Raymond has written a book, ``Too Dead to Die: A Memoir of Bataan
and Beyond,'' about his experience as a POW. This first-hand account
recreates his experiences from daily journals that he kept while
imprisoned by the Japanese. It also details his memories of the sixty
mile force-march along the Bataan Peninsula to a prison camp known as
Camp O'Donnell.
During the Bataan Death March, many of the prisoners were beaten,
beheaded, tortured and left to die along the side of the path. For
those not executed along the way, the entire group went without food,
and many contracted malaria and dysentery.
Once at Camp O'Donnell, the 9,000 remaining prisoners were forced to
drink from one water fountain, tortured and beaten, and were kept from
learning anything about the outside world or how the war was
progressing.
Mr. Raymond was kept prisoner in the Philippines for a year and a
half, and then moved to Japan. While a prisoner in Japan, he was forced
to work in a steel mill. Other POWs took were put to work as
stevedores, coal and copper and bauxite miners, and in aircraft
manufacturing plants and shipyards.
Following the surrender of the Japanese in 1945, Mr. Raymond was
hospitalized for nearly a year to recover from his malnutrition and
disease. After his recovery, Mr. Raymond enrolled at the University of
Missouri and graduated with Bachelor of Journalism and Master of Arts
degrees. He then entered into a long and successful career as a
newspaperman, eventually retiring from the Tampa Tribune in 1978.
Mr. Speaker, veterans of the Bataan Death March like Steve Raymond
should be recognized for their service to our nation and for their
commitment and sacrifices in battle. With fewer than a hundred or so of
these brave prisoners of war still alive, it is incumbent on all
Americans to hear their stories and preserve their memories. Steve
Raymond should know that we truly consider him one of America's heroes.
[[Page 22007]]
____________________
PAYING TRIBUTE TO BEACON COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
______
HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor a
school in my district for their excellence in physical fitness. The
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recognized Beacon
Country Day School as a state champion in physical fitness far Category
I schools.
The winner of this award is the school with the highest percentage of
students performing above the 85th percentile in various physical
assessments. The test included various endurance challenges to measure
the overall physical fitness of the individuals.
Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the students of
Beacon Country Day School as repeat winners of the President's physical
fitness award.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 518, S. 819, The Pactola
Reservoir Reallocation Authorization Act, had I been present, I would
have voted ``yes''.
____________________
HONORING THE SERVICE OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS NICHOLAS ROGERS TO OUR
COUNTRY
______
HON. JOHN L. MICA
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to PFC
Nicholas Rogers, 27, who died while serving our Nation in Iraq.
Prior to joining the Army, Nicholas spent his childhood living in
Deltona, Florida where he was a Boy Scout. Nicholas graduated from
Deltona High School where he played the drums and had a special
appreciation of all things Star Wars.
After earning an emergency medical technician certificate from
Daytona Beach Community College, Nicholas followed his father's
footsteps into public service. Nicholas enlisted in the military to
gain experience to pursue his dream of becoming an emergency room
nurse. He was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division unit out
of Fort Drum, NY which was deployed to Baghdad. His colleagues remember
a compassionate individual who cared deeply for others while his family
recalls his uncanny ability to make people laugh.
We should all remember Nicholas's courage and his ultimate sacrifice
for our Nation. The freedom we enjoy and the liberty in the world for
which he fought are part of the great legacy that PFC Nicholas Rogers
leaves behind. He is buried in Deltona, FL.
To Nicholas's wife, Kelly; their daughter, Jocelyn; their unborn
daughter; his parents, Robert and Penny; and his entire family, we
extend our deepest sympathy.
Mr. Speaker, because of PFC Nicholas Rogers's sacrifice for our
country, I ask all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join
me in recognizing his service in our Nation's Armed Forces and
remembering both his life and his dedication to the United States of
America.
____________________
IN HONOR OF ANNA CABALLERO
______
HON. SAM FARR
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Anna
Caballero. Anna first moved to Salinas in 1982 and started a law office
specifically to provide excellent legal representation for working
people. She promptly became active in town, and due to her immense
enthusiasm she was quickly recognized as a community leader. She served
on the city council for 7 years, including 4 years as Vice Mayor. In
1998 Anna was elected as the first female Mayor in the 126-year history
of the city of Salinas, and has hence served 4 terms.
During her tenure as city Mayor, Anna was a driving force in
improving life for the people of Salinas. Some of her most successful
projects were the diversification of Salinas's economic base, improving
the affordability of local housing, the redevelopment of historic
downtown Salinas, and ensuring the permanent funding of the Salinas
library. The key to her success was her innate ability to sit people
down, get straight to the issue and have them reach a consensus.
Furthermore, Anna used her talents to streamline the Mayor's office and
develop partnerships with neighborhoods, parent groups, labor groups,
school districts, local businesses and the greater Salinas community.
Anna's accomplishments in the community have not gone unnoticed. In
1996, Anna was honored with the ``Athena'' award for ``entrepreneurial
excellence'' by the Salinas Area Chamber of Commerce, the most
prestigious honor the Chamber can bestow upon a fellow businessperson.
In 2000, the Monterey Country Lawyers Association granted Anna the
Justice Ribbon Award, the Association's highest award for members who
bring distinction to the legal profession through commitment to public
service.
Anna has continued to reach out to the community. She is an avid
volunteer coach for local baseball and soccer teams. She works with the
Mexican-American Women's National Association, ``MANA'', to raise
scholarship money for young women continuing to higher education. Anna
is also an Executive Director of the non-profit Partners for Peace,
dedicated to developing multi-disciplinary partnerships, which share
community resources to bring about community change.
Mr. Speaker, I rise once more to applaud Anna Caballero's many
accomplishments. On behalf of the United States Congress, I would like
to congratulate her on her successful career, and express my sincere
gratitude for her commitment to the community.
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF TONY DAYSOG
______
HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Tony Daysog
for his 10 years of faithful service to the city of Alameda, California
as Councilmember and Vice Mayor.
Mr. Daysog was first elected to the Alameda City Council on November
5, 1996 and served as a Councilmember from December 17, 1996 until
December 1998. He served as Vice Mayor from December 2002 until
December 2005.
During his tenure, Tony Daysog served on numerous agencies, including
the League of California Cities, the Airport Noise Operations
Committee, the Alameda County Private Industry Council, the Alameda
County Waste Management Authority, and the Associated Community Action
Program Government Board. He also has served as a member of the
Economic Development Commission and was a member of the Alameda Reuse
and Redevelopment Authority overseeing the redevelopment of the Alameda
Naval Air Station.
Mr. Daysog has been active in the preservation of the City of
Alameda's neighborhoods and a strong advocate for the planning and
safety of Alameda's communities. He aggressively championed traffic
planning and is a strong advocate of mass transit. He brought forward
the issue of bus zones, red curbs and access to transportation.
He introduced the idea of domestic partners' eligibility for property
transfer tax exemptions and the requirement for a competitive bid
process for all bonds and debt issued by the city of Alameda.
During his 10 years as a member of the Alameda City Council, Mr.
Daysog never missed a regularly scheduled Council meeting. On December
19, 2006, the City will express its appreciation for Tony Daysog's
exemplary commitment for the benefit of the City of Alameda.
I join the City in thanking Mr. Daysog for his years of service and
wish him every success in his future endeavors.
____________________
IN CELEBRATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LEWISVILLE'S 125TH
ANNIVERSARY
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the First Baptist
Church of Lewisville's 125th anniversary in the 26th district of Texas.
The Church has been a pillar of
[[Page 22008]]
leadership and worship in the Lewisville community.
The rich history of First Baptist Church of Lewisville began with
just 13 members in 1869, and has continued to thrive and grow into the
prominent worship community that it is today. Under the dedicated
leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Stephen Hatfield, it serves the needs
of its members by offering both traditional and more informal worship
services, student ministries, and Bible Study classes for all ages.
The First Baptist Church of Lewisville plans to commemorate this
momentous occasion with a celebration worship service, followed by a
Gospel Gathering Music Celebration.
I am honored to have the First Baptist Church of Lewisville in my
district. I am confident that the First Baptist Church of Lewisville
will continue to foster stewardship and faith among the citizens of our
community for another 125 years.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO TAINA VASQUEZ
______
HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the
accomplishments of one of my constituents, Taina Vasquez of the Bronx,
New York. I wish to recognize Taina for her Personal Essay Memoir,
Silver Award win in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2006
contest, sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The
Alliance was established to promote artistic development and expression
in middle and high school students throughout the Nation in cooperation
with schools. This year's competition recognized the work of over 1,400
students and invited award recipients to a workshop hosted in New York
designed to introduce students to the professional world of art.
Mr. Speaker, I join to wish Taina best wishes and good fortune in her
future projects.
____________________
IN HONOR OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HUNGARIAN REVOLUTION
______
HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 50th
anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the valiant
contribution of the Hungarian people to those efforts. A true
expression of democracy, public dissidence, and the spirit of the voice
of the people, the nationwide revolt stands today, a half a century
later, as a strong, albeit bitter reminder of both the oppression of
the former Soviet Union and more importantly the strength and resolve
of the Hungarian people in their desire for freedom.
On October 23, 1956, brave students demanding their intellectual
freedoms stormed the Radio Building in the Budapest Parliament.
Immediately, they were suppressed when the Soviet State Security Police
began firing upon these unarmed civilians. News of the attack spread
quickly and led to a public uproar in Budapest, where outraged citizens
organized immediately to take up arms and defend their natural rights
of justice, liberty, and sovereignty. At the forefront of the 12-day
struggle for control of the capital and the rest of the country was
Gen. Pal Maleter. As the leader of the infantry in Budapest, he
courageously went against his orders and, upon meeting with the
insurgents, lent his support to their fight for freedom. With the
strategic support of Maleter, the outlook of the revolutionary freedom
fighters was optimistic. A cease-fire was reached between revolutionary
and Soviet forces, and provisional government councils were set up to
usher in the new era of peaceful democracy.
The Soviet forces, however, under pressure from the international
community to assert its control by uprooting any possible seed of
democracy, moved quickly to crush the movement through deadly means.
They violated the cease fire by opening fire on crowds of civilians and
bombarding the city with artillery tanks. What started as a peaceful
democratic independence movement ended in bloodshed with the murder of
thousands of civilians through an illegitimate surprise invasion. On
November 3, during more cease-fire negotiations, the Soviet military
kidnapped Pal Maleter and the Hungarian delegation, charged them with
treason and promptly ordered their execution. With the leadership of
the revolution arrested, the Soviet military simply invaded again, and
took over the city.
The hope for independence, self-rule, and democracy is one that can
never be extinguished in any society. The Hungarian people, in the
democratic spirit, banded together to fight like many before them for
the basic human right of peaceful self-governance. They did not fail.
Today, we see Hungary as a regional success story for democracy, the
free market, and civil society. This eventual, if delayed, victory
shows us though the road to democracy is not always an easy one, the
spirit of people will ultimately prevail in the inexorable march toward
democracy.
Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the values of
freedom, independence, and democracy that the Hungarian people demanded
50 years ago. The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 stands as a reminder of
the undying desire of any society to be free from forces of hegemony.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO LATICRETE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH
ANNIVERSARY
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to join the
Bethany community and the Rothberg family in celebrating the 50th
anniversary of Laticrete International, Inc., a worldwide manufacturer
and marketer of material and methods for the installation of ceramic
tile and stone. Throughout their 50-year history, Laticrete has been
the leader in innovative technologies for such installation systems.
Their impressive history of vision and leadership, coupled with their
dedication to quality products, has made them one of the most
successful businesses in our community.
Founded in 1956 by Henry M. Rothberg, a chemical engineer by trade,
Latricrete came into being when he brought the improvements of
chemistry to the normal Portland cement based installation systems for
tile and stone. It was while managing a family tile, terrazzo and
marble installation company that the problems inherent to installing
these materials with the traditional ``full mortar bed'' became more
and more evident to Henry. He decided to dedicate himself to research
into alternate methods of installing ceramic tile and stone. While
consulting with the Chemical Division of the U.S. Rubber Company, he
developed a unique compound that had all the properties of natural
rubber--elasticity, water resistance and durability, plus the
properties necessary to make it viable to the construction industry--
resistance to frost and heat damage, the ability to mix with Portland
cement and remain plastic for adequate working time and the ability to
be stored in full or partial containers for extended periods of time
without deterioration or spoilage. The new latex was introduced to the
market as ``LATICRETE.'' It has been upon these pioneering efforts that
all modern adhesives utilizing the Adhesive Mortar Method have been
built.
The innovative products of Laticrete have been used in some of the
most recognizable national treasures in the world. Here in the United
States, Laticrete products were used in the construction of such
monuments as the St. Louis Arch, the Detroit Renaissance Center, the
Sears Tower, and Washington, DC's Metro System. Laticrete products can
also be found in the Basilica of Our Lady Peace of the Ivory Coast in
Africa, the Petronas Twin Tower of Kuala Lumpur, Tele Diffusion de
France in Paris, and the National Mosque of Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.
What began as one man's vision of improving a product has become an
international leader in the industry--that is what Yankee ingenuity is
all about.
Perhaps what is most special about Laticrete is that it has become a
family business that has been passed on to the next generation. In 2003
David Rothberg was named chairman and CEO, replacing his father as head
of the company. I have had the pleasure of meeting David and have had
the opportunity to tour the Laticrete facility in Bethany. Their
tireless commitment to quality and vision is not only impressive, it is
inspiring.
I am honored to take this moment and recognize the innovative and
entrepreneurial spirit of Henry Rothberg as well as David Rothberg and
the entire Laticrete family for their many invaluable contributions to
the industry.
My heartfelt congratulations to them as they celebrate this very
special anniversary. I have no doubt that Laticrete will continue in
its success for many years to come.
[[Page 22009]]
____________________
RECOGNIZING WWII PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT LEO HANSON OF ZEPHYRHILLS,
FLORIDA
______
HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Leo C.
Hanson, a native of the Buffalo, NY, area who served with honor and
distinction during World War II. Drafted into the United States Army on
January 6, 1940, Mr. Hanson earned the Purple Heart for wounds received
in battle.
Discharged on June 16, 1945, Mr. Hanson completed his military
service holding the rank of staff sergeant. Since then he has continued
to support his fellow soldiers by working with veterans' service
organizations. Mr. Hanson is a lifetime member of the Military Order of
the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His unit served under Gen. George Patton, one of the most famous
American generals of all time. A tank commander, Mr. Hanson served in
the Algeria and French Morocco campaigns in Northern Africa. He also
served in Normandy, Sicily, Northern France and Rhineland. His Purple
Heart was bestowed for wounds to his arm received at Omaha Beach, and
to his leg while in Normandy. Despite these injuries, Mr. Hanson
continued to engage the enemy in battle and fight for the cause of
freedom.
Mr. Speaker, soldiers like Leo C. Hanson should be recognized for
their service to our Nation and for their commitment and sacrifices in
battle. I am honored to have presented Mr. Hanson with his long overdue
Purple Heart. He should know that we truly consider him one of
America's heroes.
____________________
PAYING TRIBUTE TO ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH SCHOOL
______
HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor a
school in my district for their academic excellence in being named a
Blue Ribbon School.
The schools are selected based on one of two criteria: schools with
at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds
that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state
tests; or schools whose students regardless of background, achieve in
the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the top 10
percent of the nation on nationally-normed tests.
St. Thomas More Parish School met the criteria for this award because
it ranks in the top 10 percent of the nation in ITBS scores. This is
the first time this Catholic school has received this honor.
Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the students of St.
Thomas More Parish School as recipients of the No Child Left Behind--
Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, on roll call No. 517, H.R. 3085, To amend
the National Trails System Act to update the feasibility and
suitability study originally prepared for the Trail of Tears National
Historic Trail and provide for the inclusion of new trail segments,
land components, and campgrounds associated with that trail, and for
other purposes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''
____________________
HONORING THE SERVICE OF CORPORAL ANGELO VACCARO TO OUR COUNTRY
______
HON. JOHN L. MICA
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to
Corporal Angelo Vaccaro, 23, who died in a heroic effort to aid his
fellow comrades while serving our Nation in Afghanistan.
Prior to joining the Army, Angelo was born in the Bronx, NY, and
spent his childhood living in Deltona, Florida, attending Timbercrest
Elementary, Galaxy Middle and Deltona High schools. His dream was to
become a physician's assistant. His mother remembers him affectionately
as someone who liked to make people smile and laugh.
Angelo enlisted in the Army in March 2004 and was assigned and
deployed to Afghanistan with Company A, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry
Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort
Drum, NY. He was the head medic for his unit and took pride in serving
our country.
We should all remember Angelo's heroic courage and his ultimate
sacrifice for our Nation. The freedom we enjoy and the liberty in the
world for which he fought are part of the great legacy that Corporal
Angelo Vaccaro leaves behind. He is buried in Deltona, Florida.
To Angelo's wife, Dana; his parents, Ray and Linda; and his entire
family, we extend our deepest sympathy.
Mr. Speaker, because of Corporal Angelo Vaccaro's sacrifice for our
country, I ask all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to join
me in recognizing his service in our Nation's Armed Forces and
remembering both his life and his dedication to the United States of
America.
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF CHARLES CLARK AS ``FRIEND OF YOUTH'' HONOR
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Charles Clark
for his commitment to the students, faculty, and alumni of Trinity High
School of Euless, Texas, where he has served as Lead Custodian for over
14 years. I also congratulate Mr. Clark on being recognized as a true
``Friend of Youth'' by the Mid-Cities Optimist Club in the 26th
District of Texas.
Mr. Clark began working for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford School District
as a night custodian, and began his own custodial business to provide
for his son's college education. After his son graduated from college,
Mr. Clark closed his business and took a position as Lead Custodian to
make a difference in other students' lives.
A caring and honorable man, Mr. Clark serves as a role model and
mentor for all those who pass through Trinity High School. He supports
the school by attending students' athletic and fine arts events. When
students visit years after graduation, they continue to seek out
``Uncle Charles.''
Mr. Clark has been honored with the H-E-B School District's ``Extra
Mile Award,'' given to school district support personnel who go above
and beyond what their job requires of them.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated his boyhood home in Mississippi,
Mr. Clark organized a collection drive at the school for water and
cleaning supplies, and delivered them personally to Mississippi. Mr.
Clark and his wife Ellen of 37 years have raised a deeply spiritual,
loving family in Fort Worth, Texas since 1967.
Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent a man so selfless and
dedicated to serving youth as Mr. Charles Clark. Congratulations to Mr.
Clark for being recognized as a ``Friend of Youth'' by the Mid-Cities
Optimist Club.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN PICCARELLA
______
HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the
accomplishments of one of my constituents, Stephen Piccarella of
Jackson Heights, New York. I wish to recognize Stephen for his Short
Story, Silver Award win in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2006
contest, sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The
Alliance was established to promote artistic development and expression
in middle and high school students throughout the Nation in cooperation
with schools. This year's competition recognized the work of over 1,400
students and invited award recipients to a workshop hosted in New York
designed to introduce students to the professional world of art.
Mr. Speaker, I join to wish Stephen best wishes and good fortune in
his future projects.
[[Page 22010]]
____________________
IN HONOR OF THE COMMISSION ON CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ACTION
______
HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the Commission on
Catholic Community Action's 25th Anniversary of the Peace and Justice
Awards Dinner.
Established in 1969, the Commission on Catholic Community Action
continuously pursues their mission to protect and promote human
dignity, with a special focus on poor and disenfranchised groups.
Seeking to empower the voiceless, CCCA achieves their goals through
education, consciousness-raising, organization, mobilization, and
advocating for change.
CCCA also promotes peace and justice through the Annual Peace and
Justice Awards Dinner. For a quarter of a century, the dinner has been
an opportunity to reward the people of the Cleveland community who have
dedicated their lives to the causes of peace and justice for all. These
men, women, and organizations play a pivotal role in the rebirth of
Cleveland. I would like to join CCCA in recognizing this year's
recipients: Duane Drotar, Lida Roman (posthumously), the Christ Child
Society, Sr. Mary Louise Trivson, S.N.D., and the Women's Re-Entry
Network.
In addition, keynote speakers at these events have educated the
public on issues such as racial discrimination and interfaith
understanding. Generating community awareness throughout Cleveland, the
CCCA has provided participants with a new appreciation for celebrating
multicultural diversity within the city. Speaking at the Awards Dinner
this year is Sr. Mary Sujita Kallupurakkathu, S.N.D., sharing her
experiences of working with the poor.
Congratulations to the CCCA on their constant pursuit of peace and
justice. We can conceive of peace as not simply the absence of violence
but the presence of the capacity for a higher evolution of human
awareness, of respect, trust, and integrity. We can conceive of peace
as a tool to tap the infinite capabilities of humanity to transform
consciousness and conditions that impel or compel violence at a
personal, group, or national level, toward creating understanding,
compassion, and love.
My fellow colleagues, join me in honoring the Commission on Catholic
Community Action, as they celebrate the 25th anniversary of their
Annual Peace and Justice Awards Dinner.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL MELE AS HE CELEBRATES HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY
______
HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today
to join family and friends in wishing Michael Mele the very best as he
celebrates a remarkable milestone--his 100th birthday! Marking a
century of hard work and dedication, today's celebration will give
Michael, or Ozi Mike as he is affectionately known by family and close
friends, and his loved ones the opportunity to reflect on the many
accomplishments he has achieved throughout his life as well as how he
has touched all of their lives,
A gifted vocalist, dedicated husband and father, devoted parishioner,
army veteran, and professional technician, Michael is a man of many
talents that he has shared with hundreds over the course of his life.
Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Michael has led a
fascinating life. Upon graduating from high school, he studied voice
for ten years during which time he became an accomplished tenor.
Michael sang in productions of such classics as The Barber of Seville
and Pagliacci and, though the relocation of the production to
California prevented him from taking the part, he even won a lead role
opposite Betty Grable in the movie musical Down Argentine Way, During
his time with the theater, Michael also won roles in several New York
productions, including An American Comedy and The Family Portrait.
After marrying his wife, Carmel, in 1942, the couple raised two
children, sons Michael and Robert. He served in the United States Army
during World War II where he received training as a dental technician,
a profession in which he was employed until he was hired by Winchester/
Olin as a lab technician, retiring in 1971. Throughout his life,
Michael has held a unique devotion to his faith and his church. Michael
shared his gift for singing with a variety of Catholic churches
throughout New Haven. He directed glee clubs, choirs, and sang as a
soloist at St. Ann's, St. Rose's, St. Brendan's, St. Donato's, and Our
Lady of Mount Carmel in Hamden. In fact, his lifetime of dedicated
efforts were recognized by the Church when Archbishop Daniel Cronin
awarded him the prestigious Saint Joseph Award--the archdiocesan medal
of appreciation for outstanding parishioners,
An active and inspiring retiree, Michael has continued to dedicate
his time to his church as well as a new found passion for horse-riding.
What began--at age seventy-seven--with a gift certificate for riding
lessons and later--at age eighty--a saddle, has blossomed into a
beloved hobby. In fact, for a decade after he began riding, he spent
his summers at the Bitter Root ranch in the mountains of northwest
Wyoming. At 100 years old, Michael is a living treasure--he still
rides, drives a car, maintains his own home, attends daily Mass, serves
on the altar, and is finishing his twenty-sixth year as a fourth grade
religious education teacher. He is even working on his autobiography
which I have no doubt will be a real page-turner!
Today, as Michael celebrates his 100th birthday, I have no doubt that
he will look back in wonder at the fascinating events that have brought
him to this moment. In the last century he has witnessed some of the
most important moments in world history and, through his own efforts,
has left an indelible mark on the lives of all those who have known
him. It is my privilege to rise today to join his sons Michael and
Robert, as well as the many family and friends who have gathered in
extending my heartfelt congratulations to Michael Mele on his 100th
birthday. This is a very special day for all of those fortunate enough
to know Michael. My very best wishes for many more years of health and
happiness. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
____________________
RECOGNIZING WWII VETERAN AND POW RAY KNISLEY, JR. OF CHIEFLAND, FLORIDA
______
HON. GINNY BROWN-WAITE
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a
Prisoner of War from World War II, Ray Knisley, Jr. Born in
Massachusetts, Mr. Knisley served in the U.S. Army and was captured by
the Nazi Army.
Mr. Knisley served as a medical aid man with the 117th Cavalry
Reconnaissance Squadron. While encamped near the German border of
Alsace Lorraine on New Year's Eve, 1944, his entire unit was overrun
and he was taken prisoner. For the next several months, Mr. Knisley was
transferred between several prisoner camps, finally being rescued by
the Russian Army on April 28, 1945.
Following World War II, Mr. Knisley raised his family in
Massachusetts. He and his wife have five children, nine grand children
and six great grand children. In 1985 Mr. Knisley moved to West Palm
Beach, where he worked as a volunteer at the local Veterans Affairs
Hospital for twenty years. He specialized in working with fellow
prisoners of war; eventually assisting more than two hundred former
POWs receive a one hundred percent disability rating. He recently moved
to Chiefland about a year ago.
Mr. Speaker, prisoners of war like Ray Knisley, Jr. should be
recognized for their service to our nation and for their commitment and
sacrifices in battle. With thousands of World War II veterans passing a
way each year, it is incumbent on all Americans to hear their stories
and preserve their memories. Ray Knisley, Jr. should know that we truly
consider him one of America's heroes.
____________________
PAYING TRIBUTE TO WILLOW CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
______
HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor a
school in my district for their academic excellence in being named a
Blue Ribbon School.
The schools are selected based on one of two criteria: schools with
at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds
that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state
tests; or schools whose students regardless of background, achieve in
the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the top 10
percent of the Nation on nationally-normed tests.
[[Page 22011]]
To receive this recognition, Willow Creek Elementary School has had
in each of the past three years over 90 percent of its' students
perform at ``Proficient'' or ``Advanced'' levels in math and reading.
Willow Creek also received this prestigious honor in 1999.
Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the students of
Willow Creek Elementary School as recipients of the No Child Left
Behind--Blue Ribbon Schools Award.
____________________
IN MEMORY OF ROBERT GRAY
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Robert Allen Gray
who passed away after 90 glorious years on Friday, September 22, 2006.
Mr. Gray will forever be remembered by family and friends as a man of
integrity and strong values. In his lifetime, he experienced many of
the major events in the last century, including the Great Depression
and as a soldier in the United States Army during World War II.
In his civilian life, Mr. Gray was an engineer. He was interested in
working on cars as well as watching the Indianapolis 500. Mr. Gray's
enthusiasm for engineering was closely followed by a passion for
gardening. His love of nature was given to him by his father, a
florist. Mr. Gray has passed this passion on to his children and
grandchildren.
As a family man, Mr. Gray will always be remembered as affectionate
and caring. He was the caregiver for many of his elderly aunts and
helped his wife as she struggled with Alzheimer's disease. As a father,
Mr. Gray was committed to teaching his children and grandchildren the
importance of respecting and caring for others.
I extend my sympathies to his family and friends. May this man, whose
displays of compassion and love touched the hearts of so many, be an
inspiration to us all.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO KIMBERLY LEICH
______
HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the
accomplishments of one of my constituents, Kimberly Leich of the Bronx,
New York. I wish to recognize Kimberly for her Science Fiction/Fantasy,
Gold Award win in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2006 contest,
sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. The Alliance was
established to promote artistic development and expression in middle
and high school students throughout the Nation in cooperation with
schools. This year's competition recognized the work of over 1,400
students and invited award recipients to a workshop hosted in New York
designed to introduce students to the professional world of art.
Mr. Speaker, I join to wish Kimberly best wishes and good fortune in
her future projects.
____________________
IN HONOR OF THE LADIES AUXILIARY OF THE POLISH LEGION OF AMERICAN
VETERANS
______
HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 75th anniversary
of the Polish Legion of American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary, Abraham
Lincoln Post Thirteen, and to celebrate the commitment of this
dedicated group of patriotic women to charity for our veterans and
Nation.
The Abraham Lincoln Post Thirteen is the oldest chapter in the State
of Ohio, and has maintained their dedication to honoring and supporting
veterans throughout the years. The group ensures that American veterans
receive the benefits and support they deserve for representing our
great Nation. The women welcome new veterans from current wars, as well
as bring much needed light into the lives of senior veterans. These
women make regular visits to veteran's wards of a local hospital to
take the Nation's former defenders to breakfast and religious services.
In recent years, the Ladies Auxiliary's great work has raised enough
money to dedicate a stone in the Western Reserve National Cemetery.
This stone is a noble commemorative monument to the deceased veterans
of the Polish Legion of American Veterans, as well as the women of the
Ladies' Auxiliary who have loyally supported all the servicemen and
women of the United States Armed Services.
My fellow colleagues, please join me in recognizing the wonderful
work and dedication of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Polish Legion of
American Veterans on this momentous anniversary. The chapter members
are proud of their Polish heritage, culture, and we share in their 75
years of accomplishments. I am confident that the Polish Legion of
American Veterans Ladies Auxiliary will continue their commitment to
work for the veterans and country well in to the years to come.
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF NIKA MAPLES THE 2007 TEXAS SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE
YEAR
______
HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Nika Maples
for being recognized as the 2007 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year.
She is an English teacher at Fossil Ridge High School in the Keller
Independent School District in Fort Worth, Texas.
After suffering a stroke at the young age of 20, Nika has dedicated
her life to making a difference in the lives of others. She began by
teaching illiterate adults how to read and write. Nika has volunteered
abroad in Japan, Thailand, and Germany to teach English as a Second
Language.
As a 10th grade English teacher, Nika gives her students the
confidence to reach their fullest potential. Her unique life
experiences have encouraged an enthusiasm for teaching, and reaffirmed
her commitment to make learning come alive in the classroom. Nika
demonstrates how students should embrace life and live a life of
abundance every day. She was also honored as the Keller I.S.D.
Secondary Teacher of the Year for the 2005-2006 school year.
Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent such a dedicated and
passionate teacher in the 26th District of Texas. Nika Maples serves as
a role model not only for her students, but for all teachers around the
Nation who share her devotion to helping others.
____________________
HONORING MR. JERRY TIDWELL OF GRANBURY, TEXAS FOR HIS ELECTION AS
PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION
______
HON. CHET EDWARDS
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor Mr.
Jerry Tidwell of Granbury, Texas for his recent election as president
of the National Newspaper Association (NNA).
Whether it is serving as the publisher of the Hood County News or
president of NNA, Mr. Tidwell's 36 years of dedicated service to the
newspaper business and the local community are proof of the positive
impact one person can have on others.
As a humble man whose actions speak louder than words, Jerry Tidwell
is the kind of person that sets an inspiring example for us all to
follow. He doesn't enjoy the attention much, but let me add my voice to
the chorus of those who respect his steady leadership. Put simply,
Jerry Tidwell is the very best Texas has to offer and it is an honor to
represent him in Congress.
Mr. Speaker, we need more leaders like Jerry Tidwell in our midst
that truly make a difference in their community, state, and country. At
this time, I ask Members to join me in offering our heartfelt
appreciation and best wishes for continued success to a great
newspaperman and friend--Mr. Jerry Tidwell of Granbury, Texas.
We wish him well and hope that he can enjoy this time with fellow
colleagues, family, and friends.
He has earned it.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. JULIA CARSON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, due to a flight delay, I was unable to
record my rollcall votes
[[Page 22012]]
517 through 519. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on 517
and 518 and ``no'' on 519.
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF HONDA MANUFACTURING OF ALABAMA
IN LINCOLN, ALABAMA
______
HON. MIKE ROGERS
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask the attention
of the House today to pay recognition to the hard working people of
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln, Alabama, who are celebrating
the fifth anniversary of the opening of their Lincoln plant on November
14, 2006.
In 2001, the Honda Motor Company chose Lincoln as the site of their
new plant. Over the past five years Honda Manufacturing of Alabama has
grown from an original capital investment of $400 million and
employment of 2,000 associates to the current 4,500 associates and over
$1.2 billion in capital investment today.
Honda has helped transform Talladega County's economy, as well bring
a positive impact on local school and community philanthropic
activities.
As further testament to the hard working Alabamians employed at
Honda, on November 3rd the plant produced its millionth vehicle. The
celebration of that milestone included a small ceremony at the plant
involving associates to mark the special occasion.
I salute the people of Honda Manufacturing of Alabama for reaching
these important milestones, and congratulate the entire company on
their plant's fifth anniversary.
____________________
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW CITY OF MILTON, GEORGIA
______
HON. TOM PRICE
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to take this
opportunity to congratulate the mayor, city council and citizens of the
newly created city of Milton in Georgia. In accordance with a bill
passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed by Governor Sonny
Perdue, the community of Milton will be officially incorporated as a
city in December 2006.
What a wonderful and gratifying time this is for the people of
Milton. They worked tirelessly to make this day a reality and have
chosen to honor Mr. Joe Lockwood as the first mayor of their new city.
Milton is a pastoral, involved and respectful community. They have
seized the opportunity to have a direct impact on their future. This
achievement also comes with many new responsibilities. I am confident
that the citizens will successfully embrace these new challenges. It is
my honor to represent this new Georgia municipality.
Mr. Speaker, thank you for the privilege of bringing the recognition
of this House of Representatives as we congratulate the people of
Milton, Georgia and wish them the very best during this exciting
transition.
____________________
THE AMISH SCHOOL SHOOTING OF THE LITTLE GIRLS
______
HON. TED POE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, in the 16th Century, during the period of
religious reformation in Europe, the Mennonite faith was formed. Due to
problems within the religion, a man named Jacob Amman separated
himself, and a group of followers, from the Mennonite faith and
established the Amish. Facing religious persecution for their beliefs,
the Amish fled Europe in the 18th Century. They came to settle in
America, primarily in the rich farmlands of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and
Indiana.
During the last 300 years, the Amish have maintained a peaceful
existence among these farmlands, holding steadfast onto their beliefs
of old, and not conforming to modem-day society. They live a simplistic
life without the everyday modern conveniences we have all become
accustom to. They do not use electricity, telephones, computers, or
television, and they do not own automobiles. The Amish are governed by
a set of unwritten rules known as the ``Ordnung.'' These rules
establish the protocol and acceptable behavior for an Amish community
and vary in each community. For example, the Ordnung in a particular
community may forbid ever deviating from conservative, dark, heavy
forms of clothes, even during the summer months, whereas other
communities Ordnungs may relax the dress code during the summer heat.
In general, the Amish avoid anything that would be considered
``hochmut,'' meaning proud or arrogant, and choose to live their lives
in ``demut,'' humility, and ``gelassenheit,'' submission.
The most important part of an Amish community is the family. Each
family has an average of seven children. While it is considered ``God's
Will'' to how many children one family will have, it is also vital that
there be enough children to help run the family farm. Amish children
attend school, usually in a one-room school house run by the Amish
community. Most Amish children do not receive anything higher than an
8th grade education. The belief is that the education level is
sufficient enough to adapt the children into their future adult Amish
life.
Amish communities, although surrounded by modern society, are
generally untouched by violence plaguing today's world. They do not
read newspapers, which depict the crimes of modern society. They do not
own televisions, which run continual news coverage of random acts of
violence occurring throughout modern society. Their lives could be
deemed innocent and idealistic, sheltered to the evils of society.
All that changed on Monday, October 2, 2006. On this warm, sunny,
fall Pennsylvania day, Charles Carl Roberts IV came home from his night
shift as a milk delivery man, walked his children to school, and kissed
them goodbye. He went home and wrote four notes: one to his wife and
one to each of his three children. Arming himself with a handgun, a
shotgun, a rifle, and more than 600 rounds of ammunition, Roberts drove
to the quiet Amish community of Nickel Mines.
Mr. Speaker, Roberts, with malice aforethought, and a heart fatally
bent on mischief, calmly walked into that one room Amish schoolhouse
and took it, and the children, hostage. Roberts ordered all of the
Amish boys and the adults from the room. He then tied up 10 little
girls, as they stood against the chalkboard. For the next hour, these
little girls were trapped with this sadistic monster, who had vile
intentions for their innocence.
It is unclear what triggered Roberts to start shooting after the
initial hour. Perhaps it was the police presence, perhaps he was
haunted by past sins, or perhaps he was just evil. Regardless of his
reason, Roberts opened fire on these 10 little girls, at point blank
range, before turning the gun on himself. When the smoke had cleared,
Anna Mae Stoltzfus, Marian Fisher, Naomi Rose Ebersol, and sisters,
Mary Liz and Lena Miller, had not survived Roberts' violent rampage.
Young girls--young victims.
Anna Mae, Marian, Naomi Rose, Mary Liz, and Lena had their whole
lives ahead of them. Lives full of love, family, and new beginnings as
they matured into adulthood. Lives that were brutally, viciously, and
tragically cut short by Charles Carl Roberts IV, a man too coward to
take just his own life, so he took 5 little girls with him. The Good
Book says that it is better for a person to be thrown into the sea than
to harm a child.
In the days that followed Roberts' violent rampage, questions
immediately arose to why a hard working husband and father would commit
such a crime against the innocent. In a note written to his wife
moments before he entered the school, Roberts stated several reasons
for the school siege: his anger at God for the death of his infant
daughter in 1997, his haunted memories of molesting two child female
relatives 20 years previously, and his thoughts of molesting children
again. So to quell that anger and the demons within, he took his life.
Too bad he took the lives of little girls as well.
The devastation which befell the Amish community of Nickel Mines,
Pennsylvania could have destroyed a community unaccustomed to such
violence. Yet, the Amish were determined to overcome this unimaginable
tragedy. In acts of tremendous kindness, generosity, and forgiveness,
the Amish community not only tended to the families of the slain little
girls, but to the killer's family as well. Within hours of the attack,
members of the Amish community spoke out about the killings, stating
that in the midst of this tragedy, they forgave Roberts. They also
visited his wife and children to offer comfort and aid. Perhaps, in an
even greater act of mercy, the Amish asked that a portion of the funds
collected for the families of these girls, be donated to the Roberts
family. Mr. Speaker, it is true generosity and mercy to comfort and
care for the family of the evil who brutally murdered five children in
your community.
[[Page 22013]]
Sadly, the tragedy which occurred in a little Amish schoolhouse in
Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania is not isolated. Barely a week before, in
September, an armed gunman took six female students hostage in Platte
Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado. During those horrific hours
held prisoner inside a classroom, Duane Morrison subjected the girls to
brutal sexual assaults. As police proceeded to enter the classroom,
Morrison executed a 16 year old student and then the criminal took his
own life. The Nickel Mines tragedy 5 days later was eerily reminiscent
of the devastation which took place at Platte Canyon High School. The
Platte Canyon tragedy was reminiscent of the Columbine Massacre, which
had taken place in Colorado 7 years earlier.
As a father of 4, 3 of whom are girls, and a grandfather of 5, 3 of
whom are girls as well, the death of a child is a parent's worst fear.
No parent should experience such a heartbreaking loss. The worse thing
that can happen to a parent is to lose a child before their time. It is
the worse thing that can happen to a community; and it is the worse
thing that can happen to a nation.
These school tragedies reinforce the need for adequate school safety
and security throughout this country. A school no longer exists as a
safe haven for children, but rather has become a violent battleground
that demands our intercession. A school is an environment of learning
and enrichment, not fear and brutality. We must strive to do everything
within our ability to ensure the safety and well-being of our most
precious commodity--our children. We need to strive to protect schools
from outside intruders and inside rampages. School safety must be a
priority--without it, children have very little places left to feel
safe.
That's Just the Way It Is.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA 10TH ANNIVERSARY
______
HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN
of massachusetts
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the 10th
anniversary of the Essex National Heritage Area and to congratulate the
Essex National Heritage Commission on their outstanding work.
I can still remember when Tom Leonard came down to Congress in
September of 1995 to testify in support of legislation that Senator
Kennedy and I had filed to create the Essex National Heritage Area.
One of the most poignant moments in Tom's testimony was when he laid
out his vision for a true public private partnership to preserve the
rich history of Essex County.
During his testimony Tom said, ``Let me stress this point about
cooperation. The legislation that is before you today anticipates a
true partnership between the private and public sectors. We are not
seeking federal handouts and controls.''
During the last 10 years that vision has ensured that the historical
treasures in Essex County will survive for future generations.
As you all know, over two-thirds of the money used for the Essex
National Heritage Commission's work is from private sources.
The Congress also plays a significant role in the important work of
the ENHC, providing over $8.6 million in funding to date.
Over the last 7 years, ENHC has provided over $1.3 million for 195
projects in 33 communities in Essex County.
In my district, the ENHC has made a number of grants to Lawrence,
Haverhill, Andover, and Methuen to preserve and educate residents about
our rich history.
ENHC also organizes and funds a number of other programs including
their groundbreaking History in the Making program and Essex Heritage
Explorers.
Today, as we celebrate the accomplishments of the ENHC, we must also
plan for the future.
In Congress, we have filed legislation to extend the authorization
and increase the cap on the amount of federal money the Essex National
Heritage Area can receive.
This legislation is crucial for ENHC to be able to continue the
important preservation and educational work they do.
I would like to congratulate the staff and volunteers of the Essex
National Heritage Commission on 10 years of outstanding work and thank
them for preserving our national heritage.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO MRS. MAGGIE KATIE BROWN KIDD
______
HON. DAVID SCOTT
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an
important milestone in the life of my constituent Mrs. Maggie Katie
Brown Kidd. On December 8, 2006, Mrs. Kidd will celebrate her 102nd
birthday. Many family members and friends will recognize this momentous
occasion with a party on November 24, 2006.
Maggie Brown was the eleventh and youngest child born to William
(Doc) and Lucy Brown. At an early age, Maggie learned the values of
hard work and success as a laborer on her parents' farm, and continued
in that tradition as an adult. She married Willie (Dock) Kidd, III on
November 30, 1940, and raised two children, John and Rosalyn. Mrs.
Brown is also a grandmother to four, and a great-grandmother to three
children.
Mrs. Kidd believes her faith in God has contributed to her good
health and longevity. Her family describes her as a loving and selfless
member of the community. When she had little to offer, Mrs. Kidd shared
anyway. She is a principled and honorable woman, and I am proud to
represent her in the 13th Congressional District of Georgia.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in
recognizing the life of Mrs. Maggie Katie Brown Kidd, by wishing her a
very happy 102nd birthday.
____________________
CARROLL A. CAMPBELL, JR. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE
______
HON. BOB INGLIS
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. INGLIS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the
life of Carroll Campbell, a great statesman, a passionate voice for
economic development in South Carolina, and a good friend. He served
the 4th District of South Carolina as a Representative in this body
from 1979-1986, and I am honored to serve in the same seat. He also
served the state of South Carolina in the State House and Senate, and
as Governor from 1987-1995, I am honored to have the opportunity to
introduce this bill to name the courthouse to be constructed in
Greenville, South Carolina as the ``Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. United
States Courthouse.''
As a Representative for the 4th District of South Carolina, Campbell
was a rising star from the start, gaining early seats on the
Appropriations and Ways & Means Committees in the 95th to 99th
Congresses. He also participated with Lee Atwater in South Carolina's
first presidential primary, helping California Governor Ronald Reagan
ultimately win the nomination.
As two-term governor, Campbell demonstrated his leadership in
difficult and uncertain times for the State of South Carolina, He was a
trusted voice in the evacuation preceding Hurricane Hugo, and a self-
giving leader in the recovery and rebuilding in its aftermath. He is
also responsible for attracting prestigious international firms to
South Carolina, including BMW, which is in the 4th District.
In 2001, Campbell announced in an open letter that he had been
diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and said his wife Iris and his two
sons had joined in the battle. The people of South Carolina were
saddened, and joined in prayer for his health and perseverance. The
disease claimed his life December 7, 2005.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring the life of Carroll A.
Campbell, Jr. by naming the courthouse to be constructed in Greenville,
South Carolina as the ``Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. United States
Courthouse.''
____________________
INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTION URGING BANGLADESHI GOVERNMENT TO DROP
JOURNALIST'S SEDITION CHARGES
______
HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution with
Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) calling ``on the Government of
Bangladesh to drop sedition charges pending against Bangladeshi
journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. We introduce this resolution
today to coincide with beginning of Mr. Choudhury's sedition trial. Mr.
Choudhury faces these charges because of his belief in
[[Page 22014]]
an interfaith dialogue between Jews and Muslims and articles he
published critical of Islamic extremism. Under Bangladeshi law,
sedition is a crime punishable by death.
Mr. Choudhury is a journalist in Bangladesh known for his views on
expanding dialogue between Muslims and Jews, developing ties with
Israel, and criticizing the rise of Islamist parties in Bangladesh. Mr.
Choudhury was detained in November 2003 at Zia International Airport in
Dhaka, Bangladesh, on his way to board a flight bound for Tel Aviv,
Israel, to participate in the annual Hebrew Writers Conference. Mr.
Choudhury's passport was seized, along with considerable sums of money
and several personal items. On that same day, police raided his home
and newspaper, seizing files, computers, and other valuables.
Since Bangladeshi law prohibits travel to Israel, Mr. Choudhury was
first cited for a minor passport violation. He subsequently was charged
with sedition, accused of espionage as an Israeli spy, and incarcerated
for 17 months. He was subjected to harsh interrogation techniques, and
received no treatment for a debilitating case of glaucoma.
Despite public pledges from senior Bangladeshi government officials
that all pending legal action against Mr. Choudhury would be dropped,
the government pressed forward on its prosecution of Choudhury for
sedition. Mr. Choudhury won PEN USA's ``Freedom to Write Award,'' and
was presented with the American Jewish Committee's prestigious ``Moral
Courage Award'' in absentia in Washington DC. Mr. Choudhury's newspaper
offices were bombed by Islamic extremists in July, and he was attacked
by a mob in his office on October 5. Then a judge with alleged ties to
an Islamic extremist group ruled that Mr. Choudhury must stand trial
for sedition.
For his message of moderation and interfaith dialogue, Shoaib
Choudhury is facing unjust criminal charges in an effort to silence
him. Congress must send a clear message: we cannot allow moderate
voices in the Muslim world to be silenced.
The resolution I introduce today calls on the Government of
Bangladesh to drop all charges against Shoaib Choudhury, return his
passport and possessions, and end his harassment I want to thank
Congresswoman Nita Lowey for being the lead co-sponsor of this
legislation. I look forward to working with her and my other colleagues
on this important human rights initiative.
____________________
A TRIBUTE TO ED BONNETTE
______
HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS
of new jersey
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ed Bonnette, a man
who was ``instrumental in lowering the national voting age to 18.
Ed served as the New Jersey Chair for the Let US Vote 18 (LUV 18)
Committee at the age of 20. His efforts, combined with the efforts of
LUV 18 members in 10 other states, made it possible for the 26th
Amendment to the Constitution to be ratified in 1971.
The Let US Vote 18 Committee had placed referendums on New Jersey
ballots throughout the 1960s, without success. In 1970, members of this
group took their case before the Supreme Court. The Court agreed that
the voting age must be lowered for Federal elections to comply with the
Voting Rights Act of 1965. States soon realized it would be impractical
to have separate voting systems for Federal and State elections, and
subsequently moved to change the law. The 26th Amendment was the
fastest yet to be certified, with Ohio's ratification making it
official. In July of 1971, less than 100 days after the process began,
President Richard M. Nixon officially signed the 26th Amendment into
law, officially lowering the voting age to 18.
Mr. Speaker, I commend Ed Bonnette today for all that he has done for
the First Congressional District of New Jersey and our country. Ed's
service is worthy of admiration, and I applaud him for his efforts.
____________________
HONORING SOFIA GUZMAN GARCIA
______
HON. SILVESTRE REYES
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Sofia Guzman Garcia of
my hometown of Canutillo, TX, who passed away July 29, 2006, on her
74th birthday.
Sofia Guzman Garcia was born on July 29, 1932, and was a 1950
graduate of El Paso High School. Later, she worked for the Borderland
Farmers Cooperative Association for two decades. She was also a
dedicated volunteer for numerous community causes and a tireless
campaigner for her husband and sons as they sought elected office.
Mrs. Garcia worked on behalf of the people of Canutillo throughout
her life, playing a pivotal role in strengthening the Canutillo
Independent School District, local churches, and other community
institutions.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating the
life of a great woman, Sofia Guzman Garcia.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO THE ENERGY AND MINERALS FIELD INSTITUTE
______
HON. MARK UDALL
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to
the Energy and Minerals Field Institute (EMFI), an organization
affiliated with the Colorado School of Mines that provides policy
makers, elected officials and their staff with direct and in-depth
information about energy resources and production in the western United
States.
A number of staff in my office have had the opportunity to
participate in the informative field tours the EMFI provides. Through
the EMFI, they and the many other participants from state and federal
agencies, Congressional committees, Native American Tribes, and other
offices have had the chance to travel to locations where energy,
resources, and minerals are developed, extracted and produced. On such
trips, participants have descended into active molybdenum, gold and
coal mines, watched oil and gas drill rigs in action, explored wind
turbine technological development at the National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, and witnessed new water projects under construction. The
information acquired through direct contact with these activities has
greatly enhanced my staff's knowledge of resource development, as well
as their understanding of the positive and negative impacts these
resources can have on local communities and the nation as a whole.
The professional and knowledgeable staff, including Director Gary
Baughman, Tom Sladek, Jim Proud, and other consultants and support
personnel, put together outstanding programs and tours year after year.
As an added plus, participants are also provided extensive roadside
geologic tutorials by Mr. John Rold, former Colorado State Geologist
and Director of the Colorado Geologic Survey; educating program
participants on everything from rockslides and fractures to the energy
industry and anecdotes about life in general.
The Energy and Minerals Field Institute was established in 1978 as
the ``Energy Field Institute'' to create a forum for exploring
interactions between regional energy development in the West and
federal policies. ``Western Energy: Opportunities, Problems, and Policy
Issues'' was the first field program, cosponsored by the Colorado
School of Mines and Resources for the Future. Participants consisted of
federal officials from Colorado.
In 1980, a new July program was added, directed toward
representatives of the regional and national media. With the inclusion
of non-fuel minerals in 1981, the EMFI was renamed to its present
title. In 1985, participation in the July program was expanded to
include secondary level teachers, business leaders, government
personnel, and staff and students from the Colorado School of Mines.
This diversity of disciplines and professions created an exciting
educational atmosphere in which many perspectives on the various issues
were represented.
With the continued success of the traditional ``Government Program''
in August and the growth of the ``Interdisciplinary Program'' in July,
it was decided in 1985 to make the itineraries of both trips identical.
This approach provided similar educational opportunities for all
participants and made logistical planning more efficient.
In addition to the summer field sessions, the EMFI also conducted an
annual Washington Workshop. This conference was designed to familiarize
EMFI alumni and invited guests with topical issues related to Western
resource development. The EMFI also published a newsletter entitled
``Field Notes'' twice each year to keep its alumni and supporters
informed of recent events.
However, due to funding difficulties in 1996, the EMFI was forced to
discontinue its major summer field programs, the Washington Workshop,
and ``Field Notes.'' It continued to conduct customized field programs
for corporate clients, specific government organizations, and
delegations from other countries.
[[Page 22015]]
In 2003, the Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation
(OEMC) provided funding to reactivate the Colorado Energy Research
Institute (CERI), which is administered by the Colorado School of
Mines. With funding from CERI, and with in-kind contributions from the
Colorado School of Mines, sufficient funding was provided to
reestablish the EMFI Field Program.
The small but steady source of grant dollars from CERI and the
Colorado School of Mines, as well as additional financial support from
federal agencies, have allowed the EMFI to conduct a single Field
Program each summer. It is hoped that the successful conduct of these
field programs, coupled with the creation of additional EMFI alumni,
will generate sufficient interest and financial support to enable the
EMFI to recreate all of its previous outreach programs and become
financially independent.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the work of the Energy
and Minerals Field Institute. The practical knowledge and invaluable
experiences gained by program participants will undoubtedly help shape
important energy, natural resource, and environmental policy for years
to come.
____________________
HONORING THE H. LEE MOFFITT CANCER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
______
HON. C.W. BILL YOUNG
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the H. Lee
Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute as it marks its 20th
anniversary of work to treat patients with cancer and to conduct
cutting edge research into the causes and cures of this terrible
disease.
The Center was established through the vision and tireless work of H.
Lee Moffitt, then a member of the Florida House of Representatives. As
a cancer survivor himself, he recognized the unmet need for cancer
treatment and research in the Tampa Bay area and the entire state of
Florida. Five years of hard work by Lee Moffitt to secure the funding
for the center led to its groundbreaking in 1983 and the first patient
walked through its doors three-and-a-half years later. That patient,
David Sheppard, is alive today as a result of the care he received at
Moffitt in October 1986.
Today, a staff of more than 3,400 people continues to save lives
every day and supports research that one day will unlock the mystery of
this disease. They are led by Dr. William S. Dalton, the CEO and Center
Director, and Dr. W. Jack Pledger, the Deputy Center Director, who
oversee a world class team that collaborates on research projects with
facilities all across the world. They receive invaluable support from
the Board of Directors and its Chairman Senator Connie Mack and the
Board of Advisors and its Chairman Sam Donaldson.
Moffitt's stated mission is ``To be the leader in scientific
discovery and translation into compassionate care, cures, and
prevention of cancer for our community and the world.'' The center does
that by offering 14 patient care programs in a facility designated a
prestigious Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer
Institute.
The center, now almost five times the size of the original facility,
also houses state-of-the-art labs that allow researchers to delve into
the science of cancer, right down to the genomic level. As a result,
the doctors and staff are learning to treat cancer on a patient-by-
patient basis by determining the best course of treatment for each
patient based on their genetic makeup.
The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute is not only a
superb medical resource for the community I represent, but it is truly
a national and international asset in our ongoing war on cancer.
Following my remarks, I would like to include for the benefit of my
colleagues, a recent column by Ernest Hooper of The St. Petersburg
Times which talks about the early days at Moffitt and the life-changing
experience of its first patient David Sheppard.
Mr. Speaker, The Moffitt Cancer Center is an outstanding example of a
public and private partnership that serves all of mankind. Its staff
battles cancer and saves lives every day and for that thousands of
cancer survivors are eternally grateful. Thousands if not millions more
will one day also benefit from the ongoing research activities there as
they identify new cures and one day preventative medicine that will
fight the scourge of cancer.
[From the St. Petersburg Times, Oct. 30, 2006]
20 Good Years of Moffitt
(By Ernest Hooper)
The restless night is still fresh in David Sheppard's mind.
The difficulties of his rare bone marrow blood disease grew
more intense. His doctors had scheduled him for admission to
the hospital that afternoon, but because he became more ill
overnight, they told him to rush over that morning.
They didn't send him to just any hospital, however. They
sent him to a bright, new treatment facility. It seemed more
like a mall, Sheppard said. It didn't have any antiseptic,
medicinal odors.
``It was this big, beautiful place,'' Sheppard recalled
Friday. ``It was nice to have this nice, new facility.''
That's how Sheppard, husband, father and Wharton High
assistant principal, became the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
& Research Institute's first patient on Oct. 27, 1986.
Sheppard and Julie Y. Djeu, Moffitt's first researcher,
were scheduled to join employees in a 20th anniversary
celebration Saturday night at Saddlebrook Resort. The
center's first physician, Dr. Richard Karl, was not able to
attend, but recognizing some of the center's firsts was a
neat way to commemorate the anniversary.
For Sheppard, it was an opportunity to show his
appreciation. He raves about the helpful and kind Moffitt
staff.
``I'm very grateful that they were there 20 years, ago,''
he said. ``A lot of people have received good treatment
there. I was just the first one to walk through the door.''
Sheppard, who graduated from King High, told Moffitt
officials he ``wouldn't be here today without the lifesaving
care I got that very first day.'' He actually continued to
get treatment from a Moffitt oncologist and hematologist
after that first visit.
In a sense, he gives back as a 13-year school district
veteran.
Sheppard is pleased to help shepherd the lives of our young
people. Over the years, he's even dealt with some students
who were facing their own battles with cancer. Sheppard said
he doesn't necessarily offer any specific counsel or share
his story, but he certainly listens with a sympathetic ear.
``I had done some tutoring and I just decided to stick with
it,'' Sheppard said. ``I also was looking at options for
careers that I might be able to handle because of my disease.
I couldn't consider being a Navy pilot or a firefighter.''
Maybe he didn't turn into a Top Gun fighter, but Sheppard
still is flying high. After all, if it wasn't for Moffitt, he
might not be celebrating turning 37 today.
Happy Birthday, David Sheppard. Happy Birthday, Moffitt.
That's all I'm saying.
____________________
IN MEMORY OF MAYOR J. PALMER GAILLARD, JR.
______
HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, former mayor of
Charleston, J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr., died July 28, 2006, leaving a
legacy of public service that will always be cherished. He served as
mayor of South Carolina's most historic city from 1959 to 1975.
He was married to the former Lucy Foster Gaillard of Charleston for
57 years, who preceded him in death on October 6, 2001. Surviving are
three sons, J Palmer Gaillard III and his wife Henrietta Freedman
Gaillard, W. Foster Gaillard and his wife Susan Street Gaillard, and
Thomas H. Gaillard, all of Charleston, SC; 5 grandchildren, John P.
Gaillard IV, M.D. and his wife Lori, Emmie Gaillard Hershey and her
husband Clay, Mary Loize Gaillard, Susan Huguenin Gaillard and W.
Foster Gaillard, Jr.; and 3 great grandchildren, Clay W. Hershey, Jr.,
Thomas Gaillard Hershey, and Alston M. Gaillard.
The following op-ed was published in tribute in The Post and Courier,
August 3, 2006. The author is prominent Charleston attorney and author,
Robert N. Rosen. We share the same experience in that Mayor Gaillard's
race was my first participation in politics at the behest of my mother,
Wray G. Wilson, who had me deliver precinct voter call lists on
election day for the mayor when I was 12 years old.
``We Need a Change'': J. Palmer Gaillard's Legacy for Charleston
(By Robert Rosen)
My earliest recollection of participating in politics is
the Gaillard-Morrison race for mayor of Charleston. I was 12
years old. At the behest of my father, Morris D. Rosen, I
handed out a piece of paper (it would be an exaggeration to
call it ``campaign literature'') called a ``ticket'' with a
big headline that read ``We Need a Change'' and a picture of
the ballot led by the young, dynamic reform candidate, J.
Palmer Gaillard, Jr. It was 1959. Gaillard campaigned, like
all opponents of incumbents, for ``change.''
After his election, Gaillard, as mayor, was a blend of
hard-headed, no-nonsense conservatism (he was a notorious
penny-pincher
[[Page 22016]]
when it came to the city budget) and flexible pragmatism. He
realized in the early 1960s that the old peninsula city of
Charleston which ended at Mount Pleasant Street and the edges
of the Ashley and Cooper rivers could not remain economically
viable, and he aggressively pursued annexation of the West
Ashley district to the city.
Mayor Gaillard made many other important contributions to
the city of Charleston, but none compare to his leadership in
the transition from an era of segregation and Jim Crow to
integration and racial equality.
When he became mayor, Charleston was a segregated city with
all that implies--segregated restaurants, schools, buses and
public restrooms. Gaillard's views on the issues were
conventional. Segregation was then the Southern way of life.
He reflected the opinions and beliefs of his friends,
neighbors and supporters.
But when the Civil Rights movement came to Charleston in
the 1960s--the sit-down movement at King Street lunch
counters, Civil Rights marches, demonstrations (peaceful and
not so peaceful), and the Medical University Hospital
strike--Palmer Gaillard guided the city through various
crises over 15 years with a steady and fair hand.
He believed, first and foremost, in the rule of law. He did
not wink at violence or intimidation. When told that the
federal courts would order the integration of city
facilities--the first municipal facilities in South
Carolina--the only question he asked his lawyers (among them,
my father) was, ``What is the law?'' He immediately
instructed his lawyers to obey the law, which meant
acquiescence in integration, something the majority of white
Charlestonians adamantly opposed.
``The Charleston hospital strike of 1969 made national
headlines. Black hospital workers marched and agitated to
protest racial discrimination and poor working conditions at
the Medical University. Coretta Scott King, Andrew Young and
Ralph Abernathy all came to Charleston. The National Guard
was called out to maintain the peace. ``The strike of
hospital workers in Charleston, S.C., has become the
country's tensest civil rights struggle,'' The New York Times
editorialized in the first of three editorials on the
subject. Ralph Abernathy later wrote of his stay in the
Charleston jails, ``I remembered the Birmingham jail and
considered myself fortunate.''
Palmer Gaillard and his Police Chief John Conroy (dubbed
``Mr. Cool'' by the local press) kept the peace and allowed
the protestors to protest, which was their right. The crisis
passed. The strike was resolved. The peace was preserved. No
one was killed. No Southern demagogues stood in doorways or
made fools of themselves on national television like George
Wallace in Alabama or Lester Maddox in Georgia.
Gaillard was the quintessential Charleston conservative.
But he was a leader. He appointed Richard E. Fields the first
black judge in South Carolina since Reconstruction to the
Charleston Municipal Court. On Palmer Gaillard's watch,
segregation peacefully gave way to integration in the most
Southern of cities, where both secession and the Civil War
began.
When Palmer Gaillard campaigned on the theme ``We Need a
Change,'' he certainly did not mean a revolution in Southern
racial mores, laws and customs. But those who correctly
demanded change found in him the right man to preside over
that historic change: an honest, forthright, law abiding,
hard-headed Huguenot, and one of the great mayors of the city
of Charleston.
____________________
SECTION 1036(C) OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, H.R. 5122
______
HON. VIC SNYDER
of arkansas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, press statements by the chairman imply that
section 1036(C) accomplishes something for veterans with disabilities,
but this one-sentence provision says nothing about veterans. Even
though the Paralyzed Veterans of America did a visit to the island and
concluded Santa Rosa Island is not appropriate for hunting for people
with disabilities, the provision stayed in the defense bill. No
language in section 1036(C) does anything to offset the high fees
associated with individuals hunting this privately owned herd. No
language in section 1036(C) affects the responsibilities of the owner
of the deer and elk to have them removed by the timelines set forth in
the court settlements.
This provision should not have been inserted in this bill, but it is
clear from the plain language of this one sentence that it only impacts
one alternative method for removal of the herds, not the 2011 deadline
for removal of all the deer and elk.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ
of illinois
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent from this
Chamber yesterday, November 13, 2006. I would like the Record to show
that, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes
517 and 518 and ``no'' on rollcall vote 519.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. RANDY NEUGEBAUER
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am recorded as ``not voting'' on
rollcall vote 519 on November 13, 2006. However, I intended to vote
``aye'' and believed I had done so during the rollcall vote. I support
H.R. 5602 and the extension of Normal Trade Relations Treatment to the
products of Vietnam.
____________________
A TRIBUTE TO T. JEFFREY BANGSBERG
______
HON. JIM RAMSTAD
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend and a
true Minnesota hero, Jeffrey Bangsberg.
Jeff will be retiring from full-time work this month, and it is
fitting that we recognize the accomplishments this great Minnesotan has
achieved and the perseverance and courage he has shown in the face of
extraordinary challenges.
Jeff suffered a spinal cord injury 30 years ago. While this injury
left him in a wheelchair, he never gave up and became a tremendous
advocate for expanding access to health care and other critical
services for people with disabilities and the elderly.
Since 1991, Jeff has brought his insight, passion and experience to a
variety of important issues, including improving Social Security and
the Medicare and Medicaid programs, especially for people living with
disabilities.
I have worked closely with Jeff for 26 years on a wide range of
legislative initiatives in both the Minnesota State Senate and U.S.
House of Representatives. Jeff was instrumental in the creation and
implementation of groundbreaking legislation, including the first
personal care attendant program in Minnesota, Metro Mobility, Medicaid
for Employed Persons with Disabilities, and the Ticket to Work and Work
Incentives Improvement Act.
All of these monumental achievements are the result of Jeff's great
heart and his passion for helping others. Over the years, Minnesota
governors have appointed Jeff to several councils and commissions,
including the Minnesota State Council on Disability, the Minnesota
State Rehabilitation Council, the Minnesota Health Care Commission and
countless advisory committees for the Minnesota Department of Human
Services and the Minnesota Department of Health. He was also a
presidential appointee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
And in addition to all of these important commitments, Jeff also
found time to serve as Government Relations Director for the Minnesota
HomeCare Association. In this capacity, Jeff has effectively promoted
home care services for seniors and people with disabilities at the
local, state and federal levels. Because of his work, countless people
are living independently and with dignity.
Jeff is truly an extraordinary person, not only for his ability to
overcome obstacles, but also in his dedication to knocking down
barriers for others. Jeff understands that we all win when all
Americans are empowered to live up to their full potential.
As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus, I have been
grateful for Jeff's invaluable counsel, expertise and friendship over
the years. While I could spend hours listing the many accomplishments
of this tremendous individual, I can sum it all up by saying Jeff
Bangsberg truly represents the best and the brightest, and I am honored
to call him my friend.
Congratulations, Jeff, on your well-deserved retirement, and best
wishes to you and your wonderful wife, Anita.
[[Page 22017]]
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF DR. WILLIAM M. KELSO
______
HON. JO ANN DAVIS
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and
recognize Dr. William M. Kelso for his distinguished career in
historical archaeology and for his contributions to the historical
record of the United States of America.
From his early professional beginnings as Assistant Field
Archaeologist, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 1964 to his current
position as Director of Archaeology, Association for the Preservation
of Virginia Antiquities (APVA), Jamestown Rediscovery Archaeology
Project, he has consistently demonstrated his earnest desire to further
advance the research and support of archaeology in the Commonwealth of
Virginia and the United States of America. During the 1970s Dr. Kelso
served as Virginia's first state archaeologist and established programs
and innovative methods and techniques that are currently in use. The
broad range of his achievements include his role as Resident
Archaeologist, Monticello home of Thomas Jefferson located in Albemarle
County, Virginia, and later Director of Archaeology, Monticello, Thomas
Jefferson Memorial Foundation, Inc. Further credentials include his
role as Lecturer at the University of Virginia and later Adjunct
Professor of the College of William and Mary.
Perhaps his most notable contribution was when he served, as Director
of Archaeology for the APVA Jamestown Rediscovery project, where his
leadership was instrumental in discovering the remains of the English
1607 James Fort. This historic site is the first permanent English
settlement in British North America and led to the establishment of
English Common law and the first form of representative government in
the New World. The archaeological evidence includes structural remains
as well as accompanying artifacts representing seventeenth century
material culture that documented the location of the fort.
Additionally, he served as Historical Archaeologist for the Virginia
Historic Landmarks Commission and has extensive scholarly publications
to his credit as well, that are widely circulated in academia both
nationally and internationally.
Dr. Kelso has promoted the knowledge and awareness of history and
archaeology among the general public. He deserves national recognition
for his monumental contributions to our nation's history as the 400th
anniversary of the founding of Jamestown approaches in 2007.
Thanks to Dr. Kelso, a more accurate story can now be told regarding
the arrival and ultimate survival of the first English settlers to land
on the soil of Jamestown, Virginia, including the roles of Native
Americans and the later arrival of African Americans. This
extraordinary effort is largely a gift from Dr. William M. Kelso, who
through his dedication, diligence, skill and grit, has illuminated the
truth.
____________________
IN MEMORY OF DON PRUNER
______
HON. ELTON GALLEGLY
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in memory of my friend, Don Pruner,
who died suddenly last week.
Don Pruner is remembered by many for being a shrewd businessman who
brought professional emergency medical services to eastern Ventura
County, California, my home for more than 40 years, and paramedics to
all of Ventura County. I remember as well his love of fishing, his
hearty laugh, and our shared love of antique autos.
I met Don and his wife, Jackie, at a Christmas party in 1969. We've
been friends ever since. Don was an eternal teenager who loved life to
its fullest while exuding the maturity of a loving husband and father
who knew the pulse of the community and how he could fulfill its needs.
Don bought Conejo Ambulance Service in 1963. He expanded the business
by working 24 hours, 7 days a week, and driving a 1958 Pontiac
Ambulance, hiring off-duty firefighters and sheriff's deputies to make
the runs with him. Eventually, the business evolved under Don and
Jackie's guidance into Pruner Health Services.
Don's success as a businessman was matched by his success as a human
being. Don Pruner has countless friends and a wonderful, loving family.
A native Southern Californian, he never strayed from his roots.
Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in remembering Don
Pruner as a health care pioneer in Ventura County, California, as a
good friend, a loving family man, and a lover of life. In addition, I
know they join me in extending our condolences to Jackie and their
three children and all who called Don a friend.
Godspeed, Don.
____________________
IN RECOGNITION OF CORPORAL BRADFORD HOWARD PAYNE
______
HON. MIKE ROGERS
of alabama
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, Corporal Bradford Howard Payne,
24, of Montgomery, Alabama, died on October 6, 2006 in Iraq. Corporal
Payne was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd
Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North
Carolina, and according to initial reports was killed in combat
operations against enemy forces. His survivors include his wife Erin;
and his mother and father Carol and W.H. Payne of Pike Road, Alabama.
Corporal Payne was a loving husband and was on his third deployment
remaining patriotic and wanting to serve his country. Like all
soldiers, he dutifully left behind his family and loved ones to serve
our country overseas.
Words cannot express the sense of sadness we have for his family, and
for the gratitude our country feels for his service. Corporal Payne
died serving not just the United States, but the entire cause of
liberty, on a noble mission to help spread the cause of freedom in Iraq
and liberate an oppressed people from tyrannical rule. He was a true
American.
We will forever hold him closely in our hearts, and remember his
sacrifice and that of his family as a remembrance of his bravery and
willingness to serve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the House's
remembrance on this mournful day.
____________________
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
______
HON. ELTON GALLEGLY
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to make the following
rollcall votes on November 13, 2006:
H.R. 3085, To amend the National Trails System Act to update the
feasibility and suitability study originally prepared for the Trail of
Tears National Historic Trail and provide for the inclusion of new
trail segments, land components, and campgrounds associated with that
trail, and for other purposes (Rollcall Vote 517). On the motion to
suspend the Rules and Agree to Senate Amendment, had I been present, I
would have voted ``aye.''
S. 819, Pactola Reservoir Reallocation Authorization Act (Rollcall
Vote 518). On the motion to suspend the Rules and Pass, had I been
present, I would have voted ``aye.''
H.R. 5602, To Authorize the Extension of Nondiscriminatory Treatment
(Normal Trade Relations Treatment) to the Products of Vietnam (Rollcall
Vote 519). On the motion to suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, had
I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''
____________________
RECOGNIZING THE LOVARC ORGANIZATION
______
HON. LOIS CAPPS
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize LOVARC, an
organization dedicated to helping Americans with disabilities find
employment and live fulfilling lives. LOVARC was established in 1964 as
a non-profit organization with the goal of helping those with
disability. Its dedication to helping those in need is laudable and
should be recognized by the United States Congress.
In 1995, LOVARC was awarded a contract for two dining facilities, the
Breakers and the Beachcomber, at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Since that
time, LOVARC has won the Hennessey Award for the best dining facility
in Space Command seven times. This is an outstanding accomplishment,
and I am proud that they have served the people of the 23rd District
through their work at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
I am pleased to recognize the administrators, volunteers, and
employees of this organization. Their efforts have resulted in the
creation of jobs for many in my district, and for
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that I am grateful. Many Americans with disabilities now enjoy better
lives due to this organization's service. I am proud of their work with
the military and wish them a wonderful future in service to our
community.
____________________
THE AMBASSADORS REVIEW OF THE COUNCIL OF AMERICAN AMBASSADORS
______
HON. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS
of connecticut
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to insert in the Congressional Record
the following statement by Joseph Verner Reed, Under-Secretary-General
of the United Nations
Remarks on United Nations Day's 61st Anniversary Celebration
(Tuesday October 24, 2006)
Today October 24, 2006 the United Nations celebrates its
61st birthday.
born of war
The United Nations was created in large part by the efforts
of the United States. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's
vision and dedication laid the framework. The President even
coined its name.
Former United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull won
the Nobel Peace Prize, mainly for his efforts in building the
institution. President Harry S Truman supported President
Roosevelt's vision with equal devotion, and in 1945, the
vision became a reality.
The United Nations has succeeded most obviously in
preventing the horror of a third world war, encouraging
multinational dialogues and the development of international
law, and providing a forum for governmental and non-
governmental entities.
It is active in peacekeeping, disarmament, economic
development, environmental preservation, education and
disease prevention. United Nations groups like UNICEF, the
World Bank, the World Health Organization and the
International Atomic Energy Agency have produced a long list
of achievements, along with the inevitable stumble now and
then.
It is less commonly known that the United Nations also
handles international labor standards, international aviation
safety provisions, international mail flow issues and
international copyright laws, all of which significantly
benefit Americans.
In the words of former United States Ambassador to the
United Nations and former Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, ``If you have ever traveled on an international
airline or shipping line, or placed a phone call overseas, or
received mail from outside the country, or been thankful for
an accurate weather report--then you have been served
directly or indirectly by one part or another of the United
Nations system.''
more helpful to united states
Many within America view the United Nations with great
suspicion, primarily because they see a significant threat to
U.S. sovereignty.
They would do well to heed the words of former United
States Senator Arthur Vandenberg, a Republican who supported
the formation of the world body: ``Though we cooperate
wholeheartedly with the United Nations for peace and
security, we remain the captains of our own souls.''
The veto power of the United States in the Security Council
alone ensures that the United Nations does not act
arbitrarily to harm U.S. interests. And when looked at
historically, the United Nations has served interests of the
United States far more than it has harmed them.
Among other examples, the United Nations supported the
dispatch of forces to Korea in 1950 and the incursion into
Kuwait to expel Iraqi forces in 1991.
After September 11, 2001, it also moved swiftly to join the
battle against terrorism, supporting the attack on
Afghanistan and passing Resolution 1373, which ``required
nations to interdict arms flows and financial transfers to
suspected terrorist groups, report on terrorists' movements
and update national legislation to fight them.''
When the United Nations speaks in a clear voice, it
represents the greatest source of international legitimacy
possible.
When the Security Council passes a Resolution it is not
only legally binding, but it is widely respected. To solve
global challenges requires a close partnership between the
United States and the United Nations.
As President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, ``With all the
defects . . . the United Nations still represents man's best
organized hope to substitute the conference table for the
battlefield.''
Indeed, to attack the United Nations is to criticize the
conference table. The United Nations is only as effective as
the countries around that table. If we hope to strengthen the
World Organization's effectiveness, the United States must
play a leading role in reform efforts.
It is an honor and privilege to present the message of
Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan to the People of Connecticut.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO E. RONALD DURAND, JR.
______
HON. PETER T. KING
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to
E. Ronald Durand, Jr., a longtime friend and true patriot who passed
away on September 20, 2006.
I first met Ron Durand in the late 1960s when we were both students
at the University of Notre Dame Law School. Ron had entered law school
after serving 6 years in the United States Marine Corps. Rising to the
rank of captain, Ron's service included a tour of duty as a helicopter
pilot in Vietnam, where he was highly decorated and flew many rescue
missions.
During our time together in law school Ron was a true leader--soft-
spoken but strong. He and his wife Liz were close friends to me and my
wife Rosemary and we remained in contact in the years that followed.
During his professional career, Ron achieved much as an entrepreneur
and as an airport executive. He was a true renaissance man.
With all his varied accomplishments, Ron Durand was first and
foremost a true American patriot, exemplified by his heroic service in
Vietnam. Ron's love of country, however, went beyond his military duty.
He truly cared about our country and always maintained an acute and
detailed knowledge, awareness and interest in national and
international matters.
Ron Durand was admired, respected and loved by all who had the
privilege of knowing him. It is fitting and appropriate that he will be
interred at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors on
November 22. No one is more deserving.
May he rest in peace. Go Irish.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JAMES D. ROGERS
______
HON. HENRY CUELLAR
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor COL James D. Rogers
for his outstanding service in the United States Army during the
Vietnam war.
COL James D. Rogers went above the call of duty in his service as
senior advisor to the 11th Vietnamese Ranger Battalion on Operation
``Harvest Moon'' in the Thang Binh District. On December 8, 1965, the
entire battalion came under attack with heavy casualties on the Ranger
side.
The Battalion's executive officer was killed, the command group radio
operator was wounded, and CPT Dzu Thua Nguyen, the commander of the
11th Vietnamese Ranger Battalion, was wounded in both legs. During this
battle is when Colonel Rogers displayed extreme bravery in fighting off
the enemy, tending to the wounded during the withdrawal, and
safeguarding their lives while air support was being called in.
He remained behind, and carried Captain Dzu on his back to safety
over dangerous, cane-filled terrain in which he wounded his foot by
stepping on a punji stake. Despite this injury, he kept on going, and
carried Captain Dzu to the safety of the reserve company where he and
his assistant senior advisor, LT Jan Senecal, worked with the battalion
in repelling further attacks. Six months after that heroic display in
the face of absolute danger, Colonel Rogers was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross for his valor on May 18, 1966.
Mr. Speaker, I am truly honored to have had this time to recognize
the bravery and dedication of COL James D. Rogers to his fellow
soldiers and to the United States of America.
____________________
TRIBUTE TO PAUL DE LA GARZA
______
HON. JIM DAVIS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. DAVIS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Paul de la
Garza, a passionate, dedicated journalist whose stories have sparked
critical changes at Tampa's James A. Haley VA Medical Center and
elsewhere. Paul's passing last month is a tremendous loss to his
colleagues at the St. Petersburg Times and the entire Tampa Bay
community.
Paul's inspiring work ethic developed at an early age. From humble
beginnings in Port Isabel, TX, Paul worked his way through elementary
school, high school and college and
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fought his way into the newsroom. Paul cultivated his love for
journalism at the University of Texas at Austin where he served as
reporter and editor of the student newspaper, earning a job offer in
the Associated Press's Chicago bureau.
Paul first came to the Tampa Bay area in 1992 to work for the St.
Petersburg Times, writing police news stories, a column and helping to
edit the Tampa section. He went on to work at the Chicago Tribune as a
metro reporter, then a foreign correspondent and Mexico City bureau
chief.
The St. Petersburg Times welcomed Paul's return in 2000, and since
then, his breaking news stories have helped to expose problems in
veterans health care services at Haley, as well as shedding light onto
operations at Tampa's MacDill Air Force Base.
Paul's relentless pursuit of sources, his ability to befriend people
from all walks of life, and his passion for revealing the truth, made
him a superb journalist. But Paul will also be remembered for his
compassion for others, his brave battle against Hodgkin's disease, and
his intense love of family.
On behalf of the entire Tampa Bay community, I would like to extend
my deepest sympathies to Paul's family. May his wife and children find
comfort in the many people that Paul inspired and the legacy he leaves
behind.
____________________
HONORING DR. HARVEY FEIGENBAUM
______
HON. DAN BURTON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to
one of Indiana's leading scientist and scholars, Dr. Harvey Feigenbaum,
the recipient of the 2006 Builders of Israel award, which was presented
to him at the annual Indiana-Israel Dinner of State on November 4,
2006.
The Builders of Israel award is given each year to a worthy recipient
or recipients who demonstrate exceptional support of the Israel Bonds
investment program, which helps strengthen Israel's economy, as well as
for the recipient's personal contributions to the enrichment of
American and Jewish life in Indiana and abroad. Since 1951, The State
of Israel Bonds/Development Corporation for Israel has issued
securities in the name of the government of Israel for the development
of every aspect of Israel's economy, including agriculture, commerce
and industry. Over the years Israel Bonds has secured more than $26
million in investment capital, and throughout its history, the State of
Israel has maintained a perfect record of payment of the principal and
interest on the securities it has issued. From humble beginnings,
Israel Bonds have gone from a fledgling idea, to a powerful legacy of
achievement; in the process becoming the financial bedrock upon which
the modern State of Israel is built.
This simple concept of investment in people and communities is also
the bedrock upon which Dr. Harvey Feigenbaum built his life. Born and
raised in Indiana, Dr. Feigenbaum received his Bachelor of Science and
Doctorate of Medicine degrees from Indiana University where he
continued his academic career as a distinguished professor of medicine
at Indiana University's School of Medicine. In addition to authoring or
co-authoring over two-hundred fifty scientific articles during his
career, Dr. Feigenbaum's pioneering work in cardiac ultrasound, or
echocardiography, resulted in the development of ultrasound as a
critical diagnostic tool in the battle against heart disease. Dr.
Feigenbaum continues to push the boundaries of research into
echocardiography, and I understand his most recent research has greatly
aided in the refinement of echocardiogram imaging techniques and the
creation of a hand-held ultrasound system. Dr. Feigenbaum's work with
ultrasound is so well respected by his peers in the scientific
community that if you look at the qualifications of many, if not most,
of the world leaders in echocardiography, you should not be surprised
to see that they were trained directly or indirectly by Dr. Feigenbaum.
Yet even with all the demands of his teaching schedule and his
research, Dr. Feigenbaum has always found time to give back to his
community and his profession, including founding the American Society
of Echocardiography in 1975--which now has more than 6,000 members--and
serving as the organization's first president. Last year, Dr.
Feigenbaum's achievement earned him the American Heart Association's
highest honor, the Distinguished Scientist Award, an award Dr.
Feigenbaum so richly deserved.
Mr. Speaker, Dr. Feigenbaum's conscientious good works as a citizen,
scientist, and scholar represent the best tradition of selfless public
service, civic stewardship and commitment to others and are deserving
of our highest commendation. His service to the people of the United
States, to the people of Israel and to my Hoosier friends and neighbors
has truly helped to make our world a better place, and I ask all of my
colleagues to take a moment and join me now to congratulate and commend
Dr. Harvey Feigenbaum, for receiving the 2006 Builders of Israel award.