[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20605-20610]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Leahy, 
        and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 1556. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
permit facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be 
designated as voter registration agencies, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Veteran Voting 
Support Act of 2009 with Senator Kerry, and our cosponsors: Senators 
Dodd and Leahy.
  This is a straightforward bill that shows our veterans the respect 
that they deserve. Veterans have supported and served our Nation--many 
at great risk and sacrifice. It is unacceptable for us to allow 
barriers to exist that make it more difficult for them to exercise 
their right to vote.
  The bill that Senator Kerry and I are introducing today would require 
the Department of Veterans Affairs to take steps to assist veterans 
with voter registration and to make it easier for them to obtain 
ballots and cast their votes.
  The most recent Census data we have--from a 2005 report--indicates 
that more than 20 percent of our veterans are not registered to vote. 
That means that almost 5 million veterans do not have an opportunity to 
cast their ballots.
  Yet, we have massive VA programs in place that provide veterans with 
healing and medical care, and ensure that they thrive on their return 
from military service.
  In total, there are 1,261 total VA facilities. The Veterans Health 
Administration operates 155 medical centers, 135 nursing homes, 717 
ambulatory care and clinic facilities; 45 residential rehabilitation 
treatment programs, and 209 vet centers.
  In those facilities there are as many as 5 million veterans who are 
not registered to vote. That strikes me as a critical need unmet.
  Even more disturbing, in certain cases, the VA has been hostile to 
calls for it to facilitate voter registration and voting.
  More than 2 years ago, I learned that a Department of Veterans 
Affairs facility in California had been opposing voter registration 
services since 2004. I began inquiring and received conflicting 
answers, but what was clear was that there was no cooperation or work 
to help veterans that used the facility to vote.
  In Connecticut, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz defied the VA's 
directive and tried to gain entry to a West Haven VA facility.
  She intended to provide nonpartisan voter registration services, as 
well as to show veterans how to use the new disabled-access voting 
systems.
  Guess what. She was turned away at the door.
  As she was standing outside the door, she met a 91-year-old 
gentleman, a veteran of World War II. Secretary Bysiewicz asked him if 
he would like to be registered to vote, and he said that he would.
  After registering, he made the comment that ``I wanted to do this 
last year--but there was no-one there to help me.'' That is wholly 
unacceptable.
  Last year, throughout the year, Senator Kerry and I exchanged 
multiple letters with the VA on this issue. We were told that VA 
officials believed providing voting support or allowing groups to do so 
would violate the Hatch Act.
  The Hatch Act, however, prohibits partisan political activities from 
being conducted by Federal employees, on official time. It has not been 
interpreted to include nonpartisan voter registration by the Office of 
Special Counsel, which interprets the Hatch Act. Furthermore, the 
veterans served by VA facilities are generally not Federal employees.
  The VA then argued that nonpartisan voter registration services would 
cause ``disruptions to facility operations.''
  That claim is even more dubious. Unless ``Rock the Vote'' comes to VA 
facilities, voter registration drives are about as tame an activity as 
you can get.
  The law allows the Federal Government to choose to assist people with 
voter registration if the State requests that a federal agency be 
designated as a registration facility under the National Voter 
Registration Act and the agency accepts. Several States, including my 
home State of California, under the leadership of Secretary Bowen, 
asked the VA designate facilities within their States under the 
National Voter Registration Act. But they were refused.
  Finally, after much negotiation, the VA settled on a new and 
substantially improved policy that allows state and local election 
officials, as well as nonpartisan groups, access to VA facilities for 
voter registration as long as they coordinate with the facility. This 
is a significant improvement, no doubt.
  I believe, however, that Federal law is still necessary to ensure 
that these voluntary policies are never rolled back, and that 
enforcement mechanisms are in place.
  This is why we are introducing the Veteran Voting Support Act of 
2009. The bill would require the VA to provide voter registration forms 
whenever veterans enroll in the VA health care system, or change their 
status or address in that system.
  It would say that VA facilities must assist veterans who have trouble 
with their voter registration forms in the same way that they help 
veterans fill out other forms, and it would say that veterans must be 
able to access and receive assistance with absentee ballots at VA 
facilities.
  It would allow nonpartisan groups and election officials to provide 
nonpartisan voter information and registration services to veterans.
  And it would allow Attorney General enforcement through civil suits 
and injunctions and require an annual report to Congress from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs on progress related to this legislation.
  It is a cornerstone of our democracy that every eligible citizen 
should be registered and able to cast their vote.
  This bill recognizes that nonpartisan and civil rights groups have 
long played a critical role in helping people with the voter 
registration process.
  I believe it is time that we ensure that the Department of Veterans 
Affairs will provide veterans with the support they deserve to 
register, cast their vote, and have that vote counted.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the Veteran Voting 
Support Act of 2009.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1556

       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 ``Veteran Voting Support Act 
     of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Veterans have performed a great service to, and risked 
     the greatest sacrifice in the name of, our country, and 
     should be supported by the people and the Government of the 
     United States.
       (2) Veterans are especially qualified to understand issues 
     of war, foreign policy, and government support for veterans, 
     and they should have the opportunity to voice that 
     understanding through voting.
       (3) The Department of Veterans Affairs should assist 
     veterans to register to vote and to vote.

[[Page 20606]]



     SEC. 3. VOTER REGISTRATION AND ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall provide a 
     mail voter registration application form to each veteran--
       (1) who seeks to enroll in the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs health care system (including enrollment in a medical 
     center, a community living center, a community-based 
     outpatient center, or a domiciliary of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs health care system), at the time of such 
     enrollment; and
       (2) who is enrolled in such health care system--
       (A) at any time when there is a change in the enrollment 
     status of the veteran; and
       (B) at any time when there is a change in the address of 
     the veteran.
       (b) Providing Voter Registration Information and 
     Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide to each veteran 
     described in subsection (a) the same degree of information 
     and assistance with voter registration as is provided by the 
     Veterans Administration with regard to the completion of its 
     own forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance.
       (c) Transmittal of Voter Registration Application Forms.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall accept completed voter 
     registration application forms for transmittal to the 
     appropriate State election official.
       (2) Transmittal deadline.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), a completed 
     voter registration application form accepted at a medical 
     center, community living center, community-based outpatient 
     center, or domiciliary of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     shall be transmitted to the appropriate State election 
     official not later than 10 days after the date of acceptance.
       (B) Exception.--If a completed voter registration 
     application form is accepted within 5 days before the last 
     day for registration to vote in an election, the application 
     shall be transmitted to the appropriate State election 
     official not later than 5 days after the date of acceptance.
       (d) Requirements of Voter Registration Information and 
     Assistance.--The Secretary shall ensure that the information 
     and assistance with voter registration that is provided under 
     subsection (b) will not--
       (1) seek to influence an applicant's political preference 
     or party registration;
       (2) display any such political preference or party 
     allegiance;
       (3) make any statement to an applicant or take any action 
     the purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant 
     from registering to vote; or
       (4) make any statement to an applicant or take any action 
     the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to 
     believe that a decision to register or not register has any 
     bearing on the availability of services or benefits.
       (e) Limitation on Use of Information.--No information 
     relating to registering to vote, or a declination to register 
     to vote, under this section may be used for any purpose other 
     than voter registration.
       (f) Enforcement.--
       (1) Notice.--
       (A) Notice to the facility director or the secretary.--A 
     person who is aggrieved by a violation of this section or 
     section 4 may provide written notice of the violation to the 
     Director of the facility of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs health care system involved or to the Secretary. The 
     Director or the Secretary shall respond to a written notice 
     provided under the preceding sentence within 20 days of 
     receipt of such written notice.
       (B) Notice to the attorney general and the election 
     assistance commission.--If the violation is not corrected 
     within 90 days after receipt of a notice under subparagraph 
     (A), the aggrieved person may provide written notice of the 
     violation to the Attorney General and the Election Assistance 
     Commission.
       (2) Attorney general.--The Attorney General may bring a 
     civil action in an appropriate district court for such 
     declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to carry out 
     this section or section 4.

     SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE WITH ABSENTEE BALLOTS.

       (a) In General.--Consistent with State and local laws, each 
     director of a community living center, a domiciliary, or a 
     medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs health 
     care system shall provide assistance in voting by absentee 
     ballot to veterans residing in the community living center or 
     domiciliary or who are inpatients of the medical center, as 
     the case may be.
       (b) Assistance Provided.--The assistance provided under 
     subsection (a) shall include--
       (1) providing information relating to the opportunity to 
     request an absentee ballot;
       (2) making available absentee ballot applications upon 
     request, as well as assisting in completing such applications 
     and ballots; and
       (3) working with local election administration officials to 
     ensure proper transmission of absentee ballot applications 
     and absentee ballots.

     SEC. 5. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall permit nonpartisan 
     organizations to provide voter registration information and 
     assistance at facilities of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs health care system, subject to reasonable time, 
     place, and manner restrictions, including limiting activities 
     to regular business hours and requiring advance notice.

     SEC. 6. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY ELECTION OFFICIALS AT 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES.

       (a) Distribution of Information.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to reasonable time, place, and 
     manner restrictions, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     not prohibit any election administration official, whether 
     State or local, party-affiliated or non-party affiliated, or 
     elected or appointed, from providing voting information to 
     veterans at any facility of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (2) Voting information.--In this subsection, the term 
     ``voting information'' means nonpartisan information intended 
     for the public about voting, including information about 
     voter registration, voting systems, absentee balloting, 
     polling locations, and other important resources for voters.
       (b) Voter Registration Services.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall provide reasonable access to facilities of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs health care system to State 
     and local election officials for the purpose of providing 
     nonpartisan voter registration services to individuals, 
     subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions, 
     including limiting activities to regular business hours and 
     requiring advance notice.

     SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPLIANCE.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (in this section referred 
     to as the ``Secretary'') shall submit to Congress an annual 
     report on how the Secretary has complied with the 
     requirements of this Act. Such report shall include the 
     following information with respect to the preceding year:
       (1) The number of veterans who were served by facilities of 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system.
       (2) The number of such veterans who requested information 
     on or assistance with voter registration.
       (3) The number of such veterans who received information on 
     or assistance with voter registration.
       (4) Information with respect to written notices submitted 
     under section 3(f), including information with respect to the 
     resolution of the violations alleged in such written notices.

     SEC. 8. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

       (a) No Individual Benefit.--Nothing in this Act may be 
     construed to convey a benefit to an individual veteran.
       (b) No Effect on Other Laws.--Nothing in this Act may be 
     construed to authorize or require conduct prohibited under 
     any of the following laws, or to supersede, restrict, or 
     limit the application of such laws:
       (1) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.).
       (2) The Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and 
     Handicapped Act (42 U.S.C. 1973ee et seq.).
       (3) The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 1973ff et seq.).
       (4) The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 
     1973gg et seq.).
       (5) The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
     12101 et seq.).
       (6) The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. BEGICH:
  S. 1560. A bill to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to 
provide for the sharing of certain outer Continental Shelf revenues 
from areas in the Alaska Adjacent Zone; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I rise today for the first time on this 
floor to mark the 50th anniversary of Alaska's statehood and to draw 
the attention of my colleagues to an urgent issue that affects not only 
my State but all of our States--the issue of global climate change.
  This year, thanks to actions taken in this very Chamber, Alaska is 
celebrating its golden anniversary of statehood. Acquiring the rights 
and responsibilities of full citizenship was the culmination of a dream 
for citizens of the 49th State. Statehood granted us the ability to 
exercise control over our vast natural resources and gave us a full 
voice in our national government. In the half century since, Alaska has 
grown from the Nation's largest supplier of salmon to become the 
Nation's storehouse of both seafood and energy.
  Because of its strategic location near the top of the globe, Alaska 
plays a critical role in our Nation's defense. During the Cold War, the 
superpowers stared down each other across the frozen polar ice cap. 
Thanks to a thaw in the geopolitical climate, the ``ice curtain'' 
separating Alaska and Russia

[[Page 20607]]

melted some 20 years ago. Today, it is a change in the climate itself 
that present serious new challenges--and great opportunities--to my 
State and our Nation.
  Alaska is now at Ground Zero for the effects of global climate 
change. I take this opportunity today to detail how that is affecting 
the lives of Alaskans. I will describe a package of legislation I am 
introducing to prepare my State and the Nation for the next 50 years. 
During that time, the Arctic will play an even larger role in the 
Nation's commerce, foreign policy, and energy independence.
  Mr. President, to me there is no more dramatic illustration of global 
warming in Alaska than these two pictures taken at Portage Glacier, 
just about 50 miles south of Anchorage. The top photo, taken by my dad 
in 1970, shows me and two of my brothers and a sister. The glacier is 
clearly in view. The bottom photo was taken 35 years later, in 2005. It 
is of my son, Jacob, standing in the exact same spot at the same time 
of year. The glacier is nowhere to be seen because it has dramatically 
receded due to global warming.
  Today in the Arctic, the sea is melting so fast that most of it could 
be gone in 30 years. You can clearly see it in this polar projection of 
the Arctic. The implications of the loss are enormous. Devastating for 
species such as the polar bear, walrus, and seals, which depend on ice 
for their very survival; life-altering for Arctic residents who have 
depended on marine mammals for their nutritional and cultural needs for 
thousands of years; literally earth-shattering for entire Alaskan 
Arctic communities, which are being wiped away by erosion and thawing 
permafrost.
  When this global air-conditioner is knocked off kilter, it 
accelerates climatic changes we are already witnessing around the globe 
that neither science nor our political systems can stop.
  Consider these examples.
  Storms raging over waters that once were frozen solid but which are 
now ice-free for much of the year are eroding sections of the Alaska 
shoreline at rates of 45 feet per year or more. This undermines entire 
coastal villages like Shishmaref and Kivalina.
  Thawing permafrost is causing roads and the foundations of homes to 
buckle.
  A recent study by the University of Alaska's Institute of Social and 
Economic Research estimated that the impacts of climate change will 
increase the cost of maintaining or replacing just today's public 
infrastructure in my State by $6 billion.
  The potential release of massive amounts of methane now sealed in the 
permafrost threaten to accelerate the pace of climate change. That is 
known to scientists as ``Arctic Feedback.''
  Warming water temperatures are pushing cold water species north and 
attracting warm water species from the south. Fishermen in Sitka are 
encountering the giant Humboldt squid from Mexico.
  Tuna--whose usual habitat favors the tropics--have been caught near 
Homer. And invasive species such as green crab are moving steadily 
northward.
  Ocean acidification--the result of absorption of carbon into our 
marine waters--weakens shellfish, coral, and even plankton, the very 
first link of the marine food chain.
  At the G-8 Summit last month in Italy, developing nations agreed to 
the principle of limiting the average increase in the Earth's 
temperature to no more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial 
levels.
  In the American Arctic, we exceeded that long ago. The diminishing 
ice creates opportunities in the Arctic, but even these pose new 
challenges. For example, the Beaufort and Chukchi seas are believed to 
contain almost twice as much oil as already has been produced from the 
North Slope.
  Arctic oil and gas development has been conducted safely on-shore in 
Alaska. Alaskans also have the technology to safely produce it off-
shore.
  But subsistence users who rely on marine mammals for their way of 
life are legitimately concerned about the special challenges of how to 
prevent and respond to an oil spill in broken sea ice.
  The diminishing Arctic ice pack could open new grounds to commercial 
fishing, which can create new jobs. This also presents challenges to 
manage fish stocks in this region as we learn more about the impact of 
fishing in these previously inaccessible waters.
  Opening the Northwest Passage, the Northern Sea Route and eventually 
the polar sea, will bring an increase in shipping and even tourism to 
the Arctic. This means new economic development and additional jobs to 
the northern part of our state.
  Our neighbors have taken notice of the warming Arctic, too. This 
picture of a Russian submersible planting that country's flag on the 
North Pole's ocean floor was shocking to Americans and other Arctic 
nations.
  The Swedish Foreign Minister, whose nation is president of the 
European Union this year, demonstrates that Europe understands these 
changes when he recently said the melting polar sea ice is creating 
revolutionary new transportation possibilities between the Atlantic and 
Pacific.
  Although Alaskans are well aware of the impacts of climate change in 
our State, national decisionmakers are just starting to come to grips 
with its challenges and opportunities.
  A proposed American Arctic policy was adopted in the final days of 
the Bush administration. While not perfect, it highlights many areas 
that need further focus.
  Here in the Congress, climate change has risen to a high priority in 
these Halls and in the Obama administration.
  I commend these many initiatives and pledge my cooperation with other 
Members of this body and the national administration.
  To advance that effort, today I am introducing a package of seven 
bills to address these challenges, almost all of which have been caused 
by, or made worse by, climate change.
  I call this package--Inuvikput. It is a word from the Inupiaq Eskimos 
of the Alaska North Slope which means ``the place where we live.''
  I can think of no more appropriate term coming from the very people 
who are being affected every day by climatic changes in America's 
Arctic, the place they have called home for thousands of years.
  Mr. President, my package starts with improving our fundamental 
understanding of the region. We need to invest in basic science to 
better understand Arctic oceanography, meteorology, biology of its fish 
and marine mammals, as well as natural resources and oil and gas 
potential.
  We need a coordinated research plan. It should start with baseline 
observations and include better science supporting Arctic-specific oil 
spill prevention and response.
  This plan also must include local and traditional knowledge. After 
all, some of the first and most accurate predictions of Arctic climate 
change were from Native elders.
  My bill calls on the Secretary of Commerce to undertake a 
comprehensive strategy to coordinate Arctic research, to make 
recommendations to Congress on a long-term Arctic Ocean research plan 
and to provide the resources for this vital mission.
  We also need to promote Pan-Arctic research, especially with our 
Russian and Canadian neighbors, to address scientific issues that span 
international borders.
  My second bill would provide the United States equal standing with 
other Arctic nations when it comes to our participation in the 
international Arctic Council and other forums.
  Other leading Arctic nations--Russia, Canada, Norway--are represented 
by ambassador-level diplomats on the Council.
  I appreciate the dedication of those who have represented us before 
the Arctic Council and other forums. I also thank Secretary Clinton and 
other high level diplomats for their interest in the Arctic. But the 
United States needs a permanent representative on an equal footing with 
the representatives of other nations in these important forums. Our 
Ambassador should advocate American interests in

[[Page 20608]]

science, sustainable development, transportation and our defense 
posture.
  The third piece of legislation deals with preparedness for the coming 
expanded use of the Arctic. We must increase our investment in basic 
infrastructure to maintain a permanent presence in the Arctic, for 
scientific, economic development and national security missions.
  Critical to that is the need to replace our fleet of icebreakers. The 
Polar Sea and the currently idled Polar Star have both served beyond 
their 30-year life. The Healy is newer, but designed primarily for 
scientific research.
  That scientific mission is important. But we need an icebreaking 
fleet to assert our national interests by patrolling our Arctic waters, 
monitor increased traffic, and respond to search and rescues, oil 
spills and other incidents.
  In addition to their life-saving mission, the Coast Guard is a vital 
partner with Alaska's commercial fishing industry. This $4 billlion 
industry is one of our Nation's truly American industries, providing 
58,000 jobs. Our Coast Guard needs facilities to serve as a base for 
aerial surveillance, spill prevention and emergency response 
capabilities in the Arctic.
  Currently, our closest Coast Guard air base is located in Kodiak, a 
900-mile commute just to reach the Arctic Coast. That's like patrolling 
the Gulf of Mexico from air bases in New York.
  I applaud the stamina of our Coast Guard crews who have kept our C-
130s in the Arctic skies by performing maintenance work on the ramp in 
subfreezing conditions. The least we could do is provide them with a 
heated hangar. My legislation would address that need and other 
critical infrastructure needs.
  Fourth, we must achieve a balance in environmentally responsible 
resource development in the Arctic. A diminished ice cap may clear the 
way for more affordable development of the enormous energy reserves the 
U.S. Geological Service says lie beneath Arctic waters. This region 
contains an estimated 30 billion barrels of oil and 220 trillion cubic 
feet of natural gas.
  These resources can create thousands of American jobs and help assure 
our national energy security.
  We must get the science right and provide the infrastructure 
necessary to protect human and animal life and the environment.
  To help achieve that, my measure calls on the Coast Guard to assess 
Arctic development and develop the necessary infrastructure.
  It also requires the Secretary of Commerce to direct research to 
prevent and improve oil spill recovery in Arctic waters.
  My fifth bill deals with the benefits of energy development in the 
Arctic. Most Alaskans support oil and gas exploration in the Outer 
Continental Shelf. We can do development there in the right way, as 
shown here.
  Another example is BP's Liberty field, located off Alaska's northern 
coast. To minimize impacts, directional drilling from this island pad 
can tap oil reserves 8 miles away in the water.
  As a part of this package, my bill extends to Alaskans the same share 
of Federal revenues that residents of the gulf coast States currently 
receive. It would direct a portion of those revenues to those most 
affected--the residents of Alaska's North Slope--where communities have 
depended on marine mammals from these same waters for thousands of 
years. I believe the Arctic's resources belong to the people of the 
Arctic and should be shared among them.
  My sixth bill deals with a critical omission from the new 
Presidential directive on the Arctic--addressing the health problems of 
Arctic people.
  Alaskans and others who live in Northern latitudes experience 
numerous health problems, including higher rates of alcohol abuse, 
diabetes, high blood pressure and, tragically death from injury and 
suicide.
  In many cases, it is unclear what causes these problems. More 
research is necessary into prevention and treatment.
  This bill proposes a study of mental and behavioral health issues in 
the Arctic. It would create an ``Arctic desk'' at the National 
Institutes of Health that was called for in Federal legislation in 1984 
but has never been established.
  Finally, it would institute a health assessment program at the 
Centers for Disease Control focused on the Arctic. This vital research 
will not only benefit residents of my State but citizens across the 
country.
  The seventh bill in this package addresses the huge losses of coastal 
Alaskan territory, as a result of dramatic climate change. A June 2009 
Government Accountability Study on this issue says: ``most of Alaska's 
more than 200 Native villages are affected to some degree by flooding 
and erosion.'' In some cases, entire Arctic villages in my State are at 
risk of serious erosion or of being washed into the sea.
  To make matters worse, some of the most severe flooding in recent 
history occurred this spring. Millions of dollars in damage was done to 
Alaska communities, prompting State and Federal disaster declarations.
  To address these issues, I propose creation of an Arctic adaptation 
fund. This fund would help the State of Alaska, Alaska Native 
organizations, affected Arctic communities, and the private sector deal 
with the impacts of climate change. This includes flooding, erosion, 
permafrost melting, and damage to public transportation systems and 
buildings. The fund also would assist in dealing with habitat 
restoration, clean energy development, and other economic development 
activities.
  Mr. President, I am considering introducing an additional piece of 
legislation in this package. It focuses on providing the people of 
Alaska's Arctic with a greater voice in development decisions affecting 
their lives.
  This bill would establish an Arctic Regional Citizens Advisory 
Council. It would be modeled after similar councils operating 
successfully in the Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet regions of 
Alaska.
  At the request of North Slope Borough Mayor Edward Itta and our 
constituents there, I agreed to hold off on this bill for now so we can 
continue the conversation with the people of the region, along with 
industry and regulatory stakeholders.
  In addition to the legislation I am introducing today, Senate 
ratification of two treaties would dramatically improve our Nation's 
ability to address Arctic climate change.
  The first is the Convention on the Law of the Sea. Negotiated in 
1982, this treaty is designed to settle long-standing disputes over 
national rights to offshore waters and resources. The Senate's 
ratification of this treaty would put the United States at the table at 
a time of great change in the Arctic.
  I note support for the Law of the Sea Treaty comes from a broad 
spectrum of organizations, from environmental groups and oil companies 
to the U.S. military.
  I strongly support ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty and will 
be proud to cosponsor this measure.
  The second key international agreement the Senate should ratify to 
address Arctic health issues is the Treaty on Persistent Organic 
Pollutants, or POPs.
  These pollutants--PCBs, DDT, dioxin, and even fire retardants--are 
carried by wind and sea currents to the Arctic. They are then trapped 
by the ice and are stored in the fatty tissue of fish and marine 
mammals that are a main component of the local subsistence diet.
  The POPs treaty was adopted in 2001. But like the Law of the Sea, it 
has never been ratified. It is time that changed. I am honored to be a 
cosponsor of Senator Harkin's bill, S. 519, to implement provisions of 
this treaty.
  I look forward to working with the chairman and ranking member of the 
Foreign Relations Committee and the Obama Administration to bring these 
treaties forward to the Senate for consideration as soon as possible.
  Mr. President, because of Alaska, America is an Arctic nation. My 
State has over 700 miles of shoreline along the Arctic Ocean, and over 
100 million acres above the Arctic Circle. If you define Arctic by 
temperature, it encompasses an even broader area that

[[Page 20609]]

includes the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands.
  Through the diligent work of many scientists, we have learned much 
over the past century. But there is much we still do not understand.
  This century, and the next 50 years of Alaska statehood, brings great 
challenges and even greater opportunities. To succeed, we must address 
the broad policy implications of an ice-diminishing Arctic on the 
diplomatic, scientific, and national security fronts.
  We must make the needed investments to ensure the United States 
maintains its leadership at the top of our globe. We must listen to and 
address the needs of the residents of the Arctic.
  With this Inuvikput package of legislation, we will take a major step 
toward achieving these important goals.
  As they say in America's Arctic, Quyanaqpak. Thank you.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. Casey):
  S. 1568. A bill to assist in the establishment of an interpretive 
center and museum in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to protect and interpret 
the history of the industrialization of the United States; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce 
legislation that will honor and preserve the industrial legacy of our 
Nation for the benefit of current and future generations. The bill, 
which I am introducing along with my Pennsylvania colleague Senator Bob 
Casey, would establish a partnership between the Department of Interior 
and the National Museum of Industrial History: a museum and 
interpretive center to be located at the site of the former Bethlehem 
Steel Plant in Bethlehem, PA.
  The industrial revolution was a critical period in American history, 
during which our country and the foundation of our national economy 
experienced an unprecedented transition. It is important that people, 
especially children and future generations, have an opportunity to 
learn about the history of American industrialization and how it shaped 
our world and our lives. For this opportunity to be realized, the 
timeless stories and treasured relics of our industrial history must be 
preserved, interpreted and made available for all to see, study and 
enjoy. The National Museum of Industrial History will exist for just 
this purpose.
  The Museum will be located at an ideal site to tell the story of 
America's industrial history because the former tenant of the site was 
a lead character in the story. The Bethlehem Steel Company was a world-
leader in steel production for nearly 150 years and truly epitomized 
the industrial revolution and expansion throughout the 19th and 20th 
centuries. Steel produced in Bethlehem was used to build some our 
country's most treasured structures and landmarks, including the 
Chrysler Building in New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge in San 
Francisco. Bethlehem Steel was a major contributor to the war effort 
during the first and second World Wars, building many ships and 
supplying much of the armored plating and large-caliber guns for our 
armed forces. Bethlehem Steel began to cease much of its operation in 
the 1990s and was bought by another steel company in 2001. The closing 
of Bethlehem Steel marked the end of an era and also created one of the 
largest brownfield sites in the country. It is on this site, rich in 
history and industrial heritage, where the National Museum of 
Industrial History will stand as a monument to industry and as an 
educational resource to the public.
  The legislation I have introduced will establish an agreement between 
the Department of Interior and the National Museum of Industrial 
History, wherein the Department will assist in the creation and program 
development of the Museum. Every dollar provided by the Federal 
Government would have to be matched by a non-Federal source. The Museum 
has a long history of working with the Federal Government. The National 
Museum of Industrial History was the first museum to become affiliated 
with the Smithsonian Institute. This partnership spawned the 
Smithsonian Institute's ``Affiliates Program,'' which now has over 150 
members around the country.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Ms. STABENOW:
  S. 1569. A bill to expand our Nation's Advanced Practice Registered 
Nurse workforce; to the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
address our growing workforce shortage. I am pleased to be joining my 
good friend, Congresswoman Lois Capps, a nurse herself, in introducing 
this legislation. Our legislation is supported by AARP, the American 
Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American Association of Colleges of 
Nursing, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the American 
College of Nurse Practitioners, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, 
the American Nurses Association, the National Association of Pediatric 
Nurse Practitioners, and the National Organization of Nurse 
Practitioner Faculties.
  Since its creation in 1965, Medicare has provided some support for 
the costs of nursing education. While relatively small as compared to 
support for graduate medical education for physicians, $150 million vs. 
$9 billion per year, Medicare has for many years been the largest 
federal source of funding for nurse training. While nursing education 
and patient care needs have changed tremendously since 1965, Medicare's 
policy in this area has not kept up to date.
  My bill amends Medicare to provide incentives to expand the number of 
advanced practice registered nurses, APRN, trained and to prepare them 
to undertake the essential cost-saving reforms to our health care 
delivery system: an increased focus on primary and preventive care, 
improved coordination of care, access to primary care and anesthesia 
services in rural and medically underserved areas, and enhanced efforts 
to reduce costly medical errors that will lower health care costs and 
improve patient care. This legislation also focuses on training nurses 
in community-based settings, such as community health centers, rural 
clinics and individual health professional offices, arming them with 
the practical clinical experience they need.
  The respected economic analysis firm The Lewin Group has conducted a 
thorough analysis of this proposal. They found that it would increase 
the number of APRNs graduating by 25 percent. This is a very 
significant increase and one that is greatly needed. Additionally, 
training more APRNs will help us develop more faculty, which are 
desperately needed to train the next generation of nurses. Every 
nursing school dean in Michigan has told me that this is a huge issue 
to them.
  This relatively modest investment in APRNs will provide Americans, 
especially those in rural and other areas of health care shortages, 
with the primary and preventive care, care coordination, and chronic 
care management they too often lack today.
  At a time when our country faces a shortage of healthcare 
professionals, funding for the clinical education of APRNs, including 
nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified registered 
nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists is vitally important 
to meet the demand for expanded health care, which is expected under a 
newly reformed delivery system.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter of support be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                                    July 29, 2009.
     Hon. Debbie Stabenow,
     U.S. Senate,
     133 Senate Hart Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Stabenow: On behalf of the undersigned 
     organizations, we would like to express our support for your 
     legislation that will amend Title XVIII of the Social 
     Security Act to provide payment to hospitals for the costs of 
     expanded advanced practice nurse training programs. At a time 
     when our country faces a shortage of healthcare 
     professionals, funding for the clinical education of Advanced 
     Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including nurse 
     practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified registered

[[Page 20610]]

     nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists is vitally 
     important to meet the demand for expanded health care, which 
     is expected under a newly reformed delivery system.
       APRNs are ideally suited to help implement delivery system 
     reforms such as an increased focus on primary, transitional, 
     and preventive care, enhancing access for rural and medically 
     underserved populations, improving care coordination, chronic 
     care management, and reducing costly medical errors. Yet in 
     2008, U.S. nursing schools turned away 6,904 qualified 
     applicants from graduate nursing programs due to insufficient 
     numbers of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical 
     preceptors, and budget constraints. This Medicare funding 
     would expand the current focus to nursing education at the 
     graduate level. It would also expand clinical education 
     provided through Medicare funding to include home and 
     community-based settings as well as hospitals, using 
     affiliations between accredited schools of nursing and 
     community-based health care settings. The outcome would be a 
     much more robust APRN workforce to meet growing demand 
     especially among the Medicare population and those in 
     underserved areas. In fact, according to a Lewin report 
     commissioned by AARP to investigate this type of proposal, 
     your bill would increase the number of APRNs by 25%.
       We applaud your efforts and those of your staff for 
     introducing Graduate Nursing Education legislation, which 
     will benefit future APRNs so they can provide high quality, 
     cost effective care to the most vulnerable populations in all 
     areas across the country. Thank you for your recognition of 
     the role APRNs will play in a reformed healthcare system.
           Sincerely,
         AARP, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American 
           Association of Colleges of Nursing, American 
           Association of Nurse Anesthetists, American College of 
           Nurse Practitioners, American College of Nurse-
           Midwives, American Nurses Association, National 
           Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National 
           Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties.

                          ____________________