A bill to increase the role of the Secretary of Transportation in administering section 901 of the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I rise today to submit a Resolution that would recognize the value and importance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in our Nation's communities. It is an important Resolution that sends a message of support to our communities, neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

For my colleagues who do not know, AEDs or automated external defibrillators, are devices that, when used properly, administer an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart. These devices are used on people who are suffering from heart attacks or have gone into full cardiac arrest.

Many of my colleagues may have seen these devices in airports or in other public spaces such as stadiums or shopping malls. They have been made widely visible and available because, according to the American Heart Association, ``AEDs strengthen the chain of survival. They can restore a normal heart rhythm in sudden cardiac arrest victims.''

What makes AEDs so valuable to our communities is that they are extremely effective and they are easy to use. A microprocessor, which is embedded in the AEDs analyzes a person's heart rhythm and determines whether an electrical shock is necessary to restore normal heart function. The American Heart Association makes clear the value of having access to AEDs--``When a person suffers a sudden cardiac arrest, for each minute that passes without defibrillation, their chance of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent.'' Fortunately, many communities have realized the benefit of AEDs and have begun creating Public Access Defibrillation programs (PADs). There are a number of Public Access Defibrillation programs throughout our country, and I'm happy to say a few of them are in Ohio.

These State, local and community PAD programs are a valuable asset because they ensure that automated external defibrillation accessible and available to cardiac arrest victims in the community and provide appropriate training in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators.

This resolution simply recognizes the Public Access Defibrillator programs for all of their good work to make it possible for communities to access these life-saving devices. My resolution also encourages the continued creation of PADs so that more people, in more places, have access to AEDs.

Finally, my Senate colleagues and I have long supported automatic external defibrillators and their increased use in communities, particularly rural communities. In fact, just this year, the Senate Labor Health and Human Services Appropriations subcommittee provides $10,933,000 for rural and community access to emergency devices. This funding provides grants to expand placement of automatic external defibrillators and to provide for training.

I ask my colleagues to support this resolution, to pass this resolution, and to encourage the continued development of Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) programs.

Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution recognizing the landmark Presidential elections that will take place in Afghanistan this Saturday, October 9, 2004.

My colleagues Senators Lugar, R-IN, Biden, D-DE, Leahy, D-VT, McCain, R-AZ, Sununu, R-NH and Dodd, D-CT, join me as original co-sponsors of this resolution.

The Government and people of Afghanistan deserve our praise and recognition for their achievements since the emergency Loya Jirga of June 2002. The process leading to this historic election has not always been easy. Warlords and Taliban members have sought to intimidate voters and disrupt the process. But the government of President Hamid Karzai and the people of Afghanistan have not been deterred. More than 10.5 million Afghan citizens have been reported registered to vote, reflecting the courage and commitment of Afghans to a democratic future. Over forty per cent of those registered are women.

The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2002, PL 107-327, authorized the United States Government to provide $3.3 billion in political, economic and security assistance to Afghanistan. It also expressed the U.S. Congress's support for the development of democratic institutions and a fully representative government in Afghanistan that respects religious freedom and the rights of women. The presidential election this week is a critical benchmark for America's commitment to a long- term partnership with Afghanistan for responsible governance and a more peaceful future.

America's interests in Afghanistan are linked to our wider regional objectives in the war on terrorism, and in promoting security and more open political and economic systems throughout the Greater Middle East and Central Asia.

President Bush said on June 15, 2004, that ``the world and the United States stand with [the people of Afghanistan] as partners in their quest for peace and prosperity and stability and democracy.''

I ask the Senate to recognize the historic achievement of the Afghan people in holding presidential elections this week, and to join the co- sponsors of this resolution and me in expressing our continued support for the people of Afghanistan.