A resolution designating November 7, 2003, as "National Native American Veterans Day" to honor the service of Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces and the contribution of Native Americans to the defense of the United States.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 10:30 a.m., in executive session to discuss pending military nominations.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on October 23, 2003, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing on Proposals for Improving the Regulation of the Housing GSEs.

The Committee will also vote on the nominations of the Hon. Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., of Massachusetts, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; the Hon. Ben. S. Bernanke, of New Jersey, to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and the Hon. Paul S. Atkins, of Virginia, to be a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Thursday, October 23, 2003, on pending Committee business off the floor in the President's room, immediately after the first vote of the day.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet on Thursday, October 23 at 9:30 a.m. to consider S. 994, the Chemical Security Act of 2003, and S. 1757, the John F. Kennedy Center Act.

The business meeting will be held in SD 406.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 2 p.m., to hear testimony on Company Owned Life Insurance.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 9:30 a.m., to hold a hearing on Post 9/11 Visa Policy.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet for a hearing on Federal and State Role in Pharmacy Compounding and Reconstitution: Exploring the Right Mix to Protect Patients during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 10 a.m. in SD- 430.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Room 226.

Agenda:

I. Nominations: Henry W. Saad to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Dora L. Irazarry to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Dale S. Fischer to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Gary L. Sharpe to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of New York; and William K. Sessions III to be a Member of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

II. Bills: S. 1545, Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2003 (the DREAM Act) [Hatch, Durbin, Craig, DeWine, Feingold, Feinstein, Grassley, Kennedy, Leahy, Schumer]; S. 1720, A bill to provide for Federal court proceedings in Plano, Texas [Cornyn]; S. 1743, Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act of 2003 [Levin, Schumer]; S. 1194, Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003 [DeWine, Durbin, Grassley, Hatch, Leahy]; S. Res. 239, Designating November 7, 2003, as ``National Native American Veterans Day'' to honor the service of Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces and the contribution of Native Americans to the defense of the United States [Campbell]; and S. Res. 240, A resolution designating November 2003 as ``National American Indian Heritage Month'' [Campbell, Hatch].

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine be authorized to meet on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. Railroad Shipper Issues and S. 919, Railroad Competition Act of 2003.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senators Inouye, Bingaman, Johnson, and Thomas in submitting a resolution to honor Native American Indian veterans for their service in the Armed Forces of the United States and to designate November 7, 2003 as ``National Native American Veterans Day''.

As the events of conflict in Iraq continue we all hope and pray for the safe return of the men and women who are overseas, far from home protecting our nation and others.

Native Americans have fought in wars and conflicts that date back to the days before the Revolution and fought alongside the colonists during the Revolutionary war.

Native people continued the call by enlisting in the armed services of the United States to fight in the many conflicts of our past including the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American war in 1898.

In 1868, the U.S. Army established the Indian scouts to utilize their special skill of scouting the enemy. Theodore Roosevelt recruited Native Americans to be part of his famous Rough Riders. This is probably a little known fact.

Within the last century, approximately 12,000 Native Americans served in World War I, 44,000 in World War II and the Korean War, 42,000 in the Vietnam war, and at the end of the 20th century there were nearly 190,000 Native American Indian men and women serving in the military.

At the same time, few people know that American Indians were not made citizens until Congress enacted the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924.

In 2001, I was honored to take part in ceremonies awarding the Congressional gold medal to the Navajo Code Talkers who made such a great contribution to the war efforts in the Pacific during World War II. At a time when the Japanese were breaking the codes developed by American intelligence, the Code Talkers made use of the Navajo language to confound the enemy and communicate military strategy and positions without compromise. Of all the codes developed in World War II, the Navajo language code was the only one not broken during World War II.

The Code Talkers story is not the only one worthy of recognition. Only recently was it rediscovered that an Oneida woman, Tyonajanegen, fought alongside her husband, an American army officer, during the American Revolution. Sacajawea, a Shoshone woman, guided and served as an interpreter for Lewis and Clark during their expedition. Native women also served in the Spanish American War and World War I as military nurses. Approximately 800 Native women served in World War II. They continued to answer the call throughout the military campaigns of the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operations Desert Shield and, recently, Desert Storm.

We also honor the memory of Lori Piestewa, a Hopi woman, who fought valiantly and bravely to protect her fellows during the invasion of Iraq. Just as we cheered when Jessica Lynch was rescued and returned home, all Americans were saddened to learn of Lori Piestewa's fate.

Some warriors served this country valiantly, yet fell, not by a bullet, but

by a broken heart. Ira Hayes is one such man. He was a Pima Indian from the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona. He eventually died a broken man, a victim of alcoholism and despair but to me will forever be known as an American hero who will forever be known as one of the Marines who raised the American flag with five others atop Mount Suribachi after taking the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese.

Indian people have special admiration and respect for our veterans. They pray for ones still in battle, alongside their fellow Americans, so that they can have a safe journey back to their loving homes and families. They pray for the ones who have fought, and now, continue their journey through life's struggles.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senators Campbell and Inouye in submitting a resolution to honor American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian veterans for their service in the Armed Forces of the United States and to designate November 7, 2004 as ``National Native American Veterans Day''.

This is the second consecutive year that such a resolution has been introduced. November 7, 2003 was designated as National Native American Veterans Day in accordance with Senate Resolution 239. I was proud to join with Senator Campbell, our distinguished chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and Senator Inouye, the distinguished vice chairman of the committee, and others of my colleagues in cosponsoring that resolution. As the events of conflict in Iraq continue we all hope and pray for the safe return of the men and women who are overseas, far from home protecting our Nation and others.

We continue to honor the memory of Army Private First Class Lori Piestewa, a Hopi woman, who fought valiantly and bravely to protect her fellow soldiers during the invasion of Iraq. This year we also remember other Native people who lost their lives in Iraq over the past year. Army Sergeant Lee Duane Todacheene, Marine Lance Corporal Quinn A. Keith, Army Private First Class Harry Shondee, Jr, members of the Navajo Nation, and Army Private First Class Sheldon Hawk Eagle, Cheyenne River Sioux, whose Indian name was Wanbli Ohitika, or Brave Eagle. I apologize if I have failed to acknowledge a brave Native person who lost his or her life in Iraq.

Native people, and especially the Native people of my State of Alaska, revere, admire, and respect our veterans and those who continue to serve. They pray for ones still in battle, alongside their fellow Americans, so that they can have a safe journey back to their loving homes and families. They pray for the ones who have fought, and now, continue their journey through life's struggles.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 239, designating National Native American Veterans Day.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to this matter be printed in the Record.