To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the "William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building".

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 Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 10 a.m., to mark up S. 418 ``Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act,'' as amended by the committee print; S. 811 ``Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act,'' and to vote on the nominations of Ms. Sheila C. Bair, of Kansas, to be a member and chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Ms. Kathleen L. Casey, of Virginia, to be a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Mr. Robert M. Couch, of Alabama, to be President of the Government National Mortgage Association; Mr. Donald L. Kohn, of Virginia, to be vice chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and Mr. James B. Lockhart III, of Connecticut, to be the Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight. Immediately following the mark up, the committee will meet in open session to conduct a hearing on ``FASB's Proposed Standard on `Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans.' ''

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 June 14, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Extension of HUD's Mark-to-Market Program.''

Mr. President, I would like to ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to hold an oversight hearing on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. to consider whether potential liability deters abandoned hard rock mine clean up.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 10 a.m. for a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Legislation

1. S. 2145, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2005;

2. S. 1554, a bill to establish an intergovernmental grant program to identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, capabilities, technologies, and services to further the homeland security of the United States and to address the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local governments;

3. S. 1741, Disaster Area Health and Environmental Monitoring Act;

4. S. 1838, Federal and District of Columbia Real Property Act of 2005;

5. S. 2068, a bill to preserve existing judgeships on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia;

6. S. 2146, a bill to extend relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees;

7. S. 2296, Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act;

8. H.R. 3508, 2005 District of Columbia Omnibus Authorization Act.

Post Office Naming Bills

1. S. 2228/H.R. 4456, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 2404 Race Street in Jonesboro, Arkansas, as the ``Hattie W. Caraway Station;''

2. S. 2376/H.R. 3934, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 80 Killian Road in Massapequa, New York, as the ``Gerard A. Fiorenza Post Office Building;''

3. S. 2722, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 170 East Main Street in Patchogue, New York, as the ``Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Post Office Building;

4. H.R. 4108, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 3000 Homewood Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome Post Office Building;''

5. H.R. 3440, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 100 Avenida RL Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as the ``Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building;''

6. H.R. 4786, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 535 Wood Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as the ``H. Gordon Payrow Post Office Building;''

7. H.R. 4561, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 8624 Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas, as the ``Franciso `Pancho' Medrano Post Office Building;''

8. H.R. 4688, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1 Boyden Street in Badin, North Carolina, as the ``Mayor John Thompson `Tom' Garrison Memorial Post Office;''

9. H.R. 4995, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 7 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, New York, as the ``Ronald Bucca Post Office;''

10. H.R. 3549, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the ``William F. Clinger Jr. Post Office Building;''

11. H.R. 2977, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 306 2nd Avenue in Brockway, Montana, as the ``Paul Kasten Post Office Building;''

12. S. 2690, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 8801 Sudley Road in Manassas, Virginia, as the ``Harry J. Parrish Post Office;''

13. S. 3187, a bill to designate the Post Office located at 5755 Post Road, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, as the ``Richard L. Cevoli Post Office;''

14. H.R. 5245, a bill to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the ``Matthew Lyon Post Office Building.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing on S. 374, the Tribal Parity Act and S. 1535, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Amendments Act of 2005.

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 Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness list:

Panel I: The Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. and The Honorable William Kovacic, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission, Washington,

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on June 14, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness be authorized to meet on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at 10 a.m. on Alternative Energy Technologies.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I rise today with affection for my knowledge and memory of Bill Clinger and working with Bill Clinger. I want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) for his leadership in putting this together and which I am just so glad to cosponsor.

I have known Bill Clinger for a long time. I was thinking back on Memory Lane this morning of when I first met him. I got to know him in Warren. And I remember when I first ran for the State House in 1977, I went to his office and sat down, and he was one of the first to reach in his drawer and pull out a check and help me with my campaign and wished me well and said he hoped in another year or two I would help him because he was planning to run for Congress, and so we worked together the whole time.

I also remember Bill Clinger and his lovely wife, Judy. Judy was a great attribute to him. She was someone who everybody loved and just served him so wonderfully as his closest friend and helper. Also, his great love of his family, Vijou, Willie, Jimmy, and Julia. His first love was his family. Everybody knew that from his weekends and time with them.

Also his love of the Chautauqua Institution. Fortunately for Bill, I believe he is chairman of the board there, at least he was last year, that is running the institution. That is a bright spot in southern New York State that serves Pennsylvania and New York as well, bringing culture and entertainment and all kinds of wonderful things to a rural area that does not always have those luxuries.

I remember back vividly that Bill put together a wonderful staff. It was just a great group of young men. Ric Peltz was my best friend. Out in the field we worked together nearly every day. He was the field guy. Most of his Washington staff went on and were leaders in the Ridge administration in Pennsylvania, and many are running associations here in Washington now. They were just a bright young group that

has really made a difference. And you have to give Bill the credit for picking this kind of talent and giving them an opportunity.

I also remember he was chief counsel for EDA under the Ford administration. That may be where I first met him and where he really developed a knowledge of our economic development system. One of his legacies was the Clinger-Cohen bill, which put the Government Responsibility Act in place, which held government agencies responsible.

During his time and tenure, one of the problems that faced Pennsylvania, and I as a Senator and he as a Congressman, was the abandonment of railroads. He and his staff just led that fight. Pennsylvania now, in my district, has the most regional railroads, and it is thanks to Bill Clinger. He saved many of those lines from being totally abandoned and helped form the regional railroads. One that I remember was the Allegheny Railroad that connected Erie and Emporia, Pennsylvania, which the wood industry used exclusively. The Oil Creek, Titusville Railroad, which is a scenic railroad through a beautiful park, and the oil heritage region that is now there was one of the first real successful scenic lines in Pennsylvania. The Nittany and Bald Eagle lines, which became part of the Seda Cog Rail System, which is now serving that region well. The Tioga County, Wellsville into New York line. These were all lines that Bill Clinger and his staff and his efforts preserved and are now serving this area well.

The 219 passing lane was an issue where he got funding numerous times to take a crooked road and get passing lanes on the hill. They all wanted a four-lane highway, which probably will never happen; but he did a lot of improvements to that.

Another area where he really excelled was bringing the use of our waste coal piles in Pennsylvania into making energy. He was the one that helped put together the scrubgrass plant in Venango County, and the Ringgold plant over in Clarion County, and was very helpful in bringing the Allegheny Particle Board plant that makes particle board using wastewood into our region.

He brought the FCI McKean Prison, which now employs hundreds of people in my district; and those are legacy issues that he and his staff were directly involved in and responsible for.

He also was one of those who created the revolving loan programs that our EDA and Appalachia Regional Commissions use now to help small communities with small grants that they continue to use over and over by reloaning them to small businesses. Some of those revolving loan programs are quite large now and are very much a part of our economic development system. In fact, his legacy recently in this administration, Ric Peltz, who was the one I worked with, is now the co-director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, and has just continued the legacy of Bill Clinger back here in Washington. In fact, I want to say this before I conclude. I had lunch with Bill this summer over at the La Colline, one of his favorite eating places, and he is just doing well. He is mentally sharp and in good spirits and happy with what his life is allowing him to teach and be a part of the leadership of the Chautauqua Institution, and he and Judy are doing just fine, and I want to publicly thank them for their friendship to me and the legacy they left in Pennsylvania and in Washington.

One of the toughest issues he worked on was a compromise on wilderness. We had a Congressman in Pennsylvania who wanted to make the Allegheny National Forest all wilderness, and he cut out a compromise and got that passed. Also the wild and scenic rivers, those were a little more controversial issues, he took some heat for those, but I think they were good decisions. He was wise in how he handled them in taking on those tough issues, and I think when he was here he chaired the Wednesday Group, which now may be the Tuesday Group or I think may even have another name.

But Bill was a leader. If you knew Bill, you liked him. If you knew Bill, you knew he was smart and you respected him. Today, I think it is a delight to honor him by naming the Warren post office the William Clinger Post Office. I had a Senate office for years right around the corner, and great traffic in that part of town. People will see it and remember, as they should, that Bill Clinger was their Congressman and he served them admirably.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and giving me the opportunity to rise here today to advocate a piece of legislation that is symbolic, but it is important symbolism; and it is particularly important to the residents of a community of mine, Warren County, that I have acquired since the last reapportionment. I share that area with my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson) who is with us here today and who has cosponsored this bill.

We rise to honor the distinguished former chairman of the Committee on Government Reform, Congressman Bill Clinger. You have heard from some of our other colleagues how Bill Clinger has been a major leader in the House of Representatives, how he served nine terms, how he came to Congress with a background in economic development and became a very powerful advocate of rural concerns, how he was born and raised in Warren, Pennsylvania, and it is our intention to name the post office in Warren after him.

For a generation of political leaders in northwestern Pennsylvania, Bill Clinger has been an inspiration to us, someone who has brought a profound sense of civic responsibility to everything he has done, prior to coming to Congress, in Congress, and since he left Congress, particularly with his service to the Chautauqua Institution.

His chairmanship of the House Committee on Government Reform allowed him to help establish concrete reforms to ensure government accountability, gaining the respect of Members from both sides of the aisle. Chairman Clinger helped usher through historic legislation, such as a measured curb on Federally funded mandates, line item veto authority, and a bill to reduce the paperwork burden that the Federal Government imposes on governments, individuals, and private businesses.

For those of us who had the privilege of working with Bill Clinger, he has always been an inspiration to us, and we thought it was appropriate to take perhaps the signal Federal building in the community in which he grew up and name it after him, so that everyone in Warren could remember how Warren and northwestern Pennsylvania has produced leadership of the first order in Congress.

It is my privilege to submit the bulk of my remarks for the Record, but I am proud to be here with my colleague from Pennsylvania, with the gentleman from Nevada, and the gentleman from the other side of the aisle to provide a manifestation of how much Bill Clinger has meant to this institution, to the community that he grew up in, and how it is worth our while to take a few minutes out in the House business to acknowledge those who have really made a difference.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the distinguished former Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, Congressman Bill Clinger.

Chairman Clinger was a major leader in the House of Representatives, having acquired the reputation as a strong voice for government reform during his nine illustrious terms. Clinger represented what is now Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District from 1979 to 1997--the seat now held by my distinguished colleague John Peterson.

Chairman Clinger was born and raised in Warren, Pennsylvania, where he attended the local public schools and graduated from the Hill High School in Pottstown.

After being admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1965, Clinger ran a private law practice in Warren before being elected to the 96th Congress in 1978.

An inspiration to many in the House, he exemplified excellence in civic duty, championing rural interests and rural economic development.

After ascending to Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, he helped establish concrete reforms to ensure government accountability, gaining the respect of members from both sides of the aisle. Chairman Clinger helped usher through historic legislation such as a measure to curb unfunded Federal mandates, line-item veto authority and a bill to reduce the paperwork burden that the Federal Government imposes on governments, individuals, and private businesses.

I had the honor of serving with Chairman Clinger during my freshman term in Congress. He was an important figure in my early political career, providing an example of dignified leadership throughout a demanding and tumultuous period of Congressional oversight.

Since his retirement from the House, Chairman Clinger has continued his dedication to public service. He has shared his expertise in oversight through his teachings at Johns Hopkins University and while serving on boards for organizations such as Council on Excellence in Government, Citizens Against Government Waste and many others.

One of Chairman Clinger's most notable accomplishments in recent years has been his service as Chairman of the Board of Trustees to the renowned Chautauqua Institution, located in southwestern New York State. The historic Chautauqua Institution is a tremendously valuable organization, providing a national forum for open discussions that probe contemporary political, religious and community issues.

I believe this undertaking is reflective of my good friend's character--displaying his commitment to the competent and thoughtful pursuit of understanding. He has shown a continued dedication to excellence and integrity at all levels of government and tirelessly fights on behalf of representative accountability. His decorated service to the community is held in high regard by many.

I believe that naming the post office at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania is a modest tribute to a true public servant. I urge the support of my colleagues and the swift passage of this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3549) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the ``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building''.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill now under consideration, H.R. 3549.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3549, authored by the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English). This bill would designate the post office in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building. All Members of the Pennsylvania delegation have cosponsored this legislation.

Former Representative Bill Clinger was born and raised in Warren, Pennsylvania, where he attended local public schools and graduated from Hill High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Bill Clinger was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1965, and then enjoyed a career in private law practice. On January 3, 1979, Bill Clinger was elected to the 96th Congress and was reelected to eight succeeding Congresses.

During this time, Mr. Clinger showed his perseverance in serving the citizens of Warren, Pennsylvania, by working towards accountability in government during his time as a member of the Committee on Government Reform. As a distinguished long-time member of the committee, Clinger served as the ranking member during the 103rd Congress as well as the chairman during the 104th Congress. One of his many accomplishments in Congress was the passage of the Clinger-Cohen Act, which transformed the way the Federal Government plans for, acquires, and manages information technology.

When Chairman Clinger left Congress, he continued contributing to his community. He is a senior fellow at the Center For the Study of American Government at Johns Hopkins University where he lectures frequently and works with students on their master's theses. Further, he spends his summers in Chautauqua, New York, where he is the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Chautauqua Institution. William Clinger was an example and an inspiration to all as he demonstrated his strong and respected leadership abilities during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives.

I join the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) in recognizing the accomplishments of former Representative Clinger and I urge all Members to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. English).

Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. Peterson).

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 3549, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 3549, legislation naming a postal facility in Warren, Pennsylvania, after William F. Clinger, Jr. This measure, which was introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English) on July 28, 2005, and unanimously reported by our committee on September 29, 2005, enjoys the support and cosponsorship of the entire Pennsylvania delegation.

A native of Warren County, Pennsylvania, Mr. Clinger graduated from Johns Hopkins University, served in the United States Navy, and obtained a law degree from the University of Virginia before practicing law. He was elected to represent Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District in 1979,

serving until 1997. While in Congress, Representative Clinger served as chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, vice chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and ranking member on the Subcommittee on Aviation.

Since retiring from Congress, former Representative Clinger has served on a number of boards and been involved with Johns Hopkins University as a senior fellow with the Political Science Department and Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. I commend my colleagues for naming a post office after former Representative William Clinger, and I urge swift passage of this bill.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.