A resolution commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Audubon Society.

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 May 23, 2006, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Improving Financial Literacy in the United States.''

Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 10 a.m. on price gouging.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 23 at 10 a.m.

The purpose of this hearing is to receive testimony on the National Research Council Report, ``Managing Construction and Infrastructure in the 21st Century Bureau of Reclamation'' and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Report, ``Managing for Excellence: An Action Plan for the 21st Century.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to hold a Business Meeting on May 23, 2006 at 9:30 am to consider the following agenda:

S. 2735 To amend the National Dam Safety Program Act to reauthorize the national dam safety program, and for other purposes.

S. 2832 The Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments of 2006.

S. 2430 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006 with amendment.

S. 1509 Captive Primate Safety Act.

S. 2041 Ed Fountain Park Expansion Act.

S. 2127 To redesignate the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in the state of Virginia as the ``Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge''.

S. Res. 301 Commemorating Audubon Society's 100th Anniversary with amendment.

S. 2781 Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2006.

S. 2650 To designate the Federal courthouse to be constructed in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Federal Courthouse.''

S. 801 To designate the United States courthouse located at 300 North Hogan Street, Jacksonville, Florida, as the ``John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse.''

S.__ Great Lakes Coordination and Oversight Act of 2006.

S. 2023 To amend the oil pollution act of 1990 to improve that act, and for other purposes.

GSA Resolutions: To authorize the majority of the General Services Administration's FY 2007 Capital Investment and Leasing Program; To authorize seven new courthouse construction projects.

Army Corps Study Resolutions: Committee Resolution on Cedar River, Time Check Area, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Committee Resolution on Pawcatuck River, Little Narragansett Bay, and Watch Hill Cove, Rhode Island and Connecticut; Committee Resolution on Kansas River Basin, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska; and Committee Resolution on Port of San Francisco, San Francisco, California.

Nominations: Molly O'Neill to be an Assistant Administrator--EPA; Dr. Dale Klein to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Dr. Gregory Jaczko to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and Dr. Peter Lyons to-be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 2:30 p.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Encouraging Economic Self- Determination in Indian Country''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 2:15 p.m. to hold a business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 23, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed mark-up.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Perspectives on Patents: Post-Grant Review Procedures and Other Litigation Reforms'' on Tuesday, May 23, 2006, at 2 p.m. in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Witness List: Panel I: Andrew Cadel, Managing Director, Associate General Counsel and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, JP Morgan Chase, New York, NY; Philip S. Johnson, Chief Patent Counsel, Johnson & Johnson, Newbrunswick, NJ; Nathan P. Myhrvold, Chief Executive Officer, Intellectual Ventures, Bellevue, WA; John R. Thomas, Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC; and Mark Chandler, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit a resolution with Senator Stabenow to commemorate the National Audubon Society's Centennial Anniversary. Senators Snowe, Boxer, Carper, Nelson (FL), Martinez, Jeffords, Kerry, Feingold, Durbin, Feinstein, Schumer, Clinton, Collins, Cantwell, Lieberman, DeWine, Crapo, Bond, Landrieu and Vitter have joined us as original cosponsors.

The National Audubon Society was first incorporated in 1905 by a dedicated group of conservationists with the goal of protecting birds such as the Great Egret from the plumage trade. Feathered hats were at the height of fashion in those days, and plume-traders would hunt egrets and other birds as part of a highly profitable business. By raising the awareness of the problem, the men and women who founded the National Audubon Society saved egrets and many other bird species from extinction.

Since that time, Audubon has worked to preserve and protect species and the habitat upon which they depend throughout the United States. The organization has been instrumental in setting aside natural areas as wildlife sanctuaries, and supporting major habitat restoration efforts including ongoing conservation work in the Florida Everglades, San Francisco Bay, and along the Mississippi River. As the U.S. partner in BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program, Audubon has fostered the stewardship and protection of essential wildlife habitat from coast to coast. Through a science-based process of site identification, monitoring, education and outreach, Audubon's IBA program has laid the groundwork for community-based conservation with over 1,600 sites recognized as ecologically important for bird species. In recent months, Audubon has worked with partners to raise awareness of the plight of the Red Knot, a long-distance migratory bird species in steep decline as the result of the over-harvesting of its food source, habitat destruction and invasive species concerns.

The Senate Resolution we are submitting today recognizes the National Audubon Society's dedication and commitment to protecting wildlife and the Nation's ecological heritage. We commemorate the National Audubon Society on it's 100th anniversary, and wish the organization many more years of success.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 448, S. Res. 301.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee- reported amendments be agreed to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.