To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 954 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio, as the "John Herschel Glenn, 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 September 26, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in order to conduct a hearing entitled on ``The Role and Impact of Credit Rating Agencies on the Subprime Credit Markets.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on S.1543, a bill to establish a national geothermal initiative to encourage increased production of energy from geothermal resources by creating a program of geothermal research, development, demonstration and commercial application to support the achievement of a national geothermal energy goal.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in order to conduct a hearing entitled, ``An Examination of the Impacts of Global Warming on the Chesapeake Bay.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on the ``Offshore Tax Issues: Reinsurance and Hedge Funds''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. for a business meeting to consider pending committee business.

Agenda

Nomination

The Honorable Julie L. Myers to be Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Postal Naming Bills

H.R. 2654, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 South Dumont Avenue in Woonsocket, South Dakota, as the ``Eleanor McGovern Post Office Building;''

H.R. 2467, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 69 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Frank J. Guarini Post Office Building;''

H.R. 2587, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 555 South 3rd Street Lobby in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Kenneth T. Whalum, Sr. Post Office Building;''

H.R. 2778, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle, New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal Station;''

H.R. 2825, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the ``Owen Lovejoy Princeton Post Office Building;''

H.R. 3052, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 954 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio, as the ``John Herschel Glenn Jr. Post Office Building;''

H.R. 3106/S. 2023, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as the ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office;''

H.R. 2765, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 44 North Main Street in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Master Sergeant Sean Michael Thomas Post Office.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet in order to conduct an Executive Nomination hearing on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226.

Witness list:

Michael J. Sullivan to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, at 10 a.m. to conduct an executive business meeting to consider on the Nomination of Robert C. Tapella of Virginia, to be Public Printer, Government Printing Office; and the nominations of Steven T. Walther of Nevada, David M. Mason of Virginia, Robert D. Lenhard of Maryland, and Hans von Spakovsky of Georgia to be members of the Federal Election Commission.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Improving Internet Access to Help Small Business Compete in a Global Economy,'' on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, beginning at 10 a.m., in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Madam Spaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3052, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 954 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio as the ``John Herschel Glenn, Jr. Post Office Building.'' I agree with Congressmen Space and Tiberi that it is long overdue for us to finally pay fitting tribute to an American hero who answered the call of service so many times, while asking nothing in return.

John Glenn's life is truly an American story. Born in Cambridge, Ohio in 1921 and raised in New Concord, John Glenn spent his early years in Ohio. After graduating with a baccalaureate degree in engineering from Muskingum College, John Glenn began his distinguished military career as a Marine and fighter pilot. He flew 149 combat missions, in both World War II and the Korean War, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross six times.

But more than his impressive record of military service, John Glenn will always be best known for his contributions to our nation's space exploration program. Glenn's experience and skill made him a logical candidate for the astronaut corps being formed during 1958. On February 20, 1962, Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 ``Friendship 7'' spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. This endeavor was a critical political and scientific milestone. It revolutionized the perspective of the American people and instilled public faith in the fledgling space program, which at that time was lagging behind the Soviets in the ``Space Race.'' As a Member of Congress from the Houston area, the home of the Johnson Space Center, I personally want to think John Glenn for this great achievement. John Glenn always had the ``Right Stuff,'' as the writer Tom Wolfe so aptly put it.

After his famous flight, John Glenn returned to his home state of Ohio and went on to serve the state with distinction and honor in United States Senate. In his four terms in the Senate, John Glenn took a leading role in the effort to reduce nuclear weapons and government affairs. He was chief author of the 1978 Nuclear Nonproliferation Act, served as chairman of the Senate Government Affairs Committee from 1978 until 1995, and was a leading member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees and the Special Committee on Aging. Always willing to serve his country, John Glenn waged a spirited contest for his party's presidential nomination in 1984.

In February 1997, John Glenn announced that he would retire from the Senate. A year later, NASA requested him to rejoin the space program he had helped to create as a member of the Space Shuttle Discovery Crew. John Glenn accepted the invitation and on October 29, 1998, at age 77, became the oldest human ever to venture into space. This voyage to outer space was no mere publicity stunt, however, thanks to John Glenn; NASA scientists gained much valuable information. Senator Glenn conducted the Canadian Space Agency's OSTEO (Osteoarthritis) experiment on board the Space Shuttle Discovery during the mission which contributed to our understanding of the aging process. The OSTEO experiment studied the underlying processes of bone loss and evaluated treatments. The research, supervised by John Glenn, was ideally suited for the space environment, as bone loss in space is four to ten times faster than during osteoporosis on Earth. The experiment demonstrated how bone mineralization decreases during space flight and also showed that a specific therapeutic agent, called recombinant human parathyroid hormone (PTH), is able to reverse this loss. The experiments were such a success, that the Canadian Space Agency is developing follow-up experiments on future space missions.

Madam Speaker, I would again like to voice my support for H.R. 3052, and finally give back something to a man that has already given so much to his country. ``God Speed, John Glenn.''

Madam Speaker, I would just like to offer my condolences to the Gillmor family at this tragic time in their life.

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

I am honored today to speak about a highly esteemed former Senator, distinguished war veteran, astronaut, businessman and educator, John Herschel Glenn, Jr. He is well-known throughout the history of this country through both his career in Congress and his legendary work with NASA. John Glenn has served his country profoundly for decades and remains an active leader in his community.

A lifelong resident of Ohio, he attended Muskingum College to study chemistry. Shortly after the attacks on Pearl Harbor, he enrolled in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and earned a commission in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. He served his country in World War II as a fighter pilot, flying 59 combat missions.

After returning to the U.S., he was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Maryland, where he has soon earned the rank of captain. His military service continued, and he saw battle in North China and Guam. He fought in the Korean War, participating in 63 air combat missions. His experience in combat fighting furthered as he attended additional flight training in Maryland. It was there that he tested flying planes at altitudes very high.

In 1957 he completed the first supersonic transcontinental flight, code named Project Bullet. This historic flight was one of many great achievements for John Glenn's career in aviation.

While still serving with the Marines Corps, Glenn was assigned to NASA as one of the legendary group of astronauts involved with Project Mercury.

As a member of this elite group of astronauts, Glenn piloted the first American manned orbital mission in 1962, which I remember very well. It was the third mission.

His mission brought him national fame and recognition as he was seen as an American hero. He resigned the NASA program in 1964 and one year later from the Marine Corps at the rank of colonel.

John Glenn entered the private sector working for Royal Crown Cola. But his passion for public service soon got the better of him and he decided to run for public office in 1964. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974 after years of campaign-related setbacks. He served in the Senate for 25 years. During his last term of office, he was invited by NASA to rejoin the space program that he had helped to create, therefore becoming the oldest person to travel into space at age 77.

Upon retiring from the Senate, he moved back to Ohio permanently, where he and his wife founded the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at Ohio State University.

The institute, which later became the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, educates and prepares students for careers in public and nonprivate sectors. Throughout his military career, his history with NASA, and upon retiring from the Senate, John Glenn has earned numerous prestigious awards, some of which include earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

In 1990, he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. It is with great pride that we continue to honor his service to this country, and to his community through the naming of this post office in his hometown.

Madam Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I thank the gentleman from Vermont for yielding this time.

I would like to preface my remarks with my condolences to the family of Paul Gillmor as well, an Ohioan and a good man who will be missed.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3052, legislation to rename the post office in Cambridge, Ohio, after John Glenn.

I appreciate the bipartisan support the Ohio delegation has shown for passage of this legislation, and am excited to see this bill honoring a true American hero.

John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio, a very small town in the beautiful rolling hills of Guernsey County. At a very young age, he moved to nearby New Concord, where he attended both high school and college.

After graduating from Muskingum College, John Glenn answered the call to military service. As a naval pilot, he served in both World War II and the Korean conflict, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions and the Air Medal with 18 Clusters.

After leaving the military, John Glenn became a test pilot for the Naval Air Test Center. In 1957, he set a speed record by flying from Los Angeles to New York in 3 hours and 23 minutes.

It was his experience as a pilot that led to his most celebrated accomplishments in aeronautics. In 1959, John Glenn volunteered to become one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, the first manned space flight program in the United States.

Several years later, John Glenn embarked on his famous mission. In February of 1962, he became first man to orbit the Earth, completing that feat three times over.

John Glenn's marvels were not merely limited to aeronautical achievements. Following the end of his career in aeronautics, Ohio was the fortunate benefactor of John Glenn's public service. He served as a United States Senator with dignity and honor for 28 years before retiring.

As a freshman Member of Congress, I often look to examples to follow. I have had the good fortune of getting to know Senator Glenn in these last few months.

As an example of his courage and character, he tells a story of what he was feeling when he was about to be blasted into space 45 years ago.

I asked him, were you afraid? And he very candidly offered his response of yes, he was, but he did it because it was the right thing to do. He and his lovely wife, Annie, discussed the fact that there was a very good chance that he would not come back, and they did it anyway. He did it with courage and honor. He did it because it was right for this country. And at this time, in our history, I think it would serve all of us very well, Madam Speaker, to follow the example that John Glenn presented for us, the trails that he blazed. He is, in fact, the best that this country has to offer. He has shown courage in the face of adversity. He has shown selflessness for the sake of making our country a better place.

The Cambridge post office is one that has stood the test of time. For the better part of a century it has stood as a landmark in one of the central towns in my district. Moreover, the Cambridge post office serves the folks in the small town where John Glenn was born, and it's the same building in which John Glenn's distinguished military career began so many years ago when he registered for enlistment and service to his country. From this point onward it will bear a name of one that has brought much inspiration to the daily lives of Ohioans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with Representative Jones and my other colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, in calling for a comprehensive revaluation of our strategies in Iraq. I consider the situation in Iraq to be one of Congress' highest priorities and there is an urgent need to establish a comprehensive and realistic exit strategy. We need to offer hope to the families anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones and the men and women who risk their lives everyday.

Next month will be the 40th anniversary of one of the largest protests against the Vietnam War. Over a hundred thousand people marched on Washington that day, and it worries me that the current Administration seems to have learned little from history. A similar discontent can be seen on the streets of America today, as more and more polls demonstrate dwindling public support for this war.

I have always maintained the stance that an adequate case for war was never made and that military intervention should only have been used if all other routes failed. From the beginning, I offered an alternative resolution to war. Although we can never know what the outcome of alternatives may have been, we have the chance now to change strategy and make decisive steps to developing a lasting solution.

Mr. Speaker, an increase in troop numbers is not the answer. This war, commenced in haste and founded on deception, will never provide the solutions Iraq needs to establish a strong and lasting democracy. We can't secure victory through a war of attrition, and neither can we protect our sons and daughters who stand in harm's way in a war that was never necessary.

It is true that we cannot abandon the Iraqi people. But more productive ways to help them can be found. In the current international climate, we cannot engage in meaningful dialogue on the Iraqi situation while the occupation continues. I believe we must allow the U.N. to play a greater role in the reconstruction of Iraq, advancing human rights and justice within the framework of international law. In my work in this great body, I consistently seek to protect the United States and its people above all else. However, currently there is no absolute proof of an imminent threat. In fact our vulnerability to international terrorism only rises every day our troops stay in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I am dedicated to providing funding to protect our troops, but I refuse to support the failed foreign policies of the Bush administration, nor any legislation that will lead to more unnecessary deaths. The greatest thing we can do for our brave men and women in the Armed Forces is to take them out of harm's way by developing a clear, decisive exit strategy.