Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 27, 2007, at 9:30 a.m., in open session to consider the following nominations: Admiral Gary Roughead, USN for reappointment to the grade of Admiral and to be Chief of Naval Operations; General William E. Ward, USA for reappointment to the grade of General and to be Commander, United States Africa command; General Kevin P. Chilton, USAF for reappointment to the grade of General and to be Commander, United States Strategic Command; and Lieutenant General James N. Mattis, USMC to be General and to be Commander, United States Joint Forces Command and Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 10:30 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

The hearing will focus on modernization and efforts to address the needs of the air traffic system and to improve the movement of aircraft and passengers. Subcommittee members will be provided the opportunity to review problems encountered by travelers during the summer 2007 travel season and to consider steps that can be taken to improve the air traffic system.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce Science, and Transportation be authorized to hold a business meeting during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

During the Executive Session, Committee members will markup the following agenda items: S. 1578, Ballast Water Management Act of 2007; S. 1889, Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2007; S. 1453, Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) Extension Act of 2007; S. 1965, Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act; S.J. Res. 17, a joint resolution directing the United States to initiate international discussions and take necessary steps with other Nations to negotiate an agreement for managing migratory and transboundary fish stocks in the Arctic Ocean; S. Con. Res. 39, a concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of a world day of remembrance for road crash victims; Nominations for Promotion in the United States Coast Guard (PN 878, PN 946, PN 947, and

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 Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on hard rock mining on Federal lands.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on the ``Border Insecurity, Take Three: Open and Unmonitored''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a hearing on the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 9 a.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting to consider pending business, to be followed immediately by an oversight hearing on the prevalence of violence against Indian women.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate in order to conduct a markup on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 10 a.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226.

Agenda:

I. Bills: S. 1267, Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, (Lugar, Dodd, Graham), S. 2035, Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, (Specter, Schumer).

S.J. Res. 13, Joint resolution granting consent to the International Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding, (Leahy, Snowe, Kennedy, Whitehouse), S. 980, Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2007, (Feinstein, Sessions, Biden).

II. Resolutions: S. Con. Res. 45, commending the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation for its work in aiding children and families affected by child abuse, and designating November 2007 as National Courage Month, (Cardin, Cornyn).

S. Res. 258, recognizing the historical and educational significance of the Atlantic Freedom Tour of the Freedom Schooner Amistad, and expressing the sense of the Senate that preserving the legacy of the Amistad story is important in promoting multicultural dialogue, education, and cooperation, (Dodd).

III. Nominations: James Russell Dedrick to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs to be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2007, in order to conduct a hearing on the Nomination of Paul J. Hutter to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. The committee will meet in room 562 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, be authorized conduct a hearing entitled ``An Examination of the Google- DoubleClick Merger and the Online Advertising Industry: What are the Risks for Competition and Privacy?'' on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 2 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building room 226.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 3:30 p.m. in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``Cost Effective Airlift in the 21st Century''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to hold a hearing during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 128, to amend the Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act to designate a new management entity, make certain technical and conforming amendments, enhance private property protections, and for other purposes; S. 148, to establish the Paterson Great Falls National Park in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes; S. 189, to decrease the matching funds requirement and authorize additional appropriations for Keweenaw National Historical Park in the State of Michigan; S. 697, to establish the Steel Industry National Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania; S. 867, to adjust the boundary of Lowell National Historical Park, and for other purposes; S. 1039, a bill to extend the authorization for the Coastal Heritage Trail in the State of New Jersey; S. 1341, to provide for the exchange of certain Bureau of Land Management land in Pima County, Arizona, and for other purposes; S. 1476, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study of the Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County, California, to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a unit of the National Park System; S. 1709 and H.R. 1239, to amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out the Act, and for other purposes; S. 1808, to authorize the exchange of certain land in Denali National Park in the State of Alaska; S. 1969, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating Estate Grange and other sites related to Alexander Hamilton's life on the island of St. Croix in the

U.S. Virgin Islands as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

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.

I ask unanimous consent that we now proceed to Calendar No. 538, S. 1965.

I ask unanimous consent that the Stevens amendment at the desk be agreed to; the committee-reported amendments, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and that any statements related to this matter be printed in the Record.