A bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse and customhouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the "Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse".

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 29, 2007, AT 9:30 a.m., to receive testimony on the posture of the Department of the Navy in review of the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2008 and the future years defense program.

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, March 29, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The hearing is on the nomination of David James Gribbin IV to be the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet for a business meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in S-211. The Business Meeting will consider the following agenda:

Nominations

Nomination of Bradley Udall to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation, reappointment.

Nomination of Roger Romulus Martella, Jr. to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, General Counsel.

Legislation

S. 801, a bill to designate a United States courthouse in Fresno, CA, as the Robert E. Coyle United States Courthouse.

S. 521, a bill to designate the Federal building and courthouse in Duluth, MN, as the Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse.

S. 992, The Public Buildings Cost Reduction Act of 2007.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the Session of the Senate on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 10 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Clean Energy: From the Margins to the Mainstream.''

President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 9:30 a.m. to hold a hearing on Iran.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 9:15 a.m. in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct an oversight hearing on Indian trust fund litigation.

Those wishing additional information may contact the Indian Affairs Committee at 224-2251.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a hearing on ``Preserving Prosecutorial Independence: Is the Department of Justice Politicizing the Hiring and Firing of U.S. Attorneys?--Part III'' on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. in Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226.

Witness:

D. Kyle Sampson, Former Chief of Staff to the Attorney General of the United States.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet to conduct a markup on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at 2 p.m. in Dirksen Room 226.

Agenda

I. Committee Authorization: Authorization of Subpoenas in Connection with Investigation into Replacement of U.S. Attorneys.

II. Bills: S. 236. Federal Agency Data Mining Reporting Act of 2007, Feingold, Sununu, Leahy, Kennedy, Cardin; S. 376. Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2007, Leahy, Specter, Grassley, Kyl, Sessions, Cornyn; S. 849. OPEN Government Act, Leahy, Cornyn, Specter, Feingold; S. 119. War Profiteering Prevention Act of 2007, Leahy, Feinstein, Feingold, Schumer, Durbin; S. 621. Wartime Treatment Study Act of 2007, Feingold, Grassley, Kennedy.

III. Resolutions: S. Res. 108. Designating the first week of April 2007 as ``National Asbestos Awareness Week,'' Baucus, Leahy, Kennedy, Feinstein, Durbin.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate for a markup entitled, ``Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007''on Thursday, March 29, 2007, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in room 428A of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office

Building, to hear the legislative presentation of the AMVETS, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Gold Star Wives of America, Fleet Reserve Association, The Retired Enlisted Association, Military Officers Association of America, and the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 29, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security be authorized to meet on Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. for a hearing entitled, Eliminating and Recovering Improper Payments.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 521) to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse and customhouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the ``Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse''.

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 S. 521.

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

Madam Speaker, S. 521 is a bill to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as Judge Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse.

Gerald Heaney was appointed judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit on November 3, 1966. He took senior status on December 31, 1988, and retired on August 31, 2006, after over 40 years of distinguished service to his country and the citizens of Minnesota. I rise in strong support of this bill.

Judge Heaney was born on January 29, 1918, in Goodhue, a rural community in the southeastern part of Minnesota. As a child growing up in a farming community, Judge Heaney learned the value of a close family, honesty, and hard work. These qualities have marked not only his personal life but also his life as a public servant.

He was educated at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul and received his law degree from the University of Minnesota in 1941.

Gerald Heaney is a decorated World War II veteran and was a member of the distinguished Army Ranger Battalion and participated in the historic D-Day landing at Normandy. He was awarded the Silver Star for extraordinary bravery in the Battle of La Pointe du Hoc in Normandy. He also received a Bronze Star and five battle stars. At the end of the war, Judge Heaney returned home and entered private practice in Duluth. During this time, he was instrumental in improving the State's education system, and served on the board of regents for the University of Minnesota.

He was instrumental in helping develop for the Duluth school system the same pay scale for both men and women. In 1966, he was appointed by President Johnson to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In that capacity, he has been a champion in protecting the rights of the disadvantaged. He was devoted to making sure that every person had an equal opportunity for an education, a job, and a home.

He firmly believes the poor and the less educated and the less advantaged deserve the protection of the Constitution. As a hardworking, well-prepared and fair-minded jurist, he left his legal stamp on school desegregation cases, bankruptcy laws, prison treatment, and Social Security law. His public service is marked by industry, brilliance, and scholarly excellence. His compassion and dedication to those most disadvantaged is unparalleled.

Judge Heaney is most deserving of this honor. I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Madam Speaker, S. 521 is a companion bill to H.R. 187 which was introduced by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar). This bill designates the Federal building and United States courthouse and customhouse at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse. The bill honors Judge Heaney's dedication to public service.

As we have heard previously, after serving in the Army during World War II and acquiring a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School, Judge Gerald Heaney entered into the private practice of law from 1946 to 1966. Judge Heaney's career as a judge began in 1966 with an appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit by President Lyndon Johnson.

Judge Heaney had a reputation for championing equal justice for underprivileged and vulnerable citizens. He retired after 40 years of service on August 31, 2006.

I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed en bloc to the consideration of Calendar No. 105, S. 521, Calendar No. 106, S. 801, and H.R. 753, which is at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills be read three times, passed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table en bloc, the consideration of these items appear separately in the Record, and any statements be printed in the Record.

It is my understanding a quorum call is not in progress.