A resolution designating September 2007 as "Adopt a School Library Month".

Mr. President, When I was growing up in East St. Louis, I spent hours reading about faraway places, exciting adventures, and historic figures and events. I spent countless hours in the library discovering wonderful stories and developed a lifelong love of reading.

Now imagine going to school where the library is dark and uninviting, and where there is no librarian in sight. These conditions are real. I have visited schools in my home State of Illinois and seen libraries that show their years of neglect.

The dire circumstances that face some of these school libraries are not due to lack of concern by school officials. School leaders are working with limited budgets and unforgiving performance standards. School libraries were once one of the central features of our school, but are now one of the first programs to be cut.

In Cairo, IL, there is no money available for new books. The superintendent told me that his school libraries would have no books at all if it were not for the donations from the local community. In Collinsville, school libraries had science books so outdated they were published before man landed on the moon. We cannot expect our students to compete in today's global economy unless we provide them with the tools that they need to succeed.

Many studies have demonstrated the strong link between high-quality school libraries and student achievement, both in the classroom and on standardized tests. School libraries benefit all students, regardless of race, class, or family situation. According to a study by the Illinois School Library Media Association, students average 5 percent to 13 percent higher on their reading and writing test scores when their libraries are well-funded. Students in schools with more current collections in their libraries scored 7 percent to 13 percent higher in reading and writing in lower grades and 3 percent higher on college entrance exams. In Illinois, additional computers in school libraries led to an 8-percent increase in the reading performance of fifth to eighth graders, and to an 11-percent increase in the writing scores for eighth graders. The data is consistent and clear: All of our children are more likely to succeed when their school possesses a high-quality school library.

Many groups recognize the importance of school libraries and are doing something about it. In particular, I commend the Heart of America Foundation, which is focused on improving some of the Nation's most needy school libraries. In impoverished communities where many libraries have one book or less per student, Heart of America tries to bring the collections of these libraries up to at least the national average of 22 books per student. Its READesign program offers intensive care for school libraries through renovation, revitalizing technology, and replenishing book shelves. Heart of America makes READesigns a community effort by bringing together individuals, corporate sponsors, and community groups to provide schools with ``library makeovers.'' The transformation of these school libraries is truly extraordinary. It goes beyond simply painting and restocking the bookshelves. After a READesign, a school library once again becomes a welcoming and vibrant center of learning, books, and technology.

I am confident that others will be as inspired by the READesign program and the potential of our school libraries as I am. In designating September 2007 as ``Adopt a School Library Month,'' it is my hope that individuals will remember the importance of school libraries in facilitating the academic achievement of our children and support needy school libraries in their respective communities.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 6, at 10 a.m., in open session to receive a report on the findings of the Iraqi Security Forces Independent Assessment Commission.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 5 p.m. in Executive Session to continue to receive information relating to the treatment of detainees.

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 Thursday, September 6, 2007, at 10 a.m., in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``An Examination of the Potential Human Health, Water Quality, and Other Impacts of the Confined Animal Feeding Operation Industry.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 6, 2007, at 10 a.m., in 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building, to hear testimony on ``Carried Interest Part III: Pension Issues.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to hold a hearing on the Nomination of Charles E.F. Millard, of New York, to be Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation during the session of the Senate on Thursday, September 5, 2007, at 10 a.m. in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate office building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, September 6, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. in order to conduct a hearing entitled ``A DHS Status Report: Assessing Challenges and Measuring Progress.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the Senate in order to conduct a markup on Thursday, September 6, 2007, at 10 a.m. in SD-266.

Agenda

I. Bills

S. 453, Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 (Obama, Schumer, Leahy, Cardin, Feingold, Feinstein, Kennedy, Whitehouse); S. 1692, A bill to grant a Federal Charter to Korean War Veterans Association (Cardin, Isakson, Kennedy); S. 1845, A bill to provide for limitations in certain communications between the Department of Justice and the White House (Whitehouse, Leahy) and S.772, Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (Kohl, Coleman).

II. Resolutions

S. Res. 282, National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week (Kohl, Hatch) and S. Res. 134, Adopt a School Library Month (Durbin).

III. Nominations

Richard A. Jones to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; Sharion Aycock to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Mississippi; Jennifer Walker Elrod to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 6, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. to hold a closed hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed en bloc to the consideration of the following calendar items: Calendar No. 342, S. Res. 134; Calendar No. 343, S. Res. 282; Calendar No. 344, S. Res. 288; Calendar No. 345, S. Res. 292; and Calendar No. 346, S. Res. 301.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to en bloc, the preambles be agreed to en bloc, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, the consideration of these items appear separately in the Record, and that any statements relating thereto be printed at the appropriate place in the Record as if read.