A bill to establish a Chief Veterinary Officer in the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I am proud to introduce the Second Amendment Enforcement Act today with Senator Tester. I have always supported Americans' Second Amendment rights and was pleased when the Supreme Court found in June 2008 that the District of Columbia had reached too far in restricting the District's residents from owning firearms and defending themselves in their home. The legislation that we introduce today seeks to implement the Supreme Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller.

Specifically, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act would codify many of the laws the District of Columbia City Council has put in place in response to the Supreme Court's decision. For example, this legislation would codify the District's repeal of the semiautomatic ban and retain the District's ban on fully-automatic machine guns. The legislation would also codify the District City Council's law that prohibits the carrying of firearms into the District's public buildings that have implemented security measures and codify the Council's law regulating the carrying of rifles or shotguns.

The legislation would correctly restore the right of self-defense for any District resident in his or her home. Previously, the District had a requirement that any firearm kept in a home be stored in a manner that made it essentially useless for self-defense, e.g. kept ``unloaded and either disassembled or secured by a trigger lock, gun safe, locked box, or other secure device.'' The legislation would also clarify that landlords cannot prohibit firearms in rented homes or offices or dictate what firearms tenants may own.

Most egregious was the District's restrictions on the purchase of firearms and outright ban on the purchase of ammunition. At the heart of the Supreme Court's decision was that District residents must be able to own operable firearms for lawful purposes, which must then allow residents meaningful opportunities to purchase firearms and ammunition. Since the District does not have traditional retail gun shops and current federal law prohibits a person from purchasing handguns outside the person's State of residence, the legislation would amend Federal law to allow District residents the ability to purchase guns from federally-licensed dealers in Maryland and Virginia and then transport them back to their homes in DC. Let me be very clear on this point, this legislation would not allow residents of the District to buy firearms from anyone who is not a federally-licensed dealer, even at a gun show. I believe this is a very reasonable restriction and one that again, like much of this legislation, takes into consideration the concerns of the District's City Council.

Some may ask why a Senator from Arizona and a Senator from Montana would introduce legislation that impacts the lives of District residents. It is simple--we believe that residents across this country should have access to firearms to protect themselves, particularly in their own home or place of business. It is a constitutional right and one that was put in place by the Founding Fathers, recognized by the Supreme Court and cherished by many Americans. However, the District of Columbia City Council did not follow the Supreme Court's directive in fully updating their city's laws regarding firearms, and so now it is up to Congress to ensure that District residents' rights are respected by their government.

I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important legislation that will not only restore District residents' rights, but also ensure that no resident in any State, territory or the District is prevented from exercising his or her Second Amendment right.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill, along with Senator Ensign, to establish a Chief Veterinary Officer within the Department of Homeland Security. I want to acknowledge the leadership that our colleagues in the House, especially Representative Rogers of Alabama, have shown in introducing a bipartisan companion bill. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation advances increased focus on veterinary health, food defense, and agricultural security within the Department of Homeland Security. Importantly, it does this without creating an additional layer of management within the Department.

Animal disease and zoonotic outbreaks are a looming threat to the United States. A major foreign animal disease outbreak, such as foot- and-mouth disease, could have far-reaching effects, threatening our food supply and harming both domestic commerce and international trade. The Department of Homeland Security would be called upon to provide leadership and to integrate the necessary assets and people from across the Nation to respond to such an incident.

This bill would strengthen the Department's capacity to prepare for and respond to such a crisis by ensuring that there is a veterinary leader within the Department who is fully prepared and empowered to respond. The Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to appoint a veterinarian with expertise in veterinary public health, emergency preparedness, and other related fields as the Department's Chief Veterinary Officer. He or she would lead the division of the Department with primary responsibility for veterinary issues, food defense, and agricultural security, and would serve as the Department's lead policy advisor and principal point of contact on those issues. This senior leader also would provide overall guidance for the health of the Department's working animals that play a vital role in the Nation's defense.

I have long been concerned about the Nation's ability to prepare for and respond to agriculture disasters, such as a catastrophic foreign animal disease outbreak. In February, 2009, I held a hearing on protecting public and animal health and received testimony from several agencies, including the Government Accountability Office, GAO, which had recently completed a review of the Federal veterinary workforce. GAO reported troubling shortfalls in our veterinarian workforce and our planning to respond to foreign animal disease and zoonotic outbreaks. I believe that this bill will help address this challenge and support a more capable and prepared Department of Homeland Security.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill, along with Senator Ensign, to establish a Chief Veterinary Officer within the Department of Homeland Security. I want to acknowledge the leadership that our colleagues in the House, especially Representative Rogers of Alabama, have shown in introducing a bipartisan companion bill. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation advances increased focus on veterinary health, food defense, and agricultural security within the Department of Homeland Security. Importantly, it does this without creating an additional layer of management within the Department.

Animal disease and zoonotic outbreaks are a looming threat to the United States. A major foreign animal disease outbreak, such as foot- and-mouth disease, could have far-reaching effects, threatening our food supply and harming both domestic commerce and international trade. The Department of Homeland Security would be called upon to provide leadership and to integrate the necessary assets and people from across the Nation to respond to such an incident.

This bill would strengthen the Department's capacity to prepare for and respond to such a crisis by ensuring that there is a veterinary leader within the Department who is fully prepared and empowered to respond. The Secretary of Homeland Security would be required to appoint a veterinarian with expertise in veterinary public health, emergency preparedness, and other related fields as the Department's Chief Veterinary Officer. He or she would lead the division of the Department with primary responsibility for veterinary issues, food defense, and agricultural security, and would serve as the Department's lead policy advisor and principal point of contact on those issues. This senior leader also would provide overall guidance for the health of the Department's working animals that play a vital role in the Nation's defense.

I have long been concerned about the Nation's ability to prepare for and respond to agriculture disasters, such as a catastrophic foreign animal disease outbreak. In February, 2009, I held a hearing on protecting public and animal health and received testimony from several agencies, including the Government Accountability Office, GAO, which had recently completed a review of the Federal veterinary workforce. GAO reported troubling shortfalls in our veterinarian workforce and our planning to respond to foreign animal disease and zoonotic outbreaks. I believe that this bill will help address this challenge and support a more capable and prepared Department of Homeland Security.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill to designate the Buffalo Bayou as a National Heritage Area. This legislation will designate the 25-mile stretch of the Houston Ship Channel as the first National Heritage Area in Texas. This distinction will allow up to $1 million annually for 10 years to the area and provide the tourism benefits of Federal recognition without restriction on land or commerce.

In 2002, Congressman Gene Green and I introduced the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Study Act, which directed the U.S. Department of the Interior to conduct a study to determine if the Buffalo Bayou was eligible to receive National Heritage Area distinction. The Department of the Interior has concluded that the Buffalo Bayou has met the criteria needed for National Heritage Area distinction, and I support this distinction. I wish to recognize Congressman Green for spearheading the efforts to designate the Buffalo Bayou as a National Heritage Area.

The Buffalo Bayou has played an important role in the development of Texas and our nation's commerce. The Buffalo Bayou has helped the City of Houston become the fourth largest city in the United States by supporting oil refining, petrochemical production and commercial trade.

The history of the Buffalo Bayou begins on August 30, 1836, when Augustus Chapman Allen and his brother, John Kirby Allen, founded the City of Houston near the banks of the Buffalo Bayou. The city was incorporated on June 5, 1837, and named after the former General and President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston. One of the most significant battles in the history of Texas, the Battle of San Jacinto, was fought at the mouth of Buffalo Bayou and the San Jacinto River. It paved the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country.

If approved by Congress, the Buffalo Bayou's National Heritage Area status would enhance as well as promote the national significance of this historic waterway.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Second Amendment Enforcement Act of 2010 with Senators McCain, Begich, Bennett, Brownback, Burr, Chambliss, Graham, Hatch and Wicker to codify the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision District of Columbia v. Heller, which ruled Washington, DC's, decades-old ban on firearms unconstitutional. This bill will repeal the District of Columbia's restrictions on semiautomatic firearms, current gun storage law and complicated firearms registration system. It will ensure that law- abiding persons in Washington, DC, are able to fully exercise their Second Amendment rights just like all other Americans.

My cosponsors and I, all signers of the bipartisan friend-of-the- court brief for District of Columbia v. Heller, urging the Court to support gun rights, think this is a very important bill and we welcome our colleagues' support.