Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I rise to pay tribute to 23 young Americans who have been killed in Iraq since July 29. This brings to 457 the number of soldiers who were either from California or based in California that have been killed while serving our country in Iraq. This represents 24 percent of all U.S. deaths in Iraq.

SGT Milton M. Monzon, Jr., age 21, died on July 24 in Baghdad where an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley fighting vehicle. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, CO. He was from Los Angeles, CA.

PFC Ramon A. Villatoro, Jr., age 19 died on July 24 in Baghdad where an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley fighting vehicle. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Carson, CO. He was from Bakersfield, CA.

PVT Ernesto R. Guerra, age 20, died on July 29 in Baghdad of injuries sustained on July 28 when his humvee was involved in an accident. He was assigned to the Army's 4-3rd Brigade Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. He was from Long Beach, CA.

Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas C. Hull, age 41, died August 2 on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Arabian Gulf after being medically evacuated to the carrier for a noncombat related incident. He was an operations specialist assigned to the USS Princeton, homeported in San Diego, CA.

LCpl Adam J. Strain, age 20, died August 2 as a result of enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division. He was from Smartsville, CA.

SSG Ramon E. Gonzales Cordova, age 30, died August 8 as a result of enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.

LCpl Evenor C. Herrera, age 22, died August 10 from wounds received from the detonation of an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.

SPC Brian K. Derks, age 21, died on August 13 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on mounted patrol. He was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, CA.

SGT Nathan K. Bouchard, age 24, died on August 18 in Samarra, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee following a

mine assessing mission. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. He was from Wildomar, CA.

SPC Ray M. Fuhrmann, II, age 28, died on August 18 in Samarra, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee following a mine assessing mission. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. He was from Novato, CA.

SGT Joseph C. Nurre, age 22, died on August 21 near Samarra, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M916 tractor during convoy operations. He was assigned to the Reserve's 463rd Engineer Battalion, Weirton, WV. He was from Wilton, CA.

PFC Ramon Romero, age 19, died August 22 when the vehicle he was in was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Fallujah. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, CA. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division. He was from Huntington Park, CA.

Cpl Timothy M. Shea, age 22, died August 25 in Husaybah, Iraq of injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his position. He was assigned to the Army's 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, GA. He was from Sonoma, CA.

Seaman Apprentice Robert D. Macrum, age 22, was reported missing on September 13 after failing to report to muster formation. It was concluded that he fell overboard and search and rescue attempts were unsuccessful. He was assigned to the USS Princeton, currently deployed to the Arabian Gulf conducting maritime security operations as part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group. The USS Princeton is homeported in San Diego, CA.

LCpl Shane C. Swanberg, age 24, died September 15 from an explosion resulting from indirect fire at Forward Operation Base, Camp Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, CA. As Part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.

SGT Alfredo B. Silva, age 35, died on September 15 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during patrol operations. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, Modesto, CA. He was from Calexico, CA.

SPC Mike T. Sonoda, Jr., age 34, died on September 22 in Baghdad of injuries sustained on September 21 when an improvised explosive device detonated near his military vehicle. He was assigned to D Company, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Brigade, Army National Guard, Oakdale CA. He was from Fallbrook, CA.

SGT Paul C. Neubauer, age 40, died on September 23 of injuries sustained in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated and his patrol came under small-arms fire. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Oakdale, CA. He was from Oceanside, CA.

SSG Daniel R. Scheile, age 37, died on September 24 of injuries sustained in Baghdad on September 23 when an improvised explosive device detonated and his patrol came under small-arms fire. He was assigned to the Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Oakdale, CA. He was from Antioch, CA.

SGT Brian E. Dunlap, age 34, died September 24 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Taqaddum, Iraq. He was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve's 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Los Alamitos, CA. As part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division. He was from Vista, CA.

PVT Elijah M. Ortega, age 19, died September 26 as the result of a non-hostile gunshot wound at Camp Baharia, Iraq. He was assigned to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC. He was from Oxnard, CA.

SPC Joshua J. Kynoch, age 23, died on October 1 in Bayji, Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle during convoy operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. He was from Santa Rosa, CA.

PFC Andrew D. Bedard, age 19, died October 4 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Twentynine Palms, CA. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to the 2nd Marine Division.

Mr. President, 457 soldiers who were either from California or based in California have been killed while serving our country in Iraq. I pray for these young Americans and their families.

I would also like to pay tribute to the two soldiers from or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since July 29.

GySgt Theodore Clark, Jr., age 31, died August 4 when the vehicle he was in was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations near Gardez, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA.

PVT Christopher L. Palmer, age 22, died on August 21 near Baylough, Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during patrol operations. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Vicenza, Italy. He was from Sacramento, CA.

Mr. President, 32 soldiers who were either from California or based in California have been killed while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom. I pray for these Americans and their families.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the dedication of the Federal courthouse building in Fresno, CA, which is to occur October 18.

The magnificent Federal courthouse building will provide the much- needed space and capacity to effectively serve a region that is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. This building will help ensure the swift and efficient administration of justice to the people of the Fresno Division of the Eastern District, which covers the counties of Calaveras, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne. Furthermore, this impressive edifice will be the most tangible and powerful symbol of the American justice system to the people of the region.

In addition to meeting the needs of the court for additional space and related purposes, the Federal courthouse building will be a centerpiece and catalyst for the continued renaissance of downtown Fresno. The strikingly designed courthouse stands as part of the downtown skyline that continues to grow. I am particularly pleased that the Federal Government has been an integral partner in downtown revitalization with this and other projects. Together, they have brought thousands of employees to the area. I applaud the efforts of all those in the community who, through their commitment and dedication, helped make this latest addition to the downtown Fresno landscape a reality.

I hope this courthouse will ultimately be named for Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Coyle, a man who is widely and greatly admired and respected for his work as a judge. Judge Coyle has had a distinguished career as an attorney and on the bench. Appointed to California's Eastern Court in 1982, Judge Coyle has served the Eastern District for 20 years, including 6 years as a senior judge.

For over a decade, Judge Coyle has been a tireless champion of the effort to build this courthouse. He has been seen daily walking to and from the building site assuring that the job was done right, which I am proud to report is certainly the case. A courthouse building named in his honor will stand as a testament to the people of California of the distinguished career and the dedicated work of Judge Robert E. Coyle.

I am proud to commemorate the dedication of the Federal courthouse building in Fresno, and wish its occupants and the people of the Fresno Division of the Eastern District a bright future as we continue to work to bring justice and equality to all.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit a resolution today expressing the sense of the Senate that a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' should be established. I join Representative Linda Sanchez in this effort and applaud her for previously submitting this resolution in the House of Representatives. Establishing this day would be an appropriate way to honor members of the United States Armed Forces who bravely and faithfully served during the Vietnam War.

During the course of the Vietnam War, over 58,000 U.S. troops lost their lives. In addition, more than 300,000 were wounded. To date, more than 1,800 members of the United States Armed Forces remain unaccounted for in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Those who did return home from Vietnam did not have the traditional welcome home ceremonies. And they continue to face many problems, including health problems related to Agent Orange exposure, prolonged risk for post-traumatic stress disorder, and homelessness. Of the 250,000 veterans who are homeless every night, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 47 percent of them served during the Vietnam era.

Veterans of the Vietnam War, and all veterans, are entitled to the best care and treatment the U.S. Government can provide. It is important that we honor and respect their service. It is especially important to do so now, at a time when we have so many new veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

By honoring those who have served before, we show these new veterans how committed we, as a country, are to them and how much we value the sacrifices they make on our behalf. Establishing a ``Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day'' is one way we can accomplish this. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. President, will the Senator yield for a quick question?

Sure.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Wisconsin, Mr. Feingold. I am very proud to be on his resolution which finally would hold this President and his administration accountable for the disastrous situation we find ourselves in in Iraq, a situation that has led to now nearly 2,000 dead, countless wounded, young people and not so young without limbs, without their full brain capacity. It is a stunning failure.

Finally, in the Senate, we have a resolution that simply says to this administration: Do tell us, what is your plan? When are we getting out? Give us the milestones. And, what is the mission?

I have a couple of questions I wanted to ask my friend. As my friend was talking, I wrote down the various missions that we have heard from the administration that we were supposed to have in Iraq. The first one was weapons of mass destruction. Remember when Secretary Rumsfeld said: I know where they are; I could point to where they are. No, there weren't any. Then they said: We have to get Saddam. He is a tyrant. We all agreed, he is a tyrant. Saddam is gone for all intents and purposes. That was the second mission. Then they said: We are going to rebuild Iraq, a disastrous situation over which Secretary Rice is in charge. I haven't seen much rebuilding. I have seen a lot of no-bid contracts. Then they said: We have to have an election. That is the next mission. They had an election. After that, everything fell apart. Then they said: We need to bring security. We are going to train the Iraqi forces. The Senator from Wisconsin and I agree with that. We want to see them trained--it seems to be taking forever--especially when we have the President saying: We will stay there as long as it takes. What kind of message is that to the Iraqis?

We had a briefing yesterday. We can't discuss the details of that briefing, but it seemed to me there were yet other missions laid out.

I ask my friend, does he see the situation the way I do: An ever- changing mission in Iraq, setting the bar higher and higher with no end in sight is where we are at the present time?

Mr. President, I wish to thank my colleague for correcting me on the point that I missed that, yes, out of the five or six missions I named, I left out the very important one that he corrected me on, which is that there was a link between Saddam and al- Qaida and, in fact, there was al-Qaida all over Iraq.

The Senator and I sit on the Foreign Relations Committee. I think he remembers this document that I put into the Record, because I remember he very much wanted it, which showed that about a month after September 11 when we were so viciously attacked by bin Laden--who, by the way, we were going to get dead or alive, and we need to do that--the fact is, the State Department in its own document said there wasn't one al-Qaida cell, not one, in Iraq. There were more cells in America than in Iraq, according to our own State Department. We have put that in the Record.

Now, of course, it is a haven for terrorism because of this failed policy, this disastrous policy, this policy that is utter chaos with no end in sight, unless the Senate and the administration look at what my friend put forward, which is finally saying to the President: You need a mission, a mission that can be accomplished, and we need to end this in an orderly fashion.

I wanted to ask my friend one more point, and then I will leave the Chamber. That is about the National Guard. Right now, there are fires raging in my home State, sadly. We have them every year at this time. It is heartwrenching. We need all the help we can get. We always get all the help we ask for. We have never had a problem. The National Guard is called out when it gets really out of control.

Is my friend aware that the best equipment that the National Guard had at its disposal is in Iraq, not here at home? And when the people were crying out for help, not only were so many of the National Guard over in Iraq, my understanding is--and my friend can correct me-- approximately 40 percent of our troops over there are National Guard. That is my information. Not only that, the best equipment of the National Guard is over in Iraq.

Don't our people deserve better than that so when they experience disasters, our National Guard can respond?

Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize the Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, to my home State of California in October, 2005.

The Catholicos represents the Great House of Cilicia, an historic Armenian religious center established in 1441. The Catholicosate was relocated to Antelias, Lebanon following the atrocities of the Armenian Genocide, which included destruction of houses of worship in Cilicia. Today, His Holiness Aram I represents hundreds of thousands of Armenian American Christians, as well as Armenians across the Near East. The Armenian faith is 1,700 years old and it is significant that Armenia was the first nation to officially adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

The Catholicos' spiritual, cultural and educational influence extends well beyond the Armenian people. His Holiness Aram I, who holds a Master of Divinity, a Master of Sacred Theology, a Ph.D., and several honorary degrees, has authored numerous articles and texts in Armenian, English and French, some of which have been translated into other languages. The Catholicos has worked to strengthen interfaith relations between Christian and Muslim communities. In 1974, the Catholicos was one of the founding members of the Middle East Council of Churches.

His Holiness Aram I was elected as Moderator of the Central and Executive Committees of the World Council of Churches, WCC, a renowned organization which represents over 400 million Christians worldwide. The WCC brings together over 340 churches and denominations in more than 100 countries throughout the world. The Catholicos is the first Orthodox, first Middle Easterner and youngest person to hold this position and his unanimous re-election as Moderator in 1998 was exceptional in the history of the WCC.

During his trip to California, which is titled ``Towards the Light of Knowledge,'' the Catholicos will visit churches as well as educational and cultural institutions in Los Angeles, Fresno and San Francisco. This momentous visit was initiated by His Eminence, Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the

Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 1600th Anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet.

I am honored to recognize this milestone visit to California by a distinguished Armenian and world leader. I wish both the Catholicos and the Armenian community in California a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration from this visit.

Mr. President, I rise to share with my colleagues the memory of one of the world's heroes, Mr. Simon Wiesenthal, who died on September 20, 2005, at the age of 96.

Simon Wiesenthal was a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to honoring its victims by bringing its perpetrators to justice. By fighting against intolerance and genocide everywhere, he worked tirelessly to see that ``never forget'' would someday mean ``never again.''

We in California have a special bond with Simon Wiesenthal because the Simon Wiesenthal Center is based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1977, the Wiesenthal Center preserves the memory of the Holocaust and continues the work of Simon Wiesenthal by fostering tolerance and understanding through community involvement, educational outreach, and social action. Today, the center also includes the world-renowned Museum of Tolerance.

Simon Wiesenthal was born on December 31, 1908, in western Ukraine. He received his degree in architectural engineering from the Technical University of Prague in 1932. After graduation, he worked as an architect in Lvov, Poland. In 1936, he married his high school sweetheart, Cyla Mueller.

Three years later, Germany and Russia signed their nonaggression pact and partitioned Poland. As a result, the Soviet Army occupied Lvov and began purging Jewish professionals. Simon was forced to close his business and work in a bedspring factory. Many of his family members were imprisoned or killed. Simon tried to save his family from deportation by bribing the Soviet Secret Police. However, he and his wife were sent to the Janwska concentration camp and then to a forced labor camp for the Eastern Railroad. By 1942, nearly 90 members of his and his wife's family perished.

Simon was able to help his wife Cyla escape through the Polish underground on false papers. However, after escaping the forced labor camp in 1943, Simon was captured and sent back to Janwska. When the Soviet Army advanced on the German eastern front, he was forced to join SS guards on a march westward. The march ended in the Mauthausen concentration camp. Simon narrowly survived when Mauthausen was liberated by the Americans on May 5, 1945. At 6 feet tall, he weighed 100 pounds.

In late 1945, Simon and his wife were reunited. Both had believed the other to be dead. In 1946, their daughter Paulinka was born.

Simon spent the rest of his life tracking down Nazis and working to bring them to justice. He said that in various ways he helped bring 1,100 former Nazis to trial. Of these were Adolf Eichmann, who supervised implementation of the ``Final Solution,'' Karl Silberbauer, the Gestapo officer who arrested Anne Frank, and Hermie Braunsteiner Ryan, who supervised the killing of hundreds of children at a Polish camp.

Mr. Wiesenthal prepared evidence on Nazi atrocities for the war crimes section of the U.S. Army. He headed the relief and welfare organization, Jewish Central Committee of the United States Zone of Austria. After the Nuremberg Trials, Simon opened the Historical Documentation Center in Linz, Austria, to assemble evidence for future Nazi trials. The center was eventually relocated to Vienna and continues to gather and analyze information on German war criminals and neo-Nazi groups; thousands of former Nazis are considered still at- large throughout Germany today.

For his courage and commitment to justice, Mr. Wiesenthal has been honored with many awards, including: the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal presented to him in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter; the United Nations League for the Help of Refugees Award; and an honorary British knighthood.

Mr. Wiesenthal is survived by his daughter Paulinka Kreisberg, who lives in Israel, and three grandchildren.

With the passing of Simon Wiesenthal, the world has lost one of its great heroes, but we shall never lose sight of the lesson he taught us: that humanity will rise up against hate and tyranny, and those who commit crimes against humanity will be brought to justice. As Mr. Wiesenthal said in a 1964 article in the New York Times Magazine:

[w]hen we come to the other world and meet the millions of

Jews who died in the camps and they ask us, ``What have you

done?'' there will be many answers. . . . But I will say, I

didn't forget you.

Mr. President, I am pleased to have this opportunity to recognize the 60th anniversary of the United Nations.

In 1945, as World War II was ending, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco, CA at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draft the Charter of the United Nations. On October 24, 1945, the Charter achieved the required number of signatories for ratification, and the United Nations officially came into existence. Today, 60 years later, I am proud to reflect on the United Nation's many successes. I would also like to use this occasion to highlight the vital importance of building an even stronger United Nations for the future.

The United Nations was established with the primary purpose of providing a forum for the nations of the world to resolve issues without resorting to war. It has achieved many successes on this front, the greatest of which is that we have not had a world war since the United Nations was founded. For those regions of the world that have endured conflict, the U.N. Department of Peacekeeping Operation has facilitated more than 67 peacekeeping operations and is credited with negotiating more than 170 peaceful settlements that have ended regional conflicts.

Through the World Health Organization, the U.N. has combated the spread of pandemic diseases and continues to provide lifesaving drugs and medical care to millions of people around the world. Another U.N. program, the World Food Program, has served as a lifeline to millions of people who would otherwise face famine. And the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has helped raise the female literacy rate in many developing countries around the world. I commend the United Nations for these outstanding achievements and the countless others it has made during the last 60 years.

But despite these many successes, there is still a long way to go. First and foremost, the United Nations must be reformed from within. In recent months, there have been far too many troubling incidents involving the United Nations, ranging from the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal, and the tragic sexual abuse cases involving peacekeeping troops in the Congo and elsewhere--and rightfully so; these acts were most egregious. These types of activities cannot continue if the United Nations is to receive the support and legitimacy it needs to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

If the United Nations is comprehensively reformed from within, then it will find itself in an even better position to meet its larger goals. According to the United Nations' own figures, nearly a quarter of the children in the developed world are malnourished, and in a number of places in the world, the poor are actually getting poorer. I am pleased that the United Nations has embraced these challenges through the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals, which range from eradicating extreme poverty and hunger to combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. But there is much work to be done if these goals are to become reality. The international community must commit to working together. The only way to achieve real progress on these fronts will require consensus, partnership, and unity of effort on the part of all nations of the world. For this reason, a strong United Nations is more important than ever.

I congratulate the United Nations on its 60th anniversary and look forward to doing my part to ensure its continued success in the future.

Mr. President, today I wish to salute Mark Salo, who is retiring this fall after more than 31 years as the head of Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties, PPSDRC. A pioneer and visionary in the field of reproductive health care, he is a great champion of women's health and freedom of choice.

When Mark Salo began working with San Diego Planned Parenthood in 1974, it comprised one small clinic whose 12 employees provided 5,000 patient visits a year. Today PPSDRC is the second-largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the Nation, with an annual budget of $35 million and 400 employees who provide more than 200,000 patient visits.

The San Diego/Riverside affiliate has been a pioneer in the expansion of medical services to include vasectomies, tubal ligations, prenatal care, and mifepristone. PPSDRC oversees an Emmy-award-winning teen theatre and a variety of innovative teen outreach programs. It offers local midlife services, male and female sterilization services, and a thriving prenatal practice.

Mark has reached across the border from San Diego to build a Planned Parenthood of truly international scope by developing and funding a binational program in northern Baja California, Mexico. PPSDRC's ``Mexico Fund'' supports five medical facilities in the poor colonias around Tijuana and funds contraceptive programs in the foreign-owned manufacturing plants known as maquiladoras.

Over the years, Mark has also become the most visible public advocate of reproductive rights in the San Diego region. He represents Planned Parenthood through television news, interview shows, debate forums, newspaper commentaries, and live radio appearances.

I know that everyone who values women's health and reproductive freedom will join me in saluting Mark Salo and sending him best wishes for a well-earned, active retirement.

Mr. President, we have all seen the unprecedented destruction and suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina.

With the Katrina disaster, tens of thousands of people in the Gulf States have lost their jobs. In fact, over 200,000 have filed for unemployment benefits. For that reason, I introduced the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Workers Assistance Act of 2005. This legislation would give priority in awarding Federal contracts for the rebuilding efforts to those companies where workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina comprise at least 25 percent of the workforce fulfilling the contract. It is the least we could do to help displaced workers.

Unfortunately, on the same day I introduced my bill to help workers, President Bush did just the opposite. He issued a proclamation saying that those who get Federal contracts for rebuilding will not have to pay workers the prevailing wage. This is unfair to working men and women. It is not right. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina should not be used as an excuse to take advantage of working people.

Therefore, to ensure that workers in the region affected by the hurricane are paid the region's prevailing wages, I am introducing a second version of the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Worker Assistance Act of 2005. It will still give priority to those companies who hire displaced workers, but it will also ensure that all workers are paid the prevailing wage.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. President, we have all seen the unprecedented destruction and suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina.

With the Katrina disaster, tens of thousands of people in the Gulf States have lost their jobs. In fact, over 200,000 have filed for unemployment benefits. For that reason, I introduced the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Workers Assistance Act of 2005. This legislation would give priority in awarding Federal contracts for the rebuilding efforts to those companies where workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina comprise at least 25 percent of the workforce fulfilling the contract. It is the least we could do to help displaced workers.

Unfortunately, on the same day I introduced my bill to help workers, President Bush did just the opposite. He issued a proclamation saying that those who get Federal contracts for rebuilding will not have to pay workers the prevailing wage. This is unfair to working men and women. It is not right. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina should not be used as an excuse to take advantage of working people.

Therefore, to ensure that workers in the region affected by the hurricane are paid the region's prevailing wages, I am introducing a second version of the Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction and Displaced Worker Assistance Act of 2005. It will still give priority to those companies who hire displaced workers, but it will also ensure that all workers are paid the prevailing wage.

I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. President, I say to Senator Bennett that I know he is managing a bill, and I see no one else is here on that bill at this time and I would like to make a statement about Judge Roberts.

Mr. President, when a seat on the Supreme Court opened in July, I made a promise to the people of California. I promised I would only support a nominee I believed would protect their rights and freedoms.

After much thought, I have concluded that I cannot in good conscience give my constituents that assurance with the nominee we have before the Senate, Judge John Roberts. In fact, I am very worried that with Judge Roberts on the Supreme Court, the rights and freedoms that have made America a light to the rest of the world could be in serious jeopardy.

The question before the Senate is not whether Judge Roberts is a brilliant lawyer and not whether he is well qualified or well spoken or affable or unflappable. He is certainly all of those. But examining his credentials is where our analysis must begin, not end. The American people understand this. In poll after poll after poll, the American people say that before we vote, it is important to know where Judge Roberts stands on key issues that define us as Americans and what kind of country we will leave behind for our children.

The next Chief Justice will have the opportunity to steer a deeply divided Court and influence our lives and the lives of our families for generations. In recent years, the Court has issued 5-to-4 decisions to protect our air, to safeguard women's reproductive health and the rights of the disabled, to give HMO patients the right to a second opinion, to allow universities to use affirmative action, and to guarantee government neutrality toward religion.

With so many of our fundamental rights hanging in the balance, it is not good enough, in my view, to simply roll the dice, hoping a nominee will change his past views. It is not good enough to think this is the best we can expect from this President. I simply do not buy into that reasoning. And no, I don't buy into this reasoning either: Let's support this nominee because the next one might be worse. I will tell you why that rationale does not work for me and it will never work for me as long as the Constitution gives me and my colleagues in the Senate an equal role in this process.

It fails the bar that I set--the bar that says that I must be able to look into the eyes of my constituents and assure them that I feel confident in this choice. I said I could only vote for a nominee who would protect the rights and the freedoms of the people I represent.

I need to be able to look into the eyes of my constituents and to assure them I have made that judgment before I vote yes in their name. I can't do it here. We must demand far more in a nominee because the people we represent deserve no less.

I will vote no on this nomination because of what we know and what we do not know about Judge Roberts.

Long before President Bush made this nomination, we knew that his model judges were Justices Scalia and Thomas.

Now, President Bush isn't known for changing his mind, so that doesn't leave us in a good place if we're hoping for a moderate. Nor does a reading of Judge Robert's record while he served in the Reagan Administration 20 years ago.

In fact, some of Judge Roberts's writings raise serious concerns about whether he understands the ugly history of discrimination and injustice in our country, or the proper role of government in injustice and discrimination.

Of course, we were told over and over again by Judge Roberts and by this administration and some of his supporters: Do not pay attention to those memos; they were written long ago; he was just a young man; he was just a lowly staff attorney. Here is the point: Judge Roberts never backed away from those memos. When given the chance, he said over and over again they were written for someone else. Someone else is not up for the Supreme Court; Judge Roberts is up for the Supreme Court. So to simply say, Yes, I wrote that, but I wrote it for someone else, just does not pass the test.

Then we try to examine Judge Roberts' tenure years later as a top political appointee under the first President Bush. That is when he worked as Deputy Solicitor General for Ken Starr,

who was the Solicitor General. Again and again, Senator Leahy, Senator Kennedy, Senator Feinstein, all the Democrat Senators on the Judiciary Committee asked for documents relating to just 16 cases that would have shed some light on the way Judge Roberts approaches civil rights, reproductive health, the separation of church and state, environmental protection, and more. The Democratic women Senators asked too. But again and again, the administration refused to turn over the documents, and Judge Roberts refused to help us.

The President had access to that information when he nominated Judge Roberts. Why should this Senate a full partner in choosing the next Justice--have anything less?

This is not a small point of process. This goes to the heart and soul of what we are expected to do as Senators. We are supposed to be an equal partner in this process. We have the role of advice and consent to the President on judicial nominations. How can we do our job if the administration has access to information and yet we don't? I don't think it is fair. I don't think it is just.

I am happy to yield.

I thank the Senator for asking me this question. I could not agree more. The American people have told us through many polls that they want to have this information. They want to know. They believe it is more important and I believe the number was 77 percent said it was more important to know about where Judge Roberts stood than it was to know about his qualifications. Everyone agrees on his qualifications. The Senator is absolutely right. It is, to me, very disappointing that the judge himself refused to help us.

It is also my understanding--and Senator Kennedy, if I am wrong, I hope you will correct me--that when Judge Rehnquist was up for the Court, he also turned over documents from when he was a lawyer in government. So we had Judge Rehnquist, we had Robert Bork, and that was the right thing to do.

You have to ask the question, What are they hiding? The American people are very smart. They understand it. Why wouldn't one show the committee this information?

I am delighted to.

I say to the Senator, I think what we have tried to do in this little exchange is make a point to the American people that information was denied to the Judiciary Committee, and that information was denied to the Senate. And, the only information we have is very slim. It is a 2-year stint on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.

We have a lot of information from 20 years ago. So on the one hand, it is kind of a catch-22 circumstance here. When you go back 20 years ago, everybody says: Oh, that is old information. It does not reflect Judge Roberts. You ask Judge Roberts, he won't answer. He says he was writing for someone else. So we then need to look at the time in the 1990s when he worked in the Solicitor General's office. But, we cannot get that information. So we go around in a circle.

I have to say, if this debate were about a small matter, it would be one thing. But, we are talking about the future of this country. The importance of a position on the U.S. Supreme Court cannot be overstated.

Mr. President, I am happy to yield.

I say to the Senator, again you are making a very important point. The fact is, Senators on the Judiciary Committee--and I watched every minute of the hearings I could. I even watched the reruns of your hearings in the evening. You gave Judge Roberts ample opportunity in a very nice way to distance himself from his writings. He refused to do so. He simply said: I was doing this for my boss, and I was thinking like my boss. It is not good enough because he is the one who is up for Chief Justice.

I know Senator Bennett would like me to conclude, and I will do so.

In his reviewing his record, I also looked for some assurance in the decisions Judge Roberts wrote during his two years on the DC Circuit. But, again, nothing. In fact, some cases raised serious concerns about his commitment to protect the environment and his support of an all- powerful executive branch.

Judge Roberts had three days to tell the Senate and the American people what he really believes today.

He had the chance repeatedly to distance himself from the controversial positions he once advocated. He did not.

Let's face it: Judge Roberts was specific only when it mattered least and evasive when it mattered most.

Last year I ran for the Senate, and I ran a commercial that people said was very direct, but that is the kind of Senator I am. I said in my own words, right in that commercial, I would do everything in my power to ensure that we never go back to those dark days of back-alley abortions, when thousands of women died and many others were rendered infertile.

We know that Judge Roberts signed a brief calling for Roe to be overturned. It was one of those 16 cases the administration will not release. And it concerned one of the many important topics about which Judge Roberts refused to answer questions.

To simply say Roe is a precedent, which he said over and over again, is stating the obvious. Every case of the Supreme Court is a precedent. And to say you respect precedent, yes, every judge must respect precedent. But it does not give us an inkling into his views, and that is not good enough.

We deserved an answer to Senator Feinstein's questions about privacy: Does the right to privacy extend to the beginning of life and the end of life? We still don't know what Judge Roberts believes.

We deserved an answer to Senator Biden's question about gender discrimination. Does Judge Roberts stand by an interpretation of title IX that would have denied all remedies to a girl who was repeatedly sexually harassed by her teacher? We still do not know how Judge Roberts feels.

We deserved an answer to Senator Kennedy's probing questions about civil rights. Does Judge Roberts have any concerns about the constitutionality of landmark civil rights laws? We still do not know.

How could he be silent on those laws. They stand out in history as landmark moments that changed the course of human events in America forever, that finally spoke to all our citizens and told them they were equal, and the government would make sure they were protected and safe.

We deserved answers to Senator Leahy's questions about Congressional War Powers. We did not get them.

Now, Judge Roberts says as a Justice, he will ``just'' be an umpire calling balls and strikes. Of course, balls and strikes look a lot different depending on where the umpire is standing. And umpires have a lot of power to decide who wins and who loses.

So who will be the winners if we confirm Judge Roberts next week? Will it be the families of America? Will it be the children of America? Will it be the victims of violence? Will it be the poor and the powerless? Will it be the middle class? Will it be the environment? Will it be freedom? Will it be liberty? Will it be justice? Will it be our Constitution? Or will the winners be those who want to stop the national Government from acting to protect and defend our people and their rights and their freedoms?

I cannot tell my people that Judge Roberts will continue the steady march of progress that has defined our country's proud history.

So I will vote no. And because I believe the Senate deserves those 16 cases that Senator Kennedy talked about, and answers to our questions, I will vote no.

I hope and pray my doubts about Judge Roberts are misplaced and that he will join the moderate wing of the Court to protect the Constitution of this country that I love so much and the deserving people of my great State who will be counting on him to protect their rights and their freedoms.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I am very pleased to take a few moments to recognize the many important accomplishments of Fernando Valenzuela, former pitcher, current radio broadcast announcer and long time member of the Los Angeles Dodgers family.

Fernando Valenzuela has been an amazing asset to the Los Angeles community. He has enriched the lives of many young children through their participation in the Amigos de Fernando children's program--an innercity youth program he founded that is designed to reward underprivileged children for their positive and active involvement in community sports teams.

For the third consecutive Major League Baseball season, the Amigos de Fernando children's program, with support from the Los Angeles Dodgers, has continued to assist local children's groups. Through their efforts, inner-city children's groups receive assistance in continuing to guide and positively influence the children they service. The Amigos de Fernando children's program has provided nearly 1,000 young people of the City of Los Angeles with new and positive experiences that would have otherwise been unavailable to them.

Fernando Valenzuela began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1979. Since his rookie year in Major League Baseball, he has reached many notable accomplishments including honors as Rookie of the Year in 1981 and the highly coveted Cy Young Award--presented to each league's most outstanding pitcher--also in 1981. In addition to his many personal accomplishments, Fernando also played a significant role in achieving many team distinctions and championships, including the National League Pennant and World Series Championships for the 1981 and 1988 seasons. After a brief absence from the Los Angeles area, Fernando rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2003 as a member of the Spanish-Language radio commentator team, providing his expertise and views to countless fans.

I invite all of my colleagues to join me and the children of the City of Los Angeles in commending Fernando Valenzuela for his great leadership and service to the community through the Amigos de Fernando. His efforts are truly worthy of this recognition.

Mr. President, in accordance with rule V of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby give notice in writing that it is my intention to move to suspend paragraph 4 of rule XVI for the purpose of proposing to the bill, H.R. 2744, the Agriculture appropriations bill, the following amendment:

Mr. President, Hurricane Katrina has caused unprecedented destruction and suffering for so many people in this country. The rest of the Nation has been extremely generous to help people who are suffering from the devastation caused by Katrina.

One area where people need help is rebuilding housing. To help Katrina victims, Habitat for Humanity International is launching ``Operation Home Delivery,'' to provide assistance and rebuilding opportunities in New Orleans and elsewhere along the gulf coast. A major component of this operation is the ``home in a box project.''

The plan is to ``pre-build'' the frame of a home. The house will be assembled to ensure the construction, and, then, the frame will be taken apart and the components placed, along with other necessary construction materials, in a container and shipped to an area along the gulf coast or New Orleans where families, volunteers, and builders will rebuild the home.

``Operation Home Delivery'' homes will mirror traditional Habitat homes by being simple and affordable, providing approximately 1,100 to 1,300 square feet of living space. The estimated cost of a house for the gulf region is only $85,000. This includes all components to completely build the home and costs associated with transportation, delivery, utilities and site preparation. The first project in ``Operation Home Delivery'' will be this month in Jackson, MS.

I am asking each Senator to go back to your respective States and seek assistance for Habitat for this outstanding project. Designated dollars for ``Operation Home Delivery'' will purchase specific pieces of the house. For example, $35 will buy roof shingles or $100 will buy a front door. These gifts will allow people not only to have a home but to begin to rebuild their lives.

Habitat for Humanity is working to provide hope for the future to the victims of Katrina with this worthy project.