Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``China's Exchange Rate Policy and Trade Imbalances.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Promoting Global Food Security.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Meeting the Needs of the Whole Student'' on April 22, 2010. The hearing will commence at 10 a.m. in room 106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 2:15 p.m. in Room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on April 22, 2010, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on April 22, 2010, at 3 p.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Nominations.''.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Rules and Administration be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Examining the Filibuster: History of the Filibuster 1789-2008.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet on April 22, 2010, from 2-5 p.m. in Dirksen 562 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

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 during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 3:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled, ``The Future of the U.S. Postal Service.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 10 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on April 22, 2010, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``After the Dust Settles: Examining Challenges and Lessons Learned in Transitioning the Federal Government.''

Mr. President, we teach our children that genocide, wherever it occurs, is a crime against humanity that must never be tolerated or ignored. That is why it is so important for the United States to always recognize genocide for what it is and acknowledge when it takes place.

Between 1915 and 1923, the Ottoman Empire carried out genocide against the Armenian people. However, the United States has yet to recognize this stain on history by its rightful name despite an irrefutable body of evidence documenting the atrocities.

Diplomats, members of the military, humanitarians, journalists and others from the United States and around the world saw with their own eyes the deportation, starvation, drowning and murder of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians. And there are countless testimonies from victims who lived to tell of their experiences.

The American Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morganthau, wrote:

When the Turkish authorities gave the orders for these

deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a

whole race; they understood this well, and in their

conversations with me, they made no particular attempt to

conceal the fact.

There were great efforts made by Americans to relieve the suffering of the victims of what would become the first genocide of the 20th century. Powerful leaders of industry and government did speak out. Schoolchildren and poor families contributed mightily to try to save lives by donating whatever they could. American farmers sent food to reduce starvation.

Yet in the 95 years since the Armenian Genocide began, the word ``genocide'' has not been used by the United States to describe the atrocities carried out against the Armenians.

The United States has always been a beacon to the world--standing up for what is right and just. Now is the time for the United States to join countries such as Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela, and more than 40 U.S. States and unequivocally affirm the Armenian Genocide.

Madam President, I supported the motions to table the three Coburn amendments to the Continuing Extension Act of 2010.

These amendments would delay important legislation to provide a short term extension of unemployment and health care benefits to Americans who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. This bill is critical to families that have bills to pay and are struggling to put food on the table.

Yesterday, I voted to table the Coburn amendment that would have rescinded $40 billion in unobligated funding. This amendment did not say where the cuts would be made. As the chairman of the Appropriations Committee explained, many important homeland security, national defense, and Veterans Administration priorities could have been drastically reduced or eliminated by this amendment. There is no telling how many jobs would have been lost had this amendment been adopted.

The two Coburn amendments considered today both include funding offsets that have already been included in a bill to create jobs and reduce taxes. This legislation, which has already passed the Senate and is pending in the House of Representatives, would also extend unemployment insurance and health care benefits until the end of the year. Adoption of the Coburn amendment today would jeopardize this critical bill.

Extending unemployment insurance and health benefits are an emergency for those who have lost their jobs. We should come together as a body and pass this bill as soon as possible.

Will the Senator yield for a question?

First, I want to say thank you so much for taking to the floor to explain to the American people the very strange debate we hear coming from the Republican leader on this. I was stunned, because I had heard that he had met with the Wall Street people and the banks, and then he said over and over again the same phrase yesterday, which was repeated endlessly, that the bill you and the President and the Democrats are working on--trying to get bipartisan support for, for which I commend you--he said that bill would mean one thing and one thing only--taxpayer bailouts--when we all know the entire purpose is to put an end to one dollar of loss of taxpayer bailouts. So I have a question to ask. Is it not my friend's goal to get into a situation where the banks, the super big banks, the investment houses, pay into a fund themselves with their own money, so that if there are any problems and they need to be wound down, it does not cost a dollar of taxpayer money, that the fund will be paid for by these businesses themselves? Am I correct on that?

Further, my understanding is, if an institution gets in trouble, they are going to go down. They are not going to be revived.

I would say to my friend, because he is an expert on this--and years ago I was on the Banking Committee, and am no longer there--I want to make sure I understand if I am right on this: I think the American people have appreciated the FDIC over the years, because the FDIC was another way for taxpayers to be kept out of a problem, because it is an insurance fund. The banks are taxed and they put the money into the fund. And if there is, in fact, a bankruptcy, you are covered. Right now I think it is up to $250,000. Am I correct?

So this whole notion has worked very well. But in closing, because I do not want to interrupt the speech of my friend, because I think it is important, it seems to me suddenly there has been a huge injection of politics into a bill that should have had, as you point out, I say to my friend from Connecticut, bipartisan support.

If, in fact, the Republicans came up with the idea to have a fee on these institutions, to protect the taxpayers so that we have no bailouts, and now, after meeting with the banks, it feels to me these big institutions have turned on their own idea. But they are using the language that is the opposite of what they now want to do. Because, as I understand it--tell me if I am right--if we keep the status quo and do nothing, which is again their idea right now, we are in trouble, because we saw what happens when these big institutions get in trouble. Main Street starts to hurt. Lending starts to freeze. We have seen millions of job losses due to that horrible time we went through.

I want to commend my friend and urge him, if he has to come here every day--and I will be glad to come over here as well--to explain to the American people the truth. I am so tired of politics obscuring the truth. We need to put an end to it. We are not perfect. The other party is not perfect. No one is perfect. We do not have the ideas that are going to save and cure every problem. But we know one thing from this crisis. We had to turn to taxpayers. What a nightmare. Thank goodness, by the way, those funds are being repaid. We are still out some funds, but the vast majority of those funds are repaid. But we are not going to go through that again. I would never vote, and I say that right here, to bail out these big institutions that were gambling. They gambled on the future of America. I will not do it. Therefore, let's put something into place where they pay into a fund so if there is a problem in the future and they are going bust, we will wind them down and we will wind them out on their dollar.

I hope you will keep saying that, because I do not mind getting in a debate with the other side. As a matter of fact, I think there are great differences between the two parties, which makes our country great because we all appeal to different people in the country. It is good for the stability of the Nation. But let's not come here with false debate. Let's not come here with made-up arguments, because that only hurts the debate.

I wanted to praise my friend. I wanted to spend a couple of minutes thanking him for doing this.

Bingo.

You got it.

Mr. President, I am honored today to join with the people of San Bernardino as they celebrate their bicentennial--the 200th anniversary of the founding of this great city.

From the day in 1810 when Franciscan missionary Father Dumetz named the area ``San Bernardino'' to the present, San Bernardino--nestled south of the San Bernardino Mountains and west of the lower desert--has been recognized for its scenic beauty and strategic location.

San Bernardino's colorful history begins in the early years of the 19th century when Spanish missionaries were the first settlers to the region. Mission San Bernardino was established in 1810 and the missionaries, along with the American Indians native to the area, diverted water to the valley from Mill Creek for irrigation purposes. As a result, the area flourished.

Gradually the mission period came to a close and soon came the rise of the Great Spanish Rancheros. The abandoned Mission San Bernardino did not stay vacant for long. San Bernardino Rancho was granted to the Lugo Brothers in 1842 and eventually became an important post on the trading route known as the Spanish Trail, where pioneer trailblazers such as Kit Carson and Jedediah Strong Smith often traveled.

In 1848, California joined the United States. By this time, many rancheros had left the area. In 1851, the Lugo brothers eventually sold San Bernardino Rancho to a party of 500 Mormon settlers who built a stockade around the ranch and named it ``Fort San Bernardino''. The community thrived and was officially incorporated in 1854 as a city with a population of 1,200. At that time, San Bernardino was strictly a temperance town, with no drinking or gambling allowed.

As the 19th century waned, the giant railway companies eventually found their way to San Bernardino, changing it from a sleepy town into an enterprising city. Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and Southern Pacific all made San Bernardino the hub of their southern California operations. When the Santa Fe Railway established a transcontinental link in 1886, the already prosperous valley exploded. Even more settlers flocked from the East, and the population doubled between 1900 and 1910.

San Bernardino has had a great history with military involvement. The San Bernardino Engineer Depot, commonly called Camp Ono, was located along what is now the I-215 freeway was used by the U.S. Army as a vehicle and ammunition supply and storage depot, drycleaning facility, sewage spreading area, tent manufacturing and dyeing facility, locomotive maintenance facility, railcar and tank degreasing facility, motor vehicle pool, prisoner of war camp, bomb manufacturing, and water softening facility.

The site was also a part of the Advance Communications Zone Depot in the southern California defense system. Camp Ono consisted of a total of 1,662.82 acres and was leased by the U.S. Army on 1 July 1940 and existed until December 1946. A prisoner of war camp occupied 300 acres of the site. Approximately 499 Italian prisoners of war were incarcerated, and they were used to maintain army vehicles, degrease tanks, and operated a tent repair and tent dyeing facility.

Norton Air Force Base was also located east of downtown San Bernardino. This frontline military installation was home to a logistics depot and heavy-lift transport facility for a wide variety of military aircraft, equipment, and supplies as part of the Material/Air Force Logistics Command and then as part of the Military Airlift Command. The secondary mission of the base was as a headquarters for Aerospace Defense Command for southern California, the Air Force Audio- Visual Center and numerous Air Force Reserve units and the Office of the Inspector General.

Norton was closed as a result of base realignment and closure, BRAC, action in 1994. The aviation facilities of the base were converted into San Bernardino International Airport and the remainder for other private development opportunities. Mattel Toys, Stater Bros Markets, Pep Boys, and Kohl's also are located within the industrial complex on the former base.

McDonald's was founded by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino in 1940. Their introduction of the Speedee Service System in 1948 established the principles of the modern fast-food restaurant.

San Bernardino is also the home of Al Houghton Stadium and the Western Regional Little League Inc. Each year San Bernardino hosts 11 Western States in the West and Northwest regional tournaments. The winner of each tournament goes on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

San Bernardino has a plethora of educational opportunities. California State University, San Bernardino, was founded in 1965 and graduated its first class in 1969. From a very small beginning, this university has flourished with new facilities and Division II sports programs. There are also many other schools of higher learning in the city, including San Bernardino Valley College, the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire, Argosy University-Inland Empire, Everett College, and the American Sports University.

Today San Bernardino has emerged as a modern urban community with a bright future. The enduring spirit and vitality of yesterday's pioneers are still evident and reflected in the pride of community. The city of San Bernardino serves as the county seat and is the largest city in the county of San Bernardino, with a population more than 205,000.

Please join me in honoring the city of San Bernardino as it celebrates its bicentennial.

Mr. President, I am pleased to pay tribute to Walter ``Wally'' Bishop, general manager of the Contra Costa Water District--CCWD--as he retires after 18 years of dedicated service.

A native of Washington DC, Mr. Bishop started his career in 1973 as an engineer for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. Upon arriving in California, he went to work as an engineer for the Ventura Regional County Sanitation District in 1975 before moving to northern California, where he worked for the East Bay Municipal Utility District from 1983 to 1992.

The CCWD serves over 550,000 people in Central and Eastern Contra Costa County and carries a large influence on the direction of California water policy, given its location on the Delta's edge. Starting as CCWD's general manager in 1992, Mr. Bishop continually advocated for a customer-first, entrepreneurial approach throughout the district. Under his leadership, CCWD's Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project was permitted, designed, and completed. It was the first major reservoir to be permitted and constructed in more than a decade.

A well-known leader in both State and national water issues, Mr. Bishop has been recognized by numerous organizations for his commitment to water issues and policy. He was recently awarded the Edward J. Cleary Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers for his leadership in environmental engineering and management. He has also been a two-term member of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, which advises the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator on everything that EPA does relating to drinking water.

I commend Mr. Bishop for his 18 years of dedicated service to the CCWD. Along with his friends and colleagues throughout Contra Costa County and the San Francisco Bay Area, I thank him for his efforts and wish him the best as he embarks on the next phase of his life.

Mr. President, it is clear to everyone watching the debate on the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act that amendments were offered for the sole purpose of derailing health care reform. Therefore I voted to table all amendments.

Under normal circumstances, I would have supported some of the amendments offered by my colleagues. For example, last night, an amendment was offered to clarify that the health care reform bill would not adversely affect VA and military health care programs. I am a cosponsor of freestanding legislation that would make that very same clarification. However, last night, when Senator Webb asked unanimous consent for that legislation to be adopted separate from this bill, an objection was raised from my friends on the other side of the aisle.

I am pleased that the bill passed because it will make life better for the people I represent.

Madam President, I rise today to pay tribute to 14 servicemembers from California or based in California who have died while serving our country in Operation Enduring Freedom since December 16, 2009. This brings to 147 the number of servicemembers either from California or based in California who have been killed while serving our country in Afghanistan. This represents 14 percent of all U.S. deaths in Afghanistan.

PFC Serge Kropov, 21, of Hawley, PA, died December 20, 2009, as a result of a nonhostile incident in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Private First Class

Kropov was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar,

Madam President, today I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Midge Costanza, a dear friend and great American who passed away this week. This woman of

great passion, compassion, vitality, kindness, and commitment died after a long battle with cancer in San Diego, CA, where she had lived and worked for the past 20 years.

I first heard of Midge in 1976, when President-elect Jimmy Carter made history by making her the first woman ever named Assistant to the President. As President Carter's public liaison, she reached out to Americans who had previously been denied access to the White House.

By the time I first ran for Senate in 1992, Midge had moved to San Diego, where she worked tirelessly on behalf of my campaign. She ran our San Diego office, introduced me to local leaders, and often spoke on my behalf at rallies and other speaking engagements. She was a riveting speaker who inspired even the toughest crowd.

The daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Midge was born in 1932 in LeRoy, NY, and grew up in Rochester. After high school, she went to work and became active in several community organizations. Soon she was volunteering for Democratic political campaigns, including Averell Harriman's successful campaign for governor of New York. In 1964, she served as the Monroe County director for Robert F. Kennedy's Senate campaign.

Midge served a member of the Democratic National Committee from 1972 to 1977. In 1973, she ran for an at-large seat on the Rochester City Council and won in a landslide. In 1974, she lost a congressional race to a popular Republican incumbent. Two years later, she served as State cochair for Jimmy Carter's Presidential campaign. At the 1976 Democratic National Convention, she gave an inspiring speech seconding Carter's nomination.

After leaving the White House, Midge served on the board of directors for several organizations, including the National Gay Rights Advocates and the AIDS research group Search Alliance.

Following my 1992 campaign, Midge worked on the 1994 campaigns of gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Brown and Congresswoman Lynn Schenk. Over the years, she also coached many candidates in strategy and public speaking.

In 2000, she was appointed Special Assistant to the Governor by California Governor Gray Davis and served as his liaison for women's groups and issues.

Since 2003, Midge has been an adjunct professor at San Diego State University and established the Midge Costanza Institute for the Study of Politics and Public Policy at SDSU.

For the past 5 years, Midge has served as public affairs officer for San Diego district attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Last year, when she and the district attorney visited my Washington office, we shared some laughs and stories about our early days together.

Shortly before Midge died, she received a call from President Carter, who expressed his love for her and his gratitude for her outstanding service to the Nation. Today I want to echo those sentiments and bid a fond farewell to my dear friend Midge Costanza. Midge was a great role model for women in public service. Her insight and wit will be missed by all of us who knew her.

Madam President, it is with a heavy heart that I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the memory of an extraordinary environmental pioneer and wilderness champion, Dr. Edgar Wayburn. Ed was a soft spoken yet remarkably successful conservationist whose legacy is enjoyed by millions. Ed passed away on March 5, 2010, at his home in San Francisco at the age of 103.

Born in Macon, GA, in 1906, Ed made his first trip to California in 1927, at the age of 21. He was immediately struck by the awe-inspiring vistas of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada. He was captivated by the majestic beauty of California and knew he would one day return. After graduating from Harvard Medical School, Ed served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. In 1939, Ed joined the fledgling Sierra Club, an organization he would later serve as the president of five times. By 1947, Ed was living in the San Francisco Bay area and had grown active in efforts to protect the beautiful landscapes of coastal California.

Ed's career in conservation spanned 60 years, during which he was never compensated financially for his efforts. Ed maintained his private medical practice while dedicating evenings, weekends, and vacation time to his relentless pursuit of protecting lands for public enjoyment. In California, Ed was instrumental in the creation of Redwood National Park, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Point Reyes National Seashore. Working tirelessly alongside the late Congressman Phil Burton, Ed won support for protecting these parks, which today are some of my great state's most revered natural treasures.

Ed's environmental legacy stretches far beyond California. He and his beloved wife Peggy, who passed away in 2002, worked tirelessly to protect the Alaskan wilderness. After Ed and Peggy's first life- changing visit to Alaska, they inspired a national campaign that ultimately culminated in the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, signed into law by President Carter in 1980. As a result, the National Park system nearly doubled in size, adding 10 new national parks with the stroke of the President's pen. To this day, the Alaska Lands Act is the largest public lands legislation in the history of the United States.

Ed Wayburn possessed a deep understanding of the value of our public lands and precious wild places. In Ed's 2004 publication ``Your Land and Mine,'' he states that ``in destroying wilderness, we deny ourselves the full extent of what it means to be alive. In preserving wilderness, we not only recognize our place in the chain of life, but we also invite ourselves to reach, to explore, to wonder, and to make a difference.'' Ed held an unshakable belief in the natural world's ability to provide humanity with critical opportunities for introspection and inspiration. As a doctor, Ed understood the connection between an individual's well-being and the health of the environment. As a leader, he understood the importance of providing the public with wild places to foster that connection.

In August of 1999, President Clinton presented Ed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Clinton said of Ed, ``He has saved more of our wilderness than any person alive.'' The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor an American can receive, and signifies the magnitude of the legacy left to us by this great and humble man.

Ed has left an indelible mark on the landscape of America. He was a compassionate physician, an inspiring conservationist, and a wonderful family man who served his country both in and out of uniform. Though he will be deeply missed, Ed has left us with so many priceless gifts. The parks he helped to build, and the lands he helped to protect, will be enjoyed by Americans and visitors to our great nation for many generations to come. And as our world continues to change, and wild places grow increasingly rare, the gifts that Ed bestowed upon us will become evermore valuable.

Ed is survived by his daughters Laurie, Cynthia, and Diana; his son William; and his three grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with Ed's family during this difficult time.

Mr. President, today, I am proud to join Senator Brownback in introducing bipartisan automotive right to repair legislation.

Our bill, the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act, allows consumers the freedom to choose which repair shops they use for auto repairs and routine vehicle maintenance.

Consumers today have many choices when it comes to the vehicle they drive, but not necessarily when it comes to the maintenance or repair options for those vehicles.

Most cars today rely on computers to perform many of the automobile's vital functions including brakes, airbags, ignition and other operating systems.

If an electronic component of a car fails or needs tuning, an access code is often needed in order to repair or replace the necessary part. These codes are currently provided on a voluntary basis to repair shops by car manufacturers.

Unfortunately, many local independent repair shops are provided only limited or incomplete information by manufacturers to access and repair most elements of those vehicles. This lack of information puts consumers at a disadvantage, forcing many to pay premium prices to repair simple parts at dealerships or travel long distances to reach repair shops that take valuable time away from families and work.

There are over 219,000 employees working in over 26,000 independent repair shops in California, providing those workers with good paying jobs. In this economy, we can't afford to disadvantage small businesses working hard to support their families.

The Boxer-Brownback bill will require car manufacturers to provide all information and tools necessary to diagnose, service, maintain and repair a motor vehicle, including all safety alerts, access codes and recalls. This information must be provided to all repair shops, not just dealers or manufacturers' designated shops.

Our bill also protects the integrity of manufacturers' concepts and systems by not requiring manufacturers to make public any information that is entitled to protection as a trade secret.

As cars become more complex and expensive to repair, consumers deserve to have choices when it comes to repairing their auto vehicles. This bill provides consumers that choice, while ensuring small businesses have the information they need in these difficult economic times.

Mr. President, today, I am proud to join Senator Brownback in introducing bipartisan automotive right to repair legislation.

Our bill, the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act, allows consumers the freedom to choose which repair shops they use for auto repairs and routine vehicle maintenance.

Consumers today have many choices when it comes to the vehicle they drive, but not necessarily when it comes to the maintenance or repair options for those vehicles.

Most cars today rely on computers to perform many of the automobile's vital functions including brakes, airbags, ignition and other operating systems.

If an electronic component of a car fails or needs tuning, an access code is often needed in order to repair or replace the necessary part. These codes are currently provided on a voluntary basis to repair shops by car manufacturers.

Unfortunately, many local independent repair shops are provided only limited or incomplete information by manufacturers to access and repair most elements of those vehicles. This lack of information puts consumers at a disadvantage, forcing many to pay premium prices to repair simple parts at dealerships or travel long distances to reach repair shops that take valuable time away from families and work.

There are over 219,000 employees working in over 26,000 independent repair shops in California, providing those workers with good paying jobs. In this economy, we can't afford to disadvantage small businesses working hard to support their families.

The Boxer-Brownback bill will require car manufacturers to provide all information and tools necessary to diagnose, service, maintain and repair a motor vehicle, including all safety alerts, access codes and recalls. This information must be provided to all repair shops, not just dealers or manufacturers' designated shops.

Our bill also protects the integrity of manufacturers' concepts and systems by not requiring manufacturers to make public any information that is entitled to protection as a trade secret.

As cars become more complex and expensive to repair, consumers deserve to have choices when it comes to repairing their auto vehicles. This bill provides consumers that choice, while ensuring small businesses have the information they need in these difficult economic times.

Madam President, I am honored today to recognize the League of Women Voters for their 90 years of voter education and activism, and specifically want to congratulate the League of Women Voters of Northwest Riverside. County.

In 1920, when passage of the 19th amendment appeared to be imminent, members of the National American Woman Suffrage Association met to form the League of Women Voters. Carrie Chapman Catt first proposed the creation of a League to ``finish the fight'' and work to end all discrimination against women. While initially concerned with the status and rights of women, the League of Women Voters gradually expanded its interests to include issues affecting the whole community. I am sure suffragettes would be pleased that every issue became a women's issue.

Today, the League works at all levels of government to address a wide variety of concerns including health care, education, climate change, land use, ethics and election and campaign finance reform. Whether through voter guides or public forums, the League gives voters the information they need to play a critical role in our community and country.

For nearly 57 years, the League of Women Voters of Northwest Riverside County has made a difference--championing countless public policy challenges, hosting candidate forums and public information meetings, and distributing thousands of voter information guides.

The suffragettes who started the movement to give women the right to vote did not know if they would succeed. But, they persevered. Today, with over 850 local Leagues, 50 State Leagues and the National League, the League of Women Voters remains just as committed to improving our democracy and the quality of life for all our citizens.

Please join me in honoring the League of Women Voters for its dedication to the ideals of our great Nation.

Mr. President, as we prepare to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, it is critical that we address the need to invest in commonsense ways to improve the health and well being of our nation's most precious resource--our children.

Childhood obesity threatens the healthy future of one-third of American children. Every year we spend $150 billion to treat obesity- related conditions, and that cost is growing. Obesity rates tripled in the past 30 years, a trend that means, for the first time in our history, American children may face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents.

Right now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, spends more than $10 billion a year on school meal programs, but only a small fraction of that funding goes to fruits and vegetables.

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine entitled School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children, found that increasing the amount and variety of vegetables and fruits in schools is one of the best ways to make school meals healthier, and recommends that schools increase their offering of fruits and vegetables to help keep kids healthy.

That is why I am introducing the Healthy Food in Schools Act, which would improve school nutrition by providing more fresh fruits and vegetables in school breakfasts and lunches starting in elementary school, when children are developing healthy eating habits.

A recent study was conducted by Dr. Wendy Slusser, director of UCLA's Fit for Health Program, and Harvinder Sareen, Director of Clinical Programs at WellPoint, a health benefits company that found children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increases dramatically when produce is made available in school meals. The data also shows that increasing availability of fruits and vegetables exposes children to new foods, which can affect their eating habits for a lifetime.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act instructs USDA to put in place a plan to promote the use of salad bars in schools and provide $10 million for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to help schools purchase salad bars and fruit and vegetable bars for their cafeterias.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act also includes $100 million for overall cafeteria infrastructure improvements. Many cafeterias around the country are looking to move away from processed food and toward kitchens that can cook healthier meals from scratch, but they lack the funds to implement such a plan.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed last year included $100 million in grants for cafeteria equipment, but the Department of Education received more than $650 million in requests for infrastructure improvements. This bill will help meet the needs of the many school districts that want to improve the meals they serve their students.

This bill also provides competitive matching grants and technical assistance for schools to improve access to local foods. The bill directs $10 million a year for 5 years toward these farm-to-school programs.

Farm-to-school programs are a proven, commonsense way to help improve the health of children while supporting local farmers and bolstering local economies. While many schools would like to incorporate fresh local food into their meals, schools often lack the startup funding and technical expertise to overcome barriers to making this change. These limited federal grants will give school districts and small- and medium-sized farms the help they need to develop new farm-to-school programs.

With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever. That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in support of including this commonsense bill in the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act will help ensure that our nation's children are not just eating, but also learning to eat healthy. The rise in the rates of children who are overweight or obese are a result of poor diets, a lack of physical activity, and insufficient nutrition education. A healthy school environment can help correct these problems and put our Nation's youth and our Nation on the path to a healthier and more sustainable future.

Mr. President, as we prepare to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, it is critical that we address the need to invest in commonsense ways to improve the health and well being of our nation's most precious resource--our children.

Childhood obesity threatens the healthy future of one-third of American children. Every year we spend $150 billion to treat obesity- related conditions, and that cost is growing. Obesity rates tripled in the past 30 years, a trend that means, for the first time in our history, American children may face a shorter expected lifespan than their parents.

Right now, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, spends more than $10 billion a year on school meal programs, but only a small fraction of that funding goes to fruits and vegetables.

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine entitled School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children, found that increasing the amount and variety of vegetables and fruits in schools is one of the best ways to make school meals healthier, and recommends that schools increase their offering of fruits and vegetables to help keep kids healthy.

That is why I am introducing the Healthy Food in Schools Act, which would improve school nutrition by providing more fresh fruits and vegetables in school breakfasts and lunches starting in elementary school, when children are developing healthy eating habits.

A recent study was conducted by Dr. Wendy Slusser, director of UCLA's Fit for Health Program, and Harvinder Sareen, Director of Clinical Programs at WellPoint, a health benefits company that found children's consumption of fruit and vegetables increases dramatically when produce is made available in school meals. The data also shows that increasing availability of fruits and vegetables exposes children to new foods, which can affect their eating habits for a lifetime.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act instructs USDA to put in place a plan to promote the use of salad bars in schools and provide $10 million for fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to help schools purchase salad bars and fruit and vegetable bars for their cafeterias.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act also includes $100 million for overall cafeteria infrastructure improvements. Many cafeterias around the country are looking to move away from processed food and toward kitchens that can cook healthier meals from scratch, but they lack the funds to implement such a plan.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed last year included $100 million in grants for cafeteria equipment, but the Department of Education received more than $650 million in requests for infrastructure improvements. This bill will help meet the needs of the many school districts that want to improve the meals they serve their students.

This bill also provides competitive matching grants and technical assistance for schools to improve access to local foods. The bill directs $10 million a year for 5 years toward these farm-to-school programs.

Farm-to-school programs are a proven, commonsense way to help improve the health of children while supporting local farmers and bolstering local economies. While many schools would like to incorporate fresh local food into their meals, schools often lack the startup funding and technical expertise to overcome barriers to making this change. These limited federal grants will give school districts and small- and medium-sized farms the help they need to develop new farm-to-school programs.

With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever. That is why I urge my colleagues to join me in support of including this commonsense bill in the upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

The Healthy Food in Schools Act will help ensure that our nation's children are not just eating, but also learning to eat healthy. The rise in the rates of children who are overweight or obese are a result of poor diets, a lack of physical activity, and insufficient nutrition education. A healthy school environment can help correct these problems and put our Nation's youth and our Nation on the path to a healthier and more sustainable future.

Mr. President, I take this opportunity to recognize the 95th anniversary of the American Medical Women's Association, AMWA. AMWA is the Nation's oldest and largest multispecialty organization for women in medicine.

The American Medical Women's Association was founded in 1915 in Chicago by Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen. At the time, women physicians were a minority, representing only 5 to 6 percent of all physicians in the United States. With the creation of AMWA, Dr. Van Hoosen intended ``to bring Medical Women into communication with each other for their mutual advantage, and to encourage social and harmonious relations within and without the profession.''

Since its inception 95 years ago, AMWA's membership has grown significantly. With more than 13,000 members today, AMWA has become a strong and trusted voice for women's health and the advancement of women in medicine at the local, national, and international level. For nearly a century, AMWA has empowered its members to be leaders in improving health for all, within a model that reflects the unique perspective of women.

AMWA's members include physicians, residents, medical students, and health care professionals, all of whom are engaged in making a difference in the communities they serve. AMWA's charitable program, the American Women's Hospital Service, has provided international relief for more than 90 years, supporting clinics all over the world. The Journal of Women's Health, AMWA's medical journal, is a trusted resource for research and information on a wide range of women's health issues, and has been cited by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, and MSNBC.com. Through its many educational programs, support and mentorship of young women physicians, health care advocacy, and the promotion of excellence in medicine and scientific research, AMWA's members are truly champions for women's health.

Since 1915, the American Medical Women's Association has served as the vision and voice of women in medicine. On its 95th anniversary, I commend the American Medical Women's Association for its tireless efforts to advance women in medicine, and look forward to its many future successes.