Floor Statements

Madam President, I support the Child Care and Development Block Grant, CCDBG, reauthorization bill, S. 1086, which is now pending before the Senate. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation, which would send it to the President for his signature. I want to congratulate my colleagues, Senator Mikulski for her leadership on this bill, and Senator Harkin, Senator Alexander, and Senator Burr. This reauthorization has truly been a bipartisan effort and illustrative of the Senate HELP Committee's effectiveness this Congress, and I congratulate Senator Harkin on his leadership of this committee as he retires from Congress next month. Through the HELP Committee's leadership and work with their House counterparts, this legislation will serve to better support working families and children and make a significant improvement to our current childcare programs.

The last time we authorized this program was in 1996. I know that very well because I was serving in the House of Representatives at the time and had the opportunity to be the ranking member on the Human Resources Subcommittee in the House Ways and Means Committee that was considering welfare reform and childcare, and how we could reward families for work, and how our welfare system could become a transitional program rather than a permanent program that would allow people, particularly moms, to be able to get into the workforce, stay in the workforce and climb up the economic ladder.

Today, under CCDBG, there are 1.6 million children eligible for program services. CCDBG provides not only a safe environment for those children, but allows 70 percent of their parents to work and an educational opportunity for the child at the same time. A Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, study showed that parents who had their children in childcare for 2 years or more were more likely to remain employed. CCDBG provides stable employment, help for the child, and a positive economic situation for the family.

This bi-cameral, bi-partisan CCDBG reauthorization bill before us makes improvements to this successful program, as it should. It allows the States to develop 13 specific health and safety standards, such as first aid and CPR, and SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. It is keeping our children safer in childcare by having safety standards that are developed. This legislation: requires the States to do annual health, safety, and fire inspections of nearly all childcare providers; expands comprehensive background checks for those who are involved in childcare; steadily increases the annual authorization of appropriations; phases in a doubling of the annual set-aside for quality initiatives to 9 percent by 2019; makes information available online for parents to make informed childcare decisions; promotes more transparency in the program; and provides additional State flexibility on how they can set priorities within the childcare program. This program is a model of how federalism should operate, with the Federal Government and the States collaborating together to improve the quality of life for many middle-class American families.

This legislation will accomplish our objectives so we can get more people into the workforce and provide access to early childhood education to help children succeed in life. This program will allow us to help American families and strengthen the economic security of America.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. President, I am pleased to pay tribute to Janice Helwig

for her 20 years of faithful service to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Helsinki Commission. Janice joined the Helsinki Commission as a member of the professional staff just a few years after the watershed changes in Europe in 1989, including the fall of communism, the unification of Germany, and the breakup of the Soviet Union.

While 1989 did indeed mark a transition to peace and prosperity for many countries in Central Europe--a Europe ``whole and free'' in the words of President George Bush--by the time Janice joined the Commission staff in late 1994 it was clear that the countries of the region still had many challenges ahead.

At the 1994 Budapest Summit, where Janice first joined the U.S. delegation to the OSCE as a member of the Helsinki Commission contingent, she heard Russian President Boris Yeltsin warn that ``Europe, having not yet freed itself from the heritage of the Cold War, is in danger of plunging into a cold peace.'' Unfortunately, Russia's effort to solidify its own sphere of influence and to block the OSCE's ability to advance human rights has been a hallmark of Moscow's approach throughout Janice's tenure.

As the Helsinki Commission's policy adviser attached to the U.S. Mission to the OSCE, Janice has worked on almost every aspect of the Commission's mandate. Her expertise and dedication on Central Asia has particularly stood out.

In the aftermath of the crackdown in Turkmenistan beginning in November 2002, Janice was a tireless advocate for the victims of the regime. She has faithfully and continuously pressed to determine the fate of all those who were disappeared and been the voice of those who were silenced.

In the wake of the Uzbekistan Government's massacre in Andijan in 2005, she helped put a spotlight on the tragic loss of life there. She also personally went to Kyrgyzstan after the outbreak of inter-ethnic conflict in 2010 and met with survivors. When Kazakhstani human rights advocate Evgeny Zhovtis was imprisoned in Siberia after a sham process, Janice visited him in prison. An international organization is only a means to an end, not an end to itself. In the case of the OSCE, that end is the promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Janice has helped to ensure that the OSCE stays focused on those goals.

As chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I am pleased to recognize and commend Janice Helwig for her commitment and service to the Helsinki Commission.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize the members of the U.S. canoe/kayak team on their outstanding performance at Deep Creek 2014--the International Canoe Federation, ICF, Canoe Slalom World Championships--held at the Adventure Sports Center International, ASCI, in Garrett County, MD this past September.

U.S. paddlers advanced to the semifinals in every event, despite competing alongside more than 400 Olympic-level athletes from 46 countries. I congratulate U.S. team member and Marylander Fabien Lefevre on winning the Gold Medal in C1M--canoe single men--and advancing to the finals in K1M--kayak single men--and to his team members Michal Smolen, K1M; Casey Eichfeld, C1M; Dana Mann, K1W; and the team of Casey Eichfeld and Devin McEwan, C2M, who paddled their way into semifinals. I offer my congratulations to these outstanding athletes and my encouragement to all the members of the U.S. canoe/ kayak team as they train and compete for a chance to represent the United States at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

U.S.A. canoe/kayak is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the national governing body for the Olympic sports of flatwater sprint and whitewater slalom as well as the paralympic sport of paracanoe. Since 2009, the team has been led by Olympic Gold Medalist, 10-time U.S. National Champion, and 6-time World Cup Medalist Joe Jacobi. Joe has been a major force in energizing the team and developing the vitality of paddlesports in the United States. I wish him all the best as he steps down from this role later this year to pursue new projects and initiatives.

I also offer my congratulations to Garrett County commissioner Gregan Crawford and Maryland Office of Sports marketing executive director Terry Hasseltine who served as cochairs for Deep Creek 2014; Deep Creek 2014 executive director Todd Copley; ASCI executive director Mike Logsdon; and the many sponsors and volunteers who worked together to bring this world-class event to the United States and to provide a warm welcome to athletes and visitors from around the world. This was only the second time this prestigious international competition has been held in the United States since its inception in 1949; I am proud that Mountain Maryland also hosted the World Championships on the Savage River in 1989.

I recently had the opportunity to visit with members of the U.S. team and students in Garrett College's Adventure Sports Institute who are preparing to lead the next generation of athletes and outdoor sports enthusiasts. I commend the region's leaders for recognizing Mountain Maryland's unique opportunity to support the training and development of leaders in this exciting industry, and I look forward to the continued growth of competitive paddle sports in my State and around the country.

Mr. President, I want to take a moment today to honor retired Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Edgar P. Silver, who died yesterday at the age of 91. I am deeply saddened by the passing of Edgar Silver. He was a loyal friend, valued mentor, and trusted advisor--and not just to me but also to my father. Judge Silver served with my father on the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, and he also served with my uncle, Maurice Cardin, in the Maryland House of Delegates. Judge Silver was as fine a person as you could ever hope to meet, and he always found the time to listen. Foremost among his many remarkable qualities was his empathy. He had the rare ability to transcend generations and connect with people of any age: when he was a young man, he quickly won the respect of his elders, and as he became older he never lost the ability to speak to and inspire the young.

Judge Silver's parents Samuel and Lena were immigrants. His father was a tailor. Judge Silver was a native of East Baltimore and a neighbor throughout his later life, as well as a fellow alumnus of Baltimore City College. He served our Nation in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1943 to 1945. He was a 1954 graduate of the University of Baltimore Law School and was elected as a city delegate to the general assembly that same year. He served in the house of delegates until 1965. In 1965, he moved to the judicial branch, where he served on the old Municipal Court of Baltimore City until 1971. He served on the District Court of Baltimore City until 1977, when he was appointed to the Circuit Court by acting Governor

Blair Lee III. Judge Silver retired from the bench in 1988. But after retiring from the bench, Judge Silver found a whole new career as a partner in Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston, Levitan & Silver LLC, where he was still working when he died.

The Baltimore Sun obituary quoted Alan M. Rifkin, who cofounded the law firm that ultimately became Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston, Levitan & Silver LLC with Judge Silver, as saying, ``He lived his life by two principles: 'The best is yet to come' and 'Never trade old friends for new ones, just keep adding them on.' '' I couldn't agree more. Judge Silver simply loved his home city and relished the chance to serve its citizens. He approached his time on the Baltimore Circuit Court with enormous humility and never lost sight of the fact that his decisions from the bench had far-reaching effects on people's lives. His contributions to the Maryland Legislature were varied and lasting, and the number of issues he shaped for the better are innumerable. Judge Silver was a political historian and touchstone with a perspective like few others. His counsel through the years has been invaluable to me and my family. We will be forever grateful.

I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Ann, his wife of 64 years; their children, Michael Silver and Roslyn ``Rozzie'' Benjamin; and Judge Silver's other family members, all of whom he loved deeply, including his four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The people of Maryland have lost a tremendous asset with Judge Silver's passing, but all of us who knew him are richer for having done so.

Mr. President, I wish to honor all of those brave American men and women who have suffered as prisoners of war, are missing in action, or remain unaccounted for with respect to their service to our Nation. Since 1998, we take the third Friday of every September--this year, the 19th--as a day to acknowledge and remember with these extraordinary men and women. Our servicemembers provide the blanket of security that allows us to sleep safely at night. We cannot thank them enough. But what we can do is pledge to all of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines never to forget them and their sacrifice.

During the course of the Vietnam war, over 2,500 military personnel were declared either a prisoner of war or missing in action. In 1971, Mary Hoff, the wife of Lt. Cmdr Michael Hoff, a missing-in-action military officer, saw the need for a flag to honor all of those classified as missing in action, MIA, or prisoner of war, POW. Newt Heisley, a World War II pilot, designed the flag. It is a haunting black flag containing a white silhouette of a servicemember. Behind this servicemember is a single barbed wire and a watchtower in the background, and underneath this image are the words ``You are not forgotten.'' Just as those words are written on the flag, so they are in my heart. As moving and poignant as this flag is, it was still not enough. On 1979, Congress and the President declared the first POW/MIA Recognition Day. On this day, all Americans shall remember those who gallantly sacrificed their freedom so we can remain free. Just 3 years later, this emblem became the only other flag to fly next to Old Glory over the White House. On 1989, it was installed in the Capitol rotunda as a representation of this Nation's vow to take account for all those who remain missing. As I walk past the rotunda and I see that flag, I always take a moment to remember those who have been declared POW or MIA in my thoughts and prayers. And to those who are still missing, I voice our commitment of never-ending support in finding you and bringing you home. No matter what it takes, we will never stop looking.

This day calls for remembrance of those in the past who have endured these awful fates, but it also reminds us to continue our efforts to bring every American home. From World War II to the 1991 gulf war, more than 83,000 Americans have been pronounced missing. That is a hard number to hear. I commend the actions of the Department of Defense, DOD, and of the personnel--military and civilian--who have wholeheartedly devoted themselves to the cause of finding and returning our courageous servicemembers. I honor and thank all of the Marylanders who have dedicated themselves to this cause. That quest is what our servicemembers and their families deserve, servicemembers such as John Call III of Potomac, MD, who served in Vietnam under the Air Force; POW survivor, Dr. Louis Haberer Tankin of Baltimore, MD, who served in World War II under the Army Medical Corps; Paul Carty of Frederick, MD, declared MIA serving in the Korean war under the Army; and Adnan al- Hilawi, DOD contractor, who went missing on March 3, 2007, while working in Baghdad, Iraq, and still remains missing today.

I have had the honor to work beside Senator John McCain, a survivor of a POW camp--the infamous ``Hanoi Hilton''--in North Vietnam for over 5 years. His experience and courage and triumph and service continue to inspire me. I thank my colleague for his service and sacrifice on our Nation's behalf.

It pains me to think about the fate of these men and women, but no matter the pain, we all must stay true to our pledge never to forget them. And we shall never forget the hardships endured by their family and friends who cannot receive the closure of their beloved servicemember's fate. The U.S. Government owes a great deal of compassion, appreciation, and gratitude to these families and friends.

Joseph Campbell once said, ``A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.'' Every single soldier, airman, marine, and sailor is a hero in my eyes. I pledge to never forget those heroes who have been held prisoner of war or have been declared MIA, and I pledge to all of our service men and women that if you do go missing or are held captive, we will do everything in our power to bring you home and keep you in our memories. Today, this Nation reminds our servicemembers, our citizens, and the world that America ``leaves no man behind.''

Mr. President, today I wish to celebrate another year of outstanding service from the U.S. Air Force. Through signing the National Security Act of 1947, President Harry Truman awarded our Air Force the respect and recognition it so rightly deserved, highlighting its strategic importance in the U.S. defense system. Sixty-seven years later, the Air Force continues to uphold the freedom and safety of our great Nation, protecting the bastion of democracy that is the United States of America. Today, we express our unwavering admiration and support for an Air Force that fulfills its duties with integrity and excellence. Accomplishing the mission ``to fly, fight and win,'' the Air Force is a source of national pride, and I have no doubt it will continue in this tradition.

In 1907, the world's first airplane flight soared over the sands of Kitty Hawk, NC, as a soaring, swooping symbol of innovation and technological prowess. The success of this first mission would not have been possible without the pioneering minds of the Wright Brothers, and the same stands today. I commend the skilled airmen of our Air Force: they are the warriors behind our aviation triumphs and their sacrifices and achievements are just as inspiring as those of their 20th-century predecessors. Our airmen are masters of innovation, ensuring the Air Force can

fly, fight, and win with efficiency, speed, and through world-class technology. They have come a long way since 1907 and will no doubt continue along this prominent trajectory.

At present, the capabilities of the U.S. Air Force dwarf comparable forces across the globe. Ours is the largest and most technologically advanced force in the world. Our airmen continuously strive to fulfill the five core missions of the Air Force: No. 1, air and space superiority; No. 2, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; No. 3, rapid global mobility; No. 4, global strike; and No. 5, command and control--all the while remaining committed to these central duties, the Air Force has recognized that strategic agility is the future. With the new Air Force 30-year strategy, triumphed by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III, our outstanding airmen are able to adapt and prepare for a world with ever- evolving global threats. Faced with new challenges, such as the danger posed by ISIL, the Air Force ensures we are one step ahead, placing our freedom and safety out of harm's reach. For the past 67 years our Air Force has proven to be responsive and brave in the face of change. It is a force we can all be proud of and, above all, a force we can trust.

The U.S. Air Force remains one of our most crucial tools for tackling global conflict. Its wide-ranging scope ensures it provides global vigilance, global reach, and global power while helping to manage crises around the world to safeguard our freedom. Using technology in air, space and cyber space, the Air Force has become integral to all fronts of U.S. defense. The Air Force is deployed in war zones, natural disaster relief, and intelligence gathering, demonstrating there are no bounds to its significance. By confronting conflicts around the globe, the Air Force protects U.S. citizens and plays a vital role in spreading peace and freedom to the worldwide population.

The Maryland Air National Guard is a wonderful example of dedicated citizen airmen who serve the Nation, the State of Maryland, and their local communities. An integral part of the Maryland community, our Air National Guard works to ensure the safety of the citizens of Maryland, coordinating responses to any State crises. Yet these same airmen have been called upon to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their experience and talents are an invaluable asset to the Department of Defense. Most recently, the 104th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard deployed four A-10C fighters and 100 personnel to participate in Exercise Saber Strike, supporting strategic training and foreign partnerships in Estonia. This is just one illustration of the good work of the Maryland Air National Guard. Our 175th wing is continually deployed worldwide to assist with training, humanitarian relief, international cyber defense, and combat operations, all of which demonstrate the wide-ranging significance of our Maryland Air National Guard.

When remembering 67 years of stalwart service, we must never forget that we owe these years of triumph to the men and women behind the machines, the airmen. I thank them personally for their dedication and bravery to the United States of America. I am fortunate to have one-- Maj. David James Wilson--currently serving on my staff as a defense legislative fellow. We ask a lot of these courageous men and women, and they continue to exceed our expectations with integrity and excellence. They are dedicated to service before self. They sacrifice their personal safety to ensure the U.S. flag continues to stand tall and fly free. They are the warriors who have answered our Nation's call. They are team members who leave no airman behind. They will not falter nor will they fail. For this, we owe them our enduring gratitude, support, and admiration.

Today, on the 67th birthday of our Air Force, we congratulate the men and women who have taken to the skies in defense of our freedom. Their valor and sacrifice humbles me. Let us remember this feeling of awe and pride not just today but every day as we applaud the accomplishments of our Nation's airmen, past and present, and wish the U.S. Air Force a happy 67th birthday.

Mr. President, on more than once occasion, I have talked about the hardworking men and women who toil mostly in anonymity here in the Senate. We have people who work on our staffs and on the committees. We have floor and cloakroom staff. We have parliamentarians and legislative counsel and enrolling clerks. We have carpenters and plumbers and electricians. To me, all of these people are part of the Senate family. And I am always grateful for the dedication, skill, and pride each brings to his or her job. Many of these individuals live in Maryland and I am proud to have them as constituents. While we Senators may have our partisan differences, the Senate functions well at an institutional level because of the professionalism and devotion to public service of its staff people who typically log long hours; endure government shutdowns, security threats, and other perturbations; and work in facilities we try to make as accessible as possible to the American people and anyone else who wishes to visit.

Today, I thank one such individual, Jerry Linnell, for 32 years of exemplary service to the Senate and the American people. Jerry is retiring at the end of the month. Jerry joined the staff of the U.S. Senate's Official Reporters of Debates in 1982 and became the Chief Reporter of Debates in 1999. For those people who may be unfamiliar with the Reporters' office, it is charged with producing a verbatim account of everything that happens here on the floor of the Senate. Even with modern technology employed, that is a daunting task requiring a team of eight skilled reporters who take turns transcribing every word that we Senators utter on the floor. They have to be able to decipher our accents and occasional creative use of the English language, and they have to withstand filibusters. It is a mentally and physically challenging job. The Reporters the Senate employs are highly experienced professionals who take pride in their work. The Office has 15 people overall and a designee from the Government Printing Office, GPO; collectively, they are responsible for producing the Senate's portion of the Congressional Record. The Congressional Record is one of the crucial documents of our government.

Jerry is a Minnesota native, born in Duluth and raised in Grand Marais. He played on the high school football team and was captain of the basketball team. He attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis and graduated from its court reporting program. Jerry's first court reporting job was with Ward & Paul in Washington, DC, before moving to New Carrollton, MD and joining the Baltimore court reporting firm of Salomon Brothers. After several years in Baltimore and at one point passing in one test session 8 of the 9 highest testing requirements set by the National Court Reporters Association, Jerry joined the staff of the U.S. Senate's Official Reporters of Debates.

Jerry and his wife Jane first met on a dance floor; they were members of the DC Swing dance team and danced competitively. They enjoy traveling back to Grand Marais, where Jerry claims to have shoveled more snow than anyone else in the Linnell family, for various music events where he can play his accordion with local musicians and family members. He's also a country music fan.

Jerry is the proud father of Laurie, Jerry Jr., Heather and Katie, and the very proud grandfather of Colleen, Rachel, Leanne, Monica, and Jerry III. He currently serves as the President of the Linnell Family Association, a group composed of the thousands of descendants of Robert Linnell, who first came to the United States in the early 1600s to Scituate, Massachusetts. Jerry has spent many an hour refurbishing his Capitol Hill home, and plans on retiring between that home and a newly purchased and renovated home in North Carolina where he can play golf all year round.

Even though Jerry is a former Maryland resident, he is a diehard Washington Nationals fan. He and his wife Jane love to attend games together. In light of his more than three decades of public service, I won't hold that against him. But with the real prospect

this fall of a Beltway World Series between the Nats and the Baltimore Orioles, he should prepare himself to be disappointed!

Mr. President, in all seriousness, we are fortunate to have men and women of Jerry's caliber devote their time and talent to the U.S. Senate. Jerry is an outstanding public servant. While we will miss him--and his trademark suspenders--he certainly has earned a well- deserved retirement and on behalf of the Senate, I thank him for his service and wish him and his family all the best for the future.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized for up to 7 minutes, followed by Senator Cornyn for up to 10 minutes, and Senator Blumenthal for up to 15 minutes.

Mr. President, I take this time to talk about the President's strategies on combating the threat of ISIL, or ISIS. I applaud the President's recognition that ISIL is a barbaric terrorist group that beheaded Americans. It murders, kidnaps, and tortures civilian populations. It sells women into slavery. It has the stated purpose of attacking America and its allies. It poses a threat, and the President is right that it calls for appropriate action by the international community.

I support and congratulate the President on the selective military strikes that have been done at the request of the Iraqi Government against ISIL's advances, which have held them back, and being able to regain territory that was held by ISIL, protecting civilian populations. I strongly support the President's commitment that there will be no combat ground troops interjected into this combat, and I think the President has done a good job in engaging the international community to work with us so that this is truly an international effort.

Let me comment for a moment, if I might, about military action and that it needs to be restricted. I oppose authorizing military use of force that is open-ended, that could result in the use of ground troops or where we could be asked to carry through or have our military do what the countries where these terrorist groups are located should be doing with their own military. In Iraq, it should be the Iraqi security forces that take on the ground responsibilities.

Let me remind my colleagues, when we went into Iraq--and it was done without my support. I voted against the authorization to go into Iraq. We were told that was going to be a short campaign, that the might of the military of the United States would make that a very quick operation. As we see years later, it took a long time and we are still in Iraq. It must be done with the help of the international community, particularly the countries that are in the region.

I think we have a strong responsibility as Members of the Senate and Members of Congress to revisit the 2001 authorization that was passed by Congress shortly after the attack on our country on September 11, and the 2002 authorization that was used for Americans going into Iraq. I don't think either one of those resolutions is relevant for additional military action today in either Syria or Iraq.

Let me read into the Record the appropriate language that was included in the 2001 authorization:

The President is authorized to use all necessary and

appropriate force against those nations, organizations or

persons he determines planned, authorized, committed or aided

the terrorist attack that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, or

harbored such organizations or persons . . .

It is a real stretch to say that authority applies to actions against ISIL today. Therefore, I think it is incumbent. I think we have a constitutional responsibility to act, and I think we must act and make it very clear that there will be no ground combat troops authorized in any action taken by Congress.

In regard to Iraq, the Iraq resolution was passed at a time when the information supplied to Congress was not accurate. It is certainly not relevant to the fact that now there is an independent Iraqi Government. That authorization also needs to be revisited.

Let me remind you, if this administration can use the authority of 2001 and 2002 for using aircraft and military operations by air, what is to say that the next administration--because we know this is going to take a long time--couldn't use that authorization for introducing ground troops in these countries?

So I think it is important that we revisit these authorizations, eliminate the previous authorizations, and make it relevant to the current need. It has to be limited to strategic air missions requested by the Iraqi Government, targeted at protecting civilian populations.

In regard to Syria, I have serious doubt about authorizing military operations. I think we need to have clarification from the administration as to the clear objectives they are seeking to accomplish in Syria. We have to be very careful about the authorization of the use of our military in a country where we are not invited.

Now let me talk 1 minute about timing. The President has article II powers. I don't deny that. So if something were to happen, he has the right to defend our country and use our military to defend our country. He can do that for a period of 60 days. Sixty days from now we will soon be returning for a lameduck session of Congress, so I don't think there is any immediate rush for us to try to get an authorization bill done. But I think we should be working on an authorization bill so we can take it up when Congress reconvenes, and if something happens in the interim, we are certainly available and we can come back in and be ready to act.

America is always stronger when Congress and the administration work together on these issues, and I would

hope we could come together with the appropriate authorization, making clear we will not allow authorization for combat ground troops and that we are very restricted on the use of our air power.

Let me lastly comment about the continuing resolution we will be voting on tomorrow, as I understand it, that gives title 10 power for the arming and equipping of the Syrian opposition. Clearly in that authorization there is no authorization for use of U.S. military force. It is consistent with the action taken by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on which I serve and the resolution I supported that talked about arming and training the vetted Syrian opposition. We did that over a year ago. It was for a different mission; it was for dealing with Assad. This in a way is comparable to dealing with ISIL but also deals with the capacities against Assad. It is limited, to expire on December 11, and I think it is consistent with our mission to deal with our policies in Syria.

As I said earlier, I voted against the Iraq authorization in 2002. I see that we have to be very careful that we do not allow authorization to exist that could be used for a long and costly involvement of the United States.

It is also clear to me that we cannot win the campaign against ISIL by military action alone. We have to have diplomatic support. We have to deal with cutting off the financial aid. We have to deal with cutting off the political support in Iraq. In Iraq we have a representative government. The seeds have been planted. That is what we need to do. That cuts off the support ISIL will need for long-term survival. The international community needs to stay resolved and the United States needs to stay in leadership.

With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that floor privileges be granted to Maj. David James Wilson, a U.S. Air Force officer who is currently serving as a defense legislative fellow in my office, for the duration of today's session of the Senate.

Mr. President, let me thank Senator Stabenow for organizing this time to underscore the importance of a fair shot for everyone to afford a college education.

Earlier this month Senator Mikulski and I met with students. We met with students from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. We met with students from Bowie State College. We sat around a table and listened to their stories. Bowie State College is one of our historically Black colleges and universities in America with fairly reasonable tuition costs--much lower than most State colleges and certainly a lot lower than private schools. So Senator Mikulski and I were shocked to find that the average amount of debt today at a State college such as Bowie is over $27,000 for a graduating senior. That affects their decisions.

We were there during the first week of school and we talked to the president, and the president said he still doesn't know the enrollment this year because there are a lot of students who have preenrolled, but until they have paid their costs, they are not fully enrolled, and a lot aren't fully enrolled because they didn't know how to pay for their costs. We also heard from students who said they showed up for class and several of the students didn't even have textbooks because they couldn't afford to buy their textbooks. Then we heard from students who said: Look, it is difficult enough to afford a 4-year college education, but the average length of time to get a degree was 6 years. Why? Because they have to work in order to pay for part of their schooling to keep their debt down. They couldn't graduate earlier. The courses are only offered certain times of the year, and it took them 6 years to get the required amount.

We have heard the numbers. The amount of student debt outstanding is $1.3 trillion--more than credit card debt. In the United States, of a family's income, it takes maybe half the income to afford a college education. For the rest of the industrialized world, it is between 5 and 10 percent. We can't be competitive with that rate. Education is a great equalizer in this country and we have outpriced ourselves.

We have a chance to do something about it today. I will give one more example, if I might. I was at a 4-year college this year and I was speaking to a student who was a second-year student going into her third year, and she said she was going to drop out. I asked her: Why are you going to drop out? Are you not doing well in school? She said: I get straight A's. I am dropping out because I can't justify to my family taking out more debt, knowing what the interest costs are going to be to my family.

It broke my heart. That is the situation.

We need to have greater budget support for public colleges and universities. We need to increase Pell grants. We need to make Pell grants 12 months a year because some of these courses are only offered in the summertime and that is when students can make it up. Senator Harkin has a bill in to do that, and we need to do that. There are a lot of steps we need to take, but today we could take a giant step forward with interest costs.

My colleague Senator Elizabeth Warren will be making a request. We have a chance to pass this bill today in the Senate that would say it is wrong for the Federal Government to make $66 billion on the interest flow. From 2007 to 2012 the Federal Government made $66 billion on the difference between what they charge in interest and what the cost is to the government. To me, that is the worst tax on the most vulnerable in our community, and we should eliminate that. That is what the Warren bill does.

The bill says let our students refinance their loans. By the way, it is not just young people. There are several million Americans over the age of 50 who have student debt. This is a lifetime burden. Let them refinance so they can take advantage of the lower interest rates and save several thousand dollars doing that. We have a chance to do that today.

I urge my colleagues to allow us to take up this legislation and let's pass it. Let's show the people of this Nation that we want a fair shot for everyone to afford a college education. I am proud to be a part of the Senators who are on the floor urging this to happen. Again, I thank my colleague Senator Stabenow for her leadership on this issue.

Madam President, I rise today to remember the precious lives lost 13 years ago in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Our perception of the world changed in very dramatic ways by sunset on that day of infamy and we awoke on September 12 to what we believed to be a much more dangerous reality. We have learned a number of lessons since that day. Some were crystal clear almost immediately while others required us to walk a more difficult path to gain clarity. As we reflect on the 13th anniversary of 9/11, I would like to remind my colleagues of the two principles that can serve as our anchor amidst uncertainty and stormy circumstances.

First is that the followers of Osama bin Laden turned the openness and freedom of American society against us by savagely using civilian passenger jets as missiles to demolish the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and destroy a large section of the Pentagon. They wield the weapons of fear, chaos, and destruction. We must remember that our foundation is built on freedom, justice, and equality. The greatest weapon in our arsenal is not a munition or aircraft but our light that remains shining upon the hill. Ours is the greatest democracy this planet has ever known and that is why it is a threat to those who seek darkness and destruction. We build, we progress, we encourage, we respect, but we do not sink to the level of our adversaries even if that means the fight is not fair. I am reminded of the words of President Kennedy, who said, ``In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it.''

The second principle that we must remember is that the United States of America remains an indispensable Nation and to those to whom much is given, much is expected in return. We have a unique role in the world to lead the international community in providing stability, humanitarian relief, and defense of the innocent. Today we remain engaged in a war against elements of extremist terror organizations bent on the destruction of all people regardless of faith, nationality, or race who do not accept their tyrannical 9th century vision of the world. They are unlike any enemy we have ever faced in that they respect no boundaries, have no clear end, target civilians and servicemembers indiscriminately, and they are determined to make our home front the front lines.

Thirteen years ago, as the attacks unfolded and we learned of the scope of the Al Qaeda network, we all questioned how our Nation would respond and whether we could recover. But as the days rolled by and we saw the determination, the compassion, and the commitment of so many individuals giving freely of their time and their money to help those affected by the attacks, we laid that question to rest. The bravery, resourcefulness, and the shared sense of purpose we witnessed that day and every day since 9/11 have

shown the world the ``stuff'' of which Americans are made: an unquenchable love of freedom and an unwavering commitment to democracy. I have heard it said that 9/11 did not test America's character; it revealed it.

For the better part of the 20th century the United States and our allies fought a successful battle against the genocidal forces of fascism and totalitarianism. We defeated the Nazis. We won the Cold War. In the bloody struggle between ideologies, democratic governments triumphed over repressive regimes.

Since that day, we have consecrated the time and place where these terrorist acts occurred. We have commemorated the brave and dedicated individuals who faced 9/11 and its consequences head-on. We have honored and laid to rest our fallen war heroes. We have rebuilt the mangled section of the Pentagon, honored Flight 77's bravery in the Pennsylvania countryside and returned Ground Zero in New York City to the world's vibrant center of economic activity. When I think of these locations, I am reminded of the words President Lincoln delivered at Gettysburg that ``we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract''.

We have also made mistakes but we acknowledge and learn from those mistakes.

I believe we will prevail against this enemy for the same reason we have been victorious in previous conflicts: the overwhelming majority of people in the world want freedom and justice and dignity and opportunity. I am confident because America remains a beacon of hope to the oppressed everywhere. I am confident because I know this generation will meet all challenges and threats we face as a Nation as successfully as we met the challenges and threats of the last century. We must remain clear-eyed as to identity and objectives of our enemy and the distinction between us. We cannot shrink when the oppressed cry for freedom and the enslaved call for justice.

The 9/11 anniversary is especially poignant this year as it falls just 3 days short of the bicentennial of the Star-Spangled Banner, our National Anthem. The greatest navy in the world bombarded Fort McHenry for 25 hours, starting on September 13, 1814. British troops were poised to move into Baltimore after Fort McHenry fell. The Nation's capital was in flames; the Nation's future was in grave doubt. And then, an amazing thing happened: Fort McHenry did not fall to the British. A huge, glorious flag was flying over the fort as dawn broke on September 14, 1814. The British forces retreated. One of the darkest hours in America's history turned into one of its brightest moments, and Maryland lawyer Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the Star- Spangled Banner.

We will have additional challenges in the months and years ahead. But we must never forget the sacrifice previous generations of Americans have made to safeguard our liberty. And we must never forget that our enemies fight because they have so little freedom while we Americans fight because we have so much freedom and that makes all the difference.

Madam President, I rise today to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812's Battle of Baltimore. The State of Maryland is proud of its contributions to this ``Second War for Independence,'' which reinforced United States sovereignty and gave birth to our national anthem. While Star-Spangled 200 events are already underway in my home State, I wish to spend a few minutes to discuss the War of 1812 and the story of Francis Scott Key's poem ``Defense of Fort M'Henry.''

A generation after the United States declared its independence from Great Britain, the mercantilist ties between the two countries were not fully severed. The British impressed American merchant seamen, enforced illegal and unfair trade regulations, colluded with certain Native American tribes to attack frontier settlements, and attempted to block westward expansion. The United States declared war to reassert autonomy over its own affairs, establish free trade, protect sailors' rights, and ensure that our Nation could prosper from sea to shining sea.

President James Madison eloquently outlined these justifications more than 200 years ago when he called on ``all the good people of the United States, as they love their country, as they value the precious heritage derived from the virtue and valor of their fathers . . . . . [to] exert themselves in preserving order, in promoting concord, in maintaining the authority and efficacy of the laws, and in supporting and invigorating all the measures which may be adopted by the constituted authorities for obtaining a speedy, a just, and an honorable peace.''

The contributions of the U.S. Navy were instrumental in repelling the British during the War of 1812. The U.S. Navy barely had a dozen warships compared to the hundreds of ships comprising the British fleet. British ships were undermanned, however, while well-trained and talented officers and seamen took command of American ships. These men were largely from coastal States, like Maryland, and

were accustomed to seafaring. Master Commandant Oliver Hazard Perry took on the British Navy on Lake Erie in 1813 with a scrappy fleet of light ships. Even though his force was seemingly decimated by the British, Master Commandant Perry resorted to paddling a rowboat with a banner that read ``Don't Give up the Ship.'' He then boarded the USS Niagara, double-loaded the carronades, and sailed directly into the British line, ultimately claiming victory.

The following summer, in 1814, the British Navy sailed up the Chesapeake Bay to attack our Nation's capital and seize the valuable port city of Baltimore. The British dealt heavy blows to Washington, DC, setting both the U.S. Capitol and the Executive Mansion--which we now know as the White House--ablaze. British forces then moved toward Baltimore. Citizens of Baltimore, including free Blacks, quickly mobilized to protect their city. Barricades stretching more than one mile long were constructed to protect the harbor, hulls were sunk to impede navigation, and a chain of masts was erected across the harbor entrance. When the British fleet approached Baltimore at North Point, Marylanders fought the British Army and helped repulse the British Navy from Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. It is important to note that American forces during the Battle of North Point were volunteer militia, heavily outnumbered by the highly trained British infantry, but they managed to delay the British forces long enough for 10,000 American reinforcements to arrive, preventing a land attack against Baltimore. Following 25 hours of intense British naval bombardment at Fort McHenry by more than 1,600 cannonballs, the American defenders refused to yield, and the British were forced to end the Chesapeake Campaign and withdraw.

During the British bombardment, American lawyer Francis Scott Key, who was being held on board an American flag-of-truce vessel in Baltimore Harbor, took notice of the American flag still flying atop Fort McHenry. Key realized then that the Americans had survived the battle and had stopped the enemy advance. He was so moved by the sight of the American flag flying following the horrific bombardment, he composed a poem called ``The Defense of Fort M'Henry,'' which was published in the Baltimore Patriot & Advertiser newspaper later that year. This poem, and later the song, inspired love of country among the American people and not only helped usher in the ``era of good feelings'' immediately after the war, but became a timeless reminder of American resolve. ``The Star Spangled Banner'' officially became our national anthem in 1931. The flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired this anthem is now a national treasure on display at the Smithsonian Institution, a very short distance from where we are today.

The War of 1812 confirmed the legitimacy of the Revolution and served as a critical test for the U.S. Constitution and newly established democratic government. Our young Nation battled against the largest, most powerful military on the Earth at that time and emerged with an enhanced standing among the countries of the world, both militarily and diplomatically. The U.S. economy was freed of its dependence on British goods, which unleashed domestic manufacturing and spawned the industrial revolution. The U.S. Navy proved its worth and the U.S. Congress rewarded the Navy with funding for a permanent, more expansive fleet. A new generation of Americans too young to remember Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, which effectively ended the Revolutionary War, and an older generation proud of defending American independence twice in their lifetimes, were inspired by Francis Scott Key's words, which embody our universal feelings of patriotism and courage.

I am proud that Maryland will lead the Star-Spangled 200 celebration, a 3-year celebration that began with Baltimore's ``Sailabration'' in June 2012. The Navy's Blue Angels treated more than 1.5 million spectators to dazzling air shows; the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra premiered the ``Overture for 2012,''' composed by Philip Glass; and forty-six tall ships and naval warships from around the world anchored in the Inner Harbor, open for public tours. Through the course of 2014, Maryland will host numerous events along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail to commemorate the Chesapeake Campaign, and at the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine to celebrate the bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore. This weekend, the Star- Spangled Spectacular celebration will conclude with a fireworks display over Fort McHenry that Francis Scott Key would be proud of. These ceremonies are an opportunity to showcase to the world that Maryland is an exceptional place with a rich, colorful, and important history.

I am also proud that the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution I sponsored in the 112th Congress--S. Res. 388--to mark the beginning of the bicentennial of the War, to celebrate the heroism of the American people during the conflict, and to recognize the various organizations involved in the bicentennial celebration, including the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Park Service, and the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission.

The Senate may soon consider another resolution I have sponsored, along with my colleagues, the senior Senator from Maryland (Ms. Mikulski) and the junior Senator from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker), to commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of Baltimore and the creation of the Star-Spangled Banner, which officially became our national anthem in 1931. As we recognize all of these ongoing efforts during this commemorative period, I encourage all Americans to remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to defend our Nation's freedom and democracy in its infancy, and to join in the bicentennial celebration of our victory in the War of 1812.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

I rise today to discuss the tragic shooting of Michael Brown last month in Ferguson, MO.

Michael Brown did not need to die. This cycle of needless sacrificing of our teens to violent ends must end. It has been heartbreaking to see yet another American town gripped by such a tragedy. I welcome Attorney General Holder's decision last week to begin a pattern or practice investigation into the allegations of unlawful policing by the City of Ferguson's Police Department. I also strongly support the Justice Department's outreach efforts through their Community Oriented Policing Services Office. This office, known as the COPS Office, can help better evaluate and train local law enforcement to carry out fair and impartial policing.

In addition to the recent investigation announced by the Department of Justice, I urge Attorney General Holder to expedite the issuance of new guidelines that would, once and for all, prohibit racial profiling by law enforcement officers at all levels of government, including the federal, State, and local law enforcement officials. Congress should also examine the program that provides for the transfer of surplus military equipment to local law enforcement agencies to ensure local government is not inhibiting the First Amendment rights of people to peaceably assemble and petition their government for the redress of grievances.

Local government must also respect the First Amendment rights of the press to do their jobs, report the story, and help provide the truth to the American people.

For a more permanent fix, Congress should take up and pass legislation that I authored, the End Racial Profiling Act, known as ERPA, which is S. 1038. I want to thank my colleagues who have cosponsored this legislation, including Senators Reid, Durbin, Blumenthal, Coons, Harkin, Menendez, Stabenow, Levin, Mikulski, Warren, Boxer, Gillibrand, Hirono, Wyden, and Murphy. I also thank Congressman John Conyers, the ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, for introducing the House companion legislation, H.R. 2851, which has 54 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.

This legislation provides training and monitoring for law enforcement agencies at all levels of government. By enacting this legislation, we can begin to reduce the racial disparities that plague our Nation's criminal justice system. We need to better educate more of our law enforcement officials in the differences between specific suspect descriptions and sweeping generalizations or profiling that wastes valuable resources. Racial profiling is un-American. It has no place within the values of our country. It turns communities against the partnerships needed to keep our neighborhoods safe.

Two years ago, I want to remind my colleagues, the Senate and the American people were having this very same conversation. So it is heartbreaking to me that we are having this conversation again without having taken more definitive action. In 2012 the Nation's attention was riveted to the tragic avoidable death of Trayvon Martin in Florida in February 2012. As we all know from the news, an unarmed Martin, 17, was shot in Sanford, FL, on his way home from a convenience store while wearing a hoodie and carrying a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles.

After the tragedy I met with the faith and civil rights groups at the Center for Urban Families in Baltimore to discuss the issue of racial profiling. Joining me were representatives of various faith and civil rights groups in Baltimore, as well as graduates from the Center's program.

I heard there first-hand accounts of typical American families who were victims of racial profiling. One young woman recounted going to a basketball game with her father, only to have her dad detained by the police for no apparent reason other than the color of his skin.

Trayvon's tragic death led to a discussion in the Senate of the broader issue of racial profiling. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on ``Ending Racial Profiling In America'' in April 2012 which was chaired by Senator Durbin. At the hearing I was struck by the testimony of Ronald L. Davis, the Chief of Police of the City of Palo Alto, CA.

I want to quote in part from Chief Davis's testimony, in which he said:

There exists no national, standardized definition for

racial profiling that prohibits all uses of race, national

origin, and religion, except when describing a person.

Consequently, many State and local policies define racial

profiling as using race as the ``sole'' basis for a stop or

any police action. This definition is misleading in that it

suggests using race as a factor for anything other than a

description is justified, which it is not. Simply put, race

is a descriptor, not a predictor. To use race along with

other salient descriptors when describing someone who just

committed a crime is appropriate.

Then Chief Davis continued:

However, when we deem a person to be suspicious or attach

criminality to a person because of the color of his or her

skin, the neighborhood they are walking in or the clothing

they are wearing, we are attempting to predict criminality.

The problem with such predictions is that we are seldom right

in our results and always wrong in our approach.

After the hearing I was joined at a press conference by Baltimore's Reverend Dr. Jamal Bryant, a leading youth activist and adviser to the Trayvon Martin family. Reverend Bryant echoed the call of ending racial profiling by law enforcement in America, and let me quote him:

This piece of legislation being offered by my Senator,

Senator Cardin, is the last missing piece for the civil

rights bill from 1965 that says there ought to be equality

regardless of one's gender or one's race. Racial profiling is

in fact an extension of racism in America that has been

unaddressed and this brings closure to the divide in this

country.

I have called for putting an end to racial profiling, a practice that singles out individuals based on race, ethnicity, national origin or religion. My legislation would protect minority communities by prohibiting the use of racial profiling by law enforcement officials.

First, the bill prohibits the use of racial profiling by all law enforcement agents, whether Federal, State or local. Racial profiling is defined in a standard, consistent definition as the practice of a law enforcement agent relying on race, ethnicity, religion or national origin as a factor in their investigation and activities. The legislation creates an exception for use of these factors where there is trustworthy information relevant to the locality and timeframe which links a person of a particular race, ethnicity or national origin to an identified incident or scheme.

Law enforcement agencies would be prohibited from using racial profiling

in criminal or routine law enforcement investigations, immigration enforcement, and national security cases.

Second, the bill would mandate training on racial profiling issues and require data collection by local and State law enforcement agencies.

Third, this bill would condition the receipt of federal funds by State and local law enforcement on two grounds. First, under this bill, State and local law enforcement would have to ``maintain adequate policies and procedures that are designed to eliminate racial profiling.'' Second, they must ``eliminate any existing practices that permit or encourage racial profiling.''

Fourth, the bill would authorize the Justice Department to provide grants to State and local governments to develop and implement best policing practices that would discourage racial profiling such as an early warning system.

Finally, the bill would require the Attorney General to provide periodic reports to assess the nature of any ongoing discriminatory profiling practices. The bill would also provide remedies for individuals who were harmed by racial profiling.

The legislation I have introduced is supported by a broad coalition of civil rights groups. These groups include the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the ACLU, NAACP, Rights Working Group, and numerous other national, State and local organizations.

Racial profiling is bad policy, but given the state of our budgets, it also diverts scarce resources from real law enforcement. Law enforcement officials nationwide already have tight budgets. The more resources spent investigating individuals because of their race, religion, national origin or ethnicity, the fewer resources are used towards suspects who are actually demonstrating illegal behavior. Using racial profiling makes it less likely that certain affected communities will voluntarily cooperate with local law enforcement and community policing efforts, making it harder for our law enforcement community to fight crime and terrorism.

Minorities living and working in these communities in which racial profiling is used may feel discouraged from traveling freely, which corrodes the public trust in government. This ultimately demonizes entire communities and perpetuates negative stereotypes based on an individual's race, ethnicity or religion.

Racial profiling has no place in modern law enforcement. The vast majority of law enforcement officials who put their lives on the line every day handle their jobs with professionalism, diligence, and fidelity to the rule of law, and they understand that racial profiling has no place in their work.

However, the Congress and Justice Department should still take steps to prohibit racial profiling and finally root out its use.

I agree with Attorney General Holder's remarks to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee where he stated:

In this Nation, security and liberty are--at their best--

partners, not enemies, in ensuring safety and opportunity for

all. . . . In this Nation, the document that sets forth the

supreme law of the land--the Constitution--is meant to

empower, not exclude. . . . Racial profiling is wrong. It can

leave a lasting scar on communities and individuals. And it

is, quite simply, bad policing--whatever city, whatever

state.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the equal protection of law to all Americans. Racial profiling is important to that principle. It should be ended once and for all.

As the late Senator Ted Kennedy often said: ``Civil rights is the great unfinished business of America.'' Let's continue the fight here to make sure that we truly have equal justice under the law for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation I have introduced that will end racial profiling once and for all.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, one of the joys of being an elected member of Congress is getting to hire and know and work with dedicated public servants who toil behind the scenes--our staffs. One of those individuals is my policy director Priscilla Ross, who first joined my staff over 16 years ago when I was serving in the House of Representatives.

I rise this afternoon in a bittersweet moment to thank Priscilla for her service to me, the citizens of Maryland, and all Americans on the occasion of her departure from the Senate.

Starting next week she will be the senior associate director for Federal

relations at the American Hospital Association, AHA, which is the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. The AHA is comprised of nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other care providers, and has over 43,000 individual members.

Priscilla Ross is a consummate Senate staffer. She is extremely intelligent. She has mastered her subject areas, which include health care and budget. She works hard. She is both a pragmatist and an original creative thinker. She works well with her colleagues across the aisle and across the Hill. She is a problem solver. She sees the big picture but pays attention to detail.

Her political acumen and sense of timing are first rate. She tells me what I need to know and, more importantly, what I need to hear--even when I don't want to hear it. Above all, Priscilla has been driven by a passion to help people and make things better for Americans, especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable among us. The disparity of health outcomes between different communities and racial groups in this Nation--I know--continues to concern Priscilla, who has made me more aware of the problem.

Members of Congress, especially Senators, depend on their senior staff to sort through the innumerable demands on our time and to help us concentrate our time on the most important opportunities and priorities. To do that as well as Priscilla has done for 16 years requires not only deep policy expertise but a shrewd understanding of the Senate and a comprehensive familiarity with the people and the institutions of Maryland. It also demands a willingness to bring a seasoned, respectful skepticism to the scores of requests every Senate office receives every week to support this or that legislative initiative and to have the judgment to sort out the strong policy cases from the powerful interests. In that, Priscilla has excelled. I am grateful for the high standard she has met.

Priscilla came to Capitol Hill to improve people's lives. She has succeeded in that regard--far beyond what most of us are able to accomplish. She has had an extraordinary career.

While I am sad that she is leaving the Senate, I take solace in the fact that she is not leaving ``the arena.'' She will continue to find ways to make health care better, more accessible, and more affordable for all Americans in her new post at the AHA.

Priscilla is a proud native of the District of Columbia--born and raised in the shadow of the Capitol building, so to speak. She likes to reminisce about taking the number 30 bus along Independence Avenue to her school at Tenley Circle every day. She said that as a child she never imagined she would some day work in the Capitol building she passed on her way to and from school.

Fortunately, at some point, she did get that idea and pursued it. Fortunately for me, I was the one who hired her. Before that happened, Priscilla went to Boston University before finishing her college career at American University, where she received a B.A. in political science. She held a summer internship in the office of Yvonne Braithwaite in California.

She was an outstanding student. She was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, which is a national political science honor society, and the Golden Key National Honor Society. She is also a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, a national sorority founded nearly 95 years ago at Howard University here in the District.

Before Priscilla joined my staff, she was the political affairs manager for the American Association of Health Plans, the trade association for more than 1,000 managed care plans across the country. Priscilla also represented the investor-owned hospital industry as an assistant vice president for legislation at the Federation of American Health Systems where she lobbied Congress on issues important to 1,400 hospitals and health care systems with a specific focus on Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement.

In that position she also represented the association in various Washington-based health care coalitions, prepared congressional testimony for association members, designed and coordinated the FAHA grassroots program, staffed the legislative steering and PPS-exempt hospital committees, and drafted comments to proposed Health Care Financing Administration regulations affecting hospital reimbursement.

Priscilla has also worked in health care delivery settings as a new member representative for the Harvard Community Health Plan in Boston, as administrative services coordinator at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, a private 201-bed acute-care facility, and as an information assistant with Blue Cross Blue Shield of the national capital area. She came to me with some experience, and she used that to help people.

With regard to Priscilla's accomplishments while working on my staff, the list is so long and comprehensive, I will only be able to comment on a few items.

Priscilla has staffed my efforts to repeal arbitrary and unfair outpatient physical, occupational, speech-language therapy caps for Medicare beneficiaries since they were enacted in 1997--first in the House and now in the Senate. Because of Priscilla's efforts we have been able to prevent the caps from being implemented.

With Priscilla's help, the legislation I authored to expand Medicare to include preventive benefits, such as colorectal, prostate, mammogram, and osteoporosis screening was enacted into law.

Thanks to Priscilla's persistence, Congress finally passed the Patients' Bill of Rights, which means that individuals with private health care plans will have the right to choose their primary health care provider, that women will have direct access to obstetrics and gynecology services and be able to pick their own providers, and that patients with medical emergencies will be guaranteed coverage for necessary emergency room visits in accordance with the ``prudent lay person's standard.'' Because of Priscilla's work, we were able to move forward in these areas.

Because of the work of Priscilla Ross, tens of thousands of retired veterans and their spouses have access to the health care benefits to which they are entitled, including Medicare Part B, without being penalized for signing up too late. So let me explain.

Under current law, people who do not enroll in Medicare Part B when they are first eligible, to do so must pay a 10-percent penalty for every year they have not participated. But 10 years ago, military retirees could not have anticipated the rules changes that have occurred in military health systems since 1996 when the Department of Defense replaced CHAMPUS with TRICARE, nor could they have known that participation in TRICARE after 1965 would eventually require Medicare enrollment. In some cases, the military advised retirees that Medicare coverage was duplicative, recommending that they do not enroll. We fixed that. I would note that a couple from Oklahoma--not Maryland-- brought this problem to Priscilla's attention and the result was we were able to get it done.

While Priscilla has spent most of her time working on health care, she has aptly demonstrated her ability to get things done on other issues. Let me speak for a moment about the fiscal year 2012 consolidated appropriations bill that contained $919 million for the Small Business Administration--$189 million more than previous years. This was the first time in many years that the SBA got a bump-up in their appropriation. I was on the Budget Committee at the time.

The Disaster Loan Program received an increase of $72 million. With Priscilla's help, I authored an amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that increased the surety bond limits from $2 million to $5 million to help small businesses. Each of these initiatives was started by Priscilla Ross. She marshaled them carefully through the committee and through the process, and the end result is they became law.

A moment ago, I mentioned that my and Priscilla's concern is about health disparities. The United States spends nearly $1 trillion in excess health care costs due to racial and ethnic health disparities. Priscilla has taken the lead in fashioning policies to close the gap. It is not just about economics; it is a social justice that strikes at the heart

of who we are as a nation. At Priscilla's suggestion, I authored provisions that establish in statute Offices of Minority Health in the key agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Without the basic research needed to discover the causes of disparities and develop new treatments, we will not be able to make significant progress in closing the gaps, so Priscilla successfully advocated to elevate the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities to the newest institute at the National Institutes of Health. We now have a National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, thanks to Priscilla Ross.

In 2007, shortly after I became a Senator, 12-year-old Marylander Deamonte Driver died of a toothache just a few miles from this building. As the Washington Post recounted:

A routine, $80 tooth extraction may have saved him. If his

mother had been insured. If this family had not lost

Medicaid. If Medicaid dentists weren't so hard to find . . .

By the time his aching tooth got any attention, the bacteria

from the abscess had spread to his brain, doctors said. After

two operations and more than six weeks in the hospital, the

Prince George's County boy died.

Priscilla was determined to turn this terrible tragedy into something positive. She immediately began working to expand access to health care for all Americans, regardless of their income. Thanks to Priscilla we were able to secure guaranteed dental benefits for children in the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program, along with a dental education program for parents of newborns, and a new HHS Web site and toll-free number with information about the State's dental coverage, and a list of participating providers. We were able to secure funding for a mobile dental health care lab dedicated in 2010 that now carries Deamonte's name. To encourage public service activities that promote oral health, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act includes the provision ensuring that activities assisting individuals in obtaining dental services can qualify for funding.

Each of these accomplishments was initiated by Priscilla Ross.

These are just a few of Priscilla's accomplishments. Suffice it to say that young children across America too numerous to count now have access to dental care, thanks to Priscilla Ross, although they will never know her name. Suffice it to say that seniors across America will be saved from premature death by preventive health screenings, thanks to Priscilla Ross, although they will never know her name. Because of Priscilla, we are closer to a more perfect union, which is the birthright of each and every American, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status.

When Thomas Jefferson followed Benjamin Franklin to Paris as Minister of America, he remarked that no one could replace Franklin. He, Jefferson, was merely a successor. I feel the same way about Priscilla: There may be a successor, but no one will be able to replace her.

I thank her for her wise counsel, indomitable spirit, outstanding public service, and enduring friendship, and I wish her the best of luck in her new career.

Thank you, Madam President. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the important role civil society plays in the promotion of democracy as we observe International Day of Democracy this September 15.

Twenty-five years ago, I stood in Berlin as the wall was coming down. I will never forget that moment when the will of the people was finally recognized. It's true that we have seen extraordinary progress over the years. But in too many parts of the globe, basic rights continued to be denied to those fighting for democratic ideals.

Today, there is an unprecedented global crackdown on civil society organizations seeking to express their voice and exercise their rights. We've seen pervasive restrictions on civil society organizations enforced around the globe. Russia, in its worst political crackdown in post-Soviet history, has stamped the label of ``foreign agent'' on any civil society organization that receives support from other countries. Ethiopia's 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation continues to hinder the work of human rights organizations and other civil society groups that receive more than 10 percent of their funding from foreign organizations. In 2012, Sudanese security forces violently attacked civil society representatives who were protesting against government restrictions. Egypt has prosecuted over 40 international aid implementers, sentencing them to prison for up to five years. In Laos, activist Sombath Somphone--a leader who dedicated his career to expanding civic space in Laos--has been missing for nearly two years after video footage documented his abduction at a police checkpoint. In 2013, government harassment in Sri Lanka forced the German Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation to close its office.

The developments that we see today have several notable features. First, the pushback against democracy is a global phenomenon and countries like Russia have established antidemocratic practices that are being emulated elsewhere. Second, global democratic reversals are not merely temporary aberrations but are likely to pose challenges for years to come. Finally, the global response has thus far been inadequate to meet these threats.

Moreover, democratic achievements cannot be taken for granted. A few days ago, Hungary's National Investigative Office raided the offices of two organizations which help distribute civil society funds from the government of Norway. Thirteen NGOs are currently under investigation in Budapest, including the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, HCLU, the local office of Transparency International, and the Roma Media Centre. These raids signal further deterioration of good governance, the rule of law, and human rights in Hungary.

I regret that the Hungarian government is pursuing practices at odds with the historic path to freedom Hungary pursued 25 years ago when that country opened the door for East German refugees and courageously helped pave the way for the end of communism. At a time when we need more democracy in Europe, not less, Hungary's actions are not only harmful for democracy in Hungary, they undermine efforts to build democratic institutions throughout the region.

To call attention to widespread infringements upon civil society, I, as Chair of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the International Day of Democracy resolution. This resolution urges the recognition of the International Day of Democracy,

affirms the role of civil society as a cornerstone of democracy, and encourages all governments to stand with civil society in the face of mounting restrictions on civil society organizations.

We cannot take success for granted; every day we must work to protect democratic progress. As we observe the International Day of Democracy this September 15, the international community must push back on these grave threats to civil society as well as protect the efforts by these organizations to build strong democratic institutions.

I would like to thank my colleagues for joining me in support of the International Day of Democracy.