Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I recognize the Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Festival in my home State of Arkansas for being named one of the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association.

Each year, the association compiles a list of the most appealing events across the continent for tour operators who are planning trips for the coming year. More than 600 events competed for inclusion on the 2011 list. This year marks Fort Smith's first appearance on the list.

Riverfront Blues Fest will celebrate its 21st year in 2011, and is known as ``The Best Little Bluesfest in America.'' The festival draws thousands of music lovers to enjoy top musical talent on the banks of the Arkansas River on two summer nights.

Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Fest's entry in the 2011 Top 100 Events in North America reads:

The Fort Smith Riverfront Blues Fest is the premier blues

event on the Arkansas River. It's big enough to draw national

and international musical talent, yet intimate that you don't

have to fight the crowds to enjoy the music. Set on the banks

of the Arkansas at Fort Smith Riverpark, this blues festival

brings people from several states to enjoy two low-cost

nights of family entertainment. Because the festival gets

started after 4 p.m., this leaves plenty of time to see the

sights in and around historic Fort Smith.

Two other Arkansas events made the 2011 Top 100 Events list: the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hot Springs and the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights, which occurs in 60 communities across the state, including Fort Smith.

I congratulate all of these Arkansas events and communities for preserving and promoting the history and heritage of our State.

Mr. President, today I recognize radio station KELD 106.5 in El Dorado, AR, as they celebrate their 75th anniversary.

As the longest and oldest continuous radio station in Arkansas, KELD has educated and informed residents across South Arkansas for more than seven decades. From music to news and community events, KELD offers a mix of programming to meet the needs of its listeners.

Radio stations like KELD are an important part of Arkansas's culture, providing essential information to listeners across our State. I am proud of their efforts to broadcast thoughtful, educational, and entertaining programming.

KELD represents the best of Arkansas, and I am proud of the station for reaching this historic milestone. Along with all Arkansans, I thank KELD for their many contributions to the El Dorado community and South Arkansas over the past 75 years.

Mr. President, today I congratulate Kathy Manis Findley for being named Arkansas Business' Nonprofit Executive of the Year. Kathy serves as the executive director of Safe Places of Little Rock, which she founded in 2002.

Safe Places is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides individual and group support, counseling, education and training, criminal justice advocacy and other services to encourage and strengthen the healing process for survivors of violence. Many of Safe Places' services, including its Crisis Line, are provided throughout the State.

Located in Little Rock's Governor's Mansion Historic District, Safe Places serves children and families who live in areas of Pulaski County that present the highest risk for violent victimization.

Safe Places' mission speaks volumes about the work they do each and every day to keep Arkansas's children safe:

We envision a world without violence, a world in which

every child can experience safety, nurture, and opportunities

that ensure a future filled with hope.

From that Vision our Mission takes its form.

In fulfilling our vision of a world without violence, Safe

Places works in the community to help children, young people

and families create safe homes, schools, and communities

through counseling, advocacy, support, and education.

I commend the entire team at Safe Places for their efforts to protect our most vulnerable young citizens. Their efforts have improved the lives of countless young Arkansans, and I am proud of their hard work and dedication.

Mr. President, today I recognize Nashville Junior High School in my home State of Arkansas for winning the Junior High Quiz Bowl National Championship in New Orleans, LA, earlier this summer. Along with all Arkansas, I congratulate the Nashville team for this tremendous accomplishment.

Under the leadership of coach Tammy Alexander, the school competed in the event as two separate teams, A team and B team.

The A team came out national champions with the only undefeated record of 9-0 at the tournament. The group included Jonathon Lance, Hayden Kirchhoff, Cameron Alexander, Alex Perrin, Alex Kwok and Tyler Tollett. I also wish to recognize student Jonathon Lance, who was named national MVP at the tournament.

The B team included Luke Dawson, Blake Hockaday, Kathleen Lance, Sydney Hughes, Braden Bowman, Nicole Drummond and Dillon Roberts.

I am proud of the hard work and talent of these students, who exemplify the best of our state. Not only are they to be commended for achieving this championship, they are also to be commended for their teamwork and dedication to sportsmanship and education. They set a fine example for all Arkansas students, and I commend them for their exemplary efforts.

I also salute the entire community of Nashville for providing support and encouragement to these young students. Nashville is a strong, thriving community, and I am proud of the community's efforts to encourage education and learning.

I join all Nashville residents in congratulating the Junior High School Quiz Bowl Team on this significant achievement.

Mr. President, today I congratulate the staff of the Rogers Historical Museum in my home State of Arkansas for being awarded accreditation through the American Association of Museums. The Rogers Historical Museum joins an impressive group of 778 institutions currently accredited nationwide. This accreditation represents the highest recognition of the Rogers Historical Museum's commitment to public service, professional standards, and excellence in education.

Museums like the Rogers Historical Museum play an important role in promoting lifelong education, travel and tourism, and quality of life. They offer a center of exploration, discovery, and lifelong earnings for students and citizens of all ages and all walks of life.

I commend the Rogers Historical Museum's leaders and the entire community for their efforts to maintain the history and heritage of their community. Their tireless efforts helped make this accreditation a reality. They represent the best of our State, and I am proud of their accomplishments. I join all Arkansans to congratulate the Rogers Historical Museum for this distinguished recognition.

Mr. President, today I honor and congratulate 40 of Arkansas's brightest young professionals, who were recently named to Northwest Arkansas Business Journal's ``40 Under 40'' list for 2010.

These young adults represent the best of our State, and I am proud to see them earn this recognition. They now join an elite group of business and community leaders, and I look forward to working with them as they continue to grow in their careers.

I also commend the editors and readers of Northwest Arkansas Business Journal for highlighting these young individuals and their efforts for our State.

Members of the 2010 ``40 Under 40'' group, as named by Northwest Arkansas Business Journal, are:

Adam Rutledge, 29--First Security Bank; Annette Nichols,

38--Hyatt Place Hotel; Barry Graves, 39--Weichert Realtors--

The Griffin Co.; Brandon Pinkerton, 32--HP Engineering Inc.;

Brent Farmer, 36--Flintco Inc.; Brian Henry, 36--Wal-Mart

Stores Inc.; Bryan Billingsley, 36--HEBCO Inc.; Christie

King, 34--Wittenberg Delony & Davidson Architects; Clint

Lazenby, 37--ConAgra Foods Inc.; Cody Crawford, 31--C.R.

Crawford Construction LLC; Erin Rushing, 39--CEI Engineering

Associates; Greg Primm, 36--WellQuest Medical & Wellness

Corp.; Heather M. Bell, 35--Mitchell Williams Selig Gates &

Woodyard PLLC; Hernan Muntaner, 38--Wal-Mart Stores Inc.;

James Brandenburg, 36--JVS International; Jason Carter, 39--

Simply Home Lending Inc.; Jeremy Wilson, 38--Rockfish

Interactive; Jody Dilday, 39--Single Parent Scholarship Fund

of Northwest Arkansas Inc.; John Sampson, 32--Cox

Communications; Jonathan Janacek, 28--Janacek Construction

Inc.

Justin Mills, 39--Justin Mills Insurance Agency Inc.; Kyle

Jack, 33--Rapid Prototypes LLC; Laura Kellams, 38--Arkansas

Advocates for Children and Families; Luke Briggs, 31--

Ghirardelli Chocolate Co.; Mark McWhorter, 37--Clorox Co.;

Mark Wagstaff, 37--AAA Business Systems Inc.; Martine Downs

Pollard, 37--Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce; Marty

Shell, 38--Five Rivers Distribution LLC; Melanie Arterbury,

38--Mitchell Communications Group Inc.; Patrick Curry, 32--

WACO Title Co.; Paul D. Morris, 35--Wright Lindsey & Jennings

LLP; Rebecca Hurst, 31--Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP; Robyn

Goforth, 35--BiologicsMD, University of Arkansas; Ryan

Gribble, 38--ISP Sports LLC; Ryan Hale, 35--The Soderquist

Center for Leadership and Ethics; Tim Singleton, 36--Simmons

Prepared Foods; Tina Winham, 35--Cott Beverage; Troy A.

Kestner, 39--Arvest Private Banking; Ulanda Terry, 30--Tyson

Foods Inc.; and Wendi Phillips, 39--Arvest Bank Group

Inc.

Mr. President, with the passing of Jefferson Thomas, my home State of Arkansas has lost a true legend and leader. My heart goes out to his family, friends, and loved ones, and I pray for them as they mourn this loss. They can be proud of the legacy that Jefferson has left behind for our State and Nation.

A member of the ``Little Rock Nine,'' Jefferson bravely stood up for what he believed was right, at a time when it wasn't easy or popular to break against convention. His courage set an example for future generations, who learned that education and equality go hand in hand. His desire to follow his educational dreams inspired countless Arkansans and Americans, and we all suffer his loss.

Throughout his life, Jefferson was committed to service. He bravely served his country in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 as a staff sergeant and an infantry squad leader in Vietnam. He later worked as an accounting clerk with the U.S. Department of Defense.

According to those who knew him best, Jefferson's humor and light heart helped fellow members of the Little Rock Nine stay strong as they pursued their studies. Jefferson maintained that strong sense of humor even in his final days.

Arkansas has lost a cherished member of its community. Jefferson represents the best of our State, and our world is a better place because of his courageous actions and commitment to equality.

I ask to engage in a brief colloquy with the distinguished Senate majority leader and Senator Murray as it relates to the intent of a provision in this legislation regarding average manufacturer price--or AMP.

Do I understand that the provision in section 202 of this bill is solely intended to ensure that Medicaid rebates are collected from the manufacturers of the particular drugs specified in the bill, that is inhalation, infusion, instilled, implanted, or injectable drugs not generally sold at retail pharmacies?

We would like to thank the leader for his clarification and shared goal of protecting access to critical drug therapies for vulnerable populations at retail pharmacies.

Madam President, I want to say a special thanks to my colleague, Senator Dorgan, not only for yielding, but also, most importantly, for his incredible passion for justice. He has worked long and hard in this body and in the other, but certainly working hard for justice for those whose voices are often quieted. He does a tremendous job at it. I think we are all very grateful for that passion and for that plea for justice.

I come to the Senate floor today to urge with great passion my Senate colleagues to support another important piece of legislation; that is, to fund the racial discrimination settlement known as Pigford II between African-American farmers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The time is long overdue to move beyond USDA's discriminatory past and begin to right the wrong of African-American producers and what they have experienced. We have a keen opportunity today to be able to move forward and to see, again, justice as has been described by Senator Dorgan in talking about moving forward and away from the past and the discrimination that occurred and putting an end to these settlements that have already been settled. We have spent the time and the energy and the resources to settle these arguments. Now we need to make sure those who have been wronged will be right.

Between 1981 and 1996, African-American farmers seeking farm loans and credit were discriminated against, denying them access to government programs and to capital. In some cases, these farmers were discouraged from even applying for loans. They were told they were ineligible or that application forms were unavailable. In other instances, loan applications were intentionally delayed to miss deadlines, continuing to disadvantage those African-American farmers. As a result of the discrimination, many of these farmers were unable to run successful businesses and sustained severe damages to their credit histories.

Despite these challenges, despite all of what they were presented with and what they were dealing with, some of these farmers are still farming today, embodying the essence of resilience and the industrious characteristic of all American farmers. We should be proud they are still farming today, and we should honor that by making sure we move this settlement forward and make sure these awards are granted to those who have been wronged.

Another fallout faced by African-American farmers is their shaken faith in the USDA and, by extension, the U.S. Government. Who can blame them--to have been wronged and to be found they were in the right and yet still not to be made whole? Many farmers have spent more than 20 years seeking recognition of the discrimination they experienced. While no settlement can completely compensate them for the anxiety, the anguish, and, of course, the humiliation they experienced, finally funding this settlement is a critical first step in restoring the USDA's credibility among minority farmers.

I hope my colleagues will understand how critically important this is to the embodiment of who we are as a people and a government to move this forward. While it is understood that a legal settlement agreement is rarely perfect, funding this agreement will provide much needed reconciliation for African-American farmers. It is an opportunity to restore their faith in their government, by renouncing a past riddled with discrimination and rightfully honoring the settlement.

Time is of the essence, as many Pigford claimants have passed away waiting for closure on this matter, just as Senator Dorgan mentioned Native Americans who have passed away waiting for justice. We simply cannot afford to delay this process any further. We have seen multiple opportunities and efforts to try to move forward. I hope today is an opportunity none of us will deny to move the issue forward.

In my State of Arkansas, I have heard the stories of hard-working farm families who, despite years of neglect and discrimination from their own government, continue pushing ahead. I have heard from farmers such as Mr. Charlie Knott, a hard-working Arkansan who sought farm loans in the 1980s but was misled and mistreated in that process. Mr. Knott was refused timely access to sufficient capital because of discrimination, limiting production and ultimately crippling his business.

When Mr. Knott fell ill, his children tried to take over the farm but were also met with resistance and neglect from their government, leading to destroyed credit ratings, a loss of 230 acres, as well as the family tractor and other farm equipment. After farming on the same land for over 100 years, the Knott family was forced to quit.

Adding insult to injury, the Knott children were once again denied access to the Pigford claim because of missed filing deadlines. The Knott children are determined to return to farming, to restore the family business and their dignity, and to uphold the legacy of their father, who fought for years not only to serve his family and community but to contribute to the strong legacy of American farming.

Farmers such as Mr. Knott deserve justice and gratitude from a nation that wouldn't be what it is today absent their sacrifices and contributions. Farmers such as Mr. Knott have suffered gross injustices. It is incumbent on the Members of Congress to demonstrate the leadership to correct this injustice and to pass this legislation. If not today, when? When will we do this? This action is long overdue. The time has come to take this step, to live up to our founding principles, to begin the healing process that is so needed, and to restore faith in our government. I urge my colleagues to support this measure today as we move forward and put it behind us, as we begin to heal and rebuild faith in our government.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I come here today to discuss one of the most important duties we exercise as Senators the confirmation of a United States Supreme Court Justice.

As a U.S. Senator, I have a responsibility under the Constitution to determine if nominees to the Supreme Court are qualified for the job. In making this determination, I consider a nominee's knowledge of the Constitution and the law as well as their ability to be deliberate and to hear every case that comes before them impartially and without personal bias.

I believe Ms. Kagan passes that test and that she is qualified to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

I have made this decision after carefully reviewing the Judiciary Committee record on her nomination and visiting with Ms. Kagan personally on two occasions to discuss her nomination. I was impressed with her knowledge, humility, and candidness, and I believe she was as forthcoming in our conversations as any individual whose Supreme Court nomination I have considered.

As Solicitor General for the United States, Elena Kagan served as the Federal Government's lawyer in chief, representing all Americans, including Arkansans, before the U.S. Supreme Court.

A passion for public service and the law has been the driving force behind her career. Elena Kagan is the first woman to serve as Solicitor General, and the first woman to serve as the Dean of Harvard Law School. She previously worked in the Clinton White House as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and as Associate Counsel to the President. She spent several years in private practice after serving as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and for Justice Thurgood Marshall on the U.S. Supreme Court.

I believe the fact that Elena Kagan has not worked as a judge will benefit the Court. She will bring a fresh voice and unique perspective to the discussion on cases that come before the Court. There is already a persuasive precedent for a nominee with no judicial experience to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. In fact, 41 Supreme Court justices, including Chief Justice William Rehnquist, had no experience

serving on a lower federal or state court. And many former justices who also did not previously work in the judicial branch have similar backgrounds to that of Solicitor General Kagan.

Since Ms. Kagan was nominated for this position in May, I have heard from many Arkansans both for and against her confirmation. In terms of the concerns that have been raised by those who oppose her confirmation, I have examined her record regarding those issues and have spoken to the nominee on two occasions to discuss those matters further. After careful thought and consideration in fulfilling my responsibility to judge her fitnesss for this position, I have found nothing that I believe disqualifies her from being confirmed.

There is no doubt Elena Kagan holds the Constitution and the Court's precedents in high regard. During her nomination hearings, Elena Kagan responded to numerous questions about a variety of issues. In response to one question regarding recent Supreme Court rulings involving the Second Amendment, she stated, ``there is no question that the Second Amendment guarantees Americans the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.'' Further, General Kagan explicitly said that the recent Heller and McDonald decisions that secure a fundamental and individual right to own a firearm for self protection is ``settled law.'' Ms. Kagan has personally assured me she has no desire or intention of working to overturn either decision.

It is true Ms. Kagan has not promised how she would decide future Second Amendment cases that may come before the Court. Neither Justice Roberts nor Justice Alito made any pledges or promises in that regard either during their confirmation hearings. To do so would betray one of the basic foundations of our system of government which is a fair minded and independent judiciary. Further, after reviewing the Judiciary Committee hearing record for Ms. Kagan, Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, in my view Ms. Kagan was as, if not more, forthcoming regarding her views on the Second Amendment than the two most recent nominees made by a Republican President.

One final comment General Kagan made to me during our last conversation about the Second Amendment was her desire to join Justice Scalia on one of his hunting trips to get better acquainted with her colleagues on the Court if she is confirmed. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Elena Kagan has also shared with me her deep respect and honor for the military and the men and women in uniform who risk their lives to defend our freedoms. Her father was a veteran, and she has taken with her the reverence for the military he instilled in her. In 2007, Elena Kagan was invited to speak at West Point military academy, where she spoke to cadets about fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law. General Kagan said she accepted this invitation, something she rarely does, as an opportunity to thank the senior cadets for their contributions and service to our country.

Both in our personal conversations and in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Ms. Kagan has explained her actions as Dean of Harvard Law School regarding military recruiting.

The bottom line for me is that Elena Kagan never denied military recruiters access to students on campus and that she holds the men and women in uniform who fight to defend the freedoms we cherish as Americans in high regard. Evidence of this is supported by military veterans themselves associated with the law school who have spoken favorably of Ms. Kagan's treatment of students in the military and the military in general. A group of Harvard Law School Iraq War Veterans published a letter stating that Kagan, ``has created an environment that is highly supportive of students who have served in the military.''

It is also worth noting that Solicitor General Kagan is supported by a long and distinguished list of law associations, organizations, members of Republican and Democratic administrations, unions, advocates and professionals. The list of supporters even includes every former Solicitor General since 1985, including Ted Olsen and Ken Starr.

As I have said with previous Supreme Court nominees selected by two different Presidents, I won't agree with every decision that he or she makes. However, the standard for evaluating Supreme Court nominees should be whether he or she is qualified for the job and is prepared to place the law and the integrity of our Constitution ahead of any personal or political beliefs he or she may have. I believe Ms. Kagan meets that standard which is why I will support her confirmation.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 363, S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Madam President, there is a Lincoln-Chambliss substitute amendment at the desk, and I ask that the amendment be considered and agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate, and that the pay-go statement from Senator Conrad be printed in the Record.

Madam President, for the past 2 weeks, I have come to the floor of the Senate to speak about the critical importance of passing child nutrition legislation before we adjourn for the August recess, and I want to say a very special thanks to all of my colleagues for their hard work on this initiative, their willingness to rise above partisan politics, regional differences, or anything else, to seize this opportunity. I am so pleased today to say we have seized this opportunity to make a historic investment in our children.

I started out my discussion here on the floor last week by saying all we would need to get this bill done was a mere 8 hours--a simple 8 hours to pass a bill that would improve the lives of millions of children across this country. With the assistance of my colleagues, we were able to accomplish this goal in much less time than that, and I want to thank my colleagues again for sending such a strong bipartisan message of support for child nutrition.

Before I go any further, I wish first to thank my good friend and the ranking member of our Agriculture Committee, Senator Chambliss, for his tremendous assistance in crafting this legislation and bringing us to this vote today. He is a wonderful partner in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and he has been a true partner in this effort. I greatly appreciate all his work on this bill. We could not have gotten to this point, nor could we have passed this, without him. So I am grateful to him. I also add my thanks to his staff--Martha Scott Poindexter and Kate Coler. And, of course, all my thanks go out to my staff on the Agriculture Committee--Robert Holifield, Brian Baenig, Dan Christenson, Hillary Caron, Courtney Rowe, and Julie Anna Potts. They are the absolute best.

I also need to thank the administration--the President and First Lady, as well as Secretary Vilsack--for their incredible leadership on childhood nutrition. Their hands-on involvement, particularly in the last few days, has ensured that we will be able to accomplish this goal. I know this is an issue they all care very deeply and passionately about, and that is reflected in the many shared priorities between the Congress and the administration that are included in this bill.

I must say the presence of the First Lady, her compassion, her diligence, her tenacity in wanting to see something happen on behalf of the children of this country that was productive, was progressive, and that moved us forward past the benchmarks we had been at since 1973 have been amazing, and I am certainly grateful to her for all she has done.

With the passage of this bill, I am pleased we are bringing some fresh bipartisan air into the Senate. It goes to show that when you are willing to roll up your sleeves, work across the aisle in a collective and bipartisan manner, you truly do see results. That is what the American people elected us to do. That is what they expect and that is what this bill represents.

Most importantly, this bill is about our children, and about doing what is right for them and for their families. It is about connecting more children with the child nutrition programs which their families depend upon to make ends meet. It is about making sure they get the nutritious meals they deserve so they can succeed in the classroom and learn better. It is about making sure our schools and classrooms, our childcare settings are all places that promote good health and wellness, because we know that children who are healthier learn better and they also

grow up to be healthier adults, contributing more and more to our communities and our industries and businesses and families.

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is certainly true with this bill, which makes huge leaps forward in the fight against childhood obesity and chronic disease. We know that better nutrition and more physical activity are at the heart of tackling the obesity epidemic in this country, and this bill promotes both. It provides the largest increase in the child nutrition programs since their inception--nearly 10 times the amount we provided in the last authorization. It includes the first real increase in the reimbursement rate for the National School Lunch Program in almost 40 years. Madam President, 40 years. It is amazing to me--I believe I may have been 10 years old at the time--to see that finally, after 40 years, we are making the kind of investment in our reimbursement for school nutrition programs that we should. In exchange for that extra cash, children will receive healthier school meals. That is the deal, and it is a good deal. It is a good deal for us as a Congress and those who are stewards of the taxpayers' dollars, and it is good for our children too.

It also includes an historic agreement between schools, parents, public health and nutrition advocates, and the leaders in the food and beverage industry to establish national school nutrition standards throughout the school campus, not just in the lunchroom. This provision complements the commonsense steps we have already taken in my home State of Arkansas to ensure that our school environments are as healthy as possible for our children. With passage of this bill, we will be bringing some of that Arkansas wisdom to the rest of our country, and I am very proud of the hard work that has gone into our schools in Arkansas as well as our fight against childhood obesity. We are so incredibly proud of the steps we have taken and the successes we have already seen.

The bill also takes tremendous steps forward in the fight against childhood hunger in Arkansas and all across our country. It reduces the redtape that serves as a barrier to accessing child nutrition programs and will connect over 100,000 additional children per year with free school meals. In this day and age--and particularly in this economy-- that is so critical for working families. It improves the way we feed hungry children during the out-of-school time. Because of this bill, an additional 29 million meals per year will be served through afterschool programs so children don't have to go to bed hungry, they don't have to leave school hungry, they don't have to go home hungry.

I know there are many who wish to have seen us do more. I too would have liked to have gone further and made even bigger investments. But in this budget environment, with record deficits, we have been able to produce a bill that is fully paid for and will not add one dime to the deficit. It is the fiscally responsible and right thing to do by our children. At a time when families are scrimping and saving to make their own budgets work, we simply must pass this bill so their children can live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. And we will. We have.

Today, in this Chamber, we have taken a major step forward. We have made a strong commitment to our children and to improving the health of the next generation of Americans. With the passage of this bill we are ushering in a new era that will feed the minds and the bodies and the souls of millions of children across this country. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to see this legislation signed into law as well as making sure we are implementing this as quickly as we can, as we know that schoolchildren will be starting back to school here in the next couple of weeks. We must work hard to see this legislation signed into law so we can make an investment in our children--our greatest blessings, our greatest resource--that will last them a lifetime.

Mr. President, the death of Senator Robert Byrd is a tremendous loss to the Senate, the State of West Virginia, and the entire Nation. As the longest serving Member of Congress, his political career spanned multiple Presidencies, and he was a witness to countless American advances and achievements. He has served his state and our country for more than half a century, and he will be greatly missed.

Senator Byrd embodied the history and traditions of the Senate, and his incredible knowledge of our Constitution, Congress and the legislative process benefited every Member who served alongside him. I met with Senator Byrd when I was first elected to the Senate, and I will be forever grateful for his generosity and willingness to assist his colleagues.

I will always remember Senator Byrd as a committed public servant who was deeply devoted to his State and his country. He was known as the conscience of the Senate for his dedication to the body's history, legislative process and rules, serving as a principled legislator. He made many sacrifices to give his life to public service, and we owe a lot to Senator Byrd for this reason. I am deeply saddened by his passing and know he will be missed.

Mr. President, next week our Nation celebrates the 75th anniversary of Social Security, a vital program that has provided comfort and security for millions of Americans through the years.

During my career in the Senate, I have fought to protect Social Security benefits for our Arkansas seniors. I believe in the promise our government made to working Americans--that if we work hard, Social Security will be there to help us in our golden years. Social Security has made a healthy and secure retirement possible for tens of millions of Americans, including my own mother.

Since its inception, Social Security has helped provide stability for Arkansans who otherwise may not have had an income at all.

When President Roosevelt signed Social Security into law on August 14, 1935, he said:

The civilization of the past hundred years, with its

startling industrial changes, has tended more and more to

make life insecure. Young people have come to wonder what

would be their lot when they came to old age. The man with a

job has wondered how long the job would last. This law, too,

represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built

but is by no means complete. It is, in short, a law that will

take care of human needs and at the same time provide the

United States an economic structure of vastly greater

soundness.

More than 600,000 Arkansans are enrolled in Social Security, and I am proud of my work on their behalf. Last year, I pushed for relief for Arkansas's beneficiaries who would not receive cost-of-living adjustments because of the economy. I have consistently opposed attempts to privatize Social Security, and I do not support a reduction in Social Security's current guaranteed benefits.

I have met with Arkansans from all four corners of the State to hear their concerns about Social Security. I believe that providing adequate resources for the Social Security Administration is a crucial first step toward strengthening this vital program. As the baby boom generation enters retirement, we will be asking more of the Social Security Administration's services, and we must work to make certain the trust funds are well maintained.

As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Social Security, I remain committed to protecting Social Security benefits for Arkansans and all Americans. I will continue to use my position as the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Social Security to fight to ensure seniors receive the benefits they have earned and deserve.

Mr. President, today I congratulate employees of the Aerojet facility in Camden, AR, for recently achieving the National Safety Council's ``Million Work-Hours Award.''

Camden Aerojet received the award for reaching one million man hours without ``a day away from work injury or illness'' between July 7, 2009, and June 14, 2010. In addition to achieving the prestigious ``Million Work-Hours Award,'' the Camden facility also garnered Aerojet's President Safety Award.

I commend each and every employee at Camden Aerojet for this accomplishment, which speaks volumes about their dedication and professionalism. Safety should always be a top priority, and I am proud of these employees for their steadfast efforts to maintain a safe, secure workplace.

I also commend Alice Floyd, Safety Manager at the facility, for her dedicated efforts to maintain safety, and Paul Rich, executive director, for his leadership and commitment to safety.

Camden's Aerojet facility helps provide jobs and economic security for countless Camden-area residents. I am proud of the entire Aerojet team for this significant achievement of winning the ``Million Work- Hours Award.''

Mr. President, our farmers, foresters, and ranchers provide our Nation and the world with a safe, secure, and affordable source of food and fiber. I have vigorously supported rural America through my work as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. We must do all we can to support these communities, which are the backbone of our great Nation.

Unfortunately, because of aggressive litigation and federal courts misinterpreting Congressional intent, our farmers, foresters, and ranchers are facing new restrictions on their operations. Too often, this results in obligations that are time-consuming, expensive, and plainly unnecessary.

A prime example of this is the Environmental Protection Agency's, EPA, effort to regulate the use of crop protection products under the Clean Water Act. EPA, at the direction of the Federal courts, is requiring Clean Water Act permits for pesticide applications even if an application does not occur directly into the water. Congress never intended for agricultural chemicals to be regulated under the Clean Water Act.

Farm and forest chemical applications are already subject to another federal statute that protects human health and the environment, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, FIFRA. Farm and forest protection products regulated under FIFRA are subject to rigorous scientific testing before they can be sold and used. In addition, farmers and foresters must adhere to use instructions contained on pesticide labels.

Subjecting farmers to an additional layer of bureaucracy under the Clean Water Act is duplicative and unnecessary since human health and the environment is already protected by FIFRA.

Clean Water Act permits for farm and forest chemical use will also be expensive for pesticide applicators and for state regulatory agencies. EPA has said that these new requirements will nearly double the number of permittees under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, NPDES. This will result in tens of thousands of dollars in new costs and burdens for producers and state regulatory agencies who are already suffering from lack of resources.

Today I am introducing legislation to clarify Congress' intent. Farmers, foresters, and ranchers already comply with FIFRA and further unnecessary regulation should not be required. I am pleased to be joined by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss. The bill is very simple: as long as a farmer is complying with FIFRA, then no Clean Water Act permit will be required. During the more than 35 years since the enactment of the Clean Water Act, the EPA has never required a NPDES permit for the application of FIFRA-registered crop protection products. My bill would extend this common sense approach and avoid duplicative, unnecessary burdens on our farmers, foresters, and ranchers.

I urge my Senate colleagues to join us in taking action on this bill.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to offer the Rural Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2010. This legislation will help rural communities have better access to the funding available through the Rural Development programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, specifically the Rural Water and Wastewater Program and Community Facility Program.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, I am strongly concerned that communities in low-income states such as my state of Arkansas have limited ability to qualify for grant funding through certain Rural Development programs due to current non- metropolitan median household income requirements. The structure we have today creates barriers for many of our poorest rural communities that are most in need. Some of these rural communities have median household incomes well below the national average, yet they are ineligible for any grant funding because USDA applies the State's non- metropolitan median household income to funding formulas instead of the national median household income.

This structure creates disparities for many low-income rural States. For example, in Arkansas, a rural community with a median household income greater than the State's non-metropolitan median household income of $31,845 is ineligible for grant funding through the Rural Water and Community Facility programs. Rural communities in Arkansas who meet all of the other eligibility requirements for funding through these programs are ineligible for grant funding simply because of their low median income level. In fact, 45 States have a higher non- metropolitan median household income level. The legislation I am introducing today is designed to even the playing field for low-income rural communities in Arkansas and several other States.

Forty-eight percent of my home State's population lives in a rural community. The programs offered through USDA Rural Development are vital to our efforts to meet basic needs and foster economic development. Without the types of key infrastructure improvements that can be made through these rural development programs, it will be difficult for many of these communities to reach their full potential and prosper.

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