Floor Statements

Mr. President, today Senator Ensign and I have submitted a resolution designating October 21, 2010, Lights On Afterschool Day. Lights On Afterschool brings students, parents, educators, lawmakers, and community and business leaders together to celebrate afterschool programs. This year, more than 1 million Americans are expected to attend about 7,500 events designed to raise awareness and support for these much needed programs.

In America today, one in four youth--more than 15 million children-- go home alone after the school day ends. This includes more than 40,000 kindergartners and almost 4 million middle school students in grades six to eight. On the other hand, only 8.4 million children, or approximately 15 percent of school-aged children, participate in afterschool programs. An additional 18.5 million would participate if a quality program were available in their community.

Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs, is celebrated every October in communities nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. Lights On Afterschool was launched in October 2000

with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities nationwide. The event has grown from 1,200 celebrations in 2001 to more than 7,500 today. This October, 1 million Americans will celebrate Lights On Afterschool.

Mr. President, quality afterschool programs should be available to children in all communities. These programs support working families and prevent kids from being both victims and perpetrators of violent crime. They also help parents in balancing work and home-life. Quality afterschool programs help to engage students in their communities, and when students are engaged, they are more successful in their educational endeavors.

As co-chairmen of the Senate Afterschool Caucus, Senator Ensign and I have been working for more than 5 years to impress upon our colleagues the importance of afterschool programming. It is our hope that they will join us on October 21 to celebrate the importance of afterschool programs in their communities back home.

Mr. President, today I honor the life of Connecticut State trooper first class Kenneth Ray Hall of Hartford, CT, who was killed in the line of duty earlier this month. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest condolences to Trooper Hall's family, his colleagues on the Connecticut State Police force, and all those who knew and loved him. The sense of loss they must feel is undoubtedly immense, and I know that I speak for all residents of the State of Connecticut when I say that we stand with them during this time of unimaginable grief.

Every single day, in communities large and small throughout this country, law enforcement officers take on incredible personal risks to safeguard our lives and property. Trained to act bravely and selflessly even in the most harrowing of situations, these heroic men and women frequently put themselves in danger to protect people they have never even met. And all too often, these individuals are called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice, giving their own lives in defense of their fellow citizens. Indeed, since the department's founding in 1903, 18 Connecticut State troopers have died in the line of duty.

Trooper Kenneth Hall was no different in that regard. A 22-year veteran of the Connecticut State Police who also served as a marine sniper in Vietnam, Trooper Hall's life exemplified the kind of personal courage and unflinching dedication to public service that are so engrained in the culture of America's law enforcement community. Trooper Hall loved his job and was absolutely devoted to helping and protecting the people of his State and Nation. And that was ultimately what he died doing.

Late in the afternoon on September 2, Trooper Hall stopped a vehicle on I-91 in Enfield, CT, for a routine traffic violation. While he was pulled over on the side of the road filling out paper work, Trooper Hall's police cruiser was struck from behind by a pickup truck. The car was severely damaged, and Trooper Hall was rushed to Baystate Medical Center, just across the border in Springfield, MA. Tragically, in spite of the best efforts of first responders to save his life, Trooper Hall passed away not long after the accident. He was only 57.

In death, Trooper Hall left behind a number of significant, enduring legacies. He was beloved by his colleagues on the Connecticut State Police force, who saw him not only as a wonderful officer, but as a first-rate friend. And he was also part of a larger family of local and State law enforcement officers across the country who considered him a brother in arms. Is it any wonder then, that thousands of police officers, some from as far away as Louisiana and California, gathered at his funeral in Hartford on September 11? What a fitting tribute for such an amazing officer, a man who dedicated the better part of his life to serving the public good.

But perhaps the most important of the numerous legacies Trooper Hall left behind is his large, closely-knit, and incredibly loving family. For his wife Sheila, seven adult children, Tara, Troy, Norman, Teon, Tyco, Andrea and Michael, and countless other family members, Trooper Hall was more than just a dedicated member of Connecticut's State Police force. He was the consummate family man--an individual who relished every opportunity to spend an afternoon with relatives or dote on his grandchildren.

So, it is with great sadness that I join Trooper Hall's loved ones, friends, colleagues, and everyone else whose life was touched in some way by this wonderful man, in mourning his untimely death. While I realize there are few words that can assuage the enormous sense of grief they undoubtedly feel, it is my hope that Trooper Hall's years of commendable service to his State, love for his family, and devotion to his friends will provide them with some measure of comfort during the months and years that lie ahead.

Madam President, I rise today to express my profound disappointment that we were unable to

proceed to the Defense authorization bill. First and foremost, this is an important bill that provides our men and women in uniform with the resources they so desperately require while they bravely fight overseas. Day in and day out they make sacrifices to keep us safe, and the fact that we were unable to proceed to a bill that provides them not only with the equipment they need, but also provides for their families, is extremely disheartening.

Not only does this bill provide necessary requirements for our armed services, but it also contains landmark legislation that would finally lead to the repeal of don't ask, don't tell. Today, my colleagues and I, had a historic opportunity to put a stop to this discriminatory policy, and the fact that the Republicans blocked the bill from being debated is discouraging. The current policy actively discourages a significant portion of our population that is willing, capable, and able from serving in our military at a time when our Nation is at war and needs our best and brightest to serve. We owe it to the gay and lesbian community to repeal this law. I am confident that today's military is ready for this change, and most importantly, it is the right thing to do.

Since 1993, when don't ask, don't tell was implemented, over 14,000 men and women have been discharged from the service at a cost of over $600 million to the American taxpayer. These gay and lesbian service members, who are proud to serve in our military, and are often serving in critical specialties, are being denied the opportunity to fight based solely on their sexual orientation. We cannot afford to continue to discharge these brave soldiers in whom we have invested time, resources, and training. We cannot afford this policy monetarily, but most importantly, we cannot afford this policy because it negatively affects our national defense.

It has been estimated that approximately 48,000 gay and lesbians are currently serving in today's military. That means that there are 48,000 men and women who on a daily basis are being forced to lie about who they are so they can continue to serve their Nation proudly. These are patriotic Americans who are willing to put their lives on the line in defense of our country but are unable to do so openly, simply because of who they are. Gay and lesbian service members fight, and die, alongside their fellow troops. It is time we stop asking them to live a lie.

I have travelled overseas many times and have met with our troops-- all kinds of men and women--first generation Americans and those with a long family history of service, members of every race and religion, and, yes, gays and lesbians. No matter what their religious background, nationality, or sexual orientation they are all unmistakably proud to be serving the United States of America. It makes no sense to me why we would deny that right to serve to any American who is brave enough to answer the call of duty.

As we forge ahead in the coming weeks, I urge my colleagues to fully repeal don't ask, don't tell. The time to do so is now; we can afford to wait no longer.

I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to mark the passing and honor the service of Army National Guard soldier SGT Steven DeLuzio of South Glastonbury, CT.

Sergeant DeLuzio died August 22 during a fierce small arms attack while serving with the Vermont National Guard in Paktika, Afghanistan. He had only 19 days left before he was due home to his family and loved ones.

Sergeant DeLuzio graduated from Glastonbury High School, where he was a born leader and active in school activities. He served as freshman class secretary and is best known for leading the Glastonbury hockey team to a State championship his senior year as cocaptain. Feeling a call to serve after the events of 9/11 he signed up to serve with the Vermont National Guard in 2004, just like his older brother, Scott. He served one tour of duty in Iraq in 2006 and was deployed to Afghanistan in March of this year.

In his too short time, Sergeant DeLuzio proved himself as a selfless and heroic soldier. Many in the small town of South Glastonbury speak of Steven as always putting family and country first. His father, Mark DeLuzio, told the local paper that ``Steven is a hero and the greatest son.'' Due to his heroic actions on the day of his death, Steven was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

As a tribute to such an extraordinary young man hundreds of mourners attended funeral services for Steven this past weekend at St. Patrick's church in South Glastonbury. His brother, Scott, who is currently serving in Afghanistan as well, said that Steven was ``a best friend. He was more than just a brother. He was all you can ask for in a friend.''

Steven DeLuzio was a man of dauntless courage and bravery. His service and his sacrifice are a credit to his parents, Mark and Diane. I know how proud they, along with the rest of their community, are of him, and I hope they know that we grieve alongside them. They, along with Steven's fiancee, Leeza Gutt, are in our hearts.

Our freedom is won and our country endures because of the selfless sacrifice of heroic young men and women such as SGT Steven DeLuzio. All of us in Connecticut and across America mourn this tragic loss, and none of us will ever forget the debt of gratitude we owe to him and his family.

Madam President, today I wish to commemorate the life of Venture Smith, who passed away nearly 205 years ago on September 19, 1805. A Connecticut man who lived not far from where my home in East Haddam currently stands, Venture Smith's life is one of the best documented of the millions of Africans who were kidnapped from their homes and brought to the Americas as part of the transatlantic slave trade. A remarkable individual of uncommon strength and valor, Venture Smith's compelling story of perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds still serves as a potent source of inspiration and hope more than two centuries after it happened.

Originally born Broteer Furro in 1728--the first son of a West African king--Venture's childhood was cruelly interrupted at the tender age of ten, when he was captured by slave traders, forced to board a crowded slave ship destined for the New World, and sold to Robinson Mumford of Long Island for four barrels of rum and a piece of calico. After more than a decade in the Mumford household, Venture was sold twice more, finally ending up with Colonel Oliver Smith of Stonington, CT, in 1760.

In 1798, by that time an elderly man, Venture dictated his life story to Elisha Niles, a Connecticut schoolteacher, who had it published that same year in New London. One of perhaps only a dozen firsthand accounts of that period in our Nation's history by enslaved Africans, Venture Smith's narrative is a seminal work of early American literature that traces many of the defining moments of his life, beginning with his childhood in Africa.

And while many of the experiences related in Venture's autobiography would be heartbreakingly familiar to anyone who has studied this dark chapter in our Nation's history, Venture's life breaks the mold in one crucial respect. In spite of the tremendous challenges that he faced at nearly every turn Venture was able to win back his freedom through hard work, courage, and an unbreakable spirit.

By the time he was sold to his third and final owner, Colonel Smith, Venture had already spent the vast majority of his formative years in slavery. Having struck a deal with this new owner that would allow him to work for his freedom, Venture labored with incredible determination--fishing and growing food for sale, cutting and cording wood, and hiring himself out during seasonal hiatuses from his duties as Colonel Smith's slave--to acquire the 85 pounds and ten shillings needed to purchase his freedom. Such a sum was considered quite steep by the standards of 18th century colonial America, and even more so for an individual of Venture's means. But in spite of the tremendous hurdles that stood in his path, Venture successfully earned that money and bought his freedom in just over 5 years.

But Venture's story of hard work and dogged persistence in the face of unending challenges did not end there. During the four decades that followed, Venture fought tirelessly to free his wife Meg and three children, who were also enslaved in Connecticut, as well as to build a new life for himself as a free man. Harnessing those same unshakeable qualities of dedication, resourcefulness, and frugality that allowed him to secure his own freedom, Venture not only earned enough money to liberate his entire family from bondage, but also three men he barely even knew.

And if that wasn't remarkable enough, Venture Smith accomplished yet another feat that--in light of the serious financial and legal constraints that existed at the time--was exceedingly rare for a freed slave in colonial Connecticut: become a landowner. In 1775, just 1 year before the Thirteen American colonies declared independence from Great Britain, Venture purchased the first of what would become a nearly 130- acre farm on Haddam Neck, right at the mouth of the Salmon River. And it was there, in 1805, that Venture Smith ultimately died at the ripe old age of 77, having amassed a considerable fortune from his involvement in an array of commercial activities, from fishing and farming to the commodities trade.

Madam President, there are a significant number of historical lessons that can be gained from the life of this remarkable man--from firsthand insights into the evils perpetrated by the institution of slavery in this country, to a more complete understanding of the unique challenges faced by slaves who were able to gain their own freedom. But perhaps just as important are those lessons that transcend the period in which Venture Smith himself lived.

For, after losing almost everything--including that most fundamental of human rights, his freedom--Venture Smith set about tearing down the seemingly impenetrable barriers erected by slavery and racism that kept him from enjoying the same privileges as his White neighbors. And while his journey from slave to wealthy Connecticut landowner was long and arduous, filled with its share of disappointments and setbacks, Venture Smith never lost sight of his goals, ultimately achieving them through nothing more than grit, intelligence, and determination.

In this way, Venture Smith is much more than a mere historical figure. Rather, Venture's life is a testament to the sheer strength of the human spirit. It is a symbol of how a single individual can challenge societal norms and impact history. Perhaps most importantly, it is the embodiment of the principle that, even in the most dire and seemingly hopeless of circumstances, human beings are still capable of truly extraordinary achievements.

As we approach the 205th anniversary of his death, I would like to thank the Documenting Venture Smith Project for all of the wonderful work they have done over the past 5 years to help improve our understanding of this incredible individual. It is my hope that with continuing academic interest in Venture's life, new generations of Americans will be inspired by this timeless story of triumph in the face of adversity for years to come.

Mr. President, I think my friends and colleagues on the other side have blocked out some time. If they would not mind, I would be very grateful if I could take 5 or 6 minutes to make some comments about the Kagan nomination. I see heads nodding affirmatively, so I appreciate it.

Mr. President, I rise this afternoon to express my very strong support for the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to serve as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. I would like to thank Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Sessions for their work during the Judiciary Committee's recent hearings, as well as Majority Leader Reid for moving Solicitor General Kagan's nomination through the Senate confirmation process as he has.

There are very few powers exercised by this body that are more important than its constitutionally mandated duty to give advice and consent on the President's judicial nominations. The very essence of our Nation's government rests on the supremacy of the rule of law, and the Constitution is the highest embodiment of that principle. The men and women whom we confirm to this Court are more than just judges. As the chief interpreters of that seminal document, the Constitution, they are guardians of the supremacy of the rule of law, upon which the integrity of our entire system of justice has been built.

It is, therefore, no surprise that nominees to our Nation's highest Court are subjected to such an intense level of scrutiny during the Senate's confirmation process. Nevertheless, the Constitution does not lay out a precise roadmap for how to do this. Therefore, each Senator must decide for him or herself what criteria to use when evaluating the merits of an individual Supreme Court nominee.

For my part, I have used the same, simple three-part test for Supreme Court nominees since 1981, when I voted to confirm Sandra Day O'Connor as the Court's first female Justice. Indeed, this is the 13th Supreme Court nomination I have considered during my 30-year tenure in the Senate--from Justice O'Connor to Elena Kagan today.

First, does the nominee have the technical competence and legal experience to do the job of a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court?

Second, does the nominee have the proper character and temperament to serve on the High Court?

Third, does the nominee's record demonstrate respect for and adherence to the principles underlying our legal system--that of equal justice under the law?

For anyone who has read about her life or watched her performance during the confirmation hearings held by the Judiciary Committee earlier this summer, I believe it is abundantly clear that Elena Kagan passes all three of these tests with flying colors.

On the question of Solicitor General Kagan's competency and experience, I think there is little doubt that we are dealing with a superbly qualified nominee.

Since her graduation from Harvard Law School in 1986, Elena Kagan has enjoyed an illustrious legal and academic career.

After her graduation, Solicitor General Kagan had the honor of clerking for two extremely distinguished and highly influential Federal judges: U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit judge Abner Mikva, with whom I served in the House of Representatives, and has been a great friend of mine for many years; and Thurgood Marshall, the Nation's first African-American Supreme Court Justice.

Subsequently, after nearly a decade of legal work in the private sector, as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, and as an Associate Counsel in the White House under the administration of President Clinton, Ms. Kagan returned to her prestigious alma mater, serving first as a professor of law and then as dean of the Harvard Law School.

In an auspicious return to public service, Elena Kagan became the Federal Government's chief lawyer before the Supreme Court last year when she was confirmed by this body as our Nation's 45th Solicitor General--a position often referred to, I might add, as the Court's ``10th Justice'' because of the extensive legal knowledge and close working relationship with the Federal bench it requires.

I realize some of my colleagues have questioned Solicitor General Kagan's nomination because of her lack of judicial experience--that because Solicitor General Kagan has never been a judge in either a State or Federal court she cannot be an effective Supreme Court Justice.

I would, however, gently remind my colleagues that there is absolutely no constitutional requirement that a Supreme Court nominee have served previously as a judge. In fact, there is no requirement to be a lawyer to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Since our country's founding, well over one-third of the 111 individuals who have served on our Nation's highest Court never put on a judge's robe before their confirmation.

Indeed, William Rehnquist, who served as Chief Justice from 1986 until his death in 2005, had no prior work experience as a judge when he was first appointed to the Court by President Nixon in 1971.

Nor did Justice Robert Jackson, a very close and dear personal friend of my father who served with him at the Nuremberg Trials in 1945 and 1946. Robert Jackson served as U.S. Attorney General under Franklin Roosevelt before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 1941.

I would, therefore, submit to my colleagues that there are other important measures of the quality of a Supreme Court nominee besides the depth of his or her experience on the bench. Solicitor General Kagan's impressive list of career accomplishments and extensive base of legal knowledge will, I believe, hopefully put those unfounded doubts over her experience to rest.

Moving on to the two remaining parts of my test, Elena Kagan once again proves she would make an excellent addition to our Nation's highest Court.

As to her character, her graceful performance before the Judiciary Committee and extensive list of enthusiastic recommendations from Democrats, Republicans, and others across the entire spectrum reveal her to be a person of the utmost integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment. They also reveal, I think, a key aspect of her legal philosophy--a deep and abiding respect for the rule of law and our Nation's cherished principle of equality under the law.

As I said previously, Supreme Court Justices are not just judges, they are stalwarts of our Nation's democratic values, guardians of the idea that the rule of law should always transcend the rule of men. Each of the Federal judicial nominees confirmed in this body has the ability to shape every facet of the law and, in a larger sense, American society in general. As a result, it is absolutely critical, in my view, that we have members of the Supreme Court whose first obligation, above all else, is to safeguard those guiding constitutional principles that form the foundation of our democratic system of government and to fight for the principle of equal justice under law.

I firmly believe that, when confirmed, Solicitor General Kagan will hew closely to those critically important values and work to ensure they are protected.

Once again, I wish to thank Chairman Leahy, our colleague Senator Sessions, the ranking minority member, and the members of the Judiciary Committee, who I think gave her a very fair, competent, and thorough hearing during the nomination process. I also wish to commend Majority Leader Reid for his hard work during this process. I urge my colleagues to join those of us who believe this is a quality nominee who will serve our country well as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. President, I thank my colleagues on the other side for giving me a few minutes to express my views on this issue.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life of former Connecticut Congressman Emilio Daddario who passed away on July 6, 2010.

One of the unique strengths of the United States of America is that our government derives its power from the people. It is dependent upon an educated populace, engaged in public affairs, and prepared to offer their services to make our society better and fairer for all of our benefit.

That system has worked well for more than 200 years thanks to citizens such as Emilio Daddario.

He was born in Newton Center, MA, on September 24, 1918. As a young man, he moved south to Middletown, CT, to attend Wesleyan University where he starred on the baseball and football teams. He was an exemplary athlete who twice received MVP honors in football, and was named team captain in 1938.

Upon his graduation in 1939, Emilio chose to pursue a career in law. After beginning law school at Boston University, he graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1942. He successfully passed the bar and moved back to Middletown to begin private practice. But then the call to serve his country came.

In 1943, he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army. He was sent to the Mediterranean theater during World War II. There he was a key member of the team which captured Rodolfo Graziani, then-chief of staff to Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini, at the Hotel Milan in 1945. His distinguished service earned him the rank of captain, as well as the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, and the Italian Medaglia d'Argento.

After the war, he could have easily gone back to private legal practice and no doubt would have been very successful at it. Instead, he chose to continue his military service as a member of the Connecticut National Guard and to pursue a life in the public arena by running for mayor of Middletown.

At just 28 years old, fresh from his service overseas, Emilio Daddario won that election. He served as mayor from 1946 until 1948 and was appointed judge of the Middletown Municipal Court.

In 1950, the Nation called on him again. This time, the 43 Division of the Connecticut National Guard, of which he was a member, was sent to engage in the Korean war. His military service in that conflict as a member of the Far East Liaison Group earned him promotion to the rank of major.

Upon returning to the United States in 1952 he chose to resume private law practice, this time in Hartford, CT. But the call to serve proved to be too strong, and in 1958, Daddario ran for the opportunity to serve the people of Connecticut's 1st Congressional District.

He won that election, as well as five more, serving as a member of the U.S. Congress until 1971. While in Congress, he sat on the House Science Committee where he became an advocate for science and technological innovation. He chaired two subcommittees and also in the planning and development of the Apollo missions to the moon.

In 1970, Emilio decided not to run for reelection to the House, and instead ran for Governor of Connecticut. He did not win that race. But he sought ways to remain involved in public policy, in particular issues related to science and technology. He returned to Congress in 1973, not as a member, but as the Director of the Office of Technology Assessment.

He also went on to serve as the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and as cochair of the American Bar Association's Association for the Advancement of Sciences, Conference of Lawyers and Scientists.

Emilio Daddario was just the sort of American citizen that our Nation's Founders were hoping for, and his legacy is one of exemplary public service, and commitment to making our Nation a better place for future generations. He was a devoted husband and father, and I know that he will be deeply missed. My deepest sympathies and prayers go out to his children, Richard, Anthony, and Stephen, and to the rest of his family.

Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that today I pay tribute to fire fighter Michel Baik, who sadly lost his life on July 24, 2010.

A lifelong resident of Bridgeport, Michel graduated from Central High School, where he played football. Throughout his life, he remained engaged in sports playing softball and basketball and was also an active member of the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church congregation.

He was well known as a loving husband and father who was very engaged in the lives of his children, Andrew, Thomas, and Margaret. He coached Junior Varsity basketball, volunteered with the Boy Scouts, and was a constant presence at their various school plays, sports events, and dance recitals.

For many years, Michel worked for companies like Norelco and Alcon Data, as well as at the Connecticut Post newspaper as distribution manager. He also helped teach computer skills to the unemployed as an instructor at a nonprofit workforce development organization called Career Resources.

Then, in 2007, he decided to take on a new challenge. He trained hard, studied hard, and ultimately became--at the age of 47--the oldest ``probey,'' or rookie, member of the Bridgeport Fire Department. It was a job he loved, and he

was proud to have been able to serve his community as a member of the department and the Ladder 11 team.

When a person becomes a firefighter, they are not simply taking a job; they are following a calling.

We have all felt our chests tighten and our pulses quicken with anxiety at the sound of a fire engine screaming through town. For most of us, this signals two important things: There is an emergency somewhere nearby, and--more importantly--that help is on the way.

Of course, for the people riding on those rigs, all the commotion is just another day at the office. They are focused solely on the task at hand.

When the unthinkable happens--a devastating hurricane, industrial accident, terrorist attack, or three-alarm fire--these brave men and women are the first on the scene and the last to leave. In between, they give all they have to make sure the emergency is contained and our communities are safe.

For Michel Baik and firefighters all over our Nation, the call to serve means facing danger every day. The commotion of an emergency becomes secondary to the need to help people, and the dangers they personally face must take a backseat to the task at hand.

That was the case on the afternoon of July 24, 2010, when Michel and his colleague, fire lieutenant Steven Velasquez, were conducting a search-and-rescue mission on the third floor of a burning house in Bridgeport. They were deepest into the blaze, looking for people in need of assistance and trying to ventilate the structure. None of the inhabitants of the home were injured. But tragically, both of these courageous men lost their lives, despite the quick action of their colleagues to pull them out of danger and get them to the hospital.

Tragedies are inherent in this profession, and the risks are shared by every single person who has ever gotten the call, rushed to their gear, and has run headlong into danger in order to save the life of someone else. These shared risks help to bind those called to take them together in a solemn way.

Firefighters will do anything for one another, both on the job and when the worst happens. The more than 7,000 of their fellow firefighters--from as far away as western Canada--who attended the memorial services for Fire Fighter Baik and Lieutenant Velasquez were an impressive testament to that bond.

I believe that the eulogy offered in tribute to Michel Baik by International Association of Fire Fighters president Harold Schaitberger at his memorial service speaks well of this solemn commitment. Through these difficult times, the community which Michel served, and those he served with, can provide support and comfort to his loved ones, and I will ask that President Schaitberger's words be printed in the Record.

Of course, no tribute will ever be enough to ease the suffering of their families. I offer my deepest condolences to Mich's wife Laurie, his children, and his entire family. Their sacrifice is unimaginable, and they will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

I know that we can never make this right for them. But we must celebrate the life and service of Firefighter Michel Baik and make sure that his memory--as a role model and true hero--lives on and helps to inspire others to take up the call to serve.

I ask that President Schaitberge's words to which I referred be printed in the Record.

The information follows:

International Association of Fire Fighters

President Harold Schaitberger

Eulogy for Fire Fighter Michel Baik, Bridgeport Local 834, July 30,

2010

To Fire Fighter Michel Baik's mother Mary, to his wife

Laurie, to his children Andrew, Thomas and Margaret, and to

his sister Rania--thank you for allowing me the honor of

taking part in this beautiful service to commemorate Mitch's

life, his service, and his sacrifice.

To Mitch's family, to his friends, to his brothers and

sisters in the Bridgeport Fire Department and Local 834, and

to his extended fire fighter family, I stand before you like

the man we honor today, a servant unto God, to offer the

thoughts and prayers on behalf of our General Secretary

Treasurer, our Executive Board, and the 298,000 fire fighters

we represent across two great nations.

These are the times that words are a poor substitute as we

try to make sense of such a profound loss and provide comfort

to each other in this time of great sadness. I know words can

do little to heal the heart-wrenching pain that we all feel.

But I also know that I--and that all of Mitch's brothers and

sisters in the fire service who traveled from across two

nations to be here--want you, Mitch's family, to see and feel

the love and the sorrow that each and every brother and

sister in the fire service family feels today.

These emotions are as strong and as heart-felt as anything

I can say. They are as genuine as anything I've written on

these pieces of paper in my hand.

I want you to know that all of us have come here today to

put our collective arms around you. Many of us are gathering

for a second time today. We also paid tribute to Lieutenant

Steven Velasquez.

Sadly, we are back together again and it's no easier the

second time to say goodbye to one of our own.

Many outside of our ranks will refer to Mitch and Steven as

heroes. But they didn't set out to be heroes and they didn't

think of themselves that way. No, if they were here they

would simply tell you they were just doing their jobs.

I did not have the honor of knowing Mitch personally, but I

do know who he was. I do know that like many who came before

him Mitch was drawn to ``The Job'' like countless young men

and women who follow their childhood dreams--who experience

the calling to service to become fire fighters. But for much

of his life Mitch pursued other dreams, and at age 47--two

years ago--he answered the calling.

He entered this close knit profession like so many of his

brothers and sisters in dress blues who surround us now, with

a humble confidence, eager to put in the hours with no

expectation or desire for public recognition.

He summoned the quiet courage that resides in all who come

to this work, and he decided he could do it. He was

determined--not only that he wanted to do it--but that he

needed to do it. And at age 47 he realized a life-long dream,

and he joined us on ``The Job.''

Mitch was so excited and so proud when he became a fire

fighter. He held up his badge to show his kids what Dad had

done. He was Local 834's oldest probey.

Though he was a rookie, Mitch approached the job like the

man he was--accustomed to hard work and long hours and eager

to sacrifice for his family and his community.

The journey he took to get on the job is remarkable.

Sadly, it takes a tragedy like this to remind us just how

fragile life can be and how our own journeys can end all too

quickly.

Sadly, too often it takes a tragedy for a community and its

citizens to recognize the courage, dedication, commitment,

sacrifice, and service that people like Mitch make day in and

day out.

And sadly, it takes a tragedy for the rest of the world to

see the sacrifice that their families make.

So today as we pay our respects to Mitch we also pay our

respects to his family--for giving more than you should ever

be asked to give. And we pay our respects to you for the

sacrifice you have made.

Remembering and honoring our fallen is the most solemn,

most revered tradition in the fire service.

Every year across the United States and Canada a hundred or

more fire fighters make the ultimate sacrifice. And when one

of our brothers or sisters falls, the fire service family

comes together.

We come together no matter how near or how far to make it

clear to you--Mitch's family--that our hearts ache.

We want you to know that his brothers and sisters in the

fire service loved him--but we understand that you loved him

more.

We want you to know that we will miss him tremendously--but

we know you will miss him more.

We have gathered to embrace you and let you know that your

extended family is here, standing with you--and we're not

going away.

For almost a century we've come together in times of loss

to show the love and respect we have for our family and to

stand strong for our IAFF brothers and sisters, including

here in Bridgeport.

We use the tradition-bound symbols of our profession--the

men and women in their crisp dress blues, the bagpipers and

drummers who play their mournful songs, the Honor Guard

standing at attention--to salute those we have lost. And then

the ring of the Bell sends them home.

This is how we cope.

This is how we mourn.

This is also how we salute YOU.

From all of us in this great union--this brother and

sisterhood called the IAFF--we want you to know that your

loved one may be gone--but he will never be forgotten.

Mitch's name will remain, forever etched in the granite

walls of our Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Colorado

Springs.

We do that to show that he left an indelible mark on our

lives, that he will forever be a part of our fire fighter

family--and so will all of you.

Thank you Brother Baik for the gift of your life.

May you rest in peace. God bless you and may God bless the

fire fighters on the front lines everywhere.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life of Theodore H. Focht, a former lawyer, educator, and public servant who passed away on April 22, 2010, at the age of 75. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife of 53 years, Joyce, his sons, David and Eric, and his grandson Jason.

Over the course of more than four decades, starting with his graduation in 1959 from law school at the College of William and Mary, Theodore--or Ted, as he was more commonly known to his family and friends--enjoyed an illustrious legal career that took him from academia to the halls of Congress to senior leadership positions at the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC. Throughout his career, Ted earned a well-deserved reputation as an extremely knowledgeable and experienced voice on matters related to securities law and as a dedicated and hardworking public servant.

Following a stint as a legal assistant at the Securities and Exchange Commission in the early 1960s, Ted became a faculty member at the University of Connecticut School of Law in my home State, where he taught classes on securities regulation, administrative law, and property law. In 1969, Ted took a leave of absence from his work at UCONN and moved to Washington, DC, to take on a temporary assignment as special counsel to the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce.

When Ted took that position on Capitol Hill, the House Commerce Committee was in the middle of working to pass legislation that would provide critical new protections to U.S. investors from bankrupt and financially troubled brokerage firms. As the committee's special counsel on securities policy, Ted jumped right into the issue, playing an absolutely instrumental role in crafting the Securities Investor Protection Act. This legislation, which was signed into law by President Nixon, created the SIPC--a nonprofit entity that insures the assets of investors against brokerage firm failures--and with it, an important new layer of security and sense of confidence for Americans who wanted to invest in the stock market.

But Ted's work on investor protection issues did not end with the enactment of that landmark bill. Following its creation, Ted became the SIPC's president and general counsel, where he successfully shepherded the corporation through its first two decades of existence. Between 1971, when he took the helm at the SIPC, until 1994, when he retired from the corporation, Ted became inextricably linked to the organization's work and mission. Indeed, I believe that Ted's work with SIPC, both in helping to build the organization as a young congressional staffer and run it after establishment, are among the most striking aspects of his impressive professional legacy.

And so I would like to take this opportunity today to thank Ted for his years of dedication to the law--whether as a professor helping to shape the minds of young law students at UCONN, or as a senior executive at the SIPC working to build a safer environment for Americans to invest.

And I once again extend my most heartfelt condolences to all of the people who knew and loved him.

Mr. President, today I honor the life of a true American hero. Police SGT Orville Smith, a 39-year veteran of the Shelton, CT, Police Department, died July 7, 2010, of injuries he sustained while in the line of duty. I express my deepest condolences to his family, colleagues on the Shelton Police Force, and the entire community of Shelton for this tragic loss.

It goes without saying that American law enforcement officers such as Sergeant Smith are a very rare and special breed. Every day, police officers around the country go to work with a singular objective--to selflessly protect the communities and the people that they know and love. It is an incredibly rewarding career, but one fraught with potential dangers and sacrifices. And unfortunately, men and women in law enforcement are all too often forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, giving their own lives in defense of their fellow citizens.

That is exactly what Orville Smith, the first Shelton police officer to be killed in the line of duty since 1964, did. Late in the evening on July 3, while directing traffic outside of a local fireworks event commemorating the July 4 holiday, Sergeant Smith was struck by a drunk driver. He passed away 4 days later, leaving behind a loving wife, two children, four grandchildren, and a legion of fellow police officers who, during his nearly four decades of service on the force, came to know Sergeant Smith for his fearlessness and unflinching dedication to his job.

Indeed, to say that Sergeant Orville Smith was committed to public service and helping his fellow citizens regardless of the personal sacrifice required is, in my view, a bit of an understatement. From his service as a U.S. marine in the Vietnam war to his work as a volunteer firefighter, Sergeant Smith made protecting and defending his community and countrymen his life's mission.

While he planned to retire from the force next year, his heart truly belonged to the Shelton Police Department. It is therefore fitting that Shelton Police Chief Joel Hurliman called him ``one of the bravest guys I ever met'' and went on to say, ``He wasn't scared of anything, except retirement.''

It was that kind of professional dedication and unwavering commitment to public service that made Sergeant Smith not only an exemplary police officer but a wonderful human being. He spent his entire life devoted to helping others and relished every minute of it. Several weeks ago, on the eve of Independence Day, he died that way, too--loyally and courageously fulfilling his duty to ``protect and serve'' until the very end.

I express my deepest gratitude to Sergeant--Smith or ``Smitty'', as he was more commonly known by his friends at the Shelton Police Department--for his tremendous record of service to the people of my State and the Nation. I once again extend my most heartfelt condolences to all those who knew and loved him. While the death of a loved one is never easy to accept, it is my hope that the fact that Sergeant Smith died doing what he loved will bring them some measure of comfort during the months and years ahead.

Mr. President, it is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to LT Steven Velasquez, who sadly lost his life on July 24, 2010.

We have all felt our chests tighten and our pulses quicken with anxiety at the sound of a fire engine screaming through town. For most of us, this signals two important things: There is an emergency somewhere nearby, and--more importantly--that help is on the way.

Of course, for the people riding on those rigs, all the commotion is just another day at the office. They are focused solely on the task at hand.

When the unthinkable happens--a devastating hurricane, industrial accident, terrorist attack, or three-alarm fire--these brave men and women are the first on the scene and the last to leave. In between, they give all they have to make sure the emergency is contained and our communities are safe.

They do this every day of the week, every week of the year. Being a firefighter certainly isn't a job for the faint of heart. In fact, it is not so much a job as it is a calling.

At least it was for Steven Velasquez. His 20-year career took him from a position with the Fire Department of Prince Georges County, MD, to the rank of Lieutenant in the Bridgeport Fire Department in my home State of Connecticut.

Along the way, he built a reputation as a tremendously dedicated team member and as someone whose discipline and bravery made him a leader. This reputation, and the urging of many of his colleagues, helped secure him a place on the department's elite Rescue Squad--despite the fact that there were others in line for the prestigious assignment before him.

In his 16 years in Bridgeport, Velasquez never took a sick day. He was committed to his family, his community, and to his fellow firefighters.

His attitude and work ethic led to his being awarded the Bridgeport Fire Department's third highest honor in 2000, the Medal of Merit.

But awards and accolades were not why Lieutenant Velasquez became a firefighter. In fact, he never displayed the many citations he had received throughout his career on his uniform. He also turned down a job with the New York City Fire Department.

The reason being?--Bridgeport has more fires.

For Lieutenant Velasquez, and firefighters all over our Nation, the call to serve means facing danger every day. The commotion of an emergency becomes secondary to the need to help people, and the dangers they personally face must take a backseat to the task at hand.

That was the case on the afternoon of July 24, 2010, when Lieutenant Velasquez and his colleague, Michel Baik, were conducting a search-and- rescue mission on the third floor of a burning house in Bridgeport. They were deep into the blaze, looking for anyone who may need help, and trying to ventilate the structure.

None of the inhabitants of the home were injured. But tragically, both of these courageous men lost their lives, despite the quick action of their colleagues to pull them out of danger and get them to the hospital.

Tragedies are inherent in this profession, and the risks are shared by every single person who has ever gotten the call, rushed to their gear, and has run headlong into danger in order to save the life of someone else. These shared risks help to bind those called to take them together in a solemn way.

Firefighters will do anything for one another, both on the job, and when the worst happens. The more than 7,000 of their fellow firefighters--from as far away as western Canada--who attended the memorial services for Steven Velasquez and Michel Baik were an impressive testament to that bond.

I believe that the eulogy offered in tribute to Lieutenant Velasquez by International Association of Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger at his memorial service speaks well of this solemn commitment. Through these difficult times, the community which Steven served, and those he served with, can provide support and comfort to his loved ones.

Of course, no tribute will ever be enough to ease the suffering of their families. I offer my deepest condolences to Lieutenant Velasquez's wife Marianne, his son Aaron, his daughter Salina, and to his entire family. Their sacrifice is unimaginable, and they will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

I know that we can never make this right for them. But we must celebrate the life and service of Lieutenant Velasquez and make sure that his memory--as a role model and true hero--live on and help to inspire others to take up the call to serve.

I ask to have printed in the Record President Schaitberger's words to which I referred.

The material follows:

International Association of Fire Fighters

President Harold Schaitberger

Eulogy for Lt. Steven Velasquez, Bridgeport Local 834, Friday, July 30,

2010

Lieutenant and IAFF Local 834 member Steven Velasquez--just

40 years on this Earth--was taken too soon.

To Steven's mother, Carol, thank you for giving me the

honor of being here today to celebrate your son's life.

To his bride Marianne, his son Aaron and his daughter

Salina, to his sister Cindy and his brother Jason, to his

family and friends, to his brothers and sisters in the

Bridgeport Fire Department, and to his extended fire fighter

family, I have traveled here today to make sure you know that

the thoughts and prayers of our General Secretary-Treasurer,

our entire International Executive Board, and the more than

298,000 members of the International Association of Fire

Fighters, the Bravest in North America, are with you today.

I know that my words won't make you forget your pain or

forget your loss.

But I hope I can help you understand that to those of us

who have come from cities and towns across two great

countries--``Stevie V.'' was family to us.

Even though many of us didn't have the privilege of knowing

Stevie personally, we know who he was.

We know him because there is so much about those who enter

this profession of ours that are so similar.

A quiet courage, humble, understated--never wanting to

bring attention to themselves or their work.

Their willingness to serve a community and a public and

their readiness to sacrifice--that's how we know who ``Stevie

V.'' was.

Everyone who goes on what we call ``The Job'' becomes part

of this extended family.

We all know what this career can demand and we all know how

cruel the consequences can be.

Everyone who has taken the oath to serve in our profession

comes into it knowing the risk, and being here today

reaffirms just how dangerous this job is.

We know when we get into this calling that it could take

any one of us at any time.

It can take us after 30 years on the job or after 30 days.

That's why we are one big family--no matter where we really

call home--because everyone here knows just how rewarding--

and yet how brutal, this job is.

And even while we know the consequences nothing prepares us

to cope with the grief that we feel when we lose a brother or

a sister in the line of duty--let alone two.

Many of us are together for the first time today.

We will come together again this afternoon to honor Mitch

Baik.

We will come together and we will be there for each other

because no one in our fire service family should ever have to

go through this alone.

And no family member of a fallen fire fighter should ever

have to go through this alone.

But Mitch's loss and Stevie's loss will not prevent us from

celebrating their lives today.

It will not prevent us from celebrating their service to

their community today.

It will not prevent me from saying that my heart is broken

that they are gone but we were blessed to have them in our

lives.

Stevie Velasquez was both a young man and a grizzled

veteran.

At just 40 years of age he already had two decades in the

fire station.

He already was wise beyond his years.

For 20 years in two departments Stevie demonstrated his

work ethic and set an example for others to follow.

That's why he received the Medal of Merit--the department's

third-highest award--in? 2000.

That's why he made lieutenant five months ago.

Bursting at the seams with enthusiasm ready to hop on a rig

and respond to any call afraid of nothing, eager to

experience everything, and ready to give everything he had to

do The Job.

He had an efficient, studious approach.

He understood the importance of training and the importance

of being prepared.

Committed, duty bound, ready to serve in the hardest, most

rewarding job imaginable--that's who Stevie was.

Ready to rush to the aid of strangers, no questions asked--

that's who he was.

Ready to protect his community, ready to comfort those in

need, ready to lead people to safety who couldn't find their

way out--that's who he was.

A devoted family man standing vigil over his newborn

daughter's bedside while she gained the strength she needed

to persevere--that's who he was.

He protected his community and his family--that's who

``Stevie V'' he was.

Like many of us he probably considered himself lucky to be

a fire fighter, lucky to be able to answer the call, lucky to

do something he loved.

But we were the lucky ones.

The Bridgeport Fire Department, Local 834, the IAFF--we

were the lucky ones.

His brothers and sisters in Prince George's County Maryland

where Stevie started his career in the fire service--they

were the lucky ones.

His wife, his children, his parents, his brother and

sister--you were the lucky ones.

That's what I would tell him if he were standing here

today.

We had quite a gift in Lieutenant Steven Velasquez.

And that's why we feel cheated that we have to give him

back to the Lord so soon.

But we will not forget him.

How could we?

A young gun . . . a rising star.

A shining example of courage, of professionalism.

Stevie's name will be etched in our Wall of Honor in

Colorado Springs.

His name will remain there forever, engraved in that

beautiful granite wall--to be honored every year as part of

our Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial service.

To Stevie's family, we want you to know that you aren't

alone.

You should know that long after the last word of the last

eulogy, the IAFF and Local 834 will be here for you. Today,

tomorrow, and for years to come.

To Lieutenant Steven Velasquez, who gave his life so others

could live, from your 298,000 brothers and sisters in the

IAFF--thank you for the gift of your life. May you rest in

peace. God bless you and may God bless the fire fighters on

the front lines everywhere.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join Senator Hatch, Senator Reed, Senator Burr, Senator Ensign and Senator Franken in introducing the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010, a bill that will benefit some of the most gravely ill patients--those in need of a

blood stem cell transplant. The bill we are introducing today reauthorizes the vital work being done for patients as a result of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005.

I first joined Senator Hatch more than seven years ago on legislation to create a national network of cord blood banks and a cord blood registry. Five years ago, when the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee took up cord blood legislation, Senator Hatch and I, working with many of our colleagues on and off the committee, expanded the scope of our legislation to include a reauthorization of the national bone marrow program and updated the cord blood provisions to be consistent with the recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine's report, ``Cord Blood: Establishing a National Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank Program.'' In the end, that legislation, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, passed the senate unanimously.

Since then we have learned a lot of about adult stem cell transplantation. There are currently twelve public cord blood banks across the U.S. and cord blood cells account for 22 percent of all transplants as of 2009. Among minorities, transplants using cord blood as the cell source are even higher. As of 2005, survival rates for transplants involving an unrelated donor are almost identical to those of a related donor which represents a near doubling of the survival rates for unrelated donor recipients over the past 15 years.

The bill we are introducing today builds on the success of the National Cord Blood Inventory and the national bone marrow transplantation program, making minor improvements to both. Among the most critical changes to the law is the prioritization of the creation of new cord blood collection sites so that we can increase the National Cord Blood Inventory. The 2005 law set a goal of collecting and maintaining 150,000 new units of high-quality cord blood. Unfortunately, the inventory is well below that goal and the transplantation needs of patients. In part, that is because the funding has not kept pace with what was authorized by the 2005 law. While I applaud President Obama for including additional funding for the National Cord Blood Inventory and the national bone marrow transplantation program in his fiscal year 2011 budget, I find it regrettable that President Bush did not provide full funding for these programs in any of his budgets, despite his vocal support for these programs and adult stem cells generally.

In my own state of Connecticut, there are more than 128,000 donors participating in the National Marrow Donor Program. There is some very exciting work going on at Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital involving marrow or cord blood transplantation. In fact, last May, I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Teena Conquest, a bone marrow donor from Middletown, Connecticut, and the recipient of her bone marrow, Rebecca Christy, from Iowa. It was truly inspiring to hear their story and how one woman's generosity saved another woman's life.

I am deeply disappointed that there are currently no cord blood collection sites in the state of Connecticut through the National Cord Blood Inventory program. Currently, more than 160 hospitals in the U.S. have an agreement with a public cord blood bank through the National Cord Blood Inventory program to perform collections for banks within the National Marrow Donor Program network. While none of those hospitals are in Connecticut, it is my strong hope that with this reauthorization, we will be prioritizing the establishment of new cord blood collection sites for the public program. I strongly encourage hospitals in Connecticut who meet the criteria to become a cord blood collection site and help increase the inventory of cord blood so that patients in need can find a match.

As was the case for Ms. Conquest and Ms. Christy, the therapeutic benefits of bone marrow are tremendous and well established. Bone marrow transplants have been used for nearly half a century to treat patients suffering from diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin's Disease, sickle cell anemia, and others. The National Marrow Donor Program, NMDP, provides a single point of access, the National Registry, to nearly 8 million volunteer bone marrow donors and 160,000 cord blood units, including more than 28,000 federally funded units in the National Cord Blood Inventory. The NMDP has helped countless patients and families understand their disease and treatment options with educational resources and one-on-one case management support.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me and my colleagues in support of this important legislation. It is my strong hope that we can move quickly to mark up this legislation in September and shortly thereafter pass this bill in the Senate.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join Senator Hatch, Senator Reed, Senator Burr, Senator Ensign and Senator Franken in introducing the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010, a bill that will benefit some of the most gravely ill patients--those in need of a

blood stem cell transplant. The bill we are introducing today reauthorizes the vital work being done for patients as a result of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005.

I first joined Senator Hatch more than seven years ago on legislation to create a national network of cord blood banks and a cord blood registry. Five years ago, when the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee took up cord blood legislation, Senator Hatch and I, working with many of our colleagues on and off the committee, expanded the scope of our legislation to include a reauthorization of the national bone marrow program and updated the cord blood provisions to be consistent with the recommendations made by the Institute of Medicine's report, ``Cord Blood: Establishing a National Hematopoietic Stem Cell Bank Program.'' In the end, that legislation, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, passed the senate unanimously.

Since then we have learned a lot of about adult stem cell transplantation. There are currently twelve public cord blood banks across the U.S. and cord blood cells account for 22 percent of all transplants as of 2009. Among minorities, transplants using cord blood as the cell source are even higher. As of 2005, survival rates for transplants involving an unrelated donor are almost identical to those of a related donor which represents a near doubling of the survival rates for unrelated donor recipients over the past 15 years.

The bill we are introducing today builds on the success of the National Cord Blood Inventory and the national bone marrow transplantation program, making minor improvements to both. Among the most critical changes to the law is the prioritization of the creation of new cord blood collection sites so that we can increase the National Cord Blood Inventory. The 2005 law set a goal of collecting and maintaining 150,000 new units of high-quality cord blood. Unfortunately, the inventory is well below that goal and the transplantation needs of patients. In part, that is because the funding has not kept pace with what was authorized by the 2005 law. While I applaud President Obama for including additional funding for the National Cord Blood Inventory and the national bone marrow transplantation program in his fiscal year 2011 budget, I find it regrettable that President Bush did not provide full funding for these programs in any of his budgets, despite his vocal support for these programs and adult stem cells generally.

In my own state of Connecticut, there are more than 128,000 donors participating in the National Marrow Donor Program. There is some very exciting work going on at Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital involving marrow or cord blood transplantation. In fact, last May, I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Teena Conquest, a bone marrow donor from Middletown, Connecticut, and the recipient of her bone marrow, Rebecca Christy, from Iowa. It was truly inspiring to hear their story and how one woman's generosity saved another woman's life.

I am deeply disappointed that there are currently no cord blood collection sites in the state of Connecticut through the National Cord Blood Inventory program. Currently, more than 160 hospitals in the U.S. have an agreement with a public cord blood bank through the National Cord Blood Inventory program to perform collections for banks within the National Marrow Donor Program network. While none of those hospitals are in Connecticut, it is my strong hope that with this reauthorization, we will be prioritizing the establishment of new cord blood collection sites for the public program. I strongly encourage hospitals in Connecticut who meet the criteria to become a cord blood collection site and help increase the inventory of cord blood so that patients in need can find a match.

As was the case for Ms. Conquest and Ms. Christy, the therapeutic benefits of bone marrow are tremendous and well established. Bone marrow transplants have been used for nearly half a century to treat patients suffering from diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin's Disease, sickle cell anemia, and others. The National Marrow Donor Program, NMDP, provides a single point of access, the National Registry, to nearly 8 million volunteer bone marrow donors and 160,000 cord blood units, including more than 28,000 federally funded units in the National Cord Blood Inventory. The NMDP has helped countless patients and families understand their disease and treatment options with educational resources and one-on-one case management support.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me and my colleagues in support of this important legislation. It is my strong hope that we can move quickly to mark up this legislation in September and shortly thereafter pass this bill in the Senate.

Mr. President, I came to the Senate floor to express some comments on a different subject matter, but I would be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude to my friend for those very generous comments about our work on behalf of one out of four Americans who are under the age of 18--our children.

As I have said to my friend from Pennsylvania, a relatively new Member of this body, although I will no longer be a Member come next January, after three decades--30 years--in the Senate, I take great comfort in knowing that he and the Senator from Oregon, the Presiding Officer, who is also a member of this committee, have expressed such tremendous interest in this subject matter since the very first days they arrived in the Senate.

Like anyone else, I watched a number of people who were leaving as I was coming in three decades ago; people such as Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Bob Dole, Fritz Mondale--Vice President but also a Member of this body--and of course Ted Kennedy during our years together here, do tremendous work over the years on behalf of children and working families in our country. So I take a great deal of comfort in knowing that as I walk out of this Chamber there are people such as Jeff Merkley and Bob Casey who are going to continue this effort on behalf of those one in four Americans who don't vote, who don't have lobbyists, who don't make campaign contributions, and who don't have any of the traditional trappings that constituencies have to bring their case before the Congress of the United States. America's children will continue to have champions who are going to insist that children be at the forefront in the debates about resources and how we can provide for their needs.

So I thank the Senator immensely for his work on this subject matter and look forward to watching with a great deal of pride as he continues those efforts. Just know that the Senator will have a cheerleader outside who will be doing everything he can to encourage his efforts. So I thank him very much for his comments.