Floor Statements

Madam President, I would like to recognize a great American and true military hero who has honorably served our country for 49 years.

Colonel Person was born in Fargo, ND, and entered the Army as part of the ``Doctor Draft'' in 1964 after earning his MD from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. He served as Chief, Preventive Medicine, Professional Standards, and Aviation Medicine, Headquarters, U.S. Army Southern Command and Officer in Charge of U.S. Army Dispensary, Fort Clayton, Panama. For the next 20 years, Dr. Person remained active in the U.S. Army Reserve. During that time, he completed neurosurgical training, and a postdoctoral fellowship in microbiology, immunochemistry, and virology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Subsequently he served on the faculty in internal medicine and virology and epidemiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He also trained in pediatrics while at Baylor.

Colonel Person reinterred active duty in 1987 and was assigned as chief and program director in pediatrics, and chief, department of clinical investigation at Tripler Army Medical Center. He has 265 publications in the medical literature and has spoken at more than 400 meetings and seminars throughout the world. He is also a member of 60 medical, scientific, and professional organizations. He deployed to much of Central and South America, Alaska, Papau New Guinea, the Republic of the Maldives, South Korea, Micronesia, and served in Operation Desert Storm.

Additionally, Colonel Person was professor of clinical pediatrics and clinical public health, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa. For his leadership in the development and sustainment of the Pacific Island Health Care Project, he was recognized by the Pacific Basin Medical Association by the indigenous people of the U.S. Associated Pacific Islands and by the legislatures of the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Throughout his career COL Donald A. Person has served with valor and profoundly impacted the entire Army Medical Department. His performance reflects exceptionally on himself, the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation to Colonel Person on behalf of a grateful Nation for his more than 49 years of dedicated military service.

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

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

Madam President, today I wish to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps.

As a proud supporter of the Navy Nurse Corps, both the officers and the many enlisted and civilian personnel who work alongside them, I am pleased that we are recognizing their contributions to our navy and our great nation.

On May 13, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Naval Appropriations bill that authorized the establishment of the Nurse Corps as a unique staff corps of the Navy. A small group of trained nurses were carefully chosen to establish an ``orderly, disciplined corps with a respectable reputation and excellent benefits, if somewhat limited pay.'' Leaving societal norms behind, the Sacred Twenty, led by Ms. Esther

Voorhees Hasson, introduced safe hygiene practices in the care of patients and trained enlisted medical personnel.

By 1918, the Nurse Corps grew to over 1,030. During World War I, Navy nurses served on ships and deployed to Europe to serve at base hospitals in France, Scotland and Ireland. Superintendent Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee was recognized with the Navy Cross for her success in developing an innovative training camp which quickly prepared nurses to meet the growing war requirement. Many years later, Superintendent Hibgee would receive a most auspicious honor when she became the first living woman and only Navy nurse to have a ship named after her. The destroyer, USS Higbee was commissioned in 1944.

World War II became the defining moment in the lives of an entire generation of Americans. Amidst the startling images of the horrors associated with war, came heroic accounts of the tenacity and faith demonstrated by American servicemen and women on a daily basis. On battlefronts from North Africa to Italy to Normandy to Corregidor and Bataan, the nurses of World War II contributed greatly to the care of the wounded, the morale of the fighting men, and the development of nursing as a profession. It was during this war, that 11 Navy Nurses were taken prisoner by the Imperial Japanese in the Philippines. Spending thirty seven months in an internment camp where starvation and psychological warfare were commonplace, these nurses continued to care for patients without regard to self.

Throughout the war, Navy nurses served at 40 naval hospitals, 176 dispensaries, on board 12 hospital ships and as flight nurses on air evacuation missions. Admiral Halsey said of Navy nurses: ``They magnificently upheld the highest traditions of U.S. Naval Service.'' Navy nurses earned over 300 military awards for their exceptional duty during the war.

From the humble beginnings of the pioneering ``Sacred Twenty'' to today's Nurse Corps force of 4,100 strong, Navy nurses continue to answer the call of duty whether it is at the bedside of a patient in a stateside military hospital, in a joint humanitarian mission aboard a hospital ship transiting the Pacific or in the throes of conflict in Iraq.

Today we recognize the men and women of the Navy Nurse Corps for their selfless service and dedication to our nation and our military. I commend the Navy Nurse Corps for its commitment to excellence and for a century of leadership and caring for America's Navy and Marine Corps from 1908 to 2008.

Madam President, I would like to recognize a great American and true military heroine who has honorably served our country for 32 years.

Major General Pollock was born in Kearny, NJ, and entered the Army Nurse Corps in 1976 after earning her BSN from the University of Maryland. She also completed a master's of business administration from Boston University, a master's in healthcare administration from Baylor University, and a master's in national security and strategy from the National Defense University. Major General Pollock also attended the U.S. Army Nurse Anesthesia Program and is a certified registered nurse anesthetist, CRNA, and a fellow in The American College of Healthcare Executives.

Major General Pollock's military education includes Senior Service College at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; the U.S. Air Force War College; the Interagency Institute for Federal Health Care Executives, the Military Health System CAPSTONE Program, the Principles of Advanced Nurse Administrators, and the NATO staff officer course.

Major General Pollock became the Deputy Surgeon General for Force Management December 11, 2007. She also served as Chief, Army Nurse Corps and Commander, U.S. Army Medical Command/Acting Surgeon General.

Major General Pollock's past military assignments include special assistant to the Surgeon General for Information Management and Health Policy; commander, Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, GA; commander, U.S. Army Medical Activity, Fort Drum, NY; staff officer, Strategic Initiatives Command Group for the Army Surgeon General; Department of Defense health care advisor to the Congressional Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance, health fitness advisor at the National Defense University; senior policy analyst in Health Affairs, DOD; and chief anesthesia nursing service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.

Throughout her career Major General Pollock has served with valor and profoundly impacted the entire Army Medical Department. Her performance reflects exceptionally on herself, the U.S. Army, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation to Major General Pollock on behalf of a grateful nation for her more than 32 years of dedicated military service.

Madam President, I rise today in support of the substitute to H.R. 3403, the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008. The Senate companion, S. 428, was passed by unanimous consent on February 26, 2008. This bill would provide 911 service for Voice over Internet Protocol, VoIP, subscribers.

I can think of few government initiatives that have been as successful as 911. Since its creation nearly 30 years ago, 911 has become a lifeline for people in trouble. I think it is safe to say that just about every American today knows that 911 is the easiest and most effective means to contact emergency services.

As technology has advanced, so has 911 service. Today, many places in the Nation have E911. In these areas, when you call for help, your phone number and location are automatically transmitted to emergency personnel. If your call is disconnected, you are disoriented, or do not know your location, this information can make all the difference in securing your safety.

But the E911 system was built for wireline service. So as technology advanced and wireless phones grew in popularity, we worked to apply E911 principles to wireless service. With the advent of VoIP, we are challenged again to ensure that our 911 policies are up to date.

I believe that the New and Emerging Technologies 911 Improvement Act of 2008 does an excellent job of improving 911 service and adapting it to the latest telecommunications technology, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this important legislation.

Senator Bill Nelson, the sponsor of the Senate bill, Senator Snowe, Senator Stevens, and I have worked with our colleagues in the House to develop this substitute. Once the Senate passes H.R. 3403, as amended, we expect the House to act expeditiously so that this bill can become law, allowing our 911 system to continue to save lives and ensuring individuals can always call for help regardless of the underlying technology they use.

Mr. President, in 1960, when I was a young Member of the United States House of Representatives, I had the high privilege and the great honor of seconding the nomination of Lyndon Baines Johnson for President of the United States at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. But, as we all know, Senator John F. Kennedy was nominated. However, before the convention adjourned, Senator Johnson was selected as Senator Kennedy's running mate. In November of that year, the Kennedy-Johnson team prevailed by a very close margin. But in 1963, the tragedy of Dallas brought this winning combination to an abrupt and sad halt.

Lyndon Johnson succeeded President Kennedy, but it was sadly clear to all of Lyndon Johnson's friends that this was not the way he wanted to become President. Nonetheless, Lyndon Johnson assumed the awesome responsibilities of the Presidency and carried forward the unfinished work of President Kennedy.

A year after the assassination, Lyndon Johnson guided the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into becoming our Nation's landmark law on civil rights. It was a great step forward in the rights of men and women. It was also a great step forward for our Nation. But Lyndon Johnson did not stop. In 1965, he secured passage of the Voting Rights Act, opening polling places to all African Americans in the South. Two years later, he nominated the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court. His nominee, Thurgood Marshall, became recognized as one of the High Court's finest Justices. In fact, it was Lyndon Johnson who, during the 11-year period from 1957 to 1968, was behind the first five civil rights laws in our history, either as author or chief architect or primary sponsor.

For a southerner like Lyndon Johnson, taking such a leading role on civil rights took a special sort of courage. Yet he knew he was doing the right thing. He transformed the Emancipation Proclamation of more than 100

years ago into becoming a reality. Civil rights was one of the building blocks that President Johnson envisioned for the Great Society of America. His Great Society Program, which the Congress embraced, provided greater support for education, especially of poor children. From 1963 to 1968, Congress followed his lead and enacted more than 40 major laws to foster education. He also supported the arts and humanities by establishing the national endowments.

His Great Society declared war on poverty. He aided millions of older Americans with passage of the 1965 Medicare amendment through the Social Security Act. He also championed older Americans with the passage of legislation in 1967 against age discrimination in the workplace.

As President, Lyndon Johnson also worked for peace and the survival of mankind. In 1967, he secured the ban on atomic weapons in space, and this is the universal law at the moment. The following year, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was signed, and it still stands. Unfortunately, Lyndon Johnson did not seek reelection in 1968 because of the war in Vietnam. But his legacy of leadership in both the Senate and the White House continues to this day.

The man from Texas will always loom large in the history of the United States. For me, it was a most special privilege and a great honor to have known and worked with Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of S.J. Res. 28, a joint resolution disapproving the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, rule relaxing newspaper-broadcast media cross-ownership.

Like many of my colleagues, I am deeply troubled by the FCC's rulemaking that would allow greater consolidation of our media. The media is a tremendous force in our society. It can inform, educate, and entertain, as well as nourish our democratic dialogue. Unfortunately, the media also has less savory powers.

In recent years, we have seen an increase in coarse and violent programming, coupled with a decrease in local news and hardhitting journalism. To say these trends are not in the best interest of the American people, and especially our youngest citizens, is clearly an understatement.

In addition, as corporate ownership over our media grows more concentrated, we see less and less of the diversity of our Nation. When programming is the same from coast to coast, our airwaves will no longer reflect the rich mosaic of our country and our citizens. Such a landscape should prompt the FCC to act with an overabundance of caution, but it has not.

Five years ago, the FCC substantially relaxed the rules that govern media ownership in this country. Millions of Americans contacted the FCC to complain. The U.S. Senate voted to support a ``resolution of disapproval'' in response to the FCC's decision. Next, the courts got involved, and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals shipped the agency's handiwork right back to the FCC.

In 2006, the FCC began a new rulemaking, and in November of 2007, the Commerce Committee held a hearing to discuss the effects of consolidation on localism and diversity in news and entertainment.

Over the following month, the Senate made clear to the Commission that it had serious concerns about the FCC's process and its apparent rush to issue a new rule. But on December 18, 2007, over the objections of Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein, the FCC approved a relaxed set of ownership rules under which newspaper- broadcast cross-ownership is permissible in the top 20 markets.

I commend Senator Dorgan for introducing S.J. Res. 28, a joint resolution disapproving the FCC rule. I am pleased to join him as a cosponsor of this resolution. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting S.J. Res. 28.

Together we can send a strong and united message that media diversity is clearly in the national interest and that the U.S. Senate will defend that interest with all the tools at its disposal.

Mr. President, the rich history and unflagging service of the men and women at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard highlighted by Senator Akaka continues today.

Once again our Nation is at war, and our Naval Forces engaged in the global war on terror can rely on the shipyard to provide top quality support. The shipyard's work focuses on the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and makes the shipyard the largest repair facility between the west coast of the United States and the Far East. The shipyard provides full- service maintenance for both the Pacific Fleet's ships and submarines throughout the Asia-Pacific theater. In addition to this significant responsibility, the shipyard has demonstrated its diverse capabilities by supporting our nation's space exploration, Antarctic expeditions, missile defense, and its ability to rapidly respond by deploying worldwide to perform emergency repairs.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is a national treasure, and it is known as ``No Ka Oi,'' or ``The Best'' Shipyard. In the tradition of upholding this moniker, it has earned multiple national awards for its excellent safety and environmental stewardship programs. These awards include the prestigious Occupational Safety and Health Administration Star, and the White House Closing the Circle Environmental Quality Awards.

Beyond the numerous contributions to our U.S. Navy, the shipyard is also an integral part of Hawaii. It is the largest single industrial employer in the State, and its direct annual economic impact is greater than $600 million in Hawaii. Through its apprentice, engineer co-op, and other student hire programs, Hawaii residents are provided with extraordinary training, employment, and career opportunities. For some families this tradition to keep our ships and submarines ``fit to fight'' runs throughout a generation

and is being passed down to the next generation.

When Congress established the ``Navy Yard Pearl Harbor'' in 1908, Hawaii and the U.S. Navy were inextricably linked together. Just as it did in 1908, America understands the need for a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Both the shipyard and its achievements are special. However, it is the shipyard's heart, the dedicated men and women who work there, that make those achievements possible. I join my colleague Senator Akaka in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and I look forward to celebrating its future successes in the next 100 years.

Mr. President, I wish today to urge my colleagues to support the Rockefeller substitute to H.R. 2881, the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act. Aviation is a central element of our globalized economy. The United States is the world's leader in aviation, and if we are to maintain this position, we must invest the proper resources.

I wish to congratulate Senator Rockefeller for bringing together diverse interests and crafting a measure that will bolster oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration's, FAA, safety system, provide guaranteed funding to modernize the air traffic

control system, strengthen passenger protections, and fund air service to small communities throughout the Nation.

I am very proud of the efforts of Senator Rockefeller and the members of the Senate Commerce Committee. The Commerce Committee provisions in the substitute before us represent a well-crafted effort that enjoys bipartisan support.

The substitute before us represents a rare opportunity to significantly shape the future of the national air transportation system, and therefore, ensure our standing will remain at the forefront of the aviation industry.

The actions we take to reauthorize the FAA will affect the public for decades to come. Legislation to reauthorize the FAA is long overdue, and it is vital that we pass this bill that addresses the challenges facing our Nation's aviation system. We must ensure that the national airspace system continues to serve the public effectively, and at the same time, we must move forward aggressively with modernization to make certain we do not inhibit our economic growth.

The Nation's existing air transportation system is already stretched to its limits. Current passenger traffic has exceeded all previous records and is expected to exceed 1 billion passengers per year within the next decade.

To accommodate this growth in a safe and cost-effective manner, we must increase capacity by expanding our airports, modernizing our air traffic control, ATC, system, and most importantly, ensuring the FAA has the resources and staffing required to provide effective oversight of the most complicated airspace system in the world.

Recent events highlight the cracks developing in our air transportation system. Domestic air carriers are being crippled by the high price of fuel. Seven airlines have declared bankruptcy since the beginning of the year, and early reports indicate the industry has lost billions of dollars in the first quarter of this year alone.

Most disturbing, however, are the lapses in the FAA's safety oversight system that have been recently highlighted. Over the past few months, air carriers cancelled thousands of flights, leaving passengers stranded after the FAA belatedly discovered air carriers had not performed required safety inspections. Congress must take the necessary steps to ensure that the safety of the U.S. aviation system is never compromised.

With our Nation's aviation system at a critical juncture, I urge my fellow Members to close debate on the Rockefeller substitute and adopt this important legislation.

Mr. President, in 1898, when the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish-American War, we found ourselves suddenly becoming a colonial power. In opposition was the Philippines. Until the end of the war, World War II, we exercised jurisdiction over the Philippines like a colonial power.

However, in July of 1941, when we noted the presence of war clouds over the Pacific and Asia, we called upon the Filipinos to consider volunteering to serve the United States under American command. Thirteen days after December 7, we issued a command order inviting Filipinos to volunteer--it was a crucial time--and 470,000 Filipinos volunteered. From that number, we developed the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines--200,000. We set aside 200,000 of them to serve as guerrilla fighters and about 50,000 to serve as guards and patrols on the shore and along the borders.

History now shows us the Japanese attack, and as a result we had two tragic battles, Corregidor and Bataan. Before these battles were determined and ended, General MacArthur, the commander, was ordered to leave the Philippines, and he left with his staff and arrived in Australia. The Filipinos were left to do their part without proper armament, proper medicine, and with inadequate food. But they fought.

I think all of us remember the Bataan Death March when 75,000 were ordered to march 65 miles without food, medicine, or water. Along that trip, only 54,000 survived--the rest died. I think all of us recall the heroic movies that were filmed as a result of that march. The Bataan Death March became part of the vocabulary of the United States.

We saw Americans being bayoneted, hit, and killed. But the facts show that of the over 75,000 who had to undergo and suffer the Bataan Death March, 15,000 were Americans and 60,000 were Filipinos. They are the ones who got bayoneted. They are the ones who were slaughtered and killed.

Well, these Filipinos were willing to fight for the United States, to stand in harm's way on our behalf. They fought throughout the war as guerilla fighters. They suffered thousands of casualties. Those who were fighting for America's cause and fighting under the command of American officers, strangely, could not receive American medals.

Now, if one should go to Baghdad, if he is wounded, he gets a Purple Heart. If he does something heroic, he gets a Bronze Star or Silver Star or DSC. Once in a while, someone gets a Medal of Honor. Well, in this case, these matters were not recognized.

The war ended on September 2, 1945, when the Japanese signed the surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri. At that moment, we did not have an ambassador nor an embassy, but we had a high commissioner who was not authorized to accept applications for citizenship. Remember, one of the promises was citizenship.

So about December, Washington sent an official of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to receive applications from Filipinos. Well, he had no staff; he had to do it all on his own. But within a month, Washington decided to recall him. So here we had line upon line of Filipinos waiting to submit their application but no one to receive it.

Then, in early February of 1946, the Congress of the United States passed a measure signed by the President repealing and rescinding the act that we passed in July of 1941, and the Executive order that was issued right after December 7, in which we promised Filipinos if they fought for us, shed their blood, risked their lives and limbs, if they wished they could become citizens of the United States and get all of the veterans' benefits.

Keep in mind Manila was the most devastated city in World War II, so there were no veterans hospitals. That came later.

Well, this veterans bill has a provision in it--a provision of honor--in which, finally, after over 65 years, we will restore our honor and tell the Filipinos: It is late, but please forgive us. There are few remaining of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who volunteered and risked their lives. At this moment, I think there are about 18,000 left. As I speak, I am certain some are on their deathbed and dying.

This provision has some rather insulting provisions, but the Filipinos are willing to take it. Some of my colleagues have suggested that the cost of living in the Philippines is less than the cost of living here, so their pension should be one-third of an American GI's, who did the same thing, with the same injury--but one-third. That is all right. But to suggest only those who were in combat, I don't know what that means.

For example, in Iraq, whether you are out on the street or on the boulevard in a truck or in the so-called Green Zone, you are on the front line. Bombs can hit you anywhere. It is the same thing with a guerrilla fighter. Where is the front line for a guerrilla fighter? Is it the jungle? Is it the city? Is it his home?

My colleagues, I hope we will take this opportunity today to restore the honor of the United States and undo the broken promise and make it good. There are a few Filipino World War II veterans left. At least we can face them and say: Yes, it took us a little while, but we are going to carry out our promise. Let's do that.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, for the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation I report favorably the following nomination lists which were printed in the Records on the dates indicated, and ask unanimous consent, to save the expense of reprinting on the Executive Calendar that these nominations lie at the Secretary's desk for the information of Senators.

Mr. President, when the Spanish-American War ended in 1898, the Philippines became a possession of the United States. It became a colony of the United States. We hate to use that word because we frown upon colonial powers, but we became a colonial power. As such, we exercised complete power over the people of the Philippines. Legally, we could arrest them. We could do anything we wanted. However, in 1934, we decided the status should change a little bit, and they became a commonwealth; however, not citizens of the United States.

Then in July of 1941, when war clouds began to appear in the Asia- Pacific area and the Japanese were invading other countries, the President of the United States issued an order forming the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines. The Commonwealth Army of the Philippines had 470 members. They were all Filipinos. They were assured, if combat should come about and they participated, they would be granted American citizenship, if they so desired. And they would receive all the benefits veterans of the United States would receive.

Well, December 7, 1941, became history. Two weeks later, the Congress passed a bill making it a very formal order of the day that if a Filipino came forward and volunteered to serve in the uniform of the United States and pledged to stand in harm's way on our behalf, at the end of the conflict, they would be granted citizenship, if they so desired, and receive all the benefits Americans received.

The Japanese invaded the Philippines. There were two great battles, the battle of Corregidor and the battle of Bataan. The battle of Bataan has been made part of the history of this Nation. We have seen countless movies on the Bataan Death March, one of the better known death marches in our history. In that death march, there were 75,000 prisoners of war. Of that number, 54,000 arrived at the prisoner of war camp; 15,000 died on that march. The distance wasn't too long. It was 75 miles. But they were given no medicine, no food, no water, and 15,000 died on the way. Six thousand escaped to become guerillas. Of the movies I have seen which show Americans being bayonetted, Americans being shot on the march, you never saw a Filipino on the march. Yet the record will show that of the 75,000 who participated in the death march, 15,000 were Americans and 60,000 were Filipinos.

Most of those who died before arriving at the prison camp were Filipinos. Strangely also, though they spent much time on the frontlines attacking Japanese, carrying out heroic acts, they received no medals, no Purple Hearts, no Bronze Stars, no Silver Stars, and no DSCs. They were serving under American command.

Well, we were victorious. But before we were victorious, General MacArthur left the Philippines and said: ``I shall return.'' The men whom he left in the Philippines were Filipinos. They had the job of harassing the Japanese, keeping them occupied so they wouldn't be moving to other areas to cause havoc. The casualties mounted in the thousands. Thousands died in our defense.

So what happens? Surrender terms are signed on the USS Missouri, and law and order is restored in the Philippines. Happy day. About a month and a half later, Washington sent one man

to serve in the Embassy, to take applications of those men who wanted to become citizens of the United States. But a month later, we called him back. That promise we made, if you want to become a citizen, you had to do it in some office in the United States, not in the Philippines. That is why they sent that man down there to represent us. When that man left Manila and returned to Washington, there was no one to take applications.

Then in mid-February of 1946, the Congress, our predecessors, passed a bill repealing that law they passed in December of 1941. They repealed it.

It is a matter of honor, as Senator Stevens pointed out. Here was a promise, a solemn promise on the part of Americans. And by congressional action, we break that promise.

Here we have a bill before us that will restore this honor. It will say to the Filipinos, since your cost of living is not as great as ours, your pension will be one-third of ours. Well, one can say that is better than nothing. But if they want to become citizens, they can do it in Manila or in Honolulu or anywhere else.

There are 18,000 who want to become citizens. There are many others waiting. But as Senator Stevens pointed out, the youngest surviving Filipino veteran is 82 years old.

As I speak, men are dying. By the time we consider this measure and pass it, there will be hundreds more who will die.

It is not a matter of money. It is a matter of honor. It is the American thing to do. If we make a solemn promise, we should be prepared to keep it. In this case, they were willing to stand in harm's way for us. The least we can do is to recognize this and to salute them as fellow Americans.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that two members of my staff, Nina Fallenbaum and Petti Matila, be granted the privileges of the floor during the consideration of S. 1315.

Madam President, today I join my colleagues in supporting the passage of S. 2739, the omnibus lands bill, which included two issues of special interest to me. First, the bill seeks to correct profound problems in local immigration laws that have enabled the import of low paid, short termed indentured workers to be brought to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, CNMI. Some were bought to work in garment factories. Others arrived in the CNMI, only to find that there was no job waiting for them, and were forced to find unpalatable means to work off their bondage debt. I am pleased that today, this bill will address longstanding concerns regarding the CNMI's immigration problems.

Secondly, this bill also includes a provision to expand the boundary of the Minidoka Internment National Monument, and establish a unit on Bainbridge Island, Washington, for a new Japanese American Memorial at the Eagledale Ferry Dock. The Minidoka site is significant, because the Minidoka Internment Camp featured the highest level of military participation in any of the camps, and Bainbridge Island was the first community for Japanese Americans to be relocated to. I believe that we need to do all that we can to preserve internment camp sites, because they serve as a powerful reminder of how important it is to have a vibrant democracy that protects the civil liberties of all.