Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the University of Hawaii at Manoa's College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, CTAHR, as they commemorate their upcoming centennial. I am pleased to join them in their celebration of a significant milestone that salutes their illustrious achievements in the past, and serves as an enduring foundation for many more in their future.

CTAHR was established as a land-grant institution in 1907, and at the time, it was known as the College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts. This nascent institution of higher education was dedicated to research, academic instruction, and community outreach. The first students that enrolled during the college's inaugural academic year received instruction in agriculture, household economics, science, and engineering, all of which are still offered to students by the University of Hawaii. Faculty members and students identified the necessity for a curriculum that focused on subtropical climates in order to assist Hawaii's farmers. Their initiative and perseverance subsequently led to the development of a tropical agriculture curriculum, a legacy that over the last century lent itself to CTAHR's name, and benefited people in Hawaii, the Pacific region, and around the world.

CTAHR's successes are numerous, and those in agriculture range from laying the basis of the macadamia nut industry world-wide, to cultivating Hawaii's robust anthurium cut-flower crop, and developing a seed corn crop export utilizing Hawaii's year-round growing season that was valued at $70 million during the 2005-2006 crop year. In addition, their accomplishments include researching remedies to the environmental problems caused by invasive species such as fruit flies, termites, and the papaya ringspot virus. Originally, these pests were eliminated using toxic pesticides that inflicted damaged Hawaii's precious and beautiful environment. CTAHR's research and development led to nationally honored alternative nontoxic treatments used by farmers and residents.

This dedication to the health and well-being of Hawaii's residents extends beyond the laboratory and is demonstrated in their community outreach. In the 1920's CTAHR's Chair in the Home Economics Department was correct and prescient, when she advocated against the reliance on processed foods, and was essential in the nutritional assessment of readily available tropical and sub-tropical fruits and vegetables. World War II starkly highlighted Hawaii's precarious sustainability situation when ships once used to shuttle goods between the islands were serving our country in a wartime capacity. CTAHR stepped in to increase food production, analyze potable water, and help residents adapt to shortages and blackout conditions. Their outreach continues today, and it is exemplified by the 1991 establishment of ``The Center on the Family.'' This Center bolsters Hawaii's families by gathering information on everything from child development to elder care using an interdisciplinary approach of research, education, and service. All of the information they compile is available to families, public servants, service providers, educators, and students via the award-winning online database maintained by the center.

None of these outstanding distinctions could have been reached if CTAHR did not promote and sustain their tradition of academic excellence. The element fundamental to all of their accolades since their beginning in 1907, and that continues to be at the heart of CTAHR's success is their commitment to meet the highest standards of their federally mandated charge to conduct academic instruction. I would like to thank Dean Andrew G. Hashimoto and his predecessors for their wisdom and leadership over the last 100 years. It is with great hope, and my best wishes for CTAHR to carry on their established legacy of achievement in all their future endeavors.

Mr. President, I rise today to announce the introduction, by request, of the Next Generation Air Transportation System Financing Reform Act of 2007, the Bush administration's proposal for the Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA), reauthorization.

As chairman of the Commerce Committee, I, along with vice chairman Stevens, introduce this bill out of courtesy to the Bush administration. They have outlined an aggressive proposal for the FAA reauthorization and while I cannot support all portions of this bill, I believe our colleagues should have an opportunity to consider the ideas outlined.

While I commend the Department of Transportation and the FAA for their work on the proposal, I have great concerns with some of the provisions. Specifically, I am troubled by the proposal to dramatically increase the general aviation fuel tax and substantially cut the Airport Improvement Program, AIP, funding level.

The Commerce Committee has jurisdiction over the FAA and I will work with Senator Jay Rockefeller, the chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, and Senator Trent Lott,

the ranking member of the subcommittee, along with other members of the committee, to craft a bipartisan bill that we can bring before the full Senate.

It is important that we act quickly, as the current aviation tax structure expires at the end of the fiscal year. Therefore, we must present our committee and this body with a bill that not only solves funding issues for our Nation's air system, but also puts us on a course to fully modernize our aviation system to safely and efficiently handle the increase in air traffic that is expected.

In the coming weeks, we will be back here with a bill that I believe will gain the support of the majority of the Commerce Committee and the support of the Senate.

Mr. President, I would like to associate myself with the comments of my colleague from New Mexico. I have also met with the Governor of American Samoa regarding his concerns on proposed changes to the minimum wage law as it applies to American Samoa. In addition, I have met with the distinguished delegate from American Samoa, Eni Faleomavaega, who has been working with his colleagues in the House, Chairmen Obey and Miller, on this matter and he has their assurances that they will continue to work with him as this bill is considered in the conference committee. I have joined the delegate on a letter to the HELP Committee urging continuation of the current FLSA policy of having Special Industry Committees periodically determine the rate of increase in the territorial minimum wage.

I also thank the chairman and manager for his understanding and cooperation on this matter.

I thank the Senator for his recognition of our continuing perseverance and unwavering resolve to move this measure forward. At its core, S. 310 is about equity. It is about establishing parity in the Federal policies towards Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Our U.S. Constitution is clear in the means by which it addresses the status of the indigenous, native people of this land. It is a status based not on consideration of race or ethnicity, but rather on the political relationship that existed between the United States and the native people who occupied and exercised sovereignty over lands that later became part of the United States.

We thank you, the leader. Native Hawaiian programs and institutions continue to be under attack in the courts. Hence, there is an urgency to act and to clarify that the status of Native Hawaiians is a political question best left to the political arena, namely the Congress, to resolve.

Mr. President, I would like to commend the Army leadership for selecting the first woman and nurse to serve as the Acting Army Surgeon General. Today, MG Gale S. Pollock, a nurse, is in charge of the Army Medical Department and leading the way in improving organizational efficiencies and streamlining the care of our wounded warriors.

Major General Pollock was born in Kearny, NJ, and entered the Army Nurse Corps in 1976 after earning her BSN from the Walter Reed Institute of Nursing through the University of Maryland. She also completed a master of business administration from Boston University, a master in health care administration from Baylor University, and a master 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.

On March 20, 2007, Major General Pollock, Chief of the Army Nurse Corps, was officially named Commander of the U.S. Army Medical Command and the Acting Army Surgeon General. Her previous military assignments include, Commander, Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI; 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 Department Activity, Fort Drum, NY; Staff Officer, Strategic Initiatives Command Group for the Army Surgeon General; Department of Defense, DoD, Healthcare Advisor to the Congressional Commission on Servicemembers 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.

Major General Pollock brings extensive leadership, education, and experience to her new position as the Acting Army Surgeon General. As an Army nurse and woman, I applaud her many

accomplishments which have brought her to the highest level of rank and responsibility in military medicine.

Mr. President, I want to pay tribute to an exceptional man who is retiring in July, after 19 years of impeccable service to the George Washington University, GW.

Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, 68, became the 15th president of GW on August 1, 1988. A native of Brooklyn, NY, President Trachtenberg earned a bachelor of arts degree from Columbia University in 1959, the juris doctor from Yale University in 1962, and the master of public administration degree from Harvard University in 1966. In 1968, he was selected as a Winston Churchill Traveling Fellow for study in Oxford, England.

He came to GW from the University of Hartford, Connecticut, where he had been president for 11 years. Before assuming the presidency of Hartford, President Trachtenberg served for 8 years at Boston University as vice president for academic services and academic dean of the college of liberal arts. Earlier, in Washington, DC, he was a special assistant for 2 years to the U.S. Education Commissioner, Department of Health, Education and Welfare. He has been an attorney with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and a legislative aide to former Indiana Congressman John Brademas.

Just a few of the highlights in his career include the following: President Trachtenberg was named one of the top 100 leaders in the American Academy in a 1978 Change magazine poll. He received a 1987 Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In 1988, the Connecticut Bar Association honored him with its Distinguished Public Service Award, and he was recognized by the Hartford NAACP for his contributions to the education of minority students. In 1992, he received the Hannah G. Solomon Award from the National Council of Jewish Women. In 1993, the Washington, DC, Urban League named him ``Father of the Year.'' And in 1992 and 2007, he received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards.

President Trachtenberg has served the GW community as a drum major for change and has lead by example a commitment to public, civic, and personal service. Throughout the years, he has worked tirelessly in honoring and enhancing the symbiotic relationship between the University and the District of Columbia, supporting and mentoring students, and leading and advocating for reinvention, change, and civic engagement. He has worked successfully for almost two decades to propel GW further into the first ranks of world-class institutions of higher learning.

As a result of President Trachtenberg's efforts, the number of applications for undergraduate admission more than tripled, from 6,000 in 1988 to almost 20,000 in 2006, while the university's acceptance rate of these applicants was reduced by two-thirds. President Trachtenberg made financial aid for students a priority so that today the university offers nearly nine times, $113 million, as much financial aid to incoming students as was offered in 1988.

It can confidently be said that the university's faculty now comprises experts on topics ranging from administrative law to zoology and contribute to scholarly journals, law reviews, and media outlets on a regular basis. The university's sponsored research enterprise has quadrupled from $33 million in expenditures in 1988 to $132 million in expenditures in 2006. Through President Trachtenberg's efforts, GW has significantly upgraded its information technology and library system which now contains more than 2,000,000 volumes and is a member of the prestigious Association of Research Libraries.

Under President Trachtenberg's unprecedented leadership, the university robustly developed academic, residential, and recreational facilities on campus--including the opening of the Media and Public Affairs Building and the establishment within of the Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in 2001, the Annette and Theodore Lerner Health and Wellness Center in 2001, GW Hospital in 2002, 1957 E Street, the new home of GW's Elliott School of International Affairs and Geography Department in 2002, and Ric and Dawn Duques Hall, the new home of GW's Business School in 2006--in a way that served the institution's scholarly and other programmatic needs while respecting the interests of its Foggy Bottom neighbors.

President Trachtenberg's commitment to the enhancement of academic and other space on campus supported the renovation and expansion of the law school complex, begun in 2000 and completed in 2006, the renovation of Morton and Norma Lee Funger Hall, dedicated in February 2006, and improvements of the Cloyd Heck Marvin Center including the addition of the Marc C. Abrahms Great Hall, dedicated in December 2002, and the renovation of J Street dining facilities, opened August 2004.

President Trachtenberg also spearheaded a campus beautification effort that transformed a series of city streets into a cohesive and vibrant urban campus with the addition of the Mid-Campus Quad, Kogan Plaza, pocket parks, and outdoor sculptures.

President Trachtenberg presides over the District of Columbia's largest private employer. And to support all the foregoing, President Trachtenberg oversaw two decades of balanced budgets, and the increase in the university endowment from $200 million in 1988 to more than $1 billion in 2007.

In 1989, President Trachtenberg created the 21st Century DC Scholars Program, now the Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholars, which has granted almost 100 full scholarships, representing over $13 million, to students from the DC Public Schools to attend GW. Under Trachtenberg's leadership, GW's Multicultural Student Services Center was named and has become a strong center for cultural awareness and celebrations, student development, and diversity training. Additionally, the Office of Community Service was created in 1992 and has become a focal point for civic engagement for the Washington DC community. His dedication to civic service is reflected throughout the university, which was named a ``college with a conscience'' in 2005 by Princeton Review, and most recently in the top 10 schools sending students to the Peace Corps.

His passion and demonstrated commitment to DC--the city, the schools, the business community and its residents--are unparalleled and have been recognized on several occasions by the District of Columbia Mayor, City Council and Chamber of Commerce. President Trachtenberg has received numerous accolades from across the Nation and abroad for his service, vision, intellect, wit, and compassion. Thanks to President Trachtenberg, GW went from being one of the best kept secrets in town to being one of the best known and most admired global universities.

Mr. President, the Eisenhower Memorial Commission was created by the U.S. Congress in 1999 as a bipartisan commission for the purpose of considering and formulating plans for the location, design and construction of a permanent memorial to President Dwight D. Eisenhower to perpetuate his memory and his contributions to the United States. Since being fully appointed in 2001, the Commission considered twenty-six different sites in the District of Columbia. In 2005, it selected a site between the Department of Education and the National Air and Space Museum, two institutions resulting from and greatly influenced by President Eisenhower's leadership.

In 2006, Congress approved the memorial's location within Area I, in compliance with the Commemorative Works Act. The Commission secured full approval for the selected site following extensive review by the National Park Service, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts. Since its inception, the Commission has also taken great care to study and analyze President Eisenhower's legacy. It produced a report by leading scholars and experts on President Eisenhower that provides a definitive statement on the transcending elements of President Eisenhower's enduring legacy. He ranks as one of the preeminent figures in the global history of the 20th century.

The Eisenhower Memorial Commission now needs to move into the design phase. As design begins, the Commission's organization, specifically with regard to contracting and staffing, needs to be updated and revised to enable efficient management and responsible stewardship. The proposed legislation which I introduce today provides for the necessary reorganization. I am joined by Senators Stevens, Roberts, and Hagel as original cosponsors of the bill.

The legislation enables the Commission to retain the services of full, part-time, and volunteer staff as government employees, without the restrictions of the competitive service requirements. It also provides the authority for the Commission's Executive Architect to manage technical and administrative aspects of design and construction. It provides for staff to be released on the completion of the memorial and enables the Commission to work in collaboration with federal agencies.

President Eisenhower spent his entire life in public service. His extraordinary contributions include serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in World War II and as 34th President of the United States, but President Eisenhower also served as the first commander of NATO and as President of Columbia University. Dramatic changes occurred in America during his lifetime, many of which he participated in and influenced through his extraordinary leadership as President.

Although President Eisenhower grew up before automobiles existed, he created the Interstate Highway System and took America into space. He created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Federal Aviation Administration. He added the State of Hawaii and the State of Alaska to the United States and ended the Korean War. President Eisenhower desegregated the District of Columbia and sent Federal troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce school integration. He defused international crises and inaugurated the national security policies that guided the nation for the next three decades, leading to the peaceful end of the Cold War.

A career soldier, President Eisenhower championed peace, freedom, justice and security, and, as President, he stressed the interdependence of those goals. He spent a lifetime fulfilling his duty to his country, always remembering to ask: What is best for America?

President Eisenhower once said, ``I know that the American people share my belief that if a danger exists in the world, it is a danger shared by all; and equally, that if hope exists in the mind of one nation, that hope should be shared by all.'' President Eisenhower's legacy provides hope to all of us--like him, through education and public service, we, as a nation and individually, can rise to meet any challenge. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of my bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, the Eisenhower Memorial Commission was created by the U.S. Congress in 1999 as a bipartisan commission for the purpose of considering and formulating plans for the location, design and construction of a permanent memorial to President Dwight D. Eisenhower to perpetuate his memory and his contributions to the United States. Since being fully appointed in 2001, the Commission considered twenty-six different sites in the District of Columbia. In 2005, it selected a site between the Department of Education and the National Air and Space Museum, two institutions resulting from and greatly influenced by President Eisenhower's leadership.

In 2006, Congress approved the memorial's location within Area I, in compliance with the Commemorative Works Act. The Commission secured full approval for the selected site following extensive review by the National Park Service, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commission of Fine Arts. Since its inception, the Commission has also taken great care to study and analyze President Eisenhower's legacy. It produced a report by leading scholars and experts on President Eisenhower that provides a definitive statement on the transcending elements of President Eisenhower's enduring legacy. He ranks as one of the preeminent figures in the global history of the 20th century.

The Eisenhower Memorial Commission now needs to move into the design phase. As design begins, the Commission's organization, specifically with regard to contracting and staffing, needs to be updated and revised to enable efficient management and responsible stewardship. The proposed legislation which I introduce today provides for the necessary reorganization. I am joined by Senators Stevens, Roberts, and Hagel as original cosponsors of the bill.

The legislation enables the Commission to retain the services of full, part-time, and volunteer staff as government employees, without the restrictions of the competitive service requirements. It also provides the authority for the Commission's Executive Architect to manage technical and administrative aspects of design and construction. It provides for staff to be released on the completion of the memorial and enables the Commission to work in collaboration with federal agencies.

President Eisenhower spent his entire life in public service. His extraordinary contributions include serving as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces in World War II and as 34th President of the United States, but President Eisenhower also served as the first commander of NATO and as President of Columbia University. Dramatic changes occurred in America during his lifetime, many of which he participated in and influenced through his extraordinary leadership as President.

Although President Eisenhower grew up before automobiles existed, he created the Interstate Highway System and took America into space. He created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and the Federal Aviation Administration. He added the State of Hawaii and the State of Alaska to the United States and ended the Korean War. President Eisenhower desegregated the District of Columbia and sent Federal troops into Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce school integration. He defused international crises and inaugurated the national security policies that guided the nation for the next three decades, leading to the peaceful end of the Cold War.

A career soldier, President Eisenhower championed peace, freedom, justice and security, and, as President, he stressed the interdependence of those goals. He spent a lifetime fulfilling his duty to his country, always remembering to ask: What is best for America?

President Eisenhower once said, ``I know that the American people share my belief that if a danger exists in the world, it is a danger shared by all; and equally, that if hope exists in the mind of one nation, that hope should be shared by all.'' President Eisenhower's legacy provides hope to all of us--like him, through education and public service, we, as a nation and individually, can rise to meet any challenge. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I ask unanimous consent that the text of my bill be printed in the Record.

I agree with the Senator from California that implementing these recommendations is crucial to continuing to increase aviation security, to prevent our Nation from experiencing a tragedy like 9/11 again.

I expect that TSA would examine this recommendation when developing a plan to deploy blast-resistant cargo containers on airplanes.

Madam Pesident, the expertise exhibited under the Commerce Committee's jurisdiction is reflected in the substitute amendment to S. 4, before us today, which incorporates three Commerce Committee reported bills: S. 184, the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007; S. 509, the Aviation Security Improvement Act; and S. 385, the Interoperable Emergency Communications Act. Prior to the reorgnization of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committees, HSGAC, and thereafter, the Commerce Committee's jurisdiction under the Senate rules over all aspects of transportation safety and security issues encompassing maritime, Coast Guard, aviation, rail, pipeline, and trucking, and telecommunications matters, remain untouched.

Some unfairly claim that problems we are having improving our national security result from an outdated committee system. I respectfully disagree. This claim is simply a sound bite that ignores the truth and short changes the potential for real solutions. The real problem is the result of creating a new department from scratch by merging 22 Federal agencies with varying missions, without any true realignment for non-security related missions, into one mammoth Federal department and then refusing to fully fund the necessary initiatives.

I am surprised that a few of my colleagues would suggest that through oversight through several committees of the Department, its Agencies, and the $34.8 billion in programs weakens DHS. To the contrary, using the several committees, each with its own significant expertise, actually improves the quality and scope of congressional oversight, and therefore, the effectiveness and accountability of the Department itself. It is the failure to conduct agency oversight that causes the most harm, as we have seen at DHS over the past few years. Well coordinated and responsible engagement with DHS by

committees will only further the Senate's oversight responsibilities for and the public's understanding of the critical work now being done by the Department and of the numerous challenges that remain.

S. Res. 445 embraced that approach, and S. 4 which will pass the Senate today demonstrates the success of that approach. In fact, the SAFE Ports Act, Public Law 109-347, and S. 4 are a reflection of the positive progress Congress can make when committees work together in our respective fields of expertise to conduct oversight and craft legislation to address identified vulnerabilities.

I agree. Without such context, security decisions will be made in a vacuum that, at best, might produce misguided or extraneous efforts, and, at worst, could cripple the transportation modes that ensure the free flow of commerce and travel that our Nation has been built upon. The Commerce Committee has passed three of the most significant transportation security bills considered since 9/11 and has been successful because of its understanding of the industry and past work on safety and security issues. The distinguished majority leader and Senator McConnell recognized this when crafting S. Res 445 and the Senate approved.

The Department consists of 22 separate agencies. These agencies are responsible for everything from international trade to animal health inspection. It would be unwise for the Senate to suggest that a single committee should manage oversight of those 22 agencies and each of their multiple missions just because the Secretary does not like to travel to the Hill and testify. The Senate cannot abdicated its oversight responsibilities because the Department thinks it takes up too much time.

And so, I respectfully but deeply disagree with the nonbinding measure in the underlying bill suggesting that this Senate should neglect its oversight duty--and put aside much of its long-standing expertise--because the Department is too busy to come tell us what they are doing. While I and many of my colleagues discussed striking this provision from the underlying bill, the majority leader noted that it was simply the work product of one committee. I would like to ask the majority leader if it is intention to continue to operate under S. Res. 445 given the recent success of legislation like Public Law 109-347 and

Mr. President, I rise in opposition to amendment No. 345, which was submitted by Senator Coburn of Oklahoma. This amendment diverts funds that Congress has designated to be obligated before October 1 of this year through the Department of Commerce Interoperability Grant Program into a yet-to-be created Homeland Security grant program.

This amendment is offered at the same time the President is proposing to decrease funding for State and local preparedness grants and firefighter assistance grants from the enacted fiscal year 2007 levels by $1.2 billion.

To make matters worse, the amendment delays the obligation of $1 billion in interoperability grants by up to 3 years. In the President's 2008 budget proposal, the administration reduces State and local programs by $840 million and assistance to firefighter grants by $362 million.

The transfer of the $1 billion the Federal Communications Commission will raise as part of the digital television spectrum auction to the Department of Homeland Security will mask the technical decrease in the budget request. In the end, it means less money for the first responders, which I believe is bad for national security.

It is important to remember that as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Congress created the $1 billion fund in the Department of Commerce to support State and local first responders in their efforts to talk with one another in times of emergency. The interoperability subtitle in this act expands upon prior action taken in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and provides additional guidance to the Commerce Department.

The provision which I introduced with Senators Stevens, Kerry, Smith, and Snowe was reported out of the committee with unanimous support of the Members. The Commerce Department grant program is intended to jump- start the efforts of the administration to address a key 9/11 Commission concern--interoperability.

The Department of Homeland Security has been and continues to be too slow to act, and the Coburn amendment would only exacerbate the problem. If the Coburn amendment were to pass, it would first decrease grants to first responders this fiscal year by $700 million; eliminate the $100 million fund for strategic reserves of communications equipment, designed to be rapidly deployed in the event of a major disaster; and, third, eliminate the all-hazards approach that considers the likelihood of natural disasters as well as terrorist attacks that the Commerce Department would use making interoperability grants. Contrary to the Senator's assertion, the Commerce Department Interoperability Grant Program is complementary to and not duplicative of the DHS grant program.

First, the Department of Commerce will award all $1 billion in grants by September 30 of this year, while the DHS program as currently constructed is not authorized until fiscal year 2008, and is still subject to appropriations.

This money is needed now and should be in addition to the regular appropriation process, not awarded over the next 3 years as a substitute for appropriations funding. Second, the program allows the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to direct up to $100 million of these funds for the creation of State and Federal strategic technology reserves of communications equipment that can be readily deployed in the event that terrestrial networks fail in times of disaster.

Should this occur--it did occur in Katrina--there is no comparable program created in the DHS grant program. The strategic reserve program is a necessary initiative that has not been prioritized by the DHS to date.

Recently, an independent panel created by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin to review the impact of Hurricane Katrina on communications networks noted the impact that limited pre- positioning of communications equipment had in slowing the recovery process. As a result, the program will help to ensure that our focus on interoperability also considers the importance of communications redundancy and resiliency as well.

Third, in addition to minimum funding allocations, the Department of Commerce Interoperability Grant Program would further require that prioritization of those funds be based upon an all-hazards approach that recognizes the critical need for effective emergency communication and response to natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornados, in addition to terrorist attacks.

While the DHS program being created would consider natural disasters as one of the many factors in awarding of grants, the Department of Commerce Interoperability Grant Program's all-hazards approach places a high priority on funding States based on the threats they face from natural catastrophes as well as terrorist attacks.

We have heard two contradicting arguments to support the elimination of the Department of Commerce grant program. The author claims both that the DHS is doing all of the administrative work for the Department of Commerce grant program, and that there is a risk of double-dipping because the DHS will not know who is receiving the Department of Commerce grants. Both claims cannot be right and, in fact, neither is true. The NTIA and the DHS have been working together for months to craft an agreement under which the two agencies will disburse the $1 billion raised from the DTV spectrum auction.

On February 16, 2007, the DHS and the NTIA entered into a memorandum of understanding covering the administration of the grant program. While the DHS will play a large role in administering the grants, the NTIA will work with the DHS to establish the grant procedures, which will ensure that an all-hazards approach is followed and that a strategic reserve equipment program is developed.

The interoperability subtitle further ensures that the grants funded are consistent with the Federal grant guidance established by the SAFECOM Program within the DHS. As a result, the DHS will be fully aware of who is getting grants and for what purposes. At the same time, the NTIA will maintain a leadership role in guiding the interoperability grant program. The NTIA has a long history of addressing interoperable communications issues, and it is vital that the administration help guide the DHS's work.

Since its creation, the NTIA has served as the principal telecommunications policy adviser to the Secretary of Commerce and the President and manages the Federal Government's use of the radio spectrum. According to Assistant Secretary Kneuer, the Administrator of the NTIA, the ``intersection of telecommunications policy and spectrum management has been the key focus of the NTIA, including public safety communications and interoperability issues.''

In this capacity, the NTIA has historically played an important role in assisting public safety personnel and improving communications interoperability and recognizing that effective solutions involve attention to issues of spectrum and government coordination as well as funding. Its work more than

a decade ago in creating the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee, formed by the FCC and the NTIA pursuant to Congress's direction, framed this issue in this way:

At the most basic level, radio-based voice communications

allow dispatchers to direct mobile units to the scene of a

crime and allow firefighters to coordinate and to warn each

other of impending danger at fires. Radio systems are also

vital for providing logistics and command support during

major emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes, riots,

or plane crashes. . . .

In an era where technology can bring news, current events,

and entertainment such as the Olympics to the farthest

reaches of the world, many police officers, firefighters, and

emergency medical service personnel working in the same city

cannot communicate with each other. Congested and fragmented

spectral resources, inadequate funding for technology

upgrades, and a wide variety of governmental and

institutional obstacles result in a critical situation which,

if not addressed expeditiously, will ultimately compromise

the ability of Public Safety officials to protect life and

property.

The Coburn amendment would disrupt the MOU, upset the work the NTIA and the DHS have undertaken, and delay the awarding of interoperability grants.

Finally, the NTIA's administration of the grant program will not only help to integrate the disparate elements that must be part of effective interoperability solutions but will also ensure greater program transparency and oversight. Given the myriad of different grant programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security, it is critical that these funds--specifically allocated by Congress to speed up our efforts to improve communications interoperability for first responders--not get lost in the shuffle of other disaster and nondisaster grants. As a result, the provisions not only devote the NTIA's attention to the success of this program but also require the inspector general of the Department of Commerce to annually review the administration of this program.

In sum, the Department of Commerce interoperability grant program improves the Nation's security. Senator Coburn's amendment would delay the awarding of needed interoperability grants and disrupts months of work by the NTIA and the DHS. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote against the Coburn amendment.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. President, listening very carefully to the statement of the Senator from Oklahoma, one might get the impression that this measure was submitted by the Senators from Alaska and Hawaii to benefit our two States. Hawaii and Alaska are not even mentioned in this amendment. What we want is a National Interoperability Grant Program. It may be of interest that the State of Hawaii is almost completely interoperable, but we want all other States to have that benefit. So this is not one of these earmarked measures, I can assure my colleagues.

I yield the floor.

I think that would be appropriate.

Mr. President, I would like to recognize a great American and true military heroine who has honorably served our country for 30 years in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps: COL Lenore S. Enzel. COL Lenore Enzel was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, NY. She received her diploma in nursing from Roosevelt Hospital School of Nursing, her baccalaureate degree in nursing from Hunter College- Bellevue Hospital, and her master's degree from the University of Hawaii. Upon retiring from the U.S. Army after faithfully serving for 30 years, Colonel Enzel and her husband, LTC Richard Berry, will reside in New York.

Colonel Enzel began her military career as a staff nurse at Tripler Army Medical Center, HI. She quickly rose through the ranks and served throughout the country, including in New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, as well as two other tours at Tripler Army Medical Center.

In each assignment, Colonel Enzel excelled and was rewarded with greater responsibilities. After serving as ambulatory section chief at Fort Hood, TX, she transitioned to Recruiting Command, serving as the 2nd Recruiting Brigade chief nurse and later as the 2nd Army Medical Detachment commander. Colonel Enzel successfully assimilated into the highly complex recruiting environment and became the No. 1 subject matter expert for Army medical recruiting.

With her path to executive leadership clearly set, Colonel Enzel served as deputy commander at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Colonel Enzel spearheaded the reengineering process as the hospital downsized to a freestanding clinic. Colonel Enzel returned to Hawaii, serving as deputy director and later director, clinical services, TRICARE Pacific Lead Agency, Tripler Army Medical Center. She managed complex health care issues in a joint arena for 380,000 beneficiaries in 70 countries spread across 13 time zones and 100 million square miles. Colonel Enzel's last assignment was in Texas, as deputy commander for patient services/nursing, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Ft. Bliss, TX. She managed care provided to 132,000 beneficiaries at this 150-bed teaching hospital. The increased productivity of the hospital has in large part been due to her drive and leadership.

Colonel Enzel is a meritorious leader, administrator, clinician, educator, and mentor. Throughout her career she 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 COL Lenore Suzan Enzel on behalf of a grateful nation for her more than 30 years of dedicated military service.

Mr. President, innovation and economic competitiveness have emerged as top priorities for this country. A number of reports have detailed the Nation's need to address our investment in education and science. The Augustine Commission's ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' is often citied as the clarion call to action.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I am proud to join my colleagues from the Energy and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees in introducing the America COMPETES Act. This bill was produced in a bipartisan manner that brought together these three Senate committees.

The Commerce Committee plays a critical role in ensuring this country's economic and commercial health. We have expertise that touches industries ranging from telecommunications to transportation; from the safety of the home to the security of the homeland; and from marine containers to marine mammals. We have brought this broad perspective in our efforts to improve the country's investment in the vital components that make us successful.

At the heart of this investment is education. Education is the foundation upon which scientific research and discoveries are made. This bill uses educational programs to inspire students from kindergarten through graduate school to pursue math and science. It also ensures that the Nation's enterprise research is well funded and focused on the needs of the Nation.

This bill would double funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and significantly increase funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We were also able to include several provisions related to ocean and atmospheric research and education. The ocean truly is the last frontier on Earth, and ocean research and technology may have broad implications for improving health and understanding our environment.

It is vital that we recognize the importance of our oceans. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommended

a number of ways to improve ocean education, basic research, and technological innovation. We need to follow through on these recommendations in order to provide young people with the opportunity to use a readily available resource for learning and inspiration.

This bill is a critical first step in this country's journey to answering the challenges that lay ahead. We must make the necessary investments today to realize the returns in the near future. I support this legislation and look forward to its thorough consideration before the Senate.

Mr. President, innovation and economic competitiveness have emerged as top priorities for this country. A number of reports have detailed the Nation's need to address our investment in education and science. The Augustine Commission's ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' is often citied as the clarion call to action.

As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, I am proud to join my colleagues from the Energy and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees in introducing the America COMPETES Act. This bill was produced in a bipartisan manner that brought together these three Senate committees.

The Commerce Committee plays a critical role in ensuring this country's economic and commercial health. We have expertise that touches industries ranging from telecommunications to transportation; from the safety of the home to the security of the homeland; and from marine containers to marine mammals. We have brought this broad perspective in our efforts to improve the country's investment in the vital components that make us successful.

At the heart of this investment is education. Education is the foundation upon which scientific research and discoveries are made. This bill uses educational programs to inspire students from kindergarten through graduate school to pursue math and science. It also ensures that the Nation's enterprise research is well funded and focused on the needs of the Nation.

This bill would double funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and significantly increase funding for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We were also able to include several provisions related to ocean and atmospheric research and education. The ocean truly is the last frontier on Earth, and ocean research and technology may have broad implications for improving health and understanding our environment.

It is vital that we recognize the importance of our oceans. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommended

a number of ways to improve ocean education, basic research, and technological innovation. We need to follow through on these recommendations in order to provide young people with the opportunity to use a readily available resource for learning and inspiration.

This bill is a critical first step in this country's journey to answering the challenges that lay ahead. We must make the necessary investments today to realize the returns in the near future. I support this legislation and look forward to its thorough consideration before the Senate.

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

Madam President, the provisions included in the Commerce Committee title, title 13 of the substitute amendment, reflect the Commerce Committee's relentless efforts to tackle emerging issues and building upon existing security transportation legislation. The provisions included in the Commerce title improve and enhance our security efforts across all modes: rail, truck, motor carrier, pipeline, and aviation.

Senator Stevens and I, and our colleagues on the Commerce Committee are no strangers to the issue of transportation security. In fact, the Commerce Committee responded and the Congress enacted immediately in the aftermath of the 9/11 attack landmark aviation and maritime security laws.

Last year, the Congress took its first step in 4 years, to significantly improve the Nation's transportation security system by enacting the Commerce Committee's SAFE Port Act, which strengthened the security of our Nation's ports and maritime vessels.

While significant in terms of the protections provided to our ports and maritime system, the Congress failed during conference to seize the opportunity to enact comprehensive transportation security legislation that would have addressed many of the gaps in other modes of the transportation system.

Today we begin to correct that shortcoming with the proposed legislation before us.

The Commerce title to the substitute amendment before the Senate addresses transportation security for our rail, motor carrier, and pipeline industries. The economic importance of these three industries can not be overstated.

While 95 percent of the Nation's cargo comes through our ports, our rail system and our motor carriers move these goods from our coasts and borders, through the interior of this country, to their final destinations. Together, these systems are the backbone that sustains our economy.

In terms of rail security, the Nation's 560-plus freight railroads own more than 140,000 miles of track over which nearly 30 million carloads are transported annually. This network transports 42 percent of all domestic intercity freight, the majority of coal used in electricity generation, more than 12 million trailers and containers, and two million carloads of chemicals. Meanwhile, U.S. trucking hauled 9.1 billion tons of freight and employed 5.6 million people in trucking related fields in 2003.

Equally important is the contribution that these modes make in moving passengers throughout our Nation. Approximately 24 million passengers ride Amtrak annually, and there are nearly 3.4 billion passenger and commuter rail trips in this country each year. Similarly, over-the-road buses transport approximately 600 million passengers annually and are the only viable means of public transportation for many people throughout the country.

The recent attacks on the passenger trains and transit systems in Madrid, London, and Mumbai all demonstrate that railroads and surface transportation systems are vulnerable targets for terrorists, and are a constant reminder of what can happen in our communities.

We must address the risks facing our essential surface and rail transportation systems here at home in a comprehensive and coordinated way before we become the next victim of a successful attack.

Toward this goal, Senator Stevens and I, along with Senators Lautenberg, Rockefeller, Kerry, Boxer, Snowe, Pryor, Carper, Dorgan, Hutchison, Klobuchar, Cantwell, and others, introduced the Surface Transportation and Rail Security Act of 2007, or STARS Act. This bill has 22 cosponsors to date.

The STARS Act incorporates updated versions of provisions within the Rail Security Act of 2004, which the Senate passed by unanimous consent in the 108th Congress, and the Senate version of the SAFE Port Act which we passed in the 109th Congress.

The Commerce Committee unanimously reported this bill along with S. 509, the Aviation Security Improvement Act, and S. 385, the Interoperable Emergency Communication Act, on February 13, 2007, and these provisions are included in the substitute amendment before us today as title 13.

The surface and rail provisions in title 13 require the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration to expand existing security initiatives and develop grant programs to assist private-sector surface transportation security efforts. The title authorizes $1.1 billion over fiscal years 2008 through 2011.

The rail title of the substitute amendment requires railroad risk assessments and plans for improving rail security. It also authorizes grants to Amtrak, freight railroads and others to upgrade passenger and freight rail security, undertake research and development, and improve tunnel security.

Additionally, the title encourages the deployment of rail car tracking equipment for high-hazard material shipments, requires railroads to create a railroad worker security-training program, and provides whistleblower protection for rail workers who report security concerns.

The surface transportation security provisions in title 13 of the substitute amendment promotes tracking technology for truck shipments of high-hazard materials and requires new guidance and assessments pertaining to hazardous materials truck routing.

The title also establishes programs for reviewing and enforcing hazardous materials and pipeline security plans and requires the TSA to develop pipeline incident recovery plans.

Additionally, the title authorizes the existing grant program for improving intercity bus and bus terminal security.

Finally, the title clarifies, at the TSA's request, the Secretary of Homeland Security's legal authority for initiating an administrative enforcement proceeding for violations of security regulations relating to nonaviation modes of transportation.

Regarding aviation security, title 13 addresses all the recommendations in the 9/11 Commission's report, including cargo and baggage screening, explosive detection at airport checkpoints, passenger prescreening, airport access controls, and general aviation security. The title requires the TSA to provide for the screening of all cargo being carried on commercial passenger aircraft within 3 years. The system must allow for a level of screening ``comparable'' to that of checked baggage screening and ensure the security of all cargo that is shipped on passenger aircraft.

The aviation provisions in title 13 advance the deployment of electronic Explosive Detection Systems, EDS, at airports across the nation by extending the Aviation Security Capital Fund that is used to integrate such machines into the baggage conveyor process.

The title also bolsters the existing grant program through changes in funding allocation requirements requiring a prioritized schedule for such projects that will increase flexibility for funding options.

Our legislation recognizes the threat presented by passengers transporting explosives through security checkpoints and promotes key changes to address this risk.

Title 13 requires the TSA to produce a strategic plan to deploy explosive detection equipment at airport checkpoints and fully implement that plan within 1 year of its submission. They must also provide specialized training to the screener workforce in the areas of behavior observation, and explosives detection. To address ongoing problems in developing an advanced passenger

prescreening system, the aviation provisions in title 13 would ensure a system is in place to coordinate passenger redress for those individuals misidentified against the ``no-fly'' or ``selectee'' watchlists. The TSA must also submit a strategic plan to Congress for the testing and implementation of its advanced passenger prescreening system.

To increase General Aviation, GA, security, the title will require a threat assessment program that is standardized and focused on GA facilities. It will further require foreign based GA aircraft entering U.S. airspace to have their passengers checked against appropriate watchlists to determine if there are any potential threats on board.

Title 13 of the substitute amendment includes a number of additional provisions that will take significant steps toward strengthening aviation security generally.

Title 13 will also authorize research and development spending for aviation security technology, remove the arbitrary cap of 45,000 full- time equivalent--FTE--employees currently imposed on the TSA's screener workforce, and mandate security rules for foreign aircraft repair stations.

In addition, this title will require the TSA to develop a system by which the Administrator will provide blast-resistant cargo containers to commercial passenger air carriers for use on a random or risk- assessed basis, implement a sterile area access system that will grant flight deck and cabin crews expedited access to secure areas through screening checkpoints, and require a doubling of the DHS's existing dog team capacity used for explosive detection across the Nation's transportation network.

In addition to transportation security, title 13 also includes the text of S. 385, the Interoperable Emergency Communications Act, which I introduced earlier this year with Senators Stevens, Kerry, Smith, and Snowe. Under the foresight and leadership of Senator Stevens, during the Deficit Reduction Act, the Commerce Committee created a new $1 billion fund administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration--NTIA--to support state and local first responders in their efforts to talk to one another during emergencies.

The interoperable provisions in title 13 provide congressional direction on the implementation of that fund.

Since its creation, NTIA has served as the principal telecommunications policy advisor to the Secretary of Commerce and the President, and manages the Federal Government's use of the radio spectrum.

In this capacity, NTIA has historically played an important role in assisting public safety personnel in improving communications interoperability and recognizing that effective solutions involve attention to issues of spectrum and government coordination as well as funding.

Today, our first responders continue to struggle in their efforts to improve the interoperability of their systems. The statutory guidance provided to NTIA in this legislation will help them in these efforts.

First, the provision would make clear that proposals to improve interoperable communications are not solely limited to systems or equipment that utilize new public safety spectrum that will be vacated following the digital television transition.

In a letter to the majority leader earlier this year, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City noted the significant efforts of his city to improve communications interoperability for first responders utilizing systems in other public safety spectrum bands, and urged Congress to eliminate the apparent eligibility restriction in current law. As a result, our provisions make clear that if the project will improve public safety interoperability, it is eligible for funding.

In addition, the provisions provide the NTIA Administrator to direct up to $100 million of these funds for the creation of State and Federal strategic technology reserves of communications equipment that can be readily deployed in the event that terrestrial networks fail in times of disaster.

Recently, an independent panel created by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to review the impact of Hurricane Katrina on communications networks noted the impact that limited pre-positioning of communications equipment had in slowing the recovery process. As a result, these provisions will help to ensure that our focus on interoperability also considers the importance of communications redundancy and resiliency.

Second, the provisions ensure that funding allocations among the several States result in a fair distribution by requiring a base amount of funding--.75 percent--to be distributed to all States.

On top of these minimum allocations, the provision would further require that prioritization of these funds be based upon an ``all- hazards'' approach that recognizes the critical need for effective emergency communications in response to natural disasters, such as tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes, in addition to terrorist attacks.

Finally, NTIA's administration of the grant fund will not only help to integrate the disparate elements that must be a part of effective interoperability solutions, but will also ensure greater program transparency and oversight. Given the myriad of different grant programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security, it is critical that these funds--specifically allocated by Congress to speed up our efforts to improve communications interoperability for first responders--not get lost in the shuffle of other disaster and nondisaster grants.

As a result, the provisions not only devote NTIA's attention to the success of this program, but also require the inspector general of the Department of Commerce to annually review the administration of this program.

The terrorists that seek to do us harm are cunning, dynamic, and most of all, patient. While they have not successfully struck our homeland since September 11, 2001, it does not mean they are not preparing to do so.

They work 24 hours a day, studying every move we make, looking for some weakness to exploit. It is imperative that we stay ahead of them.

We must recruit, train, and deploy a skilled and dedicated security force. We must research and implement the most effective and cutting edge technologies to enhance the capabilities of that security force. And we must provide communications equipment to our first responders that is interoperable and accessible in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

Simply put, our entire economy relies on a well-functioning, secure transportation system, and we must ensure that the system, and the passengers and cargo that use it, are well protected.

The steps we take in the coming months will impact our safety, security, and one of our most essential freedoms--movement--for years to come. We must commit ourselves to ensuring that our transportation security remains a priority and is as strong and effective as possible.

The provisions before the Senate this week that were reported out of the Commerce Committee make that commitment.

We have worked over the past several years with our colleagues and with the TSA and DHS and with the FCC and NTIA to address concerns, improve on initial efforts, and plan for the future. Now, it is time to act and to pass these provisions, so we can continue to move forward.

Madam President, I thank the chairman for his kind words.

I yield the floor.

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

Madam President, I rise today to offer an amendment that incorporates Senator DeMint's amendment No. 279 regarding the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, known as TWIC.

I am pleased to advise my colleagues of this amendment. It is cosponsored by Senator Stevens, Senator Lieberman, and Senator Murray.

The amendment offered by Senator DeMint codifies in statute the list of permanent and interim disqualifying offenses for individuals applying for a TWIC that the Department of Homeland Security has already codified in final regulations this January.

While I understand Senator DeMint's desire to ensure we do not allow individuals who could pose a terrorism security risk to have access to our ports, Senator DeMint's language restricts the authority of the Secretary to identify, adopt, and modify criminal offenses that may pose a terrorist security threat.

We are all aware of the fact the war on terrorism continues to evolve with emerging threats. We need to ensure the Department has the flexibility to adjust their procedures accordingly. I, along with my fellow cosponsors, believe such a responsibility is best left to the intelligence, terrorist, and law enforcement experts at the Department of Homeland Security rather than Members of Congress. Therefore, this amendment preserves the authority of the Secretary to modify the offenses accordingly.

I ask my colleagues to support our amendment and help ensure we improve the security of our port facilities in a fair and effective manner.

Madam President, I call up my amendment.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I concur with the statement just issued, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, the amendment I introduced is not a second-degree amendment. However, it incorporates Senator DeMint's amendment.

It doesn't in any way minimize the matter of security. It just says the Secretary shall have flexibility with changing times. As we all concur, times do change.

Thirdly, in the other areas where security threats are common, such as airports, the Department of Transportation has not asked for anything like this, with no flexibility.

Fourth, if rules are to be made to differ from the present rules as set forth in the DeMint amendment and the Inouye amendment, it will have to go through the rulemaking process. I can assure my colleagues that we will not let felons be in charge of our security.

I thank the Chair.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill to reauthorize Title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self- Determination Act. Senator Akaka joins me in sponsoring this measure. Title VIII provides authority for the appropriation of funds for the construction of low-income housing for Native Hawaiians and further provides authority for access to loan guarantees associated with the construction of housing to serve Native Hawaiians.

Three studies have documented the acute housing needs of Native Hawaiians--which include the highest rates of overcrowding and homelessness in the State of Hawaii. Those same studies indicate that inadequate housing rates for Native Hawaiians are amongst the highest in the Nation.

The reauthorization of Title VIII will support the continuation of efforts to assure that the native people of Hawaii may one day have access to housing opportunities that are comparable to those now enjoyed by other Americans.

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