Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act. From the shore, our oceans seem vast and limitless, but I fear that we often overlook the impacts our actions have on the sea and its resources. The Act that I am introducing today with my friends and colleagues, Senators Ted Stevens, Fritz Hollings, and Maria Cantwell focuses on one particular impact that goes unnoticed by many: marine debris.

In a high-tech era of radiation, carcinogenic chemicals, and human- induced climate change, the problem of the trash produced by ocean- going vessels and dumped at sea must seem old-fashioned by comparison. Sea garbage would seem to be a simple issue that surely cannot rise to the priority level of the stresses our 21st century civilization places on the natural environment.

Regrettably, that perception is wrong. While marine debris includes conventional ``trash,'' it also includes a vast array of additional materials. It is discarded fishing nets and gear. It is cargo washed overboard. It is abandoned equipment from our commercial fleets. Nor does the ``low-tech'' nature of solid refuse diminish its deadly impact on the creatures of the sea. Dead is dead--whether an animal dies from an immune system weakened by toxic chemicals, or drowns entangled in a discarded fishing net.

Global warming, disease, and toxic contamination of our seas has already stressed these fragile ecosystems. These threats have been described in the draft report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, which also dedicated an entire chapter to the threats posed by marine debris. The bill we introduce today adopts the measures recommended by the Commission to help remove man-made marine debris from the list of ocean threats. It also follows the recommendations of the International Marine Debris Conference held in my home State of Hawaii in 2000.

The bill establishes a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, directs the U.S. Coast Guard to improve enforcement of laws designed to prevent ship-based pollution from plastics and other garbage, re- invigorates an interagency committee on marine debris, and improves our research and information on marine debris sources, threats, and prevention.

In Hawaii, we are able to see the impacts of marine debris more clearly than most because of the convergence caused by the North Pacific Tropical High. Atmospheric forces cause ocean surface currents to converge on Hawaii, bringing with them the vast amount of debris floating throughout the Pacific. In 2003 alone, 122 tons of debris were removed from coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which is also home to many endangered marine species.

I am pleased that the coordinated approach taken to address the threats posed by marine debris in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands has provided a model for the Nation. NOAA's Pacific Islands Region Fisheries Science Center is leading this interagency partnership, which also includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii's business and university communities, and conservation groups. Not only have we removed debris that poses harm to endangered species, but with the help of donated services, we have recycled the abandoned nets into energy to power residential homes.

We have learned that our best path to success lies in partnering with one another to share resources, and it is my hope that others may adapt our project to their own shores through the partnership and funding opportunities set forth in this bill. This is why the bill establishes an Interagency Committee on Marine Debris to coordinate marine debris prevention and removal efforts among federal agencies, state governments, universities, and non-governmental organizations.

We must also bear in mind that no matter how zealously we reform our practices, the ultimate solution lies in international cooperation. The oceans connect the coastal nations of the world, and we must work together to reduce this increasing threat to our seas and shores. The Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act will provide the United States with the tools to develop effective marine debris prevention and removal programs on a worldwide basis, including reporting and information requirements that will assist in the creation of an international marine debris database.

I hope you will join me in supporting enactment of the Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act. This bill will provide the United States with the programs and resources necessary to protect our most valuable resources, our oceans. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Coastal and Ocean Mapping Integration Act of 2004. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Gregg and Hollings, who are original cosponsors of the bill. The jurisdiction of the United States extends 200 miles beyond its coastline and includes the U.S. Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone, or ``EEZ.'' Regrettably, nearly 90 percent of this expanse remains unmapped by modern technologies, meaning that we have almost no information about a swath of ocean as large as the terra firma of the entire United States.

There was a time in the history of our Nation when our best efforts to map the seas meant lowering weights tied to piano wire over the side of a vessel, and measuring how deep they went. These efforts led to the development of rudimentary nautical charts designed to help mariners navigate safely. The rapidly increasing uses of our coastal and ocean waters, however, call for development of a new generation of ecosystem- oriented mapping and assessment products and services.

The technologies of today create richly layered mapping products that expand far beyond just charting for safe navigation. Now, by combining such information as mineral surveys of the U.S. Geological Service, habitat characterizations of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and watershed assessments of the Environmental Protection Agency into a single product, map users are able to consider the impacts of their actions on multiple facets of the marine environment.

The recent draft report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy has highlighted the urgent need to modernize, improve, expand, and integrate Federal mapping efforts to improve navigation, safety and resource management decisionmaking. By employing integrated mapping approaches, urban and residential growth can be directed away from areas of high risk from ocean-based threats such as tsunami and tidal surge. The risks of maritime activities can be minimized by identifying hazards that could impact on sensitive ecosystems, and devising appropriate mitigation plans. Living marine resource managers can also gauge where and how best to focus their efforts to restore essential marine habitats.

The bill I am introducing today will lay the foundation for producing the ocean maps of the 21st century. It mandates coordination among the many Federal agencies with mapping missions with NOAA as the lead in developing national mapping priorities and strategies. The bill would also establish national hydrographic centers to manage comprehensively the mapping data produced by the Federal Government, encourage innovation in technologies, and authorize the funding necessary to implement this comprehensive effort.

Perhaps the most important lesson that comprehensive, integrated mapping can afford is an awareness of a web of human marine communities as rich and varied as the ocean itself. From awareness grows understanding, respect, and cooperation. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this measure that will, in turn,

support the development of healthy coastal communities across the nation.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Ballast Water Management Act of 2004. I am joined by my friend and colleague, Senator Ted Stevens. For some time, we have recognized the impacts of land-based invasive species. In Hawaii, the impacts of such alien species on native species have been among the most significant in the country.

While not as visible, invasive species pose an equally great threat. One of the major ways that aquatic invasives make their way around the globe is through the ballast water used by vessels.

Modern maritime commerce depends on ships stabilized by the uptake and discharge of huge volumes of ocean water for ballast. Regrettably, ships do not transport such water alone--but also the plants and animals, as well as human diseases such as cholera, that it contains. An estimated 10,000 aquatic organisms travel around the globe each day in the ballast water of cargo vessels. Over 2 billion gallons of ballast water are discharged into waters of the United States each year.

From the zebra mussel fouling the facilities and shores of the Great Lakes, to the noxious algae that choke the coral reefs of Hawaii, aquatic invasive species pose a serious threat to delicate marine ecosystems and human health. The economic costs are also staggering-- the direct and indirect costs of aquatic invasive species to the economy of the United States amount to billions of dollars each year.

We must find an effective solution to this problem, while at the same time ensuring that our maritime industry can continue to operate in a cost-effective manner. We will need to rely on the steady collaborative efforts of industry, science, government, and coastal communities as we move forward.

The bill I introduce today lays the foundation for such progress. It establishes standards for ballast water treatment that will be effective but on a schedule that our maritime fleet can realistically achieve. It recognizes safety as a paramount concern, and allows flexibility in ballast exchange practices to safeguard vessels and their passengers and crew. Looking to the future, my bill will also encourage the development and adoption of new ballast water treatment technologies, as well as innovative technologies to address other vessel sources of invasives such as hull fouling, through a grant program.

The bill closely tracks and is consistent with an agreement recently negotiated in the International Maritime Organization. It would phase- in ballast water treatment requirements on the same schedule as that adopted by the IMO agreement, and require ballast water exchange to be used until treatment systems are in place. Importantly, the international agreement includes a provision assuring that parties can adopt more stringent measures than those included in the agreement. This provision was sought by the United States and is important to assure the sovereignty of nations in addressing their needs while striving for international cooperation. In light of this provision, the bill includes a standard for treatment that is more effective than that adopted by the international community to ensure that the impacts in the United States are adequately prevented.

I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act. From the shore, our oceans seem vast and limitless, but I fear that we often overlook the impacts our actions have on the sea and its resources. The Act that I am introducing today with my friends and colleagues, Senators Ted Stevens, Fritz Hollings, and Maria Cantwell focuses on one particular impact that goes unnoticed by many: marine debris.

In a high-tech era of radiation, carcinogenic chemicals, and human- induced climate change, the problem of the trash produced by ocean- going vessels and dumped at sea must seem old-fashioned by comparison. Sea garbage would seem to be a simple issue that surely cannot rise to the priority level of the stresses our 21st century civilization places on the natural environment.

Regrettably, that perception is wrong. While marine debris includes conventional ``trash,'' it also includes a vast array of additional materials. It is discarded fishing nets and gear. It is cargo washed overboard. It is abandoned equipment from our commercial fleets. Nor does the ``low-tech'' nature of solid refuse diminish its deadly impact on the creatures of the sea. Dead is dead--whether an animal dies from an immune system weakened by toxic chemicals, or drowns entangled in a discarded fishing net.

Global warming, disease, and toxic contamination of our seas has already stressed these fragile ecosystems. These threats have been described in the draft report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, which also dedicated an entire chapter to the threats posed by marine debris. The bill we introduce today adopts the measures recommended by the Commission to help remove man-made marine debris from the list of ocean threats. It also follows the recommendations of the International Marine Debris Conference held in my home State of Hawaii in 2000.

The bill establishes a Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, directs the U.S. Coast Guard to improve enforcement of laws designed to prevent ship-based pollution from plastics and other garbage, re- invigorates an interagency committee on marine debris, and improves our research and information on marine debris sources, threats, and prevention.

In Hawaii, we are able to see the impacts of marine debris more clearly than most because of the convergence caused by the North Pacific Tropical High. Atmospheric forces cause ocean surface currents to converge on Hawaii, bringing with them the vast amount of debris floating throughout the Pacific. In 2003 alone, 122 tons of debris were removed from coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which is also home to many endangered marine species.

I am pleased that the coordinated approach taken to address the threats posed by marine debris in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands has provided a model for the Nation. NOAA's Pacific Islands Region Fisheries Science Center is leading this interagency partnership, which also includes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii's business and university communities, and conservation groups. Not only have we removed debris that poses harm to endangered species, but with the help of donated services, we have recycled the abandoned nets into energy to power residential homes.

We have learned that our best path to success lies in partnering with one another to share resources, and it is my hope that others may adapt our project to their own shores through the partnership and funding opportunities set forth in this bill. This is why the bill establishes an Interagency Committee on Marine Debris to coordinate marine debris prevention and removal efforts among federal agencies, state governments, universities, and non-governmental organizations.

We must also bear in mind that no matter how zealously we reform our practices, the ultimate solution lies in international cooperation. The oceans connect the coastal nations of the world, and we must work together to reduce this increasing threat to our seas and shores. The Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act will provide the United States with the tools to develop effective marine debris prevention and removal programs on a worldwide basis, including reporting and information requirements that will assist in the creation of an international marine debris database.

I hope you will join me in supporting enactment of the Marine Debris Research and Reduction Act. This bill will provide the United States with the programs and resources necessary to protect our most valuable resources, our oceans. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Coastal and Ocean Mapping Integration Act of 2004. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Gregg and Hollings, who are original cosponsors of the bill. The jurisdiction of the United States extends 200 miles beyond its coastline and includes the U.S. Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone, or ``EEZ.'' Regrettably, nearly 90 percent of this expanse remains unmapped by modern technologies, meaning that we have almost no information about a swath of ocean as large as the terra firma of the entire United States.

There was a time in the history of our Nation when our best efforts to map the seas meant lowering weights tied to piano wire over the side of a vessel, and measuring how deep they went. These efforts led to the development of rudimentary nautical charts designed to help mariners navigate safely. The rapidly increasing uses of our coastal and ocean waters, however, call for development of a new generation of ecosystem- oriented mapping and assessment products and services.

The technologies of today create richly layered mapping products that expand far beyond just charting for safe navigation. Now, by combining such information as mineral surveys of the U.S. Geological Service, habitat characterizations of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and watershed assessments of the Environmental Protection Agency into a single product, map users are able to consider the impacts of their actions on multiple facets of the marine environment.

The recent draft report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy has highlighted the urgent need to modernize, improve, expand, and integrate Federal mapping efforts to improve navigation, safety and resource management decisionmaking. By employing integrated mapping approaches, urban and residential growth can be directed away from areas of high risk from ocean-based threats such as tsunami and tidal surge. The risks of maritime activities can be minimized by identifying hazards that could impact on sensitive ecosystems, and devising appropriate mitigation plans. Living marine resource managers can also gauge where and how best to focus their efforts to restore essential marine habitats.

The bill I am introducing today will lay the foundation for producing the ocean maps of the 21st century. It mandates coordination among the many Federal agencies with mapping missions with NOAA as the lead in developing national mapping priorities and strategies. The bill would also establish national hydrographic centers to manage comprehensively the mapping data produced by the Federal Government, encourage innovation in technologies, and authorize the funding necessary to implement this comprehensive effort.

Perhaps the most important lesson that comprehensive, integrated mapping can afford is an awareness of a web of human marine communities as rich and varied as the ocean itself. From awareness grows understanding, respect, and cooperation. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this measure that will, in turn,

support the development of healthy coastal communities across the nation.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Ballast Water Management Act of 2004. I am joined by my friend and colleague, Senator Ted Stevens. For some time, we have recognized the impacts of land-based invasive species. In Hawaii, the impacts of such alien species on native species have been among the most significant in the country.

While not as visible, invasive species pose an equally great threat. One of the major ways that aquatic invasives make their way around the globe is through the ballast water used by vessels.

Modern maritime commerce depends on ships stabilized by the uptake and discharge of huge volumes of ocean water for ballast. Regrettably, ships do not transport such water alone--but also the plants and animals, as well as human diseases such as cholera, that it contains. An estimated 10,000 aquatic organisms travel around the globe each day in the ballast water of cargo vessels. Over 2 billion gallons of ballast water are discharged into waters of the United States each year.

From the zebra mussel fouling the facilities and shores of the Great Lakes, to the noxious algae that choke the coral reefs of Hawaii, aquatic invasive species pose a serious threat to delicate marine ecosystems and human health. The economic costs are also staggering-- the direct and indirect costs of aquatic invasive species to the economy of the United States amount to billions of dollars each year.

We must find an effective solution to this problem, while at the same time ensuring that our maritime industry can continue to operate in a cost-effective manner. We will need to rely on the steady collaborative efforts of industry, science, government, and coastal communities as we move forward.

The bill I introduce today lays the foundation for such progress. It establishes standards for ballast water treatment that will be effective but on a schedule that our maritime fleet can realistically achieve. It recognizes safety as a paramount concern, and allows flexibility in ballast exchange practices to safeguard vessels and their passengers and crew. Looking to the future, my bill will also encourage the development and adoption of new ballast water treatment technologies, as well as innovative technologies to address other vessel sources of invasives such as hull fouling, through a grant program.

The bill closely tracks and is consistent with an agreement recently negotiated in the International Maritime Organization. It would phase- in ballast water treatment requirements on the same schedule as that adopted by the IMO agreement, and require ballast water exchange to be used until treatment systems are in place. Importantly, the international agreement includes a provision assuring that parties can adopt more stringent measures than those included in the agreement. This provision was sought by the United States and is important to assure the sovereignty of nations in addressing their needs while striving for international cooperation. In light of this provision, the bill includes a standard for treatment that is more effective than that adopted by the international community to ensure that the impacts in the United States are adequately prevented.

I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Native American Programs Act.

This act is administered by the Administration for Native Americans within the Department of Health and Human Services. Funds appropriated for the Administration for Native Americans enable the provision of grants for social and economic development initiatives addressing the needs of Native communities, for Native language preservation, and to provide support for environmental initiatives.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Native American Programs Act.

This act is administered by the Administration for Native Americans within the Department of Health and Human Services. Funds appropriated for the Administration for Native Americans enable the provision of grants for social and economic development initiatives addressing the needs of Native communities, for Native language preservation, and to provide support for environmental initiatives.

Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution with my colleagues, Senators Harkin and Warner, commending the United States Institute of Peace on the occasion of its 20th anniversary and recognizing the Institute for its contribution to our Nation's capacity to manage international conflict by peaceful means. Since its founding by Congress, the Institute has been a pioneer in promoting the study and application of non-military approaches to the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict.

The Congress established the Institute as an independent, nonpartisan Federal institution dedicated to strengthening our national capabilities for conflict management and resolution. The resolution we are submitting today recognizes the importance of the Institute as a national and international resource for peaceful conflict management. It stresses that Congress looks forward to continuing to gain from the Institute's knowledge, teaching, and practical applications of conflict management as a way to promote the security interests of the United States and peace around the world. The resolution also expresses appreciation to the founding men and women of the Institute and support for the Institute from the American people. Finally, the resolution congratulates the Institute on its 20th anniversary and on its achievements in fulfilling its mandate from Congress.

Many in the Senate recall the personal dedication and efforts of our predecessors, led by Senators Spark Matsunaga and William Jennings Randolph who played essential roles in establishing the Institute. While Senator Matsunaga's bravery on the battlefield led to our country's awarding him a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts, he was also a man who knew the importance of peace. In 1979 he set in motion many of the critical events that eventually led Congress to create the U.S. Institute of Peace. Senator Matsunaga's unyielding commitment to peace began long before he arrived in this chamber. In 1938, as a student at the University of Hawaii, he wrote an essay that included the sentence: ``If we want peace we must educate people to want peace.''

The founders of the Institute and the countless Americans who supported elevating the importance of peace education in our national dialogue would be proud of the way the Institute has grown and adapted to the ever-changing world. Today, the Institute is a national resource for education, professional training, and applied programs in peaceful conflict management and the practical application of conflict management strategies as a way to promote United States security and peace in the world.

Some of the vital work currently being undertaken by the Institute of Peace includes helping countries break out of cycles of violence and peacefully resolve their conflicts. At the same time, the Institute is educating new generations of Americans about novel approaches to conflict management, and enhancing curricular materials related to the changing character of international conflict and nonviolent approaches to resolving international disputes. Over the past twenty years, the Institute has used its knowledge and expertise to train American and foreign government officials, military and law enforcement personnel, humanitarian aid workers, and civic activists in the skills of professional peacemaking. It has awarded numerous grants and fellowships to individuals, universities, and non-governmental organizations of many nations to deepen the field of conflict resolution education and ensure its application to conflict situations abroad.

In its twenty year history, the Institute has played key roles in facilitating the management of critical conflict situations, such as assisting then President Nelson Mandela in the development of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and developing a detailed plan to handle accountability in the wake of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which became the basis for Rwandan Genocide Law. More recently, the Institute has taken an active role in facilitating peace processes in Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. The Institute is using its expertise in Iraq in specialized areas where conflict resolution programs play a key role in stabilizing peace and nation building, such as training new ministries about conflict resolution techniques, working with the emerging judicial system to develop a reconciliation tribunal for former war criminals and human rights violators, facilitating inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogue, and working with Iraqi universities to promote peace and conflict education. The Institute is also anticipating new opportunities for peace and conflict resolution activities on the Korean peninsula and in Sudan. In the years to come, Congress will be looking to the Institute to focus its skills and resources on peacemaking in the greater Middle East and throughout the Muslim world.

The Institute is a unique national treasure. We hope that our fellow Senators will join us in cosponsoring this resolution and stressing the United States commitment to peace.

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill that is long overdue and much needed in Indian country.

On May 22nd of last year, the Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on the status of telecommunications across Native America. Testimony received at that hearing and reports of Federal agencies that were made part of the hearing record indicate that there is most definitely a vast difference in access to the most basic telecommunications services.

For instance, telephone service to Indian homes is from 30 to 60 percent less than the national average, and only 10 percent of Indian homes have Internet service.

The bill that I introduce today is modeled after the community development block grant program and provides authorization for the establishment of two block grant programs in the Department of Commerce. The first block grant would enable tribal governments to develop the necessary infrastructure

to support expanded telecommunications capabilities, to develop comprehensive plans for enhancing telecommunications services in Indian communities, and to provide support for telemedicine.

The second block grant program would support the provision of training and technical assistance in the very complex field of telecommunications.

The objectives of this bill can be rather simply stated. For too long, when it comes to access to even the most basic telecommunications services--telephone and Internet access--we have relegated Indian country to third world status. We must bridge this gap--it is that fundamental.

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

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill that is long overdue and much needed in Indian country.

On May 22nd of last year, the Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on the status of telecommunications across Native America. Testimony received at that hearing and reports of Federal agencies that were made part of the hearing record indicate that there is most definitely a vast difference in access to the most basic telecommunications services.

For instance, telephone service to Indian homes is from 30 to 60 percent less than the national average, and only 10 percent of Indian homes have Internet service.

The bill that I introduce today is modeled after the community development block grant program and provides authorization for the establishment of two block grant programs in the Department of Commerce. The first block grant would enable tribal governments to develop the necessary infrastructure

to support expanded telecommunications capabilities, to develop comprehensive plans for enhancing telecommunications services in Indian communities, and to provide support for telemedicine.

The second block grant program would support the provision of training and technical assistance in the very complex field of telecommunications.

The objectives of this bill can be rather simply stated. For too long, when it comes to access to even the most basic telecommunications services--telephone and Internet access--we have relegated Indian country to third world status. We must bridge this gap--it is that fundamental.

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

Mr. President, I rise to introduce a discussion draft bill that has been developed by Indian tribal governments to provide for the improvement of the management of Indian fish and wildlife resources and to reaffirm that tribal governments are the principal managers of natural resources on tribal lands.

The introduction of this discussion draft bill is intended to advance the process of consultation with Indian tribal governments, as well as tribal and Alaska Native organizations.

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

Mr. President, I would like to recognize a great American and a true military hero who has honorably served our country for 32 years in the Army and Army Nurse Corps: Colonel Deborah A. Gustke. Colonel Gustke has a true passion for nursing and served in a variety of clinical nursing and leadership positions at various Army medical facilities including Fort Benning, GA, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, and Fort Hood, TX. Her tremendous leadership skills led to her selection as a nurse recruiter and subsequent selection for long-term civilian schooling to obtain an advanced degree as an oncology clinical nurse specialist. Colonel Gustke served with distinction in a series of senior leadership positions as chief nurse at Fort Knox, KY, Fort Rucker, AL, and at Fort Bliss, TX, and as the Army Nurse Corps personnel proponent staff officer. In every circumstance, Colonel Gustke was recognized for her clinical excellence and stellar leadership.

In 2000, Colonel Gustke was appointed the Assistant Chief of the Army Nurse Corps. As assistant chief, Colonel Gustke developed and implemented policies and procedures that affected nearly 35,000 nursing personnel throughout the Army. Collaborating with senior Army and Department of Defense organizations, she worked to successfully obtain direct hire authority, thereby dramatically reducing the hiring time for civilian nurses. She spearheaded several recruitment and retention initiatives, including the $18 million Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, the critical skills retention bonus, and increased capacity for the Army Enlisted Commissioning Program. Her efforts decreased the impact of the national nursing shortage on the Army. In addition, she implemented the recognition of the advanced practice nurse role for the Army Medical Department. As chair of the Federal Nursing Service Council, she sponsored the development of a Federal nursing research model that focused on improving soldier readiness and patient-care outcomes.

Colonel Gustke's accomplishments are eloquent testimony to her talent, dedication, loyalty, and determination in ensuring that the best possible nursing care is always available to our soldiers, their family members and our deserving retirees. Colonel Gustke has established a legacy of superior performance to be emulated by all, which reflects greatly on herself, the United States Army, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation on behalf of a grateful Nation for her dedicated service. Congratulations to Colonel Gustke. I wish her Godspeed.

Mr. President, one of the primary issues today is jobs, and one insight into the problem was outlined by my friend, Senator Fritz Hollings, in an article that appeared in the Washington Post's Outlook section on Sunday, March 21, 2004. The article was headlined ``Protectionism Happens To Be Congress's Job.'' I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I wish to recognize a great American and true military heroine who has honorably served our country for over 31 years in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps: COL Joellen de Berg. Colonel de Berg began her military career as a reservist with assignments in Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. After serving as flight nurse, instructor, and evaluator in C-123 and C-130 aircraft, she entered active duty in July, 1978, at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, MD. She quickly rose through the ranks and served throughout the world, including in the Philippines, Ohio, California, Oklahoma, Maryland, Illinois, Texas, Washington, District of Columbia, and Japan.

In each assignment, Colonel de Berg excelled and was rewarded with greater responsibilities. In 1983, her performances led to a below-the- zone promotion to the rank of major 3 years ahead of her peers. After serving as manager of emergency services at Wright-Patterson AFB, she transitioned from the clinical arena to medical readiness inspector, Air Force Inspector General, Norton AFB, CA. Once again, her exemplary performance led to a second below-the-zone promotion to lieutenant colonel. After serving as the associate director of nursing at Malcolm Grow Medical Center, she went on to serve as congressional fellow, U.S. Senate, Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Her service in this capacity lead to her appointment as chief of strategic plans, U.S. Air Force Surgeon General's Office, Bolling AFB, Washington, DC.

With her path to executive leadership clearly set, Colonel de Berg served as chief nurse at Tinker AFB and Andrews AFB. At Andrews, she assumed command of the Eighty-ninth Medical Operations Squadron. Her remarkable leadership earned her selection as group commander, Thirty- fifth Medical Group, Misawa, Japan. Colonel de Berg then assumed responsibilities as command nurse and chief, Primary Care Optimization, Office of the Command Surgeon, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL.

Colonel de Berg's last assignment was in the State she considers home. She returned to Texas, as chief, Nurse Utilization and Education Branch, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB. In this position, she was responsible for managing assignments, career progression, and sponsored educational opportunities for 4,000 Air Force nurses.

Colonel de Berg is a meritorious leader, administrator, clinician, educator, and mentor. Throughout her career she has served with valor and profoundly

impacted the entire Air Force Medical Service. Her performance reflects exceptionally on herself, the United States Air Force, the Department of Defense, and the United States of America. I extend my deepest appreciation to COL Joellen de Berg on behalf of a grateful Nation for more than 31 years of dedicated military service.

Madam President, I rise to encourage my colleagues to support S. 1916, the Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act. The purpose of this legislation is to correct a long standing inequity in survivor benefits paid to the widows and widowers of our military retirees and what is afforded survivors of other Federal retirees. This legislation would balance cost and equity considerations by phasing in an increased benefit for military surviving spouses, over a 10-year period, from 35 percent to 55 percent of retired pay after age 62.

The military Survivor Benefits Plan simply does not stack up with the Federal civilian Survivor Benefit Plan either in benefits to survivors or in intended Government cost sharing to help reduce premium costs. When you compare survivor benefits you find that the military Survivor Benefit Plan provides for 55 percent of retired pay until the widow is 62, then drops payments to 35 percent of retired pay. This dramatic drop can translate to as much as one third of the previous payment.

Survivors of Federal civilian retirees under the earlier Civilian Service Retirement System receive 55 percent of retired pay--with no drop in benefits at age 62. Under the newer Federal Employee Retirement System, survivors receive 50 percent of retired pay, again with no drop at age 62. When the military Survivor Benefit Plan was enacted, the Congress intended a 40-percent Government subsidy for cost of military Survivor Benefit Plan premiums. Over time, because of conservative actuarial cost assumptions, the Government's cost share has declined to 19 percent. This means that military retirees are now paying 81 percent of program costs from their retired pay versus the intended 60 percent. This contrasts with a Government Service Retirement System and 33 percent for the current Federal Employee Retirement System.

In closing, I submit that these inequities are unfair to the deserving survivors of military retirees and should be corrected by supporting this important measure.

Madam President, I shall long remember this day. I just hope my constituents will not consider me too old to be running for reelection. I thank my brother from Alaska and my leader from South Dakota. Those words will be cherished.