Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate Pat Bruce for being presented with the Bureau of Land Management's, BLM, ``Making a Difference'' National Volunteer Award. Mr. Bruce, a volunteer with the BLM Winnemucca District Black Rock Field Office, has been awarded for his outstanding volunteer service and leadership to preserve and maintain the Silver State's wilderness areas. I am proud to honor a Nevadan who is dedicated to giving back to our community to create a better and brighter tomorrow.

As the field project coordinator for the Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Mr. Bruce has dedicated 6 years to organizing volunteer projects within wilderness areas in the Black Rock Desert, which span over 1 million acres of BLM lands. Hiking in remote areas, Mr. Bruce maps routes and boundaries to create an assessment of current ground conditions. He is also a volunteer supervisor for nonwilderness projects which include the restoration and protection of BLM's Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area.

The Silver State is home to vast wildlands and wildlife, which are vital to the character of our State. As a life long Nevadan and an avid outdoorsman, I was raised to respect and appreciate our State's natural surroundings and abundant wildlife. I first enjoyed these great Nevada treasures with my father and have since passed that same respect and appreciation along to my children.

I understand the importance of good stewardship and appreciate Mr. Bruce's dedication to protecting and maintaining Nevada's lands. I am proud to represent him in the Senate and applaud

him for his efforts to provide future generations of Nevadans the same recreational opportunities we enjoy. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Bruce for his commitment to Nevada.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize an organization from my home State of Nevada whose continued dedication to our Nation's active military, veterans, and their families is inspiring. As the Shine Family Foundation celebrates their first anniversary of becoming a recognized nonprofit organization, I thank them for their commitment to assisting our country's military community during times of hardship. We rely on organizations like the Shine Family Foundation to ease the stress that military families face when a family member is deployed. I applaud the Shine Family Foundation for their commitment to our heroes who sacrifice so much to keep America safe.

The Shine Family Foundation was founded to address the needs of military personnel and their families when they are separated due to prolonged and often multiple deployments. As their loved ones are far away from home sacrificing their own well-being for the safety of our Nation, military families often struggle with hardships while they are apart. Having a brother who served overseas, I understand the sacrifices that military families make when a loved one is deployed.

The Shine Family Foundation is committed to ensuring soldiers deployed across the globe are able to connect with their families back home. Last year, the Shine Family Foundation's gifting program helped provide school supplies, Christmas gifts, food, gift cards, and phone cards to more than 100 military families. Recognizing the changing dynamics of our military force, the foundation also provides assistance to veterans returning from Active Duty to help welcome them home. They also offer a mentoring program for young children whose parents or siblings are serving in war zones.

I commend the Shine Family Foundation's commitment to honor and give back to our military communities. We must always remember the brave men and women in uniform and their families who make grave sacrifices to protect our freedom. As their organization grows, I know they will maintain a commitment to touching the lives of our troops and their families. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this honorable organization for all they do for our Nation's heroes.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of equal pay for equal work. The importance of women in the workplace is clear to every American. We all have women in families who have been a proud part of the workforce. For two decades my mother worked hard in a school cafeteria. My wife, a substitute teacher, has long been part of Nevada's workforce. My oldest daughter, in this economy, was fortunate enough to get a job after graduating from college just a few years ago. My youngest daughter, 16, recently got a summer job at a local food lot. Sixty percent of my Senate staff is female.

America is a land of opportunity, and Americans are equally united against discrimination in any form. If my mother, my wife, or my daughters experienced workplace discrimination based on their gender, I would be the first to come to their defense and ensure any inequities were addressed.

Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 to ensure every individual received equal pay for equal work regardless of gender. It is a strict liability statute that requires evidence of intent to discriminate. If there is evidence of intentional discrimination, appropriate remedies, including punitive and compensatory damages are available under the Civil Rights Act.

Let me be clear: Pay discrimination based upon gender is unacceptable. Despite the political rhetoric around here, everyone agrees on this fact.

The question is, Will the Paycheck Fairness Act actually address workplace inequality? The simple answer is no. Unfortunately, the only winners under this legislation would be trial lawyers, giving them a windfall, exposing employers to unlimited punitive damages.

This legislation opens the door to frivolous lawsuits which already cost our economy billions of dollars every year. Legitimate cases that could be addressed under the current system would be lost in a flood of lawsuits initiated by lawyers hoping to win a few large judgments.

These lawsuits, if successful, could transfer billions of dollars from employers to trial lawyers. In an economy already marked by uncertainty, this legislation would surely mean lost jobs, limitations on benefits, and pay cuts. These changes would mean much harder times ahead for Nevada's unemployed and underemployed, so many of whom are women.

Instead of a trial lawyer bailout, let's address the issue of equal pay. Instead of holding votes designed for press releases, let's actually work to solve our Nation's problems. Congress can strengthen the Equal Pay Act without handing trial lawyers a blank check.

The Wall Street Journal today referred to this legislation as ``a trial lawyer doozy just in time for the 2012 election ads.'' It goes on to say the bill ought to be called the ``Trial Lawyer Paycheck Act,'' since it is a recipe for a class action boom. The law automatically lists women as plaintiffs in class actions when lawyers sue employers, thereby requiring female employees to opt out of litigation with which they do not agree.

Businesses would be treated as guilty until they are shown to be innocent. You cannot be projobs and antibusiness. This is just another example of the Democrats' war on free enterprise while Americans suffer with joblessness and underemployment.

In fact, under this President there are 766,000 more women unemployed today than when he took office. I truly wish today's discussion was about leveling the playing field, truly ensuring pay equality and improving the economy. But years-old legislation mired in politics will not get us any closer to either ending gender discrimination in the workplace or ensuring that all women who want a job have a job.

This proposal could not pass when Democrats controlled both Chambers of Congress. Yet here we are today voting on the same measure again and again. Those who are actually victims of workplace discrimination are only getting lipservice from Washington. Like many of my colleagues, I worry about this proposal that will only increase litigation and do little to actually address the problems of pay inequality.

Advancements in pay parity have been made, but more needs to be done. Congress would better serve the hard-working women of our Nation if we focused on solutions that have actually worked. To this end, I have introduced the End Pay Discrimination Through Information Act. This legislation would protect employees who are trying to determine whether they are experiencing pay discrimination.

No one in this body should be so naive to say that pay discrimination has been eradicated. What we need to do is ensure that employees can find the information they need to determine whether they have a legitimate claim against their employer. The End Pay Discrimination Through Information Act provides antiretaliation and whistleblower protections which both sides should be able to agree upon. My legislation is a solution within the existing framework of our legal system that does not provide a handout to trial lawyers as the underlying bill would do. My bill also recognizes the role of women in America's workforce and the fact that an increasing number of U.S. households depend upon the income of working women.

My legislation states that ``equal pay for equal work is a principle and practice that should be observed by all employers.'' Every day working women are going above and beyond, balancing their responsibilities at home and at work to provide for their families. The least we can do is ensure that employers who intentionally discriminate on the basis of sex should be held accountable for their wrongdoing.

I believe my bill is a reasonable bipartisan step in the right direction. Instead of bringing up legislation that has failed in the past and will in the future, this Congress needs to give our Nation the economic certainty needed to create good-paying jobs so hard-working women across this country will be able to provide for their families and achieve the career successes they deserve.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to the men and women of our Nation who have given their lives for the cause of freedom and to honor those who are still with us today. On this Memorial Day weekend, let us stand together as Americans to pay our respects and mourn the loss of those brave soldiers who fought in defense of our liberty. As we gather across the Nation, we need to remember the invaluable sacrifices of our troops and their families are debts that can never fully be repaid.

Every soldier whose life is taken in the line of duty is a great loss to our Nation. Lives have been sadly shortened, and we all feel an absence. We may never be able to measure the loss, but we can take solace in knowing that their lives served to inspire, defend freedom, and preserve life. Today, we commemorate the brave men and women in uniform who gave their lives while serving our country.

We must also remember the members of our Armed Forces who are currently in harm's way. In this trying time in America's history, our soldiers have accepted the call of duty, knowing that the road ahead is dangerous and full of hardship. Their courage and resiliency are what make our military the best in the world. Our servicemembers face perilous situations in order to protect Americans from harm, and I am so grateful for all they do. Their commitment of service and self- sacrifice is what we admire, appreciate, and respect. As we continue withdrawing some of our combat forces, we pray for their safe return.

As someone whose father is a disabled veteran and whose brother served overseas, I understand firsthand the struggles of our servicemembers and the significant sacrifices made by their families. The families of our military men and women also make tremendous sacrifices for our country and for the safety of our Nation. Each and every deployment causes great stress and a burden of separation that every member of these families experience. They have loved ones far away from home and are sacrificing their own well-being for the protection of our country. We must remember that these families serve as the backbone for the men and women who wear the uniform of our armed services, and our Nation owes them a debt of great gratitude.

Today, we honor those who have given their life in service to their country. We will never forget our soldiers

who fought for a better America and served our country with honor. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring our Nation's heroes who have given the ultimate sacrifice to make sure that our country remains safe and free.

Mr. President, I am so proud to rise today to honor a Nevadan whom I have known for my entire life and who has my utmost admiration and respect. It is with great pleasure to recognize my brother, Bryan Heller, as he retires from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service to his State and country. On June 1, 2012, he will enter the next chapter of his life, and I am thrilled to see what he will accomplish next. On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Bryan for his many years of faithful, selfless service and extend heartfelt congratulations on the occasion of his retirement.

Bryan began his naval career while studying civil engineering at Brigham Young University. In 1992, he entered the Navy in the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program and was later commissioned at Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. Bryan successfully completed the rigorous nuclear pipeline and submarine school and subsequently reported to the USS Georgia, where he earned his gold dolphins and qualified as nuclear engineer officer.

Over the course of his career, Bryan and his family moved across the country to respond to his next call of duty. Returning to his civil engineering roots, he transferred to the Civil Engineering Corps, CEC, where he experienced his first CEC tour aboard the NAS Oceana and became registered as a professional engineer. He also earned his master of science in civil engineering from the University of Texas. In 2007, Bryan reported to Commander, U.S. Naval forces Central Command, where he headed the Navy's construction program in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Currently serving as the desert operation officer, Bryan leads the Desert Integrated Product Team, which supports Navy bases outside of San Diego and Ventura County. Bryan continues to be an incredible asset to the naval community, and I know it will be difficult to replace him. Throughout his career, Bryan has been extensively decorated, exemplifying his strong work ethic and commitment to serve. He has been awarded three Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.

Today, it is also my distinct honor to recognize and express my gratitude to Bryan's family--his wife, Kristi, and children, Natascha, Heidi, Josef, and Jakob. Their strength during times when their family was apart embodies the resilience that makes our military communities strong. I constantly find myself in awe of the sacrifices and efforts that have been made by our military families. Each and every deployment causes great stress and a burden of separation that every member of these families experience. We must remember that these families serve as the backbone for the men and women who wear the uniform of our armed services, and they deserve our support. The invaluable sacrifices of our servicemembers and their families are debts that can never fully be repaid.

I am proud to honor my brother today and recognize his accomplished career in the U.S. Navy. On the eve of this Memorial Day holiday weekend, we must recognize all our brave servicemembers and their commitment to our country. It is with great appreciation that I ask my colleagues to stand with me in honoring Bryan's service to our Nation as he moves onto the next phase of his life.

Madam President, last September I had the honor of coming to the floor to give my maiden speech to my fellow Nevadans and to the American people. In that speech, I quoted a great Nevadan, Mark Twain, who wrote: ``You are a coward when you even seem to have backed down from a thing you openly set out to do.'' I have always said that I ran for office to make a difference, and since my first day here I have set out to provide solutions to fix our current housing problems.

Nevada is the epicenter of our Nation's housing crash. Home prices continue to decline in Nevada. In February of 2006 the average home value was $309,000. Today that has dropped to $120,000. Let me give my colleagues another fact: 5 years is how long Nevada has led the country in foreclosures.

The people of Nevada have suffered far too long because of the recklessness of Wall Street that caused this crash. Many Nevadans are struggling to pay for mortgages or have their homes in foreclosure as a result of the poor job market and the economic downturn. Because of the high rates of foreclosure devastating Nevadans, many are being forced to move, to find a new place to live.

Washington must provide solutions that help those who have been hit the hardest by this tough economy. I have worked on several solutions that I believe will provide some relief for many of those who are struggling.

In February I introduced the Keeping Families in their Home Act or the Home Act. This legislation would allow banks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to offer long-term leases for foreclosed homes. By doing so, it gives families the opportunity to stay in their homes while also easing the pressure that foreclosures put on home values.

The next month I joined Senator Stabenow to introduce the bipartisan Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act, which would ensure that homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are now worth would not be hit with an additional income tax if a part of their mortgage loan is forgiven. The current mortgage relief act expires at the end of this year, and this bill extends this critical safety net for underwater homeowners through 2015.

Today I am proud to announce the introduction of the SOLD Act. Home buyers, sellers, and real estate agents have long observed that banks have been slow to approve home short sales. Current delays in approving short sales are a major challenge to consumers and to realtors. These delays can cause canceled contracts and homeowners being forced into foreclosure. Those short sales are seen as a far better outcome than foreclosure, and finding a way to improve and make this process more efficient has been very difficult.

My legislation, the SOLD Act, would require that mortgage servicers respond to a short sale request within 30 days and make a final decision within 60 days of receiving the purchase offer. By placing a shot clock on these decisions, it will reduce the amount of time it takes to sell property, improve the likelihood that the transaction will close, and reduce the number of foreclosures in Nevada and across this country.

Stability in the housing market is critical for long-term economic growth. As Nevada continues to lead the Nation in unemployment, it is more important now than ever for Washington to provide solutions and address our Nation's biggest problems. Getting Americans back to work and helping families who find themselves in tough economic times should be a priority of every Member of Congress.

I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the SOLD Act and help those who have fallen on tough times.

Madam President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize five police officers from my home State of Nevada for being honored with the prestigious National Association of Police Officers, NAPO, 2012 TOP COPS award for their acts of heroism during a routine fraud call that turned into a deadly shooting. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers John Abel, Michael Ramirez, Corey Staheli, Beaumont Hopson, and David Williams' overwhelming courage in the line of duty epitomizes the best of what America's police officers have to offer. I am honored to recognize this group of Nevadans whose efforts to go above and beyond their oath to serve is a testament to the strength of our law enforcement community.

This year marks NAPO's 19th annual TOP COPS Awards ceremony to honor members of the law enforcement community for their heroic actions. I stand with NAPO in their dedication to raising public awareness concerning the contributions made by our law enforcement officers to the welfare of our communities. Officer Ramirez literally stood in the line of fire to protect shoppers at a Las Vegas WalMart while attempting to apprehend a criminal. His colleagues bravely answered the call to duty and fatally shot the assailant after he shot Officer Ramirez several times in the arm and once in the chest. Fortunately, Officer Ramirez's bulletproof vest, along with the bravery displayed by his colleagues, saved his life. I am so honored to acknowledge these exceptional individuals who are being recognized for their commitment to the safety, protection, and well-being of the people and community of Las Vegas.

It is a privilege to recognize our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line for our protection every day. Their dedication to upholding and enforcing the law is essential to the welfare of our communities and is not taken for granted. The citizens of Nevada are proud to honor John, Michael, Corey, Beaumont, and David as TOP COPS and thank them for serving and protecting the Silver State.

Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate a student from my home State for being recognized as one of Nevada's top youth volunteers of 2012. Angela Foremaster, a senior at Legacy High School in Las Vegas, was

honored with the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for her advocacy on behalf of foster children and homeless teens in the Greater Las Vegas area. I am proud to recognize Ms. Foremaster for this accomplishment as she serves as a role model for students across the nation striving to make a difference in the lives of America's youth.

Having five adopted siblings, Ms. Foremaster understands the importance of supporting organizations that find adoptive families for children who wait in foster care. She has dedicated more than 1,000 hours to foster organizations around Nevada to assist their efforts to provide a supportive community for children. One winter, as she helped a group prepare for the holiday season, Ms. Foremaster noticed that they weren't providing children with stockings for Christmas. This experience encouraged her to hang flyers, asking for donations and small gifts to help her fill stockings for adoptive children and displaced teens. Ms. Foremaster was thrilled to receive generous donations that enabled her to fill 250 stockings to help bring the holiday spirit to kids in needs.

I am so appreciative that Ms. Foremaster is raising awareness of the needs of our country's struggling youth. In this tough economic period, America's children deserve our attention more than ever. Since coming to Congress, I have supported legislation that assists individuals who have fallen on hard times, recognizing the importance of temporary safety nets. It is of paramount importance in this distressed economy that we keep the needs of our most vulnerable at the forefront while focusing on solutions to our nation's long-term economic problems.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating a young Nevadan for her incredible determination to assist our nation's youth. The citizens of Las Vegas are fortunate to have such a generous volunteer who selflessly gives back to her community and exemplifies the very best America's youth has to offer.

I thank the Senator from Nebraska for yielding time and also those from Oklahoma and Arizona for this colloquy that we are having today and the ability to talk about issues that, frankly, the other side will not talk about--in fact, their conspicuous absence today on the other side is clear of the depth of their budget.

As we have heard, we have not had a budget for the last 3 years. So I rise today in support of a serious debate concerning the direction of our Nation. Three years have passed since Congress adopted a binding budget resolution. In this light, I respectfully submit that the American people do not believe that today's debate is serious. They know the Senate is not going to adopt a budget; once again it will ignore one of the most basic and important jobs of Congress.

What the Senate is doing this week could be considered political comedy if the stakes were not so high. In fact, the fact is this is not a serious discussion.

In May of last year, the majority leader stated: There is no need to have a Democratic budget, in my opinion. It would be foolish for us to do a budget at this stage. As early as February of this year, it was stated by the majority leader that there is no need to bring a budget to the Senate floor this year.

If that is the case, this week's debate is nothing more than a political sideshow, and the American people are tired of it. Ever wonder why the approval rating of Congress is so low? They hate Washington because it spends its time on stunts like this instead of working together for the good of the country; pushing votes for campaign press releases instead of solving problems.

The bottom line is if Congress does not do its job, then its Members should not get paid. That is exactly what I have proposed with the No Budget, No Pay Act. The American people know in an election year too many of their representatives in Washington are afraid of the tough choices that would help get our Nation on a path of fiscal sanity.

Most of the people watching the so-called budget debate will witness exactly what they have come to expect from Washington: the Republicans blaming Democrats, Democrats blaming Republicans. At the end of the day, all we will have accomplished is filling another page in the Congressional Record.

Unfortunately, Americans will face the same fiscal disasters they did before this debate. Unless we change course, Federal spending per household is projected to rise to $34,602 by the year 2022, a 15- percent increase in one decade.

The government's own actuaries tell us Medicare is going bankrupt in 10 years, Social Security one decade later. Both sides should be willing to come together to strengthen and preserve these programs for future generations instead of simply ignoring the problems because it is inconvenient in an election year.

Our national debt will reach $16 trillion before the end of the year. The Federal Government's unfunded obligations will total some $100 trillion. Yet there will be no budget this year, just like there has been no budget for the past 3 years. We cannot look beyond the beltway and say this failure of leadership has not had tremendous impact on the people we represent.

National unemployment has registered above 8 percent for the last 38 months. Nevada has led the Nation in unemployment for more than 2 years. Almost everyone I speak to in Nevada--businesses, job creators, elected officials, and families--speaks of the uncertainty that has characterized their lives in this economy.

We are not moving forward as a Nation, and it is no surprise to these no-nonsense folks. They know from everyday life in their businesses and in their households that you cannot move forward without a plan. When Americans look to Washington, they see no meaningful proposal, no viable plan, and no progress.

There are those who claim the Budget Control Act is a budget, and I strongly disagree. This bill does not establish priorities or a path forward for our Nation as a real budget should. It does not provide certainty, nor does it address many of the pressing fiscal problems we have today. If the Budget Control Act were truly a budget, there would be no need for this discussion today. It is past time for Congress to hold itself accountable.

That is why I have advocated my No Budget, No Pay Act for nearly a year. My legislation calls on the House and Senate to pass a concurrent budget resolution and the regular appropriations bills before the beginning of each fiscal year. Failure to do so would result in the loss of pay until we take our jobs seriously and make these bills our legislative priority.

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 already requires Congress to pass a budget by April 15. My bill creates an enforcement mechanism to further encourage Members of Congress to do their constitutional duty.

I have spoken on this floor previously about No Budget, No Pay, but I believe now is the time to consider whether we are willing to make this promise to our constituents. I believe it is more important now than ever because the American people are increasingly losing confidence in Congress and its ability to deliver solutions.

No Budget, No Pay is not a silver-bullet solution to our Nation's fiscal challenges, but it would indicate that we are hearing the concerns of the American people and are willing to participate in the dialog necessary to get our country moving again.

I am pleased that 10 of my Senate colleagues have cosponsored this important effort, and others have expressed support for No Budget, No Pay on the Senate floor. I am especially grateful to Senators Lieberman and Collins for holding a hearing to discuss No Budget, No Pay as a meaningful proposal that would help hold Congress accountable to the American people. This bipartisan bicameral proposal is worthy of the Senate's time if we are serious about regaining the trust of the American people whom we are supposed to be representing.

My colleagues, our Nation can literally no longer afford to survive on sound bites and press releases about the importance of budgeting. We need to engage in the serious business of budgeting for our Nation's future. That work should start today. Sadly, I simply don't believe we will make the tough choices necessary until Members of Congress have more skin in the game. I will continue calling for the adoption of the No Budget, No Pay Act.

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

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, there has not been a budget passed in the Senate and the House in over 3 years. I would argue that the exercise we have ending tomorrow will have no substantial difference. I do not think there is anyone in America who believes we will have a budget at the end of tomorrow. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires Congress to pass a budget by April 15. So with that, I ask unanimous consent that the request of the leader be modified so that S. 1981, the No Budget, No Pay Act, be automatically discharged from the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, the bill be immediately placed on the calendar, and that when the Senate proceeds to the budget votes mentioned in the Senator's request, the Senate also vote on the motion to proceed to S. 1981 under the same terms and conditions of the other budget votes.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor a young Nevadan for being recognized as one of America's top 10 youth volunteers of 2012. Ashlee Smith, a seventh grader from Sparks, NV, was awarded the prestigious national Prudential Spirit of Community Award for her efforts to assist child victims of house fires and natural disasters. I am proud to congratulate one of Nevada's own for her leadership, compassion, and selflessness as she sets a fine example for students all across the United States who want to make a difference.

Ashlee's home burned down in a devastating fire in 2005, destroying all that her family owned--including her childhood toys. Ever since this experience, she has dedicated her free time to helping children who are victims of natural disasters recover their lost belongings. At 8 years old, she founded Ashlee's Toy Closet, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income children as well as those who have been affected by natural disasters. Over the past 5 years, she has collected and distributed more than 175,000 toys to children who have been affected by natural disasters. Ashlee's commitment to children in need is inspiring and reinforces the importance of serving our communities.

Having four children of my own, I understand the importance of creating an environment where our kids can give back to their communities. Encouraging our Nation's next generation of leaders to become engaged in community service will help ensure that they are active and positive contributors to their local community. We must encourage our Nation's youth to excel beyond the academic arena, demonstrate strong leadership skills, and show active initiative to support their communities.

I am proud to stand with the citizens of Sparks to congratulate Ashlee on this exceptional accomplishment. As she continues to grow her organization, I hope that she will serve as an example for Nevada's youth and will continue building upon this experience in her professional and personal future. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing an ambitious Nevadan who has helped make a difference in the lives of thousands all over the Nation.

Madam President, today I wish to recognize an organization from my home State of Nevada whose continuous support of military servicemen and women and their families is truly inspiring. Their unwavering commitment to military families across the Silver State is unmatched and demonstrates their passion for those in need.

Members of our military serve the United States to preserve and protect our freedom, and for that I am forever grateful. They dedicate their lives to serving this great nation and constantly make sacrifices to ensure the safety of our country. Generations of Americans enjoy greater peace and security because of the tireless efforts of these brave men and women.

The Nevada Military Support Alliance provides comfort and care, both personal and financial, to the families and survivors of Nevada's fallen and returning patriots. When a soldier does come home from a war zone, returning to civilian life is not an easy task. Both the soldier and their families experience an incredible amount of stress during this transition. This is where the Nevada Military Support Alliance steps in. They offer unprecedented levels of assistance for Nevada military members and their families for the rarities of challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.

We can never do enough for our nation's veterans, but with the help of the Nevada Military Support Alliance, we can ensure that more assistance is provided. Their continued dedication to our active military, veterans, and their families is unparalleled and stands as an example for us all.

As the Nevada Military Support Alliance celebrates their Second Annual Gala this weekend, I want to thank them for everything they have given to Nevada's men and women in uniform and for ensuring that support is provided for these heroes. We owe our veterans and their families a great deal of gratitude for their personal sacrifices. On behalf of everyone who enjoys the freedoms that are unique to our great nation, thank you.

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

Mr. President, I rise in support of efforts to prevent an increase in the student loan rates.

For millions of Americans, education is the key to success and a better future for themselves and for their families. Workers with a bachelor's degree today earn about 70 percent more each year than those with only a high school diploma. We all want a better life for our children and for our grandchildren, and for many of them, a college education is part of achieving that goal.

However, higher education carries an increasingly substantial pricetag. One of my children has already completed her higher education, both my sons are currently in college, and my youngest is preparing for her posthigh school education. I know firsthand the financial strain on both the college students and their families.

The inflation-adjusted cost of college has almost tripled over the last 25 years, while median family income over the same period of time has risen only about 10 percent. Fees keep rising rapidly, soaring 8.3 percent last year at public universities and 4.5 percent at private institutions. In 2009, more than half of all public college graduates were in debt, with an average loan burden of nearly $20,000. For private college graduates, the percentage and amount of debt is even greater. The loan burden itself is substantial, and the last thing graduates need to worry about is high interest rates on these loans.

I was proud to vote for the initial efforts to keep student loan interest rates low back when I was serving in the House in 2007. Now I am a proud cosponsor of the Interest Rate Reduction Act which has been offered by my friend, the Senator from Tennessee, Mr. Alexander. This legislation prevents student loans from doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent, and I truly hope Congress will be able to come together with a bipartisan agreement soon to prevent this increase from going into effect on July 1.

While student loan rates should be addressed, I am even more worried about the overall economic climate facing college grads. Recent reports found that more than half the bachelor degree holders under the age of 25 last year, which was 1.5 million young Americans, were jobless or underemployed. Of the 1.5 million languishing in the job market, half were underemployed. These young would-be professionals are either unemployed and unable to start paying their loans or have a job that may only provide enough for them to barely scrape by paycheck to paycheck. Instead of becoming the workforce of the next generation, the majority of recent graduates are finding their personal lives and finances mired in this ailing economy. Parents who have been laid off or who have seen their savings diminish have not been able to help their children through their education as they may have planned or wanted to. Our children and grandchildren are paying the price for Washington's failure to lead our Nation out of this economic crisis.

Addressing student loan rates is important and we need to accomplish that work promptly, but our work for America's colleges students and recent graduates is far from over. Congress should be doing something every day to provide more stability and certainty for businesses so they will create jobs and hire these graduates. We need to pass a budget and review expiring tax provisions. We need to get bureaucratic redtape out of the way and let American job creators do what they do best. Let's not put off until tomorrow what we can do today to make sure good-paying jobs will be available for graduates who have worked so hard to provide for a better future and let's pass a bipartisan measure that keeps student interest rates low.

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

I will.

Mr. President, today I am proud to recognize one of Nevada's veterans whose overwhelming sacrifice on behalf of those who served our great Nation is inspiring. As I speak, Mr. Lyons is traveling on foot from his hometown of Reno, NV to our Nation's capital to encourage legislators to assist our homeless veterans.

This is a serious issue that I have worked on since I was elected to Congress. Today, over 100,000 veterans are on America's streets. Many have serious problems and need support. That is why I stand with Mr. Lyons as he completes his 2,600 mile journey.

The brave men and women who served our country and fought to protect our freedom are coming back to a struggling economy with few job prospects, leaving them unable to afford housing. Our Nation's servicemembers have made great sacrifices for our country, and they deserve our gratitude and support. We must welcome them home and help them transition to civilian life. Assisting our Nation's veterans and families is of the utmost importance.

I am also grateful that Mr. Lyons is raising awareness for an issue that I am personally involved with. Having a family member who serves in the Armed Forces, I have always been an advocate for our troops. That is why I proudly cosponsored and voted in support of bipartisan legislation, the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, which was signed into law by President Obama. This legislation provides a tax credit to employers who hire veterans while also offering education and funding to provide on-the-job training and employment assistance to veterans. Ensuring our returning soldiers come home to good paying jobs is the least we can do and the VOW to Hire Heroes Act helps put our Nation's veterans back to work.

Mr. Lyons' selfless efforts to honor and acknowledge our Nation's veterans epitomize service over self. I commend Mr. Lyons for his steadfast determination in raising awareness for those who keep us safe. Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Lyons for his service to our country and commitment to helping veterans in need.