Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15; that following the prayer and the pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; that following leader remarks there be a period of morning business until 11:30 a.m. with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees, with the majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the next 30 minutes; that following morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session as provided for under the previous order. Finally, I ask that following disposition of the nominations, the Senate recess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

Under a previous order, at approximately 11:50 a.m. the Senate will proceed to a series of up to three rollcall votes. Those votes will be on the confirmation of the following district court nominations: Tanya Pratt of Indiana, Brian Jackson of Louisiana, and Elizabeth Foote of Louisiana, all to be district court judges. There could be additional votes in relation to the amendments to the tax extenders throughout the day.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senator from Washington, Mrs. Murray, be recognized for whatever time she may take. Following that, I will announce the schedule for today and give an opening statement. We will see if at that time Senator McConnell will be here to give a statement.

Madam President, today at a quarter to 10, the Republican leader or his designee will make a motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 26, which is a joint resolution of disapproval of a rule submitted by EPA relating to the endangerment findings and the cause or contributing findings for greenhouse gases. There will be up to 6 hours of debate equally divided between Senators Murkowski and Boxer or their designees, with the controlled time alternating in 30-minute blocks, with Senator Murkowski controlling the first 30 minutes. If all time is used, the vote on the motion to proceed will occur at 3:45 p.m. If the motion to proceed is agreed to, there will be an additional 1 hour of debate on the joint resolution prior to a vote on passage of the joint resolution.

As I indicated yesterday, there will be no rollcall votes tomorrow or Monday, June 14.

Madam President, the Murkowski resolution, which we will take up soon, will increase pollution, increase our dependence on foreign oil, and stall our efforts to create jobs and, in so doing, stall our efforts to move to a clean energy economy.

This resolution does nothing to create jobs in Nevada or anyplace else in our country. It does create jobs in places from where we are importing oil--the Middle East, Venezuela, places such as that--but not in our country.

In fact, this resolution will damage the certainty and clarity that businesses want to invest in innovative and job-creating technologies that reduce pollution. This includes clean renewable power using the Sun, the wind, and geothermal energy.

This resolution is not going to help bring us closer to providing more incentives for the production or use of clean-burning natural gas. This resolution is not going to help provide funding for Nevadans or Alaskans or any other State to cope with and adapt to a changing and increasingly unfriendly climate.

Forcing this vote seems to be a largely partisan political ploy designed to divide Democrats and Republicans and to pander to the dirty, just-say-no crowd. They want business as usual with no limits on their ability to pollute.

The White House has made it clear that the Murkowski resolution would be vetoed if it passes. We all know, in fact, if it does pass and a veto is made, that it would be sustained.

We also know that this resolution is a great big gift to big oil, at least 455 million more barrels of oil would be used, making at least $50 billion extra for the oil companies, and billions more if this resolution were to become law. And most of that oil will come from overseas. We know that.

Is this the kind of business as usual the American people want? Of course not. No, the public wants companies to give them choices of cars, products, and fuels that are less polluting, affordable, and made in America, not from the Persian Gulf, China, or other places.

This resolution is very much a choice about the future of our country. Do we want to return to the days when big oil and their friends, with OPEC's help, decided America's economic destiny or are we going to work together to solve the incredibly difficult problems posed by the way we produce and use energy? Are we going to work together to reduce pollution?

I am convinced that we can pass strong, bipartisan legislation to create jobs, protect the environment, and make a safer and more secure future. But that would require the help of everyone in the Senate to be involved in a constructive engagement, and only a few have stepped forward. I hope that changes soon.

Will the Chair announce the business before the Senate?

Mr. President, I rise today to extend my warmest congratulation to the Daily Sparks Tribune of Sparks, NV, on their historic milestone.

The Daily Sparks Tribune is celebrated throughout Nevada for its first- class journalism, which continues this week for the 100th consecutive year.

The Tribune has been in circulation since 1910, representing news of both Sparks, NV, and the greater State. In 1901, Senator Thomas A Kearns bought the newspaper, along with three other regional papers. The newspaper now circulates to over 5,000 businesses and homes in Nevada.

The Nevada Press Association has honored the work of the Daily Sparks Tribune on many occasions for their outstanding investigatory, editorial, journalistic, photographic, and philanthropic accomplishments. In 2009 alone, the newspaper received 17 awards in the annual Nevada Press Association awards.

Not only has the Daily Sparks Tribune provided Nevadans with a spectacular news source, but it has also become a central part of our community.

I join with Nevadans throughout the Silver State to honor the Daily Sparks Tribune for its 100 years of circulation. It is one of Nevada's oldest community newspapers, and we wish it many more decades of success and readership.

Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act of 2010. Solar energy development is a critical factor in creating jobs and making the United States energy independent. This legislation will provide a pilot program for the Department of the Interior to develop a solar leasing program in Nevada.

The Secretary of the Interior, though the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, is currently developing a west wide solar energy program based on existing laws and regulations. The BLM, however, does not currently have the legal authority to lease public lands for solar development. This bill will establish, in Lincoln County, the first Federal solar leasing program in the U.S., which will serve as a pilot project for the Department of the Interior in order to guide development of solar leasing throughout the west in the years to come.

The American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act designates two solar development zones in Lincoln County for commercial solar energy development. The 10,945 acre Dry Lake zone and the 2,845 acre Delamar Valley zone are within high solar potential areas identified by the BLM and were selected by Lincoln County based on extensive public input. Since the solar zones border the Southwest Intertie Project, SWIP, transmission corridor, these projects will create the opportunity for southern Nevada and California to tap directly into Lincoln County's abundant renewable power resources.

Our bill directs the agency to consult with the County and local stakeholders before offering both parcels for lease not more than 60 days after the bill becomes law. In order to ensure efficient and wise development throughout the west, the BLM is also directed to establish diligent development requirements to ensure leased areas are efficiently developed and to promulgate regulations to guide development of the burgeoning solar leasing program.

The act directs the BLM to set a royalty rate at a level that will encourage efficient production of solar energy and ensure a fair return to the public for the necessary development of the public lands. As part of this program, the BLM is given the flexibility to charge a lower royalty, or even no royalty, for up to five years after energy generation begins as an incentive to promote the maximum generation of solar energy.

Royalties and fees from these solar leasing pilot projects will be disbursed into four accounts. Thirty-five percent will be deposited into the Renewable Energy Mitigation Fish and Wildlife Fund-- established by this act to protect and restore wildlife and their habitat and to implement the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Nevada. The State of Nevada and Lincoln County will each receive 25 percent of the collected royalties and fees. The last 15 percent will be directed to the BLM to fund renewable energy permit processing over the next 10 years. At the end of that 10-year period, this 15 percent will be directed to the Renewable Energy Mitigation Fish and Wildlife Fund, in addition to the 35 percent initially set aside for this account.

As you know, I have been a longtime champion for the development of clean, renewable energy resources. Nevada has unparalleled potential for solar energy development and is poised to lead our Nation in clean energy development and innovation. This is a significant step toward moving our country away from dirty fossil fuels and creating a new job market in the west. The model established by this legislation will also reinvest a responsible portion of the royalties and fees from solar energy development into the states and rural communities whose land is being used to power our Nation.

I would like to thank Lincoln County and a great number of sportsmen, ranchers, and conservationists who have helped us shape this legislation. I am pleased to bring this bill to the committee and I look forward to working with Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski and the other distinguished members to move this bill through the legislative process.

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

Mr. President, today I rise to introduce the American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act of 2010. Solar energy development is a critical factor in creating jobs and making the United States energy independent. This legislation will provide a pilot program for the Department of the Interior to develop a solar leasing program in Nevada.

The Secretary of the Interior, though the Bureau of Land Management, BLM, is currently developing a west wide solar energy program based on existing laws and regulations. The BLM, however, does not currently have the legal authority to lease public lands for solar development. This bill will establish, in Lincoln County, the first Federal solar leasing program in the U.S., which will serve as a pilot project for the Department of the Interior in order to guide development of solar leasing throughout the west in the years to come.

The American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act designates two solar development zones in Lincoln County for commercial solar energy development. The 10,945 acre Dry Lake zone and the 2,845 acre Delamar Valley zone are within high solar potential areas identified by the BLM and were selected by Lincoln County based on extensive public input. Since the solar zones border the Southwest Intertie Project, SWIP, transmission corridor, these projects will create the opportunity for southern Nevada and California to tap directly into Lincoln County's abundant renewable power resources.

Our bill directs the agency to consult with the County and local stakeholders before offering both parcels for lease not more than 60 days after the bill becomes law. In order to ensure efficient and wise development throughout the west, the BLM is also directed to establish diligent development requirements to ensure leased areas are efficiently developed and to promulgate regulations to guide development of the burgeoning solar leasing program.

The act directs the BLM to set a royalty rate at a level that will encourage efficient production of solar energy and ensure a fair return to the public for the necessary development of the public lands. As part of this program, the BLM is given the flexibility to charge a lower royalty, or even no royalty, for up to five years after energy generation begins as an incentive to promote the maximum generation of solar energy.

Royalties and fees from these solar leasing pilot projects will be disbursed into four accounts. Thirty-five percent will be deposited into the Renewable Energy Mitigation Fish and Wildlife Fund-- established by this act to protect and restore wildlife and their habitat and to implement the Land and Water Conservation Fund in Nevada. The State of Nevada and Lincoln County will each receive 25 percent of the collected royalties and fees. The last 15 percent will be directed to the BLM to fund renewable energy permit processing over the next 10 years. At the end of that 10-year period, this 15 percent will be directed to the Renewable Energy Mitigation Fish and Wildlife Fund, in addition to the 35 percent initially set aside for this account.

As you know, I have been a longtime champion for the development of clean, renewable energy resources. Nevada has unparalleled potential for solar energy development and is poised to lead our Nation in clean energy development and innovation. This is a significant step toward moving our country away from dirty fossil fuels and creating a new job market in the west. The model established by this legislation will also reinvest a responsible portion of the royalties and fees from solar energy development into the states and rural communities whose land is being used to power our Nation.

I would like to thank Lincoln County and a great number of sportsmen, ranchers, and conservationists who have helped us shape this legislation. I am pleased to bring this bill to the committee and I look forward to working with Chairman Bingaman, Ranking Member Murkowski and the other distinguished members to move this bill through the legislative process.

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

Mr. President, following any leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 4213, which is a bill to extend a number of expiring provisions, some of the tax issues we have to deal with every year, and some other good things to create jobs. There are going to be rollcall votes throughout the day.

We have four amendments that are pending. The chairman and I spoke last night. We believe we need to clear some of these amendments out of the way before we start piling on more amendments. We really need Members to come forward. If they have amendments, talk with the managers of the bill. We need to move forward on this legislation. We cannot sit here, as we did yesterday, and not do a lot.

Tomorrow, as everyone knows, we are going to spend a lot of time on the Murkowski resolution. That could take as many as 7 hours of floor time.

We need to move forward. We are out of session on Friday and Monday, really the only two nonvote days we have this entire work period.

Primary Night

Mr. President, it was primary night last night. I expressed in many different ways--I was up early this morning with my supporters in Nevada, telling them I appreciate their help.

I congratulated my Republican opponent in the general election, Sharron Angle, on the campaign she ran. She actually came from nowhere in a 13-person field in the Republican primary to win this election. I extended my appreciation to her in that regard.

Baseball

Mr. President, as a little sidenote, because we have 5 months to campaign all over the country, including Nevada, I want to take a pause and think about some of the things going on in the country.

One of the things going on in the Nation's Capital is tremendously interesting to me, and that is baseball. I watched on television last night much of the performance of this 21-year-old phenom, Stephen Strasburg. I watched not only him pitch but the interview after the game. He is 21 years old. He carried himself so well. In 7 innings, he struck out 14 Major League Baseball players. He did it very well. He is right-handed, but he reminded me so much of Sandy Koufax because he throws more than 100 miles an hour. He throws a curveball about 85 miles an hour. People who follow baseball know that is remarkable. That is great control. The reason I mention that is because he was the No. 1 draft choice for the Washington Nationals.

The No. 1 draft choice for the Washington Nationals a couple of days ago was a 17-year-old boy from Las Vegas, NV, named Bryce Harper. When Bryce Harper was 15 years old, he hit a home run more than 550 feet, which is a Mickey Mantle-type of home run, which Mickey Mantle did not do often. He took the GED when he finished his sophomore year in high school. He went immediately to junior college and played in the Junior College World Series this year. He is a wonderful young man. He has a great family. He is going to be in Washington playing Major League Baseball very soon. I think he will probably start playing in the Major Leagues at about the same age

as Al Kaline did, who was a Major League Baseball player. He throws as well as Al Kaline. He hits probably better than Al Kaline did.

Washington is fortunate to have these two fine young men. Not only are they great baseball players, but from everything we know about the two young men, they are good role models for young men and women around the country.

Yes.

I so appreciate my counterpart talking about that. I wish I could have been there. But it was, even watching it on TV--gee whiz, there are those of us who love sports, and I know my friend loves basketball, especially that which takes place in Kentucky and the others, of course, in Kentucky. But this was really a remarkable performance. For Washington, which has been so starved for a good athletic team of some kind, it was nice.

I say to my friend through the Chair, when I was going to law school here, I watched two Major League Baseball games in the old Griffith Stadium. Oh, they were so much fun. I don't know who won. I am sure the Washington team lost. I know the two teams they played both times were the Yankees, where I watched Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and all those great players.

From this work in which we are engaged, which is always so serious, it is nice once in a while to divert our attention to something that is a little more relaxing. That baseball game last night was not relaxing, but it sure was a lot of fun.

Mr. President, my staff just indicated that I said we would not be in on Friday and Monday. We probably will be in; there will just be no votes.

Mr. President, I say to my friend, it is a wonderful story. His brother, who was a great pitcher at California State Fullerton-- which won the NCAA National Baseball Championship--his brother thought so much of his little brother, who is 4 years younger than he is, that he transferred from California State Fullerton to a junior college so he could play with his brother. The elder Harper is a pitcher, and the catcher is his little brother. The senior member of the brotherhood of Harper ball players, his record was 12 and 1 this year.

Another word about Bryce Harper. Community college baseball is very competitive. The record for the most home runs for any player in junior college baseball was 12. Bryce Harper hit 30. His batting average as a 17-year-old boy playing with men was .450. In one game, he was six for six. I think he had three or four home runs. It is an interesting story.

I think that is pretty clear.

Mr. President, will the Senator withhold for a brief minute.

As soon as this vote is complete, that will be the last vote for this evening. We are going to come in tomorrow morning at 9:45 and immediately go to the Murkowski resolution. There are 6 hours set aside for that, and then a motion to proceed, and then an hour if the motion to proceed succeeds. So everyone should be prepared tomorrow for a long day. We will be in session on Friday more than likely. There will be no votes on Friday or Monday. I remind everyone these are the only days during the entire work period that there will be no votes.

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

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

Madam President, following leader remarks, the Senate will turn to the consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 4213, the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act. The Senate will recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for the weekly caucus luncheons. Rollcall votes are expected to occur throughout the day in relation to amendments to the tax extenders bill.

Chairman Baucus is here. As soon as the leader remarks are finished, he will lay down the amendment that is the substitute for the House message. I hope people will study this legislation and determine what, if any, amendments they wish to offer. We are going to have to work hard on this legislation. We will not be able to work late today because of some events that are taking place away from the Capitol tonight that involve both Democratic and Republican Senators.

On Thursday, we will deal with the Murkowski resolution. That is under a previous order that has been entered.

I hope that today and tomorrow, people will offer their amendments because we are going to have to wind this down as quickly as we can. I want to make sure people have the opportunity to offer amendments. It is pretty clear what is in it. There are relatively few changes from what has been done in the House. The main change is the fact that we are adding to this money--I think most of us have received calls from our Governors--dealing with Medicare. That is a matter that is going to be laid down by the chairman of the Finance Committee.

Madam President, I had the good fortune of having been put on the Environment and Public Works Committee from the first day I came to the Senate. It has been a great experience to serve on that committee. I have served under Chairman Chafee, Chairman Moynihan, and Chairman Baucus. Some remember I gave up my chairmanship for Jim Jeffords from Vermont. The committee is terrific. I love the jurisdictional swing that committee has.

As a result of this background, I have watched the oilspill in the gulf very closely. But I say to everyone within the sound of my voice, you do not have to have longstanding experience on the Environment and Public Works Committee to understand how terrible this has been to the environment. We do not know the outcome of the degradation to our environment as a result of this tragedy, and that is what it is. The Coast Guard admiral who is in charge has indicated there is no longer a plume. There is oil going in different places. Remember, the oil well is a mile below the surface of the ocean. So there are tar balls, sheets of oil for hundreds and hundreds of miles. Sadly, the worst is probably yet to come.

The one thing we tend not to focus on very much is the loss of life. Of course, we see the dead animals, and that is tragic. It is so sad. A pelican is an animal. It is not on the endangered species list. We took it off that list in the last year or so. Now these animals are dying by the dozens every day.

What we do not focus on as a result of the negligence--gross negligence--

perhaps criminal acts of BP is that 11 people are dead; 11 people were killed. That seems to be overshadowed a lot of times. Eleven people are dead. Brothers, fathers, and sons were killed on the night of that terrific explosion. I hope we do not, in spite of the horrible conditions that have been caused to our environment, lose track of the fact that this is a personal tragedy for lots of people. Eleven people were killed and many others were injured. The American people are going to have to not forget the personal tragedies of these people who were lost. I am sure they will not.

I thought it important this morning to remind everyone that this is certainly an environmental disaster. But for the persons involved as a result of the cutting of corners that BP did--it is not just me talking. We see it on TV shows and the evidence is coming in. I talked with one oil executive over the weekend, and he is flabbergasted. He is flabbergasted as to what had taken place. There was no redundancy. This company simply did not follow rules that are in place to prevent things like this from happening.