Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise to say farewell to our distinguished colleague, the senior Senator from the State of Alaska. Ted Stevens' public service has been more than a career, it has really been his life's calling.

After serving in World War II, where he rose to the rank of first lieutenant, Ted Stevens completed undergraduate work at UCLA and received a law degree from Harvard. He then came to Washington, DC, for the first time to work for President Eisenhower. His career in elected office started in 1964 with his election to the Alaska House of Representatives. He became majority leader in his second term. Appointed to the U.S. Senate in 1968, Ted Stevens was returned by the voters of Alaska six times and last year became the longest serving U.S. Republican Senator in our Nation's history.

His career has been more than about longevity. He has been an advocate for his State. And that is an understatement. He has served as President pro tempore of the Senate, and now emeritus. He has been a senior member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees. He has been heavily involved, as I know, in the Appropriations Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and Rules Committee.

That is where I have become so well acquainted with Ted Stevens, is on the Appropriations Committee. I had the good fortune of helping on the floor on a number of appropriations bills. I consider a mark of distinction and something I will always remember my

Hulk tie Senator Stevens gave me. I don't know anyone else he gave one to, but it was his way of saying thanks for getting that appropriations bill done; I liked the way you worked to get it done.

Events have transpired in Senator Stevens' life these past 2 years that are deeply unfortunate. He and I had a number of conversations about what was going on. I wish nothing but the best for Ted, Catherine, and his daughter, whom I have known since she was a little girl, now a distinguished lawyer.

Although I said in the past that Senator Stevens flew in World War II with the Flying Tigers, on the Senate floor he will always be remembered as a lion.

I have two final stories. I was a brandnew Senator, and my friend Alan Bible died. Alan Bible served the State of Nevada with distinction for 20 years. A military aircraft was provided to take those who wished to go to Nevada for the funeral. There were two people on that airplane--Harry Reid and Ted Stevens. Think about that. We flew to Reno, NV, for a funeral. We went out and back in 1 day. It takes 5 hours to go out that way and 5 hours to come back.

I said--and I was a new Senator: Senator Stevens, why are you on the airplane? I framed it a little differently than that. He said: I have a long memory. The Alaska pipeline bill would not have passed but for Alan Bible. It was very hard for him to make up his mind what he wanted to do, and when he did, he was the culminating vote that allowed that to pass. He said: I had to go to Reno to honor what Alan Bible did for me.

Finally, everyone knows I have a unique relationship with Dan Inouye. When he ran for leader, I supported him above anyone else. I did it because he had been so good to me personally and, I felt, good to the Senate. And, of course, I admired this man for what he had done for our country, not only in the House of Representatives and in the Senate but as a soldier in Italy where he was badly wounded.

It doesn't take much intelligence to understand that the most secure, lasting friendship in this Senate and one that probably is a friendship I have never seen before is the one with Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye. Terms are thrown around a lot: ``He's my brother.'' With Dan Inouye and Ted Stevens, they are brothers.

The Bible tells us in the Old Testament: ``Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up.'' Dan Inouye may not be the most powerful physical person in the world, but I think he is the most powerful friend a person could have. And as Scripture indicates, he will always be there for his friend, Ted Stevens.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 3 p.m. today, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 6867; that if cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed, then

all postcloture time be yielded back and the motion to proceed be agreed to; that after the bill is reported, it then be read a third time, and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill, without further intervening action or debate; that if cloture is not invoked on the motion to proceed, then a motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote be considered as entered, and the Senate then proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

If the Chair will withhold, I appreciate very much all Senators' thoughtful consideration of what we are trying to accomplish. I especially extend my appreciation to the Republican leader for his stepping out of important meetings to take calls from me and being available to help us work our way through these difficult times.

We are all trying to accomplish the same thing. We have an economy that is in peril, and we want to make sure we do everything we can within reason and keeping with our responsibilities to succeed.

This will be the last vote this week.

Madam President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 894,

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we now proceed to a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I am pleased that the President has proclaimed November as National American Indian Heritage Month and the Congress has designated November 28, 2008, as Native American Heritage Day.

This is the time when our country traditionally offers thanks for the bounty and protections we enjoy. This year, Congress and the President have chosen to specifically acknowledge and be thankful for the contributions and achievements of American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Together, we have called on Federal, State, and local governments, tribal governments, and others to come together to celebrate and share with one another the cultures, traditions, and languages of more than 500 tribes.

In my home State of Nevada, our tribes represent three distinct cultures and languages Paiute, Shoshone, and Washoe. Throughout my career, I have promoted programs and education efforts to preserve these native languages and others and expand cultural programs for children, young adults and elders. Nevada's tribal leaders and youth tell me this cultural exchange with tribal members and with those in their school and local communities bridges differences and leads to individual successes. Nevadans can be proud of our State's diversity.

And while Nevada's 26 tribes are distinct, they share goals common to nearly all sovereigns--to care for their people, to keep them safe, to help them prosper, to protect and use their resources wisely, to engage in the larger world while being mindful of their histories.

During this session, the Senate worked with tribal leaders and advocates and our colleagues in the House to help tribes achieve these goals. Working together, we reauthorized the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Reauthorization Act, reauthorized the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, and amended laws to strengthen families and improve the care and development of children in foster care. We passed legislation that helps tribes develop their natural resources, expand their commercial activities, and encourage investment in Indian Country. During this time of war, we made it a priority to help our Native American veterans and their families--who continue a long history of serving in our Armed Forces--by expanding benefits and services under the G.I. bill. Under the leadership of Chairman Byron Dorgan and Vice Chairperson Lisa Murkowski of the Indian Affairs Committee, the Congress has worked to honor our first Americans and fulfill our promises to them.

During this month especially, we recognize the leadership and efforts of tribes and others to improve the lives of Native Americans. But our work is not finished and we will not rest on the accomplishments of the 110th Congress. As majority leader, I am committed to work with my colleagues to reform health care and reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. I hope that the Senate will be able to again consider a package similar to one the Senate passed earlier this year.

As we approach the end of this Congress, I am pleased that we take a moment to recognize and celebrate the gifts Native Americans and Alaska Natives share with all of us daily.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize Margo Connor, who has retired after 33 years of service to the Senate community. During the past three decades, Margo Connor has assisted in providing catering for Senate functions on Capitol Hill. In a fast-paced environment with a high turnover rate, she remained dedicated and personal, with a keen ability to establish close relationships.

Margo spent 17 years in the special functions office for the former Dirksen Senate Dining Room. She compiled menus and prepared the former Senate Dining Room for functions. Meeting and interacting with many different people were her favorite aspects of her service; she was on a first-name basis with former Senators such as David Pryor, Thomas Eagleton, Gary Hart, and Jennings Randolph. Margo's commitment to providing a pleasant, comfortable, and professional environment for Senate functions resulted in close friendships. Senator Randolph would often call her at home, making requests for a special bread with nuts on it. After returning from their honeymoon, Senator Joe Biden and his wife shared their pictures with her. Instead of calling it the Senate Dining Room, Senator Pryor referred to the Senate Dining Room as simply ``Margo's Room.''

After working in the Senate Dining Room, Margo took a position in the accounting office processing bids for the Senate Restaurant. Several years later, she moved to the Capitol Senator's Dining Room where she was a hostess. After working as a hostess, she worked in the Senate catering office, where she has been for the last 13 years.

In her years on Capitol Hill, Margo has seen a great variety of events. She hosted functions with the NFL, the Dalai Lama, and a number of other notable people. Among others, she met Paul Newman, whose suitcase she watched in the kitchen as he spoke at an event. During annual events at Union Station commemorating Columbus Day, Dr. David R. Curfman, president of the National Columbus Celebration Association, told her that she was the only one who understood what he needed.

Margo will miss the people she works with, whom she considers to be like family. In turn, I know she will be missed greatly by those who have had the opportunity to know and work with her. In fact, Margo has been such a presence in the Senate, and has befriended so many over the years, that it is difficult to express how much she will be missed. I am pleased to join the entire Senate community in thanking Margo for her years of service and wishing her a happy retirement.

Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation, along with my colleague Senator Harkin, to create opportunities for schools, located in rural communities across this country, to compete for grants and loans to purchase energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.

The recently passed Farm Bill authorized roughly $1 billion in mandatory spending for renewable energy programs. One of those programs is The Rural Energy for America Program, REAP. This program provides loans, loan guarantees, and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in energy saving improvements to their current energy systems or to purchase renewable energy systems. Examples include purchasing or replacing equipment with more efficiency units, such as lighting or insulation, or the wholesale installment of energy projects that produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydrogen-based sources to produce any form of energy including, heat, electricity, or fuel.

My legislation would authorize an additional $100 million over 5 years for these grants and in effect expand the scope of the program, allowing it to better meet the needs of rural communities and creating important incentives for institutions to invest in renewable technology. It is my hope that Congress will support this legislation and its goal of helping rural communities play a key role in our Nation's energy future.

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.

Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation, along with my colleague Senator Harkin, to create opportunities for schools, located in rural communities across this country, to compete for grants and loans to purchase energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.

The recently passed Farm Bill authorized roughly $1 billion in mandatory spending for renewable energy programs. One of those programs is The Rural Energy for America Program, REAP. This program provides loans, loan guarantees, and grants to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in energy saving improvements to their current energy systems or to purchase renewable energy systems. Examples include purchasing or replacing equipment with more efficiency units, such as lighting or insulation, or the wholesale installment of energy projects that produce energy from wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydrogen-based sources to produce any form of energy including, heat, electricity, or fuel.

My legislation would authorize an additional $100 million over 5 years for these grants and in effect expand the scope of the program, allowing it to better meet the needs of rural communities and creating important incentives for institutions to invest in renewable technology. It is my hope that Congress will support this legislation and its goal of helping rural communities play a key role in our Nation's energy future.

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.

Mr. President, I rise to express support for a bill introduced by myself, the minority leader, and others to provide a cost-of-living salary adjustment to Federal judges.

The Framers of our Constitution were men of great vision and foresight. One of their great innovations was the establishment of an independent judiciary, which is to function as a coequal branch of government.

The Framers knew that justice and the rule of law would only prevail if judges are free from executive and legislative interference. In order to preserve the autonomy of judges, the Framers established safeguards. One of these safeguards was the assurance that judicial pay could not be diminished during a judge's service on the bench. This safeguard was important enough that it was included in the first section of article III of the Constitution.

Unfortunately, in terms of real dollars, we in Congress have allowed judicial pay to dwindle. Since 1969, the salaries of Federal judges have significantly declined when adjusted for inflation. The Office of the United States Courts estimates judicial pay has declined by 25 percent.

Preserving judicial integrity is a bipartisan goal. Earlier this Congress a

bipartisan bill was put forward which would have given judges a long- awaited pay raise. The Federal Judicial Salary Restoration Act of 2008 would have brought judicial salaries more closely in line with what the position merits. Although this bill had support on both sides of the aisle, we were unable to pass it this year. We will return to that proposal in the very near future.

The bill we have introduced today simply provides a cost-of-living increase for this year. I favor a proposal, included in the Salary Restoration Act, which would guarantee judges a cost-of-living adjustment every year. But at the very least, we must provide such an increase for this year.

Between 1993 and 2001, the Federal judiciary has received only three out of eight proposed cost-of-living adjustments. Because of Congress's failure to act, judicial pay has declined relative to the rest of the economy, and judicial independence is threatened. It is time we stop allowing judicial pay to diminish.

If we are to preserve the judicial independence envisioned by our country's Founders, we must not allow judicial pay to continue to ebb. Passage of this bill would be a small downpayment on the more meaningful steps we need to take to treat judges with the respect they deserve.

Mr. President, following leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

For the information of Senators, there will be a Senators-only classified briefing at 2:30 today. It will last for an hour or an hour and a half. We will have there Secretary Gates, Secretary Rice, and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Cartwright. This will take place in our new secure meeting room in the Visitor Center.

Mr. President, we received some more bad news today. Today it was reported that China has surpassed Japan as the top holder of United States debt. One out of every 10 dollars of American debt now belongs to the Chinese. As we fall further into debt, our climb back from recession to economic prosperity grows steeper. But in light of these challenges, there is no reason for Congress to wait until January to do some things that will help the economy. We know that before the Senate is a comprehensive stimulus plan. I will be discussing ways of proceeding on that, or not proceeding on that, with my friend, the Republican leader. Our legislation was worked out with the Appropriations, Finance, and Agriculture Committees. This legislation would invest in infrastructure, extend unemployment insurance, provide food stamps and fiscal relief for States to prevent States from being forced to cut services and raise taxes more than they already have, and it would be providing aid to the ailing United States auto industry.

It is important to understand that the authority to provide funds to the auto industry lies with the Treasury Department. The Federal Reserve can also provide these funds. As the Senate considers whether to pass an auto aid package, whether this legislation or other legislation, we all need to remember that we are simply deciding whether Congress will apply additional terms to the funds that the Treasury Department can and should ultimately provide. In fact, Congress need do nothing. Treasury can put whatever restrictions they choose on that.

I hope we can pass legislation to aid the auto industry this next day or two. If we cannot do it here legislatively, I hope the Secretary of Treasury listens loudly and clearly, because they can take this into their own hands and do what they think is appropriate from their perspective.

Mr. President, before the Senator leaves the floor--I am sorry I had to leave, I was called away from my desk--I wanted to say through the Chair to my friend Gordon Smith that I, of course, watched all the election results very closely. But my wife watched one election result, and that was yours, because of the longstanding relationship she has with you and Sharon. The record is very clear of our longstanding friendship and our having had a similar experience with our loved ones following suicide.

I am sorry I didn't have more time to maybe write something out that may have been more meaningful, but I hope the Senator from Oregon will always understand the affection, respect, and admiration I have not only for what

you did in your Senate service but for what you do in your personal life.

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