Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation that will resolve a longstanding inequity in the tax treatment of U.S. distilled spirits that penalizes the wholesalers, and some suppliers, of these products.

Under current law, wholesalers of distilled spirits are not required to pay the Federal excise tax on imported spirits until after the product is removed from a bonded warehouse for sale to a retailer.

In contrast, the tax on domestically produced spirits is included as part of the purchase price and passed on from the supplier to wholesaler. After factoring in the Federal excise tax (FET)--which is $13.50 per proof gallon--domestically produced spirits can cost wholesalers 40 percent more to purchase than comparable imported spirits.

In some instances, wholesalers and even suppliers can carry this tax- paid inventory for an average of 60 days before selling it to a retailer. Interest charges--more commonly referred to as float-- resulting from financing the Federal excise tax can be quite considerable.

For example, at a 5 percent interest rate on the sale of 100,000 cases of domestic spirits, a wholesaler will incur finance charges of $21,106.85 for loans related to underwriting the cost of paying the Federal excise tax. It is important to note that it is not uncommon for wholesalers to sell a million or more cases per year of domestic spirits.

The costs associated with financing Federal excise taxes amount to a tax on a tax, making the effective rate of the Federal excise tax for domestic spirits much higher than $13.50 per proof gallon.

The Domestic Spirits Tax Equity Act would give wholesalers and suppliers in bailment States a tax credit toward the cost of financing the FET for domestically produced products.

I believe this legislation is fundamentally fair and will help protect and create jobs for the wholesale tier in Kentucky and many other States. This legislation, which has broad support in both chambers and on both sides or the aisle, has passed the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee several times, and has reached the President's desk under a previous Administration. It's time to finally get this legislation over the goal line.

I wish to emphasize, however, that I will reject any connection between a repeal of Section 5010 of the Internal Revenue Code or an increase in Federal taxes for distilled spirits. Tax equity for one tier should not be achieved by placing additional burden on other tiers within the same industry.

My colleagues, Senators Lincoln, Lott and Bond join me in introducing this legislation, I which the Joint Tax Committee estimates would reduce Federal revenues by approximately $249 million over ten years. I understand that similar legislation will be introduced in the House of Representatives. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation when it comes before the Senate.

Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the amendment to strip ANWR from the budget resolution. I am pleased that ANWR is in the budget this year. As a matter of fact, I returned from ANWR just last week. After visiting it, I am even more confident in my support for drilling there.

I went with a group of Senators, Secretary Norton, and Secretary Bodman

to ANWR to see firsthand what all the talk was about. We met with environmentalists and villagers on the border of ANWR and talked to them about the United States' desperate need for more domestic energy sources. There were a few residents who expressed opposition, but they were in the minority. The majority of the people living near ANWR--more than 75 percent--support drilling in ANWR.

I know that there are some in the Senate who are desperate to stop us from opening ANWR. The facts about ANWR, however, are not on their side. Some of these facts I think need to be repeated, especially for those Senators who are new to the debate.

ANWR itself is roughly the size of South Carolina. It's absolutely enormous. It's 19.6 million acres or 30,000 square miles. But, when we talk about drilling in ANWR, we're talking about clean drilling in an area of less than 2,000 acres--that's 0.001 percent of the total acreage of ANWR. It's smaller than many airports.

To say that drilling in this limited portion of ANWR threatens the entire environment of the refuge is farfetched and just plain wrong. During my trip, I visited the sites at Alpine and Prudhoe Bay. There is now no doubt in my mind that we can develop ANWR in a safe and effective manner.

Drilling will only be a small footprint in ANWR that can be carried out in an environmentally sound manner. State of the art techniques will lessen the environmental impact. The old stereotypes of dirty oil drilling just don't apply anymore. In fact, if we do start drilling in ANWR, the drilling operations would be conducted under the most comprehensive environmental regulations in the world.

We all want to do what we can to protect the environment.

But it's just not credible to say that looking for oil in this small, limited part of ANWR is a dangerous threat to the entire region. I also think that many environmentalists fail to see that if we do not begin oil production in ANWR, foreign oil companies will take up the slack and drill in places such as the Middle East where environmental regulations are much less restrictive than ours. Opening ANWR could actually be more environmentally sound than the alternative.

We consume over 20 million barrels of oil a day and our consumption is expected to increase to 28 million barrels a day over the next 20 years. Yet, we haven't built an oil refinery in the last 25 years. We must increase our energy supplies to keep up with the demand of our growing economy.

ANWR is the most promising domestic source of oil that we have. If the Senate passes ANWR, it will make a huge difference for our domestic consumption. There are 10 to 30 billion barrels of oil recoverable in ANWR. Just to put this in perspective, that's enough to fuel all of Kentucky's oil needs for at least 79 years.

ANWR would boost Alaska's oil production. And with the new Alaska pipeline, we could get it quickly to the rest of the United States. It would provide the United States with nearly 1 million barrels a day or 4.5 percent of today's consumption for the next 30 years.

Drilling in ANWR would also take a tremendous strike toward ensuring our national security. We currently import more than 55 percent of the oil we use. The price of oil has remained at over $50 a barrel. OPEC estimates that within 2 years the price of oil could jump to $80 a barrel. These high prices mean we are just throwing money needlessly at other countries.

If we open ANWR for drilling, that would mean we would not be sending over $800 billion to areas like the Middle East for our oil. Instead, we could be investing that money on American soil. Being dependent on oil imports from other regions of the world, puts America's energy and economic security at risk.

ANWR offers the realistic opportunity to produce enough oil to replace the volume we currently import from Saudi Arabia or Iraq for the next 25 years.

If the choice comes down to avoiding our domestic oil resources because of dated and irrational environmental concerns versus drilling in ANWR to lessen the chance that we will have to rely on undemocratic regimes in the Middle East for our oil, then there's no choice at all.

And ANWR would provide more than just oil to meet our energy needs. The region also has a vast amount of natural gas. We don't have enough natural gas supply in this country to meet our demand. Natural gas prices keep going up and up. In the area where drilling would take place, there is up to 10.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Right now, they are circular pumping the natural gas back into the reserves in Alaska.

Instead of pumping ANWR's natural gas back into the earth, we should use this for our energy needs. Opening ANWR up for drilling won't change our dependence on foreign sources of energy overnight. No single source can totally end our dependence on foreign energy.

But opening ANWR and boosting production will definitely be a huge step toward America becoming self sufficient for our own energy needs and strengthening our national security.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this amendment and to support the energy independence which ANWR offers.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize nominees for the Regional Middle School Academic All-Star Team from the Pennyroyal region in western Kentucky.

The regional Academic All-Star program's purpose is to recognize top academic scholars and performers. Students from Caldwell, Christian, Trigg and Todd Counties of Kentucky were nominated based on their academic performance in seven disciplines: English, foreign language, journalism, mathematics, science, social studies, and the creative and performing arts. The students are judged on their core academic score, the curriculum of the student, their grade point average, academic honors earned, unique accomplishments and achievements, extracurricular activities, employment history, and an autobiographical essay.

Education is the foundation upon which we reach our human potential. Students in Kentucky are developing their talents, furthering their education, and pursuing their aspirations in life through programs like the Academic All-Star program. Encouragement and recognition develop confidence and achievement among young Americans--the future leaders of our country.

The following students have been nominated for their academic excellence: Alicia Lynn Morris, North Drive Middle School; Ashley Chewning, University Heights Academy; Brittany S. Hurt, Hopkinsville Middle School; Chelsea Barnett, Christian Co. Middle School; Corrinna M. Kinnard, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School; Janelle Nichol Gilmer, Todd Co. Middle School; Megan Gray, Mahaffey Middle School; Sam Mitchell, Caldwell Co. Middle School; Sherry Cheatham, Heritage Christian Academy; Wesley Croom, Trigg Co. Middle School; Bree Raquel Hokulani Goodwin, North Drive Middle School; Elizabeth Settle, University Heights Academy; Emily Beatty, Todd Co. Middle School; Kate Milani, Mahaffey Middle School; Laura Beth Baggett, Heritage Christian Academy; Morgan C. Murray, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School; Sarah C. Hazelmyer, Trigg Co. Middle School; Shelley L. Traylor, Caldwell Co. Middle School; Taylor Queen, Christian Co. Middle School; Wendy A. Johnson, Hopkinsville Middle School; Andrew Landreth, Caldwell Co. Middle School; Jacob Kyle Langston, North Drive Middle School; Jonathan A. Chavez, Sts. Peter & Paul

Catholic School; Megan Jones, Mahaffey Middle School; Melissa Starks, Trigg Co. Middle School; Molly Ware Stuard, Todd Co. Middle School; Nadeem Ramzi Haroun, Hopkinsville Middle School; Rachel Brown, Heritage Christian Academy; Sarah Elaine Howell, Christian Co. Middle School; Sarah Elizabeth Fields, University Heights Academy; Chelsea Rae Prince, North Drive Middle School; Chris Kirkman, Heritage Christian Academy; Erin Hamilton Oakley, Trigg Co. Middle School; George W. Barnes, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School; Helen G. Crenshaw, Hopkinsville Middle School; Hunter Carroll, Todd Co. Middle School; John Paul Bointnott, Caldwell Co. Middle School; Kalleb Anderson Greene, University Heights Academy; Kelsey Fish, Mahaffey Middle School; Lindsay Elizabeth Gray, Christian Co. Middle School.

These students embody the spirit, commitment, and sacrifice that we all should strive for in our daily lives. The citizens of Kentucky should be proud to have these young men and women in their community. Their example of dedication and hard work should be an inspiration to the entire Commonwealth. I extend my thanks to these students for their efforts, and I am proud to bring their accomplishments to the attention of the Senate.

Mr. President, I pay tribute and congratulate Boneal Incorporated of Means, KY. This company has been named Regional Prime Contractor of the Year for Region IV by the Small Business Administration in Washington, DC.

Boneal has been chosen for this award among companies from Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Boneal is now eligible to win the Small Business Administration's National Prime Contractor of the Year Award, which will be given out during Small Business Week from April 25 to 28.

This is not the first time Boneal has been recognized for its success. In both 2000 and 2001, Boneal received the Quality Supplier Award from the United States Postal Service. In 2002, the company was named ``Kentucky Industry of the Year'' by Associated Industries of Kentucky and received the ``2002 Small Business Administration Award for Excellence.''

The citizens of Kentucky should be proud of this small company. Their success serves as an example of how Kentucky's economy can take off and adjust to the 21st Century. Boneal Incorporated's know-how and hard work should be an inspiration to the business community of the Commonwealth. I wish them continued success in the future.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize nominees for the Regional Academic All-Star Team from the Pennyroyal region in western Kentucky.

The regional Academic All-Star program's purpose is to recognize top academic scholars and performers. Students from Caldwell, Christian, Trigg and Todd Counties of Kentucky were nominated based on their academic performance in seven disciplines: English, foreign language, journalism, mathematics, science, social studies and the creative and performing arts. The students are judged on their core academic score, the curriculum of the student, their grade point average, academic honors earned, unique accomplishments and achievements, extracurricular activities, employment history, and an autobiographical essay.

Education is the foundation upon which we reach our human potential. Students in Kentucky are developing their talents, furthering their education, and pursuing their aspirations in life through programs such as the Academic All-Star program. Encouragement and recognition develop confidence and achievement among young Americans--the future leaders of our country.

The following students have been nominated for their academic excellence:

Griffin Blane, Christian Co. High School; Gregory Kyle Rader, Hopkinsville High School; Ralph King Anderson IV, Trigg Co. High School; Kody Douglas Carpenter, University Heights Academy; Dianne Lisette Rousseau, Caldwell Co. High School; Lauren Whitney Scott, Heritage Christian Academy; Jennifer Renea Fowler, Todd Co. Central High School; Samantha Joy White, Christian Co. High School; Chad Darrel Brown, Todd Co. Central High School; Casey Jo Calhoun, Trigg Co. High School; Bryan Hill, Hopkinsville High School; David Clayton Blake, Heritage Christian Academy; Stephanie Leigh Huntsman, Caldwell Co. High School; Danielle Diane Brown, Heritage Christian Academy; Matthew Wyn Lewis, Hopkinsville High School; Kristin Averitt Dickinson, Todd Co. Central High School; Brittany Nichole Goodenough, Trigg Co. High School; Haylee Laura Lynne Ortiz, Christian Co. High School; Drew Martin Swain, University Heights Academy; Sarah Christine Wilson, Heritage Christian Academy; Marianne Wynn Lassiter, Hopkinsville High School; Amy Beth Shemwell, Todd Co. Central High School; Brandon Bowron, Trigg Co. High School; Jerika Nashea Wilson, Trigg Co. High School; Melissa Nail, Hopkinsville High School; Kathryn Elizabeth Gill, Todd Co. Central High School; Jonathan Christopher Bass, University Heights Academy; Zachary Daniel Ferguson, Christian Co. High School; Erika Elaine MacMillan, Heritage Christian Academy; Ryan David Mullen, University Heights Academy; Andrew Christian Chiles, Hopkinsville High School; Barry Eli Knoblock, Todd Co. Central High School; Paul Thomas Latham, Christian Co. High School; Joshua Allen Fitzhugh, Trigg Co. High School; Sarah Christine Wilson, Heritage Christian Academy; William Matthew Suiter, Todd Co. Central High School; Amy Nicole Adams, Caldwell Co. High School; Norman Bradley Fox, University Heights Academy; Juliana Elyse Patterson, Trigg Co. High School; Robert Kyle Whitaker, Heritage Christian Academy; Pretesh Parmar, Hopkinsville High School; Nicholas Pickford Thompson, Christian Co. High School; Dustin Glynn Kostalek, Hopkinsville High School; Ann Marie Crabtree, Trigg Co. High School; Kelley Lynn Smiley, Christian Co. High School; Meera Ramesh Patel, University Heights Academy; John Hayes Laster, Todd Co. Central High School; Emily Scott, Heritage Christian Academy; Sarah Beth Vied, Caldwell Co. High School.

These students embody the spirit, commitment, and sacrifice that we all should strive for in our daily lives. The citizens of Kentucky should be proud to have these young men and women in their community. Their example of dedication and hard work should be an inspiration to the entire Commonwealth. I extend my thanks to these students for their efforts, and I am proud to bring their accomplishments to the attention of the Senate.

Mr. President, I pay tribute and congratulate Lexington Catholic Girl's Basketball Team, the Lady Knights, who were recently ranked No. 3 in ihigh.com's national ratings, and No. 5 in USA Today's Super 25. The Lady Knights are currently undefeated within their region and will go on to next month to compete within the State for the State championship title. Their recent performance has given Kentucky reason to be proud.

Led by coach Greg Todd, the Ladies Knights are currently ranked No. 1 within their region with a record of 22 to 1. In doing so they have beaten the four highest-ranked regional teams in the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper's Litkenhous Ratings by a combined 70 points.

I cannot think of a much better group of young people to represent Kentucky. As a former Major League Baseball player, I appreciate their athletic excellence. As a U.S. Senator from Kentucky, I appreciate the dignity with which they played.

I am proud to read the names of these teammates into the Congressional Record today. They are Adaeze Azubuike, Anaris Sickles, Briana Green, Keyla Snowden, Katie Scordo, Rebecca Rhule, Lauren Ramsey, Nikki Davis, Ktie Frueh, Chelsey Johnson, Kellie Cash, Natalie Novosel, Ashley Devers, Lesley Server, Elizabeth Elam, Shannon Novosel, and Katie Kissner.

The citizens of Kentucky should be proud of these young ladies. Their example of dedication and hard work should be an inspiration to the entire State. I wish them continued success both on and off the basketball court.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce an important bill that will ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries in all states have access to the services of top-quality podiatric physicians. I am pleased that Senator Mikulski from Maryland is joining me in introducing this bill today.

Having healthy feet and ankles are critical to keeping individuals mobile, productive and in good long-term health. This is particularly true for individuals with diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, over 18 million Americans have diabetes, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in this country. Each year, over 200,000 Americans die from this disease.

If not managed properly, diabetes can cause several severe health problems, including eye disease or blindness, kidney disease and heart disease. Too often, diabetes can lead to foot complications, including foot ulcers and even amputations. In fact, the CDC estimates that 82,000 people undergo an amputation of a leg, foot or toe each year because of complications with diabetes.

Proper care of the feet could prevent many of these amputations. The CDC says that regular exams and patient education could prevent up to 85 percent these amputations.

The bill we are introducing today recognizes the important role podiatrists can play identifying and correcting foot problems among diabetics. The bill amends Medicaid's definition of ``physicians'' to include podiatric physicians. This will ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries have access to foot care from those most qualified to provide it.

Under Medicaid, podiatry is considered an optional benefit. However, just because it is optional, doesn't mean that podiatric services are not needed, or that beneficiaries will not seek out other providers to perform these services. Instead, Medicaid beneficiaries will have to receive foot care from other providers who may not be as well trained as a podiatrist in treating lower extremities.

Also, it is important to note that podiatrists are considered physicians under the Medicare program, which allows seniors and disabled individuals to receive appropriate care.

I urge my colleagues to give careful consideration to this important bill. It will help many Medicaid beneficiaries across the country have access to podiatrists that they need.

Finally, I thank the Senator from Maryland for helping me introduce this legislation today. I hope that by working together we can see this important change made.

Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce an important bill that will ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries in all states have access to the services of top-quality podiatric physicians. I am pleased that Senator Mikulski from Maryland is joining me in introducing this bill today.

Having healthy feet and ankles are critical to keeping individuals mobile, productive and in good long-term health. This is particularly true for individuals with diabetes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, over 18 million Americans have diabetes, and it is the sixth leading cause of death in this country. Each year, over 200,000 Americans die from this disease.

If not managed properly, diabetes can cause several severe health problems, including eye disease or blindness, kidney disease and heart disease. Too often, diabetes can lead to foot complications, including foot ulcers and even amputations. In fact, the CDC estimates that 82,000 people undergo an amputation of a leg, foot or toe each year because of complications with diabetes.

Proper care of the feet could prevent many of these amputations. The CDC says that regular exams and patient education could prevent up to 85 percent these amputations.

The bill we are introducing today recognizes the important role podiatrists can play identifying and correcting foot problems among diabetics. The bill amends Medicaid's definition of ``physicians'' to include podiatric physicians. This will ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries have access to foot care from those most qualified to provide it.

Under Medicaid, podiatry is considered an optional benefit. However, just because it is optional, doesn't mean that podiatric services are not needed, or that beneficiaries will not seek out other providers to perform these services. Instead, Medicaid beneficiaries will have to receive foot care from other providers who may not be as well trained as a podiatrist in treating lower extremities.

Also, it is important to note that podiatrists are considered physicians under the Medicare program, which allows seniors and disabled individuals to receive appropriate care.

I urge my colleagues to give careful consideration to this important bill. It will help many Medicaid beneficiaries across the country have access to podiatrists that they need.

Finally, I thank the Senator from Maryland for helping me introduce this legislation today. I hope that by working together we can see this important change made.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be joining Senator Dodd from Connecticut today in re-introducing the Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2005--also known as the SAAAVE Act-- in the 109th Congress.

This is an important bill that could potentially save the lives of many Medicare beneficiaries. Unfortunately, too many Americans die from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms each year without ever knowing they had this condition. In fact, less than 15 percent of people who have a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm survive.

That is why our bill is so important. The SAAAVE Act would add a new screening benefit to Medicare so that people at risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms could be tested. The test is simple. In fact, it's just an ultrasound test, which is painless, non-invasive and inexpensive.

Medicare beneficiaries found to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm could have surgery if needed or could simply be monitored by their doctors.

Early detection is the key to preventing ruptures of these aneurysms and preventing deaths. In fact, these aneurysms can be successfully treated 95 percent of the time if they are detected before rupturing.

The legislation also includes a national educational and information campaign to get the word out about the health risks associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Too often, those with these aneurysms simply don't know they have one until it ruptures. The educational campaign requires the Department of Health and Human Services to focus their education efforts not only on the general public, but also among health care practitioners as well.

I am pleased we are introducing this bill today, and I look forward to working with my colleague from Connecticut in getting it passed.

Mr. President, I am pleased to be joining Senator Dodd from Connecticut today in re-introducing the Screening Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Very Efficiently Act of 2005--also known as the SAAAVE Act-- in the 109th Congress.

This is an important bill that could potentially save the lives of many Medicare beneficiaries. Unfortunately, too many Americans die from ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms each year without ever knowing they had this condition. In fact, less than 15 percent of people who have a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm survive.

That is why our bill is so important. The SAAAVE Act would add a new screening benefit to Medicare so that people at risk for abdominal aortic aneurysms could be tested. The test is simple. In fact, it's just an ultrasound test, which is painless, non-invasive and inexpensive.

Medicare beneficiaries found to have an abdominal aortic aneurysm could have surgery if needed or could simply be monitored by their doctors.

Early detection is the key to preventing ruptures of these aneurysms and preventing deaths. In fact, these aneurysms can be successfully treated 95 percent of the time if they are detected before rupturing.

The legislation also includes a national educational and information campaign to get the word out about the health risks associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms. Too often, those with these aneurysms simply don't know they have one until it ruptures. The educational campaign requires the Department of Health and Human Services to focus their education efforts not only on the general public, but also among health care practitioners as well.

I am pleased we are introducing this bill today, and I look forward to working with my colleague from Connecticut in getting it passed.

Mr. President, I pay tribute and congratulate West Kentucky Community and Technical College, WKCTC, as one of the finalists for the prestigious Bellwether Award presented by the Community College Futures Assembly. Their recent recognition has given Kentucky reason to be proud.

As one of eight national finalists, WKCTC is recognized for its Realtime Captioning Technology program. This program, which was originally funded by a $475,000 Congressional award, creates a distance-learning format designed to greater prepare individuals for the workplace, while also providing broadcast captioning for the hearing-impaired. With over 28 million deaf and hearing-impaired Americans nationwide, I am sure that you will join me in recognizing the importance of providing such a service.

The Bellweather award was established in 1995 as integral part of the Community College Futures Assembly. This assembly primarily focuses on cutting-edge, trend setting programs, which often run the risk of being replaced at larger colleges.

I hope that you will join me today in both recognizing and congratulating West Kentucky Community Technical College in their recent achievement. They serve as an example to the rest of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I wish them continued success in their program.

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

Mr. President, I rise to support the nomination of Judge Alberto Gonzales to be Attorney General of the United States.

Judge Gonzales is a dedicated public servant and a legal professional who has earned the trust of the President, and he deserves to be confirmed. I have worked personally with Judge Gonzales since he joined the administration, and I have a great deal of respect for him.

In 2001 and 2002, Kentucky had an urgent need to fill several district court vacancies in the eastern district of Kentucky, and Judge Gonzales was very helpful and worked with Senator McConnell and myself to quickly fill those vacancies. This ensured that our courts in Kentucky continued to function and serve the people well.

Judge Gonzales has an impressive and broad legal and public service background. After a distinguished academic career, including a degree from Harvard Law School, Judge Gonzales joined one of Houston's most reputable law firms. His hard work and intelligence helped him quickly to become a partner in that law firm. That feat is even more impressive because he was one of the first two minority lawyers to become a partner in that firm.

He also took time from his private practice to teach law classes at the University of Houston. Judge Gonzales then left behind a well- paying private practice to become general counsel to President Bush when he was Governor of Texas. As general counsel, Judge Gonzales earned the trust and confidence of the Governor, who then appointed him secretary of state. After serving as secretary of state, Judge Gonzales was appointed to the supreme court of the great State of Texas. He heard cases on that court until Governor Bush was elected President and asked Judge Gonzales to serve him as White House Counsel, one of the most important legal jobs in this Nation. That job as White House Counsel became even more important after September 11 when our Government had to rethink our approach to fighting terrorism and terrorists and securing the homeland.

It is clear that Judge Gonzales has strong experience in all legal areas. As a practicing lawyer, he learned the private side of the justice system and what it was like to deal with the Government on a regular basis. As secretary of state and general counsel to the Governor of Texas, he received executive experience and learned management skills that will serve him well as head of the Department of Justice. As a judge, he learned the workings of the third branch of the Government and what the Department will have to confront when dealing with the courts.

Finally, as White House Counsel, Judge Gonzales participated in the creation of our strategies for fighting terrorism and terrorists at home and abroad, and he will carry that vision and experience into our Nation's top law enforcement job.

This is the unique part of the Judge Alberto Gonzales story. It is not just his legal experience and public service; it is also a story of hard work and living the American dream.

Judge Gonzales is the first Hispanic nominated to be Attorney General. This is noteworthy and a great accomplishment, and it reveals not just the greatness of Judge Gonzales's life, but it also reveals the opportunities our country provides to those willing to work hard and dare to achieve.

He was raised as one of eight children of migrant workers who barely spoke English. His parents did not graduate from high school. He began working at age 12 to help the family get by.

College seemed like a distant dream in his youth, so he joined the Air Force. He was then accepted to the Air Force Academy and then moved to Rice University. After that came law school and his distinguished career.

The fact that young Alberto was able to raise himself out of such underprivileged beginnings is a testament to his hard work and values he learned as a child.

It is not easy to graduate from one of America's most admired law schools, even for the children of wealthy or middle-class families. It is also not easy to become a partner in a law firm or to serve in high- ranking Government positions, no matter what your background happens to be. But Judge Gonzales overcame all the hurdles in his past and achieved what few have achieved.

I hope that his story is noticed by all who want to achieve great things in our country. In America, opportunities are boundless, and Alberto Gonzales is proof of that.

I am glad to support Judge Gonzales's nomination to be Attorney General. I may not agree with him on every issue in the future, but I am confident that President Bush has chosen an honorable and distinguished lawyer and public servant whom he can trust to be our Nation's top law enforcement officer.

This is a critical and opportunistic time for America. We need the best of the best to serve in this Cabinet, particularly at the Attorney General level as the chief law enforcement officer in these United States. Judge Alberto Gonzales is that person. I urge my colleagues to support his nomination.

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

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2005. This legislation will help American families break the financial barriers to successfully adopting a child, especially those children with special needs who cannot take care of themselves. By helping to ease this financial burden, we can encourage the development of more stable families and provide a brighter future for thousands of children.

These important goals prompted us to act 4 years ago, when we passed adoption tax incentives in the 2001 tax bill. However, they are set to sunset and will expire on December 31, 2010. I believe it is essential that we support the American family and extend these provisions.

This bill repeals the sunset for adoption tax credits. Specifically, this will allow those Americans who adopt a child to continue to receive a credit in the amount of their qualified expenses and guarantees the maximum $10,000 credit for those who adopt children with special needs. If we fail to act, these credits would revert to $5,000. This legislation also continues the expanded eligibility for adoption assistance programs for those earning up to $150,000, rather than allowing it to fall back to $75,000.

I am pleased that a bipartisan group of Senators has cosponsored this legislation, and that it has been endorsed by the National Council for Adoption. Those children without parents and those parents without children need our help to bring them together. We owe it to them to act now.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2005. This legislation will help American families break the financial barriers to successfully adopting a child, especially those children with special needs who cannot take care of themselves. By helping to ease this financial burden, we can encourage the development of more stable families and provide a brighter future for thousands of children.

These important goals prompted us to act 4 years ago, when we passed adoption tax incentives in the 2001 tax bill. However, they are set to sunset and will expire on December 31, 2010. I believe it is essential that we support the American family and extend these provisions.

This bill repeals the sunset for adoption tax credits. Specifically, this will allow those Americans who adopt a child to continue to receive a credit in the amount of their qualified expenses and guarantees the maximum $10,000 credit for those who adopt children with special needs. If we fail to act, these credits would revert to $5,000. This legislation also continues the expanded eligibility for adoption assistance programs for those earning up to $150,000, rather than allowing it to fall back to $75,000.

I am pleased that a bipartisan group of Senators has cosponsored this legislation, and that it has been endorsed by the National Council for Adoption. Those children without parents and those parents without children need our help to bring them together. We owe it to them to act now.

Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Campbellsville University on receiving a $1 million challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. This school merits the grant through the strengths of its teachers, the board of trustees, the administration and its student life.

Campbellsville University, a small private college of a little over 2,000 students, is situated in South Central Kentucky and affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Its record of superb education has given it a place in U.S. News and World Report's, ``America's Best Colleges'' guide for 12 consecutive years. The Kresge Foundation cited the quality of the school's faculty, growing popularity, excellent facilities, fiscal responsibility, and effective leadership as determinants in the selection process.

A challenge grant is rewarded on the condition that the recipient will raise a certain amount of its own funds before receiving grant money. The Kresge Foundation requests that the University raise nearly $7 million before October 1, 2005 to be awarded the grant. I have no doubt that Campbellsville University will meet the challenge in the way that it has met all others: on time, on target, and with the money.

In considering the effort Campbellsville University puts into educating the future of America, I heartily agree with the Kresge Foundation that they deserve this grant.