Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, the latest unemployment numbers indicate that nearly 106,000 Arkansans are unemployed. This 7.7 percent unemployment rate is higher than when the so-called stimulus passed that President Obama and Majority Leader Reid promised would produce jobs for hard-working Americans. Although this rate is below the national average, the numbers show that out-of-work Arkansans continue to struggle to find gainful employment.

What is more alarming is that the President and the majority here in the Senate are resisting real change and insisting on more of the same borrow, spend, and tax policies that have given us record unemployment and a sluggish economy.

In November, Americans gave a clear sign that job creation needs to be a priority. Unfortunately, the Senate majority and President Obama have failed to prove that this is at the top of the agenda. Time and time again, the Senate and our President add to the uncertainty that is stifling job creation. Commonsense legislation that would create the conditions for job growth is not brought to the floor. It is not because the Senate has more pressing issues. There is no excuse as to why the Chamber avoids voting on legislative and policy items that will provide real relief for the unemployed, such as the stalled free-trade agreements.

As news reports have pointed out over the past several weeks, the business in this body is progressing at a historically slow pace. As the Washington Post reported last week, ``Quorum calls have taken up about a third of its time since January, according to the C-SPAN statistics.''

Americans are tired of the games. They need jobs, and it is our duty to help.

Linda from Mountain Home, AR, recently wrote to me asking the same thing millions of Americans want to know: ``Where are the jobs?'' She continued her e-mail asking what legislation Republicans introduced that will stimulate the economy and create jobs. I want to thank Linda for her letter and let her know my colleagues and I are on the side of the American worker, and that is evident by the legislation we have offered. These practical free market ideas will put Americans back to work, and, like the millions of Americans who are looking for jobs, we are anxious to vote on them and approve these measures.

In February, we introduced the REINS Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. Too often, Federal agencies overstep their boundaries and enact expensive mandates that strangle investment and job creation without congressional approval. This commonsense legislation provides a check and balance between Congress and the executive branch and allows business to focus on growth instead of how to comply with burdensome regulations.

This starts with making changes to unfunded mandates by the Environmental Protection Agency. Unnecessary and burdensome regulations imposed on our businesses cost money and cost jobs. EPA has put a target on America's industrial, manufacturing, and agricultural job creators. Clean air, clean water, and conservation are all very important, but the heavyhanded regulations coming from this EPA have little or nothing to do with clean air or clean water. We are witnessing a Federal bureaucratic power grab on behalf of a radical, job-destroying agenda. These regulations are making food more expensive, energy more expensive, and gasoline more expensive, and they are driving jobs out of our country. Our competitors are taking our jobs and emitting far more pollution into our atmosphere and oceans than we would here in the United States. Again, it is all pain and no gain. As the administration works to drive up the cost of energy, they seem to forget that a prosperous country is a country that can invest in conservation and protect the environment.

The President still wants to blame his predecessor for our sluggish economy and lack of jobs. The blame game won't help the President politically, and it won't help turn our economy around. It is true that President Obama inherited a weak economy, but he made it worse. Before President Obama took office, the Federal Government was carrying out many policies that distorted the market and contributed to the meltdown. In 2008, we were spending too much money and running severe deficits. Now our deficit is three times as big. Sadly, President Obama has made each of our economic problems worse.

I believe it is important to provide American businesses with an equal opportunity to compete and succeed while opening new markets for American products. I strongly believe that when presented with a level playing field, American businesses and workers can outperform any in the world in terms of quality and value.

With three pending trade agreements on the table waiting for approval, we are wasting precious time and resources at our disposal to open foreign markets to U.S. products. The lack of action on the Colombia, Panama, and South Korea agreements is concerning. I believe we need to move forward as quickly as possible to ratify these policies. American companies and their workers are losing market share and are being denied valuable business opportunities. That is why one of the first pieces of legislation I cosponsored as a Member of the Senate was S. Res. 20, legislation that urges this Chamber to consider and approve the pending free-trade agreements with these countries.

On multiple occasions, President Obama expressed support for the implementation of all of these trade agreements in order to reduce our Nation's deficit and create American jobs for American workers. So far, there is still a failure to act on any of these agreements.

Americans deserve legislation that will promote job growth, but one of President Obama's legislative cornerstones, health care reform, actually costs jobs. We were told ObamaCare would create 4 million jobs, but reality tells a different story.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, there will be 750,000 fewer jobs. This legislation is bad for business. That is why we voted to eliminate the onerous 1099 reporting requirements included in this flawed legislation.

I will continue to fight for a full repeal of this law as we seek meaningful health care reform that provides quality, affordable access for all citizens based on free market principles.

The simple truth is there are 14 million Americans out of work and millions more who have been forced into retirement or gave up looking for a job. These 14 million Americans are calling for our help, yet the majority and the administration continue to ignore their pleas.

We have a plan that is ready to move, and the practical free market ideas it is based upon will put Americans back to work. Let's show Linda in Mountain Home and the millions of Americans looking for a job that we are working to change the direction our country is headed and be a job creator.

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

Mr. President, it has been brought to my attention that certain Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities are required to pay a provider tax despite the fact that they provide no beds and no services that are certified under the Medicaid program. Thus, these facilities are paying a tax and receiving no benefit. The Department of Health and Human Services currently provides a waiver for this fee, but the approval for the waiver is not a foregone conclusion. This is costly to those communities who provide for themselves and who do not depend on government programs at all. For these reasons, Senator Mark Pryor and I are introducing this legislation requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve waivers sought by states in relation to Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities which have no beds that are certified to provide medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or that do not provide services for which payment may be made under title XIX of the Social Security Act.

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

Mr. President, it has been brought to my attention that certain Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities are required to pay a provider tax despite the fact that they provide no beds and no services that are certified under the Medicaid program. Thus, these facilities are paying a tax and receiving no benefit. The Department of Health and Human Services currently provides a waiver for this fee, but the approval for the waiver is not a foregone conclusion. This is costly to those communities who provide for themselves and who do not depend on government programs at all. For these reasons, Senator Mark Pryor and I are introducing this legislation requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve waivers sought by states in relation to Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Life Care Communities which have no beds that are certified to provide medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act or that do not provide services for which payment may be made under title XIX of the Social Security Act.

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

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

Mr. President, when word spread that American forces

found and killed Osama bin Laden, Americans gathered at Ground Zero, in New York's Times Square and in front of the White House to celebrate the news. For more than a decade bin Laden had been on the FBI's top ten most wanted list, and the announcement that our military conducted the successful operation in Pakistan filled us with national pride.

After nearly 3,000 Americans died in the September 11 attacks, bin Laden, the plot's mastermind, was named public enemy No. 1. The years following that tragic day, he eluded capture. Justice finally caught up with him, as a result of years of hard work and dedication from the brave men and women in our military and intelligence community. The death of Osama bin Laden allows us to close this chapter of the global war on terror, but it does not mean the end of the threat from al-Qaida or other like-minded organizations. We must remain vigilant, both at home and abroad, in the fight against terrorism.

The fact is, terrorism is not the only major threat to our sovereignty. There is one that lurks much closer to home, born and bred right here in this town. I am speaking about Washington's addiction to spending.

In testimony before Congress, Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said the greatest threat to our sovereignty is not Iran; not al- Qaida; not radical Islam--it is our national debt. Most people don't think of spending in terms of a threat to our sovereignty; and those who do are rarely so blunt. But Admiral Mullen is right. We simply cannot continue to operate at this pace.

This year alone, the Federal Government will spend $3.7 trillion while only collecting $2.2 trillion. Does this sound like responsible budgeting to anyone? The average American family does not have this luxury. If you or I tried to run our household this way, the bank would eventually cut us off. It is time we apply that lesson to Washington. It is time we cut off the government.

This is long overdue. Our national debt stands at a jaw-dropping $14.3 trillion. Foreign holdings account for almost half of these obligations, and much of that is owed to countries that are not always friendly to us. This is the very reason Admiral Mullen sounded the alarm on how big of a security threat our debt has become. Being indebted to countries with ideals, value systems and agendas that are often at odds with ours puts us in a very precarious position.

For example, China owns $1.2 trillion of our debt. The Chinese Government contends that it won't use this liability for political advantage, but the government also claims there are no human rights violations in that country. Clearly, the Chinese Government's word is not a promise we should bank on.

Along with the Chinese, a portion of the list of foreign creditors reads like a ``who's who'' of dictatorial regimes. Iran, Venezuela, Libya make up the rouges gallery of nations that owns some of our debt. These dictatorships, along with other oil exporting nations such as Saudi Arabia--whose role in spreading radical Islam is well documented--come in at No. 4 on the list of foreign creditors. We are currently engaged in an operation with our NATO allies against Qadhafi's regime, yet rely on it in part, no matter how small, to keep our government operational.

This is the problem with our reckless spending. We cannot put ourselves at the mercy of foreign governments. It is irresponsible and dangerous. We must act now to get our spending under control and pay down our debt.

We cannot run a country on a Visa card; nor can we keep kicking the can down the road for future generations to address. Our debt is a national security problem, and this one our brave men and women in uniform cannot save us from. It is up to us to make the tough decisions to get our economic house in order and the time is now to act.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, polls show nearly 80 percent of Americans agree parents should have the legal right to stop an abortion from being performed on their minor daughter. Many States such as Arkansas have enacted laws requiring parental notification, and these laws have proven very effective at the state level. Texas' teen abortion rate has dropped 25 percent since passage of its parental notification law in 2000 and Virginia and South Dakota have had similar results since parental notification laws were passed more than 10 years ago. However without a Federal law parents in those States are not required to be notified when their daughters go out-of-state for an abortion. Also, judges exploit loopholes in state laws by granting ``judicial bypass'' so often times the law is not enforced. The Parental Notification and Intervention Act requires that parents be notified at least four days in advance of any abortion to be performed on their minor daughter and gives them power to stop an abortion from being performed. My colleagues Senators Graham, Risch, Coats, Thune, and Johanns join me in introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Representative Steve King for his support and leadership on the House companion version of the Parental Notification and Intervention Act.

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

Mr. President, polls show nearly 80 percent of Americans agree parents should have the legal right to stop an abortion from being performed on their minor daughter. Many States such as Arkansas have enacted laws requiring parental notification, and these laws have proven very effective at the state level. Texas' teen abortion rate has dropped 25 percent since passage of its parental notification law in 2000 and Virginia and South Dakota have had similar results since parental notification laws were passed more than 10 years ago. However without a Federal law parents in those States are not required to be notified when their daughters go out-of-state for an abortion. Also, judges exploit loopholes in state laws by granting ``judicial bypass'' so often times the law is not enforced. The Parental Notification and Intervention Act requires that parents be notified at least four days in advance of any abortion to be performed on their minor daughter and gives them power to stop an abortion from being performed. My colleagues Senators Graham, Risch, Coats, Thune, and Johanns join me in introducing this important legislation. I would also like to thank Representative Steve King for his support and leadership on the House companion version of the Parental Notification and Intervention Act.

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

Mr. President, traumatic brain injury, TBI, is becoming an increasingly common injury on the modern battlefield. Thankfully, because of advances in medicine, service-members who would not have been expected to survive catastrophic attacks in previous conflicts are returning home today from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with unprecedented severe and complex injuries. Since 2001, over 1,500 service members have suffered from a severe TBI, many of whom require rehabilitative programs ranging from total care for the most basic needs to semi-independent living support. A restrictive approach to rehabilitation puts these wounded warriors at risk of losing any progress they made towards recovery. For this reason, my colleague, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, and I are introducing the Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. I would also like to thank my House colleagues, Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, for their support and leadership on the House companion version of this legislation.

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

Mr. President, traumatic brain injury, TBI, is becoming an increasingly common injury on the modern battlefield. Thankfully, because of advances in medicine, service-members who would not have been expected to survive catastrophic attacks in previous conflicts are returning home today from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan with unprecedented severe and complex injuries. Since 2001, over 1,500 service members have suffered from a severe TBI, many of whom require rehabilitative programs ranging from total care for the most basic needs to semi-independent living support. A restrictive approach to rehabilitation puts these wounded warriors at risk of losing any progress they made towards recovery. For this reason, my colleague, Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, and I are introducing the Veterans' Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services' Improvements Act of 2011. I would also like to thank my House colleagues, Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Rep. Gus Bilirakis of Florida, for their support and leadership on the House companion version of this legislation.

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 order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I rise to express my strong support for the McConnell amendment. This amendment prevents EPA from continuing to reach beyond Congress's clear intent under the Clean Air Act.

Congress did not authorize greenhouse gas regulation under the Clean Air Act. This amendment is an appropriate response to clarify the law that is being misinterpreted. The EPA should not be making policy decisions beyond the authority clearly granted to the Agency by Congress.

Let us remember, last year, Congress rejected the cap-and-trade agenda on a bipartisan basis. The EPA's agenda is a job-destroying agenda. It will raise the price of energy, food, and gasoline. The cost of this policy will be transferred to the people of Arkansas and all Americans every time they shop at the store.

The EPA's agenda will not lead to a cleaner environment. American manufacturing will be hurt, and our manufacturing capacity will be replaced by foreign competitors with weak environmental standards. This amendment will allow individual States to keep existing policies in place by permitting them to regulate emissions as they see fit.

This amendment also enables the EPA to focus on the important purposes of the Clean Air Act, which I strongly support. The Clean Air Act must be used to protect the public from harmful pollution. The Clean Air Act was not intended to address climate change concerns.

Finally, let me address a myth we keep hearing. Some have stated the Supreme Court is forcing the EPA to take this heavy-handed, backdoor, cap-and-tax approach. This is wrong. The Supreme Court stated that the EPA can decide whether greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. Many Senators believe the Supreme Court's interpretation of the law is wrong. Yet EPA made a political decision based on the Court's ruling to expand their jurisdiction far beyond what Congress intended. This amendment will correct that action.

Others have stated this amendment would permanently eliminate the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gases. This is also wrong. No policy is permanent unless it is part of our Constitution, and even the Constitution can be amended. We can enact this amendment and still have a debate in this body about needed policy changes in the future.

Finally, let me quickly address some of the alternatives to this amendment that are being suggested. Some of my colleagues have suggested delaying the EPA's actions by 2 years. Others have suggested that one sector of the economy or another should be exempted from EPA's unnecessary and burdensome rules.

I would suggest these proposals do not provide the cover some Senators want. Bad policy is bad policy whether carried out this year or 2 years from now. Our job creators need certainty. Restraining the EPA for 2 years will not provide the certainty they need to invest and create more jobs. Exempting one sector of the economy is also not enough. There is no excuse for protecting just one sector while watching Americans in other sectors lose their jobs to foreign competitors.

At the moment, our priority must be job creation, protecting our industrial and manufacturing sectors, and keeping gas and food prices low. We must make sure the EPA avoids politically driven initiatives and becomes focused on its core mission: protecting air and water quality and preventing exposure to toxic contamination.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise to speak on the floor of this Chamber for the first time as a Senator. I am honored to have this opportunity to be a voice for Arkansans who want to change the direction our country is headed so that we still have a great nation to leave behind for future generations, just as the greatest generation did for us.

I am eager to carry out the traditions of this body and I am honored to serve alongside my distinguished colleagues. The traditions set forth and established in this Chamber have long been admired and often imitated in governments around the world. The work done here sets an example of how people of different backgrounds and expertise can come together for the betterment of this country. We need to provide results by balancing the budget, cutting the deficit, creating jobs and putting our differences aside to work for the best interests of our country. I am up for the task assigned by the American people.

We are a nation of great thinkers and innovators and I am confident the ideas proposed and debated here will put us on the continued path to success. There is no question that we have faced difficult times in our Nation's history. We have been tried and tested before. We have weathered the storms and have always emerged as a better, stronger country.

The debates and issues we face today are just as challenging as those faced by the men and women who served in this body before us. As the first Republican elected to this Arkansas Senate seat since reconstruction, it is evident that Arkansans and all Americans are anxious for new results with new leaders to move our country into the future.

When I look back at the Senators who have served the great State of Arkansas, I am inspired by their service, dedication and commitment.

Growing up in Fort Smith, in Sebastian County, we were taught at an early age about William Sebastian. At 36, he was the youngest Senator in the 30th U.S. Congress after leading an already distinguished career as a cotton farmer, judge and State legislator.

Hattie Caraway broke the glass ceiling, becoming the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate. She recognized the important role of agriculture to the State and requested a seat on the Agriculture Committee. There is no doubt agriculture is still critical to the State today. My predecessor, Senator Blanche Lincoln, was the first woman to chair the Agriculture Committee and I am pleased to have a seat on that same committee and be part of the debates and discussions as we formulate future agriculture policies.

Throughout history, our State has been represented in this body by a diverse group of men and women who have put Arkansas and America first and I am honored to follow in their footsteps.

Each of these individuals had their generation's crises to address. We have our own as well.

The American people are worried. And rightfully so. Some of them have to check the morning news to see if they still have a job. Still many other able-bodied, ready-to-work Americans have not received a paycheck for months, some for years now.

Between November and December of last year, unemployment rates increased in 72 of the 75 counties in my home State of Arkansas.

And these are not small hits to our communities. A plywood plant in Fordyce, a town of 5,000 closed its doors, displacing almost 350 workers. That is more than 14 percent of the town's population.

It is not any easier in the State's larger cities either. In Fort Smith, Arkansas's second largest city, a leading appliance manufacturer laid off 850 employees last year.

Even our Nation's largest retailer, and Arkansas's largest employer, is not immune to this crisis. The economic downturn forced Wal-Mart to cut hundreds of jobs in its corporate office in Bentonville.

Like much of the rest of our Nation, Arkansas's job creators are nervous. It is hard for a small business owner to invest in their business and create jobs if they are concerned about the negative impact actions in Washington will have on their bottom line.

Given the right tools and circumstances, small business owners can and will create good paying jobs for the people of Arkansas and all Americans. We need to create policies that empower the private sector. That means fostering an environment that promotes economic certainty and encourages growth and innovation.

We can see results of the combined efforts of city, county, State and Federal leaders with Mitsubishi's decision to build a wind-turbine manufacturing plant in Fort Smith. The region's business leaders spent more than a year

competing with more than 60 other U.S. cities to attract Mitsubishi, resulting in as many as 400 new good-paying jobs in the Fort Smith community.

This is how we stimulate the economy.

Unfortunately, instead of taking that approach to creating a business-friendly environment in our communities, Washington's agenda over the past few years has created a climate of uncertainty.

From past experience, I know this hampers the private sector's ability to create jobs.

Before entering public service, I practiced optometry at a clinic my brother-in-law and I started in Rogers, AR. Over the course of 24 years, our little clinic grew from 5 employees to 85 employees and is now a leading provider of eye care in northwest Arkansas. We were able to grow over the years because we could plot our course with some degree of certainty. While no one can see the future, we could, with a fair degree of confidence, understand what our tax burden would be, what our energy costs would be and what our health care costs would be.

What we are hearing today from small business owners and investors is the exact opposite. They are afraid to invest any capital, because they don't know what their taxes will be; afraid to hire another employee because they are nervous about what that does to their health care costs; and afraid to expand until they know how big their energy bill is going to be.

Compound that uncertainty with the excessive spending, and you have a recipe for a disaster. While Americans tighten their belts, they watch in disbelief as Washington throws taxpayer money around with reckless abandonment.

The extent of this problem is documented in a recent report by the Government Accountability Office. The report highlights wasteful spending by revealing a number of duplicative programs within the Federal Government which come with a price tag estimated to be in the billions.

There is simply no room for wasteful spending, especially when much of that money is not ours. Forty cents of every dollar we spend is borrowed, much of which is owed to countries that are not always friendly to us, countries like Saudi Arabia and China, the latter of which now owns more than $1 trillion of our debt.

In testimony before Congress, ADM Mike Mullen said the greatest threat to our sovereignty is not Iran; not al-Qaida; not radical Islam, it is our national debt. He is right. We simply cannot continue to operate at this pace.

We cannot continue to add billions to our already staggering national debt. This year alone, the Federal Government will spend $3.7 trillion while only collecting $2.2 trillion. It does not take an advanced math degree to understand that 3 is greater than 2.

The average American family doesn't have the luxury to spend beyond its means. Their government should not, and does not, either. We must as a nation quit spending money we do not have.

The only way we will get a handle on this situation is to reform the manner in which we budget and allocate Federal dollars. It is time we put mechanisms in place to stop the government from spending beyond its means.

This is why one of the first bills I signed my name onto after taking the oath of office was Senator Richard Shelby's balanced budget amendment. Senator Shelby has been a champion on this front for a number of years, introducing this bill every session of Congress since 1987. Imagine what the country would look like if it had passed when he first proposed it. Now, more than ever, it is an idea that's time has come and I look forward to working with the Senator from Alabama to get some sort of spending cap like a balanced budget amendment passed.

This is a catalyst for change. It holds us to spending limits and forces changes in the manner in which taxpayer money is allocated.

We are at a crossroads in our country. We cannot keep kicking the can down the road. The ``tax, borrow, spend'' philosophy is not creating jobs; it is only creating more debt for our children and grandchildren.

We owe it to the generations of Americans who have made sacrifices in order for our country to prosper and that means working together to solve our problems.

No matter what political views we hold, at the end of the day we are all Americans who are committed to seeing our country succeed.

As a child, I learned that commitment from my dad who retired as a master sergeant in the Air Force. He followed in the steps of his dad who served in the Armed Forces during World War I and World War II.

We have a great ability through the power of this office that allows us to help Americans with issues they are facing. For our veterans who return home, a Senate office can be a huge resource. That is what helped my mom's dad when he returned home at the end of WWI. After surviving being gassed as the war wound down, his lungs did not function properly and he reached out to Senator Davis to help him with his disability.

Today, as our servicemembers return from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, we have the same responsibilities to the men and women who fight for our freedoms and interests of our country.

No matter what major legislative crisis we are facing, we have a responsibility to these brave men and women. And the debates that take place in this body are no doubt of great importance, but so is each constituent who is having trouble with a Federal agency. In some cases, we are their last resort to overcome a major obstacle in their lives and each and every case that comes before us must be given our undivided attention.

When I was first elected to Congress as a Member of the House in 2001, former Congressman John Paul Hammerschmidt, who represented the Third District of Arkansas for 26 years, gave me some excellent advice. He said: ``John, always remember, now that the election is over, there are no more Republicans, no more Democrats, only the people of Arkansas and you need to take care of them.'' That is the key to good governing and good public service. Nobody embodied that more than John Paul. He was and is a dedicated public servant and has been a wonderful mentor during my time on Capitol Hill.

I think Arkansas's new congressional delegation is going to make John Paul proud. Certainly our senior Senator Mark Pryor has embodied John Paul's mantra of taking care of the people of Arkansas. I have enjoyed working with Senator Pryor while serving the third district of Arkansas and appreciate his leadership. I believe our delegation, working together, will be able to make a difference for the people of Arkansas and for our Nation.

The Senators who served Arkansas before Senator Pryor and myself and those who have sat at these very desks understood their desk never belonged to them personally. It has always belonged to the American people. My name, carved in the desk, will always remind me that I am here to serve them. I am humbled and honored that the people of Arkansas have selected me to work from this desk for the next 6 years, and I will never forget why. I am here to be their voice, address their needs, and help tackle the great challenges we face as a nation. I look forward to working with each and every one of my colleagues to accomplish our mutual goals to keep our country on the path of prosperity.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I honor the men and women of the 188th Fighter Wing for their dedication, perseverance and commitment to excellence.

The 188th--based in Fort Smith, AR--recently received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, AFOUA, for their accomplishments over a 2-year period, beginning in October 2008 and concluding in September 2010.

During that time, the 188th logged over 2,700 combat hours while staged in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. During the award period, the 188th also deployed 141 members for Expeditionary Combat Support for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as well as other contingency operations worldwide. The unit had an exceptional score on their Air Combat Command Unit Compliance Inspection in 2009, acing 534 of 537 inspected areas.

Perhaps the most amazing and inspiring part of this story was that just a few years ago, the 188th was slated to lose its flying mission. The 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, BRAC, recommended that the 188th be stripped of its flying mission and of their F-16 Falcons. The community rallied, and instead of losing its flying mission, the 188th earned a new one--the Flying Razorbacks emblem now emblazons A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs.

The unit quickly transitioned to the A-10s, beginning in 2007, before deploying approximately 300 Airmen and 6 of

its Warthogs for an Air Expeditionary Forces rotation to Kandahar in 2010. The 188th never missed a mission tasking while in Kandahar.

The AFOUA recognizes the extent of the challenges the men and women of the 188th overcame in the past few years. The 188th Fighter Wing truly is a Phoenix that rose from the ashes.

Authorized by Department of the Air Force General Order 1, January 6, 1954, the AFOURA is awarded by the Secretary of the Air Force to numbered units that have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service or outstanding achievement that clearly sets the unit above and apart from similar units.

Mr. President, the 188th not only met the criteria for the AFOUA but eclipsed it. As a Senator, and a Fort Smith-native, words cannot say how proud I am of the members of the 188th for their accomplishments. Nor are words enough to express how grateful I am, as an American, for their service. We thank them, and all our servicemen and women, for their sacrifice and efforts on our behalf.

Mr. President, I rise to honor the life of one of America's bravest killed in action in Afghanistan--CPL Loren M. Buffalo--a fallen hero who served our Nation in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Corporal Buffalo, 20, of Mountain Pine, AR, was by all accounts, driven by a call to serve his country and strong sense of civic duty.

The son of an Arkansas National Guardsman and the grandson of a World War II veteran, Corporal Buffalo joined the Army in 2009, just after graduating from Mountain Pine High School. His father, Cecil Buffalo, told The Sentinel-Record, that he knew his son wanted to serve his country all the way back in junior high. Mr. Buffalo said his son was a ``strong-hearted all-American boy'' who ``loved his country and wanted to serve it.''

In Mountain Pine, Corporal Buffalo is remembered as a young man who would make the best out of any situation. One of his mentors said that Corporal Buffalo ``was 100 percent about community.'' During his teenage years, Corporal Buffalo undertook a number of projects honoring and supporting our Nation's veterans.

Beyond a life of service, Corporal Buffalo enjoyed making music. A multitalented musician, Mr. Buffalo said his son could play the guitar, drums, bass and ``just about anything you put in his hand.''

Corporal Buffalo was assigned to B Troop, 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division based out of Fort Campbell, KY. According to initial reports, he died from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his dismounted patrol in Kandahar. He received multiple medals for service, including a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

Corporal Buffalo made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. I ask my colleagues in the Senate to join me in honoring his life and legacy. I ask that we all keep his family, fellow soldiers and friends in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. He is a true American hero.

Mr. President, like many Arkansans, I am very concerned about the administration's proposal to cut $6,288,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FWS, National Fish Hatchery Operations, where the production of fish is for the purpose of mitigating the effects of Federal water development projects. Under this proposal, several National Fish Hatcheries, including the Greers Ferry and Norfork National Fish Hatcheries in Arkansas, are scheduled to lose their FWS funding. The reliability of alternative mechanisms to provide Federal funding for the operation of FWS mitigation hatcheries is currently uncertain.

I am working with the Arkansas delegation and the administration to preserve the ongoing responsibility of FWS to fund and operate the National Fish Hatcheries at Norfork and Greers Ferry Dams, and to make sure we ``allow the investment in these hatcheries to continue to contribute to the economic vitality'' of Arkansas communities and our country.

Accordingly, I ask unanimous consent to have the Arkansas House Resolution No. 1014 of 2011, which was adopted in its entirety on February 24, 2011, by the Arkansas House of Representatives, printed in the Record.