Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 563, S. 3661.

I ask unanimous consent the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the committee-reported amendment, as amended, be agreed to, the bill as amended be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 4001, introduced earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to an immediate en bloc consideration of the following bills: Calendar No. 393 to 400, 403 to 410, 420, 533, and 584.

Mr. President, I respectfully ask the Senator from Oklahoma if I could do the other two pending unanimous-consent requests and then allow the Senator from Oklahoma to speak for 15 minutes; and then, after that allow either Senator Cornyn or Senator Leahy, or both, along with myself, to speak on the previously agreed to bill for up to 15 minutes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that we finish the unanimous-consent requests that have been cleared on both sides, that there be speakers recognized in the following order: Senator Coburn, Senator Chambliss, Senator Conrad, and a Republican slot; further, that Senator Cornyn and Senator Leahy and myself be allowed to have 15 minutes following that to discuss legislation previously passed.

Mr. President, I amend my unanimous-consent request to put Senator Dorgan following the Republicans.

That is correct.

I object.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous-consent that the two agreed-to energy en bloc requests be granted first; following that, Senator Coburn for 15 minutes, Senator Chambliss for 10 minutes, Senator Conrad for up to 30 minutes, a Republican slot for 10 minutes, and Senator Dorgan for 20 minutes. I need to also have time reserved for Senator Leahy, Senator Cornyn, and myself following that order for up to 30 minutes.

It would be approximately an hour and half before that would occur unless there would be a unanimous consent agreement that the colloquy could be moved up.

Mr. President, I amend my unanimous consent to allow us to do the two energy en banc requests that have been agreed to by both sides; Senator Cornyn and Senator Leahy for up to 5 minutes; Senator Coburn for 15 minutes; Senator Chambliss for 10 minutes; Senator Conrad for up to 30 minutes; a Republican slot for 10 minutes; Senator Dorgan for 20 minutes; and Senator Hutchison for 15 minutes.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate en bloc consideration of the following bills: Calendar Nos. 393 to 400, 403 to 410, 420, 533, and 584.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendments at the desk be agreed to; the committee-reported amendments as amended, if amended, be agreed to; the bills as amended, if amended, be read a third time and passed en bloc; the resolution be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Energy Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4841 and H.R. 3085, and the Senate proceed to their immediate consideration en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bills, as amended, if amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 203) to reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced, to establish certain National Heritage Areas, and for other purposes.

The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate concur in the House amendment and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I would like to talk a little bit about S. 3661 because I am the sponsor of the legislation and have worked for 12 years to try to explain the Wright amendment to every interested party in Congress. It is so important to North Texas, to DFW Airport, and Love Field that we have an agreement, a plan to move forward beyond the Wright amendment in a way that is going to increase competition immeasurably.

Most people do not realize the history of the Wright amendment. When DFW Airport was forced on the cities of Dallas and Ft. Worth by a Federal mandate, the cities made agreements with airlines that DFW Airport would be the only functioning major airport in the region. It was to be the international airport, and Love Field was to be closed. After litigation, Love Field was allowed to be an intrastate airport. The Wright amendment later opened Love Field to serve the contiguous States, but that became untenable as aviation traffic continued to grow. The Wright amendment was very confining and was not the best competitive situation.

There have been many attempts to expand the Wright amendment. There have also been attempts to repeal the Wright amendment. Many in Congress asked the mayors of the two cities to come up with a local solution, rather than have Congress once again pass legislation that may or may not take into consideration the interests of the people who live and work and pay taxes in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The mayors did just that.

Mayor Laura Miller and Mayor Mike Moncrief, the mayors of Dallas and Ft. Worth, did an incredible job. They came together and made an agreement. Cities can make agreements. Under State law, cities can make agreements and there is never an antitrust issue when cities make agreements.

The antitrust issue was raised because two airlines became part of the agreement. The cities brought them in because lease agreements that were in place with those air carriers were going to have to be compromised, they were going to have to be changed and broken.

Instead of pursuing condemnation, the parties were brought together to

get a consensus of their willingness to give up some rights in order to settle this once and for all and open competition both at Love Field and at DFW Airport.

The cities did a great job. They made an agreement and they brought it to Congress. I have felt since the beginning, it was Congress's responsibility to take that agreement, ratify it and mandate that the agreement be kept in its entirety because it is so balanced. And if you did away with the Wright amendment, but you did not have the 20 gate limit and the implementation of the 20 gates, it could have gone out of balance.

So this act, regardless of anything else that has been said, authorizes, mandates, and protects all aspects of performance of the legislation's terms, including that the city of Dallas reduce and allocate gates according to this act, its contractual obligations as contemplated by the act, and the local compromise and the balance it has achieved.

This legislation will allow the DFW Metroplex to end decades of bitterness and infighting that have plagued the Wright amendment. It provides a solution that all parties affected have agreed to. And just about every party to this agreement has given something up for the good of the North Texas economy and the traveling public.

We can now move forward to allow immediate benefits to consumers and the traveling public because airline prices are going to go down when this bill is passed. Actually, the bill has already passed. I am very pleased to say it has passed the Senate. It is going to the House now. And you will see, when the bill becomes law, that the prices of tickets from Dallas Love Field are going to go down to every destination. That is going to increase competition and interest in flying, which is going to be good for everyone.

Mr. President, I have a letter that was sent to four of the ranking members and committee chairs on September 28, 2006. It is addressed to Senator Specter, Senator Leahy, Congressman Sensenbrenner, and Congressman Conyers. And it is from the mayor of Dallas and the mayor of Fort Worth. I ask unanimous consent it be printed in the Record. It tells the history of the Wright amendment and how competition will be increased.

A lot of people--so many people--helped put this agreement together and hammer out the differences and views on the issues. We heard today that Senator Leahy has one view. Senator Cornyn has a view. I have a view. Just about everybody in Congress who has dealt with this issue has a view.

But I think the law we are passing speaks for itself. The law is very clear in what it instructs the city of Dallas to do, as well as the FAA and the Department of Transportation in implementing this agreement. I think it is a major piece of legislation that is absolutely right.

I agree with Senator Leahy and Senator Cornyn that this is not going to set a precedent. It is a unique situation that was brought on by a Federal mandate and then a Federal law. And the local community has had less input into its own aviation capabilities than maybe any other two major cities in America with major airports. I think today we have clarified the Wright amendment, and I do not think it is ever going to set a precedent because no other airport has a Wright amendment.

So as we phase it out gradually, in an orderly way, to protect the integrity of the DFW Airport, as well as increasing competition in both DFW and Love Field, this is, for the taxpayers and the consumers and the traveling public, a win all the way around.

I want to thank a few people because no one could have passed this bill alone. It took so much cooperation and so many things that were necessary to bring everyone together.

I thank Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye, the chairman and ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction, the Commerce Committee. I could not have asked for more help. The bill passed out of the Commerce Committee 21 to 1. Senator Rockefeller was the only one who voted no, but he could not have been more accommodating and honorable in his objection. Once we passed the bill out of committee, we worked with him to make sure he was a part of everything we did. He has been wonderful to work with.

I thank Senator Specter and Senator Leahy, who had concerns on the Judiciary Committee. I thank Senator Burns, Senator Frist, Senator Reid, Senator Ensign, Senator McCain, former Speaker Jim Wright, who also agrees the time has come to have an orderly repeal of the amendment that he put in place, and, of course, Senator Cornyn. I also want to say Senator Sununu was just a gentleman in these last couple of days to help us in the ultimate solution of this bill.

I want to say that staff people, who are pro-progress, who have innovation, and are willing to work so hard--which staff people in this Senate do on such a routine basis--I am so appreciative and so respectful of them. I want to mention a couple because without them we would never have gotten this done.

I thank Lisa Sutherland, Christine Kurth, Ken Nahagian, Sam Whitehorn, Jarrod Thompson, Gael Sullivan, and James Reid on the Commerce Committee. Every one of them had an immense impact on this legislation. I thank Harold Kim, Joe Jacquot, and Ivy Johnson, from Senator Specter's staff; J.P. Dowd, Susan Davies, and Ed Pagano from Senator Leahy's staff;--all who were incredible and so helpful.

I want to take a moment to say that Senator Durbin and Senator Schumer also helped in many of the negotiations on this issue. Senator Lott was there from the very beginning.

But I also want to take a moment of personal privilege about my staff. I have never seen such dedication on such a tough issue as James Christoferson, Matthew Acock, Lindsey Dickinson, Dick Ribbentrop, and Marc Short made in contributing to this victory for my constituents in Texas. These five people worked on this bill, this negotiation, on a daily basis for the last 6 months. There was never a day when we did not have some item that we were trying to move forward to get this bill to the point that we could pass it on the Senate floor. I think the people of Texas owe a great deal of gratitude to these dedicated members of my staff for never giving up, even when it was bleak from time to time, and being as dedicated as I was to making sure the right result for all parties to this agreement became a part of the solution.

When you work on something for so long, and you know how important it is, and how many people are counting on you, you just feel honorbound to do your best to make sure the people who have worked hard are rewarded. When Mayor Miller and Mayor Moncrief

made this agreement, and when they got the support they needed from the DFW Airport, from American Airlines, and from Southwest Airlines-- because their rights were affected--everybody gave a little in order to do good for the populace.

I know in the coming years the traveling public in the North Texas area--in and out--are going to see the benefits of a great competitive atmosphere. The DFW Airport gives the greatest service. They are the mid-country airport that really is the stopping off point for so many travelers going to the rest of the world. That is going to increase, and it is going to increase with lower fares and more convenience. It is going to be more convenient even with the safety antiterrorism measures that are being taken, which we know can inconvenience the traveling public.

DFW Airport is going to be the long-haul service carrier that will be the window to the world for people who live in the middle part of our country. Love Field is going to be a dynamic, limited-use airport because it sits right in the middle of an area that is full of wonderful neighborhoods, schools, churches, and businesses. The right of the city of Dallas to protect the citizens who live in the area is well recognized in the law, and they are invoking it. The city is doing a great job of making sure we have more competition and better fares. Love Field, while a dynamic airport sitting in the middle of a neighborhood, also deserves the safety and the environmental protections of all of our citizens.

So, Mr. President, I thank you for the time. I am very pleased this bill has passed. I look forward to seeing the benefits.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I wish to voice my strong support for efforts to secure our Nation's borders, which remain porous. We must immediately address this threat to our national security and make certain that we allow local officials greater involvement as they work with the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding the location of border fencing.

I have consistently supported and voted in favor of border security efforts--such as the installation of reinforced fencing in strategic areas where high trafficking of narcotics, unlawful border crossings, and other criminal activity exists. I have also supported installing physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors where necessary.

Throughout our debate on comprehensive immigration reform, I have stressed the need to secure our Nation's borders--not only our southwest border with Mexico, but also our northern border with Canada, our maritime borders, coastlines and ports of entry. We must secure our borders first, but we must also work toward a comprehensive solution that addresses the needs of commerce and our economy.

The Secure Fence Act of 2006 is needed, and serves as our downpayment with the American people on what we must do to address border security--so that we can then move forward to address comprehensive immigration reform.

To this date, we have hired, trained, deployed 11,300 Border Patrol agents, ended catch and release, accelerated the deportation process, and expanded the number of beds in detention centers to almost 23,000.

We have also provided an additional $1.9 billion in immediate funding for border security to cover the first 1,000 of 6,000 new Border Patrol agents who will be deployed in the next 2 years. These funds will assist with the temporary deployment of up to 6,000 National Guard troops aiding the Border Patrol with surveillance and logistics.

I will continue to champion border security measures and strongly support the efforts of my colleagues to strengthen our southwest border--protecting our citizens from threats of terrorism, narcotic trafficking, and other unlawful entries. However, I am concerned about Congress making decisions about the location of the border fencing without the participation of State and local law enforcement officials working with the Secretary of Homeland Security. These locations should not be dictated by Congress.

Our border States have borne a heavy financial burden from illegal immigration and their local officials are on the front lines. Their knowledge and experience should not be ignored. Texas shares approximately one-half of the land border between the United States of America and the Republic of Mexico. As such, State and local officials in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas should not be excluded from decisions about how to best protect our borders with their varying topography, population, and geography.

Local officials in my home State of Texas--particularly in the areas of El Paso, Del Rio to Eagle Pass, and Laredo to Brownville--cited in the underlying bill, will not have an opportunity to participate in decisions regarding the exact location of fencing and other physical infrastructure near their communities. Because the time constraints imposed by the pending adjournment will not permit a resolution of this very important issue at this time, I asked for, and received, a commitment from our Senate majority leader and the Speaker of the House of Representatives promising to address these concerns.

The letter addressed to the chairs of the Senate and House Committees on the Judiciary and Homeland Security states that prior to adjournment of the 109th Congress, we will act on this issue.

Ours is a nation of laws and we must be a nation of secure borders. I stand ready to work with my colleagues to enact meaningful legislation in this session of Congress that addresses border security first and that ensures our local communities will be involved in the decisions that have such a dramatic impact on the lives of their constituents. I appreciate the commitments of our Senate leader and the Speaker and look forward to working with them on this important issue.

In addition, I have been given a separate letter on this subject from Leader Frist, and I ask unanimous consent that both of these letters be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to GEN Michael W. Hagee, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, as he prepares to relinquish the helm of the Corps and retire to private life after more than 38 years of selfless service to our Nation as a U.S. Marine.

Mike Hagee was well prepared for leadership. Raised in Fredericksburg, TX, as the son of a Navy veteran, General Hagee received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. After graduating with distinction, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1968. General Hagee also holds a master of science degree in electrical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, a master of arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

General Hagee is a Marine's marine. As a battle-tested infantry officer, he served as an infantry platoon and company commander in Vietnam, a battalion commander, Marine expeditionary unit commander, and as the commanding general of the First Marine Division and the First Marine Expeditionary Force. From the fire-swept rice paddies of Vietnam to Operation Iraqi Freedom, his keen vision and steadfast leadership have set the standard for future generations of marines. In addition to these commands, General Hagee's professional career has included a wide variety of other command and staff assignments including two tours of duty instructing at the U.S. Naval Academy and a tour in the Office of the Director of Central Intelligence.

General Hagee's impeccable service and brave leadership are also reflected in the awards he has received throughout his career. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with palm, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars, Bronze Star with Combat ``V,'' Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Gold Star, Navy Achievement Medal with one Gold Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal.

In early 2003, General Hagee became the 33rd Commandant of a Marine Corps that was fully engaged in the global war on terror. Since then, many of us in these Chambers have had the privilege to work with General Hagee on matters of great importance to our Nation's defense. The Marine Corps' professionalism, adaptability, and excellence as they operate across the full spectrum of conflict are a testament to his vision and exemplary leadership.

I know that a grateful Nation shares my admiration for the general--a courageous leader whose discerning wisdom and deep sense of duty have been a linchpin to the security of this Nation during a truly challenging time--we have been fortunate in having him as the Commandant of our Corps of Marines. I am confident that my colleagues join me in expressing the gratefulness of the U.S. Senate, as well as thanking his wife Silke and their children for the years they have shared him with his country. Godspeed, General Hagee we wish you well.

Mr. President, I would like to take this moment to honor a dear friend and great legend who passed away on September 26, 2006. Byron Nelson leaves behind a legacy as the ``lord'' of golf and a true gentleman, and he will be dearly missed.

Byron Nelson was born to a cotton farmer on February 4, 1912, in Long Branch, TX. At the age of 10, his golf career began as a caddy at the Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth. While at Glen Garden, Byron sharpened his skills and put them to the test in a number of competitions, even beating out another future golf legend, Ben Hogan, in a caddy tournament in 1927.

Facing the labor shortages of the Great Depression, Byron decided to turn professional in 1932 at the young age of 22. By 1937, he had won his first Masters. In his 14 years as a professional, Byron won 54 sanctioned tournaments, including the Masters in 1937 and 1942, the U.S. Open in 1939, and the PGA Championship in 1940 and 1945.

As a hemophiliac, Byron was excused from military service during World War II, which allowed him time to perfect his game. In 1944, he won 13 of the 23 tournaments he played, and in the following year won a record 18 times in 31 starts. During his record season of 1945, Byron reached what is widely considered the least attainable record in golf: an astounding 11 victories in a row with a season scoring average of 68.33.

In 1946, Byron retired from the game of golf to his 673-acre ranch in Roanoke, TX. A true Texan, Byron had said throughout his career that his incentive for playing well was that he ``could see the prize money going into the ranch, buying a tractor, or a cow.''

In 1974, he was rewarded by the golfing community for his efforts on the course by being elected as an inaugural inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Always humble about his talent for the game of golf, Byron once said, ``I know a little about golf. I know how to make stew. And I know how to be a decent man.'' Byron Nelson will not only be remembered for his golf game, but also for his graciousness and humility. Through his involvement, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship has raised over $94 million for the Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers, which has contributed more money for charity than any other event on the PGA Tour. Additionally, since 1983, the Byron and Louise Nelson Golf Endowment Fund has provided over $1.5 million in endowment funds to Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas.

Today we honor Byron Nelson and his outstanding achievements both on and off the golf course. My prayers go out to his wife, Peggy, and the Nelson family.

Mr. President, I rise today to submit a bipartisan resolution recognizing the contributions of Hispanic Serving Institutions, and the 20 years of educational endeavors provided by The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Today, there are currently 202 Hispanic Serving Institutions in the United States enrolling nearly half of all Hispanic students in college. I take pride in noting that The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities was founded in my home state of Texas. From its beginning in the City of San Antonio, the Association has grown from 18 colleges and universities to now recognizing more than 400 United States colleges and universities as Hispanic Serving Institutions, associate members, and partners.

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities strives to promote academic success for Hispanic students in higher education. This aspiration is continually met in the United States as the Association is the only national education entity that represents Hispanic Serving Institutions. Though focused on the U.S., the Association is also pursuing this goal of high standards in education by expanding even beyond our borders to 45 colleges and universities in Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

Education offers greater opportunity for every individual, and I commend the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities for their work in developing and enhancing Hispanic Serving Institutions in order to provide a quality higher education experience for Hispanics and other students who attend these institutions.

Mr. President, how much time is remaining on our side for morning business?

Mr. President, I will take such time as I may consume, but I will be perfectly willing to vitiate our time if we are going to a cloture vote that was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. I will go with the flow.

Mr. President, there has been so much in the news since last Sunday regarding parts of a National Intelligence Estimate that was put out in a major American newspaper. The leaked report has been the subject of much discussion, supposedly saying that the war in Iraq is hurting the chances of our stopping the terrorist attacks on ourselves and other freedom-loving nations.

Yesterday, the President said he believed it was very important, rather than just having the leaked portions of the National Intelligence Estimate available to the public, to have the whole document be out in the public forum. Within a matter of hours, the President declassified the Key Judgments of the National Intelligence Estimate so that everyone in America--and indeed in the world--would be able to see the full text of the Key Judgments, which was an internal, classified document that was meant to assess the threats, the global threats from terrorists to ourselves and other western nations, or other democracies around the world.

I think it is so important that we get the full report out there. The Key Judgments are on the Web for everyone to see. Anyone with a computer or a FAX machine can get these Key Judgments. I think what it does is show, clearly, that what the President is trying to do, and what our strategy in America is, is the right one; that is, that we must continue to pursue the terrorists without equivocation, without a lessening in commitment, without any hesitancy. We must go after these terrorists, who are inhuman, who have no standards of any moral framework, and we must not be diffident in our efforts to wipe them out before they attack Americans and other freedom-loving people in the world--indeed, innocent women, children, and men who are being slaughtered daily with suicide bombs and kidnappings and beheadings.

Secondly, the major point that the President is trying to make--and most of us in Congress agree with--is that we need to have a very long term commitment to help bring freedom to the people who are living under the regimes that treat women as if they are subhuman, that treat their own people who might be of a different sect as if they are lesser people, or because I am a Sunni and you are a Shiite, or I am a Kurd and you are a Sunni--any of those combinations. They are treating each other with the same violence, and inhumane treatment as they do with Americans.

Mr. President, I think if you look at the entire report, you will see that the strategy of cut and run is not the way to wipe out the terrorists. The President's strategy is not to treat terrorists with kid gloves. The President's strategy is to go on the offensive to bring terrorists to justice. The President's strategy is to also work with the innocent people in the Middle East so they can have freedom, they can have democracy, they can have a quality of life that would make their children want to live, rather than blow themselves up in order to kill innocent people. And it is to confront the terrorists with the same determination that they bring to their assault on freedom. We must treat them with absolute clarity--that we will not give up the defense of freedom and be dictated to by people who do not even treat their own people with humanity, and who treat women as if they are not human beings.

Mr. President, I want to talk about some specific parts of the report. I want to put in the Record some of the significant Key Judgments that I have not seen reported in the press. Here are some of the key parts of the report under the ``Key Judgments'' section of the National Intelligence Estimate:

United States-led counterterrorism efforts have seriously

damaged the leadership of al-Qaida and disrupted its

operations; however, we judge that al-Qaida will continue to

pose the greatest threat to the Homeland and U.S. interests

abroad by a single terrorist organization. We also assess

that the global jihadist movement . . . is spreading and

adapting to counterterrorism efforts.

Greater pluralism and more responsive political systems in

Muslim majority nations would alleviate some of the

grievances jihadists exploit. Over time, such progress,

together with sustained, multifaceted programs targeting the

vulnerabilities of the jihadist movement and continued

pressure on al-Qa'ida could erode support for the jihadists.

That is saying in the internal document that pursuing democracies, freedom, and self-governance is one of the ways that we will be able to eventually erode the al-Qaida terrorist network and other terrorist networks with which we are not even yet familiar. So it is verifying that education and the attempt to bring self-governance to the Middle Eastern countries that do not have it is the right approach.

It goes on to say:

We assess that the global jihadist movement is

decentralized, lacks a coherent global strategy, and is

becoming more diffused. New jihadist networks and cells, with

anti-American agendas, are . . . likely to emerge. . . .

We assess that the operational threat from self-radicalized

cells will grow in importance

to U.S. counterterrorism efforts, particularly abroad but

also in the Homeland.

The jihadists regard Europe as an important venue for

attacking Western interests. Extremist networks inside the

extensive Muslim diasporas in Europe facilitate recruitment

and staging for urban attacks, as illustrated in the 2004

Madrid bombings and the 2005 London bombings.

The report goes on to say:

We assess that the Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation

of terrorist leaders and operatives; perceived jihadist

success there--

In Iraq--

would inspire more fighters to continue the struggle

elsewhere.

The Iraq conflict has become the ``cause celebre'' for

jihadists, breeding a deep resentment of U.S. involvement in

the Muslim world. . . . Should jihadists leaving Iraq

perceive themselves, and be perceived, to have failed, we

judge fewer fighters will be inspired to carry on the fight.

Let me reemphasize what they are saying in their estimate. Should the terrorists be perceived as failing, they would have fewer recruits for their continued terrorist activities.

The report goes on to say:

Concomitant vulnerabilities in the jihadist movement have

emerged that, if fully exposed and exploited, could begin to

slow the spread of the movement. They include dependence on

the continuation of Muslim-related conflicts, the limited

appeal of the jihadists' radical ideology, the emergence of

respected voices of moderation, and criticism of the violent

tactics employed against mostly Muslim citizens.

The jihadists' greatest vulnerability is that their

ultimate political solution--an ultra-conservative

interpretation of shari'a-based governance spanning the

Muslim world--is unpopular with the vast majority of Muslims.

Exposing the religious and political straitjacket that is

implied by the jihadists' propaganda would help to divide

them from the audiences they seek to persuade.

Recent condemnations of violence and extremist religious

interpretations by a few notable Muslim clerics signal a

trend that could facilitate the growth of a constructive

alternative to jihadist ideology: peaceful political

activism.

That is exactly what the strategy of the United States has been. It is not a strategy that can be pursued on a short-term basis. Education and enlightenment is a very long-term strategy and the Muslim clerics now stepping up to denounce violence against other Muslims is exactly what we are seeing emerge. As this National Intelligence Estimate has revealed these developments are the beginning of how we can make a difference.

The report goes on to say:

If democratic reform efforts in Muslim majority nations

progress over the next five years, political participation

probably would drive a wedge between intransigent extremists

and groups willing to use the political process to achieve

their local objectives.

I did not read all of the Key Judgments into the Record. I did read excerpts because I think the strategy of America today is a strategy that is being borne out by the report, which is the opposite of what the leaks purported to say; that our efforts in Iraq are undermining the Global War on Terrorism. When in fact, with regard to the situation in Iraq, it is actually essential for us to win in order to keep our commitment, in order to show that America will stand strong when the times are tough, and they are tough. To show that we will stand against these terrorists is the most important thing we can do, and that is our strategy.

We should not be undercut by leaks that will undermine that strategy. We must be united as a Congress, as the President is trying to do, in saying that we must do the right thing, we must keep our commitments, we cannot cut and run because times are tough. We must admit that times are tough. We must admit that this has been one of the most difficult times in our history. But we must continue to be vigilant because, according to the report, if we are perceived as weak, if we are perceived as leaving because we are defeated rather than leaving after we have kept our word and are the victors in freeing the Iraqi people to have self-governance, then the jihadists, the terrorists, the networks, about which we don't even know yet, will be emboldened to come forward and hurt Americans in our homeland, as well as wherever they see a perceived weakness in the defenses of the people.

I think the President of the United States did the right thing yesterday by immediately declassifying this document because if people will take the time to read it in its totality, people will see that it verifies the strategy in the short term of standing firm against these terrorists to show that we will not buckle, we will not cut and run, we will not be divided as a nation in our commitment to freedom and preservation of our society, and the long-term strategy of taking the time and the patience and the effort to work with the Muslim clerics and the Muslim leaders who are willing to stand up, who are willing to risk their lives for the future of their civilization and say violence against Muslims or other people who have not harmed us is wrong.

That is what we are doing, and it is the right strategy.

The President has had the current strategy against terrorism verified by the National Intelligence Estimate. Unfortunately, the National Intelligence Estimate was partially leaked last week but not in its full context. In the full context, we see the verification of the strategy, and we cannot relent. We know these terrorists want to spread terrorism and harsh, violent, inhuman regimes wherever they can get a foothold. It is the hope of peace and freedom and humanity that America and our allies carry to the battle. It is a battle, it is a war. It is every bit as much a fight for freedom as any war in which America has been involved.

This is a war we cannot lose. We have stopped communism from taking over the world. We have stopped socialism from taking over the world. We cannot allow terrorists to take over the world if we are worth anything as leaders in this country. The President of the United States is resolute on this issue. Congress must stand with him. We must not allow selective leaks of internal intelligence advisories to be misconstrued to say that vigilance against terrorism is a losing proposition.

I hope we can bring America together to speak with one voice. I hope we can bring America together to stay the very long term course that we must pursue in order to have the opportunities for our children that we have had, to grow up in the greatest country on Earth. That is our responsibility. We are the leaders of this country, and if we cannot protect freedom for our children, if we cannot protect the opportunities for them that we have had, we are not worthy. I think we are worthy, I think the President is worthy, and I think it is our responsibility to stand strong and to point out the facts where the facts have not been pointed out.

That is exactly what I intend to do. That is what the President intends to do. It is my hope that we do not have a divided Congress behind him but instead a united Congress with a united people to say to the terrorists who would break down the freedom we have built for over 200 years and the beacon of freedom that we are to the world: We will stand, we will not run, we will not be lackluster in our commitment. We do not have a 30-minute attention span in this country. We have a memory, and that memory will never let terrorists take away our freedom, nor will it allow us to walk away from our responsibility to the future generations of America.

We stand on the shoulders of giants who have protected freedom in this country. We cannot let the American people down, and we will not.

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

Mr. President, several of my colleagues and I have joined with the Senate leadership today in introducing important legislation to address the challenges of innovation and competitiveness that our Nation faces. Among the provisions of this legislation is the recognition and expansion of the significant role that NASA plays in our Nation's search for knowledge and excellence.

NASA already has an outstanding track record of achievement in this area. That record exists because individuals and organizations within NASA have taken the initiative over the years to reach for excellence in their work, just as the agency has sought to reach the stars. I am especially proud that the Johnson Space Center in Houston has played a leading role in these efforts. We all know that it takes dedicated and inspired people to make things happen in any great undertaking.

I would like to recognize the dedicated efforts of one of those people, Gregory W. Hayes, who is retiring at the end of the month from NASA after nearly 34 years at the agency and nearly 25 years of supervisory and managerial experience at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mr. Hayes has made significant and lasting contributions to the Nation's civilian space agency. A few examples will illustrate how the American taxpayer has benefited from Mr. Hayes' distinguished public service career:

His commitment to innovative management of the center's human resources over the decades, including the selection and recruitment of our astronauts as well as the pursuit of innovative workforce practices, has contributed to ensuring that JSC attracts the best and brightest from the Nation's technical talent pool.

His lifelong dedication to encouraging young people's interest in space exploration has taken many forms including partnering with a local Houston school district to develop a new program in which more than 100 JSC employees volunteer to serve as technical advisors to local schools for math, science, and technology.

His instrumental role in establishing the Aerospace Academy--a partnership among community educational systems that helps to increase the number of technical employees and the number of math and science teachers in the area.

His collaboration with the State of Texas to secure funding for the Texas Aerospace Scholars, a program designed to provide hands-on experience at JSC to high school and college students that will ensure the development of a technical workforce ready for the challenges of the 21st century.

Mr. Hayes also set a compelling example for his colleagues by reaching out to the local community. He served on the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership board for several years, as well as serving as an advisor on its various task forces; his work promoted the health of the community and the Nation's space program.

In recognition of Mr. Hayes' formidable leadership skills, it is not surprising that the Office of the NASA Administrator recruited him to take a leadership role in establishing and executing the agency's path- finding effort known as the Freedom to Manage, F2M, Task Force for Human Resources. That activity was designed to fulfill the President's Management Agenda charter to identify and remove impediments to efficient and effective ways of doing business. In the course of its work, the task force identified more than 100 potential areas for improvement in human resources--dozens of which were immediately implemented through changes to internal policies and practices.

In addition to his extraordinary contributions to the, human resources and education fields, Mr. Hayes, in his capacity as JSC Director of External Relations, demonstrated great initiative and vision in his efforts to proactively reach out to the emerging commercial space sector and seek innovative collaborative arrangements. Recent examples include his efforts to pursue cooperative agreements with companies such as Bigelow Aerospace, which this past summer launched a pioneering low earth orbiting expandable habitat and has opened a satellite office near JSC; as well as an engineering collaboration with SpaceX--one of the winners of the recently concluded COTS awards. These are but two examples of several other significant partnerships with the entrepreneurial space sector that Mr. Hayes has pursued.

These activities not only support the expanding efforts to enhance innovation and competitiveness but are also consistent with the NASA Authorization Act which I introduced last year and which was signed into law last December. This act strongly encourages

the pursuit of partnerships with the commercial space sector. Mr. Hayes has left a legacy for his successors as they continue policies of encouraging effective partnerships with the emerging commercial space industry.

Given his impressive record as public servant, it is not surprising that Mr. Hayes has been the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award as well as NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal.

On the occasion of Mr. Hayes' departure from his beloved NASA, he can leave knowing that he has left a remarkable record of accomplishment. He serves as an inspiration to NASA's next generation of space leaders who will ensure that the agency utilizes the space shuttle and International Space Station to the fullest extent possible, while developing the next generation human space transportation system and laying the groundwork for the agency's new human space exploration goals of returning to the Moon and then moving on to Mars.

I know I speak for many of my colleagues in paying tribute to the kind of dedication and excellence Mr. Hayes has brought to his government service and in wishing him continued success as he enters a well-deserved new chapter in his remarkable life.

Mr. President, I am delighted to join our distinguished majority and minority leaders in introducing and cosponsoring the National Competitiveness Investment Act. This is an essential and important first step in addressing critical challenges facing our Nation in an increasingly competitive global economy. America must be a leader in scientific research and education. It is in the best interest of both our national and economic security.

This bill renews and expands our national focus on strengthening key areas of research, education, and innovation. It is the product of a truly bipartisan effort, undertaken with the blessing and encouragement of the Senate leadership and by the leadership of the three principal committees with jurisdiction over these matters: the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. I am proud to be part of this bipartisan initiative to provide new resources to support these competitiveness programs.

This legislation increases research investment by doubling the authorized funding levels for the National Science Foundation, NSF, from approximately $5.6 billion in fiscal year 2006 to $11.2 billion in fiscal year 2011. It doubles funding for the Department of Energy's Office of Science over 5 years, from $3.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2006 to over $5.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2011.

Another vital focus of the bill is to strengthen educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and critical foreign languages. It authorizes competitive grants to States to promote better coordination of elementary and secondary education with the knowledge and skills needed for success in postsecondary education, the workforce, and the U.S. Armed Forces. Another key emphasis is strengthening the skills of thousands of math and science teachers through support for the Teachers Institutes for the 21st Century Program at NSF.

As chair of the Science and Space Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, I am especially pleased that this legislation ensures that both NASA and NSF are able to expand their strong traditional roles in fostering technological and scientific excellence. The language we have crafted increases essential NASA funding to support basic research and foster new innovation by calling for full use of existing budget authority that we provided within the 2005 NASA Authorization Act. Under the terms of this legislation, the President could request an additional $1.4 billion dollars in Fiscal Year 2008 for application toward these activities. By directing NASA's full participation in interagency efforts for competitiveness and innovation--under the more widely known term of the American Competitiveness Initiative--this legislation points the way for the administration to now make use of that additional authority in supporting projects that can help meet these important competitiveness and innovation goals.

Mr. President, this bill represents an important first step in our efforts to meet the increasing challenges to our Nation's competitive posture. I encourage all of my colleagues to join in cosponsoring this bill and working with us at the appropriate time to ensure its passage by this body and its enactment into law.

Mr. President, several of my colleagues and I have joined with the Senate leadership today in introducing important legislation to address the challenges of innovation and competitiveness that our Nation faces. Among the provisions of this legislation is the recognition and expansion of the significant role that NASA plays in our Nation's search for knowledge and excellence.

NASA already has an outstanding track record of achievement in this area. That record exists because individuals and organizations within NASA have taken the initiative over the years to reach for excellence in their work, just as the agency has sought to reach the stars. I am especially proud that the Johnson Space Center in Houston has played a leading role in these efforts. We all know that it takes dedicated and inspired people to make things happen in any great undertaking.

I would like to recognize the dedicated efforts of one of those people, Gregory W. Hayes, who is retiring at the end of the month from NASA after nearly 34 years at the agency and nearly 25 years of supervisory and managerial experience at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Mr. Hayes has made significant and lasting contributions to the Nation's civilian space agency. A few examples will illustrate how the American taxpayer has benefited from Mr. Hayes' distinguished public service career:

His commitment to innovative management of the center's human resources over the decades, including the selection and recruitment of our astronauts as well as the pursuit of innovative workforce practices, has contributed to ensuring that JSC attracts the best and brightest from the Nation's technical talent pool.

His lifelong dedication to encouraging young people's interest in space exploration has taken many forms including partnering with a local Houston school district to develop a new program in which more than 100 JSC employees volunteer to serve as technical advisors to local schools for math, science, and technology.

His instrumental role in establishing the Aerospace Academy--a partnership among community educational systems that helps to increase the number of technical employees and the number of math and science teachers in the area.

His collaboration with the State of Texas to secure funding for the Texas Aerospace Scholars, a program designed to provide hands-on experience at JSC to high school and college students that will ensure the development of a technical workforce ready for the challenges of the 21st century.

Mr. Hayes also set a compelling example for his colleagues by reaching out to the local community. He served on the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership board for several years, as well as serving as an advisor on its various task forces; his work promoted the health of the community and the Nation's space program.

In recognition of Mr. Hayes' formidable leadership skills, it is not surprising that the Office of the NASA Administrator recruited him to take a leadership role in establishing and executing the agency's path- finding effort known as the Freedom to Manage, F2M, Task Force for Human Resources. That activity was designed to fulfill the President's Management Agenda charter to identify and remove impediments to efficient and effective ways of doing business. In the course of its work, the task force identified more than 100 potential areas for improvement in human resources--dozens of which were immediately implemented through changes to internal policies and practices.

In addition to his extraordinary contributions to the, human resources and education fields, Mr. Hayes, in his capacity as JSC Director of External Relations, demonstrated great initiative and vision in his efforts to proactively reach out to the emerging commercial space sector and seek innovative collaborative arrangements. Recent examples include his efforts to pursue cooperative agreements with companies such as Bigelow Aerospace, which this past summer launched a pioneering low earth orbiting expandable habitat and has opened a satellite office near JSC; as well as an engineering collaboration with SpaceX--one of the winners of the recently concluded COTS awards. These are but two examples of several other significant partnerships with the entrepreneurial space sector that Mr. Hayes has pursued.

These activities not only support the expanding efforts to enhance innovation and competitiveness but are also consistent with the NASA Authorization Act which I introduced last year and which was signed into law last December. This act strongly encourages

the pursuit of partnerships with the commercial space sector. Mr. Hayes has left a legacy for his successors as they continue policies of encouraging effective partnerships with the emerging commercial space industry.

Given his impressive record as public servant, it is not surprising that Mr. Hayes has been the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award as well as NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal.

On the occasion of Mr. Hayes' departure from his beloved NASA, he can leave knowing that he has left a remarkable record of accomplishment. He serves as an inspiration to NASA's next generation of space leaders who will ensure that the agency utilizes the space shuttle and International Space Station to the fullest extent possible, while developing the next generation human space transportation system and laying the groundwork for the agency's new human space exploration goals of returning to the Moon and then moving on to Mars.

I know I speak for many of my colleagues in paying tribute to the kind of dedication and excellence Mr. Hayes has brought to his government service and in wishing him continued success as he enters a well-deserved new chapter in his remarkable life.

Mr. President, I am delighted to join our distinguished majority and minority leaders in introducing and cosponsoring the National Competitiveness Investment Act. This is an essential and important first step in addressing critical challenges facing our Nation in an increasingly competitive global economy. America must be a leader in scientific research and education. It is in the best interest of both our national and economic security.

This bill renews and expands our national focus on strengthening key areas of research, education, and innovation. It is the product of a truly bipartisan effort, undertaken with the blessing and encouragement of the Senate leadership and by the leadership of the three principal committees with jurisdiction over these matters: the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. I am proud to be part of this bipartisan initiative to provide new resources to support these competitiveness programs.

This legislation increases research investment by doubling the authorized funding levels for the National Science Foundation, NSF, from approximately $5.6 billion in fiscal year 2006 to $11.2 billion in fiscal year 2011. It doubles funding for the Department of Energy's Office of Science over 5 years, from $3.6 billion in Fiscal Year 2006 to over $5.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2011.

Another vital focus of the bill is to strengthen educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and critical foreign languages. It authorizes competitive grants to States to promote better coordination of elementary and secondary education with the knowledge and skills needed for success in postsecondary education, the workforce, and the U.S. Armed Forces. Another key emphasis is strengthening the skills of thousands of math and science teachers through support for the Teachers Institutes for the 21st Century Program at NSF.

As chair of the Science and Space Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, I am especially pleased that this legislation ensures that both NASA and NSF are able to expand their strong traditional roles in fostering technological and scientific excellence. The language we have crafted increases essential NASA funding to support basic research and foster new innovation by calling for full use of existing budget authority that we provided within the 2005 NASA Authorization Act. Under the terms of this legislation, the President could request an additional $1.4 billion dollars in Fiscal Year 2008 for application toward these activities. By directing NASA's full participation in interagency efforts for competitiveness and innovation--under the more widely known term of the American Competitiveness Initiative--this legislation points the way for the administration to now make use of that additional authority in supporting projects that can help meet these important competitiveness and innovation goals.

Mr. President, this bill represents an important first step in our efforts to meet the increasing challenges to our Nation's competitive posture. I encourage all of my colleagues to join in cosponsoring this bill and working with us at the appropriate time to ensure its passage by this body and its enactment into law.

Mr. President, I rise today to again voice my strong support for securing our Nation's borders, which remain porous. We must immediately address this threat to our national security.

I have consistently supported and voted in favor of border security efforts such as the installation of reinforced fencing in strategic areas where high trafficking of narcotics, unlawful border crossings, and other criminal activity exists. I have also supported installing physical barriers, roads, lighting, cameras, and sensors where necessary.

However, I object to the Congress making decisions about the location of border fencing. These decisions should be made by State and local law enforcement officials working with the Department of Homeland Security, not dictated by Congress. The border States have borne a heavy financial burden from illegal immigration; their local officials are on the front lines. They should be part of the solution.

Ours is a nation of laws and we must be a nation of secure borders. I stand resolved to work with my colleagues to enact meaningful legislation in this session of Congress that addresses border security first and enacts comprehensive immigration reform.

Cloture Motion

Under the previous order, pursuant to rule XXII, the clerk will report the pending motion to invoke cloture.

Mr. President, I would like to take this moment to honor a dear friend and dedicated community leader who passed away on August 28, 2006. GEN Robert McDermott leaves behind a legacy of distinguished service to his country and his community, and he will be dearly missed.

GEN Robert Francis McDermott was born on July 31, 1920, in Boston, MA, to Alphonsus and Anna McDermott. He graduated from the Boston Latin School in 1937 and continued his education at Norwich University. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy in 1940 and was commissioned on January 19, 1943. In 1950, General McDermott earned an MBA degree from Harvard University.

On January 20, 1943, General McDermott married Alice Patricia McDermott at Trinity Chapel at West Point. Their marriage would last 47 years until Alice's death in 1990. Following their wedding, General McDermott was assigned to the 474th Fighter Bomber Group as its deputy group operations officer and flew 61 combat missions in a P-38 during World War II in the European Theatre. After the war, he remained in Europe on General Eisenhower's staff and later served in the Pentagon.

After teaching economics at West Point for 4 years, General McDermott was assigned to the newly established Air Force Academy as vice dean and professor of economics. In 1956, he was appointed Dean of Faculty, and in 1959, President Eisenhower appointed General McDermott the first Permanent Dean of Faculty and promoted him to brigadier general. At that time, he was the youngest flag-rank officer in all of the armed services. In recognition of General McDermott's contributions and innovations at the Air Force Academy, the Air Force named the cadet library for him and called him the ``Father of Modern Military Education.'' He retired from the Air Force in 1968.

General McDermott joined USAA--United Services Automobile Association--as executive vice president, and became its president in January 1969. Throughout his career, McDermott's philosophy was to nurture the employees and to promote their personal and professional growth treating them and USAA's customers by the Golden Rule. His efforts bore success. In 1993, USAA was ranked No. 1 in ``The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.'' General McDermott retired as chairman and CEO of USAA in 1993.

On August 6, 1994, General McDermott married Marion Slemon of Colorado Springs. They enjoyed his retirement in San Antonio and Colorado Springs, but General McDermott did not slow down. He was active in the San Antonio community with business and charitable organizations, enjoyed traveling to visit family and friends, and continued playing golf and his trombone.

As a dedicated and enthusiastic advocate for San Antonio, General McDermott worked tirelessly to advance economic development in the area. In 1974, he was elected chairman of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and promoted San Antonio as a center for domestic and international growth. He also founded the Economic Development Foundation and was a cofounder of United San Antonio. In the 1980s, General McDermott focused on the development of biotechnology in San Antonio to provide the city with a viable economic sector for the 21st century. In 1984, he founded the Texas Research and Technology Foundation which began development of the Texas Research Park--TRP--the core of biotechnology for San Antonio. In the early 1990s, General McDermott also led a group of local investors to buy the San Antonio Spurs to assure it would stay in San Antonio. To coach the Spurs, he selected Air Force Academy graduate Gregg Popovich who led the team to win three NBA championships.

For General McDermott's wide-ranging efforts on behalf of San Antonio, the city of San Antonio named a section of Interstate Highway 10 West as the ``Robert F. McDermott Freeway.'' He also received recognition for his business and educational activities, including an elementary school named for him, induction into the Texas Business Hall of Fame in 1987 and the American National Business Hall of Fame in 1989; the recipient of the Distinguished Graduate Award from West Point in 1993; the recipient of Harvard Business School's Alumni Achievement Award in 1998; and most recently, the University of the Incarnate Word established the Robert F. McDermott Professorship in Organizational Leadership this year.

Today I honor the passing of a great family man, a terrific friend, and an outstanding community leader.