Floor Statements

Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to South Anchorage High School as they celebrate their 10th anniversary.

Since opening 10 years ago, the South Anchorage High School Wolverines have excelled both academically and interscholastically by preparing students for higher education and job training. In addition to a full complement of advanced placement classes for students, the Wolverines also annually achieve one of the highest graduation rates in the state at 88 percent. These academic achievements are a testament to the knowledgeable teachers, hard-working students, and supportive parents that call the south Anchorage area home.

Along with their academic achievements, South Anchorage has also been very successful in interscholastic athletic events. With over eight State championships in various sports over the past few years, South High School's students have shown they can excel in the classroom and on the field.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing South Anchorage High School on their 10th anniversary and wish them continued growth and success.

Mr. President, this is a special week. The Week of the Young Child, launched by the National Association for the Education of Young Children in 1971 and carried out in communities across the country, is a time to raise public awareness about the importance of high-quality early childhood education and to recognize the millions of people who care for and teach young children every day.

The theme of this year's Week of the Young Child is ``early years are learning years.'' Research is compelling that children are ready to learn from birth--what they need are the positive conditions and opportunities to learn and thrive not only to be prepared for school but to prepare to be productive adults.

Early childhood education is about development and learning, but it is also an economic driver. Nobel laureate James Heckman and others note that when we invest in high-quality early childhood education, starting with infants, the taxpayer benefits from lower expenditures for special and remedial education, reduced juvenile crime rates, and higher graduation rates.

Even though we know about the importance of early childhood education, for many families the costs are too much for the family budget, especially high-quality programs. The child care and development block grant, helping families afford childcare and helping states raise the quality of care, serves only one in six eligible children. In fact, roughly 260,000 fewer children received assistance in 2012 than in 2006. I am glad we ended the cuts to Head Start in fiscal year 2014, but even so, we help less than half of the eligible preschoolers and only 4 percent of eligible Early Head Start infants and toddlers. State pre-K is growing, but it is uneven quality among our States and doesn't reach all the eligible children whose families would want to enroll them. Early intervention services--a significant intervention for children's early school readiness--is woefully underfunded as well.

The educators who work with these young children in childcare, Head Start and other program settings are very underpaid. A childcare provider makes about $20,000 a year. The turnover rate is high. When teachers get a degree, they can move to better jobs to support their own families, but it means inconsistency of relationships for children and difficulty sustaining quality for providers. We must do more to ensure early childhood educators get the specialized degrees and credentials they need and then compensate them on par with their school-based colleagues.

In my State of Alaska, one snowy night over a year ago in Anchorage, I met with about 50 strongly committed Alaska educators to talk about how to improve our schools and prepare our students for the competitive 21st-century economy.

From that conversation, the idea for three bills evolved. I then introduced a package of legislation, the Keep Investing in Developmental Success, KIDS, Act. These three early childhood bills will address access, quality, and affordability in early education programs.

First, we will amend the Tax Code to provide a tax credit for early childhood educators. The Tax Relief for Early Educators Act will expand the deductions for certain expenses for early childhood education and increase the childcare tax credit so more parents can afford to put their children in quality early child development programs.

Second, we will create a new student loan forgiveness program for graduates of associate's or bachelor's programs in early education. The Preparing and Reinvesting in Early Education Act--or PRE ED--will provide needed relief for early educators and encourage more to work with kids through age 5. Well-trained educators providing quality early education makes all the difference in a child's success.

Third, we need to reward companies offering onsite or near-site childcare with a company cost-share. We know it works for the company and for the employee--just look around our State. In Alaska BP, Credit Union One and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital are great examples. They all offer quality onsite centers. They know it makes more productive employees.

The Child Care Public-Private Partnership Act will establish a program to provide childcare through partnerships. Through new grant incentives for small and medium companies, we can help more Alaska companies do the same.

These bills recognize the importance of childcare in the lives of working families. They will make it easier for early childhood educators to provide stimulating and effective instruction in safe environments

As we recognize and celebrate this week of the young child, we need to be perfectly clear in our commitment to continue to support and expand the education of children. I believe all of my colleagues in the Senate should join together to make this a priority because, as this year's theme says so well, the early years are indeed the learning years.

Mr. President, what you will find with these issues is that they are bipartisan. Fish know no boundaries of political persuasion. They look at what is important to them. We like to catch them and eat them. So it does not matter where they come from, whether from the seas of Alaska or from the gulf. So I thank the Senator for the opportunity to say a few words.

To Senator Whitehouse, my thanks for organizing and allowing this opportunity. I will tell you, we do not mean to outnumber you, having two Alaskans here. We are so dedicated to this issue. I can tell you having this opportunity to have these four treaties ratified is incredibly important for us.

I know lots of times we talk about illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing. I like to simply call it pirate fishing. These are people who steal our fish out of our waters and then try to sell them back to us. Clearly it is what it is: stealing our stock and packing our fisheries and passing, as was just mentioned, the cost to our markets of $23 billion a year nationwide--worldwide--because of these pirate fishermen and fisherwomen.

Alaskan crab fishermen, for example--for people who like to watch a reality show, ``The Deadliest Catch'' is one of those. ``The Deadliest Catch'' guys tell me that there is over a half a billion dollars in lost crab because of illegal imports that are coming in. They may be stolen or labeled incorrectly.

The human impact is even more appalling, when you think about it. The working conditions on those boats are deplorable. They do not call them ``rust buckets'' for nothing. They are. They are dangerous. They are unsafe. There is forced labor, human trafficking, slavery. You name the list; it is everything you can imagine in these ships.

Again, you can call it what you want, but at the end of the day, what is happening is pirate fishing. They are stealing the fish. Again, illegal fishing is a stateless criminal enterprise. There are no flags. They steal fish with impunity. They victimize their workers. We need to fight back. These treaties help do it.

The Coast Guard--we love our coasties. It does not matter if they are in Alaska or around the country. They do an incredible job. They track down these criminals on the high seas and chase them down. You can see in this picture where they have caught one of the ships--our Coast Guard cutters in the North Pacific a few years back.

There is no question when they catch these ships what should happen to them, from my perspective. I am a little more radical on this. I know we will have these treaties, which are important. But you know, in my view, if they catch a ship like this, they should take the crew off, take the hazardous waste off, and sink it to the bottom of the ocean. Then we are done. The people will get a clear message.

I know some lawyers object to my idea. I recognize that. But let me tell you, we had some ships--this one, for example. As you can see, it is not only a rust bucket; you can see the rust bleeding off of it. This is one of these ships that was washed into our waters from the tsunami in Japan. You can see a well-placed artillery shell hit it in the middle because they decided to sink it.

So after the Coast Guard's lawyers thought it was not a good idea, we had a piece of equipment that they then went ahead and sunk. I will tell you, you do this kind of activity, and I guarantee you the pirates of this country who are trying to steal our fish will get a clear and simple message.

But it is important to go after these pirates. The Coast Guard--in this case it was an old rust bucket they sunk to the bottom. I have taken to the floor many times to say they need better tools, more cutters, more patrol aircraft to do their job and increase their capacity in going after these pirates--not only pirates on fishing, but also smuggling drugs and all the other work that these illegal ships are doing that they need to go after. We need to have tougher laws. That is what these treaties do. They strengthen the laws. They

are bipartisan. The Port State Measures Agreement tightens rules on seafood imports, provides for better inspection, and lists the pirate boats so we know who to keep out of our waters.

Others deal with protecting high seamounts and other needed provisions specific to the North Pacific, the South Pacific, and the Atlantic. They have been in years of negotiations. I applaud our teams at the State Department and NOAA and the many Senators who have engaged in this issue to solve this problem, to create more tools for us to enforce.

We need to do our part. We need to support these treaties. Again, it is a bipartisan effort. We need to support these treaties because it will support our fishermen, support our economies throughout the ocean States and the Gulf States and throughout the States that impact with fisheries. We also need to do it because of the rule of law and protecting and respecting the rule of law and human dignity that we insist on.

When we think of the impact of these individuals who are trapped on these boats--literally, the human trafficking, slavery, and forced work that these guys are taken to on these pirate ships is appalling. We should be appalled just by that fact alone, besides the billions they steal from the waters and try to resell from their harvest in our oceans illegally.

So let me just sum up by saying again that I know my idea of sinking a pirate ship may be a little radical. But the Coast Guard did it on one ship. My view is, why not more? But at least we will have some treaties, maybe with this work on the floor tonight. Again, to Senator Whitehouse, I thank him for organizing all of us who care so deeply about the fishing industry and these treaties that will make a difference. When you put more tools in the toolbox, it will have an impact.

You can rest assured I will do everything I can to gather the support necessary to make sure these treaties pass. I will stop at this point. I appreciate the effort. Thank you for allowing me to have visual aids. Sometimes words are great, but visual aids make impact. Hopefully, people can see. Hopefully, these pirates will see we are serious and this is not some movie that Johnny Depp is in either. We are going after those pirate ships.

Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words.

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

Madam President, I rise today to remember the Great Alaskan Earthquake, which struck 50 years ago today on Good Friday, March 27, 1964. Over 100 Alaskans died in the earthquake and the resulting tsunami. Entire coastal towns were literally wiped off the map.

I was very young--only 2 years old--but I remember my family telling stories as I was growing up and showing pictures. In those days it was not like we see today--pictures on a computer--because there was none of that existing. I remember in our family of six we always had slideshow night. We had these little slides my mother would put in this carousel, and off it would go and we would be reminded of all the vacations and things we went on, but we would also see these slides about what happened in the earthquake in 1964.

We were lucky. We lived in East Anchorage in half of a small apartment complex, and the only things that broke in our house were these three swinging lights that went back and forth because our house was built on

gravel soil and was very strong and sturdy, in many ways, in its development. But when you look back at the houses on Third Avenue that literally disappeared or Fourth Avenue that collapsed downtown, it was a different story, or around Turnagain, the community out in West Anchorage, that literally fell off and sank.

Today I am honored to join my colleague Senator Murkowski--who I know was on the floor earlier--in cosponsoring a resolution marking the tragic yet important event in our history and thanking those who helped us survive and recover. In those days we had limited access anyway, but when there was an earthquake, especially in a small town or community, the first responders sometimes couldn't get there because of the uniqueness of the situation from the earthquake. But every Alaskan, every first responder, everybody who was available got down to the business of doing everything they could to help people in need. We were coming out of a winter--still cold and yet spring, what we would call a spring winter day.

Alaskans know the importance of tsunami preparedness and warnings and making sure we are prepared for what can happen. Today we are proud to host NOAA's National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, AK. I have been there, and it is the most amazing technology, to see what we can do and what we can see or sense through the sensors and other scientific equipment we have to tell us when a tsunami may be occurring or the magnitude of the tsunami. We monitor on a 24-hour basis with scientists.

The tsunami's impact was felt, from our earthquake, as far away as Hawaii, California, and Washington. That is why today I join Senator Cantwell and Senator Schatz in introducing the Tsunami Warning and Educational Reauthorization Act for 2014. This bill would improve NOAA's Tsunami Warning Center, bringing supercomputing power to the tsunami modeling. It would ensure that all coastal weather forecast offices are better prepared to issue tsunami warnings.

The bill also ensures that coastal communities will be more tsunami- resilient through the National Tsunami Hazardous Mitigation Program. It ensures that communities understand tsunami risks, planning to minimize damages, and are ready to bounce back quickly after the damage occurs.

The bill also recognizes the critical role that advancing our understanding and technology through scientific research plays in meeting the tsunami threat.

This bill was originally envisioned by the late Senator Inouye. I have been proud to pick up where he was unable to continue on an issue I know is critical in his home State.

Fifty years ago Alaska was a young State with a bright but uncertain future. We still had foreign fishing vessels coming in and taking our fish just a few miles off the coast. The trans-Alaska oil pipeline and the energy it delivers was just a dream. After the damage from the quake and tsunami, there were serious questions from outside whether Alaska could survive. Keep in mind that this was only a few years after becoming a State. But Alaskans already knew the answer. They knew we would rebuild and become stronger, and we have. Alaska is now the Nation's Arctic energy storehouse and feeds the Nation with sustainable seafood stocks. I know the Presiding Officer understands the value of fisheries and that they are an incredible element of our food inventory and storage for our country. Alaska is a State that is important in this regard, as is the State of Massachusetts.

But we must still be very vigilant against the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis. That is why I introduced this bill, joining again with Senators Cantwell and Schatz in this endeavor. We encourage its swift passage, as it is important to make sure, when it comes to these issues, that no matter where one lives, safety is protected because the devastation is incredible.

Let me end on another personal note. When I think of growing up in Alaska--someone born and raised there--and living in East Anchorage, I can still remember growing up and my dad thinking about where he bought land to build this house, and this apartment building was on incredible soil. But years later, when I became mayor of Anchorage and sat on the city assembly, I remember the great debate on building codes and earthquake capacity and stability and making sure buildings were designed right.

I remember the Federal building, which is now city hall--and I was on the Anchorage Assembly then--and the great debate came up as to whether we were going to renovate or move or something else in regard to the location. But we decided we wanted to stay downtown to keep downtown vibrant. Well, the building was built during a time when it would probably not withstand an earthquake of the magnitude that occurred in the 1964 earthquake.

I remember when we vacated the building and they stripped the building down and left the shell. I walked in to take a tour of the building with the developer. He was showing me what he called the shock absorbers--these incredible columns within the building that, if an earthquake hit, not only would they try to absorb it, they would help the building move up or side to side, absorbing the impact of the earthquake and preserving the building, ensuring that the investment and lives would be saved. To me, it was the most amazing thing because in the old days--as I said, when I grew up--we just put the buildings together, slapped them up, and thanked God we had a home to live in during a cold winter. So the technology has advanced significantly so as to ensure safety in an area that is clearly an earthquake zone.

It is not uncommon for me to be back home and be at a meeting in a hotel or giving a speech in a ballroom or sitting in a home with someone and having a conversation and an earthquake kind of comes through. It is always amazing to me that if I am there with visitors from out of town, they get a little nervous. But as Alaskans, we know we have improved our building codes, we have improved our warning systems, and we have continued to make sure we can minimize or mitigate the damage from those natural disasters that could occur. Again, this bill reauthorization on tsunamis focuses on that. We saw a whole city or town washed off the map--gone--because of the power of a tsunami.

So today I appreciate and remember the history of Alaska and the uniqueness of being there during times of growth and also times of tragedy, but today being part of legislation which in an odd way comes full circle: As a 2-year-old experiencing an earthquake, to where I am today, being able to ensure that not only my State but any coastal State has the capacity to ensure a tsunami warning system is not only the best but the best in the world.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to SFC retired Ollen Hunt for his exceptional dedication to duty and service to the U.S. Army and to the United States of America.

A native of McLemoresville, TN, Sergeant Hunt was drafted into the U.S. Army in November of 1942. Sergeant Hunt was a part of the 92nd Infantry Division, which was also known as ``The Buffalo Division.'' Sergeant Hunt and his unit boarded troop ships at Camp Henry, VA, and survived the sea journey to their destination in Italy. The 92nd fought with distinction and divisiveness, and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Axis Powers.

After returning from his deployment, Sergeant Hunt returned home for a short time before returning to assignments throughout Europe. He was responsible for the food and logistics operations at various military installations. He continued his military service until retiring as a Sergeant First Class in 1963. A year after retirement, Sergeant Hunt accepted a position as a flight kitchen chef in Anchorage, AK. Sergeant Hunt and his wife Hanna owned many small businesses, including the Hof Brau and Sandwich Deck. He also served on several downtown merchant and municipal committees and councils, receiving numerous awards for his contributions to the Anchorage community. After his ``second retirement'', Sergeant Hunt worked with the Veterans Administration's Oral History project writers to create an autobiography of his life. His work formed what would later become his book Buffalo Soldier: What I Did for My Country, What My Country Did for Me.

Sergeant Hunt's leadership throughout his career has positively influenced his peers and superiors, soldiers, and civilians alike. As a hardworking and friendly man, he will be greatly missed by his family and those fortunate enough to have known him.

On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending SFC Ollen Hunt for his service to his country in the United States Army. We wish his wife, Hannelore, and their two children, Katherine and Ollen, all the best as they celebrate the life of this great man.

Mr. President. Dr. Claus-M. Naske, a giant in the field of history in Alaska, passed away on March 5, 2014. I would like to honor him and his accomplishments as an educator, historian and family man.

Claus emigrated to Alaska in 1954 and moved to Fairbanks in 1957 to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks, graduating with double majors in political science and history. He obtained his doctorate from Washington State University and joined the University of Alaska Fairbanks faculty in 1969, starting his long and illustrious career as a teacher, mentor, researcher, author and administrator.

Claus was a professor of history at the University of Alaska Fairbanks until 2001. He not only taught, researched and wrote, he was the director of the University of Alaska Press until 2004. Managing the university's press office added to Dr. Naske's workload, but it was evidence of his love for scholarly work.

Claus authored and co-authored over a dozen books, including ones on two prominent political Alaskan political figures, Bob Bartlett and Ernest Gruening and several on Alaska's history. His book Alaska: A History, in its third edition, is considered the preeminent record of our great State. We owe a great debt of gratitude to Claus for his dedication and persistence as a historian, one who will long be remembered.

Claus received many well-deserved awards throughout his life, including the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award, the 2001 Usibelli Award for Research, the 1997 Alumni Award for Professional Excellence, and the 1995 Award of Merit by the Western History Association--to name a few.

Claus married Dinah in 1960 and had two children: Natalia-Michelle Nan-geak and Nathaniel-Michael Noah. He and his wife have been generous to UAF, establishing a history scholarship and making regular donations to the campus public radio station.

Claus-M. Naske will go down in history with a sterling reputation as a scholar, teacher and father.

Mr. President, I wish to thank Phyllis Rhodes for her outstanding service to the Municipality of Anchorage, the Federal court system, and Identity, Inc. on the occasion of her retirement.

Born in Arizona and raised in Texas, Phyllis and her former husband moved to Alaska in 1967 with their young daughter Anne, making their home in Anchorage. A second daughter, Emily, made her appearance after the family relocated to Alaska. Since her arrival in Alaska Phyllis' contributions to the cause of equality for the LGBTQ community, and all Alaskans, has become legendary.

Phyllis started out as the volunteer coordinator for Identity, Inc. but with her usual passion and commitment, she started picking up speed, eventually becoming the unpaid executive director of the organization. Over the course of her 10 years as executive director of Identity, Inc. Phyllis has taken the organization from obscurity to high visibility in Anchorage and across Alaska. During Phyllis' tenure, Identity, Inc. expanded its programs and began outreach to new audiences. The creation of an advocacy team has led to open dialogues with Alaska businesses, churches, educational institutions and other organizations. Within the LGBTQ community, Phyllis is the recognized heart and soul of Identity, Inc.

I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Phyllis for her many years of advocating for equality. I wish the absolute best to her, her wife Pam, and her daughters Anne and Emily, as they begin this next stage in their lives.

Madam President, 50 years ago KCAM AM Radio 790 in Glennallen, AK, began airing its signal. Today I commend this remarkable achievement.

KCAM signed on the air March 27, 1964, the day of the magnitude 9.2 Good Friday Earthquake that devastated Anchorage and caused a tsunami that wiped out Valdez and other coastal communities. The community of

Glennallen also felt the effects of the quake.

KCAM had not yet received Federal Communications Commission permission to broadcast, but since their tower was undamaged, the Civil Defense Authority asked the station to go live under Emergency Orders. They signed on and kept residents, emergency workers, and those fleeing the damaged areas up-to-date.

It was quite a beginning for a shoestring station that was founded five decades ago by the late Vince Joy. In 2014, the station is still going strong with a state-of-the-art studio, reaching listeners throughout the Copper River Valley via the airwaves and online streaming.

Along the way, KCAM has earned awards from the Associated Press and was named Inspirational Station of the Year by Skylight Network and Small Market Station of the Year by Focus on the Family.

I want to extend my congratulations to the current crew at the station, including president and manager Scott Yahr, program director Michelle Eastty, special projects manager Roger Bovee, and countless other staff and interns over the years who helped keep it going.

As part of their celebration, a newly released book commemorates 50 years of uninterrupted operation by chronicling stories from listeners who have been affected by the broadcasting and reprinting their photos. Anyone who has lived in a small town knows that a radio station is often at the center of the fabric of the community. Such is the case with KCAM, which not only provides music, news, weather, sports, talk shows, and entertainment, but also sends personal messages and makes community announcements.

I send my best wishes to my friends at KCAM Radio, the ``Voice of the Copper River Valley,'' as they observe their anniversary in April 2014.

Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Jeff Bayless. Jeff was a senior captain in the Anchorage Fire Department. He was born and raised Alaskan, and lived his entire life bettering our great State. Jeff began his road to serve in 1986 when he became a certified State of Alaska EMT. He then went on to complete paramedic training, and began serving with the Mat-Su Borough EMS and the Central Mat-Su Fire Department.

In 1991, Jeff was hired by the Anchorage Fire Department. And in 1995 when the Fire Department Emergency Medical Services and Fire Operations merged, Jeff made the move from paramedic to firefighter. In May of 2005, Jeff's steadfast dedication was recognized when he was promoted to senior fire captain. He served at Fire Station 9 in South Anchorage and Fire Station 11 in Eagle River.

Although a hero in is chosen occupation, Jeff was also a champion in his community. As a North Star Bible Camp board member, a youth instructor, and with his involvement in the Alaska Fallen Firefighters Memorial Committee, he was a pillar of leadership and a stalwart example of selfless service.

Jeff died after participating in a training activity on Friday March 7, 2014. He will be sorely missed. His commitment to God, family, and community will be felt for generations to come. Jeff Bayless is truly an Alaskan hero, and we mourn with his wife, Gail, his entire family, and his brothers and sisters in the Fire Department.

Mr. President, in 2014, Cook Inlet Housing Authority celebrates its 40th anniversary of building housing opportunities for the people of the Cook Inlet region of Southcentral Alaska.

In 1974, the Alaska State Legislature facilitated the creation of Cook Inlet Housing to ensure elders, individuals, and families in the Cook Inlet region would have access to quality, affordable housing. Since that time, Cook Inlet Housing has developed more than 1,500 energy-efficient and affordable homes for seniors and families and has catalyzed the revitalization of the Mountain View neighborhood in Anchorage.

The passage of Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act by the U.S. Congress in 1996, and the flexibility allowed within it, has empowered Cook Inlet Housing to leverage funding from private and public sources and more than doubled the amount of quality, affordable housing available to families in Southcentral Alaska.

This year, Cook Inlet Housing is being recognized nationally with the prestigious HUD and American Planning Association's 2014 HUD Secretary's Opportunity and Empowerment Award. This award honors excellence in community planning resulting in measureable benefits in terms of increased economic development, employment, education, or housing choice and mobility for low- and moderate-income residents. I know the work that Cook Inlet Housing is doing for our community matters and helps transform lives.

I would like to congratulate Cook Inlet Housing Authority for their commitment to innovation and thoughtful, dynamic development that promotes their critical mission: To create housing opportunities that empower people and build communities.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the American Red Cross. March is American Red Cross Month-- this is a special time to recognize and thank our everyday heroes. The Red Cross is on the frontlines every day. They volunteer their time, take lifesaving courses, and provide financial donations to help those in need.

We would like to remember our heroes in Alaska who help those in need. The Red Cross works tirelessly to help in times of disaster with the comfort of a helping hand. They provide round-the-clock support to members of the military, veterans and their families, and teach lifesaving classes in CPR and first aid.

Across the country and around the world, the American Red Cross responds to fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires--the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. When an injured servicemember enters a hospital far from home, the American Red Cross offers comfort. When a hospital's patients need blood, the American Red Cross blood donors make that happen.

We dedicate the month of March to all those who support the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Our community depends on the American Red Cross, which relies on donations of time and money to fulfill its humanitarian mission. The American Red Cross reflects all that is right with mankind. They make America stronger by their selfless service.

Mr. President, first, I wish to thank Senator Pryor. Senator Pryor and a group of us have introduced a piece of legislation that rights a wrong; that makes sure our military continues to receive their COLA in full course and in the full amount.

As the Presiding Officer knows, we had a budget issue we worked through, and in that process the COLA for our active retired military was reduced by 1 percent. We all knew we would take the time, because we had the time after the budget passed, to fix this problem. We have already done it for our disabled retired veterans and now we need to fulfill the final and full promise of their COLA in total.

I spoke last night about this issue, and then we had the vote on cloture, with the result being 94 to 0--94 to 0. If that isn't an indication of how much support there is to make sure the COLA comes back in full force, I don't know what is.

I do know starting right after that vote we began hearing from people already coming up with, well, I voted for cloture, but I have a caveat. I have some qualifications I want to add on that vote. I want to have these things in Washington that are called pay-fors.

Let me make it very clear to the veterans in my State--and there are 77,000 veterans who live in my State. The highest per capita in the Nation is in Alaska. They have paid the bill. They paid the bill time and time again.

This is a perfect photo to use as an example of our military who have served in combat, who served on the

frontlines. Think about those who have already paid the ultimate bill-- almost 6,800 servicemembers have died in Iraq and Afghanistan; from Alaska alone, 22, and I will read some of those names in a second.

First, I wish to make it very clear we are going to hear these convoluted reasons as to why we should have this pay-for. I wasn't here when they paid for these wars--no, I am sorry, they didn't pay for these wars. They didn't pay the $2 trillion-plus for the wars, but now that it is time to pay the bill for those who committed to serve our country, to go to the frontlines when called upon and ensure we have the freedom we enjoy in this country, some are saying: Well, yes, we want to give them that retirement COLA, but--there should be no ``but'' here. A promise made is a promise we need to keep.

My view is we should have their backs every single day, and this is the day to do it. Let me make it very clear to those who are going to have this convoluted reason for this pay-for: This is a vote for vets or a vote against vets. You can have all the gobbledygook, all the convoluted arguments, but at the end of the day if you vote against this bill, without all this stuff added to it--just a clean and simple giving the COLA back and then let's move on, give them their full COLA--you are voting against vets.

I don't care how they try to press-release it, spin it, or what amendments they want to add to create a political situation for other Members on other issues unrelated to vets. A promise made is a promise we need to keep. We need to have their backs. They have our backs every single day to make sure this country is safe, no matter where American citizens are in this country or in this world. It is our time to do what is right for veterans.

I shared some stories last night about Alaskans who are struggling with this issue and the commitment they thought they had. One gentleman served 18 years in the military and is close to retirement. He is wondering what did he sign up for. He has had enormous pressures on his family. He has moved six different times. He has two children, one disabled, and a variety of personal issues. But he continues to serve this country. And for us to play politics and start talking about immigration, child tax credits, forget it. It is time to do what is right for our veterans, to put this COLA back in full force.

Over 30 veterans organizations support this bill with no pay-for, clean and simple. Senator Pryor and I were on a phone call last week and talked to many--the Air Force Association, Army Aviation Association, the Fleet Reserves, Gold Star Wives--I can go through the list of 30-plus organizations who work with our veterans every single day and want us to pass this bill--not an amended bill but this bill: Get it done and give peace of mind to our veterans and retirees and active military.

To some degree this puts our readiness at risk. If someone is thinking about joining the military, they are looking at the benefits. They know at some point they may be called to duty and put their life on the line. So they are looking at the benefits: What can they provide for themselves and their families? What is the retirement if they become a career officer or a career enlisted member? And now they are questioning if they should.

I received emails from some parents whose sons and daughters are currently enlisted and are now wondering, what did they get into when at a moment's notice the commitments, the promises we--Congress--made can change overnight.

Our readiness is at risk, and the promises and commitments we make to our military are in question. Today is the start to make sure our commitments are there. We cannot say to our veterans: Sign up; we will promise you these things, and tomorrow we might change them. That doesn't help our readiness and commitment.

I get that there is going to be a lot of policy wonk conversation by some Members because they want to confuse the issue and make it hard for people to understand what is really going on in Washington. But it is simple. The chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee knows this issue is simple. It is about our vets. If you vote yes, you are for our vets; if you vote no, you are against our vets. That is it. They can put in all the spin and all the amendments to make it sound good. But in reality, they are trying to cover an activity they are struggling with; that is, they don't necessarily like some of us who are sponsors. I get that. But let's put aside our politics. Let's do what is right for the vets, let's have their backs, let's keep the promise we made to them.

Again, this bill is simple. It is so simple it is 1 page. It just says: Repeal that action.

I hope my colleagues on the other side who are wondering about what they should do will vote for the vets. Vote yes. Don't mess with amendments, don't try to have this pay-for convoluted argument. The vets at home who will be watching don't care about that. They just want to make sure their COLA is there. Let's give them the peace of mind they deserve.

I will read a few of the names who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I read some of these last night: GySgt Christopher Eastman, Marines, age 28, from Moose Pass, AK; SGT Joel Clarkson, Army, age 23, Fairbanks; LCpl Grant Fraser, Marine Reserves, age 22, Anchorage; SPC Shane Woods, Army, age 23, Palmer.

These are just a few of the 22 Alaskans who have lost their lives. I don't know if they would have been long-term career if they stayed in the Army or Air Force, but they sacrificed their lives. They put their lives on the line to make sure we do the right thing here. It is time we do it. Today is the opportunity. Don't convolute it with all kinds of amendments. Vote up or down. You are either for vets or against vets.

I yield the floor.

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

Madam President, I am one of the sponsors of the bill pending before the Senate at this moment. As we know, the bill is about as simple as we can get around this place: a one-sentence measure to restore the fairness to America's military retirees. The bill repeals the COLA cut Congress gave to working-age military retirees when we passed the budget just before Christmas.

The budget bill had a lot of good provisions and passed with large bipartisan support on both sides of the Capitol. It avoided another government shutdown. Alaska's delegation was unified in passing the budget bill. It prevented another round of major cuts to Defense Department and other agencies. It showed the American people that Republicans and Democrats can work together. But it wasn't much of a Christmas present for our veterans--the brave Americans who made a career out of serving their country and, in many cases, putting their lives on the line.

That budget deal says working-age military retirees will see their pension COLA adjustments reduced by 1 percent annually. For many this is a hit totaling tens of thousands of dollars over years. For some the total reduction over their lifetime is upwards of $80,000. It is completely unacceptable. This is why many of us only supported the budget deal because we had already committed to rolling back the COLA cut once the deal was completed.

The bill before us right now will take care of the problem once and for all. The chief sponsors are Senators Hagan, Pryor, Shaheen, and myself. Many others are coming onboard. In fact, I don't know a single Member of this Chamber who opposes making sure our military retirees continue to receive their full COLA. It is right to do. When these heroes signed on to serve and made their military service a career, it is what they were promised. They should expect no less now.

But I have been around the block a few times and I know what is coming. Many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are going to come to this floor and talk a good game. They are going to pledge their loyalty to the troops, they are going to wrap themselves in the flag, and then they are going to pivot. They are going to start qualifying things. They are going to say the sky is falling. And they are going to say we can only pass this bill if we pay for it. We have already been down that road. Many of us in this Chamber tried to fix the military COLA last month, but our efforts failed in a fight over what is known around here as a pay-for. Honestly, I am sick of it.

The bill before us right now--the bill I proudly sponsor--has no pay- for. Why is that, people ask. Because the men and women of our Armed Services have already paid--paid up on their end of the deal--and now it is time for us to pay our part.

Unfortunately, too many of them have paid the ultimate sacrifice, with their lives. All of them--even those who served, who survived, and were lucky enough to retire--had agreed to put their lives on the line. That is the deal when you sign up to serve this country.

So to my colleagues I say, don't come down to this floor and lecture me about paying for this bill, because it is a simple thing to do.

I have a list right here of Alaskan soldiers who died in battle during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the wars that weren't paid for. There are 22 names here. Alaska is a small-populated State, so every one of these losses hit us hard.

In all, nearly 6,800 American soldiers have died in these 2 wars. Half of these fallen soldiers were between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. With permission, I am going to read just a few of the names of our fallen Alaskans:

TSgt Leslie Williams, Air Force, age 36, Juneau; PFC Adare Cleveland, Army, age 19, Anchorage; SGT Kurtis Arcala, Army, age 22, Palmer; Michael Lasky, Marine Reserves, age 22, Sterling.

Twenty-two Alaskans have paid the price. Granted, we will never know if these brave soldiers would have chosen to make a full career out of the military. We will never know if they would have collected a pension from the country they served. But this much we do know: Every American troop who is serving right now, especially the career soldiers, signed on with a promise from the rest of us that in return for their sacrifice, their government would take care of them.

It is time for those of us in Congress to step up and do that--both sides of the aisle on both sides of the Capitol. It is time for us to pass this bill and to make good once again on our end of a deal.

Let me make one point. Our actions so far on this issue are not theatrical. This isn't about some ideological policy debate. By voting to reduce the COLA adjustment, we have already impacted real people and real families and created uncertainty in their future. Here are just two examples of Alaskan constituents.

A soldier from Anchorage wrote to me and said:

I myself am on active duty with just over 18 years of

service. Maybe I made a mistake by devoting my life from age

19 to now to the Air Force.

He said he has moved six times, has two failed marriages and two children, one of whom is disabled. He says we changed the rules of the game and now wonders what would have happened if he had chosen college instead of the military. The letter says:

I can't undo 18 years of service. I can't change my career

path. It seems very unfair to be changing our retirement like

this.

Another family from the North Pole up near Fairbanks wrote to me. The husband served 20 years in the Air Force, and their daughter is currently a major in the Air Force. They were promised benefits for life, such as good health care and retirement benefits with a COLA adjustment. The husband could have left sooner and started another career, but he chose to stay because of the benefits. Their message to me was very simple: The vote to reduce the COLA breaks faith with them, with those already retired, and with everyone who has chosen a military career.

And what about those bright young people who are deciding right now whether to sign up and perhaps make a career out of the military? What are they thinking about their Congress and their future?

We need to fix this, and fix it right now, starting with our vote this evening--not next month, not later

this spring, not next fall, but right now.

I know there is going to be a lot of debate. Hopefully tonight we will see the cloture vote and move to the debate. I know there will be a list of pay-fors. As I said earlier, the people whom this protects and ensures they have a COLA and retirement they can depend on are people who served this country and put their lives on the line. We have an obligation--an obligation today, tonight, and tomorrow--to finish this and put their COLA back in place.

I know we will hear arguments about the deficit and all these explanations. But I can't say enough about the payment that has already been made by our military, by the people who served not only on the frontlines but throughout this world, protecting our country. I hope we put aside our political debates and our politicking, and get on with doing what is right.

When we put this in perspective about the 6,800 who perished in the two unpaid-for wars--$2 trillion-plus unpaid for--this is a $6 billion issue over the next 10 years. It is a small amount to make sure we solve this problem for our retirees.

The military coalition--an incredible organization of many of our military organizations around the country--has sent a letter today supporting S. 1963, the bill we have up today. So I hope Members on both sides put aside this whole argument on the pay-for and let's get on with doing what is right with our retirees. They have paid the price, they have served our country, and it is time to pay the bill-- and that is voting for this piece of legislation tonight, voting to close it in cloture, and then moving on to final passage.

I look forward to the debate.

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

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the letters relating to the resignation of the Senator from Montana, Max Baucus, be printed in the Record.