Floor Statements

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, earlier this week I came to the Senate floor to speak about the importance of the forestry title in what is a bipartisan farm bill we are considering right now as I speak.

In my previous remarks, I spoke about a growing emergency in our Nation's forests caused by the largest bark beetle outbreak in our recorded history--an outbreak that is projected to kill nearly every lodgepole pine in Colorado.

I know the Presiding Officer from the neighboring State of New Mexico is experiencing these same conditions in his State. The Forest Service has estimated that 100,000 dead trees are falling in our forests every day. Hard to imagine, but their estimates are such: 100,000 trees every day. That means our landscapes are littered with tinder ready to burn, which, combined with the hot dry summer we are already experiencing, is a recipe for a disastrous fire season.

Mother Nature bats last, which means much of what we face is out of our control. But we can act, and we must act, in order to manage the magnitude of the crisis in our home States.

In some ways--I know the Presiding Officer sees this the same way I do--the forests in Colorado are the canaries in the coal mine that tie us into and identify the effects of a changing climate. Warmer temperatures and drought conditions have exacerbated beetle infestations in our forests, and we are now dealing with an unprecedented combination of explosive fire season events.

There is a raging Colorado wildfire today, as I stand here, in Larimer County--the High Park Fire--and it continues to grow. It has consumed over 46,000 acres. It has claimed the life of a local homeowner, and it is causing devastating effects in the surrounding communities. As of first thing this morning, only 10 percent of the fire had been contained. We have made sure, though, that all available resources are dedicated to this effort. I am told we now have over 1,000 firefighters on site,

which is good news. We will not know the true costs of the fire for some time, but it, undoubtedly, will have a lasting effect on my State.

I want to assure Coloradans that I will continue to closely monitor the High Park Fire to ensure that firefighters on the ground have all the resources they need to beat back this devastating blaze. I also urge my fellow Coloradans to heed the warnings and follow the evacuation guidance of the firefighters who are tasked with keeping us safe. Most importantly, I ask that we keep these brave public servants in mind as they work to protect lives and personal property--especially as what is a very unpredictable fire progresses.

Again, I know the Presiding Officer has had a series of fires in his State, and he knows the capricious nature of wildfire. I want to also, in giving a little more background, point out that the High Park Fire is burning predominantly on private land. But it is moving rapidly into a beetle-infested national forest. This is a reminder of exactly why we need flexibility to treat hazardous beetle-killed trees and to engage the public in the active and collaborative management of our Nation's forests.

We cannot reverse the tragic loss of life and property that the High Park Fire and many other fires have caused, but it is essential that we take steps to understand what can be done in the future to better prevent, prepare, and respond to wildfires. We must learn more about the conditions that make those fires catastrophic.

Let me start by talking about homeowners.

Homeowners can create what we know in our States is called defensible space, depth space. That involves clearing brush, moving woodpiles, and looking at other actions through which we can protect structures. Those actions have been proven to be the hallmark of what has saved such properties in past fires.

These are important takeaways we have learned in my State of Colorado in the wake of catastrophic fires, and they are also the result of subsequent stories and studies that I have called for to inform the public about what they can do to protect their homes and property.

The same studies have also taught us that Federal forest management policies must prioritize tree removal around communities to protect homes, roads, and infrastructure--something I have fought to provide resources for over the last decade. The added benefit to these efforts is that they create local jobs and support the critically important timber industry in our States.

But that is not all. We must also advance new policies that will actually help prepare our firefighters to combat these raging fires. A recent example of this is action the Senate took to pass a bill I cosponsored to expedite the purchase of much needed air tankers to fight wildfires. Our Nation's tanker fleet has aged and dwindled dramatically in recent years. Without sufficient air tankers, we are ill-prepared to respond to catastrophic fires--especially multiple fires at once. I am pleased the Congress passed this bill, and I understand the President is prepared to act quickly to sign the air tanker legislation into law. Still, we need to and we can do more.

We need more flexibility to treat forests more comprehensively. I believe, as I mentioned at the beginning of my remarks, the forestry title of the farm bill is a good start. However, I believe it does not go far enough to authorize adequate resources to treat forests that have been affected by bark beetle infestations.

The Forest Service's bark beetle strategy calls for doubling the number of acres it has been able to treat in past years. In other words, the Forest Service is saying: Look, we want to double what we have been doing. We believe we have the expertise to do that. What else do they need, though? They need money.

In fiscal year 2011, the Forest Service allocated $110 million to treating acres affected by bark beetles in the Western United States. But if we are going to double that acreage, we are going to need more Federal support.

A year ago I fought to increase the amount of funding the Forest Service had available to treat hazardous trees. I worked with the administration and strongly supported a reprogramming request that would have allowed the Forest Service to use extra money to treat problem areas in the West.

The Senate supported this commonsense request. But, I have to tell you, unfortunately, the House Appropriations Committee stood in the way of getting these critical funds into the forests where it was and is still needed most. So that inaction meant that thousands of acres of beetle-killed trees were not treated--areas that are potentially now worsening the High Park Fire as we speak.

In the new farm bill, the Agriculture Committee has authorized $100 million for designated treatment areas affected by beetle infestation, which is less money than last year, and certainly not enough to double the number of acres that were targeted for fire prevention and tree removal.

At the current authorization level of $100 million, the Forest Service simply will be unable to meet its goal. To help remedy this, I have filed a bipartisan amendment, No. 2295, with Senator Thune of South Dakota, which would increase the authorization for funding to $200 million to authorize adequate resources in order for the Forest Service to address these looming and immediate emergencies.

I have been a strong advocate for finding ways to ensure we are prudent in how we spend taxpayer dollars, but the need to address this crisis is immediate and the threat to public health, safety, and our economy will only get worse, causing us to pay more later. Another way to put it is it is less expensive to prevent fires, to prepare for fires, than it is to fight fires and then be involved in the rehabilitation of those landscapes after those devastating fires are finally put out.

In addition to the amendment I have filed with Senator Thune that would provide increased authorization for the funding of tree removal, I have also filed amendment No. 2294 that would extend Colorado's good neighbor authority.

Good neighbor authority gives the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management the capability and the power to enter into cooperative agreements with State foresters to plan and implement forest health projects on more acres more efficiently. This would give my State and other States the opportunity to collaborate with Federal agencies to perform forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration services--actions that a study I requested after the Fourmile Canyon Fire in Boulder County, CO, found firsthand helps agencies and homeowners better prepare to reduce the risk of damage and loss of life from wildfires.

Lest viewers and those who are interested in wildfires think they are an aberration, wildfires are actually a fact of life in the West and in forests in general, and they will continue to occur over and over again in Colorado. But I am committed to doing everything possible to learn from every fire and take whatever precautionary measures we can, with the hope of saving more lives, property, and communities in the future.

As I have said before--and we all know--wildfires can easily become a multimillion-dollar effort affecting every level of government. As the bark beetle epidemic continues to present a significant threat to our economy, critical infrastructure, and important natural resources, we must allocate resources to address this epidemic up front in a commonsense way.

Again, I know the Presiding Officer has faced these challenges head on in his State. Some may see this as just solely a western problem, but I urge my colleagues to support bipartisan efforts to ensure that we manage our forests to reduce fire risk, protect water supplies, and bolster our economy.

Forests all over our country are susceptible and vulnerable to fires. We can work together in the Senate to ensure that we have the tools to protect our forests and protect the communities and the people who live in those communities.

I look forward to the Senate taking up these two important amendments in the near future as we hopefully move the farm bill to passage in the Senate and to the President's desk.

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

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

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, as every one of our colleagues will attest, the work we do in this Chamber is made possible by many exceptional people who do not carry an election certificate. I am speaking of the dedicated staffers who work on committees and in our personal offices.

Many of the staff members we interact with every day go on to build their own careers in political life, while others use the skills they developed here to work in rewarding ways for the private sector. Others continue in public service with nonprofit organizations or other kinds of government service. A few will make their contribution to public service by staying here as employees of the House of Representatives or the Senate. A smaller and more distinct group will develop such broad expertise in the legislative branch that they might as well carry an election certificate of their own because of the respect, esteem, and high regard in which they are held. These are the men and women whom other congressional staffers seek for their wisdom and guidance. These are the wise people whom Senators and Congressmen look upon as peers, not only because of their good counsel and uniquely honed years of experience but also because they often know more about the legislative process than legislators themselves.

Among this more and most distinct group of staff members, there is a standout, my friend Stan Sloss. I know the Presiding Officer knows Stan Sloss. Stan is marking his 14th year of service in my office but also 37 total years of work in Congress.

A native of Glenwood Springs, CO, Stan is a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School. He came to Washington, DC, in the late 1960s, working first in the General Counsel's Office of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Stan's congressional career started in 1975 when he joined the staff of what was then known as the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.

In 1977 Stan became a counsel to the new Subcommittee on General Oversight and Alaska Lands chaired by former Representative John Seiberling, an iconic past Member of the House of Representatives. In this capacity, Stan worked with both Representative Seiberling and my father, Morris Udall, who was chairman of the full Interior Committee.

Stan has had many successes, but one that I am most proud of is his work to help draft legislation that became the

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act--key legislation setting aside more than 100 million acres of Alaska's most pristine public lands. Stan staffed hearings throughout the lower 48 States and Alaska and was one of the many key professional staff who helped shape the final legislation. The law was a milestone in conservation, protecting an area larger than the State of California and more than doubling the size of the Nation's system of national parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness, and wild and scenic rivers.

When John Seiberling retired in 1987, Stan remained on the Interior Committee staff, serving under former Representative Bruce Vento, chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. Stan continued to work on many other laws and regulations affecting public lands and natural resources, including the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act sponsored by my father.

Stan's expertise was simply indispensable. In 1995 Stan left the Resources Committee to become the legislative director for David Skaggs, a House Member from Colorado, who benefited from Stan's years of experience and expertise with public lands issues.

I have a letter from Congressman Skaggs noting all of Stan's accomplishments and service. I ask unanimous consent to have it printed in the Record.

While Stan was working with Congressman Skaggs, he also dealt with contentious issues related to Rocky Flats, a former nuclear weapons site in Colorado, and the other sites in the U.S. Department of Energy nuclear weapons complex.

Stan was one of the first people I hired following my election to the House of Representatives in November of 1998. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was fortunate to have someone with Stan's experience who also understood issues important to Colorado. While in my House office, Stan was instrumental in developing a number of land and environmental bills that were signed into law, including the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act, which converted this site and a vast expanse of open space into a wildlife habitat asset after it was cleaned up and closed. He also steered into law the James Peak Wilderness and Protection Area Act, one of the last unprotected areas along Colorado's Northern Front Range mountainous backdrop. Stan has also been my expert on fire prevention, developing legislation on forest health and wildfire response and mitigation.

But Stan's work has not just been confined to the environmental arena. His keen intellect, common sense, and sharp legal analysis have been invaluable on a wide range of issues and topics that face each and every one of us every day. He has been especially effective in tutoring many of the younger members of my staff on the inner workings of Congress, helping them learn the nuances of legislative drafting, and serving as an example of the highest standard of professionalism for congressional staff.

Like any thoughtful and accomplished lawyer, Stan is often fond of saying that he can ``argue it flat or he can argue it round,'' and his objectivity is legendary in our office. Having said that, however, I also know that beneath his always calm demeanor and his capacity to see all sides of the question, there beats the heart of a man who is passionate about doing the right thing.

Through many years of working on behalf of the people of Colorado in my House office and now my Senate office, Stan has always been a voice of wisdom, reason, and, above all, integrity. My colleagues in the Colorado congressional delegation have often looked upon Stan as their resource as well. I have never minded sharing him because his advice and guidance carry weight that inevitably makes better whatever bill or policy he has been asked to consider. I think I daresay the Presiding Officer has also had the opportunity to work with Stan and take advantage of his wisdom and insight.

Stan is a person of depth and accomplishment beyond his work in Congress. He is one of the best read people I have ever met. He is an expert on gardening, on opera, on history, and the list goes on and on. I have to say parenthetically, as a graduate of Williams College, for me to say that about an Amherst graduate probably has double weight.

Stan has an exceptional sense of humor and a dry wit, as demonstrated in the poems he often wrote making wry observations on current events which he would regularly circulate to staff. In short, he has perfected what seems to be the lost art of being polite and courteous to other people even when he disagrees with them. That, of course, is a quality we could always use a bit more of in Congress.

Stan is not only a good employee, he is also a good human being. In the rough-and-tumble world of politics, that is perhaps the highest praise to which any of us can aspire. His contributions to my offices, the offices of other Members, the House Resources Committee, and the whole Congress and ultimately the people of the United States serve as an example of a professional life that commands both respect and affection.

Just a few months ago, my staff and I celebrated Stan's 70th birthday with him, as we had his 60th and 65th birthdays in past years, and today we are honored to celebrate his retirement. My staff and I will miss Stan, it goes without saying, and we will miss working with him.

As a point of personal privilege, I want to make it clear that I know I will continue to seek his advice even after he leaves congressional service. I am excited to see what the next chapter will be for Stan. It will no doubt involve some adventure, some noble pursuits, some deep thought, and some new summits to ascend.

So please join me in thanking Stan Sloss for 37 years of exceptional work in the Congress and for his service to our country that he loves so much. We wish him well.

Mr. President, before I talk about the production tax credit which brought me to the floor, I wish to associate myself with the leader's remarks.

I have the great privilege to sit on the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee. The leader has put his finger on what should be a singular focus on the part of the Senate. We have been warned about the threats in the cyber domain. It is time to act. There are plans that are concrete, focused, and have great support. We should act as soon as we possibly can. I wish to thank the leader for bringing that to our attention.

Mr. President, I would like to recognize the 125th anniversary of United Way and honor their extraordinary achievements since their founding 125 years ago in Denver, CO.

In 1887, a Denver woman, along with local religious leaders, recognized the need for community-based action in order to address the city's growing problem with poverty. In Denver they established the first of what would become a worldwide network of organizations called United Way. Their goal was simple: create a community-based organization that would raise funds in order to provide economic relief and counseling services to neighbors in need. During their first campaign in 1888, this remarkable organization raised today's equivalent of $650,000.

Now, 125 years after its founding, United Way has become a celebrated, worldwide organization committed to improving communities from the bottom up, through cooperative action and community support in 41 countries across the globe. United Way forges public-private partnerships with local businesses, labor organizations, and 120 national and global corporations through the Global Corporate Leadership Program and brings an impressive $5 billion to local communities each year. United Way effectively leverages private donations in order to finance innovative programs and initiatives that profoundly impact communities throughout Colorado, the United States, and the world to advance education, income, and health.

The success and strength of the partnerships between United Way and America's workers cannot be overstated. Nearly two-thirds of the funds for United Way come from voluntary worker payroll contributions and the Labor Letters of Endorsement Program championed by the AFL CIO encourages affiliates and their members to give their time and resources to United Way campaigns. Just one powerful illustration of this partnership is the National Association of Letter Carriers' National Food Drive, a cooperative effort with the U.S. Postal Service, AFL CIO, and United Way, which has become the world's largest 1-day food drive.

United Way has strengthened bonds and built a foundation of collaboration and partnership in our communities. Its founders could never have imagined the ultimate breadth and reach of this group, growing from a local support organization to a globally recognized force for good. United Way is an indispensable part of Colorado's social fabric, and I am proud to recognize and honor this historic anniversary.

There are 14 local United Way organizations leaving an indelible mark throughout Colorado. I want to take a moment to recognize each of them for their tremendous role as cornerstones of their communities: Foothills United Way, Boulder; Pikes Peak United Way, Colorado Springs; Moffat County United Way, Craig; Mile High United Way, Inc., Denver; United Way of Southwest Colorado, Durango; United Way of Eagle River Valley, Eagle; United Way of Morgan County, Inc., Fort Morgan; United Way of Mesa County, Grand Junction; United Way of Weld County, Greeley; United Way of Larimer County, Inc., Fort Collins and Loveland; Pueblo County United Way, Inc., Pueblo; United Way of Garfield County, Rifle; Routt County United Way, Steamboat Springs; and Logan County United Way, Sterling.

To all of the employees and partners of United Way, I join my Senate colleagues in recognizing and applauding your legacy of inspirational service. This 125th anniversary is a milestone deserving of celebration, and I commend your tireless pursuit to advance the common good.

Mr. President, I rise tonight to recognize the 125th anniversary of United Way and honor their extraordinary achievements since their founding 125 years ago in Denver, CO.

In 1887, a Denver woman along with local religious leaders recognized the need for community-based action in order to address Denver's growing problem with poverty. In Denver, this group--this initial group--established the first of what would become a worldwide network of organizations called United Way. Their goal was simple: create a community-based organization that would raise funds in order to provide economic relief and counseling services to neighbors in need. During their first campaign in 1888, this remarkable organization raised today's equivalent of $650,000.

Now, 125 years after its founding, United Way has become a celebrated worldwide organization committed to improving communities from the bottom up through cooperative action and community support in 41 countries across the globe. United Way forges public-private partnerships with local businesses, labor organizations, and 120 national and global corporations through the Global Corporate Leadership Program that brings an impressive $1 billion to local communities each year. United Way effectively leverages private donations in order to finance innovative programs and initiatives that profoundly affect communities throughout Colorado, the United States and, dare I say, the world.

The success and strength of these partnerships between United Way and America's workers cannot be overstated. Nearly two-thirds of the funds for United Way come from voluntary worker payroll contributions, and the Labor Letters of Endorsement Program championed by the AFL CIO encourages affiliates and their members to give their time and resources to United Way campaigns.

Just one powerful illustration of this partnership is the National Association of Letter Carriers' National Food Drive, which is a cooperative effort of the U.S. Postal Service, the AFL CIO, and United Way, which has become the world's largest 1-day food drive.

United Way has strengthened bonds and built a foundation of collaboration and partnership in our communities. Its founders could never have imagined the ultimate breadth and reach of this group, growing from a local support organization in little Denver, CO, back in 1887 to a globally recognized force for good.

United Way is an indispensable part of Colorado's social fabric, and I am proud to recognize and honor this historic anniversary.

There are 14 local United Way organizations leaving an indelible mark throughout Colorado. I want to take a moment to recognize each of them for their tremendous role as cornerstones of their communities: Foothills United Way, Boulder; Pikes Peak United Way, Colorado Springs; Moffat County United Way, Craig; Mile High United Way, Inc., Denver; United Way of Southwest Colorado, Durango; United Way of Eagle River Valley, Eagle; United Way of Morgan County, Inc., Fort Morgan; United Way of Mesa County, Grand Junction; United Way of Weld County, Greeley; United Way of Larimer County, Inc., Fort Collins and Loveland; Pueblo County United Way, Inc., Pueblo; United Way of Garfield County, Rifle; Routt County United Way, Steamboat Springs; and Logan County United Way, Sterling.

To all of the employees and partners of United Way, I join my Senate colleagues in recognizing and applauding your legacy and inspirational service. This 125th anniversary is a milestone deserving of celebration, and I commend your tireless pursuit to advance the common good.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor Mrs. Nanette A. Nadeau, who on June 3, 2012, at Peterson Air Force Base, CO, will retire after over 36 years of Federal civil service. Nanette is the Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. She has been an enduring presence and focal point for all congressional matters and our interaction with the commands.

Legislative liaisons facilitate communication between their agencies and Congress, effectively bridging our organizational cultures. These professionals require expert, almost insider, knowledge of Congressional procedure, committee structure, and legislative process. My office depends heavily on the rapport we have with military liaisons for timely, transparent dialogue. Nanette has exemplified the best of what we have come to appreciate.

Nanette is a native of Jefferson, NH. She attended White Mountain Regional High School where she had the distinction of recruiting the band Aerosmith to play at her senior prom. While her high school accomplishments were legendary, it was on a day she was absent from school that would change her life's course--the day she met a young soldier, Douglas Nadeau. Doug had received a call that day from a young lady who wanted to skip class with a couple friends, but they needed a ride because the school was several miles from town. Nanette was one of the friends. They married in June of 1974 and headed out together as Doug continued to serve our country around the world.

In the military, there is an adage that ``home is wherever the service sends you,'' and over the years the Nadeaus called places like Germany, Georgia, and Virginia home. Like other military spouses, Nanette made sacrifices along the way as she bounced from one civil service job to the next, sometimes settling for a lower grade. She started her Federal service career as a General Schedule-2, sorting mail in the Post Office in Giessen, Germany. Finding her niche in legislative affairs, she earned a reputation for excellence and was promoted over time to General Schedule-14 . Despite enduring frequent moves, Nanette found time to earn her bachelor's degree from The College of William & Mary, graduating summa cum laude, and later added an MBA from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, also summa cum laude, all while working full time.

After having seen the world, the Nadeaus felt most at home in Colorado. Fort Carson was where Doug was stationed when they were married and they returned in 1987 for Doug's last assignment, eventually deciding to settle in the Colorado Springs area. During her tenure as a legislative liaison, Nanette has prepared countless pages of testimony and led numerous congressional visits. She has orchestrated visits for my staff and me to military installations in the local community, including Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. A pinnacle moment for Nanette was being awarded the well-deserved honor of Civilian of the Year in 2006.

Around NORAD and USNORTHCOM, Nanette has become known for her discretion, interpersonal skill, and sharp sense of humor. She enjoys a level of trust with her colleagues that can only be earned over time. Nanette will leave an indelible mark on NORAD and USNORTHCOM and her institutional knowledge and savvy analysis of legislative activity will be hard to replace. However, she can take pride in the knowledge that she leaves her post better than she found it, and be confident that her legacy will endure through those she has mentored over the years.

On behalf of a grateful nation, I thank Nanette for her many years of faithful, selfless service and offer warm congratulations on the occasion of her retirement. May she and Doug enjoy a very bright future.

Mr. President, I rise today in support of a pretty common sense goal--getting more kids outside and engaged in the great outdoors.

In America today, I am sad to say that one in three children are overweight or obese. Kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of 7 and a half hours a day using some sort of entertainment media such as TVs, computers, video games, cell phones and movies. I believe this is a major reason why only \1/3\ of all children get the recommended level of physical activity every day, contributing to high obesity rates.

The grave effects of childhood obesity on our children's quality of life are troubling, and the impacts on our economy distressing. But the effect on our national security is equally alarming. With current obesity rates, I have serious concerns that our military will have difficulty finding soldiers physically qualified to serve in the near future.

A healthier Nation is a stronger Nation, and encouraging greater physical activity in America's youth by getting more kids outdoors will help stop this disturbing trend.

That is why I am proud to submit a bipartisan resolution today which recognizes May 19, 2012, as the second annual National Kids to Parks Day. I led this effort last year, and was extremely pleased to see the many thousands of families that made it out to a national, State, or local park to enjoy the great outdoors.

So far, over 70,000 people across the country have signed the pledge to get outside on National Kids to Parks Day.

Enjoying the outdoors has been a lifelong passion for me. Growing up in the American southwest, my parents would take our family on frequent trips to the nearby parks and helped inspire me to become a mountain guide with Outward Bound. At Outward Bound I developed a strong love not just for being outdoors, but for sharing the outdoors with others.

In Congress, I have similarly tried to ensure that open spaces in both urban and rural areas are preserved so that families in Colorado and across America have ample opportunity to get out and take advantage of our greatest natural resources, our parks, and open spaces.

Preserving open spaces is critical to our ability to enjoy the outdoors, which is essential not just to public health but to our economy as well. In Colorado, a big part of our economy is dependent on having open spaces--from skiing to whitewater rafting, hiking, and mountain biking--protecting land for outdoor recreation keeps us and our economy healthy.

In this same spirit, on Saturday families all across the Nation will get outside to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day and America's commitment to getting kids outdoors.

Getting kids outdoors won't completely solve our childhood obesity problem, but it may help them get excited about being active and healthy outdoors. It may help inspire the next generation of American stewards to enjoy and protect our Nation's special places.

I would like to thank Senator Bingaman, Senator Murkowski and Senator Portman for joining me in submitting this resolution.

I would like to close by asking my colleagues to support my National Kids to Parks Day resolution.

S. Res. 464

Mr. President, today I am submitting a resolution concerning water in the State of Colorado. This resolution recognizes the importance of water to the State of Colorado and the contributions of many of the organizations that have innovated and cooperated over the past century to develop, protect and conserve this scarce resource. I want to thank my colleague from Colorado Senator Bennet for cosponsoring the resolution.

In the arid West, water is our most precious natural resource. It is woven into our history as a source of life, a source of recreation and even economic growth. But as a limited resource, it is also a source of conflict. As the old saying in the West goes, whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.

However, I rise today to highlight not our disagreements but our cooperation. Generations of Coloradans have joined together and worked hard to solve Colorado's water challenges, because a resource as valuable as water must ultimately unite us.

The year 2012 is a particularly significant year for water in Colorado, as it marks numerous anniversaries that have had an enormous impact on how water is managed in my state.

It is the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Rio Grande Reservoir, 90th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact of 1922, 75th anniversary of

the creation of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, 75th anniversary of the creation of the Colorado River Water Conservation District, 75th anniversary of the creation of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and the Colorado-Big Thompson Project, 50th anniversary of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, 10th anniversary of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education and 10th anniversary of the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District.

In fact, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has designated 2012 as the Year of Water in Colorado.

I am proud of efforts underway in the state to raise awareness about the importance of water. For example, a statewide celebration named Colorado Water 2012 will help to engage and educate Coloradans about past achievements and highlight the challenges we face in the future management of water. Colorado Water 2012 will continue throughout the year, and I look forward to participating in the education and engagement of our citizens.

I hope that this resolution can in some small way add to the appreciation of water issues in the United States Senate and to efforts underway in Colorado.

Mr. President, the Senator from Louisiana has the right intentions, but this amendment would truly be a vote against U.S. jobs and manufacturing. It would wrongly target renewable energy manufacturing, and it would threaten millions of dollars in the export of U.S.-made products at a time when we should be seeking to expand these markets overseas.

If you look particularly at the wind industry, it is already suffering because we have not had the courage, frankly, to extend the production tax credit for wind, and it has bipartisan support; that is, the extension of the wind production tax credit. So we have to pass that production tax credit immediately. But in the meantime, let's not create a double whammy and pass the Vitter amendment because that would damage our opportunity to export renewable energy projects and services. Without question, that sector is expanding dramatically. It is the source of a lot of jobs in my State and I think in every State in the Nation.

Let's expand our markets. Let's export. Let's not limit that possibility. The Vitter amendment would do just that, so I urge all of you to vote against the Vitter amendment.

Mr. President, let me associate myself with the remarks of my colleague from the State of Washington, Ms. Cantwell.

I heard the Republican leader talk about a progrowth agenda. There is nothing more progrowth than exporting American goods and services overseas to the growing markets all over the world, and the Ex-Im Bank has a long record of providing the foundation on which our businesses, small, medium, and large, can do that. So let's bring up what the House has passed and move it through this Chamber as fast as possible.

stop the student loan interest rate hike of 2012

Mr. President, I mentioned I wanted to stand this morning and speak on behalf of students all across America.

In my home State of Colorado, students and recent college graduates are literally struggling with a mountain of loan debt. As a mountain climber myself, I understand that mountains can be overcome. But in an economy such as this one, where recent college graduates are struggling to find work, we need to do more. We need to do everything we possibly can to make college more affordable. And that is where we, the Congress, come in.

The interest rate, as we all know, on the federally subsidized Stafford loans is set to double on July 1, barring congressional action, so we don't have much time to play political games here before the mountain of debt facing our students begins to grow even higher.

Student loans play a crucial role in making higher education possible for millions of Americans. For many Americans, higher education is the gateway to their future careers and to better paying jobs. That is a good thing for our families and it is a good thing for our economy, again referencing the Republican leader's concerns about a progrowth agenda.

More specifically, let me talk about what the federally subsidized Stafford loans do. They are designed for American students from low- to middle-income families so that they too can afford to go to college. At a time when students are facing escalating tuition costs and an uncertain job market after graduation, it would truly be irresponsible for us not to act as soon as possible. But I have to report to you and our colleagues that we are being blocked from doing just that.

There is a commonsense proposal before us that would prevent these student loan interest rates from doubling, but it is being filibustered. All these students want--all the young people we all know want--is an opportunity to better themselves and contribute to our Nation's economic growth. We have a chance to offer them that opportunity, but we have got to end the political games here and get to work. We can't let partisanship stand in the way of a college education for young Americans. It doesn't make sense, certainly out in my State of Colorado. Coloradans understand this, and they are telling me--as I think they are in the Presiding Officer's State, and States all across the country--just get it done. There is no time left to just get it done.

I asked Colorado students through my Facebook page to contact me with their concerns so I could share them here on the Senate floor, and I wanted

to bring their voices directly to the Congress so we would all understand better what is at stake in Colorado and all over our country so it might give us some additional motivation. So I wish to share a couple of stories here on the floor of the Senate.

Justyne Espinal is from Aurora. She is a single mother of two children. She is currently enrolled in nursing school after being displaced from her job in the mortgage industry. She enrolled in nursing school so she could provide for her family and contribute to the workforce. She said:

I am just barely making ends meet and need the help of

student loans. Please don't double my interest rate.

Then there is Nicholas Collins, a senior communications major at the University of Colorado. He is in the middle of preparing for final exams this week, but he took time to write to me, and he wrote:

Senator Udall, I will be graduating two weeks from today. I

could not imagine a future where students would be forced to

pay up to $1,000 more per year to pay off their loans . . . I

would not be in the position I am today if it wasn't for

federal aid.

The concerns that are expressed by Justyne and Nicholas are just a couple of vivid examples of the concerns facing millions of American students.

As you know, and we all know, there is a broad consensus that we have to prevent these Stafford loans from doubling on July 1. However, many of our friends on the other side want to raid the Prevention and Public Health Fund to offset the cost of these student loans. This fund is aimed at preventing chronic disease and it was implemented as a part of the Affordable Care Act. The Prevention and Public Health Fund helps to reduce chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, while also providing much-needed dollars toward immunization for children.

I understand that the health bill was controversial. But to continue attacking it, especially when students' futures are on the line, is puzzling, to say the least. While we could be closing unfair tax loopholes, as the underlying bill proposes, the Republicans here in the Senate are telling us we have to choose between a bright future for our students or preventing chronic disease for millions of Americans. That doesn't make sense. This is about providing opportunity. To say we can no longer care for the sick or help prevent chronic disease if we want to help students is a false and, I might say, political choice.

There are plenty of tax loopholes, big oil subsidies and other savings, that don't leave students, the sick, or hard-working Americans out in the cold. We owe it to people such as Justyne and Nicholas to come together to find a way to ensure that American students continue to have access to affordable loans. I look forward to working with you and our colleagues here in the Senate to make sure we do right by our Nation's students on this. I would urge all of us to end this impasse and, instead, work together. Let's roll up our sleeves, literally and figuratively, and find the right solution. Let's prove to Coloradans, to the students in Colorado and to all the students across our country, that the Senate can accomplish something important for our Nation's education system, our country, and our way of life.

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

Madam President, today I wish to speak on behalf of my colleagues and a grateful Nation as we welcome to the Nation's capital the 122 men and women of Honor Flight Northern Colorado. Together, they represent soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. These heroes embody the dedication, honor, and selfless service that make this country great. We owe them and all servicemembers a debt that can never be repaid.

Throughout the history of our great Republic, our men and women in uniform have shielded this country from the harm that others wish to inflict on it. We have always asked a great deal from these individuals; that they leave their families to fight in an unknown land against a deadly enemy. They have always bravely answered the call, placing themselves between this country and harm's way.

On this flight are World War II veterans from every branch of service.

From the Army we have:

Robert Barnd, Loveland; Frank Brown, Fort Collins; William Castor, Loveland; Lowell Dart, Berthoud; Donald Draxler, Loveland; Jose Duran, Log Lane Village; Joseph Edwards, Scottsdale; George Emerick, Fort Morgan; Warren Garst, Fort Collins; Joseph Graham, Palo Alto; Roland Kaiser, Longmont; Victor Lazar, Sandy; David Leon, Alliance; Russell Malm, Greeley; W. Dennis McHenry, Estes Park; Raymond Mega, Longmont; Gerald Monroe, LaSalle; Bernard Nettesheim, Loveland; Richard Porter, Longmont; James Rauenbuehler, Fort Collins; Frederick Reck, Julesburg; Walter Sapp, Fort Collins; Alan Shultes, Longmont; Theodore Wahler, Loveland; Evans Woodhouse, Mead.

Army Air Corps veterans include:

Carson Bright, Longmont; Wayne Bullock, Fort Collins; Robert Duntsch, Bozeman; Marvin Fowler, Lamar; Donald Morrison, Limon; Homer Phillips, Jr., Fort Collins; Gilbert Rohde, Longmont; Charles Smoot, Loveland; Gene Thorson, Strasburg; Crowell Werner, Fort Collins.

From the Navy are:

Charles Agnew, Wheat Ridge; Eugene Bonkiewicz, Greeley; Jack Endacott, Estes Park; Robert Gillham, Peetz; William Hampton, Gering; Willis Kramer, Greeley; Harry Livingston, Estes Park; Gilbert Lopez, Denver; Armin Moser, Loveland; Reynold Olson, Estes Park; Marion Raines, Limon; Henry Schmitt, Jr., Longmont; Waldo Smith, Highlands Ranch; Fredrick Stein, Fort Collins; William Stromberg, Sr., Loveland; Clyde Treadway, Brush; Arthur Wartburg, Boulder; James White, Estes Park; Robert Williams, Johnstown.

We welcome Marine Corps veteran Lewis Ashcraft, Littleton.

And finally, from the Women's Auxiliary Corps, we have Mary Livingston, Estes Park.

Also on the flight are veterans from the Korean War.

Help me welcome Army veterans:

Darryl Anderson, Fort Morgan; Raymond Anderson, Gill; Donald Armagost, Greeley; Eugene Ball, Windsor; Harry Bell, Fort Collins; Orlis Charboneau, Pierce; Robert Cupp, Loveland; Samuel Ehrlich, Longmont; Alvin Eurich, Simla; John Hess, Loveland; Donald Hoffner, Eaton; Robert Kramer, Fort Lupton; Robert Kruger, Platteville; Lindy Leifheit, Irvine; Chester McCoy, Brush; William Miller, Fort Collins; James Ochsner, Windsor; Arnold Piel, Stoneham; Wayne Pimple, Greeley; Richard Reagan, Wellington; Gerald Rice, Fort Collins; Joseph Sellers, Ault; William Shirey, Estes Park; Norris Slechta, Berthoud.

Air Force veterans include:

James Ball, Denver; Dale Crist, Frederick; Bobbie Desmond, Loveland; Francis Fleming, Jr., Berthoud; Virgil Hanson, Greeley; Marguerite Ingram, Evans; Harry Rieger, Brush; Edward Roebuck, Greeley; Robert Stanley, Greeley; Darrell Viegut, Loveland.

From the Navy we have:

Emil Badjar, Longmont; Leslie Brumley, Greeley; Edward Eson, Greeley; Clarence Ehlbert, Fort Collins; Leslie Fraley, Jr., Fort Collins; George Frysinger III, Fort Collins; John Goad, Severance; Roman Herrmann, Longmont; Chester McGuire, Loveland; Raymond Nuss, Greeley; Louis Peterson, Longmont; Marshall Petring, Fort Collins; Gerald Ross, Fort Collins; Alan Seaman, Longmont; Clarence Strahan, Jr., Fort Collins; William Striffler, Fort Collins; Irvin Tregoning, Johnstown; Jimmie Tregoning, Greeley; Merril Tregoning, Windsor; Sam Warner, Loveland.

Representing the Marine Corps are:

Timothy Daley, Fort Collins; Richard Gero, Loveland; Billy Hettinger, Fort Collins.

And from the Women's Auxiliary Corps is Elizabeth Strahan, Fort Collins.

Veterans from the Vietnam War are on this flight as well.

From the Army we have:

Dennis Henneberg, Loveland; Donald Hess, Greeley; Jack Roberts, Greeley.

Representing the Navy are:

Edward Fast, Fort Collins; Daniel Menzies, Loveland.

And finally, Marine Corps veterans include:

Doyle Biggs, Loveland; Paul Delgado, Greeley; Steven White, Greeley.

Join me in thanking these Colorado veterans and the volunteers of Honor Flight Northern Colorado for their tremendous service to this great Nation.

Mr. President, I rise, as do my Democratic colleagues and quite a few of my Republican colleagues, in support of the Violence Against Women Act.

My remarks will extend beyond the time we have left, so I will ask the Chair to advise me when 2 minutes have passed, and I will try to conclude over a 3-minute timeframe so other colleagues can speak on this very important piece of legislation.

Mr. President, the Violence Against Women Act--known as VAWA--has been in effect for 18 years and it has saved lives and strengthened families all over the country. I speak as a Coloradoan, and I will cite statistics that will point to the concrete effects the Violence Against Women Act has had in my State.

This was a landmark piece of legislation and it changed the way we think about and respond to domestic violence. It has made a difference in the lives of literally millions of women all over the country by bringing the perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse to justice. It has made a difference by providing safe and secure support services to victims of crimes. It has established a National Domestic Violence Hotline and so much more. It is little wonder such a commonsense and far-reaching concept in legislation has found support from Members of both sides of the aisle.

I mentioned Colorado. Let me cite some numbers. In 2010 alone, 60,000 victims of domestic violence contacted State crisis hotlines seeking help. The funding that VAWA provides not only gives our law enforcement beefed up resources and tools for catching and then prosecuting perpetrators, but it also supports critical services for victims and survivors.

I thank the Chair.

These resources have literally saved the lives of women from Durango to Craig and from Pueblo to Denver, and I wish to commend all the important organizations in my State that make it all possible.

The great news is that today--right now--we have the opportunity to make this an even better piece of legislation.

This reauthorization builds upon and strengthens the current act, expanding access to the resources so many victims desperately need. It also contains important reforms that will increase accountability in the use of VAWA resources, ensuring these federal dollars are going to serve the victims who need them most. Taxpayers demand that we spend their monies wisely especially during tough economic times and this VAWA bill meets that high standard they expect of us.

Moreover, it is worth noting this bill makes college campuses safer by requiring that schools develop comprehensive plans to combat and prevent crimes against women.

It also takes the imperative step of strengthening the Federal Government's response to domestic and dating violence on tribal lands, which has climbed to near epidemic levels across the country.

Furthermore, it increases protections and outreach for LGBT victims, because the right to live free from domestic violence should not depend on gender identity or sexual orientation.

The most recent reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act expired in September of last year. The bottom line is that it is past time to get this done. The legislation before us today has 61 cosponsors, is broadly bipartisan, and has the support of countless women and men around the country.

I believe there is an alternative version of this bill that may come before us for a vote as well. I know this is an election year, and the increasingly partisan climate in Congress has made it tempting to take truly bipartisan legislation such as this and inject division into the debate. But the issues addressed by VAWA are not partisan to the people back in Colorado and around the country. So let is resist that path.

The bipartisan legislation drafted by Senator Leahy and Senator Crapo is the only bill that truly provides the resources necessary in the most effective way to help end violence against women.

I know my colleagues in the Senate share my commitment to reaching this goal, so I am glad this bipartisan bill is finally receiving a vote.

When I served in the House of Representatives, I worked with a bipartisan group of colleagues to reauthorize VAWA both in 2000 and 2006, so I know we can come together and pass this reauthorization as well.

We all agree that violence against women is unacceptable. This is a necessary and carefully constructed bill that will protect the lives of women in Colorado and throughout the country.

In concluding, we all agree violence against women is flatout unacceptable, and this is a necessary and carefully constructed bill that will protect the lives of women in Colorado and throughout the country. So let's come together in the Senate, put aside our differences, and pass what is a strong and important bipartisan bill. The families and the communities of my State and our country are counting on us.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor a great Colorado leader and dear friend, Mr. Paul Sandoval. Two days ago, Paul passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, and I want to take this opportunity to honor his tremendous legacy and express my profound sadness at the loss of my dear friend a man who was the consummate public servant. I knew Paul as a fiercely compassionate person, tough yet kind, and he maintained these qualities throughout his battle with cancer.

Paul was a true family man. Known for his modesty and generosity, he gave as much to his family and friends as he did to his community and the State of Colorado. But it is not easy to express

just how much Paul meant to the people of Colorado.

He was perhaps most proud of this crowning achievement: being a tamale maker. He left an indelible impact on the culinary landscape of the State. I won't be the first or last to say this, but Paul's tamale shop, La Casita, makes the best tamales in Denver. People flocked to his restaurant, a landmark in north Denver, not only because of his delicious ``mile high traditional'' tamales but because of the community he created for all who visited. For the past four decades, anyone seeking fresh tamales and stimulating conversation about politics made a visit to Paul's restaurant.

The consummate public servant, Paul was often called the godfather of Colorado politics. He served the State faithfully as a State senator, a member of the Denver school board, and an adviser to elected officials at the local, State and Federal levels. I often relied on Paul's guidance, and I feel the loss of his counsel and friendship deeply.

I admire Paul because he never let partisanship get in the way of a good idea. As a supporter of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents, he valued a person's character and integrity, not party affiliation. Good people make the call to public service worth heeding, and Paul was one of the best. He embodied the Colorado principle that when you work together, things get done for the good of Colorado's families. Paul's example inspires my approach to bipartisanship and collaboration in the Senate today.

Paul's hard-working, entrepreneurial spirit stems from his early life and experiences. He started selling the Denver Post at the age of 6 and was delivering groceries for a local market by the eight grade. At that young age he even tracked down a customer who owed him for a newspaper, then negotiated with the man to pay interest for holding out. His early training in negotiation paid off for Colorado because Paul became one of our State's talented bridge-builders: he formulated commonsense public policy and then brought people together to achieve it.

The son of the founder of a meatpacking union, Paul had politics in his blood and was elected to the Colorado State Senate in 1974. In the Senate, Paul was a champion of many issues, but education issues held a special place in his heart and on his agenda. His leadership ensured the passage of Colorado's first bilingual education bill, and he cofounded the Chicano Education Project to implement bilingual curricula across the State. Paul furthered his commitment to educating Colorado's future leaders by later joining the Denver school board, and he personally set up scholarship funds to support undergraduate and graduate students.

For all of his work and in recognition of his leadership throughout the State, Paul received awards too numerous to recount here. Most recently, he was awarded the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver's Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, at this year's Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner, the Colorado Democratic Party honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

My thoughts and prayers are with Paul's beloved wife Paula, his children, and his family, and I share their profound grief at the loss of my dear friend and confidant. But Paul's legacy will endure through the family he cherished, the generations of public servants he mentored, and the gift of inspiration he imparted to all of us.

I can think of no better way to describe Paul than as authentic, a real believer in what people could do through a good education and hard work, and a man who nourished a better political system the same way he nourished us with the best tamales in Denver. Paul Sandoval will be deeply missed but always remembered, for his extraordinary spirit.

Mr. President, I rise with Senators Cornyn, Menendez, Bingaman, Reid, Bennet, Stabenow, Akaka, Feinstein, and Hutchison to submit a resolution commemorating Cinco de Mayo.

We all love Cinco de Mayo for the food and festivities that we have grown so accustomed to across the country. However, the day is also of great historical relevance, commemorating the Battle of Puebla, an unlikely Mexican military victory over the French in 1852. Since then, Cinco de Mayo has come to represent Mexican-Americans' many contributions to the United States. For many decades Coloradans and communities across the country have celebrated this day in a way that brings pride to the contributions of the Mexican-American community of our state.

The commemoration of Cinco de Mayo also highlights the courage that Mexican forces displayed on May 5, 1862, a courage that was welcomed by the Union Army as it battled Confederate forces in the American Civil War. The victory of the beleaguered force of Mexican troops at the Battle of Puebla was a setback for Napoleon's France

that weakened France's immense resources and limited its ability to meddle in America's Civil War. As Mexico sought to defend itself from European aggression, the Battle of Puebla is a reminder for us that the foundation of the United States was also built through fights in which the United States often found itself as the underdog. But through perseverance, the willingness to fight and die for freedom, and the contributions of a diverse cultural mix of Americans from across the globe, we have been made stronger. This is something we should celebrate about our country's history.

This day in history has become especially important in Colorado, where the contributions of many Mexican-American families can be seen throughout our communities. As in years past, towns throughout Colorado and our nation will celebrate with food, educational activities, music and dancing, and I encourage my fellow Coloradans to join in their communities' celebrations.

Mr. President, I would like to honor the life of an extraordinary Coloradan, Dale L. Johnson, who passed away at his Boulder home on February 23, 2012. Known as a legendary mountaineer, businessman, writer, environmentalist, and a dear friend of mine, Dale taught us all to appreciate life, and to take advantage of life's opportunities and challenges especially those on the mountain.

Infamously, one of Dale's early mountain escapades occurred while he was a freshman at the University of Colorado. Unsatisfied that the Colorado School of Mines had an ``M'' painted into a neighboring mountain and that the University of Colorado had no such ``C'' painted into the neighboring Flatirons, Dale and his roommates sought to change that.

Under the glow of a full Moon on a mild December night, Dale and his friends, equipped with a 4-inch paint brush and 3 gallons of white paint, ventured up the Third Flatiron and infamously painted a giant white ``C'' into the ridge. While classmates celebrated the prank, the local authorities did not find the act amusing. Ultimately, the matter was resolved, but the story has never grown old.

For those of us fortunate enough to have known Dale, we know how passionate he was about climbing. In fact, passionate would be an understatement. Dale pioneered seven first ascents, including the Redgarden Wall in Eldorado Canyon, the Second Buttress of the North Face of Hallett's Peak, and the South Face of the Matron.

While these achievements would suffice for your typical climber, Dale wasn't satisfied. Through his life, Dale climbed peaks in New Zealand, Peru, Nepal, East Africa, Japan, Italy, and Switzerland. As if his worldly travel and climbing achievements were not enough, Dale famously climbed the Third Flatiron in Boulder, CO in roller skates.

After summiting peaks throughout Colorado and the world, Dale honed in on his inner businessman, inventing Frostline Kits for climbers. With firsthand knowledge of the gear and clothing needs of climbers, Dale developed innovative equipment that was durable, lightweight, and dependable. The kits were an instant success and delivered a product that was previously unavailable to climbers in retail stores.

Throughout his life, Dale also developed an appreciation for flying. He coupled his interest in flight with his love for the environment by flying over southern Utah's canyons, mesas, ridges, and buttes during the citizens wilderness inventory in the late 1980s to help document Utah's wild lands.

Life is full of challenges and opportunities. Dale taught us all to appreciate each and every day and to always strive for something higher. He impacted the lives of so many, and I feel lucky to have known him and to have called him a friend.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak in honor of Senator Barbara Mikulski. I join my colleagues in recognizing her for becoming the longest serving female Member of Congress in our Nation's history.

I know Senator Mikulski is more interested in results than milestones, but this is an appropriate moment to congratulate her for all that she has accomplished. She is both a tenacious fighter and gracious colleague.

The true measure of a society is how we treat people in the dawn and twilight years of their lives. By that standard, Senator Mikulski's career has been extraordinary.

From the start of her career in public service as a Baltimore social worker helping at-risk kids and seniors to today, she has been a champion for children and the elderly. She has been a champion for education, research, and veterans, and she has been an unflinching champion for Maryland.

Senator Mikulski has also been a friend since my first days in the Senate. Early on she reached out to me to explain the appropriations process in the Senate. My father, who spent his entire career in the U.S. House of Representatives, was always suspicious of the Senate. So to a freshman Senator making the transition from the House, hers was a welcome and reassuring gesture, kind of like the folksy gesture of calling me ``cowboy,'' which always brings a smile to my face.

Senator Mikulski's style is a powerful counter to the old Washington joke that there are actually three political parties: Democrats, Republicans, and appropriators. She always values the input of other Senators and strives to balance the many competing priorities of all the Members of this body. For example, we have worked together on the Joint Polar Satellite System. This program is over budget and behind schedule, but it is also indispensible to public safety and our economy. As an appropriator, she has the unenviable challenge of striving to continually put this program on firm financial footing. In the process, she has repeatedly asked for my perspective and welcomed me into the process. This is above and beyond the call of duty but is so typical of Barbara Mikulski.

Many have compared Senator Mikulski's streak to another famous Marylander's--Cal Ripken, Jr. I think Cal would agree with Barbara when she said, ``It's not only how long I serve, but how well I serve.''

She has undoubtedly served this institution, this country, and Maryland very well.

I commend Senator Barbara Mikulski for her 35 years of service in Congress and look forward to her future successes.