Floor Statements

Mr. President, I see my colleague from Tennessee is again on the Senate floor, and it is my pleasure this afternoon to spend a few minutes with him marking the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a fund that has been extraordinarily helpful and useful to Governors, mayors, local elected officials, and advocates for conservation and for preservation for these 40 years.

When it was passed and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, it was a very farsighted and bold legislation that acknowledged that one of the great characteristics that separates America from the rest of the world, particularly the old world represented by the European countries. The essence of America, having such great expanses and great outdoors, separates it from an old world that was relatively small geographically and somewhat cramped. The United States of America has many special characteristics about it, but the one that really stands out that people of all political persuasions and from all geographic areas really appreciate and grasp is the value of the vastness of our land and the great open spaces. Our mighty rivers, our deep canyons, our extraordinary lush forests and green spaces, our breathtakingly beautiful deserts are all the things that make this country what it is.

Although the country was created this way and a great gift to all of us from the Creator, it is not going to stay this way unless we take some affirmative actions to preserve what we can, to give our people and our population places to grow, expand, earn livings, and create jobs. We have an obligation, as stewards, as the Senator said earlier, not just to our constituents but actually we have a moral obligation to the Creator who created this beauty to be good stewards of the land and the gift that has been given.

Looking at the 40th anniversary of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, while we have done a good job, while we have made a fine effort, while we can point to many success stories of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, I stand today on the 40th anniversary with the Senator from Tennessee to say that we must do better. There are terrible gaps in funding that are leaving beautiful States such as Tennessee and magnificent States such as Louisiana and other States throughout our Nation desperate for Federal help to finish the good work that was started late in the last century.

President Roosevelt, who is even credited today with being such a great visionary conservationist, was an advocate of the preservation of special places in America. That is what we come today to talk about, how important it is to recommit ourselves, on this 40th anniversary, to setting aside the proper amount of money, not more than we need but an adequate amount of money to help our Governors and our mayors and support a new effort for wildlife preservation and support our coastal areas in light of the original vision of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

So the Senator from Tennessee and I have introduced the Americans Outdoors Act of 2004. I commend the chairman, Pete Domenici from New Mexico, who, in this very challenging year, has already allowed us a hearing on this bill. We look forward to working with the members of the Energy Committee, which has jurisdiction, of course, and the Department of Interior as we move this great legislation through seeking a more reliable source of funding.

We propose in our legislation to basically establish the same conservation royalty that the Federal Government now gives for onshore production of oil and natural gas. This bill will create a conservation royalty for offshore production of oil and natural gas and have it distributed in a way that complements and fulfills the promise of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is like saying the great wealth of this resource, of oil and natural gas, should be invested, as the Senator said, in the Federal Treasury to help economic development and building highways and the space program and should support our military.

A large percentage of these tax dollars should go for general uses, but a small percentage, 25 percent of these billions of dollars that are generated, should really go to a conservation royalty to acknowledge the creation that we have inherited, to acknowledge the

great land and water that we have inherited, and to say on this day we believe it is wrong to take and never to give back. We believe it is our political and moral responsibility to be good stewards of the wealth that is generated and to turn back a portion of that money for conservation. It is our responsibility to give to our grandchildren and great grandchildren the great gift and the great land that was given to us by our forefathers and our Presidents, both Republican and Democrat, who have argued and established this great fund.

So it is my hope, with the Senator from Tennessee, that we will be joined by other Senate leaders as we pursue this effort to find a reliable stream of revenue to create a conservation royalty that will fully fund the State side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a robust coastal program for the States in our Nation, and a wildlife restoration fund, as well as the urban parks component of the State side of the bill.

I think we should explore and try to look for opportunities to find a reliable stream of money for the Federal side as we continue to build and expand on public lands in the United States.

Let me say there is no one in this Senate who understands the great value of private property more than do I and the Senator from Tennessee. I go all over the world doing a lot of work on economic development and lifting people out of poverty. I have been probably to more orphanages and homes for poor children than most. Many Senators do that great work. I am well aware that, in order for countries to create wealth, owning private property and building equity in a home or getting a mortgage for a farm is essential. That is the founding essence of America. This bill we intend to reinvigorate today is not a threat to private property. It complements the great commitment we have to private property, by saying that some lands, a small portion of lands, should be in public hands. The majority should be in private hands. It is an extraordinary partnership that gives value to both.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund envisions that strong partnership making all of our land more valuable, cleaner, more user friendly, open and beautiful for us to give to future generations.

I see the Senator from Tennessee, who may want to add a few additional words. But I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the distribution of money to the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It is not blown up, but I think the cameras at least can zoom in to see how volatile the funding has been, up and down, up and down, since 1965. Our bill attempts to equal this out by creating a conservation royalty so we can rely on these dollars and we can make good plans, spend taxpayer money well and wisely, creating beautiful bike paths and trails, helping to make more robust our park systems and our public lands for the benefit of our grandchildren in a way that complements the private sector, private property, and the economic development efforts that will continue to be underway for generations to come in this great Nation.

I also ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a news release that was issued by the Department of Interior, saying how proud they are to have distributed some money, royalties, for conservation to interior States.

We ask the same, that the same process that is in the law for onshore oil and gas drilling be in the law for off-shore oil and gas drilling. The onshore revenue provision has been in place since the early 1920s.

The record is clear. This, basically, is the essence of what our bill does to mark the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Let's actually find a way to fund it. That is what our bill will do.

Yes, I do. I happen to have that document right here.

I understand the State of Wyoming, according to this document, has received over $500 million. Yes, $503,771,000 this year, which was the State royalty for Wyoming.

For the record, New Mexico received this year $318,768,000 in the same account.

Mr. President, today I rise to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA. One of the most prominent woman Latin American writers, Isabel Allende, once said, ``How can one not speak about war, poverty, and inequality when people who suffer from these afflictions don't have a voice to speak?'' Ten years ago today, this body rose up and spoke for a group in our society that is frequently left voiceless.

The number of women in the United States who have been murdered by an intimate partner is greater than the number of soldiers killed during the Vietnam War. In 1996 alone, over 30 percent of all female murder victims in the United States were slain by their husbands or boyfriends. These women who lost their lives in the war of domestic violence that plagues our country began to have a voice because of the passage of VAWA.

Today, there are roughly 143.4 million women in the United States. Of this population, it is predicted that almost 28.7 million, or 20 percent, will be raped during their lifetime, and one-third will be physically or sexually abused. Battery is the single greatest cause of injury to women in the United States, accounting for more emergency room visits than all other injuries combined. Yet, with these sobering statistics there are three times more shelters for neglected animals than there are shelters for battered women.

Jane Addams said, ``Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.'' Ten years ago on this day, the United States Congress acted to ensure that all women who are victims of violence receive the protection and support they need and deserve. However, there is still more work to be done. Domestic violence is a problem that continues to afflict our country.

It is estimated that family violence costs our Nation from $5 to $10 billion annually in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters, foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity. Remarkably, the VAWA domestic violence programs have helped to save money, while saving lives. The original VAWA that was authorized 10 years ago saved taxpayers at least $14.8 billion in net averted social costs. This year, as we move through the appropriations process, I ask all of my colleagues to remember the millions of innocent women in this country who have been the victims of violence and the effects that violence has had, not only on them, but also on their families and our society.

Mr. President, today I rise to honor the Historically Black Colleges and Universities around the country that serve over 215,000 of our finest African-American students.

Since the first HBCU was founded in 1837, HBCUs have played an important role in our higher education system. They have educated some of our most prominent African-American leaders, such as the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, educator Booker T. Washington, former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, and Louisiana native and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, Jr., to just name a few. Today, 65 percent of all African-American physicians, 50 percent of African-American engineers, and 35 percent of African-American lawyers are graduates of an HBCU. It is clear that HBCUs have and continue to play a vital role in our higher education system, and for that, I honor them today.

I would specifically like to praise the six HBCUs in my home state of Louisiana that produce exceptionally fine graduates: Dillard University in New Orleans, Grambling State University in Grambling, Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in Baton Rouge, Southern University in New Orleans, Southern University in Shreveport, and Xavier University in New Orleans. These schools serve roughly 30,000 Louisiana higher education students and prepare them to be tomorrow's leaders. For that, I say thank you.

Recognizing the importance of HBCUs, I am proud to lend my support to S. Res. 422, designating this week as ``National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.'' And, I am proud to support the College Quality, Affordability, and Diversity Improvement Act, S. 1793, which extends and increases the Title V, Part B programs under the Higher Education Act that strengthen HBCUs. As we enter the final weeks of the 108th Congress, I look forward to discussing, debating, and passing this important piece of legislation, and as we move through the appropriations process, I urge my colleagues to ensure that adequate funding is given to HBCUs.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have given a great amount to our higher education system through the years, and today I give them my thanks and praise.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor an exemplary soldier, a loyal American, a loving father, and a devoted husband. Our friend and neighbor, Colonel Jon Jones passed away on June 6 after a courageous battle with brain cancer that he waged on his own terms. Until the week of his death, Jon lived life to the fullest and did not allow cancer to define him or to diminish his dream. Rather, he chose to be a husband, father and soldier until the end. His death has been a profound loss to his colleagues in the Army, his neighbors, his friends, and especially to his family. I say to his wife Cynthia, to his two children Nick and Lena, who are here with us today, our Nation is grateful for your family's service and sacrifice.

Jon was born and raised in California. His mother was a teacher, and the influence she had on him was apparent throughout his life. He attended high school outside of Sacremento, and graduated from Cal State at Sacramento. He went the extra mile to participate in the ROTC program at UC-Davis, because his own school had abolished ROTC during the Vietnam war.

He graduated in 1980 as a distinguished military graduate and was commissioned as a regular Army military intelligence officer. He met Cynthia while he was in officers' basic course in Arizona, and they married in 1981. His career in the Army took Cynthia, Nick, and Lena to Turkey, Germany, and South Korea; and his last deployment was to Kuwait and to Iraq.

Jon died two weeks shy of serving 24 years in the U.S. Army and only 12 days from his change of command. For almost 2 years he successfully led the Army's only deployable echelons-above-corps contingency force protection military intelligence brigade. The men and women who served under him, as well as his colleagues and senior officers, testified to his leadership in a time of war. One soldier called it a privilege to be under Colonel Jones' command, and described his strength and leadership as going well beyond what this soldier had seen in any other military officer.

Throughout the war, in addition to his mission, Jon's focus was on the health, welfare, and safety of every soldier and civilian who served with him. When his brigade was deployed for 9 months to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, he succeeded in that mission and brought every one of his soldiers home.

A month after bringing his brigade home, Jon was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. He was entitled to retirement, but he chose instead to stay in the Army. As he told a colleague: ``Quitting was not an option.'' Another person might have headed for the shore and waited for his time in comfortable surroundings, but this was not the path for Jon Jones.

At the time of his diagnosis, he had a battalion preparing to redeploy to Iraq, and the thought of leaving them went against everything he stood for. In fact, in the months preceding his death, in between his own treatments and surgeries, Jon went to Kuwait and Iraq several times to support and bolster his troops.

Before he passed away, Jon was nominated for the Distinguished Service Medal, for unparalleled dedication to duty. This citation states that his accomplishments will have a lasting effect on national security formulation at the highest levels. Later today, in a room near this distinguished Chamber, Jon's widow Cynthia will accept this medal on her husband's behalf.

Jon's commanding generals, some of whom are also with us today, accepted his decision to stay in the Army and continue in command throughout his treatments. Perhaps they would have

encouraged a lesser officer to retire, but Jon was too valuable a soldier to lose. Unfortunately, the Army, and especially the military intelligence community, realizes every day how valuable COL Jake Jones was. Perhaps the words of one of his fellow officers said it best when he stated:

Jake Jones did more than command a Brigade in war. He

commanded the respect and confidence of his peers, his

superiors, and his soldiers. He had a special aura about

him--a calming presence that bespoke competence and reason.

All of the virtues that made Jon a good soldier also made him a devoted husband and father. In a career that takes you away from your family for extended periods of time, he made it home for his children's birthdays and other special events. The only birthday of Nick's he ever missed was last year when duty to country called him to stay in Iraq. He made it home in time for Lena's birthday last year, and only God's call home kept him from making that commitment this year.

He was driven to be a good example to his children and to make them proud. This drive contributed to his desire to continue in command even as he fought his own personal battle with a fierce enemy. Although his time with Nick and Lena was inexplicably cut short, I know the love he gave them and the lessons he taught them will shore them up, inspire them, and comfort them throughout their lifetime.

Mentor, hero, charismatic leader, humble individual, inspiring commander, confident, patient, steadfast, stalwart, a rock--these are a few of the descriptions used to communicate the man he was. Jon had the determination and perseverance to accomplish any task with which he was presented.

The role in life he cherished the most, after the role of father, was that of a mentor, whether to his soldiers or to his children. He simply loved to teach. Having been raised by a mother who was a teacher, he paid her the greatest compliment a child can give a parent: He followed in her footsteps. He taught those of us who knew him how much fun it was to live, and that quitting was not an option.

Jon Jones was a friend of our family, a neighbor, and an inspiration to all who knew him. His death is our Nation's loss. Rarely does a soldier so capable and so completely committed step forward to answer the call to service. And rarely has a family been so blessed to have such a father and husband.

May it be recorded this day that the people of the United States are grateful to COL Jon Jones for his years of service in the U.S. Army. His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of the many who knew him, admired him, followed him, and loved him.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Madam President, I speak today to honor the service of CPT Chris Christopher, who is currently the Deputy Director for Future Operations, Communications and Business Initiatives at NMCI. Captain Christopher comes to this position after nearly 20 years of distinguished service to the Navy in the fields of aviation, public affairs and intelligence.

Captain Christopher has spent most of his life in New Orleans, and he has made a wonderful home there with his wife Patti and their two daughters. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Orleans, and his work with NMCI still brings him back to the UNO campus. Though he is now stationed in Virginia, his heart and family remain in New Orleans. As a Louisiana Senator, I like that!

Captain Christopher's work at NMCI has been truly outstanding. The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is a progressive project whose ultimate goal is to transform the Department of the Navy's computer networks. NMCI will revolutionize command and control efficiencies within the Navy, and between the services, to ensure that our forces are operating in unison. This will save American lives, increase combat readiness and effectiveness, and, ultimately, make us stronger. Under Captain Christopher's leadership, many of these goals have been brought closer to reality.

From June 20-23, Captain Christopher organized the 2004 Navy Marine Corps Intranet Symposium in New Orleans. This event was an opportunity for all parties involved in NMCI to continue their dialogue on reshaping information technology in the Navy and Marine Corps. Captain Christopher made this event happen and I have been informed that it was a complete success.

I once again want to thank my friend, CPT Chris Christopher, for his efforts on America's behalf. Future generations of sailors and Marines will no doubt reap the benefits of his labor and America will be safer as a result. I am proud of Chris's ``Louisiana-bred'' success, and I wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague Senator Alexander as we introduce this very significant conservation legislation. The junior Senator from Tennessee has been a long-time effective advocate for the environment and for conservation, not only in his own State of Tennessee but for our Nation.

The legislation we introduce today is a new, enhanced version of a piece of legislation that was introduced several years ago. We believe it is a very promising approach to launch one of the most significant conservation efforts ever considered by Congress. The American Outdoors Act is a landmark multiyear commitment to conservation programs directly benefiting all 50 States and hundreds of local communities. It creates a conservation royalty derived from the production of oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf and directs it toward the restoration of coastal wetlands, preservation of wildlife habitat, and it helps build and maintain local and State parks for our children, our children's children, for generations to come.

By enacting this legislation, we will make the most significant commitment of Federal resources to conservation ever and ensure a positive legacy of protecting and enhancing critical wildlife habitat, estuaries, marshlands, mountain ranges, open green spaces, and expanded recreational opportunity for Americans today and generations to come. The legislation builds on a great and notable effort made during the 106th Congress that was supported by Governors, mayors, and a coalition of over 5,000 organizations throughout the country. Unfortunately, despite our bipartisan and very deep and widespread support, our efforts were cut short before a final bill could be signed into law. Instead, a commitment was made by those who opposed the legislation last time to guarantee funding for these programs. And unfortunately, we all know the story and the outcome of those promises.

As we have painfully witnessed since then, these programs have not only been reduced, some of them have been eliminated completely, and are terribly underfunded in terms of the critical needs that are presented to us today.

What has happened is exactly what those of us who initiated the effort always anticipated. Each of these significant programs has been shortchanged and a number of them have been left out altogether or forced to compete with each other for Federal resources.

The legislation we are introducing today provides reliable, significant, and steady funding for the urgent and worthy conservation and outdoor recreation needs of our states and rapidly growing urban areas. What makes more sense than to take a portion of revenues from a depleting capital asset of the Nation--offshore Federal oil and gas resources--and reinvest them into sustaining the natural resources of our Nation: wetlands; parks and recreation areas and wildlife.

The Americans Outdoors Act dedicates assured funding for four distinct programs and honors promises made long ago to the American people. The four programs include:

Coastal impact assistance--$500 million to oil and gas producing coastal States to mitigate the various impacts of States that serve as the ``platform'' for the crucial development of Federal offshore energy resources from the Outer Continental Shelf as well as provide for wetland restoration. This program merely acknowledges the impacts to and contribution of States that are providing the energy to run our country's economy. The Outer Continental Shelf supplies 25 percent of our Nation's oil consumption, more than any other country including Saudi Arabia, with the promise of more, expected to reach 40 percent by 2008. Since this frontier was officially opened to significant oil and gas exploration in 1953, no single region has contributed as much to the nation's energy production as the OCS. The OCS accounts for more than 25 percent of our Nation's natural gas and oil production. With annual returns to the Federal Government averaging $5 billion annually, no single area has contributed as much to the Federal Treasury as the OCS. In fact, since 1953, the OCS has contributed $140 billion to the U.S. Treasury. Allocation to States would be based on their proximity to production. Thirty-five percent of the State's allocation would be shared with coastal political subdivisions based on a formula of 50 percent proximity to production, 25 percent miles of coastline and 25 percent coastal population;

$450 million for the State side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWC, to provide stable funding to States for the planning and development of State and local parks and recreation facilities. The allocation to States would be 60 percent equally among all 50 States and 40 percent based on relative population. This program provides greater revenue certainty for State and local governments to help them meet their recreational needs through recreational facility development and resource protection--all under the discretion of State and local authorities while protecting the rights of private property owners;

Wildlife conservation, education and restoration--$350 million is allocated to all 50 States through the successful program of Pittman- Robertson for the conservation of nongame and game species, with the principal goal of preventing species from becoming endangered or listed under the Endangered Species Act. By taking steps now to prevent species from becoming endangered we are able to not only conserve the significant cultural heritage of wildlife enjoyment for the people of

this country, but also avoid the substantial costs associated with recovery for endangered species. Allocations to States would be based on a formula of \2/3\ relative population and \1/3\ relative land area; and

The Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, UPARR--$125 million in the form of matching grants, 70 percent to provide direct assistance to our cities and towns so that they can focus on the needs of their populations within the more densely inhabited areas around the country where there are fewer green-spaces, playgrounds and soccer fields for our youth.

I would also like to acknowledge our interest in several programs that are not part of this initial package but will be considered as the bill moves through the process. For example, the Federal side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund which focuses primarily on Federal land acquisition. The goal of the Federal side of the LWCF was to share a significant portion of revenues from offshore development with States to provide for protection and public use of the natural environment. It is our intention to discuss this program with our colleagues on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with the goal of developing a compromise that will garner broad support. In addition, other worthy programs that are not part of the legislation we are introducing today but ideally would be part of a larger more comprehensive effort include Historic Preservation, Payment in Lieu of Taxes, PILT, and the Forest Legacy program.

While we confront a time of war, budget deficits and a struggling economy, setting aside a portion of oil and gas royalties to our states and localities for initiatives such as outdoor spaces or recreation facilities for our children to play could not be more crucial. Programs such as the State side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund are in fact the economic stimulus that our States and cities need in these times. The time has come to take the proceeds from a non-renewable resource for the purpose of reinvesting a portion of these revenues in the conservation and enhancement of our renewable resources. To continue to do otherwise, as we have over the last 50 years, is fiscally irresponsible.

As I said, the legislation we introduce today, therefore, provides a reliable, significant, and steady stream of funding that cannot be manipulated or tampered with at the whim of this or that, but will be there for conservation efforts that our local communities and States can count on to provide this great legacy and heritage for our grandchildren.

What makes more sense than taking a portion of the offshore oil and gas revenues that have generated almost $130 billion since the first well was drilled off of our shore on the Continental Shelf almost 100 years ago? What would make more sense than taking a small portion of that money and giving it back to the environment, back to our mountain ranges, to our marshes, to our coastal areas, protecting and preserving our great land for generations to come? The American Outdoors Act does exactly that.

It dedicates and assures funding for four distinct programs: Coastal impact assistance, of which Louisiana and other coastal States would benefit. Of course, we are proud to serve as oil and gas producers, helping us secure our energy independence from foreign sources, providing much critical feedstock, if you will, for our energy industry in the State, and expanding our economic opportunities. Because we produce so much oil and gas, we would deserve help with our vanishing coastline.

In addition, the other segment of this bill would fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund State side. As the Senator from Tennessee noted, he and I are firmly committed to also providing support and full funding for the Federal side of land and water, as this bill moves through the process.

Wildlife conservation, education, and restoration would be fully funded. That helps all of our States. The Urban Parks and Recreation Program, which has been so critical for quality-of-life issues and economic development in our cities, in our suburbs, our urban centers, would also be funded.

Time is not on our side. While other issues might be able to wait and other issues could maybe be funded gradually over time, for every month we delay, for every year we delay, we lose acres and acres, miles and miles of land we will never be able to recover.

Louisiana itself is literally washing away. We have lost the size of the State of Rhode Island off our coast in the last 100 years. If some foreign country attacked our country and tried to take a portion of land away from us, we would fight with every strength and every tool and every resource available. But we stand here literally in some ways twiddling our thumbs while this land is washed away into the Gulf of Mexico. And not just any land but very productive land and very necessary land, not just for Louisiana but for the entire United States.

I close with a quote from Teddy Roosevelt because it is appropriate. He was a great conservation President. Over 100 years ago he started many programs. I love taking my children to Theodore Roosevelt Island. We ride our bikes over there. I love telling them the story of Teddy Roosevelt.

I explain many stories about what he did, hunting in Louisiana, the history of the black bear, et cetera.

In his autobiography he wrote of his experiences in Coastal Louisiana:

And to lose the chance to see frigate birds soaring in

circles above the storm or, a file of pelicans winging their

way homeward across the crimson afterglow of the sunset, or a

myriad of terns flashing in the bright light of midday as

they hover in a shifting maze above the beach, why, the loss

is like the loss of a gallery of masterpieces of the artists

of old time.

This is what he said when he recalled his trip to Breton Island Sound, the second of over 540 national wildlife heritage areas designated in the last 100 years. The land in this picture is gone. It no longer exists because we have twiddled our thumbs for almost 100 years.

Today we introduce a bill to stop us from twiddling our thumbs, direct our resources, get serious about conservation, serious about the taxpayer money, and do something with it that the overwhelming majority of the taxpayers would stand up and cheer, if they had the chance to vote on it.

I thank the Chair. It will be a pleasure working with the Senator from Tennessee as we lead this great effort.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague Senator Alexander as we introduce this very significant conservation legislation. The junior Senator from Tennessee has been a long-time effective advocate for the environment and for conservation, not only in his own State of Tennessee but for our Nation.

The legislation we introduce today is a new, enhanced version of a piece of legislation that was introduced several years ago. We believe it is a very promising approach to launch one of the most significant conservation efforts ever considered by Congress. The American Outdoors Act is a landmark multiyear commitment to conservation programs directly benefiting all 50 States and hundreds of local communities. It creates a conservation royalty derived from the production of oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf and directs it toward the restoration of coastal wetlands, preservation of wildlife habitat, and it helps build and maintain local and State parks for our children, our children's children, for generations to come.

By enacting this legislation, we will make the most significant commitment of Federal resources to conservation ever and ensure a positive legacy of protecting and enhancing critical wildlife habitat, estuaries, marshlands, mountain ranges, open green spaces, and expanded recreational opportunity for Americans today and generations to come. The legislation builds on a great and notable effort made during the 106th Congress that was supported by Governors, mayors, and a coalition of over 5,000 organizations throughout the country. Unfortunately, despite our bipartisan and very deep and widespread support, our efforts were cut short before a final bill could be signed into law. Instead, a commitment was made by those who opposed the legislation last time to guarantee funding for these programs. And unfortunately, we all know the story and the outcome of those promises.

As we have painfully witnessed since then, these programs have not only been reduced, some of them have been eliminated completely, and are terribly underfunded in terms of the critical needs that are presented to us today.

What has happened is exactly what those of us who initiated the effort always anticipated. Each of these significant programs has been shortchanged and a number of them have been left out altogether or forced to compete with each other for Federal resources.

The legislation we are introducing today provides reliable, significant, and steady funding for the urgent and worthy conservation and outdoor recreation needs of our states and rapidly growing urban areas. What makes more sense than to take a portion of revenues from a depleting capital asset of the Nation--offshore Federal oil and gas resources--and reinvest them into sustaining the natural resources of our Nation: wetlands; parks and recreation areas and wildlife.

The Americans Outdoors Act dedicates assured funding for four distinct programs and honors promises made long ago to the American people. The four programs include:

Coastal impact assistance--$500 million to oil and gas producing coastal States to mitigate the various impacts of States that serve as the ``platform'' for the crucial development of Federal offshore energy resources from the Outer Continental Shelf as well as provide for wetland restoration. This program merely acknowledges the impacts to and contribution of States that are providing the energy to run our country's economy. The Outer Continental Shelf supplies 25 percent of our Nation's oil consumption, more than any other country including Saudi Arabia, with the promise of more, expected to reach 40 percent by 2008. Since this frontier was officially opened to significant oil and gas exploration in 1953, no single region has contributed as much to the nation's energy production as the OCS. The OCS accounts for more than 25 percent of our Nation's natural gas and oil production. With annual returns to the Federal Government averaging $5 billion annually, no single area has contributed as much to the Federal Treasury as the OCS. In fact, since 1953, the OCS has contributed $140 billion to the U.S. Treasury. Allocation to States would be based on their proximity to production. Thirty-five percent of the State's allocation would be shared with coastal political subdivisions based on a formula of 50 percent proximity to production, 25 percent miles of coastline and 25 percent coastal population;

$450 million for the State side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, LWC, to provide stable funding to States for the planning and development of State and local parks and recreation facilities. The allocation to States would be 60 percent equally among all 50 States and 40 percent based on relative population. This program provides greater revenue certainty for State and local governments to help them meet their recreational needs through recreational facility development and resource protection--all under the discretion of State and local authorities while protecting the rights of private property owners;

Wildlife conservation, education and restoration--$350 million is allocated to all 50 States through the successful program of Pittman- Robertson for the conservation of nongame and game species, with the principal goal of preventing species from becoming endangered or listed under the Endangered Species Act. By taking steps now to prevent species from becoming endangered we are able to not only conserve the significant cultural heritage of wildlife enjoyment for the people of

this country, but also avoid the substantial costs associated with recovery for endangered species. Allocations to States would be based on a formula of \2/3\ relative population and \1/3\ relative land area; and

The Urban Parks and Recreation Recovery Program, UPARR--$125 million in the form of matching grants, 70 percent to provide direct assistance to our cities and towns so that they can focus on the needs of their populations within the more densely inhabited areas around the country where there are fewer green-spaces, playgrounds and soccer fields for our youth.

I would also like to acknowledge our interest in several programs that are not part of this initial package but will be considered as the bill moves through the process. For example, the Federal side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund which focuses primarily on Federal land acquisition. The goal of the Federal side of the LWCF was to share a significant portion of revenues from offshore development with States to provide for protection and public use of the natural environment. It is our intention to discuss this program with our colleagues on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee with the goal of developing a compromise that will garner broad support. In addition, other worthy programs that are not part of the legislation we are introducing today but ideally would be part of a larger more comprehensive effort include Historic Preservation, Payment in Lieu of Taxes, PILT, and the Forest Legacy program.

While we confront a time of war, budget deficits and a struggling economy, setting aside a portion of oil and gas royalties to our states and localities for initiatives such as outdoor spaces or recreation facilities for our children to play could not be more crucial. Programs such as the State side of the Land and Water Conservation Fund are in fact the economic stimulus that our States and cities need in these times. The time has come to take the proceeds from a non-renewable resource for the purpose of reinvesting a portion of these revenues in the conservation and enhancement of our renewable resources. To continue to do otherwise, as we have over the last 50 years, is fiscally irresponsible.

As I said, the legislation we introduce today, therefore, provides a reliable, significant, and steady stream of funding that cannot be manipulated or tampered with at the whim of this or that, but will be there for conservation efforts that our local communities and States can count on to provide this great legacy and heritage for our grandchildren.

What makes more sense than taking a portion of the offshore oil and gas revenues that have generated almost $130 billion since the first well was drilled off of our shore on the Continental Shelf almost 100 years ago? What would make more sense than taking a small portion of that money and giving it back to the environment, back to our mountain ranges, to our marshes, to our coastal areas, protecting and preserving our great land for generations to come? The American Outdoors Act does exactly that.

It dedicates and assures funding for four distinct programs: Coastal impact assistance, of which Louisiana and other coastal States would benefit. Of course, we are proud to serve as oil and gas producers, helping us secure our energy independence from foreign sources, providing much critical feedstock, if you will, for our energy industry in the State, and expanding our economic opportunities. Because we produce so much oil and gas, we would deserve help with our vanishing coastline.

In addition, the other segment of this bill would fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund State side. As the Senator from Tennessee noted, he and I are firmly committed to also providing support and full funding for the Federal side of land and water, as this bill moves through the process.

Wildlife conservation, education, and restoration would be fully funded. That helps all of our States. The Urban Parks and Recreation Program, which has been so critical for quality-of-life issues and economic development in our cities, in our suburbs, our urban centers, would also be funded.

Time is not on our side. While other issues might be able to wait and other issues could maybe be funded gradually over time, for every month we delay, for every year we delay, we lose acres and acres, miles and miles of land we will never be able to recover.

Louisiana itself is literally washing away. We have lost the size of the State of Rhode Island off our coast in the last 100 years. If some foreign country attacked our country and tried to take a portion of land away from us, we would fight with every strength and every tool and every resource available. But we stand here literally in some ways twiddling our thumbs while this land is washed away into the Gulf of Mexico. And not just any land but very productive land and very necessary land, not just for Louisiana but for the entire United States.

I close with a quote from Teddy Roosevelt because it is appropriate. He was a great conservation President. Over 100 years ago he started many programs. I love taking my children to Theodore Roosevelt Island. We ride our bikes over there. I love telling them the story of Teddy Roosevelt.

I explain many stories about what he did, hunting in Louisiana, the history of the black bear, et cetera.

In his autobiography he wrote of his experiences in Coastal Louisiana:

And to lose the chance to see frigate birds soaring in

circles above the storm or, a file of pelicans winging their

way homeward across the crimson afterglow of the sunset, or a

myriad of terns flashing in the bright light of midday as

they hover in a shifting maze above the beach, why, the loss

is like the loss of a gallery of masterpieces of the artists

of old time.

This is what he said when he recalled his trip to Breton Island Sound, the second of over 540 national wildlife heritage areas designated in the last 100 years. The land in this picture is gone. It no longer exists because we have twiddled our thumbs for almost 100 years.

Today we introduce a bill to stop us from twiddling our thumbs, direct our resources, get serious about conservation, serious about the taxpayer money, and do something with it that the overwhelming majority of the taxpayers would stand up and cheer, if they had the chance to vote on it.

I thank the Chair. It will be a pleasure working with the Senator from Tennessee as we lead this great effort.

Mr. President, I speak today to honor the service of CPT Chris Christopher, who is currently the deputy director for future operations, communications and business initiatives at NMCI. Captain Christopher comes to this position after nearly 20 years of distinguished service to the Navy in the fields of aviation, public affairs, and intelligence.

Captain Christopher has spent most of his life in New Orleans, and he has made a wonderful home there with his wife Patti and their two daughters. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Orleans, and his work with NMCI still brings him back to the UNO campus. Though he is now stationed in Virginia, his heart and family remain in New Orleans. As a Louisiana Senator, I like that.

Captain Christopher's work at NMCI has been truly outstanding. The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is a progressive project whose ultimate goal is to transform the Department of the Navy's computer networks. NMCI will revolutionize command and control efficiencies within the Navy, and between the services, to ensure that our forces are operating in unison. This will save American lives, increase combat readiness and effectiveness, and, ultimately, make us stronger. Under Captain Christopher's leadership, many of these goals have been brought closer to reality.

From June 20 to 23, Captain Christopher organized the 2004 Navy Marine Corps Intranet Symposium in New Orleans. This event was an opportunity for all parties involved in NMCI to continue their dialogue on reshaping information technology in the Navy and Marine Corps. Captain Christopher made this event happen, and according to all parties involved, it was a complete success.

I once again thank my friend, CPT Chris Christopher, for his efforts on America's behalf. Future generations of sailors and marines will no doubt reap the benefits of his labor and America will be safer as a result. I am proud of your `Louisiana-bred' success Chris, and I wish you well in your future endeavors.

I appreciate the cooperation of the chairman and ranking member. I know we are working toward finishing this very important bill. I appreciate them giving me the opportunity to call up this amendment because it is a very important amendment among a list of very important issues we are debating.

The amendment number is 3315, and I ask it be called up.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. President, the focus and purpose of this amendment is very simple, it is easy to understand, and it is quite clear. In the 5 minutes I have, I will try to lay out that purpose, its cost, and the reasons it is very important for this Senate to act affirmatively on this amendment.

My amendment will fix and make clear that the Survivor Benefit Plan offered in 1972 to our men and women in uniform, of which they pay more than 80 percent of this benefit for themselves, so it is modestly subsidized by the taxpayer, my amendment will make it clear that the survivors of our veterans--in most cases they are women but, obviously, not in every case--at the age of 62 will be able to retain what they thought they signed up for, which is 55 percent of the benefit, instead of what is occurring today, which is cutting that benefit down to 33 percent.

There are all sorts of reasons people will hold out as to why this is happening, but it is clear it needs to be fixed. It is also clear there is plenty of money in this bill to fix it. We are going to spend over $400 billion this year on the Defense bill. This amendment will only cost about $400 million a year to fix. Somewhere in this bill of hundreds of billions of dollars, I am certain we can find the $400 million to live up to a promise made to our military men and women and to give them the benefit of which actually they are paying 80 percent. This is not a taxpayer giveaway; this is honoring a commitment made when we set up a program. The men and women who serve in the military not only are brave and courageous, they are also usually concerned about setting up the appropriate death benefits for their spouses and their children.

We have a system that will allow retirees to get 55 percent of their pay. The argument against this is that when this program was started by some in the Pentagon, they say it was never publicized that service members would get 55 percent, so why are people complaining today about getting 35 percent.

I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a document related to the Survivor Benefit Plan which I believe the chairman and ranking member have read. It is important to the hundreds of organizations that support this amendment.

The front page of this contract says that for the spouses and/or eligible children, full coverage provides an annuity of 55 percent of retired pay.

This is the contract that service personnel sign, in plain English. Full coverage provides an annuity of 55 percent of retired pay.

What is happening now--after people signed up for this, paid into the program, and had some confidence their spouses would receive 55 percent of their retirement--is they are told they can only get 35 percent because we do not have enough money to live up to the terms of this contract.

Right now a sergeant first class, in retirement, would be making about $771 per month--not a huge sum, by any means. Compare that amount of money to the contribution of this American: 20 years of his life putting his life on the line, putting the uniform on every day, for 20 years. The grand sum for him is $771 a month.

We have money for every tax cut and drive businesses offshore, we can give tax cuts to everybody but we cannot find enough money for the spouse, who has moved every 2 years for 20 years. It is tough to hold down a job when you are moving, no matter how smart you are, no matter how high your grades were in school, or how hard you work. It is hard to keep up a career while moving to a different community, with children most of the time, every 2 years. We want to tell this spouse she is now only entitled to $491 a month, down to $5,000 a year.

Families are filing for bankruptcy.

Let me share some stories of the hardships spouses face because of the widow tax.

Marion Charles is age 78. Marion's husband Ed died in 2002. Her husband was a Navy diver in WWII. He retired in 1966, as a crew member on one of America's first nuclear subs. Mrs. Charles had no idea her first pension payment would be reduced to 35 percent. Her husband joined SBP when it began. She said:

I was so shocked, I almost fell out of the chair and

wondered why God hadn't taken me, too, when he took Ed.

She was left with $21,000 in bills. She said:

Neither my husband nor I realized there would be an

offset--no one ever told us. I find myself under a lot of

stress getting over his death and trying to do something with

the large bills facing me.

Mrs. Charles nearly lost her home and almost declared bankruptcy.

Miriam Joy Parker is from Huntsville, AL. Her husband served for 32 years. She followed her husband across the world for those 32 years. Mrs. Parker had to tighten her budget to live on the 55 percent pension she received before she turned 62. At age 62, the widow tax cut her annual income by nearly $10,000. She cannot live on the 35 percent rate and Social Security. She has had to begin working in her sixties. She never knew there was an offset.

Betty Wells is from Ocala, FL. The widow tax has cost Ms. Wells $8,400 a year. At age 67, she took a job to make ends meet.

Diane Worth is from Phoenix, AZ. The widow tax cut her annual income by $2,400. She may have to sell her home. The offset has cost her nearly $10,000.

My amendment corrects this grave injustice.

A spouse of a lieutenant colonel would see their pension cut from $1,595 a month, under our new rules, to $1,015 a month, for a grand total of $12,180 a year, after 20 years of service keeping the hearth going when their spouse was putting on that uniform and protecting us.

I think we can do better. That is what my amendment does, and about 15 Senators on both sides of the aisle agree. They are joining me, including Senator Daschle, Senator Reid, and others. I am joined by Senator Snowe, who is the lead sponsor of this amendment on the other side.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a piece in the Washington Times entitled ``Survivor Benefit Plan needs reform'' be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to report back to my colleagues on some observations during my recent visit to the nation of Uganda. The Congressional Coalition on Adoption is a bipartisan, bicameral caucus that enjoys the support of nearly 200 members of Congress. I am fortunate to cochair this organization with my friend and colleague, the Senior Senator from Idaho. Every year, we have been taking a delegation of members and staff to a nation which plays, or could play, a leading role in assuring every child a loving family. In recent years, we have lead delegations to Romania, Russia, China, and Guatemala. However, this month, we traveled to a spot that is truly special in the world--Uganda.

I am sad to say that if Americans know anything about Uganda, they know its tragic history. Since independence from Britain, Uganda has moved from tragedy to tragedy. Famously called the ``Pearl of Africa'' by Sir Winston Churchill, decades of misrule and grisly dictatorship left Uganda destitute and denied her proper role in the family of nations.

Yet, the spirit of the people of Uganda seems indomitable. Despite Amin, despite Obote, despite HIV/AIDS, despite brutal terrorists in the north, Ugandans continue with a joy of life that is almost impossible to accept in our own terms. The people there have an amazing capacity to look past their personal tragedies and continue to strive for a better life for their children.

Perhaps no man better captures the spirit of the people of Uganda than their current President, Yoweri Museveni. When Idi Amin staged his coup in 1971, now-President Museveni went into exile and began a history of resistance to dictatorship and misrule that has earned him comparisons with our own George Washington. Since his National Resistance Movement took power in 1986, Uganda has enjoyed the first sustained period of growth and stability that it has known since independence. As is often mentioned, President Museveni also exerted personal and farsighted leadership in the struggle against AIDS. The difference between this kind of personal leadership and its absence can be found by comparing the AIDS infection rates in Uganda with those of the rest of sub-Saharan Africa.

Thus, Uganda is a country with capable and proven leadership, with an industrious people who are eager for more contact with the United States, and with an amazing natural beauty that is unparalleled in my own experience. However, Uganda faces two enormous challenges, and that is what drew the Congressional Coalition on Adoption to the country. Sadly, both of these challenges have contributed to the creation of orphans. They are the epidemic of HIV/AIDS and the ongoing terrorism by the Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda.

Uganda has a population of 25 million people, and estimates suggest that nearly 10 percent of Uganda's population are orphaned. The good news is that Uganda has tackled one of the great orphan-generating disasters by acknowledging AIDS as a threat that can shake a country to its core. AIDS infection rates in some sections of Uganda were greater than 50 percent. From that devastating past, and with the good work of President Museveni and the First Lady, Janet Museveni, they have brought infection rates in Uganda to less than 6 percent.

However, we must continue our support for the President's ``ABC'' program that endorses abstinence, being faithful, and condoms in that priority. The three pronged approach has been very successful, and we must ensure that ideological differences do not undermine our support for a program with such an amazing success rate.

Additionally, we observed some very important clinical work with the drug Nevirapine. It is one of those small miracles that should do wonders in theory, but as a practical matter, the results are somewhat more troubling. Nevirapine has been shown to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission rates by 50 percent. German pharmaceutical companies are providing the drug for free in Uganda. Nevertheless, because the healthcare infrastructure is so fragile and, in much of Uganda, nonexistent, Nevirapine has been subject to something called the ``cascade effect.'' Effectively, this means that since Nevirapine treatment requires a number of steps, at each stage we lose participation of mothers. So, when 6,000 women enter a clinic's door seeking treatment, we end up saving about four babies at a cost of $5,000 for each child. It is not that those children are not worth saving, we should do everything we can to save every child. However, when we tackle an enormous problem with finite resources, we must devote our efforts to the most effective treatments available.

As the administration unrolls its funding strategy for the global effort against AIDS, I think we must examine this question of mother- to-child transmission carefully. In addition to the cascade effect, we must be careful not to ``create'' orphans with our healthcare funding choices. If all of our efforts go into saving infants, and we do less to help the mothers, we have only added to Uganda's difficulties with a large orphan population.

But the real pressure creating new orphans in Uganda also deserves American attention. The Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, has been operating in Uganda since 1989. Suffice to say that its origins can be found in the delusional preachings of a self-proclaimed priestess, and since that time, it has lost whatever purpose it might have claimed. Fifteen years later, the LRA is lead by Joseph Koney, and his acts of cruelty can only rank with those of Hitler and Stalin. I heard personal testimony from an 11-year-old girl who was forced to kill her own mother in front of her siblings.

This rag-tag group of brigands, thieves, and terrorists prey on the weakness of children. They swell their own meager ranks of 2,000 men by abducting children out of their homes. Young children are made to carry equipment, frequently starving to death during their treks of hundreds of miles to the LRA bases in southern Sudan. Older males are forced to fight or be killed. Girls are brutally raped and used as sex slaves for years.

Child soldiers are regrettably not unique to Uganda. However, Koney's pathological desire to have children murder their own families and their fellow villagers leaves scars that are harder to heal than in other parts of the world.

Despite this reality, U.S. military assistance to Uganda is a pittance. It is certainly true that the Ugandan army has a checkered past. It is also true that President Museveni has intervened in other conflicts, such as Rwanda. Yet, whatever harm might conceivably come from greater military assistance the United States would provide Uganda, it is overwhelmed by the horror of the status quo. If there is a moral obligation to use military force to defeat terrorists anywhere on Earth, I cannot conceive of a better place for the use of force than against the LRA.

East Africa is an unstable and difficult neighborhood. Nearby Somalia is a failed state. Sudan has actively harbored terrorists, including Osama bin Laden. The Congo is an ongoing battleground. Rwanda experienced the worst genocide since Nazi Germany. This is a place that needs some attention and would benefit from a more robust American role. I am certain that we will need a real partner in this region--a partner in our fight against terrorism, an economic partner that demonstrates the success of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and a regional model for the combat of AIDS. I believe that Uganda could be such a partner, and this Senator will pursue those steps available to me that would cement this relationship.

Finally, let me say a word about intercountry adoption. President Museveni graciously received our delegation, and we had the opportunity to explain our position. Namely, the coalition feels that children flourish with

loving families, but suffer in institutions. Of course, Uganda's traditional culture would normally absorb orphaned children in precisely the way we think is most appropriate--first with their family, secondarily within their community. However, we feel that where these social systems have been overwhelmed, as they have been in Uganda, a country should consider the option of international adoption. We believe that a nation can have no better ambassador to the United States than a child who has been adopted into a U.S. family and now has an active interest in their home country. We have seen it in China, Korea, and Russia. The process of intercountry adoption simply connects Americans to another country in a way they otherwise never would be.

So with these thoughts in mind, President Museveni has agreed to review our request that Uganda ratify the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. International adoption is not going to be a solution to the very important tasks ahead of Uganda. However, in the lives of the children who find parents this way, intercountry adoption will be a true blessing.

I am also very pleased to announce that President Museveni and his wife Janet have kindly accepted my invitation to join us for a reception in their honor at my home. This will be an excellent opportunity for the Washington community to welcome this distinguished leader and build upon the foundations of partnership that have already been laid. I look forward to seeing many of my colleagues there.

Mr. President, I speak today to honor the service of Captain Chris Christopher, who is currently the Deputy Director for Future Operations, Communications and Business Initiatives at NMCI. Captain Christopher comes to this position after nearly 20 years of distinguished service to the Navy in the fields of aviation, public affairs and intelligence.

Captain Christopher has spent most of his life in New Orleans, and he has made a wonderful home there with his wife Penny and their two daughters. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of New Orleans, and his work with NMCI still brings him back to the UNO campus. Though he is now stationed in Virginia, his heart and family remain in New Orleans. As a Louisiana Senator, I like that!

Captain Christopher's work at NMCI has been truly outstanding. The Navy Marine Corps Intranet is a progressive and comprehensive project with an ultimate goal to transform the Department of the Navy's computer and information networks in a way that increases combat readiness and effectiveness. NMCI will revolutionize command and control efficiencies within the Navy, and between the services, to ensure that our forces are operating in unison. This will save American lives, increase combat readiness and effectiveness, and, ultimately, make us stronger. Under Captain Christopher's leadership, many of these goals have been brought closer to reality.

I once again want to thank my friend, Captain Chris Christopher, for his efforts on America's behalf. Future generations of Sailors and Marines will no doubt reap the benefits of his labor and America will be safer as a result. I am proud of your `Louisiana-bred' success Chris, and I wish you well in your future endeavors.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize George and Germaine Briant as Louisiana's longest married couple. George and Germaine Briant of Hammond, LA, were married over eighty years ago on July 20, 1921. The couple currently lives at Sunrise of Live Oak Village in Hammond where their affectionate displays of kissing, hugging, and dancing, regularly prove a true testament of their love. As the residents of Hammond would tell you, George never fails to sing ``Let Me Call You Sweetheart'' to Germaine, at every opportunity.

The Briants contributions to our Nation go beyond their loving example. George served in World War I and was awarded many medals, including the Purple Heart and the French Legion of

Honor, for his courageous and exceptional service to his country. The Briants only son, George H. Briant, a World War II pilot, gave his life for his country. Although the lives of George and Germaine Briant tell tales of patriotism, valor, and loss, the most salient characteristics of their marriage are commitment, loyalty, selflessness, and unconditional love.

I am proud to announce that at a time when people may need shining examples of self-sacrifice and a reminder of the responsibility involved in a commitment to family, George and Germaine Briant offer a portrait of a genuine marriage that has fidelity and trust at its roots. I know that my colleagues here in the United States Senate join me today in congratulating this exceptional couple who have shown the strength of a marriage bond that has only deepened with time.

Mr. President, I am pleased to see that the Senate will reauthorize the National Flood Insurance program today. This is such an important program for the people of Louisiana.

If there is a theme that runs through the social and economic history of my State, it is water. The Mississippi River, with its great southern port of New Orleans, has been a center of commerce and an economic gateway to the east. Smaller rivers, streams, and bayous run throughout our parishes. More than 8,277 square miles of Louisiana are covered by water, nearly 16 percent. The entire southern third of my State could be called a giant wetland, much of it below sea level, including the city of New Orleans.

Floods are a part of life in Louisiana, particularly in the southern part of the State. Louisiana has more than 377,000 insured properties under the program as of 2003. That same year the program paid nearly 6,000 flood loss claims in Louisiana. The National Flood Insurance Program allows Louisianians to stay in their homes and protects them from the devastation nature can wreak.

The flood program gives the housing, insurance, banking, and mortgage lending markets in my State greater stability. It also brings peace of mind to those families who need the program to protect their most important assets: their homes and businesses.

However, when this reauthorization bill was reported out of the Banking Committee, I had deep concerns about a pilot program contained in the bill designed to address severe repetitive loss properties. These are properties that experience a lot of flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates that these repetitive loss properties, while only making up about one percent of all the insured properties, cost the program $200 million annually. Some property owners have collected flood claims that are four or five times higher than the actual value of the property. They refuse to take any action to minimize the cost to the program and benefit from subsidized insurance rates.

Under the pilot program, $40 million in funding would be available on an optional basis for States and communities to take steps to mitigate the flood damage potential on these properties. If a property owner receives a mitigation offer and turns it down, their flood insurance premiums would increase 50 percent, and would keep on increasing by 50 percent until it reached the actuarial rate for the property. This provision would help prevent some of the abuse in the program.

Louisiana has the most repetitive loss properties in the county, about one-third of the total number nationwide. I had concerns about how this pilot program would impact low income property owners in my State and so I put a hold on the bill. I felt that even though State and local communities could opt into the program, they would not have as much control over how the program would get funding to property owners that want mitigation. FEMA held all the cards.

Let me give an example of what I mean. Under the original bill, FEMA would award mitigation funds based upon what it felt was in the best interest of the flood insurance program. I believed that this gave FEMA the power to overrule local determinations of what kind of flood mitigation to offer and what properties to mitigate. For example, a local community that wanted to elevate a structure above the base flood elevation could be denied relief because FEMA decided that buyouts were in the best interest of the flood insurance program in order to permanently remove properties out of the flood insurance program altogether.

The impact this could have on property owners could be devastating. I did not want to see low-income people facing a terrible choice: sell your property or see your rates go up. Many of these families have lived on this land for generations. It may flood regularly, but it is also home. I wanted to make sure the pilot program struck a proper balance between the needs of the flood insurance program and the rights of property owners.

The chairman and ranking member of the Banking Committee, Senators Shelby and Sarbanes, and myself worked together to make changes to the bill that I believe have achieved this balance. The changes keep the pilot program in place but add safeguards requiring FEMA to pay greater deference to local decisions about what properties to mitigate and what kinds of mitigation offers are most appropriate. We added demolition and rebuild as an additional eligible mitigation activity under the bill, an option that Louisiana's flood plain managers wanted. We also included a funding formula that insures that Louisiana gets its fair share of funding under the pilot program. Under FEMA's current mitigation program, Louisiana only received about $1 million even though the State had more than $60 million in need.

I thank Chairman Shelby and the ranking member of the Banking Committee, Senator Sarbanes, as well as their staffs for their willingness to work with me on these changes. We have made this important bill a better deal for local communities in my State and across the country.

Mr President, 50 years ago, our Nation set out to give every child the chance for excellence and equality in education. In a quote from the Brown decision in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court said, ``Today education is perhaps the most important function of State and local governments . . . It is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the State has undertaken to provide it, is a right, which must be made available to all on equal terms.'' We have made great progress in the past 50 years but we still have a long way to go.

By fulfilling the promise of Brown, school systems have the ability to lay a great foundation for our Nation. Providing children with a high quality education, in a diverse classroom setting, gives our children the educational

tools which they need to succeed. Additionally, it provides them with an environment which will equip them with the necessary tools to become true leaders. The goals of Brown were to provide to all children, excellent schools which were as diverse as possible. The greatest gift that we can give our children is to ensure that they receive nothing less.

Fifty years after Brown, its full promise remains unrealized. Public education in our country has become more and more separate. In Washington, DC, public schools, nearly all students are attending segregated, poor schools. For example, 2,455 students are attending 12th grade. Of those, 121 are white, about 1,900 are black and the rest are primarily Latino and Asian/Pacific Islander. Of the white students, 116 attend just three schools with 88 of those at just one school. This scenario is happening not only in our Nation's capital but across the Nation. In my State of Louisiana, public schools in the City of Monroe have 88 percent minority students, while the surrounding rural district has 71 percent white students.

Not only are our schools more separate, but they are also more unequal. Since 1988, the minority achievement gap in our country has continued to grow. Nationally, African American and Latino 17-year-olds demonstrate reading and math skills that are virtually indistinguishable from white 13-year-olds. In my own State of Louisiana, there is a 42.9 point gap between the performance of African American students and their white peers. These statistics can be explained by many different variables. Poor and minority students are one-third more likely to be taught by an unqualified teacher than their peers. Students of color and low-income students do not receive curriculum and instruction that is as challenging or rigorous as other students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, less than a third of students from low-wealth families were enrolled in the college prep track, while two-thirds of students from high-wealth families were in college prep. What is worse, we have put educational funding on its head. In a majority of States, the more students of color you have, the less likely you are to receive State and local funds.

The founding principle of No Child Left Behind was that all children can learn. There are hundreds of examples, many of which you will hear in commemoration of the Brown decision, to demonstrate this fact to be true. Centennial Place Elementary School in Atlanta, GA is 91 percent African American and 79 percent low-income and is in the top 10 percent of the entire State of Georgia in reading. Moreover, Centennial Place Elementary outscored 88 percent of other Georgia schools on the State's math test. In my home State of Louisiana, Claiborne Fundamental Elementary School has an 80 percent minority student body, 60 percent of which are in poverty. Yet they finished in the 94th percentile on LEAP testing and finished in the top 10 percent in closing the achievement gap. These are only a few examples of success in schools which support the principles of No Child Left Behind. For the first time, the Federal Government has rejected the bigotry of lower expectations and has required States and local school districts to do something about the growing gap of opportunity in our schools. If we are to realize the promise of Brown we must ensure that each and every child, regardless of race or income, has an opportunity to realize their potential.

The links between all of these examples of success are accountability, full and equal funding, and teacher quality. If we can set clear, measurable goals for performance and continue to hold schools accountable for results, we can truly measure success and failure. Backlash against No Child Left Behind is in part because people are being forced to face the reality that gaps do exist. Under the old system, schools with huge gaps in the performance of their students were labeled as being successful. Nationally, 4th grade African Americans lag behind their white peers in reading, with 39 percent of white students considered proficient but only 12 percent of black students. Things are similar in 8th grade mathematics, 36 percent of white students are labeled proficient, but only 7 percent of black students fall into the same category.

While we continue to make schools accountable, we must also ensure that they are fully and equally funded. Over the past four years, Title I of No Child Left Behind has been underfunded by the President's Budget by $22.3 billion. In my State of Louisiana, that means that 135, 962 disadvantaged children, 6,029 English-learners, and 62,977 preschool children are left behind. We cannot continue to expect our schools to perform, if we do not give them the tools they need. This funding must also be equal. In 22 States, the highest poverty school districts receive less per-student funding from State and local sources than the lowest-poverty school districts. This is also true of the Nation as a whole. The top 25 percent of school districts in terms of child poverty nationwide receive less funding than the bottom 25 percent. Similarly, in 28 States the local districts with the highest percentage of minority children receive less funding than districts with the fewest minority children.

These increases in funding will go towards many different aspects of our children's education but also towards recruiting the best and the brightest teachers. The difference between an effective teacher and an ineffective teacher can be a whole grade level in school. In a recent study in Dallas, students who had the added value of a good teacher 3 years in a row were scoring in the 76th percentile; while students who had a bad teacher 3 years in a row were performing in the 27th percentile. We can help recruit and retain quality teachers by increasing their opportunity for professional development, increasing the pay for teachers who work in high challenge areas, merit pay and bonuses for good teachers, and by increasing administrative and professional support for teachers in schools.

The principles laid out in No Child Left Behind give our Nation the opportunity to fully realize the promise of Brown v. Board of Education. If we can continue to fund initiatives which encourage accountability and excellence for all students we can continue to close the achievement gap that plagues our Nation's schools. In 1960, four black 6-year-old girls were the first to integrate two white schools in my home town of New Orleans. These brave children set out as pioneers to create a school system in this country which was equal for all children regardless of race or religion. We must keep these children in our hearts as we set forth to make their dream truly a reality. On this 50th commemoration of the Brown decision, I hope that my colleagues will join with me in ensuring that every child receives access to the same high quality education.

Mr. President, like so many of the people who were fortunate enough to know him, I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a dear friend and true leader, Dr. Charles Irvin Hudson. Dr. Hudson, known to many affectionately as ``Doc,'' died unexpectedly May 7, 2004, at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA, at the age of 72.

Doc Hudson was an educator and community leader in St. Landry Parish for nearly 50 years. He demonstrated his commitment to education by serving as a high school mathematics teacher for 10 years and later as the principal of two elementary schools, for which he received numerous awards and honors.

But Doc Hudson was equally committed to public service, and served his community as an elected official for nearly 30 years. First elected to the Opelousas City Council in 1974, he was to serve for three consecutive 4-year terms before becoming deputy secretary for the Louisiana State Department of Transportation and Development from 1984- 88. Doc Hudson was then elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 1991 where he served till his passing.

Throughout his remarkable career, Doc worked tirelessly for the people of St. Landry Parish and the State of Louisiana. He fought for both decency and accountability in our schools, worked to improve the quality of life for everyone in District 40, and developed warm, quality relationships with all who met him.

It was my privilege to have worked very closely with Doc on a number of occasions and to benefit from the wisdom of his counsel and the breadth of his understanding. I am honored to have known and learned from a man of such high moral character.

Representative Hudson will be remembered for his nearly 30 years of service in public life and 20 years as an educator, and for the great value he placed on developing relationships with people. He rooted his work in his personal experiences with the people affected by the issues. His dedication to people will stand as a legacy from which future generations will learn.

On behalf of the entire State of Louisiana, I pay tribute to this courageous statesman and convey my most respectful condolences to his family and to all who knew him.