Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, June 9; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate resume consideration of the House message with respect to H.R. 4213, the tax extenders legislation.

Mr. President, Senators should expect rollcall votes in relation to amendments to the tax extenders legislation to occur throughout the day tomorrow.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order.

Madam President, I wish today to recognize the achievements of five very bright students from the Frenchtown High School Academic Team. While academic extracurricular activities may not receive recognition as often as they should, these young individuals have put their brains over brawn to steal the spotlight by qualifying for the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence Championship, taking them over 2000 miles away from their hometown of Frenchtown, Montana to our Nation's Capital.

The Frenchtown High School Academic Team is here today because of hard work. Taylor Amundsen, Joseph Taylor, Eamon Thomasson, Mary Brooks and Michael Rebarchik have gathered in their advisor's, Merle Johnston, class room during their lunchtime and afterschool for practice. They competed against bigger schools and won. This season at the Brainfreeze competition, held on their home turf, the Frenchtown team went ten rounds undefeated and went on to edge out their rivals, Billings Skyview for the championship trophy.

This weekend at the national tournament they proudly represented Montana. I congratulate the academic team and their advisor Merle Johnston. These outstanding young people are the future of our Nation, and I know they will continue to make Montana proud.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, and it is not with great pleasure, I object to the request offered by my good friend from Iowa. This provision he is seeking unanimous consent about is one of the provisions in the larger tax extenders bill that the House is working on and attempting to pass tonight. They are laboring mightily but so far have not been able to pass the extenders job legislation that would contain the provision mentioned by the Senator from Iowa. This is the tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel. It has created jobs. It is a good provision.

I might say to my friend, the jobs are now lost because it expired. It expired the end of last year. We will extend this provision. We should extend it and we will extend it. We are not able to extend it tonight by itself. Why? Because many other Senators have specific provisions in the job extenders legislation that are particularly applicable to their States.

One I am particularly interested in is the property tax deduction, irrespective of whether the taxpayer itemized his or her deductions.

There will be a time, when we get back after the recess, to try to get these provisions passed so jobs are created. But we have to do it together as a package. We can't do it singly, separately, tonight. I want to tell my good friend from Iowa I will work with him when we get back after the recess. For the time being I feel obliged to object.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the sacrifice of the thousands of men and women serving in harm's way overseas and to introduce legislation that will help these brave men and women when they return home.

I recently led a congressional delegation to Afghanistan. During my visit, I was deeply impressed by the service and dedication of our brave troops. These men and women work under the most difficult conditions.

They serve every day. Weekends, holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays. They serve 24 hours a days, seven days a week.

Our troops are some of the hardest working Americans. They patrol the mountains, fix trucks and fire artillery. They are not only warriors, but diplomats as well. They organize meetings known as shuras with local leaders and village elders. I was awestruck by our troops' professionalism, courage and tenacity.

Many of these troops are from Montana. Montanans volunteer for duty at among the highest rate in the country. Montana's military recruiting rates are roughly 50 percent higher than the national average. Tragically, Montana has the highest per capita rate of service members killed or injured fighting overseas since 9/11.

While in Afghanistan I met a young Army captain named Casey Thoreen. Casey commands an infantry company that is working to improve security in the Maiwand district of Kandahar Province.

A reporter recently wrote a piece about Casey that described him as the ``King of Maiwand'' because of his important efforts to improve the lives of those that live there.

Casey has developed close working relationships with the local district leader and other important power brokers. We couldn't dream of succeeding in Afghanistan without dedicated talented officers like this young man. Skilled efforts such as his are the lynchpin of our mission in Afghanistan.

My congressional colleagues and I have worked hard to give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines all the tools necessary to succeed in combat. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we give our troops the tools to succeed upon their return home.

President George Washington once said ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.''

President Washington's words are a serious reminder of our obligation to Casey and all of the brave men and women serving our country overseas. We have a solemn obligation to our veterans when they return home. And recent suicide statistics and veteran unemployment data make it clear that we have a long way to go.

For veterans between the ages of 20 and 24, the suicide rate is roughly two to four times higher than non-veterans the same age.

A recent survey found that only 13 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans ``strongly agreed'' that their transition home was going well. And just 9 percent ``strongly agreed'' the needs of their family were being met.

The unemployment rate among veterans who have served in the military since September 2001 far exceeds that of their peers. According to the American Legion, nearly 15 percent of post 9/11 veterans are unemployed.

The rate of unemployment for veterans aged 18 to 24 is over 30 percent--nearly double the rate for non-veterans the same age. These numbers are unacceptable.

I want to applaud my friend and colleague, Senator Patty Murray, for the important work she has done to address this problem. She recently introduced the Comprehensive Veterans Employment Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to allow the GI Bill to pay for on-the-job training and apprenticeships. I strongly support her efforts.

Senator Murray held a roundtable discussion on veterans' employment earlier this year. During the discussion she learned that some veterans were deliberately taking their military service off their resumes when applying for work. These veterans feared employers might think they suffered from post-traumatic stress due to time in combat.

This discussion is a telling sign that we need to do a better job of welcoming our troops home from war. I can't think of anything more important to readjusting to life back home than having meaningful employment.

Our veterans are national assets. The skills veterans have learned in the military are valuable in the civilian workplace and in communities across America.

History has proven this to be true. Just look to the boom years in the late 1940s and 1950s. America welcomed back millions of World War Two veterans into the workforce. The leadership and strength of our veterans fueled the unprecedented growth and strength of our Nation. I expect nothing less from this generation of veterans as well.

That is why Senator Grassley and I are introducing the Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. This legislation will reward employers that hire any veteran who has recently completed their service in the military with up to a $6,000 tax credit.

The bill simplifies the administrative process that currently exists for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for hiring a recently discharged veteran. Any recently discharged veteran with discharge paperwork is eligible. This includes those men and women who were activated by their states as members of the National Guard.

Enacting this legislation is just first step. I want to ensure all veterans understand the benefits of this tax credit. That is I am working with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other Veteran Service Organizations to help veterans use this tax benefit as a tool to find good paying jobs.

The day after this bill becomes law, the VFW will notify their members on how to use the credit. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will post a webcast to their members to explain how best to take advantage of this benefit.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will also publish a document online that a veteran can print and hand in with a resume when applying for a job. This document will explain to employers how they can take advantage of the credit if they hire the veteran.

Briefly, I want to thank my first Defenders of Freedom Fellow, Iraq veteran and Montana-native Charlie Cromwell. As a legislative fellow in my office, Charlie worked hard to create and advance this bill.

I created the Defenders of Freedom Fellowship so that Montana veterans could work on legislation that helps their fellow veterans. The legislation I am introducing today is the perfect example of what this fellowship was intended to accomplish.

I encourage all interested Montana veterans to contact my office for more information. It will take this kind of team work to provide the support our veterans need when they come home from war. It is an honor to introduce

this legislation and I look forward to its quick passage in the weeks to come.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the sacrifice of the thousands of men and women serving in harm's way overseas and to introduce legislation that will help these brave men and women when they return home.

I recently led a congressional delegation to Afghanistan. During my visit, I was deeply impressed by the service and dedication of our brave troops. These men and women work under the most difficult conditions.

They serve every day. Weekends, holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays. They serve 24 hours a days, seven days a week.

Our troops are some of the hardest working Americans. They patrol the mountains, fix trucks and fire artillery. They are not only warriors, but diplomats as well. They organize meetings known as shuras with local leaders and village elders. I was awestruck by our troops' professionalism, courage and tenacity.

Many of these troops are from Montana. Montanans volunteer for duty at among the highest rate in the country. Montana's military recruiting rates are roughly 50 percent higher than the national average. Tragically, Montana has the highest per capita rate of service members killed or injured fighting overseas since 9/11.

While in Afghanistan I met a young Army captain named Casey Thoreen. Casey commands an infantry company that is working to improve security in the Maiwand district of Kandahar Province.

A reporter recently wrote a piece about Casey that described him as the ``King of Maiwand'' because of his important efforts to improve the lives of those that live there.

Casey has developed close working relationships with the local district leader and other important power brokers. We couldn't dream of succeeding in Afghanistan without dedicated talented officers like this young man. Skilled efforts such as his are the lynchpin of our mission in Afghanistan.

My congressional colleagues and I have worked hard to give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines all the tools necessary to succeed in combat. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we give our troops the tools to succeed upon their return home.

President George Washington once said ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.''

President Washington's words are a serious reminder of our obligation to Casey and all of the brave men and women serving our country overseas. We have a solemn obligation to our veterans when they return home. And recent suicide statistics and veteran unemployment data make it clear that we have a long way to go.

For veterans between the ages of 20 and 24, the suicide rate is roughly two to four times higher than non-veterans the same age.

A recent survey found that only 13 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans ``strongly agreed'' that their transition home was going well. And just 9 percent ``strongly agreed'' the needs of their family were being met.

The unemployment rate among veterans who have served in the military since September 2001 far exceeds that of their peers. According to the American Legion, nearly 15 percent of post 9/11 veterans are unemployed.

The rate of unemployment for veterans aged 18 to 24 is over 30 percent--nearly double the rate for non-veterans the same age. These numbers are unacceptable.

I want to applaud my friend and colleague, Senator Patty Murray, for the important work she has done to address this problem. She recently introduced the Comprehensive Veterans Employment Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to allow the GI Bill to pay for on-the-job training and apprenticeships. I strongly support her efforts.

Senator Murray held a roundtable discussion on veterans' employment earlier this year. During the discussion she learned that some veterans were deliberately taking their military service off their resumes when applying for work. These veterans feared employers might think they suffered from post-traumatic stress due to time in combat.

This discussion is a telling sign that we need to do a better job of welcoming our troops home from war. I can't think of anything more important to readjusting to life back home than having meaningful employment.

Our veterans are national assets. The skills veterans have learned in the military are valuable in the civilian workplace and in communities across America.

History has proven this to be true. Just look to the boom years in the late 1940s and 1950s. America welcomed back millions of World War Two veterans into the workforce. The leadership and strength of our veterans fueled the unprecedented growth and strength of our Nation. I expect nothing less from this generation of veterans as well.

That is why Senator Grassley and I are introducing the Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. This legislation will reward employers that hire any veteran who has recently completed their service in the military with up to a $6,000 tax credit.

The bill simplifies the administrative process that currently exists for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for hiring a recently discharged veteran. Any recently discharged veteran with discharge paperwork is eligible. This includes those men and women who were activated by their states as members of the National Guard.

Enacting this legislation is just first step. I want to ensure all veterans understand the benefits of this tax credit. That is I am working with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other Veteran Service Organizations to help veterans use this tax benefit as a tool to find good paying jobs.

The day after this bill becomes law, the VFW will notify their members on how to use the credit. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will post a webcast to their members to explain how best to take advantage of this benefit.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will also publish a document online that a veteran can print and hand in with a resume when applying for a job. This document will explain to employers how they can take advantage of the credit if they hire the veteran.

Briefly, I want to thank my first Defenders of Freedom Fellow, Iraq veteran and Montana-native Charlie Cromwell. As a legislative fellow in my office, Charlie worked hard to create and advance this bill.

I created the Defenders of Freedom Fellowship so that Montana veterans could work on legislation that helps their fellow veterans. The legislation I am introducing today is the perfect example of what this fellowship was intended to accomplish.

I encourage all interested Montana veterans to contact my office for more information. It will take this kind of team work to provide the support our veterans need when they come home from war. It is an honor to introduce

this legislation and I look forward to its quick passage in the weeks to come.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the sacrifice of the thousands of men and women serving in harm's way overseas and to introduce legislation that will help these brave men and women when they return home.

I recently led a congressional delegation to Afghanistan. During my visit, I was deeply impressed by the service and dedication of our brave troops. These men and women work under the most difficult conditions.

They serve every day. Weekends, holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays. They serve 24 hours a days, seven days a week.

Our troops are some of the hardest working Americans. They patrol the mountains, fix trucks and fire artillery. They are not only warriors, but diplomats as well. They organize meetings known as shuras with local leaders and village elders. I was awestruck by our troops' professionalism, courage and tenacity.

Many of these troops are from Montana. Montanans volunteer for duty at among the highest rate in the country. Montana's military recruiting rates are roughly 50 percent higher than the national average. Tragically, Montana has the highest per capita rate of service members killed or injured fighting overseas since 9/11.

While in Afghanistan I met a young Army captain named Casey Thoreen. Casey commands an infantry company that is working to improve security in the Maiwand district of Kandahar Province.

A reporter recently wrote a piece about Casey that described him as the ``King of Maiwand'' because of his important efforts to improve the lives of those that live there.

Casey has developed close working relationships with the local district leader and other important power brokers. We couldn't dream of succeeding in Afghanistan without dedicated talented officers like this young man. Skilled efforts such as his are the lynchpin of our mission in Afghanistan.

My congressional colleagues and I have worked hard to give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines all the tools necessary to succeed in combat. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we give our troops the tools to succeed upon their return home.

President George Washington once said ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.''

President Washington's words are a serious reminder of our obligation to Casey and all of the brave men and women serving our country overseas. We have a solemn obligation to our veterans when they return home. And recent suicide statistics and veteran unemployment data make it clear that we have a long way to go.

For veterans between the ages of 20 and 24, the suicide rate is roughly two to four times higher than non-veterans the same age.

A recent survey found that only 13 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans ``strongly agreed'' that their transition home was going well. And just 9 percent ``strongly agreed'' the needs of their family were being met.

The unemployment rate among veterans who have served in the military since September 2001 far exceeds that of their peers. According to the American Legion, nearly 15 percent of post 9/11 veterans are unemployed.

The rate of unemployment for veterans aged 18 to 24 is over 30 percent--nearly double the rate for non-veterans the same age. These numbers are unacceptable.

I want to applaud my friend and colleague, Senator Patty Murray, for the important work she has done to address this problem. She recently introduced the Comprehensive Veterans Employment Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to allow the GI Bill to pay for on-the-job training and apprenticeships. I strongly support her efforts.

Senator Murray held a roundtable discussion on veterans' employment earlier this year. During the discussion she learned that some veterans were deliberately taking their military service off their resumes when applying for work. These veterans feared employers might think they suffered from post-traumatic stress due to time in combat.

This discussion is a telling sign that we need to do a better job of welcoming our troops home from war. I can't think of anything more important to readjusting to life back home than having meaningful employment.

Our veterans are national assets. The skills veterans have learned in the military are valuable in the civilian workplace and in communities across America.

History has proven this to be true. Just look to the boom years in the late 1940s and 1950s. America welcomed back millions of World War Two veterans into the workforce. The leadership and strength of our veterans fueled the unprecedented growth and strength of our Nation. I expect nothing less from this generation of veterans as well.

That is why Senator Grassley and I are introducing the Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. This legislation will reward employers that hire any veteran who has recently completed their service in the military with up to a $6,000 tax credit.

The bill simplifies the administrative process that currently exists for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for hiring a recently discharged veteran. Any recently discharged veteran with discharge paperwork is eligible. This includes those men and women who were activated by their states as members of the National Guard.

Enacting this legislation is just first step. I want to ensure all veterans understand the benefits of this tax credit. That is I am working with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other Veteran Service Organizations to help veterans use this tax benefit as a tool to find good paying jobs.

The day after this bill becomes law, the VFW will notify their members on how to use the credit. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will post a webcast to their members to explain how best to take advantage of this benefit.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will also publish a document online that a veteran can print and hand in with a resume when applying for a job. This document will explain to employers how they can take advantage of the credit if they hire the veteran.

Briefly, I want to thank my first Defenders of Freedom Fellow, Iraq veteran and Montana-native Charlie Cromwell. As a legislative fellow in my office, Charlie worked hard to create and advance this bill.

I created the Defenders of Freedom Fellowship so that Montana veterans could work on legislation that helps their fellow veterans. The legislation I am introducing today is the perfect example of what this fellowship was intended to accomplish.

I encourage all interested Montana veterans to contact my office for more information. It will take this kind of team work to provide the support our veterans need when they come home from war. It is an honor to introduce

this legislation and I look forward to its quick passage in the weeks to come.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the sacrifice of the thousands of men and women serving in harm's way overseas and to introduce legislation that will help these brave men and women when they return home.

I recently led a congressional delegation to Afghanistan. During my visit, I was deeply impressed by the service and dedication of our brave troops. These men and women work under the most difficult conditions.

They serve every day. Weekends, holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays. They serve 24 hours a days, seven days a week.

Our troops are some of the hardest working Americans. They patrol the mountains, fix trucks and fire artillery. They are not only warriors, but diplomats as well. They organize meetings known as shuras with local leaders and village elders. I was awestruck by our troops' professionalism, courage and tenacity.

Many of these troops are from Montana. Montanans volunteer for duty at among the highest rate in the country. Montana's military recruiting rates are roughly 50 percent higher than the national average. Tragically, Montana has the highest per capita rate of service members killed or injured fighting overseas since 9/11.

While in Afghanistan I met a young Army captain named Casey Thoreen. Casey commands an infantry company that is working to improve security in the Maiwand district of Kandahar Province.

A reporter recently wrote a piece about Casey that described him as the ``King of Maiwand'' because of his important efforts to improve the lives of those that live there.

Casey has developed close working relationships with the local district leader and other important power brokers. We couldn't dream of succeeding in Afghanistan without dedicated talented officers like this young man. Skilled efforts such as his are the lynchpin of our mission in Afghanistan.

My congressional colleagues and I have worked hard to give our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines all the tools necessary to succeed in combat. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we give our troops the tools to succeed upon their return home.

President George Washington once said ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.''

President Washington's words are a serious reminder of our obligation to Casey and all of the brave men and women serving our country overseas. We have a solemn obligation to our veterans when they return home. And recent suicide statistics and veteran unemployment data make it clear that we have a long way to go.

For veterans between the ages of 20 and 24, the suicide rate is roughly two to four times higher than non-veterans the same age.

A recent survey found that only 13 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans ``strongly agreed'' that their transition home was going well. And just 9 percent ``strongly agreed'' the needs of their family were being met.

The unemployment rate among veterans who have served in the military since September 2001 far exceeds that of their peers. According to the American Legion, nearly 15 percent of post 9/11 veterans are unemployed.

The rate of unemployment for veterans aged 18 to 24 is over 30 percent--nearly double the rate for non-veterans the same age. These numbers are unacceptable.

I want to applaud my friend and colleague, Senator Patty Murray, for the important work she has done to address this problem. She recently introduced the Comprehensive Veterans Employment Act of 2010.

The bill seeks to allow the GI Bill to pay for on-the-job training and apprenticeships. I strongly support her efforts.

Senator Murray held a roundtable discussion on veterans' employment earlier this year. During the discussion she learned that some veterans were deliberately taking their military service off their resumes when applying for work. These veterans feared employers might think they suffered from post-traumatic stress due to time in combat.

This discussion is a telling sign that we need to do a better job of welcoming our troops home from war. I can't think of anything more important to readjusting to life back home than having meaningful employment.

Our veterans are national assets. The skills veterans have learned in the military are valuable in the civilian workplace and in communities across America.

History has proven this to be true. Just look to the boom years in the late 1940s and 1950s. America welcomed back millions of World War Two veterans into the workforce. The leadership and strength of our veterans fueled the unprecedented growth and strength of our Nation. I expect nothing less from this generation of veterans as well.

That is why Senator Grassley and I are introducing the Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010. This legislation will reward employers that hire any veteran who has recently completed their service in the military with up to a $6,000 tax credit.

The bill simplifies the administrative process that currently exists for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for hiring a recently discharged veteran. Any recently discharged veteran with discharge paperwork is eligible. This includes those men and women who were activated by their states as members of the National Guard.

Enacting this legislation is just first step. I want to ensure all veterans understand the benefits of this tax credit. That is I am working with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other Veteran Service Organizations to help veterans use this tax benefit as a tool to find good paying jobs.

The day after this bill becomes law, the VFW will notify their members on how to use the credit. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will post a webcast to their members to explain how best to take advantage of this benefit.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will also publish a document online that a veteran can print and hand in with a resume when applying for a job. This document will explain to employers how they can take advantage of the credit if they hire the veteran.

Briefly, I want to thank my first Defenders of Freedom Fellow, Iraq veteran and Montana-native Charlie Cromwell. As a legislative fellow in my office, Charlie worked hard to create and advance this bill.

I created the Defenders of Freedom Fellowship so that Montana veterans could work on legislation that helps their fellow veterans. The legislation I am introducing today is the perfect example of what this fellowship was intended to accomplish.

I encourage all interested Montana veterans to contact my office for more information. It will take this kind of team work to provide the support our veterans need when they come home from war. It is an honor to introduce

this legislation and I look forward to its quick passage in the weeks to come.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleagues Senator Crapo and Senator Tester that will establish a single definition of renewable biomass for the purposes of the Renewable Fuel Standard, RFS, a future Renewable Electricity Standard, RES, and climate change legislation.

When I travel back to my hometown of Helena, MT, trees that line the roads there are turning red. Mountain pine beetles are killing Montana's trees at a terrible rate. Our legendary harsh winters once were enough to keep the beetles at bay, but no longer. Global warming has literally hit home for me. These thousands of acres of red, dead trees are virtually worthless under current law, serving as little more than kindling for wildfires.

This bill can help add value to this biomass while also creating a source of renewable domestic energy. It will establish a simple, broad, single definition for renewable biomass that is consistent with current law--the 2008 Farm Bill.

Some say this definition is too broad and fails to protect ecologically sensitive areas. In fact, there are many laws that dictate Federal forest management, and my amendment does nothing to change these laws. All projects that would create biomass due to my amendment would have to comply with the National Forest Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and others.

All projects on federal forests must go through NEPA where the land management agency must study potential environmental impacts and mitigate those impacts. The public has many opportunities to comment and shape these projects and nothing in my amendment changes these safeguards. Further, my amendment would do nothing to change designated Wilderness areas or Wilderness Study Areas or otherwise weaken the Wilderness Act.

Right now our national forests are growing 20 billion board feet per year. Eight billion board feet die every year and only two million board feet are removed. This has resulted in overstocked, unhealthy forests. We can either restore forest health, produce renewable energy and local high-wage jobs, or we can allow nature to impose its own will through wildfire and infestation.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I look forward to working with them to enact this bill this year.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation with my colleagues Senator Crapo and Senator Tester that will establish a single definition of renewable biomass for the purposes of the Renewable Fuel Standard, RFS, a future Renewable Electricity Standard, RES, and climate change legislation.

When I travel back to my hometown of Helena, MT, trees that line the roads there are turning red. Mountain pine beetles are killing Montana's trees at a terrible rate. Our legendary harsh winters once were enough to keep the beetles at bay, but no longer. Global warming has literally hit home for me. These thousands of acres of red, dead trees are virtually worthless under current law, serving as little more than kindling for wildfires.

This bill can help add value to this biomass while also creating a source of renewable domestic energy. It will establish a simple, broad, single definition for renewable biomass that is consistent with current law--the 2008 Farm Bill.

Some say this definition is too broad and fails to protect ecologically sensitive areas. In fact, there are many laws that dictate Federal forest management, and my amendment does nothing to change these laws. All projects that would create biomass due to my amendment would have to comply with the National Forest Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and others.

All projects on federal forests must go through NEPA where the land management agency must study potential environmental impacts and mitigate those impacts. The public has many opportunities to comment and shape these projects and nothing in my amendment changes these safeguards. Further, my amendment would do nothing to change designated Wilderness areas or Wilderness Study Areas or otherwise weaken the Wilderness Act.

Right now our national forests are growing 20 billion board feet per year. Eight billion board feet die every year and only two million board feet are removed. This has resulted in overstocked, unhealthy forests. We can either restore forest health, produce renewable energy and local high-wage jobs, or we can allow nature to impose its own will through wildfire and infestation.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I look forward to working with them to enact this bill this year.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act, along with my good friend, Senator Tester. We introduce this bill as a critical step in 2 decades of negotiations between the Blackfeet Nation, the State of Montana, and the U.S. The bill ratifies the water rights compact with the Blackfeet Nation. It confirms that the United States is a nation that honors its commitments to all its citizens, including those who belong to Tribal Nations.

Over 150 years ago, the United States and the Blackfeet people signed a treaty that created the Blackfeet Reservation on a tract of land the size of Delaware abutting what became Glacier National Park and the Canadian Border. Over 100 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such treaties imply a commitment to reserve sufficient water to satisfy both present and future needs of a Tribe. Honoring this particular commitment has been delayed for decades. With the introduction of this bill, we are on the brink of fulfilling that commitment.

The Blackfeet people call the mountains of their homeland the ``backbone of the world.'' When you visit their land, you can feel a shiver in your own backbone at its beauty and spiritual significance. These mountains are also the wellspring of the reservation's water. Their cirques and flanks, frozen for much of the year, store the crucial resource that makes the Great Plains inhabitable. The drainages and storage systems that define how the snow melts and the water flows are the principal subject of this legislation. This water is necessary for irrigation, livestock, fisheries, wildlife, homes, and other uses.

By ratifying this compact, Congress will both establish the federal reserved water rights of the Tribe and authorize funds to construct the infrastructure necessary to make the water available for use. This infrastructure includes rehabilitation of the Blackfeet Irrigation Project and construction of other water projects. It also mitigates the impacts of the Tribe's water rights on current non-tribal water users.

The Blackfeet Water Compact has already been ratified by the State of Montana. The Montana Legislature has appropriated $15 million toward the overall Blackfeet settlement and has committed to provide an additional $20 million in this bill.

The bill that Senator Tester and I have introduced addresses a vital concern of the Blackfeet people and the State of Montana. It is time for the U.S. to honor its commitment to the Blackfeet Nation.

Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement Act, along with my good friend, Senator Tester. We introduce this bill as a critical step in 2 decades of negotiations between the Blackfeet Nation, the State of Montana, and the U.S. The bill ratifies the water rights compact with the Blackfeet Nation. It confirms that the United States is a nation that honors its commitments to all its citizens, including those who belong to Tribal Nations.

Over 150 years ago, the United States and the Blackfeet people signed a treaty that created the Blackfeet Reservation on a tract of land the size of Delaware abutting what became Glacier National Park and the Canadian Border. Over 100 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such treaties imply a commitment to reserve sufficient water to satisfy both present and future needs of a Tribe. Honoring this particular commitment has been delayed for decades. With the introduction of this bill, we are on the brink of fulfilling that commitment.

The Blackfeet people call the mountains of their homeland the ``backbone of the world.'' When you visit their land, you can feel a shiver in your own backbone at its beauty and spiritual significance. These mountains are also the wellspring of the reservation's water. Their cirques and flanks, frozen for much of the year, store the crucial resource that makes the Great Plains inhabitable. The drainages and storage systems that define how the snow melts and the water flows are the principal subject of this legislation. This water is necessary for irrigation, livestock, fisheries, wildlife, homes, and other uses.

By ratifying this compact, Congress will both establish the federal reserved water rights of the Tribe and authorize funds to construct the infrastructure necessary to make the water available for use. This infrastructure includes rehabilitation of the Blackfeet Irrigation Project and construction of other water projects. It also mitigates the impacts of the Tribe's water rights on current non-tribal water users.

The Blackfeet Water Compact has already been ratified by the State of Montana. The Montana Legislature has appropriated $15 million toward the overall Blackfeet settlement and has committed to provide an additional $20 million in this bill.

The bill that Senator Tester and I have introduced addresses a vital concern of the Blackfeet people and the State of Montana. It is time for the U.S. to honor its commitment to the Blackfeet Nation.

Mr. President, one of Aesop's Fables teaches us, ``In union there is strength.''

In 2009, Haiti's future was beginning to strengthen. A U.S. trade preference program, known as the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, or HOPE II, created incentives to increase textile and apparel production in Haiti. As a result, Haiti's textile and apparel sector was growing, creating new jobs and a viable economic future.

But on January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that took hundreds of thousands of lives, left a million people homeless, and shattered Haiti's burgeoning economy. As Haiti recovers from this devastation, we must unite with our neighbor to help provide the strength that it needs to recover and rebuild.

Today, Senator Grassley and I introduce the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010--the HELP Act--to strengthen Haiti's path to economic recovery. Congressmen Levin, Camp, and Rangel are also introducing a companion bill in the House.

The HELP Act would build on the success of the HOPE Act by expanding access to the U.S. market for textile and apparel products from Haiti. As a result, it would create incentives for immediate and long-term private investment in Haiti, which would in turn create sustainable jobs and a stable economy. The HELP Act would also extend all of our trade preference programs for Haiti to 2020, ensuring that Haiti could rely on these tariff benefits as it plans its own economic future.

As we considered the needs of Haiti, we were also watchful of the needs of our domestic textile industry. We worked closely with the domestic industry for months to craft a bill that would not hurt our own workers, even as we help others.

The HELP Act represents a landmark union among the Senate, the House, Democrats, Republicans, and the domestic textile industry to help Haiti recover from its devastation. This union resulted in an unprecedented bill that will help Haiti emerge from the earthquake stronger than ever.

I urge my colleagues to join this union and quickly approve this legislation.

Mr. President, one of Aesop's Fables teaches us, ``In union there is strength.''

In 2009, Haiti's future was beginning to strengthen. A U.S. trade preference program, known as the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act, or HOPE II, created incentives to increase textile and apparel production in Haiti. As a result, Haiti's textile and apparel sector was growing, creating new jobs and a viable economic future.

But on January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that took hundreds of thousands of lives, left a million people homeless, and shattered Haiti's burgeoning economy. As Haiti recovers from this devastation, we must unite with our neighbor to help provide the strength that it needs to recover and rebuild.

Today, Senator Grassley and I introduce the Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010--the HELP Act--to strengthen Haiti's path to economic recovery. Congressmen Levin, Camp, and Rangel are also introducing a companion bill in the House.

The HELP Act would build on the success of the HOPE Act by expanding access to the U.S. market for textile and apparel products from Haiti. As a result, it would create incentives for immediate and long-term private investment in Haiti, which would in turn create sustainable jobs and a stable economy. The HELP Act would also extend all of our trade preference programs for Haiti to 2020, ensuring that Haiti could rely on these tariff benefits as it plans its own economic future.

As we considered the needs of Haiti, we were also watchful of the needs of our domestic textile industry. We worked closely with the domestic industry for months to craft a bill that would not hurt our own workers, even as we help others.

The HELP Act represents a landmark union among the Senate, the House, Democrats, Republicans, and the domestic textile industry to help Haiti recover from its devastation. This union resulted in an unprecedented bill that will help Haiti emerge from the earthquake stronger than ever.

I urge my colleagues to join this union and quickly approve this legislation.