Floor Statements

Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo .senate.gov to the Congressional Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have today's letters printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside temporarily the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 5009 to delay for 1 year the merchant card reporting requirement.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside temporarily the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 5010, my amendment to strike the merchant card reporting requirement.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside temporarily the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 5002.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside temporarily the pending amendment and call up amendment No. 5003, my amendment to eliminate the FHA reverse mortgage cap.

Mr. President, like many of my colleagues, I am frustrated that we have not been allowed to call up germane amendments for the past few days. This is a substantial piece of legislation and Senators should have had the opportunity to have up and down votes. I have filed four amendments and I would like to talk briefly about two of them that deal with the merchant card reporting requirement.

In an effort to find revenue offsets, I am concerned that Congress is rushing to adopt a flawed merchant card reporting proposal that establishes a new tax compliance burden on small business and does not provide enough time to develop and implement this new system. Little is really known about the true costs of this proposal and the Finance Committee hasn't had an opportunity to have the IRS demonstrate in a hearing that the information collected could be used in a meaningful way to drive tax compliance.

The merchant card reporting proposal would require that the institution that makes the payment to the merchant--payment facilitator--for a payment card--both credit cards and debit cards-- report annually to the Internal Revenue Service--IRS--the name, address, and aggregate amounts of payments for the calendar year of each participating merchant. Additionally, the payment facilitator or the electronic payment organization must validate the taxpayer identification number--TIN--of the participating merchant. If the number does not match, then the payment facilitator or the electronic payment organization must withhold 28-percent from the merchant.

This unprecedented level of reporting to the Federal Government will likely impose substantial implementation costs that will be passed on to many compliant small business taxpayers. Small business owners will also have to ensure that their records conform with the additional information reported by the merchant card processor. This is an additional compliance step, which will add to the already high cost of tax compliance for small business owners, who currently spend on average over $74 per hour to meet tax paperwork and compliance burdens that already exist.

The structure of the merchant card system does not make complying with the proposal feasible in a couple of years. Merchants are not currently identified in systems by social security numbers or taxpayer identification numbers. Instead, merchants are generally assigned a merchant identification number. If implemented, this proposal would require institutions to spend several years trying to match merchants to social security numbers of taxpayer identification numbers.

I appreciate the fact that the underlying legislation extends the effective date for reporting to December 31, 2011, and the effective date for backup withholding to December 31, 2012. However, I do not believe this provides enough time to make the changes to existing systems and processes, build and test new reporting systems, perform taxpayer identification number matching, and hire and train the personnel needed to implement and comply with the new reporting requirements.

In addition, a higher dollar reporting threshold is necessary to eliminate reporting on casual sellers rather than persons engaged in business, and it should be granted to all payment settlement entities.

My preference would be that we strike this section until we identify the costs to business, the total costs of implementing the new reporting regime with the IRS, and the ability of the IRS to use the information in a meaningful way to close the tax gap. If that amendment is defeated, then the Senate should provide an additional year to implement this system. But as I indicated, we will not have an opportunity to vote on these amendments or other amendments that other Senators want to bring because we have been stopped from calling up germane amendments as we move forward on this legislation.

As I indicated, I also tried to bring up several other amendments--an amendment to reduce the $300 billion loan authority to $68 billion, which is the number that CBO expects the FHA refinancing program to actually utilize, and the number that was used to

calculate the score of the new program. Yet we will not be allowed to match the projections to the reality of the legislation.

I also asked permission to bring up my amendment, No. 5003, to eliminate the FHA reverse mortgage cap, something which this Senate floor has already voted to do and which was in the FHA modernization legislation that this Senate has already passed. Yet it is now not included in this legislation, and we are not going to be given an opportunity, once again, to include it.

There is important material in this legislation that needs to move forward, but the legislation also contains serious flaws. I am concerned that the process we are following has not allowed this Senate to truly work its will on this legislation as it moves forward.

I yield the remainder of my time.

Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo .senate.gov to the Congressional Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have today's letters printed in the Record.

Madam President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through [email protected] to the Congressional Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have today's letters printed in the Record.

Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo .senate.gov to the Congressional Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record today's letters.

Mr. President, earlier this week, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering over 1,000, are heartbreaking and touching. To respect their efforts, I am submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy_prices@crapo. senate.gov to the Record. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention, and Idahoans deserve to be heard. Their stories not only detail their struggles to meet everyday expenses, but also have suggestions and recommendations as to what Congress can do now to tackle this problem and find solutions that last beyond today. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record today's letters.

Mr. President, unfortunately, a tragic accident is the occasion of my remarks today. On May 30, recently retired Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, John W. Keys, was killed, along with his passenger, when his plane crashed in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. John worked for the Bureau of Reclamation for close to 40 years, serving in most all regions including in Boise as regional director of the Pacific Northwest region. In

2001, President George W. Bush appointed him Commissioner of the Bureau, where he served for 5 years until his retirement in April 2006.

John believed in the adapting mission of the Bureau of Reclamation. He joined the Bureau at the time in its history when the final projects it oversees today were being authorized. During his tenure, the Bureau went from constructing water projects in the West to maintaining and improving facilities and processes. John was well-known for his efforts to facilitate collaborative management and solutions to challenges. He was a man of solutions and integrity, and he cared deeply about people and our natural resources. Idaho benefited from John's leadership as he worked with the State legislature, interest groups, the Tribes and irrigation districts on solving some of the thorny issues that have arisen with Endangered Species Act requirements in the Columbia River system for species such as salmon and bull trout.

In January, 2006, John spoke about the mission of the Bureau:

Our mission has evolved from the construction of dams to

management and maintenance. As water management has evolved,

Reclamation has transformed into a more comprehensive water

management agency. Today, much of our focus is on improving

the safety, security, and efficiency of the facilities we

already have, as well as meeting environmental obligations.

The challenges we face today in maintaining and improving the

system are as formidable as those challenges that we

surmounted during Reclamation's construction heyday. One

priority is security . . . We feel more prepared and,

therefore, more secure against terrorism, than ever.

A lot is changing, but some things remain constant. Since I

was appointed Commissioner in 2001, my main priority has been

carrying out Reclamation's core mission: deliver water,

generate power, do the things it takes to get that done, and

plan for the future. I'm interested not just in the next few

years, but in setting up the framework that will enable

Reclamation to succeed many years into the future.

John left a tremendous legacy at work and in his family. He devoted his time in retirement to his family and his volunteer efforts with Angel Flight and other humanitarian efforts. He was a remarkable man who did remarkable things for the country and region he cared about so deeply. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this very difficult time.

Madam President, a day or so ago, I asked Idahoans to share with me how high energy prices are affecting their lives, and they responded by the hundreds. The stories, now numbering close to 800, are heartbreaking and touching. It is not just filling the tank; these high energy prices touch every aspect of our lives--family time, food prices, work commutes, the list goes on and on. Many Idahoans have taken efforts to cut back on the niceties to accommodate the necessities, but now far too many face the choice of which necessity to ignore--gas or food, job or family. For years, Congress has unsuccessfully grappled with a national energy policy; now we are at a point where decisions must be made, compromises must be negotiated if we are to finally be forward-thinking. This isn't only a question of what we are handing future generations; it's affecting families right here, right now. It is not just Idahoans. It is an issue that touches the live of every single American, no matter their socioeconomic status.

In an effort to seek solutions rather than focus only on the trouble, I have also asked Idahoans to share how they want Congress to resolve it, and the suggestions are voluminous and wide-ranging. Some start simply with conservation efforts, something that I have long supported, while others encourage increased offshore oil drilling and increased domestic production, more sustainable alternative and renewable energy sources, stronger support for nuclear energy options and more efficient transportation options. Nearly all have expressed concerns for not just their future, but for the future of their children and grandchildren. And they are adamant about Congress moving beyond half-truths and partisan politics to find solutions. While I may differ in my opinions on some suggestions, I am thrilled that so many have taken time to share their thoughts with me. Some have shared research, videos and book recommendations. To respect that effort, I plan on submitting every e-mail sent to me through energy [email protected] to the Congressional Record. And to keep attention on this matter, I will be submitting them a few at a time every day until every one has been submitted. This is not an issue that will be easily resolved, but it is one that deserves immediate and serious attention. I plan to continue working to find other ways to bring these stories to the attention of my colleagues in Congress. Today, I am starting this process with the following comments from Idahoans.

I ask unanimous consent to print in the Record comments from Idahoans.

Mr. President, I would like to bring to the Chamber's attention the 11th Annual Congressional Health Screenings and I would like to commend my colleague, Senator Shelby, for his leadership at this event. The Congressional Health Screenings occur each year during National Men's Health Week the week prior to Father's Day. I encourage all of my colleagues and their staffs to participate in these screenings. As U.S. Senators, we must set an example and not only encourage healthy habits but practice them as well. This year's program offers a number of convenient screenings, including prostate specific antigen, PSA, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, and body fat tests, as well as health education materials. The purpose of this event is to increase our awareness of health issues and to help develop comprehensive strategies to improve our health and that of our families.

The state of men's health has become a national crisis. Because of poor health habits, lack of health insurance, failure to seek timely medical attention, and dangerous occupations, men are afflicted with more maladies and die younger than women. Today, men are living approximately 5 fewer years than that of their female counterparts and are dying at higher rates for 9 out of the Nation's top 10 causes of death. This includes death from cancer, diabetes, suicide, accidents, and diseases of the heart, kidney, and liver. When speaking about cancer, it is important to note that one in two men in his lifetime will be diagnosed with cancer and one in six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Men's Health Network, along with Women Against Prostate Cancer, use National Men's Health Week to emphasize the fact that prostate health issues and prostate cancer is not merely a ``man's disease.'' Each year thousands of wives, daughters, sisters, and friends are impacted--often in devastating ways--by the loss and/or suffering of a man from prostate health issues. Early and regular screenings significantly increase the chance of early detection and successful treatment.

I am pleased to report that we are steadily making progress. Last year during September's Prostate Awareness Month, Men's Health Network and the Washington Redskins held a prostate screening at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. Over 300 people gathered to help their fathers, grandfathers, sons, uncles, and friends move one step closer toward a happier, healthier future. Five of the gentlemen screened had potentially dangerous PSA readings.

There is no better time than now to become more proactive with regard to men's health. Women are 100-percent more likely than men to regularly visit their doctors for annual examinations and to seek out preventative services. Half of the Nation's elderly widows living in poverty did not face economic hardships before the deaths of their husbands. Men between the ages of 45 and 54 are three times more likely to die of heart attacks, 1.5 times more likely to die from heart disease, and 1.5 times more likely to die from cancer than women.

Half of the estimated 54,000 men diagnosed this year with colon cancer will die from it. Over 185,000 men are expected to develop prostate cancer in 2008--almost 15 percent of these cases are expected to be terminal. Preventive measures, such as prostate specific antigen exams, blood pressure and cholesterol screens, and routine self-testing exams for these and other types of cancers that target men can lead to invaluable early detection that will increase the survival rates for such cancers by almost 100 percent.

In addition, I must reiterate the need for an Office of Men's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to tackle many of these aforementioned issues. Last year, I introduced S. 640, the Men's Health Act, which would establish such an office. The Office on Women's Health in the department does a fantastic job of saving the lives of thousands of women and improving the lives of many more. Similarly, an Office of Men's Health would provide a support network that would reach out to all men on issues related to men's health.

In closing, I thank the Men's Health Network for hosting the 11th Annual Congressional Health Screenings. I hope that my colleagues and their staffs will take this unique opportunity to not only better their own health, but to encourage the people around them to do the same.

Madam President, I am pleased to recognize an extraordinary honor bestowed upon Horace P. Axtell, elder of the Nimiipu, more commonly known as the Nez Perce Tribe. Horace is a 2008 recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, National Heritage Fellowship, an annual fellowship that honors American folk artists for contributions to American culture. The highest federal honor in the folk and traditional arts, only 10 NEA National Heritage Fellowships are awarded every year.

Horace is a Nez Perce tribal historian, storyteller, singer and drum maker. In fact, he is a spiritual leader of the Seven-Drum religion, a traditional religion of the tribes of the plateau region that requires practitioners to memorize songs and accompany them on handmade drums. He still builds these drums in the traditional way, curing hides and stretching them over wooden frames. Spending his youth listening to stories of the tribal elders, some of whom survived the 1877 war against the Nez Perce by the United States, Horace is now a respected elder himself and a pipe carrier for his tribe, a position of great honor. He is the author of a memoir, the first one printed in over half a century by a Nez Perce elder. He has received numerous awards including the President's Medallion from the University of Idaho, an honorary doctorate from Lewis-Clark State College and the Washington State Historical Society Peace and Friendship Award.

It is an honor for me to publicly recognize the remarkable achievements of Horace P. Axtell.

Mr. President, Idaho lost one of her native sons on May 25, a man who put Idaho on the map and made ``Famous Potatoes'' synonymous with Idaho across the world. John Richard ``J.R.'' Simplot passed away at the age of 99, leaving a legendary legacy of hard work and shrewd business dealing--a pioneer in every respect. Who would have thought that a young man, with no more than an eighth grade education who used to hunt wild horses to feed hogs--his first business venture as a teenager--would put Micron on the global map some 50 years later? Among other things, J.R. can be credited with catapulting the ubiquitous McDonald's French fry to worldwide fame.

By the reckoning of some, J.R. Simplot is responsible for the employment of 14,000 Idahoans today, as well as the establishment of many Boise retail and hospitality centers such as the Boise Centre on the Grove, the Boise Factory Outlet and the Qwest Arena.

Those of us who knew him knew a man with a colorful personality and a resolute sense of self and what he believed in. He was a dogged businessman, as comfortable in his role in convincing President Reagan to support U.S. business interests as he was wandering into a campground near his cabin to visit with folks around the fire. His personality was as multifaceted as the organizations and institutions to which he gave millions of dollars. J.R. donated to multiple causes including millions of dollars to Boise State University and other Idaho institutions of higher learning, the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys and Girls Clubs, the arts, Idaho Public Television, the Boise Zoological Society, Boise area medical centers, the YMCA and public libraries. Being rated by Forbes as one of the top 100 wealthiest Americans, and the oldest living billionaire in the United States, didn't change J.R.'s outlook on life, nor his habit of driving to McDonald's to eat a few times a week. In his trademark pragmatic way, he outlined for Esquire Magazine, at age 92, what it takes to be successful in business. He compared business to playing a game of marbles: ``Each man has his own taw, and if he gets good with that taw, he can knock the hell out of some marbles. And he can win, but he has to have strong fingers and the right aim. It's like anything else: You got to work at it.''

J.R. was a no-nonsense, down-to-earth, highly perceptive businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Idaho can be proud of his incredible legacy.

Mr. President, I am honored to recognize the close to 4 years of dedicated service and leadership provided by Dr. Timothy White, outgoing president of the University of Idaho. Son of immigrants from Argentina to Canada and then to the United States, Dr. White is a first-generation college graduate. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and is known internationally for his work in kinesiology, gerontology and human biodynamics, working in those fields at the University of Michigan and at Berkeley. Before coming to Idaho in August 2004, Dr. White served as provost and executive vice president at Oregon State University and as interim president.

Dr. White put his vision of excellence in research, math and science into practice at the University of Idaho. Indeed, he shares my strong belief in the critical importance of math and science to education, from primary school to graduate degree programs. In a recent guest editorial, Dr. White stated: ``Idaho will prosper in the global economy if our work force is better prepared in the areas of math, science, technology and engineering Critical-thinking and reasoning abilities-- cornerstones of an educated citizenry and work force--are also dramatically aided by strong math and science skills.'' And Dr. White put ideas into action, overseeing critical programs that bridge the gap between middle and high school teachers and students and the University. While serving as president, Dr. White oversaw both the Gateway to Mathematics Program, which provides middle school teachers the chance to improve math teaching skills through interactive distance technology, and the Gateway to Calculus Program, which offers rural high school students an opportunity to learn calculus online when their particular school cannot offer such courses. He also oversaw the innovative and nationally acclaimed Polya Mathematics Learning Center at the University which helps undergraduate students master entry-level mathematics in an interactive and creative way, using both advanced technology and teaching staff to help students of varied learning styles overcome aversions to math.

Dr. White's influence reached beyond math and science programs and initiatives. He created the Plan for Renewal of People, Programs and Place, based on the report of a task force he established to reinforce and enhance the university's academic and institutional excellence in today's world. The plan centered the University's resource allocation and mission, vision, and values around five key academic areas: science and technology, liberal arts and sciences, entrepreneurial innovation, the environment, and sustainable design and lifestyle. He saw the university engage in programs such as Operation Education Scholarship, Water of the West, Building Sustainable Communities, Bioregional Planning and Community Design and Biological Applications of Nanotechnology. During his term as president, the University of Idaho has been involved in many public-private partnerships with science and technology across the State, particularly in agriculture research. In 2006, the university opened an aquaculture biotechnology laboratory at its Hagerman fish culture experiment station, and University scientists now conduct cutting edge small grains germplasm research together with USDA Agriculture Research Service staff at a new addition to the ARS Aberdeen research facility, also opened in 2006. Under the direction of Dr. White, the University of Idaho continued its efforts to open a critical agriculture research endeavor the Idaho Center for Livestock and Environmental Studies that will serve as an environmental research center for dairy and livestock and operate as a self-sustaining animal feeding operation. And agriculture is not the only science and technology partnership the university has pursued under Dr. White's leadership: it is a partner with the Idaho National Lab in a multiuniversity public-private research and development endeavor in Idaho Falls called the Center for Advanced Energy Studies.

Dr. White has worked diligently over the past 4 years to adapt the University of Idaho to our changing world,

meeting students' educational needs and keeping the university on the cutting edge of innovative education, research, and academic excellence. I wish Tim and his wife Karen all the best as they move to southern California and he assumes the chancellorship of University of California, Riverside, this fall.

Mr. President, I also rise today in support of the farm bill conference report. Before my colleague, Senator Lincoln, leaves the floor, I wish to take a few minutes to thank her for the tremendous work she has been willing to do with me. She and I were both elected to the House of Representatives in the same year, and we were elected to the Senate in the same year. We have served on a lot of the same committees, not the least of which has been the Agriculture Committee and the Finance Committee, both of which have important parts of this legislation.

We have had a tremendously good relationship over the years. We come from different sides of the aisle, but we work closely together in a bipartisan way on issue after issue. One of those very important issues, which Senator Lincoln already mentioned, is the Endangered Species Reform Act. I will talk about that later in my remarks.

Before she left the floor, I wished to thank her for being the lead cosponsor on that legislation that we have worked on literally for 6 or 7 years, to make sure we build a consensus-based solution to issues in this country that will make a difference. Again, I thank the Senator for that. I truly appreciate the working relationship we have, and I could not agree more with the comments she has made overall about the farm bill and the tremendous blessing we have in this Nation to have literally the lowest per capita cost in the world in our budgets for the American families with regard to the dollars they must put forward for food and fiber. At a time when people around the world are struggling to deal with recent natural disasters and to ensure that their families have the food they need, we need swift enactment of this farm bill that will provide long-term certainty for farm families as they continue to feed the world's hungry.

This is the third farm bill that I have worked on since I have been elected to Congress. I have to say that although each bill, as we moved through the issues of the day, presented their unique problems, this has been the most difficult to bring together in a conference where we could literally come together--House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats--and propose good, solid policy for our Nation's food and fiber. I think we have to give credit to those who have been leaders in the Senate in making that happen: our chairman, Senator Harkin; our ranking member, Senator Chambliss; and on the Finance Committee, which, as I said, also has a significant piece of this legislation, our chairman, Max Baucus; and the ranking member, Charles Grassley. There are many others.

Now that I started mentioning Senators, I could literally go through the members of the Agriculture Committee, both sides of the aisle, the members of the Finance Committee, both sides of the aisle, and list Member after Member who has worked tirelessly to make sure this policy comes together in a farm bill we can be proud of and which will strengthen America globally.

It is not limited to just the members of the Agriculture or Finance Committees. This Senate is committed to making sure we develop the kinds of policies that will keep our Nation strong and globally competitive, and many of those policies are included in this legislation.

In preparation for this farm bill, I held 23 farm bill listening sessions in my State, all across Idaho, to get input from Idahoans about what they need and what they saw important in a new farm bill. I appreciated the input I got from my constituents and, frankly, utilized that input in working with my fellow members on the Agriculture Committee and Finance Committee as we crafted this legislation.

There are a number of provisions I wish to highlight tonight.

The first, which I have already mentioned, is a part of the bill that comes in the conservation piece the Finance Committee worked so hard to bring forward. As I think most people who followed the debate in the battles over the farm bill over the last few months have realized, one of the battlegrounds--in fact, the major battleground--was the effort by the Finance Committee in the Senate to bring forward a significant new addition to the conservation efforts in our country as we deal with conservation policy.

One of the more important pieces of that battleground, if you will, was the Endangered Species Reform Act. The battle was not really over the policies; it was over the dollars because we wanted to make sure we paid for the increased costs of what we were doing. But it was nevertheless a very difficult time as we tried to find a path forward.

Most people who are involved in land management issues, whether they be farmers, consumers, or people who are involved in development or simply homeowners, realize that we have had a significant area of conflict in this country for decades over the implementation of the Endangered Species Act.

There is very little disagreement that we want to protect and preserve the beautiful environmental heritage we have and the species we have that are so rich and abundant in our country. At the same time, we wanted to try to find a way to avoid conflict with private property owners and with the economic activities of people in our country who are trying to develop jobs and opportunities in the economy to provide for themselves and their families. It is that conflict which we have worked on in the context of the Endangered Species Act now for about, as I say, 6 or 7 years, to try to build a solution that could be broadly supported but which would help both species and people, the economy, and help private property owners and those who are interested in protecting and preserving our rich environmental heritage.

We have succeeded in the Endangered Species Reform Act. This act is broadly supported by the environmental community because over 80 percent of the threatened or endangered species in our Nation is located on private property. The act does not give us the ability to reach into the private property as effectively as we need to help implement recovery plans for species that are threatened or endangered. This legislation does so.

At the same time, as I indicated earlier, our private property owners have been concerned about the reach of the Endangered Species Act and what it would do to them if an endangered species were found on their property. This act makes it so they can actually find economic compensation if that happens.

The core of the act is that it focuses on helping landowners on a voluntary basis have a tax deduction for actions they undertake on their property to help implement recovery plans, to help facilitate and strengthen species.

This is a tremendous incentive, with the backing of the Federal Government, for these tax deductions to encourage private property owners to undertake activities that will tremendously benefit species on their property. The private property owners are compensated for the impacts on their property, the species are benefited, and everyone in the country is a winner in terms of the improvement of the opportunities to strengthen our endangered species protection.

This has the broad support of sportsmen organizations across this country, of environmental organizations across the country, and of private property groups across the country.

I am glad we were able to work our way through literally the battlegrounds we faced in order to make sure we got this legislation included in the final piece of the farm bill.

There is more to do. We had to work it through and adjust pieces of it that we would rather have kept in, but we got the core of the bill in place. And now we look forward to strengthening and improving this important protection of the Endangered Species Act.

While she is on the floor, I thank Senator Stabenow for her tremendous efforts in the conference to make sure we were successful in getting this critical legislation for the endangered species and private property owners included in the final conference report.

Specialty crop producers were also very significantly benefited by this legislation. Speciality crop producers in Idaho and nationwide will receive more than a $2 billion investment in programs important to them, including $456 million for speciality crop block grants that assist with marketing, research promotion, and other efforts to increase the competitiveness of speciality crops.

Again, Senator Stabenow should be given great credit for fighting to work with me and many others to make sure this happened.

The legislation also contains significant assistance for producers impacted by disaster, including new assistance for aquaculture producers who are impacted by drought or assistance for ranchers utilizing the Federal grazing permits who are impacted by a loss of grazing due to fire.

In addition, more than $4 billion in new spending is going to be provided for conservation programs which enable landowners to meet the environmental needs and goals and, frankly, in many cases mandates that we put on them to make sure our environment is protected and preserve.

I have often said, as we talked about different farm bills, and this one is no different--in fact, this one is probably a better example than any we have done so far--that one of the most, I will say the most important pieces of legislation this Congress ever works on with regard to truly making a difference in protecting, preserving, and strengthening our incredible environmental heritage in this country is the farm bill because of the powerful provisions we have in the conservation title.

This farm bill moves forward with significant strides to strengthen and enhance the environmental and conservation goals of our country through farm policy and private property policies.

This investment is an important step we must not forget. Farm bill conservation programs are an example of the Federal Government assisting with the environment in the right way with a carrot rather than a stick. Our conservation programs have contributed significantly to improving water and air quality and preserving and enhancing habitat for species.

An estimated 95 percent of the world's consumers live beyond our borders. The bill also will assist in reaching those consumers by expanding market opportunities through the inclusion of $200 million annually for the Market Access Program.

In addition, the bill seeks to better ensure adherence to the softwood lumber trade commitments through inclusion of a softwood lumber importer declaration program. I appreciate the tremendous work that was done to include this important provision.

The legislation also continues and expands support for the Idaho commodity producers, including our barley, dairy, pulse crop, sugar, wheat, and wool producers. Idaho's agricultural industry is more than a $5 billion industry and is a critical part of Idaho's economy.

The commodity title in this bill will continue to allow those farmers to be protected and strengthened as they face incredible global pressures and, frankly, what I consider to be anticompetitive actions by other nations as we deal in a global agriculture market.

The legislation benefits rural America in a number of important ways. Across the United States, rural communities struggle to access funds necessary to comply with Federal, State, and local environmental regulations. Through changes to SEARCH grants, small rural communities with populations of 2,500 or less will have greater and more streamlined access to funding to assist with water and wastewater infrastructure projects. Let me explain what this means.

Across this country, we have requirements that our wastewater and our drinking water be protected. In fact, often in America we talk about the fact that we have the safest, cleanest water in the world. When you come to America to visit, you don't have to worry about drinking the water. When you live here, you don't have to worry about drinking the water. The reason is because of our very strong environmental standards.

We are proud of that, and we need to protect our water quality. But the protection comes at a price, and often the mandates we put on communities to assure that water quality are not able to be met by the smaller communities because they simply don't have the economies of scale to be able to implement the wastewater and other treatment facilities that are necessary to enable them to comply with the environmental mandates and keep the water quality so clear and clean.

We need to provide ways to assist these strapped rural communities as they try to do what we all want to do, and that is make sure America has clean, safe water. That is what these projects will do in the SEARCH legislation.

The bill also provides $120 million in mandatory spending to be directed at pending applications for water and wastewater disposal grants and loans--Again, to help with the same problem.

As well in the rural areas, broadband access is a key to growth and economic development. This farm bill simplifies the application process for broadband assistance and ensures that broadband assistance is targeted at communities with the least amount of access.

Improving the economic position of rural areas by stimulating the growth of rural businesses is accomplished through reauthorization of important programs such as the rural business opportunity grants and the rural cooperative development grants, which will ensure the continuation and technical assistance and training to our Nation's rural businesses and cooperatives.

In addition, value-added producer grants are going to continue to provide producers with the means to improve on the value of their products through planning activities and marketing and the reauthorization of the national rural development partnerships which will enable individual State partnerships, such as the Idaho Rural Partnership, to continue working to strengthen and improve life in rural America.

The farm bill also incorporates language from the Biodiesel Education and Expansion Act of 2007. That is S. 1791 which I introduced with Senator Klobuchar to reauthorize the Biodiesel Education Program. This program has been very important to the biodiesel effort in Idaho. The University of Idaho has received about 20 percent of those funds through a competitive grants process to help educate Government and private owners of vehicle fleets about the benefits and technical aspects of biodiesel fuel.

In addition, the bill includes a new temporary cellulosic biofuels production tax credit for up to $1.01 per gallon available through December 31, 2012.

The conference report also provides $300 million for the Bioenergy Program which provides incentives for expanding production of advanced biofuels made from agricultural and forestry crops and associated waste materials, including animal manure and livestock food processing waste.

The importance of this is that we in the United States have a serious problem in our energy policy. We can debate the many aspects of it in other contexts. The bottom line is we are far too dependent on petroleum in this country as a source of energy. And in the context of petroleum, we are far too dependent on foreign sources of petroleum.

I often analogize our core need in terms of energy policy of being one of trying to diversify our energy portfolio. We need to move into alternative and renewable fuels, and we need to provide the support to enable us to do the research and development to expand energy opportunities.

One of the things this bill does in areas I already mentioned, such as cellulosic biofuels and other efforts in that context, is to help us do the research and to do then the thinking that goes into making sure we move into these other types of alternative and renewable fuels.

Another important part of this legislation in that context is that we establish a sugar-to-ethanol program which will better enable the sugar industry to contribute to our energy independence.

There are many things we could be doing and we ought to be doing--all of them to find the ones that will best work and will best help us to diversify our energy economy.

The legislation also provides expanded fresh fruit and vegetable programs, which provides domestically grown fresh fruit and vegetables to students as healthy snacks and educates our students in every State on the importance of eating healthy foods.

This program has already been well received as a pilot program in a number of States, including Idaho. I am proud to continue this program not only in Idaho but to help expand it to all States across the country.

The bill strengthens assistance for America's food banks by providing more than $1 billion for the next 10

years for commodity purchasing, nearly doubling the current funding level. Access to food banks is particularly important given the economic hard times that we are facing with regard to high gas prices.

Also, I would like to talk a little bit more about the global competition we face. As I indicated earlier, one of the pressures that our producers face is anticompetitive conduct from other nations. These are subsidies, tariffs, or nontariff barriers which are erected against our producers.

Yes, we support our agricultural producers and, yes, we have tariffs. I am not sure what the numbers are today, but within the last couple of years the imbalance in those tariffs shows what I am talking about. The average I am recalling that we have discussed over the last few years is that the average tariff against our producers as we try to export into other countries is around 60 percent, whereas the average that we impose on those bringing their products into our country is more in the neighborhood of 10 or 12 percent.

Those kinds of disparities create tremendous trade barriers to our producers. The same is true with the level of subsidies provided to producers in other countries that compete with our producers. One of the critical parts of this bill is to provide that safety net or that protection to our producers in the international contest as we seek to make sure the trade arena globally is balanced fairly.

I know some have criticized this bill by saying it spends too much limited Federal funding on agriculture. Let me make an important note there. This bill has a number of titles. Agriculture commodity programs are one of those titles. About 70 percent of the spending in this bill goes to our nutrition programs, such as the Food Stamp Program.

Most people in America don't realize that because we often call this the farm bill. Yet 70 percent of it goes into our nutrition programs. What percent goes to the commodity programs? A little less than 14 percent. And those important conservation programs I talked about? They get around 7 percent of the funding in the bill. The rest, the 8 or 9 percent that is left over, goes into the rural development part, the titles--the energy titles and other portions of the bill that are critically important to our national concerns, such as rural development and energy.

When you look at this bill, it is not an ag bill or a farm bill. It is a food and fiber bill. It is much more than that. It is a bill that is very important, as I have said, to everything from energy policy to rural development to our conservation efforts in this country to our agriculture commodity programs and to our nutrition programs for those who face hunger in this Nation. It is important to recognize that.

Also, I think it is important for us to note that some criticize this bill for not being reform minded enough and not being strict enough on payment limitations for the extremely wealthy who, it is claimed, get all of the resources of the bill in that 14-percent commodity title. However, the conference report has taken major steps forward in terms of reform. I think those steps need to be recognized and noted.

The conference report would eliminate the triple entity rule, which has already been talked about extensively on the Senate floor tonight, and changes the current adjusted gross income limit from $2.5 million to $500,000 for nonfarm and $750,000 for farm income. These are considerable reforms that should be acknowledged and recognized.

This is a broad and diverse country, and no bill is a perfect bill from the perspective of any individual Senator, I am sure. We have 50 States and 435 Congressional Districts and we have tremendous debates about how we should implement policy. But this bill worked its way through that process to develop policy and reforms that are meaningful and significant and should not be undermined.

In conclusion, this legislation with its 15 titles covers a wide range of important policy matters that go far beyond our traditional farm support, as I have said. These titles include things, as I have indicated, such as conservation, trade and food aid, nutrition, farm credit, research, energy opportunities, crop insurance, and disaster assistance and many more. The breadth and depth of this legislation reaches into so many people's lives--everyone in America, not just those in farm country--everyone in America should be paying attention to this legislation and should be glad that we have been able to find that agreement that has enabled us to get a conference report between the House and Senate.

Again, I thank all my colleagues for their tremendous work in this very difficult and lengthy process we have been going through, to make sure we develop the right policies for our food and fiber in this Nation, and we continue to keep America strong and on the competitive edge in the production of food and fiber for the world.

Mr. President, on May 4, Idaho lost a pioneer and one of her strongest champions. The legacy of Louise Shadduck will live in the hearts of many Idahoans, particularly for Idaho women now involved in politics or journalism. She blazed trails and inspired action and involvement in the governance of and commentary on our society.

Louise lived an incredible and full life, working as a journalist in the 1930s and 1940s and then shifting to politics where she served on the staffs of historical figures such as Governors Len Jordan and Charles Robins, Senator Henry Dworshak and U.S. Representative Orval Hansen. She was a staunch supporter of Idaho Republicans over the years, but did so with discernment, always making sure to remind those in office in her own way that it was Idahoans who they served, not themselves.

Louise enjoyed people, and they enjoyed her in return. In high school in

Coeur d'Alene in the early 1930s, Louise wrote an article for a journalism contest to win a trip to Alaska. According to an old friend, the entire school got together and voted for her article; she won the trip. Louise was a hard worker. Also in high school, Louise and her six brothers took turns driving the Shadduck family dairy milk truck on its route in the mornings before school started. Some afternoons, Louise would invite her friends to pile on to the empty milk crates on the bed of the truck to go to Spokane to catch a movie. She was a pioneer in women's rights, serving as Idaho State Secretary of Commerce and Development in 1958 the first woman in the country in that position. Louise also ran unsuccessfully against Gracie Pfost for Congress in 1956. It was an historic campaign, not only because it was the first time two Idaho women ran against each other in a general election for a national legislative office, but Pfost, the Democrat incumbent, was the first woman to represent Idaho in Congress.

Louise served as executive director of the Idaho Forest Industry Council and received an honorary law degree from the University of Idaho in 1969. She was president of Idaho Press Women in 1966 and was president of the National Federation of Press Women from 1971 to 1973. Louise was an avid consumer of history, news and the world, traveling often and writing. She authored four books about Idaho and was working on a fifth when she became ill. Her mind was always sharp, as was her wit. People could count on her to be honest, forthright and inclusive, even of strangers. Many felt as if they had a second mom in Louise. She was a lover of knowledge and history, arranging family trips to show younger generations where their Shadduck pioneer roots lay. She remembered your name after the first introduction. People were vitally important to Louise, and her thirst for knowledge made her the go-to person for many people when they were researching information about Idaho. She was artistically gifted, and was known for her impromptu illustrations, sometimes hastily sketched in the front of a copy of one of her books and given to a friend.

Much of Idaho is rural. Louise internalized the importance of small- town life and the intrinsic value of people. In a small-town, you get to know just about everyone. You learn to appreciate the fact that people are much more than just faces in a crowd. In today's hurried, populated world, Louise reminded many of us what was truly important-- morals, faith, mutual respect, honesty, individuality, and trustworthiness. Louise once told a reporter that people who leave this world without writing their story down means that we have lost a story. While Louise wrote many stories, we have lost an epic with her passing.

I offer my condolences to Louise's family and friends at this sad time.

Mr. President, today I recognize a longtime and dear friend of mine, Louis Carney, on the occasion of his recent Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America. Louis has spent the better part of the last 50 years giving of himself not only to friends, neighbors and family members, but to the Boy Scouts as well. He served as a cubmaster in 1964; den leader in 1965; Webelos leader in 1969; Boy Scout chairman in 1980; vanguard staff in 1987; District Cub Scout Committee in 1981; and District Eagle chairman from 2004 to today. Until very recently, Louis attended Scout Camp annually and is the recipient of countless Scout leadership awards including two Extra Mile awards, the Arrowhead honor, the District Award of Merit, the Eagle Feather award, the Wood Badge Training award, numerous leadership training awards, and an On My Honor award.

In addition to Louis's service to the Scouts, he is a Korean war veteran, worked in the U.S. Postal Service for 25, years and spent time as a potato farmer. During his adult life, he has volunteered at the Family Center, the food kitchen and the Museum of Idaho and served in many leadership positions in the LDS church all in my home town of Idaho Falls, ID. He also has spent thousands of hours volunteering in local schools. He has a reputation for reliability, and his selfless service has been demonstrated countless times and in countless ways when it comes to the youth and community in eastern Idaho. Many grown men who were Boy Scouts in their youth remember Louis's devotion to them and to Scouting, and his example of leadership through service has doubtless lived on in these individuals. When it comes to Scouting, Louis has said ``I love Scouting; it's the one thing that can keep a family together.''

His service went well beyond the Boy Scouts or his community volunteer activities--Louis and I served in our church together when we were both younger. His service was close to home as well. Many snowy mornings, we would wake up to find that Louis had plowed not only our driveway but those of our neighbors. He is the salt of the earth and made his community his neighborhood and made his community members, including me, his neighbors in the truest sense. My wife Susan and I offer Louis our heartfelt congratulations on his Silver Beaver Award and our gratitude for his kindness, generosity, and friendship over the years.