Floor Statements

Mr. President, today I honor Linda Cannon, deputy director of intergovernmental relations for the city of Seattle, who is retiring after serving over 35 years with the city.

Ms. Cannon's legacy can be seen throughout the city. She has served for many years as the city's primary contact with the U.S. military as it relates to the base realignment and closure process. The most significant of these projects was her work on the ongoing redevelopment of Sand Point, a former Naval Air Station and later Support Activity Center for the Navy, closed in 1991. Linda served as the key staff person coordinating with the Navy, community members, Native American tribes, and a host of interest groups over the redevelopment of this significant resource. Linda worked to balance all these interests while ensuring that the values of the community were also upheld. The crown jewel of this redevelopment is Warren G. Magnuson Park which honors Washington State's late great Senator Magnuson. Her leadership throughout this process has been critical to its success.

Ms. Cannon also served as a mentor and trusted colleague to hundreds of city staff through the years. She is known for her grace under pressure, her clearheaded approach to problems, and keeping everything in perspective. Her attitude and work ethic always served as a model for those around her.

Ms. Cannon represents the best of public service in this country. Her professionalism, integrity, institutional knowledge, and understanding of the role of public employees in serving the people have been a huge asset to the city and will be sorely missed. There are hundreds of thousands of public servants around the country like Ms. Cannon who are quietly serving their communities every day. We all should be grateful for their dedication and service. I would like to wish Ms. Cannon the best in her retirement and a heartfelt thank you.

Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to speak on the passage of S. Con. Res. 4, as amended, which would allow for the establishment of a Jewish Chaplains Memorial on Chaplains Hill in Arlington National Cemetery.

Since their inclusion in the Chaplain Corps in 1862, Jewish Chaplains have played a vital role in supporting members of the Armed Forces. In Arlington National Cemetery, Chaplains Hill serves as a memorial for military chaplains who have died in service to their country.

Chaplains play a critical role in the lives of our Nation's soldiers, providing spiritual guidance and emotional support in their times of need. In addition to their spiritual role, chaplains still remain a part of the military and give their lives in the line of duty.

Mr. President, in particular, one story poignantly tells of the service and sacrifice that chaplains make on behalf of their fellow servicemembers. On January 23, 1943, the USAT Dorchester was attacked by an enemy submarine while off the coast of Newfoundland. Four Army chaplains remained on the sinking vessel ensuring that surviving crew members would be able to reach the lifeboats, even surrendering their own lifejackets to crewmembers in need. As the ship began to sink, the chaplains banded together to pray for the safety of the crew. In honor of that selfless act, Congress created the Chaplain's Medal of Honor, also known as the Four Chaplains Medal. One of the chaplains was Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, a lieutenant in the Army, who is one of the 13 Jewish Chaplains who would be honored by the memorial that this Resolution would establish.

I would like to thank the many groups and individuals involved in this project. Specifically, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Rabbi Harold Robinson, RADM CHC USN Retired, Kenneth Kraetzer, Mr. Sol Moglen and Ms. Shelley Rood. Without the work of these dedicated individuals, the sacrifice Jewish Chaplains have made on behalf of this Nation would remain unmemorialized in Arlington National Cemetery.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, once again I come to the floor to urge my colleagues to support the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act. To be honest, I am disappointed this bill is facing so much opposition. All across the country, people are talking about ways to rein in the debt and deficit. In Washington, DC, we are having a vigorous debate about the best ways to do that.

I happen to think we should cut spending responsibly while continuing to make investments we need to grow the economy and create jobs for our middle-class workers. There are difficult issues we have to work through, but the bill before us should be an easy one. It says that the biggest oil companies in the country should not be getting subsidies from American taxpayers. It says that the $2 billion a year we send to these hugely profitable companies should be used instead to pay down the deficit.

I do not understand why this seems to be so controversial. The big oil companies are already making billions of dollars in profits from families across the country who are paying sky-high prices at the pump. In fact, the five biggest oil companies have made nearly $1 trillion in profits in the last decade and $36 billion in the first 3 months of this year alone.

It is not enough they are making money hand over fist from families who are now paying sky-high prices. They then come before Congress and make the outlandish claim that they need to be subsidized by taxpayers as well. It does not make any sense, and it has to end.

Budgets are more than numbers on a page. They are about our priorities and our values as a nation. I think before we cut spending in areas that will impact our middle-class families and the

most vulnerable among us, we should focus right now on cutting out wasteful subsidies to huge companies that do not need it. That is what this bill does.

I also want to talk about the high prices families are paying for gas in my home State and across the country. I was recently at home with Senator Cantwell, and we had the opportunity to meet with some local small business owners who talked about the impact these skyrocketing prices of oil and gas were having on their businesses. They are hurting. These small business owners are already struggling to keep their doors open in these tough economic times. Every time prices go up at the pump, they are pushed one step closer to the edge.

That is why I believe as a country we need to move away from our dependence on foreign oil and toward a more secure clean energy future. It is why I called for a crackdown on the speculation that is part of what pushes up gas prices and why I was so disappointed that the House Republican budget slashed funding for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That is the very agency that is charged with protecting consumers from the excessive speculation in the markets.

I think that gets to a big difference between our two parties today. Democrats are here fighting to rein in the deficit by ending the wasteful subsidies that the biggest oil companies are getting from the American taxpayer; Republicans are fighting to cripple the agency that is charged with protecting middle-class families from being ripped off and preyed upon. These are two additional approaches to tackling the deficit. I am going to keep fighting to make sure middle-class families are protected.

I urge our colleagues to support this legislation that will put taxpayers and the middle class ahead of Big Oil. It will end the wasteful giveaways to oil companies and use that money to pay down the deficit in a responsible way. So I, too, wish to thank Senators Menendez, McCaskill, Tester, and Brown for their great work on this issue, and I hope we can finally put this to rest and save taxpayers $21 billion over the next 10 years.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, I come to the floor today to support the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act and to talk about the devastating effect that high prices at the pump are having on families in my home State of Washington.

Middle-class families and small business owners are still struggling. Our economy is just starting to turn around, but so many families are still fighting to stay in their homes, so many small business owners are still struggling to keep their doors open, and so many workers are still desperately trying to get back on the job. All of this is happening while we are here debating in Congress about the best ways to cut spending responsibly and rein in the deficit.

This is a serious issue. We need to get it done. But I feel very strongly that before we make budget cuts that slash support for our middle-class families, we should look at ways to responsibly reduce the deficit that do not hurt the families who are struggling the most. To me, one of the most commonsense actions we can take is to end the wasteful subsidies that we, the taxpayers, are forced to hand over to the big oil companies every year. It is a no-brainer.

Anyone who is serious about reducing the deficit should support this effort. It is as simple as that. The big oil companies are already making billions of dollars in profits from families in America who are paying now sky-high prices at the pump. In fact, the five biggest oil companies have made nearly $1 trillion in profits--$1 trillion in profits--in the last decade and $36 billion in the first 3 months of this year alone.

But the big oil companies are not just making money hand over fist from families paying sky-high prices at the pump. They also have the gall to come back to those same taxpayers and demand billions more in subsidies that add directly to their profits. It does not make any sense, and it has to end.

I think my colleagues in the Senate who oppose this legislation need to explain to the American people why they think big oil companies need even bigger profits and why they think American taxpayers should continue to pad their coffers with unwarranted subsidies at the very time we are fighting to rein in the deficit.

But in addition to ending those wasteful subsidies to the big oil companies, we also have to act to end the speculation that is a big part of what is pushing prices at the pump higher and higher. At a time when our household budgets are already stretched so thin, speculators continue to drive up those prices and volatility in the oil markets. That is one of the reasons I was so angry and disappointed that the House Republican budget proposal slashed the funding for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That is the very agency that is charged with protecting consumers from excessive speculation in the markets. How can they do their job and protect consumers if they are not there?

I think that says a lot about our very different priorities in Congress. The House majority has pushed to slash spending by crippling agencies that middle-class families depend on for basic protections, while Democrats are here trying to reduce the deficit responsibly by ending subsidies to the big oil companies that do not need them.

I urge our colleagues to put taxpayers in the middle class ahead of Big Oil, to end those wasteful giveaways to oil companies, and to use that money to pay down the deficit in a responsible way.

I thank Senators Menendez, McCaskill, Tester, and Brown for their great work on this issue.

Once again, I support the Close Big Oil Tax Loopholes Act. I am going to keep fighting to end the oil and gas speculation that is hurting so many families in my home State of Washington and across the country.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 9 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 9 a.m., in room SD-215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Oil and Gas Tax Incentives and Rising Energy Prices.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 9:15 a.m., to hold a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Situation in Libya.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to

conduct a hearing entitled ``The Endangered Middle Class: Is the American Dream Slipping Out of Reach for American Families?'' on May 12, 2011, at 9:15 a.m., in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Ten Years After 9/11: Is Intelligence Reform Working?''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on May 12, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety of the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in Dirksen 406 to conduct a hearing entitled ``Federal Efforts to Protect Public Health by Reducing Diesel Emissions.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Need for National Mortgage Servicing Standards.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Seapower of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on May 12, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Carol Bruce and Brian Solarz, with the Senate Ethics Committee, be granted the privilege of the floor during today's session.

Mr. President, today, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am proud to introduce the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.

My colleagues, including Senators Murkowski, Leahy, Baucus, Rockefeller, Akaka, Boxer, Sanders, Brown of Ohio, Casey, Tester, Begich, Coons, and Brown of Massachusetts join me in introducing this important legislation. I appreciate their continued support of our Nation's veterans. I also want to thank the veterans service organizations and their representatives, who have supported this legislation, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Today, we are taking a huge step forward in rethinking the way we treat our men and women in uniform after they leave the military. For too long in this country we have invested billions of dollars in training our young men and women with new skills to protect our nation, only to turn our backs once they have left the military. For too long, at the end of their career we patted these troops on the back for their service and then pushed them out into the job market alone. Where has that left us today?

Today, we have an unemployment rate as high as 27 percent among young veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. That is over one in five of our Nation's heroes who cannot find a job to support their family; who do not have an income that provides stability; and do not have work that provides them with the self-esteem and pride that is so critical to their transition home.

All too often we read about the results of veterans who come home-- often with the invisible wounds of war--who cannot find the dignity and security that work provides. We read about it in skyrocketing suicide statistics; problems at home; substance abuse problems, and even in rising rates of homelessness among our young veterans.

I frequently hear from veterans that we have failed to provide adequate job support. I have had veterans tell me that they no longer write the fact that they're a veteran on their resume because they fear the stigma that employers might attach to the invisible wounds of war. I have heard from medics like Eric Smith, a former Navy Corpsman who returned home from treating battlefield wounds and could not get certifications necessary to be an emergency medical technician or to drive an ambulance.

I have heard from veteran after veteran who said that they did not have to go through the military's job skills training program or that they were never taught how to use the vernacular of the business world to describe the benefits of their experience. These stories are as heartbreaking as they are frustrating, but more than anything they are a reminder that we have to act now.

The bill we are introducing today allows our men and women in uniform to capitalize on their service, while also ensuring that the American people capitalize on the investment we have made in them. For the first time, it would require broad job skills training for every servicemember as they leave the military as part of the military's Transition Assistance Program. Today, nearly \1/3\ of our servicemembers do not get this training.

This bill would also allow servicemembers to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a truly seamless transition from the military to jobs at the VA, Homeland Security or many of the other federal agencies in need of our veterans.

In addition, this bill also requires the Department of Labor to take a hard look at what military skills and training should be translatable into the civilian sector, and will work to make it simpler to get needed licenses or certifications.

Finally, this bill will allow for innovative partnerships with organizations that provide mentorship and training programs that are designed to lead to job placements. All of these are real, substantial steps to put our veterans to work, and all of them come at a pivotal time for our economic recovery and our veterans.

I grew up with the Vietnam War and I have dedicated much of my Senate career to helping to care for the veterans we left behind at that time. The mistakes we made then have cost our nation and our veterans dearly and have weighed on the conscience of this nation; yet today we stand on the brink of repeating those mistakes.

We cannot let that happen. Our Nation's veterans are disciplined, team players who have proven they can deliver under pressure like no one else. It is time for us to deliver for them.

This is not a full summary of all the provisions within this legislation. However, I hope that I have provided an appropriate overview of the major benefits this legislation would provide for America's servicemembers as they transition into civilian life. I also ask our colleagues for their continued support for the Nation's veterans.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am proud to introduce the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

Effective December 1, 2011, this measure directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of veterans' compensation to keep pace with a rise in the cost-of-living, should an adjustment be prompted by an increase in the Consumer Price Index, CPI. Referred to as the COLA, this important legislation would make an increase available to veterans at the same level as an increase provided to recipients of Social Security benefits.

All of my colleagues on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senators Burr, Rockefeller, Akaka, Sanders, Brown of Ohio, Webb, Tester, Begich, Isakson, Wicker, Johanns, Brown of Massachusetts, Moran, and Boozman join me in introducing this important legislation. I look forward to our continued work together to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans.

Last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, Public Law 111-247, which would have increased veterans' compensation rates had there been an increase in the CPI. While there was no cost-of- living increase in 2011 due to a decline in the CPI, the 2012 adjustment was projected to be .9 percent in the President's fisal year 2012 budget submission.

The COLA affects so many important benefits, including veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. It is projected that over 3.5 million veterans and survivors will receive compensation benefits in fiscal year 2012.

As the daughter of a disabled veteran, I understand the critical nature of these benefits as many recipients depend upon these tax-free payments for their most basic needs, in addition to the needs of their spouses and children. We have an obligation to the men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve our country and who now deserve nothing less than the full support of a grateful Nation. The COLA brings us one step closer to fulfilling our Nation's promise to care for our brave veterans and their families.

I ask our colleagues to show their continued support for our Nation's veterans by working together to ensure this benefit remains available and is not diminished by the effects of inflation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, today, as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am proud to introduce the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

Effective December 1, 2011, this measure directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of veterans' compensation to keep pace with a rise in the cost-of-living, should an adjustment be prompted by an increase in the Consumer Price Index, CPI. Referred to as the COLA, this important legislation would make an increase available to veterans at the same level as an increase provided to recipients of Social Security benefits.

All of my colleagues on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Senators Burr, Rockefeller, Akaka, Sanders, Brown of Ohio, Webb, Tester, Begich, Isakson, Wicker, Johanns, Brown of Massachusetts, Moran, and Boozman join me in introducing this important legislation. I look forward to our continued work together to improve the lives of our Nation's veterans.

Last year, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, Public Law 111-247, which would have increased veterans' compensation rates had there been an increase in the CPI. While there was no cost-of- living increase in 2011 due to a decline in the CPI, the 2012 adjustment was projected to be .9 percent in the President's fisal year 2012 budget submission.

The COLA affects so many important benefits, including veterans' disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. It is projected that over 3.5 million veterans and survivors will receive compensation benefits in fiscal year 2012.

As the daughter of a disabled veteran, I understand the critical nature of these benefits as many recipients depend upon these tax-free payments for their most basic needs, in addition to the needs of their spouses and children. We have an obligation to the men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve our country and who now deserve nothing less than the full support of a grateful Nation. The COLA brings us one step closer to fulfilling our Nation's promise to care for our brave veterans and their families.

I ask our colleagues to show their continued support for our Nation's veterans by working together to ensure this benefit remains available and is not diminished by the effects of inflation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to recognize the accomplishments and discoveries of investigators and scientists at the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, who have brought about critical advances in health care delivery and medical knowledge through innovative medical research. These researchers and the veterans that make it all possible will be honored this week by National VA Research Week, which celebrates the historic success of VA research collaborations through this year's theme of ``Discovery and Collaboration for Exceptional Health Care.'' I would like to share some of the amazing breakthroughs that have resulted from VA research and that have advanced the quality of health care for all Americans.

At the conclusion of World War I, it was clear that servicemembers returning from a new type of warfare needed innovative medical treatment. VA research began conducting hospital-based medical studies in 1925 and since then has continued to publish significant research studies on a regular basis. While VA research studies have changed dramatically over the years to reflect the needs of veterans of each conflict, the goal of providing quality care has remained paramount.

This commitment to quality care has led to a litany of medical breakthroughs and discoveries that are respected and have been utilized around the world. Without the tireless efforts of VA researchers, the medical community would not have lifesaving tools such as the pacemaker and the heart stint. Without the breakthroughs of VA research, the world may never have seen a successful liver transplant, a safer cure for tuberculosis, or genetic mapping that may one day lead to the eradication of Alzheimer's disease. The many successes of VA research continue today as ongoing projects close in on a possible cure for cancer, create new pharmaceutical solutions for serious mental illness, and build new prosthetics and assistive devices that make a return to normal life possible for our wounded warriors.

VA research holds the promise to improve treatment and rehabilitation for our Nation's veterans. From developing new prosthetics to understanding and treating traumatic brain injuries, veterans can be certain that VA medical staff will always be prepared to best heal their wounds. Wounds, both visible and invisible, must receive the best care and treatment possible, and I am proud that VA is leading the way on new treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD.

VA breakthroughs in the treatment of PTSD have not only helped thousands of veterans but have served as an example for both the American and international mental health community. Most recently, VA has been a resource for the people of Japan while they grapple with the mental wounds of the tragic earthquake and tsunami that so violently shook that country earlier this year. Today, while the first responders and the resilient people of Alabama and the areas affected by recent tornado destruction begin physically rebuilding their homes and communities, they can rely on the Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide to provide tips on how to begin the healing process.

Medical and scientific advances from VA research have often come through collaboration. VA has the privilege of relying on one of our Nation's greatest assets, the men and women who serve. These veterans understand that oftentimes, their participation in VA Research may not directly benefit their lives. Instead, they continue to serve their fellow Americans by trying to ensure better quality care for those who return from armed conflicts in the future. By partnering with 1 million veterans, VA is launching the Million Veteran Project, an effort to learn more about how genetics affect health.

VA also has the ability to partner with some of the best medical research institutions through their relationship with the Association of American Medical Colleges. This year's theme marks the 65th anniversary of an agreement which allowed VA to join with medical schools and create innovative partnerships directly impacting the quality of care. This partnership is a significant reason for VA research being so successful at finding innovative solutions to health care problems. Because of this collaboration, VA scientists and researchers have access to both VA medical centers and various university medical centers to conduct their research. This partnership brings together the brightest minds of our medical and scientific communities and yields positive results for our veterans.

I am proud to have been a long-time, ardent supporter of VA research. I know that VA's world-class researchers could easily work elsewhere, but they continue to work with the Department in fulfilling its obligations to constantly improve the quality of care for our veterans. At a time when more and more veterans are coming home from war and relying on VA for their health care needs, we here in Congress must make sure we can lead the way with a strong investment in our veterans and the high quality care we are committed to providing them.

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to talk about the tremendous news our country received last night from President Obama.

Almost 10 years ago on September 11, 2001, I too remember looking out a window in the Nation's Capitol and seeing the black smoke billowing in the air over the Pentagon. On that day, America was brutally attacked by terrorists who took aim at the financial, military, and political centers of our country. And although these evil men killed thousands of Americans and caused great devastation, they were unable to do what they wanted to do most: break our country's spirit.

We came together as a community. We mourned, we rallied around the families of those who were lost, and we struck back against those who did us harm.

Last night's tremendous news is the close of a major chapter in the war on terror. It is a great day for justice and for all Americans to remember the strength and resolve of our Nation. I applaud the superb work of our intelligence communities and the work of this administration that brought the mastermind of the worst attack in our Nation's history to justice.

But today I want to pay special tribute to the men and women in uniform who have answered the call to serve after that fateful day 10 years ago. Since the attacks on New York and Washington, DC, more than 2 million American servicemembers have stepped forward to serve our Nation. Nearly half of these servicemembers have done more than one tour of duty abroad. Many who have served have come from the ranks of our National Guard and Reserves and have turned a part-time commitment into a full-time job protecting our Nation. These men and women who chose to join our all-

volunteer force come from all walks of life and from every corner of our Nation. In my home State, thousands have come forward to serve while thousands more have come to Washington State to train and make their home at our major military installations. These servicemembers have done everything we have asked of them and more.

While it appears that yesterday's raid came without American casualties, that, of course, has not been the case for so many missions in our fight against terrorism. Since 9/11, nearly 6,000 servicemembers have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and more than 40,000 have been wounded. For many of our servicemembers, the scars of their service are visible and for others they are invisible. Many have lost those closest to them on the battlefield and have come home with a burden that few others know. Others will need a lifetime of care from the Department of Defense and the VA. All have left families behind, who love and miss them, to protect our country. We cannot forget these families and the fact they have sacrificed right by our servicemembers' side. Moving from base to base, giving up jobs, putting their loved ones and their country before their own needs is a gift we must repay.

As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, it is my job to ensure that the lifetime of care that these servicemembers and their caregivers need will be delivered.

So, today, as we appropriately take pride in the most significant victory yet in our fight against al-Qaida and terrorism, we should also take pause to honor all of the veterans and Active-Duty servicemembers who have paved the way to this day. We must also remember that this tremendous victory has come with a tremendous cost, a cost that we must bear as a nation for many years to come as our servicemembers return home.

Mr. President, this is, of course, also a particularly meaningful day for the thousands of Americans who lost a family member or a friend or a loved one on September 11. We know this news can't bring back their loved ones, but our hope is that it can help ease the pain they live with each day.

Like many Americans, my first thought last night after this news was of the victims and their families, and my thoughts and prayers remain with them during this time.

Going forward we must remain vigilant and focused on the protection of the American people from terrorism wherever it may be, and we must continue to work in the interest of peace and security for all Americans.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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

I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate H. Con. Res. 35.

Madam President, I yield back all time and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following votes be 10-minute votes.

Mr. President, I yield back all debate time, and I ask for the yeas and nays.