Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 30 minutes, to be equally divided into 10-minute parcels, to the Senator from New Mexico, the junior Senator from New Mexico, and the Senator from Tennessee, Senator Alexander, and that we speak in that order for 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, while we in the Senate have been busy doing many things and our minds have been all over the world, literally, with the war in Iraq and all kinds of things that have come before us and to us for consideration, we have been confronted with a very exciting opportunity for America and America's future.

We have been listening to and acting on a rather remarkable effort involving three Senate committees, with valuable contributions from a number of other committees and a number of Senators from many committees. All of these Senators and all of these committees have worked to write this legislation and are deeply concerned about maintaining our Nation's ability to compete in the high-tech global marketplace.

Today I join a bipartisan group of Senators in speaking about legislation that will be introduced later tonight by the distinguished majority leader and the minority leader. They will introduce the legislation later this evening. Its name will be the National Competitiveness Investment Act, and its number is S. 3936.

All of us worked on this legislation because we are deeply concerned about America maintaining its ability to compete in the high-tech global marketplace.

One year ago, the National Academy of Sciences released a report that highlighted the urgency of the challenge. It was called ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report, which was written by a distinguished committee chaired by Norm Augustine, former chairman of Lockheed Martin. His committee included three Nobel laureates, presidents of leading universities, and chief executive officers of multinational corporations.

The charge to Mr. Augustine and his committee was to develop a specific list of policy recommendations to bolster U.S. competitiveness. After an intensive 10 weeks of effort, the committee produced and recommended an impressive report with a list of 20 recommendations.

The recommendations all address a central problem; that is, we are not doing enough to harness and develop our national brainpower. The report recommends significant increases in

our investments in science and mathematics education at all levels-- kindergarten through high school, college and graduate school.

The bill that will be introduced later tonight, as I have indicated, contains provisions to address nearly every one of the recommendations of the Augustine report. Many of these provisions were included in the Protecting America's Competitiveness Edge, or PACE, legislation, which I introduced in January along with Senators Bingaman, Alexander, Mikulski, and an additional 61 cosponsors.

Through this new legislation, we are going to put the Augustine report's recommendations into action. We will authorize a doubling of research dollars to each research agency, including the Department of Energy, Office of Science, National Science Foundation, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

As chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, I was pleased I was able to slightly exceed the President's request for a 14- percent increase in the Office of Science in fiscal year 2007, putting it on a track to double in a decade, which is the goal and objective of the Norm Augustine report. The NCIA, which it will be called, also includes provisions that will build on the educational program sponsored by the Department of Energy, by engaging the facilities and scientific workforce of the national laboratories, and these educational programs will help ensure that we are preparing today's young people for the demands of tomorrow's high-tech workplace. The NCIA is a good partner to the President's initiative. I applaud the President for his bold vision which he expressed to us in his State of the Union Address, and which we have built upon in the legislation we are talking about today.

I applaud the President for his bold vision and leadership in the issue of U.S. competitiveness, which is so serious and about which many of us worry, because we know that without our remaining competitive, America has no chance in a world which is built on competitiveness. We need to take action to support our standard of living and to ensure that we continue to grow and prosper. If we do not, we can expect other nations to rival our global competitiveness and one day to surpass us without a doubt.

I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a chart I have prepared which examines and compares side by side the National Competitiveness Investment Act to the Augustine National Academies report and the administration's American Competitive Initiative to show how this bill compares with each of those.

Mr. President, I think it is good to summarize by saying that S. 3936 contains all but one of the provisions that are contained in the 20 suggestions made to us by the Augustine report, which has been heralded by so many to be such a vital piece of legislation which we ought to adopt and implement so as to keep our country free and competitive in a very changing world.

Mr. President, I yield the floor to Senator Bingaman.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I have 2 minutes as in morning business.

Mr. President, I note that the distinguished Senator from Tennessee, Senator Lamar Alexander, is in the Chamber. I am sure he has already spoken this afternoon, but I was not present because I was attending another meeting.

Senator, if you do not feel good this afternoon, I don't know what we are going to do in the Senate in terms of qualifying you to be happy. I don't know what else we will do to make you happier than what we are going to do tonight or during the next week or so on this competiveness measure.

Senator Alexander came to the Senate, and before his first term has expired he has taken the lead, without anyone wanting to run around and try to figure out who should get the lead, on this mammoth piece of legislation. It falls automatically that Lamar Alexander deserves the credit for getting it started. It was his idea. He recruited the junior Senator from New Mexico.

They asked me, as members of my committee, if they could take the proposition of what we could do to better America's position in a competitive world, if they could take that to the Academy of Sciences to get a report so we could adopt a report during this calendar year.

Believe it or not, they did that. As a result, 71 Senators cosponsored the legislation. As a result, we will have introduced a bill today that almost takes care of every recommendation that committee made to the Congress. We are having it introduced officially by the leadership this evening. It will be held and passed by this Senate before we adjourn this year.

Imagine that, for a Senator who has just come to the Senate. If he cannot say and put up whatever he puts up, matters of high esteem, completed by him, something that he can be proud of, that is this legislation.

There will be a day when it passes that he can be happier, but he will be overjoyed today when he sits down and thinks for a moment of what is accomplished for America to get moving to develop our brain power where we could, where we can, as we can, and as we should, without any doubt.

I compliment the Senator.

I yield the floor.

I thank the Senator.

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. I am honored to have the opportunity to recognize the valuable contributions and achievements of the Hispanic people of our proud country.

For the nearly 34 years I have represented my home State of New Mexico in the Senate, I have witnessed the growth and success of the Hispanic community in almost every facet of social life. New Mexico's Hispanic community has a long and rich history that dates back centuries. Today, it can claim a long ledger of accomplishments in fields as diverse as science and art, business and sport, medicine and public service.

With respect to the fields of science and military service, I am proud to call attention to the remarkable achievements of Sidney Gutierrez. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Sidney Gutierrez is a distinguished astronaut who has complied over 488 hours in space during his time with NASA. Sidney has been recognized by Hispanic Business Magazine as one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in America, and he has also been a recipient of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Award. Prior to his stellar achievements at NASA, Sidney served his country in the U.S. Air Force after he graduated from the Air Force Academy. What is important to note about Sidney's record is that his isn't an aberration. Today, hundreds of Hispanics serve our Nation's high-tech fields--both in the private sector and for the Government as scientists and researchers at our national laboratories.

Today, many Hispanic people from New Mexico continue to serve their country in the armed services. They have stood up as proud Americans and volunteered to protect their families and communities during the global war on terror. We should also take this moment to remember the sacrifices Hispanics have made to preserve the liberties and freedom that make America a beacon of hope to millions around the world. Just as soldiers from New Mexico distinguished themselves in battles at Battan, Attu, North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific, today men and women in uniform of Hispanic heritage are fighting for their Nation in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our Nation is stronger because of these men and women. They deserve the gratitude of the Nation for their sacrifices.

Hispanic Americans have also been active in other forms of public service. The first Hispanic Congressman in the House of Representatives and the first Hispanic Senator in our Nation's history were from New Mexico. Since it became a State in 1912, New Mexico has been a trailblazer in placing Hispanics into elected office.

The first Hispanic Senator in our Nation's history was a New Mexican by the name of Octaviano Larrazolo. Senator Larrazolo lived a rich life and valued public service above everything else. He was one of the early and important contributors to the constitution of the State of New Mexico and a fearless advocate for statehood. It was no surprise then that the people of New Mexico elected him to serve as their Governor. Throughout his career he was known as an advocate for better education and believed that a strong educational system was the key advancement in our fair and competitive society.

The tradition of Congress celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Americans goes back almost 40 years. In 1968, Congress started by designating a week to celebrate Hispanic heritage. Over the years, we decided to extend the designation to cover a month starting on September 15. The extra time has been a necessary and appropriate change to allow us to recognize the long record of contributions Hispanic Americans have made to our communities and to our Nation. I call on the American people to join with all children, families, organizations, communities, churches, cities, and States across the Nation to observe the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Mr. President, I rise today to discuss some successful Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security programs created in my home State of New Mexico.

One project, the foreign language translator, is a hands-free, voice- activated translator that allows troops to speak English phrases that are automatically broadcast in Arabic. The electronics for the translator are built by Crane Corporation of Albuquerque, NM and Laguna Industries assembles and tests the units in Cibola County, NM. I secured $1.4 million for this project in fiscal year 2005 Department of Defense funding, and its usefulness was highlighted in a June 19 Forbes article which quoted a Coast Guardsman as saying the device is the best interpreting tool available to date.

Another project, the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center, or NISAC, is a joint Sandia/Los Alamos National Laboratories initiative that was created in 2000. NISAC studies critical infrastructure and models the effects of a potential terrorist attack on such infrastructure. This work has proven invaluable to our Nation. NISAC accurately predicted

the effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and was cited by the White House as a positive part of the Federal Government's efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina. I have helped fund NISAC since its inception, including securing $7 million for a NISAC facility in fiscal year 2003 and providing $5 million more than the President requested for the program in fiscal year 2006.

Lastly, the Expeditionary Unit Water Purification, or EUWP, Program is a desalination program developed by the Office of Naval Research and tested in Otero County, NM. I have secured more than $30 million for this project, and it has been money well spent. When the water supply at the Coast Guard's Loran Station at Port Clarence, AK was contaminated last summer, an EUWP unit was deployed to Alaska to create fresh water from brackish water for troops there. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, two EUWP units were deployed to Mississippi to provide fresh water to both victims and rescue workers. Clearly, the program is accomplishing its mission.

I am proud of these success stories and am glad to have helped three such successful programs secure the Federal funding they needed to do-- important tasks for our Nation.

Mr. President, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to recognize and honor Rear Admiral Michael K. Loose for his exceptional achievement as Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and Chief of Civil Engineers, from October 2003 to October 2006.

As Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, NAVFAC, Rear Admiral Loose led 17,000 civilian and military employees, executing an annual workload of $10.6 billion supporting global contingency engineering operations, the Navy shore infrastructure, and systems command engineering and acquisition support. As the chief of civil engineers, he led Active and Reserve components of the Civil Engineer Corps community of over 2,000 officers and the enlisted Seabee community of over 20,000 sailors that jointly serve as the Navy's contingency and facilities engineering experts and comprise the Naval Construction Force of 22 battalions, 4 regiments, and other supporting units.

Upon assuming command of NAVFAC, Rear Admiral Loose quickly developed an overarching strategic plan that incorporated Department of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, and Chief of Naval Operations guiding principles. Building on this foundational document, and acutely focused on the critical imperative to dramatically reduce costs to support Sea Enterprise fleet recapitalization, improve service to joint/fleet operational commands, and align and single-up accountability, Rear Admiral Loose boldly conceptualized and implemented a dramatic restructuring and transformation of all components of NAVFAC--the most comprehensive and fundamental reorganization of the command since the Navy revamped the Bureau system more than three decades ago. As a direct result of his initiative and vision,

over $600 million in savings were harvested and redirected to the fleet starting in the Program Objective Memoranda for fiscal year 2006. Overall, Rear Admiral Loose increased production productivity by 13 percent while reducing the required workforce by 1,100 civilian positions. Key elements of the transformation that enabled these efficiencies included dramatically consolidating and fully aligning NAVFAC field commands with Navy regional commanders. This structural realignment combined Navy public works centers focused on maintenance, transportation, and utilities services with engineering field divisions focused on planning, environmental, design, and construction services to establish a single, aligned, and vastly streamlined organization--a Regional Facilities Engineering Command. He also developed and executed strategic partnership agreements with Commander, Navy Installations Command and Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps--Installations--and Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, to enable lowest facility life-cycle business analysis and management by leveraging the transformed NAVFAC organization. With the establishment of the single, aligned Facilities Engineering Command in each Navy region, Rear Admiral Loose operationalized NAVFAC, creating a command culture of accountability, technical competency, and responsiveness to fleet mission demands and surge requirements.

Rear Admiral Loose also aggressively supported the newly established Naval Expeditionary Combat Command/Naval Expeditionary Combat Enterprise as Systems Command Commander and first chief operating officer. He developed a $400 million program to replace overage and expended equipment, weapons, personal protective gear, and materials supporting the Naval Construction Force extended operations in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Rear Admiral Loose guided the largest mobilization since Vietnam of Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps Officers, enabling outstanding mission support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Clearly, Rear Admiral Loose's comprehensive knowledge of the Navy, keen judgment, and unwavering commitment to the sailor, the Navy family, and the fleet have made him an asset to the Navy. I am proud that he is my fellow New Mexican and my fellow American, and I am pleased to recognize and thank Rear Admiral Loose for his tenure as Commander, NAVFAC and Chief of Civil Engineers.

Today I honor Rear Admiral Loose for his service to our country, his inspirational moral courage, his exceptional strategic vision, and his relentlessly bold leadership. He and his wife Carol have made many sacrifices during his career in the Navy, and I call upon my colleagues and join his family, friends, and associates to wish them ``fair winds and following seas'' as they embark on yet another great Navy adventure and continue their dedicated and outstanding service to this grateful Nation.

Mr. President, above-average rainfall in New Mexico this summer has led many to turn a blind eye to the grim water situation faced by our State only 2 months ago. New Mexico was fast approaching a disaster due to drought. Many of our municipalities' wells were running dry and reservoirs were at dangerously low levels. Providence intervened; narrowly averting a crisis resulting from water scarcity.

The development of the centrifugal pump was an event of great significance in the history of the West. Windmill driven pumps provided enough water for a family and several livestock. The centrifugal pump, on the other hand, was capable of pumping 800 gallons of water a minute, making possible the habitation of what was previously barren desert. To a large extent, this invention provided the water for growing towns and agricultural industry. However, it also resulted in a great dependence on groundwater. As such, we need to fully understand the nature and extent of our groundwater resources. This bill will provide us with the information necessary to ensure that the water on which we have come to rely is available for years to come.

During times of drought, when surface water is scarce, we must be able to reliably turn to groundwater reserves. Approximately 90 percent of New Mexicans depend on groundwater for drinking water and 77 percent of New Mexicans obtain water exclusively from groundwater sources. While groundwater supplies throughout the State are coming under increasing competition, not enough is known about these resources in order to make sound decisions regarding their use.

Nearly 40 percent of the State's population resides in the Middle Rio Grande Basin. Once thought to contain vast quantities of water, we are now faced with the reality the Middle Rio Grande Basin contains far less water than originally thought. Between 1995 and 2001, the United States Geological Survey undertook a study of the basin which added greatly to our knowledge regarding the primary source of water for our largest population center. Had we proceeded with our water planning without the information provided by this study, I have little doubt that we would ultimately find ourselves in a dire situation. However, there is much more to be learned about this basin.

Roughly 65 percent of the State's population lives along the Rio Grande. Also located along the river are the four largest cities in New Mexico: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Las Cruces. While the completion of the San Juan-Chama Diversion by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will allow the county of Bernalillo and city of Albuquerque to take advantage of their allocation of San Juan-Chama water, the remainder of the cities and counties located along the Rio Grande will continue to receive the majority of their water from aquifers beneath the Rio Grande. Aside from the Middle Rio Grande Basin, we have limited knowledge of the amount of water contained in the aquifers below the Rio Grande, the rate at which they recharge, aquifer contamination, and the interaction between surface flows and ground water.

Elsewhere in the State, even less is understood regarding groundwater resources. While there is limited unallocated surface water in the State, there are significant quantities of untapped underground water in the Tularosa and Salt Basins. The Tularosa Basin is approximately 60 miles wide and 200 miles long. Making the conservative estimate that 10 percent of the water contained in that aquifer is available for use through desalination, it would provide 100 years of water for a city the size of Albuquerque. With the development of desalination technology, I anticipate that even a greater amount of the brackish water contained in the Tularosa Basin will be available for human use.

Another untapped water supply is the Salt Basin located in southern New Mexico. The basin lies in a geologically complex area and our understanding of the total resource is incomplete. However, initial estimates predict sustainable withdrawals on the order of 100,000 acre- feet per year of potable water from the New Mexico portion of the aquifer. This is enough water to support a city the size of our largest municipal area. Additional brackish resources in that basin are highly likely. Because the basin is located near expanding metropolitan areas near the U.S.-Mexico Border, it is a resource of critical importance.

The bill I introduce today would direct the United States Geological Survey, in collaboration with the State of New Mexico, to undertake a groundwater resources study in the State of New Mexico. A comprehensive study of the State's water resources is critical to effective water planning. Absent such a study, I fear that there is a significant likelihood that we may be depleting aquifers at an unsustainable rate.

I thank Senator Bingaman for being an original co-sponsor of this legislation. I also thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives and I look forward to working with them to ensure the bill's passage.

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

Mr. President, above-average rainfall in New Mexico this summer has led many to turn a blind eye to the grim water situation faced by our State only 2 months ago. New Mexico was fast approaching a disaster due to drought. Many of our municipalities' wells were running dry and reservoirs were at dangerously low levels. Providence intervened; narrowly averting a crisis resulting from water scarcity.

The development of the centrifugal pump was an event of great significance in the history of the West. Windmill driven pumps provided enough water for a family and several livestock. The centrifugal pump, on the other hand, was capable of pumping 800 gallons of water a minute, making possible the habitation of what was previously barren desert. To a large extent, this invention provided the water for growing towns and agricultural industry. However, it also resulted in a great dependence on groundwater. As such, we need to fully understand the nature and extent of our groundwater resources. This bill will provide us with the information necessary to ensure that the water on which we have come to rely is available for years to come.

During times of drought, when surface water is scarce, we must be able to reliably turn to groundwater reserves. Approximately 90 percent of New Mexicans depend on groundwater for drinking water and 77 percent of New Mexicans obtain water exclusively from groundwater sources. While groundwater supplies throughout the State are coming under increasing competition, not enough is known about these resources in order to make sound decisions regarding their use.

Nearly 40 percent of the State's population resides in the Middle Rio Grande Basin. Once thought to contain vast quantities of water, we are now faced with the reality the Middle Rio Grande Basin contains far less water than originally thought. Between 1995 and 2001, the United States Geological Survey undertook a study of the basin which added greatly to our knowledge regarding the primary source of water for our largest population center. Had we proceeded with our water planning without the information provided by this study, I have little doubt that we would ultimately find ourselves in a dire situation. However, there is much more to be learned about this basin.

Roughly 65 percent of the State's population lives along the Rio Grande. Also located along the river are the four largest cities in New Mexico: Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Rio Rancho and Las Cruces. While the completion of the San Juan-Chama Diversion by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority will allow the county of Bernalillo and city of Albuquerque to take advantage of their allocation of San Juan-Chama water, the remainder of the cities and counties located along the Rio Grande will continue to receive the majority of their water from aquifers beneath the Rio Grande. Aside from the Middle Rio Grande Basin, we have limited knowledge of the amount of water contained in the aquifers below the Rio Grande, the rate at which they recharge, aquifer contamination, and the interaction between surface flows and ground water.

Elsewhere in the State, even less is understood regarding groundwater resources. While there is limited unallocated surface water in the State, there are significant quantities of untapped underground water in the Tularosa and Salt Basins. The Tularosa Basin is approximately 60 miles wide and 200 miles long. Making the conservative estimate that 10 percent of the water contained in that aquifer is available for use through desalination, it would provide 100 years of water for a city the size of Albuquerque. With the development of desalination technology, I anticipate that even a greater amount of the brackish water contained in the Tularosa Basin will be available for human use.

Another untapped water supply is the Salt Basin located in southern New Mexico. The basin lies in a geologically complex area and our understanding of the total resource is incomplete. However, initial estimates predict sustainable withdrawals on the order of 100,000 acre- feet per year of potable water from the New Mexico portion of the aquifer. This is enough water to support a city the size of our largest municipal area. Additional brackish resources in that basin are highly likely. Because the basin is located near expanding metropolitan areas near the U.S.-Mexico Border, it is a resource of critical importance.

The bill I introduce today would direct the United States Geological Survey, in collaboration with the State of New Mexico, to undertake a groundwater resources study in the State of New Mexico. A comprehensive study of the State's water resources is critical to effective water planning. Absent such a study, I fear that there is a significant likelihood that we may be depleting aquifers at an unsustainable rate.

I thank Senator Bingaman for being an original co-sponsor of this legislation. I also thank Representative Heather Wilson for introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives and I look forward to working with them to ensure the bill's passage.

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

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, September 21, 2006, at 10 a.m. in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this hearing is to consider the nomination of: Mary Amelia Bomar, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the National Park Service, vice Frances P. Mainella, resigned.

For further information, please contact Judy Pensabene or Kara Gleason of the Committee staff at: (202) 224-5305.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the innocent Americans who were killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I ask that we commemorate the emergency responders who provided relief in the aftermath of the attacks. I finally ask that we salute our brave men and women in uniform who have volunteered to serve their country in this time of need.

I offer my condolences to the family of Al Marchand from Alamogordo, NM, a flight attendant on United Airlines flight 175 and one of the first casualties on this horrific day. Since that day, many New Mexicans have volunteered to serve their country by entering the ranks of our Armed Forces. Some lost their lives in this war to protect our way of life. I will ask that the attached Associated Press article containing the names of these proud soldiers be printed into the Congressional Record. I also will pay tribute to LTC Marshall A. Gutierrez and LCpl Shane P. Harris, the two most recent casualties from New Mexico in the ongoing global war on terror.

Five years have passed since al-Qaida terrorists struck our homeland. The images and shock of that day are still with me. To this day, I am saddened by our losses, but I am also heartened by all the heroic acts of our citizens in what was the most shocking attack on our homeland. In the months following the attacks, our brave soldiers toppled the regime in Afghanistan that provided a base of operations for the terrorists who carried out the 2001 attacks. We helped that country establish a democratic government and are working with allies in NATO to bring peace and stability to a country that has spent much of its recent history in the strife of civil war.

One of the important lessons political and military leaders learned from the 2001 terrorist attacks was that America cannot stand by idly as threats to its security develop far from our shores. This required our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to work with friends and allies around the world and with each other to gather actionable intelligence that would help us disrupt terrorist plots at home and abroad. To help consolidate our domestic defense system, the Congress created the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security was organized to prevent attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and to minimize the damage and assist in the recovery from terrorists attacks in America. The Congress also followed the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, the 9/11 Commission. and passed historic legislation that reformed the agencies that make up our intelligence community. While these

reforms were important and necessary, the disruption of a recent plot to hijack planes flying from London to the United States shows us that our enemies are still bent on bringing terror into our cities.

Many of my fellow citizens from the State of New Mexico have contributed to strengthening our defenses in the global war on terror. An urban rescue team traveled from New Mexico to Virginia to help recover survivors from the ruins at the Pentagon. Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories helped identify the strains of anthrax that were found in Government office buildings shortly after the terrorist attacks. They helped develop a biological threat detection system that was deployed at the 2002 Winter Olympics, the 2004 Summer Olympics, and in locations around our Nation's Capital. The national labs have also been at the forefront in developing tools to detect and dispose of materials that can be used as a ``dirty bomb'' or other weapon of mass destruction. Finally, the National Infrastructure and Analysis Center-- NISAC--is being used to develop response strategies for government officials and first responders for large and complex crises.

Over the past 5 years, we have learned a good deal more about how the attack was planned and executed, and we have spent countless man hours and resources to make our Nation safer. We can be proud of the fact that we have worked to implement most of the 9/11 Commission recommendations. We are more prepared as a Nation for these types of dangers than we were prior to September 11, 2001. But this is a struggle that will not end with the same clarity and decisiveness of battles past. So as we continue to adjust to the new sense of normal, I hope all Americans take time to reflect on the events of September 11, 2001, honor those who have fallen, and rededicate themselves for the struggle ahead.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the article to which I referred be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the hearing scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for Tuesday, September 12th at 10 a.m. has been relocated to room SD-106.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony relating to the effects of the BP pipeline failure in the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field on U.S. oil supply and to examine what steps may be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an event.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact Dick Bouts or Sara Zecher.

Mr. President, first of all, let me say thank you to each Senator who commented on my many years of voting, which has yielded 13,000 today. I thank you very much and, in particular, I thank the majority leader for doing what he has done, by setting aside these few moments. I greatly appreciate it.

I guess it is pretty easy to get to 13,000. You just stick around long enough and come and vote and you will get there. I don't know how many more I will get but certainly a lot more because there are a lot of years left to come. I don't know how many we will be celebrating, but this is a very special one because of the special people who are here, indicating to me in their own gracious way their appreciation for what I do or don't do in the Senate. I thank all of them for that.

Frankly, I don't feel as if I have cast 13,000 votes, so I don't know what that means. Maybe it means I have a lot more to come. I hope so. Maybe it means we are voting a lot more in the Senate than we used to.

In any event, it is a proud day because you all have made it one. Thank you very much.

I yield the floor.

I thank the Senator.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 10 a.m., in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of this hearing is to consider the nomination of: C. Stephen Allred, of Idaho, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior, vice Rebecca W. Watson, resigned; Robert W. Johnson, of Nevada, to be Commissioner of Reclamation, vice John W. Keys, III, resigned.

For further information, please contact Judy Pensabene of the Committee staff at (202) 224-1327.

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Wayne S. Fenton, M.D., Director of the Division of Adult Translational Research and Associate Director for Clinical Affairs at the National Institute of Mental Health who was tragically murdered on September 3, 2006.

Dr. Fenton was a man truly passionate about working with the most severe mentally ill population. He was a compassionate and tireless advocate for people with mental illness and the families so desperately trying to help them. He went above and beyond the call of duty and continued a private practice outside of his work at the National Institute of Mental Health. In his private practice, Dr. Fenton readily treated patients with the most severe mental illnesses, very often ones that other psychiatrists refused to see. These are the patients who are most likely to commit horrific crimes when they do not take necessary medication.

Just last week, I participated in a panel discussion regarding whether the State of New Mexico should enact an assisted outpatient treatment, AOT, program that requires a court ordered treatment for those who are severely mentally ill. It is time we focus on this issue at a State and national level. Dr. Fenton's death should not be in vain; we cannot continue along a path that not only does not help the suffering, but continues to hurt the community. This is a challenging topic to take on and a hard discussion to have but we must start addressing the link between untreated mental illness and violence or we run the risk of seeing more horrific deaths.

Outside of his work and private practice, Dr. Fenton worked with many groups including the National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Psychiatric Association. He served as Deputy Editor of Schizophrenia Bulletin and as a consultant to the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. On numerous occasions he was nominated as one of the Best Doctors in America. He was a leader in the field of mental health research, particularly relating to the study of schizophrenia. Dr. Fenton authored many textbook chapters and more than fifty scientific papers on diagnosing, treatment, and mental health service methods for individuals who suffer from schizophrenia. His central goal was to create a treatment system to allow even those suffering from the most severe mental illness to become functioning members of society.

Dr. Fenton's death truly is a great loss to the mental health community. In the words of Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of NIMH, ``It is difficult to grasp such a tragic, shocking loss; a loss not only for his many friends and family but for people with serious mental illness everywhere.'' As advocates for people with mental illness, and mental health policy, my wife Nancy and I had the pleasure to work with him over the years. I am extremely saddened by his tragic death. I want to extend my thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and coworkers at this time. It is my hope they remember the great impact he made during his time with us. I express my deepest sympathy to them.

Mr. President, I woud like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that a hearing has been scheduled before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 12th, at 10:00 a.m. in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony relating to the effects of the BP pipeline failure in the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field on U.S. oil supply and to examine what steps may be taken to prevent a recunence of such an event.

Because of the limited time available for the hearing, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact Dick Bouts at 202-224-7545 or Sara Zecher at 202-224-8276.