Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business.

Mr. President, last week, I came before this body to speak of the loss of a great leader from Memphis, TN, by the name of Benjamin Hooks. It is with a heavy heart that I come to the floor of the Senate again for the loss of a distinguished American. Early this morning, our Nation lost a strong leader and a great civil

rights pioneer. I ask my colleagues to join me for a moment in reflecting upon the leadership, passion, and selfless dedication that defined the highly consequential life of Ms. Dorothy Height.

She began her career in the 1930s as a teacher in Brooklyn, NY. She became active in the United Christian Youth Movement shortly after it was founded. It was this cause that would first carry her to national leadership, though she was quite a young lady at the time.

In 1938, Dorothy was selected by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to help plan a World Youth Conference. She rose to this task with poise and determination and made a strong impression on the First Lady.

Later, Dorothy was asked to serve as a delegate to the World Congress on Life and Work of the Churches.

Also, in 1938, she was hired by the YWCA and quickly began to rise through the ranks of the national organization.

It was around this time that she caught the attention of Mary McLeod Bethune, founding president of the National Council of Negro Women, or NCNW, who recruited young Dorothy to join the fight for women's rights, one of the central issues that would become the cause of her life.

She remained deeply involved in the YWCA and also attained high leadership positions in the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, the U.S. Civil Rights Leadership, and a number of other organizations.

She helped to guide these pivotal groups through the stormy waters of the civil rights movement, looking always to the future and maintaining a steadfast dedication to cause and principle.

But it was Dorothy's distinguished leadership of the NCNW that would come to define her career. In 1957, Dorothy Height was elected fourth national president of NCNW, a position she would hold continuously until 1998. For more than four decades, she was at the helm of the preeminent leadership council for African-American women.

Thanks to her unrivaled expertise, transcendent vision, and lifelong dedication to this cause and to this great organization, by the time of her retirement in 1998, she lived in a country that was far more free, more fair, and more equal than the one she saw as a child.

For her extraordinary work, in 2004, this Congress bestowed upon her its highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. President Bush presented her with this award on her 92nd birthday.

Today, as we celebrate Dorothy's life and mourn her loss, I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring the immeasurable contributions she has made to this country.

I ask them to reflect on the leadership she has rendered and the causes she has championed and the countless lives she has touched. Without Dorothy Height, America might be a very different place today.

We owe a great deal for the difference she has made and for the lifetime of hard work she has devoted to her fellow citizens.

It is with a sad heart that I come to this floor again to eulogize one of our pioneers, one of our greatest Americans, and one of the major contributors to the civil rights movement to advance the cause of equality and justice in the United States of America.

Mr. President, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, it is with pride that I bring to the attention of my colleagues a recent series of programs conducted in Downing Grove, IL, relating to medical care for our servicemembers. The programs were sponsored by the Dupage Medical Group and the Defense Education Forum of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, ROA. They were part of an ongoing series of six programs held over the past 2 years by these entities and related to the Reserve Components and military medicine.

In November of last year, the topic was Mental Health Care Programs for the Reserve Components and their Families. As we all know, the signature injuries of the current overseas wars have been head injuries resulting in some degree of traumatic brain injury, TBI, and post traumatic stress syndrome, PTSD. Treatment for our wounded warriors with these injuries is paramount and has been correctly made a priority by the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The most recent of the programs was on the lessons in military medicine from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, which was conducted on April 9, 2010. It had a distinguished faculty and featured Dr. Paul DeFina, chairman of the International Brain Research Institute, who discussed brain trauma and its latest treatments.

I am especially proud of the efforts of several of my constituents, notably, COL Janet Kamer and the doctors of the DuPage Medical Group, in developing and hosting these programs together with the Defense Education Forum. Colonel Kamer is the command consultant for psychology to Air Force Reserve Headquarters and a psychologist with the DuPage Medical Group. She is also the president of the Illinois Department of the Reserve Officers Association.

MG Robert Kasulke also deserves recognition for his efforts in cohosting these programs. He is commander of the Army Reserve Medical Command and a vascular surgeon in his civilian career. RADM Paul Kayye (Retired), the national president of ROA, has also played a part in these medical care programs by introducing the April 9, 2010, program. Other faculty for these programs that deserve recognition includes: BG Margaret Wilmoth, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; COL Nicole Keesee, deputy surgeon in the Office of the Chief of the Army Reserve; Sergio Estrada, assistant director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; Adermi Olodun, of the DOD Employer Partnership Program; and Bob Feidler, the director of the Defense Education Forum. Participants of the meetings included medical providers, local representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs, other caregivers, medical and legal, and several of our wounded warriors.

It is through people such as Dr. Kamer, the DuPage Medical Group and the Defense Education Forum of ROA, and the distinguished faculty of these programs that the most up-to-date information is being provided to the medical community, Reservists and their families about the various programs and treatments available to

them. I congratulate them on their ongoing efforts.

I thank the distinguished Senator from Montana. I hope I can do my brief remarks in 6 minutes.

It is tax day, I say to the Senator. I hope your taxes are filed.

Madam President, as my colleagues and the American people are undoubtedly well aware, today is tax day.

Across the country, hundreds of millions of people are filing their returns, paying what they owe or calculating the refunds they will receive.

Now, even in the best of times, paying taxes is not something most Americans look forward to.

In fact, in the wise words of George Washington, ``no taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant.''

But even Washington and the other Founding Fathers recognized that taxation is a necessity--and that paying taxes is every American's patriotic duty.

When they are levied--not by some tyrannical monarch across the ocean, but by a representative government--taxes are ``the price we pay for a civilized society,'' in the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes.

It is the only way a modern government can function.

We are each asked to contribute a percentage of our income, and in return we expect our government to provide certain essential benefits:

A strong, highly-capable national defense. Adequate roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. Quality schools.

Emergency responders, so there is someone to answer the phone when you call 911.

Basic regulation and consumer protections, so you can buy food and other

products without fear of getting sick or suffering injury.

A safety net to help you get back on your feet in tough economic times.

All of these programs and services are supported by our tax dollars.

They serve functions we cannot perform for ourselves--and it is appropriate that the government steps in to fulfill this role.

That is why my Democratic colleagues and I are fighting Republican obstructionism to extend unemployment insurance and other benefits people desperately need.

And that is why I am proud to report that, this year, roughly 70 percent of Americans will get a tax refund.

But even so--my colleagues and I are all painfully aware that, especially in difficult economic times, taxes can be a burden.

They can be hard on families that are already stretched to the breaking point--struggling to make ends meet in the face of pay cuts, reduced hours, or even unemployment.

That is why my Democratic colleagues and I have been working hard to ease the burden on these families.

We have committed ourselves to fight for the interests of working Americans.

Our economic recovery remains fragile.

The national unemployment rate stands just under 10 percent--and in my home State of Illinois, it exceeds 11 percent.

And among minority communities, it is much higher.

Roughly 16 percent of African Americans are currently unemployed, along with 12 percent of Hispanics.

That is why my Democratic colleagues and I have taken action. We passed a sweeping stimulus package that brought us back from the edge of economic disaster.

While Republicans filibuster unemployment benefits, my colleagues and I are fighting to extend them. While they drag their feet on COBRA, we are fighting to increase access to this important program.

And, while they talk about enacting responsible tax policies, Democrats are actually getting it done. We are working hard to make sure that everyone pays their fair share of taxes--but no one is asked to contribute more than they can afford.

This is an issue that has defined our party for many years, especially under recent Democratic administrations:

From the middle-class tax relief provided by President Clinton, to the largest tax cut in American history, which was proposed by President Obama and ratified by my Democratic colleagues and I just last year--time and again, we have proven our commitment to commonsense tax policies.

We have passed fair, targeted reforms and responsible tax cuts for those who need it most. We have stood squarely on the side of the American people, despite what some of my Republican friends might claim. And in fact, when you examine their record--when you look at the truth behind the Republican rhetoric--it is quite different from what many of them would have you believe.

For decades, Republicans have claimed to be both fair and responsible when it comes to tax policy. But the reality is that they have consistently failed to deliver for the American people.

Since the days of President Reagan, Republicans have slashed tax rates for corporations and the super-rich, while squeezing the middle class for everything they are worth.

This is a country that has always encouraged personal initiative and respected success in the business world. But my friends on the other side are making it harder and harder for ordinary folks to attain prosperity and realize their dreams. It has never been harder to get rich in America--but it has never been easier to stay rich, as long as you can arrange a seven-figure bonus or a golden parachute every time the economy starts to look bad.

But for those of us who can't, Republican tax policies have brought nothing but headaches.

Under President George W. Bush, Republicans passed a massive tax break for the top 1 percent of wage earners, and did little or nothing to help the vast majority of Americans. In fact, this massive tax cut was not even paid for--every penny of it was added directly to the deficit.

So let's cut through the political rhetoric and talk about what this really means.

My Republican friends exploded the deficit by more than a trillion dollars, so they could give tax breaks to the richest of the rich. Now they are expecting us to pay down the deficit using the tax dollars of regular, middle class Americans.

These are folks who did not benefit from the original tax cut--but now Republicans expect them to foot the bill?

Not on my watch.

These tax policies are irresponsible. They are outrageous. And the American people have had enough. Even now, my friends on the other side think we should spend even more money we don't have, on people who don't need it.

My Democratic colleagues and I strongly disagree. We believe significant tax breaks should be targeted to middle-class Americans who need help, and that is why we passed legislation that accomplished exactly that.

We believe in responsible tax policy, which asks each and every American to pay their fair share without placing an unfair burden on any segment of the population.

My Republican friends will try to tell you they believe in the same values. So I would urge the American people to ask them: If that is the case, why did every single one of them vote against the largest tax cut in history?

The Democratic record is clear. We believe in American prosperity on Main Street, not just Wall Street.

So I urge my Republican friends to join us in standing up for ordinary folks, not just Wall Street bankers and the richest of the rich.

Unfortunately, taxes will always be necessary, and they will never be pleasant. But if we embrace commonsense tax policies and fight for the principles that have guided Democrats for many years, we can make these tough times just a little bit easier for ordinary folks.

Pay your taxes, enjoy America, and let's make sure that everyone pays their fair share.

I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Mr. President, early this morning, we awoke to sad news out of Memphis, TN. This country has lost a civil rights pioneer, a strong leader, and a witness to history.

Benjamin Lawson Hooks fought all of his life for freedom, prosperity, and universal equality. When the world was consumed by war, Benjamin put on the uniform of the 92nd Infantry Division and rendered honorable service to his country.

When peace was won and America looked inward today to address policies of discrimination and inequality, he was on the frontlines once again, standing with visionaries such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

At every turn, and at every moment in his life, he waged to fight against injustice. He became an attorney and was eventually appointed as the highest ranking Black Federal judge in the State of Tennessee. But that was only the beginning of a remarkable career in public service.

Benjamin Hooks was the first African American to serve on the Federal Communications Commission, where he spoke out against biased reporting in the media and called for minority ownership of TV and radio stations.

In 1977, he was unanimously elected as President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP--a position he would hold with distinction until his retirement in 1993 and which would come to define his career.

Throughout those tumultuous years, Benjamin Hooks was at the forefront of the nonviolent struggle for civil rights. He constantly challenged old assumptions, stood up to discrimination, and fought against those who defended the status quo.

He taught us the courage to live out our convictions. He showed us how to translate our dearest principles into words and action.

In 1980, he became the first national leader to address conventions of both political parties. He denounced those who resorted to violence, and he personally led prayer vigils, peaceful protests, and countless other popular demonstrations.

At various times throughout his career, Benjamin Hooks served as a pastor, a soldier, a judge, and a political leader. He fought for equality in the courtroom, on the pulpit, on the airwaves, and even on the battlefield, but never did he act for personal gain. Not once did he forget the cause of justice that he and others dedicated their lives to defend.

So great was the legacy of this civil rights leader, so deep was the impact he had on the fabric of our society, that even today, on the sad occasion of his passing, I cannot help but feel a lasting sense of pride in the profound and enduring accomplishments he leaves behind.

Benjamin Hooks will be sorely missed by all who knew him, particularly his family, to whom we express our deepest condolences today.

Even as we mourn his loss, I urge my colleagues to join me in celebrating his memory and honoring the living legacy he leaves behind. I am sure Benjamin would be the first to remind us that we must not pause in remembrance for long because there is much work yet to be done.

Let us take up this fight. Let us defend the principles that guided Benjamin Hooks throughout his life and embrace the spirit that drove this pioneer to reach for equality, fight for opportunity, and aspire to greatness.

I yield the floor.

I thank my colleague from Virginia, Senator Warner, who has taken a leadership role on this important and crucial issue in the Senate.

At a time when we are looking at trying to move all this major legislation and solve problems for the people of America, we find ourselves stymied with regard to our third branch of government. The upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court has already started a lot of talk across the Nation, despite the fact that we don't even have a nominee as yet. But let's forget about that. We must still focus on a number of immediate judicial nominations.

My Republican friends continue to delay and obstruct, and for what reason, I have no idea. Take, for example, my home State of Illinois. There are currently five judicial vacancies, two in the central part of the State and three in the northern part, which is, of course, where we have Chicago. The caseload is tremendous on those current judges and so there are all these delays. If you want to know why it takes so long to bring someone to trial, that is because the judges there are overworked and the numbers there need to be brought up to par with what the requirements call for.

Illinois is not alone. This is happening all over the country. So the numbers are such that we have all of these nominees who have been nominated, and some have been cleared by the committee unanimously. On some of the other judges, whom we did get confirmed, we had to go through cloture. They cleared the committees, they were blocked, but then, when we got to vote on them, the result was 99 to 0. That is uncalled for. So we must do what we can in order to make sure that the judicial process is not being delayed. That is, after all, our third branch of government. That is where justice is rendered for individuals who have violated any of the Federal laws.

My Republican friends are holding these up. They are blocking these important nominations and stopping the Senate from performing its constitutional duty to advise and consent. We cannot consent because of the delay tactics they are using. As a former attorney general of my State, I have a deep understanding of how this obstructionism brings our justice system to a standstill, and justice delayed, of course, is justice denied. It is simply inexcusable.

I urge my Republican colleagues to stop blocking these qualified nominees, stop playing political games at the expense of our court system--the third branch of our government--and let's bring all of those nominees to a vote.

I thank the Senator, and I yield to him.

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

Madam President, in 1790, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson became the first government official to perform the essential duties laid out in Article One Section Two of the U.S. Constitution.

He oversaw a team of marshals, who fanned out across all 13 United States to conduct the very first U.S. census.

In those days, it took quite a long time to gather an accurate count and certify the results.

But, in many ways, that first census laid the cornerstone of our democracy.

It codified the principle that our system of government depends upon accurate representation of the people.

And, even today, that's exactly what the census is all about.

It determines the size of the House of Representatives, and ensures that congressional districts and electoral votes are distributed accurately.

It helps target Federal funding for schools, hospitals, community centers, infrastructure projects, and a whole host of other programs.

In short, it helps our government work the way it is intended in each community, so everyone's voice can be heard.

It is about nothing less than who we are as a country.

It is about enfranchisement, and civic duty, and ensuring the success of the American system of self-government.

That is why our Constitution mandates that the census take place every 10 years.

And that is why, 220 years after Thomas Jefferson started this tradition, we are once again asking all Americans to stand up and be counted.

Our country has grown by leaps and bounds since Jefferson's time. Making sure we get an accurate count can be a complicated process, but it has never been more important, especially for low-income and minority communities, which are in the greatest need for the resources that will be allocated based on this census.

The problem is that many of these communities also have low participation rates--so they are often undercounted, and receive less funding than they deserve.

That is why we need make a special effort to reach out to these communities.

We need to let everyone know how important it is to participate, so we can get a clear, accurate snapshot.

Fortunately, unlike in Jefferson's day, the 2010 census will not take several months to complete--it will take about 10 minutes.

This year's form is one of the shortest in history--and it bears a close resemblance to the original questionnaire that was used in 1790.

Filling it out will be quick and easy--but it will make a world of difference.

I ask my fellow Americans to join me in doing their civic duty, as required by the Constitution. Take 10 minutes to fill out and return this census form. It could be the most productive 10 minutes of the decade. It will make your vote count for more on election day. It will make sure hospitals, fire departments, and police departments are up to the task of serving your community. It will secure adequate funding for roads, bridges, rail lines, and other important infrastructure. And it will help us reaffirm the unwavering commitment shared by all Americans--to a representative government--a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; a government that serves not only the best interests of this great country but of the world.

I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I thank Senator Warner. I compliment him for his leadership in getting the freshmen engaged and involved in making sure we are getting the message out to the American people.

This piece of legislation, which was signed yesterday by President Obama, is historic. I am proud and appreciative that I had the opportunity to play a part. As you know, my position was for a very strong public option. But as to the issues that are in it, we deal with cost and accountability for the insurance companies. Therefore, it is a major piece of legislation which we want the public to understand.

We want the public to understand that for some people this law takes effect immediately. Small businesses benefit in that they will get a tax credit right away. These tax credits can total as much as 35 percent of total premiums. Secondly, for children there will be no elimination for preexisting conditions. Within the next 90 days, these provisions will kick in on behalf of children. So there are a lot of things in this bill that will benefit all of us.

We have been trying to do this for over 97 years.

I say to my colleagues on the other side, the reconciliation bill is important to make some corrections. The battle they are waging, not from the standpoint of policy but certainly from the standpoint of politics, seeking to make a failure out of this issue, is not really fair to the American people. The misinformation that has been going out about this legislation is not fair.

Not only are we going to see immediate benefits, but the long-term benefits of this legislation are also helpful. Situations dealing with preexisting conditions--in 2014, that will kick in. I remember when my daughter was changing jobs, she needed to get insurance because she had a headache problem. They wouldn't insure her. I had to

battle to get insurance for my daughter.

This is good legislation. It is history. I want the American people to know that it is on the books, and we are going to make necessary corrections. The people will go forward.

I thank my colleague from Virginia.

Mr. President, today I celebrate the 98th birthday of a true civil rights pioneer and social activist: Dorothy Height.

She began her career in the 1930s, as a teacher in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after it was founded, she became active in the United Christian Youth Movement.

It was this cause that would first carry her to national leadership, though she was quite a young woman at the time.

In 1938, Dorothy was selected by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to help plan a World Youth Conference, and later served as a delegate to the World Conference on Life and Work of the Churches.

The same year, she was hired by the YWCA, and quickly began to rise through the ranks of the national organization.

And it was also around this time that she caught the attention of Mary McLeod Bethune, founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women, or NCNW, who recruited young Dorothy to join the fight for women's rights.

She remained deeply involved in the YWCA, and also attained high leadership positions in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the United Civil Rights Leadership, and a number of other organizations.

She helped to guide these pivotal groups through the stormy waters of the civil rights movement, looking always to the future, and maintaining a steadfast dedication to cause and principle.

But it was Dorothy's distinguished leadership of the NCNW that would come to define her career.

In 1957, Dorothy Height was elected fourth national president of NCNW--a position she would hold continuously until 1998.

For more than four decades, she was at the helm of the preeminent leadership council for African-American women.

Thanks to her unrivaled expertise, transcendent vision, and lifelong dedication to this cause and this great organization, when she retired in 1998, she lived in a country that was far more free, more fair, and more equal than the one she knew as a child.

For her extraordinary work, in 2004 this Congress bestowed upon her its highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. President Bush presented her with this award on her 92nd birthday.

And so today, as Dorothy turns 98, I ask my colleagues to join with me in honoring the immeasurable contributions she has made to this country. I ask them to reflect upon the leadership she has rendered, the causes she has championed, and the countless lives she has touched.

Without Dorothy Height, America might be a very different place. I thank her immensely for the difference she has made, and for the lifetime of hard work she has devoted to her fellow citizens.

I wish her a wonderful birthday and many happy returns.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Madam President, in Washington there is a great deal of talk about what health care reform will mean for various segments of the population. In particular, many of us spend a lot of time talking about 47 million Americans who do not currently have health insurance and how they stand to benefit from our reform bill. This debate has centered on these folks, especially the 31 million people who will gain access to coverage under our proposal. In my opinion, this alone should be reason enough to pass health care reform. Expanding access to coverage will improve relative health outcomes and save money across the board. It will shift our focus from sick care to preventive care and will reduce wait time in emergency rooms. This will have a profound effect on the lives of millions, and it speaks to the profound need for comprehensive health care reform. But that is only a part of the story.

Many of my friends in this Chamber and many people across the country recognize the need to expand health coverage. But they are also worried about the effects that health reform will have on their insurance. Middle-class Americans hear all this talk about helping people with no insurance at all and they say: That is great, but I need help too. My premiums are going up, and benefits are disappearing. I am worried that I don't have stable coverage, or that I won't have access to care when I need it. How will reform help me?

I think it is time to take a deeper look at these folks. It is time to provide some answers to their questions. It is time to explain how our proposal would affect their lives. I wish to talk about what our reform bill will mean for the middle class and especially the minority community that have felt the worst effect of our economic crisis.

As I address this Chamber today, there are 88 million people who lack stable health coverage. That is almost a third of the total population who live in fear that their coverage would vanish at any time. Unfortunately, those fears reflect a harsh reality that it is impossible for middle-class families to ignore. In Illinois alone, there are some 612,000 people who have nongroup insurance. These folks will see their premiums go up by as much as 60 percent this year. I am sure my colleagues can agree, that is outrageous.

But it doesn't have to be this way. If we pass a final health care bill and send it to President Obama, middle-class America will start to see the benefits almost immediately. Our legislation would bring unprecedented stability to the market. No one would have to fear that their insurance providers would drop their coverage. No one could be denied care because of a preexisting condition. Our bill will give the American people more power and more choices. It will bring real competition to the insurance market. It will create significant cost savings, and it will restore accountability in the insurance industry.

For the average American, this means saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. It means more time with family doctors and less paperwork and redtape. It means free preventive care and discounted premiums for those who stay in shape, quit smoking, and control their weight. It means no one can be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition, and no one will be forced to pay higher premiums because they get sick. If we pass a final health care bill, 1.8 million people in Illinois will be able to get coverage for the very first time. The 612,000 people in the nongroup market will have an option to buy affordable coverage on the insurance exchange. This will reduce their premiums and improve the quality of their coverage almost overnight.

But it doesn't stop there. One million additional Illinoisans could qualify for tax credits that could make it easier to afford insurance and perhaps, most importantly, 144,000 small businesses would benefit from a tax credit designed to make coverage more affordable. This strikes at the heart of the debate we have been having in recent weeks, especially as it relates to the middle class.

My friends across the aisle are trying to stop us from passing reform. They want us to focus on job creation instead. But what they fail to realize is that these two problems go hand in hand. We can't solve one problem without addressing the other. If we make health insurance more affordable, American companies and especially small businesses will be able to hire more workers. They will be able to afford full coverage for their employees, and there will no longer be any incentives to lay off older workers or to save on premiums. This will make a profound difference in the lives of ordinary folks in my home State and across the country.

About 75 percent of Illinois businesses are small businesses. Under the current system, only 41 percent of them have been able to offer health benefits. But if we pass comprehensive reform--if we will extend a tax credit to 144,000 Illinois small businesses and millions of businesses nationwide--it will reduce the burden on working families. It will help businesses recover from the recession, and even start to expand again. It will help create jobs.

That is what our health care reform bill will mean for middle-class Americans: stability, security, better coverage; freedom to shop around and find a good price; competition in the market; renewed accountability. That is what health care reform will do for millions of ordinary folks across the country.

For minority communities, these effects will be even more pronounced. In Illinois, more than 21 percent of minorities do not have health insurance, compared with 12 percent of Whites. This places them at a greater risk for problems down the road--problems ranging from higher infant mortality to increased rates of chronic diseases in later life. Combine these risks with a higher property rate, and you have a recipe for disaster.

But our bill will help to change all of this. It will change that. Our bill will expand coverage, invest in preventive care, and help spur job creation. It will have a dramatic effect on the hard-hit communities and minority areas that need the help the most.

So on behalf of middle-class Americans and minority individuals and small businesses, on behalf of millions of ordinary folks in Illinois and across the country, I call upon my colleagues to pass this bill without further delay.

Our reform proposals will ensure that everyone is part of the solution to America's health care crisis. So let's seize this opportunity. Let's move forward together. Let's extend the benefits of health reform to the middle class. That way, America can move forward in this 21st century.

Madam President, I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business.

Mr. President, in 1777, when our Republic was just a year old and the Revolutionary War was raging, a man named Frank McWorter was born in South Carolina.

In 1795, when the war was over and George Washington was President, he moved to Kentucky. He married a woman named Lucy.

And in 1830, he and his family moved to Illinois--the very same year that a man named Thomas Lincoln, along with his son Abraham, moved to there from Indiana.

Frank McWorter decided he would settle down, and so he bought a farm in Pike County's Hadley Township, and he began to plan out the town of New Philadelphia. Other settlers moved in. Soon, there were family homes, businesses, and even a school.

And when Frank McWorter died of natural causes in 1854, having lived more than three-quarters of a century, he died in the town he founded and guided to prosperity.

The community of New Philadelphia continued to thrive until it was bypassed by the expanding railroad in 1869. Left behind by the steam engine, and the wave of expansion it pushed across the western frontier, the residents of New Philadelphia began to disperse by the late 1880's, and the town gradually disappeared again into the Illinois prairie.

The story of Frank McWorter and New Philadelphia is an extraordinary one.

But as I told this story a moment ago, here on the Senate floor, I left out one defining detail.

If Frank McWorter had been a farmer, or a banker, or a soldier, his tale would be remarkable because of the era in which he lived--but in many ways, he would have been no different from thousands of others who grew up in the early days of our country.

But Frank McWorter's story is extraordinary because he was not a farmer, or a banker, or a soldier--no, he was a slave.

When he moved to Kentucky in 1795, he did not go voluntarily. He went with his owners. On the day he met Lucy, his future wife, the two of them were slaves on neighboring farms.

Eventually, Frank was allowed to work odd jobs, and hire out his own time and labor. He learned to mine a major component of gunpowder, which proved profitable.

By 1817, he had earned enough money to purchase freedom for his wife. And in 1819, he bought his own freedom--and set out to build a life for himself, as a free American. That is the story of Frank McWorter.

So, when he started the town of New Philadelphia in 1836, he accomplished something truly remarkable and unique. He became the first known free African American in history to legally found and plan a town.

And he used the proceeds from land sales to purchase freedom for 15 of his family members.

I invite my colleagues to imagine what life must have been like in New Philadelphia in the mid-1800s. In pre-Civil War America--in a time when this country still legally permitted slavery--New Philadelphia, IL, was a place where people of all races lived and worked side by side.

Federal census records indicate that the town was populated by teachers, blacksmiths, merchants, cabinetmakers, and shoemakers. There was a seamstress, a doctor, a wheelwright, and a carpenter. New Philadelphia even had its own post office, which also served as a stagecoach stop.

Imagine what we could learn from studying this unique place, which existed during such an important time.

An in-depth study of New Philadelphia could yield important information about what life was like in an integrated community during that period. It could add new dimensions to our understanding of the history we share.

I urge my colleagues to join with me in preserving this historic site, which was designated a National Historic Landmark last year.

But I believe it's time to take the next step to ensure that the extraordinary story of Frank McWorter and New Philadelphia is preserved for generations to come.

I ask my colleagues to support S. 1629, a bill I have introduced to direct the Secretary of the Interior to begin a Special Resource Study, which would determine whether the New Philadelphia site can be managed as a unit of the National Park Service.

Today, not much remains of the structures where the town's residents

lived and worked. For passersby, the site is an open field just southeast of Springfield, IL.

But in 2004, a three-year National Science Foundation grant allowed archaeologists to explore this site for the first time. They found building foundations, wells, pit cellars, and a total of more than 65,000 artifacts. They recognized that these exciting discoveries have the potential to yield even more information.

And if we pass this bill, and allow the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the national significance and suitability of this site, we could pave the way for its preservation as part of the National Park Service.

We can re-discover the incredible history that has been hidden among the prairie grass for more than a century.

We can reclaim the spirit that drove Frank McWorter--a man born into slavery--to reach for equality and opportunity, to establish himself and his family as free African Americans, in a time when freedom was extremely hard to come by, and to establish a thriving community--a place of inter-racial peace and cooperation--in a dark period for race relations in America.

I believe we must act to preserve this legacy. I believe we owe it to ourselves--and to future generations of Americans--to examine the history of New Philadelphia, and the life of pioneers like Frank McWorter.

Let us pass S. 1629, so we can better understand those who came before us. In the process, I have no doubt we will discover some remarkable things about ourselves.

I yield the floor.

Social Justice

Mr. President, I rise today to call attention to the important and essential role that health care professionals play in providing quality health care across our Nation. Our Nation's health care system is complex and people with many different health needs are served by the diverse group of caring, qualified professionals in the allied health fields. Some of these important health practitioners include respiratory therapists, music therapists, athletic trainers, clinical laboratory scientists, radiologic technologists, medical assistants and many others. There are more than 100 distinct occupations in the health professions, in addition to physicians and nurses.

These dedicated health professionals are expert in a multitude of therapeutic, diagnostic, and preventive health interventions and wellness initiatives in diverse settings. These professionals work in disease prevention and control, dietary and nutritional services, mental and physical health promotion, rehabilitation and health systems management. They can be found in community, school and athletic training clinics, long-term and rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, laboratories, hospice, and private homes.

These health professionals represent about 60 percent of the health care workforce and approximately 6 million jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 of the 20 fastest growing occupations for 2008-2018 are in the health professions.

With many of these fields facing critical workforce shortages, it is essential that we work to increase awareness of the great career opportunities they offer, especially for racial/ethnic minorities. We also need to support the educational programs that will produce our future caregivers. Recent stimulus funding, for example, will go to train 15,000 people nationwide in job skills for careers in health care, IT, and other high-growth fields. In Park Forest, IL, Governors State University will use its $4.9 million grant to help unemployed, dislocated, and low-wage incumbent workers pursue careers in health care.

I strongly support the vital role health care professionals play in our health care system, which could not function without their tireless efforts. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing this important group of professionals.

Madam President, I thank my colleague from Virginia and the distinguished Senator from Rhode Island. It is a pleasure for me to join in this very important discussion in the Senate.

I am proud to join my Democratic colleagues on the floor this morning to discuss some of the obstructionism we have seen from the other side on a number of Presidential nominations. It is the duty of this Senate to provide advice and consent on more than 2,000 government officials appointed by the President of the United States. These individuals range from Cabinet level officers to agency administrators, ambassadors, Federal judges, and more. They are tasked with leading important agencies and offices such as the Transportation Security Administration, our diplomatic missions around the world, and various law enforcement organizations.

These nominees generally make it through committee on near-unanimous bipartisan votes. They are extremely dedicated public servants who stand ready to defend our national security, advance our shared interests, and carry out the important work of the American people. But when these nominations come out of the committee, they invariably hit a roadblock. They hit a stone wall. They are stalled the moment they come to the Senate floor. That is because my Republican friends are holding up dozens of these nominations.

Scores of important offices remain vacant because of the same partisan tactics of distraction and delay that we have seen time and time again from the other side. It is not that my Republican colleagues have any problems with the qualifications of the nominees themselves. They enjoy bipartisan support in committee. They carry the high esteem of both Democrats and Republicans. When we are finally able to break the filibuster and have an up-or-down vote, these individuals are almost always confirmed unanimously, as the judge from Senator Warner's State of Virginia was, with a vote of 99 to 0. It was senseless for that nomination to be held up for that long.

But thanks to the same old political games, it is difficult to get cloture on these nominations so we can get a floor vote in the first place. The same Republican Senators who vote in favor of these nominees in committee--the same Senators who later support them on the floor-- try to keep us from moving forward as a full Senate. This is obstructionism at its worst. This is pure politics at the expense of the American taxpayers.

This is a waste of our time and effort, and the American people deserve better. They sent us to Washington to solve big problems--to create jobs, to reform health care, to strengthen our educational system. But my Republican friends are not interested in working together to confront these challenges. Instead, they drag their feet on noncontroversial things such as Presidential nominations in hopes of scoring political points. They bring this body to a standstill just so they can advance a partisan agenda. Meanwhile, dozens of important Federal agencies are without leadership at the highest levels. Thousands of government employees are working without the public servants who have been appointed to lead them--all because of Republican political games.

So I would ask my good friends from the other side of the aisle to abandon these tactics of distraction and delay. Let's have a substantial debate about the issues, not an argument over procedure. Let's stop wasting time and start working together to solve the problems we face. In the meantime, let's confirm these nominees so they can take up their appointed offices and begin to serve the American people.

I yield the floor to the distinguished Senator from New Hampshire.

Mr. President, I wish to commend my senior Senator from Illinois for his comments on health care and what we must do in this body to pass health care. It is long overdue. It is time for us to work with our colleagues in the House of Representatives to make sure we cover those 50 million Americans who are uninsured.

Urban Prep Academy

I wish to do a little presentation here for some young men from Chicago. In 2006, a brandnew school opened its doors to the community of Englewood on the south side of Chicago. This school is called the Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men. It was designed to provide quality education to an area desperately in need of a new approach.

Local schools were failing. Last year, 93 percent of the public high school students in the neighborhood were classified as low income. The public school attendance rate was around 60 percent. The local high school ranked 81st out of 98 Chicago public schools in terms of preparing students to succeed on college entrance exams such as the