Floor Statements

Madam President, I am pleased to rise in the Senate today to congratulate Eli Manning and the New York Giants football team for their great victory in the National Football League championship game. As most Senators probably know, Eli is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and he lives in Oxford, MS, during the off- season.

The Giants' 21-to-17 victory was the second NFL championship for this team in the last 4 years.

Eli Manning began the game by completing his first nine passes, which was a new Super Bowl record, and he was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. He became the fifth player in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards. During the regular season, Manning threw for 4,933 yards and 29 touchdown passes, including a NFL record of 15 touchdown passes in fourth quarters. He also led six game- winning drives that allowed the Giants to overcome deficits in the final stage of their games.

Manning and his wife Abby have supported many worthy causes and have made a strong commitment to the health and education of young people in Mississippi. They have made a pledge to raise $2.5 million for the Eli Manning Children's Clinic at the Hospital for Children in Jackson, MS, and they have also donated $1 million to start the Ole Miss Opportunity Scholarship Program, which helps children in Mississippi with special financial needs to have the opportunity to attend college.

Manning has served as a member of President Bush's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and is active with many other organizations, such as the March of Dimes and the American Red Cross. His commitment to voluntarism and national service is very impressive and worthy of high praise.

I am very proud to congratulate Eli Manning and the New York Giants as Super Bowl champions.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join the leader and other Senators on both sides of the aisle as we congratulate Alan Frumin on his impressive service as our Parliamentarian which was characterized by the dutiful and trustworthy performance of his duties.

We wish for him much continued success in the years ahead.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, let me say I am pleased to join the chairman of the committee, the distinguished Senator from Hawaii, in urging approval of the Omnibus appropriations bill as well as the bill to provide funds for disaster relief. These bills fully comply with the requirements of the Budget Control Act. The process for reviewing requests for provisions in this bill were held in open public hearings. Senators testified before our committee. Others from around the country came to Washington to express their views.

Together with appropriations bills that have already been enacted, the omnibus brings appropriations for the basic operations of our government to $1.043 trillion. The disaster bill provides an additional $8 billion for disaster relief in response to damages incurred from floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes that have plagued much of the country during the spring and summer months. These funds are within the limits established in the Budget Control Act, specifically for disaster relief. Total discretionary spending carried in all of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills will be $31 billion below last year's level.

I would have to say our committee opened its hearing rooms to those who wanted to express views on the funding levels of all of the programs that were important throughout our Federal budget process. There are some dramatic reductions in spending, such as the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the co-op program created in the health care bill. We zeroed out funding for some of the energy credit subsidy provisions of this bill. That was hard to do, but savings were needed and the committee responded to those needs.

The bill eliminates 22 programs in the Labor-HHS chapter for a savings of over $\1/4\ billion. But we don't hear about that. People don't brag about reducing funding. But this committee did

that because it was responsible, in our judgment, to do it.

I am very pleased to have had the honor of working closely with the chairman of the committee, one of the finest Members of this Senate, and we urge the approval of this legislation.

Mr. President, I rise in support of both the omnibus appropriations bill and the bill to provide funds for disaster relief. They have been approved by the other body by overwhelming, bipartisan votes. I urge the Senate to approve these bills.

They fully comply with the requirements of the Budget Control Act. Together with appropriations bills already enacted, the omnibus brings appropriations for the basic operations of government to the $1.043 trillion level established in the Act. The disaster bill provides an additional $8 billion for disaster relief in response to the floods, tornados and hurricanes that plagued much of the country during the spring and summer months. These funds are within the limits established in the BCA specifically for disaster relief. Total discretionary spending carried in all of the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills will be $31 billion below last year's level.

Within the omnibus there are many adjustments in funding levels for individual programs. The bill increases the base budget for the Department of Defense by $5 billion. It provides increases for border security, nuclear weapons modernization, the National Institutes of Health, and veterans medical care. The bill maintains the maximum Pell grant award at its current level, but pays for that with a series of needed reforms.

The bill reduces funding for the National Labor Relations Board, the Environmental Protection Agency, FEMA grants, and the Election Assistance Commission. It cuts the Independent Payment Advisory Board and the co-op program created in the health care bill. It zeroes out funding for energy credit subsidies. It eliminates 22 programs in the Labor-HHS chapter for a savings of a quarter of a billion dollars.

This conference report also carries a number of policy provisions that are important to members on my side of the aisle. These include limitations on funding for needle exchange programs and certain Department of Labor regulations. There is language to maintain a balanced permitting process for grazing on Federal lands, construction of logging roads, and domestic oil and gas production.

I sincerely wish that it were not necessary to act on an omnibus bill. I prefer that all Members have the opportunity to consider, amend, and vote on appropriations bills individually.

The Appropriations Committee has consistently produced bills in a timely manner for consideration in the Senate and in the House, but we are sometimes unable to advance bills to the floor due to circumstances beyond our control. This year, our efforts were complicated greatly by the absence of a budget resolution and a protracted, summer-long battle over the debt ceiling bill.

Many members on my side of the aisle have decried the fact that it has been nearly 1,000 days since the Senate last approved a budget resolution. That criticism is absolutely valid. It is deplorable that at a time of fiscal crisis we have not adopted a comprehensive budget in so long.

What we do have, however, is a budget for discretionary spending that was laid out in the Budget Control Act. That Act included caps that lock in recent cuts in discretionary spending and hold future discretionary growth below the rate of inflation.

The Appropriations Committee did not write the Budget Control Act. Some members of our committee voted

for it, some against. But 74 members of the Senate did vote for it, including a majority of members on both sides of the aisle. That is more votes than I can recall any budget resolution ever receiving.

So now it is time to implement the Budget Control Act through the enactment of the remaining fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills. A bipartisan, bicameral agreement has been reached. There is no money to be saved by resorting to a year-long Continuing Resolution. It would be an omnibus bill itself, and would result in overspending in some areas and underinvestment in others.

I am pleased to have worked with Chairman Inouye, our committee members, and the conferees in the other body to negotiate this legislation.

The Senate did not win every argument with the other body. But this conference report is a fair compromise with many positive features, and it is consistent with the guidance in the Budget Control Act. I hope that it will be a stepping stone toward the more timely and measured consideration of appropriations bills in the future.

I urge my colleagues to support the conference report and the disaster relief bill.

Mr. President, this conference report contains agreements between the House and Senate on three appropriations bills.

These bills support a wide range of important Federal Government activities. It also includes an extension of the continuing resolution that expires on Friday.

The conference report is the product of negotiations that have taken place with the other body's conferees over the past several weeks.

I commend the chairmen and ranking members of each of the subcommittees for the thoughtful manner in which they have undertaken their responsibilities. I also thank the staff members for their diligence and the many long hours they have spent in the performance of their duties and bringing us to this point.

The practice of combining multiple appropriations bills into a single package is not ideal, nor should it be encouraged. I would prefer, and I know other Senators would as well, that we have the opportunity to consider, offer amendments, and vote on the bills individually.

This summer, the months during which we normally debate appropriations bills, Congress and the President were wrangling over legislation to increase the debt ceiling and other matters. While the committee moved quickly to report bills in September, we are now more than a month into the new fiscal year and are only now approaching enactment of the first three appropriations bills. I don't know how or when we will be able to actually complete action on all these measures, but I want the Senate to know that the members of this committee, under the very able and distinguished leadership of Senator Inouye from Hawaii, have done everything within our power to try to get the Senate to move quickly but carefully to approve these bills.

So, Mr. President, without prolonging the debate and knowing other Senators are here to speak, let me just say that we have the restraints of the Budget Control Act, which were respected by the Appropriations Committee. Caps were included that locked in recent cuts in discretionary spending, and that is holding future discretionary growth below the rate of inflation. The act we are passing will bring discretionary spending as a percentage of GDP to the lowest levels since the Eisenhower administration.

I am confident the House and Senate will work together in the coming weeks to complete our negotiations on these and other appropriations bills that will fully comply with the guidance set out in the Budget Control Act. Today, we are making a good start with these three appropriations bills, and I urge support for the conference report.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I take this opportunity to congratulate MG Alfred K. Flowers, U.S. Air Force, for his dedicated service to our country. General Flowers has the distinct honor of being the longest serving member in the history of the U.S. Air Force, and he is the longest serving active duty member in the Department of Defense.

In his present assignment, General Flowers serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget and is responsible for planning and directing the Air Force's budget. Over the last 2 years in this role, he led a team of over 160 military, civilian and contractor professionals charged on behalf of the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force to present to the Congress the funding of all Air Force programs. It is his responsibility to organize and present to the Congress annual appropriations submissions as well as various overseas contingency operations requests. His leadership and his keen understanding of the Congress has served the Air Force and the security interests of our country very well during appearances of the senior leadership of the Air Force before committees of the House and Senate. General Flowers' vision, inspirational leadership, and unselfish devotion to duty have resulted in important improvements in the resourcing of and strategic direction of Air Force's missions.

General Flowers began his career as an enlisted supply warehouseman in August 1965 at Grand Forks Air Force Base. He then served as an air transportation specialist for 4 years beginning in September 1967. In 1971, General Flowers became an accounting specialist for the Air Force and served 7 years in that role. After his selection to the grade of master sergeant, General Flowers was commissioned, following graduation from Officer Training School as a distinguished graduate in December 1978. In his first three assignments as a budget officer, he served at the squadron, major command and air staff levels. In 1990, he was assigned as Chief of the Budget Operations Division for Air Combat Command, where he later served as the chief of budget.

The general has served on the Joint Staff as a defense resource manager, and in 1999 was the director of budget programs for the Department of the Air Force. General Flowers also served as the Air Education and Training Command comptroller. His other assignments include director, Center for Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments at Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, and commander, Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools. Prior to his current assignment, the general was commander, 2nd Air Force, at Keesler Air Force Base, MS.

Of distinct importance and significance, as the comptroller for Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, he budgeted and managed funding of the largest flying hour program in the Air Force, involving 542,000 hours annually and 38 percent of the Air Force's total flying hour program and spanning 21 major weapons systems. As director, Center for Force Structure, Requirements and Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command, he spearheaded the largest increase in resources and force structure for Special Operations Forces in the history of U.S. Special Operations Command. His insightful vision and tireless dedication were instrumental in garnering 13,000 additional personnel and $11 billion in additional funding to enhance and expand Special Operations Forces to successfully execute the Global War on Terrorism.

As the 2nd Air Force Commander, General Flowers led the largest transformation of basic military training in 50 years, expanding training from 6.5 to 8.5 weeks. This modernization was vital to providing realistic expeditionary combat skills training to prepare enlisted airmen for their deployments. His support of combatant commanders included providing over 14,000 joint expeditionary tasking airmen to the area of responsibility and reshaped the role of the Air Force in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Following these assignments, General Flowers was well prepared to assume his current position as the director of the Air Force budget. Under his direction, this organization developed, established, and cultivated professional relationships within the air staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Army, the Navy, the Marine Corps, and with Members and staff of the U.S. Congress, significantly improving the record of approval of resources necessary to support key warfighter programs. He provided critical oversight and direction for over 30 Air Force appropriations to accurately deliver a nearly $800 billion Future Years' Defense Program budget to the Office of the Secretary of Defense on time and on target. He has successfully completed annual budget submissions of close to $170 billion for fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013 and justified them to the Secretary of Defense, the Office of Management and Budget, the Congressional Defense Appropriations and Authorization Subcommittees and the Congressional Budget Office. General Flowers' leadership, sound judgment, and wise counsel will be sorely missed by all.

I am pleased to commend General Flowers for his historic and outstanding service to our country, which is a great example of distinguished military service. On the occasion of his upcoming retirement, I wish General Flowers and his family all the very best in the years to come.

Mr. President, today, the Senate mourns the death of the former United States Senator of the State of Oregon, Mark Odom Hatfield. He was elected to the Senate in 1966, and served for 30 years until his retirement.

The U.S. Senate lost one of its most talented and successful Senators when Mark Hatfield retired from this body.

It was a pleasure for me to serve on the Appropriations Committee when he became Chairman and to learn from his example of courtesy to others and his polite but unapologetic adherence to his personal views and convictions, even when they may have differed from those of others.

His service reflected great credit on the United States Senate.

Senator Hatfield was a tireless and effective advocate for serious reforms aimed at improving the quality of life for all Americans and addressing what he called ``the desperate human needs in our midst.'' During the 1980s, he effectively used his Appropriations Chairmanship to champion a wide range of issues from human rights to improvements in health and education programs and environmental and conservation issues; and he got results.

Senator Hatfield's strength of character and commitment to doing the right thing, according to his conscience, whatever the consequences, was widely admired.

His contributions through his lifetime of dedicated service in Oregon and our Nation's capital are impressive, and will be long respected.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record an outline of Senator Hatfield's legislative accomplishments.

Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Dave Johnson for 23 years of service to the Federal Government. I am very grateful for his effective and dedicated leadership as chief counsel of the Senate Agriculture Committee during the time I served as chairman of the Committee.

He also served in important jobs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as well as the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. The farm bills that Mr. Johnson helped draft during his career are impressive examples of his insight and good judgment.

The far-reaching effects of his contributions to the field of agriculture are illustrated by the successes we have had as a Nation as a result of our food and agriculture policies. I congratulate Dave Johnson for his impressive career of improving the quality of life of rural America.

Mr. President, it is a distinct honor and pleasure to join Senator Leahy in welcoming our guests from the United Kingdom to the Senate. This is a tradition we have really enjoyed and benefited from--the close opportunity to talk and discuss issues of mutual interest and concerns--and I think we reflect credit on the good relationship of both of our countries in that process. It is an honor

to join him in welcoming them at this time.

Madam President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Hawaii for his kind word about the management of this bill. I join him in his congratulations to the two managers. We appreciate their hard work.

The committee had extensive hearings and review of all the appropriations bills we are going to be taking up--a public hearing process, open for comments, with opportunities for people to express their views. They have done that in a diligent, careful, and responsible manner. I think it is a credit to the Senate that we have considered this bill today. We look forward to continuing to work our way through all the appropriations bills that come under the jurisdiction of the committee. I especially thank my friend from Hawaii for his leadership.

Mr. President, our State of Mississippi lost one of its finest citizens when Virginia Wagner of Bay St. Louis died last week.

I ask that the article entitled ``Virginia Wagner Left Legacy of Generosity'' which was posted by the Sun Herald in Gulfport, MS, be printed in the Record.

The article is an excellent tribute to the life and legacy of one of our State's finest citizens.

She and her family are in our thoughts and prayers.

The information follows.

Virginia Wagner Left Legacy of Generosity

(By Michael Newsom)

Bay St. Louis resident Virginia Wagner--member of a

prominent Hancock County family known for good deeds--died

Monday. Friends said she left her own legacy of generosity.

Wagner was the daughter of Leo W. Seal Sr. and Rebecca

Baxter Seal, and also the younger sister of the late Leo W.

Seal Jr., a well known Coast philanthropist, businessman and

community leader. Wagner, 81, died Monday morning, a few days

after a fall at her home. Her husband, Fred Wagner, said his

``extraordinary'' wife spent her life helping others.

``She was from a distinguished family who valued public

service and helping other people and looking for

opportunities to be responsible citizens,'' he said. ``There

was a heritage of that in her family. Her brother was very

much that way and her mother and father were very much that

way. She constantly was interested in and concerned about

others. You don't see that kind of philosophy often. A great

part of it was her spiritual heritage and her faith. She was

a committed Christian.''

Fred and Virginia met in the early 1950s when they both

lived in New Orleans. A mutual friend introduced them and 57

years after their marriage, Fred Wagner remembered his wife

Monday when speaking to the Sun Herald as ``absolutely the

most wonderful wife any man could ask for'' and ``a wonderful

mother to our children.''

Her daughter, Lisa Yearwood, said that even into her 80s,

Virginia Wagner kept a social calendar that would rival most

people 60 years younger. She kept recent letters from her

mother that laid out her entire week's plans that involved

meetings, charity work and other engagements. The writings

serve as a testament to her tirelessness.

``She was not a typical 81-year-old lady,'' Yearwood said.

Yearwood said she would remember her mother for the way she

treated others--something she tries to mimic.

``She was amazingly welcoming and hospitable,'' Yearwood

said. ``That was across the board. Whether that was with a

waiter in a restaurant or people in Washington, it didn't

matter. She was incredibly loving and welcoming and I hope I

picked that up from her.''

She kept a busy schedule. In May, Wagner worked a booth at

the Bay Bridge Fest selling T-shirts, despite the sweltering

temperatures. She was a member of Gulf Coast Blessings, a

women's Bible study group. Years ago, Wagner and others began

teaching children how to swim and that evolved into a swim

team that competed in events across the state. She was also

an avid tennis player in the 1950s and 1960s--at a time when

her husband said there weren't many others on the Coast

playing the sport. She worked as a chaperone for the Miss USA

pageant when it was held on the Coast for several years in

the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Virginia Wagner also organized a Mardi Gras marching club

known as ``The Marching Fools From Istanbul'' and she carried

a silver whistle that helped her keep the group in line.

``She was a fun person and she was always in charge,'' Fred

Wagner said.

Friend Carrie Rester said she will remember Virginia

Wagner's generosity and ``giving heart.''

``She loved people and wanted to share that love whether it

was with a birthday card, inviting people into her home,

delivering a treat she made or checking in by phone or

email,'' Rester said. ``She was always thinking about others,

going the extra mile for her friends and family.''

Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the brave men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in defense of our Nation. This Memorial Day, I join all Americans in honoring those brave souls.

Over the past decade since the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces have been deployed to fight on our behalf in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thousands of those courageous servicemen and women have lost their lives as part of these ongoing missions. More than 70 of these warriors called Mississippi home, including 7 brave fighters who have been killed in Afghanistan since we last observed this national holiday. These are the sacrifices that we should keep in mind as we commemorate Memorial Day 2011.

I am deeply grateful to the young Mississippians we have lost over the past 12 months, and my heart goes out to the families and friends they leave behind.

For the record, I now cite the names of these fallen heroes from Mississippi:

1SG Robert N. Barton of Roxie, 35, who died June 7, 2010;

PFC Joshua S. Ose of Hernando, 19, who died September 20, 2010;

PFC William B. Dawson of Tunica, 20, who died September 24, 2010;

SGT Eric C. Newman of Waynesboro, 30, who died October 14, 2010;

1LT William J. Donnelly IV of Picayune, 27, who died November 25, 2010;

SSG Jason A. Rogers of Brandon, 28, who died April 7, 2011; and

SSG David D. Self of Pearl, 29, who died May 16, 2011.

While their sacrifices will leave a deep void in many lives, I hope their families can find comfort in the fact that they served proudly and will be counted among the multitude of Mississippians who, over the long history of our great Nation, have bravely served and courageously given their lives for their country.

Mississippians traditionally identify themselves with a strong support of our national defense and a willingness to serve in our Armed Forces. We also hold fast to the memory of those lost in battle.

In fact, Columbus, MS, proudly claims to be the birthplace of Memorial Day, which was originally designated as Decoration Day to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. This tradition evolved into Memorial Day, which was recognized as a Federal holiday in 1971.

As we again gather to commemorate Memorial Day, people across Mississippi will stop to reflect on all those who have perished protecting our Nation, whether in battles long ago or in the ongoing conflicts. We will also affirm our belief that Congress should ensure that those who join our Armed Forces will be the best equipped and best trained in the world.

As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I am thankful for the bravery and dedication of those who have fought and died for our country in our defense. They are true heroes, and we owe them our solemn gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Sergeant Ken Hermogino

I thank the Chair.

(The remarks of Mr. Cochran pertaining to the submission of S. Res. 170 are located in today's Record under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I am pleased to submit a resolution today to honor the distinguished 39-year career of ADM Thad Allen, retired Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Our Nation's first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, observed that ``a few armed vessels, judiciously stationed at the entrance of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws.'' These words inspired the creation of the modern day U.S. Coast Guard. More than 200 years later, the Coast Guard is today dutifully executing its diverse and challenging missions, demonstrating their dual functionality as both a military service and a law enforcement authority.

Despite limited resources and a broadened scope of responsibility, the Coast Guard has risen to the increased challenges it faces. Time and time again, the men and women of the Coast Guard prove the value of their presence and their important role in protecting the public, as well as the environmental, economic, and security interests of the United States.

For almost four decades, Admiral Allen dedicated himself to these missions and capped his career by providing meritorious leadership to our Nation's oldest continuous seagoing service.

Thad Allen was born and raised in Tucson, AZ. His parents were chief damage controlman Clyde Allen and Wilma Allen. After graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1971, he served in a variety of assignments, eventually becoming Commandant. He often refers to himself as the ``unlikely admiral.''

It has been said before, and I think it is worth repeating: ``When times are at their worst, the Coast Guard is at its best.'' Admiral Allen deserves credit for providing the leadership skills that allowed that statement to remain true during some of the most difficult times for our Nation in recent years.

I came to know Thad Allen in a time of hardship. My home State of Mississippi and other Gulf Coast States had just experienced two of the deadliest hurricanes in our Nation's history in Katrina and Rita. He was the principal Federal official for response and recovery from those natural disasters. I will never forget the destruction we witnessed-- homes, schools, and big oak trees that had stood for decades were completely leveled. But through his efforts and those of the brave men and women throughout the Coast Guard, over 33,500 gulf coast residents were rescued from rooftops and flooded homes.

Admiral Allen proved himself to be a man of not just sterling courage, with compassion to match, but also a man of great integrity and an enormous capacity for hard work. He is a direct reflection of the guardian ethos and an inspiration of those who have had the good fortune to work with him.

Admiral Allen will, of course, be the first to say that the brave men and women throughout the ranks of the Coast Guard are the ones who deserve the credit for success. He has made a habit of openly praising their sacrifice and often thankless service.

Today, I am proud to say that my State, due in part to his leadership and those Coast Guard men and women who have served under him, has made a great deal of progress in recovering from the most severe natural disasters in our Nation's history.

As the Coast Guard's motto is ``Semper Paratus''--always ready-- Admiral Allen is an embodiment of that motto. We do not need to look back too far to find an example, most recently, when the President selected him to serve as national incident commander in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico. Admiral Allen stood ready and provided resolute leadership, overseeing the Federal Government's response efforts and remaining on Active Duty for an additional 3 months past his slated retirement.

In Mississippi, we are grateful for the service and leadership of ADM Thad Allen, which will be long remembered and appreciated. I know the admiral and his family will enjoy the new opportunities that come with retirement, in addition to a well-earned respite from the demands and challenges of his exemplary career in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Madam President, I am pleased to recognize and commend Joe Richardson for his dedicated service as a Specialist in Social Policy at the Congressional Research Service.

The Congressional Research Service, CRS, was formed in 1914 as a Federal agency within the legislative branch to provide Congress with a nonpartisan source of information. For nearly a century, CRS has supplied valuable policy analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, and it continues to play a vital role in all stages of the legislative process.

Joe Richardson has been with CRS for nearly 40 years and has proven himself to be an expert agricultural policy analyst, particularly with regard to our domestic food assistance programs. These programs address many needs of America's poor, youth, and elderly, and continue to be very important in assisting our rural and underserved communities. Joe's contributions throughout his tenure have been invaluable in this effort, and his insightful input will undoubtedly be missed.

As a member and former chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I have greatly benefitted from Joe's knowledge and experience. His expertise has helped the committee formulate and pass a number of important pieces of legislation, such as the past several farm bills which authorize a wide range of agricultural and food assistance programs. His timely reports and analyses have allowed Congress to better monitor, update, and improve nutrition programs as economic conditions change and the need for efficiency greatens.

We are forever grateful for Joe's service and commitment to agriculture policy and the U.S. Congress, and I wish him the very best in his future endeavors.