Floor Statements

Mr. President, the Senate has lost its most talented, dedicated, and best-informed Member about the precedents, rules, and customs of the Senate, when the distinguished President pro tempore, Robert Byrd, passed away to join his beloved wife Erma in the heaven he was confident existed for those who were true believers.

I had the good fortune to work closely with Robert Byrd as a fellow member of the Appropriations Committee for 30 years. I served as the ranking minority member when he was chairman and as chairman when he was the ranking minority member. I preferred being chairman. But I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities to conduct the hearings, schedule the committee markups, and negotiate with our House colleagues to formulate and pass the bills that funded the departments of the executive branch, the judiciary, and the Congress.

One of the highlights of my experience with Robert Byrd was a trip we took to several European capitals. He was comfortable discussing our mutual interests and differences with the leaders of other nations. His mastery of European history and politics was as impressive as his well- informed understanding of American history and politics.

On one leg of our trip, Senator Byrd asked my wife Rose to come sit by him.

He wanted to dictate something to her. He started a recitation with names that were not familiar to me, but eventually Rose realized that he was reciting from memory the names of the monarchs of Great Britain, the United Kingdom as we know it, and in the order in which each had served throughout the entire history of that great country. It was an unbelievable performance, reflecting an awesome ability of recall, and a reverential appreciation of a nation which has been our closest ally in recent history.

Robert Byrd was not only my friend but a mentor, an example of dedicated, disciplined, and determined leadership. I will miss him, but I will always remember his legacy of seriousness of purpose, and his love for the Senate, its role in the legislative process, its powers of advise and consent, and its continuity that has helped make our government the most respected in the world.

Mr. President, I am pleased to commend Pete Johnson of Clarksdale, MS, for his service as the Federal Co-Chairman of the Delta Regional Authority.

The authority was formed in 2001 as a Federal-State partnership to enhance the quality of life of the people of the Mississippi River Delta region. Since its inception, Pete Johnson has led the Delta Regional Authority as the Federal cochairman in its efforts to advance the economic opportunities of the residents of 252 counties and parishes in parts of 8 States, which make up the delta region.

Pete Johnson has served the 9.5 million residents of the region and the Governors of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana, with distinction in his capacity as the Federal cochairman.

Under Chairman Johnson's leadership, the Delta Regional Authority has established successful Federal grant programs, as well as the Delta Leadership Institute, Healthy Delta, I-Delta, and the Delta Development Highway System, the Delta Doctors Program, and a multimodal system for the region.

Pete has proven himself to be an exemplary and proactive leader, and the far-reaching effects of his leadership are evidenced by the numerous Delta Regional Authority contributions to the region over the years. The Delta Regional Authority has leveraged limited Federal resources with other Federal, State, and local investments, resulting in over $434 million for 510 projects focused on economic development throughout the eight-state region. Over $1.5 billion of private funds has also been invested in these projects.

In addition, the implementation of the Delta Regional Authority Federal Grant Program has created 5,472 jobs, trained 3,315 individuals for jobs, and improved the water and sewer systems for 11,860 families in the area.

In Mississippi, we are very grateful for the outstanding service of Pete Johnson and his wife Margaret and for the sacrifices they have made to improve the economy and the quality of life in the delta region.

Madam President, all time is yielded back on this side.

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Amendment No. 4231

I move to lay that motion on the table.

The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.

Cloture Motion

Mr. President, I concur with the chairman. The scale of need in both States is significant. While I know the committee would have liked to accommodate a greater amount of funding for Tennessee and Rhode Island, as well as other States, the need to stay within the top- line number in the administration's request has limited the amount of funding available. Given the limited funding available, it is appropriate to focus on States where the underlying economic need is greatest, and I will work to maintain the position described by the chairman.

Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge Memorial Day, which provides us with an opportunity to take time out from our busy lives to remember and honor those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the United States and the liberties we hold dear.

Mississippians have a strong affinity for our national defense, with thousands of brave citizens volunteering to serve in the Armed Forces. We also understand that, unfortunately, we will lose loved ones as part of that dedication.

The very first Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was observed in 1868 by decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers, and since then Americans have set aside a time each year to honor their fallen heroes.

Columbus, MS, proudly claims to be the birthplace of this tradition, but Memorial Day wasn't officially established as a Federal holiday until 1971. In the nearly 234 years since we became an independent nation, Americans have fought in numerous wars, and many have given their lives in defense of the ideals that the United States represents.

As we gather this year to commemorate Memorial Day, we can reflect on all of the Mississippians who have perished protecting our Nation, whether in battles long ago or in the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Since the start of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom almost 10 years ago, more than 70 members of the Armed Forces with close ties to Mississippi have died fighting in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since Memorial Day last year, nine Mississippi soldiers have died while serving the American people. Those valiant men include LCpl. Phillip P. Clark, 19, of Brandon, died May 18, 2010; SGT Anthony O. Magee, 29, of Hattiesburg, died April 27, 2010; Army PFC Anthony Blount, 21, of Petal, died April 7, 2010; SSG William S. Ricketts, 27, of Corinth, died Feb 27, 2010; SFC Christopher D. Shaw, 26, of Natchez, died Sept. 29, 2009; SGT Matthew L. Ingram, 25, of Newton, died Aug. 21, 2009; and SFC Alejandro Granado, 42, of Fairfax, Va., died Aug. 2, 2009. Mississippi Guard; SFC Severin W. Summers III, 43, of Bentonia, died Aug. 2, 2009; and Army SSG Johnny Roosevelt Polk, 39, of Gulfport, died July 31, 2009.

I honor them, and my heart goes out to the families of all the brave Mississippi men and women in uniform who have died for our country. It is the endless support of families that motivates our service men and women to carry out their duties, and their dedication must not be forgotten this Memorial Day.

Congress is working diligently to provide our troops in Afghanistan with the funds necessary to finish the job and come home safely. I understand the necessity of matching our soldiers' readiness with the means to complete their mission, and I am confident that the entire Mississippi delegation and Congress continue to take that duty very seriously.

As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, I am particularly thankful for the bravery and dedication of those who have fought and died for our country in our defense. We are blessed to live in a country that protects its citizens with such a fine, fighting force.

This Memorial Day, I encourage everyone to take a moment to remember the courageous American soldiers who have given their lives for our Nation and to thank their families. Our fallen warriors are true heroes, and we owe them our solemn gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Mr. President, I am pleased to congratulate my friend, Mr. Walton Gresham, III, from Indianola, MS, who has been awarded the National Propane Gas Association's Bill Hill Award. This is a significant achievement that deserves recognition from the U.S. Senate. This award was established in honor of individuals who have made outstanding and lasting

contributions to the LP-Gas industry in the area of government relations. The award honors the memory of the late William C. Hill, who devoted distinguished service to the propane industry and was responsible for easing many of the burdens of price and allocation regulations on both large and small propane marketers throughout the 1970s.

I have known Walton Gresham and his family for many years and can attest to the honor and diligence with which they conduct their business. Mr. Gresham possesses a dignity and gentlemanly nature that has allowed him to be a fine representative for his company and his industry throughout the years. Somehow, he always seems to have the time, and the ability, to make important contributions. I congratulate him on this significant achievement.

I would be happy to yield to my distinguished colleague.

Mr. President, I thank the distinguished Senator from Tennessee for his kind comments about yielding time. I congratulate him and the Senator from Maine on their aggressive move to make sure the Federal rules and laws do not get in the way of humanitarian efforts that are extremely important in a time of natural disaster.

The flooding in Tennessee is a horrible mess. It has been overlooked in the wake of the gulf oil spill and other things that have probably claimed center stage in terms of its national publicity and television coverage that has been occasioned by these disasters. But my assurances are that we will continue to try to be active in a way that will be a constructive influence in the interpretation and application of Federal rules in these situations.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Reserving the right to object, I am constrained to advise the leader and the Senator from Oregon that on behalf of the Senator from South Carolina, Mr. DeMint, I would be forced to object to that.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent I be added as a cosponsor of amendment No. 4179, offered by the distinguished Senator from Louisiana, Ms. Landrieu.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I am pleased to join the distinguished Senator from Hawaii, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, in presenting this supplemental appropriations bill to the Senate. The central purposes of the bill are to fund the military and diplomatic surge in Afghanistan, to respond to natural disasters in this country and in Haiti, and to address the immediate challenges we face from the oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico.

It has been 5 months since the President announced his strategy to achieve stability in Afghanistan. Central to that strategy is the addition of some 30,000 troops into the theater, together with a significant increase in aid and diplomatic resources to the region. Congress has the responsibility and the duty to carefully review and consider the President's request for these supplemental appropriations and approve the expenditure of the funds that are necessary for a successful outcome, one that serves the interests of the United States.

We must be mindful, however, that more than half of the additional troops called for in the President's plan have already arrived in Afghanistan. Spring and summer offenses are being mounted now and in the coming months will become critical to our chances for success. It is also important that we act on the President's request in a timely manner. We should not procrastinate or drag our feet. We should not force the Pentagon to juggle accounts, delay procurements, and otherwise take actions that will detract from our efforts in the field.

The committee has spent several months, as the distinguished chairman pointed out, carefully examining the supplemental request made by the Department of Defense and the State Department. Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton have testified before the committee in support of these requests. The committee members and staff have met with other government officials and outside groups to refine the committee's recommendations.

While this bill includes many of the supplemental requests made by the President, some of his proposals were deemed premature, unwarranted, or inappropriate for inclusion in an emergency supplemental appropriations bill. The committee also heard from both Democratic and Republican Senators about urgent needs not addressed in the President's supplemental request. The chairman and I, as well as the various subcommittee chairmen and ranking members, have worked to address those needs. We have limited the total cost of the bill to the amount requested by the President, and we have kept the bill focused on its central purposes.

In some parts of the country, recent natural disasters have left communities in desperate need of Federal assistance, but with flood waters still receding and damage assessments not yet complete, it has been difficult to respond to all of the requests we have received. The chairman and I will continue to work with Senators representing those communities to see that the Federal response is appropriate and addresses the most critical needs.

For those of us who represent the gulf coast region, our States are dealing with a different kind of disaster. While it is not a natural disaster, it is a very serious event that will have very serious consequences for the natural environment as well as for local economies throughout the region. We cannot predict now and we cannot now know what the long-term impacts of this spill will be. While the Federal Government is intimately involved in the response and cleanup efforts, clearly the parties responsible for the spill must bear the ultimate cost of cleanup and associated damages. The President submitted an oilspill supplemental proposal 1 day prior to the committee's consideration of this bill. The proposal contained funding requests prompted by the spill but not directly tied to the Deepwater Horizon event. It also included broader policy proposals that would restructure the oilspill liability regime currently in place. The committee has had very little time to review these proposals. We have decided to recommend funding only items that are within the committee's jurisdiction that will address urgent needs.

We do not suggest that the committee has arrived at the perfect solution. There may be other proposals that should be included in this legislation. There may be recommendations included by the committee that should be reconsidered based on additional analysis. I look forward to working with our colleagues from the gulf coast and all Senators to address this unfortunate event.

During consideration of this bill in committee, several members identified additional funding needs or policy matters they intend to raise during floor debate. Members not on the committee will surely have amendments as well, and we look forward to working with all Senators to improve this bill where we can. But it is clear that adding additional costs to this bill will exacerbate our Nation's fiscal imbalance and potentially jeopardize our ability to rapidly get needed resources to our men and women in harm's way in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in other parts of the world. This bill recommends $46 billion in discretionary appropriations and another $13 billion in mandatory funds. No matter how important the purposes, that is a significant amount of money. I expect amendments will be offered to offset some or all of these costs.

The disaster relief fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is currently allocating funds for immediate needs only. The fund owes more than $1.5 billion to States for projects already approved to assist communities recovering from disasters. Going into hurricane season, the fund has less than $900 million available to respond to disasters. One way or the other, we must take action to capitalize the fund.

We also must act with a sense of urgency to provide the resources needed to succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq. We should consider those requirements carefully. But I believe we will poorly serve our men and women in the field if we allow internal tactical battles to unduly delay delivery of a bill to the President, or if we burden this bill with other costs or legislative matters that are unrelated and controversial.

I thank the distinguished Senator from Hawaii and able members of his staff for their work on this bill and moving it to this point through the committee. I hope our colleagues who have amendments will contact us so we can help arrange for consideration of those in a timely manner.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I am pleased to join the distinguished Senator from Hawaii, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, in presenting this supplemental appropriations bill to the Senate. The central purposes of the bill are to fund the military and diplomatic surge in Afghanistan, to respond to natural disasters in this country and in Haiti, and to address the immediate challenges we face from the oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico.

It has been 5 months since the President announced his strategy to achieve stability in Afghanistan. Central to that strategy is the addition of some 30,000 troops into the theater, together with a significant increase in aid and diplomatic resources to the region. Congress has the responsibility and the duty to carefully review and consider the President's request for these supplemental appropriations and approve the expenditure of the funds that are necessary for a successful outcome, one that serves the interests of the United States.

We must be mindful, however, that more than half of the additional troops called for in the President's plan have already arrived in Afghanistan. Spring and summer offenses are being mounted now and in the coming months will become critical to our chances for success. It is also important that we act on the President's request in a timely manner. We should not procrastinate or drag our feet. We should not force the Pentagon to juggle accounts, delay procurements, and otherwise take actions that will detract from our efforts in the field.

The committee has spent several months, as the distinguished chairman pointed out, carefully examining the supplemental request made by the Department of Defense and the State Department. Secretary Gates and Secretary Clinton have testified before the committee in support of these requests. The committee members and staff have met with other government officials and outside groups to refine the committee's recommendations.

While this bill includes many of the supplemental requests made by the President, some of his proposals were deemed premature, unwarranted, or inappropriate for inclusion in an emergency supplemental appropriations bill. The committee also heard from both Democratic and Republican Senators about urgent needs not addressed in the President's supplemental request. The chairman and I, as well as the various subcommittee chairmen and ranking members, have worked to address those needs. We have limited the total cost of the bill to the amount requested by the President, and we have kept the bill focused on its central purposes.

In some parts of the country, recent natural disasters have left communities in desperate need of Federal assistance, but with flood waters still receding and damage assessments not yet complete, it has been difficult to respond to all of the requests we have received. The chairman and I will continue to work with Senators representing those communities to see that the Federal response is appropriate and addresses the most critical needs.

For those of us who represent the gulf coast region, our States are dealing with a different kind of disaster. While it is not a natural disaster, it is a very serious event that will have very serious consequences for the natural environment as well as for local economies throughout the region. We cannot predict now and we cannot now know what the long-term impacts of this spill will be. While the Federal Government is intimately involved in the response and cleanup efforts, clearly the parties responsible for the spill must bear the ultimate cost of cleanup and associated damages. The President submitted an oilspill supplemental proposal 1 day prior to the committee's consideration of this bill. The proposal contained funding requests prompted by the spill but not directly tied to the Deepwater Horizon event. It also included broader policy proposals that would restructure the oilspill liability regime currently in place. The committee has had very little time to review these proposals. We have decided to recommend funding only items that are within the committee's jurisdiction that will address urgent needs.

We do not suggest that the committee has arrived at the perfect solution. There may be other proposals that should be included in this legislation. There may be recommendations included by the committee that should be reconsidered based on additional analysis. I look forward to working with our colleagues from the gulf coast and all Senators to address this unfortunate event.

During consideration of this bill in committee, several members identified additional funding needs or policy matters they intend to raise during floor debate. Members not on the committee will surely have amendments as well, and we look forward to working with all Senators to improve this bill where we can. But it is clear that adding additional costs to this bill will exacerbate our Nation's fiscal imbalance and potentially jeopardize our ability to rapidly get needed resources to our men and women in harm's way in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in other parts of the world. This bill recommends $46 billion in discretionary appropriations and another $13 billion in mandatory funds. No matter how important the purposes, that is a significant amount of money. I expect amendments will be offered to offset some or all of these costs.

The disaster relief fund of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is currently allocating funds for immediate needs only. The fund owes more than $1.5 billion to States for projects already approved to assist communities recovering from disasters. Going into hurricane season, the fund has less than $900 million available to respond to disasters. One way or the other, we must take action to capitalize the fund.

We also must act with a sense of urgency to provide the resources needed to succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq. We should consider those requirements carefully. But I believe we will poorly serve our men and women in the field if we allow internal tactical battles to unduly delay delivery of a bill to the President, or if we burden this bill with other costs or legislative matters that are unrelated and controversial.

I thank the distinguished Senator from Hawaii and able members of his staff for their work on this bill and moving it to this point through the committee. I hope our colleagues who have amendments will contact us so we can help arrange for consideration of those in a timely manner.

I yield the floor.

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

Madam President, I would like to express my support for amendment No. 3809, which was offered by the Senator from Hawaii to the financial regulatory reform bill. His amendment would have stricken a provision in the financial reform legislation that allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to use fee revenues to fund its own operations without undergoing the annual appropriations process.

While the President's budget request does not endorse ``self- funding'' for the SEC, I understand the Commission itself supports the idea because it generally raises more fee revenue each year than Congress appropriates for the agency. Under self-funding, the SEC might receive more money without the challenges of the annual appropriations process by keeping all the fees it receives in the form of offsetting collections.

While I appreciate that the appropriations process subjects the Commission to competition from other government programs, it is precisely that process that imposes discipline on Federal agencies and helps distill needs from wants. Self-funding would effectively exempt the SEC from Congressional budgetary oversight. Congress has important constitutional responsibilities for directing Federal spending and providing necessary oversight over the executive branch. The Commission has offered no compelling evidence that it cannot perform its statutory functions under the current budget structure or that its performance warrants being exempted from that structure.

The Appropriations Committee has consistently responded to the resource requests of the SEC, recognizing its important enforcement role. Congress appropriated $906 million for the SEC in fiscal year 2008, $960.1 million in fiscal year 2009 and $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2010. The fiscal year 2010 appropriation level provided by Congress was $85 million over the President's budget request.

The President's appropriation request for the Commission for fiscal year 2011 is $1.25 billion, an increase of $139 million over the prior year's approved funding. As with all agencies, the chairman and I will carefully consider this request and work with the members of the committee to ensure that the funding provided to the Commission will enable it to carry out its important mission.

If the SEC were to self-fund using fee revenues, the Securities and Exchange Commission is on track to set fees at levels sufficient to raise $1.7 billion in collections in fiscal year 2011, an increase of $220 million over fee collections in fiscal year 2010. This change would increase the SEC budget by $590 million in fiscal year 2011, when compared with the appropriated funding level in fiscal year 2010. It also represents an increase of $490 million over the President's appropriation request for the SEC for fiscal year 2011.

It seems to me that, now more than ever, congressional oversight is needed to regulate the regulators and to hold accountable those regulators who fail to do their jobs correctly. The SEC made many mistakes during the financial crisis, including failing to bring an enforcement action against Stanford Financial for over 12 years after learning about the Stanford scheme. Recent reports by the SEC inspector general and others show that these problems were caused by mismanagement at the SEC and not by any funding shortages. Shouldn't Congress demand even more accountability of the SEC, rather than allowing the SEC to freely spend a greatly expanded budget?

The financial downturn and its aftermath have highlighted the need for increased oversight and transparency throughout the financial system. They also have highlighted the need for increased congressional oversight. The annual budget and appropriations process ensures that Congress plays an active role in the oversight of important agencies, such as the SEC.

Under the financial reform bill, the SEC will face new challenges as it takes on additional responsibilities. I am committed in my role as vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee to work with the administration and the SEC to ensure that all resource requests receive appropriate consideration. The Appropriations Committee has a history of responding to such requests and at times has provided additional resources based on the committee's assessment of the agency's needs. In addition, if for some reason the fees that the SEC collects are insufficient to support its mission, it is likely that the SEC would be back before the Congress, requesting additional resources.

While the SEC may believe that the fees it collects provide a path to a dependable funding stream, I believe the appropriations process-- which is grounded in the Constitution and subject to scrutiny not only by the Appropriations Committee but by extension by the entire Senate and the Congress--is the path to dependable funding with appropriate checks and balances to ensure that funding decisions are made in the best interest of the taxpayers. With our Nation's fiscal situation as precarious as it is, Congress should not be putting yet another Federal agency on auto-pilot.

Even though the Senator from Hawaii's amendment was not considered prior to the Senate's completing action on the financial reform bill, I hope the managers of the bill will duly consider the views of the amendment's sponsors and drop the SEC self-funding provision from the bill in conference.

Madam President, I would like to express my support for amendment No. 3809, which was offered by the Senator from Hawaii to the financial regulatory reform bill. His amendment would have stricken a provision in the financial reform legislation that allows the Securities and Exchange Commission to use fee revenues to fund its own operations without undergoing the annual appropriations process.

While the President's budget request does not endorse ``self- funding'' for the SEC, I understand the Commission itself supports the idea because it generally raises more fee revenue each year than Congress appropriates for the agency. Under self-funding, the SEC might receive more money without the challenges of the annual appropriations process by keeping all the fees it receives in the form of offsetting collections.

While I appreciate that the appropriations process subjects the Commission to competition from other government programs, it is precisely that process that imposes discipline on Federal agencies and helps distill needs from wants. Self-funding would effectively exempt the SEC from Congressional budgetary oversight. Congress has important constitutional responsibilities for directing Federal spending and providing necessary oversight over the executive branch. The Commission has offered no compelling evidence that it cannot perform its statutory functions under the current budget structure or that its performance warrants being exempted from that structure.

The Appropriations Committee has consistently responded to the resource requests of the SEC, recognizing its important enforcement role. Congress appropriated $906 million for the SEC in fiscal year 2008, $960.1 million in fiscal year 2009 and $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2010. The fiscal year 2010 appropriation level provided by Congress was $85 million over the President's budget request.

The President's appropriation request for the Commission for fiscal year 2011 is $1.25 billion, an increase of $139 million over the prior year's approved funding. As with all agencies, the chairman and I will carefully consider this request and work with the members of the committee to ensure that the funding provided to the Commission will enable it to carry out its important mission.

If the SEC were to self-fund using fee revenues, the Securities and Exchange Commission is on track to set fees at levels sufficient to raise $1.7 billion in collections in fiscal year 2011, an increase of $220 million over fee collections in fiscal year 2010. This change would increase the SEC budget by $590 million in fiscal year 2011, when compared with the appropriated funding level in fiscal year 2010. It also represents an increase of $490 million over the President's appropriation request for the SEC for fiscal year 2011.

It seems to me that, now more than ever, congressional oversight is needed to regulate the regulators and to hold accountable those regulators who fail to do their jobs correctly. The SEC made many mistakes during the financial crisis, including failing to bring an enforcement action against Stanford Financial for over 12 years after learning about the Stanford scheme. Recent reports by the SEC inspector general and others show that these problems were caused by mismanagement at the SEC and not by any funding shortages. Shouldn't Congress demand even more accountability of the SEC, rather than allowing the SEC to freely spend a greatly expanded budget?

The financial downturn and its aftermath have highlighted the need for increased oversight and transparency throughout the financial system. They also have highlighted the need for increased congressional oversight. The annual budget and appropriations process ensures that Congress plays an active role in the oversight of important agencies, such as the SEC.

Under the financial reform bill, the SEC will face new challenges as it takes on additional responsibilities. I am committed in my role as vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee to work with the administration and the SEC to ensure that all resource requests receive appropriate consideration. The Appropriations Committee has a history of responding to such requests and at times has provided additional resources based on the committee's assessment of the agency's needs. In addition, if for some reason the fees that the SEC collects are insufficient to support its mission, it is likely that the SEC would be back before the Congress, requesting additional resources.

While the SEC may believe that the fees it collects provide a path to a dependable funding stream, I believe the appropriations process-- which is grounded in the Constitution and subject to scrutiny not only by the Appropriations Committee but by extension by the entire Senate and the Congress--is the path to dependable funding with appropriate checks and balances to ensure that funding decisions are made in the best interest of the taxpayers. With our Nation's fiscal situation as precarious as it is, Congress should not be putting yet another Federal agency on auto-pilot.

Even though the Senator from Hawaii's amendment was not considered prior to the Senate's completing action on the financial reform bill, I hope the managers of the bill will duly consider the views of the amendment's sponsors and drop the SEC self-funding provision from the bill in conference.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Jennifer Mitchell, a military fellow assigned to the Appropriations Committee, be allowed floor privileges for the period of time the war supplemental bill is on the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Jennifer Mitchell, a military fellow assigned to the Appropriations Committee, be allowed floor privileges for the period of time the war supplemental bill is on the floor.

Mr. President, the State of Mississippi lost one of its most respected citizens and devoted public servants on December 25, 2009. Those of us who knew and worked with Charlie Capps were privileged to witness his commitment to the advancement of our State. I extend my sincerest sympathies to the family of Charlie Capps--Alinda, Margaret, and Charlie III.

Charlie Capps was born in Merigold, MS, and graduated from Cleveland High School. He attended Davidson College until the outbreak of World War II, when he volunteered and enlisted in the U.S. Army.

After the war, Charlie founded Capps Insurance and Real Estate Company. However, he was best known as ``Mr. Chairman'' because of his service as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in the Mississippi legislature for more than a decade. During his tenure of service in the Mississippi House of Representatives, he served with four speakers of the House--John Junkin, Buddie Newman, Tim Ford, and Billy McCoy.

Charlie Capps' greatest enjoyment was his association with public service. During his career he was an effective advocate for law enforcement, higher education, the arts and cultural heritage, workforce training, agriculture, and wildlife and fisheries conservation. Charlie Capps is clearly among our State's finest citizens and certainly one of the most capable public servants of this generation.

The State of Mississippi is a better place to live because of the life of Charlie Capps, and I am privileged that I was able to call him my friend.